37% Gone

November is 37% gone already. Ha! I'll bet you never thought of figuring that out. Silly me!

Anyway, the point of this post is to remind you of a few GREAT Close To My Heart November specials: Stampaganza and the November Stamp of the Month. Click here to see more about them. You'll want to take advantage of them before the other 63% of the month passes you by!

Click here to order from my website 24/7...even when the month is 37% gone!

Four Trees

I don't know why I haven't pulled out my embossing powder much lately because I absolutely LOVE the way embossing looks. Don't you?

This 4.25" x 5.5" card showcases black embossing...on white and tone on tone. I felt the black on black was so elegant that it called for some elegant bling to compliment it. Thus the clear sparkles.

The card was inspired by this week's sketch on 2Sketches4You. Thanks for another great sketch, Kazan!

Close To My Heart products used: Snow Flurries Stamp Set (D1384), Holiday Trinkets Stamp Set (D1366), Tulip Cardstock (X5753), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Black Cardstock (1386), Versamark Pad (Z891), Black Embossing Powder (Z670), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Corner Rounder (Z678), Clear Sparkles (Z1104).

Don't forget it's Stampaganza this month (buy 2 stamp sets and get one free. See the left side of my blog for details). The two stamp sets I used on this card are WONDERFUL holiday stamp sets. If you were to buy them both, you could choose a $22.95 or less stamp set absolutely FREE (gosh, I love that word!). Feel free to email me with any questions (pedermom@aol.com).

Non-CTMH products used: Stampin' Up Scallop Border Punch.

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when you're in the mood to emboss.

Snowflakes Galore

Snowflakes anyone? I got a little carried away, but I think I like it anyway. I used the sketch from CPS to make this 3.5" x 8"card and then got out my favorite Martha Stewart snowflake punch and went to town. All the white snowflakes are punched out and the black one is one of Close To My Heart's Flurry Dimensional Elements, one of my favorite toys right now. I just sponged my snowflake from white to black with my black pad and a round sponge.

Close To My Heart products used: Black Cardstock (1386), White Daisy Cardstock (1385), Cranberry Cardstock (1272), Designer Ribbon Rounds Black Collection, 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), Round Sponge (Z697), Corner Rounder (Z678), Neutral Embroidery Floss Assortment (Z1096), Holiday Buttons (Z1285)

Non-CTMH products used: Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially in a blizzard!

Frosty

I had fun building my own paper snowman today. I didn't even get cold! This card pattern came from Card Patterns (imagine that). Fun and simple sketch...my favorite kind!

Close To My Heart products used: Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Pack (X7101B), Game One Level 2 Paper Pack (X7097B), Evensong Level 2 Paper Pack (X7104B), Black Stamp Pad (Z2105), All Decked Out Stamp Set (D1308), Watercolor Pencils (3505), Waterbrush (1771), Designer Ribbon Rounds Black Collection (Z1034), 3D Foam Tape (Z1151), Snowflake Buttons (retired)

Non-CTMH products used: Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Black Sharpie Marker

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when you're in the mood to build a paper snowman!

Heart Breaker

Last night had to have been the most emotional football game that I have ever witnessed. And, if my son wasn't the QB for the losing team, I would say the BEST football game that I have ever watched.

We lost in 4OT's. Yep, you heard it, FOUR OT's. Have you ever seen a four overtime football game? I certainly hadn't. The final score was 45-37. Tannon threw 5 touchdowns and played his heart out, as did the rest of the team. The game lasted 3 1/2 hours and everyone (including the fans) was absolutely physically and emotionally exhausted at the end. It was sad after a game like that that anyone had to lose. Both teams played their hearts out. I'll never forget watching my son stand alone on the field after the game until every player but himself had gone, crying and trying so hard to pull it together. I'll never forget watching that and then having him come over to us as we waited and put his arms around me as we both cried together. I'll never forget this night. I'll never forget how hard he battled and how much of his heart he left on that field. Tannon, you are a winner no matter what the score said at the end of the game.

Congratulations to a tough and tenacious Hunter team on the win.

T-man, my heart broke for you last night and as I sit here typing this I have tears running down my face. There is nothing harder for a mother than watching her boy hurt so badly. I am so proud of you, for the determination and confidence you played with this year, for leading your team to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs, and for being the person you are. I love you!

Off we go...

The hot chocolate is made and in thermoses, the blankets are folded and in the car, the coats and gloves are ready, the hand warmers are...oh dear! we are out of hand warmers. I hope it doesn't get too cold.

What does this sound like to you? A family getting ready to go camping? NOPE! It is a family getting ready to head to the quarterfinal Utah state 5A football game (Lone Peak Knights vs. Hunter Wolverines). GO KNIGHTS! Go TAN-MAN!

The anticipation of a big game just about does me in. My stomach is full of butterflies, I can't concentrate, I am praying that Tannon does his best and comes home in one piece, and am hoping for a BIG WIN! Stay tuned...

Musings...

I've been wondering...

• How can anyone be so full of hate to do what was done today at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas? My heart goes out to the families of those who were killed and injured.
• Why do some of the best people go through the hardest things and some of the worst people sail through life? Thankfully this is not always the case.
• Why am I always a nervous wreck the night before a big ball game for one of my boys? Like I am tonight (Lone Peak vs. Hunter High School tomorrow afternoon, 4 p.m. State 5A football quarterfinals).
  
• How is it possible to love my husband more and more every day? I thought I couldn't possibly love him more than the day I married him. Every wrinkle and grey hair endears him to me that much more. Watching him hold our grandbaby and turn into a big puddle of moosh totally rocks my world. Who knew that would be sexy to me?
• Why do we let the unimportant things in life drain our time when there are so many more important things to do, like spending time with the people we love?
  
• Why can I tell my kids something a hundred times and they don't listen, but when one of their friend's parents or a coach tells them the same thing it is all of a sudden brilliant? Go figure.
  
• Why do teenagers think they know everything?
• Why do I love teenagers so much? They have me ready to pull my hair out one second and full of love, joy and laughter the next.
• Why do people of the male species (ah hem...the ones who live in this house) need to constantly be making bodily noises? And why do they think it's funny even when they are 47?
• Why am I so good at guilt and worrying?
• Why do women always take their biggest weakness and compare it to someone else's greatest strength?

Just wondering...

Snowflakes and Sparkles

I don't know what it is about snowflakes and me this week but...me likey! I am totally lovin' Close To My Heart's Dimensional Elements Flurry Collection (as you can see, I've been using them all week). You get 10 chipboard snowflakes, 3 rounded negative snowflake images, and about 25 small stars and circles, all for $4.95 (Dimensional Elements Flurry - Z1225). Not bad at all.

Today's card was inspired by this week's sketch over at 2Sketches4You (#38). Thanks for another great sketch, guys! Both Laura and Kazan (the 2sketch ladies) ALWAYS come up with awesome ideas.

The focal point of this card, the large dimensional element snowflake was made by sponging the chipboard snowflake with twilight ink. Then I used some stitch and cross stitch rubons from the new "Across the Board" pack (Z1231) to make it look as if I stitched all over it. After that, I added some of our clear sparkles. Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself!

Close To My Heart products used: Jingle Borders Stamp Set (D1225), Versamark Pad (Z891), White Daisy Embossing Powder (Z673), Aspen Level 2 Paper Pack (X7103B), Twilight Stamp Pad (Z2160), Round Sponge (Z679), Flurry Dimensional Elements (Z1225), Designer Ribbon Rounds Creme Brulee Collection (Z1131), Across the Board Rubons (Z1231), Clear Sparkles (Z1104), Snowflake Buttons (retired), Corner Rounder (Z578)

Non-CTMH products used: Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch, Marvy Circle (2 1/2 and Scalloped Circle (3") Punches

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially if you are lovin' snowflakes like I am this week!

IN with the old, and IN with the new

Every year, as much as it kills me, I join many other Close To My Heart enthusiasts in saying good bye to some dear old friends. In order to bring us lots of brand new popular and stylish designs in 2010 that keep our hearts a-flutter, CTMH must retire some old favorites to make room. Sob! But, looking on the bright side, that does mean we will be seeing some NEW favorites coming very soon.

As we get into the heart of Stampaganza (November 3-30....buy 2 stamp sets and get one free. Click here for more details), what better way to use this wonderful special than to get a few of those stamp sets that you just can't live without but that will soon be gone forever?

To assist you, I have given you a link here that will take you to the stamp sets that will be retiring as of December 31, 2009 (or when supplies run out, whichever comes first). After doing that, if there are any you just HAVE to have, that you can't possibly let retire before they enter your collection, make a list then click here to go to the home page of my website. Once there click 'shop online' and you can purchase any of these sets there and buy two and get one free (as many times as you want all in one order). Pretty nifty way to keep all of your old friends and still be able to anticipate the new ones you'll meet in January, I'd say!

Fall Beauty

I am so lucky to have a daughter who is as obsessed with taking photos as I am (I taught her well). Because of this, I get LOTS of great photos of my little granddaughter. These are the photos Kori took to commemorate the important occasion of her 8 month birthday. LOVE 'em...especially the one with her tongue poking out. Oh! And the one where she is trying to eat a leaf (everything goes in the mouth). Oh yeah, and the one that she is so excited that her whole face is all scrunched up. OK, I love them all.

I used two different sketches as inspiration for this layout, as well as the Color Me Monday color combo on Jeanette Lynton's blog (Close To My Heart colors: Gold Rush, Desert Sand, Chocolate, and Cocoa). The sketches are from Inspired Blueprints (left side) and Creative Scrappers (right side).

I had fun mixing and matching papers from several different Close To My Heart paper packs. Don't ever think that you can only mix and match what comes in a certain collection.

Close To My Heart products used: Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Pack (X7101B), Twitterpaged Level 2 Paper Pack (X7718B), Caprice Level 2 Paper Pack (X7086B), Goldrush Cardstock (1243), Mini Medley Autumn Garden Collection (Z1119), Journey Journaling Spots (X1409).

Click here to order from my website 24/7...especially when surrounded by Fall Beauty!


Non-CTMH products used: letters (from Target dollar spot), scallop scissors