Christmas, Christmas and Kisses!

Happy Monday!!

Monday's are always difficult around here. Izzy is getting used to it being just her and I during the day and Tuxy mopes around in the mornings, and I am grouchy because Jason isn't here. Too bad he can't work from home, huh! Maybe I could take it up with his boss. I am sure they wouldn't miss him, right? I mean I know there are only 5 of them in the department, but isn't five a crowd? Lol!

Well we had a little bit of excitement this morning. I had the back door open because it was so pleasant and Izzy and Tuxy just love to go back and forth. Well I was cleaning up the breakfast dishes when I looked down on the floor and saw a bee. (That tells you how nice it has been). Well its' little stinger was a out a little bit. I first thought that maybe it had stung Izzy, but she appeared to be fine and Tuxy looked okay, so I tried to shoo it outside but it was gone. Well about ten minutes later I look down again and it is crawling on the floor again, but this time it looks almost dead. I went ahead and killed it and threw it in the trash. That's when I saw Tuxy limping. The poor thing had been stung in the paw. Well he wasn't comfortable lying anywhere so I went and got his bed. Well guess who climbed in it first? Izzy!! I couldn't get her out of it. By this time though, Tuxy was feeling better, so it all worked out in the end.

It was also a really busy, but fun stamping day for me! I got so many projects done; all of them sketch challenges. I can't help it, I am completely addicted. I just love the challenge of picking out the papers that will work together and the stamps that will fit the sketch. Ohh, I am excited just thinking about it.

Well here is the first card. It is for Sketch No. 23 over at the Sketch Saturday website. I just love all the circles in the design. I combined it with the Design Team Challenge over at Pink Cat Studio to use a Christmas image with non Christmas colors.

Isn't it sweet!!! I started off by stamping Lilly and Snowman from the Lily and Tweet set by Pink Cat Studio on white card stock. I colored them in using my copics and my markers. I cut them out using my nesties and applied some liquid applique and glitter to resemble snow. Then I mounted them on some blue glitter paper. Following the sketch, I added more glitter paper and some Christmas DP. I placed white ribbon behind the images and tied a bow. I went ahead and placed a snowflake button and some diamond brads, around the card to give it even more bling. I just love the non-traditional colors. I think I might save this sketch for future use!

My second card is for a new sketch challenge that I just found called Magnolia Vs. Stampavie! Doesn't it just sound exciting!! Well I saw that this week's challenge was a sketch challenge, so I knew that I had to try. The rules are that you have to follow the sketch and use either a Magnolia stamp or a stamp available at Stampavie (which includes Rachelle Anne Miller stamps).

I love, love, love this sketch!

I can't wait to give this to my friend. It is so sweet and girly. I started off by stamping Lily-Springtime by Rachelle Anne Miller available through Stampavie. I colored her in using my copics and stampin' write markers. I then mounted her on a piece of red card stock, a piece of DP and a piece of blue card stock. Next, I layered my card following the sketch with DP and red card stock. I added some blue ribbon and tied a bow and popped of the main image. Instead of the flowers, I cut out some butterflies from some DP I had and placed them around the half circle. I printed off the sentiment on the computer and mounted it on a piece of DP and red card stock. I then added a couple of more butterflies. The inside will say, "Just for You!!, Love Izzy". I know that Tracy will love it!

My final sketch challenge I decided to turn into a tag for a really great gift idea. My neighbor Beth and I have been trying to come up with some really creative gift ideas for Christmas. (It never hurts to start early.) We have been toying with the idea of making Soup in a Jar. Well today, I was searching out on-line and located a recipe that looked really fun and easy. I have been wanting to use my Kiss the Cook set by Hanna Stamps again and when I saw this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge over at Poetic Artistry (This was my first time playing along), I knew I had it. I know everybody will really love them. Who wouldn't love something that is basically already made?

Here is a close up of the tag.

Isn't it fantastic!! Don't laugh, those are buttons in the jar! I didn't have the ingredients to actually make the layers in the soup so I had to improvise! Oh, maybe somebody would like a jar of buttons; something to think about. lol! Okay so I first started off by using my new rectangle nesties to cut out two pieces of Christmas DP and a piece of green card stock. Next I stamped the girl from Kiss the Cook on a piece of white card stock, and two pieces of Christmas DP. I colored her in and paper pieced her together. I then mounted her on a piece of green card stock following the sketch. Instead of the stars, I stamped the salt, pepper and star dust on white card stock and colored them in. I mounted them on a piece of green card stock and popped them off the page. I finished the front of the tag by printing off the jar title and mounting it on a piece of green card stock that I stuck three rhinestones on. On the back of the tag I placed the heating instructions. For the lid of the jar, I used my nesties to cut out a piece of green card stock and a piece of Christmas DP. I tied a satin ribbon around the lid and added the tag. I really think this will be a hit in my family.

Here is the recipe.

Minestrone Soup Jar Mix

Ingredients:

¼ cup red lentils

¼ cup green split peas

¼ cup barley

1/3 cup beef bouillon powder

2 tbsp. parsley flakes

3 tbsp. onion flakes

1/3 tsp. thyme

1/3 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. basil

approximately ¼ cup alphabet macaroni

Minestrone Soup Jar Mix

Directions:

In a two-cup jar, layer from bottom in the order given, then seal the jar.

Include these instructions on your gift tag:

In a very large saucepan combine 8 to 10 cups of water, a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, and soup mix. Add 2 chopped carrots, and 2 to 4 chopped potatoes (optional: 2 cups chopped cabbage). Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour or until peas are tender. Enjoy!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope your day was as beautiful as ours! Thanks as always for the wonderful comments! They really make my day!