New Year's Sales

Hurry on over to http://www.newcleardollarstamps.com/servlet/StoreFront
Lori has put a ton of stamps into the clearance section that are being retired. Some of the sets are only $1 and they are so cute. :)

Tomorrow, the new Close To My Heart catalog will be available to order from! Woo hoo! You are going to love it. This catalog has a wonderful feel to it. I feel like there are new sets, paper and accessories that will meet anyone's needs. Email me if you would like me to send you a free copy. :)

Happy New Year!

Wow! Where to start... 2007 was a great year for me in many ways. There were also many times this year where I felt like I had some really rough spots.

I am so grateful to be part of the Kitchen Sink stamps and Clear Dollar stamp design teams. That was a goal of mine and it has been really wonderful. In 2008, I would love to be published with some artwork from both of these companies.

I was published with my Close To My Heart business. That felt so great! :) This year, I'd like to be a little more consistent with my business. I would also love to enter a bunch of work so that Sharon and I can have the opportunity to teach at convention in Orlando. That would really be a dream come true and it would be so much fun.

I'd like to lose a few of the pounds I put on this year. I think everyone has this goal. :)

I started selling Premier Jewelry because I love it so much. When I wear it, it makes me feel good about myself. I'd like to help other people feel that way too. :) If I could earn a little fun money in the process, that would be great too.

I'd like to be a better mother, teacher, sister and wife in 2008. I definitely need to learn more patience and more dedication to those things that are important to me and to those things that I love.

2007 has also had some rough spots. My sister moved to California and now my mom lives alone. I really wish that she could come and live with us. I worry about her being alone and I would like her to have more time to do the things she enjoys. She is a teacher and school has been difficult for her this year. There have been days when she has called all choked up because of the behavior of both children and adults. She shouldn't have to feel that way and at times, it has made me both angry and sad.

I don't really want to go into detail about some of the other things that are going on. Just remember to tell people that you love and appreciate them. And keep people in your prayers in thoughts.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2008.

Love,
Rachle

How was your holiday?

We had a very nice Christmas this year. I love seeing the kids open their presents, especially the ones they give to each other. :) I also love the home made gifts they create at school or buy from the school store. I think these gifts really show how your kids look at you. Our oldest always gave me jewelry while the two little girls give practical gifts like bath salt and a mug. Interesting huh?

Anyway, I just wanted to remind you of the sale today at Kitchen Sink Stamps. Just put in BOWS as the discount code to save 15%. :)

I'm back

There is going to be a great sale on the 26th at Kitchen Sink Stamps! 15% off your order! That's an after Christmas sale that I don't want to miss! Fill your cart and then just put in BOWS for the promotion code. :)
A small power surge fried my power supply so my laptop is dead for a couple of days. :( I had some pictures on there of Christmas gifts I wanted to share. Hopefully I can still pull them off the computer and get them up here tomorrow while the kids are playing with their new stuff. :)

Pictures of my cute nephew

As promised, pictures of my new nephew, not looking gooey. :)


You can see Landon Mikal here-
http://www.our365.com/webnursery/WebNursery/Baby/BabyPage.aspx?birthid=0&babyid=0

Accordion card with gift cards!

Okay, okay. So technically it is Wednesday but only by 13 minutes here in Colorado!

This is a little accordion book that I made from Beate's tutorial on SCS. I adapted it a little bit by sliding the ribbon behind the front and back covers so that it expands and collapses a little more easily and looks nicer in my opinion.

When I saw this dot border from my Kitchen Sink Stamps set (Backgrounds and Borders), I saw little trees. I just masked my project so the last row of dots didn't show. I put a clear Sparkle (from Close To My Heart) on one of the trees to add a little bling and turn it into a Christmas tree. 'Tis the season is stamped there in the corner. The snow was made by swirling a thin layer of liquid applique and then heat setting it. I really wanted my little book to look like it had piping on it. So I ironed some Chocolate organdy that I had folded in half. I used O' So Sticky tape to attach the ribbon to the folded edge of the background and texture paper. Then I did some faux stitching with a brown journaling pen. The envelopes on the inside are made from templates created from those little manilla coin envelopes. Tomorrow's project (actually a second one today but I am calling it tomorrow) will also be using these little envelopes. The tabs on the gift card pockets say magazines, munchies, music and more. A great gift for any teenager! :)

I will check with SCS and ask if I can post my own instructions here for the accordion book. In the mean time, if you just can't wait to try it, you can go to www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/accordian.php

Enjoy!

3 bits of news...

1. I am going to be posting projects everyday from now until Christmas day. :) Please check back often to see what I am up to.

2. I won some "Pay It Forward" blog candy awhile back and now it is my turn to do something for you. Please post a message to this blog. The first three people to post will get something shiny and something stampy! :)

3. Please go check out Erika Martin's (fellow blogger, stamper and design team member) blog. She has teamed up with a couple of different people to create some wonderful blog candy. If you enter to win, you will help raise money for an amazing cause, autism. The prizes are amazing but supporting this cause is even better. Here's the link-
http://stampinmama.typepad.com/stampin_mama_a_mama_that_/

A project and my beef with You Tube...

Here are some pictures of a little banner I made with Kitchen Sink Stamps Playful Alphabet Buddy.

I found these chipboard squares at Archivers. Kathy (a fellow blogger) sent me a package of Figgy Pudding (how awesome is that!) so I decided this would be the perfect project for it!

I stamped the letters I needed onto Eclipse tape. Then I cut out the letters (not in detail, just cutting them apart). I searched through my Figgy Pudding for combinations I liked and laid it all out. I put the tape on the paper I had chosen for the letters and carefully cut them out. Then I got out my Modge Podge and put a thin coat onto the chipboard. I adhered 1 1/2" squares of different paper to each square and made sure that they were centered nicely and glued on evenly. Then I muddied the edges of the letters and the squares with Cocoa (Close To My Heart). Then I applied a little Modge Podge to the back of each letter and centered them onto the squares. You want to be careful to wipe off any glue that might sneak out from under the letters. Once this stuff dries, it is permanent and you don't want to have big blobs of hard glue around your letters, do you??? Once these were dry, I sealed them with completely with Modge Podge. Try to apply an even coat when you do this. *Modge Podge is great stuff. It comes in matte, glossy and even a glitter finish. It is very durable and doesn't distort the project very much. For the last step, I cut a length of ribbon and found the center. I placed my center letter in the center and stuck it to the ribbon with Zots. I spaced the letters 1/2" apart and spaced the two words 1 1/2" apart. I found this awesome star at a craft show about a month ago. I want to keep it up all the time but I thought I would jazz it up for the holidays and put this banner on it. I LOVE it!

As if I haven't talked enough... I have a beef with You Tube. I can't load my video tutorial onto their site. :( Once I figure this out, I will post it here. Hopefully, I can get it up no later than tomorrow when the Wonder Husband Jason can help me out. :)

Feeling down and out...

We took everybody in today to get their eyes checked. Kait needs glasses. Earlier this year she needed tubes in her ears and now glasses. Kait is far behind in school from not being able to hear and having trouble seeing. I feel like the worst mom today. I think every parent wants to give their kids everything to help them be successful. I feel bad that I've tried to give her advantages but totally missed the fact that she was having physical problems that was preventing her from learning. Kait is so full of love and kindness. She is always there to give you a hug and kiss when you need it and she always has something nice say. I feel like I've short changed her. I am hoping and praying that with her new glasses, she can advance more quickly and hopefully catch up a little bit before kindergarten.

Today sucks.

My Nephew is here!

Yeah! Landon Mikal was born this morning. He was 6 pounds, 14 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. :) I have only sent pictures from right after his birth. I will post some pictures of him later if I can get some without him covered in goo. ;)

I love being an aunt! :)

Oh my goodness!!!

I just got word that my sister-in-law has gone into labor! Hooray! Please say a little prayer for her today that everything will go smoothly. I will post pics as soon as I get some. The baby's name is Landon and I can't wait to see him! Gotta go make a card for them!

BTW, we will be adding numbers to our family soon too. No, I am not pregnant! ;) We are adopting some furry friends. I will post pics as soon as the boys get here.

Snowy day, school delay

The kids are on school delay today. The snow is really coming down in teeny, tiny snowflakes. Teeny, tiny snowflakes=super cold outside. These kinds of flakes also make very slick roads. Jason is working from home today (woo hoo) so I will have him make a fire and fix the kids some hot chocolate. :) This should also be a great day to get caught up on some stamping! Check back later for pics of my new projects.
Hope you are having a great day!

Ugh!

I've posted entries since the 2nd and they seem to have been wiped out! Argh!

Well, what's done is done. :(

When Jason gets home tonight, I am going to make my first video tutorial for gift card holders. Keep an eye out for it! :)

NEW Clear Dollar Stamps!

Wow! We've had so much fun over the last month working with Lori to fine tune and give our two cents on these designs. I am so glad to see these all shiny and new, waiting for you! ;)
My personal favorites:
Bountiful Branches- This is a great set and there are so many possibilities!
Cool Yule- Who doesn't love penguins???
You're so Sweet- These labels are perfect for decorating Hersey Nuggets! This is a must have set to make gifts for teachers this year!
Old Time Christmas- I love the lettering in this set. It is so elegant and classic.

Surf on over to www.newcleardollarstamps.com to see all the super sets. :)

NEW Kitchen Sink Stamps!

Hop on over to Kitchen Sink Stamps to see the great new sets introduced this month! I am in love with Happy Birthday Cupcake set! I will be posting a project using that set soon. :)