Taking a day off...

I had planned to spend the day crafting today but had a few unexpected plans. First, a friend of the family had an emergency appendectomy yesterday and my mother and I went to see her in the hospital this morning. She's in high school and was feeling pretty down. After we left the hospital, we went to Johnny Cace's for lunch. Oh, why did they take Cace's away from Tyler? It leaves me feeling distraught! When I got home I changed into the comfy clothes and planned to craft this evening. As it turned out, I didn't get to do that either. Roy and I went on a date tonight. He got to pick the movie. I really thought that "Have You Heard About the Morgans" opened November 20 (I got it confused with "Blind Side" which I also want to see). Roy picked "Old Dogs" because I really had no interest in "2012". It was funny. I laughed. But I would never pick it on my own and I don't really care to see it again. The next movie is mine. There are a lot coming out soon that I want to see.

That was the long way around to say that I will have some creations tomorrow. I need to make some samples and have just the projects in mind. Until then...

After Thanksgiving Sale!

If you are out fighting the crazy crowd this morning racking up amazing deals, then bless you! I'm not. I tried that one year and it's just not worth it to me! I'm not cut out for it. However, in the back of my mind I always think of the deals I've missed. I want to get the deals, but I don't want to pay the price. If you are like me, I have the perfect deal for you! I'm hosting an After Thanksgiving Sale. It's not like Black Friday because it's good from now until 8:00 Monday night. That way you can combine it with any of the Holiday Extravaganza items. Wait, it's BETTER than Black Friday because I don't have limited supplies! Everyone gets a special goodie! No standing in line and no running out of the good stuff!

Here's the deal:

My Black Friday Email-a-Thon will begin right now and will run until 8:00 on Monday night. (Remember that you can order Holiday Extravaganza until 11:50 p.m. on Monday night via my website, but to participate in my sale and get your extra goodies, you must order through me.) When you email me (heathercarnes@sbcglobal.net) I will email you back with the promotion offer that you received and the total amount due. So please make sure your order is complete when you email it to me. You won't be able to add to your order after you received your promotion. *** Please note that you cannot receive this offer on my Stampin' Up! website or from any other demonstrator. This is my gift to you as a thank you for your support.

***In your email please be sure to include the item number, description, quantity and price. To qualify for the Email-A-Thon, a minimum merchandise total purchase of $30.00 is required. Once we hit 10 orders, I will start from the top of the list again with email 1. All orders will ship to me and payment must be received in order for me to place your individual order.

1st email - FREE Shipping
2nd email - FREE adhesive package (SNAIL refill and dimensionals - value $8.45)
3rd email - FREE Class of your choice - up to $15.00 value
4th email - FREE Classic Ink Pad (value $5.95)
5th email - FREE two markers (any colors) value $6.50
6th email - FREE medium envelopes - value $6.50
7th email - Free level 1 Hostess Set
8th email - FREE 8.5x11 single color paper pack - value $5.50
9th email - FREE Designer brads - value $5.95
10th email - FREE Ribbon - value $6.95 or less

Thanksgiving Blessings

I have so much to be thankful for. I am surrounded by family this Thanksgiving season, God is in control, and God has blessed us so completely this past year. God is good all the time! May your day be filled with conversation, laughter, and memories. Blessings to you.

Don't let the Holiday Extravaganza Pass You By!

There are only five days left to take advantage of the awesome deals in the Holiday Extravaganza. If you haven't had a chance to check out my demonstrator website that details all of the specials, I've converted them into a table for you, but try as I may - I can't make the picture larger than that! If you'd like a copy emailed to you, drop me a line or leave a message and I can send one speeding your way. The deals are amazing with everything 30-50% off! I'll be placing another order, so let me know if you are interested. Don't forget to check back on Friday for my Black Friday specials. They are only available from me.

What's on your wish list?

I spent a little time surfing the internet today and looking at the Black Friday ads. I have an idea of what I will buy a few people for Christmas this year (strictly online, definitely not going out on Friday!). Part of my shopping list includes some of the specials Stampin' Up is featuring in the Holiday Extravaganza this year. I'm even picking out a few of my favorite things for myself. I'm starting to have customers call me about their orders ... don't wait too late. The specials are only available for a limited time. Go to my demonstrator website to check out the deals. Oh, and Black Friday sales? Be sure to check here on my blog for my own version of Black Friday. I can't wait for you to see what I have planned!

Holiday Extravaganza Is Here!

Oh my goodness! Last year the holiday extravaganza was really good. I bought several items and my customers were excited and able to place orders for items that had been on their wish lists. This year I'm completely blown away by the deals. Speechless. Do you know how hard it is to make me speechless? :)

Stampin' Up has really outdone themselves this time. I got up early this morning to make a quick post about the great specials, but I just couldn't address them all. I had to quickly email my customers and head to work. Now that I'm home for the night, I have to take the time to give you the lowdown on what Stampin' Up has put on the table. It's as good as Thanksgiving dinner!

The deets:
* This is a limited time offer. It only lasts one week - November 23 through November 30.
* Stampin' Up is guaranteeing the special pricing for the entire week on all items except for the Ultimate Stampers' Starter Bundle. That item is available in limited quantities only.
* You can order through my demonstrator website or by calling me to place an order. You can also see all of the items there or on the Stampin' Up website.

Now for the fun part. Last year there were several great deals. This year, Stampin' Up is offering 38 - yes, THIRTY EIGHT! - bundles and 15 single items. Wow! Check out the list below for a complete list of items available.

Coming tomorrow!

Holiday Extravaganza is one of my favorite times if the Stampin' Up year - and it starts tomorrow! Check back tomorrow morning and you'll see the limited time specials offered by Stampin' Up! SU slashes prices on stamping supplies and accessories. Last year, I was able to buy some awesome punch bundles at a deep discount. I have no clue what the bundles or supplies will be, but I know that they will be great deals. I hope you are as excited as I am about this amazing opportunity! See you tomorrow.

Thanksgiving Feast Place Cards

I love, love, LOVE this project! Last week a notice was sent home that two parents were needed to set up for the Thanksgiving feast and make place cards. I replied that I couldn't set up, but that I could make place cards for the children's lunch. On Tuesday after work I got an email asking me to make place cards and have them at school on Thursday morning. Since Wednesday is a church night, I decided to go ahead and make them Tuesday night. I had no clue what to do, but knew that it had to be juvenile-themed rather than adult-elegant. I kept thinking that I didn't have a turkey stamp when all of a sudden it hit me to create a turkey. I've seen turkeys made in this style and I even made a similar turkey from oval punches designed by my upline.

The evolution of this turkey was a bit of a challenge. I kept thinking of things to use to create the face (Boho Blossoms punch) and feet (Jumbo Snowflake punch), but I didn't own those particular punches (proof that you should get one of everything just in case!). I finally found an old gingerbread punch that my mother bough me years ago because I decorate in gingerbread men/women/houses at Christmas. It came in very handy as I used the legs for the turkey gobble. Everything else is Stampin' Up.

I cut the 12x12 cardstock into 4x6 inch pieces. I scored them at 3 inches and folded them to create a little tent. The body of the turkey is popped up off the feathers. The turkey head is popped up off the body. The names were computer generated.

Supplies I used:
Chocolate chip cardstock, 12x12 (#107102, $7.50)
Dusty durango cardstock (#115321, $5.50)
Whisper white cardstock (#100730, $7.50)
More mustard cardstock (#1000946, $5.50) - beak
Ruby red cardstock (#102030, $5.50) - turkey gobble
More mustard Stampin' pad (#103162, $5.95)
Ruby red Stampin' pad (#102259, $5.95)
Dusty durango Stampin' pad (#115654, $5.95)
Close to cocoa Stampin' write marker (#100072, $3.25)
1 3/8" circle punch (#104401, $15.95)
3/4" circle punch (#107217, $10.95)
1/4" circle punch (retired) (cut in halves for the eyes)
Pick a Petal stamp set (#115042, $29.95)
non-SU gingerbread man punch (legs only)
Stampin' dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

I sent the place cards to school yesterday. The homeroom mother and the teacher seemed to like them. I think they are so much cuter in person! Thanks for looking.

3-D Ornament Punch Card

I had so much fun with this card! I originally thought I would not do a Christmas card since we are meeting again this Saturday, but I couldn't help myself! The dimensional ornament was not my idea, but I can't remember and can't find my inspiration. I know I marked it, but it's just not jumping out at me right now. If I'm talking about you, drop me a line and I will be happy to give proper credit.

One reason I like the card is because of the color combo I used. I never - and I mean NEVER - use mellow moss or bravo burgundy. They just aren't in my go-to color stacks. I think the combination for the Christmas card turned out quite lovely.

The main reason I love this card is because I finally used my shimmer paint on the card! I bought my spray bottle and the alcohol a couple of weeks ago, but I just hadn't had the opportunity to mix the paint and try it out. I can't believe the effect! My card class members just about had a fit! They fell in love with the possibilities here. :)

The supplies I used for this card are:
Mellow moss cardstock (#102898, $5.50)
Bravo burgundy cardstock (#105123, $5.50)
Christmas Cocoa DSP (#116770, $9.95)
Versamark pad (#102283, $7.50)
Silver Stampin' emboss powder (#109131, $4.75)
Heat tool (#100005, $29.95)
Many Merry Messages (#116586, $34.95)
Silver elastic cord (#109866, $4.95)
Champagne mist shimmer paint (#116806, $5.95)
Ornament punch (#116794, $15.95)
Stampin' dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)

Thank you vase

Hello! What beautiful fall weather we are having! It's November and 50 degrees - it's darn near winter here in Texas. :)

If you missed the stamping night tonight, you missed this card. I thought it really turned out well. I love the textures from all of the textures plates. The ornament punch has so many uses! For this card, I snipped the pointy end off and made a short, fat vase. You could also narrow the wide curves to make a skinnier vase. What else can you do with that punch?


This card featured the following supplies:
Kraft cardstock (#102125, $7.50)
Ruby red cardstock (#102030, $5.50)
Chocolate chip cardstock (#102128, $5.50)
Very vanilla (#101650, $7.50)
Autumn Days (#115452, $23.95)
Teeny tiny wishes (#115370, $36.95)
Word window punch (#105090, $15.95)
Ornament punch (#116794, $15.95)
Always artichoke stampin' pad (#105219, $5.95)
Autumn Traditions DSP (#115668, $9.95)
Texturz Plates Kit #4 (#114531, $9.95) - I used the Distressed plate
1/16" Circle punch (#101227, $8.95)
Linen tread (#104199, $4.50)
Stampin' sponge (#101610, $3.50)

Thankful, grateful, appreciative

I love autumn. I love the colors and I love Thanksgiving. November and December are my favorite holiday months of the entire year. This card is a sneak peek for my November Bring a Friend Stamping Night tonight at my house.

In this card, I used the following supplies:
Dusty durango cardstock (#115321, $5.50)
Crushed curry cardstock (#115319, $5.50)
Very vanilla cardstock (#101650, $7.50)
Autumn traditions DSP (#115668, $9.95)
Sanded (#109294, $17.95)
Soft suede Stampin' pad (#115657, $5.95)
In colors Stampin' write marker set (#116329, $17.95) - I used crushed curry and dusty durango out of the set)
Stampin' sponges (#101610, $3.50)
Soft Suede polka-dot grosgrain ribbon (#115612, $9.95) - this is double sided and I used the non-printed side (so versatile!)

In Honor of My Grandfather

I don't have a crafting post today. Instead I just want to honor my grandfather again. His name is Thomas - but I've called him "D" all my life. I was the first grandchild and everyone I knew called him "Uncle T" but I couldn't say "T". The name D stuck and that's how everyone knows him today. Thank you to all of the veterans. Your sacrifice is great.

It's a Berry Christmas

Here's another card I made this last weekend. I think it looks a little like a window with a curtain valance above. The little bird is popped up on dimensionals.

Supplies I used for this card:
Real red cardstock (#102482, $5.50)
Close to Cocoa cardstock (#101341, $5.50)
Christmas Cocoa DSP (#------, $9.95)
Whisper white (#102851, $7.50)
Real red grosgrain ribbon (#109034, $4.95)
Close to cocoa stampin' pad (#103139, $5.95)
Green galore stampin' pad (#102122, $5.95)
Gable green stampin' pad (#101673, $5.95)
Glorious green stampin' pad (#103040, $5.95)
Real red stampin' pad (#103133, $5.95)
Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
Scallop edge punch (#112091, $15.95)

Blessings and Autumn Days pheasant

To all the veterans - both retired and active service, at home and abroad - thank you. I appreciate your sacrifice. To the families of veterans, your sacrifice and support is so important. Thank you. I'm participating in my first blog hop on Saturday. It is in honor of Operation Write Home, a blog that sends mail to military members around the world and whose main mission is to provide them with homemade cards to send to their loved ones. Keep checking back. I'll have a few special creations to share in my little corner of cyberspace. After the blog hop, my cards will be sent to Operation Write Home and mailed to military heroes around the world. Are you interested? Be sure to check out their blog and find out how you can get involved.

This card is very much out of my comfort zone! The sketch is very different than one I would normally make. Roy really liked this card and a some of the details I included. It is one of the few masculine cards that I've made lately. I need to make more of these!

Supplies I used for this card:
Soft suede cardstock
Very vanilla cardstock
Crushed curry cardstock
Rich razzleberry cardstock
Autumn Traditions DSP
Crushed curry stamp pad
Soft suede stamp pad
Dusty durango stamp pad
Brads
Paper piercing tool and Mat pack

You only live once

Here is another card that I created last weekend. It doesn't really look how I envisioned it, but I think I like it.

The items I used are:
Very vanilla cardstock
Basic black cardstock
Watercolor paper
Basic black stamp pad
Melon mambo stamp pad
Crushed curry stamp pad
Aquapainter
Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

I spent the afternoon today downstairs in the scrapbook room. I'll be showing you these cards throughout the next several days. The first was quick and easy and used a new toy - the Movers & Shakers die!
To make this card I used:
Whisper white cardstock
Melon mambo cardstock
Christmas Punch stamp set
Movers & Shakers die
Curly Label punch
Green galore stamp pad
Whisper white grosgrain ribbon

This card uses the Movers & Shakers die with my Big Shot.The die has a magnetic piece (one that exactly matches and coordinates with the curly label punch) that attaches to the larger die. It makes that curly label punch place-able anywhere you want on the card. It's great to have that flexibility! Do you know what's even better? I got my Movers & Shakers die for $10! It is regular $42.95, but when you place a workshop order of $250 or more, you can choose any item in the Holiday Mini for only $10. What item do you want? Contact me if you'd like to hostess a party (your home or mine) or have a book party (collect orders - and your free gifts!).

MDS Christmas Album

Happy Sunday (though I'm pretty late to be saying that!). I didn't post earlier, so I wanted to give you something I haven't shown yet. I'm working on an album that covers the past year starting at Thanksgiving and going through this Thanksgiving when I hope to be finished with the entire album. I'm going to print it and give it to my father for Christmas this year. It will be my first album to print, but I received in the mail the MDS card I had printed. It is amazing! The quality is fabulous, the cardstock thick, and the colors true. Here is one of the pages that will be in the album.

Grandfriends' Day and One of My Favorite Fall Cards

Today was Grandfriends' Day at Eliza's school. Every year my mother makes a point to be there and this year was no exception. There is always Muffins with Grandfriends, followed by the musical presentation, followed by the classroom tours and the book fair. My mother never goes to Muffins because the grandparents who do don't get seats in the gym (or they have to sit really far away). The musical program always features each lower school class singing, the middle school and upper school choirs, and is fabulous. The fine arts program really rocks! This year the second graders learned Psalm 100 to recite today. Here is Eliza in her classroom just after reciting her Psalm 100. Unfortunately, I can't get this thing right side up. Sorry!


I was going back through some of my all-time favorite creations and I found this card. It uses the Loads of Love stamp set that is absolutely precious and so versatile! Even though I made this card last year and used a DSP that is now retired, isn't it great how Stampin' Up! offers us great papers year after year? I've used the set for Valentine's Day, Christmas, and just a nice masculine card. I love all the things you can do with it!

Traveling Veterans' Memorial Wall

Not crafting related but life related. On Wednesday of this week, the Traveling Veterans' Memorial Wall made its way to Wood County. The truck carrying the wall is traveling around the country to celebrate veterans from all wars throught American history. Hawkins ISD was the first stop as it made its way to all the schools in the county. We are a small district (about 750 students) and we occupy a single property with three separate school campuses. Each campus turned out to line the street. The truck was escorted by county sheriff trucks, local fire trucks, local police, and a volunteer veteran motorcycle group. On hand were the oldest living veterans in the county serving as the grand marshals of the "parade". The elementary sang "America" and there was a brief presentation by the city mayor. The entire procession lasted less than 30 minutes, but it was moving. If you are interested, the wall is set up at the Mineola Civic Center until Saturday and is free to all who wish to visit.

Special Decor Elements Offer

I promised yesterday that I would offer a special Decor Elements bonus. If you attend my November Bring a Friend night on Monday, November 16, you will be able to make a project using Decor Elements that I will not feature at any other class. It will be fast and easy so you can see just how simple it is to include these in your home decorating and crafting. Best of all, the project will be FREE!

And I have an even better special than that! If you bring a new (to me) customer to the Bring a Friend night, you will get 10% off your order on that night. How can it get better than that? Be sure to RSVP and let me know you are bringing a guest so I can have all of the supplies cut and ready for you.

Check out my calendar on my demonstrator website and see the classes coming up. Reserve your spot today!