Around the Corner

It really is around the corner. I'm liking that Christmas Day is in the middle of the week. Though it's a bummer for people work M-F, it seems to be taking some of the stress away for me. I keep thinking I still have 4 days to get stuff done. Thankfully, I've managed to be on top of things.

I never did find my cards, but I was able to make 15 new ones and this is one of the newbies.
All of my cards were mailed yesterday, so even the two I have going to New York will arrive by Tuesday.

Stampin' Up red glitter paper and Gina K luxury white for the base. I used a SU set for the sentiment and the border. Real Red ink from SU also and red pearls from my stash. The wars are all from various sized punches. 

So friends, don't wait until Monday to finish up your shopping or baking. That day should b the day you relax and just begin to enjoy.

Hugs & Blessings,

Erica

Christmas Packaging for Church Volunteers

Hi everyone.
I've been super busy with baking cookies, and quick breads, helping my dd with a Bible Study Party and of course, making cards and packaging. I lead a 20 or so mixed group of teens and adults who are responsible for our church pre-K children's ministry. We never know from one week to the next what to expect. But we keep serving. My little awesome group deserves a little something, so I got these ready to give out Sunday along with home-baked cookies.

Since I get easily bored making the same old thing, I couldn't stick with one kind of packaging, so I ended up with quite a variety including paper mugs, paper bags, and chipboard boxes. Each contains some anti-bacterial hand-soap, (an item we use a lot of with little ones), Godiva chocolates and Twix, or Milky Ways, or...you get the pic. I'm aware the teens will probably toss the packaging, but I'm hoping they'll at least show their moms before they do.

We don't have a card ministry, choosing instead to send out store-bought cards. We are a rather a large membership, but I'd so love to get a group of gals doing this once in awhile. I am praying about the logistics and for the courage to actually approach leadership with my ideas.

So, now it's on to wrapping presents...my least fave thing to do, and preparing my Christmas dinner menu.

God Bless.
Erica

The Ten Days of Christmas

Why, you ask? Well, in about that number of days, I will be plumb tuckered out.
I won't want to make another Christmas card, bake another loaf of cranberry bread, scoop another ball of dough onto a cookie sheet, shop for another present, wrap another present, you get the picture.
So, I'd better be done. Since I have never found even one of the 22 Christmas cards I made, having hidden them from my paper and tape runner loving' cat, it's time to get going on some new ones.
These will be considerably more simple. The good news is I managed to take pics of about five cards and here is the first one.

I'm also going to take a chance and toss this card into the challenge at QKRStampede.blogspot, where I hope my bit of gold won't dis-qualify me. Red is the more dominant color I think.
I wouldn't have known about this challenge if I hadn't been checking my fellow team-mate at
Simply Create Too, Mian. She designs for QKR also. Busy and talented crafty lady.

Then there's Less Is More, one of my favorite simple card challenge blogs. I am submitting hoping the base color, white, does not count as a third color, but instead as a foundation color. If it's not, they'll let me know. I used gold paper for the square fancy die cut.

It's on Gina K's luxury white base cs and is embossed with a Stampin' Up folder. The gold metallic paper from my stash is die cut/embossed with a Nestie. The glitter star is made with SU's new red glitter paper and die cut with a Stampin' Up Sizzix die. Rather easy to put together, so I may re-do a few of these.

I am half-way through my shopping. I am not a huge fan of Christmas, so gift cards come in handy. I like to give 'em, and I like to receive 'em.

Have a great weekend. And don't let yourself be stressed.

Blessings,
Erica