Good bye 2015

I can hardly believe it is the last day of 2015!  I hope you all have had a wonderful year filled with the Grace of our Loving Heavenly Father.  We have seen God work in wondrous ways.  We are thankful for every joy and trial along the way to make us more like Him!
Dale and I are still vacationing in AZ with my sister and her hubby.  We started out yesterday with a workout at the gym and pool - some of us were more sore in the morning than others,  but doing it all together made it fun!
After that we decided to go to Tortilla Flat.  Rich heard that the saloon there was famous for their hamburgs. After a 2 hour ride AND THEN a 40 minute ride up a winding, narrow mountain we finally arrived. The funny part is - it is called The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine.  With Dale and Rich both being dutch, as well as the majority of my community, it struck a funny bone.

(below) Canyon Lake, AZ

Along the winding path there is beautiful scenery.  The landscape is peppered with a variety of Cactus.  And we stopped occasionally to get a photo.  

These are the 2 handsome dudes that we get to spend our time with!!

The point of destination is only about the length of a football field and people were flocking in to eat at this unique restaurant. 

The walls are "papered" with dollar bills.  Rich counted that on this one wall alone there must have been $1,500.00.

 It is like an old west town, but the size of a small outdoor mall strip.

There is a cute gift shop where I picked up post cards to send to the kids, and a treat shop with yummy ice creams AND - their specialty Prickly Pear Gelato.  I was the only one that dared to try the Prickly Pear Gelato and boy is it yummy!  What is Prickly Pear?  It is the fruit that grows on this style cactus

Here is how they will look come spring time when the fruits blossom (photo from willaustin.photoshelter.com on google) I would hate to be the one who harvests these fruits, let alone peeling them.

The gelato tasted something like a blend of strawberry and raspberry - YUM!  Others say it is a blend of bubblegum and watermelon.  Either way - I'm hoping to find some more locally during our stay here.

Then there was the winding narrow mountain road to go back down the opposite way, but this time on dirt roads that had a washboard effect - bump, bump, bump for at least 1 hour!  Yikes! so thankful when the roads turned to pavement, but the scenery was absolutely worth it!

Here is a reminder of the VACATION SPECIAL that I am having while I am away!
Just as I promised, I am having a special deal for all of you while I am on vacation. I have noticed that the one thing you all like best is FREE SHIPPING - so here you go!!
*When you place a minimum $50.00 on line order, I will reimburse you the shipping cost when I arrive home.  Be sure to NOT check the NO CONTACT box or I will not be able to contact you. My previous special remains through January 4th when the Year End Sale ends... Place a minimum $35.00 order and you will get a package of 5 hand stamped greeting cards.  (just keep in mind - in order to get in on the FREE SHIPPING your order needs to be a minimum $50)

Today is the last day of December, therefore the last day of 2015, therefore it is the last day to 
use this HOSTESS CODE: PVGSWS6T   If your order is over $150.00 then do not use the Hostess Code because you will receive the Stampin' Rewards for yourself (10% of sales) - Sounds like a good deal! 10% of Free product and free shipping from me.
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED
On January 1st I will be posting a new HOSTESS CODE. 
*We will be gone through January 7th so that is how long I will run this special.
Want more bang for your buck?  Sale a bration starts on January 5th and for every $50 order, you get to choose one FREE item from the Sale a bration brochure.  I will post those links when they are available.
BUT if you don't want to miss out on the Year End Sales and the great products in the Holiday Catalog, you will want to get those purchases made by January 4th.
*I will keep this at the beginning of each days post so you won't miss out on my vacation deal.
I added an extra incentive: Everyone who places a minimum $50 on line order until January 7th will go into a drawing to win a December Paper Pumpkin Kit. Check my previous post to see the video on the December Paper Pumpkin Kit.
Thanks for stopping by!
Christi

Pin It Now!

January Classes Sneak Peek

We are having a great time already in Arizona! Thankful for all the prayers on our behalf because the weather was super nasty driving to Chicago.  Took us almost twice the amount of time to get there, but we did arrive safely for which we are extremely grateful!  We saw a couple dozen spin-offs or accidents along the way.  We feared our flight would be canceled, but the weather cleared up enough that our flight was on schedule and we were excited to meet up with my sister and her hubby.  I thought we would be staying in a condo - but NO - we got a whole house together.  Check out our home for the next 8 days (or so)

We took a nice long walk around our neighborhood and found out how they decorate for Christmas here in Arizona - how fun!

Just as I promised, I am having a special deal for all of you while I am on vacation. I have noticed that the one thing you all like best is FREE SHIPPING - so here you go!!
*When you place a minimum $50.00 on line order, I will reimburse you the shipping cost when I arrive home.  Be sure to NOT check the NO CONTACT box or I will not be able to contact you. My previous special remains through January 4th when the Year End Sale ends... Place a minimum $35.00 order and you will get a package of 5 hand stamped greeting cards.  (just keep in mind - in order to get in on the FREE SHIPPING your order needs to be a minimum $50)

Please use this HOSTESS CODE: PVGSWS6T through December 31st.  If your order is over $150.00 then do not use the Hostess Code because you will receive the Stampin' Rewards for yourself (10% of sales) - Sounds like a good deal! 10% of Free product and free shipping from me.
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED
On January 1st I will be posting a new HOSTESS CODE. 
*We will be gone through January 7th so that is how long I will run this special.
Want more bang for your buck?  Sale a bration starts on January 5th and for every $50 order you get to choose one FREE item from the Sale a bration brochure.
*I will post that info when it is available.*
BUT if you don't want to miss out on the Year End Sales and the great products in the Holiday Catalog, you will want to get those purchases made by January 4th.
*I will keep this at the beginning of each days post so you won't miss out on my vacation deal.
On yesterday's post I added an extra incentive: Everyone who places a minimum $50 on line order until January 7th will go into a drawing to win a December Paper Pumpkin Kit.

Sneak Peek for the January 2016 Stamp a Stack Classes.  This is just one of the cards you will be able to make using one of the NEW stamps available starting January 5th called FLOWERING FIELDS.  In fact this is just one of the stamp sets that you can get FREE with a $50.00 purchase during Sale a bration. (January 5-March 31)

Check out the adorable embellishment called BOTANICAL GARDEN JEWELS.  SO STINKIN' CUTE!
HERE ARE THE DETAILS FOR JANUARY'S CLASSES: I still have a couple kits available.

JANUARY 2016 Classes

Stamp A Stack Class

Do you need a stack of cards for all occasions? This is the class for you! In this class you will be making 8 different All Occasion Cards.

Cost for this class is $12.00 or FREE with a purchase*

Pre order or Pre Pay for your class and receive a small gift from me.

Saturday, January 9^th at 10 am or

Monday, January 11^th at 7pm or

Wednesday, Juanuary 13^th at 10 am

*minimum purchase $25.00

Please bring your adhesive along to this class.

Please RSVP by 7:00 PM the evening before any class

Projects Class

This class will vary month to month, this month we will be doing 3 PUNCH ART projects

Tuesday, January 26^th, 7 PM

I take special requests if there is something you would like to learn specifically

*Minimum purchase $25.00

Please bring your adhesive along to this class.

Please RSVP by 7:00 PM the evening before any class

COME STAMP WITH ME TUESDAYS

Every Tuesday between 10 AM and 5 PM you are welcome to come stamp with me.  There will be a variety of card stations open and you can stamp as many or as few as you want/need.  Each week will be different.  COST: only $1.50 per card

ALL DAY SCRAPBOOKING EVENT
Saturday, January 23, 9am-6pm
Need a time to set aside to get your scrapbooking done without outside hindrances?
Need a nice BIG working area to let your creative juices flow?
Love spending time with other ladies who enjoy scrapbooking?
Then this is the event for you!
WHEN: Saturday, January 23, 2015
TIME: 9 am to 6 pm (Come when you can leave when you must)
WHERE: Christi's Craft Room 4845 Summergreen Ln, Hudsonville, MI
COST: $25.00
INCLUDES: Lunch, Beverage, and all the paper products needed for your lunch and snacking time.
WHAT TO BRING: Your scrapbook supplies, and a snack to share
RSVP: by Monday, January 18, 2016

Thanks for stopping by!

Christi

Card inspired by Amy K

Pin It Now!

December's Paper Pumpkin

Scroll down for some Paper Pumpkin inspiration and another great deal!
Just as I promised, I am having a special deal for all of you while I am on vacation. I have noticed that the one thing you all like best is FREE SHIPPING - so here you go!!
*When you place a minimum $50.00 on line order, I will reimburse you the shipping cost when I arrive home.  Be sure to NOT check the NO CONTACT box or I will not be able to contact you. My previous special remains through January 4th when the Year End Sale ends... Place a minimum $35.00 order and you will get a package of 5 hand stamped greeting cards.  (just keep in mind - in order to get in on the FREE SHIPPING your order needs to be a minimum $50)

Please use this HOSTESS CODE: PVGSWS6T through December 31st.  If your order is over $150.00 then do not use the Hostess Code because you will receive the Stampin' Rewards for yourself (10% of sales) - Sounds like a good deal! 10% of Free product and free shipping from me.
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED
On January 1st I will be posting a new HOSTESS CODE. 
*We will be gone through January 7th so that is how long I will run this special.
Want more bang for your buck?  Sale a bration starts on January 5th and for every $50 on line order you get to choose one FREE item from the Sale a bration brochure.
*I will post that info when it is available.*
BUT if you don't want to miss out on the Year End Sales and the great products in the Holiday Catalog, you will want to get those purchases made by January 4th.
*I will keep this at the beginning of each days post so you won't miss out on my vacation deal.

December's Paper Pumpkin Kit was pretty cool and I am going to share mine with you.  Here is a video to watch

It's a very cool - simple to make, desk calendar!!  I was able to put mine together (as instructed) in less than one hour.  Better yet - I bought an extra kit and one lucky winner will get this Paper Pumpkin Kit. How will that happen?  Everyone who places an online order while I am on vacation will have their name put in a drawing.  On Friday, January 8th I will pull one name and the winner will get my extra kit.  Don't need a cute little desk calendar? The winner will also get ideas sent via email for alternative ideas.  The papers are so very pretty and will make beautiful card fronts.
Here is one example by Jason Loucks.
Don't want to miss another month of Paper Pumpkin for yourself?  Click HERE to subscribe.  You can subscribe monthly, or save a little bit of cash by getting a 3 month, 6 month or 12 month subscription.  You certainly will not be sorry.  Everyone in my group of subscribers will receive a PDF of several exclusive alternative ideas for the kits.

Thanks for stopping by!
Christi Pin It Now!

Vacation Deal

Just as I promised, I am having a special deal for all of you while I am on vacation. I have noticed that the one thing you all like best is FREE SHIPPING - so here you go!!
*When you place a minimum $50.00 on line order, I will reimburse you the shipping cost when I arrive home.  Be sure to NOT check the NO CONTACT box or I will not be able to contact you. My previous special remains through January 4th when the Year End Sale ends... Place a minimum $35.00 order and you will get a package of 5 hand stamped greeting cards.  (just keep in mind - in order to get in on the FREE SHIPPING your order needs to be a minimum $50)

Please use this HOSTESS CODE: PVGSWS6T through December 31st.  If your order is over $150.00 then do not use the Hostess Code because you will receive the Stampin' Rewards for yourself (10% of sales) - Sounds like a good deal! 10% of Free product and free shipping from me.
CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED
On January 1st I will be posting a new HOSTESS CODE. 
*We will be gone through January 7th so that is how long I will run this special.
Want more bang for your buck?  Sale a bration starts on January 5th and for every $50 order you get to choose one FREE item from the Sale a bration brochure.
*I will post that info when it is available.*
BUT if you don't want to miss out on the Year End Sales and the great products in the Holiday Catalog, you will want to get those purchases made by January 4th.
*I will keep this at the beginning of each days post so you won't miss out on my vacation deal.
Now if these great deals aren't fun enough - here is some inspiration for you.  A fun Elsa card made using the DRESS UP (retired) Framelits.

So glad we get to escape the cold of Michigan even though it has been a mild winter already.  Can you say "Green Christmas?"
Thanks for stopping by!
Christi
card inspired by Aurore Bideau

Pin It Now!

Sentimental Sunday

This is an exciting day for us because it is just ONE MORE DAY before we leave on vacation! Today will be filled with church services, dismantling the Christmas Tree and scrubbing some carpets, and packing, of course!  What makes this vacation so special?? It is a gift from my sister and her husband!  WOOT! WOOT!  We will be heading to Chicago in the morning and catching an airplane to Arizona on Tuesday morning where we will meet up with my sister.  This is the card that I made for them as a thank you.  This is what we might be seeing outside our window for the next 10 days

I guess it all depends on where our condo will be located.  I used the paper crimper for the paneling and some retired Designer Paper for the wall paper.  The Hearth and Home window frame was stamped with the HARDWOOD stamp. I googled pictures of Arizona for what I put outside my window.

*Check out my blog post tomorrow to see the deal that I will be sharing with you while I am away - It's a good one!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christi

Pin It Now!

Sweet Saturday!

Today is the day that the kids will all be over to celebrate Christmas together... I just LOVE IT!!  Last night we spent time with my parents over dinner and watching the HOLIDAY INN movie.  But just because it is Christmas time doesn't mean everything else goes on the back burner - so this past week I was asked to make a cake for a bridal shower.   My only instructions were white with silver. What do you think?

 Silver sprinkles on the borders and iridescent sprinkles on the top.

 Simple, yet elegant.  Not bad for a last minute order!!

Congratulations Andrea and Jordan!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christi

Pin It Now!

Merry Christmas

No business today - just Merry Christmas Wishes to you all!!

From my heart to yours -

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christi

Pin It Now!

More Beautiful Christmas Cards and Lovely Gifts

More beautiful Christmas Cards and lovely gifts from friends.  

Thank you ALL!! 

Don't forget about the Year End Sale going on - 

They added some more items to the list - So check out the List again HERE

REMEMBER: until January 4, 2016 for every online order of $35.00 or more I will send you a Thank You note and a pack of 5 hand stamped greeting cards.  When ordering please use this Hostess Code: PVGSWS6T  (a new Hostess Code will begin on January 1st)

Also check out the WEEKLY DEALS for Dec 22-28

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Fabulous NEW YEAR!!

Christi

Pin It Now!

Christmas Cards for the Grandkids

I saw this cute idea on a Paper Pumpkin Fan Club Facebook page and just had to duplicate it best that I could.  I do not have a Cricut Machine so I found a Clip Art of Olaf, printed it out and fussy cut it out to attach to the front of the cards.  I used the elements from the November Paper Pumpkin Kit for the card.

                           

 And all because of a smudge I had to add a snowball to the card - liked it so much that I added a whole snowball fight!! (using the Dazzling Details Glimmer Paper)

I had an small sized Olaf leftover so had to make a 3x3 note for Gracie's lunch box

December Online Hostess Code PVGSWS6T  is good through December 30th.  Don't forget to get in on the Year End Sale

And check out the list of Retiring Product before it is too late.

Thanks for stopping by!
Christi Pin It Now!

Christmas in Heaven

December Online Hostess Code PVGSWS6T  is good through December 30th. Don't forget to get in on the Year End Sale
                                           
And check out the list of Retiring Product before it is too late.

This past week I attended the funeral of a dear lady who lived a wonderfully full life for 101 years. How exciting that she gets to spend this first Christmas in Heaven.

 I dare to say that I am just a bit jealous.  In honor of this dear lady I will share a Sympathy Card that will be out at today's COME STAMP WITH ME class.  If you live in my area I would love to have you pop in and stamp with me.  I have 4 stations set out with cards to make and this is just one of them.

My dear uncle is also celebrating his first Christmas in Heaven this year.  Such sorrow and joy intermingled.

                           

Thanks for stopping by!

Christi

Pin It Now!

Christmas Cards

With Christmas right around the corner I thought I would share with you some beautiful handmade Christmas cards that I received this year.

 This is the best time of the year to get mail that is NOT a bill!! Love getting cards a catch-up letters from friends and family.
December Online Hostess Code PVGSWS6T is good through December 30th. Don't forget to get in on the Year End Sale

And check out the list of Retiring Product before it is too late.
                                         
Thanks for stopping by!
Christi

Pin It Now!