Christmas Thank You's

I hope you enjoyed the holidays and had some time to relax with loved ones. I took some time away from creating (to clean my craft/kitchen table) and to cherish this sweet season.

I was blessed with some very thoughtful gifts this year and wanted to send out a few Thank You notes. I chose a few elements and then put them to work making a set of cards to pop in the mail. I am rarely attentive to how much sassy stuff I pile on a card, but I wanted these to be easy to mail. I'm typically a 'more is more' kind-of gal but I do love the result I got from these two designs.... and I especially love the hint of Christmas from the color scheme.

Of course, I'm most thankful for my two little sweeties.

Wanted to share my joy with you:

Stamps: Musical Backgrounds - WaltzingMouse; PTI - Mat Stack 1 collection (sentiment) Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede and Basic Gray; PTI Vintage Touch - Chamomile Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake and Riding Hood Red; PTI Rustic Cream Patterned Paper: BasicGrey's Wassail collection Tools/Dies: Fiskars - Upper Crest Punch; PTI - Mat Stack 1, Peace Be Still (dove), Double-ended Banners, Lg. Scalloped border, Heart Prints dies Ribbon: PTI - Chocolate Baker's Twine; Stampin' Up - Kraft satin (retired)

Thank You Tags

Time for something simple and sassy. I wanted to whip up some cute tags for items I'm popping in the mail to crafty friends. Just so happens that in my own mailbox this week I received Royal Mail from WaltzingMouse Stamps and I could not wait to ink 'em up and take 'em for a spin. It's a tiny sampling, but it will take the edge off until I can play again... I've got a million Christmas projects/presents to complete!

These little numbers are also going into several weekly challenges. Here are the deets:

• WaltzingMouse: Sketch Challenge #25. I'm eeking in under the wire to submit this one, but Claire posts a new challenge each Saturday and gives out PRIZES! Woot!
• Pals Paper Arts - My 'alma mater' and a place dear to my heart filled with good pals. They're hosting a Color Challenge this week that is SO fun!
• Our Creative Corner: Tag You're It is the theme this week - how could I resist?

See you soon!

Stamps: WaltzingMouse: Chrysanthemums, PTI Studio Style; Ink: SU Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss (retired), and Chocolate Chip; Cardstock: SU Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, and Real Red; Patterned Paper: PTI It's Official; Tools: SU 1.75" and 1" circle punches, PTI Limitless Layers dies and Tag Sale #1 die, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch; Sassy Somethings: Kaiser rhinestones

Birthday Binder

I am so excited to share this project with you today - I'm proud of it! My mom is such a wonderful friend to me and she is so supportive and excited about everything I create. This Birthday Binder is just for her and will be packaged up with several other handmade goodies this holiday. (Stay tuned throughout December for the coordinating items and other gift-giving ideas.)

I added a pocket to the inside front flap for envelope storage. The measurements for this pocket are: 4.5" x 7". I plan to add the date and sweet sentiment to the top square.

I personally think these little binders + calendars have a lot of potential and could be a happy home to lots of things... coupons, receipts, photo storage, etc. - definitely not just cards. I can't wait to whip one up for myself... hope you are inspired by it too!

P.S. I popped this over at Wee Memories - such a simple challenge this week: Use ribbon. Tie a bow on and join them! ;)

Stamps: All PTI: Mother, YOF Violets, Text Style I, Fancy Flourishes (inside), Calendar Basics; Cardstock: PTI Ocean Tides, SU Very Vanilla textured; Patterned Papers: SU Perfect Plum Patterns and Cottage Wall (retired), PTI Pretty Pastels; Tools: PTI Lg. Scallop Border die; Sassy Somethings: PTI Ocean Tides felt and Spring Moss satin ribbon, SU So Saffron buttons and Basic Pearls

Cupcake Chic

Glitter and rhinestones and buttons... ohh my! And don't forget the doily and wrinkle ribbon. I'm just head over heels for all the special (and sassy) somethings on today's card. The color combo is inspired by the current challenge at The Play Date Cafe. Initially, I was stumped... grey, brown, and silver. What's a girl to do? Break out the glitter, of course. ;)

On a side note: My Kitschy Kitchen card for last week's Play Date Cafe challenge was chosen for the Fab 4. Thanks, gals! I just love to play at the cafe!

I'm also popping this in over at Crazy 4 Challenges. They're using script backgrounds this week... such a versatile element that can be bold, or in this case, very subtle. See you again soon!

Stamps: PTI: Signature Series Cupcake and die, Text Style, sentiment: Friendship Jar and label die; Paper: Making Memories, SU Kraft and Chocolate Chip, PTI Rustic Cream; Sassy Somethings: wrinkle ribbon from Etsy: Prairie Bird Boutique, PTI buttons

Couch Day

Are you ready for the ultimate "Couch Day" - Thanksgiving? (Side Note: I wish I could have a pink couch. That would be so sassy and chic!)

Just wanted you all to know that you are in my thoughts as the holidays approach. I'm grateful for so many people that are part of my daily life - and that includes my 'blog-land' sassy stampers.

I also think you should know that I entered this fun little card over at Wee Memories - their challenge is PINK this week. I {heart} all things pink.

Stamps: PTI On My Couch and additions + coordinating die, Fillable Frames #8 and die; Paper: SU Not Quite Navy, Rose Red, PTI Rustic Cream, Crate Paper Restoration collection kit; Ink: SU Chocolate Chip and PTI Vintage Touch

Kitschy Kard

I'm totally a Modern Homemaker. Domestic Diva. Mommy Extraordinaire. I'm also pretty darn sassy, but you already knew that. The new Modern Homemaker collection from October Afternoon makes my heart pitter-patter... serious love. It is PERFECT combined with the new What's Cookin'? stamps from Taylored Expressions. A match made in housewife heaven. And since I was playing with my new TE goodies, I also thought I should participate in their Sketch Challenge: #134.

My color combination was inspired by The Play Date Cafe. So whimsical and fun!

What are your favorite challenges? I'd love to know some great places to play! Enjoy your weekend... we'll be prepping for our Thanksgiving travels and cooking up lots of goodies for the road.

Stamps: Taylored Expressions: What's Cookin'?, PTI: Round and Round; Patterned Paper: Modern Homemaker by October Afternoon; Tools: PTI: Mat Stack 1, Limitless Layers Circles, Lg. Scallop Border die; Sassy Somethings: SU Playground buttons (retired), PTI Simply Chartreuse felt

Just Leaf It (or not)

When my hubs walks through the door tonight and asks me "What did you do today, honey?" I am going to spare him the embellishment drama that I created for myself with this fancy card. I'll tell him that I ran the dishwasher twice and that Abigail ate the bathtub crayon, but I'll try to leave out how I took this card apart approximately 19 times and changed the embellishment. From a snowman, to holly leaves, felt snowflakes... the list is long. In the end, I still can not decide: leaves or no leaves? You choose.

Here's the scoop on challenge submissions:

• 2 Sketches 4 You - I utilized the fantastic sketch.
• Caardvarks - Die Cuts. The large star and accordion medallion were both made with PTI dies.
• Wee Memories - The challenge this week is to stop hoarding your patterned paper... my October Afternoon was begging to be used. I have a thing for cute little houses... serious LOVE.

Stamps: All PTI: Wreath for All Seasons (sentiment), Peaceful Poinsettia, Fancy Flourishes; Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip and Soft Sky; Cardstock: SU Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red; Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Very Merry and PTI Distressed Dots; Tools: PTI Limitless Layers Circles and Seeing Stars dies, Fiskars Upper Crest punch; Sassy Somethings: SU striped grosgrain, PTI Harvest Gold button

Ahoy, Sailor.

A fun baby card for a bouncing baby boy. I love so many of the elements on this card but my favorite is probably the ric-rac waves. I've been trying to give a lot of thought to 'theme' lately - using less products and creating cohesiveness by repetition... I seem to get a cleaner result.

I've got a little stockpile of projects ready to share with you, and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of participating in challenges. Plus, we MUST have a Sassy Season of holiday goodies on the way, right? ;)

Stamps: PTI Bitty Baby Blessings, SU Woodgrain Background; Paper: SU Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, and Bashful Blue; PTI Rustic Cream and Distressed Dots; Tools: PTI Mat Stack 3 and Large Ric-Rac dies, 1 3/4 Circle Punch; Sassy Somethings: PTI Fine Linen Buttons and Orange Zest Topnotch Twill

Mojo and Me

Mojo Monday and me... long lost friends.

Tap, tap... is this thing on?? After a year of hiatus from blog-land, a NEW baby boy, and 'retirement' from Stampin' Up! there may not be anyone out in cyber space that remembers little 'ole me and my Sassy Stampin' ways, but I missed YOU and this fabulous creative outlet we share.

Some changes:

• Sassy Stampin' will no longer be Stampin' Up only. I'm going to revel in the freedom of fabulous products from LOTS of different companies.
• Short and sweet (and sassy, of course) is the name of the game... if you have a question about a technique or project feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

Stamps: PTI On My Couch + Additions and Dies, SU Frames w/ Flourish; Paper: SU Afternoon Tea, Ski Slope; Accessories: PTI Fine Linen Felt, SU Soft Sky Ribbon, PTI Lg. Ric-Rac Die