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Proud to be a "Two Star" Mom

Proud to be a "Two Star" Mom
I'm very proud to have a son in the Air Force and a son in the Army. My husband and I are both retired Navy types and know the sacrifices being made by our active servicemembers. Please pray for our troops!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Brrr, it's so cold around here...I think I saw a Serene Snowflake





Well, the weather outside may be frightful but the snowflakes on this candy jar sure look nice to me! I used the stamp set, Serene Snowflake from the Holiday Mini to stamp these jars with white StazOn ink and then put a circle of red designer series paper inside so the snowflakes would show up better. On the lid I punched out a snowflake with the snowflake punch and layered it on a white circle so it would show up better. Inside are those delicious "melt in your mouth" Peppermints. Can you believe that I had NEVER tasted those before this season? I got some to use for goodie bags and thought they would taste like regular hard peppermints, like the kind they have in a dish by the door as you leave restaurants. Nope, not even close! These are wonderful! And they look cute in the little jars, too.


Just in case you are wondering where I got the jars, they are spice jars and I love the way they lean forward just a bit so you can see the lid. I found them at a store in Chicago when I was there visiting my sister a few years ago and have been hoarding them ever since! Yes, I'm "one of those people" who buy things and then can't stand to use them because then I wouldn't have any in case I think up something cute to do with them. You don't even want to know what the storage closet under the basement stairs looks like...but I was pleased with the way the jar turned out.


When stamping on glass with StazOn, be sure that you are not stamping on any surfaces which will come into contact with food. I stamped on the outside of the glass which had been cleaned well with an alcohol swab, be sure to let it dry thoroughly before stamping. It doesn't take long to dry and will give you beautiful results!!! Jan



Sunday, December 6, 2009

Craft Fair project #1 Peppermint Patties--blog candy!




This is a close up of one of the simple projects I did for a craft fair this past week-end at the YMCA in O'Fallon, IL. Not sure whatever possessed me to want to do a craft fair but it was a lot of fun even though it was a bit stressful getting ready!





So, these are the typical "scalloped circle peppermint patties"...hard to see with the glare from the cello bag but the snowmen are stamped on a white circle which is then layered on a black scalloped circle, both are inside the cello bag and the "bag topper" is made with a diecut from the Sizzix Big Shot Top Note die which was cut out and then folded in half lengthwise leaving plenty of room to stamp the cute little snowman family from "The More the Merrier". I love those guys! They remind me of a smaller version of the snowman family from a long ago retired stamp set called Flaky Friends. Anyway, I will confess that I used my Stampamajig stamp positioner to make sure I had enough room to stamp the "warm winter wishes" sentiment on the top right corner....I'm not usually a SAMJ gal but it beats having lots of "do-overs".



Just in case you didn't know, The More the Merrier is a Level 3 hostess set in the current catalogue...if you want to find out how to get one of these for free please contact me and I will give you the scoop on the many options for hosting a Stampin' UP! party and earning free hostess sets.


Quite a few of these little baggies sold at the craft fair, however I still have some left so I am going to offer up some blog candy. You don't have to do anything drastic to win this one, no essays or anything strenuous, just post a comment about the project and you will be entered for a random drawing for this. Be sure to check back with my blog for the winner to be announced on Wednesday, Dec 9th. I will post the winner then wait for contact info so I can mail out the prize. Thanks for checking in...and I hope you like Peppermint Patties! Jan

And the snowman coaster blog candy winner is....

Phyllis Freese! Phyllis, please e-mail me your mailing address so I can get this cute little snowman in the mail to you, ok? And if you are wondering why you were the winner, I have to say it's because you said that you loved snowmen because when you were teaching it meant that you got a day off too....since I have volunteered in my kids' classrooms in past years (many many years past...my youngest is in college) I know that I could never in a million years last for 10 minutes in the classroom. So, you win the "essay" contest hands down and thank you for your years of service teaching in the trenches...er, I mean the classroom. ;-) Just e-mail me at inkerzaway@aol.com with "mail my prize to..." and I will get it in the mail for ya! Jan

p.s. sorry I have been silent for a few days, between the Thanksgiving holiday and scrambling to get ready for a craft fair this week-end I have been laying low. BUT I took pictures of all the stamped projects I had at the craft fair and I will be sharing them in the days ahead. Thanks for your patience.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Simple Seasonal Snowman coaster tile blog candy




Isn't he adorable??? I never thought I'd find another snowman who could take the place of my beloved Frosty but this snowman is the closest I have come so far. Stick with me to the end to find out how you can win one of these cute coaster tiles for yourself!

This guy looks huge in person...and he is pretty good sized! He's in the current Holiday Mini and the set is called Simple Seasonal Thanks....the image comes with a kid's thank you note included in the middle of his tummy but I carved it right out when I mounted the image so I can use it when I want it but easily omit it if I don't. Much easier than trying to avoid inking it up, don't you think?

Anyway, stamping this big guy on cardstock is a bit challenging because he pretty much takes up the whole card and if you miss you could end up with a headless snowman...or an amputee if you miss on the other end? But since the tile in only 4"x4" there is no way the whole image is going to fit so I stamped just the top portion of him. Instead of trying to place the stamp on the tile and position it well, I turned the snowman rubber side facing up and inked it with Black StazOn ink then took the tile and pressed it onto the image so he would be placed approximately where I wanted him. He might be listing a bit to one side...that's Navy talk for leaning...sorry, the Navy terminology sometimes slips out, what can I say? I'm retired Navy, you know!

After I stamped him in black, I colored him in with craft inks and a blender pen which worked out just great....the coaster has to be heat set to be permanent but that's easy enough. His empty belly looked a bit ...well, hungry? Definitely empty! So I created a set of buttons which match his hat and scarf to fill in the space.... looks much better than coal, doesn't it?

So, this particular coaster is all gussied up in a cello bag with a ribbon and gift tag because I donated four of these coasters for a Scott Air Force Base spouses' group fundraiser auction last week called the annual "Make It, Bake It or Fake It" luncheon. Members bring items that are handmade, home baked OR cute and/or tasty store bought items and put them out for the "auction". Hopefully all of my little snowmen went to a good home but just in case they were all wrapped up ready to use as a cute gift for coworkers or friends.

I will be making some more of these coasters to sell at a craft fair coming up on December 5th at the YMCA in O'Fallon, IL....so if you are in the area, please come by the Y for the event and stop and say hi. Of course, if you want to make some of these great little coasters for yourself don't wait too long as the Simple Seasonal Thanks stamp set in the Holiday Mini is only guaranteed to be available thru Jan 4th. I am crossing my fingers that he will show up in the next catalogue but you just never know!
And now the blog candy info! Please leave me a comment here on my blog about why you like snowmen and I will choose one of the entries to go to a loving home on December 1st. This will not be a random draw, I will actually be reading these! If you don't want to take a chance on missing out on the snowman, why not visit my Stampin' UP! storefront at http://www.janhoyt.stampinup.net/ and tuck this little snowman into your shopping cart, don't forget to check out the amazing Holiday Extravaganza sale (up to 50% off many bundles of SU product! I picked up some great corduroy buttons for half price and some of the beautiful striped grosgrain at a great price as well) and the Clearance Rack tomorrow while you are waiting for your Thanksgiving turkey to bake. I will even e-mail "coaster stampin' instruction sheet" as a thank you gift for all online orders placed between now and the end of the Holiday Mini if you just drop me a note and request it.

Hope that you all have a very happy Thanksgiving and a little free time to stamp over the week-end! Jan

Monday, November 23, 2009

Wow! what a sale!

They have been hinting around about it for weeks but today Stampin' UP! announced the details of the big Online Holiday Extravaganza sale which will run for the week of Thanksgiving. So much easier to order online and snap up great deals than to get up at "zero dark thirty" the day after Thanksgiving and stand in long lines to go shopping!

I haven't figured out how to get the info copied from the website to my blog....darn technology!!! But if you would like to visit the Stampin' UP! website, the info is all there on the customer home page or let me know and I will e-mail the details to you. The important part is that you don't want to miss checking out this sale....some items are as much as 50% off! And while you are there, don't forget to stop in and take a peek at the "Clearance Rack" items. I've got my eye on a bundle of striped grosgrain and some corduroy buttons...things I alwasy think I should order but for some reason don't. With these prices, I have no excuse!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Flaking Out with Serene Snowflakes

Here, at last, is the third and final card for my upcoming Simply Stampin' class at the O'Fallon Public library scheduled for Thursday, Dec 17th from 12:00 noon to 3 PM.



This card couldn't be easier! A single layer card made with nothing but a half sheet of Whisper White cardstock, stamped with Brilliant Blue and voila! You have a simple card which is definitely easy to mass produce.



The Serene Snowflakes stamp set is available through Jan 4th in the 2009 Holiday Mini brochure. If you would like to attend the class, just let me know or register by calling the O'Fallon Public Library directly.



Thanks for stopping by to take a look, please feel free to leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Jan

p.s. if you haven't checked out the amazing "Black Friday" sale currently going on over at Stampin'UP! you don't want to miss it! I am taking advantage of the striped grosgrain ribbon and corduroy button packages for sure! My online storefront has absolutely no waiting in line and here's my address! (saying that makes me feel like I am advertising for an auto sales dealership..,.lol!) http://www.janhoyt.stampinup.net

Scenic Season...in a snap!






Here is part 2 of my upcoming Simply Stampin' library class projects for Thursday, December 17th. This card uses a new set in the Stampin' UP! Idea book (otherwise known as the "big catalogue") called Scenic Season. It's a beautiful Christmas scene but leave off the Seasons Greetings sentiment and it's appropriate for any winter card.

I inked up the image with Always Artichoke then used a sponge dauber to wipe the green ink off the little bird and the sentiment and went over them again with my Real Red marker to lend a bit of color and make the bird and
sentiment stand out.

This image is just beautiful all alone but equally fun to layer with additional colors of cardstock...and what's a winter scene without a bit of glitter to make the snow sparkle???

If you are interested in making this card, please let me know via comment or e-mail or contact the O'Fallon Public Library directly to register. You will make this card plus two others including envelopes for $5. The class runs between 12:00 noon and 3 PM but the projects don't take that long to finish so show up anytime before 2 PM and you will finish no problem! Thanks for stopping in to take a peek! Jan










Acetate Candy box

Acetate Candy box
A sweet treat for a bridal shower

March '08 stamp club project

March \
Tart & Tangy stamp club

Jon & Angie's Bridal shower card

Jon & Angie\
World's quickest card, but kinda cute!