A snowman for January.......

Good morning!

In December each year I don't do cards at my workshops..... we make calendars!  They are 4x4 in size & are connected with jump rings & stand up nicely on your desk or counter, etc.  I have many customers that join me for this annual event & make one calendar for themselves, while many customers make multiple calendars & give them as Christmas gifts!

Here is my January 2013 calendar!

'Button Buddies'- snowman

'Winter Memories'- words

'Jolly Bingo Bits'- snowflake

cs:  Real Red, Whisper White, Bashful Blue

ink:  Black Stazon, Bashful Blue

marker:  Real Red

supplies:  1 3/4" circle punch, Marina Mist 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, glue dot, dimensional

Today Brody goes to Iowa City for a brain MRI.  It was a year ago on Sunday, (12/9) that he had his surgery.  WOW- how fast the past year has gone & how blessed we all are.  What a special little boy Brody is.  He is a true blessing!  You'd never know from looking at him, nor by his actions can you tell that anything was every wrong with him- other than the helmet he now wears to protect his skull/brain until his bones close in.  We will see what path we will be going down next.  I pray that all is well.  I am hoping that he doesn't need another surgery, but if he does I hope that he can get it done sooner than later & onward we will go!  Brody has an amazing Dr. Menezes, for which we are all so very thankful for him & his awesome team!  Please keep Brody in your prayers.  Prayer is so powerful!

It is just Drake & me today!  He stayed over night with us last night since Brody had to be in Iowa City early this morning.  Papa is home today for a change- so he'll come in from the farm to eat lunch with us.

Tonight I will be meeting my gals from my IC group to deliver their stamps.  Deke is going to go with me & we are going to do some Christmas shopping.  I haven't bought anything yet.  And time is nearing that I must get alot done!

I hope you have a blessed day!

Happy Stamping!

SUSIE 

Our Boys!

Grandma tried to take a picture of the boys today to put into my New Years card......what a task! Brayden was great! He was so much help! The twins on the other hand were going in different directions- literally. It was quite comical! I did get one picture of them that wasn't too bad....I'll use it if I don't get a chance to take another one. We had a FUN day all together! Here is one of the cute pictures I got of them!

Our day together!

 

Drake, Jordan, Barbie, Brody, me, Beckie, Jackie & Julie

My mom takes us 4 girls to Pella every year to the tour of Christmas homes.

It is one day a year we are all together.

As our girls have gotten older- some of them join us from time to time.

And this year the twins got to come along too!
It was a great time last Friday!
Thanks Mom!  
Love ya,
SUSIE

What a pretty package!!

Good morning!

Here is a pretty package!  I love the BOW!  And check out the tag.....it is created with one of the hostess stamp sets- 'Christmas Wishes' from the Holiday Catalog.  Wouldn't you like to get a package from someone that looked like this!

'Christmas Wishes'
cs:  Naturals White, Real Red, Polka Dot Parade designer paper
ink:  Old Olive
supplies:  Linen Thread, Merry Minis punch pack (star), Basic Rhinestones, Old Olive 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, glue dots, dimensionals, paper piercing tool & mat pack

(This package was on our display board at convention last July!  Someone is pretty creative!)

I am looking forward to today.......Brayden is coming to spend the day with the twins & me.  He hasn't been here for almost 2 weeks & told his mom last night that he missed us & needed to come spend the day with us- so we are looking forward to our day together!  Papa has meetings all day, so won't be around.  It will just be my boys & me!  I am hoping to get a picture of the 3 of them for our New Years card......we'll see how that goes!  Wish me luck!

Hope you have a great day!!
Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

A beautiful wreath card

Good morning!  

This beautiful wreath card was created by my downline Dawn Klein for a shoe box swap that we did at our last downline meeting.  

I just love it!!

Dawn is an awesome friend & stamper!

'Daydream Medallions' & 'Petite Pairs'

cs:  Real Read, Old Olive & Whisper White

ink:  Old Olive & Real Red

supplies:  Big Shot, Floral Framelits, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Petals A Plenty embossing folder, 1 1/4" circle punch, White Organza ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, dimensionals, glue dot

 Today every spare minute I have will be finishing up cutting my last Christmas card kit for a customer and working on getting all of my 2013 calendars stamped that I will be giving as gifts to family & friends.

 When the boys leave tonight I will be out the door to be a farmer & help Deke.

As we sell hogs tonight.

I got my box of new Occasion Catalog things late last week & I haven't even had time to go through the boxes & look at stuff yet. 

I have an "Iowa Inkers" downline meeting here on Saturday with the girls that have signed up as a demonstrator directly under me.

I can't wait to find time to play & created with new things to get to share with them!

Have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

'Lovely As A Tree'......I love this stamp set!

Good morning!
OH.....this is an oldie but a goodie.  I so love this stamp set for any season.  It is one of my all time favorites. 

'Lovely As A Tree' & Loving Thoughts'
cs:  Cajun Craze, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso & Naturals Ivory
ink:  Early Espresso & More Mustard
markers:  Early Espresso, Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze
supplies:  dimensionals

This is the thumping technique.
 

 WOW!  What an amazing weekend of stamping with many ladies!

Thanks to those of you for coming to stamp with me this past week & make calendars!

I am exhausted though......you wore me out!

I think today will be a sweatsuit day of nothing but catching up on laundry & playing with the boys.

Tomorrow I'll get back to work.

Hope you have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

A photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus!

Another pretty birthday card.....

Good morning!

Here is another birthday card......it is the same as the one that I shared with you yesterday.  But it is just different colors!  

'Beautiful Birthday'
cs:  Midnight Muse, Whisper White & Baja Breeze
Patio Party designer paper
ink:  Midnight Muse
supplies:  Elegant Butterfly punch, Basic Pearls, dimensionals

Yesterday was a fun day, but exhausting!
Lots of ladies came to make calendars & stamp with me.
I'm glad that so many came.
 
Today I'm stamping with Heather & Darla & all of their friends!

I can't wait to share!!
They have a big group coming!

I'm off to finish cutting card stock, then packing up, then load my car & off I go!

Hope you have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!

SUSIE

A pretty Birthday card.....

Good morning!

Here is a pretty Birthday card.  It is so simple, yet elegant.

'Beautiful Birthday'
cs:  Rose Red, Crumb Cake
Floral District
ink:  Rose Red
supplies:  Basic Pearls, dimensionals, Elegant Butterfly punch, Champagne Shimmer Mist spray

 Today I have my annual 2013 Calendar class at my home.

I will have a house full of ladies here coming & going all day long to create their calendars.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone & spending my day with them.

Hope you have a fabulous day!

Happy Stamping!

ENJOY!
SUSIE

Some photos to share......

I'm catching up on pictures that I just got downloaded off of my camera. 

These pictures were taken last Saturday night when Brayden stayed with us!  We sure had a fun evening!  Here he is putting a Red Glimmer Star on the top of our tree with Papa's help.  He just insisted that I have a star on the tree!  And red is his favorite color.....so he was thrilled when he helped me make this star out of our SU! Glimmer 12x12 paper.  

When they were done decorating the tree they built log houses.  There were lots of precious memories made.  I loved the giggles, smiles & cheering when they were creating these masterpieces.  And I can't forget the sighs of disappointment when it fell over & they had to re-build the tall building a couple of times!  So fun!

Here is their TOWN!

Oh- and Brayden says I can't forget to show you the garage over on the other side of it, where his pick-up is parked.

*********************

We have a family tradition of my mom taking us girls to Pella to Tour the Christmas Homes.
Today was our day to do that!

As our children have gotten older some of the girls have joined us.

This year 2 of my nieces (Jackie & Jordan) went along.

And the twins went with us too.

It was a very nice day spent with my family!

Here is a picture of the twins with Jackie & Jordan.

'Perfectly Preserved' apple

Good morning!  This set is so neat.....I love the jar!

'Perfectly Preserved' & 'Sassy Salutations'
cs:  More Mustard, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple
Orchard Harvest Designer Paper
ink:  Early Espresso, Raspberry Ripple, Lucky Limeade
supplies:  Big Shot, Cannery Framelits, Lucky Limeade Bakers's Twine, Scallop Edge Ribbon Border, dimensionals

 I am running late this morning.

Late night of stampers last night & trying to get house picked up & back in order as boys will soon be here.

I am off today to spend the day with my sisters, my mom & 2 nieces.

We are doing our annual Pella Tour of Homes.

The twins are going with us.

HOPE we have a fun day!

Drake had a fever & little fussy yesteray from his shots he got on Wednesday.

Brody is fine!  They didn't seem to bother him afterwards.

Have a great day!!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

Merry Mini's in a jar.....

Good morning!
 
At Founders I got a cool card similar to this from Mary Ellen.  It is such a neat idea to showcase so many cool items from the Holiday Catalog. 
 
This was one of my Fall STYC projects.  Everyone loved using the Paper-Piercing Pack to go around the inside of the scalloped oval.  And check out the Merry Minis punch pack with the Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Paper.

Note:

The Scallop Oval punch is punched out of the card front & the words are stamped on the inside Real Red card stock piece.
 

 'Petite Pairs' & 'Perfectly Preserved'

cs:  Real Red, Crumb Cake & Very Vanilla

Candlelight Christmas Specialty Designer Paper

ink:  Early Espresso

supplies:  Big Shot, Cannery Framelits, Merry Minis punch pack, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, dimensionals, glue dot, Scallop Edge Border punch, Scallop Oval punch, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper Piercing tool, Mat pack

Yesterday afternoon Manda met me at the clinic so that the twins could get their 15 month shots. 

Poor little guys- they each got 3 shots.

It wasn't fun!

Felt so sorry for them.....they both cried pretty hard.

Hope that they slept ok last night & are feeling ok today.

Tonight is Stampin' Night at our home.

I have a full house of ladies coming to join me.

I'm so EXCITED to stamp with everyone that will be joining me.

Everyone will be making a 4x4 Chipboard 2013 Calendar!

(Or maybe more if they are making some for Christmas gifts!)

The calendars are adorable!

I can't wait for everyone to come stamp with me.

Deke is gone again to meetings all day.

(He has 3 meetings alone just today!)

So the boys & I will be home alone again for lunch.

Have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

Awwh......perfect for a chilly day!

Good morning!

Here is another simple 'Scenstational Season' mug card.

'Scensational Season' & 'More Merry Messages'
cs:  Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White
ink:  Real Red, Basic Gray
supplies:  Big Shot, Holiday Collection framelits, rhinestone, dazzling diamonds glitter, 2 way glue pen, dimensionals

I really like this stamp set!
 
I THINK that all of my boys are finally over that darn bug they have had!

YIPEE!

Yesterday was a beautiful day outside!!

It is hard to believe that is December.

But I'm lovin' this weather & sure not going to complain.

The boys & I went on a walk & they played outside for a bit.
We all needed the fresh air.

Deke & I put up garland & ice cicle lights on our porch right before lunch too.
Happy to have that task done, as wasn't sure we were going to get it done this year.

Deke is gone the rest of the week for meetings, so it is just the boys & me.

I am cutting & cutting & cutting card stock every spare minute I have for my calendar classes.

 I am home all day & all evening today- so pray I get lots done.

Hope you have a great day!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE

UPDATE: 12/6/12- THESE KITS ARE NOW SOLD OUT!

 

You can buy a kit to make 10 of these ornaments for only $14.95!

WOW!
Just in time to make them for Christmas! 
Here are the contents.....

Let it Snow, Let is Snow, Let it Snow.....(later this winter)

Good morning!
These guys are usually familiar faces here in Iowa, but we've been blessed with an amazingly nice fall.  I love snow, but hate working outside in it.  It is just so much extra work doing the chores on the farm when we have snow.  If we'd just get a little snow for Christmas Eve- that would be enough for me.  We do need the moisture though for our pond- so whatever form of moisture mother nature blesses us with will be I guess.  

'Frosty Friends' & 'Teeny Tiny Wishes'
cs:  Crumb Cake, Midnight Muse, Whisper White
ink:  Black Stazon, Midnight Muse
supplies:  Big Shot, Chevron embossing folder, Midnight Muse Stitched ribbon, Word Window punch, blender pen, various markers, dimensionals, glue dot

 Brody is feeling so much better; Drake isn't sick to his stomach any more & his fever is gone, but now has the diarrhea; poor Brayden isn't sick to his stomach any more but still has a fever.  He will never want to come stay with the twins & I since he got sick from them.

Darn this bug.....hope it goes away soon.  I feel so bad for all of my boys.  It is not fun when you want to make them better & can't do anything.  We still spent lots of time rocking yesterday.

We sell hogs tonight.  Steven has to come help us as they are on the outside lots & it takes more than 2 of us to be able to sort them.  Hope they sort good.  At least the weather won't be bad out.

Just want until you can see the NEW OCCASIONS CATALOG!
(It starts on January 3,  2013!)

As a demonstrator I can pre-order new products the month before customers can start buying them.  I did an order last night for some of the NEW OCCASIONS CATALOG.  Oh my gosh.....there is TONS of neat new things in it!!  I can't wait to get my order & find time to create.  I have my downline Christmas party on the 15th & the gals on my team will get to spend the afternoon with me playing with new products!  They will all go home with lots of new ideas!  I am looking forward to seeing them & stamping!

Would you like to come stamp with me on the 15th?  
I'd love to have you come be part of my team!
If you'd like to join my downline team ("Iowa Inkers")- now is a great time!

You get $120 worth of products of your choice for $99 plus tax.
(business supplies- catalogs, order forms, etc are included too.)

PLUS until 12/16- Stampin' UP! is giving you a FREE set of ink pads too!
You can choose Regals, Subtles or Brights.
Yes a whole set- 10 ink pads for FREE! 
WAHOO!!!
You can sign up right from my SU! website site.
www.susiewood.stampinup.net 
Click on JOIN NOW in the upper right hand corner.
It is so easy!
You can contact me for more information on this.

Have a great day!!

Happy Stamping!
ENJOY!
SUSIE