Yep! I'm Still Alive!!

Wow! It's been more than two months since I've posted! Unbelieveable! I'm surprised I even remember how to navigate this site!

Now, it's not like I've just been twiddling my thumbs this whole time. It's just that after having carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, one in October and one in November, I've had to prioritize activities, and things involving typing had to be put very close to the bottom of the list. I could only manage 2-3 lines before it felt like I had run a marathon. Typing one-handed got real old, real quick!

I still managed to keep my obligations to my stamp clubs, there are a fair amount of holiday decorations around my house, and "caramel season," the period from the end of September until Christmas Day, went off without a hitch despite all the concerns from my family. Don't ask about my Christmas cards--I'm afraid that might be one area I'm just going to have to let go this year.

Huh? What's that?? You're not familiar with the part of the holiday time called "caramel season?" That's where a particular pot in my house never gets to see its spot in the cupboard because it's always working on yet another batch of the homemade caramel that we give as gifts this time of year. My kids are in high school, yet a few of their favorite elementary school teachers still see a package of caramels this time of year--and I'd probably hear about it if we neglected them! Of course, favorite current teachers receive some as do my husband's office staff, my stamp club members, friends, neighbors and family members. In all I packaged up about 80 gifts. And somewhere along the line, I decided that I just wouldn't be happy if I didn't present all those caramels in those cute "Santa buckets" that were all over Splitcoast in November. Yep, I made 80 of those buggers! And I'd do it again too--because they're just so darned cute. I love the dotted-ribbon suspenders.

This is just a portion of the "army," as my son called them, of Santas we had here.
Each holds about 3/4 lb. of wrapped caramels in a cellophane bag. I can wrap caramels in my sleep, and by the end of the "season," I could almost assemble "Santas" that way too. My husband felt he had done his part for the "cause" because he helped empty beverage cans so I could use the tabs for the belt buckles. Thanks, Honey.


Besides holiday gifts, I've also been working on swaps that use sets and accessories from the upcoming new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration Mini Catalogs.

This one uses sets from the Occasions Mini, "Butterfly Accent," "Fine Flourish," and the Jumbo wheel, "Very Vintage." The wheel is a great one for turning regular cardstock into "faux" Designer Paper. I ran the wheel in different directions for each color so the pattern was a little more varied. Additional supplies include the "Sincere Salutations" stamp set, the scallop square Big Shot die, Very Vanilla taffetta ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds glitter and 2-Way Glue, along with Rose Red, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Basic Black and Vellum cardstock.

I've got 3 more swap designs that I'll share in the days to follow. See you then!