Mixed Bunch Card Sample

This beautiful card idea came from Melissa Davies. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to use it for my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp so everyone could try out the new paper doily, as well as the new stamp set and the Adorning Accents Embossing Folder. Although it was tedious to punch out all of the "hanging chads" from the doily, everyone agreed it was worth it! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The recipe is below. To order these amazing products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Very Vanilla - 11 X 4-1/4; Very Vanilla - 4-1/2 X 4-1/4 (for the doily); Very Vanilla scrap; Cherry Cobbler scrap Stamps: P.S. I Love You; Teeny Tiny Wishes; Mixed Bunch Ink: Cherry Cobbler Miscellaneous: Paper Doily Die; Big Shot Machine; SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Dimensionals; Blossom Punch; 3/4" Circle Punch; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Modern Label Punch; Adorning Accents Embossing Folder; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Paper Piercing Tool

Apothecary Art Card Sample

This beautiful card idea came from Patti Willey. It was a perfect way to let everyone use the new stamp set, the Labels Collection Framelits, as well as the Adorning Accents Die and coordinating Adorning Accents Embossing Folder. We made this card at my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp. It was a huge hit! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The recipe is below. To order these fabulous products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Very Vanilla - 10-1/2 X 5-1/4; Baja Breeze - 5-1/4 X 4-3/4; Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 4-1/2 X 4; Very Vanilla - 4-1/4 X 3-1/4; Very Vanilla - 4 X 1-/2"; Baja Breeze Scrap; Old Olive Scrap Stamps: Apothecary Art; You Are Loved (retired) Inks: Basic Black; Old Olive Marker; So Saffron Marker; Baja Breeze Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Pinking Hearts Border Punch; Adorning Accents Edgelits; Adorning Accents Embossing Folder; Big Shot Machine; Labels Collection Framelits; Stampin' Dimensionals; 1-1/4" Square Punch (for the banner); Stamp-a-ma-jig; Itty Bitty Punch Pack Flower; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Mini Glue Dots; Old Olive Satin Ribbon - 17-1/2" long; Scissors; Blender Pens

Fresh Vintage Notecard Sample

I got this great card idea from Dawn Olchefske. This is one of the notecards we made at my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp. There's a little bitty pearl in the center of the flower on the postage stamp that just makes this card! What a wonderful way to use your designer series paper scraps and get a stunning card! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The recipe is below. To order these great products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: White Notecard; Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 5 X 1-1/4; Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 5 X 1/2"; Poppy Parade Scrap; Very Vanilla Scrap Stamps: Fresh Vintage Inks: Poppy Parade; Soft Suede Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Scallop Square Punch; Postage Stamp Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Stampin' Sponge

Fresh Vintage Notecard Sample

I got this wonderful and elegant idea from Dawn Olchefske! I truly love our notecards. They come 20 to a packet, are already scored, and come with envelopes. Because they're smaller than a typical card, they're quick and easy in case you need something fast! We made this notecard at my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp. It looks good no matter what color you stamp it in! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The recipe is below. To order these products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now."

Recipe:

Paper: White Notecard; Whisper White Scrap

Stamps: Fresh Vintage; Sincere Salutations

Ink: Basic Black

Miscellaneous: Designer Frames Embossing Folder; Big Shot Machine; Wide Oval Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals; Stamp-a-ma-jig

Fresh Vintage Card Sample

I'm just REALLY loving this stamp set and can't get enough of it! This is one of the cards we made at my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp. I know I found this sample on Stampin' Connection, but I'm not sure who the original creator was. SORRY! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! To order these great products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Soft Suede - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; Pool Party - 5-3/8 X 4-1/8; Soft Suede - 2-7/8 X 1-3/4 (3); Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 2-3/4 X 1-5/8; Very Vanilla - 2-3/4 X 2-1/8; Soft Suede - 2-7/8 X 2-1/4 Stamps: Apothecary Art; Fresh Vintage Inks: Soft Suede; Pool Party Marker; Poppy Parade Marker; Peach Parfait Marker; Lucky Limeade Marker Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Chantilly Crochet Trim - 17-1/2" long; Scissors; Everyday Enchantment Brads; Mini Glue Dots; Stampin' Dimensionals; Cutter Kit

Apothecary Art Card Sample

This is a card I got from my good friend Jenny Peterson. I thought it was beautiful, so I chose it as one of the cards we'd make at my "Wonderful Things the Occasions Mini Brings" Camp Wannastamp! You can rest assured, Jenny, that everyone else thought it was beautiful, too! All supplies used and shown are from Stampin' Up! The recipe is below. To order these wonderful products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Soft Suede - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; Soft Suede - 5-1/4 X 4; Daffodil Delight - 5 X 4; Pool Party - 4-1/2 X 1-5/8; Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper - 4-1/4 X 1-1/2; Soft Suede Scrap; Very Vanilla Scrap Stamps: Apothecary Art; Wonderfully Worn Inks: Soft Suede; Daffodil Delight; Versamark; Soft Suede Marker Miscellaneous: Stampin' Dimensionals; Stampin' Sponges; SNAIL Adhesive; Pewter Embossing Powder; Heat Tool; 1-3/8" Square Punch (for the banner); Decorative Label Punch; Extra Large Oval Punch; Rhinestone Jewels; Paper Snips; Labels Collection Framelits; Big Shot Machine; Pool Party Seam Binding Ribbon - 19" long; Scissors; Mini Glue Dots; Hair Pick (for the fork bow); Stamp-a-ma-jig; alcohol in a spray bottle (make your fork bow and completely saturate it with alcohol. Scrunch it up in your fist to get wrinkles - a super vintage look!)

Elegant Lines Valentine's Day Card Sample

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU! I have a very good friend, Judith Walker, who is an amazing homemaker, seamstress, cook, and paper-crafter. She absolutely loves working with her hands. She is very particular and meticulous and she creates masterpieces like this when she works! She sent me this lovely Valentine's Day card and when I opened the envelope, I was breathless! It is stunning to see this card in real life. She scored lines down the top layer so she'd know right where to sew those hearts on. Don't you agree this is a masterpiece? It reminds me of a quote by John Ruskin: When love and skill come together, expect a masterpiece. I am so proud and lucky to have one of Judith's masterpieces! Happy Valentine's Day to YOU, Judith. You have a beautiful heart, my friend, and your masterpiece has melted mine!

P.S. I Love You Card Sample

This is a card template that I use over and over again. You can dress it up, dress it down, make it playful or elegant, change the card stock and ribbon colors and you'll have a winner every time. I used the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder and the Hearts Collection Framelits on this card. I hope you like it!

Fresh Vintage Card Sample

Here's a lovely card for you to enjoy today! I got this wonderful card idea from a demonstrator friend, Patsy Waggoner. I love the stamp set, I love the Designer Series Paper, and I love this card! I can't believe what joy stamping can bring me! Just making a cute card gets my day off on the right foot and all is right with the world! Thanks, Patsy, for touching my world today!

Tagtastic Card Sample

I was so excited when I received this card in the mail! Concord Crush and Melon Mambo really POP when you use them together - and you don't receive many "purple" cards, so this was a hit with me! My recruit and friend, Benedicte Richard, sent me this card and I'm so happy to have it! Thank you, Benedicte, for making my day with your kind note! You are SPECIAL, my friend!

Fresh Vintage Home Decor Sample

One of my favorite things to do with my stamp sets is to create home decor items. It's such an inexpensive way to decorate a shelf or mantel and one more way that you can get your money's worth from the stamp sets you've invested in. I'm totally in love with the Sale-A-Bration set "Fresh Vintage" and I thought it would look lovely in this frame. I used Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Peach Parfait, and Poppy Parade markers to ink up the stamp. This is sitting on my fireplace mantel and now I feel all dressed up! Stamps, inks, and card stock do me a world of good - and they can for you, too! To order these impressive products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Your fireplace mantel will thank you!

Take it to Heart Card Sample

I love how girly-girl this card is. I saw a card very similar to this made by Connie Collins quite a while back and I changed it to use our current products. This would also make a great wedding card, anniversary card, baby card, or even a thank-you card or birthday card. You simply ink up your brayer with our Vanilla Craft Ink and roll it ever so gently across the embossing. The ink sticks to the raised portions of the embossing, creating a very elegant look! We made this card at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day. The recipe is below. To order these elegant products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now."

Recipe:

Paper: Pink Pirouette - 11 X 4-1/4; Pink Pirouette - 5-1/4 X 4; Very Vanilla scrap (for the hearts); Very Vanilla - 3 X 1/2"

Stamps: Short & Sweet; Take it to Heart or P.S. I Love You

Inks: Very Vanilla Craft; Pink Pirouette; Basic Black

Miscellaneous: Stampin' Dimensionals; Big Shot Machine; Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder; Brayer; Sticky Strip; Victoria Crochet Trim - 12" long; Scissors; Full Heart Punch; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Stampin' Sponge; Pearl Jewels; SNAIL Adhesive

Valentine's Day Purse Treat Container

Things such as this make me EXTREMELY happy! I absolutely adore making 3D items and I'm so pleased with how this one turned out. I got this wonderful pattern from Angie Juda and thoroughly enjoyed making it into a Valentine's Day treat container. If you follow the templates and then join the two insides together, with the Sticky Strip being on the bottom, all of the other Sticky Strip pieces end up being right where they should be! We made this treat container at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day. The recipe is below. To order these wonderful products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now."

Recipe:

Paper: First Edition Designer Series Paper - 8 X 5-1/2 (2) - score at 2" on three sides; Basic Black - 4-1/8 X 2-3/4 - scored in the center on the 2-3/4" side; Red Glimmer Paper scrap; Very Vanilla scrap

Stamps: Petite Pairs; You're My Type

Ink: Black

Miscellaneous: Sticky Strip; Scallop Edge Border Punch; Basic Rhinestone Jewels; Paper Snips; Basic Black Satin Ribbon - 15" long; Scissors; Chocolate Kisses; Full Heart Punch; 1/16th-inch Hole Punch; Linen Thread - 5" long; Mini Glue Dots; 1" Circle Punch

Totally A-maze-ing Card Sample

How playful and fun it is to make a card that can also be a game, too! This is a card we made at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day. Don't worry that someone will look at your card and then put it away - they'll end up spending hours trying to get those little silver balls into the center! The recipe is below. To order these fun products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Poppy Parade - 11 X 4-1/4; Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 5-1/4 X 4; Poppy Parade - 4 X 2; Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper - 4 X 1-1/4; Pool Party scrap; Very Vanilla scrap; Poppy Parade scrap Stamps: Totally A-maze-ing Inks: Poppy Parade; Soft Suede Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; 2-1/2" Circle Punch; Maze Game; Sticky Strip; Paper Snips; Stampin' Dimensionals; Scallop Edge Border Punch; Poppy Parade 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon - 10-1/2" long; Scissors; Linen Thread - 5" long; Word Window Punch; Small Heart Punch; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Paper Piercer with Mat

Outlined Occasions Card Sample

Chris Smith

A puffy heart? Yes, the Hearts Collection Framelits make it possible! This is a card we made at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day. The recipe is below. To order these wonderful products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Very Vanilla - 11 X 4-1/4; Pretty in Pink - 5-1/4 X 4; Very Vanilla - 5 X 3-3/4 Stamps: Outlined Occasions Inks: Basic Black; Real Red Marker; Pretty in Pink Marker Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Hearts Collection Framelits; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Adorning Accents Embossing Folder (the hearts); Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon - 14-1/2" long; Linen Thread - 4" long; Trinket Hearts; Big Shot Machine; Scissors; Stampin' Dimensionals

Petite Pocket Valentine's Day Treat Container

If I received this adorable treat container, I would NEVER want to remove the candy because it's so cute just the way it is! This is a treat container we made at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day using the Petite Pocket Die with the Big Shot. Cute, cute, cute! The recipe is below. To order these fun products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Cherry Cobbler - 11 X 4-1/4; Whisper White scrap; Clear Cellophane Bag (to cover the heart so you can see the M&Ms inside!) Stamps: P.S. I Love You Ink: Cherry Cobbler Miscellaneous: Petite Pocket Die; Hearts Collection Framelits; Stamp-a-ma-jig; pen; Paper Snips; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; 1" Circle Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals; M&Ms (about 12); Big Shot Machine; Cherry Cobbler Twine - 32" long; Scissors

Designer Cuts Card Sample

Robin Merriman

This is another fabulous card made using the Designer Cuts in the Occasions Mini Catalog. We made this card at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and also at my Top Picks Day! The recipe is below. To order these wonderful products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Designer Cuts - cut down to 5-3/8 X 4-1/8; Blushing Bride - 8-1/2 X 5-1/2; Twitterpated Designer Series Paper - 5-3/8 X 2 Stamps: Loving Thoughts Ink: Basic Black Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Sticky Strip; Scissors; Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon - 5-3/4" long

Designer Cuts Card Sample

When I saw the new Designer Cuts in the Occasions Mini Catalog, I just had to have them. I love creating an elegant and beautiful card quickly and easily, and the Designer Cuts help you do exactly that! This is a card we made at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and also my Top Picks Day! The recipe is below. To order these products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now."

Recipe:

Paper: Designer Cuts; Very Vanilla scrap for the flower

Stamps: Loving Thoughts

Inks: Soft Suede (it also looks beautiful sponging the flower in Blushing Bride, too!)

Miscellaneous: Boho Blossoms Punch; Mini Glue Dots; Stampin' Sponge; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Stamp-a-ma-jig

Big Shot Valentine's Day Card

I'M LOVIN' THIS CARD! Anything white on white or vanilla on vanilla is something I know I will love. I saw a card similar to this several years ago and saved it in my favorites to bring out at some point in the future - and this was the right time! This is one of the items we made at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp and my Top Picks Day. It is so soft and sweet and would be suitable for so many different occasions. The recipe is below. To order these fabulous products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe: Paper: Whisper White - 10-1/2 X 5-1/4; Whisper White - 4-1/4 X 4-1/4; Whisper White - 4-1/4 X 2-1/4; Whisper White - 4-1/4 X 1; Whisper White - 3 X 3 (for the heart); Whisper White - 2 X 2 (for the flower); Whisper White scrap (for the small flowers) Stamps: Outlined Occasions Inks: Basic Black; Blushing Bride Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Stampin' Sponges; Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate; Eyelet Border Punch; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Finial Press Embossing Folder; Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder; Boho Blossoms Punch; Pearl Jewels; Paper Snips; Stampin' Dimensionals; Hearts Collection Framelits; Big Shot Machine; Blossom Party Die; Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon - 4-3/4" long; Scissors; Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack; Sticky Strip; Mini Glue Dots

P.S. I Love You Love Notes

You already know that our notecards are one of my favorite accessories. With the pleated ribbon, the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, and the P.S. I Love You stamp set, I couldn't resist making some love notes with a matching case. We made this project at my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp. The recipe is below. To order these great products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Recipe:

Paper: White Notecards with Envelopes; Blushing Bride scrap; Whisper White scrap; Twitterpated Designer Series Paper - 5 X 1-1/4; Baja Breeze - 12 X 1-1/4" (for the case)

Stamps: P.S. I Love You; Teeny Tiny Messages

Inks: Basic Black; Pear Pizzazz; Island Indigo; Riding Hood Red; Blushing Bride; Baja Breeze; Pear Pizzazz Marker; Blushing Bride Marker; Riding Hood Red Marker; Basic Gray; Basic Black Marker Miscellaneous: SNAIL Adhesive; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Basic Rhinestone Jewels; Paper Snips; Sticky Strip; Hearts Collection Framelits; Big Shot Machine; 1-3/8" Circle Punch; 1-1/4" Circle Punch; Stampin' Dimensionals; Clear Case; Riding Hood Red Pleated Ribbon - 5-1/4" long; Pear Pizzazz Pleated Ribbon - 5-1/4" long; Baja Breeze Pleated Ribbon - 5-1/4" long; 1/16" Hole Punch; Linen Thread - 5" long; Blushing Bride 1/2" Poly-Stitched Ribbon - 19" long; Scissors

Mocha Morning Card Sample

WOW! I returned home yesterday from the Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference in San Antonio and I found THIS in my mailbox! What a nice welcome home! This is a thank-you note that was sent to me by Carolyn Gray, one of my recruits in The TOPICS!, and it is simply elegant, don't you agree? Carolyn used Basic Black card stock, Cherry Cobbler card stock, as well as the Mocha Morning Specialty Designer Series Paper. To make the flower, you punch out six scallop circles using our Scallop Circle Punch. Then you crinkle each scallop circle to get texture - and don't be shy, really crinkle them up! Place the scallop circles on top of each other, pierce a hole in the center, and then position your Antique Brad into it to hold them all together. Carolyn, this card is stunning, and so are you, my friend! To order these amazing products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Have a fun day!

Delightful Dozen Card Sample

My last post was a simple Christmas thank-you note that I really like! I wanted to make thank-you notes to my downline members this past weekend when we had our Top Picks Day to celebrate their achievements over the past six months, so I used the same design and created this simple thank-you note! I love how it turned out! The colors are striking and the Silver Glimmer Paper adds lots of bling! The greeting is from "Delightful Dozen" and the heart was made using our new framelits, the Hearts Collection. Then I embossed the heart with our new Adorning Accents Embossing Folders. Fun new stuff to play with! If you haven't RSVP'd to attend my Love Potion No. 9 Camp Wannastamp to be held January 26th through the 29th, I still have some spots available on Sunday, January 29th. You'll get to play with a lot of this fun new stuff then! To order these products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now." Have a great day!

Are you Wondering Where I am?

In case you're wondering why I haven't posted anything lately on my blog, it's because I am currently cutting paper like a little fiend for a HUGE downline event I'm having on Saturday. It's called my Top Picks Day! It is my opportunity to thank, celebrate, and recognize those demonstrators in The TOPICS! who achieved extraordinary things between the time period of July 1st, 2011 and December 31st, 2011. I am so excited about this event, but it's LOTS of paper cutting for a large number of people, so you KNOW I'm lovin' my QCM-1200E Heavy-Duty Paper Cutter! When I can come up for air, I'll start posting again!

Every Little Bit Card Sample

Do you have Christmas thank-you notes you need to send? Here's a real quickie that is so cute! The inspiration for this came from Leanne Pugliese. I just changed it to our notecard size. Add a 1/2" strip of our Red Glimmer Paper and the cute little ornament from "Every Little Bit," and you've got a super-sweet thank-you note. The greeting is from "Delightful Dozen." I used the 1" Circle Punch and the 1-1/4" Circle Punch. The card stock is Old Olive and Whisper White. I added some tiny pearls to dress up the ornament and then used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop it up! Nice thing is, all of the cute little stamps in "Every Little Bit" could be used for this card, giving you lots of flexibility with any notes you need to send! To order these fun products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.pennythomas.stampinup.net/ and click on "Shop Now."

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps

During the Christmas holidays, I have to make gingerbread cookies or my son will explode! He absolutely LOVES gingerbread cookies and it wouldn't be Christmas for him without them! Since I had to make some anyway, I thought it would be a good opportunity to give my Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps a try - and I was very pleased with the outcome. I was nervous, but it was much easier than I anticipated and I think they are so cute! So now, with Valentine's Day coming up, I'll have to try the heart cookie stamp. If you'd like to order the cookie stamps, the item number is 125152 for the Jack-O-Lantern, the snowflake, and the heart. Coming up on January 4th, you'll also be able to order item number 127081, which has a bunny, a flower, and a clover stamp to celebrate spring. The sets are $16.95 each. To order these products, visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Have fun baking!

Sugar Cookie Factory

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU! I HOPE YOUR 2012 IS EVERYTHING YOU WANT IT TO BE!

This is my daughter Haley (acting goofy) icing some sugar cookies she made during the holidays! She used her Aunt Pam's fabulous sugar cookie recipe, which I've shared below. We had fun this Christmas baking in the kitchen together and her sugar cookies turned out so good! Add a little confectioners' sugar icing, and you're in heaven!

Aunt Pam's Sugar Cookie Recipe

2/3 cup shortening

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

4 teaspoons milk

2 cups sifted flour

1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Thoroughly cream shortening, sugar, and vanilla. Add egg; beat till light and fluffy. Stir in milk. Sift together dry ingredients; blend into creamed mixture. Divide dough in half. Chill 1 hour. On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Chill other half until ready to use. Cut in desired shapes with cookie cutters. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 375 degrees about 6 to 8 minutes. Cool slightly and remove from pan. Ice with confectioners' sugar icing colored with food dye. YIELD: 2 dozen

Gingerbread Houses

Every Christmas we have a gingerbread decorating contest. My daughter and her friend Heather usually win. This year, my son Hunter and his friend Julian did a very nice job, though, so we called it a tie! Just thought you might enjoy seeing their handiwork. The house above is Haley and Heather's. I love how they took Jolly Ranchers and crushed them to make the stained glass windows. Only problem is, I'm stepping on little shards of Jolly Ranchers (OUCH!) in my kitchen, and once they stick to the floor, they're on there like concrete!

This is the entrance to their house. I gasped when I realized they used two of my Andes Mints - the wonderful peppermint bark candies that are only available during the holidays - for their door. Those candies come at a high premium during the holidays and they're difficult to find, but I guess since our gingerbread decorating contest is only held once a year, I'll let it slide........this time.

The house above is Hunter and Julian's. I like how they used jumbo gumdrops and licorice strings to build a fence around the house. Notice how the walkway up to the door is totally decked out with candies? Not bad, if I may say so myself!

The jumbo gumdrops on top of the Jolly Ranchers are supposed to be trees in the front yard, but we laughed about how they look like mushrooms instead! Gotta have a sense of humor when you're part of this contest! All said and done, I think they both did a wonderful job and our gingerbread decorating contest for 2011 was a huge success..........and loads of fun!

You Are Loved Card Samples

I'm in despair! I received both of these lovely card swaps while on the Founder's Circle trip last September and I was eager to use them for my Valentine's Day Camp Wannastamp in January; however, the "You Are Loved" stamp set is not being carried over from the Holiday Mini Catalog after January 3rd, so I won't be able to make them with you. Arghhh! The first card was made by Shelli Gardner and I love how she embossed the leaf image on the bird. It's such an elegant card and I couldn't wait to make it next month. The beautiful blue card was made by Natalie Travis using the same stamp set. Her card is so soft and soothing, and it was another great candidate for my Valentine's Day Camp Wannastamp. Oh, well, all is not lost! I still have great Valentine's Day cards and projects coming up for you in January, but it's a shame not to be able to use this beautiful set! If you would like to order "You Are Loved" before it's gone, the item number is 123777 for wood and 123779 for clear. You can visit my 24/7 online store at www.pennythomas.stampinup.net and click on "Shop Now." Have a super New Year's Eve celebration tomorrow and I'll stamp with you in January!

Made by Shelli Gardner

Made by Natalie Travis

Easy Events Home Decor Sample

Here's my little black dress for December. Hope you're not sick of this little vine and berry from Easy Events. I TOLD YOU IT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE STAMPS! What am I going to do when Christmas is over? It will kill me to put it away for a year! Go get yourself a little black frame and change it out every month. It just feels good! I'm wishing all of you a Merry Christmas. I thank each one of you for supporting me this past year, for rocking my stampin' world, and for making my Stampin' Up! business such a fun and successful endeavor. I love every minute I get to spend stamping and crafting with you at my house. You all have claimed a place in my heart and every single one of you is special to me. Some of you have been stamping with me for ten years! The friendships I have developed with you are rich beyond measure. What a beautiful Christmas gift that is to me from you! I know 2012 will be so much fun and I'm already looking forward to seeing you and stamping with you in January! MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY STAMPIN' BUDDIES!

Christmas Domino Pin

Little things like this domino make me happy! It's only 1-1/2" long and 3/4" wide, and it has colorful Christmas ornaments stamped on it and the tiniest little "noel" greeting. I LOVE IT! I sanded the top of the domino to rough up the surface so ink would stick to it better. Then I stamped the ornaments in our Basic Black ink and let it dry. I then sprayed the lightest coat of acrylic sealant on top of it. If you spray it too thick, the black ink will run, so I just kind of lightly dusted it with the sealant. When that dried, I used our markers to delicately color in the ornaments. The colors didn't run because I had sprayed it with a sealant and the colors kind of grab on to that sealant. After the marker inks had all dried, I sprayed the lightest coat of acrylic sealant on it again to set the inks. Once the sealant was good and dry, I sprayed a much thicker coat of acrylic sealant on it to set all the inks in place for good! I hot-glued a pin-back on the back so I can proudly wear it through the holidays. Love how it turned out! This stamp is from a set that was offered by Stampin' Up! many, many years ago, but it's still a goodie! Noel, my friend, noel!

Tags Til Christmas and Medallion Card Sample

This card is a "Mary Fish" case, but I changed the colors to make it more Christmasy. This card uses the Tags Til Christmas ornament with the ornament punch; the middle pieces are from the Medallion stamp and our 2-1/2" and 1-3/4" circle punches. Makes such a beautiful Christmas card! The colors are Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler. The card base is Very Vanilla. The greeting is from Curly Cute and it was embossed with Cherry Cobbler Embossing Powder. An Antique Brad finishes it off! Hope you're having fun during the holidays!

Origami Christmas Tree

This origami Christmas tree is one of the projects we've been doing at some of the home workshops I've done during the holidays. Isn't it fun? It's a great way to use your designer series paper scraps and it's really easy to do. Anytime I hear the word "origami," I kind of cringe, but this origami fold is actually quite easy! The top photo uses the Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper and the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder; the bottom photo uses the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper and the Snow Burst Embossing Folder. When we had our Annual Demonstrator Retreat in October, I did a quick demo of how to make this tree. I hope the video tutorial below will help explain how you do it! You just need four squares measuring 3 X 3, 2-1/2 X 2-1/2, 2 X 2, and 1-1/2 X 1-1/2. To order these great products, visit my 24/7 online store at http://www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com/ and click on "Shop Now." MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

Christmas Carolers at My Door!

Last Friday night our doorbell rang, and when we opened the door, this choir of young girls in Santa hats started singing Silver Bells. I've never had carolers come to my house before! I had already gotten ready for bed and I was in my pajamas (how embarrassing!), but I wanted to hear them, so I stood there anyway. It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard and, of course, I was moved to tears. One of the little girls was looking at me like, "Why is that lady crying?" One day, she'll understand! She had no idea that while she was singing, it was filling my heart with happiness! It reminds me of the stamp we have that says, "Do your little bit of GOOD where you are. It's those little bits of GOOD that overwhelm the world" - a quote by Desmond Tutu. For a moment while those little girls were singing, everything was right with the world, and everything was perfect. I hope they come back next year!

December 2011 Calendar

Here's a cute little December calendar to make you feel merry! We met back in January and made a calendar for each month of the year. If you visit my January 2011 posts, you'll be able to see each month. December makes me feel happy, except that now I'm out of calendars! I'm ready for Santa to come - and I've been good! Have a super day!