Where O Where are you?

This title refers to lots of things today...

1. Me! You've probably noticed I haven't posted in a few days. I haven't necessarily been MIA, it's just that...

2. My Mojo and inspiration to create are gone, and seems like they are no where to be found! I've made several attempts in my craft room to get something started & I don't like anything that I've been coming up with over the last few days. Rather then get frustrated & put everything in the garbage, I have several unfinished projects laying around my craft room that maybe when my Mojo comes back I will be inspired to complete them.

and finally #3. My Fun Filled Friday project is missing as a direct result of #2! Last weeks theme was to decorate the inside of our cards to match the outside. Once I finally get my mojo back to finish the outside of a card, I'll be able to complete the inside as well...if I should ever get to that point any time soon...

How frustrating this is!!!!!!! I am home for a 3 day weekend and had huge plans of getting caught up and crafting the weekend away & what a bummer it is to have my inspiration just up and leave me! Maybe it's because I just need a break and after a few days I'll be inspired once again. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed!)

So, now you know why I haven't posted in the last few days. I honestly just don't have any new projects to share with you. I'm going to stay out of my craft room for today & spend time getting some things done around the house & spend some time with DH since he is home today. Then, tomorrow when he is back to work & I'm enjoying the last day of my weekend with a nice, quiet house I'll venture back in to that craft room & see what I can complete. (Maybe I just need to clean that room...I bet I'll find my mojo in there hiding under a pile of cardstock!)

With that being said, it is Sunday & it's time to announce the next Fun Filled Friday Challenge. (Although I don't feel right posting another one before the other has been completed--just seems a little backwards to me...) Maybe a different challenge is just what I need to get my inspiration jump started! So, what's the challenge you ask? Get out your brayers & brayer away! Kimmy decided on this weeks challenge & I'm wondering if she had the Zindorf blog in mind when she decided this. Good thing for me, is I sort of already have an idea in mind for this challenge, so hopefully when I sit down to do it, this project will come easy for me. If you get a chance to play this week and want to play along in our Fun Filled Friday challenges, please do so. Make sure to leave a link with your project for us to see. I'd love to see what you do with your brayer!

So, for now I'm off to enjoy the day at home and tomorrow will be a new day for me in my craft room. Hopefully I have a project to share with you soon.

Until then...if you see my mojo send it back home, ok?

:-)

Have a Wonderful Holiday weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Inside is just as Important as the Outside!

Sorry for the delay in posting pics of our long weekend trip. We just got back in yesterday & I still have to upload some pics. You can expect to see them later tonight.

This week's Fun Filled Friday challenge focuses on the inside of our cards. I challenged Kimmy to make a card of any theme or occasion and decorate the inside of the card to match. I see so many card designers decorating the inside of cards lately that the insides of my cards are feeling neglected--they will not feel left out this week, cause I'm going to spice them up since the inside should be just as important as the outside, right?

I hope you'll join us and decorate the insides of your cards this week too. Make sure to leave me a comment with the link to your project if you get a chance to play along. I'd love to see what you do!

Hope you're having a great weekend & stay tuned to see my trip pictures later on.

until then...

Smiles,
Jennifer

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When you want your prayers to stand out...

...you need a bold card to write them in! I know this isn't your typical Communion or Get Well card, but I love the look of the pink and black together on this card. What do you think?

I used the new Praying Girl Silhouette image by DRS Designs, simply stamped in black Versafine ink on white cardstock, and decorated with pink & black ribbon, and the Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch.

Stamps: DRS Designs-Praying Girl Silhouette
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Smooth White cardstock by Office Depot, Colored cardstock by American Crafts
Accessories: Pink Ribbon-unknown from my stash, Black Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, Fiskars Treading Water Border Punch
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

For this week's Fun Filled friday challenge Kimmy has challenged us to make Baby cards or cards for a Preganancy. I've been on a roll lately with the baby cards, I'll have to see if I can come up with something different!

Sorry for such a short post today. I have a long to-do list & have to limit my computer time today.

Hope you have a Fantastic Weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

PS: Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there!

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FFF Challenge Announcement

Sorry for the delay in posting & not having a card to share with you today, but working day shift this weekend for my real job (rather than my normal afternoon shift) has just pooped me out tonight. I'm just too tired to get myself into my craft room, but I'll be in bed shortly for a good nights sleep. I'll get in there tomorrow for sure because I have a few layouts already in mind that I'd love to put together very soon!

It is Sunday, so for this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge, I have challenged Kimmy and the rest of you to make a window card. You know, cards that have a window in the front panel & you can see something that is on the inside panel through the window.

This challenge should be fun. I haven't made one of these cards in a long time. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to seeing your window card creations too. Make sure to leave me a link in the comment section of this post if you do.

Tomorrow starts a new blog challenge on the DRS Designs blog, so stay tuned to see my project for that soon.

Hope you all had a weekend that was much more relaxing and restful than mine. I'm excited cause I'll be sleeping in tomorrow!

Have a good night!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Circular Embossing and a New Challenge!

Sorry my Fun Filled Friday challenge card is late...I was so bummed that forgot to take my USB cord for my camera with me on my stamping trip and could not upload this on time on Friday, but as they say...better late then never, right!?!?!?

I challenged Kimmy to a unique technique (hey, that rhymes!) for this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge! We used the Circular Embossing Technique with the Cuttlebug. Not sure what I mean? Check out this card by Becca.

Here's my Circular Embossed Challenge card:

I created the embossed circle by following Becca's tutorial on her blog and then chalked the embossed areas. I colored the Hibiscus image with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and then cut it out. I added ribbon across the embossed piece, and then adhered the image in the center. I put dark pink eyelets in all four corners of the mat as well and tied a knot to the lower right corner and adhered the embossed piece to the center of it. I cute a 6" x 6" cardstock base to finish the card.

I really like this technique, but I think overall, it makes for too big of a card. If I try it again some day I may try to make it a bit smaller if possible. But, I really like the uniqueness of the embossing.

Make sure to check out Kimmy's challenge card to see her version.

Stamps: Rubbernecker
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Cardstock by Office Depot, The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Fancy Corners Embossing Folder, Eyelets from Joann's Scrap Essentials, Ribbon unknown from my stash, Chalk by Inkadinkado
Finished Card Size: 6" x 6"

For this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge, Kimmy has challenged us to use coasters. This should be very interesting for me--I have yet to use coasters or chipboard on any of my projects. I guess it's just one aspect of the papercrafting field I just haven't gotten into--until now! Make sure to check back this Friday, May 1st, when I post my finished project for you all to see. Feel free to participate in this challenge as well. Just make sure to leave me a link so I can check it out if you do!

Stay tuned for sneak peeks of the latest stamp release from DRS Designs going on here all week. I'll be sharing one with you later today. These new images are just too cute! You'll love 'em!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Circular Embossing with the Cuttlebug

Happy Sunday!

I hope you are finding this weekend enjoyable & relaxing! Unfortunately or should I say fortunately, I am working this weekend (Yuck, yet I'm thankful I have a job!) so, I'll be doing my relaxing tomorrow since I'm off. I'm sure I'll be in my studio most of the day working with the new rubber I received last week and working on this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge.

I challenged Kimmy to something a little out of the ordinary for this week's Fun Filled Friday challenge. How involved are you, or can you be, with your Cuttlebug? Take a look at what Becca did to make this card. This is the technique Kimmy and I will be attempting for this week's challenge. I only hope my card will turn out as pretty and unique as Becca's!

Unsure what Fun Filled Friday is? Kimmy, one of my best friends, and I host card making challenges on our blogs every week called Fun Filled Fridays (FFF). We take turns every other week giving a challenge. These challenges are announced every Sunday, and we display our finished cards for that challenge the following Friday. Kimmy and I keep the details to ourselves regarding these challenge cards, so until her challenge post Friday, I have no idea what she is planning on making until I see it, just like you, and vice versa. I think it is so much fun to see how different or similar our cards turn out. Won't you play along with us & give this week's challenge a try? We'd love to see your project as well. Just make sure to leave a link to your project if you do, so we can check it out!

Well, I have my work cut out for me this week, so unfortunately I don't have any projects completed at this time to show you. I'm going out of town on Thursday for a stamping weekend with the girls from the Stamp Shack, so I need to pack still and plan my blog projects ahead of time for the end of this week--there's no time for slacking! We're all headed to the Potawatomi Inn in Angola, Indiana for "Shackapolooza!" We have one of their conference rooms rented out for the weekend & we are going to crop, eat & chat the weekend away! Several of us went last year & it was a blast! Plus, the Inn is a beautiful, great place to stay. Check out the site and see for yourself! I'm so excited! I'll be home Sunday afternoon & you can plan to hear all about it in Monday's blog post, complete with pictures too!

Well, gotta run...I have several cards to finish up & I need to start packing!

Stay tuned for another DRS Designs Blog challenge announced tomorrow.

Smiles,
Jennifer

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It's a Beautiful Sunday!

So, how's the weather in your neck of the woods? Here in Michigan, signs of Spring are popping up little by little. I think we are finally done with the bitter cold temperatures and the thermometer is moving up a little. The sun is coming out more often too! I can't wait for it to warm up just a bit more so that we can turn the heat off. Plus, I love the smell of the fresh spring air when you open the windows for the first time of the year! We should be getting sprinklers and sod soon too, so I'll eventually have more pictures to show all of you who have been following our "building a house" project.

For now, another week has flown right by and it's Sunday again! This week I've challenged Kimmy to create a Gift Bag or Box for our Fun Filled Friday Challenge. This should be fun, cause there are so many paper box tutorials that I want to try--I think the hard part will be trying to decide which one to do! Won't you play along this week?

Well, I'm still plugging away at all of the new stamps I've received lately from DRS Designs. Ever since our vacation to Mexico I've been behind, but hopefully by working hard this week I'll be back on track.

Here's a birthday card I made recently using the Girl Swirly Cake image. I love the blue and dark pink color combo together! I colored this image with Prismacolor Pencils and blended the colors with Gamsol. I added Stickles to the candle flames and to the pink flowers around the cake base. The sentiment I used is part of the Happy Birthday Multi Greeting stamp. I like the versatility in this stamp--use all the sentiments together to create a background or ink up just a portion for a perfect fit on your project!

Stamps: DRS Designs- Girly Swirly Cake, Birthday Multi Greeting
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in French Blue, SU! Night of Navy
cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Nesties, Golden Rod and Cotton Candy Stickles, Tiny Mardi Gras Brads by Buttons Galore & More
Finished Card Size: 5" x 5.5"

DRS Designs is holding another blog challenge tomorrow. Stay tuned for the challenge announcement and to see my project!

Ta Ta for Now!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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St. Patrick's Day, All Week!

Happy St. Patrick's Day Week!

I say that because this week and my blog will be filled with green--Lots of Irish stuff going on...

Unfortunately, I don't have a stamped project to share with you today, but I promise this week I'll have plenty for you to enjoy!

First up, today--Today we are going to the St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown. It's an especially good time & my Husband plays the bag pipes in a band that is in the parade! I plan on taking lots of pictures! Keep your fingers, toes, arms and legs for us that it doesn't rain!

Tomorrow, Monday, I'll be sharing some of the pictures from the parade as I'm sure you will enjoy them, and hopefully another St. Patrick's Day card as well--if I can get my butt in gear!

Tuesday, St. Patty's Day, I have to share a St. Patrick's Day card with you for sure! That's a Must! :-)

Wednesday, Card Sketch Wednesday, I'll have another sketch for you to play with and a House Mouse St. Patrick's Day card for you. We all love the House Mouse!

Thursday, well, as of right now it's a little to early to tell. Thursday will be my anything goes day! Stay tuned to see what I have in store for you!

And, finally, Fun Filled Friday. This week, Kimmy's challenged us to create a St. Patrick's Day card. I hope you'll play along, I'd love to see your Green cards! Make sure to leave me a link, ok?

Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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It's Sunday!

It's time to get your dog stamps out & get a stampin'!

For this weeks Fun Filled Friday Challenge I've challenged Kimmy to create a card using a Dog image. I know I only have a few dog images, but to see which one I pick you'll have to wait til this Friday March 13th(!) to see it.

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I've been card making like crazy with all of the new images by DRS Designs that were just released this past Friday. Have you see all of them yet? If you haven't, make sure to run over here and check them out. There are new Easter images and some new kids on the block--they are absolutely adorable! I'll be featuring these images for majority of the next 10 days or so!!!!

Sunday's are usually just a quick blog day for me to explain the next Fun Filled Friday Challenge. This way I can focus my time on some other things like having a nice, quiet morning reading the Sunday paper, grocery shopping, meal planning and prepping for the upcoming week and spending time with family. However, because I have such a plethora of cards to share, I wanted to make sure I posted one today.

With the latest release of stamps, the DRS Designs DT received word that more sympathy card samples were needed to give to stores that sell their stamps. I must admit, that Sympathy cards are not my favorite to make--I like the fun & cute stuff, but I am getting better. I've made 3 sympathy cards this week and I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Here's the first one...

This focal image on this card is the Calla Lilly Sympathy Frame stamp. I chose to color the flowers light pink because more often then not you always see them white. I colored it with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. Even with the bit of color on this sympathy card I still think it gives that serene, calming feel.

I created the background by stamping the branch background image repeatedly with Versamark, sprinkled it with clear embossing powder, and then heat set it.

I also painted the flowers with Opal Shimmerz.

Stamps: DRS Designs- Calla Lily Sympathy Frame, Silhoutte Branch Background
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink in Pink Pastel, Versamark
Paper: Smooth white cardstock by Office Depot, Colored Cardstock by The Paper Company, & American Crafts
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils, Gamsol, Ribbon by Bobbie M. Designs, Opal Shimmerz
Finished Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Well, the Daylight Savings time change has officially wore me out. To make matters worse I had to be at work today at 6am, which my body felt the pain of 5am! I plan on taking it easy the rest of the day, perhaps on the couch with a good movie, and maybe a little shut-eye too, to make up for my lost hour of sleep. For those of you in Arizona and else where, where Daylight Savings time doesn't exist, I think you guys are really lucky sometimes!

Hope you guys don't feel as pooped as me!

Ta-Ta for now...

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Suspension Cards it is!

Happy March! Can you believe it's March already? Seems like just yesterday it was Christmas!

Well, I hope you all are having a relaxing Sunday today. I'm going to stamp, stamp, stamp! I have a notebook filling with all kinds of card ideas that I'd like to get created, so I'm sure I'll be busy.

One of the things I'll be working on is this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge. Kimmy has challenged us to create a suspension card. Have you ever made one of these? I haven't, so it should be fun! If you need a tutorial, you can check this one out from SCS.

BTW, Remember the card I made last week with the Canadian Goose image from Sunflowers and Dragonflies? Well, I've finally updated that post with the picture of the card where I added Diamond Glaze to the water. Sorry it took me so long to get it uploaded, I completely forgot about it (and I even wrote myself a note to remind myself!) Anyways you can see it now by clicking here.

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend!

See you soon!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Anniversary Card Challenge

Happy Sunday! I hope everyone is having a relaxing day!

It's time to announce this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge--I challenged Kimmy to create an Anniversary card!

How often do you make Anniversary cards? To be honest, I don't think I've ever made one! This will be my first, and I've got my thinking cap on. This challenge shouldn't be too difficult, especially with Valentine's Day just passing. I still have all my love and heart themed stamps still on my desk!

I've realized I have several new readers (Thanks & Welcome!) and for those of you who may be new to my blog, I wanted to explain just what Fun Filled Fridays is.

Kimmy, one of my best friends, and I host card making challenges on our blogs every week called Fun Filled Fridays (FFF). We take turns every other week giving a challenge. These challenges are announced every Sunday, and we display our finished cards for that challenge the following Friday. Kimmy and I keep the details to ourselves regarding these challenge cards, so until her challenge post Friday, I have no idea what she is planning on making until I see it, just like you, and vice versa. I think it is so much fun to see how different or similar our cards turn out.

Our Anniversary challenge cards will be posted on our blogs this Friday, February 27th. We'd love for you to participate in our challenges as well. Just post a link on either of our blogs and we'll be sure to check it out. We'd love to see how different or similar your card compares to ours as well.

Happy Card Making!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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10 Minutes or Less!

Yikes!

10 minutes or less is the theme for this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge.

Kimmy has definitely challenged me with this one. My cards take me forever to complete because I have an eye for matting and layering. Wish me luck as I enter the fast world of card making for this challenge. I'm eager to see what Kimmy makes with this one as well.

Won't you play in this challenge with us? It should only take up 10 minutes of your time! (Ha! Ha!)

I'd love to see your quickie card. Leave me a link so I can check it out.

Hope you have a great week!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Stipulation Challenge!

It's been a while since I've explained what Fun Filled Friday is all about, so I wanted to give a quick explanation for those of you who may be new to my blog.

Kimmy, one of my best friends, and I host card making challenges on our blogs every week called Fun Filled Fridays (FFF). We take turns every other week giving a challenge. These challenges are announced every Sunday, and we display our finished cards for that challenge the following Friday. Kimmy and I keep the details to ourselves regarding these challenge cards, so until her challenge post Friday, I have no idea what she is planning on making until I see it, just like the rest of you, and vice versa. I think it is so much fun to see how different or similar our cards turn out.

Since today is Sunday, it's time to announce this weeks challenge...I challenge Kimmy to a

Requirement/Stipulation Challenge!

This means that our finished project must portray the following requirements:

• 
  
  Main image must be matted on a circle,


• 
  
  Project must use the color pink,


• 
  
  It has to contain a least one heart,


• 
  
  It must contain at least one button


• 
  
  It can NOT have the color Red

I'm thinking some type of Valentine's Day card for this challenge, but it will truly be a challenge not being able to use red!

Won't you give this challenge a try?

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Have you ever used the Chalkboard Technique?

Well, now is your chance to try it, if you haven't already.

Kimmy has challenged us to use the Chalk Board Technique for this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge. Are you up for it?

You can see the details of the technique here. I've never tried this one either, so it will be an interesting challenge. You can see my finished project post right here on my blog, this Friday, Feb 6th.

Happy Supper Bowl Sunday!!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Precious Metals

It's my turn to give this week's Fun Filled Friday Blog Challenge.

This week's theme is...

Precious Metals!

I've challenged Kimmy to create a card with thoughts of Gold, Silver, Bronze and Copper in mind. We also have to use some type of metal embellishments on it too.

We'll post our cards on your blogs this Friday, January 30th for you all to see. We'd love for you to give this challenge a try as well. Make sure to leave us a comment with a link so we can check it out!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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Who Has Rileys?

Get your Riley Stamps out if you do!

For this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge, Kimmy has challenged us to create a card using our Riley images. I know I ordered 4 Riley Stamps back in October but I've only created 1 card with them so far. You can see my Pumpkin Patch Riley here.

Now that Kimmy has challenged me to create another you'll get to see another one on my blog this coming Friday, January 23rd.

I hope you'll join me in this challenge.

My favorites Riley's are the ones where he's dressed as Santa, but I promise I won't use those ones for this challenge.

Let me know you were here today today & tell me which Riley image is your favorite!

Hope you have a great Week!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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I'll be busy this week...

...with several challenges that I want to complete.

#1 : To complete the Card Positioning Systems Sketch challenge that is sponsored by DRS Designs. Have you ever checked out the CPS blog? Every week they have a new sketch challenge! I like to use the achieves whenever I get stuck.

#2: To complete the new blog challenge that will be posted on the DRS Designs Blog tomorrow-Monday Jan. 12th. I hope you'll check it out & give it a try as well. We'd love for you to play along!

#3: To complete the Fun Filled Friday challenge held on my blog every week. Kimmy and I challenge each other to create projects with certain themes. For this week's challenge I've challenged Kimmy to create a Gate Fold card. I've never made one of these types of cards before so I'm eager to try it. I've heard they're rather easy to make.

With these 3 challenges, in addition to some projects that I am still trying to finish up to post later this week, it looks like I better stay focused. I have a lot on my plate right now...so, I'm off to my studio to play.

Can't wait to share my challenge projects with you!

Stay tuned...

Smiles,
Jennifer

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3 x 3 Challenge!

Kimmy and I have decided to keep our Fun Filled Friday Challenges into the New Year. Thanks to all of you who voted or emailed us to keep them. I'm glad so many of you are enjoying them!

So, with that in mind...

Welcome to the first Fun Filled Friday Blog Challenge Announcement of the New Year!

Kathy, a friend of ours from the Stamp Shack has challenged us to make a 3 x 3 card. Yes, that means making a card that is 3 inches by 3 inches in size. This is definitely a challenge for me, since I sometimes find making the regular A2 card size (4.25" x 5.5") small! Yikes! Wish me luck with this one!

You can see our finished cards this Friday, January 9th.

We'd love for you to participate as well. Make sure to post a comment with a link to your card so we can all view it. Please let us know if you have any other challenge themes you'd like to see us do as well.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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No Stamping Allowed!

...That's the theme to this weeks Fun Filled Friday Challenge. Kimmy picked it! I'm really going to have to think about this one. It's been a very long time since I've made a regular paper-crafted greeting card. I thought I had an idea, but the sentiment required stamping...so I'm off to think up another idea.

Won't you join us for this challenge? Since stamping is not involved, I'm going to see if I can make a quick 10 minute card like you see in Take Ten Magazine. Wonder if my perfectionist side will let me accomplish it? Stay tuned for Friday and I'll tell you all about it and show you what I come up with.

Well, I'm off to shop for the rest of the day! I'm bound & determined to get my Holiday shopping done between today & tomorrow!

Wish me luck!

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,
Jennifer

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How about Santa?

Just a quick post today to announce this week's Fun Filled Friday Challenge Announcement! I'm busy baking Christmas cookies today with my mom and sister.

I've challenged Kimmy to a Santa themed challenge this week.

This should be fairly easy to do, since Santa is so in season right now. So, pull out all your favorite Santa stamps and join us this Friday, December 12th and post your Santa projects!

Speaking of Santa, my sister and I went to see him at the Mall last week...See for yourself!

He even asked us if we've been good! LOL! :-)

He's a pretty good looking Santa, don't you think?

Smiles,
Jennifer

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