Q's Creative Heaven & Nature Cards, Tags and notebook

Sorry, this kit is sold out.
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I found this beautiful vintage Christmas paper from Bella Carta awhile back and while I was designing with it, I started singing 'Joy to the World' and I knew exactly what I should call this class, Heaven & Nature!

Sweet little Angels, Victorian carolers, winter scenes...with happy non-traditional colors. 

Snowflakes & winter nights all tied up with vintage ribbon and then finished off with dimensional snow and glitter! 


Six easy cards to get you in the spirit of Christmas!
But wait...there's more!

Heaven & Nature had some tags up her sleeve!  Seven big creative tags, perfect for a box top, tie to a gift bag or send as a card!

This kit also includes a cute little hard-cover notebook, a perfect place to write down all the details for fun Christmas planning and will easily fit into a purse!

Both of these kits will begin shipping Oct. 3rd.  Save $5 and get free shipping when you order both. 

You can also add a Snow Marker from the drop-down menu if you need one, it is so fun to watch the ink 'puff' up!

This, like all my kits, come with a photo step-by-step slideshow and you also get all the printables which you can use over & over.

To see all your buying options, be sure to click on the black arrow above "add to card".

The Tag & Notebook will be sold as a kit to create at home.  If you're coming to class, you can pick up the kit there.  I also have 'extras' available (Paper, ribbon, crystal brads etc...) available, I will be emailing this order form to you.

What you'll need: 

Adhesives
Roller-type adhesive for putting cards together.  
Foam squares,  1/2" foam roll.
Glue dots (Micro, Mini and 3/8")
Scotch tape

Tools & Supplies
Scissors (long & fine-tipped)
Paper Piercer
Pumice Stone Distress Ink & Sponge
Craft Mat
Paper Piercer
1/8" and 1/4" hole punch
small Foam mat
Large lid or small container to place small items from kit
Marvy Uchida Snowmarker (or similar product)
Loose Clear Fine Glitter
Diamond stickles (glitter Glue)
Heat gun


If you have any questions, please let me know.
...and would love if you posted these pictures to Pinterest! 

Find your Style!

On the first day of the month (yes! It is September 1st today...can you believe it?) Studio 5 introduces their theme. I was asked to participate in a round-table discussion about "Finding your Style" and wow, it's been very revealing.

{there are actually 2 segments on this video, so watch for the transition.}

We based much of our discussion on a fantastic book; that to be honest, on the title alone (Style Statement) I would probably not have purchased it. However, having spent all weekend reading it, I'm ready to buy a several copies and give them as gifts!

You can visit this page to watch a short vid with the authors of the book and visit the studio 5 page for a few more of our statements on style.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Studio 5 has in store for us this month on this topic and hope you'll join me on this little path of 'style' discovery!

P.S. In case you wanted to find Lisa Bearnson's scrapbooking book on 50 things that Matter Most, you can find it here. Another great book!

Folding Sheets means NEW sheets

So, my flea for today is folding sheets. Aren't these beautiful? They are NOT mine. I pulled this image off google. This morning I had the dreaded task of folding my sheets for the first time in about 10 months.

Ah, now...don't fret. I have washed them many, many times in 10 months, I just keep putting them back on.

Story: My Sister-in-law bought me new sheets for Christmas last year. The most AMAZING sheets in the world. Warm, fuzzy, cocoon-like sheets. Seriously, these will change YOUR life! And they did. I ran back to Costco after I received these to get more, but they were all sold-out.

Now that it's getting cold again, they are BACK in stock!! YaHoo! I went to 2 different Costcos to get the size/color I needed for me and for gifts. So, despite having to FOLD annoyingly un-foldable bottom sheets, I am SO happy because now I have another set to switch off with.

And while I'm on the topic, I am just SO grateful for my bed and all it's warm fuzziness. I love to read historic novels (Lately, C.J. Samson) and can't help but think how uncomfortable it was so sleep back then. Straw mattresses, scratchy wool blankets, bed bugs a plenty, cold floors. I love my bed.

Turning fleas into blessings

As we approach Thanksgiving, my energies turn to preparation. How many for dinner? How will I fit them all? What to make? When?

Today, I listened in Church (yes, I do that occasionally!) and was reminded of what I really need to be doing, not just now, as the weather cools, as the trees bare their bones and snow dusts our mountain tops, but every day, all year.

Shakespeare said, "O lord, that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness." (King Henry).

Nothing, truly, nothing makes me happier than when I'm counting my blessings. And since I'm all about the JOY, I'm going to spend the next few weeks sharing extra thankfulness with God, my family and you. I'm hoping you'll share that moment with me.

Being grateful for my life has the uncanny ability to simply WIPE out all my noisy complaints, if even for a moment.

I'm reminded of Corrie Ten Boom's sister, Betsie, (The Hiding Place - one of my favorite books) who, despite her time in a concentration camp and all the degradations that followed her there, was able to thank God for the fleas, because they kept the guards at bay and enabled them to read their precious bible.

I want to be like that. I want to turn my 'fleas' into blessings.

Here is my invitation for Thanksgiving I sent out to family this year. I just loved the quote "The Joy of enjoying and the fullness of living are found in the heart that is filled with Thanksgiving."

~See beauty, Sue

Twilight anyone?

Okay, this may just become a habit, but WOW, Alisa Bangerter has completely out-done herself with her latest installment on Studio 5.

If you have read Twilight by Stephanie Meyer and can't wait to see the movie in 2 weeks, then you have to WATCH this segment. The party ideas are great, but the FOOD! TOO Funny! Even if you don't do it, it's still worth watching. Amazing!

Lucky Winner...and update

I was able to pick up PaperCrafts Gourmet on Thursday, so I've gone ahead and chosen a winner (using my handy Random Number Generator) and she is...SHORTandSWEET (Ann). Congratulations! You will LOVE this book.

Forgive me, but I did 'paw' through it very delicately...WHO could resist. I don't get my issue until later this week. It's really amazing. Just pure EYE candy, not to mention fantastic recipes and great papercrafting ideas.

You can pre-order this book and see for yourself.


So, remember my post-office concerns with my recipe cards? Well, I got them all back! Have to put an additional .20 cents on each one, so I'll be sure to get those off today...again :).

All caught up on House and feeling much better, so thanks for all your well-wishes. Hope you all have a great week...got some fun things planned this week, so check back.

~Sue

PaperCrafts Gourmet is HERE for me & YOU!

Yippee!! It's here! Paper Crafts Gourmet Hardbound BOOK!

I don't think I've ever been this excited about a new publication. When we first did Paper Crafts Gourmet in magazine form last year ago, it was a match made in Susan-Neal-heaven...papercrafting AND cooking all in one place.

So...one for me (of course!), one for YOU (because YES, I'm giving one of these away!), one for my sister, one for my friend, one for my daughter-in-law...oh the list goes on and on! So perfect with Christmas coming. I was able to contribute several of my favorite recipes, so keep an eye out for:

• Mexican Honey Butter Shrimp (original recipe)
• Coconut Croissant Pudding (original recipe)
• Danish Aebleskivers with Butterscotch syrup (compliments of my friend, Sharon Budge)
• A Trio of Brie Appetizers (Original recipes...perfect for the Holidays!)
• French Onion Soup (can't get too original with this, except that I've tweaked this over the years until it's just perfect!
• Minestroni Soup with Brown Butter Parmesan crumble (does that sound yummy or what?)
  

I'm not the only papercrafter who likes to cook though...Alisa Bangerter (fellow PC Pro) contributed this scruptious recipe and it's here for you now!

Melt in your mouth, crispy on the edges, cheesy, buttery...need I say more? Make it tonight!

Cheesy Garlic Drop Biscuits
by: Alisa Bangerter

This is a perfect recipe to pull out if you are short on time because there is no rolling or cutting. The cheese and garlic add extra kick to a plain biscuit, and kids love them. They are the perfect accompaniment to serve with soups or stews, and are great served with a salad.

INGREDIENTS
2 c. flour
2 tbsp. granulated sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 1/4 c. milk
Chives (optional)

DIRECTIONS: Mix together dry ingredients. Cut in butter with pastry cutter until mixture is fine. Add cheese and mix well. Add milk and stir until just moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Sprinkle top with chopped dried or fresh chives if desired. Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 15 minutes.


And just when you thought this blog was done...MORE free stuff. Here's a fun Halloween project by...no other than...Alisa Bangerter. Can a person be TOO creative/talented/nice?

Enjoy Halloween Tag
Designer: Alisa Bangerter

SUPPLIES: Cardstock: (ivory) Dye ink: (Black) Stewart Superior Corp.; (Summer Sun) Stampin’ Up! Specialty ink: (Mango Lemonade color wash) Stewart Superior Corp. Color medium: (black chalk) Craf-T Products Accents: (black brads) Making Memories; (chipboard bat, moon) Melissa Frances Fibers: (black striped ribbon) Pebbles Inc. Font: (Black Family) http://www.dafont.com/ Adhesive: (foam tape) Finished size: 3" x 4 1/2"

1 Make tag from cardstock. 2 Crumple tag and smooth out. Spray edges with color wash; let dry. Apply chalk. 3 Ink chipboard moon; let dry. Chalk edges and adhere. 4 Ink chipboard bat; let dry. Adhere with foam tape. 5 Print sentiment on cardstock; trim and tear edges. Chalk edges and adhere with foam tape. Attach brads. Attach ribbon with brad.

If you'd like to be entered into a random drawing for PaperCrafts Gourmet Book, then please leave a comment on this post...I'll pick a winner early next week (as soon as the book arrives). You can pre-order this book online.
~Sue

The Book Thief & Goose Girl

One of the perks of a trip is the reading I get done on a long drive or flight. It's been a busy few months and I just haven't had the time to read like I normally do.

It was with great relish that I was able to finish 'the Book Thief' by Markus Szusak. My sister-in-law, Mary gave this to me this summer and I must say I enjoyed it very much, as much as you can enjoy a story about war, pain, death, misery, hope, tenderness, devotion, charity and love.

I'm going to resist telling you anything about the story, as I didn't know a thing and part of my enjoyment was allowing the story and the method of telling that story unfold.

So, my next book? The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale. My 12-year-old daughter just finished reading it (and is now on the sequel, Enna Burning) and begged me to read it (so she could talk to me about it). Hmmm, sounds familiar? It's how I read every single Harry Potter novel and ALL the Twilight books (Yes, I actually enjoyed reading a love story about Vampires and werewolves!).

I'm going to put my travel perk to good use again tomorrow and hopefully will have time to finish the Goose Girl before I get home. Book review to follow!