It’s that time again…. for Anne and Crystal’s Christmas Extravaganza!!!  (we call it ACCE, cause that’s a mouthful… a delightful mouthful).

If you are in or around the Maui area on October 12, we would love to have you join us for this year’s ACCE.  We have three exciting classes to offer.

The first one is the card class:

You will be making 4 full sized cards and 4 3×3 cards.  These are designed simply to be reproduced in bulk, should you decide to recreate some for your own Christmas card list.  This class will run from 9-11.  The cost will be $10 and include the supplies needed (but bring your own preferred adhesive).

Next up is the Packaging Class:

Here you will make 2 boxes, 2 gift card holders and a super cute Santa bag.  These are perfect for all of your little gifties for your friends, coworkers, and neighbors.  Also designed so that you could reproduce if you wanted more…  The cost of this class is $20.  It will run from 11:30-2.  And, supplies are included, with the exception of your preferred adhesive.

And, introducing a new, exciting art form to ACCE:  MIXED MEDIA.  In this class, you will expand your crafting skills, learn how to use stamps and inks in other ways than just on paper making cards.

You will create this delightful home accent piece to enliven your space during the holiday season.  All supplies will be included.  The cost of the class is $25 and it will run from 2:30-4:30.

If you’d like to spend the DAY with us crafting, you can take all THREE classes and enjoy a $5 discount… ($50 instead of $55).   We’d sure love to have you!  If you are interested, you need to RSVP by Monday, September 30 to get a space.  Don’t wait too long!!  It will be a ANOTHER WHOLE YEAR until this opportunity comes around again…

So…  I must admit.  When I walk into a retail establishment before Halloween and I see Christmas merchandise, I usually groan (and this year, I saw some around the 4th of July…)  And, so I know, people must be groaning…  BUT.  CHRISTMAS IS COMING, PEOPLE.  And, it’s always faster than we are ready for.  With that in mind, I had to get going on some of my Christmas projects.  And, this project is a fun one.  And, to my credit, I’ve included Thanksgiving.  Which isn’t that far away…

This is the Build A Banner kit that is featured in the Holiday Catalog:  But, I’ve taken it and turned it into a custom Thanksgiving and Christmas Banner.  The banner is amazing.  You get 18 banner pieces which are made out of the canvas that SU sells.  They have the retired jumbo eyelets (of which, I have a stash that I fiercely guard)  And, when you buy the starter set, you get all the stencils.  You can buy a refill of banner pieces as well.  I have a list of about 60 things I wanna make banners for…but these two got first dibs…

Here is the Thanksgiving One:

And the Christmas one:

So, I’m not going to go into too many details of how to make them because you can come to a class and get to make one or both of them FOR YOUR VERY OWN!!  I will have all the supplies, so all you need to do is come!

Friday Night September 27 at 6:30 or Saturday Morning at 9:00.  You can choose to make one or both banners.  They are $20 (for either one) or $35 if  you choose to make both banners.  RSVP to me if you are interested in joining the class.  Specify the date you prefer and the banner you’d like to make.  I need your RSVP by September 17.  (I need a minimum of 4 people in each time slot to run the class…)

In order to take the pictures, I wasn’t able to put them up on the string… but the kit will come with the twine that you string them on and hang them with.

Anyway, I’ll be sure to have Christmas music blaring.  So you can get ready for Christmas.  In September.

So.  My littlest sister is graduating from high school tomorrow.  Wow.  I cannot believe it.

That is her.  On the left.  With the ridiculous red wax lips.  I got those in the mail-room at OBU.  I worked there through my college career and someone put a bunch of those in the campus mail for us to distribute.  There was one without an ‘address’ and we didn’t know who to send it back to, so my supervisor said I could have it.  I had to have it cause I knew Lauren would like it.  And, when I sent it home, I put a note that told mom she had to take a picture of her with them.  And, it’s been on my desk ever since.  My desks have changed, but the picture has been on it FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS.  (And, you can see, I need a new picture frame…)

Here is a more ‘recent’ photo…

I made this card in MDS.  For her graduation open house.  And, as you can see, most of the talent is in the great photo… but…  I will take whatever credit I can get.

Here’s what I made to send her.  It’s a surprise, so don’t spill the beans (she graduates in several hours, so it’s probably gonna be okay…)

The card is one you’ve seen before.  It’s from Sale-A-Bration.  When I made the card a few months ago, I knew at that moment that I was going to save it for her.  The lei I made…  a co-worker showed me several years ago how to make a haku lei (that’s a lei-making style of ‘weaving’ flowers together–and traditionally is worn around the head.)  However, I made this a lei to go around the neck.  And, being that KANSAS is 5000 miles away from here, I had to make and mail it on Monday.  And, thanks to the great people over at the USPS, it arrived it on Thursday.  And, mom said other than being a little ‘compressed’ it looked pretty good.  I credit this to all my friends who have the flower knowledge who told me what flowers to buy that were a bit heartier than others…

Here’s a close-er up…

I JUST LOVE the sentiment on the card…. Congratulations, Smarty Pants.  It’s perfect.

So, my baby sister… (well, they are all the baby sisters, since I’m the oldest), but she will be the last of the  Brown girls to go to Oklahoma Baptist University.  ALL four of us went there.  My parents should get a punch card… buy 3 the fourth free???

Anyway, I am very proud of her.  I’m proud of who she has become.  And, in many ways, there is a bit of sadness for me in this…that I cannot be there… that 5000 miles has separated us for nearly ALL of her growing-up years. I got to watch her grow and change in a very unique way that the distance has given me… a different perspective.  Since I didn’t actually LIVE with her for the last 17 years of her life, I feel that I got to see things more objectively (well, I realize that isn’t the correct word, but vocabulary is failing me right now)… But, I never actually engaged with her in the traditional ‘sisterly’ way…  (ie… stealing clothes, make-up, brawls, fighting over the telephone, tv… etc…) (Okay, now that makes it sound like me and my other two sisters hated each other, which is NOT the case, we just had the more traditional relationship cause WE WERE ALL BORN IN THE SAME DECADE…)  So, I got to see her grow, change, make decisions, learn, I’ve proofread her homework….  It’s REAL interesting.  Fun.  And, I’m excited to see what else is in store for her.

She has this verse on the wall in her bedroom:

^” But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

And, this is my prayer for her… that as she continues on into this next chapter in her life, she will wait on the Lord… for his guidance, direction, wisdom.  And, that she will use the strength He gives to soar.  Cause she will.  And, I’m excited.

I love you, Lauren…

Okay, so it’s not Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny, but it it IS polkadot!!!

LOVE THE DRESS FRAMELIT!!  I wanted to share with you what one of my stamp club members, Harriette Anzai, made as a favor for the club meeting at which she was hostess…

Aren’t they SO cute.  She made a little box that goes in between the dresses and it holds a chapstick.  The box could easily be adapted to hold anything.  Dress Up Framelits Die (130101)

Then bagged in the gusseted cello bag, (item 127850) and tied with the Crochet Trim (# 118481).  That pretty rosette, is the 5/8″ Flower trim (Item 126869) from the Spring Occasions catalog.  And, ladies, it’s wonderful.  AND… it’s NOT in the new catalog… Therefore, you have until 5/31 to stock up on your supply.  You can use it as a string of flowers or cut them apart for just a tiny embellishment.  AND, oh… the gusseted cello bag didn’t make it to the new catalog… they are $3.95 for 25…. you might wanna stock up on those too…

Here is a close up of just one.  I like how Harriette made the tag and then stuck it to the outside.  So often I think it has to be tied on, and it doesn’t.  The scallop oval frames the plain white card-stock thank you…  Hard to see in the picture cause the scallop oval coordinates with the dress.  But, super cute.

Here is a picture of the top, so you can see the box with the chapstick.  Do you think I can quit my day job and become a hand model??  Probably  not.  At least it’s not covered in staz-on.

Anyway, Thanks HARRIETTE, for these super cute favor ideas.  Yet another idea of how to use the dress.  If you really like the dress, I would recommend you take a look at these:  The All Dressed UP Birthday Kit!!

You get EVERYTHING shown in the picture… enough to make 6 birthday cards.  AND, you will have the stamp and ink to use on future projects…   All Dressed Up Birthday Kit (item 133913) $15.95…

Check back on Sunday for our next Blog Tour.  BEST OF BUTTERFLIES…. it’s the next installment of the Anniversary Best Of Stamp Sets.  See ya!!