Bella Cosa

I’m welcoming the new year with LOTS of stamping! My monthly clubs are meeting this week or next week, so I’ve had a LOT of fun preparing projects for them, using all the wonderful new things in the Stampin’ Up Occasions Mini Catalog. This is also my first actual post on my new blogging platform, so I hope all of you who were subscribed to my old one, are getting this post! And if you’re “just looking”, and not subscribed to receive all my posts, please do so! I will be featuring a lot more things on my blog from now on, including contests, giveaways, and special projects and notices. Don’t miss out! Meanwhile, here’s my annual (gorgeous)!!! calendar I got this year from my friend Wanda . .. she is soooo creative and I love this! I’m moving my stamping room up to the loft in my house, and I had my 2011 calendar on my work desk and was thinking, “hmm . . .gotta save a place for this year’s!!” . . .and the next day, it came in the mail! . . including the adorable little matching card! THANK YOU Wanda!!

I’ve been doing a  lot of thinking the past few days, about the new year. I guess we always do that at the end of a year . .. completely amazed, as always, at how quickly it flew by! I have some big changes for me this next year, especially  a new job starting (in addition to my stamping business . . that’s not going away!) So I’ve been “talking to myself” to remind myself there are some habits I’ve developed the last couple of years that I don’t want to lose, with more new demands on my time. One of the “biggies” is my early morning time with God. That helps me so much, with each day I face! I have read not only my Bible, but some wonderful inspirational books this past year – several of them written by Sheila Walsh. I love her books (and her music!) .. .after hearing her at Women of Faith here in Sacramento in 2010. The Bible, and Sarah Young’s “Jesus Calling” are my mainstays . .. cannot do without them . . but Sheila’s books are a close second. If you can, get this wonderful book of hers! I just loved it . .. .it will lift you up . . always!! Happy New Year!

I was so excited a few days ago when I got the mail . . . I had a “special package” from Stampin’ Up . . . and although I didn’t know what it was, exactly, those packages are always GOOD! It was marked “Managers Reception” -  a special reception at Leadership next month. I am really looking forward to my very first Leadership event with Stampin’ Up .  .and the Manager’s Reception is an “extra plus”! Look – here’s the envelope!

When I opened the envelope, I found this cutel wrapped “item” . . . wrapped, of course, with some Stampin’ Up designer paper!

. . . and inside, my adorable invitation to Manager’s Reception! Think it’s gonna be an “Asian theme?” LOL!! One of the things I LOVE LOVE LOVE about Stampin’ Up is their attention to detail. At all their events, their demonstrators are treated royally . . .. and at “special events” even more so! Think of the time and money it took to have these made, then wrap them and send them all! (and that’s after someone thought of the cute idea!!) It all works together to make you feel soooo special! I love working for a company like that! January 18-21 is gonna be sooo much fun!

Oh my – if you are one of my customers, you have by now received the new Occasions Mini Catalog in the mail. . . .and if you're like me, there's been a lot of "drooling" goin' on! As a demonstrator, one of my "perks" is being able to pre-order 30 days ahead of new catalogs . . . and I have a ton of wonderful new "toys"!! Here's a sneak peak of one card I just made for a swap, using new paper, new brads and new stamp set. More will follow . . . and then I've got to get busy creating the projects for my clubs, for January . . . using lots of this new stuff!!

Just a couple more pictures before this Christmas is "history"!! Can you believe how fast the days have gone by?!? I made a Christmas "rosette wreath" several weeks ago. Of course, a wreath can be hung somewhere . . the typical thing to do with a wreath! But I found another great use for it, too! I volunteered to decorate a table at my church's Women's Christmas Tea a couple of weeks ago. I didn't want to spend money on table decorations – wanted to use what I had! I did get a small huricane, as they suggested we have some candlelight at our tables. So . . . .I decided to lay my wreath down, and use it as a circular centerpiece, with the huricane candle in the middle of it! Check it out! I thought it looked great! I did some other "matching" things on the table, so everything went together . . . .it was a wonderful evening, full of friendship and blessings . . . .and Christmas beauty!!

Here's my wreath . . .not actually hanging on the wall, but sitting on the steps!!

. . .and here's the wreath used as my centerpiece!!

More Christmas cards arriving daily! I love getting mail . .. . hope the post office doesn't completely shut down, with all the troubles they're having!! LOL!!

Wanda sent this beautiful card . .. love the more "traditional" look, but then the addition of the cute acrylic "snowflakes"! Thanks my friend!

Here are the rest of the swaps I started showing you yesterday!

Denise’s beautiful “tradtional” poinsettia card uses bird dies/punches to make the beautiful flower. Spectacular!

I LOVE monkeys!! And isn’t Diane’s monkey adorable? I love how he (she?) takes center stage on the clean lines of this card – definitely “Diane style”!!

Leave it to Francine to absolutely WOW us!! Look at the detail on these darling tags! They are sooooo cute . . . and must have taken HOURS to cut and layer!! Thanks, friend!

Kathy’s use of the red glitter paper for this ornament makes for a gorgeous card! So simple . . .yet so stunning!

Shannon’s thank you is sooooo cute!! Love this idea . . . cut a Top Note die in half the long way, then punch out with circle punches to make “elf shoes” . .. and the jingle bells are the finishing touch!

And, this was my card for the swap. I had fun coloring the cute stockings, etc. . .. and adding a little glitter, of course!

Before I get too far into the Christmas cards, I want to show you the gorgeous swaps for November from my online swap group. (we’re skipping December, since we’re all in “the frenzy”!!)

This gorgeous “spotlight” card is Ruth’s easel card. Soooo beautiful! I am so sorry to see this gorgeous designer paper “retire” the end of this month. It has been so well loved and used!

Nancy did another “masculine” card  – love the colors and “clean lines”!

I love Michelle’s “black and white” card! All the special touches, and the pretty vintage feel . . . love it!!!

Jilli’s white Christmas card is sooooo pretty! You can’t see it real well, but there’s glitter on the trees, too . . .LOVE IT!

Donna did another stocking card! I think everyone who saw or did this card this year, loved it!

Stay tuned tomorrow, for the rest of the cards!