out with fall and in with winter

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving time with your family! We were able to celebrate it with my dad's side and got to see some family we haven't seen in quite some time. It warmed my heart to see all of the kids running around together...and the grown ups lazying the day away together. It was the first Thanksgiving that my parents have been to in many, many years, so it was extra special to us!

The Fall decorations are coming down tomorrow. Last year, I got a slow start on the Christmas decor, but that's not going to happen this year! I want to be ahead of the game...unlike when I decorated for Fall. Before I started taking down my Fall decor (what little there was of it), I decided to snap a few pictures to say goodbye before I packed it away for yet another year!


And, speaking of bringing in winter...we had our first snow of the season last Tuesday! It wasn't much, but that didn't stop the kids from wanting to bundle up to go out and play in it. 15 minutes later they were back inside ready to get warmed up again...it was fun while it lasted, I suppose!


P.S. I extended the giveaway at my Stuck on Stampin' blog until Sunday! Head on over to enter to win some fun Stampin' Up! goodies!

craft bazaar fun!

**Want to win some Stampin' Up! goodies?
Read through to the end of this post to find out how!**

I have been B-U-S-Y in preparing for a craft bazaar...my 2nd one ever! Last year's bazaar I shared a table with my friend, Andrea, and we both had our Stampin' Up! goods out for sale. This year I had a table of my own, so I had a lot more goodies to prepare. The bazaar was last weekend and I felt like it was really successful and I was extremely pleased with the reaction of all of my goodies. I thought I would share with you some of my crafty creations.

Treat Boxes
Perfect for homemade treats for neighbors, family, and friends!
{currently these treat boxes are online at Stampin' Up! in the Clearance Rack!}

I tied the bow onto the box and made a stamped tag for each of the boxes using Stampin' Up!'s Exclusive Two-Tag Bigz Die for the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine. I used Riding Hood Red & Chocolate Chip.

Peppermint Patties
These were one of the top sellers!
{original idea found here}

"Sandwich" the patties with the scalloped circle punch and add your stamped images to the top. Place them in a pretzel bag and tie them at the top with a pretty ribbon.

Snowman Gift Bags

I made these last year with my MOPS group, as well as a Christmas event I held last year. I had quite a few leftovers, so I decided to put them together for the bazaar. They didn't sell very well, but I may have had the price a little too high. My mother-in-law bought four of them from me after I told her they weren't selling well...so sweet (I did the lower the price just for her!)

Decorative Hand Sanitizers

These were pretty good sellers. I had used this idea for a workshop I had done for a friend of mine using Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements (vinyls). Each of the gals made one of these for their make n take. I decided that they were so simple and fun to make that I'd whip some up for the bazaar. I got a lot of lookers on this one and sold a handful.

Snowman Kisses

These little cuties I made last year, but I must say I love how this year's came out a lot better than last year's version. These are white Tic Tacs that I made a cover for using this tutorial. I had to tweak it a little since she used the large sized Tic Tacs.

Inside it says:
He's cute, cuddly & full of good wishes.
He wants to give you these snowman kisses!

Reindeer Food

These didn't really sell well last year, but I had a few leftover, so I thought I'd bring them out again and see how they sell. Most of the problem is that I don't think people really knew what it was. This would be a fun activity to do with your kids on Christmas Eve. You sprinkle the reindeer food on the lawn so Santa's reindeer can see your house with the "sparkle"...it's made with oatmeal, and green & red sprinkles. People have used glitter in the past, but sprinkles are more "eco-friendly".

Poem on the top of the container:
Sprinkle on the lawn at night,
The moon will make it sparkle bright.
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam,
This will guide them to your home.

Tooth Fairy Tins

I love how these turned out! They are the perfect place for your little one's lost tooth. Stampin' Up! sells the stamp called Tooth Fairy...isn't it perfect? I added a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter for that extra sparkle. I had a small group of moms at the bazaar snag one of these up for their daughters.

Magnetic List Pads

I whipped these out the night before. I had a few leftover pads from an event from last Christmas, so I thought I would use them up for the bazaar. I only had one left by the end of the day. These are list pads that have been cut in half at Staples (they charge a fee per cut). A large magnet is on the back...perfect for the front of your refrigerator to keep your shopping list.

Treat Bags

I thought these would go flying out the door, but I have A LOT of leftovers. Oh well, less work for my next bazaar on December 4th. They didn't take a lot of work, but the candy inside adds up. I used Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Top Note Die as the topper and I has so many bags of candy, I had to keep the decorative part simple.

Hershey Nugget Trays

These were my best sellers! I made some Thanksgiving-themed ones, along with Christmas-themed. I wish I had made more. They were pretty simple. I wrapped Hershey Nuggets (bought in bulk) and then made a "tray" from cardstock and put them in a pretzel bag. I made a tag for each of them and then tied with ribbon. I had seen these from a friend of mine and thought they were adorable!

Jingle All the Way Shadow Box Frames

I decided to see if these might sell and so I made up 5 of the frames from my tutorial using different colored paper for the background. 3 of the 5 frames sold...all to my friends! *wink*
Rudolph's Spares

These were so fun to make, but not one single one sold. I must have had the price right or it's just not what people are looking for. Oh well...I thought they were cute!

Rudolph has a job to do,
On Christmas Eve, it is true.
His nose will always light the way,
for Santa and his big red sleight,
But if his nose should ever go out,
don't cry or whine or even pout.
Take out this bag and use a bit
from Rudolph's Red Nose repair kit.

Purse Post-It Note Holders

I love these!! These were pretty good sellers, too. I took 10 of them and sold 9. They are so fun...open it up and there are post it notes inside. I made some for a birthday party I did a month or so ago. The tutorial can be found here. I kept them simple, mostly because I made them the night before!

Christmas Cards
{sold individually}

Christmas Cards
{sold in packages}I also had greeting cards for sale, but don't have a picture.

Here is my set up at the bazaar...

My little "information station"...
Overall, the bazaar was a big success! I am planning on being a part of one more bazaar coming up on Saturday, December 4th. I'll have most everything ready, but will make some more of the big sellers. It's a lot of stress to get ready for bazaars, but ultimately I enjoy the outcome!

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Have you entered into my giveaway yet? Head on over to my Stampin' Up! blog to enter to win the following: "Northern Hearts" wood stamp set, Jingle All the Way Decor Element, and a full spool (10 yards) of Real Red polka dotted grosgrain ribbon. You don't wan to miss out on the chance to win, so head on over right now!

Want to make a business out of your creativity?

Is crafting a big part of your life? Wouldn't you love to earn money while doing something you enjoy? How about the convenience of setting your own hours? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then Stampin' Up! is the perfect opportunity for you.

I can't help but share this AMAZING opportunity with you! Stampin' Up! is offering the starter kit starting today (Nov. 15) through Nov. 30 for 50% off its regular $175 price. That's only $87.50 for a $310 product value!! This has never been done before and I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't at least pass this information along!

A snippet from the Stampin' Up! customer home page about becoming a demonstrator:

Just as Stampin' Up! demonstrators provide their customers with one-stop shopping and individualized service, Stampin' Up! provides its demonstrators with the opportunity to pursue their individual goals whether those goals are to enjoy a hobby, build a thriving business, or contribute to family income while spending more time at home.

Whether you'd like to earn money to pay for your stamping supplies, create a full or part-time career, or simply get a discount on your stamping supplies, Stampin' Up! will help you do it. And if that isn't enough, we've listed 10 reasons for you to become a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

1. Get ideas for handmade cards, scrapbook pages, and home decor projects.
2. Learn new, artistic stamping techniques on a monthly basis.
3. Gain first access to popular product lines and exclusive, award-winning designs.
4. Get a 20 percent discount on Stampin' Up! products.
5. Be your own boss, and establish a flexible business that meets your goals.
6. Spend more time with family when you work from home with a schedule that fits you and your family.
7. Be eligible to attend Stampin' Up!'s fabulous conferences and events.
8. Earn free exotic trips and other recognition (like free rubber stamps, cash awards, and other valuable prizes).
9. Meet new friends and enrich lives while sharing what you love.
10. Receive support and training from Stampin' Up!

Two Options:

For all the details, please visit my Stuck on Stampin' blog. If you have been thinking about finding a way to do something you love and earn a little money in the process, then consider joining Stampin' Up! I joined in March 2009 as a "hobby demonstrator" and a year and a half later am excited about it becoming more of a business opportunity to share my creativity and passion for it!

**This might not be something you're interested in starting up at the moment, but if you sign up now, you won't have to do make your first quarterly requirement until March 2011, so you have plenty of time to figure out how you would like to make Stampin' Up! work for you!

**Also, please feel free to pass this special promotion along to your friends! I'm happy to support anyone any way that I can...even if I don't live in "your neck of the woods". Anyone can sign up with me to become a demonstrator.

Never hesitate to leave a comment to ask questions or send me an e-mail to heidilynneboos{at}hotmail.com.

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I'll leave you with a fun little Thanksgiving treat I made for my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group. It's a favor box (found at Target on clearance a few years ago...and finally using them for something!) I created the hole in the top using the oval punch and then made a scallop oval ring. Such a fun little goody to give at each person's seat at Thanksgiving.

Jingle All The Way frame - you can have it, too!

Who remembers this Christmas decor idea I created last Christmas? For those of you who have stuck around long enough to wait me out during my "blogging fast", maybe you do remember! (Feel free to check out my easy to recreate tutorial HERE for those who need a refresher or for those who are new to my blog.)

The "Jingle All the Way" Decor Element (vinyl) is Stampin' Up! exclusive and I have had a handful of blog readers contact me about ordering this vinyl.

There are 2 easy ways to order one or more of these vinyls, so you can make your very own:

Option 1) Visit my Stampin' Up! website where you can order anytime of the day, anytime of the week at heidiboos.stampinup.net. Find where it says "SHOP NOW" at the bottom right of the screen and you will then be looking for the "Home Decor" category on the left hand side...click on that and then the next category you will look for is "Vinyl Art", after that you'll be looking for "Seasonal". If you do choose to order online, I suggest you take a look around to see if there are other things you can't resist because shipping is a minimum of $6.95, but by ordering online it gets sent straight to your home! Plus, if you were to make an order of $150 or more, YOU will get hostess benefits - which means FREE STUFF! You could even gather a large order together by collecting orders from your friends! You can visit the online catalog HERE. I'm warning you...once you start looking, you just can't stop!!

Option 2) You can contact me by leaving me a comment on this post with your name and e-mail address or send me a message to heidilynneboos{at}hotmail{dot}com. I will then add it to my next order and your shipping will only be 10% of your total purchase. If you are strictly ordering the "Jingle All The Way" vinyls than I will personally mail them to you after I receive them...at no additional cost. If you order other things with it, then I will have to add the appropriate extra shipping fee to mail it to your home.

Cost: Jingle All the Way (small vinyl) - $3.50
Color Choices: Black, Red, or Chocolate

Why do I share this with you now? Well...because Christmas will be here before we know it and this makes either a great holiday decor idea for your home or a great gift to give! And...I just picked up a whole slew of jingle bells at Michael's Crafts for 40% off (on sale until Wednesday, I believe)! I will be making these for an upcoming craft fair I will be a part of in 2 weeks. I just picked up my shadow box frames from IKEA and I'm ready to get to work!

Let me know if you have any questions! I'll be placing an order Monday afternoon (Nov. 8th), so if you e-mail me or leave a comment before then, I can add it to that order. However, I will be placing another order sometime within the next two weeks, so feel free to still contact me if you're interested in having me order you one, or two...or more!

If you haven't been over to my Stampin' Up! blog yet (stuckonstampin.blogspot.com), please head on over to check it out! My stamp club just met on Friday and we made some fun punch art, creating Santa & Rudolph! I will be holding a giveaway sometime this week of stamps and other goodies, so I suggest you head on over and become a follower, so you can join in to win!

just a little piece of where we live

On November 3rd, we will have been in our new home for officially SEVEN MONTHS! I am shocked by how much time has gone by since we moved in over Easter weekend. As we were moving in, I remember a handful of people saying, "It took us at least a year to get settled in, decorate, and make the home feel like ours." I have to be honest, at that moment I thought to myself that no way was that going to be me. Seriously? A year?

Well, as I sit here and eat my humble pie SEVEN MONTHS later...it's definitely the true reality that it may, in fact, be a whole year until we get this house looking like we had originally planned when we first moved in. There are no cosmetic defects or major renovations needing to take place (thank goodness!)...just some painting to be done and room makeovers to be completed. We do feel settled and we do feel like this house is our home, but all of the little {big} projects keep staring at me daily. I guess I have 5 more months to get it done before I really have to eat my words!

So, let's look on the bright side! All three bathrooms are complete ~ you have to start somewhere, right? If you missed the kids' bathroom makeover (first project we completed in our new house), take a peek HERE. I shared about this back in May...it was quite the makeover! At that time, I thought we would be on a roll with our household projects! Somewhere along the way, we lost momentum...or summer happened and having fun seemed more like the thing to do!

Bathroom #1

The other two bathrooms didn't take much to get them looking complete. We stuck with the original paint colors and just decided to fit the decor around that. I was actually "officially" done with these by August, but well...you know. Who really gets inspired to take pictures of a bathroom? But, I figured I should probably show off some part of the house since a handful of you (OK, maybe just my mom) may be wondering.

Bathroom #2

Downstairs, we have a small bathroom for guests to use. Thankfully, the paint was perfect, the countertops are beautiful, and the mirror will just have to do even if it's not quite my style. The only thing I wanted to do in this bathroom was switch out the towel bar and toilet paper holder with something a little more "me". I also found a little cabinet at a garage sale over the summer to fit perfectly in the corner of the already tight bathroom. Without it, it just seems like there's something missing. The pictures you see on the wall are ones that we actually had in our living room at our old house.

And...there's the tour. Do you know how hard it is to take a good picture in such close quarters? This is the best I could come up with, but you get the idea of what it looks like, right?

Bathroom #3

I must remind you before I reveal these next pictures that we moved from a home that had a tiny little "master" bathroom (ha! master...yeah, right). No bath tub, just a shower. So, this is like a dream for us to have our own BIG bathroom where both of us have our own sink and we can take a shower OR a bath if we wanted to. Although, I must admit...I have yet to take a bath. The kids get more use out of it than I do! Maybe it's because I got used to living without one for so long. We decided to keep with the towel colors we already owned, and the walls were neutral enough that we figured we could get away with it! Again, not the most glamorous pictures...because, indeed, it is just a bathroom, but you can pretend to ooh and aah anyway. *wink*

{if you look really closely, you'll see we have a separate little room for the toilet...gotta love having privacy!}

And, there you have it! Hopefully by posting these pictures, it will give me some motivation to get going on some other house projects I'd like to reveal. I just have to remember to tell myself...it will get done. We plan on being here for a very. long. time.