Stacked Stones Studio!

A few days ago, I pulled out my Mom's nativity scene and was hit by a wave of nostalgia. First of all -- I remember my Mom making it -- it is ceramic and back in the 70's it was the creative "rave." (Ceramics, that is). Instead of painting the figurines, she chose to antique them and then just put a cream glaze...very timeless and classic. They became a centerpiece of our holiday decoration...one of the first things we put out when we started decorating. It was really fun to pull each of the pieces out and reminisce. What a great reminder then (and now) that Jesus' birth is the "reason for the season." I decided to have a little photo shoot (so much easier than with people, by the way -- ceramics are VERY cooperative -- stand where you want them to stand and don't mind you taking TONS of pictures *smile*)...and did a little layout with Kelly Panacci paper to capture my memories from my youth -- and perhaps the new tradition of this nativity s...

Don't you just love the Christmas paper from Basic Grey...Figgy Pudding? I do -- they always amaze me with how versatile it is...you can go graphic with it -- or more layered collage and it just works -- depending on what you want from it. I decided to layer it for this layout of the boys...the title I combined the BG raw chipboard "HIP" with the monograms that match the Figgy Pudding paper. I particularly liked that they are both self adhesive -- totally speeds things up a bit. I added some paper glaze on top of the letters to give them a bit of shine. The journaling and frame are a couple of Sizzix die cuts from the same paper. After Thanksgiving the Christmas tunes went on -- and I got busy with Christmas...will have some new things to show you in the next few days. By the way, we only have nine more Advent Calendars in the store...but I am going to try and put some more together -- so if they are sold out by the time you get to them, please check back -- I will...

There is a family of deer that lives in our neighborhood. With the drought here in Tennessee, they are going to have a hard time this winter. Royce has put a trough out with corn for them. I think it will be fun to sit out on the porch and watch them come to feed in the back yard...wonder if Rudolf will show up!?!?! Hope you all had a good black Friday -- did you go shopping? I stayed away...just didn't feel like fighting the crowds. Weston however, went to spend the night with friends camping and waiting for Best Buy to open. I am sure I would have thought that was quite an adventure when I was 17 -- but at 46...it just sounds like a cold sleepless night!

I want to thank all of you that have sent well wishes and congrats. We launched What You Make It last night and have had some emails from folks that were able to catch it...and a few that said they were unsure of the times...so I wanted to make sure I posted them here again. Channel 31, Scottsville WPBM Mondays - 6:30 pm Thursdays - 2:00 pm (on Thanksgiving right before the 3:00 football game -- bet that will go over BIG! *smile*) Saturday at 10:30 am Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and I will leave you with a few of the things I listed on my "blessings" list last night. 1. A loving family -- father, stepmom, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew, fiance and future stepson. 2. A group of friends who are awesome and supportive 3. A brand new tv show that allows me to share my love of art, creativity and documentation with a whole new group of ladies. 4. A yard where deer show up each night and walk slowly down my driveway. 5. A porch, where on crisp mornings I can ...

Hello from Atlanta! I thought I was headed south -- but it is CHILLY here. Actually, winter is my favorite season...love crisp cool air -- somehow clears my head and energizes me...but I came here a bit unprepared...am sporting a sweatshirt hoody (that I randomly threw in my suitcase) everywhere I go! Guess I was thinking winter this week when I created this layout...when I looked at the yummy October Afternoon papers -- I thought they would work with some wintery pictures I have been want to to scrap...and this was the result. The frame is just some left over chipboard that I sewed one of the pieces of paper to -- and then cut a free form frame out and popped it up with some pieces of cardboard to give it some depth. I may have to do this again...I like how it turned out. Well... What You Make It starts airing on Monday...I can barely believe it...and am totally excited (and a little nervous). Am so accustomed to teaching live classes where the ladies taking the classes give you...

Scrapbook Village . Oh my stars...these ladies were so much fun. Bonnie, the owner of this fun store really knows how to create a crazy kind of fun event. I had the pleasure of joining them for their fall retreat...and I am still laughing! I had the best group of ladies attend my class on creating your own stamps. They had already had a full day of cropping and shopping...and I am not sure that using some of the E6000 glue didn't put them over the top! (if you haven't ever used this wonderful product -- it will hold just about ANYTHING on a page -- but it also has a very strong smell that can make you a little giddy FAST!). We were all giggling pretty soon after the class started. I told them -- you are going to leave my class "happy" one way or the other! *ha* I love the community that happens with scrapbooking. You can't find that community at the "big chain stores" -- the friendships are formed around the tables at your local scrapbook store...and ext...

These were fun projects. The first is a set of ATC cards with the Night Before Christmas poem spread throughout. The plan is to create new sets of cards for various holidays and seasons...so that the Spindle can become a permanent part of the decor. This "ho ho" card I saw on Ali Edwards blog...cute cute...had to snag it -- made with Heidi Swapp "She" letter masks...lumiere paint and then sprayed with Hollyberry Glimmer Mist....that stuff is addictive. This spread I just ran Terrifically Tacky Tape all the way around the edges and then sprinkled with German glitter...sticks better than with liquid adhesive. Love these "My Word" books from BoBunny Press...cute Christmas papers too. The trick is to alternate light/dark or pattern/solid between the letters to make sure they show up well. I added an outline to help it pop a bit more.

Before we begin taping on Friday...and hope to begin airing edited programs on Monday, November 19th. Our air times areL Mondays at 6:30 pm Thursdays at 2:00 pm & Saturday at 10:30 am -- I believe we will be replacing the last remaining fish and wildlife program on that channel. I somehow think this fact will come as a blow to my 80 year old father who is very proud of the fact that he raise two daughters that LOVE to fish....amd sure it will be seen as a betrayal to our family values for me to kick the fishermen out of their PRIME spot so us girls can (and I quote) -- just go to town cuttin and pastin, bitchin' and stitchin'" Perhaps it would just be best to leave the details down to the bare minimum...and distract him by taking him fishing soon! Life seems to get complicated even in the midst of very good stuff. Drove up to Scottsville where the station is on Friday in order to do an interview with the talk show host of the station -- Francis. She is a precious...