Even though I should have been working on another project, I had picked up gift cards for two of my grandchildren, so decided to try the gift card holder featured in the current issue of Technique Junkies, published bi-monthly by Pat Huntoon. These are really fun and easy to make! The one with the elves was made using Stampin' Up's Holiday Lineups set and the striped paper on the other one was some I picked up at Hobby Lobby or Michael's. I painted the elves with Twinklin' H2O's. Have one more to make for DH as he's getting a gift card for tools for Christmas - there is no way I'm going to try to buy tools for him!

I forgot to add earlier that the stamps used on the three previous cards were also from Stampin' Up - from a set called Snow Swirled which is in the current catalog. It is such a versatile set that can be used several different ways. I always use Stampin' Up papers and inks.

My Stampin' Up workshop, held last Sat. afternoon, was a great success! There were only three ladies, all good friends, but we had lots of fun stamping and playing. They made two cards and a gift bag based on Becca's tutorial on her Becca Stamps and Scraps blog. Thanks for the tutorial, Becca! We were so busy having fun that I didn't get any photos of the gals, but will next time - promise! The green and white card with Seasons Greetings was like one of the ones the ladies did. I am posting a scan of some cards I've done - the one of the tree embossed in white I have to credit Mary Jo Williams. When she posted her beautiful card, I knew I had to CASE it and it will probably be my main Christmas card. I send or give out about 65 each year, so they have to be fairly simple and quick!

We're getting ready for Turkey Day - since our kids will all be gone, we will join my cousin and her husband and maybe some other friends to eat out and then back to the house to play Spinners, which is a game with dominoes. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

P.S. Have you ever seen a cat sleep in such an odd position - my neck would break! Meet Buglet, one of the oddest cats I've evern known!

Two months ago, I started renovating what I call my rubber room. Not only is it where I stamp, but it is also my little bit of sanity - or insanity, whatever the case may be! It turned out to be much more of an ordeal than either I or DH ever imagined! My original idea was to paint the paneling which, as you can see, is fairly dark. The room had originally been the garage but a former owner had enclosed it and hung drywall for a start. Somewhere along the way, someone added the paneling, but not in the usual way - they glued it to the drywall, which meant that wherever the glue was, it either stuck to the drywall or tore it! Replacing the drywall was out of the question, so with DH's help, I learned to texture since repairing the drywall only caused puckering!

Long story made short - the texturing is all done, the room completely repainted (including a ceiling that hadn't seen fresh paint in over twenty years!) and even new carpeting. Considering the original carpeting was rust shag - does that tell you anything?! Now I'm having the fun and games of sorting, arranging and trying to figure out where I'm going to put what! The creative juices have been simmering, wanting to boil over, but I've been very patient. What is the old joke with the vulture saying,"Patience, my ***, I'm gonna kill somebody!" Kinda my sentiments, too! Especially with the living room and the spare bedroom filled to overflowing with the contents of my rubber room! Thank God I have such a patient and understanding DH!

I do finally have a path all the way around my work table and since I have a Stampin Up workshop here at the house this weekend and I still have my projects to do...........! Hope you enjoy my occasional posting!