Inspiration comes in many forms. In this case, it was in the form of an adorable card from a fellow dog lover and downline member,  Bonnielee.  I will admit that I was in a panic.  As usual, I had started my holiday cards way too late. How would I ever get them all done in time?  Sure, I had a few that I had created for challenges, and I also had the Stitched with Cheer cards, which I loved,  but I was quite short of the number I needed.  Was this going to be another year where I was sending out Christmas cards in February? And then Bonnielee’s card arrived in the mail.  It was too cute! I knew I could find in my stash of stamp sets a cute image that I could stamp into the corner of a note card. Jar of Cheer was just the ticket! Not only was there a snowman in this set, but I could also use the candle image, the tree, and the ornaments.  A day of despair turned into a day of cheer and a family affair! I stamped the images and did most of the coloring. My husband, Kim, did the embossing, because he loves using the Big Shot.  My son, Brady, helped with the coloring and placed the completed cards into envelopes.  Here is the source of my inspiration:

Thank you, Bonnie, for your inspiration and your friendship!

The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips
For this design, I used Stampin’ Up!’s Note Cards and Envelopes.  The completed card measures 5″ x 3-1/2″ when folded.

What could be cuter than a snowman in a Santa hat! This little fellow was inked in Archival Basic Black ink.  I used Blender Pens and inks to add color.  His hat is Cherry Cobbler,  his nose is Pumpkin Pie, and his scarf is Garden Green.  The snow is shaded with Soft Sky, while Clear Wink of Stella adds a beautiful sheen.

After coloring, the card was embossed using the Softly Falling Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  A few Rhinestones were added for a touch of bling, while a Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine bow completes the look.  Now to be truly honest, Brady did have trouble stuffing the cards into the envelopes with the twine on them.  To make it easier for him, not everyone received a card with the bow.  But it is still cute even without it!

The Boxers

While Jackie and Kia relish romping in the snow, the older Twins prefer snuggling up in front of the space heater. Black masks have faded to silver, but they still have hearts of gold. It’s hard to believe they will be 7 their next birthday.  It seems like yesterday I was posting about bouncing puppies. In fact, as I was traveling down memory lane, I looked up my first Muffy post.  Many of you were on that journey with me.  Here is the original post:

You are looking at the reason I have no card to post today! “Muffy the Boxer” arrived at her forever home late Tuesday afternoon. It was a bittersweet day of sorts, as this marks the end of the “Missy the Boxer” era. But, Missy will live forever in my heart.

Muffy really has beautiful brown eyes…but I don’t have a “Doggie Blue-Eye” Fixer!

It is amazing how we canonize our pets after they are gone. Monday evening, as we reminisced about Missy, I remembered her as a natural at leash training. My husband reminded me that she used to drag me down the street when we first started out. I remembered Missy as a “snuggle-bunny” in bed, and once again my husband reminded me of how more than once we woke up freezing because a certain “somedog” had managed to weasel all of the covers during our bitterly cold Iowa winter nights! I remember the wonderful car rides, and seemed to forget the trips we made where I ended up with 55-pounds of Boxer butt on my lap. I remember a well-mannered lady, who never tore up a thing…except for Brady’s Homecoming King crown! But I attributed that to sibling rivalry!

As I write this short post, I have another sweet lady on my lap, and am typing this post with one hand. Obviously this will have to change, but for this evening I wouldn’t change a thing. Muffy is everything for which I could have asked. She’s an adorable, “puppy-kisses-in-the-face” type of baby. She’s “swassy”…both sweet and sassy. In the eight hours that we have had her, she has pottied outside five times with NO mistakes! She is training me well! She has learned to sit already, and stands quietly to have her “necklace” put on…we don’t call them collars at the Schach house! And she has done an amazing job at walking on the leash.

I can already tell that she is going to be another Velcro dog, and I am just fine with that! She will be my muse, just as another Boxer was for so many years. I had always promised Missy that we would have so much fun when I retired…now I will have to keep that promise with Muffy!”  End of original post.

Here is my beautiful baby when she was showing for her grand champion title:

Muffy enjoying the “dog chair”…

And my beautiful silver lady tonight:

GCH Cimarron’s Do You Know the Muffin Man ~ Group Winning ~ Multiple Group Placing

She did indeed turn into my constant companion. My friend. My muse. She owns my heart.

Thank you for allowing me my little journey down memory lane!  I’ll be back soon with the delicious “Momma’s Candy recipe, more Boxer fun, and more details about my Occasions Catalog shares.  If you have any questions about the cards I create or the techniques I use, don’t hesitate to email me!  Until next time…

Note:  I will be posting all of the specific details about the shares after Christmas, but for those who have asked: The Paper Share is $27 (includes postage) for 52 sheets (6″ x 12″ size when possible); the Ribbon Share is $14 (includes postage) for 15 total yards (2-1/2 yds of 6 styles); the Embellishment share is $9 (includes postage for 28 pieces); and the I Want It All Share (all of the preceding plus a bonus) will be $45 (includes postage).  Email me if you already know you are interested.  Invoices will be sent beginning January 1st.  Orders for filled shares will be expedited on January 4th.  US addresses only.  Once again, specific details will be released later.