As I was walking the Twins in the hours shortly after midnight, I was invigorated by the cold, crisp Iowa air.  My gaze turned upward to a sky in which the stars were shining and brightly visible.  The night sky reminded me of my childhood growing up on the farm, where it seemed that you could always clearly see the stars in their celestial glory.  Although we may have been poor in terms of material goods, we were rich in those things which are truly valuable…family and friends.  

Christmases past were not about the presents or the tree…they were about family.  Grandmas and grandpas… aunts and uncles and cousins…my mother, my father and sister and brothers…would all join together during the holidays, sharing in a fellowship of love.


Although times have changed and many of those who shared these memories with me live on only in my heart, I realize that I am still blessed with a wonderful family…my blogging family.  We share…we care.  We form alliances and relationships.  We inspire…we encourage.  We  “lol” together…we cry together.  And so from my family to your family, we wish you a blessed holiday season and the happiest of New Years! May all your wishes come true!

I did not create a new card for today, but instead I wanted to share one from the archives which reflects the beauty of the season.  Until next time…

Today’s card measures 6 Charlee Bear treats wide and 8 Charlee Bear treats long. (4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″)

Brody:  I have read Mom’s posts before, so I know how to do this.

• Mark your territory with VersaMark! Have your mom or dad ink your feet with VersaMark ink and step onto Naturals Ivory card stock.  Then have your mom or dad heat emboss using White Stampin’ Emboss Powder!  Keep your nose away from the Heat Tool because it gets really hot!
• Emboss Resist!  Only alpha dogs can do this, because they are the bosses.  Since Mom is the alpha in our house, she used a Stamping Sponge and applied Crumb Cake in a circular motion.  Muffy ate a stamping sponge once.  She is a bad dog.
• Distress!  Put the card stock in your mouth and chew.

 

It helps to hold the paper securely in your front paws.

 

•  No Boxer available to distress? Try the Seven Sided Tool from the Cutter Kit! It works well…and doesn’t have to be taken for walks!  Brody distressed the bottom, while I used the Seven Sided Tool on the sides.

• Snazzy sentiment!  Cherry Cobbler Snowflakes, paired with Whisper White ones, add a “pop” of color and draw the eye to the flagged sentiment from A Christmas Carol!  These Snowflakes are a snap to make when using the Northern Frost Sizzlit Strip Die!

• Glitz and Glam! Basic Pearls, tinted with a red permanent marker, adorn the tree, while natural pearls accent the Large Scallop Circle and our sweetie pie’s jacket! And look at that new Large Basic Pearl from the Occasions Mini on the sentiment! (If you need an Occasions Mini, please email me!  I will send one right out!)

Of course, one should always stop to admire their handiwork!  While Muffy prefers a closer look…

Brody knows that his masterpiece need to be viewed from afar!

As always, your comments are important to me, so please let me know what you think of today’s Boxer distressed card.  My goal was to have two perfect paw prints that were embossed resist.  But you know what they say about the best laid plans!!! However, I love the look of the white embossing near the sentiment.  It really is much prettier in person…just ask Brody!  Of course, if you ever have any questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am an only an email away!  Happy holidays, my friends! Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Greeting Card Kids (W 119887, C 120633), A Christmas Carol (W 122635, C 122637), Serene Snowflakes (115438), French Foliage (W 120845, C 121166);  Inks:  VersaMark (102283), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Soft Suede (115657), Crumb Cake (121030), Early Espresso (119670), Very Vanilla (104308), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973);  Card Stock: Crumb Cake (120953), Very Vanilla (101650), Naturals Ivory (101849), Cherry Cobbler (119685);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (124096), Northern Frost Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die (120901), Heat Tool (100005), Stamping Sponge (101610), Sponge Dauber (102892), Blender Pen (102845), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Scallop Circle Bigz Die (113468), Perfect Pennants Bigz L Dies (123126), 3″ Circle Die (122125), 2-1/2″ Circle Punch (120906), Cutter Kit (106958);  Glitz and Glam:  Basic Pearls (119247), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577), Mica Flakes (124115)

Brody and the entire Schach family want to thank all of you who have left comments and who have sent emails. I have spent a lot of time these past couple of days in tears…First, because of what his “bump” could hold for us, and secondly because of everyone’s overwhelming kindness.  I really cannot put into words how your comments have given our family strength, and how they have helped us put things into perspective…how through your actions, you have shown the true spirit of the season.  And yes…

• My cards still are not sent and at this late date will arrive after Christmas.  But won’t it be fun to receive Christmas cards the week after?  And for my dear sweet friend, whose birthday I thought was the day after Christmas instead of the 20th, I know she will enjoy her belated card.
• The cookies are still unbaked and candy unmade.  But Brady the Boy went to the store Thursday afternoon and purchased practically every type of  refrigerated cookie dough they make!  We will have cookies! And with much less hassle and clean-up than usual!  What is important is that we will be making them together Friday!
• Stocking stuffers will go by the wayside. At this late date, it will be fun hitting the stores for those after-Christmas sales! The Twins must not believe in stockings anyway, since they would not allow any of them to be hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Santa-Dog soon would be there.
• Unanswered emails are slowly being answered and blogs are being visited. I have so many talented blogging friends! And please know that even though I may not have thanked you for your comments personally, I have read them and truly appreciate them.
• And my mojo is returning! I can’t wait to ink up more of my Occasions Mini stamps!

Brody will visit the vet again next Wednesday to have his bump removed.  And we are hopeful that everything will be fine and benign.  And for those of you who have asked, Brody is not in any pain or discomfort.  He is his normal, happy puppy self!  In fact, he has made a thank-you card for all of you, which he stamped and distressed himself! 

 

I still need to add the bow, since he lacks opposable thumbs, but I will get that done tomorrow.  In the meantime, Muffy has been begging me to write a post, so here she is with…

Muffy:  Many of you probably wonder how I stay looking so healthy and gorgeous!  Well, I am here to share some of my beauty tips.
Mom:  Muffy….you are so egotistical!
Brody:  Yeah, Muffy! You are eggs and sticksical!
Muffy:  Just stay out of this Brody.  This is my post.  Mom let you make a card that you get to talk about tomorrow.  I am here to talk about beauty!
Brody:  I am beautiful, too!  I won Reserve Winners Dog in Wheaton, Illinois two weeks ago!
Muffy:  Whatever! It’s my turn to post, so just take your 70 pound Boxer butt and go distress some cards or something.  Let me talk about what I know best!
Brody:  MOM! Muffy won’t let me talk!
Mom:  Brody…go play with Brady the Boy.  Your sister has been wanting to write this post for weeks, so let her talk.
Muffy:  OK.  Like I was saying, staying beautiful like me is a full-time job.  First of all, oral hygiene is very important to overall health!
Brody:  Who’s Jean?  Can I say “Hi”, too?
Mom:  Brody….didn’t I tell you to go play with your brother? Go ahead, Muffy.
Muffy:  I prefer to brush my teeth with the Sonicare.

It is so important to brush on the left side.

And in the middle.

And on the right hand side.  My Mom wants me to make certain that I tell you that I use Pro-Pet Canine Toothpaste, and not the people kind.  And my brush head is really soft…because it is Brady the Boy’s old one. 

And we all know the importance of walking to stay fit.  When it’s snowy or rainy, what could be better than a romp on the treadmill.  I like to give it a good sniff first.

Then I start out slowly to warm up.  This is VERY important.  For safety, the “clippy” thing is attached to my leash.  In case I would happen to collapse, the treadmill would stop.  However, my Mom never lets me use the treadmill unattended.

Then to really burn those calories, I have Mom  increase the speed.

Muffy:  So I hope that you enjoyed my tips on staying fit and beautiful.  I can’t wait until tomorrow to share my tips on decorating for the holidays, Boxer style!
Brody:  And I can’t wait to share my card.  I distressed it really good all by myself.
Mom:  And hopefully the Twins will allow me to get a card made!  Until next time…