And the Winner Is.....Lisa Nason

Thanks to all of you who participated by leaving me such sweet comments regarding a pretty icky subject: turning 40! I'll just sum up all of the comments for you:

If you're over 40 years old, then your 40th birthday is a great thing and you are still young and beautiful.

If the 40-year milestone is not yet breathing down your neck, then you hope you're doing so well by the time your life is half over too! Kinda like the baggers at the grocery store that say things like, I wish MY mom was hot like that. Or the sweet teenage girls that say things like, You look good considering you've had three kids.

All in all, Lisa summed it up for us all:

Being forty years old is better than the alternative.

Seriously, thanks for the fun! Lisa wins a FREE scrapbook kit! (I'll call you this week, friend!)

Christmas Matchbox of Tags

I have to say that I do love my Big Shot! The Big Shot Die Cut Machine is alot of fun to use and a huge timesaver. To see a video on how it works, Click HERE. I made this cute little matchbox that I filled with Christmas tags in no time at all. Using the Matchbox die for the Big Shot, I cut the cardstock. Next I simply folded on the prescored lines made by the die! So Easy! I decorated my box with stamped images from the hostess set, Patterned Pines and that adorable Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon.

The tags were quick and easy too since I used the two sizes of tag punches and quickly cut them out and assembled them. I think this project will make a cute little favor for the holidays and I hope it sparks your imagination!

Don't Forget! Tomorrow, I will announce the winner of the FREE Scrapbook Kit. If you haven't yet, scroll down to the next post and leave me a so sorry you're forty message and you'll have a chance to win!

Punch Pals Christmas with Gretchen's Weekend Sketch Challenge

My darling precious little baby boy (who is away at college-smile) sent me a text this morning that said, "Now you're 40 plus a day." HMMMMMM......true, true. So I'm kinda over the birthday blues and just trying to figure how to STAY forty. Thanks for the birthday greetings. Tomorrow, I will announce the winner of the FREE Scrapbook Kit. If you haven't yet, scroll down to the next post and leave me a so sorry you're forty message and you'll have a chance to win!



Today's post is to forget the birthday and start thinking Christmas! It's just around the corner (now that time is SCREAMING by) so don't delay! I used a sketch provided by Gretchen Barron on her blog (Click here to see her gorgeous examples using the sketch!) I love to use sketch challenges for a starting point since I'm a little creatively challenged. Here's the sketch! Make something cool and have fun with it!





Stamps: Punch Pals

Ink: Basic Brown, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Going Gray & Old Olive Classic Inks

Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla Card Stock, Merry Moments DSP

Embellishments: Real Red Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Cool Tools: Eyelet Border Punch

Scrap Birthdays! (But send presents)

Well, ya'll, you might have noticed I haven't posted in a little while. But I HAVE been busy making and making and planning and planning! I'm sharing a couple of birthday scrapbook pages with you today and hope you enjoy!


I'll be turning the BIG 40 tomorrow on my own birthday and want you to know that I would really rather scrap it. (Gosh, I crack myself up!) Really, though, I'm not interested in moving to the next "age" and sure don't feel like someone in their forties. Boo HOO! Ha ha



All of the pages you see here have been created using the absolutely beautiful Simply Scrappin Kit, "Happy B-Day." I LOVE the fun combination of colors and the papers are to die for. I like to take a Simply Scrappin kit and step it up some more by adding other embellishments like buttons, ribbons, brads and GLITTER!


I've also taken some of the stickers from the kit and punched them out to make picture corners.


Punches are perfect for creating extra embellishents and layering them with stamped images for even more fun. The WOW Flowers stamp set was perfect for this Scrappin Kit. I stamped some of the images onto the solid card stock to add even more dimension and interest to the pages.

The Big Shot die cut machine is the ultimate scrapbook accessory. I've cut letters for a bold title from the card stock included in the kit then stepped them up by adding ribbon a fun clip and some faux stitching.

Because Stampin Up's products are designed to coordinate with each other, the papers and accessories appear to be perfect for each other. I used Stampin Write markers in the coordinating colors to ink up a sentiment image from the "On Your Birthday" stamp set to add a title at the bottom of a page. The ribbon adds the perfect touch, don't you think?

And NOW, on to the PRESENTS!

I am offering you a Birthday present for my birthday since I'm trying to give it away!

From now until the end of September, receive a FREE Scrapbook kit with any online order placed of $50 or more.

Simply place your order online and then email me at cjbrasher@aol.com to let me know you have earned the free kit. The scrapbook kits are retired products that include 3 sheets of 12x12 card stock, 2 sheets of 12x12 coordinating double-sided designer paper, 2 sheets of adhesive die-cuts, and embellishments to match!

AND NOW FOR THE Goody Bag!

You can win a free scrapbook kit just by leaving a comment here. All you have to do is leave me a birthday comment for my FORTIETH stinky birthday. I'll pick a winner at random on Saturday!

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To Order Stampin' Up products online 24/7, click HERE

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Happy Bday Simply Scrappin'

Price: $19.95

Does the thought of scrapbooking scare you? If you want a quick, foolproof method for saving your special photos, Simply Scrappin’ is for you! Each set includes paper and self adhesive die-cuts. The images are all exclusive Stampin’ Up! designs that coordinate with our rubber stamp sets. And each package includes several great layout ideas.

■ Coordinates with Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery, Crushed Curry, and Ruby Red

■ 80-lb. cover weight

■ Easy-to-use images are great alone or coordinated with coordinating stamp sets

■ Kit contains 8 sheets of 12" x 12" textured card stock; 6 sheets of 12" x 12" patterned paper, and 6 sheets of 6" x 12" self-adhesive die-cuts (2 each of 3 designs)

■ Can be trimmed to create 6" x 6" or 8-1/2" x 11" pages

Wow Flowers Stamp Set
Price: $12.95

Everyone loves flowers, so send your special wishes with these Wow Flowers. The simple images and greetings will convey the right message to your recipient.

Set Quantity: 4