Disney & Christmas & Card Making

Last week I talked about the trip the hubs and I booked for Walt Disney World in December. Sadly, the end-of-semester crush of group projects and big research papers and impending finals is putting a crimp in my trip planning. I did, however, get a chance to secure our attendance at the Candlelight Processional, a retelling of the Christmas story with a guest narrator (hello Neil Patrick Harris), a 50-piece orchestra, and a mass choir, all at the American Gardens Theater in Epcot. Hubs made the request to eat at Biergarten Restaurant, so I booked a Candlelight Dinner Package which includes our meal, seats for the Candlelight Processional, and reserved viewing for the IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. I'm so happy that I was able to get this one thing booked. I cannot wait to be done with this semester and really throw myself into the trip planning and look into more unique Christmas experiences that only Disney can provide.

What else besides Disney could make me be anxious for Christmas? Oh, maybe designing and planning my Christmas cards for this year. So, I was hunting around on the internet a few weeks ago when I stumble upon the newest Tim Holtz stamps and I instantly fell in love with these beauties:

I am so in love with the retro look of these stamps. They're very reminiscent of that Christmas line from the now defunct Daisy D's. The line is so old, I can't find the name or a decent image on Google to share with you. sigh. But I digress: Back to the stamps; I couldn't wait. I couldn't resist. I did not hesitate. I immediately placed an order with Simon Says Stamp and the set arrived in the mail today. I'm thinking of pairing the stamps with either Crate Paper's new Christmas line, Peppermint:

Or, possible October Afternoon's line, Holiday Style. They just released this preview on their blog today!

So tell me, are you thinking about Christmas? When do you start making your Christmas cards? 

My CHA Picks

I have to admit that I dream of living the creative life. One where I get to scrapbook weekly and take classes and go to conventions and conferences. How sweet it would be to go just once to the big one: the Craft and Hobby Association Show!

The summer CHA show was last month was in Chicago. So close, yet so far away. I spent most of the time glued to twitter to keep up to date on all of the new goodies being debuted at the show. Not being there and getting all my information second hand makes it slightly difficult to put a list of favorites together, but I'm going to try anyhow! In no particular order, here are all of the yummy goodies that I just can't wait to get my hands on:

1. Amy Tangerine for American Crafts

First up is the new Amy Tangerine line. The fabulous Amy Tan has paired with American Crafts to bring us a fun, bright line of double-sided patterned papers, fabric 12x12 cardstock sheets, new Thickers, a cool mini-album, some mixed tape, and a ton of coordinating embellishments. I want the whole line, but I especially love the 12 x 12 fabric paper, Falling for You. The precious hearts remind me of a top I used to wear in elementary school.

I also really, really want to get my hands on these amazing mixed tapes!

And finally, this super simple mini album...

2. Studio Calico

Next on my list is my current scrapbook crush, Studio Calico. This monthly kit club turned manufacturer has three new releases: Classic Calico, Autumn Press, and Memoir. I plan on trying to exercise restraint. Especially after I ended up with both of their previous lines, Countryside and State Fair. Anyhow, here's the full catalogue:

Open publication - Free publishing - More catalog

I'm mostly coveting the new Mister Huey colors. All of them.

The houndstooth and grid background stamps, as well as the I love books stamp set. These are actually the first retail stamps to be offered as part of the new collaboration with Hero Arts!

This pretty amazing ampersand mask!

 

And finally, these nifty asterisk wood veneers!

I'm going to be really, really selective about the paper so that I don't buy three of every sheet!

3. Lily bee Design

Lily bee Design has just recently shown up on my radar and boy do I love them! From what I can tell, they introduced four new lines: 

I'm really digging the bright colors in Head over Heels and all of the office/ledger type prints in Memorandum. Another great thing about Lily bee are the coordinated alphabet sheets. Eight matching mini alphas to go with each line! I own two of their older sets and I LOVE the size of these cardstock stickers.

That's the round up of what I'm most excited about coming out of the Summer CHA show. Since you made it to the end, you've earned a chance at a giveaway! In a hazy midnight ordering frenzy, I ended up with two More Patterned Paper add-ons from the August Studio Calico kit Boardwalk. Therefore, I'm giving one of the paper packs away. This includes the patterned papers from Crate Paper designed exclusively for Studio Calico! I haven't opened the paper and I'll send it to you in it's original brown bag sealed with a trademark SC sticker round. Here's what the papers look like:

Leave a comment here letting me know what you're most looking forward to getting your hands on from the Summer CHA show and I will randomly select a winner. You have until 10:00 p.m. EST on this Friday, the 12th.