Merry Christmas Everyone!

From our family to yours, 

I hope that your holiday is fabulous!

Photograhy and Christmas Card design by Kara Bryant Photo.

Photography Friday: Merry Christmas to Me!

I got my Christmas present a little early this week.

When Jacob started driving in July, he took my Nissan Xterra, and since then I have been driving the Jeep. Finally this week, we bought me a new (to me) truck...a Toyota Tundra CrewMax.

Yesterday,  I pulled out my camera to play with taking photos of it.....

Christmas Cards

For the first time in a VERY LONG TIME, I did not make my Christmas cards this year. 

I know, I can hear the gasps of shock heard around the globe....hehe!

But I did still have to make a *few* cards for a few special people, and here they are...

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Merry Christmas Home (tree stamp)

*Unity Stamp Co. Christmas Delivery (sentiment)

*MME papers 

*CTMH cranberry ink

*StazOn jet black ink

*black flat back gems

*Martha Stewart border punch

*Nestabilities labels die

Now you need to hop on over to ***Jimmi's beautiful blog***

Sharing some {Ippity} art...

Hello everyone! Sorry, there is not a Wednesday Writings post today. I haven't been doing very good about writing in the past week. We are working at buying a truck and it's been taking up a lot of my spare time, and stressing me out...which is not very conducive to creative writing. *ugh*

But I was tasked with doing the {ippity} post on the Unity blog today, so thought that I would share the project here too.

Supplies Used:

*{ippity} Love in Return

*{ippity} Regal Greetings

*MME papers

*Colorbox blue ink

*CTMH Gray ink

*doily

*Fiskars border punch

*Nestabilities labels die

*pop dots

Monday Meanderings...Inspiration

Most of you know that I am a reader. Sometimes, I even buy books because of their pretty covers. I know that you all are shocked at this because I am not a visual person at all. *said sarcastically*

Below is a photo of one of those books ( I haven't read it yet, but I hear that the actual book is good too...hehe!)

But because I loved this cover so much, I decided that I needed to make a bookmark inspired by it.

Supplies used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Take Time to Laugh kit (mittens)

*Unity Stamp Co. What I Know kit (branch and sentiment)

*watercolor pencils

*Cuttlebug embossing plate

*Nestabilities Labels die cut

*doublesided tape

*Marth Stewart chunky glitter

*MM trim

*StazOn jet black ink pad

I love my new bookmark!

Now I just need to find the time to read the book!

Dec 15th Unity Challenge

Good morning. 

Every 15th of the month, Unity starts a new design challenge.

 This month's Challenge it's all about Gift Giving so the Challenge:

Gift Wrapping or it could also include:

Gift tags

Gift card holders

Bags and so on!!!

So easy and fun....

AND there is a prize involved!

The Big Prize

 For a chance to win 100 random stamps
and a free kit of your choice valued at $45 or under!

I went with EASY for my example...just some fun little gift tags made from shipping tags.

Unity stamp used: Santa Bingo itty bitty

Unity Stamps used: 

Cosmo Cricket Tiny Tags Vintage Christmas & Websters Pages Christmas Delivery

*Unity Stamp used: Websters Pages Believe in Miracles

Writing on Wednesday...Readers wanted!!

The end is in sight for Operation: Endgame.

As I get closer to finishing the first draft of this book, the thought occurs...what next?

I am signed up for a self-editing class next month so that will be a good start.

Also, I think that I need someone else to read it.

So far, I am the only one that's done so and it's time for someone else's feedback.

So, I Need 5 Readers!

Warning: this is the first draft of a very first novel, so it very likely sucks, like big-time sucks. 

But I know that.

What I can't see, as the author, is exactly where in the story/plot/writing that it sucks.

That's why I need you and your feedback.

So, I am asking for volunteers to read my novel when I get it done (will likely be within the next couple of weeks.) I just need a few people willing to read it and be honest, but not cruel. ;o)

Warning: the novel contains some graphic sex. 

(it would probably rate as a spicy on my sexual scale on my book review blog)

I can send you the novel as a Word doc or as a pdf file which you can load onto your e-reader.

(it's so cool to see my book on my Kindle...hehe!) 

When I convert to pdf though, it does lose some of the formatting...

specifically, parts of the book that are in Italics...like remembrances or internal dialogue.

If you are interested, you can leave a comment here or send me an email at snowchris_01@yahoo.com

I will need your email address to send the file.

And just because you all have been so fabulous with your support, here's another little snippet from the story.

The scene here is Cassie and Jake. Jake is trying to help Cassie take a bath after she has been hurt (her collar bone is broken so she can't move her right arm.) At this point, they are still just friends...

Cassie watched the myriad of emotions cross Jake’s face as he helped her out of her clothes. She stopped him now though with a hand cupping the side of his face. “Jake, relax. It’s just me, the girl you used to tie to the tree and abandon when we were little.”

Jake gave a self-effacing chuckle. “Can we not talk about bondage when you are standing there looking so gorgeous in just your underwear and about to get naked?”

The comment was so out of left field and Jake had such a look of pain on his face that Cassie had to laugh. “Relax, Jake, we can do this. We are adults.”

“Again, not helping, because I don’t need to be thinking adult thoughts right now, trust me.”

These are my words so you are not allowed to copy, alter, or re-print them anywhere else without my permission. ;o)

Monday Meanderings...

It's Monday...is that saying enough?

LOL!

I had planned on sharing lots here this morning, but I am dragging and think that most will wait til another day. *sigh*

So instead, I will share a card that I made last week with one of the new {ippity} releases.

Supplies used:

*{ippity} Your friendship- My cup of Tea

*EK Success border punch

*MME paper

*watercolor pencils

*corner rounder

And this is simply a share that makes me happy....

My new Wallflower/changing nightlight from Bath & Body works

Pretty....AND it smells delicious too!!!

Hip Hopping into December...

It's another Thursday which means it's time for another Unity Stamp Co. Hip Hop!

Yippee!

And guess what?? Ang has some crazy holiday sales for you all.
I hear that the sales are going to go on for the next THREE WEEKS...

..AND there are new releases too!

OMG, I love Thursdays!

So what do I have to share first? Some fabulous new stamps by Phyllis Harris!

I just adore this new kit called, Your Wings Exist.

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. Your Wings Exist

*MME paper

*Echo Park papers

*Martha Stewart border punch

*twine

*watercolor pencils

******

This second card uses some of the new Itty Bitty tags and that wonderful Audrey cameo that I just adore....

Supplies Used:

*Unity Stamp Co. You're the Ticket
*Unity Stamp Co. Audrey

*MME paper

*Prima paper

*Nestabilities die cut

*Basic Grey ribbon

Now you need to hop on over to ***Jimmi's gorgeous blog***

Writing on Wednesday...Big Bad Wolf

I am a HUGE fan of the new show, Once Upon a Time, and would love to write a series of books based upon the classic fairy tales. So yesterday, I was thinking about this in the shower and the idea for a new series was born. I am thinking that this could be part of an ongoing series where the fairy tales are re-invented into modern day stories...past lives, repressed memories, etc...

They say that all stories and legends are based, in part, on fact.

Do you think that’s true?

Even the fairy tales…

Amanda awoke with a start. The wolf was after her again. She had the same dream/nightmare night after night. It frightened her, but it also aroused her and that was something that completely confused her. She didn’t remember her past, but what kind of twisted person was she that she became turned on by a wolf baring his fangs at her? It was a wolf….a really ferocious dog that looked like he could eat her… and it turned her on. That was so wrong on so many levels.

Amanda glanced over at the clock and groaned. It was 3:27 AM and her alarm clock was going to start buzzing in three minutes. It was time to get her ass out of bed and head into the bakery for this morning’s prep work, but the residual adrenaline and arousal from her dream made her want to snuggle back into her warm covers. What did the dreams mean? Why couldn't she remember anything about herself prior to a year and a half ago? The wolf dreams had to be a clue, but Amanda wasn't sure if she was strong enough to delve into them even further. What if she didn't like what she discovered?

These are my words so you are not allowed to copy, alter, or re-print them anywhere else without my permission. ;o)

Granted, it's not much more than an idea right now, but I am excited about it. I am thinking that these would be novellas....around 40,000-60,000 words. What do you think? What other fairy tales would you like to see re-done in modern day??

My initial thoughts:

*Beauty & the Beast

*Robin Hood

*The Elves & the Shoemaker

Tell me your thoughts...

Photography Friday....Thanksgiving Camping

hmmm, this post is a good example of a Photography FAIL...

We went camping Thanksgiving week. 

My whole family...Ben, Jacob, Kat, and me

My brother and his wife...Alison and Dave

My parents...Mom and Dad

And my Grandfather.

The only person I have photos of...Kat.

hmmm....FAIL

I think that I need to get better about taking more photos.

None of the photos are spectacular, but here are some of the better ones...