ALERT: Giveaway HERE!

The winner will be picked some time tomorrow.

In the meantime……

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I have this sample to share today, but first some banter!

So this is the LAST day of 2009! Seems like just yesterday we were all wondering if the computers around the world would crash with the celebration of Y2K . Now, a decade later…..here we are! Technology is BOOMING!

Did you think there would be iTouch phones, Skype, texting, YouTube, Facebook, and even videos sent via phone? I’m a talker so while I have NEVER sent a single text, and while I don’t have time for Facebook, I’m in awe of everything that has come of this decade.

 Now here we are….all connected by the Internet in some way. Most of us (myself certainly included) are DEPENDENT on the technology of today, that connects us to the world! I mean you could stay home 24/7 and feel connected to others.

I feel like I have a huge network of “friends” whom I never even met. All these “screen-names” I somehow “know” and view as an extension of friends. People who are there for me in this Internet of connections, who support me, know me, and cheer me on. People who I would never know otherwise! Other people who understand my papercrafting dreams and obsessions, because they are just like me!

Where were you in the year 2000?

I remember I didn’t even know how to email, much less blog, or anything else. I certainly never heard of stamping!!

Now here I am preparing to start 2010, doing something I had never even thought I’d set out to do. Something I always thought impossible! I have to say I have learned a TON in the last year, and I have so much more yet to learn!

I have accomplished more than I anticipated this past year, and have no sham in saying I’m proud of myself.

I’m beyond excited to see what 2010 will bring.

I’m excited to have you all right there with me, doing something I never, in a MILLION years expected to do.

So now its time for those New Year resolutions!

Obviously I am resolving to do me very best that I can in my new ventures.

I am thinking that I am going to resolve to NOT doubt myself, nor under-estimate what I am capable of doing! I truly believe we can make any dream come true, with hard work and dedication! I have accomplished some pretty big goals the last few years, so the sky is the limit!!! Don’t be afraid to make a leap, take a risk, or step out of your comfort zone! Its far better than saying “I wish I did that”. You may surprise yourself.

I am also going to resolve to become MORE computer savvy (and pity those around me who will have to teach/deal with me as I strive to do so)

I also want to resolve to finding balance between family and work. Family is so important. I’ve been VERY busy lately but have done my best to try to maintain some sort of balance. Admittedly some days it worked better than others, but I’m working on it.

I always have a million goals and resolutions. I commit that to the fact that I strive for continuous personal growth! Having the never ending “accomplish this” list certainly isn’t a BAD thing! Once I complete one goal, a new one takes its place.

I’d love to hear YOUR resolutions! So feel free to share.

In the meantime….my friend is going to a Wedding tonight with the red & white color scheme (pretty cool-a New Year’s Eve wedding!) and she asked that I make her something to accompany a bottle of Champagne, and to put some $$ in! Not the standard envelope.

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Well I thought that this would be the PERFECT wedding package!

I used the In A Pinch © template, cut using my Cricut Expression in Alabaster Columns. It is a pretty textured white. I used the heart shape that come with my Sure Cuts A Lot to create a window! Took SECONDS!! No more trying to CRAM my templates through a machine that they can’t fit into!

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I’m loving wired ribbon lately, and this was perfect for my project.

The sentiment on the heart is from JustRite Stampers  Jan 1st release called Romantic Sentiments.

It reads: “When I followed my heart it lead me to you”. I stamped it in white ink, on red cardstock.

Can you get a better Wedding sentiment?! Love it. Made this so perfect for “love birds”

I put some acetate behind the window, then assembled my box.

I decided to use some adhesive rhinestones around the heart window. They were silver, colored red to match.

I also added some punched white doves, from a shimmery white cardstock.

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Inside this they will find some Dove Chocolates to match )and Dove because I used Doves in the heart. They will also receive a heart shaped “Key” that is also a bottle opener. I found that in the Wedding section at Michael’s, which is attached to a heart shaped “ornament” that is filled with epoxy hearts, and glitter, and can contain the $$, as well as be saved. That is what will go INSIDE the box!

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This is the key/ornament/gift, which is adorned by yet another tag…..from the Romantic Sentiments that reads: “You hold the key to my heart”

I stamped one of the borders on the tag to make it look a little more elegant. It was a very easy addition to make it POP.

I think this will make a nice Wedding package! She was very happy with the end result, and took the key bottle opener to be engraved with the couples Wedding date!

Well I am off to spend some time with friends and their children for the evening. We don’t go out on New Years. We like to stay home where it is safe 😀 The kids are going to have a big “camp-out” in their room, while the adults belt out tunes to American Idol (the game! LOL!). Should be FUN!

Before I know it the  My Time Made Easy™ LLC  release will be here!

YEAH!

I want to wish you and your family a very happy, healthy and SAFE New Year! I hope this is the year that you make all YOUR dreams come true.

See you in 2010!