Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop hosted by Honeybearz Designs

 I am excited to be a guest designer for the hop today.

So, if you came here from Lisa's blog then you are in the right place.

I wanted to make something for two of my girls who moved into new homes this past month. 

The supplies I used:

Cricut Word Collage Cartridge 
Mini gel pens
Chomas Gel pen holder 
Ribbon (Michaels) 
A christmas pick (Michaels)
Frame (Kohls -picked it up real cheap on Black Friday) 
Ranger Stickles - Green, Christmas Red and Frosted Lace.

This is the first time I have used the Chomas gel pen holder and it was so easy and fun to use. I will be using this more often. :) Once I had used the pens to complete the outline, I added a little bit of stickles to add some extra sparkle. Can never have enough sparkle, especially at Christmas. :-)
And here is the one I have all put together:

Super easy and fun project. I think my daughters will love it.  Thanks for stopping by. 
Now hop on over to Mary to see what wonderful project she has created.  And in case you get lost along the way, the entire lineup is posted below.  

Thank you Lisa for allowing me to be a guest designer today and to all the wonderful sponsors a huge thank you for your support!!  I have really enjoyed being part of this hop and hope you have had some fun also. 



1. Lisa Pontious ~ http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/c

2. Suzy's Crafts - http://suzyssimplecrafts.blogspot.com/

3. Mary Montecalvo-http://mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com/

4. Ashley - http://thebloghopprincess.blogspot.com/

5. Theresa~ www.thescrapbookingqueen.com

6. Sheila- http://www.2pawprints.blogspot.com/

7. Jillian - http://www.paperalamode.com/

8. Pam (Mama LoveBug) - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

9. Rebecca~ http://blog.scrapprincess.com/

10. Teresa~http://freshandrenewed.blogspot.com/

11. Madge- http://www.thescrappinlounge.com/

12. Jessi http://mylifeinartsncrafts.blogspot.com/

13. Miranda http://www.nanasscrapspot.com/

14. Shawnee ~ http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/

Stepping Stones! Happy Birthday Ethan!!

Welcome! You should have come from Shawnee and if not, please start back at Melissa so you don't miss any of the fabulous projects and stories.

This blog hop is for Ethan. Ethan has been through so much in his 3 years that it is only fitting that we wish him a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

I was lucky to meet Ethan and Melissa during a very low and difficult time in theirs lives. It was last year, the day after Christmas,  that Ethan was transferred to Cincinnati Children's Hospital and put on a ventilator. I had spoke with Melissa through crafting and when I found out she was so close by and going through such a trying time, I went down to the hospital to see if there was anything I could do.

Through many sleepless nights spent worrying, crying and just sitting in the hospital room,  we became fast friends. Melissa is such a strong and wonderful woman. 

Although my first meeting with Ethan was him on a ventilator it was not until over a month later that I really got to meet and see the real Ethan. Watching him progress from that little boy so sick and helpless laying in the hospital bed,  to playing and running in my backyard chasing my girls, was so beautiful and wonderful.

Melissa and Ethan have gone home, but it was a bittersweet day.  Happy for them to go home, but they had become such a part of our family, we all miss them so much.Luckily they are not too far away and we keep in touch via phone and fb. I just love hearing Ethan saying hello and I love you on the phone. It is so special.

So here is to you big guy! I love you too and hope you have the best birthday after and many many many more to come!

We do have a few Generous Sponsors for you all today! 

 CREATIVEKUTS  ...5 WINNERS WILL RECIEVE $5.00 In free files!

Sherri Baldy Stamps- Is giving away 3 Digi Stamps

Monica Scrapstreasures- Giving away 6 flowers and Ribbons

In order To be eligible to WIN you Must Comment on EVERYONES BLOGS and FOLLOW ALL THREE SPONSOR's BLOG and please THANK THEM! 

Melissa Pinter http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com

Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com

Haidee - http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/

Lisa - http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com

Shelly - http://myscrapandstamphouse.blogspot.com

Scrappin Madge - http://www.thescrappinlounge.com

Madison - http://ifeeltheloveproject.blogspot.com/

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com

Tahi - http://tahisscrapcorner.blogspot.com

Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com

Sue-Ann- http://Suzyssimplecrafts.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by the Autumn Blessings Blog Hop. You should have come from Tricia if not, please jump back to Lisa so you don't miss any of the fabulous projects along the way.  

I am so excited to be a part of this Hop with this wonderful group of ladies.  A big Thank  you goes to Lisa for putting this together. :)  

This is the time of year where everything seems to get so chaotic and everyone is rushing here and there to make sure you have the perfect Holiday season. You start out so excited but by the time you are done and the Holidays arrive, you are so exhausted, stressed and are glad its over. 

I am truly blessed to have a wonderful family. My children are by no means perfect and they drive me crazy many times...okay, more often than not. :)   But this is the time of year they all gather to go to the Halloween Fest at the local amusement park, Pumpkin Patch, Thanksgiving or even Black Friday Shopping. These are our yearly traditions they expect and love. 

Now as they grow, they bring their significant others and children.  Its funny when we show up at the pumpkin patch with a group of 10-15 and only 2 or 3 are children, because even their friends, my "other" children come to be part of our family traditions.  But I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

I love them all and with the recent unexpected loss of a loved one, it reminds me how much I am truly blessed and during the next few weeks and months, I'm going to remember to stop and enjoy these blessings as time they passes so quickly.  I'll also hug them each a little tighter because you just never know what tomorrow might bring.

So for my project I have made a mini book that highlights one of our Fall excursions to a local amusement park. I hope to make more of these little memory books to keep the memories close at hand after the holidays have passed and I am stressed out.  :)

For my Project, I used

 Best Creations Hello Fall 6X6 paper

Assorted Stickles

Zutter Bind it all Book Covers

Various Buttons, brads,  flowers, ribbon and embellishments from my stash. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. Now head on over to the fabulous Melissa to see what wonderful project she has created!

And if you get lost along the way, here is the entire line up.

1. Lisa ~ http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/ 

2. Ashley - http://thebloghopprincess.blogspot.com/ 

3. Maria ~ http://JoyfulStamper.blogspot.com/

4. Esther - http://forthejoyofcreating.blogspot.com/

5. Shawnee - http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/

6. Christine- http://hotberrydesigns.blogspot.com/ 

7. Lucy ~ http://love2createitall.com/

8. LLuvia  http://sweetbirdmemories.blogspot.com/

9. Pam http://mzlavr2.blogspot.com/

10. Haidee http://created2bunique.blogspot.com/

11. Paula http://preciouspagesbypaula.blogspot.com/

12. Pam (Mama LoveBug) - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/

13. Rebecca~ http://blog.scrapprincess.com/

14. Tricia http://mysticalcardcreations.blogspot.com/

15.  Suzy's Crafts - http://suzyssimplecrafts.blogspot.com/ ->

you are here

16. Melissa http://pinkpolkadotscrapping.blogspot.com/ ->

go here NEXT