Happy New Year!

As we recover from the worst gift from Santa Claus (otherwise known as the FLU) and put away Christmas decorations, I've barely had a moment to think about New Years Eve.  For the last four years, our tradition is to go to an early dinner at a restaurant (usually a step up from our Mexican joint where it's acceptable to throw food) and watch last years ball drop on YouTube at 7.30 pm and pretend it's this years with the kids.  It's a far cry from our pre kid days but I wouldn't change it for the world.  What are your plans? 


Carly Robertson created three cards to celebrate New Years.  She stamped the champagne glasses from PSA Love Birds on this Happy New Year card. 

From PSA Mom's Calendar, Carly stamped "Drinks." 

Celebrating with just your husband or loved one?  I love this "Date Night" card by Carly, too.   Carly stamped from two sets - PSA Love Birds and PSA Mom's Calendar.

Tell us here, what are your New Years Eve plans? Or share what you are up to on our Facebook page!

O'Regan Christmas Recap

Last night through the haze of flu medication, I had enough energy to upload and edit some pictures from Christmas.  (I also realized I had been so busy, I hadn't done much of anything with my December pictures!)  Here's a look back on the crafting, baking, party-attending, Santa-seeing, present-opening, singing, violin-playing, church-going, fun-filled family adventures of the last two weeks...

Part of me is incredibly relieved that the season is over.  As we slowly organize all the new toys that we were so fortunate to receive and get out house back in order, a sense of order and organization come over me and I am looking forward to a new year ahead.  As usual, I am making lists of all that I want to accomplish and writing a few new years resolutions. 

Part of me is also sad that the season is over -- I heard a Christmas song today and instead of being annoyed, I felt bummed.  When the kids are this young, it's such a magical time and every day is exciting.  We did so much over the last few weeks, from the school performances to ballet recital, numerous holiday parties and activities to do, I worry that January and February will be a let down!  

I am so grateful to spend quality time with our family, some of which we don't get to see all the time.  That is what this season is all about.

I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season, as well!

Onto 2014!

Gift Card Holder

I love gift cards for Christmas!  Right after the holiday, there are tons of sales going on and you can  shop for exactly what you want.  Organizing your gift cards and keeping them in a safe place is crucial, though.  The last thing you want to do is loose them, or go to use them and find out they are expired.  Ashley with Cherished Bliss created a mason jar gift card holder that I just love. It's festive and utilitarian.  Keep all your gift cards in one place on your counter, and be sure to go through them every so often to make sure they don't expire before you get a chance to use them.

Ashley stamped from our PSA Essentials gift tag collection to give this as a gift.  She used her PSA Stamper loaded with a gift tag to fill in who this gift is to and from. 

Ashley tied a collection of ribbon and twine for a shabby chic look.

An easy gift or something for yourself, this is a great idea that you can make in minutes.   Are gift cards on your list this year?

Handmade Ornaments

Our design team member Ginger of Ginger Snap Crafts made these handmade doily ornaments and created a fantastic tutorial that I had to share just in time for the Christmas!  There's still plenty of time this weekend for this easy, DIY craft.  My daughter Molly would just love it, especially coloring in all the stamps!  Look how beautiful, easy and fun!



Ginger started by stamping from PSA Essentials various Peel & Stick stamp sets. She used stamps from Smirk, U.B.U. and Rudolph.   Then she created the doilies.  Head over to her blog for a complete tutorial on how to create these. (Hint: you create a paper fan first!)








I just love how they turned out! Don't you?

Vintage Treat Boxes

Ginger of Ginger Snap Crafts has an incredible ability to make simple crafts very chic.  Case in point are these vintage treat boxes that are just in time for the holidays!  The stamp designs of North Pole Peel & Stick by PSA Essentials are what make these vintage, Ginger makes it modern, and I just love the look and the concept!



For this project you need,

• PSA Essentials Peel & Stick stamp set {PSA * North Pole Peel & Stick stamps }
• PSA Essentials stamp body & black ink
• Twine
• Cardstock cut with a matchbox die {See Ginger's matchbox tutorial here! .}
• Twine
• Elmer’s X-TREME glue stick
• 1 inch circle punch
• your favorite holiday candy

Ginger started out by stamping... I just love the look of the black stamp on kraft!  Look how crisp and clean the stamps come out, too! 

She assembled her treat box when the stamps were dry and filled them with her favorite candies!  She created "Merry Christmas" gift tags using a round punch and twine too.   For more photos and tutorials, head to Ginger Snap Crafts! 

Are you creating home made treats for the holidays?  We'd love to know! 

Minted Holiday Cards

I absolutely love sending and receiving holiday cards.  Going to your mailbox during the month of December and seeing the familiar faces of family and friends on beautiful cards brings a smile to my face (even in a sea of bills, junk mail and a ridiculous number of catalogs.)

Every year, I carefully deliberate where I buy my holiday cards.  I weigh design options, pinning various designs from all my favorite sites on a board.  Then I examine the best deals: who has discounts, who has free shipping... This year, I ordered from Minted!  I had a hard time deciding on the design.  It seems I gravitate towards the colorful and whimsical, and I also like cards that have a portion of a holiday song or carol.  Here were my choices...

Which is your favorite?  Which do you think I chose?

The thing I just love about Minted is that their cards are by men and women all over the world.  They truly are "designed outside the cubicle" and the community of shoppers vote on which designs to be sold.  They have high quality printing and their paper is super luxe and thick.  (As a printmaking major at The University of Michigan, I have a true appreciation for paper and the thicker the better!)

To make return address labeling easy, I used my PSA Essentials personalized stamp. I switched out my middle by peeling away the center and stuck on a Christmas tree with heart ornaments from Whimsy Tree Peel & Stick stamps by PSA.  I send my cards to 200 people, so the stamp makes return addressing easy!

Where do you order your holiday cards?  Did you use a personalized stamp to make addressing easy and festive?  Share your thoughts with me here!

3 Cute Cards & limited edition GIVEAWAY!

We work with craft trade publications all the time and have developed some great releationships with editors. Last year, the editors of Canadian Scrapbooker requested that our PSA Stamp Camp designer Carly Robertson, create 3 holiday cards to be featured in their winter issue.  They turned out beautifully and have them here today to share!

Perhaps it's no secret that Carly has always been one of my favorite designers.  I love her clean and simple style, her card staging, and her product photography.  In these three cards, Carly is using Rudolph Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials.  This Peel & Stick stamp set was a limited edition and is no longer available for purchase. Rudolph and The Misfits Peel & Stick stamps by PSA Essentials cannot be purchased ANYWHERE! Still want this adorable set? You will have to win it by entering below! I have ONE pack sitting on my desk ready to be shipped.

Isn't this set just adorable? And Carly makes the most darling cards.  She uses Copic Markers to help color up her stamps, which makes all the difference in bringing to life our stamps.  They really have character!

Be sure to stop by Canadian Scrapbooker on Facebook and tell them hello, and check them out online! Enter our giveaway below by following us on Twitter, tweeting about the giveaway, liking us on Facebook, or commenting! Contest ends 12/24 and we will contact the winner and announce on Facebook.  Stop by Carly's blog and see what she is up to.  She was recently featured in Romantic Homes Magazine. 

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