MDS Blog Hop - What are you working on?

Hey guys - Christmas is next week! How did that that happen?! I swear there was a Nickelodeon show when I was a kid about a girl who could stop time by putting her fingers together. That's the super power I want! Because you know what I would do? Stop time and take a nap. That's right. Uninterrupted sleep. No alarms (aka kids) just sweet slumber. Ahhh. A girl can dream right? ;)

My parents are coming to spend Christmas with us this year (yay!!) and I'm still trying to make things lovely and cozy for them. So I'm working on a few printables for the finishing touches. I've loved the chalkboard look that has been floating around on Pinterest for a few years now so I'm making a few of those. I may frame some and I may mount a few others on foam core; I haven't quite decided yet.

This is the first that I made using the Watercolored Winter download:

I wanted a few more and as I was scouring through my massive list of fonts for the perfect ones, I realized that I have several amazing downloads already. Why not use what our amazing Stampin' Up artists have already designed for us?

Voila! From the O Holy Night download:

And Daily December Memories:

Quick and so much fun! So before you spend oodles of time trying to duplicate that amazing printable on Pinterest that you don't want to pay for, take a look at your downloads and see what's already there. You might find something that you don't have to tweak at all! 

Before I send you on to Cindy I just wanted to take a quick second and thank you for visiting my blog. I've been doing the MDS Blog Hop since it started 3 1/2 years ago and it's been such an amazing opportunity. But 3 1/2 years is a long time and I need a break! Life is crazy (as we all know) and I'm finding that I need some time to step back and focus on my family. 

I have loved being a part of this group and it's pushed my creative limits much farther than I ever dreamed. I'm amazed at how far I've come in the last few years! I've made lifelong friends as well - something I will always cherish. Hopefully I'll be able to still participate in projects with these amazing women in the future - I don't plan to drop off the face of the earth completely! But I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has followed us whether you've stuck with us the whole three years or just popped in every now and then to see what we're up to. Your support really does mean a lot and we love being able to share our love of digital designing with you!

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Ok... now you can head on over to Cindy's blog ;)

MDS Blog Hop - What are you working on?

Welcome to another blog hop! So excited to have you drop by today! I've been pretty busy in MDS so I have a few fun things to show you.

First up is a letter. And not just any letter - a chain letter for a sticker club! Did you just roll your eyes? Heave a mighty sigh? I did. I always do when I get a chain letter in the mail. Especially if it's one for your kids. You know the type - a letter assuming that you've just been waiting for just such an opportunity along with this little gem: "Parents if you can't do this within 6 days then please let me know because it's not fair to the kids!" Oh, thanks. Guilt comes by mailbox now. Makes you wish there were bills to look at instead.

However, included with this letter was a note from my friend expressing her hatred of chain letters and telling me it was perfectly fine with her if we didn't want to do it. I agreed with her feelings completely but...my kids love stickers. It could be fun right?  Long story short, after I'd looked at the letter a few times I decided it could use some sprucing up. And while I was at it, I'd rewrite the whole thing. Because, let's be honest - what's most annoying is how presumptuous it sounds.

Behold! A chain letter that people can feel good about!

I have to say, I don't mind sending these out. And it helps that I've already asked my friends if they'd like to participate so I know who's willing and who's not. Crossing my fingers that we get some awesome stickers! 

Ok, I have two more projects to show you and I'll make it quick. You didn't come here to read a novel, now did you? ;)

In my church I'm the Assistant-Secretary in the Relief Society (it's our women's group) and since people are aware of my crafty tendencies, I'm asked to put things together that are, shall we say...pretty. Oh, that I had all the time in the world. I could make everything pretty! 

Our Relief Society President asked me to take our goals for the year and make something cute that could be displayed each week at church. Here's what I came up with: 

I hope the chalkboard trend never leaves us, because I love it. Love, love, love it! 

One of my other responsibilities in the Relief Society is the monthly calendar. Lucky for me MDS has a cool calendar feature! Makes my life sooo much easier! We email it out to everyone each month and the way I see it, if you're going to be this busy you might as well have a cute calendar to look at, right? 

So... that's what I've been up to. Hope this gave you some great ideas to use MDS. You don't have to be a scrapbooker to love it! 

Click here to go to Cindy's blog next - can't wait to see what she's been working on!