Dot That "i" and Cross Those "t's" - Here Comes Dottie!

In the immortal words of Dolly Parton, "It takes a lot of money to look this cheap!" Maybe for her, but you can download your own big-boobed, big-haired Dottie | Sweet Birthday all week long here because she's this week's Freebie Friday image. $3.00 will get you any additional Dottie image. And, $27.00 will get you the entire Dottie set of eleven - That's a savings of $6.00 (or two cans of Aqua Net hairspray if you prefer to look at it that way. . .;)

The Bugaboo Stamps' DT has been busy working 9-to-5, so make sure that you swing by to see what they've created for Freebie Friday on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

 Jackie Rakoski

Scrappy

Note: Every attempt is made to get digi images uploaded to the store by noon EST for Freebie Friday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/30/2010 This & That Thursday (TNT)

Raise your hands if you gained at least five pounds since last week's TNT.  Since I've got both hands raised,  you can assume that I gained double that amount. . .YIKES!!! Thank goodness that crafting is calorie-free. . .;)

• Hey, didja' get this?

• Bugaboo Stamps' 12/2010 monthly digital stamp set is only going to be available for purchase through the end of the year (12/31/2010 at midnight EST), and then it's going the way of the dodo. . .;) There are so many great images for such a small price - $20.00 gets you 20 winter-themed images here!  

• If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you're missing some seriously good stuff (two free images)! You can do so in the right sidebar on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, below the header SUBSCRIBETOBUGABOO@GMAIL.COM.

• We're also sponsoring the challenges over at http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ for the entire month of 12/2010!

• You have until Saturday, 01/01/2011, at 7:00 AM EST to participate in Bugaboo Stamps' New Year/Celebration challenge on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. You can find the 411 here.

• Bugaboo Stamps' next challenge on Catch the Bug will be on Saturday, 01/01/2011, and anything goes as we celebrate the new year!

• Bugaboo Stamps is sponsoring http://fussyandfancychallenge.blogspot.com/ on 12/31/2010. We'd love to see you for the last challenge of 2010. . .:D

There are lots more Oldie, but Goody Thursday projects here this came from on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

 Cammy Wall

Peggy Toole

12/29/2010 Wednesdays Around the Web (WAW)

It would appear that the peace and goodwill of Christmas has given way to end of the year returns and tech support. Thank goodness that such a talented crafter like Michele can can make us laugh in spite of the kind of "customer service" that Mildred provides. . .;)

Michele Boyer of Paper Cuts

Follow me now to Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, for Tutorial Wednesday with the Jeanie Witmer {swoon}. . .;)

New Winter Brrr-irds

Baby, it's cold outside! BRRR. . .;) Our sweet little Winter Bird is just a teensy-weensy bit chilly. It's probably because he had to leave the warm comfort of his holiday nest to go back to work. . .BOO-HISS!!! ;) Poor little guy - I feel your pain as I too am in the office today. . .:(

Some of the most popular images from our past monthly sets have been those with birds and as a nod to that, Bugaboo Stamps' new release this week is Winter Birds. Our awesome avians are available for purchase here - 30%-off if you use code 7534540V at checkout. Sale ends today! Maybe you'd like to see some sample projects first? If so, follow me to our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

Melissa Sackman

Note: Bugaboo Stamps makes every attempt to get our digital images uploaded to the store by noon EST for New Release Tuesday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/27/2010 Open Mike Monday (OMM)

It's such a cliche at this time of year, but I've simply gotta know. . . 

Question: What are your resolutions for the new year?

Amy: To save money and be better about the whole "budget" thing.  We need a new roof THIS summer or we will have even bigger problems.


Cammy: To lose weight --I have about 1 1/2 years until a big birthday and I'd love to be in my best shape for it.

Jackie: I don't have 'resolutions' I just have goals that I want to achieve eventually, I never stick to any resolutions I attempt. I will say that this year has been a hard one, and I am hoping for an easy year to come!

Jenny: I would like to be more comfortable "clipped in" on my bike petals, so more biking. I would like to do the MS150 or Courage Classic (175 miles) bike ride with hubby this year =)

Jodie: this year i have only 2 - get healthy and get organized!

Joy: I don't do resolutions, I don't stick to them!  One year I tried to quit caffeine, the following year I tried to be nice to people, the following year I said I wouldn't spend money on un-necessary stamp items....yeah, can you see where I'm headed with this no resolutions thing?!


Leslie: Well, my resolution is the same as it was last year and the year before that...to lose weight so I can go to the beach with my daughter and feel comfortable...I live in Florida and we hardly ever go.

Lori: I don't do resolutions. I never keep them and then I feel bad about myself so now I don't bother with the resolutions. :)

Melissa: Exercise, I'm tired of not feeling fit.

Paul: To get back into Rock Climbing! I've let it slip lately and need to get back onto those cliff faces.

Rae Anne: 1) Go to church - I got in the bad habit of not attending much this year. 2) Exercise - Unlike going to church, I have nevah-evah been in the habit of exercising. . .;)

Scrappy: To get to a more comfortable and healthy weight, so I feel better and have more energy. I also want to do a better job of keeping in touch - which means...I *need to* become more organized! :p  

Dee (GD for 12/2010): This is going to sound silly but my New Year's Resolution is the same every year - NOT to have a New Year's Resolution.  I just try to be the best person I can be each day and go from there. 

Min-Min, my sistah from anothah mistah, has a warm winter wish of a project on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug. :D

New Year's Eve/Celebration Challenge Sponsored by Digi's With Attitude

It's a Merry Christmas indeed because Jenny and all of her elves with attitude over at Digi's With Attitude are sponsoring this week's challenge at Catch the Bug! One participant in this week's challenge (randomly selected) will win a $10.00 (CAD) to their online store!!!

By the time you read this you have probably already unwrapped all of your presents, said your goodbyes to your visitors, and are now sitting on the sofa in something that resembles a carb-induced coma. I know the feeling well. . .;)

Do you wanna get out of washing the dishes for a while?

Then why don't you wade your way through the paper & ribbons littering your floor and join Bugaboo Stamps on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, today for a New Year's Eve/Celebration challenge. Post a link to your project by 01/01/2011 (New Year's Day!) at 7:00 AM EST to be entered in a random drawing for three digi prize packs - seven, four, or two digital images! 

Jeanie Witmer

 Lola Cordova - Featuring Grumpy Gretchen from Digi's With Attitude

Very Fairy Friday

On behalf of Jodie and the Bugaboo Stamps DT, we wish you all of the joy that you can wish at Christmas, in the new year, and always!

You can download Winter Fairy | Snowflakes for free all week here - She's this week's Freebie Friday. The entire Winter Fairy collection is available for purchase here, and as a matter of fact, it's 30%-off (Your entire purchase is!) when you use coupon code 7534540V at checkout. Think of it as our Christmas present to you. You know - the one present that your parents let you open on Christmas Eve. . .;)

More DT flights of fancy are on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug.

 Paul Ford

Note: Every attempt is made to get digi images uploaded to the store by noon EST for Freebie Friday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/23/2010 This & That Thursday (TNT)

It's the sprint before the finish line, and. . .IT. . .IS. . .ON!!! :D


Bugaboo Stamps' 12/2010 monthly digital stamp isn't going to be for sale for too much longer. There are so many great images for such a small price - $20.00 gets you 20 holiday-themed images here!

• If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you're missing some seriously good stuff (two free images)! You can do so in the right sidebar on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, below the header SUBSCRIBETOBUGABOO@GMAIL.COM.

• We're also sponsoring the challenges over at http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ for the entire month of 12/2010!

• You have until Saturday, 12/25/2010, at 7:00 AM EST to participate in Bugaboo Stamps' Christmas Cookie Exchange challenge on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. You can find the 411 here.

• Bugaboo Stamps' next challenge on Catch the Bug will be on Saturday, 12/25/2010, when we'll be celebrating the next holiday on the calendar!

• Bugaboo Stamps is sponoring one of my favorite challenge blogs, Sweet Sketch Wednesday, on 12/29/2010.

There are lots more Oldie, but Goody Thursday projects here this came from on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

 Jenny Erichsen

Sandye Curry

12/22/2010 Wednesdays Around the Web (WAW)

As the clock ticks down toward Christmas, there's just enough time for me to share one more holiday card with you for Bugaboo Stamps' Wednesdays Around the Web - It's a simply a smashing little Santa card!  

Karen Howard of Feline Creative

Critter Bobbleheads New Release

Christmas will be soon be here (HOORAY!), but Bugaboo Stamps is already looking ahead into the new year with all of its holidays and events. And admit it, you were getting just a teensy-weensy bit tired of all the red & green ho, ho, ho anyway. . .;)

Well, whether you are or you aren't this week's news release at Bugaboo Stamps is the decidedly non-holiday Critter Bobbleheads. On second thought, I suppose that you could dress them up in a red nose and antlers for some last minute Christmas cards. You know, the kind that you're scrambling about the house for because someone sent you one you weren't expecting to? ;)

Off you go now to see the rest of the animals in the zoo on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

Jackie Rakoski

Note: Bugaboo Stamps makes every attempt to get our digital images uploaded to the store by noon EST for New Release Tuesday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/20/2010 Open Mike Monday (OMM)

It's incredibly interesting to me to learn about how people around the world celebrate Christmas. And, given that we have an international DT, I have the perfect place to start. . .;) 

Question: Do you open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

Amy: Almost always open gifts on Christmas Eve with my parents.  Thats when we did when I was growing up.  With my husband and son....the fact that we are usually at my parents on Christmas Eve we have our own "unwrapping" on Christmas morning.  Then everyone comes to our house for brunch on Christmas Day.


Cammy: It has always been Christmas morning for us.  I love the excitement of waking up and doing them first thing in the morning.  We do all of our Christmas'ing at our house -- our families are all half way across the country -- so our tree fills up very fast.  We have to somehow keep an ear open for our son though-- the other year (mind you, he is only 3) he sneaked downstairs and started unwrapping and rearranging them while we all slept.  I don't know what he will do this year now that he knows a little more about presents.  LOL!

Catherine: We always spend Christmas at Lee's - Max's son - and we open our presents late Christmas morning after the children have opened theirs and are busy playing ! 

Jackie: We actually do both. We all get to open one gift on Christmas Eve and then we open the rest of the gifts in the morning when we wake up. Of course for years that has lead to my brother waking up my parents up at insane hours, even when they said we had to wait until later in the morning to wake them up, they were still up way too early.

Jenny: As a child we would open one on X-mas Eve and the rest on X-mas day. Now hubby and I do our "couples" gifts on X-mas eve and family gifts on X-mas day. Hope that makes sense.

Jodie: we always open ours Christmas morning...if the kids have it there way it would be Christmas eve....I cant even put any gifts out till Christmas eve as the kids will scratch hole in them or try to rewrap them after snooping! lol 

Joy: We open one on Christmas Eve and the the rest on Christmas morning. Polo always gets the most presents, and he has no patience, so we normally let him open 2 on Christmas Eve :)

Lola: Growing up, ma would wake us up at a little after midnight. So much fun!  Now, it's Christmas morning - my husband's bright idea.  But it actually works out better so we're rested and ready to play with Bean. 

Lori: As a child, my parents would let me open one present on Christmas eve and we'd do the rest on Christmas morning.  Since we've had children we always open on Christmas morning...they have to stay in their rooms until 6am..no opening earlier than that! Now that they're older, we'll see if they can sleep a little later.

Min: Growing up it was always Christmas morning (usually we'd be at the top of the steps at 5 am WAITING for mom and dad to get up  - "Just Another 5 Minutes" was the LONNNNNNNNNNNNGGGEST 5 minutes in the WORLD!!).

Now we open gifts with my inlaws on Christmas Eve and with my family on Christmas Day.  It's a multi-day celebration around our house! :D 

Paul: Always been Christmas morning here. Can remember being 10 and going to my first Midnight Mass at Chapel and coming home at 1am. Tried to explain to my Mum that technically it was 'morning' and that I could open my presents. Didn't wash with her though.

Peggy: We open all our gifts Christmas morning, but if the kids had it their way we would be opening them at 2 am when they wake up for the first time and see that Santa has been! 

Rae Anne: Everything is always on Christmas Eve - dinner, church, and presents. When I was a child (and still believed in Santa Claus), everything was still on Christmas Eve. However, I got to open one big present and empty my stocking on Christmas Morning.

Sandye: Always on Christmas Day!  As a child, I would beg and beg my parents to let me open on Christmas Eve.  One year, they gave in. I opened everything, but then cried on Christmas Day because there was nothing left to open.  My mother said "Never Again!"  We always allowed our children to open one present on Christmas Eve; it would be a new pair of pajamas to sleep in on Christmas Eve.

Scrappy: Both! It depends on what else is going on. If we are visiting or staying home makes a big difference! This year we are going to try WAITING until Christmas Day after dinner! Hopefully our little one (AKA 'Nagasaurus Wrexx') will make it through the day! :p 

Dee (GD for 12/2010): It changes for us each year.  Now that our children have families of their own, we try to get together sometime during the holidays.  For us Christmas is when we are together as a family but it may not be the 24th or 25th.  I just feel fortunate that our children live near us and we can spend the holidays as one big happy, loud family as the grandchildren entertain us all. 

The always amazing Cammy and the positively perfect Peggy both have wonderful projects for us today on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug. :D

Christmas Cookie Exchange Challenge

Our challenge today started off as a 6x6 Christmas cookie recipe inspired by all of those Christmas cookie exchanges that people host/attend during the holidays. But then we expanded it to include other kinds of recipes, and then any Christmas dinner-related project. That's a pretty simple challenge when you consider that Bugaboo Stamps has a multitude of food (and beverage)-related images from which to choose. . .YUMMY! :D

So, join us on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, today for a gourmet challenge. Post a link to your project by 12/25/2010 at 7:00 AM EST to be entered in a random drawing for three digi prize packs - seven, four, or two digital images!

Jan Hunnicutt

Sexy, Seasonal Scarlette

Scarlette is back with a swingin' new collection for Bugaboo Stamps, and we think that you're going to love its versatility. It's like the little black dress - perfect for a mulititude of occasions. . .;) You can download Scarlette Occasions | Presents for free here. And, you can accessorize with more of Scarlette's new images here. Then it's off you go to see the swanky little numbers that the Bugaboo Stamps DT has designed for you on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug.

Lola Cordova

Min Kwiatkowski

Note: Every attempt is made to get digi images uploaded to the store by noon EST for Freebie Friday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/16/2010 This & That Thursday (TNT)

YIKES - Only nine more shopping days 'til Christmas!!!

• Bugaboo Stamps' 12/2010 monthly digital stamp is up for sale, and there are so many great images for such a small price! $20.00 gets you 20 holiday-themed images here!

• If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you're missing some seriously good stuff (two free images)! You can do so in the right sidebar on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, below the header SUBSCRIBETOBUGABOO@GMAIL.COM.

• We're also sponsoring the challenges over at http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ for the entire month of 12/2010!

• You have until Saturday, 12/18/2010, at 7:00 AM EST to participate in Bugaboo Stamps' Winter Wonderland challenge on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. You can find the 411 here.

• Bugaboo Stamps' next challenge on Catch the Bug will be on Saturday, 12/18/2010, when we'll be cooking up a little something for Christmas. . .;)

• Bugaboo Stamps is sponoring http://www.cardcupids.org/ on 12/19/2010. Card Cupids collect cards for a myriad of good causes, so please consider participating in this one.

There are lots more Oldie, but Goody Thursday projects here this came from on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

Jan Hunnicutt

Michele L.

12/15/2010 Wednesdays Around the Web (WAW)

Santa Claus brought me an early Christmas present, and let me just say that I must have been really good this year because the Alex Maldonado created a card using one of our Stella Christmas image. It's simply too much for one person to bear, so I had to share it with y'all. . ..:D

Alex Maldonado of Alex's Crafty Corner

There's no point in us racing over to Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, because if you know Scrappy, then you know that she's already on the victory lap. . .;)

Elf on Shelf (or Ornament) (or Candy Cane)

I'll be honest with you - I'm not really sure what the elf on the shelf is??? I think it's some kind of elf (on a shelf, obviously) that reports back to Santa Claus on whether a child in the home has been naughty or nice, but I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. Nevertheless, it's what popped into my head when I saw the latest Bugaboo Brats Christmas collection. She's an elf and she's sitting, so it really wasn't a very big leap. . .;)

Bugaboo Brats are some of our most popular images, so I really think that you'll be exited to see the Christmas collection - this week's news release at Bugaboo Stamps. And speaking of elves, let's see what ours on the DT have been up to on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug.

Paul Ford

Note: Bugaboo Stamps makes every attempt to get our digital images uploaded to the store by noon EST for New Release Tuesday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/13/2010 Open Mike Monday (OMM)

Thank you for those novels Cammy & Sandye. . .;)

Question: What's your favorite Christmas carol and/or hymn?

 

Amy: Ok, don't laugh but my favorite Christmas song is "Last Christmas" by Wham (the group from the 80's).  They might not be where the song originated but that's when I was introduced to it and to this day I love that song!!  And any of the WELL known Christmas songs (Jingle Bells, Silent Night, etc.)

Cammy: I'm another one who can't pick just one, can I give my top 10? In no particular order...

When My Heart Finds Christmas -- Harry Connick Jr.
What are you doing New Year's Eve? -- Harry Connick Jr.
Merry Christmas Darling -- The Carpenters (one of my fave Christmas albums)
Pretty Snow Flakes -- Patti Page (my Gram always played this album)
Pretty Paper -- Willie Nelson (another fave of my Gram)
Please come home for Christmas -- Jon Bon Jovi
Merry Christmas Baby -- Bruce Springsteen
I'll be home for Christmas -- Michael Buble or just about anyone (probably because I'm always dreaming of being home)
Deck the Rooftop -- Glee cast (new to me this year)
and lastly....
The Christmas Song -- almost any version, but like Frankie's version

Okay, okay, I know, you said favorite carol/hymn -- singular --but that isn't going to happen!

 

Catherine: I don't think I have a favorite... I love them all... When I was a little girl we used to sing carols after the Christmas meal, my Dad loved singing, and every time I listen to Christmas songs it reminds me of my childhood. Happy and nostalgic memories at the same time...

 

Jenny: Easy question for me......Walking in a Winter Wonderland. A close runner up is Rocking Around the X-mas Tree.

Jodie: My favorites are Grandma got run over by a reindeer, I saw mommy kissing santa clause and Do they know its Christmas time by Band aid - sorry couldnt pick just one - LOL

 

Joy: Well it's CERTAINLY NOT Joy to the World. People think they're so clever to get me cards or things that say Joy on them- I seriously have a tree FULL of Joy ornaments. I like the funny songs- Grandma got run over by a reindeer always makes me smile ;)

 

Lola: Easy: Oh Holy Night. I also love Little Drummer Boy, but only the David Bowie/Bing Crosby version. The other day, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was on the radio and my Bean (3 year old) said "Gross! You don't kiss Santa Claus!"

 

Lori: My favorite "serious" Christmas song is "Oh Holy Night"...I just love it. My favorite "fun" Christmas song is "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and my favorite "modern" Christmas song is "Do They Know it's Christmas" I know it gets a bad wrap as a cheeseball song but it wouldn't be the first cheeseball song I liked. :) I was in high school when that song came out and it was literally the first time I realized that not everyone was living in a nice little suburban world like I was.


Melissa: Bing Crosby singing White Christmas and it is always fun to watch the movie this time of year. Must dig that out. For years it was Drummer Boy (Pa Rum Pa Pa Pum!) I always put the White Christmas on when I'm decorating my tree. I miss the spiked eggnog these days.

 

Michele: I like jingle bells. It's my daughter's favorite too she gas really picked it up.

Min: I'm not sure I have a favorite either although, after playing the piano since I was 7, I LOVE playing Sleigh Ride, Littler Drummer Boy and Carol of the Bells. I love ATTEMPTING to sing along with Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Songs - our house is an equal opportunity Holiday Song singing household at the holidays! :D

 

Peggy: I love Jingle Bell Rock and a close second would be Feliz Navidad.

Rae Anne: O Holy Night (Luciano Pavorotti). And then in no particular order Do You Hear What I Hear?, When My Heart Finds Christmas (Harry Connick, Jr.) Christmas Hymn (Karen Kraft), All I Want for Christms Is You (Olivia Olson).

Sandye: Very difficult to narrow it down to one! Here are some that come to mind:

1. Sweet Little Jesus Boy--I grew up in a small Baptist church (I was the pianist). My mother's best friend was an excellent singer--and she sang this song one Christmas. She died at a very early age--and I'm not sure if I love the song or love the memories of her singing the song!
2. I'll Be Home for Christmas--my husband (Jim) went into the military shortly after we married--and was sent to Viet Nam. I'm sure that every military wife finds a soft spot in her heart for this song, wondering if her loved one will be home for Christmas (Jim always was!)
3. Andrea Bocelli singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town--there's just something so special about that Italian accent singing about Santa Claus. Anyway, I've told you my thoughts on Italian men before:)
4. What Child is This?--just such a beautiful song!
5. Go Tell It on the Mountain--this is a song that my choir sang when I was in high school; I loved it then, and I love it now!

 

Scrappy: I don't think I have a favorite! I like all of them! However, as a kid my favorites included 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen', 'Grandma got run over by a Reindeer', and 'Dominic the Donkey'! Funny combo right!? I have heard Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman about 40 times so far this morning too...although my DD's favorite right now seems to be Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano! :p

 

Dee (GD for 12/2010): For years my favorite was Oh Holy Night until I heard Clay Aiken sing Mary Did You Know, (yes I'm one of those) and now that has quickly become my favorite Christmas song. I also love everything by Manheim Steamroller. During the holiday season I always have a Christmas CD playing, I guess I enjoy them all!

 

Jenny and Sandye have created holiday gift tins for ABC Monday on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. :D

Winter Wonderland Challenge

Needless to say, that song is now pinging about the empty space between my ears. . .;)

Join us on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug, today for a Winter Wonderland challenge. Post a link to your "sleigh bells ring" "snow is glistening," or "we're happy tonight" project by 12/18/2010 at 7:00 AM EST to be entered in a random drawing for three digi prize packs - seven, four, or two digital images!

Need a little inspiration? It doesn't get much better than Mary's darling little blue & silver Fancy Sunbonnet project.

Mary Demmons, Bugaboo Stamps' Biggest Fan for 12/2010

Cathy's Back & Crabbier Than Evah!

Almost a year ago, before I even started designing for Bugaboo Stamps, I saw Crabby Cathy and thought that she was so incredibly tee-hee-make-me-pee. . .;) That's why I'm thrilled that she now have some snarky seasonal sentiments to add to her collection!

Santa called, and he said that you can download this week's Freebie Friday image here. He also said that you can purchase the rest of the Crabby Cathy Christmas collection here, and that you can see what the Bugaboo Stamps DT has created with her on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug.

Cammy Wall

Peggy Toole

Note: Every attempt is made to get digi images uploaded to the store by noon EST for Freebie Friday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/09/2010 This & That Thursday (TNT)

Things are showing no signs of letting up here at Bugaboo Stamps, but that's OK because it's all so very fun and exciting!!!

• Bugaboo Stamps' 12/2010 monthly digital stamp is up for sale, and there are so many great images for such a small price! $20.00 gets you 20 holiday-themed images here!

• If you haven't signed up for our newsletter yet, you're missing some seriously good stuff (two free images)! You can do so in the right sidebar on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, below the header SUBSCRIBETOBUGABOO@GMAIL.COM.

• If you're up for a challenge, why don't you pop on over to http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/?  Bugaboo Stamps is sponoring the challenge there this week.

• We're also sponsoring the challenges over at http://critterchallengeblog.blogspot.com/ for the entire month of 12/2010!

• You have until Saturday, 12/11/2010, at 7:00 AM EST to participate in Bugaboo Stamps' Anything Goes challenge on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. You can find the 411 here.

• Bugaboo Stamps' next challenge on Catch the Bug will be on Saturday, 12/11/2010, when we'll be walking in a winter wonderland. . .;) And say "HOORAY!" with me because Mary Demmons of My Scrap Happy Life, Bugaboo Stamps' Biggest Fan for 12/2010, will be joining us for this challenge!

There are lots more Oldie, but Goody Thursday projects here this came from on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug!

Joy Stagg

12/08/2010 Wednesdays Around the Web (WAW)

My fellow DT member Joy turned me on to this absolutely fabulous project using Bugaboo Stamps' Rudolph. I could go on and on and on about this project, but I'll just mention one small detail  - the little glittery gold stripes on the candy cane. . .{sigh}

Heather Prince of Princess Scrapper Stamper

Our gorgeous grandmother and GD for 12/2010, Dee, has an absolutely fantastic tutorial on tying beautiful bows on Bugaboo Stamps' challenge blog, Catch the Bug! :D

Santa's On His Way This New Release Tuesday

There's more of the Jolly Ol' Elf himself in the form of new Stocking Santa images for this week's new release at Bugaboo Stamps. 

{sigh}. . .I {heart} Santa! 

Now come with me to our challenge blog, Catch the Bug, to see what Santa's little elves have been busy creating with the Bugaboo Stamps DT this week.

Lola Cordova - Welcome to another one of our new DT members! 

Min Kwiatkowski

Note: Bugaboo Stamps makes every attempt to get our digital images uploaded to the store by noon EST for New Release Tuesday, but please accept our apologies and check back later in the day if they're not there at that time.

12/06/2010 Open Mike Monday (OMM)

It's time of year where we consider one of the most fundamental question of the Christmas season. . .

Question: Is your Christmas tree real or artificial? And, when do you put it up?

Amy: Our tree is artificial. That is what I grew up with so...why change? I've often thought about having a real tree for a change but I have a preconceived notion that it would be messy and dirty. We usually have to leave the bottom few rows in the back off because it's so big it won't fit in the corner. The weekend after Thanksgiving is always our goal but.....

Cammy: When our artificial tree starting falling apart, we went back to a live tree. Each year we debate going to cut our own tree down until we again realize how many of these "farms" in NJ are looking to make a very big & quick buck. So we go to a local garden center and get it there for a pretty good price -- plus, if our neighbor is working when we go, she gives us her discount. :) Hopefully, we'll be getting the tree the first weekend of December.

Catherine: Our Christmas Tree is artificial. We used to buy a real one but our little cat Sukie is too much inquisitive and there were needles all over the place ! I normally put it up mid-december : I put some Christmas CD's on, burn some scented candles (it has to be cinnamon !), have a glass of mulled wine and try to do it quickly while Sukie is in the garden !

Jackie: Our tree used to be a real tree, I love the smell and the look, unfortunately a few people in my family have allergies to some trees and we had to switch to an artificial tree a few years ago. It usually gets put up at the beginning of December, when we all get together and decorate it.

Jan: Our tree is artificial, we live in a very small town in Arizona and I'm not sure you can buy a real one here anymore. My husband and kids usually put up the tree about a week before Christmas and it gets taken down a day or two after Christmas. Here's a photo of why, her name is Inky!

Jenny: Artificial all the way! I would hate to have something more to worry about around the holidays. We usually put it up Thankgiving weekend, but this year it is going up one weekend late.

Joy: artificial for sure! too much trouble to get a real one- why go get a new one every year, spend money on it, have to water it, blah blah blah-would take up too much crafting time and money! I usually put mine up either on Thanksgiving or the day after.

Lesley: We went to artificial after the Christmas we had to cut-off the bottom of our 12ft tree in our living room because it was standing at an angle. Thank goodness we have tile flooring but it was still a big old mess.

Lola: We have an artificial tree tho my husband says every year that he wants a real tree...but never goes out and gets one. I used to put my tree up the day before Christmas (finals and life just got in the way), but now I try my darndest to get it up early for Bean. She's been asking since Thanksgiving "when are we decorating the tree?" with that 3year old whine. Maybe tomorrow....

Lori: Usually artificial. I prefer real and we've done real a few times, including one time of cutting it down ourselves (which I loved and everyone else complained about. :)) It's been a few years since we've had a real one so I think it's time to get one this year. We don't usually put it up until mid-December. My husband's bday is the 13th and I like to wait until after that so his bday doesn't get lost in the Christmas chaos.


Melissa: Artifical and I usually start in on the day after thanksgiving but this year I just had a ton of other things get in the way so that's what I am doing today.

Michele: I used to have a real, but I would be cleaning up pine needles for the entire year. We bought a PRE-LIT tree and it's the best thing ever. We just got scented candles for the tree scent. We usually put it up on Black Friday. We don't go out into the mob scene.

Min: Growing up we always had a live tree, but then the cat would climb it and the dog would pee on it, so my folks switched to an artificial tree. My dad would have to NAIL the tree stand to the FLOOR so the cat wouldn't tip the fully decorated tree over!!! Ah, Memories of Christmas Past!

My hubby and I have an artificial tree, which is fine (see above for cat climbing up tree problem with live tree). :D But man, there's NOTHING like a real tree! All our Christmas decorations including the tree usually go up Thanksgiving weekend - JUST in time for our annual cookie exchange!

Peggy: Most of the time we have a real tree, but the last few years we have been using an artificial tree. Our tree normally goes up the first week of December.

Rae Anne: We have a pre-lit artificial tree, and we put it up on the day after Thanksgiving.

Sandye: Sadly, the answer is artificial. It is more economical and easier--but I LOVE real trees! I do like to put our tree up Thanksgiving weekend however, so that last time we had a real tree, it had no needles by Christmas. We usually travel over the holidays anyway--so we decided to take the easier route!

Scrappy: Growing up we almost always had a real tree! The smell of the pine was wonderful, and we loved it. That is - until we got cats when I was a teenager. Then the pine smell was diminished by the smell of cat pee - as they apparently got territorial over not only who could make it smell worse, but also apparently over who could break more of grandmas heirloom ornaments. We'd usually forget to water it most of the time and end up vacuuming up all the needles around our then very 'Charlie Brown-ish' looking tree.

So now we have a fake one. I hate putting it up every year, because I end up putting it up alone and scratching myself everywhere with the 'beautiful, realistic looking' branches. Our cats LOVE to climb it - but at least they don't pee on it! However; once I wire all of the ornaments we've collected over the years onto it, I can't help but stand back and smile. Every year my husband and I get an ornament commemorating how many Christmasses we've been together. We also do that with our daughter now as well, and it really is so special to us!

We still haven't put it up yet though. We had thought of putting it up around Thanksgiving but we all got sick. Then we decided to wait until after we have a playdate on Wednesday for our daughter - complete with 17 screaming kids (all under the age of 5!) running around the house! So maybe on Thursday I'll start the yearly grunting and grumbling job of dragging it all out! And honestly - I can't wait!

Dee (GD for 12/2010): Our family tradition is to put up the tree on December 1st and I usually take it down after Epiphany - as much as I would love a real tree it would be a fire hazard if it was up for that long. Thank goodness for scented candles to bring in the scent of evergreen! Being the control-freak that I am, I love having the lights evenly spaced and not having to fuss with lights that don't work.

Michele has created some seriously Christmas-cool projects for you for ABC Monday on our challenge blog, Catch the Bug. :D