Like many people, I love the New Year.  It's kind of like the refresh button on the computer. A chance to restart, renew and replenish.  Some consider it a second chance of sorts.  Any way you look at it, it gives us a chance to look at the new year before of us with renewed enthusiasm and hope.  We all need hope.

Before I look ahead I need to look back for a moment to thank all of you, my friends and wonderful customers for a fantastic year with Stampin' Up!  I am incredibly blessed with new friends and old and each one of you are the reason why my passion for this craft continues.  This year I will celebrate my 10th anniversary and I am excited to share with all of you.  Thank you all for your business and your friendship.  I am so grateful.

Just before the holiday madness took over my life, I had an opportunity to create candy packets with two wonderful friends and customers, Carolyn and Cassandra.  These two women came over for several hours just before Christmas to make items to distribute to a local nursing home.  We had so much fun. 

The "packet" was actually the Petite Pocket die for the Big Shot.  We used new and retired paper simply because we needed to make so many.  We also used various embellishments to include rhinestones, pearls, ribbon and more just to jazz things up a bit. 

 As you can see, we created quite a mess! But, it didn't matter, we enjoyed making them and knew the recipients would appreciate them.

I hope all of you enjoyed time with family and friends over the past few weeks and that you are looking ahead with newed hope and optimism.  I hope 2012 is joyous and prosperous year for all of you. 

I look forward to sharing another year of creativity with you.