If you live in New York, “do you want to build a snowman” is a question that you could ask someone right now! However, snow was something I didn’t get to see when I was visiting the Big Apple last month.

On November 1st I had the opportunity to visit one of my favorite places, New York City. I especially love visiting New York in the Fall. Especially after the Bryant Park Winter Village is open. I love the festive atmosphere with cute shops and the smell of hot cider in the air.

We checked into our hotel in Times Square and enjoyed the view of all the colorful lights flashing below.

I traveled to New York with two of my downline and friends, Teresa and Zeny.

The weather was perfect, not too cold but cool enough that we had the opportunity to wear our hats, boots, scarves and warm jackets.

One of our first stops was Central Park. The park was so beautiful. We were so excited to see the leaves falling all around us. I’m sure if you get to see falling leaves all the time it is no big deal, but for us it was magical. The leaves were falling like snowflakes from the sky, it was amazing.

I bet we were the first people that our carriage driver met that got more excited about seeing squirrels and falling leaves than some of the famous landmarks in the park. Our driver would said, “This is where the movie Home Alone was filmed” and we would look at that spot and say, “Oh My Gosh Look At That Cute SQUIRREL”. He pointed to another section and said, “here is the famous statue of Balto, the Sled Dog and we would look up and say, “Oh yes, the statue is nice but just look at those LEAVES”, I think he thought we were strange until Teresa handed him a piece of Chocolate Macadamia nut candy and told him we were from Hawaii.

Since we arrived in the city the day after Halloween there were still plenty of places where we saw pumpkins on display.

Seeing these pumpkins reminded me of the paper pumpkins I had made for my Bunco in October.

For the past few years I’ve had a pumpkin theme at our October Bunco. Here is what I did for this years Aloha Prize.

I covered this paper pumpkin with strips of our Natures Poem Designer Series Paper using Mod Podge. I then used hot glue to add some leaves to the top.

For the Bunco Favors, I made these little pumpkins out of our Clear Tiny Treat Boxes.

To make these pumpkin favors, I just cut a piece of Pumpkin Pie Card Stock at 1 7/8 x 8 1/4, I ran it through my Big Shot using the Corrugated Dynamic Texture Impressions Embossing Folder and then placed it inside one of our Clear Tiny Treat boxes. I then cut 2, 2 x 2 pieces of Pumpkin Pie Card Stock for the top and bottom of the box. I only put glue dots on the top square as the rest of the card stock stayed in place when wrapped around the inside of the box. The bottom square just got pushed down to the bottom and didn’t require any adhesive. I used the Tailored Tag Punch and punched out a piece of our Wood Textures 6 x 6 Designer Series Paper and then cut the shape in half to form the top of the pumpkin that was embellished with one of our Leaves Trinkets.

I filled each pumpkin with candy corn.

Bunco was so much fun and I was honored that beautiful Roxanne, who was celebrating her birthday that day, came to Bunco with her Mom.

Well, by now, you are probably wondering, why did I title this post, “Do you want to build a snowman” when I am taking about New York, Squirrels, Pumpkins, Falling Leaves and Bunco???

I’ll get to the snowmen… eventually, but first, let me explain!

Over the past couple of weeks I have had not one but two opportunities to hear that famous “snowman” song from the movie Frozen.

While in New York I went to watch Frozen on Broadway.

It was a fabulous show and it was so sweet to see all the kids in the audience attending their first Broadway show. Teresa (pictured below) was at her very first Broadway show. As you can see from the look on Teresa and Zeny’s face, we were all really excited to be there.

After New York we went to Orlando, Florida for the Stampin’ Up! On Stage Event. It was there while at a special leadership event called CenterStage that I got to go on the Frozen ride at Disney’s Epcot Theme Park with there lovely ladies.

The ride was cute but the real fun was all the sharing we did while waiting in line. This particular day the sharing was very timely where one of us got the message to let go of something that had been troubling them. It was quite funny to be having a conversation about “letting go” of something while in line to go on a ride where we would hear the song, “LET IT GO” be performed over and over again!. Sounds like CONFIRMATION to me!!!

So, with all of this “Frozen” influence and exposure, the first thing I did when I got back to my stamp room was to build this cute little snowman treat box.

I created this in the same way as I did the little pumpkin one except I didn’t crimp the inside paper, I scored it instead. . I also didn’t put a top or bottom 2” piece because the knit hat covered up the top and I left the bottom open. Here are the dimensions.

The nose was made out of our new Sprig punch. The cheeks were made with our Stampin’ Blends and the eyes and mouth were made out of Black Jewel rhinestones.

Aren’t the little stocking hats cute? I found them at Target in Orlando, they only had 12 and I took them all. I wish I could have found more as they were the perfect size for our little treat boxes.

The back of the box was stamped with an image from the Take Out Treats Stamp set. Inside I placed these soft peppermint candies.

I love how this cute little box came out. You can use it as party favor and then after the candy is gone you can hang it on your tree as a cute little snowman ornament.

I made these for our Home for the Holidays craft fair which was last week. I had to keep one for myself since I collect snowman and have a tree that holds all my snowman ornaments and I fell in love with this cute little guy!

Just days after leaving New York, it started to snow. I’m sorry we didn’t get to see the snow because I know we would have loved to have been able to build an actual snowman! I think we probably would have had a hard time with the cooler temperature. Especially since on our last day in Florida it dipped down to 55 degrees and we were FREEZING!

November is always a favorite month for me because I love the focus on being Thankful. I am grateful to God for the blessing of being able to travel as much as He has allowed me to do.

I am also grateful that while In New York I not only enjoyed the colorful leaves but it was most special to …

have another opportunity to visit my big brother who has lived there since I was in Junior High School. He is one of my favorite persons in the world and someone I am truly thankful for.

So whether is be pumpkins, falling leaves, squirrels, traveling, snowmen, broadway shows, disney rides, fun with friends or family! I realize I have lots to be thankful for this holiday season. God is so good.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

Stamped With Aloha

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?

Cookie Mama

Our 30th Anniversary

Stamped With Aloha