Monday, December 30, 2013

A Couple Store Samples

We instructors have been asked to make card samples using certain papers for the AZ Scrapbooking store in Green Valley, AZ.  Last week I got a couple done.  (The store supplies the papers.)


Papers are  by BoBunny and Teresa Collins.  Twine by The Twinery and Spellbinder dies.


I colored in the leaves for this card using a Copic marker.


I did use stamps on this card by Lawn Fawn.

Did you have a good Christmas?  Our children were so good to us!  We got a one year subscription to Amazon Prime and a Roku.  I had to order a modulator to use the Roku with our ancient TV.  My parents got us some gift cards (I purchased a new coffee pot so far), tools and work clothes for hubby, and a gorgeous 6' tall metal sunflower for me!  I'll get a pic of it soon.  And can you believe that tomorrow is the LAST DAY of 2013???  What a year!  I hope and pray 2014 will be a good one for you!

Friday, December 27, 2013

Hark! The Angels Sing!

I hope you had a most wonderful CHRISTmas celebration!  Since I worked into the last hours making cards (and still sending) I have another to show you.


The cool angels are from a set by A|Muse Studios called Hark.  The pattern paper (Hot Off The Press) is pre-embossed with copper then I sponged on the green ink.


I tried 2 different copper embossing powders on the angels.  The one on the left is Chunky and therefore, a bit heavier in the lines.  The one on the right is regular copper powder.  Don't know why the lighting is so different between the 2.  I used a scalloped oval die by Spellbinders.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Candy Cane and Stocking


 May the true reason for the season fill your heart and bless you this special day.

My hubby was involved in a Secret Santa gift exchange at work last Friday and it's a good thing I have a bunch of cool soaps and lotions from Melaleuca on hand (have been with them for over 20 years).  I found a brown paper gift bag and I was off and running!


The ribbon at the top is from a gift of chocolates he received as a gift.  I put it to good use.


The candy cane is from a set by The Angel Company and the text is from Lawn Fawn.  I used a Spellbinder die set and some DCWV paper.  We weren't to put the "secret santa's" name on the package so other than seeing her expression of smiles and smelling the products, I guess she liked it.


Here's my other gift card holder.  Also BoBunny papers and embellies.  I also used an old Fiskars holly border punch on the top.


I really like how this turned out, too.  I put my brother's Whole Foods gift card in this. He and his wife think I should make these (and the mitten) to sell.  Any comments?

I'm not doing the desk view today as I'm spending time with hubby and celebrating the birth of our LORD and Savior.  I'll be making a "Sausage and Egg Casserole" for breakfast from the Coming Home For Christmas cookbook by Gooseberry Patch.  (Gooseberry Patch is my favorite line of cookbooks.) I hope you have an enjoyable day!  God bless you!

Monday, December 23, 2013

5 Gift Boxes

Today I'm involved in a little Christmas party at the LSS where I teach.  Including the store owner, Debi, there will be 6 of us (5 instructors).  When we were in CA for Thanksgiving I purchased a bunch of Salt Water Taffy and, with the help of Pinterest and pins of the Envelope Punch Board..... I'm ready!


Here are all 5 together.  I did notice that I took my pictures before I added a little yellow punched star on the pine tree box in the upper right.  I used Spellbinder, Impressions Obsessions, and Sizzix dies and a few punches for all of the decorations on the boxes.


Can you see the red Stickles on the snowflake points and circles around the circle?


I added lots of Icicle Stickles around the big green tree.  And there is a yellow metallic star on this now.


I cut down a snowflake to make the arms.


Found a good use for the metallic paper that I've had for YEARS!


Glad I have lots of "old" Christmas paper from DCWV!  Have a large pad of 12" square for many years.
My Big Shot got quite a work out this past week!  Except for 1 gift from Amazon to be delivered tomorrow, I'm ready!  Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 20, 2013

A Few Christmas Cards....

How can one make Christmas cards off and on all year and not have enough?  I think this happened last year, too.  But this week I have been busy and am still mailing out cards to friends and family.  Here are a couple....


I've made a few cards using this technique.  It's quick and easy and when you're in a hurry, they do usually turn out very nice. Snowflakes from a set called Vintage Snowflakes by The Angel Company and text from Contemporary Greetings by Red Rubber Designs.


Another easy card using a Madonna and Child stamp by Red Rubber Designs from a set of 2 stamps called Christmas Season.  When I purchased this from The Angel Company many years ago it was a set of 6 called Christmas Season also.  And I love using my Scalloped Ovals by Spellbinders, so versatile!




I seen a fun card using a  reindeer but this is WAY different than my inspiration.  The deer and corners are from a set called Reindeer Food by The Angel Company.  Twine is new from The Twinery.

I still have a few more and will show those when I post next.  I gotta make sure I have enough cards by November next year.....

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

WOYWW and a Gift Mitten

Ah.... hump day.  Also known as Workdesk Wednesday.  A great day to look at work spaces around the world and see crafters' projects and desks.  This is brought to you by Julia at the Stamping Ground.  I enjoy looking around though I'm not getting the time this week as my brother and sister-in-law are here for a week and we'll be celebrating Christmas on Sunday, I think we're having tamales but I'll make some tacos, too.  But please, after viewing (and hopefully leaving a comment) my post click on the link (above) to the Stamping Ground and check around.


My desk has shrunk! I've been trying to get a bunch of cards made and did a few yesterday.  You can see a couple cards on the white scrap paper in progress.  On the left is my box of twine from The Twinery, sponge box and some gift boxes (under the twine). Center, cards in progress, stamps, ink.  Far right, more ink, scraps, and ATG gun. 

I posted the other day about our goofy Christmas tree.  I just did not want to put up the big 6' tree with ALL the ornaments so I did the next best thing.  I put a long string of lights on our skinny 5' pine that is a living room decoration,  added a couple dozen silver ball ornaments and my nativity and voila!  This pic was taken during the day so the lit-up star on top is kinda blurry and the lights are hard to see.


And I think I'm done with all our Christmas gifts other than waiting for delivery of one from Amazon.  All were mailed on Monday so hopefully they'll arrive in time as I paid priority on them.

Our youngest son wanted a gift card to EBay.  Not happening.  I've only seen the "Temporarily Out of Stock" signs for them at Safeway and, after visiting 4 within a 50 mile radius, I gave up.  Walgreens and CVS stores don't carry them here. We did get him a VISA gift card and I made a holder that inspired me  after seeing it on Pinterest at the EnchantInk blog.


The pattern paper and tag are from BoBunny.  There is no stamping (oh my!).


I punched 6 scalloped circles and sponged the edges with a light tan ink.  I think the twine made a nice embellishment for a guy and to hold the tag.


And the inside.  This was relatively easy to make and not time consuming. 
It's hard to believe that next Wednesday is Christmas!  We will probably have a quiet day as we worship the birth of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I hope you have a great Christmas and don't forget the reason for the season!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Merry Christmas Times 2

I really need to get some Christmas cards made and this weekend I got 4 done.  Yep, just 4, 2 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday.  Saturday hubby and I did some Christmas shopping then, when we got home, I spent a few hours wrapping them, getting some repackaged to mail, and the tree lighted. No ornaments, just lights.  I'll have to take a photo once I get our tree topper out of the container it's in. Yesterday we got some outdoor lights put up on the fence and a couple other outdoor decorations set out. But here are the 2 of the 4 cards I did get done.


I wanted to use some ribbon that I have oodles of and a snowflake die (from Sizzix).  The white embossed stamped image is from Red Rubber Designs set called Contemporary Greetings.


I added a silver brad to this snowflake and a clear rhinestone to the other.  I was thinking of gathering the ribbon a bit behind the snowflake but that didn't work very well so I just left the ribbon alone.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Christmas Bird on a Limb

I have had such a busy week and it doesn't seem to be slowing down for the weekend.  My hubby has been gone a bit over a week working in northern CA and central WA for his previous employer.  I had to pick him up at 2 a.m. Thursday morning so I ended up going to work on about 3 hours of sleep. Wednesday I spent the WHOLE day (until 4 p.m.) with my folks doing errands and shopping.  Tuesday I worked then taught a class while Monday I took mom to Curves so we both worked out then I prepped for Tuesdays class.  Today.... work out at Curves and haul garbage (we're rural and have no garbage service).  Needless to say, no stamping getting done for me.  I got up a bit early this morning and made this card.


This is a take off on a card by Chelsea Comer, a friend and my gal for A|Muse Studios.  But there are no products from A|Muse on this card.  I used the snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder on the card base.  The die cut out is from my new Heartfelt Creations Classic Leaf die cut set.  The bird is from My Mind's Eye Vintage Christmas stamp set and the text is from Lawn Fawn "Say Everything" stamp set.  Do you see my boo-boo?  I have a hint of red ink just above the word merry from, gulp, rocking my stamp on the ink pad.



Here's a closer look at the bird.  It is a bit small for the branch but I like the effect.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

My Desk (WOYWW 236) and a Kiss Tree

I'm back on track with showing my desk after being gone for GivingThanks day with our oldest son and his family in California.  We had so much fun with the granddaughters! But now, my desk....


I had a horrible time getting this photo into my Picassa album.  I don't know what's going on with google but I don't like it.  Anyway, my desk....  What's here"  You can see the end of my Cricut and some scrap paper.  Then 5 boxes I made using my Envelope Punch Board loaded with Salt Water Taffy for the AZ Scrapbooking store meeting/Christmas party.  These are gifts for the owner and other instructors.  That little blue thing close to my lamp base is a mini flashlight.  I used it to help me position oodles of pink snowflakes in my large Xyron machine.  I needed to make them sticky for my class yesterday. Other things... ink pad, scissors, bone folder.  Not a lot happening.

This fun blog tour of many many crafters is brought together by Julia Dunnit of the Stamping Ground.  Please click on the link to her blog at the end of my post to go visit more desks all around the world.  Be sure you have a bit of time as there is some great inspiration!

I so enjoy Pinterest and have found some amazing crafts, recipes, and more!  A few weeks ago I found this cute little Kiss Tree and finally got everything together (had to buy the candy) and off I went!


Isn't this just too cute!! It's about 5" tall (to the tip of the star) and I'll be sending it to our great grandson.


It's 2" deep to hold the kisses and Nuggets.  I found the directions here, on QBees Quest.


I made 4 more to use as package toppers. I added some bows to the top of them.  These would also be great for teacher's gifts, Christmas craft fairs, and more!!  Check it out!  They're quite easy to make.  Now, if you'd click HERE to go to the Stamping Ground, you'll have a great time.  And, if you're so inclined, please leave me a comment on either my desk, my trees, or both!  Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 9, 2013

Burlap Christmas Tree

I found a cool burlap Christmas tree on Pinterest and, after purchasing some great wire-side green burlap in CA when we were there, I was ready to start.  The tree on Pinterest was plastic or paper, not styrafoam, so I had to change up the directions to work.  My burlap is 2 1/2" wide.


I marked 1 1/2" up from the bottom all the way around to make sure my first row wasn't uneven.  I measured around the cone at my mark and cut my burlap about 1/2" longer.



I then but every inch about 1/2 way up into the burlap.


I used sewing pins coated with Beacon's 3 in 1 glue to attach the burlap.  After getting the first row on I marked up 1" for the 2nd row placement.


I continued pinning the burlap and then marking 1" higher for each row. When I got to the top I made sure my burlap was pinned to the top edge.  I then cut a 5" length of burlap, cut every 1" and formed (thank goodness for the wire in the burlap) a top and added an angel that had a wire coming out the bottom to attach the top to the cone.  I don't know if this is making any sense but if you try it find a star or something you want for a topper that has the wire.


You can see the top of the tree here fairly good.  I then used a bunch of Christmas stickers by Jolee's.  This view is looking a bit down on the tree.


Here's more of a straight on view.


Here's a close up of the stickers.  I think if I do this again maybe I'll just leave the tree bare and add a star to the top.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Overstamped Bands Christmas Cards

Now that I'm home I have a couple swap cards to send out.  And, since I just got my new Technique Junkies newsletter, I used a technique from it.  This technique isn't new to me but I don't remember if what I did way back when had a name.


This is card 1.  I made 2 and want to know which you like better.  Stamps by The Angel Company and snowflake die cuts by Sizzix.  I used 4 different blue inks by Momento.


Now for card 2....


Did you notice the difference?  I placed the text and snowflakes in opposite positions.


I have some cool sequins that I added to the snowflakes along with the rhinestone.   I think I like card 1 better.  What's your opinion?