Happy Halloween!

Good morning friends! I hope that you're having a great day! Happy Friday! I can't belive the crazy day we've got today...LOTS of fun, that's for sure! We've got to get costumes ready, one child wears hers to preschool, then home for a few hours to make a chocolate sheet cake for a later party, then off to pick up the brother from school and his party, off to dad's office (Microsoft throws GREAT parties!) to trick or treat and enjoy the fun party there, then off to a party with our church friends and eat the chocolate cake made earlier today....then off to bed on a sugar high and hopefully not too sore tummy's! Well, we'll see how it all goes! But we're excited for a great day today!!

I thought I'd share a fun little treat we made for Ms. Kari, the music teacher. I've seen these little cute "frankie" boxes all over, and thought it would be a perfect not too spooky but fun way to present a little "yummy in your tummy" treat! When I saw the pink M&Ms at the store--PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness, I was happy to purchase a few bags and donate more to the cause of looking for a cure...and then let's be honest, who can pass up PINK (two delightful shades I might add) M&Ms?!
So, I started with my Fancy Favor Die. It is a SU exlusive die and is awesome. I cut it out with my Big Shot in Old Olive cardstock. I cut two top note dies, also a SU exclusive die, and also in Old Olive. I cut the bottom off the top note, so she would sit flat on the surface place upon.

For her dainty face, I used my 1" circle punch to make the two whites of her eyes, and Olive eye lids, which I just cut one punch in half for. I used my 3/4" circle punch for the two blacks of her eyes. I used my round tab punch and then cut it in half for her cute nose. I just drew her mouth with a fine tip black marker. For this great pink head of hair, I just cut another Top Note out of Pink Passion cardstock and then cut it in a crazy way to give her a fun fringe! I added a little bow, black 1/4" grosgrain and black/white gingham with a fun little pink button for some fun texture!I added her hair bow with a mini glue dot.

After I made her all up, I attached her face top note to one side of the fancy favor box. I added another olive top note to the back side of the box, so she is super cute!! We added a bit of black paper "mix" and then put the cello bag of M&Ms into the box. I added a quick little tag to the gingham ribbon bow. I just stamped the "yummy" stamp from the retired Yummy stamp set, with Pink Passion ink onto Whisper White cardstock and then used my large oval punch to punch it out. I layered it onto a black scalloped oval and then onto a Pink Passion wide oval.

This little friend came together quick and is so cute! Ms. Kari really enjoyed her...and that is what our aim was! Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a wonderful day, make it great and have SO much fun this weekend!!:) We'll be sporting a nice tiny Piglet, a beautiful Garden Fairy and a very serious Commander Cody(from Star Wars Clone Wars) this weekend...fun, fun, fun!!

Dozen Sharpened Pencils

Howdy Friends! I'm a bit late in posting today, but I've been consumed with laundry and all that goes with it today! I've had a fun time getting something for my son's grade 1 teacher too...A Dozen Sharpened Pencils.
I did my best to not have any of the flowers the same, so there are 12 different flowered pencils in this cute bucket! I found the bucket at target yesterday in the dollar (or let's be honest, 10$ spot) spot. I uesd the Sunny Day Simply Scrappin' Kit for my paper/color selection and fun! I used a bunch of different items on the flowers. The stamps I used were from the Petal Pizazz stamp set. I used my Flower Layers BigZ die and My Big Shot for several flowers. I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder for several flowers. I uesd a lot of brads, some buttons, some rhinestones, and even some acrylic and felt flowers too. I used my trusty circle punches for a lot of the fun, and my Circle Scissor came to my aid too...I LOVE that thing!!

I hope you have a great day! I'm excited for my son to give this little dozen flowers to his teacher...he love giving fun gifts! And let's be honest again, I sincerely enjoy sending gifts to my children's teachers!

Thanks for dropping by! Make it a great one!!

Scrapbook Challenge

Hey friends! Today is a sad day...I've got to pack up my studio! How sad is that!? I've got to say "air shipment" or "sea shipment". The air shipment will be packed tomorrow, which is great, that means that VERY shortly after we arrive in Seattle, we'll receive this shipment. However, that means that I'm having so say goodbye to them all today! I can't bring everything I'd like in the air shipment, so I'm having to choose...how difficult! It's almost like choosing children! (Maybe not THAT extreme, but you catch my wave?!)

So, I've got some things that hopefully I'll be able to share this next week, if everything goes according to my plans! Today, I'm sharing this scrapbook page of me and my sweet little Ruby. I wanted to participate in Jennifer Buck's Clean and Simple Scrapbook(CAS) Challenge. I loved her sketch...so thought I'd hurry and play along!
This photo of Ruby and I has been sitting at my desk for a few weeks-as I've been organizing photos and I love it! She is so big now, walking all over, eating everything, cutting molars, just growing up! Anyway, here is my take on Jennifer's Challenge.

My supplies are all SU. Vanilla(although looks washed out white) cardstock for my background page. I used mounted my photo on basic black, then added an old olive scallop edge. I mounted that all on Real Red cs. The black polk-a-dot flowers are rubons are from "A Perfect Day"(as are all the rub-ons on this page), that I rubbed onto vanilla cs and punched out with my 5 petal punch. I added some red rhinestones and added them with dimensionals. The Real Red bloom is from the die cut bloom set. I used another rub-on(too cute for words), used my 1 3/8" cirlce punch to punch it out, and then mounted it on an old olive scallop circle punch.

Thans for the challenge Jennifer! It was a fun one!:) Thanks for stopping by friends! I hope that you are all enjoying spring weather...our weather can't seem to make up it's mind! Snow, sun, rain, sun, snow, sun...all in one day!:) Have a great day and thanks so much for your visit!

Scrapbooking...oh, it was fun!!

I feel like 2009 is just beginning...I'm finally getting the organized part of me all organized(just in time to start the moving across the world again thoughts...)and put together, and I'm ready to take on a few of my goals. One of my goals is consider myself a "scrapbooker" again. I do love it, but I got out of the mood a while ago, and now, after ordering hundreds of photos, I'm really wanting to use all the products I love and that I hoard...and make a nice place to display and tell my sweet little family memories! Sometimes, it's hard to make it "look" right. I remind myslef, that really, these pages are for my family...so relax Jen! I was reading recently in a Stampin' Success article(a great publication for SU demos.) and was reminded that yes, there are "rules" but my scrapbooks are just that, mine! So, I'm going to enjoy preserving my family memories...and enjoy watching my kids love them too! So, with all that:) here are a few pages I made today, because I LOVE these photos of Ruby! And really, I want that(love of photos) to be my motivation!

I'm working on getting better at photographing the pages, but you get the general idea!:) I was really excited about the ribbon...I've seen similar ways of using ribbon, but hadn't tired it until today...and now, I don't think I'll stop! I ran a strip of adhesive down the seam of the papers, and then just used my finger to make a "loop" and then stuck the next peice down...the last photo of the post shows the ribbon closer. I might be tempted to grab my sewing machine and run a stich or two down the ribbon, but the adhesive is working, so I think I'll hold off on the sewing.

Items used: all SU unless noted

cardstock: Old Olive, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette,

designer paper: Old Olive, (an old retired one I can't remember the name of!)

punches: 3/4", 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches

rubons: a perfect day, chit chat, greatest moments, the R is american crafts

ribbon: 5/8 regal rose

buttons: SU and misc.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Thank you for all the well wishes we've received...I'm crossing my fingers that we're all getting better...we're all walking around today, so that is a good sign! Hope you have a great day!!

Tag Accordians...FUN!

So, I was online a few weeks ago and found a project that I really wanted to try!! It was a tag accordian decoration for Christmas! I went to Sharon Johnson's Blog and found the directions for this super project! Her accordian is beautiful!! I did use the same paper, but I think that is about it...but go check her accordian out, it is awesome!! I made a few of these--10 I think for the Christmas Market and only came home with 2! So, it made me happy that other people liked them too!!

This first post is a photo of the accordian we made at a class I had last week. Everyone had a great time making them! It was great to see the satisfaction on the faces of my friends after accomplishing this...they did awesome! Oh, I just noticed that this little accordian only has one dew drop.....my friends found out they really liked the dew drops and used them on each of the letter panels. *sorry this guy only has one!*

For the stars on this first accordian, we used the large and small star punches from SU. Punch your small star out first, then use the large star and punch around it, giving you this great "star outline". Two way glue all the way around and dipped in dazzling diamonds...love it!! I don't have the felt flurries....(and I'm wishing I did!) but when I found these red felt snowflakes at my local Real Market, I knew they'd do a good job!

This next one is the one that I sold a bunch of at the Christmas Market.
This Merry Chistmas one is the first one that I made, and after making it I decided to try a smaller word for reproduction! I used Baja Breeze, Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cardstock, Ski Slope Designer paper, the so many scallops retired stamp set, contempo alphabet, real red ink, the rub-ons from the level 3 hostess bundle, 1 1/4" square punch, lage and wide oval punches, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches, crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelets, glitter stars and silver bells from my local Kaufland market, and 5/8" red grosgrain ribbon! Here is the whole accordian and the next photo is a close up photo of one of the sections. The whole things goes quite quickly when you have decided all the pieces. Sharon gives great details on how to make it, so check there for specific insturctions. I scored the paper and cut the tag shape, then cut the ski slope paper to it's tag shape and attached it to the accordian. I stamped the merry christmas letter and then used my 1 1/4" punch to punch them out. I cut my paper to mount them on at 1 1/2" instead of using my 1 3/8" punch, I wanted just a little bit more border to show. Then I attached them to the accordian with dimensionals. Next, I used my crop-a-dile to punch holes for my silver bells. I used the crop-a-dile to set my jumbo eylets, then tied the silver bells on. I then tied a nice red ribbon around to cover the little sivler string the bells had to tie on with! I found these fun stars at my local grocery store...and the bells too! I attached the stars with dimensionals. Then, I stamped the "celebrate the season" snowflake scallop and cut out just the center of the image with my 1 1/4" circle punch. I did layer it on a 1 3/8" circle of red cardstock. The rub-ons were the finishing touch. I decided which panels needed a little more, and then added the white rub-ons. The seasons greating rub-on is a chocolate chip one, from that same hostess bundle.

Didn't it turn out fun!? I've got this big merry christmas one out in my family room and it makes me so happy when I walk by it! :) I love having the necessary items to make fun decor! So, thanks for being patient with me while I worked through technical difficulty! I hope you are all having a wonderul holiday!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Notebooks

You know when you create something that you really have fun with?! I am a notebook person. I have them all over my house, in several bags, and I really have a soft spot in my heart for them. I had a hard time deciding just what ones to share...so I picked several...I hope you don't get board looking at them! I had a lot of fun making them! I think I had something like 22 for the Christmas Market last week. They were also well received and a lot of them sold. So, here are several of the notebooks that have found new homes..yea!!

These spiral bound notebooks have a speical place in my heart! I {heart} them! They started as a piece of chipboard--saved from the designer series paper packs from SU. I ran the chipbord/cardboard through my Big Shot with-what other than the Top Note! Another thing I love about this project, is that running the chipboard and then the patterned paper through the Big Shot makes a perfect marriage when you attach your paper to the chipboard...perfection! Love it! So, I ran some of my beautiful SEI paper through my Big Shot as well, and then attached the paper to the chipboard for the covers. When I placed my paper/chipboard on the top note die, I just scooted it over to the right of the die a little, so I could get a straight left hand side...and not the bracket on that side--so that it was flat to put in the BIA for binding.

Ok, so I had the covers and then needed the inside pages. I have a ream of paper that is just a little thicker than typical paper for my printer-don't you love having just the right things!! I was so happy about that! I ran a bunch of them through the Big Shot, I think I was able to cut about 4 pieces of that paper at one time. Each of these little books ended up with I think 25 pages inside. After getting all the paper cut I pulled out my BIA! I cut the holes in all the papers/covers, and slipped the binding in and then just as easy as that they were finished!

To embelish the covers, I used my Big Shot and the Birds and Blooms flowers...they are so cute! I used some hardware--Mary, aren't you proud of me!? I know it's just a silver brad...but I used some of my beautiful hardware! I attached the flowers with dimensionals. On the few that have a little "remember" on them, that came from the define you life stamp set. I stamped it in chocolate chip ink, punched it out with the wide oval punch and then layered that on top of a scallop oval-punched out with the pink size marvy uchida scallop oval punch. Didn't they turn out fun!?

For this next grouping, they are like the notebooks from yesterday's post. I just used a half sheet of cardstock for the covers, added a couple of layers of cardstock/patterned paper and this great Super Hero from LAD! My son was really excited about these. And yes, so were the other boys that saw them! The papers are turquoise and real red, with some retired SU paper. The other is a Not quite Navy, Ruby red and an AC striped paper. I colored my little super hero with my SU markers. No, there is not glitter to be found here, but the boots and belt did get embossed with clear embossing powder (i love the versamarker...i use it all the time!) and heat set so they look like shiny vinyl...fun, fun, fun.

These santa notebooks went as well. The paper, Real Red, Old Olive, and that never ending stash of Dots and Dashes paper! I stamped the santa from the deer friends stamp set. I used the 1 1/4, 1 3/8, and scallop circle punches for the man in the red hat. His hat has had a run in with red stickles glitter, and it didn't get into the photo...(last minute touch up!) but I also added a tiny little white "pom-pom" to the end of his hat.

Can you make it through just one more set? This last set were also some of my favorites...I love this paper! Hawaii Papya! Beautiful colors! Oh, the "notes" were done using the contempo alphabet...isn't it a great clean font!? Ok, colors here, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, and tangerine tango. I did use the scallop edge punch on a few...but not all.

You made it! Thanks so much for getting to the bottom of this post! I just didn't know how to choose...you know!? It was a notebook post...right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you all make your day Merry!! Remember this December!!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm really excited to share today! I had my MIL bring me an abundance of altoid tins when she came to visit in October. I do love altoids, but let's be honest, I really just needed some tins!:) So, as I sat at my desk happily snacking on the freshest breath snack of all time, I thought to myself 'how could I package these and sell them?' I had a little somewhere in the back of my mind a thought about snowman kisses...so I ran to the computer, searched the SCS gallery for Snowman Kisses and found just what I was looking for!! There are several super cute offerings, so I combined a few things from here and there, added some of my own...and now want to share my Snowman Kisses with you! Note, this photo is using mini marshmellows-I did a more "kid friendly" version with mellows and then some "adult" packages with altoid mints! And yippy, they were a hit!! The little poem on the inside reads: "He's cute and cuddly, and full of good wishes, and he wants to give you these Snowman Kisses!"

I started my figuring with the size of ziplock bag I was using. It was a 4 1/2 x 3" bag. So, My cover was 6 7/8 x 5". I scored it at 3 1/4" and then at 3 3/4". I then attached the ribbon along the middle of the cover, with my ATG adhesive. I used about 14" of ribbon per package, you could do with less, but if you are gifting them, I'd leave a little extra so it's really easy for others to tie up. I punched a 1 3/8" circle as far up as the punch would allow on the bottom of the cover. My white layer measured 2 3/4 x 4 1/2". I punched the snowman "window" with the 1 3/8" circle punch and saved that punch for the mid-section of the snowman! I attached the punches, the middle was 1 3/8" and the head was 1 1/4". I used the small star punch and tangerine tango cardstock for his nose and just drew the eyes with a great AC pen. For my sentiment I just typed it up on my computer, and punched it out with the Window Word Punch.
Now for his insides. I typed my poem, printed it and cut it out. I mounted it on a tangerine tango scallop square. Then for my marshellows and altoids, I just filled up my little bags and attached them to the cardstock with my ATG adhesive.

Don't you think you should make some of these!? I had so much fun! It was fun to watch men buying these little packages...wouldn't they make a great offering in an office? maybe for a teacher...etc.? I think I might make a little bottle of them for my kids teachers for Christmas....how often do you think teachers need a mint? I'll share creation when it comes..hopefully next week!
These next treats are a remake of something I did for Halloween for my kids teachers. This Top Note "sandwich" is housing a little slider box of some Risen chocolates. I found them at the checkout of my grocery store! All I did was stamp the snowflakes on kraft paper with white craft ink...LET IT DRY...while I stamped other snowflakes. I ran my peace, joy, love and cheer die through the Big Shot and just covered the "peace" with paper, so i didn't waste the rest of the words. When the snowflakes were dry, I ran the kraft paper through the Big Shot with the Top Note. I can't tell you how many times I used the Top Note in the last month...but I sure have my $$'s worth from that one alone!! Ok, back on track!:). I attached the top notes to the box of chocolates, used a little two way glue and dazzling diamonds to make the snowflakes sparkle a little, attached "peace" tied the retired white organdy ribbon around it...and that was it! I love those chocolates...and I learned that a lot of others do too!!

I'll be back tomorrow with more fun!! Thanks for stopping by!! Oh, I was asked how I wrapped my roudolph...I'll see if I can get a little photo or two to post tomorrow too!! Have a great day!!

Well, Hallo!

Hello friends! Long time! I am finished with my Christmas market, and just about back to normal!:) It was the first time I really just 'put myslef out there' and boy, it was a lot of fun! I was very well received, sold a lot of product and really had a great time sharing what I LOVE! I'll be sharing some of the items sold during this week..and since it's Tuesday already--how did that happen!?--I'll share two today!

This first post is called a bag-in-a-box. It's a quick little giftie and was very well received. If you'll click here you'll go to the tutorial over on SCS and you yourself can make one of these! This one was filled with a cello bag and some delicious German chocolate treats..yum! But, there are a lot of gifts that you might be giving that could easily fit in this bag!

I used the retired Dots and Dashes paper--that paper seems to never end! I thought I was all done with it, and then found more...I really think it is replenishing it's self! I used the scallop edge punch and real red cardstock for the base of the box. The Merry Christmas is from All Holidays and stamped in Old Olive and pounched out with the 1-3/4 circle punch from SU, and then the blue size scallop circle punch from marvy uchida. The flower is just a real red 5 petal flower with 1/4" circle yellow centers. I used the tab punch for the little "handles" and then punched a hole in them with my crop-a-dile and tied the bag shut with some old olive ribbon! Super quick and really fun! What a fun way to gift a little birthday gift...and not have to go buy a gift bag!:) And you can make your card to match! What fun!!

Ok, so next came Roudolph. He was a big hit, and sold really well. He is simply a wrapped Ritter Sport Candy Bar...YUM. I used Close to Cocoa paper to wrap him with and then sealed the edges with my crimper. I used my pink size marvy uchida oval punch for his head--and sponged the edges with a sponge dipped in cocoa ink. The antlers are the scribbles and swirls die cut for my Big Shot. I made them with chocolate chip cardstock. Next I used one of the blossoms from the Boho Blossom punch for his hair. And for ears, the small oval punch was perfect! His eyes are made with a white and black 1/2" circle punch, just layered on top of each other. I used the white gel pen for a little eye definition. Then, the start of the whole thing-the nose-is a 3/4" cirlce with red stickles glitter on it. Yes, it is attached with a dimensional. The sentiment came from the level 3 hostess set Occasions Collection. I punched it with my small oval punch, then mounted it on a real red large oval.

So, there you have a couple of my treats from the Christmas Market...I'll be back with more tomorrow!!:)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great one!!

So, I've been busy...

I have been working my little fingers to the bone..getting ready for an upcoming "Christmas Market" at the International School next Saturday!! I've got a lot of things that I'll get to sharing...all sorts of fun things:). I love calendars. I've been making calendars that fit inside a 3.5x5 acrylic frame for several friends for several years...and yes, I'll still get them their refill for the 2009 year, but I wanted to try these too! My wonderful friend Jeanelle totally hooked me up with the calendar template of the 3.5x5 calendars. I printed several of them, but then used it to create another template for these coaster calendars. The calendars are 3.5x3.5". The font is called CK Becky and it can be downloaded FREE from her blog here.
So, for some detail. I printed them on papertrey white cardstock. You all know my love affair with whisper white cardstock, but for this project, I wanted the paper a bit thicker...so I chose to go with the papertrey cardstock. After printing (I only needed 2 sheets of paper per calendar...yea for that!) and cutting, I added strips of designer paper. I used Urban Garden on the first calendar and then Sweet Always on the next two photos. The strips of paper are 3/8" wide. I attached the designer paper to each of the months, then pulled out my new bind-it-all!:) It is a super fun machine! I can't wait to get more time to play with it!
The BIA(from now on let's just call it that!) is super. It's easy to use, I just slipped about 6 sheets of the calendar in the machine, pulled the handle and beautiful holes! I slipped the other 6 sheets in and got perfectly lined up holes punched...yea! I took my 4x4 coasters and covered them with a piece of designer paper on one side and coordinating cardstock on the other side. I used my ATG gun to attach the paper to the coasters. I trimed the corners of the paper, and then sanded each side of the coaser with a sanding block, to round the edges perfectly and make the paper look lovely! Then came the BIA again, punching perfect holes again. I took my little "o-ring" as they are know in the binding world, put it in the awaiting slots, and then used my BIA to close the rings...SO easy!

I've got a few of these done...they go really quick, only took about 10 minutes from start to finish for each calendar. Fun gift for a teacher huh?! Or anyone that likes to have a calendar by their computer...so many options!

Thanks for hanging in to the end of this post! I know it was a little bit longer than usual!:) If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an email!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!

Thank You!

Last week we had 3 way conferences at the school for my kids. 3 way-being that instead of just parent/teacher conferences, we bring the kids along. It's been great and the kids love that special time to show me their work, the new stuff in the classroom, it's a fun time. My kids took these little thank you treats to their teachers and assistants. It turned out super cute, so I thought I'd share!
The treats are a candy called Knoppers and are a great very square treat! They are wafers with haslenut/chocolate...goodness. Anyway, I just wrapped them up in Hawaii Papya designer paper, I rolled the ends through my crimper to seal the edges and give it very finshed look. (my crimper was one of my very first purchased tools...YEARS ago...and it's still going strong!) I used my Big Shot and the Birds and Bloom die cut for my flowers, and then used the 1/2" circle punch for the center. My flowers are pumpkin pie and chocolate chip. The Thank You is from the Wow Flowers set. I stamped it in pumpkin pie ink and then used the large oval punch to punch it out. I attached the thank you with a dimensional.

Super quick treat...but super cute! I'm really happy to let you know that I no longer have a problem hoarding paper! I've "crossed" that bridge and am happy and eager to cut into beautiful paper! Isn't that great! I've been working on this for a while, but I can say that I no longer feel the need to hoard paper!:) Yea!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have wonderful one!!

Tree Ornament Box

Ok, I saw this cute box/ornament and knew that it would be super fun...and it is!! This was the Technique Lovers Challenge this past week, if you'd like a link to the challenge to get the template, click here and it will take you right to it!

It's great you can put your cardstock or patterned paper right into the printer, print the template and you get 2 per piece of paper! I thought they would be a fun thing to make for my upcoming Christmas Market, so I made about 16 of them yesterday:).

The go really quick, once you have decided how to decorate! A wheel would make it super quick, but I LOVE the snowflakes in the Snow Burst set, so I used that set and chocolate chip ink. I pulled out my stash of soft sky...I miss using this color as much as I did last year! I still love it, and think it is a wonderful color for the holiday! These would look VERY cool on my tree...fun, fun, fun! I used chocoatle chip grosgrain for the hanger, and made some with a star topper, some with out. The star was the large stampin' up star punch.

So, print template cut it out, stamp/decorate, score, cut slits(as shown on template), and put together! Super quick and easy! The sentiment I chose for this (among most other holdiay stuffs) is from the Best Yet hostess set. I stamped it with chocoalte chip, punched it out with the large oval punch and then layered that on a chocolate chip wide oval punch. I attached it with dimensionals..and there you have it! Yes, it does have some delicious German chocolate inside...but I made some with little packs of gummy bears, etc., and I think lots of different things could fit inside! I just had this thought, how cute would it be to use this template to make party favors...a party hat?! FUN!

Thanks for stopping by! Make it a great one!

Happy Birthday Set

So, my husbands parents came to see us last week. We had a great time, seeing all sorts of fun things, playing with the kids, lots of good food, good chocolate(we're in Germany, we have to indulge once in a while!) and great memories. I have to admit that some of my favorite with my mother-in-law was the time we spent upstairs sitting at my desk together! She had a few things on her list that she wanted to learn, so we made tutorials, helped her feel confident, ordered a few key tools, and yea...we had a great time!! The night before they left, we decided to make a little something for her to take to her sisters for their birthdays this week. Here is what we came up with!

We used a retired SU paper for little 3x3 cards, candy bar(yum, yum) wraps, and little cello bags. The colors used, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa, and So Saffron. I know I say it a lot, but I love SU's color coordination!! I love having my paper match the ribbon, ink, markers, etc., it makes things so easy!! We used the 5 petal flower punch, the 1 3/4, 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1/2, 1/4" circle punches(I LOVE punches remember?!), the scallop edge and the Boho Flower punch(thanks Britt!). The cards are pretty self explanitory...just layered the punches, etc. The stamp was from the Think Happy Thoughts stamp set. Ribbon, 1/4" chocoalte chip and satin chocolate chip ribbon.

For the candy bars, I simply cut the paper big enough to wrap it nicely, leaving a little length(maybe almost 1/2") on either end. I put adhesive on the ends, right along the edge, then folded the paper and adhered it...the put the ends through my crimper and twisted a couple of times. You know, my crimper was among the first tools I ever puchased, an oldie but goodie for sure!!

So, for the cello bag. I used the Top Note Die for my Big Shot, in Old Olive. I wrapped a few little reisen chocoalte candys with some scraps of paper, and then made some paper strips to add to the bag(ie, tiny slivers of crimped paper all wadded up so it looks cute). I used the small cello bag from SU and it fits just perfect with this top note die cut! I stapled the cello bag to the back of the topper, then used sticky strip to attach the front of the topper to the cello bag.

It was so fun to watch my mother-in-law's face as this little gift came together so quickly...she is convinced that having the right tools makes creating things like "this so much easier!" I do agree!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Make it a great one!!

Party Hearty!

The other day my husband called and asked me to bring a Birthday Card to one of his co-workers. So, I ran upstairs and these cuties were born! I had seen this box on Angie Juda's Blog and made them several months ago. My husband wanted some sort of "treat" for his friend, so I thought this little box would be perfect! Angie called this box her Blessing Mix Box, here is a link to her great tutorial !

The card stared with a WW base and a layer of Kiwi Kiss. I stamped the cupcake once in kiwi and then again in pink pirouette and then cut the top off the pink one and added it to the kiwi one(with a dimensional). The oval scallops are the pink and purple size marvy uchida punches. The designer paper is from the pink pirouette set, and layered on some pink pirouette cardstock. The ribbon, yes, it's pink pirouette! For the last touch I stamped just one of the party hats from the party hat stamp in pink pirouette(should we just call it PP from now on?) and then stamped party hearty(with the help of my stamp-a-ma-jig) over the hat. I used the 1 3/8" circle and scallop circle punch. I did glitify the cupcake and party hat with two way glue and dazzling diamonds glitter. I added the scallop with dimensionals. This box is just a 81/2x11" piece of cardstock. I LOVE that you don't need to cut anything for this box, just a few scores, folds and great box! I used the same ingredients here as on the card...except I used Kiwi/Vanilla stain ribbon instead of the PP stripe. We filled it with some GREAT treats and it was well recived!

Thanks for stopping by! Make it a great one!!

My first "tutorial"

Ok, be patient with me, this here is my first go at a "tutorial." I don't claim to be all high-tech and be very good at it...but I'm trying ok!:) This first photo is the template, you will need a 10 1/2 x12" piece of cardstock. You might want to cover it with a patterned paper--but to be strong enough, you need to use cardstock.

• with the paper 10 1/2" wide, you are going to score it at 4 1/2" and 6"**Edited to correct this measurement! I originally put down score at 4 and 6", but Tara was correct, score at 4 1/2& 6! Thanks Tara!!
• turn the paper to 12" wide, and score at 6" and 10 1/2"
• for the diagonal measurements, starting at the 6" line, go up 2 1/2" on each side and mark, then to to the top of the template and mark 3/4" on either side of the center 1 1/2" and draw your diagonal and cut on that line.
• cut all the red lines, and score the green lines.
• for the green lines in the middle of the 4 1/2" line, just simply cut the lines and then bring the outside egdges into the scored 1 1/2" line, and give yourself a nice strong fold

Once you have cut and scored, this is what your paper will look like.
Add your adhesive(I'd recommend sticky strip/tacky tape or something strong like that), at the edges of the 4 1/2" cut marks. Then fold the bottom 1 1/2" up and attach the long right and left rectangular side pieces, one side a time to the inside 1/2 of the square--then once you've attached it, you'll fold the the rest of the square over, and your middle score line will be a lovely clean edge. Then do the same on the other side. So, after you've finished that step your box should look like this.
Now, take a piece of cardstock, about 1x4", and score it at 1 1/2 and 3", just making a piece to put on the front of your box. With the paper being 12", the front is about 1" shorter than I wanted it to be, so I just added a contrasting strip of paper, to make it the height I wanted.
Now, put your adhesive on the back portion that you'll be folding over to make the holder. You'll want to put it a strip on the outermost edge, maybe one in the center, and then one right on either side of the middle 1 1/2" scored lines. Now add you patterned paper and decorate or just leave plain cardstock!

Ok, so I'm not the best tutorial maker..I am fully aware!! But hey, thanks for being patient!! I'd be happy to answer any questions!! And please let's see some of the holders you come up with! I think I'll do a little "blog candy"....how about this....link your magazine holder here by midnight Friday, and we'll do a drawing for a prize!? How about that!? I love prizes!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Scalloped Flower!

I'm so excited to share this new little flower I just made!! I was looking through the new Stampin' Up! catalog and saw a little flower like this and wanted to make one! Here it is!

I used my handy dandy scallop circle punch and punched one ridinghood red circle out, then cut 4 scallops out of the Bella Rose designer paper. I cut each of the bella rose scallops in half, rolled them into a cone shape, as you see above (but you need only 7 cones, so you'll have one extra). I covered my ridinghood red scallop with terrifically tacky tape--mono and ATG adhesive weren't quite strong enough--and then started placing the cones on the background red scallop punch. I lined the first scallop of my little "cone" with one of the scallops of the red background punch, so that it is the same size/shape as one regular scallop punch. I also tried it w/o lining up the scallops, and only need 6 cones, instead of 7. I think I like the 7 "coned" flower better. After I had all the petals of my flower attachead, I poked a hole with my paper piercing tool and added the rhinestone brad! I love rhinestone brads! So, isn't that a fun flower!? Obviously this will not be a card that I send in the mail...but that's ok!

I was also in need of a new notebook to help me stay organized! I am totally loving the Bella Rose paper right now, so here is my new covered composition book! I aslo had some giant paperclips on my desk, and decided that putting one of these fun flowers a top the paperclip would be a great bookmark!:) Right? So, here is my new bookmark too! I made the flower just the same, but put the completed flower on the paperclip with more tacky tape and another scallop-to make it a bit sturdier.

So, there you have my fun new scallop flower! The flower I saw in the catalog was on a box on page, 48. Anway, let me know what you think and I'd love to see your flowers!!

Thanks for stopping by!! Make it a great one!