Holiday Planner

So I am super excited how this planner (idea from oz-somestampers) turned out! It took me about four hours to create from start to finish, which wasn't too bad for the first one I created. I used Basic Grey's Figgy Pudding for the theme. You can find the directions and video here. I think I am going to make a few purse organizers with the same idea but put grocery lists and other "to do" type lists instead of the holiday planning ones. I will let you know what I come up with!

Auction Donation Sneak Peek

Top view

Vintage santa stamped candle; dirty icicle ornies; golf ball snowman ornament; cinnamon stick santa tags; primitive star lantern w/ grubby battery operated tea light

8 Handmade cards in primitive chimney pan; 10 assorted holiday gift tags

Snowman gift pail w/ post-it note holder; M&M matchbooks; dip mix; and altered composition notebook (not pictured)

Close-up of the matchbooks and post-it holder

Altered 2009/2010 Holiday planner (I will show more pics of this tomorrow since there are many pages)

Well I am finished with my donation to a local school's auction fundraiser! Quite proud of myself actually. Usually I am rushing around doing last minute odds and ends for these types of things - but not this time! I think I am going to have to arrange it when I get there because there are so many little things to look at! The altered Christmas planner is my favorite! I will share how I did it later this week. As for everything else....please ask if you are interested in how I made certain things - I didn't want to type everything out and bore you half to death!

Thanks for looking!!

I'm Back!

Wow! I can't believe it's been over a week since I last posted - well I guess I can. I have been getting ready for my best friend's wedding (which was this past weekend). It was unbelievable! I started to get back in the swing of things yesterday a bit. I have gotten in a creativity slump and have WAY too many ideas that I want to accomplish. I just need to relax and start one step at a time. I am working on a few things for an upcoming event in my community. It is a school fundraiser auction and I was asked to donate something for the silent auction part. I kept starting different things and then got frustrated when they didn't turn out the way I had hoped. So I decided that I would keep it simple.

Here is an example of a card I made during my "cool down". I think I am going to make a variety of cards and a few other smaller items. Any tips? What do y'all like to bid on when you are at one of these little shin digs? Throw 'em at me - I'm ready!!

Trick or Sweet

(Front close-up)



(Front)

(Inside)

Isn't this cupie just darling?! It is my first purchase from Taylored Expressions! I can't wait to order more. I used a purple card base with Basic Grey's new Halloween line. The sentiment stamp is from the $1 bin at JoAnn's. On the inside of the card I used Martha Stewart's spider web border punch with coordinating purple cardstock from DCWV's Far East Stack. I really enjoyed making this one! Hope he finds a home!

Yummy Halloween M&M Matchbooks

Front

Inside

I saw this idea on Splitcoast Stampers but instead of a paper belly band I used simple black grosgrain ribbon. The paper is Basic Grey and the stamps are from SU (Batty for You). The matchbook itself is made form a 8.5"x3" piece of cardstock scored at 3/4" & 4 3/4". Then you fold along your score lines and staple the skinny flap about 1/4" from edge. I then tucked a fun size pack of M&Ms into it, wrapped it with the ribbon, and attached the stamped sentiment! I was going to bring some to school to see if anyone was interested in purchasing them...we shall see!

Fall Cards

Just a few quick cards I made today for my mother-in-law. The first one is a coffee stained tag stamped with a vintage style pilgrim girl. Then I sprinkled her with mica glitter. The background is embossed dark brown cardstock. I used a thick wine colored ribbon and gathered it along the side. Then tied the bottom with a piece of homespun and attached fall themed embellishments.














This next little cutie was a bit of a challenge. It took me FOREVER to get it to the point where I was satisfied. I used my cricut to cut the scalloped card with "A Child's Year" cartridge. The leaves and stamp were also cut with this cartridge (it is an AWESOME cartridge and I'm so glad I got it!) I used some old book pages to make the scalloped circle and doily border. The background paper is K&Company's new harvest line. Then I attached an embossed acorn sticker to the center of the orange circle.





And this card was similar to the one above. I used the same paper but stitched the outside edges (without thread).












Enjoy!

Colored Pencil w/ Goo Gone!

So I've been reading about using Goo Gone as a blending technique with colored pencils and just had to try it! I use cheap Crayola pencils and a Q-tip to blend the fall colors on this pumpkin stamp. It was super easy and CHEAP! Now that I'm looking at it though, I probably should have added a few more embellishments but I guess simple is nice. The paper I chose wasn't my normal choice of a fall color but I thought it was so pretty! It is one of the many wonderful papers on K&Company's fall paper pad at JoAnn's.

Bebe

Well I didn't do a lot of creating this weekend. We did some outdoor work today - and yesterday was shot shopping. I did find a few good deals at Michael's - are they discontinuing Martha's paper? It's all pretty much 75% off so I couldn't pass THAT up! No more shopping for me though! I made a pledge that I have to use all the supplies I have for at least a month - without buying anything. This will probably kill me!

I made this card for a friend of mine. I just loved how the paper and embellishment complimented each other so well. I also had fun decorating the envelope (which was cut from my cricut expression). I have a mini order for a few Thanksgiving themed cards that I need to work on during the first part of this week. Next weekend is the big Chili Cookoff in the town I teach in....anyone have any awesome chili recipes?!

So....I'm being a bit lazy tonight. My hubby surprised me with starting a Netflix account! I'm super excited since I am always trying to find new movies on HBO. So tonight we are having a movie night - yipee! He chose a movie called Role Models - not sure what it's about but exited just the same.

Nevertheless, I thought I would share my new organization method for my ribbon "problem". Well just the spool organization - I am still working on the single strands! My parents live close to the Offray ribbon outlet in PA and OMG!!!! I go EVERY time I am home - it's a sickness I know. So I have collected numerous spools of ribbon over the years. I found these ClosetMaid racks at Home Depot and VOILA! They are perfect! Although....they are all full. Maybe I should join a ribbon swap?

Between paper and ribbon - well let's just say I should be set for projects for the rest of my life! Anyone else share this problem? Tomorrow I'm off to a Folk Art Fest - I can't wait! Hopefully I will be in the creating mode on Sunday!

Gobble Gobble!

Ok....this one gave me a little bit of trouble. It is a rather large stamp....so it was difficult to embellish due to lack of room. The turkey has been stamped with timber brown Stazon onto coffee stained muslin. I then used colored pencils to make the hues muted instead of too bold. Then all that was left was to add a few bronze brads and pip berries. Hope you enjoy him and be sure to stop and visit my blog!

My Mother's Dress

(front)


(envelope)

So I just love this stamp by Dawn Houser called "My Mother's Dress". I stamped my first image of it on a piece of scratch paper and just had to incorporate it somehow. I just loved using my watercolor zig markers to add a little green shading to the dress. Vintage buttons and sanding along the edges finish off the vintage feel. I just can't wait to try all different colors on this stamp! it can be used for weddings, friends, anniversaries, birthdays....wow! On the envelope I stamped a cute lil' high heeled shoe (from the $1 bin at Michaels) in the corner. Hope you enjoy!

My first post!

Well I finally decided to create my own blog to showcase my creations. I tend to be hot and cold with making things but have recently cleaned my craft room (whopee!!). Now I can't use a messy room as an excuse. Hopefully, I will be able to start using all my supplies which keep growing and growing (I have a serious addiction to paper, ribbons, stamps, YOU NAME IT!). Here is my first 2009 Halloween card. I used PaperStudio and Rusty Pickle paper. Hope you enjoy!