Blog Candy from Mish!

Head on over to Mish's blog for a great holiday give away!

http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/2010/12/12-days-of-christmasday-12.html

Melissa is having a give away, too. You can link to her give away from Mish's blog.

I hope to be back tomorrow with a few Christmas projects that I have been busy working on these past weeks. Such a busy time of year!

Halloween Treats...and I Hate My Camera

So like any crafty mom, I love making little holiday treats for my son's preschool class.  Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday.  Not because I am macabre.  I don't even watch scary movies. 

Halloween is my favorite because I love getting my kids their costumes.  I love going to the pumpkin patch and carving pumpkins.  I love going trick-or-treating with the kiddos.  I love the decorations (not the real scary ones, the cute scary ones).  I love that there is limited stress.  It is just a fun holiday.

So, I made some really cute little candy bags for my sons class.  I got out my relic of a camera and took some pictures.  Well, I went to upload my pictures of said project, and all I got was an error saying "Corrupted Files."  What?!?  They were there yesterday!  I know because I always make sure that they are somewhat in focus before I put away my extra light, white card stock, and old camera.  Well, it must be the Halloween boogie man who came and corrupted my files.  Darn it!  I hate Halloween! 

As luck would have it, I also made some treats for my co-workers.  They aren't nearly as cute as the ones I made for my son's class, but I will still share them.  The Halloween boogie man also left the picture of the teacher's gift. 

Well, the boogie man didn't corrupt the file for this picture, but he also didn't fix the shadows.  He did corrupt the file for the close up of the tag, however.  By the way, I didn't even know that you could get corrupted files on your camera.  What does that even mean?

This is what was inside the haunted house box.  The fun template for the house is available here, at Papertrey Ink, by the way.  I used the Home Made stamp set and put cracks in the window and put the door off center. 

For the mummy pencil holder, I just wrapped a used fruit can (put through the dishwasher, of course) with some white grosgrain ribbon.  I distressed the ribbon by sponging some Creamy Caramel ink (retired) from Stampin' Up.  Its too late now, but I wish I would have stuck a little bow on it to make it a girl mummy.

These are the treats I gave to my coworkers.  I kept it simple, but they still turned out cute.  I used Tiny Treats: Halloween from Papertrey, of course. 

I am super disappointed that my pictures didn't turn out.  Hopefully the picture-corrupting boogey man will be gone after Halloween.  Better yet, hopefully Santa Clause will bring me a new camera! 

Thanks for stopping by.

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop

The 25th means that its PTI Blog Hop time again.

This months challenge is to create a card or project celebrating a winter holiday other than Christmas.

"There is always a lot of focus on Christmas in our industry this time of year, as that is what the majority
of the population celebrates.  However, this month's blog hop is dedicated to those that celebrate winter
holidays other than Christmas.  Create a project that celebrates Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or some other
winter holiday as we embrace everyone's beliefs in a celebration of diversity through paper crafting."

How great is that?  Love that concept!  But, it was challenging for me because I don't have any stamps or accessories for other winter holidays outside of Christmas.  


So, I kept it super simple and used what I had on hand. 

I created a simple Star of David with Scor Tape and glitter. 

I printed out "Shalom" from my printer.  I also noticed that the little extra piece from the center of one of my "Create a Flake 1" die made a tiny little Star of David.  What a fun surprise!  I had to add them to either side of my little label.  


I am really proud of the fact that I completed this challenge without buying anything new.  


Thanks, Nicole, for this challenge.  I have really enjoyed learning about holidays that I had no idea existed until hopping along to other people's blogs.  It was challenging, but fun to participate!

Papertrey Ink Blog Candy

For those of you who LOVE PTI as much as I do, click here for a great give away!  Thanks to Moonlight Creations for the chance for great blog candy.

Yep, that's the new Wreath for All Seasons stamp set as well as new Fine Linen cardstock and Fine Linen Swiss Dot satin ribbon. 

Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop

Its already the 25th and time for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  This months challenge was to use a technique that you learned from a fellow stamper.  The blog hop rules are located here. 

I had to think long and hard about this challenge.  I have learned a lot from fellow papercrafters through out the 5 years or so I have been scrapbooking, stamping, and papercrafting, but I couldn't think of a specific technique for this challenge.  Then, I thought of the wreath I just made for a gift and realized that I included a technique that I have been using a lot:  paper piecing from punches and/or dies.  Two of the PTI DT have used this technique recently.  Betsy Velman used it with for her monster here, and Dawn McVey used it for her flower here, which I was dying to turn into a sunflower.  The wreath was totally inspired by Dawn's here.

I used a branch wreath from Michaels and had to hot glue the leaves and flowers on.  I used some of those little beads on wire to give it a more rustic look.

Her is a close up of the paper pieced sunflowers that I made from the smallest leaf from the Leaf Prints Die Collection.  I used some Dark Chocolate Felt for the circles.  I thought that they turned out nice.  Thanks, Dawn, for the great idea!

I love paper piecing.  Here are some cute little Frankensteins that we made at a stamp club I belong to with Terri Knaapen:

Aren't they cute?  They were made with a paper punch from another company, but can totally be replicated with Label 1 from Spellbinders.  I tried to make a PTI version of this little guy. 

LOL!  He's made with Mat Stack 4 and the small Rickrack Border dies.  I'll use him for something fun for my kids, I just haven't decided what yet!

Well, thanks so much for stopping by.  Can't wait to see all the projects out there today.  Have fun hopping!

DJ's First Day of Pre-School

My oldest baby, DJ, had his first day of pre-school last week Wednesday.  I missed it because I had to work, so I told my husband to take tons of pictures.  I now realize that my husband is a better photographer than me.  He took some super pictures of all the excitement.  Here is one of them:

Isn't he cute?  I can't believe he will be 5 in November and has started pre-school!  Time goes so fast. 

So, part of the reason that I am so excited for DJ to start pre-school is because it gives me an excuse to make some goodies for him to take to school.  I can't wait to make little Halloween, birthday, and Christmas treats for all the kiddos and his teachers.  Maybe I'll even let him help!  Haha!

I made a little card and gift for DJ to take his teacher on the first day of school.  It was a last minute thing since I've had no mojo for a couple weeks.  But, then inspiration hit and I ran to my scrap room to whip up a fun project.

Here is the card I made.  I used the 2/3 rule with the patterned paper that I snagged for FREE at My Time Made Easy.  It is downloadable paper that you can print off as many times as you want.  No hoarding it!  Thanks Lauren Meader for the freebie!  I also scored a freebie at Heather Nichol's blog.  That library card is downloadable and can be printed off as well.  You can also buy the stamp version of it at Papertry Ink.

Here is a close up of that cute library card.

Here is the gift I made to go with it.  No, I didn't make those apple cards.....but I sure wish that I did!  I found them at Michaels for $1.  I picked them up earlier this summer because I thought they were cute.  Deep down I just knew it would be a perfect teacher card in the near future!

Here is a blurry picture of the set together (told you my husband's a better photographer).  I do like how this project turned out since it was so last minute.  Thanks to Lauren and Heather for the awesome freebies!

One last picture of super cute Deej carrying his gift to give his teacher.  He was so excited and just loves school.  I'm such a proud Mama!

Thank you, Nichole!

I've only known about Papertrey Ink for a few short months, but in that time I have come to look forward to the monthly countdowns very much.  The PTI countdowns are like nothing I've ever seen from any other company.  Full of inspiration, excitement, and paper crafting art, the countdowns are simply amazing, and, I know a lot of work for the designers and Nichole Heady, part owner of PTI.  Without Nichole's hard work, none of it would be possible.  So, to Nichole, who probably doesnt get much sleep 5 days (probably much more than that!) a month, I thank you for all that you do.  Your work makes me very happy and I constantly scan your blog for ideas all month long.  Although I do not have a lot of money to purchase everything that I want at PTI, I thoroughly enjoy the countdown every month and dream of one day being able to buy more. 

Nichole, you are amazing.  Please know how much you are appreciated and how much your work is loved!

Sincerely,
Laura Isham

A Gift from my Boys

My kids go in streaks with certain foods.  Sometimes they will eat 2 bananas a day, sometimes they refuse to eat any.  Well, it was one of those weeks when they wouldnt eat any.  So, I had a bunch of brown bananas on the kitchen counter begging to be made into banana muffins. 

I usually wait until the two little boys go down for their nap before I  bake.  But, last Thursday I was feeling ambitious and decided to let the boys help make the muffins.  They loved helping, and the mess wasnt even that bad.  I have to remind myself that even if it takes a little more time to include the boys on projects (like baking), they enjoy helping out and are so PROUD of themselves when they are done.  So, my new goal is to include the kids on more projects.  It really makes the project more fun even if it takes a little longer.

So the boys wanted to give some of their hard-made muffins to their grandparents who their dad was taking them to visit while I had to work.  I packaged the muffins in a fun gable box from Papertrey Ink, and here it is:

I used the retired set from Stampin' Up called "I'm Here" along with Stampin' Up Real Red Satin Ribbon.  The sentiment was made on the computer since I didn't have a stamp that worked for the occasion.

I wasn't going to post this project because I thought that it was a little "loud" with all the primary colors, but my husband insisted that it should be posted.  So, here it is.

Here is a view of the yummy contents: 

These muffins are just made from the banana bread recipe from the Better Homes and Garden checkered red and white cookbook that I think everyone must own! 

Isn't that Papertrey Ink gable box great?  It is the large box that you can purchase here.  It easily would have fit a dozen muffins, but since my husband ate half a dozen by himself, I only put 8 in it. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Papertrey Ink August Blog Hop

This isn't only my first Papertrey Ink Blog Hop, but also my very first blog hop of any kind!  I am very nervous, but also very excited!  I just hope I don't disappoint.

I loved this challenge.  In fact I liked it so much that I finally got around to starting my blog!  Yep, I started this blog so I could participate in this challenge.  And, this is only my second blog post.  I hope this is the first of many challenges and blog hops in the future.

Well, enough talk and on to the project!

Oh how I LOVE the new Papertrey dies!  I happen to layer all three dies/die set that I ordered this month.  They are so easy to work with and layer so nicely.  I've seen Mat Stack 4 layered with so many other Papertrey dies on other blogs and gallery photos.  It is just so versatile!

Here is a close up of that tag I created with Mat Stack 4 and Places Please dies along with 2 of the wonderful leaf prints dies tucked behind.  I didn't order the leaf prints stamp set to go with the dies because I think that the leaf dies are so beautiful by themselves.  (But that stamp set is still on my wish list!)

The ribbon behind the tag is just some ribbon I found at Michaels in the ribbon aisle.  A great find, since I use it all the time!  The ink and paper are from a competitor since I didn't have any "fall-y" PTI card stock.  (Its on my list for next month)

One final view from slightly above.  This view shows the scalloped top a little better that I created with my Fiskar border punch.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I really had a good time with this and can't wait to continue this blog and participate in future challenges.  By the way, my husband took the pictures since my photography skills have much to be desired.  If you saw the picture in my very first blog post, you know what I mean!

Happy hopping!

My First Post!

Well, I've made the leap into blog land!  I have no idea what I am doing, I don't have very much interesting things to share, and I don't have a lot of time to invest in this endeavor.  But, I want to give it a shot and I want to participate in blog hops, so here I am! 

My projects are usually simple since I don't have a lot of time to paper craft.  I am very inspired by the blogs of the chicks listed to the right.  They are all so talented!  It is so much easier to CASE than make my brain actually work and be creative.  Don't worry, when I CASE, I will give credit!

I have a project that I decided to share that I created a while ago, just to get the ball rolling.  Hope you enjoy it!

(Now I have to figure out how to import a photo on here!  Yikes!  I may be in over my head!)

Well, I obviously figured it out.  ;)

Okay, I made this for my husband's cousin who had a little girl way back in January (I know....I am really bad about taking pictures of my projects!  Mostly because my camera is not very good (asking for a new one for my birthday in December) and because I don't have much natural light in my house.  (If I really get into this blog thing I will have to invest in a better light source!)  So, I do apologize for the picture quality.  I will work on doing much better in the future!

This card is all Stampin' Up products.  I have since discovered the wonderful Papertrey Ink, which I love.  I still love my Stampin' Up, too, so you will see projects from those companies and many more!  I'm not a monogamous stamper!  Haha!

Well, I'll be back soon to participate in Papertrey Ink's blog hop coming up of the 25th.  Details are here.  See you then!