Candy Cane/Peppermint Christmas

For this years Christmas theme I decided to do Candy Canes and Peppermints. My beautiful white tree is trimmed with all sorts of candy cane goodness.




For my Christmas cards I used Papertrey Ink's appropriately named Candy Cane Christmas. I cut out snowflakes using the Accent Essentials Cricut cartridge. Then stamped the border and sentiment, added ribbon to the middle of that. Then I stamped and cut the candy canes using the matching die from Papertrey Ink. I stamped the round candy image and used my round handheld cutter for them. I wrapped the candy in plastic wrap and tied the ends with red & white bakers twine.
I was very happy that this card did not take long to make but looks like to took a lot of effort.




Soon I will post my gift tags I made to match it all.

Rosemary Bread

A co-worker gave me a whole bag of fresh Rosemary and last night I made some bread using it. I made four loaves and wanted to share some. So I made tags for the bread using Papertrey Inc.'s Places Please set. I also used Simple Alphabets to spell Rosemary and an the "Homemade Bread" comes from the Christmas set called Holiday Treats. Enjoy!

Spider Shower Curtain

I know this is not paper related but I had to share the shower curtain I made for one of my bathrooms.
I have spider themed items all over this bathroom and wanted a shower curtain to match. I was unable to find one in the stores so I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 2 yards if black sheer material and 2 yards of sheer spider web material.
I cut about 14 inches of the sheer material for the top and 20 inches of it for the bottom sewing the spiderweb material in-between. One the top I folded over about 2 inches for a header to put my button holes in. That was the hardest part. The rest was just hemming. I love the way it looks.

Thankful

It's been five months since I last posted or even made a card.  I think I just got burned out.  I was making all of these cards but only a handful would get mailed out.  I have accumulated a massive amount of spare cards.  I also have been focusing on my other hobby, bento's.  They are consumable and don't get left laying around in a box in the craft room.  If you are interested just click the link that say "My other blog".

But I did need a thank you card to mail out.  I have used up all the suitable ones in the stash.  For this card I used the "thankful" stamp in the Making Memories clear stamp set called Autumn Splendor.  I found I really don't have many thank you word stamps.  The paper is from K&Company called Julianne.  I found it in the clearance isle of Michales one day and picked it up.  I used my Top Notes die to cut the top part which is just the reverse side of the flower paper.  The embellishment is from Jolee's Boutique called ivory flowers.  I had purchased this a long time ago in Kansas City at Achievers.  It is a plaster type embellishment that I painted with Smooch (Molasses color) and sponged off to give it a softer look.

I'm not super proud of this card but it does serve the purpose I made it for, it's mailable.  A lot of cards I like to make get kind of puffy and don't mail well.

Maybe I'll make another card soon.  Who knows, I did enjoy looking through my goodies in the craft room after I cleaned the layer of dust off.

Happy Birthday - FFF

For today's card I used The Greeting Farm's Farm Fresh Friday Color Combo Challenge.  I used kraft as my mystery color.  It just seemed to fit.  I used an image from the Miss Anya Love set.  I hope everyone has a very happy valentine's day!

Love Tree

For this week's Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge I had visions of a tree with hearts hanging from it.  Now I don't have a stamp or anything like that so I just got out the trusty watercolor paper and painted myself one.  It could be better but it works for what I had visioned.  The L-O-V-E is a set of stickers from Stampabilities.  And I cut out some hearts and embossed them with ultra thick embossing powder.  Enjoy!

Love is in the Air

I made this card for The Cat's Pajamas Tuesday Inspiration Challenge.  This week's challenge was to create a card using browns and blues.  I absolutely love this color combo.  I made another valentine card using the Kitty Christmas Clearly Swanky Stamp Set.  I added some liquid applique to it for some dimension.  Then I used the sentiment Love is in the Air from the Puppy Love Clearly Swanky Stamp set.  Enjoy!

i {heart} u

I made this card for the Club Anya Mystery Monday Challenge.  I cut a piece of watercolor paper and stamp the Miss Anya image on it in StazOn ink.  Then I watercolored the entire image.  I used brown chalk ink around all the edges for a more worn look.  And I wanted to make sure I made a love themed banner to add to my stack of Valentine cards that will be mailed out to family and friends soon.  Enjoy!

Black & White - and some Red

Today I used the Saturday Sketch from Club Anya.  I have wanted to do a monochrome card with just a pop of color for a while and this seemed like the opportunity.  I colored Miss Anya with my Cool Gray Copics.  And I used some black & white designer paper I had picked up at JoAnn.  The heart button embellishment came from JoAnn too and matches the paper.  I just turned it over and inked it up with my red craft ink then dipped it into my ultra thick embossing powder a few times.  I used my Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge to cut the scalloped circle.  And added some sheer red ribbon and some rhinestones.  Enjoy!

Love Rocket

Two cards in one day?!  What has come over me?  Oh yeah...Snow Boredom.  I found another challenge to do.  This time from The Cat's Pajamas.  Using their Clearly Swanky stamp sets Loving Mew and Puppy Love I made another Valentine card.  This challenge is a sketch challenge which is what I really love.  I stamped the rocket ship and the robot on white card stock and then cut a rectangle that allowed the rocket ship to protrude from the top.  I stamped the large white background using some of the other stamps in the sets.  The circle is made by using some paper I have had for a very long time.  And of course I added some ribbon from my stash.  Enjoy!

Stitched with Love

View from my craft room, noon, Friday, February 4, 2011

Well it is snowing again and I am still snowed in four days later, so for today I participated in The Greeting Farm's - Farm Fresh Friday Challenge.  Today's challenge was to sew on your cards.  I didn't want to venture into the cold garage to get my sewing machine so I hand stitched my card.  I took a picture of the card before I added the last element since it covers some of my stitching.  Almost a waste of stitches but at least I know it is all done.

Close up of the stitches

I also tried my hand at letterpress using my Cuttlebug.  It wasn't too bad.  I did have a few rejects but I am happy with the final results.  I also had a few rejects of my tag.  I tried a rub-on and it didn't stick.  I tried handwriting something and I hated that.  So I dug through my OLD stash of stickers and found these gold alphabet stickers.  It seemed to work so I added some gold thread to the bow in the button.  I also want to acknowledge mitchygitchygoomy from Splitcoaststampers.  I saw a card she had done in the gallery and loved the layout and used that as my go-by.  Enjoy!

Cheeky Love

I'm still snowed in so I looked around at some challenges and found a Sketch Challenge on Club Anya.  I used my Greeting Farm stamp called Cheeky Glamour to make this Valentines Day card.  I used my Copics to color her and used my clear glitter Spica pen for her hose and boa.  I sure do wish that stuff showed up in the photos.  The flourish was cut out using my Cricut.  I had to knock a layer of dust off of it but it was worth it for this look. 

We tried to escape the house today but even out truck could not plow through the snow.  Looks like I will be stuck in the house for a while which is fine with me since I get more time to craft.

Baby, It's Cold Outside



My front yard at noon, Tuesday, February 1, 2011

I am home today because of a blizzard.  Work is shut down, airports are closed and they even closed the mall!  Must be bad if they close the mall.  So I had a chance to participate in Tuesday Morning Sketches #79.

The sketch today is created by Melissa's daughter.  Way to go Hollyanne!  This was a great sketch to use my fishing polar bear from The Cat's Pajama's.  It reflects the way I feel right now.  It's COLD outside.  I used white and blues and plenty of glitter.  I hope everyone stays warm and safe wherever you may be.

Sweet Kaylee

I made this card for this weeks Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch.  And for two post in a row I am using a digi from Some Odd Girl (Thursday's post used a freebie from Some Odd Girl)  This one is called Lounging Kaylee.  I had purchased this one and several others last year.  For this card I dug into my scrap pile and dug out some more old Stampin Up designer paper.  Sometimes it is fun to play with old supplies.  I forgot I even had some more of this. 

This sketch was not easy for me.  The cutting of the diamond shape and of the "P" shapes was not fun.  So Melissa can you make next weeks a little easier on my poor cutting skills?  I would hate to have to get my Cricut from the top shelf of the closet.  OK?  Thanks.  lol

Birthday Star

This card was made for a friends birthday. Her birthday card from last year was the first time I had ever used a Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch. Can't believe it's been a year!  And in that time I have been a guest designer for them.  I had intended to use a Tuesday Morning Sketches sketch for this one but once I got started it took on another form.  The image is a freebie from Some Odd Girl.  They have some very cute designs and are sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches this week.  The designer paper is some really old Stampin Up designer paper that I have just now started to cut into.  I seem to never want to use my supply's because they are so pretty.  But I do need to start using what I got.  I also used some flowers I had found on clearance at Michael's a while back.  And for the first time I actually used this Spellbinders die set for the scrollwork tag.  I added some Sepia clear glitter to the star which of course you can't seen in the photo.  And the sentiment is from Stampin Up's Hugs & Wishes set.  Happy Birthday LaRinda!

And I made the birthday girl some red velvet cupcakes.  YUM!!!



The cupcakes.  Details can be found at http://www.mylunchiscuterthanyours.blogspot.com/



Love'ly

I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch from this week to make this love card.  I turned the sketch on it's side.  I am still using the doilies I had bought to put on my Christmas tree.  I have so many left that I may have to use them on all my cards this year.  lol  I sponged on some pixie pink to the doilies and added rhinestones.  I did absolutely no stamping on this card.  The love image is a K&Company embossed sticker.  And in matching the colors I used Soft Suede paper for the base.  The large piece of yellow is from an old Stampin' Up paper pack.  The blue/green paper is an old Stampin' Up In Color that I cut with the Top Notes die and then ran through the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The flowers are from Prima Marketing.  I hope you enjoy my "Love"ly card!

Happy New Year

I used a Tuesday Morning Sketches for this card.  I know it has been a LONG time since I have used one of Melissa sketches and I realize how much I have missed it.  I think I have missed making cards in general.  I used the free digi of Anya from The Greeting Farm and colored her with my Copics.  I used one for the Sepia Glitter pens for the New Year crown on her head.  You can see how it glitters in the close up picture.  I used two rhinestone stars that I colored red with a Copic marker for her earrings.  The dollie is from some I bought to put on my Mad Hatter Christmas tree.  I think she looks cute in her little black dress.  I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year!



Anya Close up



Christmas Recap

I have been so bad about posting.  So sorry but without further ado here is the rest of my Christmas.



The Christmas Card to go with my Mad Hatter Christmas Theme

 I made 50 cards in total using the Stampin Up Christmas College stamp, Papertrey Inc's Tea for Two stamp set and die, a Mad Hatter image printed in color and "Warm Wishes" from Stampin Up's Hugs and Wishes set.  I colored the main image with my Copics.  These cards took FOREVER to make and next year I hope I go for a simpler design.

Gift Tags

I made the gift tags using again Papertrey Inc's Tea for Two Stamp set and die.  On the back I used Papertrey Inc's Places Please stamp set to stamp the small teapot and their Simple Alpahabet for the "To/From".  I tied these on the packages using silver stretchy string.


Pretty Presents under the tree

This year I was having such trouble matching a wrapping paper to my theme.  One of these days I will plan a theme around my wrapping paper.  But I doubt that will happen.  I finally settled for some paper from Hobby Lobby since it was on sale.  I never realized how well it really did go with everything since I was doing red's and green's.  I bought four rolls of ribbon and used all 120 feet of it!

Close up of package

I get a little crazy when it come to wrapping.  I had worked at Dillard's in the Customer Service Department at one point in my life and they have such rules about wrapping.  I have applied the same rules to all of my packages ever since.  And I love how wonderful all my gifts look. 

Tea Pots and Tea Cups, Oh My!

I never did get a picture of all seven teapot stockings in a row.  But it was a sight.  Everyone of them was different.  On my little side table I placed all these things pictured.  These are some of the things my thrift store shopping got me.  I had planned on reselling some of these but now I'm not sure if I can part with them.  Well maybe some, but definitely not all.


close up of watch and key

This beautiful key is very ornate and it was purchased at a second hand store for $2.00!  I love it and will probably never part with it.  And the pocket watch was an ebay find that I won for $1.25!  They were prefect accent pieces to my Mad Hatter Christmas.

Cake bites

I made these little cake bites using Bakerella's recipe.  She is AWESOME! and wonderfully creative.  Some of my cakes had "Eat Me" written on them.  I didn't like my handwriting on them so I didn't take a photo.

Christmas Cookies

On Christmas Eve I had the day off work so I made some cut out cookies.  I had so much fun decorating them and eating them too.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It seems like forever since I even crafted something.  I guess I was taking a break but really there was not a good reason.  I have started on Christmas.  My theme for Christmas this year is a Mad Hatter Christmas.  I have taken off with the whole Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party and made it Christmas like.  The idea came to me while my son and I were walking around Hobby Lobby back in August and we saw some really cute metal tree toppers that looked like top hats.  I was there for inspiration anyway.  And that is all it took.

I purchased a Mad Hatter hat from the Disney store back in September.  It is intended to be the hat for a Halloween Costume but I knew it was my tree topper this year.  I had really wanted to replace the sash on it and put a longer one on to wrap all the way down the tree.  But this will work.  When you look at the tree from the front it looks like the Mad Hatter was transformed into a Christmas Tree.  I have also been busy making ornaments for it.  So far I have placed paper doilies on and I am in the process of attaching spoons to ribbon to hang on the tree.  My idea for sugar cubes made from white styrofoam has not been the best but I may revise it and put them on the tree anyway.  As soon as I get those on I will take more pictures of the tree.

While I was sketching out this theme I thought that instead of traditional stockings this year we would use teapots.  I went on a garage sale/thrift store/flea market hunt for teapots and teacups.  I found some really great things.  It was fun looking at all the different stuff.  I also would not buy teapots over a certain dollar amount to keep things reasonable.  I was pleasantly surprised at what I could get for my budget.  Although there are some still out there that cost a lot more that I would have LOVED to have had. 

And since we are using teapots as stockings we had to have stocking tags with each person's name.  I purchased Papertrey Inc.'s Tea for Two stamp set and coordinating dies.  I have even used this set for part of my Christmas cards which should be finished this week.  But for the stocking tags I used one of the label stamps and die.  I just used a water based marker to color the parts I wanted to stamp and then used Papertrey Inc.'s Simple Alphabet stamp set to inset each person's name.  I then took tea bags and sandwiched the string between the stamped label image and a printed Mad Hatter image.  I think they look great. 

Now time to work on gift tags, finishing the Christmas cards, finishing the ornaments, baking, cleaning, wrapping, ...

Halloween After

I have been so busy lately with trying to pull off my Christmas idea this year that I have failed to post my crow's.  And I have not even been making any cards.  So sad but I have had a cold for over a week and just now getting over it.  I need to get busy with Christmas cards soon.  Mock up of one is done but mass production needs to take place soon.  The following are just some pictures of my Halloween things.  I was taking really bad photos so I gave up with taking photos of the rest.