Christmas Crafts #3

I've got another Christmas craft for you today! I've been using this tree with one of my centerpieces this year. Its one of my favorite crafts, and it's a great way to use some of your patterned paper.

1. Cut stripes of paper using multiple patterns.
2. On the short side of each stripe cut a snip in the paper every inch, cutting approximately 1" into the paper.
3. Curl fringe by rolling it on a pencil.
4. Starting at the bottom of a Styrofoam cone, attach the two uncut corners to the cone with straight pins. Continue around and up the cone, switching patterns at each level.
5. Tie bow for the top, and adhere button in the middle of bow.

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you're enjoying this Christmas season so far. We have a coat of snow outside, so it's certainly getting me in the spirit!

JustRite 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop 12

Welcome to the final week of JustRite Stampers’  Wednesday feature, 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hops!  JustRite has been showcasing their entire Christmas Collection of stamps during the hops and ALL of those JustRite Original stamps are currently on sale at 25% off now through November 29, with free shipping within the U.S. on consumer orders over $50!  You can view all of those Holiday Sale stamp sets HERE.

If you would like to go back through all of the hops and see all of the gorgeous Christmas inspiration from the past 11 weeks, you can do so by clicking on the 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hops category on the JustRite Inspiration blog.  All of the designers’ projects are hyperlinked directly to their blog posts that have full details of how they created the project!

Don’t forget that JustRite also has some Christmas stamps in their newly released CLING line of stamp sets, too -- you can find all of their cling stamp sets here.  This week, the designers joining the JustRite design team are the 2 Sketches 4 You designers!  JustRite is sponsoring this week’s 2S4Y #66 sketch challenge.  You can find the fabulous sketch inspiration AND details about the JustRite prize package, by visiting their blog post here.

 For my project today I decided (with the help of one of my coworkers Pam) to make a desert recipe holder.

I started off by stamping and coloring little cupcakes from Ellie Time on all my index cards:

I then cut two pieces of chipboard, 3x5 and stamped the cupcake again in white.

I then stamped the cupcake one more time, colored it and cut it out.

Lastly, I punched holes and wrote my recipes! 

I'm not sure who I'll give this to yet, but I think it's a really fun gift.

Please visit these designers’ blogs to see what fabulous JustRite Christmas inspiration they have for you on the hop today!

JustRite Inspiration Blog
Debbie Olson
Kazan Clark
Laura Davis
Barb Schram
Angie Tieman
Heidi Blankenship
Courtney Baker
Michele Kovack
Julie Lacey
Sankari Wegman
Laurie Willison
Stephanie Kraft
Mona Pendleton
Angela Barkhouse
Regina Mangum
2 Sketches 4 You

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow! 

Christmas Crafts #1

Can you believe it? It's time to start thinking about creating for Christmas. I guess it just never feels real until it's okay to really display your creations!

For this tree I wanted to use some of my many many buttons to create a little Christmas tree.

1. Using a 3-7/8"x8-7/8" Styrofoam Cone, paint green using acrylic paint.
2. Using strong adhesive glue green buttons on cone. I used a straight pin to hold the buttons until the glue dried.
3. Once dry, glue on pink buttons.
4. Top tree with ribbon.

Ribbon: Hibiscus Burst Saddle Stitch (Papertrey Ink)
Buttons: New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Hibiscus Burst (Papertrey Ink)
Paint: Leaf Green Craft Paint (Apple Barrel Colors Plaid)

Do you have a ton of buttons? I haven't tried this, but I think a button ornament would be super cute!

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I have two events this weekend happening in Middle Tennessee! I hope if you're local you'll come join us for a free make and take!

The Scrap Room: Friday 5:00 - 6:30 pm You can find more details here.

The Sassy Scrapper: Saturday, November 20 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm You can find more details here.

Thanks for stopping by!

A ribbon video and a gift.

I got several questions about the ribbon I made yesterday. I thought I'd do a quick video on the bow. It's short and you'll see a guest apperance by Chase. I tried to get him to show off his accent but no dice.


I also wanted to show you a quick little gift packagte I made tonight. I started saving my blueberry containers months ago when Paper Crafts featured an altered container on their cover. I though it was genius and super easy to recreate.

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Don't forget about the EBTKS challenge going on now!

Christmas Gifts

Hey there? Are we all so busy? It seems like the blog world is a little slower than normal. I did want to jump on here and show you a few gifts I took to work today. They were more funny that pretty.

Here's the big group of gifts I took (that large bag in that back was HUGE and a total joke):

For the girls around the office I got really long knee high Christmas socks, rolled them up and tied a ribbon around the pair of socks.

For the guys I gave them a small little thing of play-doh. I thought it was a nice little nostalgic gift.

 

Of course as a result I found out we have some pretty creative guys in our office. Check out what my friend Matt did with his gift:

Pretty good right? What about this?

Now I will say all of these figures started because of some brown play-doh and I'm sure you don't have think hard to figure out what the boys made with that.

Here's just a couple other shots of presents:

 

These are some Krystal Light containers I wrapped with paper. Super quick. 

 

 How are your Christmas gifts coming? I still have a lot of wrapping to do.

Halloween Wreath

If you watched my first video from CK Nashville (here) you saw the supplies for this wreath. My original idea was to make on similar to my Christmas wreath last year (here). However, I forgot one of the main reasons that paper worked so well... it was double sided. The glitter paper I was so excited about was not. Here's what I ended up with:

First I cut my glitter paper into 1x5 strips. Then, I just wrapped them around and pinned them into my foam wreath. I wasn't too worried about keeping the back pretty, since I knew it wouldn't show. For my letters, I just used some old SU! Chipboard letters and covered them with some American Crafts Halloween paper. I think the contrast worked out well.

Can you tell I'm excited about decorating for Halloween? I can't wait to hang this up on Halloween night when my trick or treaters come. Oh, wait, yea... that's right... I don't have any. I'll hang it up anyway! Maybe I'll go around and beg some kids to come to come.

In other news, on September 30 I have some very exciting news that I am going to be announcing with a few other fabulous bloggers, and I hope it is something you will be excited about as well! And if this helps any, there is a $25 gift card involved!

Here's a little hint:

Any guesses? I hope you're having a great Friday!

Sewing and sketch book.

So last night at 9:30 Chase and I were cleaning the house and he mentioned that he didn't even know where to begin dusting my craft room. I realized it really needed a nice reorganization. So at 9:30 I got to work! I found a ton of stuff that I had totally forgotten about. One of those things was this blank book from work. From time to time we use mock up versions of books at work. Eventually when we are done with the book they let us take our pick. Again, all that is in the book is blank sheets. So of course the crafter in me thinks, "Hey, I can recover that." So I took some Color Theory paper and came up with this:

 

And if you are wondering why I need a sketch book when I don't sketch... well, I've decided I'm going to start keeping track AFTER. Above I've already added the Anniversary card I did yesterday.

My sewing class was a success today. We made these four corner aprons. Check out my mom and I in our aprons:

For a girl that doesn't like pink... I sure do have a lot on in this picture.

Also, thanks for your advice on the embossing buddy. I'm officially getting one!

for you... yea you.

Have I told you how much a I enjoy you, my blog friends? Well I do! I have so much fun reading all of your inspiration and hopefully I give you some as well.

As a thank you I thought I'd make something for one of you!And here is a look inside:
And guess what I made it out of... an old check box. I just painted it white and went to town. I did make a little divider inside as well. It's basically just some chipboard and some ribbon spools inside, but who knows what else might go in the package!

So, I'd love to send it you, just leave a comment that's it!

I've also had some sweet friends give me a blog awards lately! Thanks you Kelley and Winter. I enjoy both of your blogs so much, not to mention your friendship! If you haven't checked out their blogs they are fantastic.

Here are a few other blog friends that are just fantastic:

Lynnette- Netter's Notables

Amy- Tsurta Designs

Kelly Marie- Lawn Fawn Cards
Christina - Happy Stamping
Dana - Paper Daydream
Jane - Plain Jane
Randee - Randee's Rendezvous
Brit - Art is my Sunshine
Tina - Traveling Mama (I think I may want to be her... seriously)
Ann - Creative Antics

I feel like I could go on and on. Maybe I will on my next post! There are just so many extremely talented bloggers out there! Go check them out!

what have you read lately?

Wow, I'm worn out. Chase and I had a pretty busy day. We woke up at 6 to head to Jeremy and Emily's for our yard sale. Then I came home, vacuumed and washed my car, cleaned the house, washed clothes. Then, Chase and I created a flower bed in the back of the house, took a trip to Lowes and added some color to our front landscaping. 6 am seems so long ago.

I did decide to wind down with a little project. A year ago I realized that I couldn't remember some of the books I had read over the years. Sometimes I could remember a story line, but I would have no idea what the titles was. I decided it was time to keep track on my reading. So I purchased this cute little notebook from target:After each book I read I write the title in the book, the author, and my thoughts on the book:I decided today, that it's time to make this cute book even cuter, and what better to use than Damask Designs. I taped off the cute black cloth and stamped with craft white. I also added my own handwriting, and some inked edges. I also added some faux black stitches. Then last, but not least, I added a HUGE black vintage button and some SU! organza ribbon to the black strap. So cute.
I think I'm off to watch a movie and just sit. Have a good night!

happy valentine's day.

It seems like this year I did not have nearly as much time to work on V-day gifts as last year. Then I remembered last year I had a whole week off at the end of January.

And that makes me thing, every Christmas I always get excited about things slowing down in January, and some how that never happens for me. How is that possible?

So, back on topic, here's what I did for this Valentine's Day. Once again I'm a felt freak these days. I hand cut some hearts, sewed on buttons, backed it with some gorgeous Basic Grey Bittersweet, add a little ribbon and that's a craft I can finish while watching LOST.
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Bittersweet Basic Grey
Ribbon: Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Felt, slit punch

a quick project.

I fixed up a few bags of treats for some friend. Obviously I can't get enough of this patterened paper.

I used Figgy Pudding paper and Merry and Bright from PaperTrey Ink.

christmas project number 3

Yes, I know another wreath! I just couldn't help myself. This is totally cased from Elise Blaha. Her homemade Christmas was very inspiring this year.

I had a cardboard box downstairs, so I went to work. It actually didn't take nearly as long as my other wreath:

christmas tags.

I've wrapped about a quarter of my gifts. I'm hoping I can finish soon.

I made this tag to look like an old post card. I love the little stamp (sorry the image is a little blurry):
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Jim Holtz Distress Ink Tea Dye, Stazon Black, Old Olive, Real Red
Stamps: Merry and Bright: Paper Trey Ink

christmas project number 2

I originally got this idea from my friend Emily, and I believe the originally got her idea from Real Simple magazine. She was using red ornaments to hang from her banister. I decided to do something similar with a bunch of handmade stuff that I had used on my tree. Oh, and this year's theme is pretty rustic.

cristmas project number one.

I'm crafting like crazy this Thanksgiving! I promised Chase I would watch a movie, so this is a quick post to show you my new wreath I made.

I used Basic Grey Figgy Pudding double sided paper, cut in 1x4 strips:

happy halloween.

My good friend Lindsay and I got together to decorate some cookies this week:Lindsay said they didn't taste very good, but she doesn't like cookies. I think I've ate way too many! I made the top with a Martha Stewart Halloween Stamp, and my 1 inch punch.

the latest.

I made this a couple of weeks ago for a friend. There are 5- 3x3 cards and a card holder.

Things I used: Moose You, Time Well Spent, Lots of Thoughts, Stampin Up! Two Sided Paper, Chocolate Chip paper and ink, A. Artichoke paper, River Rock Paper, Watercolors

easter crafts

I made a ton of stuff for Easter this year. Actually this was the first Easter I've made anything. I don't know why I've never thought of making stuff, but I haven't. This year I'm really trying to use my 'stuff.' Sometimes I fall prone to the 'I don't want to use that.' You know like I'm saving up some pretty paper or flowers. I've finally decided that I'm not going to buy stuff if I'm not going to use it.

So here is everything:

These are York Peppermint patties. I used my scallop punch to make a top and bottom.

These are those Hershey Nuggets covered in paper. I've seen these a lot on other blogs/website. They really have never been that exciting to me, but they are really easy and we you see them all together, they are so cute.
All the treats together. Oh here's something I learned. For some reason I thought it would be a great idea to stamp my plastic Easter eggs with Stazon. Um, don't try that. One it was really hard not to smug, and it didn't turn out well at all.
That's all my Easter stuff. Here's another product I love.
This stuff makes your hair so smooth and shinny. You have to use a small amount or else you will have super greasy hair (so be careful). But I love it and it smells great.

Happy Easter everyone.