Project #6 Holiday organizer

Sorry I've been MIA for  a few days...and I was on such a roll!  lol     This is the Holiday organizer I made last year for myself and  my daughters, all of my sisters, my mom, and a friend.  They were a big hit and they actually USED them! The supplies are simple- just a regular manilla file folder, with each side scored in half. The middle score is already there. Fold on the score lines accordion style, so you will actually fold the score lines you made toward the center fold.  You then score along the whole folder 3 3/4" from the bottom and fold this up.  this will form your pockets.  On the inner front cover I decorated and then stapled in a pile of shopping list sheets with lines that you can tear off and take with you.  The gift list pages have 4 names per page, and include spots for Name, Size, Ideas, and a box to check when that person is completed. Under these sheets is a pocket for coupons, made by the folded up bottom of the file.  Next page is the Christmas card list, and the last page is a pocket for receipts. you can keep your receipts in one place to keep track of spending. I again used pretty paper and stickers to decorate. I put adhesive between the back folds (along the "spine" to keep it from flopping all the way open.) I also ran ribbon from about an inch in under the front and back covers so i could tie the folders shut.  This is an inexpensive project and makes a nice gift for yourself or friends and family. I handed mine out last year at Thanksgiving dinner, but you could tuck one in a gift for the recipient to use next year. Have fun with these (no pilfering office supplies- that wouldn't be right) Merry Christmas!

Day #5 in the Twelve Days of Christmas projects!

Here are the recipe books I made for my family last year. I started by collecting recipes from everyone in the family- you know the things they are known for. My mom's dinner rolls and fried chicken, Marilyn's texas sheet cake, Barb's pea salad  LOL The things you expect to see at family dinners. Then I printed the recipes out on cardstock, and layered them according to length.  I decorated plain office file folders with some pretty paper, used a two hole punch and some prongs to secure them into my folders, and oila! They are done  : )     I tried to coordinate the paper to each persons kitchens and /or taste.                            

So the idea with these recipe books is that you get a bunch of friends together and each do a recipe page for however many people are particpipating. Then one person collects them, makes front and back covers, and takes them to Staples (or whatever is local) and has them bound. I think we each paid $3 to cover the cost of laminating the covers and binding the books.  I love this idea. The recipes are generally really good and the book is just adorable. The blue book on the left is one that i received at convention, where we e-mailed recipes to a coordinator ahead of time and then we decorated our own covers when we got to Salt lake City. The red book on the right is one I did with friends on Vancouver Island, my friend Susan organized this swap (and several others).

This is my recipe that I stamped and swapped for the book.  it was perfected by myself and Gary after we had it in a restaurant and got addicted to it, so we decided to try and make it at home. Gary makes this exceptionally well, and this is one of the things I always request for him to make for me.  : )  I think this is a really erpsonal gift and it is so fun to receive new recipes. Its quite inexpensive to do in bulk- just a pack of folders and some paper, plus the prongs...or the cost of paper to print and the binding, depending on which style you choose to do. I hope you and your friends and family have have fun with these ideas! Merry Christmas!

Day 3 of the Twelve Days of Christmas

Here is the cute paper bag album I have been making for about 5 years now...I first made it in a class at Scrapbookin' Adventures in Parksville on Vancouver Island, taught by my friend Jennifer.  I fell in love with these cute, fun little albums and have been making them ever since.  Take 4-6 paper lunch sacks...not Kiwi size, just regular  : )  and turn them so they are all facing different directions and turn some over. Now you should have flaps and openings scattered throughout.  Use a regular sewing machine to sew a seam down the middle of all the bags neatly stacked one on top of the other. See the left image in the picture here.  Now fold it in half and just start decorating!  You can do these for Mother's day, Birthdays, friends etc...I did a western themed album with paisley and cowboy embellishments for my friend Christine.  Just use paper that co-ordinates and go for it. It is all about having fun. 

This picture shows an inside page and a pocket...the opening made by the top of the lunch bag...I made inserts with tabs to go inside, to hold either a picture or journaling.  This cute paper is all by Basic Grey and is their Fruit Cake line that was out about 3 years ago. I hoarded it...I literally went to Hobby Lobby and bought every package they had at the end of the season.

This is the inside showing one of the flaps of the bag decorated. I stamped it and made a journaling spot, but you can also put trimmed pics here. I usually put a small tab on the flaps so people know to open them. 

I hope you enjoy making your own albums, and Merry Christmas!

Easy idea for co-workers, friends, etc....

These are super easy post-it note holders you can make from coasters from your local resaurant, as I did. I spoke to the manager and asked if I could have a few extra, she pressed for a number so i asked "Is 25 too many?" She checked her stock, came back with a stack of 75 and told me she had about 5,000 more in the back room!  So- bonus!  I covered the coaster with designer paper on both sides, and then you can just add your post it note pad.  You can dress it up with a decorated clip, buy these at a business supply store (Staples, or Office Max in the US)  and cover them with paper, and add a little bit of ribbon. If you'd like to add a ribbon loop pen holder, just glue the loop in place before you add the designer paper to the coaster. The little pens are from Staples. You can add magnets to the back if you want to go on the fridge, or leave them plain for use in teh car or your purse. The jumbo clip in the back left of the picture my friend Laura made for a swap when went to the Stampin' Up convention in Salt Lake City last summer. These can hold a photo on your desktop, or a recipe in your kitchen. Cute teacher gifts!  I hope you've enjoyed todays ideas...check back each day for more posts.  I have a list of 15 I intend to share, some will be quick projects, some will take a little longer.  Enjoy the season, and remember who we celebrate! Merry CHRISTmas!

This is just a wider shot of the game board. I used colored paper to cut the squares...actually, Ashley cut these. She is making this one for her little sister Sage, with my assistance. but- Don't tell sage! It's a surprise! Luckily, she doesn't read my blog. lol

Twelve Days of Christmas (projects)

So- my Kiwi craft sister Vera asked for some ideas for Christmas gifts...so I will do my best to accomodate her wishes.  To start off- heres an idea for children OR adults.... I took an old Trivial Pursuit game board (Goodwill for $2-$3) and covered it in pretty paper and stickers and made it a Disney princess Trivia Game. This one takes a bit of time- but its really fun. I found DP trivia questions on-line and also made up some of my own, and included an answer sheet with the directions for the game. You could adapt this to a sport, a team, a country, church history...be creative!  My local school district office has a laminating machine they let me use for $.50 per foot. Its 3 feet wide so it doesn't take much to laminate all the question/trivia cards as well as the typed up directions and answer sheets. I made two of these last year and had a request to make another this year. I am happy to oblige!

Two in one day! Happy Thanksgiving!

These are the treat boxes (nuggett boxes) I made for Thanksgiving for the adults. I am still attempting to make turkeys to put on suckers for the kids.  Wish me luck!  Most of them have leaves and a pumpkin tied on with gold cord. I used a wheel on very vanilla paper to make the box tops and Dusty Durango cardstock for the box bottoms.  I used up some old DSP to cover the nuggetts.  I also got to use some of the new dusty durango polka dot ribbon. I love that stuff!
 Ok.  I am feeling less stressed now that I can post again. I have lots of holiday stuff, plus some old stuff to still post so come back soon.  Happy turkey day!

Holy macaroni!  I finally got the whole canera computer situation figured out.  This is a Halloween card i totally cased, but I changed the stamp set... and the ribbon. I copied the nesties label and the BG paper. Too cute....Speaking of things I am just getting around to...I just transplanted a Hibiscus that mt friend teresa got me after  my mom died, and it has been sitting in my dining room for about 6 weeks waiting it be transplanted. It took me all of oh- I don't know_ 60 seconds. Seriously. Why do i procrastinate such simple things???

I pretty much copied the kit instructions for these cards, just added little elements, popped some things up, which also was not me. I always change things to make them my own, but that also means making them more complicated usually, so I just made them. Followed their samples and kept it simple. I am trying to train myself to make simple cards. I love them when I see what other people have made, but then I start making cards and start thinking it "just needs a little bit more". LOL. These cards remind me of my friend Melanie, they really are more her colors and style than mine... I made a cute purple card organizer to put these in and I am making some little 3 x 3s to go with them and a couple of tags. I have SO much to do to get ready for next Saturday, and I have a final Wednesday and a paper still to do. Wish me luck! Oh- Happy Easter!

OK- these cards are so far out of my comort zone...so not me, not my colors, not frilly, not me. But- that was the point. I bought this kist from SU, over a year ago, it's called Flower Power card elements. I thought at the time it would be good for me, ...it would make me do something different. And- it did.It just took a while.

OK- I really need a new camera...how long till Christmas?? The certainly celery sentiment isn't showing up again...lol try saying that three times fast! This didn't come out exactly as I wanted it to, but it kept my hands busy while I watched my MSU boys get the tar beat out of them by the UNC Tarheels. Oh well. They did better, and went further than anyone expected them to. Go State! Good for them! I made cards out of green cardstock while watching MSU.lol I'm such a Spartan! More cards tomorrow, I'm of to bed, and hopefully a good nights sleep. (here's hoping!)

OK- not the best pic...the sentiment in the middle is from the oval all set, it says "thank you" with a little butterfly over the words. I stamped it in pink, then again in certainly celery, punched my wide ovel (pink) and then my large oval (CC) and layered with pop dots. I wish you could see it in real life. So- I found out who my other subscriber is- it's Ashley! Thanks my sweet girls. I like sharing what Imake with you : ) Still trying to get my rascally camera to cooperate. I did something to it alst week playing with buttons before I left for Texas. ggggrrrrr. lol

Hi! I've been MIA for a while...I made a trip to Texas to see my hubby and celebrate our 6th anniversary. Time flies when you're having fun : ) I have made a TON of cards in the last week. I am technologically challenged and am still trying to figure out how to actually get my digital camera to do what I want, so while I figure that out I thought I'd scan this one. It has a shadow from the bow...but you can get the jist anyway. the little sentiment if from a new set called Oval All in the new Spring Occasions Mini catalog. I love my oval punches and I think I will get a lot of use out of this set. I made several of those cute stationary organizers I've seen on so many blogs. I will post a link to the tutorial with my pics, hopefully tomorrow. I am so excited! My friend laura was asked to do a booth at Business and professional Women's Expo on April 18th, but she couldn't do that date, so she asked me. I will have a booth where I can seel retired stamp sets, handmade cards, card organizers, decorated cans, etc..plus maybve meet some new customers! It would be great to meet some new people to stamp with : ) Well, I'm off to bed with hopes of getting more pictures posted here tomorrow. Thanks for looking! A special thanks to Chelsea, who was my very first subscriber! Love you, Chels! Now I have two. I'm happy someone wants to see what I'm up to.

This is a card I did for Gary..I have been using this Loads of Love set for years for many different occasions. I don't have that many masculaine sets, and I think this one is really versatile. anyway- I used close to cocoa CS inked with Chocoloate chip, Apricot appeal DSP, whisper white CS, real read, charcoal gray, silver, sahara sand, pixie pink,chocolate chip ink and markers. I paper pieced the truck, and used the scallop square on the sentiment. It's pretty simple, but Gary always likes the cards I do for him. I made some stinkin' cute decorated hershey bars for my hairdresser to give to customers as a thank-you for referrals. I will post a pic of those soon! Sorry I've been a bad blogger this week. I will make it up to you!

This is a card I did last in January...I have to show you the inside...I also did a yellow CS version, which was cuter, but I didn't keep any of them!~ The colored honeu pot is on a spring so when you open the card it pops out at you. It also has crystal effects on the honey so it actually looks like shiny dripping honey IRL. Thanks for looking!

Just a quick note...Taylored Expressions is hosting a party! Hop over to her blog at www.tayloredexpressions.blogspot.com or just click on my link to the right : ) She has a really cute card with felt and shimmery flowers and some neat crystals. Take a look!

This is my swap card for my demo meeting Monday night. The theme is Spring and I wanted to do something bright and cheery. I also really wanted to use my new Cherry Blossom die and little leaves die from SU. I haven't used a wheel on a card in a while so I thought I'd bust one out and use it on this card. The colors are Ruby Red, So Saffron, and Old Olive. If you look closely you can see the flower in the right corner is turned over so you can see the die both ways. You can use it with the embossed center flower or debossed center flower. I love these little sizzlets. I have to go read the rest of a book now and then write a paper today. I would rather be stamping! I will post again soon, I have so much I want to show you! : ) Happy Stamping!

OK- sorry these two cards are together but that's the way I scanned them and it's easier than getting them out, and the camera out, and taking a new pic, and uploading it...you get the picture? These are two of the cards I designed for my recent Valentine making night at my church. It was fun! I had eight different cards! Why *? Because one sweet dad signed himself and all 7 of his children to come and make Valentines for his wife (who has since given birth to #8) Since I knew she would be getting cards from all 8 of them, I wanted each card to be different. These two are very similar. I had fun using the new scalloped envelope die cut from Stampin Up. I also used two different cuttlebug folders and the scalloped square punch, Loads of Love stamp set, and real red and chocoloate chip 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon. The hearts I cut out with my cricut. The DSP is- you guessed it! More Bella and some of last years Cerise. We had so much fun. I just love helping people find their creativity. I think it is so therapeutic!

Birthday Whimsy

I just love this set. I am so sad it didin't make it into the big catalog. This was in a Stampin' Up mini last year. I punched a scallop circle and put some two-way glue and some dazzling diamonds for the frosting dripping down the cake. The background is also a retired stamp- the paisley bg stamp. I still love it. There's also dazzling diamonds on the flames. Inside is cute too! Balloons stamped in chocolate chip. Yum. I love that color.

The cardstock is Bashful Blue, -somehow it doesn't look like it matches in this pic, but it does- really! I think these colors work well for masculine birthdays, but I would definitely use it for females too. OK- I have to call Gary and get to bed..church in the morning!

Bella frame

This is a frame I altered from the Dollar Spot. It was in the wedding section (Don't you think that's hilarious? The Dollar Spot has a wedding section!) I pulled off the vinyl faux silk from the front and covered them with Bella DSP from Stampin' Up. The green dot paper is also Bella DSP. I punched the flowers with the 5-petal flower punch from Old Olive CS and more Bella DSP and put a rhinestone brad in the middle. These were popular at convention and I ran out the first day. These frames were in packs of 6 for $1. I also bought some little white buckets in packs of 3 for $1 and altered some of them, but didn't take them to swap...I just played with them .

Hi! Well, After lurking around many blogs I am finally taking the plunge! I will post original card designs, personal stories, crafty creations and anything else that seems like a good idea at the time lol. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave comments on what you would like to see. Happy Stamping!