Cubbyhole Creations

...GoOd GoLLy...

2011-12-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

... am I a blogging slacker!

I'm hoping now that the tree is up, the gifts are bought and wrapped, and the cookies are baked I'll be a little better :)

Here's a tiny bit of what's been going on here...of course, part of being a blogging slacker is NOT taking pictures of things you're doing/making :) ...I did a lot more...honest...but sadly have no photographic proof...

Enough excuses... here's some of the cookies I decorated last weekend...I made a bag for each of the kids who's mom is a primary carpool driver...I try to suck up wherever I can :)

While I'm ReaLLy grateful that I'm not driving at all this year...I feel like a total sLaCkEr in that department too....

Here's a few quick photos of the living room decorations...the mantle and the table by the entry way...

The $2 Santa boot ornaments sitting on fake snow in the apothecary jar have been a huge hit with everyone who's seen them...kinda funny since the boots were a last minute home depot purchase while I was buying new outdoor Christmas lights...

Here's the mantle..it's the one thing that looks the same in this room after my husband got a WILD hair this Saturday and decided we needed a ReaL, LaRgE, space sucking, evergreen in our front window...had to buy a stand and a tree skirt too...HaPPy HoLiDaYs!!!

Ca-Ching!

Then we got it home and I LITERALLY had to move EVERY piece of furniture in my living room to make it fit and not look horrible...then the hubby and the boy went to watch TV and i spent an hour and a half decorating it alone....hence the LARGE Scrooge factor!!

Here's the boy at his 5th Grade Band concert...it was AwESoMe!!! He did great! We were soooo proud! :) (notice his Santa hat says ~Bah Humbug~...I totaLLy should have been wearing that Saturday night while I hung ornaments on the piney monstrosity in my front window!)

ok...before you get too impressed., the bottom tier is from the freezer section at Trader Joe's :) and man were they TASTY!!

I did make the top section...brownie bites with peanut butter mousse drizzled with chocolate ganache...mmmmm.....

and I made these gingerbread eggnog trifles in itty bitty individual parfait glasses from Pier One...they were sooooo cute...and everyone knows that anything you eat with a doll sized spoon has ZERO calories! :)

Okay...off to finish the last of the homemade gifties and clean the upstairs MaN CaVe...the boys are BeYoNd pigs during break!!

Thanks for looking...

Have an AmaZinG Monday!

jen

....AdoRaBLe ReiNdEeR...

2011-12-08T13:42:00.000-08:00

So I picked up this outfit for my new niece last night...I just couldn't resist it...seriously...

Could you have walked away from this reindeer cuteness?!?

with these little feeties???

...and this hat?!? AcK!!! Cute OvERLoaD!!!!!

It is possible the real reason I bought the outfit was that as soon as I saw it, I KNEW exactly how to package it...possible...but that might be a little twisted...I mean, who buys something because of how they can wrap it???

You saw this coming right???

Bwahaahahahahahahahaha!!!

I took a brown lunch bag, added some punches, and antlers and poof...it was a reindeer...just like the little guy on the outfit...

See??? Just a lunch bag...I should have titled this post ~ $10 and 10 minutes~...because that's what it took! :)

I'll be back tomorrow with our Christmas mantle and entry table.

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmAziNg Thursday!

jen

...It'S TiMe FoR...

2011-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

TayLoReD ExPRreSsiOnS

NoVeMBeR

BlAsT from the PaST

BloG HoP

...with this really fun sketch from SaNkAri...

WeLcOme to the HoP...I hope you are enjoying what you've seen so far from the other HoPPeRs...I'm sure they are all fun and amazing creations!

I had grandiose plans and GrEaT ideas for this HoP...then realized that all the stamps I wanted to use...and indeed...all the FaLL TE stamps I have...are new...let me tell you...that'll throw a wrench in your moJo! :(

Guess...I'll just have something ReaLLy GooD for next year.

Digging through all my TE sets...all I could find was a tree that didn't set off any FaLL/ThankfuL lightbulbs for me and a bunch of sentiments that said thank you...so...I went with a sentiment. :)

I also only used patterned papers that I've bought from TE or received in my Key Ingredients Kit :) It made me feel a little better about not using a stamp as my main image on my card...

I loved that the sketch gave me a nice space to create a focal point...for some reason I was feeling a CoRnUcOpia vibe when I sat down...so that's what ended up in my circle :)

There are a LOT of patterns going on here...not sure exactly what I was thinking :)

(and don't look too closely or you'll see some contraband...the leaves in my cornucopia were made using the AwEsOMe new leaf die I got in my last order...golly...I am just such a ReBeL...bwahahahaha...)

Here's a close up of my TaYloReD ExPrEsSioNs stamp...a sweet sentiment from the FriEndShiP bLoOmS set.

Thanks for looking and enjoy the rest the GreAt creations on the rest of the HoP :)

...ChriStMaS CaNdY...

2011-11-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I got home from a meeting one night last week and was waiting for my husband to finish up a phone call...instead of pacing and being impatient...I went into the cubbyhole and made this.

Seriously...20 minutes...and I was done.

I used one of the clear purses from Taylored Expressions...I have a bunch of extras from the baby shower...and there was a doily laying on my desk...so I used that...

The new Papertrey Tremendous Treats:Christmas set was sitting there too...I stamped it up, colored it...and ta-da...CutE-NeSs...

I tied the ribbon around the purse and held up the doily...but you could see the ribbon through the doily...yuck! I punched a red circle and it fit PerfEctLy behind the center of the doily...LoVe when that happens!

I added a baker's twine bow and a sweet, sparkly jingle bell I picked up at Michaels.

I colored Santa's beard a really light grey and then added little white swirls to it for some interest...I also added a little chunky glitter to Santa's hat...Every fat man needs a little bling right?

I had a package of HersheY choCoLaTe BeLLs in the kitchen just waiting for a crafty project...the ENTIRE bag (minus the 3 silver ones...really??? how could an entire bag only have 3 silver ones?) fits into the purse...

I'm making up a dozen or so of these...they are quick, I already have everything to make the package, and I think they are perfect for Sanford to give to the ladies in the school office and for Connor to give to his previous teachers :)

Thanks for looking!

Have a GreAt Tuesday!

jen

...ChrIStMaS IdEaS...

2011-11-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of the ideas I came up with for cheap and easy gifties to hand out to neighbors, teachers, co-workers...or anyone you want to give SoMeThiNg to...but don't want to spend much money.

So...I was at Michael's right after HaLLowEeN...and they had these black metal plaques on ClEaRaNcE...85 cents each!! So of course, I bought them all...I wasn't being a total HoaRdeR...there were only 6 of them :)

I went home, set it on my desk and started playing...I learned that you can HeAT EmBoSs onto them!

See the word GREETINGS ? It's from the new PTI set...I just stamped it with Versamark, sprinkled on white FiLiGreE embossing powder, and had at it with the heat gun...SuPeR easy and it looks AwEsOMe in real life! Very professional.

I used the new snowman and accessory dies and some felt. This came together really quickly. The whole thing was based on the cute striped ribbon that was sitting on my desk...I ended up taping the ribbon to a sheet of cardstock and running that through the cuttlebug with the hat die to make the snowman's hat match the ribbon I tied on up top. :)

Another little thing that made me spend 5 minutes thinking I was quite clever...I'm sure it's nothing new...but I've never done it before and I LoVe how MaTCh-Y it makes everything! :)

So...that's my sign that used about $1.73 worth of supplies...including the sign! If you get one for Christmas...it doesn't mean I only love you $1.73 worth...it just means I thought you'd like it :)

Godiva chocolate bars were on sale at Barnes and Noble..buy 2 get 1 free...

The whole ~Godiva~ thing makes even a little candy bar like this just a squidge more gift-y...I'm wrapping these up for the room mom's in Connor's class...I'm sure after the Christmas party and dealing with 36 squirrelly 5th graders, they will all need a chocolate fix! :)

I used the new holiday word dies from PTI, some baker's twine, and scraps lying on my desk...I think they are the PerFeCt thing sharing for just a little holiday cheer!...if you can't send booze :)

...and here's a sneak at what's coming tomorrow...I made soap! I used stamps in the bottom of the mold to emboss it, poured two layers in, and poof...I had the coolest soap ever! I'll show you how I package it all up tomorrow along with a WiCkEd quick candy holder...

Thanks for looking!
Have a Marvelous Monday!!
jen

...cHriStMaS coming SooN...

2011-11-10T12:38:00.000-08:00

sorry for the lack of activity here...life is getting in the way! :(

here's a quick HaLLowEeN goodie...

When I went to package up the daycare kiddos HaLLowEen treats....ON HaLLoWeEn (oopS) I realized what I bought wasn't going to fit into the adorable DoLLaR bin bags I had purchased at Target...YiKeS!!

So I ran out to the garage, and altered some white lunch sacks I had. Thank goodness there's such a ~~hoard~~ stash of good stuff in my garage cupboards! :)

I've made 7 items for ChriStMaS gift ideas under $5 for our craft group that met last night...I proMise to PhotoGraPH those and start bLoggINg them tomorrow! Stay tuned!

Thanks for looking!

Have a great Thursday!

jen

...PTi OcToBeR BLoG HoP...

2011-10-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

The inspiration picture for this month's PTI blog hop was super fun...I have pumpkins that look a lot like those cuties in the picture.

I opted to go with the pumpkins and the felt...

I used PTI Terracotta Tile felt to make my pumpkin, Dark Chocolate for the stem (along with a few PTI buttons), and Spring Moss for the leaf...it was too bulky to put on a card, so I decided to pop it into a frame...

I used PTI Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, and Dark Chocolate paper and some dotted Simply Chartreuse ribbon. I stamped the cute leaf from Tag-its with versamark ink onto my Kraft cardstock just to make things a little more interesting...and added the ThaNkFuL sentiment from Rustic Branches...

Thanks for looking,

enjoy the rest of the hop! :)

jen

...live...laugh...love...

2011-10-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

holy snap...it's a...NoN HaLLoweeN ...NoN ChriStMaS ...card...What was I thinking??? :)

I used the color challenge from the EmbeLLish MagaZiNe bLoG...

I loved the colors and the fact that they wanted me to use BuTTonS :)

I combined it with the sketch from Jen Schultz on her DeconStRuCting JeN blog..

I inked up this beautiful SunFlower PTI set for the first time...it's been sitting sad and lonely for toooo long!

I saw this paper at my LSS, brought it home, and used it immediately...I never do that...it felt good not to hoard it...but I'm already thinking I need to go back to the store to get more...is that bad?? It's not right?? I mean everyone has back-up of their favorite papers right...I mean, you need one to use and one to have...just in case you need it some day ...right?? RiGhT??? dang...I'm thinking I hear CriCKetS chirping out there....

Instead of using paper for the layers in the background of the sketch, I used buttons :) I have to say that threading twine through all those buttons was just a squidge more time consuming than I thought it would be...but I do like how it looks :)

Here's a closer shot of those GorGeouS PTI SunFLowers and my buttons...

Thanks for looking!

Have a MarVeLouS MoNdaY!!

jen

...StiCKy chRiStMaS...

2011-10-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a card for this week's Christmas Card Challenge...which was to use stickers...

I thought I'd add a sketch to make things quicker...so I added this cute sketch from CarDaBiLitIeS...I had never been there before today...LoVe it!! Definitely going back!! :)

I own ToNs of stickers...baskets full...they are stuck in drawers and shelves, in books and loose...I have even more of them layered in paper holders with their coordinating goodies...but I have this weird theory that using a sticker is cheating...like I'm somehow not giving it my creative all if I slap a sticker on something...and yet...I KeeP BuYinG more of them...wow...I have some real issues!!

So this week's ChriStmAs CaRd ChaLLenGe made me rethink my sticker phobia...and when I created my little sticker scene...I realized I'm a real MoROn!!

StiCkErS RocK!!

This whole card took 45 minutes...

I had the sheet of glossy plastic stickers (epoxy maybe?!?) that went with a line of paper I bought a few years ago...the striped paper is the one that was made to match...I like how they threw in pink and blue with the traditional ChriStMas colors...makes it fun...and my little penguin scene took 3 stickers and about 3 minutes...I popped up the white snow (ground) layer and sponged the top...the base is some PTI blueberry sky cardstock that I embossed and then swiped PTI fresh snow ink onto and then I popped my little guy under the negative space left from the Mat Stack 1 PTI die cut...some snowflake punches, those epoxy circles were on the sticker sheet too...a few layers and poof...done :)

Here's my little guy up close so you can see how shiny and fun the stickers are...

...and here's a different view so you can see the layers...this card got a little taller than I intended...but it's still flatter than if it had a bow or buttons on it...

hmmmm....not sure what's going on, but this is like the 4th thing in a row I've made with out a bow or buttons or Baker's twine...I'll probably have nightmares tonight about a giant spool of twine chasing me around screaming ~use me...use me~

I mean...I only have every color known to crafting...and there's almost a lifetime supply on each spool...I'm going to be 112 and still putting twine on things! :)

Thanks for looking!

Have a SupeR SatuRdaY!

jen

...FaNg-TaStiC...

2011-10-21T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today I combined the MoJo MonDaY Sketch

With the Color Throwdown CoLors...

I went HaLLowEeNiE again...

I used the cute TaYLorEd ExPreSsiOnS set...FaNgTaStIc...I've been dying to ink up that little VaMpiRe! :) You can't really tell, but the card is edged in MaRtHa StEwArT BlaCk LicOriCe glitter...it is SupeR cooL...black with green pieces in it...looks AwEsOMe in person!!

Here's a close up of my vampire...I'm not really sure why he's green...maybe he got into the HaLLoWeEn candy early?!?!

I cut out the cute pumpkin candy basket and glued on a Baker's Twine handle and it's actually put on his arm :) His StRiPeD cape cracks me up!

I sponged the edges of my moon and outlined my haunted house in a super light gray...not sure I love that...but it looked really wrong with nothing...maybe next time I need to make a mask and sponge just a tiny bit around the edges...

...and here's the envelope.

Okay...this next picture has nothing to do with crafting...but it's funny...

It was crazy hair day at my son's school today...he just wanted his hair standing straight up...no mohawk...no colors...I thought it was really boring...

...but it made for a ~HiL-HaiR-ious~ photo op :)

Thanks for looking!

Have a WonDeRfuL WeEkEnD!

jen

..TaYLoReD ExPrEsSioNs BLasT from the PaSt HoP...

2011-10-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's time for this month's BLaST from the PasT HoP featuring older TaYLoreD ExPrEsSioNs stamps...

The theme was TriCK or SwEeT

...and there was an AwEsOmE sketch by Sankari...it had A LOT of little pieces...it was definitely ChaLLenGinG for me!

I'm adding the HoPPers list here because there are hop-rule breaking photos at the end of this post and you might not be scrolling down there :)

I would HaTe for you to miss out on anything that the TaLentEd CrafTers made for this fun BLaSt from the PaST HoP...

I decided if I was going to do that much work, I wanted it to be a little more than a card...so I used one of the AmAZinG boxes from TE...

and made this...

I used the LiMe TwiSt pad from MME...not exactly traditional HaLLoWeEn colors...but I LOVE that paper!!

I heat embossed the AmAzing spider web from the SpOokY ExPreSsioNs set on a piece of vellum, then I flipped it over and stamped the spider from FriGhT NigHt FaVoRs on top...

I used more white embossing powder to make the cauldron and bubbles...I couldn't get the sweet little froggie in the image to work out for me, so I swapped him out with a cool toad ceramic button that I've had forever...

I LoVe the ~what's brewing?~ sentiment with the witch cauldron...so funny!!

Here's a side view so that you can see how the box turned out with all those cute LiMe TwiSt papers on it...You just can't go wrong with PoLKa DoTs and StRiPes!! :)

okay...here's where things get a little questionable...

If you are a law-abiding, letter of the law following, true blue..BLAST FROM THE PAST Hopper...stop now!!! Consider that my ENTIRE project and move on....

***SERIOUSLY....If YOu GO AnY FARtHeR...***

We ARE LEaViNG the PAST and ENTERING the PREsEnT...

OkaY...If you'Re SUrE...ScRoLL DowN... :)

Now, only the DanGeRouS...LiviN on the Edge...ReBeL CraFteRs are left right??? LOL!!!!!! So, technically, this is an inset, so the box remain true to the past...

I used MoKa TaBiTha and the spell from FangTasTIc which are contraband as far as the BLaSt from the PaST are concerned...but I knew they were perfect for this!!!!

I ordered the test tubes last year to use as treats in my son's class, but they were too small to even hold skittles or M&Ms...they worked out great here though! :)

I created the inset for the tubes, punched some holes, and filled it with unpopped popcorn to make everything stand upright for pictures...being the CuB ScoUt PopCoRn Kernel and having a garage full of popcorn came in mighty handy! :)

Here's a better view of the inside of the box...

and here is the inset slid into the box...

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy seeing what all the other amazing hoppers made!

Have a woNdeRFuL Wednesday!!

jen

...sooOo cOoL...

2011-10-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here's the SwEeT SunDaY SkeTcH ChaLLenGe for this week

..and here's my card...

I think those little LaWn FaWn penguins are the CutEsT!! My husband thinks the baby looks sad...I thought it was funny that he was worried about the emotional stability of a stamped image...

Here they are up close so you can decide for yourself if the baby looks unhappy...and you can see their sparkly snow a little better...LoVe that MarThA SteWaRt chunky glitter!!

I embossed the igloo with white powder and then chalked it in...it's not exactly what I had in mind, but I think it's fine...

...and the envelope...

I'm also linking up over at the Wee MemOriEs ChaLLenGe too...they had a HoLiDaY theme challenge sponsored by LaWn FaWn...so this card seems perfect :)

Thanks for looking!

HaVe a TeRriFiC TueSdaY!

jen

...WeLcoMe to MiMi's...

2011-10-17T09:02:00.000-07:00

How cute is that for the name of a stamp??? I seriously LoVe these PeNNy BLaCk MiMi stamps...

I've sworn off of wooden stamps, but I make an exception for these...and then I leave them out on my desk where I can see them all the time just because I think they are sooooo cute!!

I used this week's sketch from Jen Schultz over at DeConStrUcTinG Jen's BLog...It was just PeRfeCt for a big PeNNy BLaCk image! Thanks for the GreAt SketCH!!

And here is WeLcOme to MiMi's...

I'm not a great colorer...is that a word???...but I love playing with these images, they are just completely non-intimidating...MiMi is just so sweet and friendly looking, you know she's not going to be angry if your shading isn't great or her hair doesn't have perfect highlights...she's a simple kind of gal!

This card is a total mish-mash of papers that were laying on my desk...a little random...but HaPpY...

I even went all out and used some of my new DoOdLebUg Christmas brads instead of hoarding them!

Here's a close up where you can see my weak coloring skills! :) ...but you can also see the glittery snowflakes under the cute brads and the fun MarTHa StEwARt tinsel on her festive little hat...

I'm also linking up over at the Wee MeMoRiEs bLog...they have a HolIdAy theme this week...

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmAzIng WeeK!!

jen

...Oh deER...

2011-10-16T11:03:00.000-07:00

I combined this week's Color ThrOwDowN

with the TaYLorEd ExPrEsSiOnS SketCH ChaLLenGe

The colors reminded me of some SuPeR old Stampin' Up paper I had...so after 20 minutes of digging through 6 million sheets of PatTeRnED PaPeR...

YiKeS

...I finally found it!! :)

The fact that I remembered it and could find it at all means I'm sufficiently organized right? RiGhT????

It in NO WAY indicates that I should perhaps SToP buying MOrE patterned paper...or find a better filing system...or purge some of what I have...CoRrEcT???

Okay...here's my card...

I just happened to have some baJa BrEeZe ribbon too :) and it fit in perfectly with the TE sketch...I used a slot punch to thread the ribbon through...I kinda like how the squirrel is hiding behind it.

The tree is 6 pieces...each section is cut out separately and the scalloped edge if folded back a little to give the tree some dimension IRL.

Thanks for looking!

Have a SuPer SundaY!!

jen

...Oh ChriStMaS TrEe...

2011-10-15T15:35:00.000-07:00

The ChaLLenGe this Week over at ChriStMaS CarD ChaLLenGeS was this BeaUtIFuL inspiration photo...

So...pretty isn't my thing...but how could you NoT go pretty with this photo??

So here's my card :)

I thought the overloaded tree with only one color of ornaments was absolutely gorgeous in that inspiration photo...so I added pearls and tiny border punch snip-lets and some bling to my PTI tree trimming trio die...I also embossed it in the hopes that it would make it look a little more...pine-y! :)

I kept everything else very plain...just like the picture...the tree is OveR the ToP...but the rest of the room is clean and simple...

Here's a close-up of my decorated tree...

Thanks for looking!

Have a sensational Saturday!

jen

...BeWiTcHinG...

2011-10-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

I got a SuPeR cute new WiTcHy stamp this week :)

So I used her in the new CaT's PaJaMa'S ChaLLenGe...since that's where she came from :)

Here's my card...

I used some Orange Zest PTI cardstock and everything else came from the SpOokViLLe we r memory keepers paper pad. I adore the spiderweb paper in the back...it's too bad you can't see more of it...

WitChY is paper pieced and the circle she's standing on is fussy punched from the paper pad...LoVe how the moon and stars look in the background :)

This is one of those freakishly rare times when the card turned out exactly how it looked in my head...woo-hoo! :)

here's a close up of her...with her SwEeT little orange kitty! :)

I also linked up to the PiLe It On ChaLLenGe...the theme is just because...

...and this photo

was the inspiration over at CupCaKe InsPiRaTion ChaLLenGe...

the top moon and stars layer totally inspired the first layer of my card :) so I'm linking up over there too.

Thanks for looking!

Have a teRriFiC weekend!

jen

...BirThDaY SmiLeY...

2011-10-13T18:51:00.000-07:00

Here is a PeRfEcTLy generic BiRtHdAy card...big kid, little kid, boy, girl, adult, grandma...it works for everyone :)

I used some SuPeR cute PaPeR SmOoCheS stamps, a ton of random stamp pads, and a healthy assortment of baker's twine...

Here's a close up of my SmiLeY little guy with his wild party hat! Now...I just need someone to have a BiRtHdaY!! :) It's nice to be a little ahead of things for once!

I'm linking up to the Paper Sundaes ChaLLenGe since they are having a FaVorIte ColOr ComBo ChaLLenge...RaInBow is a CoLor Combo right?!?!? :)

And on SentiMeNtaL SundAys...AnYtHiNg GoeS...

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmaZinG Weekend!

jen

...FraNkLy...he's DoTTy!!!!!

2011-10-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

so...I might have taken just a few liberties with this week's MoJo MonDaY Sketch...

So here's the sketch...

...and here's my card...

It's all good and law abiding until you get to that center area...See...I did stick something behind the rectangle panel...but the shape and scale are waaAaAaay off...oh, well...hopefully the sketch NaZis won't catch that! :) It's such a small liberty...man...I must reaLLy be a RuLe FoLLowEr, cuz it bothers me! :)

Here's a close up of my pumpkin and my PoLkA DoTTy Frank...He CrAcKs me up!!! I love that stamp!! All stamps are PaPeR SmOoCheS and the paper is a stack I bought from tayLorEd ExPreSsions...but it came pre-cut, not in a pad, so I don't know who it's from...it's AwESoMe though!!!!

I'm also linking up to Wee MeMorIeS again...since this time I did use a PaPer SmOoCheS HaLLoWeEn stamp :)

And also to the Simon SayS StaMps ChaLLenGe again to show them a little more HaLLoWeEniE goodness :)

One more...I'm linking up to the ABC DT ChaLLenGe ...which was make something with a PuMpKiN...

Thanks for looking!

Have a Spectacular Thursday!

jen

...HaLLoWeEn MonStRosiTy...

2011-10-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

here's my take on this week's SSSC...

here's the cute sketch...

...And here's my MonStEr-OuS card :)

I hand cut my monster out of felt and added a giant GoOgLy eye :)

He looks like the green cousin of a purple monster on the cute doodLe bug paper you can just see in the background on the card...

I'm also linking up to the SimOn SaYs StaMp ChaLLenGE which is HaLLoWeEn :) I'm thinking I might link up more than once to this one :)

and the wee MeMoRiEs ChaLLenGe...I have to do another card for this too...using paPer SmOocHes stamps!

Thanks for looking!

Have a HaPPy WedNeSdaY!

jen

...HaLLowEen DecOraTiOns...part 2...

2011-10-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

If I get my act together, there will probably even be a part 3 later in the week with my outside decorations :)

It takes a while to set up 25 fake pumpkins...and plugging them all in would probably make most firemen cringe...but I'm hoping to get my fire hazard set up this week :)

Meanwhile...here's my 5 minute front door wreath...nothing spectacular...but...

I just bought a black wreath at Michaels, added a bow and a big ol' crEePy spider...he was a little ToO crEePy for daycare approval so I added the gOogly eyes to cute-ify him.

I bought the BOO! at Target a few years ago and backed it with orange paper so that it stood out a little better. All done. I was going to make a black wreath with a foam form and tulle...but this guy was $3.99...at that price...why reinvent the wheel?!?

Sorry these next pictures are so rotten...This mirror has a view into a cute but busy photo collage on the far wall...it was really distracting when I tried to take the picture straight on, so I ended up laying on they ground to try to get a pic without that reflection...You get the idea though...you'll just have to believe me that it looks better in person :)

Here's my HaLLowEen MantLe...some metal bats from Michael's ( I LoVe their little hangers!!) just a few decorations and this year I put a phrase on the mirror instead of just one word...

Here's a close up of the mirror. Just cricut letters and shadows for the most part. I cuttlebug embossed the black letters for a little interest and I hand cut and glittered the ~or~ because I didn't have a cartridge that would do it the way I wanted. That one little 2 letter word took twice as long as all the rest of the letters!!

Here are my candlesticks that stay up year round and just get different add-ons...I used Pier One candles (the flavor that is on sale this month) and added a few paper strips and a drippy goo punch just to creep them up a bit...The AweSoMe purple EEK! is from the Target dollar bin last year.

This is my fun HaLloWeEn purchase for this year...a glitterfied WiTcH BoOt from Pier One (I kinda like that store...kinda a lot...) The swirls coming out of the top and purple added to the traditional color scheme are what sold this to me :)

Thanks for looking!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

jen

...HaLLoWeEn DeCorATioNs...part 1...

2011-10-08T15:28:00.000-07:00

My friend Cindy, does ~pretty...tasteful...grown-up~ VeRy well...

I appreciate that, because it's NOT a skill I have...I'm more a ~ cute...cutesy...juvenile...type person...

So...when she made this Halloween card...(I'm linking to her blog so you can go see her other FaB stuff too :)

I knew I had to have it for my HaLLoWeEn decorating :)

She mentioned she really liked a certain card of mine and I may have suggested that we swap...just so I could get what I wanted...I'm eViL that way :)

Her card was the inspiration for my entry table...

Here's an overview...

....and a little closer...I felt sooooo bad when I cut up her card to put it in the frame...but it looks AwESoMe in there!!!

I added a little bat specimen frame that I made in like 3 minutes with the MaRtha Stewart bat punch, some patterned paper and a few ScrabbLe tiles. The tiles are just leaned against the glass sitting right on the edge of the frame...it worked out great...I'll have to remember that!

Here's a close up of the cool WiTcH shoes I bought at Pier One last year. They are supposed to be votive holders, but I like them without the candles...

I was originally going to do a banner for over here, but ended up just glueing my medallions onto my table...I'm going to have a date with sandpaper and spray paint on November 1...but...it's totaLLy cute NOW and that's what matters right??? I mean EvErYoNe defaces furniture in the name of HoLidAy decorating, right? Right? ...Why do I think I hear crickets chirping out there???

And last, but not least is this AmaZinGLy AdoRabLe little Wee Forrest Folk witch...eeek...could you just die she is so cute...She is even MORe amazing in person...the detail is PhEnOmeNaL!! I was over at my Aunt's house...she collects them and she accidently bought 2 of this one...easy to see how you could do that since it is soooooooo CuTe!!! She generously sent WitCHy home with me...and I placed her in her own private cloche so that everyone would know she was special! :)

I'll get the mantle pics up next...I LoVe HaLLoWeEn!! How could you not love a holiday about candy, dressing up, and being a little naughty???

Thanks for looking and have a GreaT WeeKeNd!

jen

http://cindys-creations.blogspot.com/

...A PirAtE'S LiFe foR mE...

2011-10-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

...ok...not really...but it was a PiRaTe'S CaRd for me :)

For Today's card I combined ChaLLenGes again...but only 2 this time...a CoLor ChalLenGe and a SkEtCh ChaLLenGe...that seems logicaL...and ReasoNabLe!!

CoLor Throwdown ChaLLenGe...

and

The CarD PosITioNinG SyStem ChaLLenGe

Sketch for this week...

The CaT's PaJaMa'S is hosting the challenge at card positioning system challenge this week, so I thought it would be nice to use one of their stamp sets...

...soooo....enough intro...here's my card...

I stamped and distressed the 3 panels of paper behind the main image...they turned out super cute, but you can hardly see them :(

The PiRaTe boys are a total crack up!!

I'm also linking up to TruLy ScRumPtiouS ChaLLenGe BLoG...where the challenge this week was DiStrESsing...I inked the snot out of my paper...it looks pretty beat up, old, and distressed to me :)

On a completely different note...I made a little tea towel for Connor's teacher who likes cats. I thought I'd send in a little prize once a week for the month of OctoBeR...just because I think she works hard and deserves some TrEaTs!!

I used a Nancy Halvorsen Art to Heart pattern...I LoVe how his whiskers change coLoRs! :)

Here's the bag I put it in..It probably looks familiar since I just posted it a few days ago :) but I added that cute EmBeLLiSheD clothes pin that I thought was worth showing.

Thanks for looking!

Have a FaBuLouS FriDay!!

jen

...TaBiThA TreaT...

2011-10-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

I used the TaYloReD ExpReSsioNs Moka Tabitha stamp for the first time...she is soooooo cute!

I made a cute little treat holder for a friend who worked WaY beyond how much she expected to at my Sister-in-law's baby shower (still waiting for photos to share with you)...she baked and frosted two kinds of cupcakes, delivered them, blew up balloons, arranged desserts, set up signs, weighted things down with rocks, ran last minute errands, and then delivered those things too! Oh...and she kept me laughing instead of crying during the set-up! :) LoVe her!!

She's big into being GrEeN...recycles, always brings her own bag, heck...she even hangs her clothes out on a line...so I thought she would appreciate a gift in a recycled container...It's Crystal Light packaging :)

ThAnK-YoU Jo-Ellen...she never looks at my blog :) but...I think everyone should know I'm grateful!

I paper pieced TaBiTha's dress and hat and then colored her in. I used some AmAzing new paper I got from TE...I think it's DoodLeBug...

I'm linking this up to PinK eLepHanT ChaLLenGes...

their challenge this week was TriCk or TrEat...no TrIcKs here...only TreAtS! :)

Here's a closer view so you can see how stylish she looks in her polka dot LBD...although that's a bit of a fashion risk with the striped tights! :)

Here's my ribbon/twine bow and button combo which lets me link up to the RiBboN CaRouSeL ChaLLenGe...

Loooove that blog! How can you not if you have even a squidge of a ribbon fetish?!? and I may have a bit more than a squidge of a fetish! :)

And here's the top...I don't know that I'd actually add water to CaNdY CoRn...but it went with the whole witch thing...and if she ever puts Crystal Light back in there...it will ToTaLLy work!! I used a punch and some pinking shears on the very top...which means I can link up to the PapERtaKe WeEkLy ChaLLenge...

which was anything goes...with an add a punch option :)

Then, along the rim, I mod podged a strip of patterned paper that says ~too cute to spook~ repeatedly...

I'm linking up to the CiTy CraFter ChaLLenge again...since I have another 3-D project :)

For everything she did I'm throwing in a gift card too...but it's always nice to add a little something homemade when you really want to say ThaNk YoU...

Thanks for looking!!

Have a Be-Witching Thursday (sorry...that was BaD!!)

jen

...KeEpSaKe BoX...

2011-10-04T21:39:00.000-07:00

I made this box for a chaLLenge I saw asking you to use a TechNiQue you'd never done before...but now...I have NO idea where I was when I saw it :(

But...it did inspire this...

which I can link up to the AllSoRts ChaLLenge because it has a fLoWeR :)

I used UltRa ThiCk EmBoSsing EnaMel...is that right?...GoOd GoLLy...I shouldn't have been using it if I don't even know what it is!...UTEE ...ok...so...I am NOT a TeChniQue-Y gal....I am plain jane..NOT all ArTSy-faRtSy...

Things like this scare me...I tore pieces of old book print into tiny pieces, mod podged them onto cardstock...cover the whole thing with Versamark DaZZLe ( you can see in the top picture how it's a little sparkly) and then heat embossed the UTEE...and then did the inking and embossing part again....and again....and again...and then...because it still wasn't even (here is where that NOT being TecHniQue-Y thing was REALLY coming into play) I heat embossed it yet again...so there are like 5 coats on there...I thought FOR SURE it would do that cool crackle glass thing...ummmmm....no.

EpiC FaiL!!

But it's still kinda pretty and I did use my RoLLed fLowers die for the first time...and I like the chunky gLiTTer on the rose..it looks festive...I'm thinking that it'll be a good Christmas embeLlie :)

I'm also linking up to...

who's ChaLLenGe this week was something 3-D...got that! :)

and

who's ChaLLenge was ...AnYthIng GoeS... :) you gotta love those! and there is some really fun stuff on their blog! And HaPpy BirThDaY to them! They are 4 this week! :)

Thanks for looking!

Have a HaPpY HuMp day!!!

jen

...HoMe for the HoLidAys....

2011-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

...ok...I hope you're sitting down...because it's only Monday night and I have CoMpLetEd my MoJo MonDay ChaLLenGe card!!!!!

For some reason, this is a challenge that I always seem to be scrambling at the last minute for...kinda like the post from Sunday....that was not something to be proud of...it was embarrassing...

Here's is this week's FabULouS Sketch...

Any time there is a ribbon on an angle, it looks like a present to me :) so...I went with ChRisTMas...

it didn't hurt that all the fabby new paper I ordered from taYLorEd ExpResSions came today ;) woo-hoo...nothing more motivating than NeW PaPeR...

The CraZy for ChaLLenGes blog is working with

One of the greatest charities you can donate your cards to is Operation Write Home! The mission of OWH is "Supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. This merry band of thousands of card makers is made up of Americans - and citizens of other nations too - who care about our military, and want to support them through creativity and encouragement. Crafters of all ages and levels of experience have participated since 2007...and are on the way to a landmark one MILLION cards! Care packages filled with hundreds of handmade cards are sent to our contacts, restocking every 6-8 weeks, and are sent in time for the long journey back home to loved ones. Each box is packed with great care, alternating styles, colors, and card makers from all over the USA, creating 'eye candy' for heroes who see only khaki around them. The topper on each box is a plastic bag filled with 20-30 letters from adults and children across the country, letters handed out especially to those in need of a positive word from the homefront."

I just loved this idea...since I started blogging more and working on chaLLenGes, I have amassed quite a ~~hoard~~ collection of cards that I probably won't ever use...

What an AmaZing OptioN for them all my unused cards...Woo-Hoo! No more piles of cards sitting on my desktop getting all crumpled and cHeWed by the cat :)

Now I have an excuse to make even MoRe... I'm just doing my CiVic DuTy by crafTinG...who knew card making could be PaTRioTiC?!? and...if you click on the challenge link, it let's you know how to get hooked up sending your cards overseas...

ok...enough babbling...but I chose the paper and stamp while thinking of...letters home :)

One last link up for this card is the PaPeR SunDaeS ChaLLenge this week...which was LoTs of LaYerS...this card definitely has that one covered...just each of the pennents on the mini banner is 4 layers...plus another 15 under that...not counting the paper piecing on the house circle...I'd say that's pretty thorough.

Here's a close-up of the little house so you can see how cute the multi colored shingles are :)

Also please note...the WoRLd's SmaLLeSt BoW!!!!! (insert angels singing here)

Seriously...it's made from unraveling baker's twine (which is 4-ply) and using one strand...honestly...that siLLy bow could be the thing that took the longest on this card!!

...and the matching envie...so that whoever gets this card mailed back to them...knows it's HaPpY mail inside!!

Thanks for Looking!

Have a TeRriFiC TuesDaY!

jen

...HauNtEd HoUsE....

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I woke up early Sunday morning...but didn't really want to get up yet...so...I peeked at the SwEEt SunDaY SkeTcH ChaLLenGe...and laid in bed thinking about what I wanted to do :)

The big circle made me think moon...so then I jumped to HaLLowEen...then to the new FaNgTasTic Taylored ExpResSionS set I just got...after that...it was all gravy!!

I know the point of this sketch is to make you create a card that is legal envelope sized...but mine turned out a bit more petite...I based the sized of everything on the AweSoMe HauNTeD hOUsE stamp...

Here's my card...I used the star border die from TE and cut it out 4 times so I would have 3 different colored stars to fill in :)

The paper piecing was just a squidge time consuming...there are almost 20 pieces :) but I LOVE how it turned out...I LOVE to paper piece..I do it on almost everything...did you notice the shadows of the creatures in the windows...aaaaand...

WeE MeMoRieS ChaLLenGe which was to use your fav technique

since paper piecing is definitely my fav...I linked up there too :)

...and of course there's a matching envelope!

Thanks for looking!

Have a MarVelOuS MonDaY!

jen

...4 BirDs WitH one CaRd?...

2011-10-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just try to squeeze too much in...
...thanksgiving dinner...
...a Mythbusters marathon...
...this card...

I started knowing I was going to use the Mojo Monday sketch...and honestly, I should have just stuck with that because round cards are near impossible for me anyway...but noooooo....

then I thought I would throw in this week's Color ThRoWdoWn....

aaaaaand....the CuTe Card ThurSday...theme is Animal Crackers...use an animal on your card...

aaaaaaaaaand since I was already doing an animal, I might as well make it a cute little teddy bear and take care of the CuPcaKe cRaFt ChaLLenge too...

whew...that is an awful lot to ask of one little card...

I also made it a birthday card...so I'm sure if I looked around the blogo-sphere for 20 minutes, I could find yet another challenge it would fit...YiKeS!!

Then, after struggling and producing my card...I realized my husband had the camera at the Air Show with the boy...so there's no flippin way to post photos...

can I just say...GrrRRrrrrrRRRRRrrRr?!?

And perhaps this is a lesson on waiting until the last minute and procrastination and being a more organized crafter...

BwaHaahAhaHahahahahahhaaahaha...riiiight!

The only lesson I learned is that I really need another camera! ...and hubby has the same idea, because when I texted him to find out where he was and when he would be home...his response was...~the iPad2 has a camera~ ReaLLy??? ReaLLY?? NOT what I was looking for!!! But, I guess you just gotta love a mac junkie! :)

I'll add the pictures before I post...but I blogged while photo less...and grumpy...

here's the pictures now :)

I love that TE bear! He is soooo SweEt!

Here's a close up of him with his stripy belly!

...and since I had to wait for over 100 Air Show pictures to download...I thought I'd share Connor's favorite... boys only...big gun...all you can eat hamburgers...could be the best day of his life...hey....obvs...no bullets in gun...it was just to show people how heavy they are...

thanks for looking...and letting me vent a little...
oooh...I should go play with that new Paper SmOocHes hot concoctions set....vent...venti...you were following me right???

Have a GreAt WeEk!
jen

...a SpOokY oooooOOops...

2011-09-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

okay...let's get the oops part out of the way first...

NOT that a Taylored Expressions Sketch ChaLLenGe is really ever an oOps...but I made it thinking I had time...yeah, well.... the ChaLLenge might have been over a week ago...I know...fine print and I are NOT really tight! :)

I do still have another day for this awesome color ChaLLenge over at Dancing in PaJaMas though! I double checked to make sure!! I LoVe these colors...I NEVER do grey unless prompted...but this combo ScReAmeD HaLLowEen to me :) ...of course...right now...just about everything ScReaMs HaLLoweEn :)

I'm not sure how close a match my green and purple are to what they were loOking for, but hopefully the rainbow police aren't out there removing cards that aren't perfect! :)

Here's my card...I used the new TE a la carte SpOokY stamp...since I thought I was doing a TE chaLLenge...I colored the letters with copics and used stickles on my ghost to help him shine! :) I also paper pieced another ghost on top of him to make him look like he was really popping out of that "O". I also ran my vellum background circle through a cuttlebug spiderweb folder...I LoVe how it turned out...not perfect but the web is reaLLy visible!

You can see the PoP better in this picture. Oh...and how I hand stitched in green around the edge of my webby circle...

...and here is the matching envie.

I am sorry I didn't get this done in time, but I'm definitely glad I didn't notice earlier and make something different instead...I like how this card turned out!...very HaLLoweEniE with a male edge...no bows...no ribbon...this is about as masculine as it gets for me! :)

Thanks for Looking!

Have a WoNdeRfuL weekend!

jen

...CleAn and SiMpLe...

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

So anyone that knows me...or has scrolled through the old blog-o for even a few minutes knows that

is sooooooooo NoT me!!

But I love the look of it!

On a CAS card, everything is absolutely perfect and necessary...there is no room for error...I have enormous respect for people that can do it...but it's like ViNtAGe...it's just something I like to look at but can't do...

So when I saw this week's chaLLenGe...I was UbER-SurPRiseD when something popped instantly into my head! :)

I raced upstairs to pull out my Martha Stewart bat punch...and in the first punch drawer sat this little GhoStiE punch....dusty, unloved, and sad...I never found the bat punch...to be honest, after I saw the GhoStiE, I quit looking.

Wham...Bam...Thank you GhosTiE...here it is...

Cardstock, embossing folder, strip of patterned paper, GhoStiE punches, a PTI sentiment...and the obligatory baker's twine and buttons...seriously...have I made anything without that look in wEeKs?!?!?!

Here's a close-up of GhoStiE...just because I think he needs a little LoVe! :)

...and my cLeAn and SimPLe envie...

truly...if inspiration hits, CAS is the way to go...I was done with everything...including the folder embossing and heat embossing the sentiment in 15 minutes...I swear that is some kind of record for me!!

ThE AllsOrts chaLLenge this week was also CleAn ANd SimpLe...so I'm linking up over there too :)

Speaking of CleaN and SimPLe...I saw one of the leftover paper lanterns from the baby shower sitting in the garage this morning and was suddenly struck by the fact that it would make an AwEsOmE JaCk SKeLLingToN...so a Sharpie marker and 15 minutes later...

All hail the internet! I googled pics of his face and just free handed one...it's so simple...anyone could do it...so here's my 80 cent HaLLoweEn decoration! :)

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmAZinG FriDaY!!

jen

...BoxY PumPKin...

2011-09-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

This week's JUgS ChaLLenGe was...

and the ChaLLenge was to use FaLL coLors at

Originally, I was thinking I wanted to turn a box into a FraNkeNsTeiN...I could totally see it in my head...but I didn't have a box that I thought would work.

What I did have was...

It's a fun shape...It opens nicely...it's a good size...PeRFecT!! :)

Here's my finished box...I used one sheet of paper I've had sitting around for a long time to cover it...on the sides, I cut the strip in half BEFORE I put it on the box, so that I didn't make an unfortunate mess trying to use an exacto knife to make my little box open...let's not talk about how I figured that one out or why I used all caps on the word BeFore... :)

I used a Stamps for Life set and paper pieced and embossed the pumpkin shape...polka dot and argyle...LoVe how that turned out!!

I used my new EK SuCcEsS garland punch for the swirls and leaf...

Ribbon, twine, button, tag...done. The whole thing only took about an hour...which is really fast for me :)

I am still LoViNg bLuE added to traditionaL faLL colors...not sure what's up with that...but it seems perfect to me....

Here's the inside...I can't decide if it should hold candy or a gift card...but it's going in to Connor's teacher...she's crafty...so I know she'll like it :)

Thanks for looking

Have a SpEcTaCuLar Thursday!

jen

...HeLLo DeeR...

2011-09-28T06:30:00.000-07:00

GoOd MorNiNg...

I made a cute little ChrIsTmaS card combining a few ChaLLengeS for today...
I used the September Sketch for You To Try
...since the month is almost over, I figured I'd better get on this before the October sketch is out! :)

Here's the sketch...which I LOVED!!! All I could see was toooooooooons of different, fun, patterned papers when I looked at it! :)

...and here's my PeNnY bLaCk ChriStMas take on it...this stamp is sooooooooo cute!!! Look at that face! ack!

but all that patterned paper is where the second chaLLenge comes in...

Wee Memories chaLLenge

this week was to use patterned paper...ummmm....pretty sure I've got that covered here!!!

The third ChaLLenge was from

icopic

...and here's a better shot of this week's little ReD! :) You can kinda see the tinsel glitter I added on the bottom of her dress here too...It's fun and sparkly IRL.

This stamp has been sitting for WeEks...waiting patiently to get all inky...this was the first time she got dirty...but I'll DeFinIteLy be using her again!!

***RaNdoM TiP***

I wanted to add a red jingle bell in the center of my button...but the only one I had was GiNorMouS!...so I dug around and found some cute little bitty guys...but they were gold...ummm...yuck with this card...sooooo....

here's my tip for the day...but only try it if you're wearing gloves or don't mind technicolor fingertips...

Just color your metal bells with a copic in the color that you want :) Mine were pretty small, so I threaded the top through a large headed quilting pin to make it easier to hold while I colored...then I pulled it off and colored the top...my fingers looked all gruesome and bloody afterwards...but my JinGLe BeLLs were LipSticK ReD! PerFecT!!

See??? It was totally worth looking like I'd had an unfortunate run in with the garbage disposal for a few hours! :) Those red guys are just right!

...and here's the envelope.

Have a WonDeRfuL HumP DaY!!

jen

...CrEEpY CraWLy HaLLowEen...

2011-09-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

I decorated a kraft bag last night to hold Halloween goodies...I'm envisioning Spider cookies filling this little guy :)

I used my new W plus 9 Halloween Pocketful Stamp set...soooooo cute! The spider webs on the bag are from the Paper Smooches Halloweenie set and a ridiculously old stamp from Close to my Heart...so old...it was D.O.T.S. when I bought it...not sure how it's survived in my stash so long...but I was glad it was there last night :)

This color combo is a little unusual for me...anything with OrAnGe is out of my comfort zone...but orange, kraft, black, and TuRQuoiSe?!?!

What was I thinking??? I like it though :) I guess sometimes it pays to stretch just a little...I actually really LoVe the orange and Aqua...who knew?!?

I'm linking up to these great challenges today

Sentimental Sundays...step out of your comfort zone...I ToTaLLy did with this color scheme!!

Crazy for Challenges...HaLLowEen

Paper Sundaes...Any ThinG goEs...

Thanks for looking and

Have a TeRriFic TueSdAy!!

jen

...PeNny bLaCk CupCaKe...

2011-09-26T13:50:00.000-07:00

I combined two ChaLLenges today...both of them are due in just a few hours :)
nothing like a squidge of procrastination...

I used this sketch...

SkIppIng StOnes DesIgns ChaLLenge

...and these colors...

color throwdown #160

And this is what I made...

I loooooove this Penny Black stamp...and I had a pack of Bo Bunny paper that was just perfect! :)

...and the envie.

Thanks for Looking!

Have an AmAzInG MonDaY!

jen

...SePtEmBeR PapeRtReY bLog hOp...tAKe 2....

2011-09-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

September 2011 Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the September Papertrey Blog Hop! We are so thrilled to see you here! First, the challenge...

Same Challenge...and I used the same striped paper I made the first time...I even used polka dot basics again...obviously, I didn't clean off my desk in between creations :)

I added some baker's twine this time...and the sentiment is from a Tag-it's set that was just PeRfecT! The sun is made out of the Limitless layers dies and I embossed it with an ArGyLe folder...can't go wrong with a sun that's just a little preppy can you?!? :)

Here's a better shot of my inspiration stripes and the baker's twine...

...and the envie...

Thanks for looking...hope you are having a great Sunday and enjoying all the AmAZinG BloG HoP creations!!

jen

...SePtEmBeR PapeRtReY bLog hOp...

2011-09-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

September 2011 Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the September Papertrey Blog Hop! We are so thrilled to see you here! First, the challenge...

Here is my version of this month's challenge...

I made a patterned paper for the background with strips of Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Hawaiian Shores, and Smokey Shadow. Those looked like the closest PTI colors to me. :)

I used the Daydreamer set and Polka Dot basics. I LoVe the Daydreamer set stamped in black! Love! A few die cuts and a polka dot embossing folder and I was all done.

Here's a close up of my striped paper...I have a big piece left...I think I may have to go try again! :)

Thanks for looking and have a wonderful Sunday!

jen

...TE sEpteMbeR BlaSt frOm the PasT...

2011-09-21T08:00:00.001-07:00

This month's theme was BirThDay or BirtH ~ Day...like the day a baby is born :)

The sketch was...as usual..awesome! Sankari's sketches always are! This one had a LOT of elements on it...I was a little intimidated...

Here's my take on it...a ReaLLy bright and cheery baby prize...

I used this sweet Cuppie Baby Cakes set...and paper pieced everything :) I'm not sure what possessed me to want to use the American Crafts MarGaRiTa paper...mmmm....MargAriTas and babies don't usually go together...well...I guess too many MaRgaRiTas might impair your judgement and....noooo...we won't go there :)

Any way...

here's a close up of my Cuppie in her AdOrabLe polka dot carriage...love...

I knew that I wanted to make a package...the angled strips on the top and bottom of the sketch just ScReAmEd present packaging to me...so I decorated a clear card box. Then I needed something baby-ish to put inside...but it was nap time and I wasn't going any where :) I pulled out a new cloth diaper and added a little something...

I just cut a heart out of felt and used my pinking shears to make a shadow in the Hawaiian Shores felt...then hand stitched it on...rustic is cute right?!? And then...Ta-dA!...A burp cloth...cute enough to leave the house, not so labor intensive that you don't want to let your little sweetie spit up on it!

Then I folded it up and it fit perfectly in my card box..woo-hoo! I love it when things work out!

I think this is just right for a neighbor or co-worker gift...just a thoughtful little something that only cost a buck or two...plus it's totally practical...so even if they don't like it, they can let their baby cheese up on it and it won't even hurt your feelings! :) It'll just be doing it's job!

I also made a BiRthDay VersIOn of the sketch...but it's NOT my favorite...

it was one of those...cute in your head...and then...well...not so much...not ~hide it under that really tall pile on the desk~ ugly...but just not quite right...

I did like the embossing on the front panel behind the cake though...

I like the bright on the black...maybe it needed to be an OvEr the HiLL card :)

Here's the links for the rest of the BlAsT from the PaSt hoPPers...EnJoY all of their AmaZinG CReaTioNs!! and thanks for LoOkinG!! :)

jen

...5 MinuTe QuiCkIe...

2011-09-20T06:51:00.000-07:00

My neighbor's birthday is today...and while the booze inside is a perfectly acceptable present :) the glitter zebra bag...spectacular though it was, needed a little something...

But it was only going to get 5 minutes worth of something since I had a meeting to be at in 15 minutes...

All hail the Cricut!!...I cut out a "K" and it's shadow...hot glued them on...added a ribbon wrapped candle...and it looks like I'm thoughtful... :)

Here's a close-up...SuPeR easy and fast...but quite a bit of bang for your buck...besides...how can you go wrong with black glittered zebra print and hot pink?!?! (That's actually funny coming from someone who's house is all shades of tan and only wears jeans and black or white t-shirts!) :)

And here's a picture of why I didn't have time earlier in the day to fuss with the bag....

Chocolate coated oreos on a stick in the middle of their production for the BaBy ShoWeR...I spent 6 hours Sunday setting up for that...another couple and the set-up should be done...but the food prep is just beginning...I sure hope I remember to take my camera on Saturday!

Have a TeRriFiC Tuesday!

Thanks for looking

jen

...BaBy ShoWeR FavoR...take 2

2011-09-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Take 1 was so bad I didn't even post it....this one isn't completely right either...the tag is off...

hopefully I'll figure it out today and have 40 completed and corrected ones posted tomorrow! :)

I love this clear purse from Taylored Expressions as a base...

...and the decoration on the bag is fine...it's just that tag that needs help! :)

More baby shower stuff on it's way...sorry for the lack of anything else...the shower stuff is sucking the creative life out of me :)

Have a great weekend!

jen

...ShoweR WreAtH...

2011-09-14T07:19:00.000-07:00

another quickie...

here's a wreath I made to put on the front door on the day of the BaBy ShoWeR...

Really simple...I just wrapped ribbon around a green wreath form and glued some twine across the back. Then I cut pennant pieces and used stickers to put ~baby~ on. I cricuted out some butterflies from the Paisley cartridge, hot glued them on and added white ribbon to hang it from...easy peasy but FesTiVe! :)

...ShoWeR FLoweR...

2011-09-13T06:36:00.000-07:00

Super quick...the BaBy ShoWeR preparation has begun...

I used tin buckets from the $1 bin at Target, filled with florist foam and a silk hydrangea. The theme for the baby shower is BuTTeRfLies and PoLka DoTs, so I added a few punched and paper pieced butterflies onto wire and poked them into the foam as well...I'm pretty sure I saw this done by Martha Stewart some where...so...thanks MaRtHa! :)

I only have to make 4 more of these....different colors and butterflies though...4 the same would be BoRinG!!!

I'm sure there will be another BabY ShoWeR post tomorrow...since that's all I'm crafting right now :) ...a little sad because I have the CuTeSt new Penny Black Christmas stamps..and they are sooooooo calling for ink! :)

Have a TeRriFic TueSdaY!

Thanks for looking,

jen

...SwEet SunDaY SkEtcH...

2011-09-10T20:25:00.000-07:00

well...I used the sketch...but I was too late to link it :(

Between the big BlAcKoUt, picking up 71 cases of Cub Scout popcorn (all of which had to be sorted and stored in my garage), football, baseball, First Lego League, planning a Den meeting...oh...and working full time...my butt just got kicked this week and I lost all track of time...

Enough excuses!! Here was the sketch...CuTe!!

I LoVe everything about it!!

soooOoo...even though I didn't get linked up, I have another HaLLowEen card all ready to go! :)

I've been on a felt mOnStER kick lately...this guy didn't turn out exactly how I planned him...but he's still kinda funny...in a Mike Wazowski kind of way! :)

He definitely looks like he could have been in the Disney MonSTeR's InC. movie! Except for those teeth...I'm thinking they are decidedly NOT warm and fuzzy!! I also think he'd have some problems in real life scratching his ear or blowing his nose...Great BIG hEaD...itty bitty arms!!!! :)

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend! We have a Den meeting and a baseball game tomorrow...our first game as in Minors...which means pitching and base stealing...should be exciting! :) I'm hoping to squeeze in a little craft time...I HAVE to start working on all my SIL's baby shower goodies...

Thanks for Looking!!

jen

...PoP the ToP...

2011-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a cute packaging idea...I made it for the BiRthdAY SunDaes ChaLLenge blog...

I hope it's ok that it's not a card ; )

I opened a pop top can from the bottom using a Pampered Chef safety can opener...filled it and glued the bottom back on. Then I decorated the can and tied a balloon on top...it was really hard to take a picture of ;(

I wrote ~PoP the ToP~ on the balloon...it was very festive!

Here's a close up of the can. I used papertrey stamps and October Afternoon papers...

I opted not to decorate the top so it was easy to see just how you were supposed to open the packaging. I filled it with a gift card and some candy.

I love to give gifts this way...it always messes with people's heads...they just can't figure out how you got their prize into a sealed can :)

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmAzInG Saturday!

jen

...eLfiE...

2011-09-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make a card using this Skipping Stones Design Sketchy Tuesday Sketch #92...

I really wanted to use the SuPeR cute Imaginesce Christmas paper...and I wanted to make a paper pieced eLfiE...

Here it is...

I LoVe this whole line of paper!!! SooOOoo CUTE!!

...and here's a close-up of my little eLfiE...look at his pom pom! :)

...and the envie! :)

Thanks for looking!

Have a GrEaT weekend!!

jen

...JuGs ChaLLenGe 100...

2011-09-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

Here was the JugS 100 Challenge...a SkEtCh...

AwEsoMe right???

I looked at it and thought...It'll take me 40 minutes tops...all I need to do is figure out WhAT is going in that oval....hmmmm....ok...Wow...all those shades of blue sure look pretty....maybe halloween? I never use blue...how about the CozY Cottages set I just got?...those blues are really gorgeous...a paper smoOches set? Good golly...I should use BlueS!! ...what images go with blue? Ohhh...how about the reindeer in this Taylored Expressions set sitting right here on my desk??? In case you were wondering what my thought process was here...LOL! :)

And honestly, 30 minutes later...it was all done except choosing the background paper and ribbon...which took another 30 minutes and made a ridiculously LaRGe mess!!!!! Think a 20 men, 3 days to clean up mess...backhoe required mess....holy shedoobie I have A LOT of paper mess!!!

ok...enough babbling...here it is

I rarely do pretty...and when I do, it's almost ALwaYS a struggle. This just came together really easy! Except the background paper...I must have tried 30 different papers before I decided to give up and make my own...so I heat embossed white snowflakes onto enchanted evening blue cardstock...should be good right???

To quote my son...EpiC FaiL!!

All you saw was the stinkin' snowflakes...no reindeer! I pulled out ANOTHER paper pad...one that I thought didn't have a prayer and saw this ledger paper...not a very Christmas-Y choice...but It was the winner!!

I do truly LOVE this set! I hope you like it too, because I'm sure I'll be using it a ton this holiday season!

Thanks for looking!

Have an AmAZinG Thursday!

jen

...the FinAL...WhooOo's that MoNsTeR?......

2011-09-07T06:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it's time for the final installment of...WhooOOoo's that MoNSteR??.....

Here's your clue...

I could have gone with "FaNg-TastIc...but that seems to be everywhere right now...and I thought this one would be good for Connor's teacher :) ...coming from a little monster and all...ooohhhhh...I guess maybe the little devil would be more appropriate...hmmmmm..... :)

So...did you guess a VampiRe???

Of course you did...only highly intelligent people look at crafty blogs!

The real question is...were you expecting...

...a BluE YODA vampire?!!?! That's what I see when I look at this little guy! :)

He has blue (undead) chalked cheeks and stitched fangs...oooOOOhhhh....crEePy...or not! :)

That wraps up our Halloween Jar collection...I have a few more ideas...Who's your Mummy?...I've got my EyE on you...and others that are equally punny...but I'm out of jars :)

On to a non-SpooOOooky subject...it's Connor's teacher's BirThDaY today! Woo-Hoo! ...and she's CrAftY!! You know how nice it is to make crafty things for crafty people...it's just sooooo nice when people realize all the work that went into their gift...

That being said...this was SuPeR easy!!! :)

I took a metal paint can and covered it to look like his teacher...a kinda flat, odd-shape headed teacher...but...recognizable as a person...I'm pretty sure she's recognizable as a person...

Here she is up close...of course his real teacher doesn't have beady, off-set eyes...that's just a little artistic license! LOL! Plus, I only know how to make beady-eyed characters!

So, here is an aerial view where you can see her party hat and how she fits together. Inside the can are an Amazon gift card and a Birthday Party in a can...just add hot air ( at least that's what the top of the can says) I put in some candles and balloons (the add hot air part) and a ding dong...since NO party is complete without cake!!

It came together really quickly and I will totally do this again! The only tricky part is the hair. I'm not 100% happy with it, but my brain doesn't really think 3 dimensionally when it comes to beady-eyed people...I'm used to just drawing them...or cutting them out of paper and laying them flat...the round can was a little bit tricksy...

Thanks for lOoking!

Happy Hump Day!!

jen

...GueSs WhOoo...TaKe tWooOoo....

2011-09-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ok...do you have your thinking hats on?

You're going to have to be ReD Hot to get this one.

Here's your PuNnY clue....

My son looked at this and asked me if I was going to fill it with Hot Tamales...I kissed him and told him he was brilliant. :)

Do you know who it is?

If you think it's a DeViL...you are correcct!! Woo-Hoo!!! You are SooooOooo good at this game! :)

...and here he is. He was made the same way as all this creepy counterparts...hand cut felt, hand stitching, and chalked cheeks. His evil eyebrows crack me up...truth be told, so does his little goatee :)~ kinda reminds me of my husband!

I'm not sure if you can tell in the picture, but that's FLamE paper on the jar behind him. I searched the cubbyhole for 30 minutes looking for it...and then...when I couldn't find it and was about to give up...I looked back in the first place and there it was. GrRrRRrr....I hate that!! It makes me wonder if I temporarily became male or something...quite frustrating...and messy! I swear the cubbyhole would get condemned if an inspector came by right now!! YiKeS!!!!!!

Any way...I've got another monster for you tomorrow...I think he's my favorite...

Thanks for lOoking and have a terrific Tuesday!!

jen

...WhO's the MonSteR of the DaY...

2011-09-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

...can you guess from the punny lid?

She's cute enough that more than just her Mummy :) will love her...

Did you guess a Ghostie??? yup...I knew you would...Your momma didn't raise a dumb bunny! :)

She...gosh..maybe it's he...I'm thinking once you're a ghost it really doesn't matter :) was hand cut from felt, I stitched on the face, and chalked the cheeks.

Here's his close-up...not too spooky! :)

Thanks for lOoking!

Happy Monday

jen

...ChRisTMas SurPriSe...

2011-09-04T08:06:00.000-07:00

So...every once in a while there comes a time in a crafter's life, where you just can't stand it any more and you have to break down and just do it...
My time was yesterday. After completing 8 projects without the tiniest bit of tidying up...my cubbyhole was a disaster!

I began ~~shoveling~~, straightening up, and found this amongst the rubble...

I made it for a PTI blog hop eons ago...but it's still pretty cute! :) I'd be willing to venture a guess that you could shatter teeth with those marshmallows though!!...Yikes!!

I used a clear card box, some tiny tubes, and a few candy sleeve holder thing-a-ma-bobs (yup...again, that IS the technical term...please try to keep up :) ) that I NeEDeD and had the most grandiose plans for and are still languishing in a drawer somewhere....Sometimes my short attention span scares me...

Here's the tag...

Since this was for a PTI blog hop, everything on it is PTI...the stamps, paper, buttons, I'm pretty sure even those tubes and card box are PTI. I think the card box is recycled from a stamp set...so this is a GrEeN project as well as a red and green project...ooohhh...that was just bad...sorry! :(

You can see the ~~white rocks~~ marshmallows in their little sleeve thing-a-ma-bobs a little better here...I don't remember much about making this project, but I do recall there being cussing and sweating by the time I was done stuffing those little mallows into that bag...could be why this project never got mass produced for the neighbors...

And here's a close-up of the mug...

This guy is paper pieced from PTI paper. He is from the Warm Happiness set...what an AmaZingly cute name for a stamp set! Just love it! :) I like the way the paper piecing makes this look...kind of like a mug you might find in your cupboard.

Okay, I'm back off to finish ~~mucking out~~ straightening up the cubbyhole. I'd like to spend the rest of the day working on crafty submission stuff. My dream is to get something published in a magazine...but oddly enough, you actually have to submit stuff...months in advance to have that happen...this is the first time I'm really trying that...wish me luck!!

I have a few more Halloween Treat Jars...like my friend Frankie, scheduled for the next few day's posts while I work on the (hopefully) magazine goodies...so make sure you check them out....there is an entire cavalcade of monsters headed to the blog-o-sphere! :) None of them would scare even your squeamish 90 year old grannie...so don't worry about nightmares! :)

Thanks for looking!!

jen

...FrAnKLy...

2011-09-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

...this just slays me!!!

I know it's obnoxious to toot your own horn...really, my mom didn't raise me like that...it's tacky...but sometimes just because you know something is bad, it doesn't stop you from doing it (think chocolate cheesecake, Papertrey release night orders, and swearing at the idiot that cut you off)...

So...this is one of those projects that was a thought in my head, and 40 minutes later was a completed item...and I truly believe it is (here's that tacky part)

the CuTeSt ThINg EVER!!!!!!!

ok...for true...is he not the sweetest monster you have ever seen??

I was trying to come up with something for the Moxie Fab Felt Challenge and he popped into my head...eek!

...and because I know you want to see him close-up...

I pulled out some PTI felt, hand cut his face, ears, and hair and then got out a needle and some black pearl cotton...I stitched his mouth and scar then used chalk and a little sponge dauber to do his cheeks, and hot glued him together...

Now, he's cute right? But honestly, was he worth using a colored text and the biggest font I have???

Well.....wait....here's the top of the jar....

Bwahahahahahahaha.....

ooohh...sorry, I was laughing a little too loud there...

Anyway, the sentiment on top was what had me thinking I was brilliant....well, brilliant may be a stretch...but pretty darn clever! :)

Thanks for putting up with the tackiness that was all throughout this horn-tooting post...I do hope you liked Frankie, even if the mad ~~scientist~~ scrapper who created him needs a manners lesson.

Thanks for lOoking!

Have a TeRRifiC 3 day weekend!

jen

...GoiNg BaTtY...

2011-09-02T06:30:00.000-07:00

I decided to try the SC348 Splitcoaststampers sketch today...

It's kind of funny how the more wonky paneled cards I do...the easier they get.

This was completed in 40 minutes...that's SuPer fast for me!!!

Here's the sketch ...

...and here's my version...

I went HaLLoWeEn-Y again...and 3D...

I used the cute Halloween MME pad and some Aqua mist cardstock again because I liked how it looked here ... but this time instead of making a card, I put the panel on the front of a clear A2 card box...it's holding an ENTIRE bag of M&M's...but they aren't halloween M&M's...so someone is going to have to empty it out, eat the offensive non-holiday candies, and replace them with theme approved candy...Seriously...my work is NEvEr done!!! :)

I used the PTI halloween sweets and treats set again...since it was still on my desk from last night...and the bat stamp in the background is from the Paper SmOocHes Halloweenie set.

I embossed the orange paper in the back with a cool spiderweb folder, but you can't really see it...

Here's a view from the top...

I know...please try not to be offended by the boring, everyday M&Ms that are defiling my HaLloWeEn box...I'll get right on fixing that...as a matter of fact, I started trying to remedy the problem just as soon as I had snapped the picture :)

You can see here how the bat's wings are not adhered so they stick out like she's flying...not quite sure what's up with the female Halloween critters...just in a tiny bow tying frenzy I guess...oooohhh...I totally should have given her eyelashes too!!! I'll do that when I fill her with the correct goodies!

I think it might need a handle of some type too...maybe eyelets in the sides and a ribbon? That way it wouldn't impede the speedy intake of chocolatey goodness :)

Thanks for lOoking!

Have a super Friday!!

jen

...SwEeT spiDeR...

2011-09-01T06:55:00.000-07:00

I played with the Tuesday Morning Challenge Sketch last night.

I ReaLLy loved this sketch! It is so perfect for a great focal point and fun little accents. I will definitely be saving this one to use again!! Thank you Melissa for the awesome sketch!

I decided to use my new PTI toys and some old PTI stamps and go all HaLLoWeEn-Y !

Here she is!

The spider just cracks me up!!! She is made with the new PTI halloween treats and sweets set and a circle punch. I used PTI's BoO to you and the Spiderweb image from the new paper smooches set. I heat embossed the spider webs and little spider (from PS) then punched them out and layered them to be my circle accents on the bottom of the card...I was VeRy literal with this sketch :)

The pom pom trim with the sparkly sticky-outies (yes, that's the technical name for it LoL!!) reminds me of little baby spiders...which while in real life would worry me...on a card squeals ~CuTeNeSs~

The chalked cheeks, googly eyes, and her eyelashed were the final touches.

Have a TerRiFiC Thursday!

Thanks for LOoking!

jen

...ReiNdEeR CutE CarD ThursDay...

2011-08-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

ok...I'm new to the whole challenge thing...I assumed that a challenge named Cute Card Thursday would have cards due on Thursday...not true...due Wednesday by noon...NEW SkEtCh is on Thursday...Yikes...I'll figure this all out some day!!!

so...again...squeaking in...I hope! :)

here's the sketch...by DT member Lynn....

SupeR cute right???

Here's mine.

I used some amazingly sweet Imaginesce paper and created my own paper pieced reindeer based on the cute little guy on the paper...then I ended up not using the paper with him on it :(

...I'm sure that paper will show up soon!

A little PTI ribbon and a Christmas tree epoxy charm from Making Memories...a couple years ago I think...plus a few pink brads for his cheeks and we're all set.

Thanks for lOoking! :)

jen

...MoJo MonDaY...on WednesDaY...

2011-08-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

This is my first time playing along with a MoJo MonDaY SkeTcH...

I'll be honest...this was another sketch that kind of scared me...just because there were A LOT of layers going on in ways I'm definitely not used to working with. Just like the last time a sketch scared me...it all turned out good in the end...proving that the aMaZiNg people out there coming up with sketches are BriLLiAnT!!...ThaNk yOu...tHanK YoU...ThAnK yOU!! :)

I decided I wanted to use an adorable PeNnY BlAcK baker image. So I colored her and then went looking for paper...I had some paper in mind when I started coloring but wasn't smart enough to get it out and match copics to the paper...oops...not so much!

And THAT is why it's ever so ImPoRTanT to purchase LoTS, ToNS, OOdLes, even ScADs of patterned paper...so that when you're at home, making a card...even if you aren't smart enough to choose paper BEFORE you start coloring...it's still ALL GoOD!!!

I just kept auditioning paper until I saw something that I liked...luckily...there is plenty of paper just waiting for the chance to audition in my craft cubbyhole! :)

Here she is...I wasn't tooooo literal with the sketch, but you can totally still see it in there.

I used October Afternoon paper...that black/chalkboard-y looking one jumped out at me during the "audition" :) .

It looks like a little bakery scene to me...with an advertising chalkboard on the wall in the back and the little chef mixing her heart out up front...

I used some PTI raspberry fizz ribbon and cardstock and for the circle element on the sketch I pulled out a painted metal concho from a bazillion years ago! Talk about a moldy-oldie!!! But it worked perfectly to frame my little cupcake artwork. I wish I'd had bigger heart bling...but you can't have everything.

Thanks for looking and Happy huMp Day! :)

jen

...August SfYtT...

2011-08-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here's the sketch for this month...

ok...nothing like waiting until the last minute... :) ...I'm thinking I didn't do this before now because I have a definite aversion (that is soooooo putting it mildly) to anything tilted or slanted on my cards...so that wacky main panel kinda scared me off.

I just decided to do it anyway and if it made me crazy(er) then I could always just turn the dang thing straight up and down...it's not like the sketch police were going to come and take away all my toys if I rotated something!! :)

Turns out...I kinda like it...not enough to do it again without serious prompting...but it turns out sweet with just that little tilt...I guess someone who's come up with over 100 sketches knows what they are doing!! :)

Here's a closer shot of the center panel...I used rhinestones in the centers of some of the snowflakes and glued a border of chunky glitter around the green panel behind the tree layer...

...and here's the envelope.

Thanks for looking!
jen

...TrAvEL...for men...

2011-08-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

The Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge was to show some TrAveL...and the Crazy 4 Challenges blog was looking for MaSCuLinE cards...I think this card incorporates both :)

Travel made me think of the awesome new Graphics 45 paper I bought during the shop hop a few weeks ago...and it doesn't hurt that it has racecars and golfers and cruise ships on it...nothing like a little MaNLy TraVeL...

The AmaZiNg paper made this card go together super fast...I even used some goodies in my stash that hadn't seen the light of day in years!!! The fabric covered button and metal hang tag have been neatly put away for eons...I'm glad they are finally seeing some action! :) It's the first time out of the case for that PTI ~JusT the TiCKeT~ stamp set as well...yeah!!!

What FuN ChaLLeNGeS!!

Thanks for Looking!!

...HaPpY JaCk!...

2011-08-30T06:45:00.000-07:00

I made a fun HalLoWeEn card I made using this Sweet Sunday Sketch

The sketch seemed to need LoTs of fun patterned paper :) So I used my new ~MME Mischievous~pad...I love how the traditional Halloween orange and black are mixed with an Aqua Misty blue...really FuN!!

Originally the pumpkin was patterned too...but it was just a bit too much :) so instead he went through the cuttlebug and got a little argyled...

Sorry about how the bat looks...I took the picture in direct sunlight, so his 3-d wings throw a crazy shadow...He's NoT a mutant bat...he only has 2 wings...not four!

A bow, some stickles, and a few rhinestones and it was all done!

...and here's the envie...It's for my son's teacher, so I went ahead and addressed it now. Can you tell where the extra patterned pumpkin that was originally on the card ended up?!? :)

...JuSt Us GirLS ChaLLeNge...

2011-08-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Challenge #99 was to make a BaCk To ScHoOL item that was 3-D...

I LoVe 3d items...sooooo fun!!!

I also linked this to the Allsorts Challenge Blog and the Wee Memories Challenge since they had a BaCk to ScHOoL challenge as well.... :)

I used the new Papertrey favor die which Nicole Heady used for Halloweenie goodies...I'm sure I'll have to try that too!!...but a spider isn't very back to school...at least I hope NOT!!!

So, I turned it into an apple! I cut one of the dies from paper and just trimmed it down a little to use as a template for the apple center, then traced it onto felt and cut it out. I still used the felt like Nicole Heady did on her blog but I cut off the handles that were on the front and back and added a ribbon handle to the middle instead...The apple stem and leaf fit better that way. i just free hand stitched the seeds on. Next time I would use small pieces of brown felt instead.

A gift card fits inside perfectly...I should have made a cute envelope to hold the gift card, but I was so excited to post this that I didn't wait :)

I used a glue gun to assemble and I did learn a few other things for next time...I would use a paper layer too, adhering the felt to the paper. The box portion (where the gc sits) is just a little too free form, not very crisp because you can't really get a clean fold on the felt...I think if you glued paper to paper on that section and basically just made a felt shell, it would look cleaner...it would also hide all the stitching on the back of the apple. I'm definitely trying it again that way!

Thanks for looking and have a GrEaT week!!

Papercutz Challenge

2011-08-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

This week's Papercutz Challenge #106 was "WiSh UpOn a StAr"...You needed to create a project and incorporate stars...paper, shapes, stamps....anything ~StaRrY~...

Here's what I made...

I altered a band-aid tin to hold some HalLoWeEn treats. I glittered a star and used some Taylored Expressions Halloween treat stamps. I fussy cut out the bat stamps and attached them only by their little bellies so that their wings are 3-D.

It holds 3 Reece's cups perfectly :)

Thanks for LoOkiNg!

...TeSc145...tAke 2...

2011-08-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

..again...here's this week's sketch...

...still really cute...

and this is the bear project that I started last night... it wouldn't fit on the card base I had already made, so last night's effort morphed into an elephant... :) ...scroll down to see the birthday elephant card...and this sweet little bear sat on my desk over night wondering what was going to happen to her...

The little bear was way to cute to just leave sitting there all lonely...and I did still have the idea in my head... so, I tried again...

I apologize now for all of the pictures in this post...but this is one of those projects that you think is going to be a disaster and then it ends up being something waaaaaaaay cuter than it was in your head...ok...at least to me it is :)

This is a sweet little bear stamp and flower from the Taylored Expressions ~BeArY SpEcIaL~ and ~BeaRY SpEciaL AcceSoRieS~ sets that are on sale at TE right now :)

I told you she was way to adorable to leave on the desk to get crumpled and rumpled...

I ended up using one of the spiffy TE Perfect Package Card Boxes...I LoVe those things!! Plus, it seemed like a better size to incorporate both the bear and the sketch layout.

This one is going to hold my neighbor's birthday gift...She's turning 5 in October and just started Kindergarten last week...I'm going to put in a small stamp I ordered with her name on it and a gift card to a book store...She can use the name stamp to label the inside of her new books so that everyone knows they belong to her!

I know that she LOVES containers...so I knew her present NEEDED a package that could still be used (and re-used) after it was opened...plus it doesn't hurt that it's personalized!

I decorated each side of the box in coordinated paper from the My Mind's Eye~Lime TwIsT pad...such AmAZiNg colors and fun patterns...and layered them onto some PTI cardstock.

...a ~CUTE AS A BUTTON~ label, some sparkly letter stickers, and a few buttons threaded with baker's twine and it was all done! I hope she likes it! It's going to be hard to wait until October to give it to her...

Thanks for looking! :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

...TeSc145...

2011-08-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

...here's this weeks TeSc ...

I love this sketch...I sat down and pulled out everything I wanted to use...I stamped and paper pieced a cute teddy bear and balloons, laid it out on the card and...then realized it just wouldn't fit ...so last night I worked with the base I'd started instead...maybe I'll get the bear card done today :)

The only stamping on this card is the Happy Birthday...oops...

I used the Kaisercraft Party Animal paper pad...The elephant and balloons are designs just cut from patterned paper. I used some PTI dies for the frame and popped up the elephant inside. I tied some thread to the balloons so the sweet little elephant could hold on to them!

Here's a view so you can see how the banner is wavy and the the elephant pops up...

...SanTa'S SuiT for TeSc144...

2011-08-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Here is the TeSc144 sketch...

Here is my card for this TayLoRed ExPrEsSiOns SkEtCh ChaLlEnGe...(and for the Christmas Card Challenge)

I used Hangin' Out At the North Pole...That set just cracks me up!! A little fussy cutting, paper piecing, and some glitter and I was all set!

Here's a close up of his bag and boots...I colored on the bag to give it some depth...I like it...wish I had done it on the coat and hat too...oh well...next time ! :)

I also put this card in the Christmas Card Week #38 Challenge...The challenge was to use glitter...I did...and my cubbyhole floor won't be the same for a while...there was a small accident when I glitterized Santa's coat! :) I'll also be picking glitter out of the cat's fur for a while....

...FiRsT DaY of ScHoOL...

2011-08-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Today is Connor's first day back at school. As usual, I made little prizes for all of his past teacher's to help them get through the day ! :)

I already posted one, but here are the rest of them.

This year, Connor didn't want to help deliver them and chat up all his past teachers...he was too busy running off with the wolf pack...It was funny how they all congregated and then the pack just absorbed more boys as they arrived...I think I'm definitely going to be making LoTs of teacher ~~bribes~~...prizes this year!!

I kept the treat boxes all the same, just used slightly different paper...the pink one is for his Kindergarten teacher...her favorite color is pink :) Each box has a chocolate apple in it from See's.

...and here is the boy on the first day of school...looking pretty chipper!

...and here are his shoes...Sheesh!!...if there's ever a flood, he can just climb in one and paddle home!

...HaPpY BiRtHDaY!!!....

2011-08-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

...to my friend Kim.

I did make her something in a timely manner...but I won't get it to her today. I'm a bit of a slacker.... So I thought I could cheat and blog it. Then she's getting it today...virtually...but it's the thought that counts right???? right??? I'm going with yes.... :)

Kim loves M&Ms...so I based everything on them :)

I used a TE clear plastic purse, the Make a wish set, and some diamond glaze to make the m&ms look a little more realistic.

I hope you have a great BiRtHDay today Kim!!!!! ...and there is a chocolate fix waiting for you at my house...or I'll drop it off this weekend! :)

...TreAt TiMe....

2011-08-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

So Bunco was last night and we needed treats...cuz that's what bUnCo is all about...the treats...and maybe the gossip...but mainly the treats.

My mom was hosting, but since I needed to try out the recipes for truffles that I am making for my sister-in-law's baby shower, I made dessert...

Here they are...truffles....OrEo, ChOcoLaTe cHiP CoOkiE DouGh, and CaKe bAtTeR....it got a little messy in the kitchen, but they were really easy to make. I found all the recipes together here ...(thank you soooo much Landeeseelandeedo!!) and since it was my first time making them, I did it ExAcTLY like the recipe said...

My boys did a little pre-bunco taste test and they were approved to go :)

Here's a top view so you can see the decorations...again...for this batch, I did it jUsT like the recipe said to...for the shower, I'll brighten up the sprinkles and make them color coordinated...and I might drizzle colored chocolate on the OrEo ones instead of plain chocolate...but other than that, I'm sticking with what the GeNiUs behind all these recipes says...because they are deeeeeeeelicious!!

Here's a fun little side view sneak peek that shows the baby shower colors...aqua...hot pink...limey green, and purple...bright and happy...should be fun!

...BaBy ShoWeR PiCs...

2011-08-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I helped a friend with a baby shower...I've always wanted to do a dessert table and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to try...

Since I just did the set up, none of the pictures have food in them :) you just have to imagine it...I had also made sugar cookies with royal icing for the first time...onsies and baby carriages...they turned out pretty cute...but I don't have any pics :(

You can juuuuust see the party favors on the table...but there is no close up...where are all the pictures???...what was I thinking???

There was a bird/nest theme going on...can you see the nest under the glass? and the little birdies on the pennant banner? The water bottles have cute little stamped labels too...again...no picture :(

I made a little banner too...I would have done the baby's name, but they didn't know it yet...I thought a ~sWeEt~ banner had a better chance of getting re-used than a ~bAbY~ banner...

I'm doing another baby shower next month for my sister-in-law...I will definitely take more pictures of that one! :) ...It has a butterfly/polka dot theme with bright, fun colors...

...LaSt dAy KeEpSaKe...

2011-08-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the last day for one of my little day care girlies...she'll be headed off to school next week.

I made her a little something to help remember her time here.

I bought the wooden box at Michaels and covered it in paper I've had in my stash forever. You can't really tell in the picture, but the box is painted a pale pink...it kinda looks unfinished in the photos...

I mod-podged on all the paper and the photo...doesn't she look sassy in that picture? She is! :) The ribbon is from PTI. The paper is Chatterbox.

I made an accordion mini album for to put inside...using pictures I've taken from when she was a baby up until now...just a tiny bit of embellishing to not take away from her cute face :) I also used some Making Memories metal tiles that I have had foReVeR. They worked perfectly and had never been touched...oops! :) nothing like being a hoarder!!!

I have another of these to make for next week since I have another little one going to Kindergarten...it's always sad when they leave..the big girls (4 year olds) are always such a crack up! They are sooooo little people by that age with lots of skills and big attitudes...they make me laugh every day!

TayLoReD ExPReSsIiOnS BlAsT fRoM tHe PaSt BloG HoP

2011-08-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

.....TayLoReD ExPReSsiOnS BlAsT fRoM the PaSt BloG HoP.....

Hey There! Today it's time for another TE Blast from the Past Blog Hop! I'm so glad I had it together enough to get signed up! :) I've never been able to participate before.

This month's theme is Collector's Anonymous and the sketch is by the talented Sankari Wegman. The sketch is awesome and I immediately knew what I wanted to do...I had purchased these adorable thread and scissors brads this weekend during the ShoP HoP...and they screamed to be used in the circles on the sketch! I LoVe when that happens!!!! plus it kept me from adding them to the hoarded "too cute to use" pile! :)

I used the papers from a the TE Alphabet Soup Girl Project Pantry Kit. The stamps are from the adorable CraFtY ExPrEsSiOns and FrOM the HeARt sets. I also used a Martha Stewart border punch and of course I had to do some stitching...it IS a sewing card! :)

...and here's the envelope...

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you keep HoPpInG and see all the creations from these talented stampers~

...past projects...

2011-08-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sorry for there being nothing newly made here for the last few days...it's been the scrapbook ShOp HoP here in So Cal...so I've been busy buying goodies for future projects :)

Until I can get something made with my amazing new paper and ribbon and chipboard and ...OK...you get the idea...here's an older project...

This was the Day Care project for Mother's Day last year...

We made silhouette breakfast in bed trays...They were really easy and turned out super cute...I'm just sorry I didn't make myself one :)

I took a profile picture of each child, printed it out on copy paper, cut out the silhouette, then just flipped it over, painted it black and mod podged it onto my painted tray...a few more coats of sealer and it was all done.

I packaged them in a big bag with a muffin, bottle of juice, and a card the kids made...along with a note (that was to be opened on Saturday) to the dads telling them that they could add fresh flowers, fruit, coffee, eggs, or anything else they thought their deserving wives might like...and that they should help their child serve mommy breakfast in bed...the moms all LoVeD it! They got breakfast and a cute keepsake...a nice way to start Mother's Day! :)

...bAcK to ScHOoL decorations...

2011-08-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

So..I finally got tired of looking at the Fourth of July decorations and decided to change things...problem is... it's too late for fourth of July but it's too early for Fall and Halloween...if I put the fall stuff up now...I'll be looking at it until the end of November...I LoVe my FaLL goodies...but not enough to look at them for almost 4 months...especially in Southern California...we don't really have FaLL at all, so to try to stretch it for a quarter of the year is ridiculous!!

My solution? ...BaCk to ScHOoL...

Here's a banner I made this morning...I just picked through one pile of papers and found things that looked "school-y" to me :)

...a little ribbon, some Heidi Swapp letters, a few medallions...done...and I didn't buy a thing..woo-hoo!

I left the candlesticks alone...just pulled off the red, white, and blue candles and added some school supplies and a pile of mini books...again, I just used things laying around the house...so...more free....

Here's a close up of my stack of little books just because I think they are so cute...I spent a few years collecting them and actually have a small shelf hanging in the hallway that looks like a mini bookshelf holding most of the collection.

here's the table right by the front door...super simple...still using what was around...

The pictures are the boy's most recent ScHoOL photo (1/2 way through 4th grade) and a Kindergarten picture that I LoVe! That boy was sooooo cute back when he smiled for the camera and didn't have a 13 year old girl's BaD attitude!

Just some scrabble tiles, one of the prizes I made for Connor to give his previous teachers and then I had to come up with what to do with the Apothecary jar that always sits there...It usually holds a picture supported by the Scrabble tiles I'm not using in the tray...but...instead...

I did this!!! :)

It totally makes me laugh!! I went out to out extra school supplies box and pulled in things that fit...SuPeR quick and easy...aaaaaannnnndddd....FREE!!

Probably took 2 hours total...most of that making the banner...and $0.00 which is awesome since this is what is going on outside the front door....

Yup...that's a big ol' rotten hole in the front of my house...and rotten columns...and generally...a giant mess....

So...I don't really have money for something as GoOfY as BaCk to ScHoOL decorations...it's kinda being spent trying to keep my house from falling down! :(

Amazing how creative you can be when you just don't have the money...

or maybe it's just that I have CrAZy amounts of craft supplies at my house and should open a store instead of continuing to go to them...NOOOOOO....let's go with the first one...yeah...definitely the first one! :)

...BacK to ScHoOL...

2011-08-11T08:35:00.000-07:00

Every year when Connor goes back to school he brings in a little prize (bribe) for his new teacher and one for each of his previous teachers that still work there.

This year I found these Chocolate apples at See's Candy back in June...

I thought they would be a perfect choice for these prizes...

I added this post to this week's Allsorts Challenge and Wee Memories Challenge since they were both Back to School Challenges. :)

The clear take-out containers I bought from TE held the apples perfectly! :)

I used the TESC143 sketch and July Key Ingredients kit again...funny how different my last 3 projects look even though they used the same sketch and the same paper kit.

This is what the back side looks like...You can totally see the Apple :)

It's nice to start the year on every one's good side!

tesc 143...on StEroiDs!!

2011-08-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

ok...so here's the sketch again...I thought I'd try something 3D this time :)

Here is my take on the sketch...just rotated. The snowman is from the North Pole TE set...

It's my FaVOriTe set ever...since I won it from the KI Design Team Challenge...I made it into the top 10...yeah...so I got to choose a free stamp set...I might have done the Happy Dance! :) It's the first thing I've ever won!!

I used the pole and sign as the ribbon/bow element...the polka dot paper is embossed with a snowflake cuttlebug folder.

...aaaaand here is where the ~on StErOidS~ part comes in...

Instead of making a card, I put him on a tin...and added one of everything in the crafty cubbyhole...ok...maybe not quite everything, but there is a ton of stuff on there! :)

I used the July Key Ingredients kit again as paper for this project...it's funny how well they worked for a holiday project when they look so summery when you just look at them in the box...I even paper pieced his arms with the wood grained paper!!

Here's the top...and you can see the ribbon hanging from the side that holds the to/from mitten tags...

and here are the tags...I used my mitten nesties and then pen detailed them.