Jr. Legal Pad Holders

Next up are these little cuties!  Again, they would make a great stocking stuffer or gift.  They make up in no time at all.  It's the first time I've made them so we'll see how they go at the show.  I only made three so I'm thinking I might try to make at least three more.  My time is running out and I have two other projects that need finished first.  And, I refuse to give up what little sleep I do get.

Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree, Bells & Boughs; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Midnight Muse, River Rock, Marina Mist; Card Stock:  Midnight Muse, River Rock, Marina Mist, Naturals White, Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper (retired); Accessories & Tools:  Label Collection Framelits, Decorative Label Punch, Dazzling Details/Silver, Dazzling Details (colored with Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Lucky Limeade

The tab on the right has a Velcro dot to keep the cover closed when not in use.  I really like how these turned out.

Holiday Treat Bundles!

I'm adding an extra post today as I just had to share this with you!  Just click on the images below to get all the details.

New Post It Note & Pen Holders

This Saturday is my last craft show of the year and while I do enjoy them, they can be very tiring.  I am low on so many things that I've been in a creative frenzy trying to get new projects completed.  Since my time is limited, I'm keeping my posts short this week.  So, here are the new post it note holders I made today.  Well, here are six of the twelve I made.

Stamps:  Tags Til Christmas, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Joy (retired), Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired); Inks:  Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock:  Raspberry Ripple, Always Artichoke, Primrose Petals, Gumball Green; Accessories & Tools:  Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Dazzling Details/Silver, Stampin' Dimensionals

Quick, easy and a great stocking stuffer or gift.

Santa Makes Me Smile!

One of the things offered at the craft show last Sunday was a free picture with Santa.  Late in the day Mariah and her friend had their picture taken with Santa.  They had such a good time hanging out with each other that they wanted to have a picture taken together.  I love it!

The photographer, Tammy, did a great job!  Here is her website so you can check out more of her photos:  http://www.capturedmemoriestammy.com.

My Craft Show Helper

Sunday afternoon was spent at another craft show.  My granddaughter, Mariah, was my helper for the day.  We had a fun time together.  I have one more craft show this weekend and they are done for the year.  Well, at least for me.

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My Day of Rest and Worship

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

KJV

Garnet Glitter Language of Friendship

And, last but not least, the fourth little frame also painted with Garnet Glitter paint.  For this one I used the Language of Friendship stamp set and the Bird Builder Punch.  It's a combination I have used often and can always think of a way to use it.

Stamp Set:  Language of Friendship; Inks:  Real Red, Soft Suede; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Always Artichoke, Brights Designer Series Paper Stack/Real Red (I think); Accessories & Tools:  Full Heart Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Stamping Sponge, Mini Glue Dots

So, what do you think?  Stocking stuffer, secret Santa gift or a Valentine gift for a special friend? 

Serene Silhouettes Thinking of You

As promised, here is another of the little frames I've made.  This one is painted with Garnet Glitter paint.  When the light hits it just right, it really sparkles.  Tomorrow I'll share the fourth and final frame.  I want to go back and get more since these are so quick and easy and make a great little gift.

Stamp Sets:  Serene Silhouettes, Teeny Tiny Wishes; Inks:  Real Red, Soft Suede, StazOn/Timber Brown; Card Stock:  Naturals White

You can barely see the glitter but it is there.  I purposely did not totally cover the white of the frame.  It was my intention but as I painted, the white showing through add another element of light.

Happy Thanksgiving

May you and your family have a wonderful, safe and blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Post-It Notes... I love Post-It Notes

These are always a big hit at my crafts shows.  They are a great gift item and useful, too.  A great Secret Santa gift or perfect for a teacher and they are so quick and easy to make.

Stamp Sets:  Tags til Christmas, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Joy (retired); Inks:  Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock:  Wild Wasabi, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla; Accessories & Tools:  Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Extra-Large Tag Punch, Fancy Flower Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

With the little pens, they go fast.  Everyone loves them.  Thanks, Dawn, for the great video on how to make them.

Hand Sanitizer Holders

With the winter season upon most of us along with colds and flu, it's a perfect time of the year to give these personal hand sanitizers.  The tutorial I found was so easy to follow and in no time at all, I had ten of them made.  They are now sitting on the shelves at the gift shop just waiting for someone to give them a new home.

Stamp Set:  Word Play; Ink:  VersaMark; Card Stock:  Garden Green, Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Red Glimmer Paper, Glossy White, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Blossom Punch, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Baker's Twine/Cherry Cobbler, 1/8" Everyday Enchantment Organdy Ribbon/Lucky Limeade, Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks, Erica, for sharing this great tutorial.  My grandchildren are each getting their very own Hand Sanitizer Holder for Christmas! 

Island Indigo Birthday Wishes

With it being such a busy craft show time of year for me, I had decided not to do any more challenges.  As you can see, I changed my mind.  After all, it is a woman's prerogative, right?  When I saw this sketch on Rainy Day Creations, I knew I wanted to make it for an upcoming birthday.  Here is the sketch challenge and below that is the card I made.

Stamp Sets:  Take It to Heart (retired), So Happy for You (retired SAB); Ink:  Island Indigo; Card Stock:  Island Indigo, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1" Punch, Real Red Corduroy Button (retired), Mini Glue Dots

A bright, cheerful card.  I'll be sad to see Island Indigo leave us.  It's part of the 2011-2013 In Color group that will be retiring come spring.

My Day of Rest and Worship

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Psalms 100:4

KJV

I'm Late! I'm Late...

...but it was so worth it!  I spent most of yesterday designing and creating and having fun.  Over the next few days, I'll be sharing all that I've been doing.  Today it's the cute little frames I found the other day at a local craft store.  I fell for them the minute I saw them.  I brought four of them home and will share two of them today.  The other two are in the drying process.

I love the Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack from the Holiday Catalog.  I had this cut out flower from Everything Eleanor in my 'use it later' box and loved how it looked paired with the Lucky Limeade and Very Vanilla colors in this paper.  It was a perfect fit for this small square frame.

Stamp Set:  Everything Eleanor; Ink:  VersaMark; Card Stock:  Real Red, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Stampin' Emboss Powder/Clear, 1/8" Everyday Enchantment Organdy Ribbon/Lucky Limeade (retired), Mini Glue Dots

The next frame is rectangular so I added a sentiment from the Trust God Stamp Set..  It's punched with the Decorative Label Punch.

Stamp Set:  Trust God; Inks:  Soft Suede, Crumb Cake; Card Stock:  Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Decorative Label Punch, 5/8" Organza Ribbon/Whisper White (dyed Crumb Cake), Mini Glue Dots, Stamping Sponge

So cute!  So easy!  There is no end to the great things you can create.  Let me show you how.  Contact me today for more information.

Open Sea Journal

Journals have long been a part of my life.  I love words and what better way to record the journeys of life than your very own journal.  They can be private and personal or they can be a way to share your life with others.  I have made many of these but I have to say that this one is my favorite.  Pacific Point Card Stock and Silver Emboss Powder make a great combination.

Stamp Sets:  The Open Sea, Define Your Life (retired); Inks:  Pacific Point, VersaMark; Card Stock:  Pacific Point, Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Stampin' Emboss Powder/Silver, Decorative Label Punch, 1/8" Mini Brads/Silver, Mini Glue Dots

I always keep several of these on hand or I can customize one just as I did for the one I've shared here.  No two are ever alike and that makes them unique.  Contact me to order one for yourself or as a gift.

Cute Mini Treat Tote Boxes

The other day I came across this great video by Dawn Olchefske showing how to make this mini treat tote box.  It is so quick and easy to make.  I put two or three pieces of candy along with a candy cane in them.  You could even make them as ornaments for the tree.  These, along with all the others I made, will be headed to this weekends' vendor fair with me.

I love the bit of sparkle that the Red Glimmer Paper gave the boxes.  A perfect stocking stuffer, too!

Struttin' My Stuff!

Do you think he even suspects he'll be invited to dinner?

Snowflakes and Snowmen

Snowmen and snowflakes have long been favorites of mine.  I used to love building them as a child.  These days I prefer making them out of paper.  I don't remember all of the product I used or the colors I used but I wanted to share this little guy.  The snowman is an emboss folder and after running it through the Big Shot, I cut him out.  It doesn't show up well in this photo but I filled the snowflakes on the bottom of the snowman with Crystal Effects to make it look kind of icy. The tree was made using the Perfect Pennants Bigz L Die.  The sentiment is from the Word Play Stamp Set. 

I think I'm going to have to get these folders and die out again along with that stamp set and come up with some new designs.

No Time to Play!

It was a busy weekend here at the Stamping Cafe.  I had a craft show on Saturday and Sunday was spent with my family celebrating birthdays and my son finishing his last year of college.  Both days were busy and noisy and so much fun.  Because of all that busyness and fun, I didn't get pictures taken.  I'll be sharing new projects throughout the rest of the week.  For today, here is a beautiful picture of dandelion puff.

 

A Day of Remembrance

Today I'm taking the time to honor all of our Veterans; those who are serving, those who have served and those who have died in service to our country.  I am thankful for each and every one of you.  May those who have seen the horrors of war find peace.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:  

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

KJV

United States Marine Corps Birthday Salute!

Today is the 237th birthday of the United States Marine Corps.  In honor of that day, I put together this page using MDS2.  The pin in the center of the photo is the last gift my brother, Larry gave me in 1965 just before he was sent to Vietnam.  He was so proud to be a Marine.

The small picture of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., was sent to me just yesterday.  Gary, one of the guys I graduated from high school with and a Vietnam Veteran, had the honor of reading my brother's name on November 7th at The Wall.  Every thirty years the names are read.

Semper Fi!

A First Christmas

When I first saw the new stamp set, First Christmas, in the Holiday Catalog, I fell in love with it.  It has proven to be one that I've used many times.  Another stamp set that I instantly fell in love with was Everything Eleanor.  I love that swirl!  Here is the design I made using the two together and doing a little masking.

Stamp Sets:  First Christmas, Everything Eleanor; Inks:  Night of Navy, VersaMark; Card Stock:  Marina Mist, Very Vanilla; Accessories & Tools:  Modern Label Punch, Stampin' Emboss Powder/Silver, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

I didn't do a very good job of stamping the image.  Some days are just better than others.  :-)

Now I'm off on  shopping expedition with a three year old.  It should prove to be interesting.  I've not shopped with a wee person in tow in a very long time.

Fall-i-Days Christmas Blog Hop

The Stamping Llamas are having a Christmas Hop and I want to encourage all of you to go on over and take a look.  You can find them by clicking the following, Stamping Llamas or click the photo below.  You will find a wonderful array of projects featuring Christmas, Hanukkah and other themes of the season.  I hope you'll join us.

The Hop starts tonight at 8:00 p.m. so be sure to join in the fun.  Until then, here is one of the projects I made for our last Hop.

 
Stamp(s):  Teeny Tiny Wishes; Ink(s):  Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake; Card Stock:  Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla; Accessories & Tools:  1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon/ Chocolate Chip, Decorative Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, stencil made from the Little Leaves Sizzlits, Shimmer Mist, Stampin' Dimensionals

See you at the Hop!

Glimmer Christmas

I wanted to do a black and white Christmas card and when I came across these cards that had already been cut but not stamped, they would work well for what I had in mind.  I love sparkly so I added some red and silver Glimmer Paper.  Since I'm gearing up for another craft show this Saturday, I'm keeping my posts short this week.  I've got a lot of projects to complete and just found two new ones to add to the mix.  The fun never stops!  Those of you who are local, I hope to see you on Saturday.  Go to the Events tab above to find out time and place.  Hope to see you there!

Stamp Sets:  Christmas Lodge, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Itty Bitty Backgrounds (retired); Ink:  Whisper White Craft; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Whisper White, Glimmer Paper/Red, Glimmer Paper/Silver; Accessories & Tools:  Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch

I love the snowy background.  It reminds me of so many nights when I'd go for a walk during a snowfall.  It's quiet, peaceful and simply beautiful.

Paper Basket

The other day I stopped in at a local scrapbook store to check out some of the things they have been creating for Christmas.  Wow!  Talk about some fantastic projects.  It got a lot of ideas and am having so much fun trying them out.  One of the things that caught my eye is this Paper Basket.  It is so easy to put together and it is really sturdy.  That's because it uses lots of card stock.  It is one of those times using so much in one project is so worth it.

I haven't designed the tags for the basket as of yet.  I was so excited to show it off that I didn't take the time to make them.  So, once I have it complete, I'll post a picture of the finished project along with all the product I used.  I will tell you that I used Early Espresso, Very Vanilla and the retired Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper from last years Holiday Catalog.

If you are interested in how to make this basket, leave a comment for me here and send me an e-mail with your e-mail address and I'll send you the instructions.

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My Day of Rest and Worship

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

KJV

Joy

With a Christmas Stack-A-Stamp coming up Monday, I guess it would be a good idea to finally get the cards designed and the supplies prepared.  You think?  I've been experimenting with some ideas and techniques.  Here is the most recent design I did using my brayer, a tool I don't use often.  Actually, this was the very first technique I learned on the very first card I ever made.

Stamp Set:  Joy (retired); Ink:  Riding Hood Red; Card Stock:  Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Glossy White; Accessories & Tools:  Dazzling Details (tinted with Lucky Limeade Ink)

I love this technique and this stamp set!  It is very easy to do and gives a beautiful effect.  The ink on the Glossy White Card Stock always gives a different hue of the color.

I'm not sure I'm going to use this one for the Stamp-A-Stack so I better get busy and come up with some other ideas.  This gives you an idea of what we'll be doing so be sure to check out the Events tab at the top of the page.

This is the Life!

Today is Aiden's third birthday.  I haven't got his card done, yet, but wanted to share this photo I took of him last week.  As I've mentioned before, I watch him during the week while Mom and Dad work.  He woke up from his nap and wanted to watch a movie but Grandma was in the middle of watching one of her own and it was a really good one.  Of course, he took exception to not getting what he wanted so I set him up in my bedroom so he could watch his.  He was one happy little man.

After I left the room, I got to thinking what a great picture that would be for his parents.  I always try to take some pictures on my cell phone and send them off to them so they can share some of Aiden's day with him.  I had the camera all set up on my phone and when I walked into the room, I just had to smile.  I told him  to stay still and smile.  This is definitely one of my favorite pictures of him.

Little Purses

These were made for my neighbor's granddaughters.  I saw the video on how to make these on Frenchie's blog and just had to give them a try.   Each holds a small package of Whoppers but they can actually hold a lot more.  Even made from Designer Series Paper, they are surprising strong.  I'm going to be making some up for my next craft show.  These will make great stocking stuffers for the girls.  Now I just need to think of something for the boys.

I used retired Designer Series Paper for the purse.  The handles and the top strip are made from Island Indigo and Poppy Parade as are the labels that I punched using the Scallop Oval Punch.  I stamped the sentiment on Very Vanilla  using Island Indigo Classic Ink.  Everyday Enchantment Brads add the final touch.