It's a Cold...

My head hurts, my ears are clogged, my nose is running and stopped up. My eyes are watering and I can't stop sneezing. Ugh... not a good start for a Monday.
I have some fun stuff lined up to share for the start of the holiday season... can't wait!
Night, night!

Christmas Card for a Challenge!

I finally got my card finished for the Caardvarks challenge: COLOR! I loved how this card turned out, but it's definitely not one I will be making in bulk to send this year! I used a white, long card (4x9) for my base. Then I stamped the tree (CA Rubber Stamp Co.) on white and matted it on black, glossy paper and attached it to the card base. I used self adhesive borders at the bottom and stickers for the "dec 25". The tree is water colored and then I used glitter and rhinestones to embellish. I wrote "Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches!" all around the border.

I am slowly recovering from Thanksgiving and all the family "togetherness." I did venture out at 4:30 a.m. for the black Friday sales- first time ever. I must say, I got lots of awesome deals, a good head start on Christmas gifts, and had energy for the rest of the day. BUT... the professional black Friday shoppers are C R A Z Y. It was definitely an experience...

Have a nice night and stay cozy before a new week begins!

Happy Thanksgiving

I have so many things to be thankful for... too many to list actually. Mostly, I am thankful for a BIG, happy, supportive, healthy family. A warm, cozy home, three beautiful children, and a wonderful husband that adores me.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by the spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lightened the flame with in us. Albert Schweitzer

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! I hope you have loads to be thankful for!

*Quote is from Elizabeth Kartchner's blog... loved it, so I had to use it too!

It's been busy!

Sorry for the absence... I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since my last post. Where on earth did the time go? I have been busier than busy and I'm just now cleaning up glue and glitter and tape from all over my desk and underneath my fingernails, left from this past week!

Temptations was a HUGE success! For those of you that came {thank you!} I hope you enjoyed all the vendors as much as I did. I got a couple of Christmas gifts and I am so in the holiday mood! The show does it to me every year! I decked out my space with homemade paper chains and little Christmas trees. I pre-wrapped some stationery, not only for customers to give as a gift, but also to use as a decoration! A couple pics from the show:

I have a few more BIG projects in the works for the holiday season. I hope to be back tomorrow to share a card that I am making for the Caardvarks challenge... COLOR! Until then, tootles!

Felt is F-U-N!

I love to tell people I can't sew... because my mother is a wonderful seamstress that can make anything from a formal gown, to a coat, to gorgeous window treatments. Whenever I turn on the sewing machine it breaks, or clogs, or tangles, or whatever- it just doesn't work for me. So, I stitch. And felt is the perfect fabric for me to stitch on because all you do is cut and it doesn't ravel, which means no hemming, or sewing pieces together.

I started making these cute felt owls a while back, mainly for scrapbook embellishments, but I took it one step further and stitched one on a t-shirt for Anna. It turned out so cute, I made one for all my nieces in different colors. Here is Anna's:


And then I got the itch to stitch some brooches. So, I put these together:
Full of felt, fabric, tulle, and buttons, they are super cute on denim jackets and beanie style hats. They will be for sale at Temptations and the packaging is as cute as the pin itself- a great gift!

Until next time, may you be as happy as Wrigley with a jar of peanut butter.

The Holidays Are Coming!

Good morning! The holidays are coming up, and I have to say... I'm ready! I decided that this year I would make lots of my gifts and start early to avoid the stress. I kept my word... I have gifts made, cards prepared, tags ready! I have had lots of fun creating new items: framed collages, felt and fabric brooches, appliqued t-shirts, and more! But today, I will share one of my Christmas cards and one of my tags.

I love how this gift turned out: a little glitter, a little tulle, a couple hand cut leaves and ribbon tied it all together. I adore that flocked polka dot paper from Doodlebug Designs. Card base is chartreuse from Waste Not Paper.


I embellished a shipping tag with this pre-printed reindeer tag from Martha Stewart. I added some glitter, leaves and a coordinating corner, then inked the edges of the tag.

So, today, I am going fishing with Stephen and the kids. I am not fishing, but crafting. My job is to keep Elan entertained when he's sick of throwing his line in. ;) I have a basket full of things to do and it's going to be a pretty day, so why not craft outdoors?! Hope you all have a great weekend!

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Hello everybody! Sorry it's been a few days since my last post, but I have been busy with all kinds of holiday projects. Truthfully, this time of year, I will only post every few days. I have lots of holiday orders to fill and a big show coming up that I have to have lots of stock for! However, I know you come here for ideas and inspiration, so without further ado, here are a couple of things to view for some creative delight:

This is the birthday card I made for my dear friend, Emily. She is the friend that you can always count on for anything: to pick up your kids, dinner if you're sick or had a baby, the shoulder you can comfortably cry on, a counselor, a good advice giver, and the friend you can call at 7:00 a.m. I know you're jealous and wish you had a friend just like her! Actually, I hope you do... everybody needs an "EMILY."

The last couple of days, I have been creating Christmas cards. Here are TWO that I made that are instant faves!

I love the bold pink and green color on this card. It's just a bunch of green paper strips to form a tree and a circle and star punch for ornaments. I think the rounded edges makes it interesting.

The Stocking Card! Ooo... love this. Lot's of pretty things to look at! The brown paper is for a "mantle" look. Mom suggested the chocolate ribbon and raspberry trim- they are beautiful together! Thanks, mom!

Both of the cards above will be for sale at the Temptations Holiday Boutique coming up on November 17-18-19 in Louisville, KY. Hope to see some of you locals there!

And, last, but not least, my little chickens on Halloween: