Oh, Christmas Tree

Once you see this sneak peek from Pretty Cute Stamps,

 you are sure to start humming Christmas Carols!

This notebook will be perfect for jotting down notes and lists and prices and ideas 

as you scamper around the holiday shopping madness. 

(I know I am no where near ready myself!!

This notebook is going to be well used.)

This new set, which will be released in a few days, is called

"Oh, Christmas Tree."  It has such a cheery face, don't you think!

What is your favorite holiday song?

I guess I probably have too many to pick from.  

Also, each year, I try to learn a new one!

I used Irridescent Embossing powder for the background stars. 

And plenty of of bling from The Eyelet Outlet for the happy tree.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to come back for our Hop on Wednesday.

In the mean time, keep checking the company blog for sneak peeks.

You are going to love the new sets from Pretty Cute Stamps!

Notes to Santa

Santa is waiting for tender notes and fun wish lists.

Create a magical mail box for your young ones to leave notes to Santa.

I used holiday brads from The Eyelet Outlet, as well as bling and  jewel bling strips.

Don't forget The Eyelet Outlet's Washi Tapes!

I used the tape to cover up where the papers meet. Neat and complete!

 I also used Checked Washi Tape and Diagonal Stripe Washi tape on 3x5 index

cards for notes/stationary to Santa!! It's simple...but lined for the kids...and easily coordinates

with the outside of your mail box.

You can find so many darling brads at the store site.

I used Sock Money, Building Blocks, Stockings, and Trains.http://www.eyeletoutlet.com/trainbrads.html

Snowflake brads and jewel bling strips add elegant details to this home decor project!
It looks great among the Simple Red and William Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations.

Falling for You!

Welcome to the Joy's Life Blog Hop!

(You should have come from Julie's blog if you are on the fall trail.)

And..

Happy Sweetest Day to all my sweethearts out there!

Growing up in the midwest, my family has always

celebrated this holiday.

Today, I created some tags for

cider packets. My kids and husband LOVE

mixing up Koolaid and Lemonade.

I thought I'd give them a fun change to go along with the season.

Apple Cider Packets!  This sentiment from Joy's Life:  It's All Fall Puns is perfect

for Sweetest Day!

So, if you aren't prepared for today's celebrations,

run out and buy a candy bar for each member of the family...

or other sweet treat. 

Create a quick tag...and you will make your family smile!

The apple brad is from the Eyelet Outlet...

and I embellished the apple with a rhinestone!

Did you know that they 

have caramel apple brads too?  YUMMY!

Thanks for joining us today!!

Joy...Start Here!

Laura

Lori

Maria

Stacey

Kendra

Julie...just before me!

Dawn...right here!

Blue Bird Addition

I thought I would create my own blue bird to add to my blue bird collection...

which rare is added to. (Although earlier this week, my sister Jocelyn sent me the most lovely felted nest with 3 blue birds you can imagine!)

So I dug out some Creative Paperclay ® and created this sleek feathered friend.

To find out how I created it, please flutter over 

to the Creative Paperclay ® blog today!  

Tinted Mason Jar

It is nearly time to go apple picking.

So, pick up some apple brads from The Eyelet Outlet

and embellish your home decor!

Note the Checked Washi Tape in Fish Colors on this 3.75 x 5.5 inch card.

I used it to create a "hinge" element on this card.

With so many fun washi colors, you are bound to find a color to match

the patterned paper you are working with.

I tinted this mason jar using Mod Podge, blue food coloring, and a splash of water.

Coat the inside of the jar.  Then let the glue drip out.

Place it into your 170 degree oven and let it bake until the glue dries from opaque to translucent.

Wrap the jar with raffia and a bit of Sunset Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations.

I used another apple brad and some Glue Dots © to secure the decorative band.

Supplies:

Apples Brads

Checked Washi Tape in Fish colors

Thanks for stopping by today!

Feel free to check out my blog:

Sunnyside Up!

Double Pocket Purse...in Glitter Swirl!

Using Robin's Nest Glitter Swirl Papers, I created a sweet little gift ensemble that

any little girl, or girl at heart, would adore!

Don't you love these brads from the Eyelet Outlet!

These 12mm silver rimmed pearl brads are great hardware for my purse handles!

Double pockets!

I used 1" glue lines from Glue Dots © to secure these pockets.  

Mini Glue Dots © are great for the mini dew drops that embellish both the

purse and the card.

One pocket fits this sweet 4" card. 

Here I used   Glitter Swirl and mini dew drops!

Since my prima flower wasn't exactly the right shade of pink to match the purse,

I sponged a little ink to give it a deeper shade. 

What a great match it is now!

This sentiment comes from Sweet N Sassy Stamps:  Happy Place.

I'm crazy over sunshine/sun/sunbeams these days!  Love this sentiment, don't you?

So, what ideas do you have to put in the second pocket?  

there is a gusset so it doesn't have to be complete flat.

Hugs Sand Kisses!

Happy Summer!!

I hope this has been such a pleasant season for everyone.

Welcome to Joy's Life Summer in 3D blop hop!

You are bound to have some great summertime inspiration.

(Please be sure to start at Joy's blog.

Below you will find a list blogs which are participating in the hop!)

 My summers tend to be be water based.

I grew up on Lake Erie in Ohio...

Swam at Club Carousel as a teen...

Missed the lake while in college...

moved into a subdivision where there is a pool 

so that my kids could group up swimming too!

This treat box is a perfect size for your summer time house guests.

Fill it up with some candies and place it by their bed side.

Or...Keep some of your sea side vacation treasures inside to cherish through long winter months!

Here is used a sentiment from Joy's Life: Pun in the Sun set.

In case you didn't know, there are a lot of nautical sentiments in there too!

There is a fish charm hanging on the Timeless Twine.

The seahorse is also a charm. I cut off the loop part.

Be sure to add  Rumple ribbon from Lovebug Creations!

Here I used Ocean's View...of course! lol

***PRIZE NEWS***

So, if leave you leave a message on this post about a happy summer time memory,
 and sign up to be a follower of my blog

OR Facebook page,

I will throw your name into the hat for a $5 gift certificate to Lovebug Creations!

Additionally, Joy's Life is giving away a chance for a gift certificate to their company store to
one lucky crafter who leaves comments on each post!

I used Glue Dots ® to put together this SVGcuts cutting file.

I have two favorite sizes: Micro and Pop Up.

Pop Up Glue Dots ® are great for making more dimension on your projects.

That is how I got the top layer of the shell to "float" up above the bottom layer.

Have you heard about Glue Dots ® new dispenser?

Read all about it HERE.

Well, it's time to take sail...

and see what Kendra has floating around her dock!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hop Line Up

Joy: http://joyslife.com  ---Start Here!---

Dawn: http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com ---Me!---

Kendra: http://luv2scrapnmakecards.blogspot.com ---Next in the slide line---

Jennifer:  http://creativecricutdesigns.blogspot.com

Patty: http://craftykitten1.blogspot.com

Cyndy: http://arcyscraps.blogspot.com

Julie: http://muddypawsinkyfingers.blogspot.com

Laura: http://www.laurascraftsandmore.com

Stacey H: http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com

Maria: http://asimplefive.blogspot.com 

Lori: http://got2bcrafting.blogspot.com

Megan: http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com

Hair Bauble!

 I made this hair bauble for myself now that my hair is growing out ..and I LOVE it. And...apparently so does my DD (after she saw the finished piece).  I guess it's hers now!

I used a felt base and stitched a large bobble pin into the felt after this flower was made.  Simply Red makes such a GREAT poppy flower.

So, I have such a greater respect for all you ribbon flower makers out there!  Here are a couple of tips I learned (the hard way).

1.  Go with the flow.  A flower and it's petals are not perfect. Don't sweat the small stuff.
2.  Be careful with that hot glue!  If you have a strand stick to your ribbon, it will look less than desirable. In that case, read tip #1 again.
3.  Add another layer of ribbon on top of any glue smudges.  Or ACCESSORIZE with Rhinestones!
4. But, if you add hot glue to rhinestones, they might not be as shiny any more. So make a small dab of hot glue on your flower, wait 1/2 a second...and THEN add the rhinestone.
5.  Practice makes perfect.  So, buy plenty of your favorite colors of Rumple Ribbons from Lovebug Creations.  Hmmm.... Sunset or Green Leaves will be my next endeavor. Although, I might be snatching that poppy for my own use too!

Wedding Blog Hop

(Please scroll down for my Joy's Life Post!)

Welcome to the Wedding Blog Hop featuring 

Lovebug Creations Rumple Ribbon 

and

stamps from Jaded Blossom!

If you want good luck on your wedding day,

you are supposed to have something old, something new,

something borrowed and something blue! 

Something old for this hop?

This Basic Grey Paper...

...but the collage feel is perfect for showing off

 this gorgeous origami wedding dress I created using plain white printer paper.

Then I spiced it up a bit with Simple White Ribbon...along the empire waist line and pearls.

(Something borrowed: That would be Mama Lovebug's trick of adding ribbon to paper clothing!)

Caddy Blue is my "something blue."

Something new?  How about these Wedding Candies stamps from Jaded Blossom.

Perfect for decorating kisses...or your cards...or a box of candy:

Be sure to pick up some Removable Glue Dots © 

to adhere your circle tags to the bottom of your kisses. 

They are easily removed without tearing your foil wrapper!

Here I used Rumple ribbons in three pinks to decorate 

a Hershey Kiss box cut from The Cutting Cafe's: Hershey Kiss Window Box.

Enjoy the hop...and I hope you are the winner!

1: Candace www.papercraftsbycandace.com

2: Kimi & Pamela http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com

3: Michelle www.scrappinwithmybug.com

4: Martha http://beautifulcreationsmp.com/

5: Kate: http://www.scrapperscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

6: Dawn Mercedes http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com

7: Jamie: http://www.jamiek711designs.blogspot.com/

8: Tanya - www.scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com

9: Crystal - http://crystalscreativecorner.blogspot.com/

10: Dorcas www.craftycardangel.com

11: Julie www.cricutchick.com

12: Christine: http://www.scarletcalliope.com

13: Jenny: http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/

14: Dawn Rene: http://designsbydawnrene.com/

15: Trixie www.pinkglitterstudio.blogspot.com

16: Ellen http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com

17: Ashley: http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/

18: Stephanie- www.stephanie-eaken.blogspot.com

19: Jaymie: http://www.thisandthatscraps.com/

20: Zeni - www.scrappyzeni.com

Start your Summer Aflaming!!

Check out how fabulous the Rumple Ribbon from Lovebug Creations work with the Robin's Nest Flame series of papers!  If your weather is still cool (like it is here in MI), this combo will start your crafting a flame!

Here I used William from the Family Ties Rumple Ribbon Collection to create an apron.

You can add a note card for your message...or use the pocket to tuck in a treat or two!

Sentiment from Joy's Life: That Tastes Punny.

Ooh, that color is perfect for this Chili Flame paper!

 Another fun treat holder: a tea packet card!

Here I used Sunset (one of my most favorite Rumple Ribbons) to bind my pages together.

Distressed Honeycomb is a great paper to pick up from the Robin's Nest!

Hey, and those mini dew drops really work well with Sunset ribbon!

Sentiment:  Joy's Life: Punny Animals set

I posted this card and tutorial on my blog.  

Closed View...

Telescoped View!

In case you missed it, Green Leaves Rumple ribbon, from the Spring Rainbow collection, ads a bit of softness to this sassy card!

Hey...and don't forget a hot message!

These stamps come from Joy's Life:  That Tastes Punny set.

Don't back off from this hot line of papers from The Robin's Nest.

Once I started playing with them, I couldn't get enough!!

Chews to share treats...

Chews to treat your kids, husbands, coworkers...

with a little bit of your handiwork.

I created a couple of gum holders for my kids with inspirational messages.

Today, as I was scheduling this post, my son called and needed me to bring up his gym clothes...

despite the number of times I said "Are you sure you have your gym clothes?"

Such is the life of a mother...

and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Easy Peasy...extra large nestie.

You could also cut out a shape from your electronic cutter.

Two folds make it into a "book."

Cut two slits in the binding to "hold the gum in" using Lovebug Ribbon.

Here I used the new color, Phyllis from the new Oh, Cecelia Collection.

  It's pretty close to the color Sunset.  

  I also used Removeable Glue Dots © to secure the gum.

Then decorate the top...and the inside back has plenty of room for you to write a sweet note!

The stamps are from Starving Artistamps.

Creating Decor for your Home

Hey there crafters!  This is a snap shot of a corner of my pear colored kitchen. 

I just love these curtains from IKEA. What I don't like...is doing the dishes.

  ("I always get the hardest days" was my childhood lament!)  

So, a few months ago, I decided to make a cute bowl to toss my rings and bracelets 

in before I start the dishes.

Creative Paperclay ® makes coordinating home decor as easy as apple pie!

Supplies Needed:

Creative Paperclay ®

rolling pin

styrofoam bowl

acrylic paint

brush

ziplock bag

Krylon Crystal Clear gloss spray

First, start off with a styrofoam bowls to use as an armature.

Roll out your dough a big larger than you think you need.

Then place it into the bowl, gently.

Cutt off the excess...and smooth the edges!

Roll out more Creative Paperclay ® and shape as desired.

Attach...(check back in a couple of weeks for my tips on how to attache these clay leaves!)

I start my drying process in a plastic bag..

Once your piece is dried, you can decorate, paint, and embellish as you like!

When it is all dried, I sprayed a couple of coats of Gloss Spray to seal my bowl.

Yeppers...I'm not going to lose any more rings and things with this pretty bowl!

For more ingenious ideas, tutorials, and projects featuring Creative Paperclay ®, click on over

to the Company Blog!