Kisses and a Card!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

One last Christmas post before I pull the plug and relax & celebrate with my sweetie.

This is another gift card holder, but this time it also includes some sweet kisses! Several sites show how to create these little gems (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWrs7U2sBRE) and I took a little bit from several.

I used Paper Smooches snowmen stamps and Hero Arts snowflake stamps. The gift card slides right in (and out!) where the semi-circular punch was made.

A fun little way to present a card, especially for the kids.

Since our home is decorated for Christmas in true 1950's style, here is a little way in which I will share our cheer!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season filled with love, peace and good health! Thanks, as always, for the kind visit,

Fa-la-la-llama!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

A friend mentioned to me that I hadn't posted in some time, so here I am! While I have been creating, sometimes getting things photographed and posted is another matter!

We don't wrap a lot of gifts during the holidays, but we DO write checks and share gift cards. This gift card holder is made with a cute "Prickly Pear" set from Close to My Heart. I colored the silly guy and his cactus pal with Copic markers and used a Santa hat and candy cane from the "Bear Ware 2" set from  Essentials by Ellen (designed by the incredible Julie Ebersol). The scale works perfectly and they add such a jaunty holiday touch, don't cha think?

The sentiment is die cut from an old Sizzix set, probably long retired (like me- ha!). I used my "We R Memory Keepers" Envelope Punch Board to create the holder.

Unfortunately, our beautiful state of California is still burning - such a sad loss.

Take good care and thanks for the visit,

A Little Lip-Smackin'!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I have a little gem to share with you. I had so much fun making these holders for lip balm. I purchased some lip balm from a local soap-maker and used a new die and stamp set from My Favorite Things. The die makes perfect little holders and the stamp set, "Sending Smooches" is simply adorable! Cuteness?!

I need to run off to do some good works, so I will close quickly. Take care, dear elves. Thanks for the visit,

Oh, dear! It's here!

Hi, my Bloggin' Buddies!

Well, it is December. How did that happen?! And I never got my Thanksgiving cards posted. The dilemma is that I don't like to post cards until I know they have reached their recipients and then sometimes I just plain forget to get back here to post them. Out of sight....

Ah, well.  Here is a recent project and most of them have reached their new homes. I like to support local businesses and I met a gal who makes goat-milk soaps. I wanted to spiffy some up for little gifts for some lady friends and I went with this home-spun look with lots of trims from my stash.













I used some corrugated kraft paper (it goes with the texture of the soaps), some vintage lace, twine, a Tim Holtz tag die, and a Hero Arts snowflake die to create this special packaging. I found some cute clothespins and added some simple heat-embossed tags.

It's time to think Christmas!

Thanks for the visit and have a great day,

Stepping Away

from the holiday cards for a few days......

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I must admit that I am getting overwhelmed with all the Christmas cards on the blogs (I can't buy any new holiday supplies because I don't get out my crafty stuff until my Thanksgiving cards are complete and I have NO memory of what I already own). So, today I am posting a non-holiday card just for some relief.

We were in Oregon on a hiking trip early this summer and I came upon a sweet independent stamp store  called Young At Heart in the historic town of Astoria. With so many stamp stores closing, I was excited to check it out.

What a delight! I thought I knew every stamp company that existed, but the shop carried a line that was new to me and the stamps gave me such a chuckle! The company is Two-Lips Stamps and they have products available on their website if you can't get to Astoria.

I can't tell you the number of times I have said that when I die my dear husband will not only know just how many stamps and dies I have (ugh!), but he will have no idea what to do with them! Ha!

I stenciled a background using a Hero Arts stencil and Distress Oxide Inks and, even though I am not really a "butterfly person", I added some using a very old Hero Arts set.

I hope you are having a grand week and thanks so much for the visit!

Just Another Crabby Day!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

I have something different to share with you today. We are part of a group that attends our local crab feed every year. Somehow (?!) I've become the person designated to create centerpieces and individual treats for the group. This is the third year (see a previous post here). I've been doing this and I'm running out of ideas! I was seriously challenged this year, but I love what I came up with.

I used some older "Jellybean Large Circle Shaped Shakers" that I had in my stash. I had stopped using them for shaker cards years ago because they made cards too bulky to mail. I'm glad I held on to them! I used a circle die and filled the shakers with "red hot" candies. The crab elements were die cut from a set by Tailored
Expressions called "Sack It - Crab" that is designed to make treat bags. So, I modified it.

After I made the little stand up tents I realized that I needed a counter-weight for the bottom so a dark chocolate bar came to the rescue.

For those of you who do not follow my Facebook page you can see how crazy we are - we even dress in crab costumes for this annual event. Yep, we came up with those, too.

We have way too much fun. Wishing you a not so crabby week and thanks for the visit,

Frankly......

Hi and Happy Halloween, Bloggin' Buddies!

That haunting day is finally here and, since it has been delivered, I am sharing my last creation with you.

As I've told you before, I have some amazing exercise instructors. That is one of the reasons that this stamp set (Kelly's Monster Stamp and Cut by Hero Arts) is so perfect for a card for them - the sentiment inside is "Frankly, you are amazing!". Love it!

I colored the image with Copic markers and added layers of goblinly fun with an embossing folder, a paper web and some fun patterned papers.

I love how this turned out and that it gave me another chance to share my sincere appreciation.

Stay safe and have fun.......now, on to Thanksgiving craftiness (I know I'm late on that, as all I see on blogs these days is Christmas stuff. I hate that Thanksgiving tends to get lost in the craziness. The Canadians have it right, celebrating it October 9th).

Thanks for the visit,

Trick

.....or TREAT!

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Hubby and I have a special exercise class with a wonderful group of folks, a great instructor and a terrific workout.  Even though mass production isn't my thing, I like to make a little something special for for this group for the holidays. This year's Halloween treat was inspired by one that my crafty friend, artist and amazing teacher, Sandy Brien, shared with us a couple of months ago. I made it "my own", using supplies that I have. I love how it turned out.

The pole is a paper straw from the party store, the dies are Memory Box and the stamps are old Hero Arts. I had the ghost buttons in my stash. I filled it with DARK chocolate because that is healthy, right?!

I am submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog for "Anything Goes". Check it out!

We have some lovely fall weather today and the promise of some much-needed rain on the way. Today is the day of our church auction for which I completed 100 cards. I have no idea how they will sell (I had difficulty pricing them, as I am not a merchant). If they aren't a big hit I won't go through all that again next year!

Take care and have a treat of a week! Thanks for the sweet visit,

Scaredy Cat

Hello, Bloggin' buddies!

The haunting hour is getting closer! Toady I have another card with a terrifying Distress Oxide Ink background. These were so much messy fun to make! Lots of colors, lots of layers and ink all over!

I have paired it up with an image from a  wonderful older die - one of my favorites - from Tim Holtz (Sizziz Bigz Die  - Raven & Scardy Cat). What's not to love?!

The embellishments are from my extensive Halloween stash and the leaves are a Memory Box die.

We are having an unusually warm week here for this time of year. While I am enjoying it, we are all worried about the fire danger.

Hoping you are safe and sound - and not too scared! Thanks for the visit,

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Today I have another Halloween card. My friend (and President of our Paper Arts Group) Shirley shared this adorable "Bobble Head Sweet Pea" die by Frantic Stamper Inc. She even showed us how to make our own "wobblers" (you can see videos on You-Tube) for his head using wire and some round stickers. So creative (and thrifty!).

The Tim Holtz "Crazy Things" stamps and dies are the perfect size for this adorable pouch, so the possibilities are endless!

Thanks so much, Shirley!

I combined this cutie with some patterned paper from my stash, some die-cut bats and a sticker sentiment.

Have a wonderful day - it sure feels like fall! - and thanks for the visit,