Snowman Cards

We had our first significant snowfall this morning so I thought it was only fitting to bring you two snowman cards. Both use the same image and layout, they just have different color schemes.
The inside reads: Wishing you a warm holiday season!

Gotta run, I have lots of work to do yet before this weekend's craft show!

Christmas Cards

In preparation of the upcoming craft show I'll be attending, I’ve been busy making holiday card sets. Tonight I have three to show you, so let’s get to it!

The first one is just a basic layout with a nice Christmas saying cut out my Nestabilities dies. A few rhinestones jazz up the corners and that's about it.
Next is a Christmas card with nontraditional colors of pinks and greens (my favorite combo!). I found the little tree die cut at the checkout counter and grabbed it as a last minute Gotta Have It! Those marketing people really know what they're doing... To add some interest to the little trees I stamped them with a music sheet background stamp, ink distressed the edges, and topped with either a rhinestone or button. The trees sit atop a sparkly white square, which is difficult to see in the photo.
The third card took me back to my Copic markers, let me explain. Years ago, like 5-10, I bought these clipart CDs from Provo Craft HugWare. I don’t know if they even make these things anymore but Im glad I decided to dig them back out. I had some snowman paper I was trying to make a card from but needed a focal point. A quick Google image search turned up nothing but then the thought of these CDs popped into my head. Again, I haven’t used them for ages so imagine my surprise when I found a snowman that would work. The cool thing about these graphics is that they come either colored or black and white. Since the colored version didn’t match my paper, I chose the black and white and colored them with my Copic markers so they’d coordinate with my patterned paper. I haven’t colored for quite some time and I forgot how painstakingly long it takes to do multiple cards. But I’m pleased with the results and will be turning back to my ancient CDs to see what else I can make with them. Unfortunatly, when I printed the images I didnt leave quite enough room to allow for the Nestabilities die, but I was able to salvage them by rotating the oval. Both ways turned out cute and I didn't have to waste my coloring efforts.

Back in the Christmas Saddle

Where does the time go? I'm sorry to have left you hanging for the past couple of weeks but it seems that since I started my new job, Ive had less interest for crafting. But, I'm back in the saddle, so they say, ready to giddy-up for the holidays.

We have a craft show the weekend after Thanksgiving so I have several projects to finalize before then. Never mind a recent order I received for 100 custom Christmas cards...ack! Or 50 handmade tags...gasp! Or the Christmas cards Ive promised family members...oh no! *Insert McCulley Culkin face here*

Today I bring you two Christmas card sets that I recently completed. The first is a Christmas tree patterned paper set on kraft paper. I love the natural look of kraft paper, especially during the holidays. The Happy Holidays in the bottom corner is actually a Doodlebat, DB 'Tis The Season Words, which is a fun distressed take on common holiday words and sayings. To go with the distressed look, I scuffed up and inked the edges and set with tiny pearls. If there was a scratch 'n sniff feature on this blog, you'd be able to enjoy the scent of this card too, Christmas Lane. Ive discovered Card Scents and have enjoyed adding them to my holiday cards. The inside of the card reads "May the magic of Christmas fill each corner of your home and heart."

My second card is a simple piece of holly patterned paper, distressed with green and brown inks to soften the look. Set with tiny pearls, the pattern paper pops off of the contrasting cardstock, while the scalloped oval completes the theme. Inside reads, "A heartfelt Christmas wish of peace and happiness, this holiday season."

Hopefully I'll be back soon with more to share!

Drawer Pull Wall Mounts

I need your help. I have created something that I don't have a name for and I need to come up with something catchy. Something clever. Something better than...drawer pull wall mounts. That's what they are, a cute drawer pull mounted on a 5 inch block of wood that you hang on the wall. Sort of like a decorative coat hook. Only shabbier. Cuter. And unique. So, what would you call this thingamajig? They'll be up for sale in my Etsy shop if I can think of what to call them.

Holiday Banner

As I was preparing for this year's Pumpkin Pick, I was trying to think of an easy and clean craft project for the kids to do. The kids range in age from teenagers to little tots so finding a project that they can all enjoy is sometimes difficult. I'd seen a few renditions of paper pennant banners and that sort of thing so I tried to come up with my own version. In doing so, I realized how easy it was and thought it would be the perfect craft for the kids. I precut all of their materials and packaged them up with labels as to what each particular banner said. For example, Boo!, Spooky, Eek!, Halloween, Autumn, Pumpkins, and Give Thanks.

These banners are so easy and cute, you're sure to find several uses for them all through out the year. Let's get started!

I began by cutting the materials using my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities dies. LOVE these things, Ive used them for so many different projects! With the exception of the ribbon and a couple of tools, these are all of the supplies I used.
Notice the little bottle in the top right hand corner. Its called Card Scents and its a new product Ive just discovered that scents your cards for you. This particular scent is called Pumpkin Pie Spice. I'm looking forward to using my Icicles and Christmas Lane scents on my holiday cards this year! Its a light oil substance that you brush onto the edges of your card stock, just like nail polish.

I spelled out Give Thanks in a Word document and customized the font to the look I wanted to achieve. Each letter was then cut by hand (I didn't want them to be perfect in size) and inked around the edges. I then scented my patterned paper. The oil bled through just a little bit so I also inked the edges of the polka dot patterned paper to hide it, which worked out just fine (I'm still experimenting with Card Scents). Next, I attached the patterned paper to the scalloped card stock in an alternating pattern. Adhering the letters came next. Again, I wasn't too worried about perfect placement or size, I like the randomness. I then took my Fiskers ribbon hole punch and punched each corner of the scalloped card stock base, ensuring not to catch the corner of the patterned paper. I began with the last letter of the saying, threading the ribbon into the right hand side, behind the card stock, and back out the left hand side. I repeated the process until all of the letters were on threaded by the ribbon. I added a simple slip knot to both ends for hanging. Using some gems and flowers, I added a few embellishments. To finish it off, I added a few ties of extra ribbon to the center point as well as the ends. Viola, a holiday banner!

Pumpkin Pick 2008

I shudder to think of how long its been since Ive touched base with you all. So sorry, really, its just that things have been unexpectedly busy. And Ive had a nasty cold that has taken up residence in my chest and wont leave.

Six years ago I started a little get together with my family called the Pumpkin Pick. It was a day to get the family together for something other than a holiday or birthday, just to have a little seasonal fun. The primary intent was to take everyone to a local pumpkin patch so that the kids could pick their own pumpkins. Over the years, we've tried out different pumpkin patches and activities, various food and crafts. You just never know what the next Pumpkin Pick is going to bring!

This year we didn't go to a pumpkin patch since there really aren't any that are close to our house. Instead, we started the day with a wienie roast, made home made applesauce, took a trip to a local corn maze that was acres and acres BIG, then came back home for some crafts. Though the weather was beautiful, we still warmed our bellies with some homemade vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

I remember making applesauce as a kid, or rather, I remember everyone making applesauce around me. I'm not sure I played a big part in the whole ordeal. But this time, even the littlest of tykes enjoyed the process. We started with a whole lotta apples! Lots of peeling, coring, and cutting going on. Like I said, even the little guys enjoyed helping out. Every successful operation needs a quality control manager! Unfortunately, I was too busy running around to get any good pictures of the days events, and wouldn't you know, as soon as we arrive at the corn maze, my camera died. But not before one group shot of the kids.

We cant have a Pumpkin Pick without pumpkins so I got some home grown goodness from my uncle and shared them with the kids. But I couldn't just give them a naked pumpkin! I dressed them up just a little with handmade tags, just to serve as a reminder of the day.

I started by downloading a Doodlebat called DB Halloween Little Notes. These are so cute and fun, there are endless crafts you could use them for. I picked one image, made it about a 150 point font size, then added a text box over top of it to read Pumpkin Pick 2008. I then printed them on natural card stock, cut them out, and punched a ribbon hole into the end of each one. I used some green raffia to thread through the ribbon hole and knotted it. Once I had all of the tags ready, I simply tied them on to each pumpkin stem. A simple, cost effective way to add just a little something extra to an otherwise ordinary pumpkin. Like I said, each child was able to take their own pumpkin home as a memento of this year's Pumpkin Pick.

Check back later for a tutorial of the craft that we put together!