Better late than never....

The first week of winter break flew by and I am sure this week will too...I finally have time now to make projects...and since some of them are bulky and would be destroyed by the post office, I will hand deliver a few things in person...there are still people we haven't exchanged gifts with yet, so...I am technically not late! This card is a combination of cards I have seen on my favorite sites all season long. I used silver glitter paper and a felt type paper that feels like a stocking, little bells and twine...plus a snowflake embossing folder and silver stretchy cord to make the little winter scene complete. Hope you like it!

(You can click on it for a closer look). In case I don't get another post in this week, Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

Christmas Party dress, shoes and purse

It took weeks, but my Christmas party dress finally got completed...and then I had the bright idea to make a matching purse...the morning of the party! I double lined the purse so that I could insert plastic needlepoint canvas into it to make it stiff like a purse. I may make the purse again, but not this dress. (It started out with a different style top half that was not comfortable, and my friend Mary told me to cut the top half off and get a new pattern for the top. I did, and it was nothing short of a miracle that this lengthy project was completed in time for the party. (this really was the best picture of the dress...knee length, straight skirt) I made a quick trip to the bead store and made a matching necklace and bracelet...and accidentally found matching royal blue silk shoes at DSW!

And the purse...my favorite part of the whole project!!!

Napkin Trees

A while ago I posted a photo of a Christmas card I CASEd from Connie Babbert. Here it is again.

It is made using double-sided patterned paper. I showed my stamping friend Karen and she said she had seen a fabric holiday napkin made the same way...only of course, fabric is not double-sided. I made these napkins for my sewingly creative friend Mary. Once they are washed after use, it is up to the owner to fold them back into their tree shape. They are half circles. I traced a large platter and faced them with a companion print fabric on the reverse side. Then I just ironed them into the tree shape! Easy!

Happy Holidays!

I am finally on vacation and I can quickly move to making some fun holiday cards to send out. I just finished a dress to wear to a party tonight, and a matching purse. Whew! So, here is a photo of my mantel, decorated with my collection of wooden Santas to entertain you until I get some cards made to share!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is an oldie but goodie from a couple of years ago...I still pull out these stamped place cards and the menu (it usually stays the same) along with the wooden turkey pieces for my centerpiece. I cased this place card idea from Splitcoaststampers a long time ago...isn't he a cute little turkey? (Click on the pictures for a closer look!) Here's to having a feast this week while keeping in mind our blessings!

Just a quick post tonight! I just found out that I won second place in last week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge!!! I get to pick two of their adorable stamp sets free! Woo hoo!!!! I won't sleep tonight thinking about the sets I want!!! Can't believe it...as each new darling entry was posted I thought I was doomed! Check it out!http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/2011/11/our-winners-are.html?showComment=1321680220087#c4808322159845682763

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, revisited

Here is another version of this week's Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge...I love my PS Hang Ups set and this little birdie is a night "owl." I paper pieced the lanterns and the birdie and sponged the clouds to make this night time party scene...notice the popped up elements: birdie, moon and lanterns. I also had to ink my twine on an orange ink pad because I don't have any orange twine...but I think it worked! Twine was my "fabric" element. Take a look at this week's challenge at http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/

Click on the pictures to see them up close!

Check out http://papersmoochesstamps.com/ to see all of the adorable stamp sets and ideas on their blog! The only problem is trying to decide which sets to get next!

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

Here I am again with another Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge entry. This week the challenge is fabric, blue, orange, peach (I used a pale pink)...and the fabric in their inspiration photo immediately reminded me of a die cut I have that has many shapes within in...specifically an apple! I used white glitter felt and pink and orange felts...I even stamped right on the felt with my PS sentiment: "You Make Life Sweet," from the Sugar Rush set. The Paper Smooches sentiments are written in such a fun style that just make me smile! Hope you enjoy this week's entry! Check out this link to the PS Sparks Challenge this week!
http://papersmoochessparks.blogspot.com/

A little closer up to see the sparkle in the white felt and the rhinestones that surround the cute Paper Smooches sentiment!

http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/

Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

Here is my entry into the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge...I used the adorable squirrel stamp from the Hang Ups stamp set...isn't he cute? Read on to see the details!!!!

Here is the photo for inspiration on the PS blog!

 I had a blast making the tree for the little squirrel to hang from...he is a real character! The challenge was a masculine card, with brown, orange, green, a fall feeling...I stamped my favorite squirrel on orange patterned paper and cut him out. Then I stamped his eyes on white cardstock and flocked his furry little feet! I made my card into a tent card for someone to stand on his desk to remember to "Hang in there" when the going gets tough...go to the Paper Smooches website to check out not only this Sparks Challenge but their really fun stamps and ideas!!! (Check out my August posts for more of this cute little guy)

http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/

For the Newlyweds

My daughter's teacher got married last week in Hawaii and I have had this stamp set in mind for a card for her all week. It is a simple card, but the pearls and rhinestones make it sparkle and shine...probably like her new ring!!!

Coffee and Tea Time!

I went to my friend Karen's for stamp club recently and made this cute box using two milk carton die cuts, a coffee and tea cup wheel and some punches. It holds quite a few Hershey's mini candy bars or kisses...I like the black magic technique we used...embossing in white on black cardstock and then using watercolor pencils to color onto the cardstock and white embossed designs. Black rhinestones add a little bling to finish it off. This is the perfect size for party favors!

Wish Big!

Here is a fun and feminine birthday card I made for a friend at work. I used my SU Button Buddies stamp set and a lot of little pearls for bling. I used a border punch to created the ruffle around the background circle by punching along the edge of a strip of patterned paper, then ran in through a crimper a few times, then hand pleated it onto the back of the circle that had adhesive on its edges. I put a cute button on her nose then popped up the piggy onto the top of the circle, and there you have it! Enjoy!

Christmas is on the way!

Here is a new fold I tried today, courtesy of Connie Babbert of InkspiredTreasures.com. I used my striped embossing folder (ran it both horizontal and vertical directions then gently rubbed a white ink pad over it) for the Sizzix top note center layer. I used some rhinestone and sparkle brads for the tops of the trees for bling. The sentiment will be stamped inside. The trees take some maneuvering until you like the shape of the trees exactly, but I think they are worth the work! Enjoy!

It's fall!!!

Here is my first fall card of the season. I had a really stressful week at work and taking night classes, tutoring, carpooling for soccer,  duty at my school's homecoming bonfire last night, etc. I am crafting today for some much needed escape from the rat race!!!!! I CASEd this idea from Katie at stampinsteps.blogspot.com.

Time Flies!

My baby is growing up too fast...I saw a class advertised for about $70 for this scrapbooked clock...the lady even told me how to do it...so I went to Wal-Mart and got a $15 clock, took it apart, traced a circle to make my "page" on, punched a hole in the center and reassembled the clock! I used rub-ons, rhinestones and a black and white photo of my daughter...I "faux" hung it from some striped ribbon...hope you are inspired to make one for your home!

Quillow!

I made a quilt out of my favorite scraps from other projects and finally tried stippling...free-motion quilting... for the first time. It is not perfect, but it is a cheery throw-sized quilt that folds up into a pillow. I cut the scallop squares with my Big Shot machine, 5 or 6 at a time, which made the cutting process really fun and fast! Want to make another one...if I can just find the time!

See the meandering stitching? It is a surprisingly hard workout on your arms and shoulders!

Canvas and Cocktails

So there is a place here in the Denver area called Canvas and Cocktails. Some friends and I went last night. They serve wine and you & 60+ other people get a step by step painting lesson...problem is...I wanted to paint a different picture. So, they brought the sample of the one I wanted to paint a little closer and occasionally came by to tell me some techniques and which paints to mix together. It was fun! My friends are fun, the music was fun, and creating something is always fun for me...we want to go again!!!! So, I am sharing my first painting ever with you today!

Creative Therapy!!!

I finally had some time since school started to sit down at Archiver's with my friend Michele and get some creative therapy in! I made four cards and have the creative juices flowing...want more time this coming 3-day weekend to unwind and be crafty!

The first card is one I made with my Paper Smooches Hang Ups stamp set. I added flock again for the feet of the squirrels and paper pieced everything on the card!

The next card is also from the same set. I paper pieced the hearts and added bling to the hangers...who wouldn't want these in real life to add bling to their closet?

My next card is from a Verve set with the cutest Chick phrases...Since I am a Spanish teacher, I had to get it because of the Hola Chica (Hi girl!) stamp.  I added bling to this one as well since it is a chick card!

Last but not least is my Inky Antics card. I saw these sets and the honeycomb at my local Archiver's store and they made me think of my childhood....the cards and party decorations with the honeycomb. I have my eye on another halloween set...as soon as my next coupon comes in the mail...look out!

The outside and (drumroll please...)...

...the inside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to make more of these fun and surprising little gems!

My New Location

Okay...third time is supposed to be a charm...my previous two attempts at blogging were not so successful. With the encouragement of my blogging expert friend Michele, I am going to try to make this the best and final attempt. I hope you will enjoy my creations as much as I enjoy escaping into my little crafting room to create them. It is truly therapy and an escape for me. Here are a couple of paper pieced cards I made last night when Michele and I met at Archiver's to get our craft fix... enjoy!

I used my new Hang Ups set from Paper Smooches. I stamped on patterned paper and cut each figure out individually. I actually CASEd a card by Kryssi Ng and added flock for the tail. Love to pet the tail now that it is fuzzy!

I popped up some of the lanterns for fun. I love how the weight of the squirrel pulls down on the line!

And now....Sugar Rush!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is another Paper Smooches set called Sugar Rush. This is a fun set!! First I stamped on patterned paper and cut out each element. The sundae on the left has three different patterned papers for the glass, foam and straw! I added Diamond Glaze to the candy apple for shine and took a bite out of the popsicle with a scallop oval punch. The silver, metal sundae glass is a silver cloth paper. It makes my sweet tooth hungry just looking at this card! Hope you enjoy them!