One Last Christmas Gift

I wanted to post this last hand made gift given to a friend who loves the earth. I inherited a button maker a bit ago, and thought some buttons for her girls would be a good way to send a good message.

And the actual gift for my friend was these hand-stamped towels. The earth was made with some fabric ink and a stencil picked up at the sewing expo. The tree is from the Papertrey Ink Father Knows Best set. (Please note I saw the tree and slogan on another blog and borrowed the idea!) The earth slogan I made up myself, so there was some creativity involved. I used the Simple Alphabet to make up the slogans.
And thats it for our hand-made Christmas. Can't wait till next year!!

Happy Holidays!

k

Take-Off Tuesday #9

This weeks Take-Off Tuesday comes from the Crate and Barrel Catalog. I {Heart} these colors so much and I felt they matched perfectly to some SU! Ink I have. 

I quickly realized that I am missing both my Pacific Blue and Summer Sun so I had to improvise. I used a bit of a darker blue and used only a little of it. I dug up some yellow from waaaay back in my drawer. Whew, crisis averted!

Here is my card. I got to use some of my new winter survival stamps from Sassafras Lass. I really {heart} them too!  Of course I had to use some PTI stamps, because their designs go with every style. (you should check out their December Release Products. They are really great as always!)

I really like how this card turned out and sent it out to a new friend here that invited us to dinner. 

Have you seen anything this week that has inspired you? Keep your eyes peeled. It's all around.

See you next week!

k

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Guidelines, Out On A Limb Sentiments; Sassafras Lass Vintage Frames, Trims N'Things, Oh My Dear.

Paper: SU! White, S.E.I Grey

Ink: SU! Basic Grey, Not Quite Navy, Tangerine Tango, Old Olive, Close To Cocoa, PTI Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Versa Magic Yellow

Accessories: Prima Paper Flower, American Craft Grey Brad, Pop-Up Dots, Ribbon from stash

Merry Christmas!

Just stopping in to wish all my friends, family and blog readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous and crafty New Year! I love you all!!!

k

Monogram Card Sets

My mother and her sisters always gave something homemade to each other for Christmas when I was growing up (I wonder if they still do?) It changed every year from toll painting, quilts and the like. With my new found stamping passion, I wanted to do something similar this year for my sisters (on both sides). I am still finishing the 6 sets for my side of the family (assorted cards I will post later). The only problem left was that each of my sister-in-laws actually make cards in some form or another already. It was a dilemma. I really wanted to give them something, but I didn't want to insult their card making intelligence by sending something they could make themselves. You see the dilemma... But I went ahead and did monogram cards thinking they might not actually make those for themselves. Hopefully the added monogram will ensure that they still like the cards and will actually use them. However, if they hate them I am pretty sure they will humor me anyway ; )

Here they are. I re-used some plastic boxes I had from shipped PTI stamps sets. I love re-using plastic. It makes me feel good, no matter how much or little it may help the earth.

I used quite a few different stamps sets hoping to find something that would suite each of their personalities. But I loved the look of the damask stamp which is why it had to be used more than once.

 I have said it before, and it won't be the last time; I love making gifts because you get to think about the people while you create. And I realized yet again while I sat and crafted that I am so so lucky to have each of these wonderful women in my life.   Each one of these ladies is SO fantastic. I couldn't have asked for better in-laws!! Merry Christmas!! 

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Polka Dot Basics, Borders and Corners Square Set, Inkadinkado Bold Damask, Sassafras Lass Oh My Dear, Stampers Anonymous Alphabet Set

Ink: SU! Old Olive, Pacific Blue, Basic Black, Basic Grey, PTI Berry Sorbet, Dark Chocolate

Paper: SU! Pacific Blue, PTI Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Lemon Tart

Accessories: Plastic Boxes, Assorted Ribbon from outlet, Pop Up Dots

Take-Off Tuesday #8

This weeks Take-Off is just in time for Christmas. I picked this dress from the Macy's catalog. Mostly because I liked the layers and the look of silk. Unfortunately I didn't find a way to recreate the texture, but I did try to find a way to have the layers and of course the color.
And here is the card. I threw in some gold because you just HAVE to have some with Christmas Red. I made these ribbon "flowers." Obviously not real flowers, but I wanted to add a shape and the diagonal image from the dress.

I hope you each have a lovely Christmas and Holiday Season. I am going to hunker down for the next week with some food, family and friends and try to enjoy myself.

See you next time~!

k

Deets: 

Stamps: CHF Christmas Sentiments

Paper: SU! Real Red, PTI Summer Sunrise

Ink: Versa Mark

Accessories: Stash Ribbon, Gold Brads, Pearl Essence Gold.

Home Made Christmas Bags

I was inspired by a friend who makes her own bags to wrap gifts in. It's green, frugal (if you have a fabric stash around) and just plain fun. I took that idea and made up some bags to put some crayons and chalk in. We picked up an easel for the kids for Christmas and I wanted something they could store their stuff in that could sit on the shelf, and was Christmas give-able. I used some old Christmas fabric and some festive rope for the pull ties. (oops forgot to finish the tops!)

I printed out the names in photoshop onto iron-on transparencies. Quick and easy. I'm sure they won't last too long, but I wanted something fun for Christmas morning besides a box of crayons wrapped in snowflake paper. UGH. I'm sick of that paper.

Homemade Christmas Blanket

I am by no means a seamstress, but in light of homemaking everything this year (with a few exceptions), I pulled out the machine to work on a new duvet cover for Cache. You take an Ikea crib size comforter, some pre-cut fabric squares and hours later we have this:

It's quite busy and I guess that is what you get when you online order a pre-cut fabric pack. Oh well... What I did love about it was how fast it came together, so the pre-cut thing was worth it in the end. I had some fabric left over so I thought I would re-make a pillowcase to go with it. It's a great way to use up an older one that you might not want guests sleeping on, but you just can't bear to throw it out because it's still in one piece. Let the toddler drool on it is what I say!!

I also added a name with iron-on transparency and then used PTI Simple Alphabet to stamp "bed bugs bite" on the thin ribbon that runs across the width. It really breaths new life into something so boring as a white pillowcase.

 I remember having my own pillowcase with my name on it when I was young. I loved it and hope that Cache enjoys sleeping in his new toddler bed with his new bug  blanket/pillow combo. We are going to make it all up with a big bow for Christmas morning.

Take-Off Tuesday #7

Here is this weeks Take-Off. I was struck by this picture because I grew up in the age when you NEVER EVER wore Black and Brown together, let alone 2 different shades of brown. SCANDALOUS!!!! So, here this lady sits, (she is a designer from the West Elm catalog) in all her black, brown, white leathery glory and I just couldn't resist seeing what a card would look like. Her is my card in all its glory too:
I made a special trip to Michael's just for some feathers. It really needed it. It definitely has a Native American thing going on. I braided that leather tassel up and then in my late night stupor put glue on the wrong side! DUH! 

That lovely metal ribbon there is a special remnant from the ribbon outlet in VA. I finally got to go, and it was definitely worth the trip!   You can't really tell, but this paper is a nice light shade of brown with my Houndstooth Backgrounders stamp in white. Had to get all the colors in. Over all, I liked this one. It's great to use more things than just stamps. I love the texture it has. Of course I skipped the sentiment, cause I was just stumped on what to say.... If you have any ideas, send 'em my way.

Deets:

Stamps: CHF Houndstooth Backgrounder

Paper: Basic Black CS, Tan CS

Accessories: SU! Basic Black Marker, Gold Wire Ribbon, Leather cord and assorted feathers (Michael's) Tacky Glue

Re-Made Board Books

I decided to make a lot of gifts this year. Mostly because my kids have everything they need and the idea of buying another plastic toy that I will have to pick up later, gives me the chills. I found this tutorial from Cosmo Cricket on how to re-make board books. So I dug through the kids stash to find a book they don't read any more (which wasn't hard).

This is what it looked like before the DP and glue.

Here is the new cover. Christmas paper and some ribbon. The paper is from K&Co. Ribbon, PTI.
Page one..... One nose. That's my snowman just waiting to be adorned as we read. 
Two eyes.
Three buttons.... and so forth. I didn't show you pg. 4 or 5 because the craftmanship is less than stellar. I hope to get better at it as I do more. The mixture of glue and markers got a bit splotchy. 

But it is a fun project and Cosmo Cricket gives you the numbers to print out here. Try one yourself! They have other ideas you can do, manger, tree etc.  All of which would be fun.

Check back for more projects before the final day. 

Friends and Neighbors

Using My Timeless Templates by Lauren Meader, I made up some Stocking Stuffer boxes to give away something sweet to my stamping friends and my closest neighbors. It was quite fun! I have vowed to hand make everything for Christmas this year, and I have really started out with a bang. I love this template. Its fun, easy and FREE!!! It doesn't get better than that. Check out the Papertrey Ink website for your own free download (I think Lauren has 2 freebies and a few others you can purchase). I love that I can just print out the pieces and assemble them the way I want. Fast and fun. Here's a few of my favorites..

I pulled out the jewelry making stash. I love having all my craft supplies in one spot and finally in reach. Those beads were getting dusty.
I just love these pom-poms. Thanks to my MIL for giving me her kids craft stash. These were perfect. (sorry kids!)
I used the silver Deco pen on this one. It definitely sparkles!
And here are all of them together. I've put names on some and left the others blank. I loved making them, but now I must sleep! Hope you like making your own Stocking Stuffers. Give it a try!!

Deets:

Paper: PTI Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss, Holiday Vintage Papers.

Accessories: Lots of ribbon, beads, pom-poms and embroidery floss!

If you like Giveaways!

Check it out now! Design Mom is having a 12 days of Christmas Giveaway Friday. As she puts it "12 Amazing Giveaways. On December 12th. It's Twelve Days of Christmas!" The contest ends on Monday so get in there friday and get posting! And, while you are there check out all the amazing design ideas and goodies she has to share. You will love it, as I love it. 

Thanks Design Mom!!

More Christmas Cheer

I just love this little guy. Handpainted Nutcracker from Russia. His jaw opens and everything. Surrounded by some holiday babbles and joy.

k

Crafting Day

I had a few friends come and visit me last week. We had a good day together crafting despite the 6 kids who didn't want us to.

I recently purchased THIS BOOK. I LOVE this book. We decided to test out a few of the projects. The first was this candy wrapper pocket purse. We had no problem getting through all the candy (thank you Advent Calendar!). But I still have a LOT Of wrappers left and really need to make another purse to use them up, even though i would still have some left.
Here is my starburst purse. Bright colors and fun to zip. Ronin really loves it. All made with tape and staples. That's my kind of sewing!
Here is Natasha unwrapping our treats. 

Good 'ol Heath. She did really well keeping away from the treats. It could have been because I was eating them so fast she couldn't get her hands on any ; ) We also made bags from pillow covers.  Here is my bag. 

I used it as a springboard to start my Christmas gifts; Monogrammed card sets. Here is one of them... Looks a LOT like that bag. Kraft paper and Black ink. Easy Peasy!
Thanks for stopping by! And thanks to my friends for coming to visit. I loved having you. See you soon!!

k

Take-Off Tuesday #6

Happy Tuesday! This week, I picked Ronin's army jacket that I found hanging in the back of the closet this week. I have always loved this jacket, he's just so darn cute in it. 

As I watched him scurrying around in it today I was picking out the things that made me love the jacket so much. 

Some of those things I tried to incorporate into my card, as you can see:

I really love the shoulder tabs and definitely wanted one on there. Thats where the design began and then I added a pocket because I wanted a place for stars and a name. In retrospect I wish I would have done Pvt. Birthday Boy or something, but maybe that would have been weird for a kid.

I tried for the first time some sewing and let me tell you, it's not like making a quilt, no siree bob! You can see where the stitch didn't take at the corners and where I looked like I was sewing drunk, even though I wasn't. Promise!! I sponged the Kraft CS with Old Olive and Close to Cocoa ink to get it the color that dirty, camo color I wanted. 

All in all, I really dig this card and have saved the template for the next birthday boy.

See you next time and thanks for stopping by.

k

Deets:

Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms Houndstooth Backgrounder, Kim Hughes' "Making the Grade"for CHF (star, Boy), Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics

Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate, Plum Pudding, SU! Not Quite Navy, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa

Paper: PTI Kraft

Accessories: Antique Brads, Brown Button from stash, (a darn heavy) sewing machine 

Christmas Cheer

This isn't a crafty post, but I wanted to share a few of my favorite Christmas things. Here is a Nativity made from an olive tree, brought back from Israel. (My brother rocks!) I just absolutely adore it even if Mary looks like a man....

Hope your home is filled with peace and love this holiday season!

k

Take-Off Tuesday #5

This weeks Take-Off is from this magazine pic. Again, I don't remember the magazine I got it from, but I am in LOVE with this tree. I really want some of these in my house someday, but by the time that happens, I am sure I will have found another 10 things to be in love with. So instead, I made a card, which I am also in love with:I pretty much ripped off the placement and colors of the tree, but I feel I got a little creative... do you think?  I had some of this gold wire from my jewelry making days and thought it was so cute and of course in these times I feel it's important to use up what you have, so I coiled it around my finger and used it as "ribbon."

This brad was actually the first try for another Take off Tuesday creation but I felt it didn't go with the card it was intended for, but it works pretty good here. I punched a 3/8" circle of Summer Sunrise CS to accentuate it a bit.

So thats it for this week. Join me next time, cause you never know what your gonna get....

thanks for stopping by.

k

Deets:

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Out on a Limb, Beautiful Blooms (sentiment), Kim Hughes Nature Silhouettes for CHF (butterflies)

Ink: SU! Pacific Blue, Pink Passion, Summer Sun, Palette Chartreuse, PTI Dark Chocolate, StazOn Jet Black
Paper: PTI Kraft, Stampers Select White, Summer Sunrise, SU! Baja Blue

Accessories: Gold Wire, Big Brad (white), Corner Rounder

Birthday Time

It's Patrick's birthday today! The big 35. It's all down hill from here right? I realized quickly that I am limited in my masculine card supplies. I dug around and found some Cosmo Cricket paper that worked well. It might be a little young, but I loved the beep*beep*beep* (like time is ticking) and the ABORT, WARNING images in the middle strip. Kind of perfect for an older birthday. I hope he likes it. Frankly, he won't even notice. Sometimes I wonder if he is tired of getting cards from me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop giving them! 

Anyway. Happy Birthday to the man of my dreams. I love you!

Deets:

Stamps: Inkadinkado Numbers

Ink: Chalk Box French Blue, SU! Basic Grey 

Paper: Cogsmo by Cosmo Cricket, PTI Stampers Select