Crafty Valentine

I saw this idea for using an empty Valentine candy box and putting other items in the box.  I thought this would be such a great idea.  I didn't want to buy boxes of candy at the store so I went to Felicia's Scrapbooks and used her accucut machine to make my own boxes. 

I cut 2 chipboard heart pieces and paper to cover both.  Using the machine is nice because you can cut the paper to match the die.  No tracing, trimming or sanding needed.  The paper matches perfectly. I embellished this box for a crafty friend of mine.



For the inside piece I created a box and a lid. I adhered the box to the bottom heart and the lid to the top heart. I filled the box with crafty goodies.



I am going to make boxes for the kids and their teachers as well. I think this is a fun, personal Valentine. I chose to not fill mine with candy but you could. Certainly a box of cake balls or homemade candy would look spiffy in it's own Valentine box. I'll post the others once I've finished them.

Supplies:
Paper: Bazzil (black, cream, pink) My Minds Eye (pink polka-dot) Accucut (chipboard)
Tools: Accucut (scalloped heart) Sizzix (Tattered Florals, Bingo embossing folder)Bazzil (bling template)
Other: Ranger Stickles (gunmetal) Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (pearl, black cherry) Ranger (archival ink black)

Valentine, Valentine, here are some more Valentines

I'm back with three more Valentines to share.  I like Valentine's Day. It's a no pressure holiday for me.  No crazy events to plan, no long list of gifts to get, no copious amounts of food to fix, just fun with the kids. 

My first Valentine to share is all black and red on kraft.  Kraft is like my new white.  Seriously, I look at a color and think "how would that pair up with kraft?" I have used more kraft paper this year than white or black.  I just love the stuff.



My second Valentine uses some more krafty eye candy. I used the black and red color combo again. I'm a little partial. Those were my school colors.



The last card I have is a little off the reservation for me but a lot of fun.


inside...


I'm not normally a cutesy card maker or one to use animal print but this card was just asking to be made.  I'm sure it will go to a kid who will appreciate it.
Supplies:
Paper: Canvas Corp (black dots, black damask, red hearts, pink zebra, gold, silver)Papertrey Ink (black, pure poppy)
Dies: Accucut (hippo) Sizzix (Tim Holtz tiny tags and tabs, Hardware, Popup Heart)
Other: Fiskers (border punch) Marvy (heart punch)

Dead beat Blogger shares Deadbeat Designs Valentines

Yes, I am a dead beat blogger. I am finally back to crafting and blogging some now that the trauma of the holidays is over. The weather is more spring-like than winter here in Austin and I find it much easier to feel refreshed.

I dug around my stamps and stash to come up with a few Valentines. Today I want to share the ones using Deadbeat Designs stamps. I love these stamps and I used my two favorites on these cards.

First up is my tree of love.



I used the Tree for All Reasons and the heart cluster. Of course I had to throw a little kraft paper, twine and some flower soft. I finished off with two little tags from Tim Holtz Tiny Tabs and Tags die.

The second card I have to share with you today uses my all time favorite hot air balloon. I adore this stamp. I bought it with the assumption it would sit nice and pretty in the box of other stamps I adore and never be kissed with ink. However I have used this little guy enough times that I think I'm going to go back and get the other hot air balloons from Felicia's Scrapbooks.


I finished this card off with the heart cluster again. I also used my color pencils to fill in the parts of the balloon that I didn't use patterned paper on. I feel like everyone is tooting the Copic horn right now but I still love my colored pencils. They are so much more forgiving than markers(not to mention cheaper)and for me, easier to blend.

Hopefully the crafty bug will hang around and I'll have some more goodies to share soon.

Supplies: Paper: Papertrey Ink (kraft, sweet blush) Unknown (dots)
Stamps: Deadbeat Designs (Tree for all reasons, Large Balloon, hearts)
Ink: Ranger (archival black, distress ink fired brick)
Tools: Sizzix (Tim Holtz Tiny tabs and tags)
Other: Flowersoft (mix by Felicia's stop in and get some!) Stickles (Christmas Red) Unknown (dark twine) Prismacolor (colored pencils)

Christmas Cookies?

Some traditions are just meant to be upheld.  I've been decorating and baking Christmas cookies since I could stand on a chair at the kitchen counter.  I've rolled, cut, glazed and frosted many a cookie.  I didn't really feel like upholding that tradition this year but it lives on in Simon and Lizzy.  They couldn't wait to make cookies.



It's great that they are able to frost and take care of their own cookies now.




Of course I only let them decorate the ones they're going to eat, for obvious reasons...



Even Dad got into the decorating this year...

Advent Calendar Take 2

I posted my advent calendar here.  I filled it, showed the kids on the morning of December 1.  Sent them to school with a promise of opening the first day after dinner.  At 11am I received an email from Fletcher that Mocha had eaten my lovely advent calendar.

At first there was no way I was going to make it again but the kids were very excited so I sat down and made a new one.  Sadly Mocha did not eat the ones I disliked the most.  She ate mostly my favorites.  She could have at least opened the tops but she just shredded them instead.

Here is the new calendar, moved to a higher location with no hearth to get a boost on.



And the kids with one of the days...



I think this might just be a new tradition at our house. I want to make new ones every year. I'm thinking these envelopes might be a great thing to use in my December Daily album.

Quick and Easy Gift Idea--Dare to Be Fabulous x 30

This year for a quick present why not create a signature note card for someone?  I whipped up 30 of these Dare to be Fabulous cards in a little over an hour.  I used different colors and ribbons to create a variety of looks but still the same design.  It was also a great way to use up bits and pieces of ribbon and paper.



Initially I started with this pomegranate and black combo. I felt like it has a more modern feel.  I love how rich the Pomegranate looks when paired with the black.



Then I tried a dark chocolate with some vintage cream from Papertrey.  I feel like this card has a more elegant appeal.



Lastly I tried out a blue with the brown.  I think this has an almost western feel.  I started to use twine on the card but I went with ribbon to help tie all the card sets together.



Supplies:
Paper: Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate, True Black, Vintage Cream, Stamper's Select White) Stampin' Up (Purely Pomegranate, Buckaroo Blue)
Ink: Chalkbox (chestnut roan) Stampin Up! (Purely Pomegranate, Buckaroo Blue)
Other: Ribbon (various suppliers from the vast reaches of my ribbon stash)

Advent Calendar

I have always wanted to make the kids an advent calendar. We've had the junky ones with the bad candy before but never a good one. Last night I sat down with my 25 (26 if you count the mistake!) basic office envelopes (55 for $1), a bunch of Christmas stamps and embellishments, my vintage photo distress ink and applicator, 25 clothes pins, and a pile of candy and toys.

I started by sealing the envelopes and stamping. Think I applied a little vintage photo around the edges but of course that wasn't enough so I covered everything with vintage photo. It gave the envelopes a very aged and rustic look. Once I had the envelope embellished I cut about 1/8 inch off the top to create the pocket to hold goodies. The envelopes are clipped to a garland across the mantle with a clothes pin. No fires for a while as I don't want my candies to melt!



Over all I am very pleased with the turn out. There are a couple of days I was not as happy with once they were done but it was past my bed time so I put them at the beginning and I won't have to look at them for long!

A couple of my favorites...






I just love this new stamp from Deadbeat Designs.  As soon as I saw it, I had to have it.  I think I'll do my Christmas cards with it this year



Supplies:
Paper: Making Memories (numbers)
Stamps: Deadbeat Designs, Papertrey Ink, Inkadinkado, Studio G, Misc. Unknown
Other: Making Memories (poinsettas, frame embellishments) Ranger (stickles)Office envelopes, Clothes pins, Garland

Thirteen Days of Halloween Cancelled

As you've probably figured out my plans for the 13 days of Halloween were changed.

I received a call Wednesday October 19 that my mother had fallen and they were not sure of the cause. Thursday the 20th at 4am I received another call that there was an inoperable clot in the mid section of her brainstem. I immediately flew to see her. She died six days later and was buried on November first.

For now I have just put the projects I had to share back and perhaps I will feel up to sharing them next Halloween. I will be back soon to share some new projects and cards for the upcoming holidays.

Thirteen Days of Halloween: Day 1 Lizzy's Card

I am attempting to actually complete my 13 days of Halloween this year. I have a few things made and a few in the works. I had a great item to share for today but something better came along. While at the scrapbook store Lizzy created a card to sell. Unfortunately no one bought it that day. I am sharing it with you today for the first day of Halloween.





She's selling her card for $3.99 and it comes with an envelope and free shipping.

Scrapbook Thursday Kindergarten Rodeo

I am in love with my kids' school. They really do a lot with their students. One fun day was the Kindergarten Rodeo. I made Lizzy a Texas shirt with Accucut dies and she wore a jean skirt. She brought home so many great things she made for the occasion. I tried to fit as many as I could on the layout.





My personal favorites that she brought home are the thumbprint bluebonnet and the wanted poster.