It's Friday!

Where did the week go? I can't believe that today is already Friday! Has anyone out there braved the crowds and gone shopping yet today? If you did, I hope that you found everything you were shopping for! Luckily, my Christmas shopping is just about finished. I try to be done by December 1st each year, and then I just have the handmade items to worry about. My list always includes a lot of adults, and they receive something to open and them some good ole cash or a gift card from us. I usually need something to put the cash or gift cards in. Last year, I bought little tins and filled them with wrapped candies and then added the gift card. This year, when I went tin shopping with my Mom, the tins seemed so expensive. The ones that were $1.29 last year were $3.59 this year! That just seemed like a lot to spend for packaging. My Mom talked me into the idea that I could come up with something "crafty" instead of spending over $40.00 on tins that would probably get thrown away. I have always wanted to try a Box in a Bag (if you'd like to as well, the link is here) so I thought that I'd give it a try. I was surprised how quick and easy these came together. I think I have found what is going to be this year's packaging for all of the adults in the family. It holds just the right amount of candy and then I can stick a gift card in there as well.

This little project is for today's Blogger's Challenge - Alter It! Now that I think about it. I didn't actually alter an item, but I guess I altered a piece of patterned paper. I hope that counts! If you'd like more ideas for altered items, just click on the Blogger's Challenge logo in my right side bar.

I went with this eggplant plaid paper (Chatterbox) because my sister in law loves purple. I think that she'll be pleased with this. I added the Santa to make it look a little more Christmas-y and because this week's High Hopes Rubber Stamps challenge is to use one of their many Santa images. With all of the HH stamps that I have, I can't believe that I only have this teeny, tiny, Santa!!! I guess I'll just need to buy a few more stamps...lol!

I'm really hoping for a low stress holiday this year. I'm thrilled that I have one Box in a Bag complete and only 13 more to go!! Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope that you have a wonderful day...Toodles! :D

Giving Thanks!

I know...I'm late! Blogger's Challenge was two days ago, but I couldn't get to my stamping room because my DH put in a new hardwood floor in the hallway. I'm still cleaning up the after effects, but I wanted to sneak in some creating time. Our BC theme this week is called, "Giving Thanks". I decided to give thanks for little Pilgrim boys riding turkeys...lol! I must admit. I'm very thankful for these digital images from Pink Cat Studio. They are so adorable! This one is colored up with Prismas and blended with baby oil. The corner needed a little something, so I attached a Doodlebug Designs button with a piece of May Arts ribbon. Next, I added one of the Pink Cat Studio's FREE online sentiments. The patterned papers were in the very bottom of my paper stash! They are from Creative Memories. I'm thinking that they are at least ten years old! (Glad to finally be putting them to use!) Then, while I was blog hopping on the laptop, I found the Crazy 4 Challenges blog. That is where my sketch came from.

If you'd like to see what the other Ladies in the Blogger's Challenge group have been up to, just click here. Thanks so much for stopping by today...Toodles! :D

Happy Fall Y'All!

Happy Friday Everyone! This week's Blogger's Challenge is called Happy Fall Y'All! I knew that I just had to use my new High Hopes Rubber Stamp called Milton's Fall Harvest. In fact, this sketch is from the HHRS challenge this week. (You can find that here.) Milton is colored up with Prismas that I blended with baby oil. He is mounted on Stampin' Up's Not Quite Navy. That color matched my new Farm Fresh papers from October Afternoon perfectly. The card base and faux stitched panel are made with Stampin' Up's Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is an oldie, but goodie from the dollar bin at Michaels and then I used my SU punches for the ovals. I added a few American Crafts buttons on the bottom to complete my card. For more Autumn inspiration, just click here and you'll be able to check out what the other Ladies from the BC group came up with. Thanks so much for visiting...Toodles! :D

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge!

I was up early this morning, so I thought that I'd try my hand at Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. (However, it's been such a busy day that I'm just posting now...lol!) I quickly drew her sketch on a piece of scrap paper and then got to work. Amazingly, I ended up using the same retired, Stampin' Up designer paper that she did. How did that happen?!?! I didn't even notice until I finished the card and then started this blog post. Sorry Karen! I didn't mean to copy you. It just happened that way...ugh!

Except for the ribbon (May Arts), the scalloped rectangle (Spellbinders Nestibilities) and the button (American Crafts), everything else is from Stampin' Up. The tree is from the Thoughts and Prayers set. I colored it with Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke ink. The sentiment is from the Warmest Regards set and it is stamped in Bravo Burgandy. I added a bit of faux stitching to the Kraft card base and in the corners. We were given another beautiful Autumn day here in New England. November and 60 degrees!! I'll take it! Thanks so much for stopping by...Toodles! :D

Stampavie Sketch Challenge!

Happy Saturday! I've been down for the count two days this week with some nasty migraine headaches, but when I've started to feel better, I've headed to my stamping room. Sometimes stamping is just what the doctor has ordered.

Here is my contribution to the sketch challenge that you can find over on the Stampavie Blog.This is another one of their new stamps from Helz Cuppleditch. It's called Ruffles Get Well Soon . I just love all of their different Ruffles the pup images. This one is colored up with Prismas. I've layered him onto Stampin' Up's Night of Navy, and I used my Nesties for the circle and the scalloped circle. My Chatterbox designer paper is layered onto SU's Pumpkin Pie. The sentiment is from High Hopes and punched with some Stampin' Up punches. I've added some Pumpkin Pie grosgrain and a few Making Memories buttons to finish this one off.

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! It's chilly, but beautiful weather here in New England today. Thanks for visiting...Toodles! :D

Blogger's Challenge!

Two days of blogging in a row for me...can you believe it? I can't...lol! I guess that is what happens when you have a clean area to work in...lol!

Since I began stamping, I have wanted to try the Cracked Glass Technique (click HERE for directions). I bought all of the products that I needed and I couldn't wait to give it a whirl. That was four years ago...lol!

This week's Blogger's Challenge was the perfect time to finally put all of those products to good use. Our challenge is to "Pick a Technique". So here it is...my first try at Cracked Glass. (You can see the cracks better if you click on the photograph.) I think that the technique is fantastic! It was so neat once I pulled my piece out of the freezer and started cracking it!

My main image and sentiment is from Stampin' Up!'s Upsy Daisy set. I also used Stampin' Up!'s So Saffon, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip. I finished off the Chocolate strip with some faux stitching. Are you interested in trying a few new techniques? Just click on the Blogger's Challenge logo in my right side bar for some ideas. Thanks so much for stopping by today...Toodles! :D

A Snowy Sketch!

Happy Thursday Everyone! I have been working on this one all week. But before I could post it, I just had to clean up my stamping area. What a mess! I haven't had time to stamp AND clean up after myself, so I've just been stamping...lol! However, I couldn't take it anymore and decided that I HAD to clean!

This creation (please click on the photograph for a better look) is for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge and the Snowflakes Challenge over on the High Hopes Rubber Stamps blog. Apparently, I do not own any snowflake punches, buttons, dies, or brads! (I see a shopping trip in the very near future...lol!) So I decided to go with some snowflake paper (retired, Stampin' Up!) from my stash. My little holiday trio is from High Hopes Rubber Stamps and the sentiment is from Michaels' Dollar Bin. I've added a few Doodlebug Designs buttons with a bit of faux stitching and of course, some Star Dust Stickles.

Thanks so much for dropping by. I'll be back tomorrow with this week's Blogger's Challenge...Toodles! :D