Make Mine Stamps

Happy Friday!

I have a confession to make.  Today was Blogger's Challenge and I opted out.  Now, hear me out here.  I played along and created a card, but Thom thought it was so horrible, he said, "Don't post that!"  So, without going into too much detail, I listened to what my smart hubby said.  I created a Halloween card using the Sock Monkey (which I detest!) and I paper pieced his body with Perfect Plum DSP and gave him a jaunty little red hat, trimmed in perfect plum and accessorized him with a red purse, complete with a plum rhinestone.  Do you see where I'm going here?  I was going to post it this way, "No Treats Here -- Just Tricks!"  Well, my play on the Red Hat Society didn't get it for him so I skipped the challenge.  The theme was Halloween and truthfully, I just don't do it.  We don't get beggars where we live and there are no family members close by who celebrate Halloween so we just skip it entirely.  I made one Halloween card for club members and have already posted it, and I just wasn't inspired.  My bad. 

But, here is something I can show you.  This is an extremely easy Card Pouch that holds four cards and envelopes and can be dressed up or down for gift giving.  If you want to give a bag of tags to a hostess as a hostess gift, this bag would do the trick. 

I took the picture with the pouch empty as my cards were competing for attention through the window.  However, as you can see, without too much difficulty, I cut out the circle and attached acetate after stamping and coloring on the window to dress up my pouch.  Can I just tell you how easy this was?  If you want to make it even easier, don't cut the window...just create the pouch and dress up the front with DSP or stamping on the front of the pouch.  I know that anyone you wanted to give a bag of tags, an assortment of cards or whatever you could fit into this pouch would love to receive it.  After all, the best gifts are handmade and useful -- that is my philosophy anyway!  But keep in mind, I also keep a list for those who want to purchase their gifts for me -- there's always something I can use!  And yep, that is me you can see in the window of the pouch!  If you are coming to Techniques Class or Card Club this month, here is your extra project!

I'm creating the designs for the Cards for the Kids Event this weekend and have to kick this into high gear as this event is next weekend!  I kept hearing God tell me to go to a specific store today and I did -- I listened and He found me a fabulous deal on adhesive which we can use for the Cards for the Kids Event!  Saved me a ton of money and will make it so much easier for us to create!  God is good and I don't mind telling you!  I have been testing glue sticks, glues and other alternatives this past week to see what we could use -- nothing I've tried has been acceptable to me.  I once had a workshop participant tell me that whenever she went anywhere else, she was given glue sticks.  I promised her she would never receive a glue stick at my events as I do not use them...PERIOD.  And I mean to keep that promise forever!

Enjoy your weekend!  I'm already feeling that cold weather that is supposed to roll in but I've truly enjoyed the gentleness of the weather today -- it is gorgeous and fairly warm.  I hate to see Autumn go but I know that Winter is on its way.  Don't forget to fall back this weekend -- one more hour of sleep and I'm looking forward to the extra snuggle!  Blessings to you and yours!

Big Shot Gifts Rock the Holiday Season!

I have to tell you that when the Big Shot first came out, I wasn't too excited.  I didn't use my die cutting machine too often, but I decided I would give this new machine a try...and I'm glad I did.  The Big Shot is as easy to use as "they" say it is, and utilizes all of the dies I already owned, as well as using some new dies that I find myself reaching for all the time.  And best of all, it allows me to create cards, stationery, special envelopes, boxs, bags and tags, and great gifts!  I'm only limited by my imagination, but you know what?  I've found the community of stampers I am now a part of shares everything so willingly and will even answer questions as to how they did it -- they will even tell me what to avoid so I don't have as much of a learning curve!  You can't beat that!

How many times have you been to a craft show and said, "That is so cute.  I could do that!"  Yes, you could, but will you?  Well, I finally decided to put my brain into action and create some of those things that are supposed to be very easy to see just how easy and economical they really can be.  Here is a canvas bag I created in less than 30 minutes, beginning to end.  Click on any of the pictures and they will enlarge for you.

            

 

Okay, let's start with Picture 1.  The fabric called out to me because I know that it is scrapbook paper fabric -- I swear I've used this pattern before and to find it in fabric is SO NOT FAIR!  Truly, I totally suffer from a paper addiction and now that the fabric manufacturerers have figured out we paper crafters are addicted to paper, they are making the patterns in fabric.  So not fair!  But, it matched the ivory on my canvas bag that I picked up for half price (read $1.50) and I couldn't resist!  I bought 1/2 yard of each fabric knowing full well this would more than cover me, but I tend to screw up at least once and sometimes twice, so I decided this way, I would be safe.  (Hard to believe, right?) All of the fabric, and I have a ton left to create more items, cost $4 total.

In Picture 1, I used heat and bond iron on fusible webbing on the floral pattern and chose some of the flowers to cut out and iron on to the bag.  Much easier than cutting paper images and this went so quick, I was surprised.  You can purchase heat and bond anywhere and I happened to have picked it up a few weeks ago...when it was 50% off.  Just watch and wait...it will happen again, trust me on this one!

In Picture 2, I used my die cut alphabet and just placed the letters on the argyle fabric to run them through my Big Shot.  It cut them first time -- imagine my shock and awe when something I tried worked THE FIRST TIME!  Well, the machine said it was easy and I have to tell you -- the machine didn't lie!  Of course, I used the heat and bond fusible webbing on the fabric first (nice touch, Tami, that you remembered to do this first!).  My letters cut very quickly and I arranged them on the flip slide of the canvas bag, ironed those puppies on and voila!  A canvas bag that looks great, took me less than 30 minutes, from start to finish to create, and is completely functional!  Best of all, the tag is still on it and it is ready for gift wrapping and gift giving.

My original thought was to give this bag to one of my nephews or to create it for my neice who lives in Texas and I wanted to do their names.  However, the more I thought about this, the less I liked the idea but only because I don't want to put them in stranger danger -- I'm not a fan of someone knowing their name unless they should know their name, know what I mean?  But think about all that fabric out there -- I know my Florida Nephews and my Wooster nephew love the Cars movie and trust me -- if you haven't been out to look at fabric lately, you are missing the boat.  I agonized over that cars fabric but decided to wait and see if this truly was as easy as it looked -- AND IT IS!  So, while my local craft store has all of their canvas products (hats, bags, aprons, and whatever!) on sale at 50%, and fabric is at least 30% off, I'm off to collect some more items to personalize for them for Christmas.  These are gifts I can easily afford to make and I'm making them with lots of love and prayer that they will give my special someone a whole lotta joy in the upcoming year.  

Does it make you want to create something just as easy for someone in your life?  I could just as easily have stamped on these bags and heat set the ink so it would be permanent.  Maybe I'll try that too in the upcoming week.  I just really like the idea of creating something myself for those I love and in this economic time, well....I think a hand-crafted gift will be just as much appreciated because I took the time to do it myself.  I'm thinking there are so many options -- you just need to look around and think about the ones you love.  What do they adore?  Is there something you can create for them that fills a need, fits a passion, makes life easier, or says, "I love you!" and I know what it is important to you?

Have a great day and many blessings to you!

Another Hand Crafted Gift - Earrings!

So I've been thinking about these for awhile now and had to give them a try.  Admittedly, while I'm not a big jewelry buff, I saw the Filigree Brads and use so many of the Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads that I just put the two together in my mind.  Here is what happened as a result of that "vision".

Keep in mind that these are actually my first two attempts and this hasn't been refined.  But for a first attempt, I was pretty happy with the result.

On the left hand side, I used clip-on backs.  The back is actually a bit too big for the earring so I had to punch a 1/4" circle of Pale Plum and adhere this to the back, but actually, they are really pretty.  The picture is a bit dark, but if you see them in person, they look really good.  (You can click on the picture to enlarge it.)  I used one of the images from the Hostess Set in the Holiday Mini to stamp the holder onto Shimmery White cardstock.  I inked the image in Perfect Plum and Mellow Moss before stamping and then applied the three dots in the center of the flower with a gold marker.  I would, and probably will, wear these -- very light in weight, but I love the sparkle! 

On the right hand side, I used a kidney shaped Euro-Wire to adhere the back.  This is the same size Filigree Brad; however, I used a bit smaller Fire Circle for the center, just to vary it up and see what the result would be.  These things are so light and yet they really sparkle in the light.  My conuundrum was how to package them.  This isn't perfect, but I've got ideas to refine.  Unfortunately, yesterday, Thom needed me to create about six football ticket cards and they do take a while because I create them from punches and have to assemble them -- many steps, but worth it with final presentation to our clients.

Here is a picture of the backs. 

So, what do you think?  Would you wear these?  Please leave me a comment so I know if I should further explore this possibility.  I laid awake for a good long time last night thinking about creating earrings with the Build A Brad Set.  I know there are some fabulous possibilities there and I already have two really inspired ideas for pins that could be worn  on a coat or a jacket.  In addition, there are some lovely headband ideas swirling around in my mind.  Do you know of any babies or young ladies who enjoy headbands?  If so, watch and wait.  I've got some ideas of how to create a few of these running around in my mind as well.  I'm hoping to work on some ideas for my nephews today when I get home from work.  So many ideas and so little time -- I need to write them down or I will totally forget them!

Just so you know, the Filigree Brads would make 8 pairs of earrings and they cost $5.95 per package.  The Fire Circles come in a package of 80 rhinestone brads for $10.95, so you would have colors and sizes from which to choose, and you would definitely be able to use the remaining brads on other projects as well.  The earring backs are extremely inexpensive and I was able to purchase them at half price because I'm one of those sale watchers, but even if I had purchased them at full price, the backs would have added only about $3.00 to the total for 8 pairs of earrings.  So, before tax and packaging, which I can easily teach you to make, you've got an investment of about $20.  Could you afford $30 for 8 separate gifts for the women in your life?  What do you think?  Please leave me a comment and let me know.  I value your opinion and am wondering if this is an option for an upcoming class on Hand-Crafted Holiday gifts.

Have a fabulous day!  If you have ideas about gifts you would like to create, drop me a line.  If I don't already know how to do it, I know I absolutely can come up with an idea that we can tweak to be the perfect hand-crafted gift you'll enjoy giving this holiday season!  Blessings!

Gift Giving Time Of Year

How often would you like to "gift someone" with something, but find yourself short of funds in order to find the perfect "small" gift?  Well, if that is the case for you, as it often is for me, I hope to be able to inspire you in the coming days.  Hopefully I'll find some stamping time today, but if not today, I should on Wednesday and Thursday.  I'm going to be offering a couple of hand-crafted gifts classes in November and December with enough time that you'll be able to recreate what we make for those you want to be able to gift during the holiday season, whether it be a hostess gift or a holiday gift to place under the tree.  Here's an easy and quick gift option that is sure to please!

Everyone loves candles -- especially those that smell yummy!  And truth be told, you can find candles very inexpensively just about everywhere, right?  Well, the key is to pick up a few of those candles and place your own stamp on them -- literally!

Here is a Colonial Candle I picked up on the "cheap" that isn't smooth sided and I like them best.  That way, if I don't do a perfect job with the embellishment, it doesn't show.  I like to allow for creative liberty!

I stamped and embossed  tissue paper using Pale Plum, Perfect Plum and Not Quite Navy craft ink snowflakes, embossing them with clear embossing powder.  Next, I adhered this to the candle, using my heat gun to allow it to melt the tissue paper into the candle.  You have to move somewhat quickly and you have to be careful, but this is a completely doable project for everyone at any skill levels.  If you are a beginner, choose something easy like this.  If you are an intermediate stamper, choose a scene to emboss and set the stage on a Holiday candle.  Whichever way you choose to go, and I generally choose easy because I want to do more than one, the results will be appreciated by the receiver of your gift!  And yes, this is totally burnable once you place it on a dish -- which you can add and give as part of the gift if you choose too.  Dollar store finds are fabulous for drip trays! 

Let's take it a step further and let our recipient know that we really care about them and that they are special enough to us that we created packaging for our gift -- not the store bought kind, but created sepcially for this gift that was created especially for them.

I created a box to fit the candle and stamped the box, cutting out a portion of the front of the box in order that one of my larger stamps shows through the acetate that I used to cover the rectangle I cut out.  What do you think?  I'll probably add some ribbon and perhaps will cut a few snowflakes out using my Big Shot to further showcase the box I created, but I think it is giftworthy, don't you?

 

Sorry about the reflection in the acetate, but I haven't quite figured out how to get a decent picture and not get that glare off the shiny acetate.

And can I tell you how good this Cinnamon Christmas Cookie candle smells?  Mmmmmm!

In the upcoming days, and I can't give you specifics due to the erratic stamping schedule this week will bring, I'll be showing you earrings made from brads and paper (they really are cute!), note cards (and who would refuse a box of notecards -- we can all use these!), as well as some other projects that I have in the works.  I hope you can stop back and see what I'll be offering and perhaps, you'll take a class to see what you can make for those you want to gift during the upcoming season of giving.  I'll also have some great wrapping ideas to share with you as well!

Enjoy your day and be blessed!  Be a Blessing to someone else too -- you never know who could really use a shining smile to just brighten their day!

Stuck on Cards and Boxes!

If you read my blog on Friday, you know that Jean Fitch won the Blog Candy I was offering because I finally hit 2,000 hits!  Thanks for reading!  At any rate, I didn't have much stamping time this weekend so I thought I would go ahead and post a picture of the box, as well as the cards, that Jean will be receiving this week.  I've also enclosed a surprise in her box so there will be something for her to wonder about until she receives the box!  Thanks for all the fabulous comments, Jean!  I love it when people enjoy my cards and projects!

I used the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Packet to create the cards and the box. 

Card to the left are note cards started with a Crushed Curry base.  I layered on DSP and scalloped a Melon Mambo strip, adhering a piece of 1/4" grosgrain White ribbon over this piece.  In order to make this look balanced, I pulled my normal trick of punching three 1/4" circles of Melon Mambo cardstock and adhered them to the cards with glue dots.

The card to the right was made with a Melon Mambo base and I layered on two pieces of DSP, ripping them both and rolling the edges.  I adhered a piece of Melon Mambo Polka Dotted Ribbon, adding a cheater bow, on the plain side and stamped a sentiment on each card in Whisper White Craft Ink.  Here's a picture of the box on its side.

Hope you enjoy these cards, Jean!  They are on their way via priority mail!

Enjoy your week -- I've got tons of ideas on projects I hope to complete this week.  Big plans and I'm hopeful to get all of my plans completed!

If you are going to be helping with the Cards for the Kids Event and haven't let me know, would you mind dropping me an email?  I need to plan how many tables we can have and how many cards I need to prepare supplies for each table.  Thanks loads and God Bless!

Ladies and Gentleman, May I Present...Comedic Relief!

Way back when, and I'm dating myself, there was a song that started with, "Ladies and Gentleman, May I Present...Mambo #5!"  Do any of you all remember that?  I loved that song, but it was the only song on the entire CD that really amounted to anything!

Well, Ladies and Gents, let me first present comedic relief in the form of Blogger's Challenge!  Today, we were to do a one layer card.  Now anyone who has ever stamped with me knows this is nigh impossible.  But I tried...really, I did!  I came home after work and went right to the task.  I had an idea and new rubber -- now, how hard could this be, I reasoned?  Well, the first attempt was a fiasco at best, even using the StampAMaJig, which I will affectionately refer to as SAMJ in this post from here on out.  Here was my second attempt:

You will note that I attempted to "dim all the lights, sweet darlin',..." but that is another song that isn't fitting for this post!  The idea was to use a mask I had cut from acetate in the form of the top note die.  Great technique and I love the background look.  I sponged this in Pale Plum and Not Quite Navy.  Soft and easy, glistening like a beautiful winter night at dusk.  But, it went from good to bad in a heartbeat! 

I wanted my cardinal in flight to be in the moon.  No problem, Tami, I thought to myself.  Just punch a 1" circle punch and position it.  Okay, so self said, first stamp the image on the SAMJ and you'll know where to layer down the circle.  Okay, steps 1, 2 and 3 done.  Image stamped.  Check.  Circle Punched.  Check.  Circle Placed (with a bit of dotto adhesive so it won't move while being sponged.)  Check.  Well, Self thought, this is going very well.  I can DO this!

Pulled out the sponges and set to work, softly sponging my background.  Placing the SAMJ on the card stock to see if I've gotten the sponging where I want it.  Check.  So good so far.  Now, at this point, self is getting prideful.  Wait until they see this card, Self muses.  Check.  I'm doing it, I'm really doing it! (And truly, you know where this is going...here is where the background music softly starts in the video...) 

Pulled out the Handsome Hunter marker and markered my trees.  Check.  Looks good.  Pulled out the blender pen and removed ink from the snow swells because I didn't want them to be green.  Check (learned this from first attempt! that you are not seeing!).  Well, self thought, you are really getting good at this.  You are going to be wowing them tomorrow!  Can't wait to get this one posted!  Used the SAMJ to position, misted rubber with water from the water bottle that self remembered to pull out and stamped the image.  Prepared to impress self and ARRRRGH!  The water mist actually made the Seasons Greeting sentiment appear on the cardstock.  WHAT IS UP WITH THIS???   Self said, "Minor Setback.  Refuse to be defeated.  We can DO THIS!"

Blogger's Challenge - One Layer Card -- Take Three (Post Two!)...

Okay, self decided to notch it up (who wants to see a beautiful card like this on plain old Whisper White cardstock anyway -- would have had to do it over to get just that right GLAMOUROUS look) and we started with (are you ready?) Shimmery White cardstock.  Always good for a WOW, right?  Repeated all the steps.  Positioned the mask.  Check.  Positioned the moon.  Check.  Colored the Image.  Check.  Used the SAMJ to position the stamp.  Check.  Misted the image and dried the sentiment (self is getting prideful here again -- not making that stupid mistake again and aren't they going to be wow'ed!  Stamped the image and removed the stamp and AAAARRRRGGGHHH!  Forgot to remove the moon mask!  Now self is miffed!  Well, I hate to stamp single layers anyway (commence breathing hard and heavy!).  Huffing and Puffing.  Pull out first card and use shimmer mist to try to camouflage mistake.  Left Shoulder Self argues that if we light candles and take picture in the dark, setting the mood, mistake will not be seen.  Right shoulder self says, "Use the SAMJ and fix the second image. You teach this stuff and you can DO this!" 

Right Shoulder self wins.  Remove the Moon mask. Check. Color the Image.  Check.  Huff on it -- forget that misting nonsense anyway.  Must.  Fix.  This.  Image!  Position SAMJ.  Like the placement and stamp the image and AAARRRGGGHHH!  My trees have double tops.  Self sits back in mortification.  What has happened here?  Why did this not work?  Why am I such a failure at this stamping thing......Well, self says, "Someone needs to teach all those stampers out there how NOT to do it!"  Self perks up.  That is it!  Our first video will be a comedic relief video on how NOT to do it so people don't make mistakes like we make.  We'll make millions making stamping mistakes showing others how not to do it and we'll make them laugh in the process.  Self inks up Sentiment in Not Quite Navy and uses SAMJ to position, stamps and smiles. At least we have a plan.....

We hope you enjoyed this presentation of how NOT to stamp a single layer card.  The video will be out shortly.  All proceeds shall benefit the "Stampers Anonymous" organization in hopes that those of us who experience extreme frustration will live to stamp another day on MULTIPLE LAYER CARDS!

And the winner of the blog candy for finally getting over 2,000 views (a huge milestone!) is Jean Fitch!  Random.org loved you Jean!  Please email me at tami@MakeMineStamps.com or leave a comment with where you would like your card box sent and on Monday, I'll get this out to you.  I may even send you a promo copy of the video, "How NOT to stamp a Single Layer Card."

Blessings to you all.  I'm off to find out if someone else can instruct me in how to stamp a single layer card professionally.  And then, I'm going to contact Bonnie who can teach me to score a card with no stamping that is prettier than anything I've ever imagined.  Self tried to do this as well but gave up shortly before we approached the "just slit your wrists and get it over with" step!  End the madness -- stamp multiple layers and be happy!

October is Minister Appreciation Month!

And I've been lax in doing anything so I kicked it into high gear this afternoon.  My two faves, Bill Meaige, Senior Minister and Danny Harp, Associate Minister (not "Reserve" Minister!) have been on my mind.  Both of these men teach the Bible as it is written, giving no apologies for telling it like it is, and I really like it.  I think I am in a much better place because of their sermons and the life examples they set.  Honestly, sometimes I ask myself if Bill Meaige would do what I'm doing and if he wouldn't do it, I don't do it either.  Now, there are areas of my life (my mouth for example) that really need help and he recently gave us that sermon.  Too bad it takes me more than once to hear something and put it into practice!  One thing I do try to keep in mind is that I'm praising God with the same impatient mouth that I'm using to talk to the idiots who always seem to be driving in front of me -- and that is where the problem is!  There needs to be more praising and a who lot less talking to the idiots who always seem to find my car....I'm working on it!

Here is what I made them:  (Tammy Harp do not read this post!)

I found my retired DSP and can't even remember the name, but both of these men are into "manly" cards and that was my focus.  I used the same basic template for all of their cards, but I slipped in a "feminine" card for them to send to their wife (Love those ladies!).  The box holds 9 cards and could hold a 10th, but Thom was hungry and needed his wife to leave her studio and hit the kitchen!  I could hear him foraging and knew that if I didn't act quickly, he would be eating way more than necessary and nothing that would be good for him!

This box is one I go to often and have created a belly band to keep it together.  When I created it today, I folded in the sides and used the Clear Circle Die to cut a hole in the top, which also cut half moons out of the sides.  Love that!  I used acetate to fill the hole and love the look. 

Remember that I'm giving away blog candy to be awarded on Friday a.m.  Leave a comment on my blog and I'll be creating a box like this with cards in it for you!  (It won't be this paper though!)  You never know what you might receive -- it just depends on what I feel like adding and what cards I want to part with.  I hope that whomever receives it will truly enjoy it!  And, I've got a surprise to add as well, but you won't know that until you get it!

Happy Thursday!  Back tomorrow with Blogger's Challenge and I'm already sweating it!  But, this one will stretch me and I need stretched in this area.  Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my blog!  I appreciate you more than you can know!

Techniques Class - Bleaching

Do you resemble this remark?  Did you ever see a card someone else had done and decide, "I'm buying that set so I can make this card?"  Well, I have done so and here is what happened:  I couldn't find the card after I bought the set and I really couldn't remember what the card looked like.  So the new rubber sat, uninked and unmounted, sadly waiting for the day I HAD to use it.  Finally, that day came for the set, True Friend.

Sorry for the glare here -- true camera issues this a.m.!  In my Techniques Class, I strive to use household items that the ladies already own to take their stamping up a notch and give them more versatility with their stamps.  This month, we used bleach and an aquapainter.

We started with a base of Chocolate Chip cardstock.  I know it doesn't look it, but this is Ruby Red cardstock.  I loved the color combo when paired with Very Vanilla so I went with it.

We random stamped the small image from the set in CRAFT Chocolate Chip ink on the front panel and then embossed it with clear embossing powder.  Next, we stamped the front image in Craft Chocolate Chip ink and embossed it, again with clear embossing powder. 

All of the parts that appear to be Very Vanilla inside the floral images were colored with straight bleach using an aquapainter.  Now, not all cardstock will turn this color and that is why I love bleaching -- you can get some truly unique looks using your aquapainters -- think plaids on backgrounds or dots.  I haven't done it yet, but I want to play around with bleach on my texturz pads in my Big Shot.  If I could do this without getting it all over me, my carpet and my supplies, I would have done it already.  As it is, I need to prepare the room for the onslaught of bleach and am thinking it would be best to do this at the sink in the kitchen.  That's another day of stamping though!

Once we had the images prepared and bleached, we stamped the sentiment from Heard from the Heart in regular Chocolate Chip ink on the bottom of the card and adhered a ribbon around that layer.  This was mounted onto the base and the focal image was mounted on Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip cardstocks and was then adhered to the top layer.

Here is the inside of the card:

Normally, when I use a dark card base, I use a white or vanilla inside sheet.  However, we stamped the smaller image on the inside, embossing and bleaching as we did on the front.  I love the look so we just left it!

The best part of Techniques Class is that in my classes there is one rule:  There are no rules!  You can always change up your cards as you want them.  I teach the technique and what you choose to do with your card is totally and completely up to you.  I've got fabulous stampers and they do some really terrific things with their cards.  I love that I give them a starting point and they jump off into areas I would never have thought of -- in essence, I learn something from everyone of them at every class and that is truly enjoyable!

Although I'm feeling "better", my stomach is not.  So, hopefully I'm losing some weight this week.  My stomach rules if you get my drift.  I didn't eat yesterday and thus far, my tummy is telling me, "Dummy -- I want NO food.  Get it?"  And trust me, I've gotten it.  I'm not hungry and until I am, I'm heeding the warning my stomach is sending me.  When I don't listen, I'm miserable -- so for now, I'm drinking tea and warm water and feeling just fine.  Those body stores of fat are feeding me and I know if I had to fast for 40 days and nights, at this point, you probably wouldn't even notice!

Have a blessed day and remember, we are halfway to the weekend!  I'm stamping this afternoon and hope to have something worthwhile to show you tomorrow!

Gift Bags for Mom's Auction

Well, Andy, according to his father, looks like he is in boot camp!  My child was blessed with a full head of hair and to know that it is now gone...well, his ears will certainly freeze if it gets cold, but I suppose that is why they make hats!  The Mohawk is gone and he is once again sporting a Catholic school approved haircut -- BUZZED!  Good reports from the doctor who read his last MRI though -- no tearing, no bleeding and we expect a full recovery.  He actually has demonstrated better strength in his arms and with his grip, although not full strength as yet, and he does have a somewhat increased range of motion in his neck.  There may be neck sprain, but they won't check for that until they know for certain he is fully recovered from concussion.  Once fully recovered, they will check for neck sprain and may prescribe some physical therapy to help with this.  Because he wants to be a Physical Therapist, I don't actually think Andy would mind having to do some physical therapy and more than likely will talk the therapist's leg off!

Today, I'm sharing a couple of the gift bags I made for the auction at Mom's office.  I packaged several "man" gifts and put them all in one bag -- check this out!

While I can easily say this isn't pretty, the idea behind the bag was to use the rope cording because I thought it could symbolize fisherman's net (it's a stretch!).  I inked up the Inspired by Nature set in Old Olive and stamped the grass many times to get height and width.  Next, in order to simulate cattails (which I adore!), I used the word window punch many times in Chocolate Chip and adhered these with my 2-Way glue pen.  Finally, I used Basic Black cardstock to punch the birds using the Movers and Shakers die in my Big Shot.  I also used some of the Silver Shimmer Paint on one of those birds to give him some "ooomph".  I'm into "ooomph" lately...have you noticed?  The background paper on this is from the retired Urban Oasis Designer Series Paper, but then again, I thought it rather looked like netting.  I don't fish and neither does Thom, so I'm reaching here admittedly!

This next bag I love though and this one was an easy bag to put together.  What do you think?

 

I used a background of Real Red cardstock and then layered on a full piece of Whisper White.  I punched and stamped ornaments in Night of Navy, Real Red and Old Olive.  Once I punched them all out, I layered them onto the Whisper White cardstock and adhered them as I thought they looked right and then adhered the gold cord to make them appear as if they were hanging. 

Now, if I had been on my A game, I would have used the Peaceful Wishes retired set to get branches in there so it would appear they were hanging from a tree.  However, I've packaged that set up to send to LuAnn for the Youth Group to use and didn't want to go to all of the trouble of ripping open the package.  Color me LAZY!  I should have checked my wheel stash because I have a retired wheel that looks like evergreens as well -- okay, there is always next time!  I used an Old Olive ribbon across the bottom and stamped "Merry Christmas" in Night of Navy Ink.  My thought is that this bag can be recycled or repurposed and whomever gets it can then use it for a Christmas gift themselves.  I love recycling and repurposing gift bags!  Again, I am trying to work smarter and not harder here! 

If you notice round bulbs here, you have a good eye!  I punched the 1 3/8" circle and then just punched the top of the ornament punch, attaching it to the round punch with my 2-Way glue pen so there would be a top to them.  I like them and think this works well.  I'll be using as many different sizes of "bulbs" as I can to make bags for Christmas for myself.  I keep telling myself I have two months until Christmas, but the closer we get, the more I think I had better kick this in gear!

Have a fabulous Tuesday!  NCIS Tonight and I'm stoked!  Tuesday is TV night in our house so don't call -- you will only get the machine!  Blessings to you!

You're a Blast!

My youngest brother's son, Jameson, is such a blast!  That child is so full of fun that Thom and I laugh about him all the time -- he just says and does things that a 5 year old child shouldn't even know about, but because his parents are youth group leaders of teens, he knows so much more than he should.  And, he's a miniature Tracy, who is 7 years younger than me, and whom I considered my baby, even though he's really my brother!  I sometimes get Tracy, Andy and Jameson mixed up in my mind because I love them all so much.

So Tracy marries LuAnn and they have Jameson.  I love LuAnn because she is a DOER.  And I mean, she is a DOER!  If she says she is going to get it done, she gets it done in record time.  I marvel sometimes at how she does it, but I don't question -- I just sit back and watch.  Their youth is going to be making cards to sell through their church and I'm sending her some items to help in that regard.  So, along with that package, I've decided to include mail for Jameson.  I started with a sketch and ended up with this card.

Once again, I apologize for the lean in my photos.  I still can't figure out how to get through that darned view finder and I'm going to have to call LuAnn tonight to see if she can walk me through it.

This image comes from the Pun Fun set and it is one that I earned free from Stampin' Up!  I wouldn't have ordered it otherwise because I tend to buy "serious" stamps.  Well, with the Cards for the Kids event coming up, I needed some not so serious cards that kids might enjoy and as luck would have it, this is virgin rubber.  I mounted up the images and checked out some sketch challenges and this card is the result.

I started with a Night of Navy card base.  I used a Yoyo Yellow layer and smacked my Brilliant Blue and Only Orange inkpads all over that layer to give it some "oooomph".  I layered on a pierced and scalloped layer of Only Orange and wrapped a piece of 1/4" Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon around that layer, adding a cheater bow (yep, Francie, it's a cheater!).  I stamped my rocket image in Black Staz-On ink on Whisper White cardstock, and watercolored it with aquapainters and my Bold Brights Watercolor Crayons.  I used the Going Gray crayon as well to color the rocket and add some "smoke" to the image.  I mounted this on Brilliant Blue and ripped both pieces before adding it to my card.  Now, when I inked my rocket image, I omitted the words from the image and stamped the words instead on a piece of scrap Whisper White.  I punched this out with the small oval punch and then punched a piece of Brilliant Blue from the larger oval, mounting the two with dimensionals.  I added this to the top of the image as per the sketch.

Because I am currently in love with Shimmer mist, created using alcohol and shimmer paint, I liberally sprayed the entire card!  Jameson will love it -- what 5 year old do you know who doesn't like rockets and mail?  And the shimmer just made me happy!

Thanks so much for the comments you are leaving on my blog.  I'll be picking a blog candy winner on Thursday afternoon of this week.  Friday, when we do Blogger's Challenge, which is another toughie for me (a one layer card I think!), you'll see the winner and I'll contact you by email. 

I'll leave you with some pictures of the packaging and things I did for the auction my mom's office, The Ohio Police and Fire Department Pension Fund (say that three times fast!), is having to raise funds for Faith Mission, Mid-Ohio Food Bank and Children's Hospital.  Enjoy your day!

This box is holding 8 cards and has a belly band to keep it snug and secure.  Simple and easy, it's one I'll be showing you again.

Happy Monday!