December 27, 2012

TAWS Be Inspired #18

It's time for The Alley Way Stamps Be Inspired Challenge.  Here's the inspiration photo:


And here's my card using TAWS set Jibber Jabber.  It's a V-Day card since that's the holiday OWH is currently collecting cards for.  Of course the deadline is this week, so I probably won't mail it in time. (I rarely manage to mail holiday cards by the deadline-oops!)


Sweet and simple.  It took me approximately 5 minutes to make.  I need to get used to this CAS card style-it's so easy!

Linking Up:
The Alley Way Stamps-Be Inspired #18
CAS-usal Fridays-10 min dash
Make It Monday-Anything Goes

ICP Cards

With the holidays and my work catching up to me, I'm a bit behind on making cards for OWH. A few weeks ago, Operation Write Home announced an Interactive Card Party. It is full of You-Tube videos that takes you through various choices on cards giving you tutorials along the way. I got some stamps from The Alley Way Stamps and couldn't wait to try them out. This challenge was perfect for it. 

 My first card is based on choices BBBBA. If you want the tutorial, go to the link above and choose those same letter options. 

Supplies:  Stamps-TAWS, Paper-Target, K&Co, Basic Gray

This card is so punny!  I just love the bright colors.

 My second card came from choosing CBBAB.

Supplies:  Stamps-TAWS, Embellishments-Making Memories, Paper-Colorbok

I wanted to make a boy's birthday card, so I didn't follow the "Love" theme from the tutorial.  I made the bear an adorable party hat, but it didn't quite fit.

You really should try the Interactive Cardmaking Party.  It's a blast!

Linking Up:
Operation Write Home-ICP Cards
Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes
Make It Monday-Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday-Anything Goes

December 25, 2012

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas crafty friends.  May your holidays and upcoming year be joyful and full of fun.


December 24, 2012

Day 24 of My Papercrafting World's 25 Days of Christmas

It's Christmas Eve!  I still can't figure out how the holidays came so quickly.  Must be all the crafting.  We are on Day 24 of My Papercrafting World's 25 Days of Christmas.  This is my final design team post for it.  I'm sad to see it end.  The ladies I worked with are so fabulous!

Today's theme is Wise Men.  You can find all the designers' projects and freebies HERE.

I made a magnetic nativity set for my project.


This was so fun to make and it only used scraps which was even better.  I laminated them and attached magnets on the back.  I then attached the background to a cookie sheet.  I teach the 12-14 yr olds in my church, so I used this set as part of my lesson.  I put each character in an envelope with a slip of paper that had a scripture, story, or quote on it relating to Christ's birth and let the kids pick an envelope and share what they got.  They loved it.  It seemed a little childish, but something I've learned about jr. high students is they like to be little kids again every once in a while.

Here's a closer look at the 3 kings from the East.  My husband thinks the one with brown hair looks like Wyatt Earp.




December 22, 2012

Day 22 of The 25 Days of Christmas

It's Day 22 of My Paper Crafting World's 25 Days of Christmas.  Wow!  We're almost done.  What a fun month this has been.  Go HERE to see all the awesome holiday ideas and to snag today's freebies.  Today's theme is Last Minute Gifts.

I'm pretty good about getting gifts for my family early.  I'm not so good at coworker and neighbor gifts.  This idea is for those little gifts.


These are decorated mason jars with "handmade" gifts inside.  Even the simplest gift can look super classy if given the right presentation.

Inside the jar with the bow is hot chocolate mix and marshmallows.  The sentiment on the tag comes from the Cricut cartridge Winter Woodland.  The hot cocoa image comes from Christmas Cheer.

I used Cursive 101 to make the sugar scrub label.  Sugar scrub is so nice and super cheap and easy to make.

Sugar Scrub Recipe:
1 part olive oil (you can use coconut or Joomla oil if you prefer)
2 parts white granulated sugar
2-4 drops essential oil (I love to use peppermint)

Wisk the ingredients in a bowl until well mixed.
Transfer into mason jar
Enjoy awesomely easy gift

To use:  Stir before use
Scrub body with sugar scrub; avoid sensitive areas
Rinse with warm water
Enjoy super soft skin
Scrub can be stored in the fridge to lengthen shelf life.

See?  Super easy and I love it.  I'm making some for myself.  I'm going to try using some Vitamin E oil in it to see how that makes my skin feel.

You can use these jars for all sorts of gifts:  candy, cookie mix, craft supplies, jam, honey, ect.  I tried to make my husband some all natural shaving cream (the tag was so cute-it had a shaved Santa), but that turned out awful.  It smelled rancid and made a horrible shave.  So sorry, I don't have a recipe for the men in your life.  If you have one, I'd love to try it.  Please share any handmade gifts you love to give or receive.

Have fun gift making!


December 20, 2012

Day 20 of My Paper Crafting World's 25 Days of Christmas

Welcome to day 20 of My Paper Crafting World's 25 Days of Christmas.  You can find all the days HERE. Today's theme is stockings, stuffers, and silliness. I have some silly stockings for you today:


I used the today's free stocking image and the free image from day 12 (Have you been collecting the freebies daily?  If not, Paper Crafting World has some great Santa images you can purchase HERE).

I fussy-cut the stockings and St. Nick.  I then trimmed Nick's arms and cut his feet off so he'd fit in the fireplace.  Does anyone else feel insanely guilty when they have to mutilate edit a super-cute image to make it fit?  I felt like cutting Santa's feet off would put me on the naughty list for sure!


Hard to believe there's only 5 days til Christmas!  I still have to wrap everything...



December 18, 2012

Day 18 of My Papercrafting World's 25 Days of Christmas

Welcome to Day 18 of My Papercrafting World's 25 Days of Christmas.  Follow the link HERE to join in all the fun and enter to win some awesome prizes.

Today's theme is Thanksgiving.




This is a gratitude journal that uses today's free digital image.  Follow the link above to get it today only!  I drew lines using PrismaColor pencils in various browns (one light, one med, and one dark-I used light the most) and then followed over with straight lines using odorless mineral spirits to make the wood grain texture.    The more odorless mineral spirits you add, the more blended it becomes, so use sparingly and make sure to streak in a straight(ish) line.  Let me know if you'd like a tutorial.


It's been nice to have a journal to reflect in.  It's helped me stay positive this holiday season.  Thanks for dropping in.  I'd love to see how you use this sweet digi.


December 11, 2012

Day 11 of My Paper Crafting World's 25 Days of Christmas

Welcome to Day 11 of My Paper Crafting World's 25 Days of Christmas.  Can you believe we are only 2 weeks away from Christmas?!  Time is just flying by.

Today's theme is 4th of July.  I was so excited for this one.  If you're a regular follower, then you know what a patriotic person I am.


Supplies:  Paper-Rusty Pickle, Images-My Paper Crafting World, Ribbon-Offay, Brads-Making Memories

You can get that fun image for free today HERE.  There's also lots more patriotic projects to see as well as other freebies today, so follow the link and join the 25 fun filled Days of Christmas.

December 9, 2012

Hot Cocoa and Coffee

The Saturated Canary has a new challenge:  inspired by hot chocolate.  My hubby and I have been hooked on Stephen's mint truffle hot chocolate right now, so I decided to make a brown and mint green card:

Supplies:  Image-Saturated Canary, Stickers-American Crafts and K&Co, punch-Martha Stewart Crafts

And then I thought of something funny that would make a great sentiment on a coffee card:

Image-Saturated Canary, Ribbon-Offay, Stickers-K&Co

Here's a better look at the sentiment:


Ha ha, enjoy!

Linking Up:
Saturated Canary-hot chocolate inspiration
Craft Your Passion-snow

and now some chemical humor

I love chemistry.  Does that make me a nerd?  Probably, but that's okay.  I hope there's some nerdy soldiers out there that will appreciate these OWH cards:
Supplies:  Image-There She Goes, Paper-K&Co

I wish that I could take credit for that joke, but I got it from Chemistry Cat.


Did you get that one?  My husband just rolled his eyes when he read it.

And of  course I couldn't let the boys have all the fun:
 
Supplies:  Image-There She Goes, Paper-Provo Craft

Linking up:
Retro Sketches-sketch challenge
Penny's Challenges-anything goes
Crafts and Me-anything goes

December 5, 2012

Day 5 of My PaperCrafting.com's 25 Days of Christmas

Hi crafters!  It's Day 5 at My PaperCrafting.com's 25 Days of Christmas.  If you aren't familiar with the 25 Days, go HERE for awesome freebies and holiday project ideas.  Today's theme is gingerbread.


When in doubt, there's no going wrong with simple cardstock and adhesive.  I used the Cricut cartridges Gingerbread, Everyday Paper Dolls, and Opposites Attract.  The soldier and snowman cookies are cut at 2", the train at 3", the baker at 5" (though I think I made her hat and accessories slightly bigger), and the title is cut at 1.5".  My goal with the title was to make it look like cookies and frosting.  I think the fonts pulled it off.

I cut everything out of cardstock and assembled, but the cookies looked a bit bland.  Gingerbread sparkles a little, so out came the glitter.  It adds just the right amount of pizazz.


To dress up the girl, I gave her lips and hair ties using colored pencil and cheeks using actual blush.  I just use a Q-tip to add blush to the paper in small circles to get that effect.


How do you dress up Cricut paper dolls?

December 2, 2012

Operation: Christmas

Every year I try to find a cause to donate to at Christmas time.  It helps put things in perspective during the busy holiday season.  This year, my hubby and I signed up for Operation: Christmas.  It's a program to give Christmas to soldiers overseas.  We did not plan on being assigned to give Christmas to a platoon leader who desperately wants to give Christmas to his entire platoon (50 soldiers).  EEK!

Thankfully, we know some wonderfully generous people who donated food, games, supplies, and even shipping money.  We were able to get nearly everything on their Christmas list!


That's an 18"x18"x18" box filled to the brim.  Thanks friends!

I also had my students write Anyhero letters to include in the package.  Naturally, I had to make one too:

Supplies: Paper-Provo Craft, Stamps-The Alley Way Stamps  Twine-The Twinery

I love that little bird from TAWS Jolly Holiday.  I thought he was perfect for this package since he's one tiny birdie giving a mighty big Christmas.  The card is also perfect for TAWS Be Inspired Challenge:


Linking up to:
The Alley Way Stamps-Be Inspired #16
There She Goes-Photo Inspiration
Simon Says Stamp-Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday-Anything Goes