Day 327: Lego Crochet Scarf

In the midst of moving, packing, sorting, my oldest son's Lego Robotics team is preparing for state competition this weekend. So in my "spare time" I've been working on a couple of Lego projects for him, including this Lego scarf, as seen on Pinterest. 

Now I am a capable, if slightly indifferent yarn worker. I can crochet fairly competently, and I can knit a bit, but most of the time I'm kind of watching TV or chatting over coffee and not really paying attention. So I was a bit nervous taking on this Lego brick project using the bobble stitch (which I'd never heard of before). Luckily, the instructions and video link on Deb's Blog: FitzBirch Crafts were excellent, and I could whip out little yarn Lego bricks whenever I had a spare few moments. When I presented the finished scarf to my offspring, he was thrilled, which you can totally see in the picture he let me take of him before school today (not). He actually does like it, he just did not want me to take his picture wearing it.  They grow up so fast!

Day 297: Mason Jar Holiday Gift Tag

Tonight I'm trying to finish up our teacher gifts before conferences this week. I'll show you the whole enchilada tomorrow, but for tonight, here's the tag I made to go on our gift.

I decorated up the back a bit too, leaving space for the boys to add their own note. I used the December SOTM mason jar, which matches the adorable jars I got for our gifts. I stamped the heart onto the jar, all on Cranberry cardstock. Then I trimmed out the heart to back it with a bit of White Pines paper. I added some sparkly glitter polka dot washi tape, and I'm planning to tie them on with baker's twine and those wood veneer snowflakes in the background. Now that I've got cute tags I'm almost ready to fill the jars! 

Day 250: Gluten Free Halloween Treat Bags

If you have spent any time hanging around my blog, or Facebook, or Instagram, you may have noticed that we are a hard-core gluten free family. It's not hard at all to say no to the gluten goodies when they make you feel terrible...but it is hard to say no to the kiddos for so many things that their friends just get to do without the worry of will-that-make-me-sick, even if they do accept it with grace and good will. We do our best to find fun but safe gluten free options for the boys on holidays.  

At Convention this summer we got to make these adorable Halloween tags using Tasty Terrors during one of our crafting sessions. I tucked them into my bowl of extra goodies I'm not sure what to do with but too cute to toss out and there they sat all summer long. Today I dug them out and added them to these cute chevron gift bags that I have filled with gluten free candies from gluten free facilities so the boys can have a special treat after not digging into all the not gluten safe goodies surrounding them on Halloween. I added some black bows, because that's Max's favorite embellishment. I know they will be super excited to get a "present" for Halloween!

Quick and Simple Gift Card Holder

One of the fastest projects I did for my Craft Fair last weekend was these adorable Santa Gift Card holders! I cut a 2 inch buckle from Gold glitter paper (Art Philosophy), then ran a strip of Black CS through the buckle to make the belt. The boxes I found for a song after Christmas last year. They are already glittery, but they had a terrible ugly bow on them that I gently removed. Inside is a soft black velvet tray to hold your thoughtful gift card!

Come visit the Tigard Playschool Bazaar!

I'm so excited to be headed out to the Tigard Playschool Holiday Bazaar. You might have seen us on the news, as recently our spunky little preschool was robbed of our Jog-a-thon funds. Thankfully, many sweet, wonderful members of the community have sent donations, and I am so grateful for the kindness and love in our community.  Of course, in any school, there's always a need for more funds, so if you are local, and have some time, stop by the bazaar and shop local while supporting our adorable preschoolers! 

Besides a full roster of creative crafters, we will be having a choir performance, and a raffle for a fabulous $1200 Traeger Grill. Can you imagine what a great holiday gift that would be? This grill is so top of the line, it looks like you could launch a rocket ship with it (says the girl who's in love with her cast iron skillet). The bazaar is from 9-4 at Tigard United Methodist Church in Tigard. Here's a link to a map/directions - we are tucked off 99W behind the Jiffy Lube at 99W and Walnut. 

I'll be there all day with a variety of hand crafted items (including my new Sparkle scarves) and a steaming cup of tea from my favorite coffee shop, Jubilatte, which is located right inside the church. I hope the bacon jam gal will be back this year!

Do you love my blinged out Mason Jars as much as I do? I'll do a post on them soon.  Now I've got to get to bed so I'll be bright eyed and bushy tailed when I get to visit with you tomorrow.

Ho, Ho, Hope to see you there!

Practical Scrappers Tiny Things

This week at Practical Scrappers we were working with Tiny Things. I chose one of my favorites, CTMH's Wooden Trinkets, stampable laser cut wooden shapes. I decided to make a card set, inspired by the Moxie Fab Card Set Challenge, using my Dream Pop papers, lots of Washi tape, and this adorable Puns of Praise stamp set that has been sitting unused on my table top. That situation was screaming to be rectified!

Here's a closer look at the four cards in the set. I kept the design simple and sweet with a Dream Pop banner for a burst of color and washi tape accents. A sprinkling of Bitty Sparkles finished off each card.

I cut out each Puns of Praise image, detailing the imaged with only a Grey Flannel marker and popping them up with 3-D Foam tape. I finished each images with a coordinating Wooden Trinket that I colored with a black Sharpie pen and edged with Silver Glitter Glitz. I just love the punny little sayings!

I cut my card set bag out using the Cricut Artiste Cartridge using the 3-D object bag on page 33 at 4 inches. The sides fold in to make a little pouch inside to hold my 3x3 cards nice and snug - no adhesive required! I put four cards in this time, but I've done up to 12 if they aren't too chunky. I cut a practice bag in some scrap B&T, then used that outline to figure out how to line up my Dream Pop notebook paper so that the swirls would be on the front of my bag.

Here's a close up of the floral cluster on the front. I cut some flowers in graduated sizes from 2 inches down to 1/2" (Cricut Artiste), then manipulated the paper fibers to bend and form the petals of the flowers. This is the clear polka dot embossed CS from the Dream Pop Pack, and it worked great with the flower formation. I was a little worried I'd ruin the cute embossed polkadots, but they still look shiny and fab! To my biggest paper flower I added one of the beautiful metal flowers I won in the Practical Scrappers Card Contest this year (Thanks, Christine!). And I topped that with one of the largest wooden trinkets and a Pewter Sparkle badge. A little washi and a Cricut sentiment finished off my cute purse.

Hope you liked my little gift card set! You can find more Tiny Things inspirations over at Practical Scrappers, and more amazing gift card projects over at Moxie Fab World. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Good morning, Stampin' Friends! Happy Mother's Day! Today I'm sharing this gift bag and card combo I crafted for another lucky Mom in my neighborhood. Her sweet family got her a really fab bunch of CTMH goodies, and I got to wrap them up!

I made a card slot on the front of the bag with my new Card Hanger Die from Soapbox Creations. It makes a covered card slot to hang a standard sized card from the front of your bag. It works well for the 3-D flower cards that an envelope would smash flat. I used Claire papers and Canvas StickEase on the card with some Kraft Keyboard Alpha Stickers. I used the Freshly Made Sketch for my card today. 

Don't you just love the texture of the Canvas? I highlighted each little heart on the background stamp with Stardust glitter glitz. The flowers are sponged with Ruby Ink and filled with Washi Tape and silver glitz.

I topped the ribbons off with a Big Blooms flower. I used one full flower for a base. Then I folded three additional flowers into fourths and glued them on top of the base flower to make a bigger fluffy flower...which I spritz with pearly spritz! 

Hope y'all are having a lovely day!

Black Friday Holiday Hoopla

It's that time of year...and I cannot wait! I'm a Black Friday shopping avoider, so instead of shopping, I'll be hosting two days of cropping and workshops. Come make your Holiday Cards and some fun Holiday decor, or bring your own projects and just enjoy some fun girl time! 

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving. Drop in to finish a quick project, or stay and crop all day! Light lunch served both days with RSVP.

You only have one week to RSVP for these projects!

RSVPs are due by Friday to ensure that I can get all your adorable projects prepped before Thanksgiving arrives.

Stamp A Stack 2013

It's back! $1 per card, you choose how many of which card design you love. Email to RSVP for Stamp A Stack and I'll send you a custom invoice for your choices.

Holiday Ornament Wreath

Something new and so much fun to make! We'll be using hot glue guns to create super shiny, glittery holiday door wreaths topped with sparkly bows and papercrafted poinsettias. Your choice of Gold/Silver or Red/Green for $25. Additional wreaths at just $20 each - makes a great gift!

2013 Mini Calendars

Looking for cute and crafty teacher gifts or stocking stuffers? Craft this two pack of calendars, one for you and one to share for $25. Or supersize your project and make 6 calendars for $35!

I Want It All Option A

25 cards (your choice of design), 1 wreath (choice of color), and 2 calendars for $70

I Want It All Option B

25 cards (your choice of design), 1 wreath (choice of color), and 6 calendars for $80

I Want It All Option C

25 cards (your choice of design), 2 wreaths (choice of color), and 6 calendars plus free Bonus frame project for $100

RSVP by Friday, November 16th for your cozy crafty spot away from the Holiday Shopping madness!

To go kits available for home crafting - additional shipping charge may apply.

Workshop and TO GO Kits (remember to email Stamp A Stack RSVPs for custom invoice)

I Want It All Option A $70.00 USD I Want It All Option B $80.00 USD I Want It All Option C $100.00 USD Wreath Workshop Kit $25.00 USD (2) Wreath Workshop Kits $45.00 USD Calendar Workshop (2 pack) $25.00 USD Calendar Workshop (6 pack) $35.00 USD

wreath/card choices

 

You are the heart of my business - thanks for stopping by! 

Mojo Monday Teacher Gifts

I can't believe that it's already mid June and my great big not-so-baby boy is almost done with Kindergarten! His little brother is wrapping up his first year of preschool on the same day, and I'm going to be a teary but-not-crying mess.

Last night at my club crop I whipped up these charming sewing kits as our end of the year Teacher Gift. They are made from the Jelly Jar style Mason jars (any excuse to buy a new type, right?). I cut pieces of quilt batting and placed them onto a 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 square of adorable wish-I-had-that-print-in-paper cotton fabric which I then glued onto the Mason Jar lid using the quick dry liquid adhesive I normally use for my Canvas wall hangings. I considered hot glue gun, but I like all my fingers as they are, without burns. That covered piece got glued into the actual Mason jar ring, creating the puffy area to stick in the pins

 I covered the now icky looking inner lid with a Lagoon CS circle I cut on my Cricut. I also attached a strong round magnet here with the liquid adhesive and that's where I stuck the needles for the sewing kit so no one gets poked trying to find a needle!

I added ribbon around the outside of the Jar lid. I made a big fluffy bow which I topped off with some paper flowers from my stash and Pearl Opaques. I had purchased some pearly ball-topped pins which I added to the pin cushion on top. Some I added extra double layered paper flowers to with Liquid Glass to make it prettier.

 Then I needed a label, so got my Cricut Art Philosophy to work cutting ovals and scalloped ovals. I whipped out my Tailor-Made Stamp Set and did some second generation stamping in Lagoon and Cocoa inks with the scissors, thread, and measuring tape images. I stamped the banner from Remarkable Wreath over top in Cocoa Ink, and topped it off with a few handcut button images from Tailor-Made. I love how having clear stamps makes it so easy to add those tiny stitches to the buttons!

Finally, I used just the last two words of a sentiment from Tailor Made to finish my thought...Thanks Sew Much! I mounted the labels with adhesive in the centers and foam tape on the edges so that they were easier to curve gently around the jar.

Then I (of course) needed a matching card, right? So I turned to Mojo Monday for an absolutely adorable sketch. They are giving us until Sunday night to complete the sketch - there are already gobs of awesome ideas using the sketch posted out there, so make sure you go have a peek!

I used a bit of the Dressmakers Pattern print from Stella and some of the Grid print from Typeset to fill in the sketch. I embossed some Colonial White CS for the background with a neat Cuttlebug folder that had dots all over except for a 1" strip across the short way - perfect for popping a sentiment onto! I repeated some of the elements from the coordinating tag when I stamped the card, but here I could give into my lumpy-bumpy impulses and make them pop more since you wouldn't have to work around them to open a jar full of sewing stuff!

I did some waterbrushing and glitter glitz on the dressmakers form. I used my waterbrush to tint the paper flowers with Lagoon ink as well before topping them off with more glitter gel and Bitty Pearls. I added a couple of the sewing pins to my scissors too!

Finally, because it's a sewing themed gift, I HAD to stitch around the edges of everything...man alive did my piercing ruler get a workout! But I love it, and I hope Gabe and Ben's wonderful, hard working, dedicated teachers will love it as much ad those boys love their teachers!

I'm linking this post to Get Your Craft On Tuesday over at Today's Creative Blog - go check it out!

I'm also linking to the Linky party at DIY Dreamer - cute stuff out there!!

I'm SEW glad you came by for a visit!

December SOTM Blog Hop!

Welcome to our CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring December's SOTM, which is Mad About You, a Love themed set of 14 stamps! If you have come here from DOREEN'S BLOG, you are on the right path!  This month we have over 50 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.  Here we go!

This month I made this adorable little purse, just the right size to slip in a few chocolates or a gift card and deliver to your favorite girlfriend! I made a coordinating tag too, all using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge in conjunction with the December SOTM! I found my color combo from Julie Ebersole's Color Swatch Challenge. I chose Vineyard Berry, Lagoon, 2nd Generation Lagoon, Baby Pink, and Sweet Leaf to match the swatches.

And I knew I wanted to make the purse this week, but I was planning to use the new Rock the Block set...until I saw the Moxie Fab Get Inspired in the Kitchen Challenge. Suddenly my SOTM project gelled in my head and I was stamping my heart(s) out...literally!

I cut a bunch (like 20) of the small 1" hearts on White Daisy CS with my AP cartridge. I know I could have stamped them right onto the Cricut shape for the purse front...I did that on the back. See the difference? Just adding the hearts stamped onto White CS adds so much texture to my little purse! Would I have fussy cut them all to piece it by hand? Probably not...but now I don't have to think about the work, my cricut does it all for me!

Even the purse handle was cut on my Cricut. I loaded a fresh sheet into my Cricut, chose the correct image to cut (adorable double scalloped edge border) and hit the "Fit to Length" button. That lets the machine know that you want the strip to be a specific length (in this case, 7 inches). Then it automatically decides how wide to make the strip proportionally. That strip was actually a smidge wide for my taste, so I then trimmed it in half down the center with my paper trimmer and adhered the two sides separately to my 1/2" Cardstock to create my scalloped handle. Then I folded in the two end scallops on each side of my handle and adhered them to the inside of my Purse Lid with Liquid Glass (then covered up the inside of the Purse Lid with more Lagoon CS).

Finally, I stamped my Cricut flowers using the Big heart stamp in Baby Pink Ink. Each flower was then swiped on the edges and randomly stamped with the big swirl image in Vineyard Berry ink. I used the tip of my paper piercer to curl back the individual petals of the flower swirl, then rolled up the flower and filled it with Liquid Glass. After letting it dry on my table top for a few minutes (I like to rest a big block on top of it to help keep everything in place while it dries) I smooshed the flowers more with the same big block. You're thinking a nice, gentle press with the block, so sweet...but no. I grab the block and give each one a good SMACK and call it good - yea for distressed flowers!

I put the measurements and Cricut cuts for the purse below. Last note: how much do you LOVE those Rhinestone Brads?

Now "Hop" on over to PAIGE'S BLOG to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, this SOTM is only available until the end of December! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for just $5!

Here are the purse dimensions and Cricut Cuts used:
To make the inner "box" of the purse:
1 3/4" x 11" CS, scored at 1/2" along each long side and 3 1/2" from each short end. Fold on the score lines, snip just at the intersections (little 1/2" snips) and fold up, adhering the corners to create the purse frame.

Cricut cuts:
Purse Front/Back
(pg. 47) 4 1/2" White Daisy CS x 2
(pg. 47) 4 3/4" Lagoon CS x 2
Mat, embellish, then adhere to CS Box frame.

Purse Lid:
(pg. 31) 4"  White Daisy CS
(pg. 21) 3 3/4" Lagoon CS (I ran this through the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug embossing folder)
Adhere together, then score a 1" fold in the center to make it into a "U" shape. adhere one side to the back of the purse with strong adhesive. Close with a velcro dot on the front.

Embellishments:
(pg. 26) 1" x 20
(pg. 68) 1 1/2" and 1" <FlurDeLs>
(pg. 62) 1/2" x4

Handle:
(pg. 62)   Fit to Length at 7"

Here comes the Santa-tizer!

I have been working hard to get ready for our booth at Mooberry Elementary School's Holiday Bazaar on Friday and Saturday this week. One of the projects I made is this adorable Teacher gift - a bottle of Santa-tizer! I punched the scallop border across the bottom with the CTMH Corner Rounder. You pop the guard off and turn it upside down so you can line the scallops up to touch as you punch across your paper and it makes this sweet wide scallop border! A few buttons and some Gold Stickles and your hands have never been more merry...or cleaner!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Come see me at Mooberry and check out the fun!

Posted to the Paper Issues Holiday Madness Linky Party! Check out the Holiday crafty goodness!

November SOTM Blog Hop!

Welcome to our CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! We will be featuring November's SOTM, which is Cherish The Day, a set of 44 stamps! If you have come here from BRAE'S BLOG, you are on the right path! The blog hop is a great big circle, so you can start here and work your way all around. If you get lost along the way, you’ll find the complete list of participating consultants here.

This month we have almost 60 Close To My Heart Consultants sharing their creations using this month's SOTM and other great CTMH products on their blogs. This is simple to do - just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go!

This month I made a crafty picture frame for my friend and downline Bao, who just welcomed beautiful baby boy Joseph to her family! I used the October image stamped on tickets cut with my Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to create the big flower in the lower frame corner. I rolled the image in Sweet Leaf and Vineyard Berry inks, then pulled each ticket over the handle of my piercing tool to make the "petals curve". The paper is retired (Wings), but I have a not-so-secret stash since I just LOVE butterflies! I painted the frame with White acrylic paint, and stamped directly onto the painted surface with my CTMH inks for the swirls and title. Final touches included a few Just Blooms Flutter paper butterflies, Bling collection buttons, and Stardust Glitter Glitz. Now I have something fun and hand-made  to bring when I get to meet Baby Joseph!

Now "Hop" on over to DAWN'S BLOG to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and other fun ideas! Remember, this SOTM is only available until the end of November! Contact your CTMH Consultant (or click here) to see how you can get this stamp set for just $5!

Here are some other projects I have made using this awesome Stamp of the Month...

Upcoming Holiday Gift Calendar Workshop
4th of July Scrapbook Wall Hanging
Set of 12 SOTM Cards