Friend of ABC Toys & Crafts Feature

 Today I am honored to be featured on the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team Blog.  Thanks so much to my blogging friend, Justine, for mentioning me.  Justine has become a special support system to me over the last year in more ways than one.  Isn't blogging an amazing way to meet so many wonderful people that you may never have met before?  Well, they have honored me by featuring a few of my projects using several of the supplies you can find in the ABC Toys & Crafts Store.  Pop on over to check them out.

I used one of the templates from Creations by AR to make one project.  I'll only give a peek here.

Pop on over to see the projects in full.  There's also a little Q&A that I answered.  You may learn something about me that you never wanted or needed to know;) Thanks so much!


Since I will be spending the remaining time with my family, enjoying, laughing and loving every, sweet minute, I won't be posting anything until December.   I hope you all have a very BLESSED Holiday doing whatever it is that makes you happy!

Enjoy!

Two Days Late and Oh So Short...

 Well, I missed out on posting my creation for A Crafty Little Place Challenge.  I was, honestly, so sick that I couldn't even upload pictures and link up items.  No kidding.  I'm on the mend though.  Yeah!  So here is my project and I am very short IRL and with what I did in comparison to everyone else. Wow!  They had some stunning creations this week.  Make sure you go and check them out, ok?  Fabulous stuff!  Also, that little banner at the top?  Well, it's a Thanksgiving Day Sale that lasts ALL WEEK!  Woo Hoo!  You don't have to wait for Black Friday...sounds to scary anyways.  Make sure you pop in next week for tons of sales.  Love DCRU!

 Supplies Used:

Stamps: Just Rite,

Ink: Colorbox Green, TH Antique Linen

Paper: Basic Grey Pyrus, Mustard, Prism Green, Kraft

Other: Baker's Twine

 Thanks for popping in!  Stop back on Saturday for a Special post.  I'll be on a bit of vacation after that until December.  I'm having a giveaway when I return so watch for that too!

Very Late Winner's Post!

 I'm so sorry that the results are late.  I was struck with influenza on Friday and have been down since then.  The last time I felt so sick (except pregnancy) was when I got mono 15 years ago.  I have had no energy to even try and post. I have been in a coma like state I think.

This means I am also 5 days behind on everything.  Moms should not get sick.  It should be a rule.  I leave tomorrow for Michigan and won't be back until the end of the month.  I will share my "Fireplace Card made into a box directions" when I return.  I have a few pre scheduled posts, but not many;(


Ok, enough moaning....the winner of the Free Template is......

Stacie (craft-princess) said...

Gorgeous projects!

 I told my son to pick a number and he chose 41.  Stacie was number 41.  Congrats Stacie!!!!  Contact me and I'll send your info on to Adela.

Have a great evening

Creations By AR Release Day!

 Today I'm so excited to be part of my first ever Creations by AR  release!  Adela has some amazing things in her shop.  I LOVE to create 3D projects and her templates make that so easy. 

  Today I'm featuring two new releases.  

First up is the Totally Tote-able.

 I can definitely see myself using this one A LOT!  I think all my teacher gifts will go in here this year:)

This was so easy and fun to create!

Next up is the Fireplace Card.

I like to think "outside the box," or in this case I made a box.  Yep!  I had an idea to take the template for the Fireplace card and make a shadow box type of card AND a matching box to go with it.  All using the same template.  Stop back later in the month and I'll show you how I did that;)   I have another variation on how to use this template too.  It's not finished so you'll have to come back for that as well.

I have one more card to share using some great embellishments that Adela has in her shop.

I used 2S4Y Sketch 65 for this card.

Now, for a chance to WIN A FREE TEMPLATE, leave me a comment on my blog and then hop along to all the fabulous Design Team blogs.  Leave a comment along the way.  You're sure to be dazzled!  You have until Sunday.  One winner will be chosen on each blog.  Wow!  

Hop to it and have FUN!

AMY PARK
ANDREA BUDJACK

MAGDALENA CORTEZ

MARIA BELL

ME!
SILVIA MABIE

ADELA ROSSOL

GUEST DESIGNER

SUE KMENT

Jovial

Happy Tuesday!  It's time for another challenge at A Crafty Little Place. 

Today we have a color challenge for you.  Let's get into the holiday spirit at bit because we'd like to see GREEN, RED and WHITE on your projects.

The Design Team used Jovial paper by Basic Gray.  I made a few projects for you.

Try not to be too critical of my horrible stitching on the second card.  I just can't figure out how to sew on a curve very well,

 Supplies Used:

Stamps: Crafty Secrets Vintage Christmas

Ink: Memento Black, Versafine Black, Walnut Stain Distress

Paper: Basic Gray Jovial, Echo Park Wintertime, Neenah White, Textured White

Other: Copics, Sizzix Snowflake Dies, brads, ribbon, Fiskars corner punch

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes

Ink: Memento Black

Paper: Basic Gray Jovial, Buttercream and Green Prism

Other: sewing machine, red ribbon, EK Success punch, corner rounder

Hope you can get join in this week! 

Hugs to You!

   A BIG hug to all of you that are patient with me and my irregular and not so frequent posts.  I feel like I'm drowning in things to do.  I have been crafting up a storm and should have at least 3 days of posts for you.  One of those will include a PRIZE!  That's right!  On Wednesday, Creations by AR is having a release and I will be choosing a random winner from all my comments!  WooHoo!  So, stay tuned for that!

I made a card the other day just because.  I realized that it has been forever since I have created for no particular reason....Just Because!  My paper flowers all got wet and stained somehow.  I truly can't figure out what happened, but they all bled together.  Some are ruined, but I was able to salvage this beauty.  I love the colors and that I could use my orange, Halloween, wrinkled ribbon for a non- Halloween card.  Yeah, me!  Ugh...that sounded like London from the Suite Life.  Too much Disney TV going on here.  Anyways, it's a CAS card that makes me happy because of the colors and because I could take something "wrong" and make it "right":D  If only it were all that easy, huh?

I have been working on cleaning out my craft room and I'm going to have a BIG sale.  I'm getting rid of a ton of SU products...including paper, ink pads and reinkers.  Stay tuned for that.  I need to down size before I have to pack up all my stuff.  I feel the need for a good purging:)  I will also be having my own personal giveaway around Thanksgiving.  I'm grateful for all you fellow bloggers who haven't left me.  Even though I haven't been around much.

  Once last thing....I recently became a Scentsy Consultant.  I went to a party because I really just wanted to get rid of the dog smell in my home.  Well, I feel in love with the product and decided to try to supplement some of the income that we may be losing as we move.  I'm so excited about it.  I have a website that I would love for you to check out.

www.SealedWithAScent.com

Clever, right?  Hee Hee!

Scentsy sells several things that will make your life smell, "Oh so GOOD!" 

Basically, they have Warmers and Plug Ins that melt a wax at a very low temp using a special light bulb.  Because the wax melts as such a low temp, you can touch the wax and not get burned.  There is also no by-product like you get with a burning candle.  Not to mention how much safer these are than a burning candle.  As the wife of a firefighter,  that means A LOT to me.  

They also have Tin, Circles (car freshner), stuffed animals with scent bags, room spray, antibacterial foam, etc.

There are over 80 different scents.  My favorites at the moment are Cranberry Muffin, Home Sweet Home, Honey Pear Cider, Vanilla Walnut and Pumpkin Roll.

If you like a "clean" smell then I recommend Inner Peace, White Sands, Satin Sheets, Radiance and Clean Breeze.

During the months of November and December, I will donate 5% of ALL my sales to THE SALVATION ARMY.  These make perfect gifts!  Help yourself and help someone else!  What a great thing!

I will also be giving away a FREE WARMER to one lucky person who makes a purchase during those months.

I would  love for you to check out my new adventure.   

www.sealedwithascent.com  

It will, by no means, replace my paper crafting.  Hopefully, just help support it;D

I'll see you back here tomorrow with A Crafty Place Challenge!

Have a Blessed Day!

Wander...Oh How I Wish

 Wow, have we been busy here.  Wandering around...nope!  Not much.  We are trying to get the house ready to put on the market.  New carpet today and a new bathroom this weekend.  I also started a new adventure that I will share later in the week.  My computer is still not fixed.  That has been tough!  I don't have any of my files or pictures of things I hadn't yet posted.  So, I apologize for my lack of posting.  I'm sure once the house is taken care of  I'll get back to creating.  I'm banned to the basement today because of carpet installation.  Yeah!  I'm "trapped" in my crafting room.

Today, it's time for another A Crafty Little Place challenge.  Joni created a great sketch and I had two, yes TWO, ideas using the Wander collection by Basic Grey.  You can find a list of all the supplies I used under the picture...with links:D

I hope you can join along in our challenge this week.  I'm sorry I haven't been able to comment very well.  I'm sharing a computer with my daughter and it's been "interesting."  Crossing my fingers that my computer can be fixed and fixed THIS week.   I remember when I got married and my husband got us a computer.  I never really wanted it and thought they were kind of silly.  Can you imagine?!  Now, I feel like a part of me is missing.  My file folder of so much info.  UGH!  I will survive though...I think.

  

Here's my project:

 

Supplies Used:

Paper: XPress Blending,White, Black, Green prism, Yellow Coordinations, Basic Grey Wander

Ink: Black Memento, Colorbox Cape Cod

Stamps: Stampavie Skateboard Dude

Other: Chipboard letters, Robots Chipboard, Oval and Circle Nestabilities, Black Ric Rac, pinking shears, Copics, Distress Stickles, Rub ons, dimensionals

I, honestly, think I might have another post tomorrow.  WOOT WOOT! 

Friends Make Life Fun!

It's time for another A CRAFTY LITTLE PLACE CHALLENGE!

For this week we are looking to SPOOKY things.  Now my card isn't really that spooky, but I loved those little one-eyed monsters so much that I had to use them.  They coordinate with the papers the Design Team got to use called, Rockets and Rayguns.  Honestly, sticker and chipboard have been my "go to" item lately.  I've been so busy with house prep that I haven't had much time to create. 

The inside of the cards says, " make life fun!"

I am lucky enough to have lots of friends that make my life fun because that's what life should be, right?

Let me tell you about "spooky" now.  Spooky is going to look at a house and having 3 of 4 people not have a good feeling about a bedroom in a 1840 year old home.  OOOoooooooh!

Spooky is having your laptop go on the fritz.  Not being able to make your main computer type.  Then having your clock go back 45 minutes and almost make you late for a party you are hosting.  Then your husband getting really sick so he can't watch the kids while you host the party.  Then your old dog peeing right in the spot where everyone is supposed to be sitting for your party.   I think I brought back the bad heebie jeebies from that old house.  I don't know, but it's been weird here lately.  How's that for spooky?

Not enough?

Then check out my "Hairy Toe."  I'm gearing up to tell that story to my son's class on Friday.

Still not scary enough????  Well, then show us what you've got.  Link your project up at ACLP this week.  I can't wait to see what Spooktacular things you have in store.......Moo HA HA!

Supplies Used:

Paper: Rockets and Rayguns (TPC Studios), textured white, Green Prism 

Other: Rockets and Rayguns sticker pack, Star Punch, Spellbinders tag die, dimensionals, paper piercer

Isn't She Pathetic???

My poor pooch.  I feel so bad for her.  Life is not the same.  I honestly can't wait for her 2 week check up so we can start walking again.  I wrote on Facebook that I was complaining about having to paint and then she walked out, plopped down and looked at me like this.  It was like she was saying," What EVER, dude!  I had my insides removed.  I have to stay in a crate most of the time.  I can't play, jump, run, chase a ball or frisbee and suddenly, my "potty time" isn't even private because YOU have to take me out on a leash so I don't do any of the above.  Not to mention, this lovely blue attire ( referred to in the dog world as "The Cone of Shame") isn't exactly FUN to wear.  So suck it up, will ya?  You've got it easy!"

I got all that from one look.  

Every book I have read states that behavioral problems in dogs usually stem from lack of exercise.  This 2 week, no exercise allowed time, is great evidence of that.  Notice the holes on the blue cape?  That occurred on day 4 of being a crate.  I guess she decided that she needed to alter her E collar to fit in the fashion world.

I feel really bad for her.  She is a spaz, right now.  Not my calm, well behaved puppy, that's for sure.

I wanted to pop in to share another Halloween Project.  This is a Tent Card and you can view the tutorial HERE.  This was sooo easy to make.

Supplies Used:  Stamps: Spooky Tags Our Craft Lounge

Ink: Versafine Black, Versamark

Paper: Bazzill Purple, Black, White, Scrap of Green Prism, Doodlebug Spooky Town,

Other: Bo Bunny Whooligans Rubons, black glitter, diamond glaze, star button, MA Silk Ribbon

Ok, off to paint.  I need to stop trying to avoid it.  UGH!!!!!

Miss You Easel

Tuesdays mean it's time for....

This week our wonderful Design Team member, Sheri Gilson, did a fabulous and oh, so easy tutorial on making an Easel card.  That's the challenge this week at ACLP.... make an EASEL CARD.

Personally, I think these would be great cards to put a picture on and send to loved ones.  I owe my family some pictures so this may be what I do:)

This was one of the quickest cards I've made in awhile.

Can you tell that the bottom is supposed to be an "X" and and "O"?

Please say "YES!"

I used the matching Chipboard for the fabulous Cosmos Cricket Togetherness Collection to make  this card.  I love chipboard, especially since I have been so short on time lately.  The "X" was made by taking the

the brackets included in the chipboard set and putting them together backwards.  I used one of the chipboard flower buttons to create the "O" and then sewed a circle around it to make it more pronounced.  That ribbon was ivory and I colored it with a BG72 Copic to match.

Supplies Used:  

Stamps: Just Rite Stampers Just A Note

Ink: Real Red, Baja Breeze, Antique Linen

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Togetherness Reunion, Red,  Bazzill Off White

Other: Cosmo Cricket Chipboard, rhinestones, Spellbinders Circle Nestabilities, May Arts Ribbon, Copics, Sponge, pinking shears, sewing machine, dimensionals

I hope you can join in this week.  It's my week to pick my most favorite of all the entries.  Hope to see one of yours!

Toodles!

Life is Full of TREATS!

I had to share this picture that I took at my dad's house this weekend.  To me, my dad's home sits on a little piece of Heaven on Earth.  It is my most favorite place in the world.  So peaceful and good for the soul. 

This picture is one of the views of my Sunday morning, just before the sun rose.  It is a completely untouched photo.  The beauty of nature needs no retouching.  Wouldn't you agree?

Oh, we had a very emotional, fun- filled weekend.  It just got better each day.  My husband has officially accepted the position as Fire Chief.  I am soooo proud of him and I think this will be a good fit for us all around.  The people were so nice to us.  The school we are looking at is AWESOME!  The teachers and principal were soooo friendly and it is a small school.  Very similar to where we are now.  My kids are excited.  We are looking for a country home.  This has been our dream for years.  We want land, animals and peace and quiet.  So wish us luck as we look for a place and that we can sell our home.

We got to go to another Notre Dame game and it was THE BEST!  Great weather, great game, great time.  What more do you need in life?

This week we watched our friends' little girl for a few hours. They are big Ohio State fans.  My husband said, "E, do you know what these are?  These are tickets to HEAVEN.  Tell your dad, ' If you want to go to Heaven then you need to go to Notre Dame.'"  This weekend, I would have to agree.

Walking the path to the game.

The Golden Dome

We talked to one of the band members about what she had to do to get into the band.  My daughter plays the clarinet now and she would LOVE to go to ND and play in the band.

We got front row spots to watch the players walk the path from Mass to the game.  The quarterback and coach led the way.  As you can see they were just walking by everyone.

This is the photo where Dayne Crist (QB)

 made eye contact with my son and then extended his hand to slap Dalton's.  I was too close to get a picture of him doing that, but what an awesome thing for my son.

It was a "rockin'" day.....

....FULL OF SMILES!

This is a STAMPING blog, but sometimes life is too full of treats to ignore.   Speaking of treats....

Here is a treat box I made for Simply Scrapbooks.  It is a gable box and I used paper by The Girl's Paperie called, Toil and Trouble.  Oh,how I love this paper.  I have another project I am working on with it.  Hopefully, I can share soon.  I made a pinwheel with  the same paper line and stamped using Our Craft Lounge, Spooky Tags.

You can find a template for the gable box HERE.

I made some more Wrinkle ribbon in orange.  Anyone interested in any?  I keep thinking I'll get an Etsy shop going, but.....hmmm...time.  Still looking for that:D  Let me know if you would like some.  I do have a few extra yards and would sell it for $1 per yard + shipping.

Gotta go get my puppy.  She was spayed this weekend.  I hope she is still my friend when I go get her....

Great News!

  I am loaded with news today.

First, A Crafty Little Place will be having a giveaway this weekend!  The wonderful people at Nikki Sivils has offered up a great little package of goodies!  Make sure you head on over for a chance to win some fabbo stuff!

Second, I had a great day yesterday.  I finally got to color with Beate Johns.  She is so sweet.  Honestly though I didn't even get one image colored.  I'm not very good at talking and crafting at the same time.  Especially when it comes to coloring.  I have to use so many of my brain cells to figure out what colors to use and focus on my highlighting and shading that it leaves no room for doing anything else.  So, I just watched and learned and chatted and laughed.  It was so fun to hang out with someone else who really loves to stamp.  She is such a wealth of information.  I'm so lucky I got to meet up with her.

We tried to get a photo about 6 times and finally got this one.  Then when I uploaded it I noticed that it was really blurry.  Oh well, we may try for a better picture next month when we meet up and I really do color SOMETHING.

Here is one of the projects that I took in to Simply Scrapbooks.  I'm really behind on showing you my projects.  In fact, this is the Mojo Monday sketch from last week.  It has been forever since I really participated in any challenge.  I keep thinking that things are going to slow down, but the days just keep ticking away.  I don't think my stamping time is going to increase any either.  I think I'm going to spend a lot more time prepping my house because....

  MY HUSBAND GOT THE JOB!!!

We leave this morning to check things out one more time before we make a decision.  Then it's off to see my dad and the IRISH play.  Look for us....we will be in the home end zone!  Can't wait!  I'll keep you all posted.  

Now I've got to go get ready.  As usual, I'm behind!

  

Giddy Up!

Yeehaw!  It's Tuesday!  That means it's time for another A Crafty Little Place Challenge.

The Design Team got to work with these really cool, rugged, masculine papers by Cosmo Cricket.

  It's the WANTED COLLECTION.

Do you want to see a really cool project using this paper by my fellow DT member, Joni?

Go HERE.  It's soooo awesome!

So that challenge is a COLOR Challenge.  Use the colors: Blue/ Brown/Rust/Gold

DCRU also just released a few new stamps and I love this little cowboy.

Supplies Used:  

Stamps: Cowboy McCoy

Ink: Memento Black, TH Vintage Photo Distress

Paper: Wanted, Kraft,  Ocean Tide, Gold Specialty,XPress Blending Card

Other: Twill, star punch, Scoreboard, Ek Success Punch, brads,Circle Nestabilities, Copics

Isn't he cute?  Love him.  I also tried the new papers that you can get at DCRU for Copics.  Xpress Blending card and I really liked it.  Oh, it's like butta!  So soft and creamy.  Just follow the links above to buy anything I used on this card.

On a side note:  Isn't it funny how, as crafters, we get so excited over things like paper and glue and other "simple" things?  I was talking to my friend yesterday (who doesn't stamp) and told her that Beate and I were going to get together and color.......She just looked at me...blank stare.  It DOES sound pretty "elementary" doesn't it?  We have a coloring playdate...hee hee.  

Have a goodie!

Just For You!

Here's another CAS card that I made for my friend.  I did make one other, but I didn't like it as well.  I tried to throw in an adult male card and time just got away from me.  I wasn't very a happy with it.  THIS card however makes me tickled pink.  You know how much I love flowers and making my own.  I used some paper by Jillibean Soup ( I smile every time I say that) called, Pasta Fagioli.  My tissue paper flowers are made using the Large Scalloped Circle Nesties.  I spray them with some water and Perfect Pearls for a bit of shimmer.  The leaves are made of twill and I colored my white ric rac to match using my Copics.  I decided to stop hoarding my rub ons and use them up.  I really love rub on sentiments.

I ended up making one more of this card than I needed so I could give it to my son's teacher.  He took it into school and had all the kids sign it secretly.  It was such a "mission" for him.  He told me how he was glad he had his pants with the big, leg pockets on it so he could slide it in there without her seeing as they headed to ART.  I found out he can be sneaky.  Going to have to keep my eye on him as he gets older, I think.

One more cute story about him:

My kids love Grips.  You know, Grips are those prepackaged, smaller version of your favorites like: Oreos, Cheez Its, etc, that cost about twice as much as if you had bought the larger version.  I don't buy them very often unless they are on sale.  Which is what I did a few weeks ago.  Well, I got the variety pack and it had a new kind in it.  They were Cinnamon Graham Cracker bits.  Neither one of my kids liked them.  I hate to waste stuff so I decided to use them for dog treats.

 After walking the dog one day, I empty my pocket of these treats onto the table.  My son said, " Wow Mom, those treats of her's smell good.  I was kind of wishing that I could eat those treats."  

Are you kidding me?!  You would want to eat them as a DOG TREAT, but not when they come in the expensively, packaged version of KID treats?!?!  Seriously, I give up!

We ran out of dog treats this week and until I could get to the store I have been using up all my kid's snacks.  My dog LOVES Cheez Its I found out.  However, now I'm out of Kid snacks.  I went and bought dog treats yesterday.  Do you think my kids would enjoy Cheese and Liver flavored Charlee Bears?  Kidding!

A Crafty Treasure Hunt

Today we have a very special challenge over at A Crafty Little Place.  It's a treasure hunt AND a sketch.  That's right.  There are 2 parts to this challenge.  Please join us for the sketch and then hunt around because each DT member has used DP that Die Cuts R Us carries.  Name each DP and YOU could win a prize.

Head on over to ACLP to find out all the details and see the sketch.

Here's my interpretation of the sketch:

Supplies Used: Stamps Claudia &Co So Random Sentiments

Ink: Riding Hood Red, Antique Linen Distress

Paper: ?????, Textured Off White, Prism Red

Other: Sizzix Die, Prima Flower, velvet ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, EK Success border punch, Kaiser Pearls, MA Wrinkle Ribbon

That's all for me today.  Have a great one!