Mummy Madness

This "mummy" just fight go mad! Working full time and keeping up with 4 busy kids is exhausting! But somehow, I found time to whip up a cute card and candy to give the kids' teachers for Halloween.

Here is the mummy card....

I just tore and sponged strips of paper and glued to a card base. Then I ran the whole thing through my Big Shot with the Top Note die. I used some punches to make the eyes. Fun, huh?

And I needed a mummy candy to go with it...

They are Hershey bars wrapped in white crate paper! I glues some google eyes on cardstock and glued them onto the candy. Then just wrap it up! Done!

Have a happy Halloween!!!

A purse that doesn't break the bank...

I can't believe how much money you can spend on a purse! I would NEVER pay what some are willing to pay! First, I really don't care what is "in." I have my own style and feel no need to copy the in crowd. Also, I am afraid of commitment. I like to change purses when I see something cute. When you pay hundreds of dollars on a purse, you can't just get a new one a few months later! That being said, I bought a purse that was much more than I wanted to spend. But it is gorgeous!!! Meet Big Buddha...

It is big enough for my usual purse stuff plus my camera and kindle. And it still doesn't feel stuffed. And it is soooo soft! It is my new best friend.

So, you ask, what does this have to do with stamping? I made a cute purse from paper! And it definatly will not break the bank!

Isn't it cute?! I used this template. And it opens up too. I filled it with these notecards...

I made this special treasure for a friend. She moved to Nashville over a year ago and I am flying out there to see her tomorrow!!! I am so excited!

Finally....

I finally finished the gifts for teacher appreciation week (which was last week)! It took me forever! I actually made 4. And after working on them for nearly a week, I finish and wouldn't you know it? I forgot to send them to school with the kids! Ha! They have waited this long, so what's another few days!

I do like the way they turned out! (But note to self- you don't want to make these next year. Once is enough!)

It is also finally Friday! The kids will be gome in a few minutes and we can start our weekend of fun with some swimming!

Just a little note.....

At my last MOPS meeting we decorated composition books. Since my favorite Southern Belle couldn't be there, I decided to decorate a notebook for her. The project is so simple. All my projects are these days due to my serious lack of time!!! Today I had car pool, conferenced, volunteering at the school, shopping, library, a kid doctor appointment and loads of homework for myself and the kids. So I made and photographed this project in a total of 10 minutes!

I really cannot get enough of these cute buttons!!!! The sentiment is from the Apple Blossoms hostess set.

And of course I had to decorate the back of the album with more of that yummy paper that was in the summer mini...

I am off to get my zzzzzzz. Another big day tomorrow. I have MORE class observations. I am going to be done with school and have my teaching certificate in March!!!! Oh I can't wait!

Not your average milk carton!

I love making cute little treat containers for friends, teacher and the kids' classes! So when I saw the milk carton Big Shot die, it was love at first sight!!!! I made this first one for the hostess of my workshop last Friday.

I couldn't help myself....I had to make another one of those paper flowers with circle punches! (I also HAD to taste test the M&Ms I put inside. I am all about quality control!)

This carton really matches the card I posted a few days ago....

Now who wouldn't want to get this fun little ensemble?!

So I am a little nervous! I am working on my last 2 classes to get my Secondary teaching certification. Tomorrow I am starting a new practicum and it is in an Economics class. Me? Teaching high school Economics? I know about as much about Economics as my husband knows about stamping!!!! Crazy!!!!  So keep your fingers crossed for those poor students! (Unless you can't stamp with your fingers crossed. In that case- maybe cross your toes!)

 

Simple Flower Barrettes

I made these cute little flower barrettes several months ago and I came across them last night and I thought I might show them to you. (Because I still haven't stamped.)

Stampin' Up! used to sell these flowers in this pink and white combo. Now they just sell them in white, but you can use reinkers to dye them any color you like! Then I justed added one of those yummy chocolate chip brads that were in a mini a few months back. I hot glued the whole flower on to a plain barrette purchased at Wal Mart.

So I am very anxiously waiting for my first Stampin' Up! order to arrive. And it's a BIG one so I am super excited!!! And since I have a lot of new things on the way, I have been working little by little to get my stamping studio organized so I can spend more time stamping and less time looking for stuff! I want to hang some things on the wall and then I will take some pics and show you.

Family has been keeping me busy.....over the weekend we had a gymnastics themed birthday party for all three of my girls....it was so FUN!!!

And then tonight the girls all started their dance classes....

And then tomorrow is my BABY'S 4th birthday!!!

There is always so much fun going on in this house!!!!

Coming Out of Retirement Project

So I sat down yesterday to stamp for the first time in months. And this is what I ended up with...

.....a treat box made with the Scallop Envelope Big Shot die. I find it amusing that I sat down to stamp and ended up creating something with absolutly NO stamping!!! The original plan was to use the apple image from Tart and Tangy and make a "Welcome Back" gift for a teacher. But I got side tracked making a fun flower with circle punches!

Now I did not invent this box. But here are some quick instructions in case you have never made one:

1. Using the Scallop Envelope Die cut out 2 envelopes from cardstock or the thick specialty Designer Series Paper.

2. Trim the bottom flap of both envelopes to 1/2 inch.

3. Put sticky strip on the back side of all three of the flaps on one of the envelopes.

4. Attach the the ouside flaps of the second envelope to the sticky strip.

5. Decorate!!!!

Now I feel like I have to apologize for using DSP that is retired. The thing is....I don't have ANY current paper. But that shall change soon! I sent my demonstrator paperwork in and as soon as I get me demo ID, I will be ordering some of the beautiful DSP in the new catalog! I LOVE DSP!!!

I hope you enjoy my Coming Out of Retirement  Project!!!! More tomorrow!

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Valentine Treats for the Teachers

I love to send little holiday treats to my kids school teachers as well as the piano teacher and the dance teacher. My love language is gifts so I am always sending gifts to others!

This year I really didn't get as creative as in previous years. You have seen this project on my blog before! But it is cute and simple so I decided to use it again! I use the big shot Top Note and small brown paper bags (from Michaels) to make a fun treat bag to fill with chocolate!

The hearts are from the stamp set Love You Much and the words are from my brand new  Well Scripted stamp set. Both are SU! sets. The ribbon is from Michaels and was only $1.

We are off to buy a new (and much needed) TV today and then I have class this afternoon. I don't see any stamping time in my day :( I got my SU order but 4 things were on backorder. And they were the things I was most looking foward to getting!!! :(

Butterfly Bags

I was a sweet friend who always seems to be putting a smile on my face. A couple of weeks ago I was complimenting her on her cute boots. I mentioned that I had never owned a pair of boots. The very next time I saw her, she had a bag with 2 pairs of boots that she was handing down to me!!!! Happy Dance!!!! And they fit!!!! Well this dear friend makes jewlery and sells it. She loves all my crafts. She is own of those people who reuses every card I ever give her! Love it! So I decided I needed to make her some cute little bags that she could use to package up her cute jewlery for some special customers. This is what I came up with....

These are simple little bags made with little brown paper bags that I cut down to be 3 inches tall. I bought them at Michaels. Then I used the top note and the butterfly dies in my big shot to decorate the bags.

I just can't get enought of these butterflies!!! I have used this die too many times to count. So I am super excited about the Butterfly Embosslit in the Occasions Mini Catalog! I am having a Stampin' Up! party on Friday night and that bad boy is already on my order form!!!!

Have a happy day!

Valentines Treats for the Kids!

I am in the process of making 35 little sucker toppers for my kids to share with their friends in school for Valentines Day. I think they are turning out pretty cute. And it is a super cheep project. I got the stamp from Michael's for $1 and the ribbon spools are also from Michael's for $1!!!

The picture is a little dark. It has been rainy and stormy all week! Which is pretty big when you live in the dessert! We are actually under a tornado warning right now! So I stayed in my house stamping! Perfect!

Back To School Teacher Gift

My oldest just started Kindergarden this week. Where is the world has the time gone?! When we were shopping for school supplies, Kyler asked me if I would help him make a present for his teacher. Isn't that sweet?!! I just thought it was adorable. And of course I helped him!!! We made his Teacher, Mrs. Rivera, a folder full of Monogram stationary. (Sorry about the pictures. I forgot to take pics until we got to school that morning!)

Click HERE for instructions.

And here is a scrapbook page I made  with the pics of my little guy on his first day of school...

I am warning you that things are super crazy around here. We have a few health concerns to deal with. Plus my hubby and I both start school on Monday. So bear with me as I try and get used to a new schedule and so forth. I promise I will be back. I miss my stamping so much!

Birthday Ensable

My Mother-In-Law is celebrating her birthday tomorrow. But as a family, we got together and celebrated last weekend. We got her a very pretty necklace and earling set and I wanted to make a bag to put it in and a matching card. But at the time, I wasn't feeling well so I knew I needed to keep it very simple. Here is what I came up with....

Here is a close-up of the card:

And the little gift bag:

This bag was made by attaching 2 top notes to a small lunch bag (I purchased at Target in the gift bag area) and cuttig the bag down to be shorter. Then I punched a little handle and used ribbon to tie it shut.

Here is a side view:

I used the same supplies on both projects.

Recipe:

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly

Paper: Sweet Slumber Specialty DSP, Kraft, Baja Breeze

Ink:Chocolate Chip

Other: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Butterfly Die, Top Note Die, Ridinghood Red Taffeta, Button Bouquet, Word Window Punch, Eyelet Punch, SMall bags

Gratitude Journals

I am such a bad blogger!!!!! So sorry!!!!! I won't bore you with excuses!!!

Do you remember this fun little jornal that I designed to be a make-and-take for my MOPS group? Last Friday, they all got to make them! It was so fun to watch all these women get creative and crafty!!! And the final products were VERY cute! I had my camera with me- but didnt have a chance to take any pictures until almost everyone was gone : (   But I did get pics of two journals that my dear friend, Vicki, made. Great job, Vicki!!!!

This one was made with some very old Stampin' Up paper. I think it was called Sarah. The flower is by Making Memories.

This one is made with some Marcella K paper and the flower is from the Stampin' Up! Pretties kit.

The Amazing Grace sentiment is from a stamp set by Papertrey called Women of Life.

 

I am going to schedule a post for tomorrow right now!!!!! So be sure to come back!!!!

Pretty Sophia

I really mean to post this yesterday!!!! I had such good intentions. And then I forgot!!!! My brain is just getting a little slower every day!!! Anyway....I made this little easter basket tag for a friend's daughter. It took me forever to do the paper piecing! But I think it was worth it!!!!

The stamp is from Paper Pretties and it is called Hipity Hop Sophia. I colored her with my Copics.....but I need so much more practice with that!

Hope you had a great Easter weekend!!!!

Top Note Journal

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE my Big Shot?!!!! And my very favorite die is the Top Note die. (a close second would be the new butterfly die!) I am going to be leading a craft at my MOPS group in a few weeks and this is what I came up with...

It is a Gratitude Journal made with the Top Note Die and some chipboard!

The inside is filled with copy paper that I cut with the die as well....

Everyone in my MOPS group will be able to decorate their's any way they want. I used the Butterfly die, a large flower from the Pretties kit and some buttons. I think it looks happy! Now I can fill it will all the things that I am grateful for. It will make for a nice read on those challenging days!!!

Speaking of challenging days- I am so tired!!!! Being a full time stay at home mom is exhausting! I think I might be trying to do too much with the kids. But I find that when they are busy- they fight less. And that makes for a happier mommy!!! I am going to go stamp now for therapy and then go to bed early!!! Happy Stamping!

Recipe:

Stamps: Out on a Limb (Papertrey Ink), Polka Dot Background Stamp

Paper: Tea Party DSP, white copy paper

Ink: Certainly Celery

Other: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Pretties Kit, Top Note Die, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Latte Buttons, Chipboard, Jump Ring

Some Wedding Favors.....

I have a couple wedding favor ideas for you today, but I have to warn you that they are in a somewhat odd color combo!!! I have a friend who is making favors for her brother's wedding and the colors are Only Orange and Glorious Green. Yikes!!!! I don't think that I have EVER used those colors!!!! Especially not together!!!! But I just sent with it. It's not my wedding!!!!

This little box was made with 2 of the scallop envelope dies. You just have to cut the bottom flaps so that they are about the same width as the side flaps.

And this one was made using the Baskets and Blooms die and the Polka Dot Background stamp. I think it is kinda cute for a birthday maybe. The tag is blank now but we thought that it could include the bride and groom's name and the date of the wedding....

My friend sent the pics to his brother and they just weren't what he was looking for. Oh well! It was still fun to get my Big Shot out and make a couple projects with some tough colors!!!!

I hope you enjoy!!!! My hubby is watching the kids for a bit so I need to get stamping!!! I am hoping it will relax me!

Here comes Peter Cottontail!!!

Whooo Hoo! I made time for some creative projects today!!! I am starting to get better at my new schedule. But I am going to admit that I am exhausted and have daily headaches!!!

Yesterday I spotted this super cute bunny basket that Jenn made and I just had to make one of my own!!!!!

Isn't it fun?!!!! The basket itself is just 4 of the scallop envelopes cut with my Big Shot. I used sticky stip to put them all together. Then I used this template to cute the bunny head out. I made the feet with oval nestibilities because I don't have the wide oval punch.

Here are some more pics of it....

I just had to add a pom pom to his butt!

My kids said that my bunny was "cool." That's good enough for me!!!

I have a couple other 3d projects to show you tomorrow that are VERY differnt than this one!!! Are you curious?

Recipe:

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Tea Party DSP

Other: Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Die, Small Oval Punch, 1 linch circle punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Oval Nestibilities, Googly Eyes, Pom Pom, Black Marker, Pretty in Pink Marker, SU ribbon

Top Note Clutch Purse

After hours and hours of cleaning and organizing- I found a little time yesterday to craft!!! My room is still a bit messy. But I have taken lots of stuff out so I should be able to find a home for all the stuff that is currently littering my desk and floor!!!

Tomorrow, I am supposed to bring the ladies at my MOPS table a little gift. The theme of the gift is "something girly." My co table leader got them some lip gloss and nail polish and asked if I could make a box. Of course!!!! I think this top note clutch purse will fir the gift perfectly and it is very girly!!!

I used some tiny little maganets by Basid Grey to keep the purse closed...

Isn't that fun?!!!!

I have seen lots of little purses and boxes in blogland- but I made mine up from my own crazy head. So here are the demensions.

-Start with a piece of cardstock that is 5x6

-Score along the 6 inch side at 1inch and 5 inches

-Score along the 5 inch side at 2 and 3

-Use sticky strip to put the box together.

-Use the Top Note die to cut the lid from DSP

-Score the top note at approx. 1 1/4 and 2 1/4

-Add large eyelets and a ribbon handle to the center of the top note

-Adhere to the back of the box with sticky strip.

-Add a small magnet to keep the purse closed.

-Decorate if desired!!!

 

About my sale:

I had my sale last night!!! I sold a lot of stuff. Bet here is the good news....I still have a rubbermaid bin full of stamp sets and wheels!!!! I will put them up on my blog tomorrow afternoon. Sorry for the delay, but I still have to make 8 more of these purses, go grocery shopping, etc. etc.

 

Recipe:

Paper: Tea Party DSP, Pretty in Pink

Other: Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Yop Note Die, Large eyelets, crop a dile, old olive ribbon, small magnets by Basic Grey, Certainly Celery Button, linin thread