Last Class....

of the first session. This class we made three string bracelets.

Here is mine:



It's a simple design. The other ladies were more creative than I was but I guess this is my style.

Bowling was fun...we lost both games but still had a good time.

This weekend is the Western CT shoebox swap. I am looking forward to that. I will post some of the projects!

I have a swap card that I will post on Thursday.

I have been tagged....

by Michelle over at Blissful Creativity. She has a great blog that I visit often. If you're a blogger, you know that other bloggers often tag you and give you awards. This tag is for a YOU MAKE ME SMILE AWARD. Now, I have to tell you seven things about myself and and then tag a few other bloggers with the award.



Here we go.

1. I love to make cards and wish I had a craft room to make my hobby a lot easier.
2. I love Disneyworld. It's such a happy place. I celebrated my last birthday there and had a blast.
3. I love Cape Cod and have gone there every summer for the past 26 years.
4. I love book club. The ladies are great and we always have a wonderful time no matter what book it is we have read.
5. I like to volunteer and give back to the community (woman's club, church, girl scouts, etc).
6. I love family get togethers.
7. I like to try new things (i.e., just finishing up Julies Jewelry class)

I have a few people I'd like to tag with this award. Here they are:

I will tag:

Julie who creates beautiful jewelry
KitKatKathy, a good friend who is making lovely photo cards

More Tea Bag Holders....

I joined a teabag holder swap on SCS. They went in the mail today so I thought I would post a photo. The first photo shows the front of the tea bag holder and the second shows the holder open. By the way, these holders can also hold choclate!

Front of tea bag holder ...


Teabag holder - open....


Today was another busy day (of driving). I spent the weekend as usual taking Kerry Ann to all her activities. This morning she had a dance audition. This afternoon she has her acting class and tonight is the second night of the haunted house. She had a blast last night. Tomorrow Kerry is attending a ballet master class at Fineline. Another busy weekend.

Enjoy your weekend.

Western CT Shoebox Swap - 2nd Project

Here is the second project I prepared for the Western CT Shoebox Swap on November 3rd. We are meeting at the Newtown Firehouse. It will be fun to actually meet people I talk to on SCS. Bonnie called me yesterday and we are going to ride together to the swap. Looking forward to meeting all the ladies.

Anyway, my second project is a nugget tin. I am using SU designer paper and cardstock. The participants will choose either Bashful Blue or Sage Shadow for their colors. They also have a choice in labels (the pictures show the two to choose from). The stamp set is Holiday Treats from Paper Trey Ink. This is my first time using clear, acrylic stamps on blocks. It's not easy to get used to but I do like this set. The label stamps fit perfectly on the avery 5160 address labels which is what is wrapped around the Hershey Nugget candies. The tins are also from Paper Trey Ink. The cardstock and designer paper is SU. The cord is the old silver cord from SU which is retired (and I miss so much that I almost horded what I have left - - I gave in and included some in everyone's package).







I hope everyone likes these projects. I am way ahead and have all the projects packed individually for 14 participants. All I have to do now is prepare some card fronts for swaps. I know what I am doing so they shouldn't take very long. I will post them when done.

This weekend is the HAUNTED HOUSE. Kerry Ann will be working there all weekend. Tonight she is a scary scarecrow and tomorrow night she is Lizzy Borden. Watch out if you go...it's very scary!

Western CT Splitcoast Shoebox Swap

I am getting ready for a Western CT SCS Shoebox Swap. I have never participated in an event like this before and I am looking forward to it. We had to complete two projects and prep so 13-14 people can make the project. I thought there would be many cards so I am going to make two non-card projects.

Here is the first one I am considering. It is a caramel apple kit.

Here's the recipe in case you can't read it on the photo:

Caramel Apples
Insert stick into stem of apple. Heat caramels and 1 tsp. of water in a microwave safe bowl on HIGH for 1 - 2 minutes OR until melted and smooth, stirring after one minute. Dip apled into the melted caramel, spooning over the apple to coat. Allow excess caramel to drip off. Place on greased wax paper; let stand for 15 minutes or until set. Enjoy!

Here is the front of the kit. The caramels are in a bag with a topper. The recipe shows on the front of the kit.



Here is the back of the kit. As you can see, there are two sticks and nine individually wrapped caramels in each bag.



I'll post project number two when complete. It is going to be a nugget tin.

By the way, we had book club last night. What fun! While many people didn't care for the book we had a great time as usual. Many thanks to Ellen for hostess. The book was Teacher Man by Frank McCourt. I actually didn't read the book (I hate to admit) but those that did felt he had a good story but they just didn't care for his style.

Next months book is the Christmas Shoes at Cindy's. Can't wait to see what Gary prepares for us. He is very creative and everyone always leaves happy!

Jewelry Class was last night. Cindy and I went early to make earrings to match the necklaces we made last week. Julie calls us the matchers. As a reminder, here is the necklace I made last week with the new earrings.



Last nights class we did something different. We made a drop pendants and put it on a chain. The hardest part is making those darn loops and then wrapping them with the wire. Julie makes it look so easy but I think I will need a lot more practice to get that down. Remember, everyone designs their own jewelry. Julie, does not tell us what to do in that respect. She provides the supplies but the students all decide what design to use. Even with the same supplies available to all, they all come out looking so different. Some of the ladies made beautiful, elaborate pendants, mine is quite simple. We also made earrings. What do you think?



Looking forward to book club tonight. The book is Teacher Man by Frank McCourt.

Christmas Card - Fancy Fold

Here is a Christmas Card I did for my monthly swap. I like the way it turned out. It's a different kind of fold.

Here is the card closed....


Here is the card opened....it's a full 11 inches open but folds to the size of a regular sized card.



Last night was bowling. I had one bad game (114) and one good game (147) but had a fun time. We bowled the "other" book club team and beat us in both games. Regardless of what I bowl, I have a good time and look forward to bowling every week.

This is a busy week. Tonight is the second class of the three class session of the jewelry class I am taking from Julie. Tonight we are making a drop pendant necklace. I am also going to make some earrings to match the necklace I made last week. You'll want to check back to see my latest creation.

Wednedsay night is book club and I am embarrassed to say, I didn't read the book. It won't stop me from going to book club but I prefer it when I actually read the book. The first years of book club I always read the book each month. This year I am slacking off and haven't read a few of them. I just didn't have a lot of time this month.

This weekend is the Haunted House. Kerry Ann is Lizzie Borden one night and a scarecrow the next night. Should be fun. Meghan and Jack always had fun working in the haunted house.

I will have some more things to post this week as I have been busy making things for the SCS Western CT swap on November 3rd.

Homecoming Weekend

Kerry had a great weekend and especially enjoyed her first high school dance. She looked beautiful in her new dress.



I was away all last week on a business trip and it was great to be home.

I am attending a shoebox swap with folks from SCS on November 3rd so I am preparing two projects. It will be fun to meet people from SCS and work on stamping projects with them.

I missed bowling last week so I am really looking forward to bowling tomorrow night. It is such a fun night out.

Look What I Made?

I bet your wondering what I have been up to.....Meghan keeps telling me, "if you don't update your blog, how will I know what is going on in your life".

Anyway, I haven't been making a lot of cards. Life has been busy lately. Today we had a great day at our Woman's Club Pumpkin Festival. I worked the raffle table all day. Kerry Ann helped selling pumpkins. The festival was a great success and I think everyone had a great time.

Tonight I did something very new...I took a jewelry class. Julie, from A Hearts Desire started teaching classes in her home. I signed up for her first session (three classes). Since I will be away on a business trip when the first class takes place I took the class a few days early by myself. At first it was a little scary to come up with my our design but Julie is a great teacher and before I knew it I had my piece strung. Unfortunately, when I held it up to look at it, I dropped one side and well, I don't have to tell you what happened. We found most of the beads and I re-strung the side that dropped.

Here is my first creation. What do you think?



Visit Julies blog for more information on her classes. I have her blog listed under sites I visit on the left hand side of my blog. Tell her Diane sent you.