Another project

Below is an altered plastic paperclip. I bought the paperclip at Target's Dollar Spot. I thought the orange one would be good for Halloween. The top of the paperclip holds a photo.



I went out to dinner on Monday (before bowling) to celebrate our friend Carol's birthday and then last night I had a dinner with friends in from Oregon last night - it was nice to see Michelle again after all these years. We do keep in touch but nothing beats seeing your friends in person. Michelle's husband Mike took a photo. If I get it this week I will update this post with the photo.

Tonight is Woman's club. I have a fun game planned for the ladies (which involves me blowing up 40 balloons).

Test Tube Candy

I bought these great test tubes at Michaels. They are from Martha Stewart and they came four to a pack. Each tube held a cool glitter pen. I took out the pens, cleaned the tubes added some candy corn and decoration (including that cool fuzzy ribbon) for a Halloween treat!



It's Monday so that means bowling. My bowling average has gone down dramatically this season. Thankfully, it's strictly a fun league so there is no pressure. Looking forward to a fun night out with the girls!

Paint Can

Here is a paint can that I made for my Big Sis from the last round of DSS. We met halfway between our homes at a scrapbook store. We shopped, went out to lunch and then shopped some more. We had a wonderful time. I had to make her something nice to thank her for spoiling me in the DSS Secret Sister Round. I have had a lot of great big sis's but she really spoiled me rotten. I loved everything she sent and the beautiful cards that came weekly. I was very lucky.

Here is a photo of the Bee Can I made. I used Papertrey ink's Honey Bee Set and filled it with the polka dot ribbon, other craft supplies and a ton of Burt's Bees products.

Notice the chocolate Bee on the lid.




I made a smaller one for a coordinator swap I participated in (also filled with Burt's Bees products). I really love this Bee set.

A Single Cupcake Box

I learn so much from SCS and from blogs. I made a single cupcake box for my secret sister (round 2) and I learned how to make it from TexasJodyLynn's website, Confessions of a Ribbon Addict. You can find the instructions for the box HERE

I cased Jody's and here is my version. I didn't put a cupcake in but I did put a necklace that I made as a gift plus a ton of craft goodies. It was her birthday and this was my birthday surprise. It was easier to make than I expected and it was a lot of fun to make. I want to make another one soon.





I thought you might also want to see a recent photo of Penny! She's so cute. She ate my good black summer shoe this week but she is just too cute to be mad at, don't you think? It is my fault anyway, for leaving it on the floor.

I said I would be back....

and I am. Probably won't post daily but I am getting back into the swing of creating. While I wasn't stamping for the past few months, I was still buying stamps. I just love the Honey Bees set from Papertrey Ink. This is what I made using that set.



Isn't it a cute paint can. This is the small size paint can. I used black-eyed susan paper by colorblok (my favorite flower is black-eyed susans).

I also made a coordinating card. Here is the outside.



Here is the inside.





While you probably can't see it in the photo, I added some yellow stickles to the bee on top and it looks cute with the sparkle. I love my stickles!

PLUS! I also made a complete scrapbook (forgot to take photo's of a few pages before I sent it in the mail this morning) for my mother-in-law with photo's from her 80th birthday weekend. The scrapbook came out great (if I must say so myself). I sent it priority today - - I hope she likes it.

Penny is doing great. She graduated from the Petco Puppy School on Saturday (we are so proud of her!). I signed her up for another training course at a different place and we start on July 15th. Her newest trick is: BANG YOUR DEAD (she rolls on her back with her paws up in the air - - so cute). I am taking her for a day of beauty on Wednesday. I'll take pictures of her then and post. She is really cute and less than 6 pounds at 4 months so the Vet predicts she will likely be 12-13 pounds when full grown.

A lot of fun coming up. We have three summer birthdays, camps and vacations to look forward to. This will be a busy summer.

Thanks for looking!

Here we go again.....

Only one more after this and then I will move on to something else. In the swap I did we had to include a decorated tin. This tin uses Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Berry Bliss Designer Paper and the Ellzybell images. Inside are Hershey chocolate sticks.



TGIF! Have a nice weekend everyone!

Another Elzybell project

Here is another gum holder using the Elzybell image that was sent to me. Very cute images. The paper is Berry Bliss.

Elzybells

This week I am going to post some of the items that I made for a coordinator swap over at SCS DSS. We were suppose to use Bella or Elzybell stamps. I do not own any Elzybells so two nice coordinators sent me some images to use. I wasn't sure how that would work out but I really like the Elzybells images and I liked the items I made. The first one is a treat holder. In a tutorial I posted on this blog in January I used a scallop punch and inserted a heart candy. In this example I used a square punch (twice) and inserted a large trident gum.



Here is a photo of the gum holder open.



I'll post more of the items I created for this swap during the week. The receiver of the items seemed to like them (I'm glad)! I used Pretty in Pink card stock and Berry Bliss designer paper.

New Camera - New Stamps!

I lost my camera at the Sweetheart Dance a few weekends ago. I really liked that small camera, it went everywhere with us. Having said that I was more disappointed in losing the great photo's I took that night than losing the actual camera. I knew I could replace the camera but I couldn't replace those photos of a fun night.

Anyway, I did buy a new camera...well, I didn't buy it actually, I used reward points! I now own a Canon Powershot A65. I am working with it but I think it will be a great camera with 12 MP and 6x optical zoom. It's a little bigger but I think the photo's will be great! Here is a photo of my new camera...



I also returned this weekend to a cute little stamp store I recently discovered. It's a 30 minute drive but definitely worth it. At this new store I discovered these cute little Memory Box Penguins. Here are a few cards using the Penguins At Play Clear Acrylic Stamp Set.

Here is a card to congratulate a Graduate.



Here is a penguin birthday card.



Karie: Here is project #7 & 8

Tea Bag / Chocolate Holders

Here are a few tea bag / chocolate holders. The first one is a single. It holds one tea bag (in this project) or it could hold one square chocolate. The second project (is one I have had on my blog previously) is a double tea bag or in this project chocolate holder.

The designer paper on both projects is from Basic Grey.




The paper is SU Certainly Celery and Almost Amythyst. The Designer Paper is from Basic Grey. The Ribbon is SU Certainly Celery.

The second project is the double holder. The Designer Paper is from Basic Grey. The Outside is made with SU Lavender Lace and Taken With Teal. The Ribbon is from a wonderful SU Friend Heidi. She has an on-line store at Pink Hedge Hog Paper Crafts. Be sure to visit Heidi for a wide selection of ribbon, brads and eyelets.

More Candy Holders...

Here are a few more versions of the Valentine Candy Holder. I used the same set on all but imagine the possibilities. It's quick and easy and makes a cute gift. Would also make a cute Valentine Card for children to bring to school or give to teachers.

First Project of the New Year!

For Christmas, I received a Zutter Bind-it-All. It's a machine to bind (with coils) projects such as journals. I am going to post my first try at using it but as you will see, I need more practice. This is a Birthday Calendar that I made and binded. It's my first attempt at using the bind-it-all. I don't like where I put the hole on the calendar (with my crop-o-dile) and will have to adjust that next time around. The hole is suppose to be for you to hang the calendar on the wall. I think the coils are a little too big for this project - I used the 1/2 inch coils. I will practice and post an improved Birthday calendar soon.

The first photo is of the calendar. I used cardboard for the covers (which I covered with Designer Paper).


The second photo shows one of the months to write birthdays. I made the inside sheets in a WORD DOC. If anyone wants a copy of the word doc, just email me and I will send to you.




Happy New Year!

I'll have to check but I think my one year Blog-aversary is coming up this month. Plus I am now over 5000 hits so it will soon be time for blog candy. As soon as I make a good Birthday Calendar I will have a blog candy post and give away the calendar. I'll keep you posted!

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!

New Stamps, New Colors!

Tonight I broke out some new things. The Garden Whimsey Set from SU and three of the new In-Colors from SU! I am in a swap that for August we have to use everything new and this is what I came up with. I used the New In-Colors (Purely Pomergranate, Wild Wasabi and River Rock and made the following card with matching envelope. PLEASE notice the clear button (one of my new favorite embellishments) with the wild wasadi double stitched ribbon through it. It took me FOREVER to get that thick double stitched ribbon through those buttons. It took so long, I almost gave up....I'm glad I didn't because I like the results.



I made 11 cards (8 for the swap and 3 for a future secret sister). For the three secret sister cards, I made the following card folder and this is what it looks like closed.



Here it is open with the cards on the right side and the coordinating envelopes on the left side.



Aren't they just so cute?!?!

Last night was fun night....GIRLS POKER NIGHT! We played poker at Julies (her husband Mike was the dealer). We played all kinds of Poker games (Texas Hold 'Em, 7 card no-peek, 5 card stud) and we played, my favorite, blackjack.

Kerry went camping this weekend with friends and Meghan is coming home tonight. Going to the movies tomorrow with my mom to see HAIRSPRAY!

Work in Progress (and my messy desk)

A while back I bought some $1 wood frames at Michaels. Today I decided to try to alter one of them. I picked out some two-sided Designer paper, found a complementary color of paint. I painted the sides of the frame (and the back), cut the paper (decided to use both sides) and mod podged the paper onto the frame. Right now it is drying. Tomorrow I will have to decide what to add to it (prima's, chipboard, etc). Not sure what to add but will sleep on it.



Meanwhile, tonight my friend Julie and I went out to dinner. It's our first dinner out in our plan to have dinner out once every month (for the next twelve months) at a restaurant neither of us has been to before. Tonight was Joey's Seafood Restaurant and we both had 2 lb Lobsters. They were delicious. We have already planned our August dinner for August 17 at Lucia's. Something fun to look forward to. Julie and I have had a lot of fun over the years. Someday I will tell you all the story of the adventures of the pink flamingo's.

I left a comment on Kim's blog that she won blog candy (don't know why I didn't think of that sooner). Anyway, if she responds back this weekend I will send off her prize. If not, I will pick a new winner (really trying to reach the winner)

We're # 2 (maybe)!

We bowled the first place team last night. They beat us so we lost all three points. This means they are still in first place and we are either in 2nd or depending how the 3rd place team did, dropped down lower. We'll see next week. Luckily, we didn't join this league expecting to do very well so we are pretty excited (and shocked) to see 2nd place at all. It is a lot of fun (it must be because last week we signed up for the Fall League as well).

I am so enjoying making these little tea bag holders. I don't know what I will do with them all but they are so much fun to make. I haven't changed much from the original design (just changed the paper) but are some views of another tea bag holder.

Here is a front view....



An open view.....



An finally, a side view (see how the brads hold it together).



I am going to see Menopause, the Musical on Sunday (suppose to be very funny).

Still looking for Kim, the blog candy winner. I will pull a new name at the end of the week if Kim doesn't contact me.

A new week!

We had a great weekend. Kerry Ann came home from two weeks of camp. She loved it and is already talking about next year. On Sunday, Kerry and I took my mom to see GYPSY starring Karen Mason. It was a really good show. We all enjoyed it.

I got a nice surprise in the mail from my secret sister over on SCS. She sent me a cute Tea Bag Packet and lucky me, she sent a measurements and materials list. I used her version as a template on how to make it. I liked it so much I made one for my secret sister too.

The one on the left (in perfect plum) is my first attempt at a tea bag packet. The green one on the right is the one that my Secret Sister sent me.




This is the tea bag packet opened



Materials to make the Tea Bag Packet:

Any stamp set (we used Sketch an Event from SU!)
Cardstock 6 3/4 x 3 1/4 (I used Perfect Plum)
Designer Paper 5 x 7
Designer paper 3x3 (2)
Whisper White 1 5/8 x 1 1/4
2 Gold Brads
Ribbon
1/2" circle punch
Sticky Tape
Ink (any color, I used Perfect Plum)

It really just took a few folds. If I get a little more time, I will see if I can add more specific directions in addition to the materials.

Kerry Ann just started three weeks of ballet today. She is also taking three weeks of jazz. Her jazz teacher for the next two weeks is currently on broadway in Curtins!

I am still waiting to hear from the winner of my blog candy. Kim, if you are out there, please contact me.

Tonight is bowling....I will let you know if we moved to the #1 spot (we were in second place last week).

Chip Board Coaster Box

Who would have thought you could make such cute items with chipboard coasters. I ordered a few of these from someone on SCS and then followed the tutorial on SCS to make these cute coaster boxes. This is my first attempt so I kept it simple. I used SU DP from the winter mini, ribbon and prima flowers. The tutorial suggested both tying the ribbon and braiding the ribbon so I made two boxes and tried both methods Here are my boxes.




We had a nice Easter weekend. Unfortunately Pat and Jack had to work the entire weekend but the girls and I had a fun visiting family. We spent Saturday with Pat's family and Sunday at my sisters.

This is a busy week at work but also I have a lot to look forward to this week. I have Woman's Club tomorrow, which is always fun and this weekend Kerry and I are heading to the Northeast PEZ convention. This will be our 4th year going. Kerry has been collecting PEZ for many years now and has quite a colelction. The PEZ convention is a lot of fun. We meet a lot of great people, attend seminars and on Friday night there is PEZ Bingo with great Pez prizes. When Kerry was younger she entered the kids PEZ costume contest but she is too old for that now. There are many dealers at the convention and Kerry uses this opportunity to buy some interesting items. Last year she bought a PEZ gun. The guns were prizes in cereal boxes many, many years ago. They stopped putting them in the cereal boxes because they felt they were dangerous for kids (the kids would shoot PEZ into their mouths and choke). It was quite a find and a great addition to her collection. She has PEZ from all over the world.

Next I am planning to use the Chipboard coasters to make picture frames.