Debby Schuh! Whew Hoo!

I don't take many classes, but you might remember that I took a couple of classes from a designer by the name of Debby Schuh.  She lives in New York and was visiting here in August.  At the last minute, she offered some classes and I signed up.  I am so glad that I did!  I should tell you that I have been "stalking" her for 2 years.  Yep, 2 years!  I saw her at CHA and felt like a groupie.  She's coming to Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store in Chandler the first Sunday of December to teach two classes.  She is most definitely one of the best instructors I have ever taken a class from.

 I took the following classes:

 The Recipe of Me

 Anthropologie mini book (made from a shopping bag)

 Debby is known for her special folds and creative pockets.

 I liked her classes so much, that I bought one of her kits from her online.

You should check out Paper Vineyard's website - there are photos of the mini books she will be teaching.  The mini books are different than the ones pictured here.  You might not want to wait too long, these classes will fill up.  Come spend the day making books - if you don't keep them, they will make great gifts.  It will be a fun day!

Friendsday Wednesday

I LOVE buttons.  For some strange reason, I am totally drawn to buttons.  I don't know why, but I just can't get enough buttons.  I have a friend who loves ribbon.  What can I say?  We all have our evil addictions.  Some of my buttons are in a 12x12 basket...

You can see the basket more than half full.

I have more in two antique jars...

So.. . I went in search of a button blog.  And I found one that gives me inspiration.  It is http://www.buttonfloozies.blogspot.com/.  The blogger, Laurie, has had so many beautiful, and some odd photos of button art.  A couple that attracted my attention are:

This button art - I can't imagine having the patience to put this together, but I absolutely love it!

And this sewing machine makeover.  I don't think I could do this to my machine, but it sure is interesting.  Seems like it should be something we would find in a vintage store.  Check out her blog.  I think you will like it.

Fun Halloween Treats

Have you ever eaten candy corn and peanuts - at the same time?  The idea is to eat them together and they taste like a Payday candy bar.  They are so good!  I learned this from my Minnesota friends and usually put it together every Halloween.  So I came up with the following treat to take to my office and I love the presentation...

I didn't want to lay them in a basket, so I stood them up in a vase that I bought at IKEA.  It is perfect!  

I bought skinny little cellophane bags, used my paper scraps, and bought some stickers at the Dollar store.  My tiny attacher was perfect for closing these little bags.  I can't want to take them to the office on Monday.  

I put together treat bags for my daughter's first grade class.  I also have Halloween pencils for each of them.  I think they will definitely like the candy!

Have a great Halloween!

I'm sharing a lot with you today...

by showing you this picture.  Most of you know that I am a paralegal and I am in what I call "trial mode." You know that saying "a picture is worth a thousand words...???"

Well, keep them to yourself.  :)  I am getting ready for trial and actually have three trials set during the next 6 months, so yeah, it is just a little crazy.  I just can't wait for the week to be over.

Punch Card

Our next assignment for the card exchange is to create a card featuring a punch/punches.  A couple of years ago, Cindy showed me a card made out of punches.  While I couldn't find the photo, I had in my head what I needed.  We purchased the appropriate punches, so I had what I needed.

These are the punches I used - you could use so many others.

This is a Fiskars product that I bought at a sidewalk sale.  I have never used it, but have found that I really like it.  I am hoping to find additional punches that fit into this handle.  These small punches fit inside the handle and it makes it so much easier to punch.

I used this small flower punch by trimming off the stems.  This was the hair for my lady.

And here's my finished card...

 I had to use a border punch - I just really love those!  They add so much to a project.

So at our card exchange on Sunday, we will all be making these cards.

Friendsday Wednesday - Something New

You know, I sometimes listen to Beth & Friends on Phoenix radio station 99.9.  Every Wednesday she throws a dart at a map of the United States and then finds someone in that town to call and chat with.  I really enjoy that and think that it is an effort to make the world a smaller place.  I like that.  So I have decided to steal their idea and do a "Friendsday Wednesday" kind of thing by featuring a new blog, and hopefully making a new friend.
Let me introduce One Pearl Button (OPB)...

Nice Things

Alli is in her twenties, is an anthropologist (interesting!) and I believe she lives in Cincinnati with her husband.  Please take the time to click on this link.  I was actually led to this blog/website by Carrie of Rosalind Revival.  What caught my eye was this photo:

I find her blog to be enticing and it truly draws me in.
I hope you enjoy it!

Vintage Christmas Cards from the '40s and '50s

You might know that I have been collecting vintage Christmas cards.  I have found them at craft stores and estate sales.  My plan has always been to cut the cards and make them into new cards to send out.  I thought it might be hard for me to actually cut the cards since they are over 50 years old, but I found I had no guilt cutting the cards.  I am also using my scrap papers to make these cards.  Here are my new "creations"...

All of the cards are folded into panels, which I open up to use as much of the card as possible.

On most of the cards, I used Stickles, added ribbon, metal embellishments, or maybe stamped a message.  Above is the outside of my first card.

 Inside....

"Before" photo

"After" photo

 Inside panel of the square bell card.

This one is my favorite.  I love the scene of the winer creek and the holly bush.  I have to confess that I probably won't send this card out.

This is not the last card I made.  I'll post more on another day, once they are all done.  Have any of you started making your holiday cards?  Is anyone done?  I generally make about 100 cards, so to quote my dad, "I need to get the lead out."

Have a great day!

My phone camera came in handy

while I was standing in the check out line at Michaels.  On of the cover of one of the magazines was a photo of an altered picture frame and I just wanted to look at it closer later, so I took a picture.

Everything is white, and it is really cute how they hung the photos with clothes pins on wire strung across the frame.  I really like this idea.  Wouldn't it be cool with a Christmas theme?  A place to hang Christmas cards mixed with family photos, maybe?

Friends on Friday!

Okay - I walked in the door, returning from California about 6:30 on Thursday night.  I still had to run to Safeway, check things out at home, and set things up for Friday's "craft day."  Before I went home, though, my oldest daughter, Kate, asked Kim and I to stop by her apartment for a surprise that she brought back from New York.  Yes, she was in New York while Kim and I were in Oceanside!

She brought us two cupcakes, a vanilla cake/coconut icing cupcake (from Crumbs Bake Shop) and a red velvet (no photo, sorry).

Sorry you missed it!  Kim forfeited the vanilla cupcake to me and I have to say it was one of the best I have ever eaten.  I was also impressed that the cupcake liner was imprinted with the store's name.

I stayed home Friday and spent some quality craft time with my friends - Loretta, Nicole, Cindy, Lois, and Adriana.  They each had a packet of "Bliss" paper from Crate Paper with chipboard pieces, rubons,  and a naked frame waiting for them.  We had lunch, and for those who could stay, we had dinner.  I was having such a good time I forgot to take pictures before Nicole left - I try never to miss photo ops, but I sure did yesterday.  Here's what I caught:

The photo above is what Adriana accomplished before she left to spend time with her boys.

Adriana and Cindy (who worked on two Christmas altered books).

 Lois (working on her dog mini book - it is like a build-a-book that you make with others through the mail, a very interesting concept) and Loretta (who brought many pictures and worked on her scrapbook pages).

Miss Lois again.  Notice Lois' new punches on the left side of the photo?  I tried to slide them closer to me, but she caught on to that.  Lois always has the "bestest" border and corner punches.

I was able to finish my Christmas cards (designed by Cindy).  Now I can move onto another project, without any guilt.

Remember the company Unique Pages?  Well, the previous owners retired, but this is one of their frames, painted, and then distressed with white paint.  A little ribbon and a tag.  Put a photo or saying behind it and you've got a Christmas ornament or a door knob decoration.  Thanks, Loretta, for sharing this.
I REALLY enjoyed spending the day with my friends, at my house, doing crafts, and just chatting it up.  Can't wait to do it again!  I think next time I might be able to add another 2, maybe 3 spots!

Sticking with "green" Fridays...

This is unbelievable...

I am just not sure about this one.  From the article, it does appear that this car is actually driven on the road.  My personal fear would be that it has bugs and other critters living in it.  Green is still my favorite color.  Happy Weekend!

Another Day in Oceanside

We have walked to, and on, the pier several times, visited San Clemente, drove around the streets of Oceanside and Carlsbad, and went out for breakfast at Beach Break Cafe...

My oldest daughter, Kate, suggested we go there for the banana crunch french toast.  That's Kim's plate.

I chose biscuits and gravy, etc.

 Nice place and good food.  Very good service.

Then we stopped by a couple of second hand/"vintage" finds places...

The first place was called Treasures on the Coast...

A lot of rooms with a lot of interesting stuff...

This antique perfume bottle caught my eye.  I didn't buy it, but definitely think it is beautiful.

Then we headed to Estate Sale Warehouse.  I bought a corning dish that goes with my recently purchased electric skillet - for only $4!  Now that was a bargain.
Back to the pool and jacuzzi, more walks on the beach, then home tomorrow.

Cupcake Wars!

My friends, Nicole and Sam, got together with their family and put on their own cupcake wars.  Here are the entries...

Choc w/cherries                       Red Velvet w/cream cheese icing

Choc w/Coffee frosting           Choc w/cream cheese

Oreo cookie                             Cookie dough

Grandma Toni and Great Grandma were the judges. 

The winners?  Great Grandma chose Red Velvet and 

Grandma Toni had a tie with the Cookie dough and Chocolate w/Coffee Icing.  What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!