Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Friendsday Wednesday

I was skimming the internet, looking for sites and I came across this one through Pinterest.com.

http://myblackbook.free.fr/

There is so much to look at - so many postings that are definitely eye catching and very inviting.
 homemade snow globes - so very cute!
Christmas trees - art decor.  Love it!
I don't quite understand the website, but I do know that there are so many things to look at - so many photos to view and tuck away for future inspiration.  I hope you enjoy this website.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Found it!

A little story:  one year at the "after Christmas" sales at the mall, I found two very natural-looking trees at Linens Plus.  The price was $2 each and I just couldn't pass them up.  So I bought them and gave one to my friend, Nicole.  I loved it, so would she!  Well, many years have gone by and I don't know if she ever used it, but I put mine out every year at work.  Another friend, "no frills" Sheridan, absolutely loved that tree.  I looked all over for one like it and couldn't find one, so to make a long story short... after 3 or 4 years of her admiring my tree, I gave it to Sheridan, actually traded it for another.  I immediately started missing that tree - so much so that I asked Nicole if I could have hers, provided that she didn't use it.  Yes, I asked for the tree back.  Guess what?  Nicole and her daughter, Kylee, found it at home and the tree will soon be mine!
Kylee is holding MY tree.  Is this what they mean by "what goes around, comes around" ??  Maybe it fits in this case.  Thanks to Nicole and Kylee for finding it and giving it back.  They made my day.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

12-month Round Up!

My next card class is a bargain - it is 10 cards for $15!  I named it "12-month round up" because I am using papers purchased - and used - in the last 12 months.  So, the savings are passed along.
The layout will be the same for each card - and each card is a "thank you" card.  Perfect timing for saying thanks for your Christmas gifts!  There is no guarantee on what kits you will get, but you will get ten cards kits.
Sunday, December 11, 2011, at 1:00 p.m. - Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store in Chandler.  Hope to see you there!

Friday, November 25, 2011

I took a little break...

sometimes you just have to.  I have been meaning to post my friend, Cindy's, photos of 2 altered boxes that she made as Christmas gifts for her family.  As you can see, they turned out really cute...
 I love the 3-D flowers on both of these boxes.  
And the knobs really put the finishing touch to the boxes.  
Of course, they make the perfect "wrapping" for Christmas gifts.
She then went on to make Thanksgiving cards.  I love the one with the turkeys in the background.  
Cindy had a very productive weekend and I appreciate her sharing with me, so that I can share with you.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

 So cute!
 Precious little nuggets!
 The hat fits this baby!
 Whose up for this one?
This looks like it was from a Miss America pageant.  

I was really torn as to what kind of blog to post today.  I thought about sentimental, turkey dinners, turkeys, family, etc. and I just couldn't pick one.  So, of course, I went to "google" and found photos of turkey hats.  It made me think about how when you get together with family, sometimes you do funny, crazy things, and that is what makes the holidays so special.
I hope your Thanksgiving is memorable and fun!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

More of Friendsday Wednesday

A friend of mine turned me onto the blog of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer.  Julie has a blog titled "Balzer Designs" and I have enjoyed going there.  I am amazed at how Julie literally makes rubber stamps, templates.  She is extremely artistic.  She lives in New York and teaches classes all over, and also on line.  The link to her blog is:

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/

One of her recent blogs caught my eye - Christmas tags...
And I was able to check out her booth at CHA last January...
Go to her blog and you will also be amazed.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Cute Thanksgiving decoration

My friend, Cindy, and I were out and about a week or so ago and we went into a Sally's Fabrics because we saw the sign indicating they were closing and everything was 40% off.  As we were leaving, we saw this:
The shape of the pumpkin is cut out of cardboard and the individual pieces are covered with an orange print fabric.  The cardboard was painted brown.  It was so very festive.  They had several pumpkins of different sizes and fabrics.  Very cute!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Another Friendsday Wednesday

I like to see what blogs my friends are following and my friends at Paper Vineyard list a designer whose blog, Love, Mindy, I checked out:  http://mindy-mindymoo.blogspot.com/
Her blog header looks like this...
Isn't it funny how you can read about somebody else's life and get totally caught up in it?  I have found several people who write about their lives and I have to tell you, I find myself wondering what's the latest and what's happening with them.
Mindy shares photos and stories of her family but she also has some great crafting and cooking ideas.
Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Converted Coffee Holder...

This past weekend I went to a cul-de-sac garage sale.  It was h-u-g-e with lots of stuff!  I spent $3 on miscellaneous stuff, but I was so excited to find this for only a dollar!
It is an EMPTY Keurig coffee holder.  I didn't realize that at first.  I thought it was an empty spice rack.  It didn't matter what it was in it's old life because I had plans for it's new life!
It makes a wonderful tool caddy.  It rotates and is very sturdy.  I like having my small hand punches at my fingertips and this makes it possible. It rotates beautifully and holds quite a bit actually.  This was a dollar well spent.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Kate's Project...

You have heard me talk about my oldest daughter, Kate.  Well, she decided that she wanted to make a wall hanging out of wood slats, so we...
went to Home Depo and purchased these thin slats and thin strips to be used as supports.  She laid them out on the floor to be sure the size would be good...
Who is it behind those Foster Grants?  (Okay, that was a private joke for Kate - I used to always say that when they were little, wearing sunglasses.)  She's at the checkout buying her wares...
She watered down brown paint and painted the wood.  I believe she may have used sand paper to rough it up a little.
And she ended up with this.  Her roommate, Katie, traced the letters on and then Kate painted within the "lines."  Nice job!  I really like it and am thinking I may need to do something similar.  She got her inspiration from something she saw on Pinterest.  I get my inspiration from her.  

Friday, November 11, 2011

Thursday, November 10, 2011

As usual, I was afraid

of a new contraption.  I bought this Xyron 500 at one of the sidewalk sales held at Paper Vineyard for $3!   What a smoking deal - I just couldn't pass it up.  I just hoped that it worked.  I bought it about a year ago and as is typical of me, I wanted to use it, but was fearful.  So tonight I took it out and replaced the cartridge.   

 I had already purchased several of the refill cartridges - what a snap to replace.  Just pop one out and pop the new one in.
 Feed the paper in, original side up.
 Turn the handle, and it pulls the paper through.
 It comes out the other side.  You just peel it off the paper.
 You can see the "sheen" - that's the sticky part.  It is completely covered.
Ta da!  It makes it one big sticker.
So glad I finally tried it.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

It's Friendsday Wednesday

I happened to be searching for card blogs and through my friend, Lori Barnett, I came across this one:  Lucy's Cards.  The link is http://hedgehogsandladybirds.blogspot.com/.  Lucy's bio is:

Lucy was first introduced to stamping in 2008 when her sister gave her a scrapbooking kit. Not long after, Lucy bought Hero Artist Sally Traidman's book 'Simply Cards', and a new obsession began. She was introduced to the world of rubber stamps, and more specifically Hero Arts. Lucy creates cards that are clean, simple and fun. She loves to combine patterned paper with stamping and particularly enjoys paper piecing with stamped images.

In 2009 Lucy was asked to create some samples with Hero Arts digital stamps, and a new craze started. She has now had cards published in a number of magazines, including CARDS and Paper Crafts.
Lucy lives in Manchester, England with her husband and their naughty cat Dennis. She is a full time high school teacher.  And... she is expecting a baby in 3 weeks!

She has a very nice blog about card making.  She has multiple samples of cards, but the ones below really caught my eye:
I am a sucker for Christmas cards.  And I absolutely love the peacock card.  I can already feel the inspiration.  Lucy has lots of followers and is on, or has been on, several design teams.  Be sure to check out her blog.  Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Painted Piano - This should be on Pinterest

I don't know which site I took this from, but it appears it came from "Addicted 2 Decorating."  
I love the piano - and the whimsical way the plates are hung on the wall, nothing symmetrical about it.  
It is kind of like a cloud ... or maybe a breeze.  
What a bold statement to paint the piano turquoise - that took one brave soul.
It's perfect.


Monday, November 7, 2011

We've been having some gorgeous days here...

I let my two little dogs out for a potty break and Sophie immediately started sniffing around the yard.  She always monkeys around, plays with her ball before getting down to business.  I have to remind her multiple times over.
Not Jack.  He goes right out and does his thing, then on this particular day, he decided to lay in the sun and work on his tan.
He has always loved sitting in the sun, even when the pavement is hot.  I don't know how he does it.
I guess you just have to be a dog to understand.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

A shorter name would have been easier...

As many of you know, my daughter's name is Katie and her roommate's name is Katie.  Katie squared.  Katie 1 and Katie 2.  Thing 1 and Thing 2 - no, I'm just teasing, girls.  Katie 2 (not my daughter) has a friend who recently had a baby girl and they named her Kensington.  Katie's gift to her was to cover wood letters spelling her name.  This is when you might had hoped the name would be "Ann" or something similarly short.  Both Kates stopped by to see my assortment of papers, Katie came up with a plan, and ended up with the letters above.  Aren't they adorable?  They are cute on the floor but I'm sure they are even cuter on the wall.  
Thanks for sharing, Katie.

Friday, November 4, 2011

November's card class...

You can guess - it will be a Christmas card class.  I absolutely LOVE Christmas, and it's right around the corner, so ... it only makes sense, right?  I am using the Reminisce Christmas lines and we will not only be decorating the outside, but also the inside of each card.  We are also using Cosmo Cricket's sheet of Christmas sayings - so you can individualize these cards to your preferences.
Here are the fronts of four of the cards...
and now the insides...
They will be lightly embellished so that it makes for easier mailing.  Oh yes, and you will go home with TEN cards and envelopes - all for $25.

Date:  Saturday, November 26, 2011
Time:  10:30 a.m.
Location:  Paper Vineyard Scrapbook Store
To Sign Up:  480-656-2058 or 
www.papervineyard.com

Thursday, November 3, 2011

"Sliders" Class

Last Saturday, I taught my monthly card class - I called these cards "sliders" simply because they are two pieces and the top piece slides into the bottom piece.  Check out the event and all the smiley faces...
Linda and Betty are all smiles.  These two really work as a team - not only in putting their crafts together, but also in getting to the store.  One drives and the other navigates.  That would be the perfect kind of friend to have!
Cindy and Laurel - another couple of friends who spent the day just having a great time.
Lois and Amanda, who are now new friends.
Colleen and Amanda, mother and daughter, on the far end... then Valerie and Gayl .  The finished product?
Thanks, Ladies, for taking my class - it is always a pleasure to see you again!  See you again soon!