Finally Fair

Okay, I kept talking and talking about The Country Fair all spring and summer.  I showed pictures of stuff we created to sell at The Country Store, but I never showed you pictures from this years fair!!!  It's exciting to know that working at this fair makes me a part of history.  Our church has been in this park hosting our fair for the town of Littleton "since Hector was a pup".  Seriously, something like 125 years.  How cool is that?!?

This was our Halloween corner.  As we unpacked all the goodies, Fran saw all the different fun creations that had a Halloween theme and went to town creating this fun nook.  I wanted to make sure to get a pic of this so we remember to do this again next year. :)

This was the front of the store.  We used 8 tables to set up the whole booth and we had barely enough space to put everything out!  We are really lucky to have so many crafty little mice make things for us to sell at this booth.

Some of our famous jam.  The fair started at 10 am.  Some of the lunch table folks set up a coffee and scones table across from us this year.  They had samples of the jam to eat with the scones.  They were out of food by 11.  Thanks in part to them, we were sold out of all the raspberry & raspberry mix jam by 10:30 and sold out of all jalapeno jams by 10:45!  At 2:45 we only had 22 of the 600 jars left.  I was very exciting and rewarding for all of us. :)

Pickle mixes and scone mixes- don't add these together folks. ;)

This was the view to the right of us just as the fair opened.  Some of the booths are ones we rent out to local vendors and the rest belong to some of the church run booths.  I never got shots to the left.  Wish I had.  The view included trash-to-treasure, jewelry, and the local farmers and the livestock they had brought. :(  I missed getting a shot of the pony rides, kid games, and penny candy (they sold out for the first time in years!)   They day couldn't have been better.  It was the quintessential New England fall day with sunshine and a light breeze.  I *heart* days like that. 

I'm still waiting to hear back about how our church did this year overall with our fair, but I know it was good.  The Country Store alone did great, never mind trash-to-treasure, the used books booth, various food tents, and jewelry.  No time to rest though.  I'm off to get the troops rallied one more time for the Holiday Bazaar.  I don't have to be in charge of that booth though (time to catch my breath).  Rachel is the head honcho there.  My job is to get us all together to get those last few holiday themed crafts finished up before the big day.  Between that and helping out on Tuesday nights making jam, we'll be ready come December! (I hope, gulp!)

Thanks for stopping by today!  What's your favorite kind of jam?

Reuse and Recycle Tip

Carol is hosting our Top Tip Tuesday post and she's all about going green.  What kinda green crafting tips do you have to share with us this week?  For my part I'm going to toss you over to my card I made from the Sunday Boston Globe  and cool bracelets my friend Fran made.  I hope you enjoy these fun creations made from paper.  :)

Girls Night Thanks

I have been madly working on some thank you notes that a friend of a friend ordered at The Fair.  This is the first set I finished (there were only 15 to make) and I went nuts with Amuse products for this one. :)  The only supplies I used that weren't from Amuse were the Copics, the stardust pen (one the drinks for some pep), the bazzill paper behind the drinks, and the Neenah paper (for the image).

I had fun packaging these cards.  They all say "many thanks" on the envies and the insides.  I hope she likes them.  :)  She wanted lots of thank you cards to send to friends as a way of thanking them for a surprise party (I love surprise parties!!!) and some extra cards to have on hand for all those little thanks that are so sweet to send and receive.  These are the extras.  I'll be posting the party thanks on Thursday.  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow to find out about the Top Tip Tuesday theme.  It's a good one folks!

For another version of this type of gift click here.

Slow Poke

So sorry I've been AWOL from the blogosphere!  My laptop has been having temper tantrums this week. :(  I've got it up and running so far, but it really hates the printer so how long it works is anyone's guess.  Here's the card that was supposed to be up yesterday....

This is my last *sniff, sniff* card for SSDS.  I've had a wonderful time with all the gals over there and hope to be able to join in some of the challenges along with all of you in the coming weeks.  I really hope you will all join in the fun for my last challenge on the SSDS team!  The theme this week is stitching and there's a fun prize.  Head over and link up your creation and then come back and let me know you did so I can make sure to comment on what you made!!!

Grunge Flower Tut

I have a great tut to share with you today!  Our newest member of TTT, Maggie, has made a fantastic tutorial for making grunge flowers.  Check it out here. :)

SSDS meets OWH

If you've been here to my lil' ole blog before, then you know how much I believe in using talents to pay-it-forward.  Operation Write Home (formerly Cards for Heroes)  is an organization that exemplifies the pay-it-forward motto for card makers.  I personally contributed my cards, and cards my students made, to this amazing organization over the years.  Why am I telling you all of this?  I am thrilled to announce that this weeks challenge from SSDS is to make a birthday card!  Our hope is that you will then send them to Operation Write Home.

This is from the OWH website...

OWH supports our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them. Our 'birthday' (anniversary of our official registration as an org) is Sept 12th — but we're stretching the party to last all month!

 

Operation Write Home began in 2007 with just a few cards made by friends on a message board; what began as an outlet for a hobby has become a much larger mission to help heroes keep in touch with home - and the effort has been joined by thousands of cardmakers!

OWH receives handmade cards donated by crafters across America (and beyond!). Cardmakers range in age, location, and level of skill; cards are provided by individuals and groups, schools and scouts, companies and churches. All have one primary thing in common: a desire to serve those who defend our nation!

Cards are mailed to one of our volunteer shippers in quanities both small and large. The shippers process, sort, repair, and document each donation, and then pack and ship boxes of over 300 cards each to our contacts. Our heroes request cards (families may also request on their behalf; we serve all branches in all deployed locations.

Tax-deductible donations of any size keep this work going - from $1 to any amount - and can be included with card donations to any shipper, mailed separately, or via Paypal. Thank you for partnering with us!

Here's my contribution...

This card made me think of a story I saw on the news before I even knew we were going to be sending these cards to Operation Write Home.  Kismet, I tell ya!

The image, sentiment, and card base are all from Amuse.  I borrowed the images from my friend Lynn of the earring and apron fame. :)

I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing all of your birthday creations.  This is our best challenge yet at SSDS.  There is even a chance for you to win a prize while you help others!!!  Enter your card and you could win a prize from Craftbrulee! 

This is a Win-Win no brainer challenge!  Won't you pretty please join us?

Happy Fall

It comes as no surprise to all of you, given the number of flower related posts, that I *heart* flowers.  Each season has some favorites for me and sunflowers headline my autumnal list.  I wish I could tell you the maker of this image, but these were a couple that I got in a swap years ago.  :(  If any of you know who makes these darling sunflowers, please tell me!!!  I would really like to get this stamp.

The sentiment is from Amuse.  I went "old school" here and used mini brads from my stash.  Simple and easy!

I dug through my bag of orange scraps and found this perfectly cut orange scalloped circle.  It was kismet.  ;)  Even more simple and easy!

It may not be common to send cards for the change of season, but you've previously heard me solicit folks to send a card to someone "just because".  I may be being overly sentimental, but life is too short.  Once again I encourage you to take the nearest blank card you have on hand, write a note and send it to someone you know who could use a bit of sunshine in their mailbox instead of another bill.  You'll feel good about it and so will they.  ;)

Growing fun with these cards here:
Incy Wincy Designs- Autumn colors
Allsorts Challenge- Autumn colors

My Top Tip Tuesday Tut!

Today is my first tutorial at Top Tip Tuesday.  Please stop by for all the deets on how you too can make this fun altered mini clipboard!  There are some great challenge giveaways.  You know how much I enjoy a good giveaway!!! :)

I've clipped this creation to the bulletin boards here:
Basic Grey Challenges- paper piecing
Southern Girls Challenge- anything goes

Many Thanks

Just a quick post for today.  If you are reading this at any point on Saturday I can guarantee that I'm in Littleton, MA at The Country Fair my church puts on each year.  If you are in the area please stop by!  There are TONS of yummy jams, beautiful paper masterpieces, and stunning fabric creations that are all locally made and available for purchase at The Country Store booth.  Come by and say hi!

The SSDS team is challenging YOU!  We want to see thank you cards.  I've been posting so many fall cards lately I thought you all might enjoy a "wave" at summer.  :)

So, whatcha got for us in the way of a thank you creation?  Float downstream to SSDS and join in the fun! 

Country Time

There is a card in this post, I promise.  You'll have to bear with me as I plug my favorite Country Fair!

Well the big day is tomorrow.  It's the day that The Country Fair happens in Littleton, MA and I'm in charge of The Country Store at the fair.  So many wonderful men and women have made so many fantastic things for us to sell at the store it really is amazing!  600 jars of jam, at least that many cloth napkins, 50 greeting cards, 30 bags of scone mix in 3 fabulous flavors, mulling spice mix encased in origami apples, dozens of quilted potholders and bags, another couple dozen beaded bookmarks and bracelets, and gosh lots of other amazing things that I know I am forgetting.  It's just so exciting and heartening to see all this talent!!!  If you are in the area please come by!!  The Fair also has local farmers, a book stop, trash to treasure, jewelry shop, baked goods, pony rides, penny candy and so much more!

On to this card...

This card is simple only because the image is so big and the card base is so small I had no choice. LOL!  The image is an experiment in color and shading.  I actually colored it last summer when my friend Lynn (of earring fame) and I got together.  Not too shabby for a glorified CAS card, huh?

Don't forget to drop by tomorrow for the new SSDS challenge!  Until then...

Wash That Man Right Outta My Hare!

I crack me up!  This weeks challenge at Cooking It Up With Katie has us using 3 designer papers, 1 clear item, and a song.  The papers are easy you can see three on the card.  The clear- that doesn't show up as well.  I used a gel pen to add some clear dimension to the soap bubbles.  The song, well I couldn't help myself.  As soon as I saw this image that Whimsy Stamps (our sponsor this week) provided that song from South Pacific popped into my head!!!  Join us in the challenge won't you?

Thanks for stopping by!  May you have a bubbly day!

Top Tip Tuesday!

Hi gang!  I've got a design team announcement!!!  There's a new challenge blog on the block.  Top Tip Tuesday is all about sharing tips with each other and today is the start of the tips!!  Today's tip is a photo tutorial on how to make a flower out of doilies created by Leanne.

As its our first week we have 3 fabulous sponsors, who are:

 Whiff of Joy

Wild Rose Studio
Stitchy Bear Stamps 

(link to their shops if possible).

So, why not stop by Top Tip Tuesday, leave us your tip and be in a chance to win one of our fabulous prizes?

3 Holidays in 3 days

Well I posted about Halloween on Friday and Christmas on Saturday.  Then I realized I had completely skipped Thanksgiving!  My DMIL would be very disappointed with me if I forgot her favorite holiday (her birthday usually falls around then).  ;)  Without further ado, I bring you a set of Thanksgiving cards...

The image is by Impression Obsession (the same style as this card) and I colored these Variegated Maize cards with a passel of Copics.

I didn't go crazy with shading or anything with these cards.  I mean the leaves have some variation, but I was going cross-eyed with the kernels so maybe I'll save shading the kernels for another time. ;)

So this one it like the first card but I used a different base (they are all by Amuse) and a different flower/brad color.  I outlined the image with my W2 Copic to give it some joie d'eve.

Same deal with this card as the other two.  Same image, Amuse base, a cute plaid paper (I forget where it came from it was a scrap on my work table), flower with an aged metal brad and there ya go.

I did add some sparkle with a glitter pen.  It gives the cards some subtle shimmer when the light hits it just right. :)

Let Heaven and Nature Sing!

Consider this the invite to jumpstart your holiday crafting!  Our first challenge for September at SSDS is Christmas!  You know me, I make Christmas cards all year long.  I just got some new stamps after taking a class from my friend Lori where we used these stamps to make the cutest blue Christmas cards.

For this card I used a couple of MemoryBox stamps the birch trees and then the sentiment/birds (the bird is on the side of the sentiment so you get 2for1).  The card base is also MB and I stamped the base with some brown snowflakes.  I mounted some BG paper (the red) and then some K&Co paper (the lighter dppr).  I mounted the image on the same BG paper and used some old seam binding for the ribbon.  I used another red flower as the base for the sentiment.

I have to thank my friend Judy for a sweet stash of seam binding!  She had a bunch of old (check the price listed in this pic) packages that she said were just taking up space in her sewing room.  When I mentioned how I'd been using seam binding on cards her eyes lit up and she offered me what she had. I was more than happy to help her out. LOL!

So stop buy SSDS and enter your Christmas creation!  If you link up, stop back here and let me know so I can check out what you have made!!!  I ADORE checking out other folks creations (it's so much better than cleaning. hee-hee).

I'm singing my song here:
The Shabby Tea Room Old (the seam binding) meets New (the stamps)
Pollycraft Monday Challenge Add a little nature
Paper Sundaes Christmas

First week done already!?!

I can't believe that the first week of school is over already!!!  I am happy it's over though. It was HOT, HOT, HOT at school!  I can't wait for Earl to get to New England and bring us 70's instead of 90-100's.  Bring it Earl, bring it! :)  On to card type stuff...

Before we know it my favorite holiday will be upon us.  Halloween is fun to me because it's the chance to be a kid again.  When you get to be a grown-up you don't get the time to play dress-up and pretend you are someone else, like an astronaut or mountain climber.  The spookier parts of Halloween give all of us a reminder that we should face our fears and not let fear hold us back.  Well, at least that's what I think about Halloween. :)

I made this card with Papertrey Ink's new Halloween Treats set and coordinating diecut.  The card base is an old Amuse square card.  They discontinued these, but I have hope they will bring them back at some point.  These were my fav 'cause of how easy they made making a 10 minute card. :)

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the SSDS challenge.  I've give you a hint, think cool weather.

I'm trick-or-treating here:
The Shabby Tea Room- Old (the card base) meets New (the stamps and diecut)
PaperPlay- stitches
Papertake Weekly- Just the one (mostly one color)
Stamp Something- something cute (I think the teeny tiny haunted house is the bees knees)