Here Comes the Sun!

I'm in denial about the snow. Really though I can't complain. Last winter was WAAAAAAY worse with snow and truth be said, I kinda like looking at it.  It does make the backyard pretty. But I digress...

Sunny sunflower time!  I'm happy to once again say that this is a "two bird" card.  The goods are all from the scraps stash (number 5 in my 50 projects challenge) and it's a birthday card for my friend!

I've only been late on a couple cards since September.  Yaayyy!  All the anniversary celebrants and birthday peeps have gotten some happy mail in their mailbox, which is huge for me.  I'm terrible at remembering birthdays unless it is 2 months ahead, or 1 day behind!!!  (None of you ever have that problem do you?)  Thank heavens for FB and iPhone reminders!  Between the 2 they remind me to get my toukas in gear and get cards done. :)  This is going to go out to a gal I used to work with and just caught up with again recently. 

So here's a challenge for you!  Send a note to that someone you haven't talked to in a while.  It'll make both of you smile. :)

Have a sunny day!

Super Bowl Class Highlights

 

Some folks get hyped for some football game or something today. *wink* At my LSS we get hyped for the Super Bowl Craft In! It is an all day 4 classes, 4 instructors, 4 projects, prizes, and lunch crafting bonanza.  I was the 4th quarter "coach" and my team of 15 made these cupcake cards.

The cards needed to be simple since these gals had been crafting since 10 am and when I got them it was 1:45 pm.  To make things easier all the items were punched, cut, & stamped so they could cut, color, and glue. :)

The samples were out for them to copy, but I encouraged them to do whatever moved them as far as "frosting" and sentiments.

The paper was all double-sided, which worked well if anyone wanted the cards to be mostly valentine-y, or more all occasion.  I think folks were pleased because they got to end with a low-key set of cards & could shop/chit-chat for the last little bit. :)

Hope you are having an awesome Super Bowl Sunday!  I can't wait to see all the commercials (they are my fav part no matter who is playing).

 

Grow Your Blog Day!

Happy Hopping! Today the AMAZING Vicki at 2 Bags Full is hosting a blog event that includes almost 600 blogs from around the world!  It is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people. :)

I am the happy owner of one of Vicki's Harvest Nests (I waited over a year and was rewarded by it's arrival on my birthday!!!)

I am a crafter of all sorts, but my main focus lately has been my paper crafts.  This fall I went nuts making banners.  Really love sprucing up mantles with happy hanging décor. :)

Creating card sets are another type of addiction for me.  Trying to see how many patterns and embellishments I can fit on a card is like solving a puzzle!

I'm on a self-imposed "use your stash and make 50 projects without buying new stuff" challenge.  I'm also on a "get your Christmas cards made by October" challenge.  I'm doing my best to combine the two.  I'll keep you posted about how well I can stay on either "wagon".  ;)

Recently, I have gotten into making kits.  These started out as mock-ups for the cards I was going to give my students.  Then I thought they would be great for kids to be able to color and assemble.  They have been pretty popular on my Etsy Shoppe and have gotten me thinking about some new ideas for kits. :)

I love a giveaway!  For all of you hoppers & followers, I am offering a box of 10 handmade cards of your choosing.  That means you let me know what you'd like in the mix of cards.  Do you want all birthday, a few birthday and a bunch thank you?  It'll be your call. :)****I forgot to add that I'll draw a name on Feb 16th.  You get an extra day because I'll be travelling on the 15th! Lucky you!


I'm off to take the corgi to water therapy (our ever vigilant fight with doggy Lou Gehrigs) and then I'm sitting with a cuppa to hop, hop, hop!

Stay warm today!!
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EDIT---I just saw a blogland friend's friend (sounds a little Ferris Buellers Day Off there huh) had her blog hacked and is having to start her blog all over from scratch.  I know she isn't on the list, but it would be so sweet if some of you could stop by and share some love Creating with Cindy.   After all, that's what today is about really right?  Sharing the love. 

 

Love to all!

 



A Bouquet in a Blizzard

Happy Snow Day!  Well, it is for me anyway. :)  My town dodged a snowbullet with only about 3 inches of snow.  My school is 30 minutes south, so they called off school late last night.  Still haven't heard from anyone sown there about how much they got, but some towns have 15 inches.  It's light and fluffy, which is great, but it is BITTER COLD.  Wind chills are 20 below.  Frankly, I'll take 20+ inches if it means no sub-zero temps.  Tomorrow will be worse.  7 below as the air temp (I shudder to think what the windchill will be) & I am facing 20-30 minutes of outdoor bus duty.  Y-U-C-K!

With all the cold, it seems like ages ago since we were all complaining about heat and humidity! LOL!  Seems like a good time to share a paper bouquet. :)  This is a simple set that is a more girly take on this book themed set.  I'm counting it as my 4th 50 Projects Challenge.  I think I might add a tally of this personal challenge and my Christmas cards personal challenge (mostly so I can keep track for myself!)

Everything is boxed up and pretty for gifting.  I loaded it into my Etsy Shoppe, but if it doesn't get sold, I know it will get gifted. :) 

The papers are mostly BG with some MB kitchen dots (I think), the card bases are MB, ribbon is BB & Doodlebug, button is MFT, and the luscious sentiment is Avery Elle (my new favorite crush).

I'm going to spend a little more time under the covers, snuggling with my corgi, sipping my coffee, and blog surfing before venturing out (dentist appointment & PO run).  How 'bout you?  Any fun plans?

Super Bowl Fun!

Happy Monday Peeps!  Taking a break from my 50 Projects Challenge, I'm sharing the cards I'm "coaching" at the Ink About It Super Bowl Sunday Craft Event (10-3 so it'll pre-Super Bowl).  There are 4 of us "coaches" all teaching a different project.  Everyone will get to make all the projects & have a "half-time" lunch.

It's always a fun time, although this one will be bittersweet because it'll be the last one. *sniff-sniff*  The owners are retiring in March and the store will be closing.  So if you live in the Westford MA area, make sure to sign-up for this awesome event before it is as gone as chocolate cupcakes in my little hands. *wink*

Reindeer Make 3!

I've managed to get some pictures taken of the next couple projects I've completed in my 50 Projects challenge. Yaaayyyy! :)

These little guys have been waiting to be colored and put on cards for ages.  They were stamped and put into a baggie with all these ingredients ages ago.  Now they finally have a chance to say "hi". :)

Full disclosure:  I was inspired to finish these cards yesterday when I saw the challenge on Festive Friday (I'm so happy to have a chance to play again with their challenges in 2014!).  They are giving inspiration photos this year for each challenge and the first photo was a red barn in the snow.   I remembered that I had these cards, with their country vibe and red/cream colors, begging to be created.  All-in-all, a win-win with four cards made for Christmas 2014 AND I used only good from my stash.  :)

Dashing through the snow with this set to these fun festivities:
Festive Friday- Photo Inspiration---Inspired by the colors & the country feel
Merry Monday- Kraft, Red, Vanilla, Chocolate & ribbon

A First and a Second

Hiya Peeps! This weekend BB was having a sale on Surface tablets.  I've been eyeing one for the last year- my poor old laptop is a very abused 10 year old Dell.  She's been wiped once already and her slowness & hiccups have been making me think she needs to be put out to pasture before something catastrophic happens to all the goods she has on her drives. She this weekend we decided if we got at least 1/2 our chores done we would head to BB and then out to our favorite pizza joint.

So this post is my first foray into blogging with my new toy. :)  I'm wicked excited because my Surface is about 100X's lighter than my Dell and it's small enough that I can even fit it in my purse when we travel!!!

The cards are my second project in my 50 to be completed using only my stash.  These are going to be cards to keep in my drawer at school.Teachers can never have enough thank you cards!  There are so many people that help us get our job of "building people" each day.  Parent Volunteers, fellow teachers, and students themselves can always use a note of thanks, so I try to keep some handy. 

The papers are all goods I had cut up a while back and just never assembled.  The card base is eucalyptus from Memory Box, the felt is from My Favorite Things (not sure the color name), the designer paper is Basic Grey and Amuse, the die is Papertrey Ink, and the sentiment is from my new favorite company Avery Elle (LOVE THEM!).

Yippee! 2/50!  Only 48 to go...