Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I have a week off - and I have been so excited to work on something new.  I have been stalking the simon says stamp blog and challenges for a while now - and I am really excited to enter my first ever online challenge.  Simon Says Stamp & Show holds weekly challenges (this time over Christmas it is 2 weeks) and it is a "Something from Yesteryear" theme.  How fun...  I love making banners for my front window, so here is my vintage "Believe" banner.  I hope you like it... Merry Christmas everyone.

12 Days of Christmas

So many websites are doing fun things for Christmas - If you own a cricut and if you have not checed our Sure Cuts a Lot yet - well shame, shame....
Now's your time.... and why not try to win a copy for free!!
http://svgcuts.com/blog/?p=7798

Check it OUT!

Check these out...

I have to send out the following links to some of my newest fav things this year -
I have been loyally following the 3 blogs - please check them out -

Tim Holtz - 12 Tags of Christmas:  
Ok - so we know I love him, and all he does uis soo cool - but the techniques I have learned in just 4 days are amazing -
It is so worth signing up for and his tags are nothing short of amazing!

Paperclipping Photographing the Holidays... Noell & Izzy -  I am a Paperclipping member so not sure if you need to be for this one, but I have learned soo much about using my camera in just 3 classes!  I did  buy my membership during a promotion - not sure if any are going on now - but soo worth checking out.

Decenber Daily - Ali Edwards - I am doing mine hybrid - doing daily pages digital and then I will bind them in a book when done.  If you hit her site and search December Daily - you will get amazing ideas from years past as well.

That is what I am up to on top of my daily life.  Just got back from Phoeniz, we brought Pap home for good.  He looks amazing.

I still have dishes from Rurkey day that need scrubbing then I want to work on some new cool banners using some of my fav new Tim Holtz techniques.

Very Cool SVG Websites

Check theses out - I will try to get buttons, just haven't figured that out yet...
http://imagesbyheatherm.wordpress.com/
http://svgcuts.com/blog/category/fsvgotw/
http://scrapncreations.com/blog/
http://stayathomemomcrafts.blogspot.com/ (food and crafts what could be better?)
http://dan99.blogspot.com/ (Search SCAL on the right - some awesome cut fies!) - more files from Dan at: http://sites.google.com/site/mycraftyfiles/Home (there is a small fee)
http://cuttingcrazy.wordpress.com/
http://craftyblonde.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my friends and family I am so blessed and thankful for all of you.  And not just today - I thank God daily for all your friendship, love and support.  Have a wonderful day!!
(dont eat too much turkey!!)

Give Thanks

If you scroll down, you will see I feel in love with a leaf technique made by Linda Cain, a designer for Tim Holtz.  Well I found a way to incorporate those cute leaves!  Sammy and I spent a Sundy together making this little doozie to hang in my living room.  The papers are from Me and My Big Ideas, and the distressing, daubing and leaf cutting are compliments of Tim Holtz, Sizzix, and Ranger. I hope you like!! (I added a few close ups - but they really do not give it justice!! - It;s awesome!)

What a Party!

These were sent from a friend in AR -
Look at the amazing party she did for her daughter.  What a cool idea!  All created from her Cricut - she is so talented...

Noel

Back-to-Back blogs - I must be doing something right?  Nah - It's just the holidays - and time to get some things started....
Last night I had the chance to work on my Noel letters I picked up for 99cents each at Hobby Lobby in AR.  (I imported them, I guess you can say).  I added paper from HL as well, made by The Paper Studio - love them and I can not get them anywhere in PA.  Spritzed with some Ranger mists and a stamp here and there - added ribbon and some Christmas stuff I literally found in a box from probly a good 10 years ago. (future hoarders anonymous).
I was going to attach the picture - but I think I will wait until it is up above my curio with all my christmas greens and beads. (so you can get the full effect).  Until then.....

Fall Craft-lift

Ok - so we all know that part of crafting is stealing projects from someone else -
Seriously, what honor to see something made by a someone else that you created?  I think it is awesome...

So both Sammy & I am are HUGE tim Holtz fans - and I get his blog emailed to me daily.  Yesterday he commented on the project below.  I loove fall - I love the colors - and I love Tim... so it is a must make.  I even dreamed about it last night - really!! :)

But even better yet - I love daily deals - and I also check out quite a few websites daily - just to see if anything really cool that I need is on sale.  Today at Flowers to Flourishes they have the Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Bigz Die, Tattered Leaves, that are used for this project - w/ shipping they are under $18.00. but you need a die cutter machine (I have a cuttlebug and I get them thru there).

Check out the stuff for yourself -
Once I get the chance to make the wreath - I will upload a pic....

Tim Holtz blog: http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/
Linda Cain Blog for the project: http://cain81art.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-wreath-design-team-project.html
Flowers to Flourishes daily deal: http://www.flowerstoflourishes.com/

Birthday Party Review

So I spent some time traveling - and getting just the right paper for Sammy's birthday favors.  We had a cooking party and a very dear friend's place - John Marshall Catering.  The girls made pizza, decorated cupcakes and chocolate covered pretzels.  Pictures are of the treat packs -
made with the finest selected paper from Hobby Lobby - safari Prints from The Paper Studio, and filled with hand-made bottlecap key chain, erasers, TY rubber band bracelets, and candy - wrapped with Tulle and glitter.

Fun times for all.

Halloween School Treat

Sorry -
I new this blog would haunt me - I have been sooo busy with kids, cheer and school!  The great news - my dd Sammy's cheer team has taken 1st in their 2 competitions thus far - so I guess the time and dedication has paid off -- we are headed for the three-peat this weekend -
Go Rams!

Today however I waant to show off the latest craft.  Sammy has to bring a healthy snack to school for Halloween - no more decorating hershey bars.  so we moved onto mini microwave popcorn bags.
I wrapped the bag in paper (not cardstock) - Hard to find cute halloween patterned paper that was NOT cardstock in short notice - so I went with solid brights.  I used Cricut Happy Hauntings Cartridge to cut the characters in 5" sizes - simple cuts and very easy to layer,  added a cutsie border to dress up the page and walah!
PS I got the fence sticky border at M this week - K&C Company - 40% off - and the Happy Halloween Stamp at J for $1!
PSS Lori I plan on bringing this cart to Arkansas next week!!

I will try to upload some single images this week.  Homecoming weekend - busy busy!

Zebra Bags

The reason for this blog is to share craft's completed over the miles -
So Lori - here ya go dear... I made 4 of these bags for my youngest dear daughter and her friends.  Sammy has been friends with these girls since they cheered together when they were only 4-years-old.  Sammy, Alicia, Brieyanna & Victoria.  The bags I ordered from a local vendor, the rest I cut with the cricut. and heat applied t-shirt vinyl in silver glitter, brilliant blue & black.

I added the aluminim sport water bottle in coordinating color with a glossy black vinyl and silver accents.  Stars for Sammy and Brieyanna, Circles for Victoria, and flowers for Alicia.

Here it is...

Well, I took the plunge - now lets hope I float back up and do not drown! 

I created this blog so I can have fun with my 2 most crafty friends (Ms. Karen and Ms. Lori) and together we can post ideas and crafts that we have gathered and share them with eachother accross the miles.  Actually they are the brains behind the ideas - I just try to find a way to make their ideas instead of buying it - and the best part - I may buy $50 worth of stuff necessary to make that $2 item! But hey - we will use it again - right???