Christmas Poppers

I was wanting to have some Christmas poppers at my table this Christmas, but when I looked at the goofy little things that would come inside them, I decided I wanted to make my own and fill them with Lindt chocolates.

And then I came across Allison Okamitsu's post on this very topic!  She made it so easy for me...

I used some older, retired CTMH Jingle paper, that I still have a lot left over...

If you want to make your own, here is the how-to video by Allison Okamitsu that she had shared on her Facebook page on December 1st.

Happy creating!  :)

Jesse's Q&A Mini Album

One of my friend's youngest child turned 7 last week.

He is such a cutie!

A few days before that, I came across my son's Q&A book I made for him when he was 6, and with it fresh on my mind, I asked my friend if she would like me to make one of these mini albums for her son.  

She did.  :)

Using the same questions I had asked Cole so many years ago, she asked her son those questions, and using his answers, this is the mini album I made for him.

Using the leftover scraps from my (retired) CTMH Urban paper pack and Complements, I also made him this birthday card.

Happy creating!  :)

Guest Blogger at Creative Scrapbooker Magazine!

Whoop, whoop!

I have some exciting news to share!

I was asked to be a guest blogger over at the Creative Scrapbooker Magazine blog!

Here's just a teaser of what I shared using some of the new Close To My Heart products available now, but you can check out my projects in full over on the Creative Scrapbooker Magazine blog HERE!

Happy creating!  :)

♥

Convention Roomie Gifts

Now that Convention is over and I am back home from an extended stay in Disney World, I can share the gifts I made for my Convention roommates.

I think they liked them.  ;)

Edited to add:  Here is the link to the same Mini Album I made, but where I used 6x6 kraft cards and envelopes for the pages.  For this mini album I just used 6x6 pieces of kraft cardstock for the pages.

Happy creating!  :)

Wedding Mini Album

If you recall, I went to a friend's wedding in Las Vegas recently.

After we got back from the wedding, I created a mini album as a gift for the bride and groom and filled it with photos of their special day.

I also made this card to match...

I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at this special event, forever captured in photos.  

Happy creating!  :)

Supplies used are all CTMH (unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  For Always Picture My Life; Blackboard Journaling cards (WRMK)

Stamp:  Project Life Date stamp (Becky Higgins)

Ink:  Cranberry

Embellishments:  Red Enamel Hearts, Red Shimmer Trim, Gold Sequins, Clear Sparkles, Red Sparkles - retired, Sparkle Flourish - retired, Red Resin Flower - retired, White Paper Flower - retired, Red striped ribbon (SU), Red Pleated Ribbon (SU), Overlays and Word Chipboard  from Project Life Overlay Kit (Becky Higgins)

Other:  My Creations Black Mini Book, Corner rounder

Valentine 3"x3" Post-it Note Cover {instructions}

Okay, so as promised, here's my instructions for the cute Valentine 3"x3" Post-it Note cover that I shared yesterday.

First, start with a piece of cardstock cut to 3 1/4" x 12".

Then score your cardstock at 3 7/8", 4 1/4", 6 1/4", and 8 1/8".

The only tricky part is making sure that you glue the correct section together.

If you look closely at the photo below, you can see where the bottom half of the top piece is glued together.

If you need more visuals, you can check out the instructions by Susan Itell, where she explains in photos how to make these for 1 1/2" x 2" sized Post-it Notes.

Happy creating!  :)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  White Daisy, Black, Cotton Candy CS

Stamps:  Whooo's Your Valentine - retired

Inks:  Whisper, Black, Ruby, Cotton Candy

Embellishments:  Googlie Eyes (dollar store)

Punch:  1/4" circle (EK)

Other:  3D foam tape, Micro-tip scissors, 3x3 Post-it Notes (Post-it)

♥ 3 Fun & Cute 3D Valentine's Projects ♥

Here's some adorable 3D Valentine's projects.

I'm still waiting to get my hands on some of the new CTMH products for Spring/Summer, so I pulled out an old stamp set (Whooo's Your Valentine) and retired paper (Sweetheart).

I got it, so why not use it, right?

Up first, I will show you this cute 3x3 Post-it Note cover.

 

Super cute, hey?  And so easy.

I found the instructions by Susan Itell via Pinterest to create a cover to hold 1 1/2" x 2" Post-its, but I only had 3x3 size Post-its on hand, so I adjusted all the measurements and created my own instructions.

I will post my instructions soon (maybe tomorrow, time permitting).... so check back.  ;)

Next up is this cute little treat holder.

I just got a Envelope Punch Board, made by We R Memory Keepers (also sold by SU), and wanted to play with it.

So I found some great tutorials on Pinterest.

This one is called a Sewing Style Box by Sam Pootles.

And lastly, here's a nice sized gift bag.

This one is also by Sam Pootles and she calls it a Folded Gift Bag.

I hope I inspired you today!

Happy creating!  :)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Sweetheart B&T - retired; White Daisy, Ruby, Black, Cotton Candy CS

Stamps:  Holiday Tags, Whooo's Your Valentine - retired

Inks:  Whisper, Black, Ruby, Cotton Candy

Embellishments:  Googlie Eyes (dollar store), Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon

Punches:  1/4" circle (EK), Heart (MS), Heart Trio (SU), Word Window (SU), 1/8" hole punch (Fiskars)

Other:  Envelope Punch (WRMK), 3D foam tape, Micro-tip scissors, Hook & Loop Dot, 3x3 Post-it Notes (Post-it)

3 Babycakes Baby Layouts and Card... a Gift for a New Mom (of baby #2)

I created these layouts and card back in July or August.

I've been doing daycare for one little guy who is going to be becoming a big brother in October.

So I wanted to create a gift for his Mom for when the baby arrives.

Now, his Momma isn't a scrapbooker, so I wanted to create layouts that require minimal work on her end.

(I may have to trim some of her photos down to the correct size of the new baby for her layouts and glue them down for her.)

I also added some extra pages with slots for 4x6 and 6x4 photos at the back of her album, so she can easily add more photos to the album without having to do anything else.

The top two layouts were adapted from the Babycakes WOTG layout designs.

I just used the Babycakes My Compliments adhesive canvas pieces, and tweaked the originals a little.

The bottom layout is from the Make It From Your Heart Vol. 2 (if I remember correctly).

I saw this layout done by another fellow Consultant using these Babycake papers, and I thought I had written her name down.

But now it has been a few months, and I can't find who to give credit to.

If anyone knows, please let me know.

And lastly, here's the card I made, using some of the leftover pieces from the layouts.

I think it turned out pretty cute!

Although I had noticed that the framed portion is a little cock-eyed.

I've fixed that since I took this photo.  ;)

Until next time,

Happy creating!  :)

Kid's Mother's Day Art Project... Hand Print Canvas

This is the Mother's Day craft my little daycare boy will be giving to his Mom this year.

I thought it turned out pretty darned sweet.  

I saw this cute idea on Pinterest, and I had to give it a try myself.  The picture shown on Pinterest was of canvas art similar to mine, but there were multiples stacked up and in a bunch of different colours in the photo.  Unfortunately, whoever pinned it didn't do it correctly, so it didn't go back to its origin.  I wanted to read up on how theirs was done and to see if it were a print or whatever, but since I couldn't follow the link back, I just had to wing it on my homemade one.

I took a 6x8 canvas and painted two coats of blue acrylic paint onto it, allowing it to dry between and after coats.

Then I literally painted white acrylic paint onto the little boy's hand (to keep the paint thickness fairly even to prevent it from looking too smudgy - I wanted to be able to see the lines and creases in his hand), then helped him place his hand print in the center of the canvas.  

I then added his name and the date with a black Sharpie marker.

Then after his hand print was dry, I added two coats of Mod Podge to seal it well, letting it dry in between coats.

The above photo is how the wet Mod Podge looks when applied, but it dries clear.

Anyways, he will be giving it to his Mom later this week.

I'm sure she'll treasure it.  ♥

I was thinking I might do another, but with his foot print and in a different background colour (perhaps in green), for Father's Day.

We'll see.  ;)

Happy creating!  :)

Glenda's 40 - Treat Bags

 

 

 

I'm heading out of town again today.

 

This time for a girls' trip, so Cole and Lee are staying home.

 

Us girls are heading off to Edmonton, AB, to go to a Bon Jovi concert and then staying until Sunday for some fun with friends and shopping time.

 

The main reason for the girls' trip is that my friend Glenda just had her 40th, and this was what she wanted to do to celebrate.

 

Sounds fun, right?

 

I'm sure we will have a blast.  There are 8 of us going.

 

 

 

I decided to whip up some little chocolate egg filled treat bags to give out to the gals.

 

You may notice that there are only 7 treat bags, as I may have already eaten my share of chocolate eggs while making these, so I didn't bother making one for myself.  ;)

 

 

 

 

I used the CTMH small paper pouches, a new item in the Spring/Summer Idea Book.

The hardest part about making these treat bags was getting them sealed.  I always use Tombo Mono Multi glue, and the paper treat bags are a little waxy, so I learned that for next time I will need to use a strip of ScorTape.  lol

So that's it until I get back from my trip, as I will have already left by the time this posts.

 

And I'll be driving my little Jetta, so please send warm thoughts for a snow/ice-free drive. 

(I really don't like bad winter roads!)

 

Happy creating!  :)



***Because I am away, I won't be able to process any card purchases until next week.

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper:  Small Paper Pouches; Lagoon, White Daisy CS; Silver Glitter paper
Stamps:  Tiny Typewriter Alphabet - retired, It's Your Day - retired
Inks:  Black, Lagoon
Punch/Dies:  Two-Step Owl punch - heart (SU); By the Numbers dies (My Favorite Things)
Other:  4" Doilies (Wilton), Micro-tip scissors

Display Tray... a Christmas Gift

I hate to have to place digital snowflakes over this adorable little guy's face, but he's not mine, so I just had to. 

 

Take my word for it that he is totally photogenic. 

 

I had a lot of fun taking photos of him outside earlier this fall, before the snow flew. 

 

And I'm still a beginner with my camera, trying to learn how to take proper photos, so it's fun to have a willing participant.  ;)

 

 

 

I am his daycare provider, and I made this display tray to give to his Mom and Dad for a little Christmas gifty.

 

Some inspiration for this project came from a display tray I saw that was created by the CTMH Art department.

 

These display trays are so nice and very easy to decorate, and they only cost $19.95.

 

The size of the photos and inserts for the sections of the tray are 4"x3".

 

 

 

I used papers from a retired paper pack called Dreamin', but it is currently available as a "While Supplies Last" item on my website for just $2.50!!!

(or for $4.00 with some matching Harvest Charms)

 

Also, a lot of the embellishments that I used are retired, too, but you can find some of them discounted in the While Supplies Last section, as well.

 

 

 

Happy creating!  :)

 

 

 

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Dreamin' paper packet - retired

Stamps:  So Grateful, Save the Date - retired

Inks:  Chocolate, Saddle, Pacifica; Pacifica alcohol markers

Embellishments:  Noted Canvas Shapes, Neutral Baker's Twine, Neutral Embroidery Floss, Antique Copper Brad, Wooden Buttons, Olive Button, Color-Ready Garden Accents, Lucky L2 Chipboard Accents - retired, Milepost Shapes, DE Notable Alphabet, DE Chipboard Shapes from past You & Me kit - retired, Just Blooms Autumn Leaves - retired, Holly Leaves Fall (Prima)

Other:  Sponge, Liquid Glass, Paper piercer, Needle

 

 

December Paper Trail Blog Hop... Avonlea

 

Welcome to the Paper Trail Blog Hop for December!

 

You should have arrived from Tracey's blog, but this is a circular hop, so it doesn't matter where you begin.  ;)

 

 

This month we are featuring the Avonlea paper packet, and here's my project to share with you.

 

I made a pretty little boxed set of 6 Christmas cards.

 

 

 

I was thinking of adding a little Christmas message at the top of the Colonial White piece, that would be tucked behind the lid decoration, or possibly at the bottom part above the scroll-type edge.

 

Where do you think I should add it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avonlea is full of such beautiful papers, so I decided to create 6 cards to show off each paper design individually, but kept the design the same for simplicity and cohesion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The box was cut at 5 1/2" using the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 Cricut cartridge,

and the card size is 4 3/4" x 3".

 

(Note: for the box, I cut the two separate pieces and adhered them together -- I did not use the one-piece candy box shape.)

 

 

 

 

Here's what the Avonlea paper samples look like:

 

 

 

 

 

 

And with a new month, I need to mention the new Stamp of the Month - Year Round Cheer, available only in the month of December and for just $5 with a $50 order.

 

I just happened to use an image from this set on my cards...  ;)

 

 

 

 

Thank you for joining me today.

 

Please continue along the Paper Trail Blog Hop by visiting Lynne's blog.

 

 

Happy creating!  :)

 

 

 

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Paper:  Avonlea paper packet; Colonial White, Slate CS

Stamp:  Year Round Cheer - Dec. SOTM

Inks/Markers:  Slate and Slate pigment; Juniper and Juniper Light alcohol markers

Embellishments:  Silver Trim, Silver Glitz Glitter Gel, Colonial White Designer Brad - retired, Clear Sparkle

Punches:  Real Estate Sign (EK), 3/4" circle (EK), 2" scallop circle

Other:  Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 Cricut cartridge (Provo Craft), Sewing machine (Kenmore), Bone folder,  3D foam tape, Clear Detail embossing powder, Sponge, Liquid Glass