Gingerbread cookies and Christmas notes

The plan was to sing carols to the neighbors as we delivered these gingerbread cookies and Christmas cards.






In the end, all we did was deliver them and wish a Merry Christmas (it was cold and kids were cranky), but we all enjoyed making the cookies and I had fun making the cards.

I actually used clip art for the snow people image. I knew I had a gingerbread stamp, but I couldn't find it anywhere. So, I searched online and used a simple clipart image I found.

Wouldn't you know it, I found the gingerbread stamp a few hours after I finished the cards... Figures.

Merry Christmas to you and your family, with or without the Christmas carols. :-)

Girlfriends and Coffee

I have a sweet friend with a thoughtful husband who sneaked around behind her back getting together enough cards so that she could get birthday cards all month before her birthday. Since I didn't know when she would be opening my card, I never posted it here. Then I simply forgot.




I know I used a sketch, but I can't seem to find which one...

Stamps: no name, set of 2, by Inkadinkado
Paper: cardstock, My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Tools: copic markers, paper cutter

Teacher Gift and Card

This year, I had a blast making Russell's teacher, Mrs. Cole, a Christmas gift. I saw a GREAT idea months ago from Tip Junkie that led me to Dawn's blog. She had a wonderful idea posted for a teacher gift.

Well, yesterday, while Randall was under the weather, I got to work. It took me about 30 minutes and I still couldn't get it to look how I wanted, so I e-mailed Dawn and asked what program she used and such. She was so, so sweet to offer to just do it for me (I think I sounded pretty pitiful...).

So, this is a group effort:


I was very pleased with how it turned out and Mrs. Cole seemed to really like it. It's a frame that can be displayed for years to come.

Here's the card that I remembered this morning that I wanted to make! I bought the stamp a few weeks ago (when it was on sale, of course!) knowing I wanted to make a teacher card with it. I colored him to look like Russell.


It was quick and easy and I followed this sketch:


Here's a close up of the lunch bag. It kinda looks like it's full of food from the top.


Both together. The ribbon topiary to the left is the Christmas craft we made for our last MOPS craft. Isn't it cute?!


I meant to make two for Randall's teachers, but time got away and I totally forgot. I might still make them for after the holidays. Next on my gift-to-do list, gifts for Sunday School/Kids' Church teachers.

Christmas Shopping

Just a reminder: You can shop from other moms by shopping Tip Junkie's Mom-Preneur Shop-A-Thon!

I think you will be pleased with all the selections available! It might take you all day to make it through all the shops!

See if you can find me on there! It's like Where's Waldo? :-)

Save yourself the hassle of going in and out of stores. There are lots of different options and categories--I'm sure you'll find something for everyone on your list! And, many of them are very reasonably priced!

So, what shops did you like best? Who are you considering purchasing from? Who did you already buy from? Did you even click on the link?! :-)

Prudish Winners

Well, the winners were finally announced over at A Tad Bit Prudish for the two refrigerator scrapbooks I had donated to be given away!

Jeanne and mamajuliana were the winners! Congratulations!!

As always, if you did not win and you are interested in purchasing from my etsy shop, you can receive a 10% discount by telling me that you found me through A Tad Bit Prudish!

Custom orders welcome! Personalization free!

Thanks for entering!

Maude Cobb Christmas Corner

Well, this weekend was Longview's Christmas Corner at Maude Cobb. This is my second year to sell my items at it. Last year, I shared a booth and was very pleased when they had extra room and we both ended up getting a full booth space (at only half the cost).

This year, I decided to get a booth alone and see how it went. My friend, Mandy, was going to share the booth with me and use a small corner for her photography business, but then she had to go and move! (You know I love you, Mandy!) :-) So, I invited my other photographer friend, Josie, to join me.

I brought my camera to take a picture of our wonderfully amazing booth, but just never got around to taking a picture. I was lazy... Just take my word for it that we were the coolest booth in the joint! :-)

One of my newest additions to my display items was this cool locker!

I was so excited to get it and set it up! Doesn't it look so cool!


Unfortunately, it's not magnetic. Silly me. I didn't realize that it would be wood! Oh, well.


As I was putting it together, I had everything spread all out across the livingroom floor. Slade was doing something on the computer and when he finished, he scooted his chair back and we heard this terrible "crack!" Here's the back... Notice the hole?


Just the size of the leg of the chair... Oops! :-)


But, it wasn't noticeable when it was on the table at the Christmas Corner.

It was a long weekend (all day Friday, all day Saturday and half a day on Sunday), but the time flew by! It went so much quicker having someone there with me--to chat with, to help take money. We both got good at giving each other's info and laughed together at people that didn't even hear us as we talked and talked about our products and services. Also, we knew quite a few of the people that came through to shop and enjoyed getting to chat and catch up.

All in all, a great weekend and very profitable for me. It was also a great way for Josie to get her name out to more people. She filled her calendar from now to Christmas!

Feeling a Tad Bit Prudish?!

I am sitting in the computer room at the Hilton-South Lake, waiting for the other girls from our MOPS steering team. We are at MOPS convention and are having an absolute blast! But, of course, I have to check my e-mail...

And, I'm glad I did because two of my refrigerator scrapbooks are being given away TODAY on A Tad Bit Prudish's blog! Go here for your chance to win one of two tins being given away!

I can personalize your tin, too... for a small fee. Oh, no, I mean, for you, free! Well, for everyone, free, but for you, too! So, go check it out!

Back in School Again

I had my first craft show of the season this weekend in Gladewater, Texas. It seems to get smaller each year, but it was still a great show for me!

My friend, Christy, came with me on Saturday and my mom came with me on Sunday. I enjoyed both days very much.

Christy and I were brainstorming better ways to set up my tables to give them height since most of what I sell is flat *grin* and came up with the idea to look for a locker of some sort. I could put paper bag albums inside and then magnets and refrigerator scrapbooks on the outside. I couldn't wait to get home and look up lockers.

I was thinking about buying a real, full-size single locker, but then I found this:


It was exactly what I was looking for! It won't be too heavy or long to tote back and forth to shows, but it is definitely a locker and people will be able to tell right away!

Now I'm even more excited about my next craft show!

Welcome, Little Buckaroo

I had a baby shower for a sweet friend from church this Sunday. She is decorating her little one's room in a western theme, so we used the western theme for the shower, too. It was so fun because it was different!

Here's the card I made for all the hostesses to sign.


Here's the food table with the fun western stuff. The plates and napkins matched perfectly with the paper I used on the card.


Look at that cute cake! It was made by Edible Art. And, it was even yummier than it was cute! Honestly. I don't usually like cake that much. But, this was moist and thick and delicious! They make yummy cookies, too.


Here are the fun tables! Aren't the centerpieces so perfect?!


The whole shower was fun. No pictures of the hostesses all together because that was taken with someone else's camera. But, everyone worked hard and did such a good job! The games were fun, the food was super yummy and the chatting was sweet.

If you "carrot" all... write!

I made this card for a sketch challenge from many moons ago. It was a Gina K. sketch and I liked how it was different with the corner of the paper folded up.


I needed a card for some sweet friends of ours that were moving home to Canada while the husband finishes up his Master's, I believe.


I saw my Easter stamps sitting out (needing to be cleaned, I'm sure) and it hit me that I could use the carrot one for a pun! I love puns!

The carrot stamp is from Michael's $1 bin and I got a few other cute Easter images along with it.

So, do you like puns? This one is, of course, only two-thirds of a PUN... P-U! Ha ha ha ha... Tell me you got that one...

Feeling a tad bit prudish?

Another great giveaway... Make that many giveaways! Sylvia from A Tad Bit Prudish is one of the contributors over at Blissfully Domestic. Blissfully Domestic will be relaunching their site this Labor Day! (Oops, I'm a few days late...)

That means that the site that has already brought you the most delicious dishes, creative crafts, fantastic fashion advice and perfect parenting tips is going to be that much better!

To celebrate, Sylvia is hosting a (drum roll please) Blissfully Domestic Gift Extravaganza!


To join in on the fun, go to A Tad Bit Prudish and follow the simple, easy-peasy rules for each day's giveaway.

Be on the lookout for a chance to win one of these fun tins from me!








Personalization is free!

Halloween is just around the corner!

Well, maybe not just around the corner, but it's close, so I'm getting in the crafty mood.

I just got a huge shipment of tins in yesterday. I was out of the ones I use for my refrigerator albums and wanted to get more of the round ones I'm starting to use for my magnet sets. As I was finding room for all my new goodies, I came across a box of these tins that I bought a while ago.


I bought them planning to use them for nugget boxes. I made a few for teacher gifts (school and church) last year and then haven't used them since.




So, yesterday, I decided to make some Halloween tins and see if they are a hit at the craft shows or not. It's hard to know what will sell and what won't. I think I'll list them in my etsy store, too.






I used Stampin' Up!'s retired stamps "Batty For You". They are one of my favorite sets and as soon as I heard they were retiring, I had to get them!

I've heard of people using the big rectangle tins for card sets and such, too. I'm not always good at trying out new things. I get stuck in my rut...

Stamps: Batty For You from Stampin' Up!
Paper: cardstock, KI Memories patterned paper (scraps left over from another project)
Tools: guillotine cutter, scallop punch, circle punches, double-sided tape (my best friend!)

There's a SALE going on!

***BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!***

Go to my etsy store and see all the items included in this sale going on RIGHT NOW, until the end of September.

Buy a tin AND a set of magnets and save! Buy a Refrigerator Scrapbook OR an Altered Tin Scrapbook AND a set of marble magnets and get the whole set for $15!

Refrigerator Scrapbooks are great for school lockers!

Altered Tin Scrapbooks are handy for carrying lunch money or medicine in a purse or backpack!

Marble Magnets are perfect for hanging pictures of friends and family on school lockers! Earth magnets won't fall off when the locker is slammed shut!

Contact me BEFORE paying and I will send you an adjusted invoice.

Sale includes custom items, so contact me and we can work out the details on a custom order in the colors, patterns, or style of your choosing!

***BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!***

How-To Place Alphabet Stickers

I recently learned a great tip that I've used several times since and I wanted to share it with you.

When using stickers in your cardmaking or scrapbooking, it can be hard to know how much room your word or words will need. It's hard to center the word or words and have even space between letters.

Here's a super easy trick to help you do it perfectly every time.

First, I took a tin I was personalizing for someone and chose my stickers.


The I found a plastic straight edge. You can use a thin ruler, a piece of paper that was used for stickers, a strip of waxed paper, etc. I used a wrapper from a set of rub-ons.


Next, start lining your stickers, half on, half off of the edge. Try not to handle the stickers too much because the oils on your fingers will cause the stickers to lose their sticky-ness (is that a word?). Unsticky stickers, not good.


You can move letters around as needed until you get them exactly where you would want them on your card or paper.


Decide where you want the stickers and press the top half down securely.


Slowly begin pulling the plastic edge out from under the stickers, making sure your stickers stay put. You can even hold them down while you pull out the plastic edge.


Then press the lower edges of the stickers down.


Now you're finished!


Make sure you rub over the stickers to ensure that they are well stuck.

Stand back and admire your perfectly straight letters. And save your plastic edge for the next time!

New Header

Thanks to a number of friends, I have learned how to create my own headers for my blog! That makes me very happy!

If anyone is interested, you can make your own header, too, by going to www.scrapblog.com. You can do digital scrapbooking and who knows what else there, too.

If you use scrapblog to make your header, let me know! I'd love to see your headers, too!

Accordion Album

Sheri asked me recently how I make an accordion album. I started to answer her in an e-mail, but it got long and I thought there might be others that would be interested in knowing how, too, so I decided to post it here.

I have done it two different ways, so I'll tell you both, in case you don't have the same tools I do.

The way I make them now is using my Scor-Pal. It has made it so much easier, but it's not necessary. First, cut your 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock (I usually use white or off-white cardstock, depending on the colors in my papers, but you could use any color you like) at 3 1/2 in. Cut a 3 1/2 x 2 inch practice "page" first and make sure that's the size you want. You might want a slightly bigger or smaller page, depending on your cutter's measurements. Just make sure it will fit inside your tin.

Then, using my Scor-Pal, I score at 2, 6 and 10. Then I flip the paper and score at 4 and 8. Fold at the scores and use a corner rounder to round all the corners. Depending on the thickness of your cardstock and the sharpness of your corner rounder (I have used my Stampin' Up! corner rounder for years and years and it's still as sharp as ever), it might be hard to round the corners on the folds.

Two other ways, without a Scor-Pal would be to use a guillotine-style cutter or a trimmer that has a scoring tool. Those are the two trimmers I have.

With a guillotine-style cutter, after cutting your paper to 12 x 3 1/2 inches, put it length-wise at 2 inches and fold it over the cutting edge. (Do not cut!) Then turn it over, put the fold you just made at 2 inches and fold again. Continue folding and flipping, measuring at the 2 inch mark each time. Fold and round the corners as stated above.

With a scoring tool, score at each 2-inch interval, using the fold at 2, flipping the paper with each score. Fold and round corners.

Once you've done that, you'll be ready to embellish the pages. The patterned papers you use will be cut to 3 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches. I sometimes tear papers to give texture. You can use 3-D embellishments, like brads, flowers, buttons, etc, as long as the album folds up and still fits inside the tin. You can use ribbon to tie the album closed. You can do only a matte, no patterned paper extras, cut at 3 1/4 x 1 3/4 inches, and then cut your pictures.

Have fun with it!

Was this info helpful? Did you try it yourself? Leave a comment here, linking us to your accordion album!

Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo...

Well, I have the winner from Laurie's blog and it's Carrie.

And, now, the winner from my blog, is...

kara jayne

Conratulations, Carrie and Kara! Please e-mail me with what kind of refrigerator scrapbook you both would like, either from my etsy shop, from the sold section of my etsy shop or details of a custom one. If you would like a custom one, we'll just e-mail back and forth to work out the details. If you would like your scrapbook personalized, let me know what you would like it to say

Remember, if you didn't win, but you would like a refrigerator scrapbook (custom or pre-made) or any of the items I make, e-mail me and let me know! You get 10% off your order!

Thanks for all the sweet comments and for taking the time to visit my blog! It's been real. It's been fun. Heck, it's been real fun!

E-mail overload!

Whew, what a lot of e-mails to read! (And on dial-up at my sister-in-law's house here in Colorado, where we're visiting my husband's family for the week.) I was not expecting such a big turnout! What a nice surprise!

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my refrigerator scrapbooks. They made my day!

As for the "rules" from my post and Laurie's post, no problem if they weren't followed. The main rule was to post to Laurie's blog to get your name entered in the "Great Refrigerator Scrapbook Giveaway" (echo, echo). For those of you that let me know what kind of refrigerator scrapbook you would like, thanks! It really does help to get feedback like that because I can get stuck in my rut of making stuff *I* like, when *I'm* not the one buying it! *grin*

I hope everyone enjoyed sharing their favorite names. I don't know what it is, but we all have names we like, even if we don't have kids! It's a universal phenomenon that we women (I think everyone that posted yesterday was female) love to talk about baby names! *grin* Thanks for being good sports and playing along.

Laurie mentioned on her post that I would be giving away a refrigerator scrapbook from the comments on her blog *and* from the comments on my blog. Well... that wasn't my original intent, but there are so many people that commented, that I figure it'll be more fun to have 2 chances to win! So, as soon as I get Laurie's pick from the giveaway, I'll post my winner, too. Both will get to choose, either from tins I have in my etsy shop (or in my sold section) or from your own color combination/theme. I have so much paper, it's not funny (although it is fun!), so I can probably make anything you can come up with!

If you don't win, but you are still interested in a refrigerator scrapbook or a paper bag album or magnets or a gift card holder or a necklace made from bubble gum wrappers, please let me know! (Well, just kidding on the bubble gum wrapper necklace... Anyone else out there remember making those?!) Anyway, you get 10% off, just for being a Tip Junkie fan! If you can dream it up, I can make it! How's that for overly confident?... Okay, maybe I should say I'm pretty sure I can work with you and make exactly what you're wanting.

Again, thanks for the sweet comments, for playing along in the baby name game and for visiting my blog!

Blog ya later!

Whew, you wouldn't believe how long it took me to write this post! Dial-up, bad; DSL, good. *grin* Now, I *really* ought to go be social!

Tip Junkie Giveaway!

Hi! Welcome! If you're new here, you probably got here from Laurie's blog, Tip Junkie! Nice to "meet" you!

Well, my three favorites are going to be kinda unusual, I'm afraid. My husband and I want to add a third kiddo to our family, so we've had babies on the brain. That always leads to baby names.

So, here are my three favorite baby names.
* Andrew Thane - We would call him Drew, not Andy! Thane comes from a Janette Oke book I read years ago--he was the "hero" and his character reminded me, even back then, of my husband, Slade. I know, Awwwww...)
* Darvi or Darby Ruth - Ruth is my mom's name
* Rebekah Renee - Rebekah is one of my favorite girl names and it would stick with the "R" theme we seem to have going with our first two boys--Russell and Randall. Renee is my middle name.

So, to be entered in the giveaway for a refrigerator scrapbook, custom designed just for you, leave a comment on this post telling me your three favorite baby names. I know, everybody say "Awwwww...."

Then, go back to Tip Junkie and leave a comment there so she'll know you've visited here and tell what you would like your refrigerator album to look like. Do you like dog-themes? Are your favorite colors red and black? Do you like a Western look? That helps me know what kind of items would sell *and* I'll know what the winner wants.

Of course, if you win, your comment isn't binding. You can change your mind! We'll work together to make your refrigerator scrapbook perfect for your refrigerator. Or, if you're giving it away as a gift, we'll make it exactly what you want for them, too!

Here is the refrigerator scrapbook that is on my fridge. It's very easy to trim regular snapshots or professional portraits down to fit on the "pages".


This is what I can do to personalize your album. As long as it's not too many words, I can type up whatever you want. The outside front and inside top can be personalized.


Some more examples of tins I've customized.




Remember, if you don't win, you are still eligible for 10% off of your entire purchase from me! You can check out my etsy store and either order something already listed or give me specifics for a custom order. Contact me and I'll send you a revised invoice with 10% off!

Thanks for visiting!

Popsicle anyone?

Happy Summer! For some reason, popsicles make me think of summer!


I found this "recipe" (haha, pun intended!) on Patty's blog Patty's Stamping Spot for a popsicle card.

I didn't adhere the ice cream center (aka white cardstock) to the card yet, because I figure it will be easier to write my note without the stick in the way. When I am ready to sign it and give it away, I'll use pop dots to adhere it and make the popsicle more 3-D. Who likes a flat popsicle anyway? :-)


I don't have any fruit stamps or even anything that would work with a popsicle, but I like it plain, too. And, I did order some fruity/summery stamps from Whipper Snapper Designs.

I have a lady on etsy that wanted a cherry-themed refrigerator scrapbook (a Mary Engelbreit look) and I couldn't find exactly what I wanted, so we agreed that stamping my own paper would work perfectly. So, then I had an excuse to get the stamp set I already had on my wish list. It's a win-win, don't you think? :-)

Are you a tip junkie?!

Laurie of Tip Junkie is hosting a 20+ day giveaway on her blog! More than 20 Mom-Prenuers are giving away their handmade items! I will be giving away something fun, too, but it's not my turn yet. So, go check out Laurie's blog, follow her instructions, and see how it goes!



If you do not win on the day my products are featured, you can still go to my etsy store and get a 10% discount on your purchase. Just e-mail me with your order and tell me you heard of me through Tip Junkie and I will discount your entire order by 10%. This includes custom orders, as well!

So, what are you waiting for?! Head on over to Tip Junkie! And, then come back here, too!

CD Holder and Thank You Card in One

A few weeks ago, we enjoyed a week with my Grandpa and his wife, Nancy. They fed us, provided fresh, clean beds to sleep on, the use of their washer and dryer and just made it a wonderful vacation for us!

We had a great time and I wanted to let them know how much it was appreciated. I had a CD of pictures to send them that I had taken from our time there, so I googled a CD holder and found this template. I changed it up a bit, since I was using it for a card instead of an album, and then made it my own style and this is what I ended up with. I sort of used Taylor's sketch-TECC20, but I changed it up a bit (and I was way too late to post it to her challenge--Bummer!).


I had room on the left inside to write a note.


I'm so, so pleased with how well it all came together and it was exactly what I pictured! I don't know if I'll ever have a reason to make another one, but this one was perfect.

I hope G'pa Roger and G'ma Nancy know how much they are appreciated and loved!

I'll leave you with a picture from our trip. My husband, Slade, didn't make it and my mom was taking the picture. We also had an extra kiddo, my nephew, Josh.


Back (L-R) My dad, me, G'pa Roger, Nancy.
Front (L-R) Randall, Josh, Russell

Stamps: Grasshopper Fluffles by Stampendous!
Paper: cardstock, My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Tools: copic markers, scor-pal, corner rounder with guard removed