Check it out!

I've been featured! And, I'm the first to be featured!

Tricia of Handmade Whimzy and Pink Pear Designs contacted me recently and asked if I would mind being the first in line of etsy shops that she will be promoting. A new etsy seller and their shop will be featured every Wednesday.

So, check out our "interview" of sorts. Our paths crossed last Christmas when she ordered a paper bag scrapbook that she wanted personalized to give to grandparents. We did fishing quotes and grandparent quotes. It was different than what I usually do, but it turned out to be perfect. Tricia was fun to work with and very friendly!

So, go check out Tricia's blog and be sure to tell her I sent you!

Valentines for Friends

I recently came across a great idea for Valentine's Day cards. I'm not really a big fan of buying cartoon character cards with corny sayings, but it's just what you do at Valentine's Day, so I suck it up and buy them.

Well, this year, I came across a wonderful idea on a blog I stalk for handmade valentines. That, alone, is not the wonderful idea. The great idea is that you let the recipient color the valentine themselves. It's not too time-consuming for me to make them and it's a fun, different kind of valentine for the kids to receive.

Here's Fran's valentine. It is so, so adorable! Simple, yet perfect. The boys will love choosing images and stamping them and then I'll cut them out and matte them. Perfect!

I just recently invested in a Just-Rite Stamper set and the small alphabet that goes with it. I figured I would put the saying that you usually see inside the valentine on the Just-Rite stamp and then put them on lollipops or something. I was so excited that I stamped out 20 or so of them for my oldest's class and matted one with a nestability scallop circle to show off to my mom and sisters (we all went to a Mary Kay party this afternoon).


Aren't they so neat?

Imagine my surprise when my first sister that I showed it to took one look at my handiwork and laughed out loud! The nerve. The first words out of her mouth were "Venereal Disease?!"

What?! No, VD. Valentine's Day.

I just shook my head at my poor sister. She, of course, couldn't believe that I didn't realize it looked like that.

So, I showed it to my other sister and my mom. And they both laughed, too. Without hesitation. Without reading all the words I had painstakenly spelled out, letter by letter.

I consoled myself with the reminder that it was my family. Maybe my whole family (except for me, of course) were all just a little weird. So, I showed it to the parents of the friends my boys had invited over for today's birthday party.

I got raised eyebrows, embarrassed grins and a few gasps. Oops.

So, needless to say, I will be remaking the lollipop covers for my son's class, seeing as how I really don't want the parents of his classmates wondering what kind of child he is and whether or not they should be concerned.

Here are a few options for the remakes.


I'm thinking the lips are too girly for a boy to give away (although I do think they're so cute), so I will probably go with the hearts, unless inspiration strikes and I get another great idea... Something better than the first, I hope...

So, tell me. What was your first thought when you saw the valentines?

Thanks 'snow' much!

I made this card for Jen's Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT). I didn't make it a square because I don't have any square envelopes.


I wanted to make a "thank you" card for my Aunt for the sweet and thoughtful gifts she sent for my boys for Christmas. She is so good at giving gifts that are fun, different and perfect for their ages.




The inside says, "Thanks 'snow' much!"

I used my cuttlebug a lot for this card! I used the flowers die for the big white snowflake in the bottom right corner. I held all the layers together with a brad. Then I used the Snowflakes folder to emboss the green background. I also used my nestabilities for the main image.

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo (no name--Snowman with Birds)
Paper: cardstock, Basic Gray Figgy Pudding patterned paper
Tools: copic markers, paper cutter, circle punch, nestabilities, cuttlebug flowers, cuttlebug snowflakes folder
embellishments: brads

Fancy Smancy Gift Card Holder

This Men's Billfold is so neat! I found the directions on Lorri's blog. It looks like it would be hard, but it's really quite easy, although maybe a little time-consuming.

I made this a while ago and was saving it for a perfect occasion. I got one! My husband and some friends recently tiled our kitchen and this went to one of the guys with a huge thank you (and a Lowe's gift card). We are so blessed to have great friends! I typed "Thank you" on the computer and matted it on the front. I forgot to take a picture of it like that, though, so the front looks very boring...


I cheated for the picture and put two small magnets inside to hold the wallet closed for the pictures because it kept wanting to pop open. When I gave it, I was able to tuck it in an envelope, so it's okay that it doesn't stay closed on it's own.


The inside, empty.


The inside, full. Unfortunately, that's not what our friend got inside his. :-)


Look how much you can stuff inside!


If I ever make another... maybe?...I think it would be fun to give this with pictures in the pockets. Or maybe the kids could draw pictures and we could trim them down and put them in the pockets. Or handmade coupons that fit for the recipient. Hmmm, lots of neat ideas!

Here's another take on the same wallet.

And, yet another take on her design.

Here's a neat idea for a sort of similar wallet, maybe more for a girl instead.

A Little Birdie Told Me Paper Pieced Card

I am trying to be more consistent in my scrapbooking and stamping and not so sporadic! I think doing challenges and using sketches will help me!

This card uses this sketch as well as Gina K's challenge to paper piece on the card. Sorry the picture is so small. I deleted my original picture, then couldn't find where I found the original and had to use that one. Anyway, maybe you get the idea...


I had already decided to use the bird on my next card and had cut him into a square, so I didn't follow do a circle image.


A close up of the paper piecing. We were also challenged to use metal, which I didn't realize until after I'd finished the card. Hopefully you can't tell the clip is an after-thought. *grin*


Check out more cards made using the Verve Sketch and Gina's You Want a Piece of Me? challenge!

Stamps: Fairest of Them All Bird
Paper: cardstock, My Mind's Eye patterned paper
Tools: copic markers, paper cutter, paper distresser

Baby's First Christmas Ornament

I "met" a gal on etsy that lives in Longview (and even knows a friend of mine--what a small world!) and she asked me if I could make a square, wooden ornament that was personalized on all sides for her son's First Christmas ornament.

She showed me a picture of what she wanted and asked if I could make it cheaper than the one she'd found.

I am pleased to say that I made it for half what she would have had to pay and minus the shipping since she's in Longview, too.

I'm letting it dry completely (so it's not "tacky") before I let her know it's finished, so I thought I'd take some pictures.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually quite simple to make. Maybe I'll do a tutorial for anyone interested in making one of their own. You could probably figure it out yourself, of course, but it's always fun to have someone walk you through it.

Here's a front view. She wanted Christmas paper, but not girly colors.


Here's an attempt at a picture of the bottom.


An attempt at a picture of the top.


I distressed the edges and then sealed the paper with mod podge and the exposed wood areas with a varnish.

I was going to try to use beads somewhere, but I'm just not seeing where. I could hang a short strand from the hook on top and let it drape over one side, but I'm just not sure.

So, Merry First Christmas to Connor!