My Other Pages

To make it easier to read about our trip to Ireland, I have made a page that is just for that. There is a tab above for Ireland Trip 2014 or click on the Home tab to read my other posts. I have also created a new page for My Weight Loss Journey if you are interested in that, click on the tab above.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Santa's On His Way - Christmas Challenge.

WOW! 
One month until Christmas!
It's coming so fast!
This weeks Eureka! Stamps Challenge is
"Santa's On His Way"
a Christmas themed challenge.
I have used 2
Eureka! Stamps
images for my project.
"Christmas Ball with Ribbon" (#12702) and
"Merry Christmas Script (#3206)
I have a group of crafty friends who are having a tag swap.
This is the first tag I've created for that swap.
I stamped the Christmas Ball image onto white card stock
then colored it with a combination of
water color crayons and a Creative Memories silver pen.
I added liquid glue to the top and bottom parts of the image and added glitter to give a little sparkle and shine.
I used my Stampamajig to place the Merry Christmas sentiment.
Now the last decision on this tag.
I need to add some kind of string or ribbon to the top of the tag.
Should it be ribbon, yarn, a bit of silver thread?
What do you think?
I hope you'll leave me a comment
and let me know what you think.
 
Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope you've been inspired in some way and will pop over to the
get all the details about the challenge
and join in the fun!
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Monday, November 18, 2013

Cornstalk and Pumpkin card

Thanksgiving is so close
and that is the theme of this weeks
Check out the particulars on the
and then join in the fun.
I chose to use
"Cornstalk and Pumpkin"  (#29802) from
for my card.
For the background I taped a paper doily over white card stock,
then used a sponge applicator to apply
Distress Ink over the doily.
When I removed the doily,
I had a beautiful background panel for this card.
The Cornstalk and Pumpkin image was stamped with
brown Color Box Fluid Chalk Ink
and colored with water color crayons.
I love this simple image, to me it says
"Thanksgiving"
I like the idea of the Thanksgiving image
 over the "lace tablecloth" look of the background panel.
I used my Perfect Layers tool to get the perfect mats on
my card without the trouble of measuring.
Easy to use and perfect every time.
 
Thanks for stopping by today.
Why not stop by the Eureka! Stamps Store and
see all the wonderful images they offer
in red rubber and digital format alike.
 
Then stop over to the Perfect Paper Crafting site
and see how the Perfect Layers works.
And keep your eyes open for a give away, here on my blog.
I'll be giving away a set of Perfect Layers Tools one day soon
so come back for a chance to win.
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Gift card holders

I don't know about you, but it seems that
more and more people like receiving gift cards.
I didn't used to give them, but in recent years I've found that
this is what people seem to want.
If I'm going to give a gift card,
I want to do it with style.
I have a couple gift card holders to show you
that I made with my
We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board,
the more I use that board, the more I love it!
I have even set up a Pinterest board for ideas that I find.
Feel free to check them out and follow me if you like.
A while back I saw an offer online for a free roll of
"Scotch® Expressions Masking Pattern Tape"
Of course I signed up, who doesn't like free?
A couple weeks ago I got a nice roll of tape from them.
Completely free with not request to endorse them or anything!
I used the Expressions Masking Tape on this card.
It is very much like Washi tape and used just the same.
So far I'm really liking it.
I know it comes in a lot of different patterns too.
The "Holiday Wishes" sentiment is part of the

This gift card holder is made so that when the card is opened
it pulls the holder and card up out of the little pocket.

Something a little unique and fun.

Here is the other one I made, using different papers.

Thanks for stopping in today.
I hope you have enjoyed my
gift card holders and have been inspired to
try making some of your own.
There are lots of interesting and fun
ideas and tutorials out there.
Check Pinterest and You Tube and have some fun!
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

peace and joy

Hello fellow stampers, scrapbookers, crafters!
Today I have a Christmas card to show you.
I used scraps from my stash,
I think the patterned paper is from SEI,
but I couldn't swear to it.
The "peace and joy" and the snowflake images are from
Simon Says Stamp
I used Perfect Layers Rulers to cut nice even mats.
You can see there are lots of mat cuts on this card.
No, I didn't cut the circle with the Perfect Layers,
but all the straight edges are cut with them.
Easy to use and accurate.
No measuring at all.
I like this style of card, what do you think?
Something a little different.

I haven't decided if I will write a note inside
or stamp a Christmas greeting.
 
Thanks for stopping by today.
Leave a comment if you will and come again soon.
 
Next week I'll be having a give away of a set of
Perfect Layers
so you'll want to come back and see how you can
have a chance to win them.
In the mean time why not pop over to
see how they work and what other wonderful
products they have.
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 

Monday, November 11, 2013

Eureka! Stamps Color Inspiration Challenge

Hello Blog friends!
It's time for another Eureka! Stamps Challenge.
This week it's a color inspiration challenge
Here is the photo and colors that we are working with.
For my card I have chosen to use
"Cornstalk and Pumpkin" (#29802) from
I stamped onto white card stock with brown
Color Box Fluid Chalk Ink
and colored with my water color crayons
I cut the image very close and layered it
 onto 3 different colored papers.
A matting nightmare?
No, not at all!
to achieve even mats all around the image
as well as that horizontal stripe.
Once I had all my mats cut,
I adhered them to my card base,
which I had covered with some burlap paper.
The last thing I did to finish this card
was to stamp the pumpkins again,
color them and fussy cut them.
I then adhered them with foam tape
to give a little more dimension to the card.
 
Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope you'll stop over at the
check out the particulars of the challenge
and play along.
I hope I have given you a bit of inspiration
and that you will come again soon.
 
In the mean time why not stop over to
and see what images might inspire you.
Eureka! Stamps has something for everyone.
And they come in red rubber as well as digital format.
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 

Saturday, November 9, 2013

We have a winner!!!!

Our Handmade Gifts Blog Hop has come to an end.
If you haven't seen all the great gift ideas that the Design Team member posted, you can still see them. 
Here is my hop post
Now for what you've been waiting for,
the winner from my blog of 2 digital images of her choice from
I put all the comments in a "hat" and drew out one
and the winner is:
 
Lisadwb
"You have been a busy little worker bee! Lots of good ideas!"
 
Just because you didn't win here, doesn't mean you didn't win.
You had a chance on each blog in the hop as well as
the Grand Prize on the
so hop over and see the list of winners.
And Lisadwb go and check out the details
on how to get those digi stamps.
Congrats!
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 
 

Hope your day is awesome leaf card

 Hello!
Today I have a fall themed card
that I used a little different technique on.
For my images I used
"Open Maple Leaf" (#10501) from
"Hope your day is awesome"
sentiment is from the
"All Occasions Banner" stamp and die set from
I used Perfect Layers to easily cut equal
sized mats.
 
I stamped the maple leaf randomly onto the
kraft card stock with VersaMark ink to make
a background paper.
For the large leaf, I heat embossed the leaf onto
glossy white card stock,
 I dropped alcohol inks onto a craft mat,
then swiped the glossy piece, with the embossed leaf,
across the alcohol inks.
Next I placed a clean piece of paper over
the embossed leaf and ironed it with a hot craft iron.
This melts the embossing and removes it
from the glossy card stock
leaving a white image.
I then fussy cut the leaf.
I used a small leaf punch on some scraps
 of the inked glossy card stock to scatter over the card.
The sentiment was stamped onto
white card stock and cut with the banner die.
Once I got the front panel created I used
to cut the red mat. 
It's so easy to get equal cuts with these fabulous tools,
with no measuring.
Follow my link to their site where you can watch a video
on how to use these amazing tools.
You will also see there is a code for a discount on your purchase.
 
Come back and check my blog often as there will be a
give away of a set of Perfect Layers rulers soon.
 
Thanks for stopping by today,
leave a comment if you will.
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!
 
 
 

Friday, November 8, 2013

Mini albums

Hello all!
About a year ago, my cousin asked me to make
a couple mini albums for her. 
She will be so glad to find out
that I have finally made them for her.
Below you'll see pictures of all the pages in the two albums.
Each page has a tag that pulls out of the end
as well as tags that are in the "short" pockets.
These minis are made from envelopes and are easy as can be.
You can find a tutorial on
Going Buggy
one of my favorite blogs.
Now have a look at my minis.
I was asked to make a boy one and a girl one.
Here is the "boy" book.


 


 

And book number 2, the "girl" book.






I hope you've enjoyed my mini albums
and have been inspired in by them.
Why not follow the link above to
Going Buggy
and learn how to make your own mini? 
They are lots of fun and make great gifts.
 
Thanks for stopping by today,
leave a comment if you will and
come again soon.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Mashed Potatoes tutorial project

Hi all!
Today is my day to post a crafty tutorial on
The tutorial I have posted was
how to create a background with a favorite stamp.
Pop on over to see the tutorial
on how I made the polka dotted card stock
that I used for these little dresses.
I love how these little dresses turned out.
They are actually a little gift,
in between the 2 'dress forms' is
a little box to put a lip balm or gloss in.

Here is a picture from the side showing it with
 the top of the box open.
This is one of the little gifts I'm making for
my Mom to give her great grand daughters for Christmas.
I think these make an adorable little gift for a little girl.
Thanks for stopping by today.
I hope I've inspired you in some way and that
you'll come again soon.
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Fall Leaves/Feathers challenge

Hello blog friends!
It's time for another Eureka! Stamps Challenge.
Follow that link to see all the particulars so you can participate.
This weeks theme is
"Fall Leaves/Feathers"
I chose to use
"Open Maple Leaf"  (#10501) from
for my card.
I stamped the Open Maple Leaf onto
pages from an old book.
I love doing this and have a couple old books
just for that purpose.
I stamped them with
brown ink and colored them with water color crayons.
I then fussy cut them and adhered them to brown card stock.
It was a bit too plain so I stamped the seed part of the
image, colored and fussy cut that and added it to the card.
Still needed something and I found some buttons
in my stash for that corner.
Once I added the white lines
I was happy with the card.
I hope you've been inspired in some way today!
Thanks for visiting, leave a comment if you will,
and come again soon.
 
Eureka! Stamps has so many wonderful images,
not only for fall, but for any occasion.
So why not pop over and see what they have
for you!
 
Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Friday, November 1, 2013

Eureka! Stamps Handmade Gifts Blog Hop

Hello stamp/crafting fans!
It's been quite a while since the
Eureka! Stamps Design Team
 has had a blog hop and I'm excited about this one.
"Eureka! Stamps Handmade Gifts Blog Hop"
promises to be wonderful.
You can also see lots of wonderful
gift ideas from the design team
for our sister company
Be sure to follow both hops and comment on each
blog, as we are having a winner on every blog, as well
as a grand prize winner on each company blog.
 
If you have arrived from
you are on the right track.
The hop starts at the
If you have just stumbled across the hop,
you may want to start at the beginning,
you won't want to miss any of the wonderful
gifts the design team has to show you.
Now sit back and relax
I have a lot of fun gifts to show you.
 
First up I have some gift boxes that I've created.
These boxes will hold sets of hand made cards.
I have used images from Eureka! Stamps to decorate them all.
For these first 2 boxes I used
"Holly Background" (#26701)
For the first, I stamped onto white card stock and
colored the image with water color crayons.
 
On the second box, I stamped onto white card stock, then inked it with
green distress inks and used some red Stickles for the berries.
 
Here is a view of the back of the gift box.

I can fit up to about 8 cards and envelopes
inside these boxes, depending on how many layers
and embellishments there are on the cards.
 
This next gift box was made using
"Skunk and Lights" (#10901)
I stamped the image onto white card stock,
colored the lights with water color crayons.
I then fussy cut the image and layered it onto
matching purple card stock and fussy cut it again.
It is then adhered to the box with foam tape.
I thought this patterned paper from my stash
was perfect with this little guy.
 
 

I'm using these for giving sets of cards,
but they could be used for any small gift
or perhaps a gift card.
Just wrap it in a bit of tissue and put it in the box,
maybe with a card.

The next 2 boxes were made for the same purpose,
but in a different style
For this one I used the
"Christmas Blessings" (#7304)
image and colored it with
FlexMarkers (alcohol ink)


For this next box I used
"Heart Bouquet" (#18302)
colored with water color crayons
it works great for a
birthday gift or maybe something fun
for Valentines day.
Some candy would work great in this box too.
Here I have some hand made cards
ready for giving.
My next project is something I came up with for my Mom.
She is in assisted living and wanted some little gifts
 to give some of her friends.
These are simple, quick and inexpensive little gifts
that would be great for anyone that you'd like
to give something little to,
or even for stocking stuffers.
For this one I used
"Snowman To and From" (#23705)
I stamped it, colored it and cut out
just the snowman part of the image.
Open it up and inside....

a little gift.

Hand sanitizer is easily removed for use.
For this 2nd one I used
"Snow Background" (#27301)
 
I got these hand sanitizers at the Dollar Store
for 3/$1.00
The paper is from my stash,
 a simple gift that doesn't cost a lot.
I cut out this little tree with a Sizzix die
then stamped it with
"Holly Background" (#26701)
I colored the berries with water color crayons.

Between the 2 trees is a little box that will hold a lip balm.
Or perhaps you might roll up some cash
to put inside the box.
How cute is that?
Now for my last gift idea for the hop.
For this gift card holder I used
 Baroque Background (#57701)
I stamped onto card stock with VersaMark ink
and heat embossed with white embossing powder.


Open the little purse and inside you find
a gift card.

A holder like this could be used
for any occasion or holiday.

I hope you have enjoyed my handmade gift ideas.
Be sure to leave me a comment for a chance to win
a prize from Eureka! Stamps.
2 digital stamps of their choice will
be given to one lucky winner on each
design team members blog, so
be sure to comment on each blog.

Now on to visit
Cheryl's Blog
and see what wonderful gifts she has to show us.

Once you've finished the Eureka! Stamps Blog Hop,
leave a comment at the company blog (the last stop on our hop)
and head over to the
QKR Stampede Blog
and see the wonderful handmade gifts
they have to inspire us all.

Thanks for sticking with me until the end of this post. 
I know it's a long one, but I hope it was worth it
and you have been inspired to make a few gifts
of your own.
Until next time, Happy Crafting!