Spookin' the Halls ...

Was home from work a couple of days ago and had a VERY long list of "to-do's" I had hoped to accomplish. But then, alas, I got sucked in to the BLACK HOLE (aka Pinterest)! So very MUCH fall/Halloween cuteness and creativity I thought I would weep ... but instead I got crafty!! And it was FUN!!

True confession ... my fireplace is one of my favorite things in my whole house. It's GORGEOUS!! And it looks AWESOME decorated for the holidays ... I mean, really??? How could it NOT??? Initially, I had the idea I was going to create just a burlap garland ... and perhaps "sprinkle" it with a few fall-colored leaves (happy for me I had some "leftovers" from my Spooky Witch Halloween Hat class!).  But, as you can see, I did a bit more than that!  I strung the leaves (which can be easily cut out using the Leaflets Framelits Dies and then embossed with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing folder) on some Linen Thread ... and used some wooden beads I had bought a couple years back to make a fall garland that NEVER HAPPENED!! GO ME!!

First, I made this burlap garland (thanks to my friend Ali who happened to have a HUGE spool (we're talkin' Costco-sized here, people!) of burlap ribbon left over from things she had bought to decorate for her daughter's wedding reception last June.  FIFTY WHOLE YARDS of it!!! And I used every last INCH!!  This was SO easy!!  I used some twine and an upholstery needle ... ran the twine right down the middle of the ribbon in a long running stitch and then just pulled the ribbon up tight!!! It just gathered beautifully!!!  Nice part is that I will be able to use this for MANY different holidays!!

I found this cute little chalkboard disc "garland" at one of my favorite fun places to shop ("All That Stuff in the Barn" in Midway, Utah). A couple of weekends ago I had a "sleepover" with some of my girlfriend's up above Heber in the beautiful hills! GREAT time! GREAT food! GREAT shopping! LOTS of laughing ... I cut some rather large letters out with my Silhouette, then I laid the negative cut of the letters down on the chalkboard disks and just filled them in with chalk!!! (Not gonna lie, took me a while to come up with a 7-letter word that was appropriate for Halloween!)! Bonus???? When we switch to November, I can just erase the letters and do something little more "Thanksgiving" appropriate ... 7 letters ... I need to start thinking about THAT one NOW!

I pulled out an "oldie but a goodie" for this little banner (translate ... it is RETIRED!). I also pulled out anything from my patterned paper stash that looked like "fall" to me ... I also used some FABULOUS Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon from a few years back (this project REALLY helped me use up some of my hoarded stash!)! I sewed the ribbon to the banner pieces I had cut out to make the garland ... SUPER easy!

Paper:Delightful Dijon, Cajun Craze, Tangelo Twist, Crumb Cake, Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss, Cherry Cobbler, Happy Haunting DSP, Color Me Autumn DSP (retired), Motley Monsters DSP (retired)
Accessories:Perfect Pennants Bigz Die (retired), Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon (retired), Leaflets Framelits Dies, Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Wood Beads, Chalk and Chalkboard Garland, Burlap Ribbon, Sewing Machine

I went to ComicCon with my daughter and her friend last week ... SERIOUSLY???? Oh.My.WORD!!! We had SO MUCH FUN!!! I love to dress up anyway, so this gave me an excuse (don't judge). Han Solo in carbonite? Yeah ... HAD to have our picture taken with THAT!!! I was proud of the fact that I made all THREE of the costumes we are wearing (for those who are out of the loop, I am "Sally" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" ... my daughter is "Little Sister" from a video game called "BioShock" ... and her friend, Quinn, is Mal Reynolds from Firefly (to be totally fair, I only made his coat ... and I got the suede for $1.99/yd which makes this even MORE cool!!)!

And ... well ... Iron Man ... and War Machine ... and me in a Captain America shirt ... can't think of how it gets much better than THIS?? GOOD TIMES!

Stamp Club Projects

I got to meet with my Stamp Club girls this week. It's always so much fun when we get together!! I am also always happy when I am able to think of something we can do together! (No pressure, right??) We actually made one of the cards I made for the Freak Tour the other day (it is the first one in my post HERE). We also made this little card/envelope combo (the envelope is 3 1/8"x 3 1/8" and is made with the new Simply Scored Diagonal Plate ... LOVE it!). Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Teeny Tiny Wishes Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade Accessories: Wide (Large) Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon

And then, of course. we HAD to make one of these dahhhhling little purses using the new Petite Purse Bigz Die. Ohmygosh!! These things are freakin' ADORABLE!! Sooo much fun to make, and so EASY, too!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: NONE!
Accessories: Petite Purse Bigz Die, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border, Boho Blossoms Punch, In Color Printed Brad, Small Heart Punch (for the scalloped border on the purse flap), Houndstooth Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Ta-DA!!! It's so fun to be able to find some time to create something ... and I'm SOOOOO happy that my room is clean! Makes the creative process much more fun!

Smoochin' With the Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks Blog Tour!! This time around we are playing with the Summer Smooches products. I hafta admit that I {{heart}} the paper!! I {{heart}} the purse die!! And I {{heart}} the stamps!! (Not to mention the Daffodil Delight seam binding and the brads ... neither of which I used!) You should have just come from the smoochaLICIOUS blog of my BFF, Jan Tink! Wizard??? Yes I think so!!

First off, I made this little card. Ya know how every once in a while a card just rolls outta your brain, through your fingers and into a completed project??? (I know, I know ... it hardly EVER happens to me, either!!) This was one of those cards ... it just kinda happened ... in, like, 15 minutes!! I like it so well that I am going to use it for my Stamp Club girls tonight!! YAY me!!

Stamps: Bright Blossoms, Petite Pairs
Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Basic Black, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Island Indigo, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Scallop Border Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Whisper White Baker's Twine

Next, I wanted to do something a little bit different and unconventional ... which is where this card came from. I used the Summer Smooches stencil, sponged it with Calypso Coral and Rich Razzleberry ink, then stamped one of the images from the Bright Blossoms stamp set in Rich Razzleberry over the top of the image. Kinda different, but it's growing on me!!

Stamps: Curly Cute
Paper: Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Corner Rounder Punch, Summer Smooches Decor Stencil, Pearl Basics

Finally ... I am SURE you have seen a TON of the little purses made with the purse die. They are SOOOOO stinkin' ca-YOOT!! I decided to try something a little different. This is actual four of the purses ... I cut off the larger of the two side flaps and the back side of the purse. Then, I connected the four purses together via the small side flap that was left over to make a box ... Simple Simon!!

Stamps: NONE!
Paper: Island Indigo, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Summer Smooches DSP
Ink: NONE!
Accessores: Petite Purse Bigz Die, 5-Petal Flower Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Pearl Basics, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (I used it on the 5-petal flower/leaves ... hard to see in the photo)

So, there ya have it!! Next, you'll be moving on the the specTACular blog of Barb Mullikin!! LOVE her stuff!!

Oh What a Freakiful World!!

Do you have ANY idea how DIFFICULT it is to do a Blog Tour without a COMPUTER?? Sheesh!! My computer really bit the dust (again!!) ... BIG TIME!! Long story ... but, suffice it to say, I had to steal a computer in order to bring you the projects I created for this month's Control Freak's Blog Tour - the Cutting Edge - Projects Created Using Big Shot Dies. You should have just hopped over from the fanTAStic blog of my fellow Freaky-Friend, LeeAnn Greff. That woman is a WIZARD!! (and her little card bag is ADORABLE!!)

Onward and upward ... First off, I created this simple and elegant card using my Movers and Shapers Die. Haven't pulled that baby out in EONS. I decided it was time to dust it off. I don't know why I don't use it more often ... I really do LIKE the thing!! And, of course, using the Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Folder is always fun, as it is a fave of mine, too!!

Stamps: Elementary Elegance
Paper: Whisper White, Very Vanilla
Ink: Soft Suede
Accessories: Movers and Shapers Die, Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Folder, Curly Label Punch, Boho Blossom Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding, Pearl Basics

Big Ol' Freaky Flower ... that's what this card is!! I've been envisioning a card using the Paper Doily as a "faux flap" at the top of the card for a looonnnng time ... finally decided to do something about it!! This flower just kinda "grew" itself!! C'mon SPRING!!

Stamps: Petitie Pairs
Paper: Pool Party, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral
Ink: Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede
Accessories: Blossom Party Bigz Die, Paper Doily Die, Stripes Textured Impressions Folder, Large Oval Punch, Chantilly and Victorial Crochet Trim, Pearl Basics - Large, Pearl Basics

And this is something I made for my mom to cheer her up. She is still in the hospital (looks like we will be here until at least Wednesday!). What could be more cheerful that a Pic-a-nic Basket (eat your heart out, Yogi Bear!!)!! Isn't this fun?? It's filled with Milano cookies (ya-UMMM!!) and some chocolate-covered nuts. Wanted to give me mom some goodies from the "outside world"!!

(BTW, she LOVED it!!)

I'll be posting a little tutorial on how to make this after I can get my own computer back!! (Hopefully I'll have it by the end of the week!)

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Domestic Goddess DSP, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black
Accessories: Blossom Party Bigz Die, Square Lattice Textured Impressions Folder, 1" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Pearl Basics, Neutrals Buttons (Whisper White), Everyday Enchantment Brad, Calypso Coral Baker's Twine, Cello Bag (Milano Cookie and Chocolate-Covered Nuts!!)

On a side note ... a VERY SPECIAL thank you to my BFF, Kim Smith!! She came and "rescued" me this morning when I was feeling creatively exhausted and craftily bankrupt!! She was a GREAT help and INSPIRATION!! Love you, Girlie!!

Next up??? The ever-fabulous Jason Casper!! (I still am a little chagrined that a DUDE has this much paper-crafty genius!! Go, Jason!!)

Wishful Thinkin' ...

See this flower??? It's the hope that Spring will come ... eventually (and I know it's a little early to be wishing it here already!!) Since I have been in California the past few days I have been enjoying the sunshine and warmer temperatures. And it's GREEN here!! Oh man, do I love how alive everything looks!!

I am headed back over to Disneyland today with my sister in law (she flew in last night just to come to Disneyland with me ... how COOL is THAT??)!

Stamps: For All You Do
Paper: Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Whisper White, Berry Blossom DSP
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Stripes Textured Impressions Folder, Daisies #2 Bigz Die, Wide (Large) Oval Punch, In Color Polka Dot Brad, Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Pearl Stickers

OkayOkay ... ONE More!!

I just couldn't HELP myself!! When I got the urge to make one of these adorable little quilt rag purses I ran over to WalMart and bought me up some fabric ... all this stuff was sooo stinkin' cute that I bought FIVE different fabrics that all looked SOOO cute together. I cut out all the squares from all the fabrics and just sat STARING at them and wondering which ones to use. Ultimately, I ended up splitting them up to make TWO bags ...

So what you see here is the second cutie-patootie little purse. I just decided that if I didn't make it up NOW, that it would find its way into my "unfinished projects drawer" ... you KNOW you all have one (whether it be a drawer, a box, a Rubbermaid-type container or a closet ... admit it!!)

I LOVE the enclosure for this one!! Ya know ... I was pretty skeptical when these little crocheted flowers came out in SU's catalog last year ... didn't really like 'em ... but now I am LOVING them!!!

So ... there ya have it ...

Materials used: Bigz Scallop Square and Flower Folds Dies, Fleurettes, Summer Sun Corduroy Button

Have a super-fab weekend!!

Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Freak Bag ...

... and SMILE, SMILE, SMILE!! Welcome to the next stop on the Control Freaks Blog Tour. (You should have just come from the SPECTACULAR blog of my Fellow Freak, Patty Bennett.) This month we are featuring COOL THINGS from the Stampin' Up Summer Mini Catty.


I can't tell you what a crazy whirlwind project this turned out to be!!! I saw one of these ADORABLE scallop square die rag quilt bags as I was surfing around the 'net the other night (Insomniac Moment!). Which, of course, led me from one blog to another ... one youtube link to another ... here is a link to the tutorial I used:

Rag Quilt Purse

Isn't is just CAAAA-YOOOOT???? I can hardly stand myself!! Here is where the saga begins, however ... I spent the better part of the day on Tuesday working on this splendiforous bag ... I was SOOO pleased with myself and with how it came out. Then reality hit me .... AAAAAACK!!! I realized I hadn't used a SINGLE SOLITARY item from the SU Summer Mini, which, of course, is what we Freaks wanted to feature for ya this time around!! PANICPANICPANIC!!

After much contemplation, soul searching and trying to tap my Inner Genius I finally found a way to incorporate the ADORABLY DARLING Bitty Buttons and their coordinating punches onto my little butterflies on the bag ... SEE???!!!?? Stinkin' CAAA-YOOOT!! (And you can ALWAYS put your Summer Mini Catty IN this bag, right???)

Materials Used: Bigz Scallop Square, Beautiful Butterflies, Baskets and Blooms, and Two Tags Dies, Bitty Buttons, Bitty Shapes Punches, Pretties Kit (pearl)

AND, some of my fellow Freaks thought it would be fun if I made a matching gift card for this (like, am I supposed to give this AWAY??? I think NOT!!!) Sooooo here it is!!! I ripped off a little strip of the leftover fabric to tie the little bow around this ... Stinkin' CAAAA_YOOOOT!!! I have to say that I {{{heart}}} all of the lovely floral stamp sets in this mini (I have used Elements of Style and one of the sentiments from Watercolor Trio). Not to mention that this also gave me yet ANOTHER chance to show you some Black Magic.

Stamps: Elements of Style, Watercolor Trio (sentiment)
Paper: So Saffron, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Whisper White, Basic Black
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder, Watercolor Pencils, White Gel Pen, Large Oval Punch, Bigz Scallop Square Die, Pretties Pearl

AAAANNNDD, what would one of my Freaky posts be without a little MDS inspiration, eh??? (I guess I don't ALWAYS do it, but I do it more often than not!) Since SU keeps making more and more downloads available for us to use, I keep acting like the sheep that I am and BUYING THEM UP ... SIGHT UNSEEN!! I am LOVING the Vintage Overlays especially right now ... simply GAWJUS!!! And I am feeling oh-so-artsy with this picture-in-picture style of scrapbooking ... something I would NEVER have attempted doing a conventional scrapbook page. Too-too FUN!!

Next stop?? The FANTABULOUS home of Gretchen Barron. Go check her out!! She ROCKS!!! (I know I say that about my Freaky friends all the time, but it is TRUE!!)

My Puppy Valentine???

When my daughter saw the little Valentine Milk Carton Carrier I put together in this post, she fell in LOVE with it. She said, "These would be fun to make for ALL my friend for Valentine's Day! Maybe we should make some ..." WE??? She came down and looked at paper and such ... did a lot of staring ... then said she was tired and went to bed!! (Hehehehe!! We actually do a LOT of crafting together, but she has had a nasty cold/cough thing this week which has made her more tired than teenagers typically are!).

Anywho ... since her friend, Emma, has FOUR doggies at the moment, she thought it would be really great if "we" made her one with a doggie theme. Which was pretty danged easy since my daughter seems to rope me into buying doggie/pet-themed paper, brads, stamps, etc., ALL THE TIME!! Not that "we" ever MAKE much with it!! But "we" HAVE it, and that is really the point anyway, right???

So here is the little milk carton carrier "Valentine" for doggies that I came up with. Woof!!! LOVE the cute little dog bone paper clips, don't you?? Now I just gotta go find some tiny little doggie treats to put inside!

I guess "we" may be making a kitty-themed one, as well as possibly a "safari" theme and something a little "spring-y" ... "we" love making these, though, so it shouldn't be too difficult!!!

I have been informed by many of you "in the know" that this tiny version of milk carton carrier found its origins on Becky Roberts blog - Inking Idaho. I have seen many of these carriers popping up all around the past few years, but I would have to admit that she ROCKED it for the little bitty milk carton die, that's for sure!!

Stamps: Bow Wow (retired Stampin' Up)
Paper: Pets Stack (DCWV), Baja Breeze (SU), Very Vanilla (SU), Deep Chocolate (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Bigz Mini Milk Carton die, large and small oval punches, corner rounder punch, 1" and 3/4" circle punches, Perfect Polka Dots textured impression folder, The Paper Studio dog paw brad, dog bone paper clips by Creative Impressions, small gingham brown/cream ribbon (Offray), large gingham brown/cream ribbon (unknown), pop-up glue dots

LOVE This Die Cut!!!

Oh. My. STINKIN'. GOSH!!! (Sorry for the Utah swear words, friends, but I just could not help myself!!)

I have been dyyyyyyying to get my hands on this adorably-darling milk carton die cut ever since I spied the little milk carton carrier on someone's blog (I don't really know WHO to give credit for on this, 'cause I have been seeing these all over the place!). Ain't this just the CUTEST thing EVER????

I have to apologize for using RETIRED designer paper on this, too! I am really loving the "Sending Love" Valentine's paper that SU has out right now, but I have used it and used it and USED it and wanted to try something different. This paper is actually from the Fall Mini catalog and is called "Night and Day" .... isn't it just GAWJUS???? I wish I had bought several packages of it before it sailed off into the sunset ... sigh ...

Anywho ... I think I discovered something semi-brilliant!! See??? Don'tcha just LOVE how the Embosslits Heart die makes a PERFECT border on this little milk carton carrier??? It fits EXACTLY around the edges of this baby!!! I just folded the corner ones down the middle and wrapped 'em around the corners. VOILA!! I used pop-up glue dots on the middle hearts around the box so that they would, well ... pop up!!! LOVE it!!

And what, pray tell, would one PUT in such adorably-darling (said that already, didn't I???) little bitty milk cartons??? Glad you asked!! Each one has something delicious in it ... dark chocolate Dove hearts, M&M's, chocolate kisses, and, of course, the obligatory Conversation Heart candies. YUMMO!!! How in the HECK (sorry 'bout the swearing again!) am I gonna keep my lips off of THESE???

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts
Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White, Night and Day dsp
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red
Accessories: Bigz XL Milk Carton Die, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions embossing folder, Whisper White Satin/Organza Ribbon, Heart Embosslits die, Heart to Heart punch, small heart punch, large oval punch, corner rounder punch, small library binder clips, pop-up glue dots

Now ... wouldn't you just LOVE to see another adorably-darling milk carton carrier??? SURE ya would!!! Jump on over to my good friend JanTink's blog ... she has one there for you to see!!

I also posted another one I made here ...

Freakin' Awesome Valentines!

Welcome to the Freak Blog Tour - Valentine Style!! (If you are following the whole Tour, you should have just come from the blog of the amazing Jan Tinklinberg!!) I have to admit that I {{{HEART}}}} Valentine's Day!! I'm a sucker for falling in love ... :)





This first project is my mostest favorite!! I had sooo much fun making this ... it's a little box o' love, baby!! This cute little box contains SIX sweet little Valentines ...










SEE???!!







Aren't they just the CUTE-EST???? To create the box, I used a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/4" x 8". I scored it along the 8" side at 2 1/4", 3 1/4", 5 1/2" and 6 1/2". I then scored along the 5 1/4" side at 1" and 4 1/4". After a little cutting and taping, I just filled it with the cute little Valentines ...

Stamps: Tiny Tags, Baroque Motifs, Well Scripted
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Sending Love dsp
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Accessories: Bigz Scallop Envelope die, Heart Embosslits die, Pretty in Pink epoxy brads, Pinking Hearts border punch, 3/4" circle punch, small heart punch, Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Heart to Heart punch, Perfect Polka Dots textured impressions embossing folder, circle Velcro sticker (for box closure)

This next little project was also was done with a little box. This was a quick and easy little project. Wouldn't this just be ADORABLE sitting on a teacher's desk??? (You KNOW the kids would be swipin' those suckers in a hurry, though!) Told ya I was a "sucker" for Valentine's Day, though, didn't I??? To create this box I used a piece of Basic Black cardstock measuring 7 1/2" x 9 1/2", scored at 4" and 5 1/2" along the 9 1/2" side, and scored at 1 1/2" and 6" along the 7 1/2" side (just a little cutting and taping to assemble after that!).

Stamps: NONE
Paper: Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, Sending Love dsp
Ink: NONE
Accessories: Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Real Red epoxy brads, Heart to Heart punch, Whisper White organza/satin ribbon, Scallop Edge border punch, suckers






And last, but CERTAINLY not LEAST ... here is a layout I did using MDS (My Digital Studio) of me and my Valentine ... (everyone say it now .... awwwwwwwww, isn't that just SWEET??)



Now, hop on over to Katy Clark's blog and see what SHE has made with love ... :)



And just for good measure, here is the "official" Blog Tour Blog Roll:

Patty Bennett
Wendy Janson
Lisa Martz
Gretchen Baron
Melanie Schulenberg
Connie Babbert
Mary Brown
Julie Buhler
Brandi Wiggins-Cote
Dawn Olchefske
Erin Blair
Janine Tinklenberg
ME!!
Katy Clark
Cindy Major
LeeAnn Greff