Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's 70th birthday! I live in OK and she lives in MS. I really miss her, especially on days like today. Oh how I wish she were here with me! Since she's not, I sent her a handmade card and a spoon I for her spoon collection. I try to grab her one from the airports when I travel. Not much, but at least she knows I'm thinking of her.

I wanted to do something fun and different for her card this year so I grabbed my Spellbinders Hexagon Petal Envelope die templates and went to work.

The outside is pretty simple. I cut and embossed then added some colored "dots" by stenciling my Pink Copic Spica Glitter Pen while the paper was still in the die. Next, I folded it up and created a belly band by cutting a 4"x2" strip of paper. I cut the decorative edges using Spellbinders Classic Petal Edgeabilities and added some crinkled seam binding to tie it closed. Using the flowers in the die template set, I created a multi-layer flower and topped it off with some Prima Gems. For the sentiment, I stamped the "happy birthday" from JustRite Stampers Just Ducky Cling set then cut and embossed it with the banner from Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants die template set. Here's what it looks like when you remove the ribbon and open it up...

I used October Afternoons Sidewalks 8x8 Paper pad and these sheets are single sided so I cut another Hexagon Petal Envelope and glued it inside my other so I'd have a patterned paper inside too. This is what it looks like all opened up...

I cut a layer for the inside so I could handwrite a note using Spellbinders Labels One die template, embossed and inked the edges then added some pink Want2Scrap Labels One Nestabling. For the banner, I cut six of the smallest Spellbinders Nested Pennants twice, one from plain cardstock and one from patterned paper. I layered some pink We R Memory Keepers Twine between the layers then punched a hole on either side of the envelope with my Crop-a-Dile and tucked the twine ends through the holes. This way, when the envelope is opened up, the banner pulls out! LOVE IT!

To spice it up a bit, I added some clear bling across the top of each banner piece. For the rest of the sentiment, I added alpha stickers from the Simple Stories Life Documented collection kit. This card was super fun to make and I can't wait to hear from my mom after she opens it!

Tomorrow is the last day of the Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop! Be sure you visit the Scrap-Mart Blog to find out how you could enter to win some fabulous prizes like an autographed Tim Holtz Vagabond machine, a Boss Kut Gazelle digital die cutter or a $500 Spellbinders Bundle!!

Thursday Sketch Inspiration

The December Page Maps are up so I went browsing. This one caught my eye because of the little snowman.

We got TONS of snow here in NE Oklahoma last year and I have plenty of pics to prove it! I also have a cute little die cut sticker from the new OA Holiday Style collection that will work perfectly!

And for my 12x12 friends, here's one that I liked a lot...

This one called to me for the simple fact that I could easily use up some of those scraps I've been hoarding. :)

What do you think?! I'd love for you to share a link if you create with either of these sketches.

Today's my day...

on the Scrap-Mart blog! We're on day 3 of the blog hop. Are you following it? There's tons of great inspiration and each of the manufacturers have some fun prizes up for grabs!

Stocking Gift Card Boxes

My two oldest are getting to where they want money and gift cards for Christmas. As a mommy, I sometimes struggle with this because I feel like I should find them something great, just for them, that they’ll enjoy. But, this year, I figured if that’s what they want that’s what I should give them. I CAN personalize the packaging though, which makes me feel a little better.

I picked them each up an iTunes gift card. The cards are taller than regular credit card sized gift cards so a simple gift card envelope wouldn’t work. I decided to make them little gift card boxes (which were featured on the Boss Kut blog yesterday)…

My Gazelle, of course, was my go to tool for this project! I used the Holly Stocking, enlarged it to the size I needed, duplicated the shape then mirrored one of them. That way I have a front and a back. After cutting the stocking pieces, I created a spine by simply cutting an 8.5″ x 2″ strip of cardstock and scoring 1/2″ on either long side. Then all I had to do was snip little “v’s” so that the strip would bend without cracking. I glued the strip to both stocking pieces and added the tops. To personalize them, I cut a monogram letter and little hollys from the Holly Stocking and added them to a burlap heart. I am thinking I *might* be able to reuse the boxes (if my kids don’t destroy them) so instead of gluing the hearts on, I used a mini clothes pin to pin the hearts to the boxes. Then, I added a bit of cord to the spine of the box to create a little hanger. The burlap heart, mini clothes pin and cord are products from Canvas Corp. Here’s a pic of the inside of the box…

So I can add the gift cards and tuck a little tissue paper in there and I’m good to go. These were super easy to create and you could have them whipped up in no time! This design is also great for assembly line projects so if you have more than one you need, you can do all your cutting first then assemble!

Don't forget today is day two of the Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop. Lots of inspiration and some AMAZING prizes!!!

Let the hoppin' begin!

Good Monday morning! Today is the first day of the Scrap-Mart holiday blog hop! Scrap-Mart has teamed up with these fabulous manufacturers to bring you a week long blog hop dedicated to Christmas-themed projects!

Boss Kut

October Afternoon

The Rubber Cafe

Canvas Corp

Heartfelt Creations (Dec. 7th)

Want2Scrap

LaLa Land Crafts

Sizzix

Each of the generous manufacturers will have prizes for you along the way, so be sure visit and complete the hop each day from today (December 5) through December 10 to be eligible to win.

Scrap-Mart is giving away an autographed Tim Holtz Vagabond die cutting machine, Boss Kut Gazelle digital die cutter AND a $500 Spellbinders Bundle!!! To be eligible to win, you MUST like/fan us on Facebook AND follow the giveaway link on the left side of our page. The Gazelle was generously donated by Boss Kut. To be eligible to win the Gazelle, you must also like Bosskut on Facebook! Winners will be chosen from those who sign up through the Facebook Giveaway page...not by blog comments!

Click HERE to begin the hop! Mindy and Gini have some fabulous projects and inspiration to share with you!

Oh Christmas tree...

Hello and TGIF!!! Have you played with Flower Soft? It is a fun embellishment to add to your projects. It adds great texture and is really fun to work with.

With the Christmas season upon us I thought I'd share with you a fun way to use Flower Soft. Use it to "make" a Christmas tree element for your projects!! Check it out..

Cute, eh?! This is a super easy process to do. Simply die cut your tree...I used my Slice but any die cut will work. Next, I covered the tree with adhesive pearls as "ornaments". Then I covered all the area with Flower Soft Glue then sprinkled my Flower Soft all over, pressing it slightly as I went along. Allow it to dry and that's it! Here's a side view so you can see the texture...

A super easy embellishment for any project.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Thursday Sketch Inspiration

Wow, Thursday already?! Where has this week gone?! I have been super busy preparing for the Scrap-Mart Holiday Blog Hop next week! Not only will I be sharing projects for Scrap-Mart, but I have also created 3 projects for Boss Kut!

In between projects and drying time, I was perusing Page Maps for some new sketches to work with. I LOVE working from sketches. Sometimes I draw my own and sometimes I find them online. Here is one I'll be working with shortly...

And this one is just screaming for some October Afternoon Holiday Style. Don't you think???

Christmas pennants, um, yes please!

I hope you're having a great week! Another hour or so in my office then I'm off for some grocery shopping! See ya soon!