Tilas

You are probably asking yourself, "what on earth are Tilas?"  Well, Tilas are beads.  They are a flat glass bead that is double drilled.  If you click on the photo you will see there are two beads at the ends of the Tilas.  That is the end the holes are at.  These are very fun beads to play with.  They are actually bigger beads than I'm use to using and it's amazing how quickly you can get a bracelet done with larger beads!!  Though #15 seed beads (very tiny) are still my favorite beads to play with.  I figured I'd use them in my projects until I'm too old and can no longer see well enough to play with them anymore!!!  Most people that take my beading classes know I use 15's in my bracelets.  They will be shocked to see I made a bracelet without them!  I am kind of shocked myself!

I just thought I would take a break from stamping and show you one of my beaded projects.  I have a few more coming up and I will be also adding the pattern to my web store.

I hope you had a wonderful day.  Yesterday was hubby's birthday (I mentioned that in my last post) so we did the usual birthday stuff.  Presents, dinner and being extra nice to him!!  That was the hardest part!!! LOL  Today was more relaxed.   Beading and laundry.  Plus writing up my beading instructions for my next class.   I got Dragon for Christmas so now when I am creating I can just talk and the computer will type what I say and it will save me a lot of time in making my instructions.  I am SO looking forward to installing that program and giving it a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faux Paint Chips Technique

This was a very simple and fun technique.  And it just so happened that I needed a masculine birthday card too.  Today is hubby's birthday.  Poor guy was born the day after Christmas.  As a kid he use to get a lot of Christmas and birthday gifts combined.  I don't do that to him.  I keep the day separate.  Well, except for putting his birthday gift(s) under the tree and making him wait!!!  We both have birthdays that are close to Christmas and we both know what it's like to have the gifts combined with Christmas gifts.  So we both keep them separate and celebrate them separately as well.  

For this Technique you just get at least three colors of card stock. It's great if you can find them in the same color but each one darker than the next.  I like the Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose but this card was for hubby so I went with blues instead!  When attaching the strips of color together you want to line the edges up so they are in a straight line.  You can also leave little spaces between them too.  It's all in how you want your paint chips to look.  If you are going to stamp directly onto the strips then you will want to line the edges together so you don't have any gaps between them.  This way you will get a solid image.  

This is a very fun technique and I like the looks of it.  Plus it's great for either a fun background or a wonderful focal piece.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Merry Christmas to You

I wish you a VERY Merry Christmas.  I hope your day was full of all the things your hearts desire.  It's a time of the year to visit with family and friends.  And not to mention the kiddies home from school for over a week!!!  Shhh, we are not to mention that!!! LOL

Today I am going to share with you the Christmas card I sent out this year.  This is of our pine tree in the backyard.  The adorable tree stands 2 feet tall.  All year long it's got white solar lights on it and during the holidays I add colored solar lights. 

I took this photo in March when we still had snow on the ground.  It took a while for the snow to go down so we could see the tree again but once it was down enough I took the camera on the tripod outside and took a few photos.  This is the one I liked the best and I pulled the picture into the GIMP program (it's a wonderful and free program on the Internet) and I added the words.  Then as the year went on companies such as Winkflash, Snapfish, Shutterfly and Walgreens had offers for free or penny photos so I got these all done for the low cost of shipping!  I couldn't pass up a deal like that.  I usually make a snowman and use his photo on the card but we didn't have enough snow to make a snowman and I already had these photos done.  I'm still waiting for that nice sticky snow.  Let's hope I get just one so I can make my snowman!!  I may have to ask Santa for a snow cone maker next year so I can make my own in the house and send them outside when I'm done!!! The sounds of a desperate snowman maker!!! LOL

Merry Christmas to you!
Wanda

Circle Christmas Tree

I found this card on the net a while back and wanted SO badly to make it but never found the time. 

Well, I got out the linen papers that I had and the glitter papers and gave it a try.  Well, it was obvious that I was using the wrong size circles because I couldn't get them all on the card the way that
Judy at Just Judy Designs did.

Her card is SO pretty and it was something I just had to make.  Have you ever seen a card and it was so wonderful that you checked to see if you had all the materials to make it because you just HAD to duplicate it???  Me either!!! LOL

Check out Judy's card here.  It's SO much prettier.  I like how she arranged ALL of the circles.  My card is ok but only if you don't compare it with hers!!! LOL  

It's Christmas eve and I need to get going.  There's partying to be doing and presents to open!!!  I hope you get what you want for Christmas!

Happy Holidays,
Wanda

Jolly Bingo Bits Header Weekend Project

Here is a fun and quick stocking stuffer.  I these adorable chocolate ginger bread boy came in a package of 3, so I got to make 3 stocking stuffers for the price of 1!  You can't beat a deal like that!!

I put this cute little guy in a food safe bag and then added the header base. 

When you make these you want to cut the header about 1/8" to 1/4" wider than the bag.  You also need to decide how tall you want the header and then double it (because you are folding it in half).  

I staple it on but I make sure the bumpy part of the staple is in the front.  Once the decorated paper is put on the front it hides those bumps and all  you have is the smooth metal pieces on the back. It's a nice clean look and no one will get poked if one of those bumps happen to pull up a bit.

Once you have the folded header base attached you can begin to decorate it any way you like.  Here I used the ginger bread boy from the "Jolly Bingo Bits" set.  I just stamped them on using Chocolate Chip ink. 

The words are from the "Four the Holidays" set.  And the holly is from a small hand held punch I have.  I don't know where I got the punch or what it is called.  I've had it for MANY years!  

These were fun and quick to make!  And this is the last of the stocking stuffers I will be making this Christmas!

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Kitty May Be Looking for a New Home!

I know someone who is not going to get anything from Santa this year!!!  Don't let this face fool you.  This is the face of a bad kitty.

I had just finished taking the items out of the bag and I set the bag to my right side.  The phone rang and when I came back this is what I saw!  Bad kitty.  The bag was torn up and there were pieces of the bag all over the floor.  And don't let that innocent face fool you.  This is the face of naughty!!!

If I leave my gloves in my purse instead of putting them in my coat pocket.  Bella Jean will take one out of my purse and fight with it and growl at the fur on the cuff.  Do you think she needs glasses???  It's a glove!!  

Oh and you should see the presents under the tree.  I don't think there is one that is not bit or chewed on the corner.  The Humane Society gal told us that this cat grew up with dogs.  Maybe that would explain some of the chewing problems, maybe!!!  Will there be anything for Bella Jean under the tree???  I guess we'll leave that up to Santa!!  LOL

Dasher Christmas Bulb

I'm just making some last minute gifts and stocking stuffers.  This was a very quick bulb that I made.  I purchased the "Dasher" download and printed it out using some Avery acid free clear sticker paper.  This stuff is SO fun!!!  You can print anything you want on it.  You cut it out and stick it on your cards, scrapbook pages and even bulbs!!!  

You really do need to cut as close to the image as possible so the sticker paper doesn't show.  It was TOO difficult to do with the antlers so I just figured the paper would have to show through. 

In my haste to take the photo I forgot to add the ribbon.  The color I chose for the reindeer was the Cherry Cobbler so I was going to add some matching ribbon.  Sorry you didn't get to see it.  The ribbon  was just tied around the neck of the bulb and then tied in a pretty bow.  It was simple enough and yet it gave the ornament that finished touch.  I want to do this with our son's wedding photo for next Christmas.  And what is fun with this too is I can type the date and info and just stick it all on the back as a separate sticker.  That will be a fun gift (for next year!!).

Ok, I'm off to work on my last stocking stuffer for Christmas.  Come back tomorrow and I will share it with you!!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Jolliest Time of the Year Wednesday Sketch Challenge

 The final Wednesday before Christmas.  I tried to make a lot of 3-D items this year instead of all cards but Wednesdays I just HAD to participate in the Sketch Challenges over at SplitCoastStampers.  I don't like to miss the Wednesday challenge.

I liked this layout a lot.  That circle in the #2 panel has a lot of possibilities!!

I went with a simple card this time, I have a ton of things to work on before Christmas eve but I still wanted to participate in the Sketch Challenge.

I got to make use of the new die that is going to be available soon.  A friend of mine let me cut out a few to play with at a later date and this was one of those "later dates."  I trimmed the die a bit so it would fit in the circle.  It's a nice size doily die and I can me getting a lot of use out of it.  I'm hoping that it will cut felt!!  

Let's get back to my card before I get SO into that die that I start planning other uses for it!  LOL  I stamped my image in using StazOn.  I prefer that ink because I never know if I'm going to be coloring over the black ink and making a mess.  With StazOn you don't have to worry about water coloring over it. Blender pens sometime lift the ink but that is only if you work the area too much. 

I added a snowflake to the top of the new die and I added a pearl in the middle to cover the hole that both of them have.  SO simple, SO quick and cute too!  Ya can't ask for more!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Sled Christmas Ornament from Punches

 Tonight I am at Terri's FABULOUS Technique Class.  Last month she asked the gals to make an ornament using mostly Stampin' Up! products.  I am not participating in the gift exchange but I did decide to make an ornament for Terri.

I used all Word Window punched pieces here!!  Amazing, isn't it?  I wasn't sure I would be able to pull out what was in my head and get it down in 3D.  And the best part!!!  I only made one!  I got it right the first time!  Shocker, I know!!!

I did punch a LOT of these pieces and glued them together.  While they were drying under a heavy object, I punched out the glitter paper.  I punched out 6 pieces of them and in between them was more Craft card stock.  

I used an oval punch to make the glitter pieces look more real.  

To join the pieces I used some scrap pieces of the glitter paper under the 3 top "wood" pieces.  It was a bit flimsy but once the runners were glued on the sled felt more sturdy.  

I took the paper piercer and poked two holes in the top glitter part of the sled.  I'm not sure what that part is called but it's the part you use to guide or steer the sled.  I tied some linen thread through those holes and then I tied the jingle bells on.  I did color the jingle bells with a red Sharpe marker.  It's the only non-Stampin' Up! item I used to make this sled.

The most difficult part was trying to get that snowflake on the top right and I did mess up on it.  I didn't get the tips of the snowflake lined up right.  But you get the idea that it's a snowflake in the middle of the sled.  

I had a lot of fun making it and I'm sure Terri is going to like it!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Jolly Bingo Bits Card Holders

You will have to click on the photo to get a closer view of these little cuties!!!

Take some Baker's Twine and attach both ends to your wall.  When you receive a Christmas card, just take one of these cute mini clothes pins and pinch it on the card and twine.  Now your card is displayed on your wall with an adorable clothes pin.  

I picked a few of my favorite images in this set and colored them, cut them out and stuck them on the mini clothes pins using glue dots.  You need something a bit more sticky than a tape runner.  I just clipped them on a piece of card stock as I made them.  Aren't they fun??  And cute???   This is such a fun set to play with.  I have enjoyed this set SO much!

These would also be cute on one of those little 6" sisal trees!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Two Tags Die Christmas Gift Tags

I bought the "Stocking Accents" die way back in the summer in my pre-order and had not used it.  Today I ran across some cute to and from tags made by Elaine at "Elaine's Creations" and just had to make them.  And now I feel bad that I had not played with this die before now.  It was a lot of fun and the season is nearly over.  I know there is always next year but....  Oh well, at least I got to play with it, right?

These were VERY fun to make and unbelievable easy too!  

Elaine's samples had ribbon for the hanging tag.  I didn't add anything yet, I'm still not sure what I want to put there.  I may just end up using some Baker's Twine.  That stuff is a lot of fun too!!

So, if you have not used your die yet, dig it out and play with it before Christmas is here!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Snowman Soup Stocking Stuffers Weekend Project

I just LOVE making Snowman Soup gifts!  You can make this a very inexpensive gift too.  Shop around for Christmas mugs.  I bet you can find some at the Goodwill for under $1.  Or plan ahead and shop around at garage sales in the spring and summer!!  

I think these make wonderful gifts for teachers, coworkers, friends, the mail carrier, UPS driver and even for stocking stuffers.

This year I was able to find vanilla snowman shaped marshmallows.  And yes, there are a vanilla color too!  I wanted the tall "normal" candy cane but I didn't have any so I used two short ones instead.

You can find the hot cocoa on sale this time of year too!  Like I said, you can make these pretty inexpensive if you shop around!

The poem can be found here along with tags you can print out.  The tags are fun and some of them even have the poem already added to the adorable image.  My image came from a program I LOVE to use called Print Artist.  I believe it is version #21. I use this program for a lot of things because of the ease of use and the wonderful graphics it contains.  And best of all it's got a LOT of vintage Santa's and snowmen (plus other holidays and seasons too).  

And if you don't want to use their images with the poem I'm adding the poem so you can just copy it over and print it out on your own graphic!

You can wrap them in cellophane or some type of clinging wrap.  Add some ribbons or bows.  Dress it up as much or as little as you want!

Snowman Soup

Was told you've been real good this year.
Always glad to hear it!
With freezing weather drawing near,
You'll need to warm the spirit.
So here's a little Snowman Soup
Complete with stirring stick.
Add hot water, sip it slow.
It's sure to do the trick!

Have fun with these and thank you for stopping by today,
Wanda

Purse Placemet Weekend Project

A purse?  Really?  Yup!  My dear friend Terri had made me a yellow purse and it made a few of my friends jealous!!  Only because I purposely showed them knowing it would!!!  My dark side showing there!!! LOL  

This purse is made using a quilted placemat!!  How cute is that?  You just fold the placemat in half and then sew up the sides.  You make a gusset at the bottom by sewing the two corners. 

Next I added the grommets.  I used cording here because at the time I made it I didn't have the Stampin' Up! red stripe ribbon.  I sewed the ends of the cording to the cording itself and I covered that sewing with two buttons.  Click on the photo and you will see the buttons.  Then I used a few Sizzix dies and cut out white felt flowers and put them over the buttons.  The center of those little flowers is tiny red doll buttons.

The larger flower was done the same as the little flowers except I used more layers.  And I used a piece of green felt and cut out the leaves.  I sewed them in place and the purse was done.  It is for a gift and I will be bringing it to the Christmas party tonight!!!  I'm SO excited to for my friend to open it!!  I bought a few more placemats so I can make some for gifts next Christmas.  I figured I would work on them at my leisure.  I got these placemats at Wal-Mart.  Maybe they will have different colors in the spring or summer!  I'll have to check it out when I'm there.  

These make great gifts and they really don't take that long to make either.  Under an hour from start to finish. Ya gotta LOVE that!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

More Holiday Fudge! Weekend Project

I have finished my holiday baking!  Yup, that includes all of the "fudge" too!

I ran across this really pretty snowflake paper that I had in my stash and thought I would use it up making more of the homemade fudge!  You can find more details on how to make these holders here.  These are very easy and fun to make but what is best about them is they bring a smile to every face that receives them!!! 

I just love those little button packs that you can get at Michael's.  This one had a bunch of baking items in them and most of them are not really buttons but just embellishments.  They add the perfect touch to these sleeves. Another thing nice about making these sleeves is that they can be reused!!!

That is it for today!  I hope you are getting your holiday baking done too, even if it's just "homemade fudge!"  Oh and I also got my Christmas shopping done today as well.  Don't be too envious, I still have to wrap it all!!  

Thank you ever SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda