Look What a Dollar Will Buy!

I'm still making some little gifts for Christmas. I like to have some little things on hand. You never know when you need to throw a gift together and these come in handy to toss in a stocking, bag or box along with other "stuff."

I got this adorable ribbon at the Dollar Tree and just couldn't pass it up. After all it was only a dollar!!! If I had a dollar for every time I said that at the Dollar Tree!!! LOL I don't know how long the ribbon is, it didn't say on the package but I'm guessing it's about 2 yards. It's a wired edge silky type ribbon. I cut the circle out and taped it in place it on top of a 1-7/8" white card stock circle. I added a 1-5/8" black card stock ring on top of that. You could use a black circle and then add the ribbon circle on top of that. I didn't want to go that route because I was afraid the ribbon would fray.

I thought it would look SO cute on those little 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" notebooks I make. The background on the notebook could use a little finesse but I'm going to leave it like it is since I already wrapped them in cellophane. I can sure make a lot of these little notebooks for my dollar!!! Kind of wish I would have spent two dollars and got two spools of ribbon!!! LOL Then again you can probably ask me next year at this time if I finished up that roll of snowman ribbon and I will tell you no!!! LOL SO it's probably a good thing I didn't buy two!

This just shows you that you really don't need to have stamp everything!!! A little punches go a long way too!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Saying Goodbye to Flakey Friends

I REALLY like this "Flakey Friends" set. I'm going to be hanging on to mine for a while yet. I figure as long as I can still make money with my old sets I'm going to hang on to them for a bit longer. Or if it should ever happen, that I have absolutely no room for one more new set I'll have to consider letting it go then. But for the time being I still have room!!!

This is a Christmas Card Record book to keep track of who you send and receive Christmas cards. I have not made one in many years. I'm SO frugal with mine. I don't put an "X" in the box. I just put a half an "X" when I send the card out and then finish the "X" if I receive a card from that address. That way my 5 year record book lasted 10 years. The last time I did my record book I also printed out an extra set of mailing labels so I didn't have to write any names in the book either. I just slapped a label on the lines and was good to go!!! Is it frugal or lazy???? Sometimes it's a fine line there!!! LOL

I have to apologize here. I can not find the PDF file for the inside of the book. It's been a few years since I've used it. The last time I had pages copied I had a master copy and took it to a printer. Probably because I couldn't find the PDF file way back then. It's on my "to do" list.

I used the Rubi Coil punch machine to make this book. It measures 5-1/2" x 8". You don't need a Rubi Coil to make this book. You can use the Hemp Bound notebook tutorial for this. Just click on that link and it will take you to the page with the instructions. You can make your own lines using your word processor or just add labels on your pages and write the years in next to them. There's lots of ways you can make your own book. I know you're creative!!!

So now I have a new Christmas card record book to use if and when I get those Christmas cards done!!!!!! I'm hoping to do that by Wednesday!!! Then I can move on to the baking and then that dreaded house cleaning. I have a million projects going on all at the same time. It would be nice if they could all come together at the same time and be done!!! I can dream, can't I??? LOL

And do you think in 10 years when I need another record book that I will still own the Flakey Friends set???? Who knows?? LOL

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Blog Candy Who Dunit?? Merry Christmas!!!

In the spirit of giving during this time of year I thought I would put up a stamp set for you to wish you a Merry Christmas.

Remember the picture in the last blog candy??? It turned out to be my cat's nose. Just click here to be directed to that post and scroll down just a little to see the blurry cat's nose. Study that nose because to be entered in the drawing to win this blog candy you will need to tell me which cat's nose you think it is!!!

Just in case the photos don't go with the wording on here I'll describe the cats to you. Millie is the white prissy cat. She is a BEAUTIFUL medium hair cat that is SO touchy. You only pet her when she wants to be petted. She hides when the doorbell rings and rarely comes out to see anyone. I got her in December of 1999. She's my millennium cat, hence the name Millie.

Then there's K.C. the light grey striped tabby. The one who has been sick. He had a bladder infection which is being treated with antibiotics. Boy is that fun giving it to him!!! NOT!!! LOL He's a mild mannered cat. He let the vet insert a needle in his bladder 4 times and he didn't even cry, fuss or bite. He's such a nice kitty. I got him on Christmas eve at my husband's nieces farm in 2001. He was an outdoor cat. It was SO cold that Christmas eve and all the little kitties (born in July) were just tiny balls of fur with stick tails. Their fur was drawn so tight to their bodies to keep them warm. And being outdoor cats they didn't smell all that nice either. There is another picture of K.C. found here on my blog. It's a close up so you can see his muzzle better. Don't you just love this picture? Such a rough life. And I bet the tv was on too!!! LOL


And then we have Boo. I got her close to Halloween in 2004. She smelled too but she was not from a farm she was from a pet shop where the only place to sit is in the litter box. I didn't want a typical striped cat and all the other cats in there just didn't appeal to me. I was ready to leave and she looked up at me. Well, that's all it took. I brought her home and the next day she was so sick we didn't think she'd survive. But I nursed her back to health and K.C. let her cuddle with him for warmth (they are such buds now) and she's all better. She's full of the dickens but yet she will cuddle. She's a very tiny cat and we think her illness stunted her growth. She's a LOT of fun.

SO there you have it. The three cats. Now you get to tell me which one you think stuck it's nose in my camera when I was trying to take a picture of something else and why you think it's that cat. It is not really that easy since all three of them have white muzzles and clay colored noses. You don't have to have the correct answer to win but give it your best guess. I will randomly draw a name on Thursday night, December 13th.

Good luck to you!
Wanda

Friends Who Share!

At the last month's Stamp Till You Cramp, Tracy brought a couple of her own stamps with her. She brought this most adorable snowman from Stampabilities. And you ALL know how much I LOVE snowmen!!!! I asked her if I could make a couple images of it while she was here and being the sweet person she is she said I could!!! I colored one that night but set it aside to work on other projects (including those Christmas cards!!!!!).

Ok, now I can't say my Christmas cards are done but I am finished with the making of them part. I have them put together and I just have to put the inside piece in and they are ready to go into envelopes, have the labels put on, the return address, the stamp and to be sealed. My there's a lot of steps just to send out a card, isn't there? Most of it we don't think about until we do a mass mailing!!! Fortunately that only happens at Christmas time. Well, there's weddings too but I don't have that on any of my lists yet!!!

I used the snowflake background stamp from the "Festive Favorites" set. And I used the "Flannel Plaid" background stamp for the foreground. I stamped the image on watercolor paper using black Staz On. I blended the colors in and then layered the card. I used the SplitCoastStampers Challenge Sketch #153. It was this weeks layout and I really liked it. Plus the snowman was the perfect size for that sketch!!!

I added some silver cording in the middle of the card and I added some plastic snowflakes. They came in a fairly large package, including snowflake buttons. I got them at Michael's, with my coupon of course. They are found with all the other decorative buttons and they are there year round! I purchased these this past summer but they still have them, I just saw them last week when I was there.

This was a fun and quick card to make. Plus this guy is SO cute!!! Again I thank you Tracy for letting me use your stamp!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Gingerbread Card and More!

As I was looking at this card I was thinking that this would be SO cute on top of a stack of recipe cards. Don't you think so? Instead of the "Merry Christmas" wording it could read "Holiday Recipes." Hmmm, it's got me thinking now. I just may have to give that a try.

For this card I used Real Red and whisper White card stock. I used the retired "Gingerbread man" wheel and the dotted stamp from the "Itty Bitty Backgrounds" set by Stampin' Up! I used watercolor crayons ot color in the gingerbread boys and hearts. And I used the Real Red ink pad for the dotted background. The "Merry Christmas" is from the "All Holidays" set and I used black Staz On ink.

As you can see I'm SO good with the wheels!!! LOL I can't even begin to tell you how I wish that were true. I practiced on some scratch paper. I drew a line and I followed that line perfectly. I did this 3 times and all 3 I got it SO straight. SO I set my card stock down and off to the left I go!!! EVERY time!!! GRRRRR!!! Maybe I should have drawn a light pencil line on my card stock and it would have went straight!!! LOL It's close but it's still off. And I know, it's like I tell my stampers, "it's handmade after all!!!!!" Do we ever listen to the advice we give out???

I tied a raffia bow and added a little wooden rolling pin I got at Michael's a few years ago. But I did order some more at Create for Less. They are the exact same ones I bought a few years ago. I painted the handles first and set them aside to dry and by the time I was ready to assemble the card they were dry and ready to go!!

This was another fun and quick card. Again this one would require extra postage to mail. But I'm REALLY leaning towards that recipe card thing!!! I'll make one (hopefully this weekend) and post it here when I do.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Snowman Ornament Tutorial

This little (and I mean little!!!) snowman was a LOT of fun to make. I was surprised at how quick the whole process went too!

First I purchased the "ornament" part. It's really a larger charm by Blue Moon Beading Company. JoAnn's has them on sale this week so it was not very expensive at all. I think it was around $1.50.

I measured the inside of it and cut my watercolor paper accordingly. I did have to trim it on one side a bit, it's a little difficult to accurately measure something that you can't take apart. I then stamped it using the tiny little snowman from the "Little Somethings" set by Stampin' Up! It's a retired set but one I'm going to hang on to for a little while yet. I used black StazOn ink because I am going to be using my blender pen on it and I wanted to make sure I have a black that won't bleed. I left the strip of watercolor paper about 4 inches long. I then slipped it in place on the ornament and I bent the remainder of the paper so I knew where to cut it off when I was all done.

I colored the snowman in using my blender pen and markers. I heated it up with the embossing tool to help the blender pen solution on the paper dry. Watercolor paper holds the moisture longer than regular card stock does.

I added a little sparkle to it by using the Gelly Roll Glitter Pen. I added some highlights to the snow and the top parts of the scarf. Then I added a few snowflakes in the sky. I took the strip and pressed the stamped end in VersaMark and then dipped it in the clear embossing powder. I heated it up and when it melted I dipped the strip in the powder again. I repeated this one more time. You can repeat it as much as you wish but I wasn't sure how thick I could allow it to get and still have it slip back into the ornament. After the embossing cooled I cut the finished piece off. I added some crystal effects to the back of it and set it in place on the ornament. I added some silver cording just to keep it simple looking. Adding some beautiful ribbons would REALLY dress it up a LOT.

*Just a quick note here. I did not add the embossing powder directly to the ornament and heat it directly. I wasn't sure of the melting point of the ornament. The metal felt firm and strong but I didn't want to take any chances.

These would make wonderful gifts for that special Baby Sitter, close friend, teachers, etc. You know who would LOVE something like this. Mine is going on my Christmas tree.

Sorry I couldn't get a closer picture. I need a closeup lens for my camera.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Split Coast Sketch Challenge 153

As you can tell it's Wednesday because this is the Split Coast Sketch Challenge for today!!! I try to do these every week. I like to have new layouts for my samples. This is a layout I think I will get a LOT of use out of. I may even do one more with this layout later in the week before I move on to your fun upcoming project!!!

For this card I used Basic Black and Always Artichoke card stock and watercolor paper. I used Black Staz On ink for the image because I was planning on using a blender pen. And I used Always Artichoke for the remainder of the ink used in this card, including sponging.

I blended the tree in using Always Artichoke. I added some Ruby Red bulbs and Summer Sun on the garland. After that dried (blender pen takes a couple of minutes to dry on watercolor paper. I then came in with the metallic Gelly Roll pen. Such a fun little pen! A gem of a find when I was up in Duluth. With the blender pen I added some Bashful Blue around the tree and a touch of Bordering Blue just below the trunk. The trunk was blended in using Close to Cocoa. I sponged the edges and added the black layer. I sponged the edges on all pieces here except for the black.

I used the Canvas background stamp on the large Artichoke piece. I used the Flannel Plaid background stamp on the Sahara Sand card stock. Before I assembled the card I wrapped some gold cording around the Always Artichoke piece. It just needed something there. I was going to tie a knotted piece of cording on each side of the top piece but it appeared to be just too much so I left it off. Less is better in this case!!! And here you have it! My finished Sketch Challenge from SplitCoastStampers!!!

You may want to join in these challenges. It's a great way to learn to play with new layouts. There's a different challenge every day of the week. I fell into the Wednesday one and have not ventured out to the other ones. I may try the color challenge but right now I'm sticking with the Sketch Challenge. It's not like you can't join them all. By all means you sure can, if you have the time! I probably could find the time but it's those brain cells that may be more of a challenge to me than the challenges SplitCoast has to offer!!! LOL Click here to see the other Sketch Challenges I've done.

Thank you for stopping by!
Wanda

Sincere Motif

Just saying good bye to the Linen background stamp. I just can't believe that Stampin' Up! is retiring that one. But that must mean that something new and better is coming to replace it. SO I look forward to what is yet to come. I can't say that I am waiting patiently though!!!! I think I'm more excited to see what is in the new catalog more than I'm excited to see what is under the Christmas tree!!! SO sad, isn't it?? LOL

If you click on the photo you can see it close up. You will see the linen background with the stamped off lighter flower images there too. This is done much like the Sparkling Notes was done. I didn't add any bling to this card. I need to mail it and after my wonderful experience at the post office today I am leaning more towards the clean simple look for cards I'm going to mail. I just found out today that even if your card is only layers, no bling whatsoever, if it won't bend you have to pay the 17 cent surcharge. WHAT?????? Cards that don't bend will jamb their equipment. I learn something new (and something I don't want to know) every time I go there. I had to mail some packages and brought my Christmas card with me to see if it would pass. It weighs exactly the one ounce. I was informed it would pass if I did not do another thing to it. Not planning on it!!! And as long as it will bend (and I bent it) it will be just fine. I hope so!!

Back to his card. I used the Baroque Motif set, the Linen background stamp and the Sincere Salutation stamps all by Stampin' Up! The card stock used is Whisper White, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I sponged the edges of all the pieces. It's a little difficult to see on the photo but I did sponge the Soft Sky piece with Soft Sky ink. It softens the edges down some. Same with the Bayou Blue pieces. Sponging adds a nice touch to your cards. Plus it's a VERY inexpensive way of enhancing your card.

Before I assembled the card I added the ribbon to the top piece and then affixed it to the main card. This Baroque Motifs set is a perfect set to make some very quick and beautiful cards. Plus it's versatile too. This set will work for many occasions. It doesn't limit you to just one occasion or theme. I like sets like that. I seem to get more use out of those than the single theme sets.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Tin Update

The tins I used to make the gift candies with are still available at Michale's. Well, the ones in my area that is. They are found right at the checkout. But to get the ones you want you need to look at the other checkouts that they usually don't open up very often. Those are well stocked and they have other designs too. I am partial to snowmen so every time there is a snowman around I am drawn to it!!! They seem to call me. LOL

Just look by the checkout for the tins.

Chocolate Snowmen

When I was at Michael's I bought another one of those adorable snowman tins with the intention of altering it too. The last one I only altered it slightly. I mean, how much can you alter this? It's just too darn cute mess with. I like the organza bow on here. I think it gave the tin a more delicate touch!!

I bought some Nuggets and decorated them up. I stamped the snowman from "Very Merry" on mailing labels. I colored them in with markers and wrapped them around the Nuggets. This tin held 10. A PERFECT amount for gift giving.

This is a very quick and easy gift to make. I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to stamp, color and affix the labels. These tins are the way to go for those gifts you need to make in a hurry. Most people like chocolate. I happen to be one of those people who don't care a whole lot for chocolate. I have to be in the mood for it. My idea of the perfect chocolate chip cookie is one with 3 chocolate chips in it!!! That is the ideal chocolate chip cookie!!! It's not that I don't like chocolate, I just don't like that much chocolate in my mouth at one time.

I think these would make wonderful teacher gifts, something for the paper carrier, the mail carrier, the coach, a little extra gift for the kiddies, etc. Plus once the candy is gone the ribbon can be removed from the tin and they can reuse it! Or they can keep the ribbon on and still use it!!!

I thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

All Wrapped Up!

Do you need a REALLY quick card? I was wrapping Christmas gifts this afternoon while I was baking some Banana Bread and some Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. I love to multi-task!!! While I was finishing up a roll of wrapping paper and grabbing another I noticed how cute these snowmen were. I mean, now how could I just use it for wrapping paper that people are just going to toss when I could make a card with it so they could toss that too!!! LOL

I just loved this snowman and the colors too. It was VERY difficult to match blues for the background. I had gotten some adorable paper from The Paper Company and it was the closest match I could find to fit the snowman image.

This card has minimal stamping, just the wording. And if you want to go stampless and just practice your layering technique you can make your wording on your computer.

I just couldn't help myself with this guy!!! I'm still anxiously waiting to make my own snowman. We got snow on Saturday. It was VERY pretty and I think we got a bit over 6". But it was that light fluffy stuff. You can't make a snowman with that now can you???? SO alas I must wait until a warmer snow storm to head our way. Hopefully I won't have to wait until March like the last winter season.

I do have to tell you that when you are cutting wrapping paper on your paper cutter it does like to shift. I was able to hide most of that under the wording. See, if you look closely you can see the right side is not even. And the left side is not perfectly straight either and that was because the cutting mat had a groove in it and the paper followed the blade. I did put a new mat on so I could cut the top and bottoms straighter.

SO here you have it, a super quick card made with wrapping paper. So even if you don't have any snowman stamps or holiday stamps you can use wrapping paper and make some cute cards!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

WOW! Topped 200,000!

My blog exceeded 200,000 hits!!! Isn't that just fabulous? And there is a winner too. Linda P. has sent me the 200,000 hits screen shot as you see posted here.

Congratulations Linda and thank you for preserving that milestone for me. Please email me your snail mail address and I'll get the package out in the mail to you.

A BIG thank you to all of you for visiting my blog. I REALLY appreciate it and I hope I can continue to keep my blog of interest to you.

Thanks for stopping by,
Wanda

Decorating the Tree! (Instructions too!)

Here is a tree ornament I made using the (about to retire) "Holiday Tag Team" set. I just LOVE that set. Personally I think Stampin' Up! should talk to me first before they retire something!!! LOL I got the tins from Oriental Trading Company. The item number is 65/90057. You can also get them in the beading section of Joann's. They come in a package of 6. I don't remember how much they were but with the coupon they aren't all that expensive. Under $5 with the coupon!!

I stamped the snowman on Whisper White card stock using black Staz On. I colored it in and then cut it out using the Coluzzle System cutter. I used Crystal Effects to affix it to the inside of the tin. I chose Chrystal Effects because I knew it would give a tight bond. Tape could cause the paper to curl in time and it would also leave gaps where I didn't get enough tape on it. And tape never dries so if any was exactly on the edges it would cause the micro beads to stick there. Once the crystal effects dried I added a heaping teaspoonful of clear micro beads. Then again with the Crystal Effects I ran a little around the bottom outer lip and put the cover on to seal it all up.

I used the Sticky Strip tape around the outside seam. I measured it to go only half way around and then I cut that piece up the middle because it was to wide for the ribbon I was using. I added the red grosgrain ribbon to the sticky tape. I started at the bottom with both raw ends. Match the raw ends together to give the illusion of it being just one piece of ribbon. If you don't like the looks of a seam at the bottom you can cover it with a button or a half pearl from the Pretties Kit. Lay the ribbon all the way up to the top of the ornament. Make sure you get it on fairly straight. You want to accomplish this in one or two tries, more than that and the tape loses it's stickiness and you'll have to reapply it. I had cut my piece of ribbon 12 inches long so that left me a 3 inch loop at the top of my ornament. I tied white grosgrain ribbon near the tin to hid how the loop was made.

There is another way you can tie the ribbon onto your tin without the seam at the bottom. It does require more ribbon. I don't know exactly how much because I don't use this technique very often just because it requires more ribbon and I usually don't make just one of an item. For this technique you will fold the ribbon in half to find center. This center will be at the bottom of your tin. You will still want to add some tape to around the tin to help hold the ribbon on. Tie a knot at the top of the tin. Take something round like your Crystal Effects bottle or a Tacky Glue bottle and tie the ribbon around that too, making a knot and then a bow. Don't tie it too tight, you don't what to have to explain why there is a glue bottle hanging on your tree with the tin!!! LOL And NO, I'm not speaking from experience there!!! REALLY!!!!! After you get the bow ties and the ends trimmed, remove the bottle and your ornament is ready to hang.

These are fun and they make very inexpensive gifts. They do sell well at craft fairs. And they make excellent Stamp Camp items.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,

Wanda

Eye On the Counter!

Don't forget the "Eye on the Counter" Blog Candy. Click here to be taken to the post for more details. My blog is not far from hitting the 200,000 mark and you want to be the lucky viewer!!!