Thank you BERRY much!

Hello there!
Just a super quick post to share the goodies that I put together for the boys' teachers for the end of the school year. Summer break starts tomorrow! :) Inspired by something I saw on Pinterest, I ordered these cute ceramic berry baskets from Sur La Table, and filled them with Strawberry scented goodies from Bath and Body Works along with some cute strawberry shaped drink coasters. I jazzed up a little chalkboard garden stake with PTI's Strawberry Patch & Strawberry Patch Sentiments sets and coordinating dies, and sent along matching cards for each of the teachers.

I just took a super quick picture before the sun went down, as I was packing them up last night.





And here is a picture of the cards - showcased this one on my blog a few weeks back :)



That's all for now... off to get some things done on my last kid-free day until August! :)

Enjoy Summer with StopAndScrap

Hey there!! Here today with my first post on the StopAndScrap blog! I am so excited to share with you a little project that I made for my boys' teachers. The end of the year is fast approaching, and I want to let them know how much they are appreciated! I used papers from the new Fancy Pants summer line, Summer Soul. The papers are bright and beautiful and FUN! This little ensemble was a blast to create!



The little envelope will house a giftcard to the book store so these wonderful ladies can enjoy a new book while enjoying their summer vacation.



The Beach sign was made using a stamp from the Fancy Pants Summer Soul line. See those adorable flip-flops?! Those are a stamp from the We R Memory Keepers Down the Boardwalk line. That collection is available now at StopAndScrap, and a new summer collection from We R Memory Keepers, Red White & Blue, is now available for preorder! Be sure to check them out and get yours while you can!!

And finally, the matching card:



I used the same papers as mentioned above, and the sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Smarty Pants Stamp set.

That's it for me today! I hope you enjoyed my project and I hope it inspires you to create something wonderful! Have a great day!! :)

I scream, You scream...

Gift baskets are so fun to create, and they make fabulous gifts. For one of my best friends and her children, I made an icecream sundae basket. Her children and small - 6 & 3, but I didn't want to get them toys since I know they will be showered with them already this Christmas. Sometimes, consumables are the way to go... :) And besides, what is better than icecream?

I found a fun metal bucket and some cute polkadot bowls and then gathered up my toppings. To dress things up, I made tags using Papertrey Ink's Sweet as Can Be Stamp Set and Tag Sale #1 die. For the bucket tag, I used Winter Penguin, the Damask Snowflakes Dies, and the tiny icecream cone from Tag Its #4.









Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Sweet as Can Be, Winter Penguin, Tag Its #4, Paper Smooches Sugar Rush (for sprinkles on the icecream cones)
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, Kraft, Raspberry Fizz, Hawaiian Shores, Royal Velvet
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Rich Cocoa, PTI Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Pure Poppy, Tea Dye Dyo
Dies: Sweet as Can Be, Winter Penguin, Tag Sale #1, Doily Details, Damask Snowflakes
Other: Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, Royal Velvet Satin Dot Ribbon, Paper Smooches Twine, Rhinestones, Pop-Dots, Sakura Stardust Pen, Glossy Accents

Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge - 12.15 - 12.28

Time again for a new challenge over at the Paper Smooches SPARKS Blog! This challenge will run from today, December 15th through December 28th. Here is the inspiration photo:



Goodness, can you believe that Christmas is just over a week away?!?! So much to do! This week's SPARKS challenge is a super fun one! My project is a very literal take on the inspiration photo. I always stuggle with gifts for the men in my life (well, other than my husband), and I need something else little to go with my mom's boyfriend's new Igloo cooler... BEER! Perfect :)

I bought a 6-pack of Kev's favorite beer and altered it. SO much fun to make!!

I used the Santa Paws, Alpahdot, Word Salad and Swanky Snowdudes Stamp sets along with some fun patterned paper, google-y eyes and sparkly noses. The twine you see is Paper Smooches NEW Twine. LOVE! The little foam antlers were in a 6 pack at Target for about $2. (on an endcap near the stationary if you need some *wink*)







Can't wait to see what this photo inspires you to create!! :)

Supplies:
Stamps: Paper Smooches Santa Paws, Alphadot, Word Salad, Swanky Snowdudes
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Tea Dye Duo, Pure Poppy
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, Pinefeather, Christmas Prints PP
Dies: PTI Pinking Shears Die
Other: Paper Smooches Twine, Google Eyes, Pom-poms, Foam Antlers (Target), Polkadot Ribbon (unknown)

Warm Winter Wishes

In my teens and 20s, I NEVER drank coffee. I couldn't stand the taste. Since I hit 30, I have to have it all of a sudden. Because I love it so much, I want to share the love. I am including these with the boys' teachers' gifts this year. I bought travel coffee mugs, planning to dress them up. While browsing the Target Dollar Spot a few months back (I know, it's a HUGE shock right? *wink* ) I came across felt coffee cozies with the terribly ugly flower on the front. I picked up a few, and this weekend, decided to make my own flowers for the front of them using Papertrey Ink's Beautiful Blooms II #1 dies and PTI felt. I just snipped the ugly flower off and sewed my own on. Inside, I will put some shiny Christmas shred and a gift card to Starbucks.



Oh, here is the before picture... See how flat and unpretty? LOL!



Off to finish decorating my Christmas tree!! We got it on Sunday, but a Science Project took importance so now that that is finished, I am free to decorate :) Thanks for stopping by!

'Tis the Season to Party!

And so it begins... The Holiday Parties are upon us. We were invited to one next week, and I want to take a little something along as a thank you. I used Papertrey Ink's Wine Bottle Tag Die, Love Lives Here: Holiday and the Damask Snowflakes - all among my favorite holiday stamping purchases this year.



This little project fits the bill for a few challenges that I'd like to enter this week:



Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes



Wee Memories #78 - Anything Goes

Off to do some more crafting! :) Thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Love Lives Here: Holiday
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate, Tea Dye Duo
Paper: Pure Poppy, Stampers Select White, Christmas Prints PP
Dies: Wine Bottle Tag, Tag Sale #5, Damask Snowflakes
Other: Pure Poppy Button, Pure Poppy Bakers Twine

Winter Penguins

Every once in awhile, I will make something that just makes me SO excited. That happened to me today. With the holidays right around the corner, and Christmas just about a month away, I am Christmas crafting. Do you ever feel that you need just *one more* little gift to be able to check someone off of your list? I feel that way every year with the boys' teachers. If you have read my blog before, it is no secret that I adore Target, and even more, the Target Dollar Spot. SO many wonderful little treasures there! :) The other day, I found these adorable little clear paint buckets in a variety of colors and picked up a bunch. Then wandering about the Christmas department, came across these ADORABLE penguin ornaments. I remembered my new PTI Winter Penguin Stamp set, and had a lightbulb moment. I picked up some fake snow at Target too - a huge bag for $2! I will be adding these little guys to the boys' teachers gifts this year. I am so pleased with how they turned out and they were so easy to put together.



A close up of the Tag:



How CUTE is he?!?!



Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Winter Penguin
Ink: Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow, Palette Charcoal, Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Hawaiian Shores, Stampers Select White
Dies: Winter Penguin, Damask Snowflakes, Tag Sale #5
Other: Pure Poppy Bakers Twine, Copic Markers, Rhinestone, Pop Dots, misc. Grosgrain Dot Ribbon

Back to School Treat Jars

Back again with another project using the MIM Glitter Window techique at PTI this week. After seeing the cute treat jars that my buddy Ted made for his coworkers, I wanted to make some for the boys' teachers. We go to "Meet the Teacher Day" at school next week and they will be able to give these to their new teachers then. I haven't gotten the candy yet, so just pretend it's in there. LOL!



And here is a close up of the cards that I made using the Lunchbox Note die, the Apple die and stamp set , and the Glitter Window Technique.



Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Fruit Fusion: Apple, Polkadot Basics, Vintage Picnic
Ink: Pure Poppy, Memento Rich Cocoa, Versamark
Paper: Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy, Simply Chartruese, Distressed Dots
Dies: Lunchbox Note, Apple, Limitless Layers 1.75"
Other: Copic Markers, Clear Packing Tape, Prisma Glitter, Pure Poppy Bakers Twine, Tinery Honeydew Twine, Hole Punch

Teeny Tiny Stationary!

I have been busy playing with my Tiny Envelope die from Papertrey Ink's March release. Adorable little love.

I made some bitty little note cards using the Fillable Frames #5 die. It fits perfectly inside the envelope, which is 2"x3" when it is folded up. Before I folded the envelopes up, I stamped the insides with Background Basics: Gingham, and on the cards and front of the envelope, I stamped adorable little flowers from the new Flower Fusion #2 set.

I plan to package these in little glassine bags and tie with some pretty bakers twine.







Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Background Basics: Gingham, Flower Fusion #2, Fillable Frames Additions #1
Ink: Palette French Lilac, Plum Pudding, Clearsnap Creamy Brown
Paper: Stampers Select White
Dies: Tiny Envelope, Fillable Frames #5

Some handmade Christmas gifts

Ok, so now that Christmas is over, I can finally share some of my Christmas crafting projects that I gave as gifts this year. They were for my mom and sisters, and I am not sure how often they check my blog, so I didn't want to chance it and ruin the surprise :)

First is one of my very favorite projects this year is a ribbon wreath that I made for my mom. I first saw the idea in the Papercrafts magazine holiday edition, made by Alli Miles. When Alli featured hers on her blog, I knew I had to make one. You can see Alli's here:

http://allistamps.blogspot.com/2010/09/crafty-goodness-la-holiday-cards-and.html

And here is mine, done in colors to match Mom's dining room :)



Up next is a project that I had been wanting to make, also for my Mom, since Nichole Heady featured it on her blog, back in June of 2010. She made silhouettes of their children for her husband for Father's Day and I love how they turned out. You can see Nichole's post here:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2010/05/senior-design-team-challenge-dearest-dad.html

Here are the silhouettes that I did of my boys, using the same technique. I chose to put them in the same frame since my mom doesn't have a lot of wall space, and chose a black frame since my mom has silhouettes of my sisters and I from ages ago, and those are in black frames, so I wanted them to match.



And finally is a 2011 planner that I altered for my sister. I bought a plain black planner that came with the three colored inserts inside. Then I bought a 2011 calendar, recovered it, and added it to the planner. Dressed her up a bit, and here is the end result (she cried when she opened it):

Baby Rag Blanket

So we just found out earlier this week that my sister, who is due in May, is having a little boy! For Christmas, little baby Malakai will have his own stack of presents, and one of them will be this handmade rag blanket from his Auntie. Now, I must say that this blanket is FAR from perfect. In fact, it was my very first sewing project. I had taken my machine out a few other times to practice threading the needle, but never actually make anything. I figured that since this was pretty much sewing straight lines, it was a good project to start with. It is a small lap blanket, about 20"x20". I used the Stampin' Up Scallop Square die to cut the squares, sewed them together in a patchwork design, snipped the edges, and washed it twice to start the ragging process. My sister's nickname is Bubbles, so as soon as I saw the fabric, I knew it was the perfect choice for Baby Bubbles, now known as Malakai :)

September Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

It's that time again! :) Time for the monthly Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge! The September challenge was this:

"One of the most fun things about this hobby is the people you meet, whether in person or online, and the things you learn from them. Now is your chance to show off any skills you might have learned from a fellow stamper, and perhaps even give them a little shout out to thank them for the inspiration they have provided. Create a project using one of your favorite learned skills and perhaps after a little blog hopping, we will ALL learn some new tips and tricks and continue to pass on the love of this hobby!"

I can't believe Christmas is just around the corner! I decided there was no better time to start working on my homemade gift than now. Hopefully I will be able to relax before the holidays this year! I have decided to use the PTI All Booked Up set to make bookplates and bookmarks for alot of people on my list. I will include a book with each set, and will choose a special book just for each person :) I had been looking for a way to package the bookplates, and remembered bookmarking a post by PTI design team member, Lisa Johnson. She had made a score box to package one of her handmade soaps, and of course, like everything Lisa does, it was adorable. You can see the post here:

http://poppypaperie.typepad.com/poppy_paperie/2010/05/just-for-you-day-3.html

I changed the measurements slightly to fit my needs, but I can see using this technique alot in the future. The boxes are quick and easy, and so simple to personalize. I cut apart the clear boxes that PTI stamps come in and used those as the "lid" for my box and tied each with some pretty matching PTI ribbon.

For the bookmarks, I used 3 layers. The top layer is a clear sheet (diecut from the sheets that PTI stamps arrive on). The second is a piece of cardstock which I decorated, and the back layer is coordinating PTI felt. I wanted these bookmarks to be sturdy, and that they are :)

Here are a few sets that I have done so far... please excuse my sewing... I am getting used to my machine, and so, it is not perfect. That's ok with me though, cause they are homemade and that adds to the charm. :)

Set #1 - Aqua Mist Butterfly





Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Flutterby Friend, All Booked Up, Polkadot Basics
Cardstock/Paper: Aqua Mist CS, Stampers Select White, Green Boutique Patterned Paper, White Adhesive Sheets
Ink: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Momento Tuxedo Black
Other: BG11, BG13, BG15, BG18 Copic Markers, Hawaiian Shores felt, Hawaiian Shores Satin and Satin Dot Ribbon

Set #2 - Red Kite



Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Up Up and Away, All Booked Up, Polkadot Basics
Cardstock: Pure Poppy, Stampers Select White, White Adhesive Sheets
Ink: Pure Poppy, Spring Rain, Fresh Snow, Momento Tuxedo Black
Other: Pure Poppy Felt, Pure Poppy Satin Dot Ribbon

Set #3 - Violets





Supplies (all PTI unless noted):
Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violets, All Booked Up, Polka Dot Basics
Cardstock: Plum Pudding, Harvest Gold, White Adhesive Sheets
Ink: Plum Pudding, Momento Tuxedo Black
Other: V91 Copic Marker, Prismcolor colored Pencils, Plum Pudding and Harvest Gold Satin Ribbon