Technique Class

Well I have finally decided on our projects and have my samples done. The first one is a cute little set of 10 gift tags with a coordinating bag. I got the idea from Andrea Walford. They were really quick to put together and it's such a cute presentation, don't you think?

Here's a closeup of all the tags. I just used some of my retired DSP with coordinating card stock and ribbon.

The next project is one I've been wanting to try for quite a while. I finally got around to buying these 4 x 4 tiles from Lowe's the other day. Now they aren't just plain tiles, they're pretty coasters!

Here's another coaster in the set. I think the bunny in the basket is just adorable. Warning: If you try to do this project at home, your kids will beg and plead till you give them their own tiles, so buy an extra box!!

And here is the set of 4, all done up and ready to go! As usual, all supplies are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted.

Class will be on Feb. 6 at 6:30 pm as usual. Please be sure to bring your own adhesive and paper trimmer. The fee for this class is $12 and you'll take home a set of 4 coasters and set of 10 gift tags with a cute little holder. Thanks for checking up one me!! Have a great day.

My First Craft Fair!!

Hello, everyone! A while back my husband asked me to make some pretty envelopes for the tellers at our bank, something to put cancelled checks in that they could hang in their station. I ended up making a bunch out of the leftovers of my Summer Days Scrappin' Kit, and I figured every teller needs their own pen, so I also made matching beaded pens for each. Well, I didn't think to snap a picture before he took them to the bank, but he said they all loved them and thought they were so cute! Well, one of the ladies is on the PTA at her daughter's school, which is having a craft fair in March, and she asked me if I would like to have a table! Of course I would!! I've been trying to find something like that, so I said I'd love to. Well, here is the first of hopefully many items I'll be busy making. I bought unfinished frames from Michael's and spiffed them up with remnants of some Simply Scrappin' Kits.



I added some coordinating ribbon and brads to each. I really like how they turned out. This one is from the boy kit.

This is using a retired Sell-a-Bration kit from a few years ago. Aren't the colors just beautiful?

Well, that's all I have time for now. I have to run and take lunch to Sam and the guys who are setting another house today. If you'd like more info on that, click here . See you later!!

Georgia Peach DSP: Day One

I'm working on a scrapbook for my DH's aunt. She lives in California, and when they were here for Thanksgiving, she asked me if I could make a book for her granddaughter's birthday. I originally wanted to use a Simply Scrappin' Kit, but didn't like the selection for a toddler girl. So, instead I used Georgia Peach DSP with the coordinating cardstock, ink and ribbon with my stamps. All supplies are Stampin' Up! I really like it so far. Some of the layouts were inspired by Split Coast Stampers, and some are my own. I think this book will have 30 pages, so I'll show you (5) 2-page spreads a day, and that should be 3 days worth, right? This is the "Bloomin' Beauty" page.

"Too Cute for Words"

"Cuddlebug"

"So Very Sweet"

"Love U"

Hope you like!!

It's Snowing!!!

Guess What!?! It's snowing at my house!! I can't tell you how many years it's been since we've seen snow here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Of course, I know it won't stick, but still, the kids are excited about the teeny tinny little snowflakes falling down! I had to take pictures as proof, so here are the boys watching the flakes fly (or drift, however you look at it)!

Here they are on the phone, which you can't see cuz it's on the trampoline. They called their counsins who live up in New York to let them know the good news. Needless to say, it wasn't that exciting for them, and in their own words, they have "buckets and buckets of snow!"

There it is!! You can see a few flakes right there in the picture! Isn't that exciting!

This is the wreath I've had hanging by my front door since the beginning of December. It says "Flakes Welcome." People would look at that and laugh, because except for the last few days, it's been in the 60's and 70's for most of the winter. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, and I love the snow. Even though it probably won't, I hope it sticks around for a few days!

Finally, A Card!!

Good Morning, everyone!! I finally have a stamped project to show you!! I made this card for my sister in law who got married about 2 weeks ago. I looked through my stash of cards and couldn't find anything for a wedding so I whipped this one together. It's pretty much a CASE of myself from this post. I used retired paper from SU! called Le Jardin. This is my all time favorite paper. I also used the retired set Lexicon of Love. Paper is So Saffron, Always Artichoke and Bashful Blue. The ribbon is the 5/8" Old Olive, which I colored with my Always Artichoke marker so it would match my paper, and I used Always Artichoke ink. Really very simple, but still elegant enough for a wedding card.

I've been working on a scrapbook order for my DH's aunt, so I'll have some new stuff to show you soon. I'm very happy with the way it's turning out. My usual style is to gain inspiration from my pictures, so trying to design a scrapbook without any pictures is a little challenging, but fun.

Well, I suppose I should cut this short. We have to get started on schoolwork and housework, which I'm sure you all know is never ending. For History today, the kids are going to watch Obama's inauguration. They learned about the different branches of government last year, so this should be interesting for them. (And I can watch it and say we actually did some work!)

Camping at Table Rock, SC

Finally!! Here are some of the camping pictures I promised you. We had a great time camping up at Table Rock State Park, which is near Greenville, SC. It was so nice to get away from the phones, TV, video games and just life in general for a few days!! This is the view of Table Rock Mountain if you are driving on Hwy 11. We have hiked all the way to the top before!! The view is amazing!!
Sam and I have been married for 13 years, and we go camping 2 to 3 times a year. We have always used a tent. Until this time!! We got this neat little camper that goes in the bed of a pickup truck. It's really small, but has a little stove, microwave, bathroom (great for at night), and sleeps 5 people. It was so nice to have hot water, and be able to use the stove to help in meal preparations.
Here are Sammy, Bubba and Amanda posing in front of a waterfall while we were on our hike. You can't go camping in the mountains and not go hiking. It's hard, but so much fun!! I never get tired of looking at the mountains.

Now, I know this is not a flattering picture, but here is a self portrait of me and my hubby. He set the camera up, and then ran and sat down real quick!

Every time we go to Table Rock, we take this picture. It's on the hiking trail, not too far into the hike. My favorite one is from when we went a couple years ago in October. The leaves were all red, orange, purple and yellow. It was so pretty.

You also have to go trout fishing when you go camping. So here are some fishing pictures. Here, Sam is giving Sammy a few pointers.

Amanda fished more then the boys did!! She wanted to do everything by herself. I was surprised by the patience she had trying to untangle her hook and put the bait on. It's so funny that she can go from being Princess Amanda one minute, and be such a tomboy the next.

Here she is in another spot under a bridge. You can see the sun rays in this one, but I kind of like it that way.

We drove on down to Hagood Mill while we were there. They were closed, but you can still walk around and go on the nature trails they have. I'm not sure what this is called, but this is how the water gets to the wheel that grinds the corn.

Sam, Amanda and Bubba walking up a hill on the trail.

This is a little bridge that's on the nature trail at the Hagood Mill. I thought it would make a quaint picture.

Sam showed the kids that this old water pump still worked. You just have to put water in it to create suction, then it just keeps going and going and going......

This is just a shot of the kids in front of an old building at the mill. It's so old and rustic looking, I couldn't resist taking a picture.

After we left Hagood Mill, we came across a field of bamboo. The kids have always wanted to grow bamboo, so we stopped and got a piece. Sam heard that if you plant the whole stalk, it will take root, and grow new bamboo. Well, when we got back to camp, we took out the bamboo so we could go get some firewood. When we left, we forgot our stalk of bamboo. Oh well, maybe next time!!

That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed our camping pictures. Camping is one of the best things we do as a family. Hopefully in the not too far future, you'll see some of these pictures on some scrapbook pages!

Happy New Year!!

I know I'm late, but Happy New Year!! I don't have anything new show you right now, just wanted to make a quick post to let you know I'm still here!! After Christmas, our family went camping up at Table Rock Mountain here in SC. We go there about twice a year. It's a beautiful place to go hiking and fishing for trout. I don't have my pictures on the computer yet cause my camera batteries are dead. I'll see if I can post some of them tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by!

Gift Card Holders

Here are the gift card holders we'll be making tomorrow night. They all are a bit different from each other, but they were so quick and easy!! Plus I think they are really cute. I didn't have a gift card handy, so I just stuck my Sam's Club membership card in there so you can get the idea. I got the inspiration for this holder from Jamie Sears. I love her work.

This next one I found on this blog . I like how the gift card is actually attached to a tag inside the holder.

I just attached my card using glue dots. Don't worry, that's an expired card on there!!

Now for this one, I don't know who to give credit for because I've seen in on a couple different blogs. I think this one is neat because it's more like a card and you can put a greeting inside and sign your name.

The gift card goes inside the little slot you make on the inside of the card. Isn't that cool? Then you tie it shut with the ribbon.

Using my scallop punch for tags, these all came together very quickly. Perfect to a quick little something when you don't know what to get!!

6 x 6 layouts

Hello stampers!! Here are a few of the layouts from the girl scrapbook I finished last week. It's for a lady my mom works with, and she called to say she loves it. I think I may have a workshop to book from the ladies at mom's work now! That would be nice. Anyway, this book is made using the current Simply Scrappin' Kit from Stampin' Up! I can't think of the name of it right now, and I'm too lazy to go get my catalog to look. I didn't use any stamps at all. The extra embellishments are the Button Bouquet and striped ribbon in Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss. Every month of baby's first year has a 6 x 6 two page spread.

On a different note, this Friday I'm having stampin' night at my house. There's no fee for this class. We'll be making a couple different versions of gift card holders. I think it will be fun, and who doesn't at some point give a gift card? We'll start at 6 pm. Please remember to bring your own adhesive and paper trimmer. Also, please let me know by Thursday if you plan to attend. Thank You!!

Summer Fun scrapbook page

Here is another scrapbook page I made using a sketch from Got Sketch? It has really been alot of fun working with these sketches. My pages tend to look very much the same after a while, so these really got me thinking outside the box. I've had these pictures for 2 years, and I just knew that someday I would know what to do with them. When I saw this sketch, I knew. I really like how it turned out.

The title is chipboard letters from Stampin' Up! I colored them with Real Red craft ink, then covered them with Crystal Effects to make them look wet. The journaling is done with my label maker. It says 1. Take my picture underwater! 2. Oops! Lets try again! 3. I think I got it!Today I've been finishing up the Baby Girl scrapbook for my mom's friend, so I'll try to post some of those tomorrow. Mom's coming over to pick it up in a while, so I finished just in the knick of time!