Cowboy

One of my Angel friends, Vicky Ward, shared this card with me today and it was just too stinkin cute not to share with you all. I got her permission so all is good ;-)

She used the TAC sets, "wildwest" T-2633 and

"julietteflorals" T-2864 plus the Soar with it collection, Amelia decorative paper.

Notice the tiny stars in the corners ....just too cute!!!

I just love the whole color combo. Thanks for sharing, Vicki!!

No crafting today

There are days for crafting and then there are days you just have to do something else and yesterday was one of those days.

My friend, Peggy, is recovering from surgery so I have been going up every day or so and checking on her. Yesterday, her Mom asked if I would feel comfortable making dinner and I jumped at the chance. She has been doing it but she is also taking care of the kids so I was glad to help.

It feels so good to be 'needed', you know what I mean? Well, those of you with young children at home won't really grasp it till the last one has been out of the nest for awhile.....especially if they are boys. And, with two grown sons that are very independent and two grandchildren that live 3 hours from me, sometimes I just don't get my share of feeling 'needed'. All older women will 'get it'. At least I hope I am not the only one...LOL

Anyway, it was fun to feel as tho I was actually helping out. After I decided what to fix. I just gathered up the ingredients, brought them down to my house and put together a chicken/rice dish and then stuck it in the fridge till it was time to go back up and fix dinner.

While I waited, to go back up, I read a book that Peggy lent me. It's called "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" I am almost finished and have the DVD ordered from the library and Peggy, her Mom, Jean, and I will have a girls day soon and watch it together.

I am off to create some projects for my workshop on Saturday!!!

Have a good day!!!

A new week

This is the next TAC stamp set I want to make a card from. It's called "Sweet Skunks" and I just think they are too cute!!! But.....I have some priorities, first.

This morning,...I visited a good friend who just got home from the hospital last week after having surgery. She's doing pretty good, but still needs to take it easy.

We visited for three hours and while she reclined in bed.....we watched CraftTVweekly together and surfed crafting websites and knitting websites.

She is bound and determined to get me to get out of my comfort zone where knitting is concerned and I am going to start with some scarves, fingerless gloves and then maybe socks.

This year is going to be a new year for me in regards to stepping outside my comfort zone. First thing I need to do is make a list of all the things that I would like to try this year and then 'give it a try". When I get that list made....I'll post it here and see if anyone else has some of the same goals.

One was to read a book that I would never ever read, normally. So, I checked out "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Folleth. It's over 900 pages.....but so far, I am sticking with it.

Ever hear of "100 things to do before you die"? Sort of like the Bucket List. Well, that's more or less my theme, this year. I want to take my paper crafting and stamping to the next level. I want to try other crafts that I have never given much thought to and do things that I normally wouldn't do (within reason...LOL) and just see how much I can accomplish this year.

Then, I made up my mind that I HAVE to clean my dining room table and Island off and take EVERYTHING back to the stamp room and then get that cleaned and organized again before I allow myself to stamp/papercraft. (I think I'll cave before I completely finish tho....but I have everything off my Island).

When I have spent a couple of hours cleaning and organizing....I'll allow myself time to surf some blogs.

Have a great day!!

Another Flip Flop Book

Ok, so I have to move on....I know....but these are just too much fun!!!

This morning, I woke up at 4:45am and decided to get busy on my Granddaughter's birthday gift. I made her a Tinker Bell Flip Flop book. It's not entirely finished on the inside....but at least you get an idea.

She will be able to add her own photos. I may just have her bring it back with her this summer and we can do that together.

Here is the inside of the book.... well, the first page, anyway. The rest of the pages have the background paper inserted....but haven't been 'finished' with embellishments etc.

Then, I went over to visit my friend, Peggy, who just had surgery on Tuesday. I had to take the book to show her :-)

She will be recuperating for another few weeks.....so I'll have to get busy and create 'something' new each day just to have something fresh to show her each time I visit.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!

SURVIVOR MICRONESIA

What does Survivor have to do with stamping, you may ask??? Well, for the past 4 years or so....I have had a Survivor Pool where those participating have had a chance to win a $100 in TAC stamps/accessories.

My customers, friends and other TAC demonstrators say that it's even more fun to watch Survivor now because they have a 'vested' interest in it...and a chance to win stamps and accessories.

We are about 3 weeks away from the next Survivor on CBS. This one is called Survivor Micronesia. There are 20 Survivors this season. It will be Survivor Favorites VS Survivor Fans. It should be interesting!!!

Some of the favorites returning are James, Yau-Man and Johnny Fairplay.

Survivor starts on February 7th. If you are not a Survivor fan....that's ok! You don't even have to watch the show to take part! This is about a chance to win $100 in stamps and/or accessories!

Just send me an e-mail to Pawsnstamp@crestviewcable.com for more information.

If you want to check out the new players....you can see them at http://www.cbs.com/survivor

Two in one day, WHOOOHOOOO

Since I didn't know her color scheme for her wedding.....I just chose the colors I liked.
I tend to go with Mauves, Purples, Greens and blues.

This year I plan on broadening my horizons and using colors I am just not comfortable with or that I don't normally reach for. Yellow....altho I think it's a fun, happy color....is not one I normally use in my stamping/papercrafting. So, I may have to start with that one.

What are some colors that you normally don't use in your stamping/papercrafting projects? Try making one thing this week, using a color you normally wouldn't reach for! Of course, if you are like me, you might not have that color in your possession in the first place......so then next time you order or stop by your LSS, choose some cardstock or background paper in that color and see what happens.

Have a God blessed day!!

New Year....no more excuses

I have been busy creating some Wedding count down magnets. Remember the Christmas Advent ones I posted around Christmas time? Well, a friend asked if I would do a countdown to a wedding that is coming up. So, I got busy and came up with 5! It was fun!!! I didn't have access to actual wedding paper...so had to use what I could.

I used chipboard squares and circles, sponged with ink, for the numbers.

These are just so much fun to do. It's addictive! But, then that's what I said about the Flip Flop books, which I am still creating.

I'll post some of my other Wedding countdown magnets after I grab a cup of coffee! :-) First things first, you know!!

Have a happy!!!!

Happy New Year!!!!!

Ok, no excuses at all this time.....I just out and out took a few weeks off to celebrate the holiday and spent two weeks with my oldest Granddaughter. We had a great time!!

First of all.....HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!! I can hardly believe we are in 2008 already!!! But, the best part is that the new TAC catalog is here!!!

And, the second best part is that one of my girls in my downline, Peggy Bumgardner, designed the cover. AWESOME PEGGY and Congratulations!!!!!

The third awesome thing is that there are SO many new things in the catalog. Well, maybe not TONS but what IS new is awesome!!! And, for you scrapbookers out there......new papers, embellishments and WORDS!!!! I am really excited! And, for those that have continually asked me every year...."why isn't there an index?", there is NOW an index of our stamps and accessories in the back. WHOOOHOOOO!!!!

I cannot wait to get my first order and start creating!!!! There are new alphabets, stamped elements stamps, embellishments, Christian sayings, TWIN baby stamps, a cute Pirate set, new personal stamps, new Tote-ally cool totes, Bind it all, Scor-Pal, scalloped punches, a Crop a Dile case with eyelets (I have two of these and LOVE them). There is also a new gel pen set...Stardust........and many other things.

I hope to get around to creating tomorrow. I worked on numerous Flip Flop books for Christmas gifts and didn't even think to take a photo of them for my blog. But, I will be teaching it at stamp club January 10th, so I'll get a few more made and I will upload them.

Here is to a happy and healthy 2008!!!!

Fun Christmas Cards

I got this idea from Gina Guertin on a list we are on together. She said that she got it from someone else....but I like to give credit where credit is due.

She shared how to make Christmas trees out of folded paper. HOW FUN!!!!! Oh gosh, now I am making these like I was making the magnetic Advent calendars. Can't just make ONE.

This first one uses Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper and DCWV cardstock. I ran the card thru the Big Shot using the Snowflake Cuttlebug embossing folder (LOVE LOVE THESE) and took my sanding block and brought out the white core. Then I used a punch and put a hole in the very top of the top triangle...and inserted a gold star brad.

Next, I used TAC's Scarlet cardstock and our Merry Wishes background paper and created this card. The Scarlet paper doesn't have a white core....but I will use Stickles and add some sparkle to the card.

I have made quite a few, but this gives you an idea. It's a lot of folding but well worth the results.

Now I am going to spend the day making some Flip Flop books, which I will share when I am finished.

So many projects I want to try and so little time till Christmas!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Advent Calendars

Here are some Advent Calendars I made from some 5"x 5" 2007 calendar magnets from where my Son works. They were going to toss them and I asked if I could have them. :-)

They are a little bigger than the coaster advent calendars that a lot of gals are making. As I continue to make them, I keep coming up with different ideas on how to secure the numbers. I think I like the Velcro the best. And, I keep trying to figure out a different way to make the numbers.....I used some chipboard circles the last few I made. They are a lot easier than punching out tags.

I have tons more ready to embellish.....but think I am running out of time to give them by December 1st.

The papers used were Vintage Holiday from TAC which has been discontinued, Basic Grey Figgy Pudding, Tinker Bell background paper, and I also used my Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder on cardstock. I even helped my Sister make a double hanging magnet with a Mickey Mouse theme....but we forgot to get a photo of that one....dang!

I was asked to make a Wedding one....countdown to a wedding....that should be fun!!!

Hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!! We had friends and family over and had a great time just visiting after dinner, recalling things from our childhood days and sharing funny stories and of course, telling jokes!

Today, we are headed to see our Granddaughters and take them shopping....WHAT WAS I THINKING.......completely forgot about today being Black Friday! Oh well, it will be worth it to see the girls!!

Now to get busy creating some Christmas cards! :-)

Have a great weekend!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I haven't been able to be online much due to severe neck and shoulder stiffness and spasms.......but wanted to hop online this morning and wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving!!!

I have been working on some Advent calendars using some 5x5 magnets my Son got from work. I will take photos of them and post them later today.

There are so many things to be thankful for....yes, even neck and shoulder pain as I was able to 'find time' to sit and get caught up on some things I have let go lately....like an afghan and also my advent calendars. I could work on them in stages from my sofa.

I am thankful for family and friends. Altho I miss my parents even more this time of year, I am thankful for so many wonderful memories of years gone by.

As I think of those that have been in horrific storms, tornadoes and other disasters.....and have to start all over and others that are going thru countless other things in their lives, I am so thankful for so many things that we oftentimes take for granted.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, let's take a few moments to be consciously aware of our surroundings and the many things in life we take for granted that others may not even have in their lives.

Also, please remember to pray for our troops!!!!

November already

Yikes, where on earth DOES the time go? It seems that it was just halloween, a couple of days ago, and we were passing out goodies to the neighborhood kids. Now, today, someone mentioned on TV that it's just 45 days till Christmas. What happens to Thanksgiving? It seems to get forgotten among the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas.

I refuse to put up Christmas decorations till the day after Thanksgiving. IF I even put them up this year. I thought I would NEVER hear myself say that.....but for some reason, I just can't get that excited this year. I plan on enjoying the Fall and colors of fall for the rest of this month and then I'll decide ;-)

Here is a little something I have been working on to give to my grandkids for Advent. I saw something similar to this on many blogs recently, using coasters....but when my Son gave me a pile of 2007 magnetic calendars from work that they were going to toss.....the thought just hit me....I can use THOSE!! They are 5x5 and the entire thing will stick to your refrigerator.

I cut the tags out using my Big Shot and a Sizzix die. But....then I decided to use my die punch and the process went a lot faster. I didn't have the smaller die punch so I used the next sized down, square punch and I will upload that calendar as soon as I am finished with it. The kids should have fun changing the numbers every day and they can keep the extras in a plastic box (that comes with our stamps).
These are SO MUCH fun!!!! Of course, this paper pack, Vintage Holiday, is now discontinued and sold out, so I will have to get Merry Wishes to complete my next one.
Off to go play some more!!!

Another fun project

I have been having fun creating this week. Here is a little matchbox I covered with Simply Spooky background paper. I made a bunch of these. They are just the right size to put a little miniature candy bar in.

I also made one with a little hanger and thought it would be cute to put on the tree.

Try it, you'll have a lot of fun! They can be used for any holiday or occasion. I got the idea from Cambria Turnbow's blog. It's on her September 25th post. Gotta give credit where credit is due! ;-)

Wednesday's Class

Yowza....I got to be the student for a few hours and took a class at Raining Fresh Daisies in Madras. The name of the class was 'Flip Flop Books". I saw it on her counter one day....and wanted to sign up for a daytime class....but she didn't have anyone signed up. So, I asked how many she needed to constitute a class and then I proceeded to 'enable' a few friends to go with me to take the class ;-)

We had a blast!!!! We all chose different papers (it would have been a little tacky to bring my own TAC papers) so, I chose a Christmas theme. It was just so much FUN!!!!!

Above is my finished book!

Here is one I just finished using TAC's Amelia papers. Don't care for how the ribbon ties...so will do something a little different there.




So far, I have made four of these books........they are just so much fun!!!

Back in the saddle again

Wow....that virus that is going around really knocks the creativity right out of ya! Took over a week to feel up to stamping again.

But, I am back stamping again and having a blast! I had a party last Wednesday and we made a couple of fun cards. Actually one was a card/box. I used the little witch and the 'frankenstein' from the set "Happy Haunting" and created the same box we had made at WAG.

The gals that attended are going to make these for their Golf club's Halloween party. So, I figured we'd get a head start on them ;-)

And, then for the next card, we used rubberbands on an acrylic block and created a background for a simple Tree card. Heather Schantz did this as one of her projects at WAG. I didn't have the same card that she used, so Iused one of the trees from "Tree Silhouettesfor this card.

This past weekend and today, I have been playing around with Fall/Halloween sets and came up with quite a few ideas. I used the Simply Spooky Wing it Collection papers and several different Fall/Halloween sets including Spooky Swirls from the Fall Supplement, You're a Treat, Traditonal All Season, Happy Haunting and Give Thanks. I didn't upload all the cards I made as there were like 22 of them. But, they are basically the same with little differences in the way I embellished them or arranged the background papers.

I also made a couple of cute boxes for FALL......they were fun to do.

Top of Basket using Luscious Leaves and Ultra Thick Embossing powder.

And, this one was using Traditional All Seasons, Simply Spooky background papers and designer collection background paper. The circles actually sandwich a thin Mint!

My next project is to make some Thanksgiving cards and also prepare for my Christmas card stamp a stack! Christmas is just 70 days away!!!

I've been Tagged

Well, since I have been sick all week, maybe it was for the best that I was tagged by Rita Holmes, today. This will get me back to my blogging!!! I have been really busy making things, just no energy to blog on!!

OK, this tag is called THE NAME GAME. This is how it works.

The NAME GAME.

The name of the game is to list one fact that is in some way relevant to your life, for each letter of your middle name.

If you don't have a middle name, use the name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your middle name and game facts.

At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag.

Don't forget to leave them a comment or e-mail them telling them they've been tagged and to read your blog.

Oh gosh, this is when I wish my middle name was different!!!!

J Joyful (most of the time) :-)

O Organizer I love to organize things, whether it be get togethers, cupboards or craft rooms!!

A Always Available to my friends and family (within reason and don't call me during SURVIVOR...LOL)

N Nutty

N Natural Red Head

E Everlasting Friend (thanks, Rita)

Now who to tag using all those dang letters...

J Just Me Katie Skiff
O OOOOOh how about Megan P
A Angie Seacrest
N Nicely Done Chris Nicely
N Another Joanne (well it has an N in it) Joanne Hoffman
E Ehhhh, how about DawnMarie Davis
Whew....I DID IT.....I DID IT!!!!

OH now to tell them....sheesh...LOL

Stay tuned for some actual sharing in the next day or so.

Crop a Dile Madness

You have bought a Crop a Dile, are you using it to it's full potential?

Maybe you have seen it and have wanted one but it looks to intimidating.

Hopefully, I can help!

First off, this is what your Crop A Dile looks like from the side view.

The two little outer parts are the punches. One side is a 1/8th size and the other is a 3/16th size.

If you look closely on the sides of your Crop A Dile (CAD), you will notice that the sizes are etched into the metal.

You will also notice that just under your punch part...there is a slider thing...that is called a 'depth gauge'. You can use that to set a particular depth to whatever you are punching so that you don't have to 'eyeball' it each time.

Say you want to make 4 holes down the side of something. Eyeball it the first time, adjust the depth gauge and then tighten it. Now, it is set for every hole you want to punch.

The 'setting' eyelet/snap part is the 'nose' of the CAD. If you look again, you will notice that there is a base and a top. When setting your eyelets and snaps make sure that the base is on the bottom. You will also notice that there is a little picture etched on the metal showing which part to put the eyelet on.

Now, look at the little black revolving discs on the nose part of your CAD. You will notice that there are numbers and letters on the sides.

You will use these combinations of letters and numbers depending on what you are doing.

As I said before, the center part of your CAD is the setter. The black squares are actually rotating cubes that allow you to access four different settings and four platforms. These cubes have different numbers and letters on them. Just pull gently outwards....and swivel to the correct setting.

Here are the different settings:

A-1 Setting the 3/16" eyelets and extra large eyelets and snap flare (like WeRMemorykeepers)
B-2 Setting the 1/8" round snap setter (medium eyelet and snap flares)
C-3 Setting 1/8" eyelets (small eyelets and snap flares)
C-4 Actually, someone said this worked better than C-3, but haven't tried it yet
D-4 Flat Setter (cone shaped flare)

A-2 Dry embossing (yep, you heard that right)

If you have your CAD, take it and a piece of scrap paper and play with the different settings to get used to them.

You do not have to wrench on the handle, that is the beauty of this tool, it sets with a simple squeeze. It really doesn't take that much pressure.

Ok, We have pretty much covered WHAT the CAD is .....now let's see what you can DO with it!

Here are some ideas that I have found. The examples here are just things I experimented on. I basically just started punching holes in everything.....so if you play with yours and come up with something please share with me !!

Things to do with the CAD!!!!

Use it to punch holes in acrylic frames, make more holes in your husband's leather belts, punch holes in four coasters at once to make those cute coaster boxes and you can even punch holes in canvas panels.

Add a little 'fun' to denim: shoes, tote bags and jeans! Try dressing up a denim jacket or blouse.

When punching holes in 20 index cards or multiple sheets of cardstock, use a binder clip to hold them in place while you punch your holes. The Crop a Dile also punches thru cardboard and cork.

Punch thru tin cookie cutters to make cute little ornaments, add eyelets to those tin buckets and lunch pails that you alter.....and add holes in magazines to put in 3 ring binders.



Dry embossing!!! How fun!! You can make all kinds of designs, even a PICKLE!

So as a final recap, you can use your CAD for the following:

Tin, canvas, cork, denim, T-shirts, ribbons, Tennis Shoes, Leather, Dog collars, Acrylic,

CD cases, purse straps, chipboard, index cards, cardstock

paper, magazines,

I am sure there are a TONS more things I haven't thought of or tried, yet! So, I am off to find more things to do with the Crop a Dile. In the meantime, if you think of something, please let me know.

Have a great day!!!