Sites of the week

So, how many of you are braving the malls and stores on the last weekend before Christmas? Not me, no way, no how! I am done with my shopping…YAY! I certainly don’t envy any of you shopping this weekend, but there is something to say about the hustle and bustle of the last minute holiday rush. Either way, have fun and be safe.

I hope to get an hour or two or three of stamping done this weekend, but I can’t say that I see that happening. Cross your fingers for me, though! I’m not sure how much I will be posting over the next week. I know that a lot of people will be out of town, or just plain busy, so it will probably go unnoticed. So, if I don’t get a chance to say it on Christmas, I hope that you have a very merry, fun and family filled Christmas {and/or any other holiday you may celebrate}.

Don’t forget to stay tuned in 2009. My site is going to be brand spankin’ new {SO EXCITED!!} and I am going to have a celebration to honor the new year and new look. Many companies have already donated generously and I expect more to jump on board. That’s all for my teasin’ for now, though. You’ll just have to wait and see what’s coming.

Ok, ok, I will cut the yipyap and get to the point. Here is the SKETCH FOR YOU TO TRY…

Here’s my sample using Green Grass Stamps that I go over a year ago and never used {shame on me!!!}. The reindeer is cut from a Cricut cartridge. I just discovered the speed dial on the Cricut…OMG…Love that!!

What a cutie card by Lynn Put, December’s Designer of The Month…

Wanna play? Here’s what you should know…
1. ANYONE can play.
2. Have fun with this!
3. When uploading to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT.
4. Post a link to your blog or gallery on this post.

Check out the samples from a few of my stampin’ friends, Amy R., Amy S., Carole, Shannan and Susan!

It’s been a fun and crazy week! I have been creating away for the upcoming book. I will have more share-able details for you next week…promise! I created MANY projects and can’t wait to see them in print. As a pat on the back, I gave myself a little prezzie…a SLICE! It’s not in my hot lil’ hands, yet, but I promise to share when it is!

I want to thank everyone for their input on what a good amount of AVERAGE posts per week is. When the new year begins I plan to do 4-5 on average. I think that not having to plan on something everyday will take a load off my shoulders. I am getting lots of new stamps in, along with some great product and I look forward to just sittin’ and playin’ after Christmas. It may takes years off my life to have to wait that long, but I just have to face the facts of reality. LOL!!

Well since I have been absent all week, I figured to make this a good {in my humble opinion} ABC Friday. I really like the Stamp A Sweet Impression Treat Tags set and I knew that they would be perfect for what I had in mind for today. For the first project I created a short 2-4-6-8 box with a lid. I covered it with Making Memories FaLaLa paper {LOVE this stuff!} and then attached ribbons, a poinsettia flower, a button and the stamped tag. Oh, I also inked the edges of that yummy paper. I thought that it just needed something and I could bear bringing out the sewing machine for each of those pieces. I’m all about working smarter and not harder…for the most part!

A more detailed shot of the top/tag…

Now before I go on, I must warn you that you might be hungry after this part…and not for anything healthy or remotely good for you. Don’t say that I didn’t warn you!

First, here is the project in it’s entirety. I’ll get to the goodies in a sec. The bag is a small frosted tin tie bag that I got from Papertrey. I think that you may be able to get these in bulk from sites like clearbags.com, as well. The tag on the front was created by die cutting the bracketed square {I really have no idea what that shape is, but this is the term that works for me, k?} in both white and from FaLaLa paper. I trimmed the DP so that there was enough room for the sentiment on the white. For a little added flair, I attached a scalloped edge along the edge of the DP. There are times that I just can’t stand to see a seam in the paper, and this was one of those times. So, I added a very thin strip of retired Cranberry cardstock. The ribbon treatment is pretty much the same as above. I took a piece of cream sheer ribbon and tied 2 bows in it. Then, I took my green ribbon and wrapped it around the center and tied another bow. I topped it off with the poinsettia flower and button with linen thread.

Now for the yummy part! I love chocolate covered pretzels. I love Heath bar…and the fact they you can purchase a bag of crushed Heath bar at Wal-Mart for about the same price as 3 of the candy bars themselves. So…why not put those things together? Yummy, yummy in my tummy CHOCOLATE AND HEATH BAR COVERED PRETZELS.

I really like sweet and salty together. I think Tony would rather smash a brick against his head than endure that combo, but I love it! To make it just a little saltier, I sprinkled sea salt on the wax paper before dipping the pretzels and setting them there to dry. YUM-O!

I just have to share these couple of pictures from Ellie’s tea party last weekend. I just love the one of her feeding T-Rex! Recently Ellie has picked up the term, “probably.” I just think that it’s a hoot to hear her use it in context. I mean, she’s not even 2.5 yet! I asked her if her friends were having fun at the tea party. Her answer, “Yea, probably.” She cracks me up!

Well, I am about to dive into the all the projects that will be going into the book that I briefly wrote about yesterday. It’s going to be a crazy and fun week as I do everything for the Friday deadline. I forgot to tell you that CHANGE IS COMING. Hopefully my site will have a COMPLETELY new look as of January 1. Of course, that will be a reason to celebrate with some MAJOR blog candy! More details on that as the date approaches.
Let’s get down to business! Here’s the sketch for this week {it’s an easy one!!}…

My sample using one of the BITTIES from Stamping Bella’s chichiboulie line…

Detail shot…

December’s Guest Designer, Lynn Put’s, beautiful sample…

Wanna play? Here’s what you should know…
1. ANYONE can play.
2. Have fun with this!
3. When uploading to SCS, use the keyword SFYTT.
4. Post a link to your blog or gallery on this post.

Check out the samples from the rest of my crew, Amy R., Carole, Shannan and Susan!

Ok, the project is finally dry!! The “K” on the front of this paint can is painted with brown paint, spritzed with Bright Gold Memories Mists by Stewart Superior and then topped with Diamond Glaze. I personally don’t think that any of these pics do the project its true justice, because it’s really a total package type thing. You just have to see it in person to make all the sparkling pieces come together. I used a lot of stuff from the Making Memories FaLaLaLa kit. I love that line! Such cute papers and really fun die cuts.

Here is the snowflake that is to the left of the “K.” It’s very obviously heavily inspired by what Anna Wight has been doing on her blog. It is SO SPAR-KA-LAY! I used Diamond Stickles and then dipped it in Twinklets Diamond Dust {little shards of glass!}.

The tag that is on the right side. I topped the die cut snowflake with Diamond Stickles and put a rhinestone brad through the center.

The top of the can. On this snowflake I used Diamond Stickles and then sprinkled some Dazzling Diamond glitter on top. I was in a sparkly mood this morning!!

Finally, here are the die cut trees and of course I had to make them sparkle, too. I added some Swarovski crystals for some extra shine. I also made snow on the bottom of the can by putting a strip of red line tape around and then dipping the can into the faux snow.

I also have some exciting news to share! No, I am not pregnant!! But, I have been commissioned to do some artwork for a BOOK!! I don’t know how much I am allowed to tell, so I have to leave you hanging with that tidbit. My deadline is the end of next week, so if I seem to be absent from posting that is why. This is VERY exciting for me and I really feel that I am moving in the creative direction that I want to.

I already reported that I am down 23 pounds. I just hired a trainer for few sessions to hopefully teach me some new moves. If anyone has any advice or exercises that they love, please share. I hope to be another 20{ish} down by the end of March. Trying to get skinny so that I can get fat again

Yesterday we saw Santa. Ellie asked for a choo-choo train and some blocks. Hmmm…I wonder why!?! Could it be that she was with me when I picked these up at Target? I thought that she was oblivious, be obviously that was just me! LOL! She is also getting a play kitchen. She loves playing house and tea party and all those fun girly things already. I can’t believe how motherly she can be sometimes! LOL!

Ok, I’m cutting this off now so that I don’t ramble on. See ya manana for another Sketch For You To Try!!

I went to several craft fairs this year and was lucky enough to find a couple things for {Mother’s Day Out} teacher gifts. Both of Ellie’s teachers will be getting a key fob similar to THIS ONE that I found on Etsy and a Cup {of} Cakes mix. What is a Cup {of} Cakes mix you ask? Well first off, I should have realized how easy it is to make myself, but I was happy to support local crafters all the same. A Cup {of} Cakes is a single serving of cake mix that the recipient can put into a mug, add a couple of wet ingredients and then pop into their MICROWAVE and then have cake in just a few minutes. Ok, so does anyone else thing that is just to convenient…and dangerous to those dieting {like myself…23 pounds down!!}? There were several flavors, but I picked up a Cherry Cheesecake Cake Mix and a Lemon Tart Cake Mix…YUM-O!! Both also come with a mixture for icing {powdered sugar and flavoring}. HERE is the link to a recipe site for those of you that are dying to try it at home. Think of the cute bag toppers and such that you could do with these!
Back to my little projects. I put both of those in a tin tie bag and topped it off with a tag using the Papertrey, Teacher’s Apple, set. It seems that in the past that I have purchased more PTI than I actually used, but I am so happy that I got this set because I know that I will use it over and over…and over! So here is the bag, tag and matchy-matchy card that use PTI’s Teacher’s Apple and Take A Bough {which I have kept solely for the font/sentiments!}…

The tag…

The card…

As for the other stuff that I used on these projects…I am in love with the Martha Stewart snowflake punch! I covered the snowflakes with Diamond Stickles. I also used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder on the bottom portion of each of the projects. Finally, I cut the cellophane on the Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon and used it as a finishing touch.