Sites of the week

Slowly, I am getting some Christmas goodies done. Each year I want to give people original handmade gifts and I try not to dive into “the vault” of ideas. I was recently reminded that because it’s not new to me, that doesn’t mean that someone else will know that {especially all those non-crafty folks}. A few weeks back, Taylored Expressions did a post on her blog using plastic tubes in an A2 card box with both bath salts and spices. **Lightbulb** If you have been reading my blog for the past couple of years, you probably saw my original post {HERE} from August 2008 with this idea using Verve stamps, and then again {HERE} per the request of Taylor when I was on her design team. Well, I went ahead and did a Verve-y redo {using the set, Delightful & Delicious} on the cupcake theme and came up with this one…

I purchase all my supplies for these projects from IMPRESS. You can see their project HERE, along with the supplies.

Detail shot of the backside…

I have to admit that I totally stole this next idea!…from ELLIE! Yes, from my 4 year old! When I was working on some Verve release stuff, I had die cut several of these Sweet Scallop tag dies and gave her one. She cut in half and colored it as a cupcake. I took it a few extra steps to create this focal point…

Remember I told you that I had something else up my sleeve with that die? That was it; pretty cute, no?! Here is the how-to on the one that I made. Sorry I don’t have a visual, but it’s pretty easy…

1. Cut the Sweet Scallop tag die from white cardstock and 2 pieces of the same pattern paper.
2. Cut all of them in about half. You will only be using the bottom parts of the pattern paper die cuts, so you can discard the top parts.
3. Take the bottom half of one of the pattern paper die cuts and adhere it to the bottom of the white cardstock die cut.
4. Take the other piece of pattern paper and run it through your paper crimper and then adhere it one top of the piece of pattern paper that is on top of the white cardstock from #3. **WHY?** Because when you crimp the paper it will lose a little width and by doing this you kinda disguise that fact.
5. Use a scallop edge punch on the bottom edge of the top part of the white cardstock die cut.
6. Cover with Stickles and top with a “cherry.” When it’s all dry, use dimensional glue dots to adhere on top of the pattern piece bottom half. They will overlap a little.

**NOTE: The “sides” of the toppers are shorter on this sample than my original.

So, are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? I am **this** close to being done. Of course, I still have some gift to make, too, but that will get done as needed. I actually wanted to have all those done, too, but this feeling under the weather business kinda got in the way. I finally went to the doc yesterday and I have bronchitis/upper respiratory infection. Hopefully the Z Pack and inhaler will have me all better…real soon.

I am still making homemade caramel sauce like crazy. You can find the recipe that I posted HERE. I found some Kerr jars that are a little smaller and **perfect** for gift giving. In addition to the caramel jar, I made a little star ornament from a cookie cutter. I would love to claim this idea as my own, but it’s not. I actually found it in Simply Handmade magazine a couple of months ago. Of course, I can’t find that issue right now to give proper credit to the person that did create it {sorry!}. Super cute and fun idea!

The stamp that I used to top this caramel jar is from IMPRESS RUBBER STAMPS. I know you don’t see a lot of postings from me from companies other than my DTs. That’s because I don’t have a lot of “extra” stamping time. However, if I did, you would see A LOT more from me using Impress stamps. They are one of the first stamp companies I discovered and I quickly fell in love with their products. This stamp, “Peace, Love and Presents” is one of my faves…

Shot of the set…

The ornament {it’s a 3/4″ strip of patterned paper wrapped around a star cookie cutter and then embellished}…

A couple shots of the packaging…

I’ll have more on Impress products and another gift idea for you tomorrow. Be sure to check out their super gorgeous snowflake stamps, too! WOWZAS!!! Have a great day!

Monday morning greetings! It was a great weekend here! Tony and I went to the BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME and got to root on the Sooners to a victory that probably shaved a few years off of both of our lives! Nebraska played well and I loved that the only sentiment that I heard from them while waiting to get into the stadium was, “At least it’s not Texas!” Hahaha!

Other than that, it was pretty relaxing. I’m getting over what everyone here refers to as “the creeping crud.” I actually feel a little better, but still sound like death warmed over. LOL! All I have to now is hope that the kids don’t get it!

Well, enough of the chit chat! I actually do have a little stamped something to show you. Waaaay back when I was on the My Favorite Things Design Team the first time {this is my second go around!} there was just the “Who’s That Girl” line. Since then, Kim has branched out and added artists and lines to the ever growing business. One of the cute lil’ characters that has joined the MFT family is Millie the Mouse. She’s cute as can be, as well as fun and easy to color. Here she is in all her Ballet Millie glory…

Detail shot of her glittery tutu…

Inside of card {the “Ta-Dah” sentiment cracks me up!}…

Hope you have a great day! I’m gonna be doing a little stamping and a little Rice Krispy Treat makin’. YUM-O!

December can be described as the dawn before a new day for Sketch For You to Try. That’s all I will say about that for now ;), but will let you in on a little more next week… which will be our final week for the year.

The first Saturday of the month usually brings in a new Designer of the Month, but this month we are playing things a little differently. As I mentioned before, we will only have sketches this week and next week. Also, there is no official Designer of the Month, but I have a couple of sweet friends playing along with us…Ana and Joanne.

In addition to those changes, there is also no “official” sketch. Take a peek back at some of the sketches from the past and choose your favorite to play with. It will be like this next week, too. So, if you find more than one that you like hold onto it.

Here’s the sketch that I chose {from THIS original post from earlier this year}…

I promised you another card using the new Verve set, Text Objects. Here ya go…

Detail shot…

All the sisters picked out their favorite sketch to play with this week. Check out what they come up with…

Susan Liles
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Megan Lock
Amber Hight
Sony Christoph
Jodi Collins
Jenn Diercks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O’Brien

and Ana and Joanne, too! Thanks girlies!!!

ETA…
Ooops, I forgot to add the linky system! Yes, we still want you to link your project here! And, when you upload to online galleries, please use the keyword SFYTT.

Verve is releasing a few great new sets today, including one by the name of TEXT OBJECTS. This is a concept that I came up with and knew that Julee could put that Verve-y style on it. I wanted background text stamps that were the same sentiments as my main image/sentiment stamps, but in a different font. I love the look of a text background! Here’s what I came up with for release day…

The “topper” to the centered panel is the Sweet Scallop Tag die from Verve. I have a little something else up my sleeve for that one, so stay tuned!

Here’s another card using this set…

Detail shot…

Want to see what everyone came up with? Don’t miss a Verve Diva…

1. Julee
2. Laurie
3. Susan
4. Tosh
5. Jen d. <--you are here!
6. Charmaine
7. Jen T.
8. Shannan
9. Lynda
10. Michelle
11. Amy
12. Teresa
13. Jackie
14. Sankari
15. Mercy