A ‘punky’ gift for a funky friend!

Howdy folks, I hope you had a nice weekend! My husband was on an organizing tear yesterday, he cleared surfaces, assembled shelves, moved stuff around in the basement {not touching my craft-cave of course!} and really made some progress in the house! I decided I am not going to be the “slacker housewife” today and finish up some of the projects that he started. I had the kids put their post-Christmas nightmare of a bedroom(s) in order and my son did such a good job that I offered to sew him some new curtains for his closet (I went on a kick many years ago and removed all of the luan sliding closet doors from the bedrooms-that’s why all of the surfaces in my craft room are made from doors!) He had Thomas the Train curtains that I made him when he was 3…he’s 10 now…ah, definitely time for a change, we went with desert camo, DS and I picked out fabric and I sewed him the curtains and a bolster pillow (perhaps the only camouflage bolster pillow in the world) last night…well, maybe I’m not a slacker housewife after all LOL! OK you are not here to learn about my prowess as a homemaker, you wanna see some crafty goodness…well, here is a gift set I made for a friend for Christmas:

This is an “activity” gift, you see my friend claims that she is not crafty BUT she likes to send handmade cards so I made her a kit so she can make 3 thank you cards and 3 birthday ones.

First take a card base and glue on an embossed panel…

Then add a sentiment…

And a few fancy bits (AKA embellishments) and write your message on the inside of the card and place it in the matching envie!

Look, it all fits in the altered box that I created for, and had published in, Just Steampunk 2 magazine:

Easy peasy! I know some of you will want to know what I used so here is a list:

Sentiment stamps: Stampin Up

Steampunk Stamps: Inkadinkado (Clear set)

Embossing folders: Sizzix (there might be a Cuttlebug one in there too but I no longer buy products from ProvoCraft-they are on my list!)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo, Wild Honey and Broken China

Dies: Spellbinders

Oh, and here is the tag I put on the gift, the build-an-ornament stamp is from Oriental Trading, it is one of their $4 sets.

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

We drank from mason jars and it was good.

Happy Christmas! We had a nice time last night having family here for Christmas eve. Hubby’s soup, lasagna and eggs were a hit and people even liked my chili and rolls (with the disclaimer that I made it and it was vegan!) It was good to be together. Today the kids are tearing around with their toys and soon we will go  ’over the river and through the woods’  to my parents house and have Christmas dinner with them. I hope you have a wonderful day (whether you celebrate Christmas or not) and I want you to know how much I appreciate you visiting my blog and all of the lovely comments you leave. Here is this years Christmas card from us, I did not send as many out as I usually do but this way I can share it at least.

Have a safe and happy day and til next time happy crafting!

PS don’t worry, the twins did not leave their brother wrapped up until Christmas LOL!

Thank God I married a man who can cook!

Happy Christmas eve folks! I am just popping in with a quick post as I need to ready the house for Christmas Eve guests. My honey is making lasagna, deviled eggs and he already made veggie and chicken soup, I am making my famous rolls and veggie chili and each of my kids want to bake something. I’d say I need to supervise them in the kitchen today but really it is the other way around LOL! I’m no hero, or martyr, when it comes to holiday entertaining  if someone offers to bring something I accept, I use frozen pies (I found 2 vegan Sara Lee pies at the supermarket yesterday-Score!) because, let’s face it, Mrs. Smith and Sara Lee know a heck of a lot more about baking than I do!

As I worked on holiday projects this year I would die-cut the scraps into tags, and I am glad I did because when it came time to wrap I couldn’t find the peel and stick variety I bought last year. I like these better any way…that does not mean I am above using office printer labels for gifts in a pinch…see…nobody’s perfect  So, folks, my advise for today is not to get hung upon the details. Christmas will come whether or not your dishes and gift tags match, if extra people come over and they have to drink from jelly jars, so what, (if you-know-who can sleep in a stable your guest will survive drinking from a Mason jar) welcome them, make room, and oh yeah, one more piece of advise; marry a man who can cook! Merry Christmas and til next time happy crafting!

2 Days ’til Christmas! {you can panic now…}

Ha ha, just kidding. I don’t want you to panic, Christmas will come whether or not you bake that extra batch of cookies or hit the mall one last time. People will enjoy gathering together even if there is a layer of dust on your mantel or you burn that apple pie. We don’t look back and wish we spent more time shopping, cleaning or baking. we wish we spent more time with the people we love…let’s do more of that! Here is a painting  I painted it a couple of weeks ago. It is a peaceful sunset in Maine:

Since all of our snow was washed away by rain this weekend it looks about right.  So, don’t stress out today trying to finish everything on your to-do list. Snuggle on the couch and watch a Christmas movie or decorate a gingerbread house with the kids. As for my stress free day the Schwanns man is scheduled to stop by today so I have Christmas dinner all set LOL! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

A Kid’s Craft: Gum Wrapper Bracelets & Bookmarks!

Yesterday I spent the morning in my son’s 4th grade class and I taught the kids gum-wrapper folding…Well, actually, an easier version with half as many folds! We used scrapbook paper, which is thicker than gum wrappers so it was perfect with fewer folds. Here are some of the projects we made:

For the large bookmark I used strips of paper that were 8 1/2″x1″ and for the bracelets I used strips that were 1/3″x4″. I wanted to work with a 4″ length because I could get the most strips from my 12″x12″ scrapbook paper with no waste. If you want to know the equation for figuring out how long and wide a paper needs to be, multiply the width of the strip by 8.5  or 9 if the paper is thick, or less than 1/2″ wide. Alternatively you can take the length of the paper and divide it by 9 to get the width. Don’t worry if it is too thick, you can snip a sliver off if you need too. Why an I explaining all of this? just watch the video!

So, at the end of the video I show you how to fold the paper with real gum wrappers, you can use candy wrappers too! That’s right, start saving your Starburst, Tootsie Pop and bubble gum wrappers and make yourself some snazzy stuff! BTW if the wrappers are square just cut them in half before you fold them:) Any paper will work for this; magazines, maps, scrapbook paper scraps, origami paper and even wrapping paper!

It did me good to craft with the children yesterday. They were so sharp and patient and creative not to mention polite! I would volunteer in that classroom any day  Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Calling all procrastinators! A freebie for you!

Let’s see a show of hands…who intended to, but has not made their Christmas cards yet? That many? Wow! Well don’t fear because I have 2 easy card designs that you can copy. Make them today and mail them tomorrow..well, tomorrow is Sunday, OK mail ‘um Monday.  The first card features the likeness of our favorite holiday Grinch:

I made an SVG die cut and printable sheet for the Grinch eyes, you can download it for free here. All you do is cut a sheet of green cardstock in half and fold (you get 2 cards this way) then glue on the eyes in the center of the card base. Draw on a smile, nose and angry eyebrows and glue a green feather on the forehead if you have one.  Your recipient is sure to get a chuckle when they open this card!

This next design is more traditional. Again, cut a sheet of red cardstock in half and fold in half to get 2 card bases. Then I used a rotary wavy cutter to cut 1.5″ strips of felt (I used a wave rather than a scallop blade so both sides of the cut would look the same and I would not waste felt…yeah, I know it is only .25 cents a sheet but still, why waste?) If you don’t have felt you can use paper, or cotton balls, whatever! Use a hot glue gun to attach it down the center of your card. Add a strip of black cardstock for a belt and a gold buckle. I used a large square punch to punch my gold paper then cut around it with scissors to make a buckle. I dressed it up with holly die cuts and a red sequin.

These cards are quick and inexpensive and fun to make with the kids. I hope you give them a try this year! BTW, use thick and tacky glue and not hot glue if the kids are helping! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Warm & Fuzzy {A Quick Gift to Make!}

Happy Friday folks! If you have a little crafting time this weekend you can whip up a batch of these cute hand warmers:

They are super easy and really useful! Here’s what you will need: Felt, fabric shears, rice, a paper template  (you can trace a cookie cutter or print a shape from the computer then cut out the shape), a sewing machine or needle and thread.

1. Hold two pieces of felt together (or fold one sheet in half) and place the paper template on top and cut around the edges with fabric shears. You can use straight shears, pinking or whatever kind you like!
2. Sew the two shapes together neatly (raw edges will show but felt will not fray) but leave a 1.5″ gap.
3. Fill with rice.
4. Stitch the gap closed.

Tips: if you are using a sewing machine be sure to back-stitch at the start and end of your stitching to make sure the stitch is secure. You could add herbs to the hand warmers, such as lavender, to make them smell nice. If you want to embroider anything on the hand warmers do so before sewing. If you find you felt shifting when you sew just pin it a few times and the pieces will stay together.

To finish pin the set together and add a tag that says: Hand warmers. To use microwave for 30 seconds on high then slip into your mittens or pockets to keep your hands toasty warm!

Thse really work too, i use my prototype every morning when I walk the dog! I used 25-cents-a-sheet craft eco-felt but wool felt would be lovely too! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting

 

Santa S’mores, a Freebie & 50% off!

Well, now that was a fun attention getting title! I wanted to share the “Santa S’mores” I made (and sold out of) at the craft fair last weekend. They are cute, fun and very easy to make because you can download the sheet of 12 s’more labels I made for this project for free here!

Also I made chocolate covered pretzels, basically dip pretzel rods in chocolate and drizzle on more in other colors. You can get crazy and add sprinkles too..whatever floats your boat:)

You will need: Graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows (I tried to find Christmas marshmallow peeps when I was buying supplies but they were not out yet but ACmoore had Christmas trees and snowmen…that would have been cuter than the shaped marshmallows I used), zip-top sandwich bags, 6″x6″ squares of Christmas scrapbook paper and a stapler.

Here’s how:

1. Put ingredients in baggie and zip shut.
2. Fold the scrapbook paper in half, place over the zipper top and staple.
3. Tape label to SB paper topper.

Easy, peasy and a cute gift for classmates, teachers, scout leaders or the bus driver. Who doesn’t want a s’more?  That’s why they are called s’mores because you always want some-more!

Now that I have lured you here with candy I will shamelessly plug the 4 day sale in my shop, 50% off everything at Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff! Crafting templates, digital stamps, painting kits, SVGs, party kits, you name it, if I sell it it’s on sale!

Here are some kits that might strike your fancy:

The sale runt through Sunday so don’t wait! Finish up your Christmas crafting while you save 50% at Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

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WOYWW: Macaroni Art! {a craft for kids!}

Happy WOYWW! my desk is a bit, well, messy this week…

But look at the cuteness:

This is a project that I am making with children at the library tomorrow. These macaroni angels are easy! I am pre-gluing them so the kids can paint and decorate them. Here is a video to show you how:

Other than the macaroni I have odds and ends leftover from craft fair projects. The craft fair was a huge success  You can read all about it and see my booth set-up on this post. If you want to see more crafty desks check out Julia’s blog the Stamp Ground for more WOYWW fun! I’m off to meet a girlfriend and do some holiday shopping today. Til next time happy crafting

A quick gift to make for scouts & campers!

Howdy folks! OK, I am done being lazy, time to get back to business with a quick, easy & frugal gift idea for you…a knot tying kit! BTW, the tins I used are from Papermart.

I added another length of para-cord to the kit after I photographed it because hubby did not think that was enough rope. I tried out some of the knots and they was fun, I am going to keep one of these kits myself on the coffee table or in the car to practice during my idle time…maybe I’ll put one in my purse…bet I’ll get some strange looks from folks if I practice not tying while I wait for an appointment…can’t be worse than the looks I get when I juggle…”Don’t like it, don’t look!” that’s what I always say LOL! Anyway I sold 10 on these kits for $3 each at the craft fair this weekend so people liked the idea! Here is a video to show how I made them:

I also put some of the kits in canvas bags, some kids liked that better! If you are handy with a sewing machine you could whip these up pretty easily of buy cloth bags cheap at papermart where I got the tins.

Let me know if you have any questions and til next time happy crafting!