*** GIVEAWAY POST FOR 500 OR MORE FOLLOWERS IS DATED SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2011***

Please leave your comment under the GIVEAWAY post for consideration in the drawing. Once I reach 500 followers I will select a winner! Thank you kindly.

Monday, November 30, 2009

CRAFTING TIP OF THE WEEK (#14) RECYCLING & STAMP-A-MA-JIG-COULD THERE BE A LINK?

Today's tip involves recycling. Whenever you pop open those packages that have clear acetate windows that allow you to see your product through the packaging or is anywhere on the packaging- SAVE IT!

You can use it to stamp your images to help you figure out placement on your projects. They can serve as a spacer, template or guide to help you get your positioning just right.

All you have to do is stamp your image on the clear surface. Then set it on your card, scrap layout, or project to see where you think your stamped image might look best. This allows you to try it out in different areas of your project before committing to placement. Once you have placement figured out you can then stamp your image without reservation of placement.

Go ahead & give it a try. I am sure you will find it helpful.

Happy Crafting!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

THE LATEST HOT PAPERCRAFTING PRODUCTS VIDEO

HEY CRAFTERS~JUST WANTED TO SHARE THIS VIDEO OF A FEW OF THE HOTTEST PRODUCTS OUT THERE FOR CRAFTING.
THEY ALSO CORROBORATE MY PREVIOUS POST RE: SCRAPBOOKSTEALS.COM.
Enjoy!




SCRAPBOOK STEALS

Hey guys~ I know that Black Friday shopping probably yielded some amazing deals for you but I wanted to let you in on a little something I found online.

It is the site: www.scrapbooksteals.com.

Check it out!

You are likely to find some of the latest papercrafting products at some really great prices without having to step out of your home.

Keep Crafting!

Hello!

Hey there everyone~ hope your Thanksgiving holiday was wonderful.

I had the opportunity to see family & it was terrific.
I am truly blessed beyond measure.
The only thing that could have made it better was if my husband were home to share it with us.
He is currently deployed so obviously Thanksgiving at home was not possible.
That being said, I wanted to remind you all to please, please, please...
Remember the soldiers!

They so want to keep in touch with family and loved ones.
Help them do that by going to: operationwritehome.org.
There you will see a tab welcoming new card makers, go ahead click on it. Find out how your card making talents can be put to great use.

In the spirit of thankfulness I wanted to express my gratitude to those who stop by my blog.

I encourage you to share your comments and appreciate your feedback.

In the upcoming weeks I plan on having a giveaway so stay tuned for the details.

Blessings to you all.

Happy Crafting!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

VIDEO ON HOW TO MAKE A STEP CARD- THIS LADY IS VERY TALENTED!

Hello everyone!
I viewed this great video on how to make a step card. The card is just adorable & would be fun to give this holiday season. This crafter is great at instructing. She is talented and her warm spirit leaps off her craft videos.

Monday, November 23, 2009

CRAFTING TIP OF THE WEEK (#13) WRITTEN TUTORIAL -MAKING COMPUTER TYPE WHITE IN WORD

This week's tip is more of a tutorial on how to make your computer type white in Microsoft Word.
1-Open a blank Word document, then go to File, Page Setup and choose landscape as your orientation.

2-Go to Insert, Text Box and click inside your document. Drag the corners until the text box is roughly the size you want.

3-Double Click the edge of the text box to bring up the Format Text Box menu. On the Colors & Lines tab, select a Fill Color. UnderLine, choose NO LINE. Click OK.

4-Create a 2nd text box(specify NO FILL/NO LINE), and drag it on top of your 1st text box. Type a character in the box and select a font & size.

5-Highlight the character, go to FORMAT, FONT, FONT COLOR, and choose the same color as your background box.

6- Highlight the character again, go to FONT COLOR and selct MORE COLORS. Click the CUSTOM TAB and drag the slider bar so the character is a slightly lighter shade than the background bar.
7-Create a third text box (specify NO FILL/NO LINE)and drag it on top of both existing text boxes. Type in your title, and select a font & size. Hightlight words, go to FONT Color and choose white.

Happy Crafting!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

JESUS FIRST...DO YOU BELIEVE?

A MOVING VIDEO FROM THE I AM SECOND WEBSITE- JUST THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE ON THIS LOVELY SUNDAY NIGHT...

CRICUT CARTRIDE GIVEAWAY

WEEK 18: Featured Cartridges & Giveaway Info!
Christmas with the Cricut will be featuring the WINTER WOODLAND and EVERYDAY PAPER DOLLS cartridges this week!

This Week's Giveaways:

A CARTRIDGE EACH DAY STARTING MONDAY!

PAPER PACK FROM CORE'DINATIONS

CRAFT-E-CORNER "YOU PICK ONE" CARTRIDGE

HOW TO WIN?
1) Subscribe by email/RSS feed or follow the blog. It is http://cricutchristmas.blogspot.com

2) Leave a comment under each post, each week, by midnight Saturday for a maximum number of chances to win!

3) Check back on Sundays to see if you won!

LAYOUTS OF MY GIRLS & NEPHEW/GODSON



FOR ALL THOSE CRICUT FANS OUT THERE WHO STILL HAVE NOT TRIED CUTTING VINYL- THIS VIDEO IS FOR YOU

Saturday, November 21, 2009

IN THE SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVIING

I want to share with you all some beautiful expressions of gratitude as we approach the upcoming holidays. Please remember that we should not only resign ourselves to gratitude during the holidays but all the days of our lives.

I pray they touch your heart in some way. My hope is that we are all able to learn gratitude - in all our circumstances, even the most difficult times in our lives; for each of these is also a chance for us to grow and bloom.

**************************************************
For, after all, put it as we may to ourselves, we are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are parts of the banquet.... Shall we think of the day as a chance to come nearer to our Host, and to find out something of Him who has fed us so long?
~Rebecca Harding Davis

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie


Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
~W.T. Purkiser

Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow.
~Edward Sandford Martin


The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
~Henry Ward Beecher

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CRAFTING TIP OF THE WEEK (#12) ANTIQUING ANYONE?

This week's tip has to do with ANTIQUING & AGING your projects or embellishments.
Many of us like the look but maybe, just maybe can't run out to pick up the latest products to achieve the look. It could also be that you are trying to meet a deadline,it is midnight & you are crafting away before you realize, I really need that walnut stain ink!
*Never fear, look no further then your cupboards dears*

Brew a cup of tea or coffee, let it cool completely then dip a paint brush or use a cloth to soak up the homemade stain so you can apply it where you want it. Let it dry and TA-DA...you have yourself an antiqued or aged looking project.


Happy Crafting!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

More Gift Tags









Hi everyone!
Just thought I would share some more gift tags I have been making.
Forgive the quality of the photos. I so need a new camera!
Maybe "SANTA" will get me a new one this year.
Regardless of my not so good equipement I will continue to post.
Have a great Sunday everyone.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out





Scrapbooking from the Inside Out has launched their November kit Generosity, perfect for this time of year. This kit is so graceful and stylish – full of rich, deep color and elegant design, with coins, copper accents, shimmery self-adhesive mosaic tiles, and pretty Prima.

This month they’ll help you explore how you give of your time and money, inspiring a generous spirit in yourself and your family, positive self care vs. selfishness, and the big and small gestures that create connection in your life.

Beside this post are two GENEROSITY-themed LOs from SFTIO’s DT Coordinator, Nancy Doren, that were created using the kit.

Scrapbooking from the Inside Out's industry-exclusive content will help you explore your inner world with a music playlist, journaling prompts, moving photos, inspiring quotes, and meaningful monthly challenges.

To enter to win one of these great kits, repost this post on your blog and link it back to Scrapbook Trends, then give us a link to your blog post in the comment section of this post, and you could be exploring what GENEROSITY means to you!

Another Giveaway...


My friend over at the thinkin' spot blog is having a giveaway in celebration of 10,000 hits on her blog.

Believe me when I tell you she deserves every one of them. Her blog is fantastic & she has great things to share.

I love going on her site but don't take my word for it, check it out yourself.
She has a detailed list telling you exactly what you can win.

You got to be in it to win it!

PICTRES OF MY PAPERCRAFTING GOODNESS FROM MY GERMAN CRAFT STORE EXCURSION

WOW...that was a mouthful of a title.

Anyway, while in Germany I was able to find a craft store in Frankfurt called IDEE CREATIV. My dear husband was kind enough to drop me off right in front and let me do my bidding.

He was content to just sit this one out. Imagine my surprise!

While there I was able to find a couple of things that I had not seen in any craft stores back home so you know what that means.

You know how all the stores are selling their own versions of recyclable bags that you can bring with you to shop & reshop? Well, IDEE had their own in black which was super cute so you know I had to have one.

Check out my pics below of my goodies.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, November 12, 2009





BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY


PAYNEHOLLERCARDS.BLOGSPOT.COM IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY OF SOME GREAT STUFF.
HERE'S THE LIST OF GOODIES:
Candy Package:
Stampin Up set 2006 Gently Falling
Stampin Up set 2007 Sidekick Sayings
Cuttlebug Embossing folder - Flourished Frame
Hot Off the Press - 25 chocolate flowers
K&Company chipboard die-cut tags
Making Memories chipboard jigsaw alphabets
Scrap Works re/hot pink color rubz alphabets (402 letters, plus numbers/punctuations)
Marvy's GIGA scallop circle punch

CHECK OUT HER BEATIFUL CREATIONS AND REALLY INSPIRING BLOG. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND IT & THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE NOT ONLY THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT SUCH A LOVELY BLOG BUT HER GENEROUS GIVEAWAY.

PLAN ON GOING BACK TOO- YOU CAN LEARN LOTS.

HAPPY CRAFTING!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Paper Crafting Product Find-Cutter Glide-Prolongs the Life of Your Cutting Tools

Even though it's Monday, this could not wait til' Friday!

Hey Crafters~ just thought I would share a find that I recently discovered.

It is:

Cutter Glide™

Cutter Glide can be used on cutting blades, craft punches, guillotine cutters,
scissors, needles, and even polymer clay tools! It's solvent-free,
environmentally safe, and bonds to virtually any material. Apply it to tools
for a durable coating which will reduce friction and decrease wear.

It's a must have in any crafter's corner.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Quick Crafting Tip (#11) RAID YOUR PANTRY

I experienced another who doesn't love "FREE" moment...

Check out this idea!

If you're looking for something a little stronger than scrapbook paper or cardstock but don't quite want heavy chipboard to make mini-albums or homemade embellishments, look no further then your pantry.

Yes, you read it right... I said your pantry.

Look to cereal boxes, mac & cheese boxes, cracker boxes and any other boxes that your groceries come packaged in.

You can save yourself a pretty penny.

Just use your personal stash of scrapbook paper, paints or inks to give the cardboard a little facelift. You can customize it anyway you would like. They do provide a slightly stronger composition then cardstock and are actually easy to work with. They cut well with scissors. I even tried using one of my punches on a piece & it actually worked like a charm. They take to sand paper well and if you use a large needle you can even stitch it.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Heavy Heart & Thoughts of Hope & Love to All @ Fort Hood

In light of the tragic situation that unfolded in Fort Hood, Texas yesterday I wanted to remind you crafters that there is a way to reach out.
Please check out OperationWriteHome.org to see how.

Also keep all the service men & women, families and staff in your prayers!

They can use our love & support not just when a tragedy hits but every day.

Thank you for reaching out.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

CRAFTING TIP OF THE WEEK (#10) SCRAPS

In light of the upcoming "entertaining" a.k.a. the holiday season, I thought I would share a tip on how to use scraps of paper for easy projects that you can use when entertaining. Whether your planning an intimate dinner for two or buffet meal for a few, this idea is sure to be suitable.


If you have scraps of paper in your stash that you just could not trash...

Here are 3 ideas for their use:

1- As a place card/name card for seating at the dinner table
2- As a identifier tent for your buffet items. For example, if you set out different dishes, you can use stickers or your favorite copic markers to write what each of the dishes are then place the folded, tent like card in front of the dish.
3-As a seal or cover for little cellophane treat bags. You would just fit your scrap piece of cardstock (fully embellished of course) over your cellophane bag after filling it with goodies, fastening it into place with either the fastenater or the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher. Think of how great it would be to send your guest home with customized treat bags.

Happy Crafting!

I'm Ba'ack...

Sort of...

While I finally have the computer back & in working order, I will not have too much time to blog and do all the fun crafty things online as I did before.
The water damage restoration process is long & laborious. It requires so much of my attention. There have been contractors and service people in & out of my home since the day of its' discovery.The damage was vast and there is still a lot of work to be done.
So forgive me if the blogs are not as frequent.
I am so glad to be blogging again. I hope you all are out there & tuning in.

Some time soon I will post pictures of the craft store I was lucky enough to visit while in Germany along with the pics of the goodies I purchased.

Remember to stay tuned.
Keep Crafting!