Vacation

Ha! I wish! :)
I realize I haven't been around for about a week...

I'm here to say it'll probably be one more week yet before I'm able to post something here.
I'm actually thinking (hoping) it'll be sooner, but I figure I'd better say a week to be on the safe side. ;-)

Among many other deadlines, I am also having a Sale-A-Bration workshop/party at my house on Tuesday, sooooo...that means a lot of work (including MANY samples to make).

Therefore, I'm taking a vacation from blogging for a week. It's the kind of vacation I'm actually sad to take, but just have to. Too much going on around here.

Please stick around and check in...I'll have lots to show you when I come back! :)

Thanks for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Chocolate Friend

Do you like chocolate? I do.  (Remember, I told you in this post?)
Do you have friends that like chocolate? I do.
Thus, the need for the new set, "Eat Chocolate". ;-)

Here's what I made with it to give to a friend recently, just because:

Want to see the backside? Ok. :)
Ha ha ha - love it! :)

Here's the info:

• Line up 3 Hershey's Miniatures in bottom of SU (small) cello bag, fold over extra cello, adhering into place.
• Make a belly band out of satin ribbon.
• Make a tag: Stamped "All you need in life is a friend who has chocolate", then punched it out with the decorative label punch, punched out (2) additional pieces in Cherry Cobbler. I adhered them on back of the white label, to "frame" it a bit. It's hardly noticeable in the pic...much easier IRL. :)
• On the backside is the sentiment "I'm that friend", punched with our word window punch.

That's it!  Easy-peasy!

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Hey all!

Happy Monday, and Happy Valentine's Day to ya! :)

It's been a busy weekend around here, and a busy day so far today too!

Would you like a peek at some of what's been going on? Ok. :)

Click on each pic if you'd like to see a little closer up. :)

First, my 1st grader's project:

  

Little sis was so excited to help...daddy lent helping hands for a few difficult punches. ;-)

So excited when she'd get one done with her own strength, lol!



Next, mom's job was to stamp the backsides while 1st Grader & lil' sis filled bags with candy.

1st Grader then wrote all the names on the backsides, and mom twisted them to the package:

 

DONE! :)

AND NOW...for the Pre-K treats (don't worry, less steps - wink):

She stamped and punched the tags on her own...

Then mom stamped to/from, and she filled in the names:

We then put them into bags, and added the tags! :)

DONE! :)
Among other projects, here's what I started yesterday, then finished this morning...was a little worried I wouldn't get enough cut out of the pan! lol  Sorry about pic quality on the 2nd one...it's those lovely florescent kitchen lights, lol!  They looked really YUMMO in real life. ;-)

 
Well, that's all for today...more projects to complete! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Birthday Trio!

When I saw yesterday's challenge (WT) was to create something using birthday stamps/supplies - oh boy was I excited!! :)  You remember, I've been really looking forward to that new birthday set from the Occasions Mini catalog (see sidebar)??!!  Well, I have it now and I was able to use it for this challenge - yahoo! :)

I actually started this yesterday, but was having so much fun that 1 card turned into 3 totally different (yet the same) cards!!  Triple yahoo! :)  I definitely have my fave (middle), but what is yours?

The name of the new Birthday set is called Bring On The Cake, and the lovely striped DSP you see is from a retired pack called Flowers For You. I know, there aren't flowers on this piece, but it's a great little grouping of papers that I fell in love with a couple of years ago, when my girls were even younger. :)  I took the theme of the DSP and complimented it with shades of Tempting Turquoise, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White.  I added dimension to the framed sentiments (of course), and glitter on those two as well. On the other, I added a ruffle of retired satin ribbon for interest.

I've added all 3 to my Etsy site, where I have different angles and closeups of fun stuff like the glitter & such...go check it out! :)

Well, what do you think? Which one is your fave?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Welcome, Baby Boy!

No, I did not have a baby boy, nor am I expecting.
No, my SIL did not have a baby boy (she's due Sat - don't know if girl/boy - can't wait to meet the little one!!!!)
My FRIEND had a baby boy! :)

I had a little gift I wanted to send her, and of course I wanted to make a matchy-matchy card. However, I was trying to get the card done before getting to the post office on time, so it may not be as 'neat' as some of my other cards (by the way, I didn't make it in time and had to wait until the following Monday). :(

Anyways, that's to explain the not-so-good quality pics I am about to show you. The background is not my usual...this time, it is the tissue for wrapping the gift, lol! :)

I got to use one of my NEW stamp sets, called "A Slice of Life" - it's a Hostess one from the mini catalog.  Ready? OK!




A bit simple, perhaps. But like I said, I was in a bit of a hurry to get this out on time, and baby cards don't need to be complicated, right?  I am drawn more and more to the CAS type of card. I know she knows that love and thought went into it, even if it isn't some big wonderful card. It's cute! :)

The next picture shows where I got my color scheme from...wish I could've shown all of it (there was a blue/blue striped onsie in there as well), but like I said...just tried to get a snapshot quick before running to the post office...













The colors I used are Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, and Night of Navy.  I kinda like it!  I like that the onsie matches one of the onsies I gave her, too. :)  I'm just that way, lol.

The Small Print (All Stampin' Up)
Stamps: A Slice of Life, A Word for You
Ink: Black Stazon, Night of Navy
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, Night of Navy, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop edge punch, 1/4" bashful blue gg ribbon, Ink pad lids, Blender pens

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Valentine Ideas - Day 4

Hello, and welcome to Day 4 in my series of Valentine Ideas!
Be sure to check out the past days, too! :)

Today's project is pretty much the same as one from last year, but I felt that I should share the idea again, just decorated differently! I have more readers than last year at this time, so maybe some of you haven't seen it! :)

Someone asked me for the dimensions awhile back, but I was so sad to tell her that I couldn't find the original! Seriously, couldn't find it - STILL can't. :(  However, I found another one decorated for a birthday, so I was able to at least take the outside dimensions & scoring from that.

Ready? OK

















Here's a few more views:











Want to know what I did?
Okay, I'll tell ya - it's real simple! :)

3.25" x 8.5" pc. cardstock
Score at 1" and 5"
Fold on score lines.
Staple candy under bottom flap.
Decorate with ribbon to cover staple.
Decorate as desired, and slip top flap into botttom - voila! :)

FYI: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, and Whisper White cardstock. The whisper White cardstock is embossed with our elegant lines embossing folder. I originally stamped the heart from "Filled With Love" onto the red cardstock & punched it out...but thought it looked too busy against the embossing, so I turned it over, and was much happier. :)

That's IT!!

Well, what do you think?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)

Crystal

Valentine Ideas - Day 3

Hello, and welcome to Day 3! :)

Today will be a short one...I've been in town most of the day, and visiting time with my momma in the afternoon. :)

I've got two projects for you today, and then it's time to hit this house before hubby comes home, lol!

Day 3










Want more info?
OK! :)










4pc. Hershey's Nugget pkg:
4 nuggets tucked into our small cello bag, folded over,wrapped the red satin ribbon around and up, tying off with our hemp twine. The image is a heart stamped from the set "Filled With Love", then punched with our wide heart punch, and up on dimensionals.

Peppermint Patty Sandwich:

Lots of punches used here! :)  I stamped the image from "Filled With Love," punched out with our 1 1/4" circle punch, layered with a Pretty in Pink 1 3/8" punch, and Real Red scallop punch. Attach to peppermint patty with sticky strip, attach another red scallop to the bottom side, making a "sandwich."  There are actually a few images from this set that would work in the center! :)

Well, what do you think?
Be sure to come back tomorrow for more ideas! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

Valentine Ideas - Day 2

Okay, so you'll definitely get your money's viewing's worth today! :)

I've included THREE projects!!

FYI: I didn't think about making this a series until today, but yesterday's post could definitely be part of the series, so we'll just pretend it is, even though it's not titled that way, lol! :)

Boy, I tell ya what...it felt SO good to create today!  I've got some things I'm really excited to show you today, so I'll just dig right in! :)

Day 1

A 3x3 card, candy packet, and valentine slider.

Want to see some closeup and more details?  OK! :)


First, the 3x3 card:

             

Here, I used the set "Filled with Love," carefully coloring the images with my Real Red & Old Olive ink pads. This is actually a single stamp (heart with stem), that I've stamped 3 times. Created my own "love" tag with a random SU stamp to complete the tied linen thread.

Now, the candy treat:

For this idea, I folded a piece of Real Red cardstock over one of our cello bags filled with cinnamon disks. The sentiment is from the same set ("Filled With Love"), stamped in white craft ink.  The hearts are from the set "I {Heart} Hearts."  With the flourish one, I inked it in red, stamped off once, then inked the edges again and stamped onto whisper white cardstock - just gives it a little variance instead of a solid image. The other heart is inked & stamped full strength onto white cardstock as well.

Finally, the Valentine Slider:

And an open view (pulled out):

Our Real Red cardstock cut, scored, and stamped with "Confetti" in white craft ink. The layers behind the sentiment (from "Filled With Love") are Pretty in Pink, and Pink Pirouette. The heart circle in the middle of the "O" is punched with our 3/4" punch, a pink brad in the center, and up on a dimensional. The "you" is handwritten. The ribbon is Pretty in Pink taffeta. It took me awhile to figure out the dimensions/scoring based on an old example from my stash...hopefully I've got it figured out now, lol! Would you like to see a tutorial on my blog? Let me know! :)

Well, what do you think? Would LOVE to hear from you! :)

Be sure to stop by tomorrow, too!

Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal

A Valentine Treat

Helloooo! (do I hear an echo?)
Wouldn't be surprised! lol
Sorry it's taken me a bit to get back on here - you know how that goes, dontcha?  Life is busy right now, and I just haven't had time to stamp/create.

I'm here today to show ya somethin', though! YAY!
I think it's been 1-2 years since I've made this little treat holder, but I thought it would be fun to make it Valentine themed this time around. :)

It stands just over 3.5" tall.













Well, what do you think?

The Small Print
Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White
Paper: Sending Love DSP (last year's)
Accessories: Scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Heart to Heart punch, Real Red taffeta ribbon, Crop-A-Dile, Sticky strip
Other: Acetate

Thanks soooo much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day! :)
Crystal