Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas!




Enjoy this day with friends and family. 


post signature

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Musical Cast Guest Book Album



You can use a guest book for so many special occasions in your life. I always feel like I'm apart of those when I get to work with you and create special books for just the occasion.

One of the things I love most about where we live is our local community theater. A few Christmas's ago, my husband got two tickets and we went to a holiday orchestra concert.  I loved it. Not only did I get to dress up for the night, but I got to sit up in a balcony with my program in hand and enjoy the music.

I love music and I enjoy musicals.

Which brings me to the special book I wanted to share with you today, this one for a high school musical being put on this month.

Hot off my crafting table....
"A Day in Hollywood, A night in the Ukraine"

Doesn't that sound like an awesome musical? 



The inside pages are lined with "From the Cast" on the top for the members to sign and give to the director/teacher afterwards as a gift.

I used left over scraps from the book to make this blank music note card to go along with it.

The red on black looks amazing.

Go break a leg! or so they say in the Theater I'm told.
Wishing them a full house and wonderful night for their show.

And, in the meantime, I'm off to bake cookies and sing a few carols with the kiddos.

It's getting close to Christmas, what's left on your list?


post signature


Thursday, December 18, 2014

A Special Coupon Book For A Special Little Girl






I love custom orders and making things especially for you.

Last week's request really got my creative brain working as I created this custom coupon book for a special little girl.

The criteria:

pink and purple
custom printed coupons
It's for Christmas.

This is what I came up with.

 I used two stamp sets on the cover. First one was the stockings that I used purple mulberry ink and the second came from the sledding "Let it snow" set I have and I stamped the snowflakes.

Since this was for a girl, I thought, what girl doesn't like a little sparkle? So, I used silver, gold, and purple gel pens to outline the stockings and added irridescent glittler to the top of the stockings and snowflakes.

While it sat and dried, I worked on the coupons.


Using some pink paper in my stash, I pulled up my coupon file and personalized each coupon upon the request of the customer.

Hairstyles, breakfast, mani & pedi, shopping, and even movie night, this little girl is one special little lady!

I just adore how this came out!
I can't wait to make more, and I'll be happy to make a personalized coupon book for you, too!
Just contact me and I'll set it up through the shop.

How are those Christmas preparations coming?
Did you remember those stocking stuffers?

I've got a book coming out soon just for Christmas, if you have a moment, hope over to my author page and check it out! 
post signature



Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Fisker Cutter Paper Tool Review



My paper cutter is probably my most used tool on my crafting table. I've had it a long time, like as old as my youngest child, who is in second grade now!

I love my cutter, but over the years, the numbers have started to fade. (Yeah - I've used it THAT much!)


Sadly, after all these years, the blade has gone dull, but hey 7 years of use is pretty good for a blade, wouldn't you say? But it doesn't do me much good trying to cut pages for inside my books and most the time now, they tear. When I want torn sheets, I tear them myself, not from my cutter though....

While onlines shopping during the Black Friday sales, I indulged myself in a tool this year. My husband encouraged me when I asked him if I should, he said, "Go for it" and I did.

I got a new Fisker's Paper Cutter.

I choose this one for a couple of reasons:

1. Self sharpening blade
2. Size - cuts 12 x 12 papers
3. Density - cuts up to 10 sheets at a time (although I usually only cut 5 so I haven't tested the full 10 pages yet)
4. Blade lock (with kiddos in the house getting into stuff when I turn my back for minute, this is a must)
5. The price. very reasonable.




You can see the new vs the old here on my crafting table.

While my new cutter doesn't have the second slide cutter like my old Purple Cow Cutter did, I honestly never used that second cutter so I'm not really not going to miss that extra feature I never used. 

Also, my old Purple cow had a metal paper holder there by the blade, my new Fisker's paper cutter has a plastic one, put it puts a tighter hold on the paper so you don't have to hold down as hard as the metal one.

And the feature I didn't realize it had and am really getting used to (in a good way) is the blade holds itself up. It used to be I had to lean forward so the blade handle would rest on my shoulder to hold it up while I rearranged my paper to cut, the new Fisker blade stays up one you push the blade up to position your paper. 

And so, after a week of cutting, I'm pretty pleased so far with the use of this cutter. 



Now to see if this cutter can last as long or out last my old one.

I got this cutter from Amazon.com, you can find it here.

Happy Crafting! I'm off to make some books. :)

post signature









Thursday, December 11, 2014

Christmas Coupon Books Are Back






I've almost finished all my shopping, but there is always one or two on my list that either has everything or needs nothing. Do you know who I mean? Do you have someone like that, too?

Last year, I made up these Christmas Coupon books, I've since made up ones for Birthdays and Valentine's Day, they're great for just that kind of person on your list.

I've cut out and assembled some new designs for this year, keeping a few for those on my list, too.






There are 12 coupons in each book in three different colors. 4 red, 4 white, and 4 green.
My little Bug helped hand stamp the santa on the red, the candy cane on the white, and the present on the green. Each coupon is also perferated for easy tear out.

My husband surprised me last year and give me one of these for Christmas, even though I made it, he pulled it from my stash and personalized each coupon to last throughout the year!

Babysitting, Dinner, Lunch, Massage, mowing the grass, taking the kids to clubs, there are just some many things you can do for someone that may mean a lot to them.

If you'd like to make you're own, the tutorial for these comes from Split Coast Stampers, I've modified mine a bit, but you can find it here.

Or check out the ones I've got in the shop this month.

Don't forget, you'll receive a free gift with any purchase from the shop this month and orders over $50 receive free shipping with coupon code that you'll find below my shop banner here.

Did you check your list twice? Don't forget anyone!

Now, I'm off to write. That Christmas story won't type the words itself and I've got a fruitcake bride waiting for her groom. For updates on my latest book project don't forget to head over to my author site and stayed tuned. 


post signature


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Don't Forget to Feed the Reindeer.





Do your kids believe in Santa?

While we bake a cake each year on Christmas... a birthday cake for Christ's birth, we also enjoy the fun of Santa in our home.

While our older children have developed doubts of Santa's existance, our youngest fully is in belief.

And so it wouldn't be fair to leave cookies out for Santa, if we don't also feed the reindeer.


Bug made up these treat pouches, they're 100% edible so they're safe for animals and children.

The ideas for these came from the 12 days of Christmas over at ChicnScratch, you can find the video tutorial here on how to make them.

I used, green and red sprinkles along with clear sugar sprinkles in with the oatmeal mix.

As a special treat, whenever you make any purchase from my Etsy shop this month, you'll receive a packet of reindeer food as my gift.

I'm off to bake some Christmas cookies, how about you? Are you baking up something good today? 

post signature


Friday, December 5, 2014

Warm Wishes this Christmas Season


 It's Christmas!
Almost...
Where did the time go?

After many months of helping out on the family farm, it's time to get back into gear!

It's been so cold out lately and hot chocolate has been in high demand after school at our house.

The kids walk a few blocks between bus stops and schools, so they need something warm to help get them going when they open those books for homework.

I got to thinking how nice it would be to share that warmth and so I've been creating these cozy little hot chocolate pocket cards. They almost remind me of a book, just tied such with something yummy inside.







If you want the recipe for making these hot cocoa cards, let me know. I'll be happy to share.

I just made up a new batch of them in a variety of patterns that you can check out in the shop as well. You can't go wrong with chocolate, right? 

I'm thinking this year, the kids teacher, bus driver, and the mail man will all love this Christmas treat, what do you think?



I'm off to work on my Christmas story for the local paper today, if you haven't already, sign up for my newsletter over at my author site and download my story Emma's Dilemma free or now available on kindle through Amazon.

Here's to staying warm!



post signature

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...