I just went over 80,000 hits, so as a small “Thank You”, I am giving away some blog goodies to a lucky commenter!  Here’s how to win:  Visit my last post and tell me what you would give away in this cute little bag.  I plan on making lots of these and think you could give me some great gift ideas.  The measurements are given on that post, so that will help you determine what might fit.  I will take comments from both this post and the one with the bag, to make it easy on you.  And if you happened to have commented already on that post and would like to be entered twice, then you can also comment on this one and I’ll count them both!  Just a little bonus to those of you who commented without knowing you’d get something for it.  I’ll only be giving the extra bonus to those who commented before this one posts to keep it fair.  This contest will be open to all US & Canada commenters.

What can you win?  

• Tombow Multi Liquid Glue – my adhesive of choice!
• 1 roll of Whisper White taffeta ribbon (10 yards)
• 1 roll of the silver elastic cord (25 yards)
• Dazzling Diamonds
• sampling of clear rhinestone brads
• Whisper White craft ink re-inker
• On Board Book Basics, small
• assortment of chipboard stars
• mini clear stamp set (2 stamps)
• assortment of googlie eyes (2 sizes)

You’ll have until Thursday, the 12th at 9pm ET.  I’ll then draw a winner.  Good luck!

This bag, that is!  I was asked to make and teach a class for our annual craft night at church that would be free for those coming.  I immediately thought of using the Fancy Favor die to make a quick little gift bag.  I made my sample from retired SU! Christmas paper, used brads to put a handle on it, and made a gift tag.  It’s cute.  But I kept wanting to do something different. 

I was talking to my husband about it, much to his chagrin – he just plays along though, as if he really cares (gotta love him for that!) – and told him I really wanted to use Kraft card stock for the bag and just stamp on it.  He said, “Wouldn’t that just look like a brown paper bag?”, to which I replied, “Yes, so?”, ’cause I happen to think that would be cute.  He then added, “Well you might as well USE a brown paper bag and save the money.”  A light bulb went on and I thought he was brilliant!  (I guess he really does care).  I ran it by my friend Joy, who I’m borrowing the Fancy Favor die from (mine is on order) and she thought it would be a great look.  So I got a brown paper bag from the grocery store and tried it out.  I got 3 of these little bags from one grocery sack.  I used the Horizontal punch at the top in which to slide the Real Red polka dot ribbon into.  I stamped the back with the to/from sentiment instead of the Christmas greeting, eliminating the need for a tag.  Now this Free Craft really will be practically free.  7 inches of that ribbon is all I needed to purchase for each one.  And I can get about 50 from one roll!

I did reinforce the bottom of the bag with just an extra piece of the grocery sack glued onto the bottom.  I used the Tombow glue to put it all together.  I almost always use this great glue instead of sticky strip, as I find it works just as well on many projects, and it’s less expensive.  And for this bag, I think the sticky strip would be too strong.  I can see myself making lots of these to use as gifts this year!  For reference, this bag measures 3 1/16″ wide, 3 3/8″ tall, and 2 3/16″ deep.

Oh, I used the Holiday Collection stamp set (a retired Country Living offering from last season) for the sentiment and to/from.  For the class though, we’ll also be using the Four the Holidays stamp set from the Holiday Mini catalog, as they will fit perfectly at the bottom of the bags and then there will be more to choose from. 

I know it’s been awhile since I last posted, so thanks for coming back by and as always, for your sweet comments!  And now, if you’ve made it this far, I’m giving you a head’s up that I’ll be posting some blog goodies soon!  I’ve just gone over 80,000 hits and it’s about time!

{Practically Free gift bag ingredients}

Stamps: Dasher, Holiday Collection (retired)

Paper: grocery sack

Ink: Chocolate Chip & Real Red

Accessories: Real Red polka dot ribbon, horizonatal punch, Fancy Favor Bigz die & Big Shot by Sizzix

To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE

              Item #115965                                   Item #115608

             Item #116816

For the first time I finished my swaps (for a local swap) over a week before we meet – yea!!  I decided to use retired paper and ribbon for my project.  I have so much of it and it does me no good to just hoard it.  So that’s why you see several different Kiwi Kiss patterned papers – just using it up.

I stamped the vine in Old Olive ink.  The bird is from the Merry Details sizzlit, which is exclusive to SU!.  It was a simple card that came together quickly, which is very rare for me!  I even sewed around the edges – did you see?  (click for a larger view).  I don’t know, but maybe they are right, maybe practice really does make perfect!  Woohoo!  Cards measure 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″.

I can’t wait to see all the other cards I will receive…they are always so great.  Thank you for stopping by today!

{Merry Christmas swap ingredients}

Stamps: All Through the Year, vine stamp from Papertrey, Ink

Paper: Kraft, Whisper White & Riding Hood Red (retired) card stock, various retired Kiwi Kiss patterned papers

Ink: Whisper White craft & Chocolate Chip

Accessories: corner rounder punch, Merry Details sizzlit & Big Shot by Sizzix, stampin’ dimentionals, Riding Hood Red ribbon (retired)

To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE

Item #116823 (Super large view!)

Dates: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010

Details: You’ll love the convenience of our Holiday Gift-Giving Guide! With gift ideas for kids, teens, neighbors, and more, it’s your one-stop shop for all your holiday needs.

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Click here for the Guide.

…but I LOVE my new blog banner!  I took a bunch of photos this week of my many Japanese Maple trees.  This one just happened to be perfect to fit on my banner.  Good thing I took the pics when I did, because after the winds we had yesterday, there are virtually no leaves left!

I just haven’t created much lately.  This is my latest card and I”m not 100% thrilled with it, but since I have nothing else to blog about, this will due.  I used a chipboard frame and inked it up with Whisper White craft ink, then used heat & stick powder, then Dazzling Diamonds and heat set it.  The sentiment is made from last year’s Christmas rub-ons.  My hubby said the flower looks like a poinsettia, which I didn’t intend but I guess it does look enough like one.

Thanks for stopping by today!

{Peaceful Tidings ingredients}

Stamps: Season of Joy

Paper: Real Red card stock, retired DSP

Ink: Soft Suede, Whisper White craft

Accessories: chipboard frame, Real Red polka dot ribbon, Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds, heat tool, Birds & Blooms sizzlit & Big Shot by Sizzix, clear rhinestone brad, retired rub-ons

Oh, sorry to be so late getting the word out on this, but the new Deals of the Week are below.  This is the last week for these deals.  Contact me today to place your orders, if you wish!

I had to make several gifts for special people, so I made this set of 4 3″x3″ notecards in a little gift box.  (Click photo for a larger view.)  I used the adorable and sweet, Great Friend stamp set, and made a box using the Scallop Envelope die.  The directions can be found on Kristin’s blog here.  It’s super easy to make, and holds perfectly the 4 notecards and 4 mini envelopes.  I used some scraps of the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper.  These double-sided papers are fantastic for choosing your color scheme for you!

I’d like to see if you make a set of cards w/ this cute box…just let me know!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and as always, thanks so much for stopping by!

{for you ingredients}

Stamps: Great Friend

Paper: Sahara Sand & Whisper White card stock, Thoroughly Modern DSP

Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Bermuda Bay & Rose Red

Accessories: corner rounder punch, Scallop Envelope Bigz die & Big Shot by Sizzix, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon

To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE

Item #113792 Item #115673 Item #113462

I got the idea to make the Sweet Treat cup into a sunflower from my upline, but I made my petals with the Pick a Petal stamp set, since I don’t have the Sweet Centers stamp set.  It was not the easiest card to make, but I really like it.  Like the last card, I embossed the front with the polka dots and made the card into a slider so that the sunflower seeds can be retrieved from the card without destroying it.  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

{Sunflower Sweet Treat Cup card ingredients}

Stamps: Pick a Petal, Falling Leaves, & All Holidays

Paper: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard & Whisper White card stock, Always Artichoke Prints paper (Patterns Pack, Hostess Level 1, retired)

Ink: More Mustard & Chocolate Chip

Accessories: Chocolate Chip striped grosgrain ribbon, Sweet Treat cup, Modern Label, Round Tab, & 1 3/4″ punches, hemp twine, SU! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate & Big Shot by Sizzix

To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE

HARDWARE!  That’s what’s on sale this week…good prices, too!  The third deals of the week are from October 19, 10 AM (MT) through October 26, 9:50 AM (MT).  Call or email me today to place your order.

It was all about Fall this month for stamp club.  First we made this card, which I pretty much CASEd from this one.  I like my scallops to be on the top of the card, too – so after making the card with the fold at the top, I covered it with a full scallop square, which I had decorated as you see.  It’s a bit more card stock, but I like the look of it much better.

Originally my card had an Old Olive leaf, instead of the Pumpkin Pie one.  But my daughter thought it didn’t look enough like Fall, and urged me to take off the green one and replace it with this one.  I did.  I miss the Old Olive leaf – I thought the colors looked great together, but I think she’s right – it looks more Fall now. 

Next up is this adorable Tiny Pumpkin Basket, which I found here, complete with great directions.  I didn’t have a proper leaf image to add, so I used this Momiji (Japanese Maple) leaf punch my husband bought me in Japan well over a year ago.  Isn’t it just adorable?  It would not punch through the Garden Green card stock, so I had to use the plain side of some double-sided paper from the retired Hostess Level 1, Patterns Pack II.  I free-handed the Close to Cocoa stems.

Then came the challenging project for me, as well as the girls (see below).  I had planned on making just a turkey with the Sweet Treat cups, to be used as a small gift or table setting, or something like that.  But when I visited my upline, Diane, and I saw her adorable cards, I decided to make a card instead.  She showed me how to make a slider for the candy, so one doesn’t have to destroy the card in order to get the candy out.  I thought it was brilliant!  Later I found an idea similar here on another one of my favorite blogs, but I did mine differently.  I didn’t want a “mat” behind the turkey in order to facililate the slider, so my husband came up with the idea to have it behind the card instead.  Wow, I like it much better!

What I did was add the cup behind the front of the card, instead of placing it on the top.  And you’ll put a few glue dots to attach it, rather than using the cup’s adhesive, which you’ll actually leave in tact.  Then, you’ll need to make a back panel large enough for the slider piece to fit between the cup and it.  You’ll only add glue dots on 3 edges, leaving the end piece free of adhesive for your sliding piece to go in.  Don’t forget to punch a hole in the back panel!  I had to tear mine off and add that, duh!  Make your sliding piece slightly smaller, add the tab to the end to grab it with, and you’re done!  I couldn’t decide whether or not I liked the sentiment, which I put on the tab, so I turned it over.  It says, “for you”.  I just thought it looked funny with it.  But if I want to turn it around and use it, I still can.

I made the turkey feathers using the large oval punch, since I don’t have the Sweet Centers stamp set from the Holiday Mini.  Man, it would have made it easier I think.  I had to determine how much of the oval to cut off, using the 1 3/4″ circle punch so that it would line up around the circle properly.  I sponged the edges in matching ink.  And to make the brown feathers, I made 5 scallop circles and cut off all but 8 of the scallops, using the same 1 3/4″ circle punch.  They will then fit around the circle just right.  The feet were made first by punching the Really Rust card stock with the large oval punch, then lining the tips in the smallest flower of the Boho Flowers punch,  It works perfectly!  One more thing – in order to get the sentiment to fit better inside the Modern Label punch, I made it smaller like you can on the Word Window punch by punching close to one end, then re-inserting the other end carefully back into the opposite end and punch again.  Now that it’s on the card though, I think this looks ridiculous, as there is center to the punch, so now it’s actually off-center.  I decided to point this out because I know someone out there would have looked at it and realized it’s weird.  Oh well.

Come back next time to see another card idea with the Sweet Treat cups that I LOVED from my upline!  I hadn’t seen this one done before and I had to make one.  These Sweet Treat cups are not only adorable, but very affordable at only $2.95 for 12.  Thank you so much for stopping by today, and for leaving your sweet comments!

{Happy Thanksgiving card ingredients}

Stamps: Falling Leaves

Paper: Kraft, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White card stock

Ink: Soft Suede, Pumpkin Pie, Crushed Curry & Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Scallop Square Bigz Clear die & Big Shot by Sizzix, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon, paper piercer, mat pack, stampin’ dimentionals, 1 1/4″ square punch, sponge, linen thread

{Little Pumpkin Box ingredients}

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, & Close to Cocoa card stock, & Garden Green DSP

Ink: Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Large Oval punch, gold brads, paper piercing tool, sponge, leaf punch

{Turkey Sweet Treat Cup ingredients}

Stamps: Falling Leaves

Paper: Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, More Mustard, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie & Ruby Red card stock

Ink: Same as above, except Close to Cocoa

Accessories: SU! Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plate & Big Shot by Sizzix, Scallop circle, 1 3/4″ circle, Large Oval, Modern Label, Round Tab, & Boho Blossoms punches, Sweet Treat cup, Pumpkin Pie 1/2″ striped grosgrain ribbon, sponge, googlie eyes, glue dots, crystal effects

To order Stampin’ Up! products online, 24/7 – click HERE

Item #116802