Snowman Smiles Winner

OK, I promise you that the prize drawing was not rigged, but Robin (my daughter) won the prize. Which means, that I don't have to be in a hurry to get the prize out. I can wait until she is here Christmas. LOL NAH!! I won't do that to her.

I really appreciate all the comments and I love giving stuff away, so maybe I'll make it a monthly habit. The key word being "maybe". =)

TODAY'S QUOTE: People with many interests live, not only longest, but happiest. George Matthew Allen

Snowman Smiles

When I look at these guys, I can't help but smile.

They are really quick and easy to make. Can you guess what they are made from? Leave a comment and tell me what you think I used for the main piece. You have until Noon on Friday, Dec. 4th to leave a comment. I'll draw a name from the comments Friday afternoon. The winner gets some Snowmen Smiley Faces. =)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: I discovered I always have choices and sometimes it's only a choice of attitude. Judith M. Knowlton

Silver Spoon Re-Deux

It's a Christmas tree ornament! What do you think??

I really like this! I made the bowl side of the spoon a bit glitzy and the handle side a little more subdued. But it will look great from either side hanging from a tree branch, don't you think?

Now, I'm off to scourge the flea markets for more silver spoons. Oh, and you can use forks also. In fact, I'm working on one now. Having a little bit of trouble finding just the right elements for it. It will come together eventually. And I'll show it to you, when it does. =)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I hope that all of you have a very blessed Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy your family, be happy, count your blessings.

TODAY'S QUOTE: The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~H.U. Westermayer

The Pioneer Woman and Me

The only thing the Pioneer Woman and I have remotely in common is the fact that we were both in St. Louis the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 17.



I apologize for the quality of my photos.

By the way, if you are not familiar with who Pioneer Woman is, go here:
www.thepioneerwoman.com

I was at her book signing which was held at the Christ Church Cathedral. It was a lot of fun. I had a "nearly" front row seat. She did a question and answer session in which different members of the audience stood at the mic and asked a question.

Her yummy husband, Marlboro Man, and her two sons, Bryce and Todd, were there also. The boys were typical boys and were all over the place. At one point, when Ree realized the audience was laughing at something behind her, she called out, "Uh, Honeeeeyy!". The boys were behind her on the dias cutting up. Even Bryce, the oldest of the two boys, went through the line of us waiting to have our cookbooks autographed, and signed our books. Marlboro Man was more than willing to sign also. They are very nice, down to earth folks and were just so kind and fun and comfortable to be around.



This was my first book signing and I was prepared for a long ordeal of standing in line. But it was nothing like that. I was seated by a young mom with her two daughters. They were adorable and very well behaved.


In the photo at the right Todd is "assisting" his dad in handing out the free Pioneer Woman T-shirts that were given to everyone.



You will find much better photos of the different book signing events at Pioneer Woman's blog. She also has some clickable links to other bloggers who attended the event.

I am so glad that I didn't back out of this trip. It was worth every minute of the 180 miles drive (which dear hubby did!)and worth getting there 2 1/2 hours early to be sure I got a good seat.

Vintage Themed Button Fairy

As usual, I created this for a swap at Swap Bot. My partner that I was to send to enjoys collecting and "re-deuxing" vintage linens. And so do I, so I was inspired to create this button fairy using a vintage embroidered dresser scarf for the wings. I found the face for the fairy in a very old magazine. Some of the buttons are vintage, but not all of them. My partner has not received the fairy yet, but I think she will be pleased. I know it was hard to part with her.



For some inspiring card making "eye candy", check out this blog by my talented, sweet paper crafting buddy (and Stampin' Up rep) - http://rubberstampinzone.wordpress.com/

TODAY'S QUOTE: I believe in everything until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it's in your mind. Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now? ~John Lennon

ONCE IN A BLUE MOON -

Maybe that's what I should have named my blog. =(

Here are some cards I recently created for a swap that required using Cuttlebug folders. I've not bought any new folders in ages, but I'm still very happy with the ones I have. Let me know what you think - if there's still anyone out there who is keeping an eye on this poor, pathetic excuse for a blog.













QUOTE FOR THE DAY: Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task. ~William James

"Green" Christmas Cards

Green as in "recycled", that is. These were created for a swap at Swap Bot. We were to create handmade Christmas cards for our partner utilizing parts of old Christmas cards. Here's what I came up with.

This was very simple. I just trimmed the front of an old card with shaped scissors, did a little inking, added Stickles to some of the berries.

For this one I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the backgroud, then punched snowflakes from an old card and added them to the embossed backgroung along with some "bling".

Another Cuttlebug embossed background. The tree was cut from an old card. I added a very pretty TAC stamped image that says "Tis the Season", and the ribbon.

Basically a full card front that I trimmed around and added to another Cuttlebug embossed background. The background is the "script" background.

I trimmed the wreath from an oold card and used silver paper for the background. Non-traditional colors, but pretty in my opinion.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY: Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try! ~Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!

Split Purse -a - nality

2 Birthday Girls + 1 purse template = 2 delightful Birthday cards. I made the mauve, floral purse for my "30 something" daughter's birthday. It has a bit of a shabby chic look. The other purse I made for my great-niece's 7th Birthday. It was fun creating both of them.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Economy is too late when you are at the bottom of your purse. Senaca Native American quote

Here's the Skinny

A "Skinny Book", that is. In the paper craft/art world a "skinny" is a 3" x 5" piece of art work done on heavy cardstock - or just plain ol' scrap cardboard. A "skinny book" would be a few of these skinny pages compiled into a book and bound in any way which strikes the creator's fancy. This is skinny book that I created for a swap on Swap Bot. The theme was "purple". My swap partner left me a '5' rating with a heart. That's the best you can get. =) Creating the purple skinny book was challenging, but enjoyable. Hope you enjoy looking.

TODAY'S DEFINITION: skinny - confidential information about a topic or person; "he wanted the inside skinny on the new partner" - or a 3" x 5" piece of artwork created on heavy cardstock or scrap cardboard.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Thomas Haynes Bayly

Who's Got the Button Fairy??

What do you think?? Do you like her? Do you think it's a strange thing to make button fairies using clip art images of children and/or women and butterfly wings or in some case fairy wings? I think it's a little stange, but quirky, artsy, kind of cool strange. Some might rate them right up there with clowns...or "down" there with clowns. Clowns can be scary, you know.

I made this button fairy for a swap. She's winging her way on to someone else's house now..well she will be once she's out of the parcel bin at the Post Office. I hope my swap partner appreciates her. She's my very first Button Fairy. But she's not going to be my last. Now that I'm over my fear of Button Fairy creating failure, I'm sure I'll be creating more.

Would love to hear your honest take on Button Fairies. Really, I would. =)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame."
~William Butler Yeats, "The Land of Heart's Desire," 1894

I've Been Junkin'

Wanna see what I found? Well, wait no longer - here are a few of my treasures.

A pink and white crocheted apron - for the grand total of $2.00.




For another $2.00 I also picked up this dainty white apron with the cutest pocket hanging from the waistband.


I also found these little trinkets -

Isn't the brooch of the loaded down shopper funny. She's also got her little dog on a leashWhat about that ugly fish back there? Well, I can see it on an Oriental themed ATC or possibly a "skinny". Of course, buttons always come in handy - got a small baggie of those for $1.00. Oh, and the brooch and fish were .50 cents each. The eyeglass case is just your typical everyday case. Got it for a .25cents. I'm seeing it altered in some form or fashion.


I found a lot more stuff, but I'm saving that for another day.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
A bargain is something you can't use at a price you can't resist. ~Franklin P. Jones

What I Made Today

Today is my brother-in-law, Bill's birthday. Bill collects old phonographs. I just happen to have a phonograph stamp. The reason I have a phonograph stamp is because my very sweet and lovely SU Rep, Lisa Walsh, sent it as a Freebie in my last order from her. Did I mention that Lisa is sweet and lovely? If I knew how to add a clickable link to her website, I would do that here. Instead I will do this: http://rubberstampinzone.wordpress.com/

Here is the card I created for Bill today. At the Victrola website I found some trivia and funny questions that have been sent to the website. I printed those and made him a little booklet card. I think he will like it.

A 12 INCH SQUARE

When you see the words, "a 12 inch square" what do you think about??? More than likely you think of scrapbook paper. Or maybe a scrapbook layout. Well, a lot of times when I look at my work table, I think, "Umph!! I'm down to a 12 inch square of workspace - better get to cleaning!" Just have a look-see for yourself.





I don't feel the least bit ashamed of showing you my 12" space, because I know that the majority of all you paper crafters out there do the same thing. I know - you've told me you do. I think it's a common trait of paper crafters. Now and then I do come across a fellow paper crafter who says she's a "neat freak" and puts her supplies away as she uses them - or after one project is completed anyway. That's not me. Don't do that. Don't want to do that. Sure I appreciate a cleaned up work area but not enough to put everything away as I go. Oh, it's really nice to walk into my craft room and see a nice, neat work table just waiting to be filled with the detritus of a creative mind and hands, but that's only going to happen once every few weeks. =)

QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."
Salvador Dali
DEFINITION OF THE DAY:
de·tri·tus
n. pl. detritus
1. Loose fragments or grains that have been worn away from rock.
2.
a. Disintegrated or eroded matter: the detritus of past civilizations.
b. Accumulated material; debris:

How Sweet It Is!!

Love my new SU Stamp set, Crazy For Cupcakes, and the SU Cupcake Wheel. I'm in a sketch challenge swap at the Card Maker magazine forum. I have to create nine cards for the swap. I've got all my pieces cut out and most of the stamping done. Here are two completed cards.




(Yes, I know my photography skills are next to nil.)

The card base is SU cardstock. The papers are the Razzleberry Lemonade from SU. And the orange ink I used is SU's Only Orange.

This sketch has been a fun one to work with.


TODAY'S QUOTE:
“Friends are like cupcakes in my pantry of memories.” Anonymous

AND THE WINNER IS!!!.....................

Comment #5 - Mardell Lamb!!! I will be emailing Mardell to let her know she's one a little bit of blog candy. Mardell and I have been "web" friends for several years. I think she does a bit of paper crafting when she has time. Hopefully, she can use what I'm going to send her. I would tell you what it is, but can't recall the brand and details right now and it's downstairs in the basement and I'm too lazy to go down there right now. I'll post a pic and details later.

Thanks to all who commented. Oh yeah...and I paid exactly $4.00 for those six items. =)

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

"If you always do what you always did--you'll always get what you always got."Unknown

Picking a Winner Tomorrow!! =-p

Can't wait to give away my first Blog Candy!! If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you had better check out my post "Flea Market Finds". You only have until midnight(CST) tonight to get your name in the drawing.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference. ~ Eeyore ~ Winnie the Pooh

Remember that Deer Tin.....

.....the one from the "Flea Market Finds" post?

TA-DAH!!!.........How do you like it now?



I used a piece of 12 x 12 vellum scrapbooking paper that I have had for almost two years. It is gorgeous paper! It was a little difficult to cut it up, but it was a shame to just have it stored away.

I like it!! =) It has my smiley face of approval. =)

Here is the inside of the lid and the inside bottom of the tin.




(Just a little side note. It has taken me nearly an hour to get this post right. The photos and the descriptions would NOT match up!!! And you wonder why I don't post something everyday!! grrrr.....*@!)

Inchies

Looks like, at best, I am going to be an every other day blogger. It just takes so much time. And the time I spend doing this is time I can't spend crafting, or reading, or eating chocolate, or reading MY favorite blogs, or...well, you get the picture.

I love making inchies. It is such a challenge to see what I can fit in a 1" square. I've always created them for swaps, so there's usually a theme. I recently joined a Western (surprise!) Inchie theme and here is what I came up with.


I apologize for the inferior quality of this photo. I'm not the best photographer. I should have taken individual photos of each inchie. But they have been mailed off to my swap partner.

The first Inchie is a photo of a Native Indian family. It was a photos from an old (probably 60's) "Real West" magazine. The second photo is a "pin up" cowboy hunk. I used a stamp from Close to My Heart to make the "Yee Haw" embellishment. I stamped it on shrink plastic, shot it with the ol' six gun...er, I mean heat gun and attached it to the inchie. The stagecoach is clip art, with jute trim. The Wanted poster is also cut from the old vintage "Real West" magazine. I believe it was on a add for one of the magazines..sort of a miniature magazine cover. I have 3 or 4 of those old western magazines and I've gleaned a lot of "goodies" from them. It's amazing what your imagination can do with an old magazine. =) The cactus are cut from some western themed scrapbook paper. For the backgrounds on each Inchie I used an embossing pad and some terra cotta embossing powder. That gives each Inchie a rough, rugged and rustic touch. On the Indian family I also added just a touch of turquoise embossing powder in the upper left corner. I am very happy with the way these Inchies came out. I really need to do some Southwest/Western ATCs and Inchies to keep for myself. I keep giving away all the good stuff. ={.

The following two Inchies were created for the "ATCs and Inchies" swap at Swap Bot. It was a sender's choice, so really no theme. My swap partner liked bright colors and oranges and greens. I cut a square (about 3")from some white heavy cardboard packaging as the base. For some reason a "radiating from a circle" picture kept going through my mind. So, I cut lots of strips of my bright, colorful paper and glued them down in a radius around the base. Then I added a punched circle to the middle and cut my square down the middle and trimmed it down to 2 Inchies. I like how this project came out also.

I look around at all the paper crafting and artistic blogs and know that my own creations don't compare in quality and artistry but I do know that my creations come from the heart and soul and that I derive great pleasure from it.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY -
"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best." Henry Van Dyke

QUOTE FOR THE DAY

OOPS!! Sorry - almost forgot today's quote. Don't want to disappoint anyone. Those who know me well, won't be surprised that I chose this one.

"There's a little bit of cowboy in all of us." Louis L'Amour

Flea Market Finds

Stopped by one of my favorite flea markets the other day. It's about 40 minutes from my house. I pass by it whenever I go to Tennessee to pick up our grandson - or take him back home. I don't take the time to stop real often, but when I do I usually come home with some treasures. Let me know what you think about these goodies.

What appears to be a photo of a deer is actually a tin. It's a great size for altering. In fact it is in a "mid-alter" state right now on my craft room table. When I finish, I'll post a photo. The recipe box is a bit smaller than most I've found. I'm thinking it is the perfect size for storing some of my favorite ATCs. But it's gotta be altered first, of course. =) There's also a spiral journal...kind of a square shape, which is a little different and it has the stretchy band thingy to keep it closed. Another great future altering project. I couldn't resist the 3 pieces of silver. There is a pickle fork, a sugar spoon and what looks to be a child size fork. They are gorgeous. I will use them all on my Christmas buffet for the various dips, treats, etc. The sugar spoon will be perfect for fruit dip, don't you think?

Guess how much I paid for the 6 pieces? 1. Deer tin - 2. Recipe box - 3. Journal - 4. Silver sugar spoon - 5. Silver pickle fork - 6. Silver child size fork. Leave a comment with how much you think I paid. You have until midnight (CST), Friday, July 31st to leave your comment. On Saturday morning, August 1st, I will draw a name from all those who left a comment and send you a small bit of blog candy. Sounds like fun to me!!

WHEW!! It's been too busy!!

I think I'm getting too old for Vacation Bible School. I helped in the craft station for four nights in a row. I wimped out on them on the fifth night. =) (And then she rested.)

While VBS was going on there was also an online Crop going on at www.cardmakermagazine.com. I was too busy and too exhausted to take part in it as much as I wanted, but I managed to get a few challenges done. Here they are -
















As you might guess, the Crop had a Christmas in July theme. This challenge was for card cand. I used my wonderful, lovable Nestabilities with these. (If you don't have any "Nesties", then you definitely need to get some!)

Another challenge was for Tags. I love this stamp set. It's from The Angel Company (TAC). It's in a "card" format with the 'TO:' and 'FROM:' on the inside.
Naturally, there was a "Trim the Tree" category. Here are my efforts for that challenge.
This was created from a kit that Stampin Up' had out last Christmas in conjunction with Country Living magazine. I added some "snow" around the edges (the name and brand escape me at the moment) and some Diamond Dust.









The next ornament was created from a recycled Christmas card. It can also be used for a small gift or candy.



















I have a couple of more challenges that I completed but I think I'll add those at another time. Maybe this is enough to satisfy my "followers" for now. =)

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it.
Peanuts ~Sally Brown