Home Made Easter Gifts

Happy Easter ... again!

I just couldn't resist posting again today.  I just HAD to share the little gifts my almost-10-year-old made for me, her dad and her sister.

These SHOULD have been made weeks ago ... when I first suggest the kids make Easter cards.  Of course I got the standard "maybe later" response.  Alicia DID make Easter cards for everyone last week when Rebecca was having a sleep over at Grandma's ... soat least ONE girl was taken care of!

Last night ... while I'm on the phone ... Rebecca (my 9 year-old) is frantically trying to get my attention ... which of course I ignore and muttering my usual "Do you see this thing attached to my head?  It's a phone. I'll talk to you when I'm done".  She kept hopping around and looking distressed ... so I said goodbye to my Mom and asked her what was wrong.  Ina total panic ... "Mom!  Would you pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaase drive me to the store so I can buy you guys Easter presents??!!??!!"

I looked at the clock.

It was 4:45 pm.

I just looked at her ... stunned.

Me:  "Uh - let me think about that for a second .... oh!  NO!"

I then tried to explain to her that Easter was NOT about presents, or chocolates or rabbits and that she did not have to give any of us anything.  While she knew all that she replied "I know ... but I WANT to ... PLEASE!". 

Me:  "Still no".

**insert flood of tears here**

Sigh. 

Me:  "Right.  After dinner Dad and Alicia can watch Wreck it Ralph (no ... STILL haven't made the time to watch it!!) and I can help you make them something"

Rebecca:  "But what am I going to get YOU??"

Me:  "Honey - the best gift you can give me is to spend time with me crafting"

Rebecca:  "I know - but I still want to MAKE you something but you can't know what it IS"  *insert more tears here*

Sigh again.

Me:  "OK, OK - don't panic!  I'll show Daddy how to get onto Pinterest and show him my board of Hoiday craft ideas.  You guys can pick something and he can help you, if you need it".

Rebecca:  "ok.  thanks mom" **insert hanging head, slumping shoulders and shuffling off to find her sister**

So I showed Craig Pinterest and a few ideas and after dinner off they went.  Just look what she came up with:

Hee hee - isn't it adorable??  She did such a great job!  She even used dimensionals to pop up the little cheeks!  I ahev to go back and hot glue the little tail on ... and maybe secure the bow a little better ... but only because I want to keep it forever :)))

After I cleaned up the kitchen we went down and worked on presents for Alicia and Craig.  She agreed to a bookmark for Alicia.  (Thank-you again Pinterest for the last-minute ideas!!) Check it out!

Awww ... and look at those little faces from about 5 years ago!  I think Rebecca was 5 1/2 and Alicia was 3.  It was our first family vacation to San Diego.  This picture is one of my all-time favorites.  No it wasn't taken at Legoland, Sea World or theSan Diego Zoo ... it was taken in the parking lot of the Alamo car rental place *lol* Ahhh - those special memories *lol*!  Anyway!  Check out the bookmark!  We just used some of my retired Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon .. andf some white taffeta - used two piece of the white - looped them into a cross and secured it with one of our retired brads (ice, I think).  Quick and easy!

Then came Craig's present.  Ugh.  This one resulted in a bit of a battle between us.  Rebecca wanted to make hime beaded key chain.  Great!  I can do that ... 6 or so beads in the shape of a cross.  No problem.  Problem.  She didn't WANT to make a cross - she wanted to make a rabbit.  Mmm hmm.  Let me think about that for a minute.  Oh ya!  NO!  About 15 minutes later I think she got the message that while she was quite welcome to make a rabbit beaded key chain I wasn't going to.  I didn't know how (the instructions were beyond bogus!) ... I didn't have time ... I didn't WANT to ... and most importantly "a lack of planning on your part does not make an emergency crafting situation on MY part!"  (at this point I was REALLY trying to hold it together - I was tired and cranky ... and still had a few hours of putting Easter Baskets together, putting out rabbit food, doing the scavenger hunt and filling and hiding about 150 eggs around the house ahead of me ... and of course I couldn't start any of THAT fun until they were both asleep ... which is usually not until about 10:30 pm when they are all excited about big days ahead!  Despite being on edge I kept my cool ... last Tuesday I made a 30 day challenge for myself not to yell .... NOT an easy task for this short-fused, underslept Mamma!)  ANYwaaaaaay .... she finally accepted that it was too hard to make so we jumped on pinterst again and found an adorable little pompom rabbit we could make.  We didn't have any large WHITE pompoms around (and pink, teal and orange just wouldn't do!) so we had to improvise a bit.  Here is what "she" made:

Hee hee - didn't "she" do a great job?  Yes - I guess she WAS the creator ... I was just the labourer ... since she couldn't cut the ears ... or the feet ... of the pipecleaners ... and couldn't use the glue gun ... but other than that it was all her *lol*.  Daddy loved it nonetheless ... and she went to bed happy that she had gifts for everyone.

This morning was fun - all the eggs were found and the Scavenger Hunt really made them think (they were stumped on one or two and needed more hints) ... and now they are on a sugar high!  I'm off to take a nap before the bird goes in and our parents come over for dinner.  Thanks for popping in.  I have 2 cards to share in the days ahead so pop back again soon.  Until then - have a stampy Easter!

Tam

Field Flowers - Take IV

Happy Easter!

By the time you read this we will be up to our ears in chocolate eggs so I'm typing this early and scheduling it to post.

I'm happy to report that I DID manage to get the kids' scavenger hunt done ... and printed!  Now I just have to crop the clues, hide them and put the baskets together ... and of course hide about 200 plastic eggs in every nook and cranny ... but the time consuming part is done - woo hoo!  Wanna see the scavenger hunt?  Hee hee - I'm always so proud of myself when I do these things - hopefully they are the "little things" that the girls remember when they grow up!  I found a template on Pinterest and just had to type in my clues.  See the end of this post for the hunt :)

Sooooo - onto crafting.  Now who was I kidding?  I just couldn't leave well enough alone with the Field Flowers set.  The more I looked at the card from yesterday's post the more I needed to make one more.  I spend 4 HOURS trying all sorts of techniques - I tried watercoloring, faux silk, marble something-or-other technique ... essentially I had every tool, reinker and paper out ... as well as every type of ribbon and embellishment!  In the end I cracked off a card in about 10 minutes that I settled on.  Here is the third card for the Stamp Set of the Month set:

Yay!  I like this one.  I kept TRYING to make one using Night of Navy and/or Pool Party.  It's such a striking combination!  I was inspired by 3 or 4 similar cards I found in Pinterest and Stampin' Connection so thank you for sharing everyone!  For this card I stamped the flowers and sentiment in Night of Navy.  I then used my glass blocks for the square background shapes.  I used Pool Party, Calypso Coral and So Saffron.  I used a Designer Prints brad to finish it off.  The mat is Pool Party.  Quick and easy!   ... I wish the clean up was quick and easy ... alas ... it took me 3 hours to get my craft room back in order!  Here is what my hand generally look like after I spend time cleaning all my dirty stamps:

Niiiiiiiice!  Don't you wish I was making YOUR Easter Dinner with these lovely fingers??  *lol*  Speaking of Easter Dinner, I guess I should go get things sorted out for that.  I truly hope you all have a blessed Easter, surrounded by family and/or friends you hold dear.  Until next time - have a stampy day :)

Tam

Here is my Scavenger Hunt .....

It's Easter once again Hurray!
That means we get to hunt today!
You'll find the baskets when you're done
But first track clues down, one by one.

The first clue can be found upstairs
Where Barbie keeps these things in pairs

You found the first one
That was fun
Now let’s try a harder one!

The next clue hides where things stay cold
These little squares are hard to hold
This clue is tough ... You have to think ...
You can put them in a drink!

Yay you found it! Now which way?
To the room where you can play!
What a mess! Where should you look?
Under a game? Inside a book?
This could take hours with all these toys
Your next clue hides in what makes noise!

The next one's easy
This I know
Don't move slowly, hurry, go!

Mama made this for you to keep
It's where Alicia's stuffies sleep

The next clue hides behind a door
Ones that's on the middle floor
Work together, take a look
Where we keep the things to cook

Now off you go
Up to a place
Where mom or dad can wash their face
Or brush their teeth
Or comb their hair
Or change their stinky underwear
You have to look towards the sky
Your clue is peeking way up high!

That was fun let’s do one more
Your next clue's on the lowest floor
This is easy, don't you think?
Where Dad goes to get a drink

Now which way?
You need a path?
What can help you with your math?

It's in a drawer
Beneath a thing
When someone calls this thing will ring

That one was hard you found it, though!
We still have 2 more clues to go!

The next one's under so something bright
You turn it on to make it light
It's on the middle floor I think
Behind where mom will sit to drink

That makes 9 clues that you have found
The last clue's hiding on the ground

Under something that is white
Rebecca goes there every night

One more thing you still must do
Look inside the Teddy's shoe!


That's the end -  the hunt is done
Who wants a basket?
Anyone?

Ok, your baskets wait for you
By all Mommy's pretty shoes!

Happy Easter

Field Flower Circles

Happy Saturday!

Ok, ok ... I still don't have that Scavenger Hunt done ... or started for that matter ... I still have a few more hours *lol*

I started off this last card caseing one I found on Stampin' Connection made by Sara Hoogendoorn.  Here is her lovely card:

I love it!  It's just so different!  I believe she used a sketch from Mary Fish and/or Mojo Monday.  I thought it would be perfect for my third card using the Field Flower Set.  Once I got down to making it I realized I needed to dig out my Circle Cutter ... ugh ... that didn't interest me much ... I'm really not sure where I've hidden it ... so I started playing around with her concept, but using different sizes of circles.  Here is what I came up with:

Hee hee!  This one just makes me giggle!  It's SO not what I had in mind!  That's what I love about this craft ... you start off with one thing in mind but it so often takes off on a tangent of its own and you get a totally different result!  I used my Circles Big Shot Die (page 193 - $19.95) for the 2 inch whisper white circle and my 2 1/2" circle punch (page 185 - $22.95) for the Island Indigo circle.  The sentiment is stamped in Lucky Limeade ink.  The other circles are made with the 1 3/4" circle (Daffodil Delight) 1 1/4" circle (Lucky Limeade) and 1" circle (Calypso Coral) (page 184 - $21.95 - $22.95 ... you just can't go wrong investing in ALL the circle punches!!)  The arrowhead is from Oh, Hello! in the mini - page 4 - $22.95 clear; $31.95 wood).  I colored each pattern with the same colors above with my markers.  A few rhinestones and dimensionals and Wa-low!  A very cute, very different card using the Field Flowers set.

So that is it for my Field Flower projects.  I hope I have convinced you that it is a "must have" set.  It's a definate keeper!

Happy Easter to everyone.  I hope you get to spend the day with family and friends celebrating in whatever way is special to you.  I'm having family over and can't wait!  Until next time - have a stampy day :)

Tam

Field Flower Vintage

Happy Friday! 

Friday!  Does this mean Spring Break is officially over?  I think it does!  We are now officially into the Easter break - so Happy Good Friday!

Just a quick one today ... I should be working on my annual Scavenger Hunt for Sunday morning - I'm determined not to leave it until 9:00 pm Saturday night this year!!

So here is one of the cards that made the cut for one of my Stamp Set of the Month cards:

It's so simple - I love it!  It is just stamped on First Edition DSP (LOVE that stuff!!! - page 162 - $15.95 for 24 sheets of this gorgeous stuff!) inb Soft Suede Ink.  I distressed the edges with the Distressing Tool (page14 of the mini - $6.95 .. it's kind of hidden - you have to look for it!) and sponged the edges with Soft Suede and a finger dauber.  I also sponged some Suede on the paper and then used my Color Spritzer Tool (page 179 - $16.95) to add some more distressing.  I punched the DSP with the Decorative Label Punch (page 182 - $22.95) and stamped the sentiment in the hole (using my stamp-a-ma-jig (page 7 - $15.50) to get it centred.  I tied some Soft Suede Taffeta ribbon around the DSP and (you really have to look to see them) a bunch of pearls - one right beside the sentiment and then a bundle of the smallest ones in the centre of each of the flowers.  Quick, easy but lovely.

Tomorrow I have my last card using this set ... and it's completely different than what I set out to do ... but I like it!  Pop in and check it out!  Until then - have a stampy day :)

Tam

Field Flowers Black & White

Happy Thursday!

Wow!  Where is the week going??  I can't believe it's already Thursday!  I really MUST get my butt in gear and start on those tax returns - I get later every year!  Maybe this afternoon ... after a little crafting ;)

Today I wanted to share with you a project I made ... and rejected.  I was playing around with a few techniques while making my Stamp Set of the Month cards using the Field Flowers set (page78 - $21.95 clear; $30.95 wood.  I played around with this one for quite a while ... and had my little "Opinionator" close at hand to help me.  While I like it I played around a little more and made two others I like better so this one, sadly, didn't make the cut.  Here it is:

What do you think?  I was going from something "completely different" with this one ... and I think I achieved THAT *lol*.  I stamped the images on black card stockusing white craft ink.  I then stamped the centre of the flowers using Raspberry Ripple Classic ink.  The mat is Raspberry Ripple too.  The sentiment is punched out with the Decorative Label punch (page 182 - $22.95), sponged with Raspberry and popped up on dimensionals.  The butterflies were made with the Beautiful Wings Embosslits (page 188 - $14.95) in whisper white.  I added a few rhinestones to the flowers and they remind me of little dew drops.  Yes ... I like it but I wasn't 100% convinced I loved it so I played on.  You'll have to come back tomorrow to see the two that made the cut *lol*

While I was playing with the above card my little helper, Alicia, was with me and making Easter cards for her grandparents.  She liked the black on white and when she saw me coloring the flowers with my watercolor pencils she wanted to do it too ... so I gave her a scrap piece of paper to play with and she decided to make a bookmark for Rebecca for her birthday next month.  She did a really nice job.  Here is her creation (ok ... yes, I did the stamping (at her request) but she did the coloring and writing!)

Ta Da!  Isn't it great?  I didn't tell her she did the "Black Magic" technique - but she did (which is just coloring the white image with the watercolor pencils).  It looks really pretty in person!

That's it for today - pop in again tomorrow for another Field Flowers card.  Until then - have a stampy day!

Tam

Silhouette Sentiments

Happy Wednesday!

Today I have a FABULOUS project to share with you.  My friend, and a member of my downline Kerri Anne Byttynen sent me a picture of a card she made this week and I fell in LOVE with it!  And no, it's not just because she used one of my old cars for inspiration *lol*.  Here is my card that inspired her:

I made this card a few years back to demonstrate the masking technique.  I used (now retired) Stem Sulhouettes in Chocolate Chip over a So Saffron sponged masked square.  I really loved that stamp set.  In one of my "purge" moods I added it to my garage sale box and sold it.  Big mistake!  That was a real "keeper" set.  ... then again, there are other sets that DO work in its place ... so I'm sure I'll get over it ... eventually *lol* ... but ... as usual ... I digress!

Here is the card Kerri Anne made:

LOVE it!  She used the (also now retired) Silhouette Sentiments for hers - in Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery.  She used the Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Buitterfly punches with rhinestones and some Celery Ribbon.  The Scalloped Edge Punch gives the nice feminine border.  The Sentiment is from Delightful Dozen (page 140 - $30.95 clear; $40.95 wood). AWESOME job Kerri Anne!  I might just have to CASE your CASE of my card *lol*

That it for today.  Until next time - have a stampy day :)


Tam

This and That!

Happy Tuesday!!

It's movie time!!!

I am SO STINKIN' EXCITED about this new line of products Stampin' Up! has just come out with!!!!  It is a "Smashbook Journal" product line and oddly enough just about 2 weeks ago I was researching what the heck this whole "Smashbook Journal" gig I've been seeing is all about.  I happened to be at "that craft store" back in January and wandered past a display of smash journals.  They seemed interesting.  From what I could tell it was a quick and easy way to scrapbook / journal without all the pretty, precise stuff that has traditionally been done with "scrapbooking".  This very much interested me.  I am one of those people who has yet to start about 10 project because I can't get them perfect ... so they never get started ... or I'm overwhelmed by the mere THOUGHT of the undertaking ... so this Smashbook stuff seemed right up my alley.  You aren't SUPPOSED to make it neat and tidy - that's the beauty of it!  You just slap thing in - scribble a few notes - use some pretty washi (?) tape ... I know how to MAKE pretty washi tape just not sure how to SPELL washi tape!!) ... stay tuned for a quick tutorial on THAT one of these days :))) ..... but I digress ...

A few days after my craft store discovery Stampin' Up! had Smashbooks as one of their projects at Leadership in Florida.  I still didn't really "get" the whole concept 100%.

A few weeks after THAT  I stumbled across a Pinterest item that nicely explained it to me.  It really is just scrapbooking on the run - no rules - just fun.  A great way of keeping little momentos and snippets of fun on a more frequent basis.  How fun would it be to go on a holiday and come home with a completed book, just waiting for a few pictures to be added to it??!!  You jot down thought, memories and activites at the MOMENT ... thereby giving you a more complete and accurate experience - not a "two month after-the-fact blurry memory".

Well!  Fast forward to this week.  Stampin up has just launched a new line of products to help me in my quest to actually START some sort of scrapbook / journal.  I introduce you to "This and That"!

 Are you excited?!?!?  I AM (but then again ... when am I NOT when it comes to this company??!!) ... and Yes, I've already ordered mine and it is currently winging its way to my front door!  Here are the deets:

Item	Description	Price
131268	Epic Day This and That Journal	$13.95
130814	Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper	$13.50
130133	Remember This and That Rotary Stamp	$7.95
131271	Epic Day This and That Designer Stickers	$5.95
131269	Epic Day This and That Designer Washi Tape	$6.50
133350	Epic Day This and That Bundle Includes the five This and That products listed above. Only available in a bundle until April 30.	$40.67 15% Off Retail Value

 To help spread the word about this new awesome line Stampin' Up is also having a contest where they are giving away a free trip to San Diego!  Enter on Facebook for your chance to win:

https://www.facebook.com/stampinup

 If you quote my bit.ly number http://bit.ly/10wDP5d ...   when you enter I get an additional entry into the draw ... so please quote it ... Momma needs a vacation!  *lol*

So that's it for today.  Pop in again soon - I hope to have more projects to share made using the Field Flowers stamp set.  Until than ... have a stampy day!

Tam

Simple Circles

Happy Monday!

If you are popping over from Pink Paper Bakery - WELCOME! 

I was thrilled - and am honoured - to have been asked to be a guest artist for their blog!  They have very talented artists contributing to their blog.  If you are one of MY followers and haven't checked them out before pop on over and grab some inspiration!  www.pinkpaperbakery.com

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend! I certainly did .... I managed to spend a little time in my craft room putting together all the extra templates that I had cut for my Spring Stamp-A-Stack last weekend. The card I'm sharing today was the 5th card I designed ... with only 15 hours to spare *lol*. While I HAD a 5th project in mind I wasn't happy with it. I wanted something bright, cheery, quick and easy. I have been on a real "neutrals" roll lately and was craving some spring brightness. Time was of the essence! No time to over-think anything ... and that's usually when I come up with my favorite cards ... when I just "go with the flow" and create what my heart desires. Here is what I came up with:

What could be easier than a pack of DSP and some punches? This cards is PERFECT for any age, either gender and most occasions ... my kind of card!

I started with the standard 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Whisper White card base and added a layer of Whisper White measuring 5 1/4" x 4". I used the Polka Dot Parade DSP and punched out circles with my 1 1/4" circle punch. I then used my 3/4" circle punch to make the smaller Rich Razzleberry, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight circles. I popped the Daffodil and Red circles up on dimensionals and added a heart (using the small heart punch) to the Real Red circle. 3 small rhinestones finish off the design and really work well with the polka dot pattern. I used the sentiment from Friendy Phrases in Pacific Point. Part of the fun of making this card was playing around with it and changing up the patterns of the double sided DSP. Here are the variations I made:

That's it! I cracked off 10 of these in about 45 minutes. I'm now ready for the plethera of birthday cards needed for the kids' friends that always come this time of year!

So the next time you need a card just grab a pack of DSP that calls to you, a few of your favorite punches and play away! Don't overthink it, just have fun!

Thank you to Deena and the Pink Paper Bakery Ladies for inviting me to share my project(s) with you. I hope you like them and draw some inspiration from them. 

Have a stampy day!


Tam

Field Flowers Take I

Happy Sunday!

Don't you just love how my posting is so hit-and-miss?  I TRIED to stick to a schedule of posting every Monday ... "everyone" says the key to a successful blog is being consistent ... but ... well .... this just adds a bit of surprise to your day, doesn't it?  I don't post for a week or two and then I post every day for a while ... then nothing ... then lots ... it's like checking the mail everyday waiting for that magazine you ordered ... you check and check and check and then WHAM!  It arrives! 

WHAM!  Here's a project:

Ta da!  Isn't it pretty??  I love how it turned out :)  This is SUCH a great set ... I guess that's why I picked it as a "must have" Stamp set of the Month Set.  It's on page 78 - $21.95 clear; $30.95 wood.  I used whisper white and More Mustard card stock.  I used the En Francais background stamp (page 129 - $21.95) stamped in So Saffron (but stamped off before stamping on the whisper white for a softer look).  I used Old olive for the stemps (again, stamped off before applying to the whisper white) then the flowers in So Saffron and More Mustard (again ... stamped off first).  The sentiments is in More Mostard and punched out with the extra large oval punch - page 184 - $22.95 and popped up on dimensionals.  Oh!  and I sponged the right hand side of the oval with Old Olive ink for just a hint of green to draw the pieces together.  I toyed with putting a little snippet if Old Olive ribbon in the top right hand corner but in the end decided less was more and left it alone (I KNOW!  SOOO unlike me!)  I love the simplicity of this card.  It just reminds me of a picture.  Love it!

Pop in tomorow for a SUPER quick and easy birthday card that works for any age and any gender - we all need 20 of these in our stash of cards to have on hand!  It is also the card that will be featured in the Pink Paper Bakery blog!  Until then - have a stampy Sunday :)


Tam

Feeling Sentimental Case - Take II

Happy Saturday!

Just a quickie today :)

Remember this card I shared last week?:

It's a case from Heather Summers (www.stampwithheather.typepad.com) but Heather's card had more detail.  I had planned to use tha above card for my party and Stamp-a-Stack last weekend ... but of course I couldn't leave well enough alone and decided to go with a version that was virtually identical to Heather's.  Here is the ramped up version:

Wow ... look at the difference taking the picture at night vs during the day makes!  Anyway - the second one just has some added embellishments on it.  I used the Ticket Duo punch and sponged it with some Early Espresso ink, the Victorian Trim Lace and the Jewellery tag punch (in espresso) and attached the whole thing with a gold brad.  It really adds a lot of interest to the card with very little extra work or material.  Love it!  Thanks Heather :)

Pop in again to see my first card made for this month's Stamp-Set-of-the-Month Club cards using Field Flowers.  Until then have a stampy Saturday :)

Tam