What's It All About

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I had gone a bit crazy at the last minute making Christmas cards with this being one of them and just wanted to share it with you today!!!!



RECIPE and SUPPLIES:
  • size A2 card using red Recollection card stock
  • background from my scraps
  • Reindeer was colored with Whisper Stroke Markers and Spectrum Noir Markers with gel accents, has rounded corners and was chalked around the edges
  • Stickles was added to the "snow" and ornaments
  • sentiment, "It's the most wonderful time of the year" had been previous freebie from  Create with TLC  which was chalked around the edges  and mounted on matching paper from the card front


I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

How to Make an Unique Gift Wrapping - a Homemade Pillowcase!!!!

At The Scrapbook Blessings Club I want to share with you not only a super easy sewing project to make for Christmas gifts but also to make for various organizations that are looking for pillowcases to be donated to children in need. I know when I had left my first husband, my daughter received her very own pillowcase from a quilting organization at the Woman's Abuse Shelter. Since then, the Quilt Guild I belong to collects them along with a local quilt store.

Since that time, I have made special pillowcases for Jen which came especially handy when there would be "sleep-overs" as not to get her pillow confused with others BUT also a great wrapping instrument for gifts.  I now make them for Lily and this is her "special" pillowcase that I made to put her Christmas presents in this year.



Supplies:
  • 3/4 yard main fabric
  • 1/4 yard contrast fabric for cuff 


  • trim the salvage away on both the main fabric and the cuff fabric 
TIP: at the same time make sure the width of the fabric is the same as not all fabrics are the same width

TIP: I use my cutting mat, ruler and rotary cutter to trim
  • to make this a little more special, I embroidered "Lily's" name on the cuff 


TIP: to find the center of the one side of the cuff, less seam allowance, use your iron to mark the center
TIP: to embroider the name in the right direction the raw edge is at the top of your hoop with 2 layers of a tear-away stabilizer 

  • a complimentary thread was used to embroider her name 
  • tear away the excess stabilizer and press to remove any wrinkles
  • with right sides together with the main fabric sew along the bottom of the case and along the one side using a 1/4-inch seam allowance, if you have a serger available, serge the raw edges to avoid any unraveling  


  • turn to the right side and at which point I press to set the seam 
  • stitch 1/4-inch seam on cuff to make a circle and press seam open
  • press under 3/8-inch of the cuff which is used to top-stitch cuff 


  • pin wrong side of main fabric to right side of cuff (NOTE: not the side you had pressed the 3/8-inch) and sew in 1/4-inch seam allowance 


  • turn cuff to the right side and top-stitch the cuff to the right side of the case 
  • VIOLA, you have now made your very first pillowcase which I'm sure will be one of many!!!!! 


Thanks for stopping by today and hope you want to try making these also!

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Miriam's Crafting Blog's 19th Monthly Challenge: Handmade Gifts

Monday, December 29, 2014

Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in His Head - New Challenge at Get Creative!

Welcome to our new challenge at Get Creative!!!!! This is a Challenge Blog with this week's challenge theme - Ingredients - 2 Printed Papers, 3 Brads or Buttons and Ribbon!!!!

We have a fabulous sponsor for this challenge: Lacy Sunshine. For this challenge, and I chose to play with Sleepy Head Fred Gnome




Just look at him hiding in the holly and fast asleep!!!! I know I'm exhausted after all the rushing around for Christmas and I can totally relate to him wanting to just hide and snooze!!!

RECIPE and SUPPLIES:
  • size A2 card using Red Recollection card stock
  • background DCWV The Heirloom Christmas Stack which was chalked around the edges
  • Sleepy Head Fred Gnome was colored with Whisper Stroke Markers and Spectrum Noir Markers with gel accents
  • Stickles was used to add some glitz for the fur on his hat and holly berries
  • outside sentiment, "Visions of Sugar Plums Danced in "his" head" had been previous freebie from  Create with TLC  which was chalked around the edges (ok, originally it said "her" head but Fred was having issues being he is a "boy" gnome after all and I just had to change it!!! 
  • inside sentiment, "have a holly  jolly Christmas" had been previous freebie from  Create with TLC  which was chalked around the edges and mounted on scraps from the front background 



I thank you for stopping by and visiting today. Don't forget to showcase your project on Get Creative Challenges and enter in the Challenge!!! I can't wait to see your creations! 

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Mail Girl

I need to put the peddle to the metal and get Christmas cards made/finished/mailed - ok, you get the idea and this little Stamping Boutique's "Mail Girl" is just the ticket!!!!!!!


Don't you just love the elegant embossed background - it's actually DCWV LaCreme Collection comes complete with cards and matching envelopes and what a great way to play speed demon card making!!

Recipe:
  • DCWV Card Collection is complete set with not only the cards but envelopes which I found on sale at JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts for $4.00!!!! is the background of my card
  • Mail Girl was colored with Prisma Markers, Spectrum Noir Markers, Prisma Colored Pencils and gel pen accents
  • Stickles was added to the fur trim on her hat and coat along with the "snowflakes"
  • sentiment, "You Make Christmas Merry", had been a previous freebie from Create with TLC was chalked around the edges with prism snowflakes 
I thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Much love, hugs, and friendship

Monday, December 22, 2014

Happy New Year Cupcake!!!!

It's been a wonderful month as I was the Guest Designer at My Whimsical Little World and I got to share 4 new releases. Unfortunately, this is my last and final Guest Designer Spot using Celebrate Cupcake which I made into Happy New Year easel card complete with button trim!





Recipe:
  • one (1) sheet 8-1/2 x 11 sheet cardstock cut 4.25 x 8.5 inches which is scored at 4.25 and 6.375 inches
  • cut another piece of 4.25 inch x 4.25 inch cardstock
  • background was scraps cut at 4 x 4 inches with an additional piece cut 4 x 2 inches for the sentiment
  • Happy New Year Cupcake was colored using Whisper Strokes Markers and gel pen accents
  • Darice Glossy Accents was applied to the "frosting" on the cupcake
  • sentiment, "Happy Brand Spankin' New Year", had been a previous freebie from Create with TLC 
  • buttons were added on the lower portion for fun from my button tins

I thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Mary Boo's Candy Cane is Deciding to be Naughty or Nice - Decisions Decisions!

I need to put the peddle to the metal and get Christmas cards made/finished/mailed - ok, you get the idea!!!!!!




Say, hello to Mary Boo's Candy Cane which is an adorable Lacey Sunshine cutie!!!

Recipe:
  • The Paper Shack The Christmas Collection which is a complete set with not only the cards but envelopes is the background of my card
  • Mary Boo's Candy Cane was colored with Prisma Colored Pencils, Spectrum Noir Markers and gel pen accents
  • Darice Glossy Accents was added to the brim of her hat along with a holly gem added to the bottom of her hat in place of a pom pom and heart glitz on the toes of her shoes
  • sentiment, "Naughty or Nice - Decisions Decisions", had been from Create with TLC was chalked around the edges and added to the front of my card
  • inside sentiment, "with love at Christmas" was hand-stamped
I thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Much love, hugs, and friendship

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Vivian the Elegant Hat Lady for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Blog Challenge #60

This week at Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge Blog our wonderful sponsor is Sparkle 'N Sprinkle!!!! Of course it's Anything Goes but this week with an optional twist - add a pearl!!! 

I chose Vivian the Hat Lady for my card as she looks sew elegant and with her hat the purrfect place to put a pearl or two!!!!



RECIPE and SUPPLIES:
  • card background Recollection Taupe cardstock cut to a size A2 card with pink scrap for background
  • Vivian the Hat Lady was colored with Whisper Strokes Markers, Prisma Colored Pencils and gel pen accents with being fussy cut around the edges
  • lace was a scrap that I had cut using Designs on Cloud 9 Doilies which was cut in half
  • Queen & Co. pearls were added to her had along with on the right upper side of the card
  • sentiment, "I am wishing a Happy Birthday to a person I am HAPPY to Know", Create with TLC had been a previous freebie was chalked around the edges with white satin Darice ribbon and scrap from the front was cut with Martha Stewart Eyelet Border Punch 

I thank you for stopping by and visiting today. Don't forget to showcase your project on Susy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge Blog this week to enter in the Challenge!!! It's anything goes with no size restrictions with the only restriction of that being your imagination . . . . let your imagination run wild!!!! I can't wait to see your creations!

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship

Elegant Easy Christmas Ornaments

At Scrapbook Blessings Club today I want to share with you a super easy but elegant Christmas ornament!

Yes, that's right, it's super simple and easy with little cost using your Cricut or any cutting machine, vinyl, and pre-purchased glass ornaments!!!! I made 2 of each style for a total of 6 ornaments, scraps of vinyl which took me approximately 30 minutes for all 6 and cost is less than $4.00 for all 6 ornaments!!!!






Supplies:
  • black vinyl scraps
  • this is the image I had used creating with Make the Cut and using Create with TLC image 
  • glass 3.5 inch ornaments

TIP: when cutting be sure to use the "kiss" setting for cutting as not to tear the vinyl.

Thanks for stopping by today and hope you want to try making these also!

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Miriam's Crafting Blog's 19th Monthly Challenge: Handmade Gifts

Friday, December 19, 2014

Pale Messengers Wishing You Peace this Christmas

It's a new challenge at Creative Fingers where it's always Anything Goes!!!!! This week's sponsor is Ching-Chou Kuik who has beautiful fantasy art. I got the privilege to work with Pale Messengers which reminds me of "Peace on Earth" and thus my simple Christmas card:



RECIPE and SUPPLIES:
  • card made us DCWV Winter Collection which not only includes the cards but matching envelopes - how is that for making short and easy work for your Christmas cards???
  • Pale Messengers was colored with  Spectrum Noir Markers, Whisper Strokes Markers, Prisma Colored Pencils, gel pen accents and chalked around the edges 
  • sentiment, "Peace on earth, and best wishes throughout the holidays", was a previous freebies from Create with TLC which was chalked around the edges and mounted on scraps 
I thank you for stopping by and visiting today. Don't forget to showcase your project on Creative Fingers this week to enter in the Challenge!!! It's anything goes with no size restrictions with the only restriction of that being your imagination . . . . let your imagination run wild!!!! I can't wait to see your creations!

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Button Gift Tags

I was inspired by Sandy Hentzel, a fellow teamie from The Scrapbook Blessings Club who had made these and it was love at first sight AND it uses one of my loves - BUTTONS!!!! I'm involved in a Christmas tag swap and shhhhh but don't tell them that this is one of the styles they will receive. We'll  keep it out little secret!




  Supplies:

  • tags were cut using Cricut Winter Frolic at 3.75 inches using DCWV The Crafty Christmas Stack as I had loved the embossed look of the white snowflakes on the beige paper
  • chalked around the edges of my tags
  • with a black sharpie, drew Snowman's hat and arms
  • went through my button stash and found various white buttons in 3 sizes which were glued under the hat and where the arms would be
  • glued 1/8-inch burgendy ribbon for the scarf
  • jute string for the hangie thingie (that's a very technical term!)
Guess, I need to not only get these out in the mail now but also to buy/make some presents to use them with!!!

Thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Christmas Blessings
Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Monday, December 15, 2014

It's the Most Wonderful Smell of the Year!!!!

Christmas has the most wonderful smell and our house is no exception!!!! I've been a baking fool this past week and have baked almost 500 cookies!!!!!! Christmas funds are minimal this year and everyone is getting homemade cookies. Reminds me of a simpler time when gifts were made for family and friends.

I was asked to be the Guest Designer this month at My Whimsical Little World and I get to share with 4 new releases with this being the third of the 4th which is a wonderful gingerbread house!!!!






Supplies:

  • Gingerbread House digital file from My Whimsical Little World
  • gingerbread ribbon
  • DCWV Mrs. Claus' kitchen background
  • Recollection green cardstock for base of card
  • Jennifer Elloy Gingerbread Lane Dimensional Stickers
  • Stickles

Recipe and Directions for a Joy Fold Card:
  • one (1) sheet 8-1/2 x 11 sheet cardstock cut 4.25 x 7.25 inches and another cut at 3 x 6 inches
  • score at 4.25 inches on the 4.25 x 7.25 inch piece of cardstock
  • score at 3 inches on the 3 x 6 inch piece of cardstock
  • cut background 4 x 7 inches for the 4.25 x 7.25 inch piece of cardstock and another piece 4 x 2 inches
  • cut 2 backgrounds 2.75 x 2.75 inches for the 3 x 6 inch piece of cardstock
  • adhere background to 4.25 x 7.25 inch cardstock and refold
  • wrap ribbon and attach to back of 4 x 2 inch background and attach to lower front of card
  • adhere 3 x 3 pieces to the front and inside of 3 x 6 piece folded cardstock
  • Gingerbread House was colored with Whisper Strokes Markers with gel pen accents
  • Stickles for the glittery frosting
  • gingerbread ribbon tied in a bow with dimensional sticker for center
  • sentiment from dimensional sticker package

My parents made along with decorated a gingerbread house every year and it would be dessert Christmas along with the millions of cookies Mom, Gram, Aunt Marilyn, and I baked!!!! Such a warm fuzzy feeling that just an aroma or a picture can conjure!!!

I hope this brings a fond memory to you also. Thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Christmas Blessings
Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Sunday, December 14, 2014

And the Wisemen Followed the Star to Bethlehem

Anything But a Card's new challenge's theme is "Celestial". For my interpretation, I am reminded of the Three Wisemen following the star in search of the new born king.

I used the program Make the Cut along with an image of the Three Wisemen following the star which was cut using vinyl and adhered to a glass vase with a battery operated candle inside:





Tip: be sure to use the "kiss" setting on your Cricut when cutting to cut the vinyl as not to tear or rip your finished project

I appreciate and love reading your comments . . is your comment the next one I read??? 

Much love, hugs, and friendship
Lynne 

this was entered in the following challenges:

Miriam's Crafting Blog's 19th Monthly Challenge: Handmade Gifts

Saturday, December 13, 2014

I'm the Gingerbread Man

I'm sew excited - I was asked to be the Guest Designer this month at My Whimsical Little World and I get to share with 4 new releases with this being the second of the 4th and the 3rd this coming Monday!!!!! The Gingerbread Man became an adorable Post-it Note Holder for Rosie's Holly Jolly!!!




Recipe:
  • one (1) sheet 8-1/2 x 11 sheet cardstock cut 7-3/8 x 3-1/2 inches - you can get three (3) post-it-note holders from one (1) sheet
  • score at 3-1/8 inch, 3-1/2 inch, and 3-7/8 inch 
 
  • the 3-1/8 inch score part is the front of your post-it-note holder and the part that gets decorated and since I've made the mistake more than once, I put a little "x" to mark the front
  • fold at the 3-1/2 inch and make two (2) little cuts approximately 1-inch from either end making sure not to go through the score lines - this holds the optional pen 
  • use sticky tape on either end on the back side of your post-it-note holder (sorry bout the messy sticky taping)
  • glue to the back to form the fold-out for the optional pen or binder and it should now look like this:
  • use sticky tape to the back of a 3 x 3 post-it-note which can be found at any Dollar Store with 5 packs for a dollar!!!! and attached to the back of the post-it-note holder 
  • now comes the fun part - decorating!!!!! I used My Whimsical Little World Gingerbread Man which was colored with Prisma Markers and gel pen accents and fussy cut around the edge and DCWV Mrs. Claus' Kitchen cardstock for the background
  • one (1) charm (optional and only if pen has optional jump ring on cap was added to my pen using a mixer charm and secured the jump ring (these pens were found at JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts and were 3 in a package for a $1.00 at the check-out)(other pens can be found at your local Dollar Store 5 in a package for a $1.00 without the jump ring at the top)
  • and viola - insert pen through holder and you have a super cute, super easy post-it-note holder 
  • Stickles was added to Gingerbread Man's icing trim and of course his gumdrop buttons!

I'm addicted and will be sharing more with you later this week!

I thank you for stopping and visiting with me today and hoping you take a moment or two to leave a comment!!! I love to read them and hoping your's will be the next one I read.

Much love, hugs, and friendship