Creative....

In more ways than just paper crafting! 

This LONG weekend was a whirl wind of of creativity......of course, not enough creative projects were completed though.  Tis' the season I guess.

Of course, I'm still working on our Christmas cards - they're getting there, but not quite finished yet.

On Saturday for our Turkey Day After Dinner, I tried my 'creative baking' skills.  I made my first Lemon Meringue pie for dessert.  My mom for years has always made Lemon Meringue pie for my dad (it's his favorite) for all the holidays I can remember.  So, this year, I thought I'd give it a try.  I learned if you beat egg whites for too long, they CAN get TOO stiff.  The pie was still super yummy though!!

I've been knitting slippers like crazy, trying to get them finished for the holiday because I learned this weekend that several of my family members have worn their slippers out (add 4 more pair to knit before Christmas to the 6 pair I'm still working on).

And the pillowcase creativity has been finished.  My mom delivered the last of the pillowcases that we worked on a few weekends ago.  They turned out way too cute.  I didn't take photos of all of them, but here are a few.  What kid or grown up wouldn't love one of these cute pillowcases?

My mom always finds the coolest stuff (see our family blog here for her neat finds).  So, she stopped at Ikea and found these hot pads (they were originally plain white).  Because of her embroidery store, NOTHING leaves the store without SOMETHING embroidered on it.  So, these are a few new hot pads and a hand towel for our kitchen.  Aren't they super cute?

So, this week, I'm hoping to get back to making a dent in my projects that involve spending time in my studio using paper and vinyl (and a few pair of slippers here and there).

Happy Craftin'!

Min

The last of the Turkeys. . . .

And JUST in time for Turkey Day!!  I put together a few of these for our family.

It was a perfect card for Cheryl's challenge at Scrap-Friendzy - Use the scraps from your last layout.  Because my layouts have been few and far between lately, all my layout scraps were still within reach! 

I thought this image was just too funny!  The Sentiment seemed appropriate as every year after Thanksgiving I remember my mom 'soaking' what was left over of the turkey and making Turkey Soup.  Ah, the holiday memories!  : )

Image - Dustin Pike Freebie

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Papers - Left over Scraps from a layout I did for Colin's Album 

Sentiment - Computer Generated - LDJ Noodge (Scrap N Fonts)

Miscellaneous - Doodling, Googley Eyes, Dimensionals for Turkey's feet & beak & Stickles!

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families & find some fabulous Black Friday Deals!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

'Tis The Season!

I've been a bad blogger this past week.  There have been so many projects I've been trying to get wrapped up before the holidays.  Saturday I spent the day making mint chocolate covered pretzles.  Can you say YUMMO?  Of course Glen and I had to taste a few for Quality Control.  I haven't even made a DENT in my chocolate making for Christmas.  I still have chocolate covered cherries and chocolate turtles to make.  I'm not sure if that will take place this weekend or it it will wait until next week.  I'll be sure to share the EYE CANDY once it's all finished.

And believe it or not, once I got the chocolate off my fingers, I've been scrapping & knitting like a crazy woman.  Still working on knitting slippers for Christmas.  A few more have been added to the list and of course, I'm working on Christmas Cards.  (I thought I said I was going to have my Christmas Cards DONE in January - DOH!)  I have little snowman pieces, and scarf pieces and snow globe pieces EVERYWHERE!!  I've cut out so many little snowmen scraves I have the 'scissor-claw' going (I never knew how sore your hand could get after 2 hours of cutting little scarves out of paper.....)  We usually send over 100 Christmas cards out every year, so I have to do everything in steps.  My goal for this week is to get the Christmas Cards wrapped up.  Maybe a lofty goal, but we'll see.

Anyway, I did get a little something done yesterday that's actually FINISHED and not just in pieces.....so last week wasn't a complete bust! :o)

Glen's cousin 'twisted' her ankle, or so she though in the parking lot of the skating rink mid-week last week.  The update we got on Saturday was that she actually fractured a bone in her foot and is going to have to have surgery to install a pin.  UGH!  Guess that's one way to get out of Christmas shopping, huh?  So, I had to put together this little ditty for her.  Glen's family all has such a great sense of humor.  Her comment to Glen's uncle was that she was doing a double axel in the parking lot, hence the sentiment on the card.

Image:  Dustin Pike Image

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Several of the bandages and the cast are double cut and popped up on dimensionals.  It's hard to see in the photo, but it's way too cute in person.

Sentiment:  "Zeek realized the hard way that he needed to rework his parking lot double axel execution" computer generated using LDJ Noodge (Scrapnfonts); Oops! Monster-licious Graphic Set (LetteringDelights)

Miscellaneous papers from my stash (Doodlebug, Michaels stripe & Black & white dots).

Stickles:  Turquiose & Diamond

Thanks for stopping by today!  I certainly hope things aren't as crazy at your house as we gear up for the holidays, but the great thing - SHORT week this week - THOSE are the BEST kind of weeks!!!

See you tomorrow!!  Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Short Week.....

and progress to boot! 

We had yesterday off from work to celebrate Veterans Day.  Go figure, even though Veterans Day was this past Wednesday, the company I work for celebrates it after the fact - it is called 'Deer Hunting Day'.  We still celebrate Veterans Day at our house on the actual day as both of our dad's were in the service and we are so thankful for our Veterans AND our Soldiers!!!

Okay, so on that 'Deer Hunting Day' thought - Let me attempt to paint a picture for you - I grew up in a small town that actually has what they call a 'Buck Pole' at the local sporting goods store (a little town sporting good store).  All the locals on the first day of rifle hunting season that have gone out hunting and 'bagged a buck' brings their deer to the 'sporting goods store' and they all admire who got the biggest one......hmmmmm, sounds like a guy thing, doesn't it? 

Please let me remind you, we don't hunt, we feed bambi, we don't eat him (not that there is anything wrong with hunting if you do and use the meat).  I grew up in Hicksville USA, and this event each year made the front page of our local weekly paper.  It is BIG news, every year!  My dad used to go 'hunting' though it was more hanging out with his buddies, playing cards and drinking......just ask my mom about the year she packed his extra socks in his gun case and he never found them........

I digress.....be prepared for another one. . . . . right about NOW!  So, we both had the day off and a list of things we wanted to check off - we're getting ready for two Thanksgiving dinners next week, so a trip to Costco was a given yesterday.  I usually go, run in, get what we need and run out.  Well, yesterday we spent 2 1/2 hours wandering through.  It was time well spent, we got what we needed and a few 'extras'.  Believe it or not, there is a crafty reason I'm telling you about our Costco trip :) I have some new 'lighting' news to share. 

My studio is in our finished basement.  No natural light.  Several years ago, before I got back into scrapbooking and was cross stitching till my eyes crossed, my folks got me an Ott-light for Christmas one year.  I love the light it gives off.  Anyway, in my studio, I have three can lights in the ceiling and up until this point, I've been using your standard light bulbs.  Yep, the ones that kind of give off the yellow kind of hue.  Well, in our wandering at Costco, we found a 6 pack of the 'daylight' light bulbs (energy savers too).  Can I just tell you HOLY COW, what a difference?!  Even Glen was completely blown away by just the difference in lighting!  You know you're getting 'old' when you get excited about lightbulbs!  HA HA! :oD

I can't wait to get back into my studio tonight!!

Okay, now that I've blah blah blahed your ear off, I want to share with you a little quickie I put together last night for my nephew for Thanksgiving (with my new lights).  I love making cards for my nephew Colin.  From the stories I hear from his mom, he always gets a kick out of 'reading' them (he's 4).  Anyway, when I saw this Turkey on a Scooter, it seemed like a perfect 4 year old Turkey card!

I used the Scrap-Friendzy "Thanksgiving Recipe Challenge."  We had a list of items we could use and we had to pick 5.  I used:  Twine, Patterned Paper, Buttons, Embossing & Distressing.

 

Materials:

Papers:  Leaf print - Hobby Lobby, Brown, Rust & Green from my scrap stash

Image:  High Hopes Stamps (I stamped him and then enlarged him)

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Cuttlebug:  Argyle Embossing Folder

Miscellaneous:  Stickles - Diamond & Silver, Twine, Colorbox Olive Ink, Buttons from the button box

Thanks so much for stopping by and being patient with my yakkin' today!

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Count Down to the Holidays Crop

What a fabulous weekend!  I hope you are all enjoying your time this weekend!  We certainly have.  I got a chance this afternoon to Skype craft for the first time with my best friend Shelly who lives all the way in Topeka.  What a fun time it was (with the exception of occasional dropped calls).  While Shelly and I were crafting, I was working on some of the great challenges over at Scrap-Friendzy for their "Count Down to the Holidays Crop".  The great thing about this crop (other than the amazing inspiration & projects) is that you can play for the entire month doing the challenges for Friendz Points and get some great projects created for the holidays too!!

Pop over and check out some of the neat-o challenges my Design Team sisters have posted.

I'm getting ready for our December Cookie Exchange (and homemade chocolate making) hence the Yummy Goodie Bag challenge I posted.  I used a combination of hand-stamped white treat boxes, pre-printed mini-metal tins with a little ribbon and bling I added (tins @ Michaels $1, LOVE IT), paper mache cookie box painted and paper treated and these super cute little mini-loaf pans that I'll combine with a cute cooking apron and bread mix.

Stop over, spend some time and be inspired, we'd love to have you join us!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Card for Noah

I wanted to share with you a card I created for Noah.  If you haven't heard about this little boy, you can see his story here.

Thanks to Aprile from the Cricut MB for the super cute Christmas Gruffie Image.

Happy Craftin'!

Hugs & Happy Days!

Min

Invite to a Yummy Occasion!

Good Morning & Happy Hump Day!!  I've been working on several things for the upcoming "Count Down to the Holidays Crop" starting TOMORROW at Scrap-Friendzy, that I can't show you until this weekend.  BUT, here is something I can show you that relates to a project or two for the Crop!

Every year for the past 5 years, my girlfriends, moms (mom & MIL) and other family have gotten together around Christmas for a Cookie Exchange brunch.  In keeping the spirit alive for this year, we're at it again!

I'm not sure if you've ever participated in a cookie exchange, but we all love doing this each year!  I have some wonderful cooks/bakers in my family.  My mother in law makes these awesome little pecan cup type cookies among many OTHER yummy treats!  YUMMO!!  And my mom, she always finds a super neat cookie recipe too.  I end up making about 15 dozen cookies - mostly because I can't decide on just one or two recipes!!!  I ask everyone that comes to bring 5 dozen cookies.  There are usually 10-12 of us and we all make something different.  Some ladies bring two different recipes, others just do 5 dozen of the same.  Whatever the choice is, we have at least 10 DIFFERENT cookies that we all get to go home with.  And even better yet, you don't have to make all these different cookies yourselves. 

So, there's all my blah blah blah, :) and here's this year's cookie exchange invite. 
I think it's my favorite Cookie Exchange Invite so far!

Materials:

Paper - Cardstock all from my stash; printed paper used for the Oven Mitt - Hobby Lobby, super cute Christmas Tree print

Cricut/Design Studio - From My Kitchen Cartridge for the Recipe Card, Rolling Pin, Oven Mitt & Recipes word; Stretch Your Imagination (I think) for the Gingerbread Man

Cuttlebug:  Swiss Dots & Distress Stripes Embossing Folders

Miscellaneous - Homemade text - Font pack from Lettering Delights; Doodling - all by hand, invite information & details - computer generated using Papyrus & LD Playful fonts; Flat backed black pearls and jeweled heart - Michaels; And of Course - Googley Eyes!

Hope you're having a great day!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Dino-mite Time

was had by all today!  What fun we had celebrating Colin's 4th Birthday at his party with all his friends and family.

This year his party was at Pump It Up.  I've never seen so much "Jumpy" stuff!

So, I said I'd share a photo of how the cake decorations turned out - here it is.

Amy got the cake at Costco & they put the writing on the cake, we did all the paper work.  BTW, the Costco cake was SUPER SUPER yummy!!!  I'm not a big cake person, but this was fantastic!

Cake Decorations were cut with the cricut using Paper Dolls Dress Up.  The Dino was cute at 5" and the little cave people at 2.5", just to give you an idea on size.

I didn't get a lot of photos, but here are a few.

Here's the birthday boy and his mama on the BIG slide!

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I had to take a photo too of the Birthday Boy trying to Hula-hoop. 

When was the last time you hula-hooped?!

Thank you Colin for a wonderful day (And Amy & Andy too!)  :o)

Hope you've had a wonderful weekend!  We enjoyed 67* today - We HAD to have set a record.......I don't EVER remember it being 67* in November in Michigan.  It was an absolutely beautiful weekend!

Stay turned, starting Thursday over at Scrap-Friendzy, our "Here Comes The Holiday Crop" begins and the girls have some fabulous Holiday projects!!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Dino-mite Box O' Candy

I finally had a chance to get a good daylight photo of the little center piece boxes for Colin's party tomorrow.

How cute are they?  Each side of the box is different, so I thought I'd stack the four boxes to show you what each side looked like.  The sky and grass were painted with acrylic paint, everything else is paper.

I got the Boxes at Michaels, they're 4.25 x 4.25" square and actually come with a lid, but we weren't going to need those, so I've got them saved for another time or project.  The boxes were a glossy white before I got some paint & paper attached to them.

Materials -

Cricut - Paper Dolls Dress Up (all cuts except the Cloud, those were hand cut

Paper - all paper from my scrappy stash

Miscellaneous - Googley Eyes (Every Dino deserves googley eyes! :), Stickles, Acrylic Blue & Green Paint, Chestnut Roan Ink, Boxes from Michaels, Pop dots, Gel Pens for detail & liquid applique for the orange guy's horns. 

I have the parts & pieces done for the cake too, but I'll take a photo of it all tomorrow once it's attached to the cake, instead of piece by piece.

So today we're headed outside (it's going to be 60* today & tomorrow with sunshine), to take down our halloween decorations.  We might try & get the christmas lights on the gutters hung so we're not out trying to do it in the snow and ice.  Guess we'll see.  College football starts at 12:30 today.  Go Blue!  Go Green! (See, we're an equal rooting household when Michigan & Michigan State aren't playing one another!) ;o)

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Blog Award

Thank you so much to Lynn for the Blog Love. If you haven't checked out Lynn's blog, it's definitely a stop that should be on your regular blog viewing list. You can check out Beautiful Delights

Okay, so on to the blog award -

The rules are: I need to pass this award on to five people, post on their blogs to let them know I left this award, and then I need to answer this list of questions in ONE word....

Here goes -

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse

2. Your hair? Short

3. Your mother? Kind

4. Your father? Strong

5. Your favourite food? Ravioli

6. Your dream last night? None

7. Your favourite drink? Iced-Tea

8. Your dream/goal? Many

9. What room are you in? Office

10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking

11. Your fear? Death

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy

13. Where were you last night? Studio

14. Something that you aren't? Tall

15. Muffins? Cranberry-Orange

16. Wish list item? Peace

17. Where did you grow up? Michigan

18. Last thing you did? E-mailed

19. What are you wearing? Turtleneck (Brrrr, it was 27* when I left for work this am)

20. Your TV? Large

21. Your pets? Kitties

22. Friends? Wonderful

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Content

25. Missing someone? Hubby

26. Vehicle? Ford

27. Something you're not wearing? Flip-Flops :(

28. Your favourite store? Scrapbook

29. Your favourite colour? Orange

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Sunday (Extreme Home Make Over – darn emotional shows!!)

32. Your best friend? Hubby

33. One place that I go over and over? Beach

34. Facebook? Rarely

35. Favourite place to eat? Chili's (It's actually the Olive Garden, but that's 2 words – DOH!)

I am passing on the award to some fabulously crafty ladies:

My Sis Shelly

Jean

Lisa
Staci
Mandy

Happy Craftin' today ladies!

Min

Friendship...Warms the Heart

I came home to a nice 'happy-mail' surprise yesterday.  My design team sister Jean surprised me with the cutest stamps today.  The Changito stamp in slippers with 2 cups of coffee and a sentiment that says "Some mornings you just know...it's going to be a two cup day!"  Boy, don't we all know THOSE kind of mornings?!

So, to thank her for her kindness and for thinking of me, I put together this cute little ditty - the little house mouse is just too cute .  My apologies for the crummy photo - now with day light savings time, it's usually nearly dark by the time I get home from work. 

Image:  House Mouse "Lip Smackin' Relaxin'"

Paper:  Printed - American Crafts (from my stash), Orange - American Crafts, Pink - Bazzill

Technique:  Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Miscellaneous:  Sentiment "Friendship...Warms The Heart" computer generated, Stickles & Hand Doodling

Thanks for stopping by today - hopefully tonight I can get a few photos of the center pieces for Colin's party to show you.  I was able to finish those last night.  Tonight it's the Caker Toppers and Costume Ideas, oh and a it's Thursday, so you know what that means?  SURVIVOR & CSI!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Little Turkey Day Invite

Every year we host our annual "After Turkey Day Dinner" for our parents, my cousins and Glen's brother.  Because we have some 'out-of-towners', we always do it the Saturday after Turkey Day when everyone can make it into town.

Even though it's only family, I always enjoy sending out invitations.  This year is no different.  It's been ages since I've done a long card and I really like how this turned out.  Simple.  I've never made bows like this either, but love the way they turned out.

Embossed Pumpkins are from a stamp set from Joann

Versamark & Orange Embossing Powder

Paper - Rust Cardstock, Little Yellow Bicycle printed paper

Ribbon - Chocolate Brown from Michaels

Invite - Computer Generated - Ld Chicken Scratch Font from Scrapnfonts.com

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a look!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Christmas could Come Early......

Sure Cuts A Lot is giving us all a chance to win a copy of the SCAL program - so someone could be getting an Early Christmas gift!!  The more I read about the program, the more I read about the program, the more interesting it looks to me.......hmmmmmm.

For your chance, check it out here.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

BLINK!

And the weekend was gone!  Wow!

I hope to have some paper craftiness to share with you tonight or tomorrow, but for now, I thought I'd share with you our Pumpkin Craftiness!  Glen and I decided to carve pumpkins on Friday night (see our personal blog for the Great Pumpkin Adventure......).

So, from -  

To these fabulous works of Art!

Pretty impressive, huh?  I'll be lighting the candles in these little babies for at least another few weeks (or until or crabby assocation board sends us a letter.......)

We went trick or treating with my nephew on Saturday (and celebrated his 4th Birthday).

  Isn't he the cutest little Birthday Boy?

Sunday after some MAJOR grocery shopping and Freezer reorganization (yep, do that every time I do a big grocery shop) I got bit by that cleaning bug.......DOH!  So much for getting to my studio......

Luckily we made a HUGE Yummy Tray of 'zagna last night, so we'll be dining on that tonight for dinner. 

'Tovers tonight = MORE TIME IN MY STUDIO!

Happy Craftin'!

Min