2 Days until Christmas!

Can you believe it?!  I'm typing to you today with the 'knitting claw' hands.  I've been knitting felted slippers since we finished our Christmas cards (Actually since September).  By the time Christmas comes and goes, I will have knitted 25 pair of slippers.  Can you believe it?  That's a lot of WARM, TOASTY Piggies.  I was so excited a few weeks ago to find a pattern identical to the one I use for big kids (adults) 'foot mittens' as the Pearson kids calle them, but this pattern was for little kids.  And they are just way too cute!! 

Anyway, yesterday I got up early (weird body clock, can't let me sleep in while on vacation).  So, I headed to my studio to finish off these little beauties for a few of the little kids in our family.  They're the mini-glass blocks (about 5" square).  I have two more to do, but I'm still designing them for my nephew and his new baby sister arriving February 2010.  :) 

The boys blocks (The Tractor and the Football) both have Brown Grosegrain Ribbon wrapping the block (can't see 2 boys who like tractors and football wanting ANYTHING to do with BOWS!!!).  The girls blocks however, HAD to have bows!!!

All vinyl cuts were designed in Cricut DS and cut with the cricut.

Carts - George, Every Day Paper Dolls, Life's a Beach, Paper Dolls, Sports Mania and Zooballoo (I think that's it).

Ribbon - from my stash (usually either from Michaels or Joann)

Lights - string of 35 or string of 50 (Hobby Lobby or Target - Targets were cheaper for 50 than HL was for 35).

Vinyl - from my stash, originally purchased last winter when Lowes was getting rid of their wall pops

Glass Blocks - Mini's from Michaels, but I've also seen them at Joann and multiple sizes at Hobby Lobby.  I think Lowes carries the larger ones pre drilled around the holidays too for a lot less in cost than M's does.  Take your coupons if you're headed to the craft stores to purchase them........

So, that was yesterday's project before Christmas.  I have one more pair of slippers to finish and some nut rolls to make today, so wish me luck.  Hopefully I can get the rest of the gift wrapping done at some point today too.  Oh, and I've got a chipboard album I need to finish too.  Whew, guess I'd better get movin'!

Happy 2 Days Before Christmas!!

Happy Craftin' and Holiday Enjoyin'!

Hugs - Min

Silent Night

So, I finally got the necessary ribbon together for the Glass Block I 'almost' finished over the weekend.  Doesn't it just make you crazy when you run out of something just as you're ready to use it?!  DOH!

Cricut - Calligraphy, Christmas Noel & George/ created in Design Studio

Vinly - Light Blue Wall-pops (from Lowe's last winter)

Standard Size Glass Block, frosted with Krylon Frosting paint

Ribbon - Michaels

Bow - The bow is a bit difficult to see - but it's a nice big loopy bow hand created by Moi! :)

I'm so pleased with the way it turned out.  This one will be going to my mom's store this weekend when we see them for sale.

If you're interested in purchasing one for yourself or a holiday gift, please feel free to contact me.

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Gifts A Glow!

We hope you all had a lovely Christmas with your family and friends. We had a super busy but wonderful day with our families.
As promised, here are a few photos of just SOME of the projects I'd been working on for family and friends for Christmas.
I'd seen a few of these neat glass block projects that some talented ladies have created, but it wasn't until my Sis Shelly showed me a photo of one that she'd created did I decide I was on a mission to create a few unique glowing gifts.
With a little time, Cricut Design Studio and the materials (Wall Pops vinyl, Glass Blocks, a string of Christmas lights, Ribbon and Vellum), I was off and designing!

This was the first block I created - The Angel was designed by me with Design Studio. This gorgeous block was for my wonderfully sweet mother-in-law who loves angels and is an angel to many!)

This block was created for my mom. I love the swirls and the ribbons I found for these blocks. Heck, I never knew I could make these gorgeous ribbons.

I have to thank my sis Shelly for the next two photos. She shared with me the beautiful holly design, which I used for two of Glen's aunts. The second blue & white block (I made 2 of these also for Glen's two cousins, Geanine & Barb). I used Shelly's design and modified the holly & berries with snowflakes as both cousins have kids and snowflakes and kids just seem to go great together.

I was so pleased with how all of these turned out and EVERYONE (the receivers & other family & friend onlookers), absolutely loved these little works of art. My mom loved them so much that she and my dad headed to the home improvement store this morning to find me some more pre-drilled glass blocks to create and sell in her embroidery store.

Well, Glen was nice enough to get me some orgainzational cubes for my studio for Christmas so I think we'll put these little buggers together now so I can get to organizing my studio - as this is what it looked like after all the projects I've been finishing......

Can you say yikes what a chaotic mess?! (this is not usually how I work, I'm a bit OC about organization. . . . . which you obviously can't tell from this photo!)

The painting on the wall of the Tiger eyes is one that my mom did for me. Guess you can see where I get my creativity from. :)
Tomorrow I'll post a photo of the Family Album I did for my cousin Eric & John.
Happy Crafting! Min