Happy Birthday Gwen

Here is another October birthday card.  This one is for the Queen of crafting my friend Gwen.  Seriously Gwen and I have attempted just about every craft together....our motto "we can make that".  There are a few  crafts we won't try a second time....like mosaic tiling a cement bench.  Gwen taught me how to crochet and even flew in to help me with a project one time.  Can you tell how much I miss her?
I hope...wait I know she will enjoy this card and the cute nugget jar (check out this video from Kay Kalthoff) to make one for yourself.  I had to use sticky strip instead of glue dots but your patience will pay off.
Another twisted card with the Orchard Harvest DSP and Perfectly Preserved stamp set.

Thanks so much for stopping by today

Pumpkins moving forward birthday for Holly

Another birthday-this time my cousin.  I am so in love with the SU stamp set Moving Forward.   This card took inspiration from this card on SCS.  The pumpkin is from the loaded with love accessories.  Colors are soft suede, old olive, pumpkin pie and rich razelberry.  Another benefit of this stamp set is that $3 is donated to the Ronald McDonald House with every set purchased.  This little bike reminds me a little of my new bike which has a cute basket on the front.  Have a great day that hopefully involves some stamping!

Party this Disney Way for Owen

It has been a wonderful way of life as we travel with the military.  In each place we make fantastic friends but sadly we must also move on.  In a digital age it is much easier to keep in touch but nothing beats getting a card in the mail to remind special friends they are not far from your thoughts.  This card is for my son's BFF at our last base.  For his birthday the family went on a Disney cruise...something we has on our wish list for this year also but a change in assignment came along first.  I did some searching for Disney on SCS since I don't have a Disney stamp I used color and punch art to convey the Disney idea.  Owen is 5 so he got 5 crisp ones on the inside.  The stamp set used is Party This Way.  Colors are real red, daffodil delight and basic black.
I only meant to add one punch art Mickey balloon but......wouldn't you know after i heat embossed the black balloon I messed it up....so never fear...we all make mistakes and that it what inspires even more creativity...trying to hide a mess up.  Minnie's bow is 2 hearts from the Owl punch and some bling.
I hope you enjoy this card.  I know a lot of people with Oct. birthdays so check back tomorrow for another b-day card.

twisted card tutorial

I  first saw this video on the SU demo website but it is also available on You Tube.  Thanks so much to Kelly Gettelfinger for this great video and card.  I've made 3 so far and learned a few lessons along the way.

When I cut the base CS I cut it and do NOT pick it up....simply rotate to score.   When I cut the DSP I have the CS piece close by for reference....remember to score it in the same way as the CS (i.e.  top right to bottom left).  Whichever pattern is on TOP will be the one that is the pattern for the larger piece.  If you are using a DSP with a definite direction you may want to take a little time to make a pattern piece of extra CS to help cut it out.  I hope by watching the video and taking these hints to your craft table you will have great success with this fun card.

Here is an example of a card I made using the  template pieces.  Because this paper was directional (not SU).  I wanted it to be straight so I just traced it and cut it out.  This is a card for a precious little boy Nathan who I learned about on Catherine Pooler's blog.  He is not much younger than my little guy and is fighting cancer by welcoming the spirit of Christmas early.  If you have a chance send him a Christmas card to brighten his day.  Thanks for stopping by.  I have been busy creating so keep checking back to see what's new on my craft desk.

SUO challenge entry

A while back I saw a great idea on Heather Summers blog for making clouds.  I made a tag similar to this not long ago for a boy baby gift and wanted to make an improved version with some current product.   The challenge this week on SUO challenges to make something with texture.  I love the texture of this tag with the chevron embossing folder, the sewing and the dimensional nature of the clouds and the sun.  The sun uses the new smaller scalloped circle from the holiday catalog.  I hope you enjoy it and make sure to leave a comment if you have any questions.

thanks for looking

Fabric Gift card holder tutorial

Hi everyone-thank you so much for your interest in my little project.  I made another and took pictures along the way.  With making a second one I worked out a few bugs and hope you will enjoy making some of these for your holidays.  If you are a beginning sewer don't worry-I'm no expert.  And for you that are experienced-please don't laugh-remember you were a beginner at some time too :)
The pictures are pretty self explanatory but here are the basic steps.
1.  Cut 2 pieces of fabric and one piece of batting.
2.  Pre-sew your ric-rac trim and the hair band closure to one piece of fabric.
HINT- whatever hangs over the edge above the fabric will end up INSIDE the piece.  Whatever is below the top edge will be on the OUTSIDE
3.  Sew the layers together rights sides together with batting on top.  I did a zig zag then a straight stitch on the inside of that
HINT -leave a small opening on the side to be able to turn it tight side out
4.  turn right side out and top stitch around to close the opening.
5.  turn up a small amount to make the pocket and top stitch that

6.  sew on the button and finish with a 1/2" circle of DSP.

Have fun with it and remember you can click on any photo to make it larger.  I'm posting one more project today and then I'll be back tomorrow with the twisted card tutorial/hints for success.
Have a great day!

Glitter Queens Fall blog hop day # 5

Well here it is Friday and the end of a great week of hopping with the Glitter Queens.  We have all had such a great time and thanks to all of you for leaving sweet comments.  I'll be posting more detailed instructions for the twisted card and the gift card holder as requested soon.

Today is all about gift packaging.  This is my favorite part of the holidays...really I love to wrap gifts.  A few years ago my mom and I volunteered to work on Christmas Eve at a mall wrapping gifts for Make-A-Wish fundraiser.  It was a great time for a great cause.  Today i have a package decoration and a tag for you.  I always make a stash of gift tags a few weeks before Christmas and it is a real stress relief and helps put that polished touch on the gift.
The idea for the paper flower is courtesy of Catherine pooler.  Check out her site for a great video on how to make it.  The DSP is Be of Good Cheer.  The colors are gumball green and cherry cobbler.  The felt add on is currently on the SU Clearance rack so check it out.
Again I hope you have enjoyed all the Glitter Queens ideas.  If you've landed here from Stampin' Connection or SCS please make sure to check out all the Glitter Queens.
 stop 1 Create with Dee
next is Jan
then onto Bridgett
next is Jenny Wren
don't forget to visit Judy

then Ronnel
next is Tamara

Glitter Queen Fall Blog hop day 4

Welcome back.  I hope you've landed here from Tamara's blog.  Her gift card holders are so cute-love that Santa tag.  I've made many gift card holders before out of paper but this time I challenged myself to making one from fabric.  This one is with Holly Berry Boquet Fabric.  It happens to currently be on the SU! clearance rack.  I used some ric-rac I had lying around and the button is also SU! clearance rack.  The elastic is a hair tie.  I used batting in between.  If you'd like measurements just leave me a comment but i really just eye balled it according to the gift card I have on hand.  I did sew the button on by hand and then used a 1/2" circle punch with the co-ordinating holly berry DSP to cover the thread.  Well I have to run get my little guy at school.  I'm the caboose but if you've got off track along the way please start at Dee's to see a list of everyone participating or check out my previous day's post.
Please come back tomorrow to see what the Glitter Queen's have cooked up as ideas for gifts/ gift packaging.
Bis Spater (that's see you later in German)

Glitter Queens Fall Blog Hop Day 3

Welcome from Tamara's blog.  I hope you are enjoying everyone's projects and getting inspired....I don't mean to shock you but Christmas is 2 and a half months away (ahhhhh).  The deadline for me is even sooner this year as mail from here takes a while so I have to get my packages and cards in the mail by the end of November/first of December.  On a side note it is important to order your Stampin' Up! cardstock early as of course everyone is wanting red and green soon.
Today I made a card that I've been playing with lately....it's called a Twisted Card.  I found the tutorial on our demo website ( a great benefit of being an SU demo) but if you would like my instructions just leave me a comment.  After making 3 of these in the last few days I've learned a few things.  The base of the card is gumball green and the DSP is Be of Good Cheer.  My owl punch is a little Santa's helper thanks to a hat from Jolly Bingo Bits.  the other colors are very vanilla, cherry cobbler and soft suede.  Don't you love his eyes...they are the from the holiday mini catalog and already come with adhesive attached....so easy!
The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I used the banner framelits to create an interesting way to make the greeting stand out.
I hope you've enjoyed today's projects.  Please come back tomorrow when we will all be giving you some great ideas for jazzing up your gift cards.  If you are a follower of my blog and didn't start at Dawn's....here is a list of everyone participating.

Dee http://createwithdee.typepad.com
Jan http://www.bearycreativecrafts.blogspot.com/
Bridgett http://www.stampingwithbridgett.blogspot.com/
Jennifer http://txjennywren.blogspot.com/
Judy scrap-a-doodlestamping.blogspot.com

Ronnel http://ronnelsstampingstudio.com/
Tamara papercraftingstamper.blogspot.com
De http://theplainsstamper.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to come back to visit us tomorrow.

I'm Back.....wait....there's more

Hello or guten tag! greetings from our new home in Germany.  That's right...if you thought I fell off the planet...nope...just the continent :)  We are getting settled but all the boxes unpacked and my craft room is starting to take shape.  I'll be posting some new pictures soon to show you the before and after.  Meanwhile I wanted to let you know the Glitter Queens (down lines of Dawn Griffith) are hopping again.  With the time and distance I've missed the first 2 days but tune in Wednesday to check out a cute Christmas card from me and the rest of the gals.
Check out their sites for more inspiration
stop 1 Create with Dee
next is Jan
then onto Bridgett
next is Jenny Wren
don't forget to visit Judy
then Ronnel
next is Tamara
and then you wind up here with me!

In the meantime here is a quick card I put together to thank a dear friend for a supper sweet gift right before we left the states ( a huge Vera Bradley purse that held enough goodies for 2 tired parents and a 4 year old to cross the Atlantic Ocean).  Next time you go to a craft store think of me----I sure miss being able to drive thru a Starbucks and pick up a pumpkin spice latte then wander aimlessly in Hobby Lobby or Michael's.