Shoes for the Shoeless

I should have been a Boy Scout because I have this obsession about being prepared. Maybe it has something to do with living in California, aka earthquake country, but I only feel 100% secure at home knowing I have enough toilet paper, Advil and hair cream to last through a major catastrophe. 

You’re probably dying to ask, but what about work where you spend 8 hours a day?

From 9-5 my obsession disappears…except for this one little thing. Birthday cards! It seems uncanny but someone is always having a birthday. And my dilemma is how can I accept a piece of sugary store bought cake without first giving the birthday gal/guy a card?

Since I make and sell greeting cards it’s a real life case of the shoemaker’s kids goes barefoot. But I am determined to get those poor kids new shoes.

If you know me, you know that I love easy, quick projects. These mini Birthday Cards fit the bill perfectly. I used some patterned papers from an old My Minds Eye 6”x 6” pad that had a nice gender neutral theme. After making the envelopes with my new favorite toy – the Envelope Punch Board from We R Memory Keepers I took some Kraft paper, cut to size and folded in half. Next, I cut patterned paper for the front and inside and using Miracle Tape attached to the card. I then stamped the front with the Make a Wish stamp. I had plenty of scraps so I just rolled them tight to make a candle, placed a bit of red/white twine in the center and using my Miracle Tape again attached to the inside card.

Going to stash these mini cards in my desk drawer and next time someone tells me, there’s birthday cake in the kitchen I will be prepared!!

A True Fish Tale

Many years ago, while at Sears waiting for the autodepartment to install a new battery on my car, I killed time by wanderingthrough their pet department. As I walked down the fish aisle I spotted onelone brown fish swimming in a huge tank. I found out it was a goldfish and itseemed because its color, or lack of, no one wanted him.

I left Sears with a new battery and a brown fish I named Pyrite –aka fool’s gold.  

 Every day I talked to Pyrite and told him (I had decided itwas a male) that I loved him no matter color he was. It didn’t happen overnightbut very slowly his color began to change. And, in a matter of months Pyritebecame a truly beautiful goldfish.

I like to think that it was my love for this ugly ducklingfish that made the difference. But in the end it really doesn’t matter. Ididn’t love him less when he was brown and I didn’t love him more because hewas now a beautiful golden color.

There is really no connection with my tale and the fish tagthat I made for this Blog Hop, except that they both received a lot of love.You be the judge if you think my tag turned out beautiful J

I received the lovely Fisherwoman Stamp from VLVS. My goal was to have fun with the oldie but goodie stamp. I added two other VLVS and went with a Sushi theme. I especially like that the gal is wearing heels while she fishes. Very classy, don't you think?

Supplies
Three stamps from VLVS -Fisherwoman , A fish out of water. , One man's sushi is another man's bait.
Manila Tag
7 Gypsies Epicurean Paper
Red Brocade Ribbon
Maya Road Black Ribbon
Mini Staple
Miracle Tape
A Bit of Black Bling
Silver Fish Charm
-

Singin' in the Rain

The husband and I grew up on opposite sides of the country. He’s from California and I am from New Jersey. I enjoy cool weather, whereas he wants the heat on when it’s 73 in the house. I would sleep with the windows open every day and night while he wears sweats 365 days a year. There is however one type of weather that we both love – rain. We agree there is nothing nicer than staying in when the weather is damp and gloomy. A log in the fireplace, hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches – the husband makes the best grilled cheese ever – and we are exactly where we want to be.

One of the things I love about being on the design team of VLVS is looking through their incredible variety of stamps. I went in search for stamps to make a card for the husband. I didn’t want it too cute, and it had to be meaningful for the two of us. When I saw these 2 stamps -Vintage Man With Umbrella and You make even the rainy days special. I knew I had found the perfect stamps to reflect what I feel.

This has to be one of the easiest cards I have ever made.
Got it completed in less than 10 minutes.
Who said the longer something takes the better it is? Not this gal.
 

Supplies

White Cardstock
Kraft Paper
Patterned Paper
MS Heart Punch and a scrap of red paper
Miracle Tape 
Vintage Man With Umbrella VLVS
You make even the rainy days special. VLVS

Directions
I took a 5 1/2" x 8" piece of cardstock, folded it in half and set aside. For the cover I cut a 2 1/2" x 3 1/4" piece of Kraft paper and stamped the Vintage Man With Umbrella. I layered this with a 2 3/4" x 3 1/2" piece of red paper on top of a 3" x 3 1/2" piece of patterned paper. I adhered to the cardstock using Miracle Tape. I then stamped the You make even the rainy days special.sentiment on the bottom of the card. For the inside I layered with Kraft paper and white cardstock. I topped the cover off by gluing on a handful of mini red hearts.  

The husband has my heart. Who has yours?

 

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

My father was a real gentleman. He always carried a clean white cotton handkerchief in his pocket and every night after work he would listen to opera and drink a martini. He was passionate about good food and his family. I have a ton of wonderful memories but when I close my eyes and think of him, it’s his scents that I recall – Old Spice After Shave and fine Cuban cigars.

I recently purchased a stack of cigar boxes (25) to house my ever growing stamps and the shop owner threw in a couple of small cigar tins. When I got home I immediately went on Viva Las Vegastamp Website and found these two fabulous cigar themed stamps - HERE and HERE. A bit of Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman and the rest was as easy as 1-2-3!

Without any further ado, let me introduce my latest project for the Viva Las Vegastamps Design Team. My plan is to fill this tiny album with pictures and memories of my dearly missed father.

 

 

 

Perhaps the most famous cigar quote ever!

 

The mini is overflowing with tags

 

 

I used downloads and miniature cigar bands

Supplies
VLVS Has anyone seen my cigar?
VLVS Tramp with cigar
Miracle Tape
Cigar Bands
Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman
Cigar Tin
Misc. Ephemera

Directions
Using Miracle Tape I covered the top of the cigar tin first with Kraft paper and then with a pattered paper. I added the stamped images using a pop dot on the text to give it more dimension. For the inside of the box I chose a coordinating paper. The mini was made from 5 pieces of medium weight cardboard. I attached paper on each page and added downloaded images, cigar bands, tags and ephemera.

You are cordially invited to a showing of the world famous cigar video HERE.  I must warn you that there will be no-smoking during the viewing.

Once they all believed in dragons

Excerpt from 2011 Dear Diary -

December 23rd

Today one of my co-workers gave me a little Christmas gift. Nothing expensive, just unexpected. I should have just said thank you and left it at that. But no, the guilt blossomed like a rose in a too hot room and I said, “I have something for you, but I left it at home”. Had to stop at the store and buy something for him. New Years Resolution is to make a ton of little gifts so I don't have to fib!!

I remembered what happened last year and I am determined to follow through with my promise. No one is going to taunt me with "Liar, liar pants on fire." Umm...something just sparked my creativity (pun intended) and I'm thinking fire and two Viva Las Vegastamps - If you can't stand the heat and
Knight burned by dragon.

 

Before



After

Side/Back View


 

Supplies
Plain Old Box of Matches
Scraps of Checker Board Paper, Coordinating Paper, Red Glitter Paper
Viva Las Vegastamps - HERE and HERE.
Miracle Tape
TH Black Soot Distress Ink

Directions  Remove the match drawer and set aside. No need to paint the box, just cover the top and bottom of the box using your trustworthy Miracle Tape. Apply the Checkered Paper on the top and the Coordinating Paper on the bottom. Let the red edge of the box show through. Cut strips of the Coordinating Paper and attach to sides of box. Be sure not to cover the sandpaper strike area. Stamp your VLVS images and distress heavily. Add TH Black Soot Distress Ink. Cut a square of the Red Glitter Paper. Attach all with the Miracle Tape. Cover the front and back of the match drawer with paper and fill with the matches or red fire hot candy. Repeat over and over again until you have a full stash of Dragon Decorated Match Boxes.

This little 15 minute gift is both fun and practical. What I really mean is this little gift is both cheap and easy. Remember that the next time you get that unexpected gift!

Les enfants de Paris

It was over 15 years ago, but I remember my first trip to Paris as if it were yesterday. Cassandra and I stayed in this tiny hotel near the Odeon Theatre. We had a Juliet balcony that overlooked the street and because Paris was in the midst of a heat spell, we kept the balcony doors open all day long. On the weekend there were children playing outside and I loved listening to them talk fluently in French. But it was their laughter that enchanted me - they laughed with a french accent.

 

I was asked to make favors for a party being held for a gal who loves all things French. I don't know why I picked candles but I was drawn to the vanilla scent while at the Dollar Tree and came home with an armload. I scoured Pinterest and YouTube in search of the perfect candle craft. When I happened upon the tissue paper candle I knew I had found my inspiration.

 

Remembering how magical the children of Paris were I decided to forgo the Eiffel tower and create Les enfants de Paris candles. At school, play and just enjoying the every day joy that Paris offers made making these favors a real treat for me. I hope you will view the short video I made with some tips on making the tissue paper candles. And you'll get to see them all dressed up for the party. The video is HERE.

 

My favorite candle is the one on the right.

Two little boys holding their mother's handbags! 

 

As always I used Kraft paper and TH Vintage Photo. 

 

I'd love to know what are your favorite last minute, inexpensive gifts? Do you make them? If so, please share with a link! 



Festivus for the rest of us

December is filled to the brim with eagerly awaited holidays. Of course everyone knows it is the month of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but did you know it was also the month of Repeal Day? Yep, as you sip on that glass of wine remember to thank Congress for repealing the 21^st Amendment that ended Prohibition on December 5^th. I’ll drink to that!

Another noteworthy day has to be December 16^th. It’s National Chocolate Covered Anything Day. Need I say more? The 21^st is Humbug Day, the 12^th is National Ding-a-Ling Day (what is a Ding-a Ling anyone?) but my favorite holiday is celebrated on the 23^rd – Festivus Day.

I am relatively new to this holiday tradition but around my house it has become a major celebration. Never heard of it? It was conceived in 1966 but became a part of worldwide popular culture after being featured on an episode of Seinfeld in 1997.

Important aspects of the holiday include an unadorned aluminum pole called a Festivus Pole, and the practices of Airing Ones Grievances and Feats of Strength. Now, some folks describe this holiday as a parody of commercialism, but I for one will be sending out Festivus Cards to all my friends this year – thanks to VLVS. 

Every person who sends me a Holiday Card is getting a Festivus Card! 

The best thing is that the card smells yummy!

Supplies
Patterned Paper
Simple Patterned Paper
Silver Card Stock
Silver Washi Tape
Card Stock
Red Glitter Paper
MiracleTape
Festivus Stamp
Ink
Incense Stick
Silver Stickles
3 Bling

Directions
1. Cut and fold greeting card with white/off white card stock - 4” x 5 ½”.
2. Make six paper cuts: Patterned Paper 3 ¾” x 5 ¼”, Silver Paper 3 ¼” x 4 ¾”, Simple Patterned Paper – 2” x 5” and 1”x 3 ¾”, Red Glitter Paper – two 1” x ¼” pieces.
3. Stamp sentiment on 1” x 3 ¾” Simple Patterned Paper.
4. Wrap silver Washi Tape onto the 2” x 5” Simple Pattenred Paper.
5. Cut the incense stick to 3” and cover with Silver Stickles.
6. Using Miracle Tape glue all the cut papers and the Festivus Pole onto the card.
7. Attach the Bling and you are ready to send your card to your friends who celebrate Festivus.

A traditional Festivus Dinner does not include alcohol. I get around that critical omission by celebrating Festivus and Repeal Day together. I'll drink to that!
       
The winner of the role of Miracle Tape is...Dsscrapie. Send me your address and I'll mail out your goodies.

PS - I'm putting up an infomercial later today! Hope you'll take a look :-)