Giving Thanks Blog hop #2: Tell her.

Do you have friends in your life that you’re grateful for? That make you laugh, that have been there for you, that mean a lot to you?

Do you tell them so?

Something I do (and keep meaning to blog about!) is my love of sending random notes and mail to cherished friends. Big or small, a letter or a gift, just something to send love to someone I treasure at an unexpected time. Today I’m excited because I’ve come up with a new twist on my “I love you, man” mail.

It all started with this perfume sample. It’s such a cute little card, and the sample inside has a spritzer even – it’s pretty nice for a freebie! That’s when I got the idea to turn the little card into a love note. I started by stitching (badly, I know but it’s ok) two hearts on the front sort-of along a black heart shape I had drawn onto it. In this case I didn’t want to cover up the name – because “happy” is just perfect for what I have in mind!

Inside I put glue over the stitching & added tinsel glitter. I also stitched a bit of pink ribbon and put down a super cute tag. Now my tiny gift is all ready – I just need to add my love note!

I know I’d love to get something like this in the mail from a friend, something sent purely to brighten my day. Now, this concept got me thinking. Could I make my own card like this? Why not!

Just figure out how thick you need it, fold to that size, and cut two slits in the binding to make your holder. Mine didn’t “hold” tight enough on this lip gloss so I added a ribbon to make it secure.

I will add a word on the front (bottom) + my love note once I know who’s getting this one. I think you could use this for tiny Christmas presents for anything from a roll of lifesavers to a chapstick, candy cane to travel size lotion. Personally I plan on having a few of these ready so that when I feel the desire to send out something little but special I’m prepared.

Because really – what friend doesn’t want to hear from you and get something telling her how fabulous she is, what a jewel she is in your life?

 

From our house to yours, please enjoy this week of gratitude with the other blog hop participants:

Becky Novacek http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com
Debbie Hodge http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com
Jennifer McGuire http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com
Jodie McNally http://jodiemcnally.com
Kelly Purkey http://kellypurkey.typepad.com
Lain Ehmann http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/five_things
Lisa Dickinson http://lisadickinson.typepad.com
Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com
Margie Romney-Aslett http://www.margieromney-aslett.typepad.com
Margot Potter http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com
May Flaum http://mayflaum.wordpress.com
Patti Milazzo http://pattimilazzo.blogspot.com
Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com
Stacey Kingman http://staceykingman.blogspot.com
Stephenie Hamen http://cropgirl.wordpress.com
Wendy Smedley http://wendysmedley.typepad.com

Giving Thanks Blog Hop #1: to go

I can’t help myself. When I go visit someone – especially when it’s far away or someone I rarely get to see – I have to bring a little something. As a child I remember feeling extra special when a visitor would bring me something. The “what” didn’t matter, it was the fact that they thought about me and cared enough to pack something just for me in their suitcase. It’s a special feeling, and one I still enjoy as an adult.

Thanks to all the insanely tight regulations on what you can & can’t pack (and how) bringing stuff has gotten trickier, but still I make the effort! Even if it’s a tag made with a bit of homemade love (like the ones shown here) on a little box of chocolate – it’s special. It’s my way of saying I’ve been thinking about this visit, I’m glad to see you, and I want you to know it. I couldn’t wrap these gifts, but I think the oversized tag with a touch of hand crafted love will get my point across.

As you can see I’ve got a few family love packages all set to go in my carry-on suitcase. Miss Elizabeth and I are heading up to Washington for 50 hours (literally & in total!) to visit with a lot of my family that lives there. My uncle is battling cancer, and I feel blessed and grateful that I found a magically low airfare – and a few days that I could manage this visit. I have a lot of family I get to visit, and I know we’ll treasure every moment.

I will be taking my journal along to record thoughts, special moments, and more- some of which I’ll share with you along with some layouts and ideas I gather for projects based on this trip. Time with family is something to always treasure – no matter how often or how long. I know I do.

 

Other bloggers participating in blog hop this week…

Becky Novacek http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com
Debbie Hodge http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com
Jennifer McGuire http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com
Jodie McNally http://jodiemcnally.com
Kelly Purkey http://kellypurkey.typepad.com
Lain Ehmann http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/five_things
Lisa Dickinson http://lisadickinson.typepad.com
Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com
Margie Romney-Aslett http://www.margieromney-aslett.typepad.com
Margot Potter http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com
May Flaum http://mayflaum.wordpress.com
Patti Milazzo http://pattimilazzo.blogspot.com
Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com
Stacey Kingman http://staceykingman.blogspot.com
Stephenie Hamen http://cropgirl.wordpress.com
Wendy Smedley http://wendysmedley.typepad.com

 

Giving Thanks {Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Giving Thanks {Blog Hop} 2009…

Stephenie approached me about doing a Thanksgiving inspired hop and I thought “what a great idea!” Over the next week you will be able to hop around the web and find some amazing projects and stories and it’s all inspired by family, gratitude, and giving thanks. Some of us will be posting several times, others just once. You’ll have to ‘hop’ around and check what’s new throughout the week.

Each person participating has the full list of attendees posted, so you can hop from one to another. We hope you find something that inspires you, sparks your creativity, or reminds you to be thankful this Thanksgiving. From our house to yours, please enjoy your week and our gratitude…

Becky Novacek http://www.beckynovacekphotography.com
Debbie Hodge http://www.debbiehodge.typepad.com
Jennifer McGuire http://jennifermcguireink.typepad.com
Jodie McNally http://jodiemcnally.com
Kelly Purkey http://kellypurkey.typepad.com
Lain Ehmann http://knitandpurlgrrl.blogs.com/five_things
Lisa Dickinson http://lisadickinson.typepad.com
Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com
Margie Romney-Aslett http://www.margieromney-aslett.typepad.com
Margot Potter http://margotpottertheimpatientcrafter.blogspot.com
May Flaum http://mayflaum.wordpress.com
Patti Milazzo http://pattimilazzo.blogspot.com
Rhonna Farrer http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com
Stacey Kingman http://staceykingman.blogspot.com
Stephenie Hamen http://cropgirl.wordpress.com
Wendy Smedley http://wendysmedley.typepad.com

Christmas gifts: Books

Shopping for the perfect gifts takes a lot of time and energy. This year I’m LOVING the trend I already see emerging where bloggers share ideas in posts. How great is that? Like sharing with your friends without ever leaving home. Today I present my part 1: books. Now if you know me at all you’ll know I’m a bookworm. So much so, I’m going to add a tab to my blog just about my favorite/most recommended reads. But that’s something for another day. Today I want to suggest some books I have purchased for people on my holiday list:

Perfect for the fancy little girl in your life: I gave this to Miss E as a pre-Christmas gift. It’s really, really popular here in 4-year-old land. So are all her books. (Target has a whole Fancy Nancy section!)

http://www.amazon.com/Fancy-Nancy-Splendiferous-Jane-Oconnor/dp/0061235903/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Or for the older girl in your life, another Nancy- Nancy Drew. CLASSIC.

http://www.amazon.com/Nancy-Drew-Starter-Carolyn-Keene/dp/0448452324/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294811&sr=8-1

This is a fantastic cookbook – I’m giving one away to a cook in my life who doesn’t know about Ree & her blog or site. I bet she’ll love it much as I do.

http://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Woman-Cooks-Recipes-Accidental/dp/0061658197/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294232&sr=8-1

The Twits was always a favorite of mine, but you really can’t go wrong. Charlie and the chocolate factory, The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, Matilda… I’m talking Roald Dahl here and for any school aged kid – boy or girl – these are classic must-reads.

http://www.amazon.com/Twits-Roald-Dahl/dp/014241039X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258294476&sr=1-1

and last but not least, for the mushy romantic in your life I suggest some Nora Roberts. Darn her – she got me all choked up once again by the time I was nearing the end of this one. She sure does suck a girl into feeling like the characters are real and friends to boot. I’m loving her Bride Quartet series (this is book #2) about four best friends who run a wedding business… and are falling in loooovvvvveeee one at a time. (sigh) You’d think it would be over the top – but so far it’s so not. Best of all the book is PRETTY. No trashy cover  here – no a lovely cover, beautiful deckle edged pages and even a scallop border on the inset. A good giftable romance if I ever saw one.

http://www.amazon.com/Roses-Bride-Quartet-Nora-Roberts/dp/0425230074/ref=pd_ys_iyr7

If you have your own book suggestions for gifts – please do share here!

What’s black and red and cream all over?

A: Jenni Bowlin’s November kit. (sigh)

I purchased it for 2 reasons:

1. Red damask exclusive rub-on. I needed it. I need to do a whole post about this rub-on design. (noted & added to my to-do list)

 2. 3 sheets of core’dinations cardstock included. If you are a regular reader then you know I’ve been doing quite the impatient dance waiting for this product.

It helped of course that the rest of the kit was lovely and I wanted to use the new papers and such – and I’m glad I got it! It came in the mail and I made time to play a bit over the weekend…

FUN.

If you don’t know – Core’dinations makes cardstock that has a ‘core’ that is different in color from what you see – so if you sand it the other color shows through. It is so fun. When I saw them paired with Jenni I freaked right out. I’ve been excited & anxiously awaiting the release ever since.

At this time I’d like to make a request for MORE. To be helpful, I’ll suggest a mossy (think Savannah in spring) green, a sea glass aqua, lilac, a rosy pink color, and also perhaps some rusty/coppery metallic tone too. Oh, understand I’ll be purchasing ANY color Jenni + Core’dinations get together and create. It’s that cool. I just know you’re supposed to put your wishes into writing to help them come true, so there you go.

Happy Crafting ~

May

PS- This cardstock will be great for holiday projects. I’m off to see what I can come up with.

randomly drawn as always, and the winner is…

The Adornit Christmas prize (from blog hop) goes to…. Tina Mayo

My handcrafted crafty kit pouch goes to…. Alicia Sharp

The Fiskars ornament punch goes to…. katemeri

Congrats ladies – e-mail  me your info – mflaum @ comcast.net and I’ll get your prize right out to you! I still have a few other prizes unclaimed (here) and I’m going to start the process of picking new winners for those from the posts. So good luck if you’d entered to win but didn’t get it!! If your name is up on the prizes list and you haven’t heard back from me please e-mail me again. I’ve e-mailed & shipped to everyone who contacted me.

Happy Monday everyone!

Adornit Blog Hop

When Georgana announced she was going to have an Adornit “make it merry” blog hop and wanted people to participate I jumped right in. Who doesn’t love a blog party? She also asked me to host a give-away! That’s right – one of you will win a collection of Adornit Christmas Supplies. Be sure to leave a comment on this post so you are entered to win! I will draw a winner Monday the 16th.

and since when do I say no to anything Christmas related?

If you are visiting me first (or don’t know about this cool hop) you can follow the blog-hop trail beginning to end by visiting here: http://www.adornitscrapbook.com/bloghop/ We’ll each be linking to the next person’s blog – so if you start at #1 you will go all the way through! (How fun is that???)

Now the really fun part. I’ve gotta “make merry” to share with you here. I couldn’t quite decide so I’m sharing both of my ideas!

So November is always very MERRY here because I do a lot of holiday prep so that I have a more restful, family oriented, cherish all the details and moments December rather than rushing through the holidays.

Step #1: Photo to include in cards.

I’m going to try and get them together, but if not something like this will do. When I had 3 dogs they were much easier to get attentive faces looking in my direction at the same time. If I waved a milkbone and had good natural light a fabulous photo was guaranteed. These two? GAAAAAAH! Not even chocolate could get them to behave together. But I could get one or the other, and so I think I’ll creatively combine like shown here to get the best possible pics.

Of course I had to scrap the outtakes.

I used mostly Pink Paislee mistletoe & co line. Have I mentioned I love that line? I do. I know it doesn’t have green in it like traditional lines and I love that. LOVE. Why? Because I always have trouble matching up greens. 

I made the photo strips in photoshop, but you could insert/resize pics in a word document for same effect. It’ll just take longer. Another thing you should know – I de-saturated my photos by about 50%. I just ADORE playing with saturation. When somebody’s face is super red or colors are just wild I pull the little bar down until it feels right. Plus it give kind of a “ye olde times” look I LOVE. I actually didn’t NEED to do it for this page. I just wanted to.

I have more fun with the photos not used for ‘official holiday photo’ vs the one that does get used. I love looking back at layouts from previous years and seeing how the subjects – and photography – changes.

I want some cocoa and holiday decorations now please.  So in the mood.

Well, maybe I could use some leftover rub-ons to show you something else instead…

So I was in Borders and “aw how cute”-ing over their felt gift card bags. But then I was like… “I could so totally make my own!” and I have been. What would make a gift card more personal than a special made with love bag or packaging? Just think- tuck a sweet little note in there with it and it’s all warm & fuzzy and not at all impersonal. You can see my first attempt HERE, and today I want to show you my third and newest one.  

So I really liked the envelope that this gift card came in because it’s got a spot for a note and some details like value of card inside. I wanted to keep it so I sized my holder around it. I folded a piece of felt over (so that when I cut with acrylic ruler + rotary blade it’d be front + back, and so I don’t have to stitch bottom) and cut so that I had about 1/2″ WIDER than the gift card. (felt size cut is 4 1/2 x 11)

Then I set it aside and went to work on a decoration for the front. I had a scrap of sticky-back canvas that I decided to use with some rub-ons to make a cute and quick decoration. Now the rub-ons were not going to stay on forever to that canvas so I coated lightly with glue.

Then, feeling the Christmas flow I added some white glitter to give it a snowy look. LOVE!

The adhesive back of the canvas works great to hold it onto the felt – but I still advise stitching or it’ll fall off. I folded up a scrap of fabric to use as a handle and attached it before sewing up the sides too – see below.

Now you’re ready to sew some lace! Sew the top/front first – THEN sandwich lace between the sides and stitch them shut.

note: if you’re spazzy like me you’ll forget to leave enough lace on BOTH sides of the top for sides. It’s ok. Just add more and overlap to disguise your whoops.

One more tip – I left a bit more (about 1/2″) lace than I needed on each of the ends so that I could tuck them in and not have a raw edge hanging out.

Here’s the inside-out view -

Well, you’re done! At this point I felt the need to stitch a red bow on the front, but really the thing about this project is that you could simplify to the point of just hand stitching both sides – or create whole felt piecings complete with beads hand sewn onto the front.

Whatever you do – just enjoy putting some hand-crafted love into your holidays. Before I go I’d like to share a few of the merry things I used today – and a few things that help me enjoy my holiday crafting time.

• Heather Bailey’s felt – it’s so very nice and really makes me want to craft with felt so much more.
• Pink Paislee’s christmas collection – I think the scrap police are gonna fine me for using too much of it this year!
• Sticky Back canvas by Claudine Hellmuth – so great for so many things
• Peppermint Bark (Ghirardelli or Williams Sonoma kinds)
• German Glass glitter – seriously makes a world of difference
• Harry Connick Jr Christmas songs
• Visiting blogs for new ideas & inspiration

That’s all from me – don’t forget to leave a comment here so you’ll be entered to win goodies from Adornit!!! When you do go – be sure to go check the next blogger on the merry hop – http://www.jenniekader.blogspot.com/

good guys layout

I love it when I get an e-mail that inspires a page. I got a note from a kits class student saying that she was going to be scrapbooking her son (in military) today & I got inspired to scrapbook a photo that I hold dear.

I’ve scrapped this photo before, and I’ll likely do it again too. It’s a tiny picture my aunt gave me when my uncle passed away (about 12 years ago now) that I keep up on a special shelf. He was a Marine, and I love the photo of me at about two and him so young and in uniform. It makes me smile and since I don’t have too many photos of my uncle I re-use the photo when I have more feelings or stories to tell. I scanned it, used photoshop to put it on a Katie Pertiet photo mask and printed it onto Claudine Hellmuth’s sticky back canvas.

Then I cut it out (used a deckle rotary blade) and pulled out my November Studio Calico kit and got to work. 

At this point of my creative process two things happened. 1. I realized I was going to need some non-kit supplies, 2. I was reminded just how much I wish my uncle had gotten to know my family. Him and Jason would have liked each other so very much. (sigh) Ah- but that’s why I scrapbook photos with my uncle. To let my kids know about this special man and to honor his memory.

Unless you’re on the kit club’s design team or for some reason obligated to use ‘the whole kit and nothing but the kit’ I see no reason to put up any creative walls. When I’m working if I’m thinking “gee wiz, wish I had some textured flowers or ribbons right about now” (or whatever) I go pull it out of my stash. WAY better to get it used than not, right?!

So I pulled out a flower, some leaves, glitter, and a bit of felt ric rac. Oh, and some bakers twine.

One of my new favorite techniques is to use a zig-zag stitch to hold down the twine. I *LOVE* doing that. I discovered this love while putting together my kits class. I’d never before done it but the twine was in a kit and I wanted to use it in that way. Don’t you love when you figure something out like that?

Just center it up – and stitch. Easy & I think it’s cute.

A special thanks to all our veterans out there – and as always those currently serving and all their families.

let’s play blame mom. {a totally not serious post}

I can hardly believe how time is flying around here. Right now I’d like to remind you that today is the FINAL day to register for my Big Picture Scrapbooking class: http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/adventureskits.php. I know some of you are in class – I hope you’re having as great of a time as I am!!

I had actually planned to work with & share some kit creations this week but just haven’t made the time. I’d like to blame my mother.

Her foot got stuck when she was going to walk into her friend’s house and she broke her arm. (way up by shoulder – so no cast) We’ve been up to her place twice now with food & company. I don’t really “blame” her guys – I just like to be shocking and say stuff like I blame her because it cracks me up. She’d roll her eyes and laugh too if she knew I was saying that. I like this photo of her from Sunday. She was explaining something. She likes to talk when I try to take her photo so you end up with gems like the one above.

I’ll also blame these guys:

Those kiddos are full-time busy bodies always! But when daddy goes away for FIVE SOLID DAYS? The mommy cling-on factor is high. Yesterday we went to the fire station to visit daddy, make dinner for the crew, and hang out. It was super fun…

… but I came home exhausted fell asleep despite drinking a soda & never did do my kit thing.

So now you know. I chose sleep & family time over playing with paper & stickers. My priorities are all outta whack, right? {KIDDING!!!}

So now that things have sort-of settled, let’s see what I’m up to. I’ve got these pink paislee goodies that I want to work around. See- in my class we talk a lot about substitutions & working with your own stash & making your own kits (as well as working with kit clubs). My plan is to use these & create some stuff for fun, but also make at least 1 layout inspired by class. I’ll photograph my progress & check back in soon.

That is, assuming my family lets me!

fun in a pouch + winners + prize

FIRST – some PRIZE WINNERS: {e-mail me mflaum @ comcast . net to claim your prizes!}

Mary kathryn – MM vintage findings + peppermint bark
Amy E – big fall box (kit from my stash) of fun
marygail – yearbook (Studio Calico) kit

LAST CHANCE for these – I draw new winners Friday as I’ve not heard from any of you -
Halloween prize winner: Ann Abrameit
BIG box ‘o Fiskars prize: Terrie Carlson
ink, ribbon, and brads – Christina Simon

I’m so happy with this little pouch I see myself making lots of variations. Different fabrics, sizes, reasons… it was FUN.

FYI – I’m just about the world’s worst sewer. So for me to say that, you can trust that it was a) easy and b) actually fun. Seriously – I’m awful at sewing but I only had to seam-rip two different times on this. Talk about a victory!

You can see the whole project + instructions here: http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/projects/t_creativefunpouch.aspx

While you’re over there you can scope out the contents of this craft inspiration to-go & you’ll learn a little secret.

{I’m giving it away right here, right now!}

Ok, I’ll put in fresh adhesive + new scissors… but yes. I made this pouch and YOU might just be the crafty friend who gets to have it! It’ll come all wrapped up pretty too. If you want it, just leave a comment here. I’ll draw a winner on 11/14.