Should've, Could've, Would've

That's what I'm thinking of as I show this thank you card. I should have made these for my loyal customers and friends this year. I could have made them had I thought of doing it before the holiday hub bub. I would have had them ready to pass out at our last meeting, but said hub bub started early. I just hope to get something finished before their last order comes in!


Stamps: CTMH Solos T & U
Inks: CTMH Juniper, Cocoa
Papers: CTMH Perfect Day Reflections Kit

Grateful For You

I think my mind is still on vacation. I can't seem to get motivated to do anything! Well, that's not true, I'm sitting here blogging, aren't I?

Today's card is one that my card club would have made, had we met this month. It turns out, we all just needed a break during the Christmas season and this was the thing we took a break from. I made a set of Thank You cards to use after the holidays. This one was one of my favorites, some of the others, not so much. The card itself is pretty simple, but I really like the way the paper looks with this stamp.


Stamps: CTMH Say It In Style, Heart Throb (December SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Sorbet, Cocoa
Papers: CTMH Perfect Day Reflections Kit

Merry Christmas

I'm just stopping in to share with you our family Christmas calendar. I've shown my Halloween one that was based on this originally. When my siblings and I were growing up, we had a calendar our mom made to track the days till Christmas...though I'm not sure any kid would really ever forget when Christmas is. I remember we always fought over who would put the star up on Christmas Eve. Ahh, memories.

So a couple of years ago, my mom, sister, and only sister-in-law (at the time) got together and each made a new calendar for our own families. Since then we've made 3 more for my other three brothers and their new families.



Thanks again Mom for all the work you did on these!

Led By The Light

Even though all my craft supplies are in my closet, I do all the creating with those supplies in my dining room/kitchen. We have vaulted ceilings in these rooms and the light fixtures are too high for me to reach. When they go out, which is more often than I'd like, I have to wait for Engineer to change them. Well, he was gone for a couple of days and some lights started going out. I needed the remaining bulbs to work or I wasn't going to get projects finished! I crossed my fingers, then got to work before any more went out!

Here is the craft project I was working on last week but couldn't show yet. I made three of these little bags, tags, and etched candle holders. I got the pattern for the bag from Splitcoaststampers, it is a 2-5-7-10 bag. It's easy and quick to make, just what I needed! The candle holders were fun to make, too. I haven't done much etching before this project (only once before), but it was just as easy. I taped off the top and bottom of the holder with blue painters tape. Then, using a stamp, I embossed the image onto the glass. You have to be careful the stamp doesn't scoot around, the Versamark ink (which is what I used), makes it slippery. You want to pick an image that has interest, but not too detailed. After embossing the image and letting it cool (I used kitchen tongs to hold the glass while heating it), just apply thick coats of Armor Etch cream with a sponge brush and let it set. Now, the bottle says to let it set for 60 seconds, but there must be a typo. To get the glass etched as much as I had wanted I had to let it set for over 30 minutes. You can peek at how much has etched by rinsing it off and letting it dry. Check the opacity of the glass and if it's not etched enough, add another coat of cream and let it set some more. When the glass is etched as much as you want it, rinse all the cream off. Then remove the tape and embossing powder (I used a scrapper from Pampered Chef for this part) and your candle holder is finished!


Stamps: CTMH Shining Star
Inks: CTMH Juniper, Versamark
Papers: CTMH Juniper

This is the scripture on the tag:

I will also be your light in the wilderness;
...wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments
ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall
know that it is by me that ye are led.
1 Nephi 17:13

So I do have a couple of other little projects to show, but those will have to wait until maybe tomorrow.

What Do You Mean My Closet Is Full?

I don't have anything crafty to show right now. I'm working on a small gift giving thing, but since I don't want to spoil the surprise for someone, it will have to wait until she gets it on Thursday. So Cori, see you then!

But I did want to share a poem that has been circulating in my craft world the past week. And while it is funny, it hit close to home for me and maybe a few of you as well.

Ahem.

Twas the night before Christmas, I'm glued to the tree.
I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.
Could it be cardstock or chipboard or lace?
Or a Cricut, I said, with a smile on my face.

And that's when I heard him,

"Hi Santa", I said

"You know...good little girls
should be in their beds."

"I know I should Santa,
and now I've got caught.
But I was just so excited
To see what you brought."

"Well, let's take a look
in this room where you work."

He shook his head quickly,
And left with a jerk.
I heard him exclaim
as he put it in gear.

"You've got enough stuff,
I'll see you next year!"

Secret Santa Time

The first Christmas project and it's not even green and red. On top of all the other treats this season brings, there is one that I don't know how much I enjoy. That would be the "Secret Santa". While I do enjoy seeing the crafts others make, I'm not that sure about the things I make or how they stand up compared to others. But here is the first of a couple of things for my Secret Santa recipient. I know she won't see it because, well she doesn't even know me and thus will not be visiting my blog anytime soon. And I don't know her, which makes it kind of tough when you're making things. I'm just going to trust that this will bring a smile to her face, because I at least know she loves Christmas. And the Silhouette paper pack. And totally loves Tom Brady and Nascar. But I wasn't sure how to incorporate those two into the frame. Maybe she can put a picture of them in it and look at it every year.


Stamps: CTMH Say It In Style (May SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Black
Papers: CTMH Silhouette Reflections Kit

Christmas In A Box Workshop

Our house has been busy with birthdays all week. Engineer's birthday was the 1st and Knock-Out's birthday was the 6th. He is now an all-knowing 3 year old...Knock-Out, not Engineer. He's an all-knowing 30-something.

So this weekend is my rescheduled Christmas in a Box workshop. And these are the lovely things we will be making:


The Box
Stamps: CTMH Adorning Corners, December Word Puzzle
Inks: CTMH New England Ivy
Papers: CTMH Evensong Creative Basics


The Album
Some of the paper will be different ladies...they sold out of some of the paper before I could order it!


The Goodies Inside
CTMH Merry & Bright Card Kit
Reinker Glitter ornaments
Gift Card Holders and Envelopes
Gift Tags

So now I just have to get my house in order and get to cooking and I'm all set. Are you ladies ready for a crafty afternoon?

The UPS Man Is On His Way!

And just look what he's bringing me! I'm getting my hands on this new kit from CTMH in a couple of days. It's called Key To My Heart and it features all four of the new colors that were introduced this fall: Tulip, Sorbet, Creme Brulee, and Juniper. What I'm really excited about it the giant stamp set that comes with it. I'll have to get crafty as soon as I get it to show you. This special paper kit will be available December 16, 2008-January 31, 2009. But since it's a while supplies last kind of thing, and people have been going crazy for these new promotions, I wouldn't wait to get yours! Contact me if you'd like to learn more.

You Were Expecting A Christmas Card?

I woke up and found this card waiting for me. Apparently, my mind has decided to take a bit of a vacation and left me a goodbye note. Hopefully it will return before all the fuss of the holiday season gets totally out of hand.


Stamps: CTMH Life's A Jungle (June SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Ocean
Papers: CTMH Ocean, Breeze, Citrus Leaf, White Daisy, Black

Cabin Fever

I've been preoccupied with my little Frankenstein (he's fine, we got the staples out today, the nurse let him keep them) and trying to get ready for a Thanksgiving trip later this week, thus the lack of updates.

But behold, I have found a card filed away that I'd like to share, just because. When I finished this card, it gave me the feeling of being in a log cabin somewhere: plaid wallpaper, wood paneling, most likely from the 50's or 60's, Mom in the kitchen cooking the fish Dad just caught, dusk falling outside, crickets beginning to chirp, fireflies glittering about, kids playing board games on the braided rug, Dad watching, reading a book in his big easy chair, by a lamp.

Or it could just be a card, plain and simple and I have an overactive imagination.


Stamps: CTMH (June SOTM)
Inks: CTMH Twilight, Cocoa, Sunflower
Papers: CTMH Sarsaparilla Reflections Kit

A Rather Blustery Day

Do you remember Winnie the Pooh and that very windy day? Poor Piglet almost got blown away, and while that's not likely to happen to me, this morning was a struggle to get Bio-Comp to school. I pushed the double stroller to school, then held on for dear life on the way home. My arms are a bit sore, to say the least.

But apparently not too sore to sit at the screen and write for a bit.

I made this card last month, but all the swirling leaves today made me think of it. It's a simple card, but those are the ones I like the best. I embossed it with my Cuttlebug. Since I use mostly CTMH white core cardstock, and I didn't want any white to show from the embossing, I misted the cardstock first with my mini mister. I think I did a bit too much misting though, the cardstock did warp a little on the edge. Next time, not so much. You can also emboss it with a sheet of printer paper and not have the white core show through.

Stamps: CTMH Fall Leaves (retired), Say It In Style (May SOTM)

Inks: CTMH Sunflower, Autumn Terracotta

Papers: CTMH Enchanted Reflections Kit

You Had Me In...Staples?

This past Sunday, Loquacious had a bit of an accident at church. "Bit" meaning: fell against his chair in Primary, blood running down his shirt, trip to the ER, two staples in the back of his head. Now, this was the first time one of my boys has needed a trip to the hospital like this. And as a Mom, I was trying to not show any kind of panic least he freak out because I was. So I calmly let Enigineer take him to the ER while the rest of us stayed at church. And in the end, he was only at the ER less than an hour. But that hour I was imagining all kinds of things going wrong, too silly to say out loud. He's okay, but won't let me call him Frankenstein.

So, turning to more pretty things, because staples in your boy's head is not, here is another card I made with this month's stamp. This is a good money holder card, or maybe some kind of look-I-got-you-season tickets card. But I don't seem to have either, so I'm just guessing.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Chocolate Alphabet Large
Inks: CTMH New England Ivy, Grey Wool
Papers: CTMH Evensong Reflections Kit
I did take pictures of the shirt and staples...I couldn't help myself. It will be a challenge to scrap them, but a challenge to not scrap them. I know some of you understand that.

Once There Was A Snowman

Okay, maybe not right here, right now but at one time I do remember seeing one somewhere. Maybe it's because I've been using the All Decked Out stamp set too much and I see snowmen everywhere. Maybe it's because all the stores have Christmas up already and everything is "all decked out" for the holidays.

My craft groups met this weekend. Last night the Oh Scrap! group made these layouts using that totally addicting well loved stamp set. Of course I could not find any snow pictures of my boys, so I had to really dig deep into the photos to find these gems. Remember when I had to look for fall pictures and found 7 year old photos? These are pictures of me, my sister, and two of our brothers...25 years ago. I suddenly feel old. We are attempting to make a snowman with the meager inches we found in our grandparents backyard. I wonder if they remember this.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM)...again
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim, Versamark
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit



And just to show that I can use another stamp set, here is one of the cards the Wild Cards group made today.



Stamps: CTMH Do You See What I See (retired long ago), Shining Star
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim, Creme Brulee
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit


Before you say it, yes I realize it is still a snowman...but it's a different snowman!

It's Been A Zoo!

Today, instead of staying home and getting things ready for club meetings this weekend, I went to the zoo with Bio-Comps class...and all the other 2nd graders at school. It wasn't too bad, Knock-Out and I just walked around with the small group Bio-Comp was assigned to. We saw all the animals, they fed the ducks, then went to the park for a sack lunch. Knock-Out was just about knocked out by the time we got home.

After getting settled at home again, I got to work on some upcoming workshop items. I might have them all finished up by tonight. In the meantime, here's another card I did with this month's Stamp of the Month. I know those of you up north probably don't think snow all day is a fun thing, but down here it's the stuff of my boys dreams. Just a couple of details about this card. I used my snowflake punch and a transparency for the snowflakes. I painted them with CTMH's Create-a-shade paint and added Sparkles.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Boutique Alphabet, Chocolate Alphabet Small
Inks: CTMH Desert Sand
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit, Notebook Reflections Kit

Busy Season

It never seems to fail that the week I have my craft clubs meeting, I am busy every day that week. Good thing I'm so organized and efficient...ha! I actually do have all the projects done but my house has suffered for it. And I can't for the life of me remember why I thought it would be a good idea to go with Bio-Comps class to the zoo tomorrow. Didn't I know I would need that day to get laundry done? I certainly don't want my guests wading through piles of the boys clothes. Or the stacks of food storage stuff we got at Costco yesterday.

So before I go start sorting said laundry, here's one of the cards we'll be making in the Wild Cards class Saturday. I copied it with what I had from a card I saw over at Amy Scheffer's Pickled Paper Designs. She is just one of the many talented crafters I stalk, I mean follow.



Stamps: CTMH Wonderful Holiday
Inks: CTMH Outdoor Denim
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit

Chilly...Finally!

Here in Tucson it doesn't get very cold until November. Well, November is well underway and this morning was the first time I had to wear a warm jacket to walk the boys to school. Of course I was rather warm on the way home, but I won't complain.


I made this card a couple of months ago in anticipation of the season. I really like the look of fall leaves and this is about the only way I can get them around here...I have to make them myself. I colored the teddy bear using my favorite Prismacolor pencils and gamsol and of course used my Nestabilites to cut my squares and scallops.



Stamps: CTMH Bears Of The Seasons (retired)
Papers: CTMH Autumn Terracotta, Barn Red, Goldrush, Harvest Reflections Kit (long since retired)

Merry & Bright, Bright, Bright!

I very, very rarely use bright colors in anything I make. I'm not sure why, maybe they remind me of clowns...but that would be another story.

I have seen many Christmas cards made with bright pinks and greens the past couple of years. At first I thought they were horrendous, they just did not have that certain look I'm used to for Christmas cards. But I suppose I give in to peer pressure easily (I mean look, I have a blog now, for crying out loud). So yesterday when I was making up some cards (yes, Kimberly, just because I could), I decided to try these unnatural color combos. I tried it and I liked it, I liked it! At least for this card I liked it, but I'm a little biased. I also used die-cuts (which are on special this month with CTMH) for the flowers and tag.



Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Christmas Melodies
Inks: CTMH Gray Wool, Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum
Papers: CTMH White Daisy, Citrus Leaf, Bubblegum


As far as the video I posted a couple of days ago, I apologize if it is stuck in any one's head. Because it sure is stuck in mine. Maybe Bio-Comp and Loquacious requesting to watch it 50 times a day has something to do with it.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Maybe not here in Tucson, but certainly where all my craft stuff is spread around. I've got glitter in places I didn't know existed, but that's the dangers of making Christmas crafts. Right now I have a couple of cards done to show at next weeks Oh Scrap! and Wild Cards meetings. Strangely enough, they don't have any glitter on them at all. But this one was colored with chalks and blending pens, in case you were wondering. Today's card, I like a lot. I think this paper pack is one of my favorites in the Autumn/Winter Idea Book.


Stamps: CTMH All Decked Out (November SOTM), Christmas Melodies
Inks: CTMH Black, Twilight, Creme Brulee
Papers: CTMH Aspen Reflections Kit
I'm sure with all the time left in the day I'll be back with some more things to show...as long as the cold medicine holds up.

The NyQuil Cloud Is Lifting

Do you ever find something so funny that you can not stop smiling? Have you ever found said "funny thing" while under the influence of cold medicine? I saw this video today and could not stop smiling. Inside, I was laughing so hard tears came to my eyes, but on the outside I only had a goofy grin. I think it had something to do with the lack of sleep today.



I think I find this so funny because I can totally see my four brothers doing this.
Now I think I might take a nap then come back for some cards later.

Nostalgia Comes To Visit

I grew up where the leaves changed colors and fell in Autumn. I really miss that. We had a big tree in the front yard that shed colorful, crunchy leaves every year. I don't think my dad liked it quite as much since he had to rake them all. But I remember walking through them and I liked the sounds they made. Here, I just have the mess of the mesquite trees...and that seems year round. No crunching of leaves under your feet, no gold and orange in the trees, no rustling in the wind.

When my Oh Scrap! group met last month, we made Autumn pages. I had to dig through some old pictures to find anything that would work with them. I had to settle for studio pictures we took as a family...7 years ago! I can't believe how little Bio-Comp was. Engineer has a bit more hair now, he grew back his goatee 5 years ago. And me, I have less hair but more everything else!


Stamps: CTMH Annotations
Inks: CTMH New England Ivy, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate
Papers: CTMH Barn Red, Goldrush, Olive, Colonial White, Outdoor Denim, Chocolate

What A Small World

A couple of months ago I saw some very cute cards made from some very cute little girl stamps. They reminded me of drawings made by someone I knew, but had moved away. I saw the name of the artist of these stamps and knew it had to be more than a coincidence. Elizabeth Bell draws some of the most amazing and detailed images for a couple of stamping companies across the pond. I was so happy to find these! She is having a blog candy giveaway here for some of her artwork. The end is near so hurry over and participate!

Here is a card I made today using one of her stamps.


Stamps: Sugar Nellie-Reflective, CTMH Spot On Background, Weathered Background
Inks: CTMH Heavenly Blue, Crystal Blue, Twilight, Buttercup, Sunflower, Blush, Key Lime, Topiary
Papers: CTMH Black, Twilight, Sunflower
(I used Twilight just for you, Liz)

It is a bit intimidating creating something you know the artist will see, like cooking a meal for Emeril or wrapping a gift for Martha. So Liz, I hope you enjoy the card!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

This morning the boys finally got the Halloween calendar filled. Every window, every tombstone, every bag of candy is out. I made this a couple of years ago with much help from my mom. In a month I'll get to hang out the Christmas one.



I like Halloween, more now because the kids are old enough to enjoy it. But what I really love more than that it to watch scary movies and TV shows, because I can do that whenever. However, when these two things get together, it's a recipe for an overactive imagination.
The other night my Engineer went to Scouts. I like when he's gone because when the boys get to bed I have a quiet house to myself. I was watching a TV show that I always watch on Wednesdays (Criminal Mind), and right in the middle our doorbell rang. I absolutely did not want to answer it. Who visits people at 8:30 at night? After staring at the door for a while I finally talked myself into looking through the peephole, which was something I did not want to do, I could get my eye poked out or something! (that's the overactive imagination taking over) When I did peep, I saw something on the ground. Then my mind went to someone leaving it on the doorstep so I'd open the door, then they would reach out and push their way into the house. I decided since Engineer was on his way home, I'd let him get whatever it was out there. Then I started thinking, "What if he doesn't see it and steps on it?" And that quickly went to "What if someone is still out there and grabs him when he gets to the door?" (it is totally fine if you are snickering right now). Rest assured that he did get home and in the door safely...along with the plate of chocolate cupcakes someone "ghosted" at our door. I'm glad he wasn't eating one when I told him what I was doing the past 5 minutes, because I'm pretty sure he would have chocked with laughter.

Only Three More Days...

till Halloween! This is what I've heard all morning, and it's not even 9:00 yet. My boys really like Halloween, but believe it or not it's more for the dressing up than the candy. They start asking me in July how many days until Halloween. I had to make a Halloween advent calendar just to appease the masses. Maybe I'll post that on Friday, when it's full.

Right now I'll show you guys another card we did at the Wild Cards group this month, since it is still Halloween season.


Stamps: CTMH Creepy Cobwebs
Inks: CTMH Black, Buttercup, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Pansy Purple
Papers: CTMH Pansy Purple, Sunflower, Colonial White


After all this Halloween business is over I need to get cracking on Christmas stuff!

Weekend Recovery

I always get tired getting ready for workshops...but it's a good tired. I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed themselves, even though we could have used another 6 hours or so! The ladies made Event Calendars. They'll use it to write any important dates that happen every year: birthdays, anniversaries. But the best part is after the year is over, they just flip it over and start again. After doing all the work on Saturday, plus 5 hours yesterday, some joked that they didn't think they'd be giving them away as gifts after all!

Here's a few pictures of the goodies they all got, filled with chocolate of course.



And here is the prize basket one lucky lady won, and I think by the ear shattering squeal she produced, she was pretty happy. Congratulations Stephanie!




And remember when I said I had inky fingers getting ready for this? These little babies are the reason why.


They are so fun and easy to make...OK, maybe not exactly fun, but I sure love sparkly things!
So that is what I've been up to the past couple of days. Now I have a couple of weeks to get ready for the next scrapbook meeting at my house! I think I might take a nap first though.

Inky Fingers

So I have a workshop this weekend and I've been getting things ready for that. Right now I'm just glad to sit down for a bit! I don't want to show anything I've been making for that, in case one of my guests wanders over here and sees the prize basket! I'll just say my fingers are very inky, and leave it at that.

Since I don't want to show anything I've been working on, I'll just show another card we made last weekend at our Wild Cards group.


Stamps: CTMH Little Spooks
Inks: CTMH Pansy Purple, Garden Green, Olive, Black, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Sunflower
Papers: CTMH Enchanted Reflections Kit

You Look Boo-tiful!

Once a month a group of ladies come to my house and we do cards and layouts. I love doing it because it's one of the few times I get to talk with grown women! This is one of the cards we did. I totally cased it from Michelle Zindorf's tutorial. She is so amazing with a brayer! And I am so thankful that she shares all her great work and know-how with everyone.

Stamps: CTMH Boo-tiful, Four Seasons
Inks: CTMH Buttercup, Sunflower, Crystal Blue, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim, Black

Papers: CTMH Black, Indian Corn Blue, Sunflower, White Daisy

And now that I have an actual craft item on my blog, I feel a bit more accomplished. I have way more cards and things to post, but I don't want to completely overwhelm (or underwhelm) you. Besides, I really need to get more stuff done for my upcoming workshop this Saturday. Lots of goodies to make!

Thanks for stopping by!

When Are You Going To Start A Blog!

Well, how about right now. I've spent way too many hours looking at other craft blogs out there and got tired of certain people (you know who you are) asking that very question. So I caved to the peer pressure of "every body's doing it".

Why The Craft Closet? Simply because it's my favorite place in my house. And because a majority of things will come from there. I know, the last thing the world needs in another paper crafter enabling other crafters, like we even need encouragement. But I like to make things and I live with my three boys and my husband. I know boys and men can be creative, I do. But my husband is an engineer and it has become apparent that my boys will follow down that same road. Their idea of creativity is to see how many toys it takes to cover the carpet in the play room, or to see how many computers and laptops you can use...at the same time. So when I finish a project, I'd like to hear more than a "That's pretty...when is dinner?" or "Nice, can I play a game?"

So I turn to you. And even if no one out there is looking at me and my stuff, I can at least imagine I have a group of friends that understand me and my craft closet.