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