Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving! No, I didn't fall off of the face of the Earth. I have been really busy and haven't had much time to post lately. Today I thought I'd share a cute little turkey treat holder idea. They are super simple to make and don't require many supplies. Best of all the kids can even help with this project.

Happy Crafting,
Vickie

Wedding Card

A friend from work just got married. She used the colors green and brown in her wedding so I also use them on her card. This card was made using a pattern that I saw on an Australian scrapper's blog. If you are interested, just let me know and I will forward her info to you.

Happy Scrapping,
Vickie

Getting Organized for the Holidays

Ok, If you know me then you also know that I am an absolute nut about organizing my receipts at Christmas time! I can't tell you how many times I purchased gift items that didn't fit or were damaged and couldn't find my receipt to return them. A few years ago I decided that had to STOP, so I set about trying to force myself to get organized for the holidays. Now every year I make some sort of cute little receipt holder and I am diligent about putting my receipts in the correct spot. Problem solved :-) (well at least one of my problems is solved - LOL)

This receipt holder is 9 inches wide and 4 inches tall. It is about half an inch deep and has four pockets inside to hold my recieipts. The little tabs are labeled (I used letters instead of names this year) and It has been decorated just to make me feel happy. I usually leave the receipt holder somewhere that I have easy access to (like my glove box or on top of the refrigrator) and everyone knows that they are under penalty of death if they move it or examine the contents.

Happy Stamping,
Vickie

Smile Scrapbook Page

I made this scrapbook page using some papers from a K & Company paper pad. I was experimenting with making my own buttons and decided to incorporate one into this page. I also enjoyed layering up the different colors and textures to make the flowers for this page. I have a great picture of my son and his girlfriend that I plan to use on this page.

Hope this inspires you to make something creative with your own stash!

Happy Scrapping,
Vickie

Maine Scrapbook Page

On our recent cruise to New England and Canada we visited Maine and learned all about catching lobster. Did you know that each lobsterman has his own buoy colors?Those colors are used to identify where a fisherman has set his traps. I cut the lobster for this scrapbook page using the Cricut cartridge called Pack Your Bags. I cut the buoy by hand and had a blast distressing it to look like the real buoys we saw.

Happy Scrapping,
Vickie

Mini Halloween Card

Last night my plan was to finally clean off the desk in my craft room. Well, I found a cute little mini envelope and the whole plan got derailed! Next thing you know I was making a mini Halloween Card from the scraps that were lying around me. I had a great time and I know just who's going to get this card but I must confess - The desk is still a mess!!

Hope you enjoy today's project and that it inspires you to do something creative with the stuff in your stash :-)

Happy Crafting,
Vickie

Shaker Tags

Oh my, I have had so much fun playing in my craft room today! I have an enormous mess but I have enjoyed every minute. I saw some really cute shaker tags in my friend's craft book and decided to make some of my own. Through trial and error, I came up with the two tags pictured above. That cute little snowman with a belly full of snow (I mean chunkie glitter) just makes me happy and even I (the person who offically hates snow) love the snowflakes in my Christmas tree tag.

To make the snowman tag I used the Sizzix die called Snowman #2 and my 1 1/2 inch circle punch. To make the Christmas tree tag I used Christmas Cheer and Tags, Bags, Boxes & More Cricut cartridges. The snowflakes were made with an inexpensive punch. Hope this inspires you to create something that makes you feel happy :-)

Happy Crafting,
Vickie

Santa Clause Card

It isn't too early to start thinking about making Christmas cards! Every year I say that I am going to start making my cards earlier so I don't feel so rushed in December, but that never really happens. Today I made my first one of the year :-)

This cute little Santa Clause Card was really easy to assemble. It does use several different embossing folders and requires a little prep work ahead of time, but it's fun and easy to do. Want to know how I did it? Just watch the videos below.

Happy Crafting,
Vickie

Top Note Purse

If you follow my blog, you know that I LOVE my Sizzix Big Shot and just about every die that I have ever used! Today I will show you how to use a few different dies to create a cute little purse. This would be an awesome favor for a purse party or you could easily make it look like a diaper bag and use it for a baby shower. I have had so much fun playing with this little purse. Hope you give it a try.

Happy Crafting,
Vickie

P.S. The cardstock for the base should be cut at 5 1/2 x 6 inches just like it says on the screen in the video. I misspoke and may have created some confussion.

How To Line An Envelope

I really love the way that lined envelopes look but it always seemed like it was way too much work to create them. Today I am going to share a quick and easy technique for creating lined envelopes. You will NEVER say "it takes too long to do that" again!
Enjoy,
Vickie

Card Box

Today was a big day for me. I made my first ever video tutorial! It was kind of fun but I still have lots to learn about video editing. If you want to see how I made the card box pictured above, just click on the video link below. The card box is large enough to hold at least 6 fully decorated A2 size cards and envelopes (maybe even a few more) and would make an awesome and inexpensive gift this holiday season.

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Cruise Layout for My Vacation Pictures

I have lots and lots of pictures from my recent cruise vacation to scrapbook. Today I finished this layout and tought I'd share. Now I just need to print my pictures. This layout has mats for three 4x6 inch photos and one 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inch photo. I also included a little tag for some extra jornaling.

Happy Scrapping,

Vickie

Easy Little Tea Bag Holder

I haven't posted much lately because I've been on vacation with my family. Today I dusted off my craft supplies and had a little fun! I made a couple of different tea bag holders using stuff I had on my desk. Each tea bag holder is held together with a simple piece of ribbon and the fronts were decorated with stamps and punches. I inserted one of my favorite tea bags (it was a little too big so I just folded it a bit) but you could easily use candy or photos instead. Hope this inspires you do make something today :-)

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Note: You can click on any picture to enlarge it for easier viewing

Top Note Treat Box

These cute little treat boxes were made with the SU Top Note Sizzix Die. It only takes half of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of cardstock to make the box and another half of a sheet (in a coordinating color) to make the top and bottom pieces. You will need additional scraps to decorate your box as desired. Just email me if you'd like the instructions. I used chocolate chip for the box, old olive for the top and bottom and scraps of Green House Gala designer paper to embellish. One of my boxes closes with a ribbon tie and the other does not. I was having a little fun experimenting. I think I will fill them with candy :-)

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

I love the Fun Flowers Die!

Today I made a quick and simple card for my friend Andrea. I used fabric (Yes, you can cut fabric with your Sizzix dies!) and some scraps of pink tulle. I used the SU Fun Flowers Die to cut all of the flower layers twice in fabric and twice in tulle then I just layered them together, but the flower didn't look dimensional enough for me so I folded some of the tulle scraps (maybe 1 inch x 1 inch squares) and placed them randomly in the middle of the assembled flower(I think I used 8) I pinned the flower to hold it together and made a hole in the center with my Big Byte - a brad in the center and the flower was done!

I wanted the flower to be removable so I put it on a bar pin (just feed the brad prongs through the center hole in the bar pin) and punched two holes in the card. My flower pin threaded through the two holes in the card and can easily be removed and added to something else.

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Double click on the flowers to get a real close up view :-)

Gate Fold Owl Card

My baby brother is turning 40! Today I made him a unique birthday card. It is a gate fold card with a cool latch that looks like a tree. I was made using the following stamps, papers and dies and my awesome Big Shot (all from Stampin Up) The edges were sponged and I added a littel Crystal Effects to the beak to give it some shine.

I plan to write "look whooo actually sent your birthday card on time" on the inside 'cause I always send his late.

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Cardstocks: Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi, Black, and Crumb Cake (plus a scrap of very vanilla to stamp the owl and sentiment on)

Stamps: Punch Bunch

Punches: Two Step Owl, Two Step Bird and 1 3/4 inch circle

Die: Oval Scallop Frame

Ink: Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango (marker)

Wiper Card

I saw this idea for a "Whiper Card" on the Split Coast Stampers website. Beate John's has an awesome video tutorial on how to make it. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/wipercard/ It just looks like a regular card until you pull on the ends, then a little flap pops up on the top of the card. (so stinkin' cute!) It fits in a standard envelope but is a bit thick so I'll bet that you have to put some extra postage on it if you plan to mail.

For my card I used all SU products except for the printed paper (it's from a K & Comany stack) The cardstock colors are Baja Breeze and Ceratinly Celery.

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

What can I do with all these scraps?

I have mountains of scraps! I love pretty paper and can't bring my self to throw out the excess when a project is finished. I try to use my scraps whenever possible but they are really piling up! I am proud to report that today's project was made entirely with scraps :-)

I used my SU Fun Flowers die to cut the layers for this bookmark. I layered the flower together and attached a piece of ribon (from my scrap ribbon pile) by punching through everything with my Big Bite and inserting a little green brad. To finish the project off, I punched a one inch circle from the same paper as the largest flower and covered up the prongs that were showing on the back of the bookmark.

You may not be able to see the that each flower was bent slightly between the petals (prior to assembly) to give the flower a more dimensional look. This makes a quick and easy bookmark for yourself or to give as a gift and it is a great way to use up scraps :-)

Happy Scraping,

Vickie

P.S. Click on each picture to enlarge. You can see the texture and details better

Embossed Card

I have seen lots of card lately made using this dry embossing technique. This card was made using a new folder from Darice (sorry I don't know the name). It is similar to the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder from SU. I used a Baja Breeze colored cardstock base and a scrap of designer paper from my stash. The accent colors are Pear Pizzaz and Marina Mist. I used the SU bird punch for the center image. I was quite a chore to run all that through the Big Shot. Give this technique a try. The photo doesn't do it justice :-)

Happy Stampin,

Vickie

Someone really cares ...

Someone I know had a really tough week. I decided to send them a little card to let them know that I care and I am willing to just sit and listen if they want to talk (or cry.) I rewoked an old card design to come up with this. I just love the stamp that I used on the inside.

Happy Stamping,
Vickie

Funny Stamp for Back of Card

In my haste to post the card I made for my son last night, I completely forgot the show you the funniest part. I used this cute stamp on the back of the card. Knowing my son's quirky sense of humor, he might just like the back as much as what's inside (lol) Sorry I couldn't get it to rotate :-(

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Top Note Gift Card Holder

Today I made a card for my son who is away at college. No real reason for the card. I was just thinking he might enjoy a little surprise, but making a card for a guy is always a challenge. Since he is a avid cycalist, I used some old fashioned bicycle paper from my stash to make a gift card holder. The layer that holds the card was cut using the Top Note die and my Big Shot (both available from Stampin Up)

Happy Stamping,

Vickie

Gatefold 6x6 Mini Album

Ok, so I haven't posted in a while. Been kind of busy with my son's college graduation and family. Now I am back in the crafting mode.

I just love my new Cinch! Today I made this mini album using a few pieces of chipboard, some cardstock and my Cinch. The closure was made using scarps of paper and my I-top.

Happy Scrapping,

Vickie

Skating Party Invitation

I made this skating party invitation for my friend Kim. Her son is having a skating birthday party and she couldn't find invitations that she liked. I used the Cricut cartridge Groovy Times. Hope she likes them :-)

I ordered my Cricut Expressions 2. Can't wait to get it!

Happy Scrapping,

Vickie

Birdie Card

I was inspired to make this card when I saw the cute little birds on a piece of

paper I purchased. (http://www.3bugsinarug.com/ April Showers collection) I wanted to make a litte birdie for my card that closely resembled the ones in my paper. I used my ornament punch (Stampin Up), a 1 1/4 inch circle, some 7mm wiggle eyes, and a few strips of cardstock. I added my birdie to a card base that has a bit of an unusual fold and embellished with some pretty ribbon. Very simple!

Happy Stampin,

Vickie

Purse Invitation

This super easy purse invitation was one of the make and take projects that we gave to each person who registered for Scrap-fest. This one is my sample (we acutally used a different paper) so I was experimenting with ribbon and embellishment choices. I used my I-top to create the matching brad on flower. (not exactly centered but then life's not perfect!)

Happy Stamping,

Vickie