Purse Invitation

Next week I'm having a Thirty-One party. Each month Thirty One has a special promotion. This month's special allows guests who spend thirty one dollars to purchase any purse for half price so I thought it would be fun to make purse shaped party invitations. I wanted them to be inexpensive and easy to assemble. In just a few minutes I was able to make these really cute cards! Best of all they fit into a standard A2 envelope and DO NOT require additional postage:-) I hope you enjoy the video tutorial for this project.

Easter Card

I just wanted to take a minute to post a very simple Easter card that I made today. I hope you have a happy Easter and that you make time to do something you truly enjoy. Happy crafting!

Quilted Card Tutorial - Old Mill Wheel Pattern

I had a great time teaching a "Quilted Card Class" yesterday and decided to post a tutorial for one of the cards. This technique is fun and it is super quick to make an awesome card. Go ahead, get out those scraps that you've been saving and give it a try!

This Just Quacks Me Up!

This darling treat bag was made using the EASY 3x5 Treat Bag that I have shown you in the past. (Check out my video for instructions on how to make the bag)To make the face I used a 4 inch oval cut with my Cricut (using the George and Basic Shapes cart)and the Penguin Face with Eyes Stamp from Peachy Keen Stamps (PKK-16) The feet and head feathers were made with the SU Five Petal Punch and the wings were made with the SU Scallop Circle Punch. I embellished with chalk, sponging, a white gel pen and some Glossy Accents on the beak. Super simple to make and it won't break your budget.

I saw a very similar design on another site (I thought it was peachykeenstamps.com) but it used a different sized bag. If you know who originally came up with this design, please let me know so I can give them credit for their cute idea.

Quilt Blocks Galore!

Oh my gosh! I have looked at hundreds of quilt block patterns and just about every single one can be adapted for card making or scrapbooking. I have made so many quilt block cards that some might say I'm obsessed. I am going to teach a class on this technique soon and the hardest part will be deciding which pattern I like best.

FYI, this is an awesome way to use of those beautiful scraps you just can't bear to throw out. The fun part is selecting colors and patterns that will look good with the block style you are working with. Go ahead and give it a try. It is sooooo addicting!!

Wow! A New Look

My blog now has a new look! Feel free to take a look around. Click on a few buttons and see how things work. I love the new "video" button in my navigation bar. If you are looking for a video tutorial that I posted in the past, you don't have to search through old posts. Just click on the video tab and you will be taken directly to my YouTube channel. I am anxious to hear what you think about the new design.

Blog Under Consturction

My blog is getting a face lift and I am super excited. Jennisa at Once Upon A Blog Design Shoppe is working wonders and very soon my blog will have a whole new look :-) As soon as things are back in order I will be posting new spring projects and video tutorials. Please check back soon and let me know what you think.

P.S. Looking for a blog designer? Visit uponablogdesignshoppe.blogspot.com

Two Pocket Treat Holder

Today I'd like to share a cute and inexpensive project. This is not my own idea. I have seen several video tutorials on the internet about how to make the two pocket treat holder in various sizes. Most people put candy or a small treat in one side and a little note in the other but I though it might also make a great gift card holder. Wouldn't it be fun to put a two pocket treat holder on someones desk with a little Ghirardelli Chocolate Square or gift card tucked in one side and a note in the other? I think it is so stinking cute.

I wanted to use a scrap of paper I already had but it wasn't double sided and this project calls for double sided paper. No problem! I made the holder and then lined both pockets the same way I would line an ordinary envelope (If you don't know how to do this, check out my video on how to line and envelope) I put a note card in the front pocket and a gift card in the back pocket.

Happy Scrapping,
Vickie

P.S. Angie Kennedy Juda just posted a video tutorial on how to make the Two pocket treat holder on her blog www.chicnscratch.typepad.com

Valentine Gift Card Holder

 I should be doing chores around the house but crafting is much more fun! I made a Valentine gift card holder for one of my sons (Ok, maybe it really is for his girlfriend.) Both of my boys are in college which means I am always looking for little treats that I can send  to let them know that I'm thinking about them. I will  pop a restaurant gift card inside and send him and his girlfriend off on a little date (The Subway card is just a sample. They are not going to Subway for Valentines Day!)

I will put together a little video tutorial on how I created this 4 inch x 4 inch gift card holder. Maybe I can do that tonight if I get my chores done - LOL!

Sharon's Card

My friend Sharon just loves the quilt block cards that I have been obsessed with lately. Tonight she told me that her favorite pattern was the first one I ever made. I decided to throw together a quick card for her. Just thought I'd share.

I used night of navy and old olive cardstocks, both from Stampin Up, and some pattern paper from my scrap pile. (I told you I have hoarded a mountain of scraps :-)

Valentine Card

Tonight I took out all my Valentine's goodies and decided to have a little fun. I used the Spellbinders Heart Squares die and SU stamp set called P.S. I Love You to create a card. I also used  Basic Gray, Real Red, and Whisper White Cardstocks and a piece of 3/8 inch wide satin ribbon. The white layer was embossed with a Fiskars texture plate on my Sizzix Big Shot. Hope you feel inspired to make some Valentines of your own! :-)

Easy 3x5 inch Valentine Treat Bag

I showed a sample of this cute little treat bag about a year ago but never got aroud to posting a video tutorial. This project is super simple to make and is absolutely perfect when you need to give someone a "little something" or you need a quick favor.

You have probably already figured out that I hoard all of my scraps and the left over sheets from my paper stacks (yes, even the ugly ones!) This is my kind of project because it allows me to use things I already have (yahoo!!)  Hope you give it a try.

Easy and Elegant Invitation

My good friend ask me to help her design an invitation for a 25th wedding anniversary. The couple is planning to renew their wedding vows. The invitation needs to be simple enough to mass produce and may need to accommodate directions (for out of town guests) and an RSVP card (not sure about that yet) I thought a little portfolio style card with a belly band would work well so this is what I came up with.  I just love the silver embossing and the background stamping and the pocket is pretty roomy.  Remember this is a mock up so things aren't centered and the stamping isn't all that great but you get the idea.:-)

Enjoy, Vickie 

More Paper Quilts

I searched the internet for quilt block patterns and discovered  there are dozens of patterns that can easily be adapted for cards and most of them have really cute names :-). Naturally, I had to experiment. Today I made three more cards. The trick is NOT piecing together the quilt blocks. The hard part is definitely selecting pleasing color combination. I now understand why quilters spend so long laboring over pattern and color combinations. I will keep practicing!

Happy Scrapping,

Vickie

Double Frienship Quilt Block

      July Fourth Quilt Block

Modified Star Quilt Block

Paper Quilts

I have taken another long break but now I'm ready to post some new projects. I have always admired beautiful handmade quilts. Unfortunately I don't have the time, patience, or skill to make one of my own.

Vicki B posted a beautiful card on her blog It's a Stamp Thing - It looks like a paper quilt block. As soon as I saw it I became obsessed with trying to make my own paper quilt. I have tried lots of designs. Here are just a couple of my attempts.

Please email me if you know any other techniques or patterns. I am so addicted to this type of design.

Happy Scrapping,
Vickie

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