RCC December challenge: Anything Goes!

Good morning!! I'm happy to share with you my creation for Ribbon Carousel Challenge's December Challenge: Anything Goes.

This time of year, we want EVERY gift to look pretty and special, so I made a simple and quick little gift bag that is easy to make, but still makes a pretty statement.

I used a Whisker Graphics glassine bag and grabbed a Albums Made Easy card from We R Memory Keepers' North Pole collection, a doily, and an embossed sticker from We R's North Pole.   I tied some May Arts ribbon on the tag sticker, pinched it all shut with a clothespin, and just like that, a cute little neighbor gift.  You could even throw something like this together with scraps from your scrap bin in no time! (and clip it all onto even small gifts, like fancy hot chocolate pouches)

This month's theme is Anything Goes, so there's no excuse not to participate!  Let's see you link up your pretty ribbony creations!!

Advent Calendar with WeR's Envelope Punch Board

Hello, all!  I just wanted to share a quick post about our family's Advent calendar this season. Last month, I grabbed the Envelope Punch Board and some Christmas paper with the intention of making some itty bitty gift card sized envelopes.  But then, I thought "gee, these would look cute strung on some twine as a garland!", and the idea for the Envelope Advent Calendar was born!

***A TIP FOR LEFT-HANDED CRAFTERS--When using the Envelope Punch Board, it is MUCH easier to turn the board upside down, so the score line is on your left, and the punch part is on the bottom of the board.  Does that make sense? I figured that trick out after a couple of envelopes-I was not making pretty envelopes at first and was getting frustrated, then voila! I turned the board around and got perfect envelopes every time. Us lefties have to stick together.:) ***

I made 25 envelopes using the North Pole 6x6 pad (I cut the sheets into 5x5 squares, so they could be gift card sized envelopes, but you can make them whatever size you please!)

Using my Cameo, I did a print and cut from this file, and placed each day's Bible verse into the envelopes.  Then I grabbed the Silhouette numbers file from Els Brige's blog, and cut the numbers from the blue cardstock in WRMK's North Pole collection.

 I placed a dab of Tombow's Duo glue on the flaps and let it dry so it would be repositionable, then strung the envelopes onto WRMK twine.

It's a good thing it was repositionable, because I quickly realized I wanted this to hang in two layers, so I had to take half the envelopes off the twine, and flip them around the other way.

I love it! And, since it can be put together in  the span of a long nap-time, it's not  too late to grab a board and some paper and get to it yourself!

Have a blessed day!

Ribbon Carousel Cyber Monday Sale

Just a quick note to say that Ribbon Carousel's Cyber Monday Sale is ON!  You won't want to miss it!

Ribbon Carousel Holiday Blog Hop!!

Hey everyone! We've got such a treat in store for you this weekend! To celebrate all of those beautiful Ribbon Carousels being used around the world (yes, we've shipped Carousels to 27 countries now!) to keep ribbon, twine, washi tapes and spooled items tidy, we'll be hopping around our amazing Crewmates blogs for the next 4 days showing you all of the beautiful and creative ways that our designers use THEIR Ribbon Carousels!

So, a while back my hubby built me a bar for all of my spooled ribbon.  It's fantastic, and I get lots of usage out of it, BUT it doesn't work for the shorter lengths of unspooled ribbon I buy.  I have lots of shorter lengths (5 yard) of my favorites (May Arts Chevron Twill, and lotsa twine!), and I'm horrified to say they inhabited the dreaded ribbon bin.

Oh, it was awful.  How on earth was I to find anything in that mess?  Enter the Ribbon Carousel.  I sat down with a bag of spools, and wound up all the pretty ribbon and loaded it up, and NOW look at it!  SO PRETTY!!! And organized!

I LOVE that it matches my shelves, and looks so darn pretty and feminine.  So much better than the mess I had before.  It's like I can shop in my own stash now!

I found things in my ribbon bin that I had no idea I owned, and I'm really looking forward to using lots of ribbon in my Christmas present packaging!


Would you like to win your very own Ribbon Carousel? Here is what you need to do: Visit the Designer’s blogs that are participating in each day of the blog hop and comment on their posts as you go. One of the Crewmate’s Holiday blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Crewmate’s Holiday Blog Hop post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more Crewmate Blogs you comment on, the better your chances are of winning your very own Ribbon Carousel! The Blog Hop will be open until 11:59 PM Eastern Time Monday, November 25th with the winners being announced Tuesday morning on the Ribbon Carousel Blog.
Already have a Ribbon Carousel? Share a photo of YOUR Ribbon Carousel on our FaceBook page OR email it to info@ribboncarousel.com, and we'll share it for you! You'll be in special drawing for your choice of a Ribbon Carousel or 4 packages of spools!

For those that want a Ribbon Carousel NOW! Mark your calendar! We'll be having our LOWEST SALE
PRICE of the YEAR sale on the Ribbon Carousels and Spools beginning Wednesday, November 27 -
Cyber-Monday, December 2! No coupon code needed! Just go to our store and enjoy some
happy shopping!
Here are the participants for Day 1 of the Ribbon Carousel Holiday Blog Hop. Enjoy!
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Fawny Holiday Week!!

Welcome!  I am so super-duper stoked to be sharing a project with you for Lawn Fawn's Fawny Holiday Week! Be sure to check out the Lawn Fawn blog today, and the rest of the posts from from the week, in order to be entered into their many drawings for Lawn Fawn prizes!  You surely will not want to miss it, or the amazing inspiration that's featured.

The set I am showcasing today is Yeti, Set, Go--with which I fell in love when I first saw it.  One of the things I love about Lawn Fawn sets is their versatility, and this little yeti can be used year-round for so many cute projects! (I've already made non-wintery cards with him, and it was so much fun!)

Have you guys seen Monsters, Inc? I was inspired by the Abominable Snowman, and how he offers Mike and Sully some snowcones when they get banished.  This card makes me giggle every time I look at it! What a gentleman this yeti is, offering up a sparkly snowcone. :)

I used some WRMK paper for the background, and used Versamark and the snowflakes from the set to make the subtle, snowy background. 

I adore this set, and will get so much use from it.

Be sure you check out Lawn Fawn's blog today, and all of the other posts from this week.  The Lawn Fawn Design Team and Lawnscaping Design Teams have come up with FABULOUS inspiration for you, just in time to bust out all of those cards for the holiday season! And you will not want to miss out on a chance to win AMAZING Lawn Fawn goodies!

Pinspired Challenges #21

Hey, all!  So excited to be coming to you with another Pinspired Challenge!  Today, we are offering a very special prize--our DT member Lalo has put together a super cute prize package featuring stamps from I Heart Papers, May Arts fibers and some super sweet colors of Memento ink!

Perfect way to get a jump on Christmas cards!  Thanks, Lalo!

I was inspired by the pastel colors, the food theme, and all of those DOTS.

I immediately thought of the pastel colored enamel dots in my stash, and paired it up with some Paper Smooches stamps, and a Silhouette cut file.  Inside of the card, there are two little notches cut in the background that perfectly fit a Starbucks gift card.  Mmmmmmmm........

I can't wait to see what you link up for this challenge!  

Ribbon Carousel Challenge: Holidays and Celebrations

Hooray!  I am excited to be kicking off another Ribbon Carousel Challenge with you today!  The theme for this month is PERFECT: Holidays and Celebrations.  With Halloween behind us, we are OFFICIALLY into the holiday season, and there's so much crafting going on this time of year, you're sure to be able to EASILY enter this challenge.  YAY!  (As a side note, I just loaded up my Ribbon Carousel with my washi collection, and I have to say, it's a much more efficient storage method-which means I now have room for MORE WASHI. :))

So, here's my inspiration piece for the challenge!  I recently received this super cute mini set by Sweet Stamp Shop, and thought it would be perfect for this month's theme!  I tried to stick to warm, soft colors, and the natural twine and cork just really speak "fall" to me.  So fun to create!

And I can't wait to see what you link up!  The winner of this fabulous challenge receives a Ribbon Carousel--and let's be real: you're spending so much time shopping for other people at this time of year, why not enter for a chance to win something special for yourself, eh?!

Have a blessed day!

Pinspired Challenges: sponsored by Snake Tape

Good morning!  I'm so pleased to be bringing you another Pinspired Challenge, this time sponsored by Snake Tape!

A little bit about Snake Tape (formally Scrapp'n Supplies):
ScrappnSupplies.com is a family owned business located in Yorkville, IL. Our love of the crafts combined with our retail business experience made opening Scrapp’n Supplies a natural fit. We launched our business in early 2012 after the successful introduction of our SnakeTape adhesive & correction products. Through the many recommendations, lessons learned, and product feedback we are bringing to the market products that are simply a must have in every scrapbooker’s supply bag. Not only do we have the products that every scrapbooker needs, but we also have them at prices that will not be beat. Top quality products at rock bottom prices insures that we deliver the highest value to all of our customers.

Snake Tape has offered a package of their adhesive runners to the winner of this challenge, and as paper crafters we know how vital it is to have a good stash of adhesive at the ready!

The inspiration photo we're using today is:

Don't you just love this time of year?  I love this photo of an inviting entryway and porch, full of the colors and textures of fall.  I opened up my all-time favorite fall collection, Authentique's Gathering, and put together this card.  I tied some We R Memory Keepers baker's twine on the tag for some extra texture.  

I can't wait to see what you create for this challenge!  Link up your fall creations here.  Have a wonderful day!

Lawnscaping Challenge: Pinterest inspired!

Hello!!!  I'm so super stoked to be coming to you today with another Lawnscaping Challenge--I think you're really going to love it!  Aaaaaaand:  Today is my birthday (insert Beatles guitar riff), so I'm even more giddy than usual!

This challenge is sponsored by the ever-amazing Lawn Fawn, who will be giving the Queen of Green the in stock stamp set of her choosing!  Yay!!

So, since this is a Pinterest-inspired challenge, I looked to my sweet and talented crafty friend, Brenda Smith's visual inspiration board.  I just love how the stuff she pins gets my creative mojo flowing.

I found this album cover she pinned, and the idea for this card just popped right into my head! (the song was already in my head--and has been since I first watched the video!)

I LOVE IT!  I used the dark background, simple typography (Cole's ABCs dies), to match the album cover, and the fox image from Into the Woods just had to pop in there.

If you aren't sure to what I'm referencing, check out the viral video here.  Trust me.  You're welcome.  :)

So, go link up your creation--I can't wait to see what you make!  And, if you don't have Pinterest, no worries.  Just find some visual inspiration online, and make sure you link to it in your blog post.
Have a blessed day!

An exciting announcement, and a fun card

You might have noticed a pretty new badge over there----------->  :)  I am super stoked and honored to share that I have joined the We R Memory Keepers Design Team.  I have been a huge fan of We R for years, so the opportunity to design for them is a tremendous blessing.  So, this thank you card, made with We R's Notable collection (shipping next month!) is in honor of my new team.  Thanks, We R! :)

The papers are from Notable, and the thank you element was fussy cut from one of the papers, and popped up on foam adhesive.  The pretty coordinating twine is from We R, and I used my Corner Chomper to round the corners on the polka dotted paper.  

                        

A special "thank you" to my three year old, who decided that the card needed a little "something extra", and liberally colored on the back (and top front) of the card.  I think it gives it just the right touch!

Have a wonderful day!

Lawnscaping Video today!

Hey, guys! Head on over to the Lawnscaping blog to check out a video tutorial that I made. (with the technical assistance of my wonderful hubby!)

Pinspired Challenges: Hosted by Authentique!

Good morning!  I'm happy to be bringing you another Pinspired Challenge; this time hosted by Authentique Paper!  Authentique has amazing paper quality--seriously--you can sit and pet their 12x12--they have a beautiful texture, and beautiful designs.  For our challenge, they are offering up a Halloween themed prize pack, including a 6x6 pad of their Enchanted line!

Here's the inspiration photo you'll be working with for the challenge:

Gorgeous. I admit, I didn't do the beautiful picture justice.

I was super excited to use my new Paper Smooches set!  Can't wait to see what you link up with this beautiful inspiration photo!!

Lawnscaping Challenges: Patterned Paper Craze!

I'm so excited (albeit a few hours late!) to be sharing another creation for Lawnscaping Challenges today!  Today's challenge is dear to my heart, as I LOVE patterned paper, and it truly is one of my favorite crafting goodies!

 

This challenge is sponsored by Simon Says Stamp (LOVE them!), and they have offered up a lovely $25 gift certificate to their store! Sweet!

Now for my creation:  I made this layout at the Scrapbook Steals Retreat, and there are so many awesome memories attached to it.  It was amazing to create next to my scrappy sisters (and share supplies!)  I used the Into the Woods 6x6 pad, Into the Woods sequins, and Into the Woods stamps. (See a trend here? ;))

Pinspired Challenges #18

Good morning, girls!  I hope you've all been able to enjoy some fall weather--it's starting to get cool here and it's simply fabulous! I'm happy to be sharing another Pinspired Challenge with you, sponsored by a brand new company, Pink Hippo!  A little bit about them, from the owner, Debbie:

Pink Hippo was a name I picked out years ago when I first thought I might want to dabble in the clear stamp business. I have the most supportive husband in the world and anything I have ever wanted to do he has been behind 100%. I have a 27 year old daughter who is my world and that is where the name came in. Her last name is Hipp and when she was growing up we always collected hippo things, preferably pink!

I am a retired business owner and didn't start crafting until about 3-4 years ago when I retired from my business so I am a late bloomer. I have always felt like a crafty/creative person and was so excited to think I may have an avenue for it. I got my first cricut die cutting machine and just started playing around and was hooked.

I didn't actually start stamping much until the past two years. I love stamps and thought I would like to see more on the market that are more on the humorous side because I love humor. I had tossed around the idea of stamps for years but just decided to jump in and just have fun! I love Halloween so much that I decided that had to be the first thing I worked on.

This is my first release and I am happy to sponsor the giveaway.

Thanks so much for sponsoring us, Debbie! As the prize for this challenge, Pink Hippo will provide the winner this Witchy Woman stamp set. Awesome!

So, let's get to it!

I just love this inspiration photo.  This color palette is fabulous, and as it just so happens, I just got a ton of sequins from Neat and Tangled in this exact color scheme.  And some new SU! stamp pads that match, too.  So, it was pretty much meant to be.  Here's my take on the photo:

LOVE those colors.  Someone please tell me that I don't have to stop using brights because it's fall.  I used Neat and Tangled's Sparkle and Shine set, and tried to keep it simple a la Neat and Tangled's CAS style.

Be sure to link up a creation to be eligible for this sweet prize!  I can't wait to see what you create!

Pinspired Challenges #17

Good morning, crafty peeps!  If you are here looking for Kelly Marie's birthday blog hop, just scroll down a bit, then come back here to check out this awesome challenge.

I'm so pleased to be sharing Pinspired Challenges' 17th challenge, sponsored by Whisker Graphics!  I absolutely love their bitty bags and twine, and the Pin Perfect winner of this challenge will receive three full spools of Whisker Graphics Divine Twine!  So awesome!  Here's the inspiration photo you'll be using for this challenge:

I was so excited to see the quilt in the pic because I knew I had some October Afternoon paper that was very similar to that large floral print!

This card is also the public debut of my machine stitching on a card.  If you know me well, you know that up until recently I've been a sew-aphobe.  Seriously.  I'd hot glue anything before I'd sew it.  Well, I was inspired by an amazing sewist friend, and armed with some fabric scraps, I've been practicing my sewing skills, and felt confident enough to machine stitch a border around this card.  And really, how could I not try out my stitching with this inspiration photo? ;)

I cannot wait to see what you link up for this challenge!  I always love looking at your creations on the Pinspired blog.  

Happy Birthday, Kelly Marie!!

Woohoo!!! I am so stinkin' excited to be sharing the happiest of birthday wishes to Ms. Lawn Fawn herself, Kelly Marie Alvarez! (You should have arrived here via the amazing Julie Campbell.) Kelly--your designs are whimsical, sweet, and my go-to when creating, so I hope that this little birthday card puts a smile on your face.

I created this card using my Cameo (to make the shaped base), and several sets of my beloved Lawn Fawn stamps.  I almost had the sweet little pups with little speech bubbles containing music notes, but alas, I ran out of room. :)

Happy Birthday times 33 to you, Kelly Marie! High five to you for creating paper-crafting awesomeness.  

Your next stop on the blog hop is the cute and stylish Lisa Rimke!  And if you get lost along the way, no worries, just stop by Tiffany Johnson's blog for the complete list!

Pinspired Challenge #16

Good morning!  Hope everyone is adjusting well to the back-to-school (and back to mommy routine) time of year!

I love today's inspiration photo, and I hope you do too. But before we get to that, the sponsor for this challenge needs no introduction, for it is the fabulous Ellen Hudson online store!  SWEET!  The winner of this Pinspired Challenge will be receiving a $25 gift certificate to the store, so you will definitely want to play along with us. (And we made it super easy for you with the awesome inspiration pic!)

And here's my take on it:

 I (like a lot of crafters I've seen lately) am LOVING wplus9's Fresh Cut Florals.  There is so much that can be created with this set--I need lots of time to practice, for sure.  This was my second card with the set/dies and and while a little wonky due to user error, I love it, and love that there are so many awesome things to be created once I get the hang of it!

Now, go link up!! You don't want to miss a chance at this prize!

Lawnscaping Challenge #64: Distress Maniacs!

Good morning!  What a wonderful early fall morning to be coming to you with the brand new Lawnscaping Challenge: Distress Maniacs!  I have to say, my card today is my favorite that I've made in a long time!  (Thanks to Summer Card Camp 2 for inspiring me to break out my Distress Inks again!)

Today's challenge is sponsored by Lawn Fawn, who will be giving the Queen of Green her choice of free stamp set!  Love!

So, if you'll remember, for the last challenge, I created a one layer card using a Distress Ink background with hearts die cut from the background.  Well, after I looked at the pretty die cut hearts, I knew I couldn't throw them away, they were too pretty......so, out of them was borne this challenge card!

So, after starting with the Distress Ink hearts, I grabbed the coordinating inks, a scrap of watercolor paper, and made this cool panel.  SO. MUCH. FUN.  I popped it up on foam dots and added a sentiment from Many Thanks.  And there you have it.  A card made from pretty scraps. :)

I can't wait to see what you link up!  Be sure to check out Lawnscaping's blog for inspiration from the amazing DT, and also "like" them on Facebook to get to see the Facebook Inspiration Team's projects throughout the week.