YEHAW

 Everyone has a little country in them , right?

 Non SU! stamps, embellishments, and papers.

CHRISTMAS CARD DISPLAY IDEAS

Those of you that follow my blog have read in previous posts that I really enjoy PINTEREST website. I am on that site more than facebook these days. Its truly an ingenious website (wish I thought of it). Anyway I have come across hundreds of great ideas and wanted to share some Christmas ones with you.

Here are some ideas from PINTEREST for displaying Christmas cards:

Aren't they lovely ideas? In the past I have taped cards to walls, around doors, hung on wreath holder on entryway closet doors, put in basket, put in small metal sleigh, stuck in pine wreaths and various other things like that. This year I did something different- I made a paper chain and attached to chain with Holiday clothes pins. I needed something to dress up my bare windows. (We've lived in our house nearly 10 years and I have no ideas what to do with curtain situation in my front bay window. This was always a "temporary" thing but, its never been changed). Any ideas for the window space, please, let me know.

How do you display your Christmas cards? I would love to know or see your ideas. Feel free to comment and share a link. Thanks for stopping by today. have a great weekend.

Etsy Shop has been Updated

Just updated some items in my Etsy shop. Check things out here: http://www.etsy.com/your/listings

Who would have thought you could tie bows like this

I love Pinterest! Have any of you joined yet? I learn many things each day from that site. Cannot get enough. Here is a couple ideas on how to tie perfect bows.

Crazy cool huh? But wait... it gets better, here is another one.

Anyone ever tried this? Let me know how it works. Send me a link or picture.

Happy Crafting.

Stampin' Up! Promotion

ATTENTION STAMPIN' UP! CUSTOMERS!!! Start your holiday shopping Monday, Nov. 21, as Stampin' Up! launches their On-line Extravaganza. This event was a huge hit last year and promises great savings and deals. The On-line Extravaganza ends Nov. 30

Here's a link to get started: http://www.stampinup.com/ECWeb/CategoryPage.aspx?categoryid=776

You can order online, pay with credit card, just enter my name at the time of checkout to get preferred pricing plus discounts.

CARAMEL APPLE DESSERT PIZZA

This is one of my favorite apple recipes. I used to make this pizza all the time. I have not made it in years (maybe 5 years). As I was going through some old recipes I came across it again and made it the other day for dessert. Everyone loved it...just as they did years ago. My original recipe came from The Pampered Chef (home parties).

I bake mine on a pizza stone but you don't have too. You can use a pizza pan of any style. The original recipe calls for Granny Smith apples, I use any tart cooking apple (Gala, Pink Lady, Fugi, etc...). It truly is a yummy dessert pizza. Goes great with a cup of hot mulled cider.

CARAMEL APPLE PIZZA

1 pkg of refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1/4 C creamy peanut butter

1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened

1/2 C packed brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 medium- large apple, cored, sliced thin. (removing skin is optional)

1 C lemon lime soda

ground cinnamon to taste

1/4 C caramel ice cream topping

1/2 C chopped peanuts.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove cookie dough from tube and roll out onto cookie sheet using floured rolling pin. Bake 12-15 mins. or until golden brown. Cool 10 mins. then remove from sheet surface (so does not stick). Cool completely. Combine peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in small mixing bowl. Mix until smooth; spread over top of cookie. Wash, dry, peel, core, and slice apple. Dip each slice into lemon lime soda (keeps from turning brown). Arrange (dry) slices over top of pizza. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat caramel topping in microwave for few seconds, then drizzle on top. Sprinkle with peanuts.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

MASQUERADE MASKS

As many of you that follow my blog know, I am a HUGE fan of HALLOWEEN. We are hosting a Costume party in the next week and I have been scrambling to make costumes, decorate, plan menus, and gather and wrap prizes. My husband and I decided to go with traditional masquerade type theme for our couple costume (well I kinda took charge and picked costumes since he likes to wait till last minute- I hate waiting until last minute for anything). He likes things a little more "scary" than me and doesn't always want to dress as a "couple".-Sorry, Mike. He is wearing a tuxedo top and cape with a Venetian Bull mask.  I am wearing a Renaissance/ Celtic maiden dress. I cannot decide which mask I will wear. I made 2 types. I am waiting for the last minute details for my costume to get here, so I can finish my costume and decide which mask will look best.

  Mask #1 was  plain black mask bought at local retail store and then altered. I bought and added many details including feathers (peacock, black, and pheasant), gold metallic paper swirls, rhinestones and gold pearls, glitter details and ribbons. I added SU! crinkle paper around the edges. After I attached the crinkle paper I thought a small black lace trim would have been good with the paper ruffle but, it was too late.

After looking at the mask a couple days,  I decided to add some more embellishments. I added a paper rosette with teal, black,and gold papers. I added some brass hardware in the center and decided to add a stick (handle) with ribbons. The mask functions without the stick (handle) or with the stick. I thought the handle gave it more authenticity.

Mask #2 was in the trash a couple times. My friend picked it up for me at local craft store It was bought for me to disassemble and use the feathers on the first mask (It was cheaper to buy this pre-made mask than to buy bundles of feathers). I added stickles, puffy paper paint to each sequin. I made one side of the mask black with white around the eyes and the other side is white with black around the eyes. I added pink around the edge. I added a hair clip (pre- assembled black and pink) then one feather plume (meant for pens). I cut out some  paper swirls and made a paper rosette. I am still trying to decide if I will add some silver crinkle paper around edges like the first mask. This one is definitely more modern that the other mask. Would look great with a formal black dress, but not the dress I bought. :(

PAPER POM- POMS

I used to make tissue pom poms for all kinds of occasions when I was young. My mom taught me how to make these when I was about 8. We made them for baby showers, weddings, birthdays, Easter, etc... Back then we used Kleenex tissue mostly.

These are becoming popular again and I have seen them on many blogs. They look great hanging above a buffet table, on the table as centerpieces, tied to the bumper of a wedding car, the ideas are really endless.  I rounded the edges of the big black one and made the orange ones 1/2 the size and the edges jagged. I think the orange ones look like mums- don't they?

Here is a link on how to make them.

 http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to#slide_0

More ideas can be seen on Google. (I don't know how to link to Google). Just put in-

 How to make Tissue Pom Poms.

HALLOWEEN CARDS

Here are my Halloween Cards this year. Loved these images from the minute I saw them. I had so much fun coloring them using Copics. Used SU! retired Halloween papers. Used MS edge punches. Added SU! punched bats or a plastic spider with some added MS glitter.

Be Wicked! Frank's bride...

Good Ol' Frank...

I want my Mummy!

FALL GIFT BAGS

I glued the flap (bottom) to the bag. This will keep goody bag from standing up. You can place candies, hair/ face products, baked goods inside the bag this way. It looks lovely filled,  laying on plate at a table setting.  

I attached misc orange papers to the bags in strips. I used black ink and stamped stitching to the strips. (This is my kind of sewing) ;0

I added more small strips (scraps) to tags, stamped more stitching, and trimmed the edges to fit the tag.

I love these cheap craft foam glitter stickers but for the look I was using on the bags these were a little to bright. I distressed the stickers with brown ink.

I inked mini clothes pins, distressed edges of tags and bags to achieve final look.

What do you think?

HALLOWEEN APOTHECARY JARS

I have seen these jars on numerous blogs for weeks now. I love them! They are quite popular in the decorating world  but are also quite expensive. After some investigating I decided to make some. I love how easy they are to make.

I bought the pieces at a local craft store and painted all the raw wood with black craft acrylic paint.

Acrylic paint is perfect for painting wood. It covers nicely and dries fairly fast. I did not spray with protective covering. I figure if it gets bumped, scratched, or nicked it would add character.

I attached the ball knobs and wood bases to the glass with a glue called E6000. Great stuff!

Use in a ventilated area. It does have strong fumes for a glue.

I bought some cheap rubber spiders that already were painted green on their bodies. I just added some fine green glitter to add some dazzle.

I attached these spooky spiders to the base of the stand. They look perfect! I tied black lace, black ribbon, and some multi color (fall colored) fibers to the bottom of the glass and at the base. I am pleased with how the apothecary jars turned out.I made 3 tall (featured here) and I made 3 shorter.  I have given one to a good friend (filled with chocolates) and I have plans to give a couple more away.

Here are some links to some more cute apothecary jar ideas:

http://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2011/09/halloween-apothecary-jars.html#more

http://treegoldandbeegold.blogspot.com/2011/09/i-love-fall-and-halloween.html

http://seasonalhome.wordpress.com/2010/08/29/creativity-with-old-fashioned-apothecary-jars/

http://www.crazydomestic.com/2010/09/apothecary-jars-halloween-style.html

http://www.kmckaydesigns.com/projects/halloween-decor.html

http://afancifultwist.typepad.com/a_fanciful_twist/2009/09/potions-and-spells-and-cards-oh-my.html

OCTOBER IS HERE

Well, October is here and boy does it feel lke it. Its in the 40s, rainy, and gray. I love Fall but I am not fond of the dampness that comes along with the cool weather. I plan on starting my Fall decorating around the house sometime today.  Halloween is my very favorite Holiday and I have sooo many  cool things to decorate with. I have been playing around in my craft room (wow is it a messy place right now) and making some more spooktacular things.
Yesterday was my 16th wedding anniversary and my husband surprised me with the most adorable handcrafted Haunted House. It is made by a local artist Mike Peterson. We have admired this artist's work for many years at a local art festival ( The Yankee Peddler) held near our house every September. My husband special ordered this piece to include characters (husband, me, and our 2 daughters), and our Name and interests.

Here is a front view of the house.  

Here's a closeup of the same view. That is me standing in the doorway. Hahahaha. My girls thought that was the funniest thing.

here is a rear view of the house.

That is my husband sitting on the back porch, yes, that is a can of beer in his hand. The artist added a fish to the top of the porch (my husband likes to fish).

here is a side view of the house. If you look closely you can see the artist added my girls here. Both have softball bats in their hands. Hahahahaha

Swinging Good Time.

you guessed it... another magazine card contest. I used flower soft to add depth to the tree and grass. I also thought the green eyelash fiber added a great grassy-like detail to the card. Retired SU! and non SU! images used.

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER

Here is another card I eneterd in Magazine contest. I colored with COPICS. Added many layers of paper and cardstock. Not sure what company the stamp and tree trunk are from... I got them in an image swap many years ago. Used branch punch and many misc items.  All items used on this card are non SU!

MONKEYING AROUND

Here is a card I made for a magazine contest entry. I love this stamp set but, I am sad to say it retired and I  only used it a few times. I paper pieced his body using green polka dot paper that coordinated with a sock monkey paper line (all used on this card) I found at a local craft store.I colored his hat and added it to his head after I placed it onto a mat area raised with foam dots.  Didn't he turn out so cute? I love the vibrant colors and patterns. It reminds me of a sock monkey doll I saw at Target.

CARD: stamps *retired*SOCK MONKEY set. Misc paper, tissue paper (ruffle), button, copic markers.

Elegant Anniversary Ensemble

Sorry its been so long since my last blog post. So much going on around here lately. Because of the busy schedule and having difficulties with blogger, I have not done too much crafting/ blogging. The air is starting to feel cooler. Fall is definately around the corner. Hopefully, I will have more time to do some crafting/ blogging. Here is a quick and easy altered frame and card I made for friends' anniversary. I love the monochromaticcolor scheme. Creme on creme is so elegant and beautiful...isn't it?

card: CONFETTI CREME #102835 and VERY VANILLA #101650 cardstock. ELEGANT LINES TEXTURED EMBOSSING FOLDER #119277. Frame is FOUR FRAMES #123442 Love verse from retired SU set. Misc lace, silk ribbon, and paper rose. 



I wrapped more silk ribbon and lace around pewter frame  I found at Target for next to nothing. I  attached another paper rose to match the card. I guess I should have took the cheesy advertising photo out before I took the picture, huh?