Happy New Year 2013

I hope that 2012 turned out great and 2013 even better. Celebrate safely and wisely and may you have many blessings in the coming new year. I made some decorations for my mom who is having 3 couples join them to ring in the New Year. Her colors are gold, silver and black and it will be an elegant and fun party. Here is a sneak peek at one of the decorations with more to come this week. I used Cricut Cartridge Pretty Pennants for the base in black and gold and the font is Storybook Font. Silver and Gold curly ribbon tied it all together and she has the choice of 4 rows or tying it all together for a long banner. The papers are glossy and kept bouncing off the camera but you get the idea!

Entered in the following Challenges:





http://exploringcricut.blogspot.com/

http://pausedreamenjoychallenges.blogspot.com/2012/12/ch-52-anything-goes.html

http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com/

You're in the Army Now

Our nephew is having a going away party as he leaves for bootcamp in a few weeks. I got out good old Stand and Salute (that I got for the ribbon) and made a few cuts to see what I could come up with. I remembered that my hubby had given me this odd packing material that to me reminded of that camoflage stuff they cover the jeeps and camps with. It was perfect for my cards. I stuck with a navy and crimson color scheme and added a bit of yellow ribbons.  I need to make about 10 of these cards. Here are the first 3. The card blanks and the envelopes were also a surprise cut on this same cartidge cut at 8 3/4". Folded in half it is a nice size to work with. I think these are a good start.

Warm your heart with these fantastic projects

Go check out the great Valentine ideas that the Design Team produced with Emmas' New Release over at MyCreativeTime. Lots of fabulous ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Just the shot to the arm I needed. Come back and let me know your favorite. I know I have mine!!And thank you for visiting me today.

Merry Christmas to all my BLOG followers.

I appreciate the gift of your kind comments and faithful following as I get creative with various supplies.

Thank you and I hope that you enjoy a special day as well.

~in friendship,

Linda

Quick Simple Inexpensive Snowman goodie

So today our darling grandson and I will be delivering gifts to our neighbors kids who he has grown up visiting with. Their little girl is so sweet! She says I am the one that makes the cute candy gifts. Well, no pressure there! I decided to make Snowman Poop but then thought that was  bit much for the tutu girlie girls next door. I tied a ribbon scarf to around the baggie of marshmallows and a perfect snowman. The head is cut at 3 inches from Cicut cartridge Christmas Cheer.

Special Ornament for our special Granddaughter

So...I thought I was being wonderful when I surprised our son with an ornament I found that said Parents-to-Be 2012 since we will having a grandson in Spring 2013. Well...he was appreciative but said doesn't Makayla get a special ornament too? We are including her in everything along the way. So...I went through my craft supplies and decided on vinyl on a glass ornament that I filled with apple/cinnamon potpourri. It says: Last Year Only Child 2012. I used the font from Cricut Cartridge Storybook Font. My favorite for small lettering. I think it came out pretty cute and will be a rememberence for her. Next year...Big Sister, Little Brother matching ornaments!!!

Snow Day

The Challenge over at Pause Dream Enjoy is SNOW!!! We do not get snow or Snow Days in Southern California. But we have heard of them of course. Our little grandson made hundreds of snowflakes out of coffee filters and they are hanging all over his house. He is on Winter Break for 3 weeks and since he can read a little now, I think I will send him this with some more coffee filters and he can have his own Snow Day!!!

I found this cute scene and the awesome snowflakes on Cricut Cartridge A Childs' Year. All it really needed was a little Stickles to make it sparkly. The Sentiment Snow Day is from 3 Birds on Parade.

Also entered the following Challenges:
CardzTV Dreaming of a White Christmas
Pause Dream Enjoy - Snow
Exploring Cricut Holiday Challenge
Creative Cutter Room

Happy Birthday Kathy

Happy Birthday Kathy at Peachy Keen Stamps. This weeks challenge is to make a birthday card using this sketch. I used Die Cuts from MyCreativeTime  XL Labels, and Celebrate Good Times and stamped the cutie face using Peachy Keen Stamps Wide Eyed Kids Asst.

You have time to join in her celebration. Follow the sketch and create your own birthday card.

Simple Tulip Ornament

Here is a simple Tulip Ornament that I was making for a project that I no longer need. BUT I love my ornament so I am sharing it with you! I think I may make several more for my tree. My tree is all silver, white and clear so this will add some color. I used Cricut Cartridge Folk Art Festival and cut the tulip 4 times at 5" in a heavy cardstock. I had been playing around with my ribbon stash for hairbows so I made this in some neutral colors to add to the top and a red ribbon hanger for a pop of color.  It is so me!!!

For our Furry Relatives

No it is not a razor. I made these little Christmas treat bags for my kids' doggies and our friends' doggies. The bone is from Cricut Cartridge Mickey Mouse Font. The dog in the stocking is from Cricut Cartridge Paper Pups. The dogs' names are cut with Mickey Mouse font in red and white and are accented with Glossy Accents. I picked out the little doggie biscuits so that the bags either had red and green in them or the natural color.

Simple Star Ornament

Here is a quick and simple star ornament. Takes me back to the day when our kids would make these in Kindergarten and have their school picture in them. I used the star ornament from Cricut Cartridge Christmas Cheer cut at 4". The adorable face is from Peachy Keen Stamps Wide Eyed Kids Face Asst at 1 3/8". I accented the little gloves and boots with a snow pen and the eyes with a jelly roll white pen. I punched "cheeks" with a regular hold punch for dimension. The ribbon is celebrate it wired edge ribbon and the bells and twine are from my stash. I am entering this in the PK Ornament Challenge. Quick and easy if you need one for every classmate.

My Blue Snowman Home Decor

Every year I give our daughter at least 1 Snowman item for her home. This year I made her the fluffy tulle santa wreath and although she was appreciative and loved it...she missed her snowman item. So...I found this little blue pail to get started. The Snowman is on a stick and was 70% off at Joannes already. I added the little bow and bells and put floral rocks in the bottom to weigh it down. You don't see them but trust me they are a beautful blue! I added some styrofoam balls for snow balls and wedged them in to hold the stick. I glued one on the side 'cause it looked cute! The sentiment Let It Snow is cut from Winter Frolic in black vinyl. It stuck on beautifully and looks very professional. I think she will love it. She did a theme tree this year in all blue and white. The little stack of notecards and envelopes coordinate and are cut from MyCreativeTime 3 fold card and envelope die cut sets.

Bells are Ringing

I love Jingle Bells. I love that it is one of the first songs little ones learn and sing over and over. I have them hanging on my door year round to keep the spirit of Christmas all year.

Over at FCCB this week, our Design Team Challenge is to make a project with bells. I was thinking if I should use any christmas cut and add real tiny bells or find a great bell cut on one of the cartridges.

The bells are cut from metallic cardstock using Joys of the Season and the phrase Jingle along with the musical notes are from Quarter Note. My hubby is a pianist and I wanted him to tell me the proper placement of the notes to make that my background but he declined my request.

Ribbon and blingage added for some pizzaz. Enjoy!!! Hope this inspired you to create a project using bells and enter the Challenge we have starting today at FCCB.

2012 Linda's Traditional Rum Balls

I made 18 of these jars of fermented goodness. I do have to do a taste test each week to make sure they are  yummy! Whew! When you open the jar and inhale...you had better not drive! I still have to make the tags and jar toppers and then ship several off. The majority will be hand delivered.

Lindas' Traditional Rum Balls

Make these Thanksgiving Weekend

Put in airtight containers and let them

do their thing until Christmas

1 cup Powdered Sugar

2 Tbl. Hershey Cocoa Powder

2 Tbl. Light Corn Syrup

1 Cup walnuts or pecans processed in food processor to fine crumbs

2 1/2 Nabisco Vanilla Wafers processed in food processor to fine crumbs

1/2 Cup Good Rum - This is your flavor so don't skimp

Mix all this together and roll into 1 inch balls that you roll in a bowl of powdered sugar

This batch makes about 40 1 inch balls 

I usually make 10 batches! They are always well received!!

My dad used to make these every year. I have given the recipe to my brothers 

and carried on the tradition and now here is my gift to you!

Bath Towel Reindeer

 

Requests for these cute babies again this year. Made with a single brown bath towel, some ribbon, a couple of felt squares, bells, googly eyes, large pompom for the nose, floral pick and lots and  lots of hot glue. I love to use these to deorate our bathrooms. I have also made some beige ones with black noses that are super cute as well. They are all gone so will have to make some more and remember to take a pic right away!!!

3D Shaped Card

This 3D shaped card is cut from Cricut Cartridge Wild Card and the cute little elf beside it is cut from Cricut Cartridge Jolly Holidays. I accented the tree with pearl trim and clear rhinestones. The elf is shaded with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Inked and pen stitching. His super cute face is stamped with Peachy Keen Stamps Dolly Dumplings. To get his rosy cheeks, I used a pencil eraser and dipped it into Ruby Chalk. I used a White Jelly Roll pen to make the whites of his eyes. The card is flat when shut and opens into this festive little scene. I took a break from red and green and used burgundy and olive.

Entering in Pause Dream Enjoy use your stash
Peachy Keen Stamps shaped card