My Favorite Things

Free Shipping Offer and a Book Recommendation

Hi there,

Well, I have a fun little tidbit to share with you today.....Garrett's popcorn, which I raved about just the other day, is offering free shipping when you order online today only.  Thought I'd share the shipping code with you in case you want to give them a whirl.  Mmmmm.....think of me when you're munching on that delicious popcorn!  :)

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

I also have a book recommendation for you -- this one gets two thumbs up from me and a dear friend of mine as well.  If you love Downton Abbey, you'll likely thoroughly enjoy this book.  There's a definite "upstairs, downstairs" theme to the storyline, so like in Downton Abbey.  I love, loved this book....such a good story and I think you just might love it too!  

Hope you're having a great day!

 

A Studio Calico CHA Challenge!

Hi there!  

Today, I've got a fun little challenge for you to play along with if you'd like.  Since CHA (Craft & Hobby Association trade show) is going on right now in California and some of the Studio Calico crew is there, we thought we'd have a few Design Team challenges for you here at home, from the girls at Studion Calico.  You can find the guidelines for playing along HERE as well as a thread for each challenge, so you can easily play along with one or all of them.  The thread for my challenge is HERE!  Come say hi and play along with me!!  :)

Since washi tape is soooo popular these days (and since I've recently come to love it myself!), my challenge for you today is to add washi tape to card stock and then die cut that card stock to create a washi covered die cut.  

Here's how I did mine.  I love this gray star washi from mt.  I covered a strip of rustic cream card stock with the washi, lining up each edge so it creates one continuous pattern.  Then, I used one of Papertrey's half & half dies to die cut the panel and then added that die cut to my card.  Easy peasy!

Here, you can see not only my washi die cut, but also some sneaks at some of the new Studio Calico goodies that are being released at CHA this weekend!  The papers are from the Classic Calico Vol. 2 and Abroad collections and the stamps are from Take Note and Classic Calico Vol. 2 stamp sets.  I also added a My Mind's Eye rhinestone to accent the flower.  

I hope you'll play along with the challenge.  If you do, be sure to head over to the Studio Calico forum and leave the link to your project in my thread there, so we can all see what you came up with!

Happy Sunday, Peeps!

{SUPPLIES -- click on thumbnails} 

Rustic Cream card stock	Half & Half die	Happy Day die	Limitless Layers: 1 3/4" Circle dies	Beautiful Blooms II #3 dies	Vagabond Sizzix Machine by Tim Holtz
Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter	Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter

InLinkz.com

Studio Calico's Daydream Believer Revealed

Hi-ya!

So it's reveal day at Studio Calico and all of the February kits are now available for purchase!  Today, I've got gobs of cards to share with you, all using the February Daydream Believer kits!  Besides the main Daydream Believer kit, I also got add-ons #2 and #4 -- Lady Lane and Stepping Stone.  I had so much fun with these......Let's get right to the projects, shall we? 

This first card is from the main kit only -- Daydream Believer.  I also added a bit of Mister Huey's calico shine on the little banner....it's hard to see the shimmer on the cream muslin in the photo, but in real life, it adds just the right amount of soft shimmer.

Next up....this one's all Daydream Believer again, with the addition of a brad from the Lady Lane add-on.

I used Papertrey's mat stack 4 die to die cut the black woodgrain paper and then layered elements from teh kit on top.  

Papertrey's heart border die was used on the patterned paper along the bottom of the card.  The pocket was created using a bag that came in the kit.  It was longer than I needed it to be for a card, so I trimmed off the bottom inch and a half or so and then stitched along the bottom, giving me a new, shorter pocket.  

Inside the pocket is a bit of card stock where I can jot an extra little note to the recipient.  I topped it with a die cut (journal tabs die) and a Dear Lizzy brad (love that thing!).

Here's another Daydream Believer card for you.......added a bit of Mister Huey's spray in Cameo on this one.  

I used a Love Lives Here die to cut out the little scalloped circle behind the butterfly and the stamped frame was created by stamping a smaller frame (from Daydream Believer) twice, allowing the two frames to overlap on one edge, creating a larger frame.  The overlap is hidden by the butterfly! 

For some reason, this next one reminds me of a skirt Tinkerbell might wear!  Haha.  This card is another featuring all Daydream Believer kit items.  The frame was die cut using the Simply Jane die.

I used some of the mistable trim from the kit -- it comes in 3 sizes, so I figured, why not use 'em all?!  Ha.  The top layer is spritzed with Mister Huey's in Cameo, the two middle layers with Overdue and the bottom two with Plum Thumb.  The mistables take the spray mist sooo well and dry really quickly.  This was very fun to put together!

Ahhh.....now this one makes me smile.  The floral background paper is from Stepping Stone add-on #4 and everything else is from the Lady Lane add-on.  Those Dear Lizzy brads are soooo cute, aren't they?

I used the Happy Day die on the ledger paper and the doily was hand cut from patterned paper.

This one's all from the Lady Lane add-on #2.....how about that fun My Mind's Eye garland?  Fun, right?

And need I mention, yet again, the adorable Dear Lizzy brad?  Ha.

This card comes mostly from the Stepping Stone add-on #4 with a couple of bits from the main kit added in.  The colors in this particular add-on were soooo fun to work with, but then again, you know me and bright pink and turquoise.  :)

I used one of my doily details dies to die cut the gray/white paper, and my signature series: butterfly die on the floral paper.  I also spritzed on some calico shine for kicks.

Mmm.....more fun colors here.  Another from Stepping Stone......Love the October Afternoon journaling cards in this kit.  The "FRIEND" was stamped with stamps from the kit.  

The flower was created using my Friendly Flower die as well as the Sending You leaf die.  I stitched the flower layers together with some baker's twine and a button from the kit.

One more before I go....this one from Stepping Stone as well.  I just added some kraft card stock to this one.  Another fun journaling card here.  The flowers were hand cut from a patterned paper from the kit.  A few rhinestones were the perfect finishing touch.

All righty then, that's it for me today.  I hope you've enjoyed your time with me.  Do you have a favorite card from today's line-up?  I'd love to hear from you! 

Hope you have a wonderful day!

chat soon,

{Supplies -- click on thumbnails}

Daydream Believer February kit	Lady Lane February add-on kit	Stepping Stone February add-on kit	Mister Huey's spray - calico shine	Mister Huey's spray mist - Cameo	Mister Huey's Spray - overdue
Mister Huey's spray - Plum Thumb	Corner Chomper	Chocolate Baker's Twine	Vagabond Sizzix Machine by Tim Holtz	Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter	Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter
Mat Stack 4 die	Simply Jane die collection	Journal Tabs dies	Heart Border Die	Love Lives Here die	Happy Day die
Signature Series: Butterfly die	Doily Details Collection dies	Sending You dies	Friendly Flower die

InLinkz.com

My Favorite Things

Hey there....thought it was time for another Favorite Things post.  This is the part of the show where I tell you about products that I love because I think you might love them too.  Sometimes they're crafty in nature and sometimes they're not.  Today, we're all over the map.  Haha.  (no pun intended!)

To start things off, I want to tell you about the Vagabond Sizzix electronic die-cutting machine by Tim Holtz.  Now, before you start wondering, neither Tim Holtz nor Sizzix have any idea who I am.  I'm just telling you about the Vagabond because my dear husband got it for me as a surprise for Christmas.  I was shocked.  I hadn't asked for one but he'd heard me talking about it because my bestie has one and loves hers.  Anyway, as it turns out, I love this electronic die cutting machine!  First of all, isn't it just cute?  I love that it looks like a well-traveled little suitcase!

Here's what it looks like when you open it up.  In case you want to order it online, Ellen Hutson has the Vagabond here and Two Peas has it here.

It comes with everything you need to get started, though if you plan to use wafer thin dies (like Papertrey's dies), you'll also need to buy this die adapter (it's basically a shim) which retails for about $10.  Two Peas has the Solo Thin Die Adapter HERE and Ellen Hutson has it HERE.

The thing is, I do a lot of die-cutting.  A lot.  And I have to say that it's soooo nice to just put the sandwich in the machine, slide the lever back or forth (telling it which way to crank the sandwich thru) and then push a button and watch the machine do all the work for me!  I've been super impressed with this machine.  It's very heavy duty -- it weighs 14 pounds -- and is very strong.  It cuts like buttah.  And the extra length on the platform makes it really nice when using longer border dies and such.  Tim Holtz has a demonstration video here, so you can see the Vagabond in action.

So if you're in the market for a new die cutting machine, you might want to consider this one.  Ellen Hutson also carries the extended cutting plates for the Vagabond (they're longer just like the platform).

Next up, let's talk make-up.  Now if you've been hanging around here for very long, you've probably figured out that a lot of the time, I'm a MAC make-up girl.  I love my MAC, but there are a few exceptions to that rule....one being in the mascara department.  I have fairly long eyelashes and big eyes so if I use a cruddy mascara, it's kind of obvious!  Haha.  And one pet peeve of mine, is when mascara flakes off as the day wears on.  I don't think one should ever have to look in the mirror only to find mascara crumbs on your cheeks.....but maybe that's just me.  :)  That's where Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara comes in.  I've been using this mascara for....well, gosh....quite awhile now and I have to say that I love it.  It makes my lashes look longer and thicker and most importantly -- NO flaking!  And the best part is that you can have all of that, at a drug store price!  Score!  You can find this mascara at just about any drug store, box store, or make-up store where inexpensive brands are sold.  One word of caution though.....don't poke yourself in the eye accidentally with that "brush".  See in the picture above??  Those aren't "bristles" but actually hard plastic spikes.  They do NOT feel good when jammed into your eyeball.  Or so I've heard.  

 

Lastly, before I go, is Garrett's Popcorn in Chicago.  Yes, I know I don't live in Chicago.  I'm well aware that I live a good 8 hours away from being able to conveniently buy any of this delicious popcorn myself, but there's always the internet, right?  Whenever we go to Chicago -- even if just on a layover passing thru to somewhere else -- Garrett's is a main priority for Bartley and I.  The cashew caramel crunch is the most amazing caramel popcorn I've ever had and I say that in all sincerity.  It's just so RICH tasting without being super sugary, if that makes any sense.  We also highly recommend the cheese popcorn.  Super cheesy and delicious.

I will readily admit that to order it online, you pretty much need to take out a loan because it's rather pricey, but OH MY STARS is it fun when a box of this delicious goodness arrives on your doorstep.  I speak from experience.  A dear, DEAR, very beautiful, charming, loving, hilarious and did I mention beautiful friend sent us a cannister of Garrett's for Christmas this year (she obviously loves us a LOT) and I nearly danced a jig when I saw the logo on the outside of the box when it landed on our doorstep.  I called Bart right away at work and promised to not eat one single solitary kernel until he got home to share with me.  Bart and I are not the type to keep score with each other....about anything, really......except when it comes to Garretts Popcorn.  That's when very strict sharing rules apply.  :)

Do yourself a favor.....go take out a loan, order yourself some Garrett's Popcorn and enjoy every last morsel when it arrives.  Or better yet, run to Chicago, walk right in to any Garrett's location and enjoy every last morsel they put in your bag.  

You don't have to thank me.

This concludes today's Favorite Things post!!  Hope you've enjoyed it.

Happy weekend, dear readers...

Someone...

Someone takes up just a wee bit more room on his woobie than he did a few months back......

I still can't believe how fast he's grown sometimes.  He wasn't a tiny boy for long.  

I thought some of you might be wondering about Windsor these days.  He's doing really well....his scar is disappearing and now we're just waiting for all of his fur to grow back in (where they shaved it for his surgery) and it's hard to see in the photo, but he is making some progress in that department.  There's some light colored fur coming in on his belly now.  

He's also becoming quite the sweetie-pants.  He LOVES to look out the front door with me.  We'll go to the door and I'll squat down beside him (me on the left and him on the right) and I scooch as far to the left, away from him, as the door will allow and then I wait.  Because he sits immediately to look out the door.  But usually within a few seconds of me squatting down beside him, the little dear scoots his hiney over to the left, so that he's now leaning on me while we check out all of the happenings in the cul-de-sac.  I have to be careful that he doesn't knock me over!  Ha.  I must admit that I melt a little each time he scooches over to lean on me.  Gah.  So sweet.

He also feels the need to sit or lay on the floor RIGHT behind whoever's at the kitchen sink.  Doesn't matter if it's me or Bartley -- he does it with us both -- but he turns his back to us and the sink and sits/lays -- again leaning -- on whoever's there.  It's the funniest thing.  And he does it all. the. time.  

Now that he's maturing a bit, he's been able to stay in the studio with me some during the day instead of being in his kennel.  He either lays on his woobie or in the doorway/hall....or he sits and looks out the window, keeping an eye on the cul-de-sac.  It's funny how long he'll sit in front of the window, sometimes.  He doesn't bark or anything.  Just sits and watches.  Very observant, that one.  I love it.

Can't believe he'll be 8 months old next week.  Where does the time go?

Hope you're all having a great day.  Working on a few more projects in the studio that I'll be able to share soon.  Also working on a Favorite Things post so stay tuned for that.  I've also got a couple of fun posts coming up for you this weekend, so I hope you'll drop by!

Until then,

 

Studio Calico Daydream Believer Sneaks

Hey there!

Well, it's been a bit of a crafty whirlwind around these parts.  I've been whipping up lots of projects for Studio Calico, both for CHA using the new lines coming out (yay!) and for this month using the February Daydream Believer kits.  Lots to share in the days ahead.  For today, how about some sneaks of what's to come with the Daydream Believer kits this month?

I had lots of fun creating with Daydream Believer and the Lady Lane and Stepping Stone add-on kits.  Pockets, brads, butterflies......

Die cuts, chipboard, Mister Huey love.......

Layers, layers, layers......

Scrumptious papers, ribbons, more brads (LOVE).....

Flair, dots, and more dots......

Flowers, stamps, buttons, and more....

Journaling cards, flowers with jewel centers.....

Serious fun this month!  Can't wait to show you each of these cards in full.  Until then, wishing you a very, very happy day!

xo,

Studio Calico Sneak and a WINNER!

Hi-ya, Crew!

Today, I have a little sneak peek at one of February's Studio Calico kits -- this sneak peek was brought to you by the add-on #2, called Lady Lane.  :)  I've been having a lot of fun (a LOT) with the goodies in this month's kits.  You're in for a treat, if you're planning to get them for yourself!

I also wanted to announce the winner of a spot in Amy Tan's new Studio Calico class!

The winner is lan!

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS lan!!  Please email me your Studio Calico username, so they can get you set up with your free spot in the class!  (see left hand side bar for my email addy)

Hope you're all having a great day.  I'm working on some projects for CHA today.....so much fun new product coming soon from Studio Calico!!  They've been showing sneak peeks all week at the Studio Calico blog!  Check out the new Abroad collection here, the Take Note collection here (a personal favorite!), the Classic Calico Vol. 2 collection here, and the new Studio Calico/Hero Arts stamps here!  Be sure to leave comments on those posts, sharing your favorite product from each line, for your chance at a $50 Prize Pack! 

Have a great day, dear readers!  I'm off to craft it up in here.  Haha.

Sending a Big Thank You

Hi-ya!

So last week, during the countdown, I shared a pair of Thank You cards in reds and pinks that used this same basic layout.  I loved the layout so much that I couldn't resist using it again on another little pair of thank yous.  Now that Christmas is over, I've got a list of thank yous that I need to get in the mail and seeing as it's already the middle of January, I'd better get a move-on!

The card bases are stamper's select white card stock layered with a fun paper from the Green Boutique collection.  I used my Celebrations stamp set and coordinating die to create the fun label, and the sentiment is from Papertrey's A Big Thank You set.  Behind the Celebrations label, is a scalloped oval that was die cut with one of the new limitless layers: 2 1/4" oval dies and behind that is, of course, some aqua mist card stock that was die cut with a half & half die.  I love those dies.  Some rhinestones and a little stitching on the sewing machine finished things off.  I love how simple and yet how fun these cards are.....have you gotten your thank you notes mailed off yet?  Or are you running a bit behind in that department, like I am?

I hope these cards have inspired you to get your rear in gear, like me, and whip up some thank yous!  :)

Happy Tuesday, dear readers, 

 

{Sending a Big Thank You supplies -- click on thumbnails}

Stamper's Select White card stock	Aqua Mist card stock	New Leaf card stock	Green Boutique patterned paper	Celebrations Stamp Set	Celebrations die
Half & Half die	Limitless Layers: 2 1/4" oval die collection	Vagabond Sizzix Machine by Tim Holtz	Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter	Sizzix Solo Wafer Thin Die Adapter	Hero Arts citron gemstones

InLinkz.com

Studio Calico/Amy Tangerine Class Giveaway!

Well hello there, Peeps!

I'm popping in today with a fun, fun giveaway for you from Studio Calico!  The adorable and oh-so-sweet Amy Tan is teaching a new class at Studio Calico which is starting soon, and Studio Calico wants to give away a spot in that class to one of my lucky readers!  How sweet of them, right?  :)

Here's a bit of info about the class:

 

Are you ready to jumpstart the way you look at supplies?  Tired of letting your kits pile up month after month without touching them?  Ready to pull out the tools you have on hand and put them to use? Amy Tan is here to help show you how to see the Studio Calico Main kits in new ways and get those supplies onto your pages.  She’s ready to share tips and tricks on making your kit supplies stretch to create beautiful page after page.

Known for her playful and innovative pages, Amy is the perfect teacher to help you stretch your kits.  She’ll walk you through ideas for breaking open those brown paper bags and seeing your kits in a fun new way.  Amy and Studio Calico kits... what a great combination!

Amy is joined by creative powerhouses Kelly Goree, Celine Navarro, and Jen Jockisch who will all share inspiration for using ONLY the Studio Calico Main kit.  You’ll see their process for getting started on a layout, selecting which supplies to pull from the kits, and tips for using their favorite tools and techniques.

START DATE: FEBRUARY 1, 2012          

REGISTRATION ENDS: JANUARY 31, 2012                                           

PRICE: $30.00

 

All you have to do to be entered in the giveaway is to leave a comment on this post.  Maybe you could tell me what you're doing on this Monday holiday.  Or you could tell me what you're most looking forward to seeing here at the blog-o in 2012.  Or, maybe you could tell me what's for dinner at your house tonight.  :)

Contest closes on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 9pm CST.  One winner will be randomly selected and posted here on the blog-o so keep an eye out to see if it's YOU!

Have a goodie!

(Winner will need to provide your Studio Calico username to take the class, so if you haven't already registered, you might want to do so.  Simply click "register" in the upper right hand corner of the Studio Calico home page.)

PTI January Release Projects

 

Hi-ya!

Happy Papertrey Release Day!  All of this month's new releases will be available for purchase tonight at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink, including my new Celebrations stamp set, my Happily Ever After stamp set and my Dearest Jane patterned paper collection!

Before you make up your final wish list, I've got a few more projects to share with you, starting with this friendly little number featuring the Lace Bouquet stamp set as well as a sentiment from Script Sentiments.

 

You can also see a bit of my new Dearest Jane patterned paper peeking out from behind the berry sorbet layer.

Next up is Heather's Tag-Its #12.  

I used it to create the tag, heart and the little gray background pattern.  I also used the Winterberry dies to die cut some spring moss card stock for the leaf accent.

The "Just Married" sentiment is from Happily Ever After and the "CONGRATS" is from Celebrations.

One more.....this one featuring Melissa Bickford's Floral Fusion #12.  I pulled out the Tag-Its #10 stamp set to stamp the circle tags around the flowers and then added the flowers and button centers from Floral Fusion #12.

The sentiment is from the new Think Big Favorites #12 and I layered it over a raspberry fizz frame that was die cut with my new Celebrations die and stamped with a coordinating frame from the Celebrations stamp set.

Well that's it for me today.  Have you made your wish list and checked it twice?  

The other girls on the design team all have their final projects to share with you today, plus Nichole will have previews posted of all of this month's new releases in full!!

Nichole Heady

Betsy Veldman
Lisa Johnson
Heather Nichols
Maile Belles
Erin Lincoln
Jessica Witty
Ashley Newell
Danielle Flanders
Melissa Phillips 

Happy shopping, Dearies!