Guatemalan Malnutrition Center Benefit Sale

Last weekend, I and many vendors had the opportunity to be a part of a benefit craft show for the Guatemalan Malnutrition Center. I have a few items leftover and I would love to be able to donate more so I am offering these items for a sale this weekend. The more I sell, the more I can donate. So if you didn't get a chance to come out and are looking for last minute Christmas gifts, here is what I have to offer. I can ship USPS and locally deliver.
Thanks for your help in this very worth cause!

Click here for more info about the Guatemalan Malnutrition Center

My most popular item: Natural Stone or Slate Coasters Slate have a faint French script with a swirl design, Black or Hunter Green on left have 4 different Bible verses along with the swirl design, and the Dark Pink flower design has 2 sayings: Enjoy the little things and Enjoy every moment. They all have a felt backing to keep your tables safe.
$14 for a set of 4 or if you buy 2 more sets, the price drops to $12.  Thanks to USPS Flat Rate, this isn't awful $$ to ship anymore.

Hand Sewn Fabric Stockings hold gift cards, treat bags, notes, whatever you like! $5 or 2 for $8

Jumbo Binder Clips are repurposed to hold a special picture, recipe, or memo. Also great for highlighting a dish on a buffet or place setting. $4 or 2 for $6
Cherry, Flower, Pink Bird, B&W Bible verse, Christmas Blessings, & Comfort & Peace are available.

The last of my Magnetic Sticky Note & Pen sets. "Do Good", "Be Nice", or Cherry theme are available. These are magnetic & ready for your fridge. $4

Handcrafted Layered Flower Bookmarks These 2 designs are what I have left from all of them! $3 or 2 for $5 See this link for them "in action".

The last of my Sticky Note & Pen sets. Gator or light pastel theme left. These hang with a little loop which would be perfect for a cubicle or by the phone. $4

Paper Stockings hold gift cards or secret notes perfectly! Great to hang on the tree or finish off a package. $3 each or 2 for $5

How about a little whimsy? This is a funny little poem about wanting to make Christmas Fudge but getting too busy...so here is a bag of chocolate. $3 each or 2 for 5. I have 7 left.

Last 3 Stationary sets left. Cherry/Skull design, and 2 Red/Black/Vanilla/Bird design. $12 each

"Pretty Protectors" Plastic case comes with mini notepad, pen & stick notes, nicely wrapped & protected for your purse, bookbag or diaper bag. Some use for coupons, too. $8 each, buy 2 or more and the price drops to $7 each.
Variety of themes pictured

Popular with only 3 left, these come with a funny little poem about Rudolph's Repair Kit. Contained inside the jars are Cinnamon Disc hard candy. $3 each or take all 3 jars for $6

Jumbo Clothespin clips are perfect for holding a special picture, recipe, or memo. $4

Gift Tag Decoration/Ornament $1 or buy all 5 for $4

 Everything here is handcrafted by me using only premium Stampin' Up Products.  Isn't it fun what you can do with a little Paper, Stamps, & Ink?

Please let me know if you are interested as soon as possible!

Thanks for looking!

Cider & Stampin Fall Projects Creative Class

Hello!  We had a lovely time last night enjoying fall themed snacks and drinking cider punch while getting to know new and old friends.  Here are the projects we made:

We did a candle wrap, 2-way embossed card, little treat bag for Halloween and a Nugget Box for Thanksgiving.

 I was really happy with the way the nugget box turned out.  I plan to sell these at upcoming craft shows.  This particular one includes 6 Hershey nuggets wrapped with our new holiday themed "It's a Wrap Holidays" stamp set.  There is an additional one in the main Idea Book for occasions like baby & bridal showers, birthdays, etc.  You stamp the design on a regular return address label {like Avery 5160} and just peel and stick around a Nugget.  Super cute, quick & easy.

 Everyone seemed to really like the thin little treat bag, which could be used for so many occasions and holidays!  At $2.50 for 50 bags, it's a steal, too.  

This class could easily be duplicated in your home with your own friends.  If you would like to host your own Cider & Stampin' class, please contact me!  

We have plenty of time between now and Thanksgiving!

Thanks for looking!

Magnetic Chalkboard with Clips Gift Idea

Come check out my tutorial on my personal blog for our MOPS activity we did this week. 

It utilizes Designer Series Paper and Ribbon from Stampin' Up, of course!

Magnetic Chalkboard 

This would make a great gift for anyone and fairly inexpensive, especially if you already had the paint or were doing a lot of them.  Enjoy and if you make them yourself, please send pics!

Make Your Own HandCrafted Coordinating Drink Umbrellas

Who doesn't love a little flair in their drinks?  

We had a Babies & Bunco ladies night for our Sunday Connect class to celebrate the mommas that had a baby since we had started the class.  With a class for Parents of Preschoolers, we figured there were a lot of showers in our future if we did one for each momma so we decided to do a group celebration instead.  Eventually we will do this quarterly or twice a year.  Anyway, we wanted to keep the decorations gender neutral so I went with Stampin' Up's color, Crumb Cake.  I didn't have Designer Series Paper in that color so thankfully, with My Digitial Studio, I could just print out a wide variety of designs with this color.  That is the {one of many} nice things about that program because you have an endless suppply of designs & colors that can be instantly printed without the delay of purchasing and waiting.

My co-party-coordinator, Jennifer, asked if we could make umbrellas to coordinate with the Congratulations banner.  I hadn't caught that was the "new" thing but thought it was a fun idea.  Anything with paper, I am on board!  I should have known about them.  After I made them, I happen to notice one of the featured cover projects of the latest Summer Mini Catalog had them on it.  Way to go SU for being up with the trends, even if I was clueless.  ;)

I had to use my Sizzix, well, because I have one and it makes things so much quicker and easy.  I did find a nice tutorial of a gal that did them using the old plastic stencil and scissors way and it is here.

Here is my quick tutorial on them.

I punched out the largest scallop circle from Scallops Circle #2 Bigz Die then cut a slit up to the center.

I used hot glue because of the fast set up and the stiffness makes me think it is more sturdy.

I just lay the edges over each other till the edge kind of matched up. Some cut out a small triangle..either way would work I bet.

Next I used a dab of hot glue in center of the inside of the umbrella to adhere the lollipop stick.  You could also use small wood skewers {less expensive}.

Sorry it's blurry. :(

Ta-Da!

Not rocket science but fun what you can do with paper and a little glue!

I used a variety of designs with the same color which also coordinated with the banner {coming soon}

Fancy Hipsmatic pictures courtesy of Jennifer Cook.

 Thanks for stopping by!

Cars & Princess Aurora Clipboards Custom Order

This is just a quickie to share a recent custom order.

I create and sell a lot of stationary gift sets utilizing the smaller memo clipboards.  But this mom had the idea for me to create a decorated regular size clipboard that her kids could color on during their long road trip up north.  

The funny thing is that I had the same idea that morning when Jesse was trying to color on my mom's mini clipboard while at the doctor's office.  He kept having to turn the coloring page so it would be on the paper..frustrating.  So, great minds think alike I guess.  And here is what I came up with based on the characters for each child.

The trick was I couldn't embellish much since they were coloring on it so I didn't want much raised to mess with their finished projects.  Plus, it was for kids after all and too much would probably be pulled off, at least it would be with mine.  :)

I kept the designs pretty simple. Normally, I would have used some Designer Series Paper but didn't have any in this color scheme.  Plus, I thought the princess stood out better with the solid cardstock colors.

I stamped her name and highlighted with a glitter pen.  Chunky Stampin' Glitter was used for the center of the flowers.

 

 I stampes the finished back to coordinate with the front.

For the Cars board,  I inked up some different wheels from a variety of monster trucks, cars & firetrucks that Jesse had.  :)  Perfect background for a Cars Clipboard.

Vroom!

I added little scallop squares of ink to spotlight or shadow behind the pictures.  I thought they needed a little pop of some sort.

Obviously, I toned down the ribbon factor but I thought the help added a little something to the rustic feel.

 Thanks for looking!

Designer Magnetic Clothespin Set Tutorial

 I did this as a guest post for The Publix Coupon Queen, who happens to be a great friend, too!  Be sure to go to her site to enter the contest and show her some love!
Designer Magnetic Clothespin Set Tutorial
I created these as a smaller affordable gift that I could sell at my craft shows and online at my etsy shop.  But they are easy to duplicate and kids & parents could probably work together to make them.  

It's a great little gift for a teacher or nursery worker, co-worker, secret pal, etc.

 Things you need:
Different scraps of paper.  I used Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper, which is double sided with coordinating designs and colors.  You don't need much at all so it is a great way to use up those scraps!

White Glue, of some sort.  I have found Elmer's 'Glue All' works really well and seems to be very different than their school glue in relation to paper.

Clothespins I left mine natural but you could add a step and spray paint them white, black or another coordinating color. I have bought mine at Target & Walmart and they are generally around 50 for $2 or less.  They are normally found where they sell ironing boards.

Magnets {Optional but definitely adds value to the gift}  Michaels or Home Depot.

E-6000 or Hot glue to adhere magnets.

*{Adult} Cut the paper to the desired length & height that works with your clothespins.  I used a paper trimmer.  I believe these are standard so what I cut was 3/8" by 3 1/4".  It will be slightly thinner than the clothespin but that seems to work better than if it is larger and you have to trim.

*Adhere the paper with glue. Kids could totally help with this part.  I put paper on both sides for a finished look but, obviously, the back will not show much so you could skip that step. After the glue dries..

*Adhere the magnet and set them to aside to dry, especially if you use the E-6000 glue.  *Make sure there is a space between them or the magnets might be attracted to each other and shift on your clothespin. {voice of experience..}

I did a set of 3 clipped to a place card with coordinating cardstock adhered to the front. 

I put the set in a cello bag with a topper stapled on and ready for gifting.  

I hope you enjoy making these together as much as I did.

Would like to get a set for free?
You can win a set of your own, along with a 2010-11 Idea Book from Stampin' Up and hand stamped greeting cards from DearieDesigns. 
Head over Publix Coupon Queen for all the ways to win!

 5 ways to win and 1 lucky winner. This giveaway will end Saturday, June 11th at 9 pm.

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Flowers That Don't Fade

I showed this project back on Mother's Day. 

 I made it for my mom and promised a tutorial.

 I used this Sizzix Big Shot and Flower Folds die to create the white flowers, various circle and scallop circle punches for the pictures, along with the items pictured to make it.

When I do this again, I will purchase a stronger variety of wire.  This wire was $1 but they also had a stiffer green wire for the same price which I would recommend.  You could paint it or deal with it being green.  Michael's or other crafty stores probably have an even better choice.  I got all of these at Walmart because I was short on time.  The bag of shell bits looked like mother of pearl, which my mom loves. It was $5. The vase says "Family" on it but I couldn't quite capture it.  It was only $2 in the section where they sell the reeds & oils for those type of DIY air fresheners, near the craft department. The small opening lends itself perfectly for this project and they had a nice variety of shapes and sayings on the front, all in the suprising $2-$3 range.

I cut numerous white flowers using the die, probably about 20.  I used mainly the 3 smaller flowers, not the largest contained on the die. I would also do about 10 instead for the next project so all can be seen easier.  I had printed so many, I got carried away!  

I printed the various photos in regular 4 X 6 and wallet sizes, so I could have a variety of sizes for the photo "flower centers".

I adhered the photos that were punched out to the centers of the white.  I used Elmers Glue-All.  Double Stick tape would have been fine, too.  Then for the back, so it had a finished look, I punched out yellow centers.  My mom loves daisies, so this mimics them.  I glued the sticks to the yellow using hot glue.  It's stiffer and dries instantly.  

You could have used additional pictures instead, especially if you had a lot of people to include.

I filled the vase using a funnel with the shell bits.  They were near the craft department, too. Our Walmart is all messed up right now for a {another} remodel but all of this type product [sands, stones, etc] was near the flowers for arrangements.  Sand was cheaper but this was super shimmery.  Sorry the picture doesn't capture it well.

Like I said, I really did too many flowers but my mom loved it just the same.  I included not only shots of each of the kids, together and separate, pics of her with them and of our little family of four but even my grandma and aunts, too.  

 {weird overview}

I think this would be a great gift for a whole family to give to a grandmother with all her grandchildren [or great grandchildren], one on each flower.  

Another idea I thought was the class mom gathering shots of each child in a class to give to the teacher, especially the younger grades.

I used Whisper White cardstock for the flowers and various yellows like Daffodil Delight & Yo Yo Yellow [because I didn't have a lot of either].  

This would be cool to do with Designer Series Paper to match your house, especially the newer Black & Vanilla papers I am currently obsessed with [see here].

I made a paper flower arrangement 16 months ago for Abigale's Sip & See party using the heart punch [if you didn't yet have the Sizzix, this would be a good alternative].  I used them over for her 1st birthday, because paper flowers never fade!

So this is the finished project.  I hope you make your own, using whatever tools you have.  

If you do, please share with me!

 If you are not into DIY, message me about creating one for you!