Friday, December 18, 2015

Last Minute Gifts

Welcome to the

We've got some awesome ideas today to create those last minute holiday gifts.
Each of the bloggers has one or more great idea for fabulous, easy gifts that can be created at the last minute for those holiday gift giving opportunities.
You may want to create a few of them to have on hand in your "Gift Closet."
Doesn't everyone have a gift closet full of gifts ready to give?
We just can't have a hop about gifts and not give a few away, so be sure to hop to
and comment on each of the blogs by Wednesday 12/30/15.
Theresa at ScrapsByGracie will choose 5 winners.
One lucky person will receive a class of their choice from today's hop sponsor

Here is a look at the other different prize packages you could win! 

Now on with the projects!
I am in LOVE with these glitter Christmas tree bulbs and they are so easy and fast to make. I made one for a class ornament exchange yesterday and had it ready to go in less than 30 minutes. This one I made for my daughter.
I used white glitter on the inside of the ornament. I found that people use many different things on the inside of the bulb to get the glitter to stick. I tried Pledge Floor Care Finish which I bought from Amazon. Sometimes there is more glitter clinging in one area on the inside of the bulb but it's never that noticeable or noticeable at all once the vinyl is put on.
Remember to cover the total inside and to let the excess drip out before pouring glitter in the bulb. About 5 minutes upside down works.

Another hint I have found out on my own. I bend the prongs of the hanging wire inward before placing the top back on the ornament. I use my hot glue gun to secure it so it doesn't come off. I tried snipping the wire but it's very hard and ruined a pair of my wire cutters so I decided to try bending it enough so it doesn't touch the sides and scrape off the glitter.

I had trouble centering my vinyl on the bulb even though it's a simi flat surface. I asked others how they did it and they measure across and found the center point. I'm too lazy for all that trouble and noticed that at the bottom there is a bump where the middle is. I use that as a guide along with the top of the bulb and my vinyl is pretty centered now. It's not perfect but what is?

Hop on over to Rhonda's blog to see her last minute gift idea.

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for the 5 great prizes.

Rhonda ~ http://craftingwithblue.blogspot.com <-- Go Here Next! 
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Saturday, October 31, 2015

unBOOlievable Blog Hop



Double, double toil and trouble. Welcome to the "UnBoolievable" Blog Hop.Join us if you dare for a Halloween scare. We're calling all goblins, ghosts, and creatures of the night! So creep, float or crawl through our blog hop if you dare. We’ve had so much fun creating this hop, and we have a spooky line up with some very talented creators. You will see some spectacular spooky projects along the way having to do with a Halloween theme and have a chance to win some spookish blog candy along the way. This is a one day blog hop that is sure to be full of Gremlins, Goblins, Ghoulies, Ghosties and witches on brooms. So be sure to grab your warm potion of choice and get ready to creep, float or crawl through our blog hop if you dare!

 We have some wonderful sponsors for this hop so make sure you creep along to each participant and give them some praise to qualify.
They will be sponsoring a $15.00 Gift Card for the SVG Attic store

Pink and Main - http://pinkandmain.com/
A free stamp set


They will be sponsoring a $20.00 Gift Card for the ScrappyDew store
I decided I needed something on my mantle so I made this plaque. I painted the plaque and then used vinyl in black and purple for the web, spiders and wording. When I was done with all that, I went back and used purple glitter Stickles to go around the very edge. This turned out better than I expected because it's not really what I was planning on doing when I bought the wooden plaque. Isn't it amazing how you start with one idea in your head and end up with something different when you set to actual work. 

Have you heard about the TEAL PUMPKIN PROJECT?
Basically, you paint a pumpkin teal and place it outside for trick or treaters to see. It's a sign for those with gluten or peanut allergies that your house is safe and that you will be giving out gluten and peanut free treats like pencils and coloring books. I just found about it last year and since my daughter has a few friends that have peanut and gluten allergies, I thought I would do it this year. I didn't paint a pumpkin but I made one to hang up outside. I got the pumpkin file from the Silhouette store. My pumpkin is over 12 inches high so he'll be seen hanging up. This is the original photo I took.

And here is my photo editing one. I just couldn't get the teal color to show up right. Grr, but I still like it.


Thanks for joining us on the scary journey of ghosts and ghouls and now it's time to hop ahead to Daphne's blog.

 Complete line up - just in case.

 1. Lisa - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com
2. Charmagne - Sanurascraps.blogspot.com
3. Sandy -http://simplycraftycreationsbysandys.blogspot.com
4. Connie - http://conniecancrop.blogspot.com
5. Audrey - www.kricutkreations.blogspot.com
6. Alicia - http://goldengoddessdesigns.blogspot.com
7. Jearise - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com
8. Daphne- http://craftyscrapsofstuff.blogspot.com
9. Angela - www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com
10. Jessica - http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com
11. Anna - http://grumpygrandmacreations.blogspot.com/
12. Miranda - www.nanasscrapspot.com
13. Rhonda - craftingwithblue.blogspot.com
14. Holli - http://sunflowerholli.blogspot.com
15. Sarah - http://www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
16. Rebecca - http://www.stampandscrapstudio.blogspot.com
17. Theresa - http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

NATIONAL CAT DAY BLOG HOP

Welcome to the National Cat Day Blog Hop! If you came from Gina's Blog you are in right spot but you want to start the fun at Haidee's Blog.
You'll find unique ideas that have to do with Cats. We hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way.

Be sure to leave a comment at each hop to show some Bloggie Love and to qualify to win a this bundle of crafting fun from our hostess.





Now onto my project...

I had this crazy looking cat floating around in my head for over a week so I decided I just needed to turn it into a cutting file and here is my crazy cat with Cattitude!

Your Next stop is Barbara.

Here is a list of the line up. Just in case if you get lost:

Come back to Haidee's Blog Friday October 30th to see IF you are the WINNER.

HAVE A SUPER FANTASTIC HOP!!!
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Friday, October 23, 2015

FALL FESTIVAL BLOG HOP

 
Our sponsor for this hop is: Kathy Moran, Independent L'Bri Consultant 

She is giving away a gift basket which includes: body wash, daily moisturizing hand and body lotion with a loofah, body butter, eye repair gel, facial masque, and hand soap. The basket also includes a travel size facial cleanser, freshener and moisturizer and will be matched to the winner's skin type. The retail value on these items is over $120.00. The scent of the lotion, body wash, and lotion is cucumber, which is the faintest scent. Also included is a set of brushes and a cosmetic bag with mirror.
Please visit our sponsor:  www.morank.lbri.com
Today's hop will give you all kinds of awesome fall ideas.


What to do with an old outdated frame...Turn it into a fall mantle piece or plaque. The big craze right now is vinyl but as much as I love using vinyl, I think it gets expensive to use on projects that paper will work just as well with and that is what is used in this project. I used my Silhouette Cameo and a file from SVGCuts to make the leaves for this plaque. I used textured paper for the leaves. I also used a piece of scrapbook paper for the matting and then I used a font I liked for the wording. (Sorry I can't remember the name of the font I used.  

Thanks for stopping by today and next is line is Daphne.

Please visit all the blogs in today's hop and don't forget to leave comments!

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Thursday, October 1, 2015

You've been BOO'd

Happy October and only 30 more days now until Halloween.

I love Halloween and making Halloween cards but in reality who do you send them to since Christmas is right around the corner and that's when the cards fly.  After thinking about that and seeing all the Halloween cards I have just sitting in a box, I decided to come up with something fun and different.

Have you heard about getting BOOed? It's a fun Halloween activity where you fill a bag or box with treats and secretly leave it on friend's or neighbor's doorstep with directions on how to BOO someone else and a cute little, "We've been BOO'd" sign for them to place in their window.

Today I have taken some of the adorable ghosts digital stamps from Bugaboo stamps and made the "We've been BOO'd" signs. I have the cute pictures on the front and a cute poem and directions on the back.  At the end I have added the poem and directions so if you want to make the sign, you can do a copy and paste from my webpage.

Here is the sign I made to go in the window.

This is another adorable digital stamp from Bugaboo Stamps. I colored the background with chalks and his tongue with alcohol markers and then I used a purple chalk ink pad for the edges and a splash of color. The font is A Dripping Marker.


The font is a Dripping Marker. I used my alcohol markers to color the pumpkin and parts of the ghost and then I used chalk to color the green on the sign and a chalk ink pad for the edges and background.

I print out the ghost on one side of paper and the poem on the back. I can get four of these to a sheet and the cut apart at about 5.5 inches by 4 inches. You only need two to BOO though.

I had to leave off the first line of the poem to make it fit on the back of card but it still sounds cute. The directions are at the bottom in bold.


Ghosts and goblins, spooks galore...
Tricky witches at your door.

The spokes are after things to do
In fact, a spook brought this “BOO!” to you!

The excitement comes when friends like you
Copy this note and make it two.

We'll all have smiles upon our faces
No one will know who BOOed whose places!

Just two short days to work your spell
Keep it secret! Hide it well!

Join the fun for the season’s here
So spread the BOO! And Halloween cheer.

What to do next:
* Copy this page twice, and post original
   on your door where it can be seen so
   you don't get BOOed again.
* Gather treats in a box or bag and drop
   them off on the front porch of two
   neighbors (or desk of a classmate).
* Don't get caught! The game is more fun
   when it's a surprise.


If you use chalk in on your projects, then please head over to Chalk N Stock to join our October Challenge.








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Friday, September 18, 2015

International Day of Peace Blog Hop

Welcome to the


Today's hop is sponsored by

and they are giving away one class of the winner's choice from their awesome catalog of classes.

All you have to do to win this fabulous prize is comment on each of the blogs. That's it! It really is easy. Of course, we would love it if you became a follower too. Comment buttons can be found at the bottom of the post (on most of the blogs). Now on with the hop!

I used my Silhouette and some vinyl to decorate the back of my Nexus case. I thought the peace sign looked good on it and so do my children. :)

I'm the end of the road for this hop. Thanks for joining us and hopping along today.




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Friday, July 31, 2015

The Lazy Days of Summer Blog Hop



Happy Saturday and Welcome to... The Lazy Days of Summer Blog Hop.

Please start at the beginning of the hop with our Hostess, Robin Lane from Create-A-Latte. We would not want you to miss any of these wonderful projects. As summer is starting to wine down and kids are getting ready to head back to school, we thought we would share some summer projects with you. So, grab yourself a Latte', sit back and hop along with us as we share our projects with you. Now, for some candy.

This month we will be giving one lucky person one Becky Higgins Project Life Themed Kits, Summer . For your chance to win this amazing blog candy you must hop through each one of our talented crafters blogs, be sure to leave everyone a little blog lovin', and if you are not already a follower please become one to each of ladies so that you do not miss a single project that they make.

I decorated my mantel for the 4th of July and I wanted to share it with you.  I used toilet paper rolls to make the firecrackers on both sides of the picture. I designed and used my Silhouette to make the red and blue paper lanterns.

The red glass bottle was on clearance awhile back from Michael's. I bought it after Valentine's day a year ago and look, I get to use it again with blue and white flowers I bought for a Boy Scout's Blue and Gold celebration.


I have to brag  a little about the picture frame. My mother in law gave me an old wooden picture frame and said I could do as I like with it. I painted all the wooden areas using blue chalky paint and left the black painted as it was. I started going through my Fourth of July paper pads and found the page that I used in the frame. It even had the words, "America the Beautiful" on it. How cool is that!

Your next stop will be with...Angela

If you get lost along the way here is the entire line-up of today's hop for you to get back on track and not miss a single project. And don't forget to leave everyone a little blog lovin' and become a follower for your chance to win some blog candy.
1. Robin - http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
2. Denise - http://www.craftconfectionery.com/
3. Melissa - http://www.papershenaniganz.blogspot.com
4. Theresa - http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com
5. Kim - http://katydidcards.com
6. Eva Scraps - http://evasscrapsncards.blogspot.com/
7. Sarah - www.sarahbiswabic.blogspot.com
8. Jearise - http://www.lorbysworld.blogspot.com
9. Angela - http://www.crazy3monkeys.blogspot.com/
10. Nana's Scrap Spot - www.nanasscrapspot.com
11. Sharon - http://piece-ofheart.blogspot.com
12. Jessica - http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com/
13. Lisa - http://lisaslittlerascals.blogspot.com/
14. Tami - http://scrappinmykids.blogspot.com

 Thank you for hoping along with us today. I hope that we have inspired you to get your craft on.
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Thursday, July 2, 2015

Chalk N Stock July Challenge

Hi from Texas.


Well it's time for the July challenge over at Chalk N Stock and I hope you can join us.

I made this birthday card for my youngest son's friend using a Bugaboo digital stamp and chalk to color the blue sky and green grass around the boy and his dog. I also used some chalk ink to ink the edges of the digital stamp.



Oh BTW, I was in an early 4th of July mood so my color scheme of red, white and blue was on purpose. :)

I have entered this card in the Card Mania July challenge - anything goes.

Thanks for coming by today and please join us this month at Chalk N Stock.
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Friday, May 1, 2015

Kentucky Derby Run for the Roses Blog Hop




WELCOME GUESTS!!

We are so excited to bring you this fun blog hop featuring some Derby Themed projects. Especially to one of our Hosts... Rhonda, because this event takes place in her hometown!!

We hope you will enjoy your time as you hop and that you feel
inspired to create some Derby Fun!




The Kentucky Derby, which first ran in 1875, is best known for the Horses, Kentucky Bourbon and the beautiful Derby Hats that are worn and takes place every year, the first Saturday in MAY. It is a two week long event... Imagine Mardi Gras to New Orleans if you will! It all starts with a kick off... THUNDER OVER LOUISVILLE, the biggest firework show in North America. In those two weeks there are many events that take place and many STARS visit and attend these events... a lot are fund raising events for some great charities. In addition to DERBY PARTIES folks here have at home!




I took the part about derby hats and ran with it. I used the cutting file "Leprechaun mini bowler hat box"from Snapdragon Snippets and turned it into my Run for the Roses Derby hat. As you can see this cute hat is also a box to store some yummy goodies in.





Thanks for stopping and looking and continue reading for a chance to win some goodies and to find the line up.

Now... if you'd like to be a LUCKY Winner of some goodies... please visit each designers blog and become a follower, leave a comment! Winner will be chosen and announced May 9th!

The complete line up is below and again THANKS for joining us!!!...

BLOG HOP LINE UP


Flowers & More By Rhonda - http://www.flowersbyrhonda.blogspot.com/







Tammy Smith - http://lifeupdownandsideways.blogspot.com/


Jearise Havenga - http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com <--You are here...

Next to go to ...Tina Teasdale - 


Daisy Collins - http://tsunamirosedesigns.blogspot.com/
Posted by at 8 comments:

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

DON'T FINE THOSE THAT FEED

Fining people who go out and feed the homeless is not the answer to ending homelessness. More and more cities are passing laws or cracking down on people and groups who take the effort and do what humans are suppose to do - take care of each other. The reasons that cities are so called "cracking down" is because they say that if you feed the homeless, you encourage them to stay homeless. 

 Where all of a sudden has this come from? Some states/cities have adopted this idea that since the overall population of homelessness has been decreasing since 2007, that we (our nation) can do away with homelessness altogether. The reality is we can't until some other criteria is met: more drug rehab places, more VA hospitals and more help for those with disabilities. Most families that were displaced during the recession now have some type of housing due to groups like HUD and Habitat for Humanity but there are still a significant number of homeless people on the streets or in shelters any given night.

 Cities should reach out to these people that go out and feed the homeless and use them to find out what the homeless need and how to meet those needs. Then we can start getting the rest of the homeless off the streets.  The majority that are still homeless are lost and need someone else to help them find their way. Saying NO to feeding them and gaining their friendship and trust is not the answer.  

 We will never wipe out homelessness totally but we can bring the numbers way down if we embrace those that are willing to help the homeless instead of slapping them on the wrists.

 Some Facts as of January 2014:

 About 15 percent of the homeless population – 84,291 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals (A person who has been on street at least a year or more, or has been homeless at least four times within three years and has a disability.) 

 About 9 percent of homeless people- 49,933 - are veterans

 As of January 2014, nearly a quarter of all homeless people were children under the age of 18.
Cited Research:

 http://b.3cdn.net/naeh/d1b106237807ab260f_qam6ydz02.pdf

 http://www.endhomelessness.org/pages/snapshot_of_homelessness

 https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/2014-AHAR-Part1.pdf
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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Girl Scout Mystery Swap Pins

The Girl Scouts, my daughter included and me, are going camping this coming week and the Girl Scouts are famous for their "swap pins."

Last year I joined Girl Scouts and went on my first camp out. The girls have this fun ritual of making and exchanging pins. This is called a pin swap. The pins can either be about the theme for the campout or something they decide on. You make 12 or more of the pins in the style your troop decides on and then you take them with you and swap with other girls from other troops. It ends up being a lot of fun for all the girls.

 This year our camp theme is MYSTERY so I went looking on line to see what I could find and I found a few mystery themed swap pins and decided to make this one. There is a kit you are suppose to be able to buy to make this but I couldn't find it on the site so I had to come up with my own.


Here is what you need.

I drew up and printed out the cards. They are 2 inches by 1.5 inches. I used cardstock and had the girls glue the green to the white so they would be extra strong. The yarn was cut about 5 inches long.

 You'll need scissors to cut out the front and backs and glue to glue them together, some type of ink pad  and a small hole puncher if available.

Write your troop number on the back side of the card and use an ink pad to put your fingerprint on the side that says CLUES.

Glue the front and back together and use the small hole punch or something sharp to punch a hole through the upper right hand corner of the side that says CLUES. Push your yarn through like above.
Lay the magnifying glass on top of the fingerprint and start wrapping the yarn back and forth around the smallest part of the handle, about three or four times. 

Pull the yarn taut and tie in a double knot on the back side of the card.
Attach your safety pin through the hole in the top of the magnifying glass and you're done.
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Monday, April 6, 2015

Just an Easter Card

I did it again. I made cards to send out for another holiday and then never got around to sending them out. That seems to be the story of my life. I thought I would go ahead and share them with you just the same. I guess sharing them here is like sending them out but without the stamped and addressed envelope and walk to and from the mailbox. Gee, I'm lazy. :)





This card doesn't open up. You write your message on the back. The bottom folds up when you cut it out and it's the grass at the bottom of the card. I wanted a card with my own touch but also easy to put together and still cute. I think this works but that's my humble opinion. 

 Have a wonderful Monday! 
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Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Lamb

I want to start by wishing everyone a blessed Easter! Amen. Amen. He has risen. Amen.

 When I was a child I would see what were called "Lamb cakes" in magazines and I always wanted to make one. A few years back I stumbled across a lamb cake mold at Good Will and I decided that the time so four years later I dug the pan out of my cupboard Easter eve and set to work.

 Before I go into my tale, let me enlighten you with some background surrounding this cake. The lamb cake is an eastern european tradition. The lamb is the official symbol of Easter for Poland due to Christ being called the Lamb of God. The lamb cake is a dessert which is called agnuszek or baranek wielkanocny in Polish.

 Now on to my tale...I wanted my lamb cake to be as traditional as possible so I headed to You Tube to watch videos. I realized everyone makes it differently: one lady used store bought pound cake mixes, another used just a yellow cake recipe and the other said to just use a pound cake recipe.



I went to my dear friend Betty Crocker and asked her what to use and she had the recipe I needed - a pound cake. I have never made a pound cake before and couldn't believe how much butter and eggs you use in the recipe hence the name "pound cake" right?. I oiled and floured my lamb halves and started pouring. I realized after awhile that not all the batter was going to fit in one half the lamb and you're not suppose to put it in the other side so we got an extra small pound cake.

I figured since I was only using 2/3 of the batter that I should leave my cake in about 50 to 60 minutes instead of the 60 to 80 minutes. I took it out after about 70 minutes and inserted a toothpick in the steam release hole and the toothpick came out clean so I took off the top of the lamp. The body, which is denser, didn't look done so I inserted the toothpick in that part and it wasn't done so back in the oven for another 20 minutes.



I opened the oven after the timer went off and my cake was missing! That's when I realized I had placed the cake back into the wrong oven. I placed the cake back into the right oven and continued to bake it another 20 minutes. I figured this would be the failure part but to my pleasant surprise the cake came out and had finished baking through and through.

 I was all proud of myself and so excited that I didn't follow You Tube directions of waiting five minutes before dumping the cake on a cooling rack. Since the cake was still hot, I basically decapitated my lamb.



 The cake tastes yummy even if my lamb is in pieces so at least the recipe worked. I'll try it again - next year.

 Have a wonderful Easter day.

 Jearise :)
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