Decor Elements

Well I finally bit the bullet and decided to actually go ahead and put a Decor Element on my walls. Until today I hadn't gone there because we live in a rental, and eventually if we move I won't be able to take it along with me. Well I got over being sentimental about one of the ones that I've been keeping in my stash for someday, or for a frame and actually put it up on my wall! Here is what it looks like:

So there it is! Now also decided that since I'm getting over it I might as well order a nice tree for my other wall to help out and break it up a bit since it is way to big of a wall and way to bare right now! I'll post pictures of that once I get that all taken care of! In the mean time, why not order some fun Decor Elements (vinyl) for your own home from Stampin' Up!

Christmas Card - 2010

Well obviously I'm pretty excited about this otherwise I wouldn't be posting about it! LOL :) Anyway I used Stampin' Up!'s, My Digital Studio, once again, to design our Christmas card. I didn't have a lot of great pictures to choose from, but managed to find one that I liked and we looked nice on, so off to designing the card I went. I came up with one but it seemed to be missing something, so I asked my FIL what he though, he gave me a different idea which I took and tada.... Here is the end result minus full names etc :)

So for those of you who are getting one, well I guess you have now seen what you are getting. Also for those of you who like having fun designing cards, scrapbooking etc. Stampin' Up!s Digital program is currently 50% off, until tomorrow so HURRY and order your program! If you have any questions feel free to give me a shout!

Lists

Well I have decided that it is high time for a to do list, once again! I find that I start doing pretty great without a list for a while after I make one and complete several items on it, but then it slowly starts to peter-out again, much to my dismay!

Anyway enough of all this sitting around trying to decide what needs to be done next and then not doing a whole lot of anything, because I can't decide, or I decide that I really don't feel like doing what needs to be done, so there I sit bored stiff on my couch for days! So lists here I come once again!

1. Scrapbook
2. Mail out Christmas Cards
3. Mail out Stampin' Up! items for customers
4. Mail out Nestie Gifts
5. Find a gift for exchange on Saturday
6. Sew aprons
7. Sew Nursing Cover-ups(for gifts), and to sell on Etsy
8. Finish Crochetting Hat
9. Finish current Quilt
10. Go take some fun winter pictures, before the snow disappears (which it shouldn't if it stays coldish like it is now)
11. Get family calender designed/printed!
12. Make Croquetten! yummy, I'm already craving them! LOL :)

That is all I can think of right now so I figure that is a pretty good start of things that need doing!

Doily #2 finished

Well a few nights ago I finally finished my second doily, but then I needed to find liquid starch. Since I couldn't find that in Safeway where I bought it last time I decided to check when I did groceries in Win-Co. Anyway then that same evening I put it on the board to stretch/starch it.

Here it is:

Black Friday

So this was my second Black Friday that I was living in the U.S. and the first time that I went shopping on Black Friday! I'm sure some of you will wonder if I thought it was worth fighting the "crazy" people who were out there, and I think I have to say yes because I went to.............. HOBBY LOBBY! eeeek, I mean how could it not be worth my while when I went there after all! I bought some fabric and a few other little things, and had a whole lot of fun wandering through the decor section in the store dreaming about what I would use/how I would decorate my house if it was bigger!! I also fell in love with some lights that would look super in my living room on my tables, but a little out of our "winter" budget for now... so a someday they shall be for a while!

Anyway I was just looking online in the store to see if I could find the lamps that I really liked but they don't have half the selection online, so I guess I can't show you :( Anyway here is a picture of the fabric I bought!

Wishful Thinking..

Some days I wish I could be little again, it seems like you have so little to worry about when you are young! The sad thing about that is, you don't realize it! Anyway I just needed to get that out there :) Don't get me wrong I love being married etc. but minus the bills would be nice, (especially now that the weather is cold, the heating bill is no fun!)  haha.. I know dream on eh?!

Anyway hopefully it warms up a little tomorrow, because there is one thing I know that I hate, and that is being cold.. which it seems to have been for me the last few days :( Anyway enough said.. my little house is cold, and turning the heat up well that means a even more expensive bill so I guess I won't say anything else.

Also for my wonderful peeps who live in Alberta I feel for all of you because I know that it is oh so much colder over there at the moment.. which I can live with, if my heat bill wouldn't be so expensive LOL :)

I'm Dreaming of a White....

Christmas.. or I should probably say Thanksgiving :) I honestly am so excited about the snow that we are getting, it started yesterday afternoon for a bit, but it was too warm for it to stick and stay, towards evening it got colder, and by the time we got out of church it was starting to stick. Anyway right now I'm finally happy to say that I'm looking at a Winter Wonderland, and there is more snow falling!  Some of you may not know why I get so excited about snow, but I've always loved snow/winter and really miss that since I moved... we hardly get any snow here that stays for any length of time! So enough said.. here is a quick picture of what I'm looking at through my window!

and since I took this picture the flakes have gotten bigger I decided to take another picture for fun (which turned into two pictures) LOL :)

Paper Wreath

Well here is the project that I told you was a top secret! I got my order in today so I could finish it, since I ran out of the patterned papers that I was using. After I started and was about 1/2 way done I started wishing that I had used 3 patterns and not just two like I did, but I wasn't going to rip it all off and start over either. This wreath is going to replace the ribbon one that I have hanging above my piano, since that is a fall themed one.

So there it is! :) I'm super happy with how it turned out and love that I could make another different style wreath with Stampin' Up! produts!

edit: For those of you who would like to make one for yourself here are some instructions: http://theredthreadblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/paper-christmas-wreath-tutorial.html

I followed this tutorial which totally made my life easier, I also drew my own leaf so if you want that let me know and then I can forward you a PDF document with the pattern that I used.

Aprons

Well I've spent the last few days sewing up a storm.. I have had several aprons almost ready to go for a while. Two were almost ready to go.. I had to sew the last few small details onto them. Then I also had another one that was all ready to be sewn together (technically I have another one like that).. anyway so finally a few days ago I decided that enough was enough, I needed to get some more sewn for my etsy shop, and finish one for an order that I had. It is amazing what some motivation can do to get projects done!

Anyway so head on over to my store and check them out, better yet they need a home :)

Once I got the aprons done I decided to get going on some of my other sewing projects so right now I'm working on finishing my tablecloth's hem, which was another one of those projects that I kept putting off for not good reason. Anyway I have that all ironed and now I just need to sew the hem in, and top stitch the centre seams so off I go to get that done tonight yet!

Inspiration

Well I just realized that I haven't posted in a few days, which I guess is O.K.! LOL :) Anyway last week Saturday I got up bright and early, at 5:45 and was out of the door by 6:45 for a "bazaar" or a "craft fair". Anyway needless to say being up that early makes for a super long day, but on the bright side I spent it doing my favorite thing.. spreading the word about Stampin' Up! and working on building my business.

While I was there I was inspired by something that another vendor had hanging in her booth. Since I haven't found a tutorial for what I saw I can't show you my inspiration... and I'm not going to tell you what it was until I've had a chance to sit down and make one based on what I have found online! :) ::top secret:: haha

As for what I've been up to today? Well I've been searching online on Craigslist for more bazaars since I need to get more leads so I can build my business. I happened to find one for this week Saturday from 10-8 so that is going to make for a really long day but I'm hoping that it all works out in the end. After I did that I went over to Tiffanie's house to finalize her workshop, and get my massage :) This afternoon I have also spent some time working on creating cards since I decided that I am going to be taking several items along to sell at my booth so that I have something else to help cover the cost, and hopefully get a few more people to stop by rather than just running by like they are scared of SU! ;)

.. that all being said enough has been done for the day and I'm so ready for bed!

New Toy...

I'm actually pretty excited, because today I offically bought my first new toy for "kids" namely younger siblings and other children who come over to play. I found Puzzibits I didn't buy them from just any ordinary place online though.. I bought them through Totsy and got a special discount... so instead of paying more I paid less and actually got this tote full for $27. So next time I have some kids over that are old enough to play.. I can actually say that I finally bought them something to play with, and since I've never really seen it before, that should make their day great as well!

How I hate this weather!

All I can say is when we hit winter here I sure know! Fog, fog, and more fog.. ugh miserable kind of weather! I remember doing/saying this last year too.. I honestly think that sometimes snow would be better than fog, or I know it is! haha :) Oh well what can I say, I'll survive even though I really dislike this all!

I do think it is time to haul out my winter decor though, because this weather is definitely giving me the itch to do so, and that fact that all the stores are starting to get out all the winter products isn't helping me either. I'm just going to have to find the tote that I put it in for storage first! So... off I go to do something better than looking at the weather outside! :)

In Remembrance

So I'm sitting here on my couch racking my brains as to what I could possibly come up with for a card design for Remembrance/Veterans Day. I've got an idea, but I don't have the Stamp Set that I really need to make the card happen hmm now that is a problem. So I'll have to see what I can come up with, since I'm not buying something just because I decide that today I want to make 1 card with it, and then it will sit on my shelf and not get used for a long time again!

Once again, I would like to thank all those who fight/have fought in war(s) to protect our countries! In honour of them here is my favorite poem for Rememberance Day!

In Flanders Fields

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)

Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

This poem has been one of my favorite since I was in fourth grade, when I had to do a art project with something related to Remembrance Day.

I'll be posting something else later today...

Wreath

Well I finally got a wreath for my front door.. YAY! I had wanted one for a long time already, but they aren't exactly cheap either, and I didn't want a very seasonal one, but wanted a berry one... well I got it today!

I temporarily put it on my door leading to the garage because it was already dark outside.. so there you have it!

Now.. the next day.. here it is on the outside door:

Workshop #1

Well last night I had my first SU! workshop as a U.S. demonstrator, and to say the least good times! I was slightly nervous about doing a workshop again, since it has been a long time since I've had to sit and do an official one. Probably getting close to 2 years ago... classes are different, and doing it with the church ladies for a fundraiser isn't the same because you don't expect to have to try make sales while doing that.  In the end, I had a great time even though panic hit about an hour before I had to leave for Tiffanie's house. I got everything done that needed to be done, and had a great time sharing and stamping with the ladies. One of her friends also tentatively booked a workshop for January which has me really excited, since she wants to do a valentines related one.. eek :)

Anyway, last night I demonstrated 3 projects plus the make 'n take for them, and I decided to share them with you all but the scrapbook page since I only did one of those. So for you, a card, a 3-D project, and the make 'n take which was another card.

Here they are:

I used the Candy Wrapper Die for the project below..

This was their make 'n take..

So there you go :)

Rag Quilt

Well my sister-in-law and I made a rag quilt for a fundraiser sale that we have for our school and mission every year. This took at bit of juggling of schedules but we managed to make it work.. between me cutting out all the squares and batting. Both or us sewing, and finally Cynthia clipping all the edges we got it done today! :) So here it is:

This quilt was the same pattern I used for the very first quilt that I made all by myself when I was in eleventh grade for Home-Ec, to get some extra credits. I debated about not posting a picture of it.. but since it is currently on the back of my couch again... since the weather has been getting cooler and it is great to be able to curl up on the couch with my quilt... LOL :) So here is a picture of that one...

As you can see I did add a little extra something.. the flowers on some of the big squares :)

I have to admit that I have learned a lot more about quilting in the past 9 years since I made my first project, and since I mentioned that one.. here is a picture of it as well.. yup it is picture posting day. This quillow is hand quilted, trust me not the greatest art work ever done but for a 13 1/2 year old who hated sewing I guess it wasn't to bad LOL :)

psst I just won't tell you what it looks like on the inside haha :)



Banana Facts

[Source: Today I Found Out]

Cards - Based on my Inspiration

Well I finally got around to making a few more cards using the inspiration that I used a little while ago. Anyway so these cards are no longer one layer cards but they give some ideas of how to use the inspiration for the one layer card and give them a little extra pizzaz! So here they are:

As you can see the first card on the top left is the first card I made using the inspiration. From there I came up with a few more. Simple.. and then one so that you can up-sell the punches that SU carries. So fun, quick and easy that who wouldn't want to make cards to give to their friends now!!

Oh and of course I can't forget this.. but you know those fantastic new pearls that SU! now carries? Well each card has one of them on there as well!