stamp club - January

I started up another round of Stamp Club on Friday night. 14 of us are going to be coming together once a month (Fourth Fridays) to stamp together! I'm really looking forward to it! There are two groups of six, myself, and one of my downline members. Our first meeting was last Friday and it was a blast!

I put together a couple of fun projects for the ladies...

Project #1 - "i love u" Shaker Card

We used the Shaker Frames that were introduced in the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog. Although this catalog is now retired, the Shaker Frames are still available for purchase from the Mini Catalog CarryOver List. You get 6 of the nested circles below and as my gift to each of the ladies, I let them keep whatever we didn't use.

I kept the card fairly simple as I wanted the shaker frames to be our intended focus!


We made our own "confetti" using the leftover hearts after punching out with the Pinking Hearts Border punch, small hearts from the Owl punch (Pretty in Pink card stock and Red Glimmer Paper), and Silver Glass Glitter.


Stamp Set: Outlined Occasions (exclusive Sale-A-Bration set!! - spend $50 and get if for free!)
Paper: Window Sheets (to keep the confetti from falling out of the hole!), Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Subtles DSP Pack (Pretty in Pink polka dots), Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: 5/8" Real Red Grosgrain ribbon (retired), Silver Glass Glitter, Shaker Frames, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Pinking Hearts Border punch (to make tiny heart confetti), Owl punch (to make little heart confetti)

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Project #2 - Valentine's Pinwheel with a Licorice "Stick"

The second project I kept a little simple, but who doesn't love pinwheels?! You could use any kind of double-sided paper for these pinwheels. Each of my stamp club made them with the Real Red patterned paper from the Brights DSP pack. I also made some using retired paper from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog called Sending Love, but I didn't have enough to go around!

The quick and easy way to make pinwheels...

• Cut any size square (mine is 5x 5, but cut them 4x4 and you can get 6 pinwheels out of one pieces of 12x12 DSP) then score the paper diagonally twice.
• On each scored diagonal line, cut up to the center, stopping about 3/4-inch before the center.
  
• Bring a corner to the center and secure with some adhesive and then continue all the way around, skipping a corner each time. Make sure to overlap once you get to the center.
  
• For a secure hold (regular adhesive will not hold it together!), poke a brad through the center. I hid my brad with a heart in the center. The brad also pokes through the 1x8" Cellophane Bag that holds the piece of licorice. (FYI: The licorice stick is just slightly too long for the bag to have some room at the top for the brad, so using kitchen shears, I cut off the top of the licorice).

Stamp Set: None
Paper: Brights DSP Pack, Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: None
Accessories: silver brads, 1x8" Cellophane Bags (still available on the Holiday Mini Catalog CarryOver List!)
Tools: 3/4" Circle punch, Heart to Heart punch (to make small heart in the center)

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Last year my hostesses each month received a little handmade gift from me, but this year I have decided that I would put together a little card kit pack of coordinating paper, buttons, ribbon, and misc. punched out sentiments. Just thought I would change it up a little! This month's pack included some Sending Love DSP (retired), Pretty in Pink card stock and ribbon, Very Vanilla card stock and ribbon, buttons, and brads. I also punched out some shapes from With All My Heart stamp set, which coordinates with the DSP.

Already looking forward to next months' club!

you send me soaring

What fun to be chosen as last week's "Monkey Princess" at A La Card Monkey for creating THIS CARD. Those of us whose cards were featured were asked to be a guest designer for an upcoming sketch challenge. It has been awhile since I have had the time (or motivation) to participate, but I always love being able to have a chance to use a sketch to create a card. It definitely helps with "card maker's block".

This week's challenge is Love + Sketch #93 and the sketch looked like this...


I decided to ink up my new Send Me Soaring stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog and came up with this fun to create card...

{Heart Banner}

Stamp Set: Send Me Soaring (available in wood & clear mount)
Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo, Cheerful Treat DSP (hostess exclusive)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze (clouds & inked edges), Early Espresso
Accessories: Sponges, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals,
Tools: 1" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, Heart to Heart punch, Owl punch (for extra small heart with sentiment)

I'm also linking this Valentine's Day card to...

Spend some time in your stamp room and put together a Valentine's Day card and then head on over and link up with the rest of us! And, don't forget to go visit other stamper's awesome inspiration!

it's sale-a-bration time!!

Let's Sale-A-Brate!!

It's kind of like Christmas when it's...

Take advantage of Sale-A-Bration as...


Or step it up a notch and get even more free stuff when you host a workshop as...


{click on picture to view larger}

Have you been thinking about joining the Stampin' Up! family?! The Starter Kit is normally $175, so you're saving $50 AND getting a free pack of DSP (or digital downloads) for a year just for signing up before March 31st!! Contact me (heidilynneboos@hotmail.com) if you're on board to join!

{view Sale-A-Bration pamphlet}

anything goes challenge

I have been preparing for the start up of Stamp Club coming up on Friday, but I needed a little break and some inspiration for making my nephew's birthday card, so I headed to the A La Card Monkey Challenge #92 where "anything goes" this week.


I don't have very many boy stamp sets, so this card is about as boy-ish as I could get with what I could find in my stash and because my nephew is only turning six...I can still get away with "cutesy". I decided to play with the pinwheels again, but opted for cutting them out of the Big Top Birthday DSP instead of stamping.


I added some dimension with the "Happy Birthday" curled up a little. I probably could have added another pinwheel now that I see the extra white space, but the card is already in the hands of the six-year old, so I can't do anything about it now! :)


Stamp Set: On Your Birthday
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Big Top Birthday DSP, Brights DSP Pack (Tempting Turquoise dots)
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Tempting Turquoise brads, Real Red button, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Big Shot, Scallop Square Duo Bigz Die

january 2012 card making night!

WOW!

This is one word I can use to describe last night's card making night at my home. I was over-joyed to have 24 stampers come stamp with me at my first event since the beginning of October. I was so happy to have such an awesome turn out to start off the New Year with gusto! My biggest group of stampers before this was 18 in attendance and that was about a month after we moved into our new house (almost 2 years ago), so at that time I thought most of my friends who came just wanted to see my new house! ;)

I had 9 new stampers who hadn't been to one of my card making events before and the enthusiasm in the room was contagious. Crafting nights are always so thrilling and enjoyable when there are so many stampers having such a great time! It was a tight fit, but we made it work. If the attendance continues like this (or if it grows!), I will need to find another location, but for now I like the coziness of having it in my home. We'll see as time moves on...

I designed and prepared supplies for everyone to make three cards each. Some stampers requested two sets, and I also had an "add on" project that I am offering, which is new this year! It was a lot to prepare, but with my New Year's goal of having things planned ahead of time, I felt pretty good about it when the day came. It also helped that my parents watched my kids for the day, so I could focus on my "job" and be 100% ready for the evening...snacks, treats, drinks, and all!

Enough jibber-jabber...here are the cards we made!

{card inspired by Mary Fish...from 2009!}

Even though it was a tedious process, I really wanted the hearts to pop off the page, so I added a Stampin' Dimensional to each of them. Let's just say I used A LOT of Dimensionals on this card, but it's worth it (and they really are a pretty inexpensive way to add a little "wow" to a card). Because it was going to be such a large group I didn't want to have everyone trying to share one punch, so I ended up pre-punching the hearts in different patterns of paper and then they could choose how they wanted their own tree to look.

Stamp Set: Season of Friendship, Delightful Dozen (available in wood or clear mount)
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, Brights DSP Pack (some of the hearts and background), Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: 3/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon (retired), Dimensionals
Tools: Heart to Heart punch, Extra-Large Oval Punch

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Since birthday cards are the most commonly requested card, I decided to make the other two cards birthday-themed!

Aren't these pinwheels so cute?! And I love that just by adding a few different sizes of circles it gives it that playful, but simple look! The pinwheels are made with two separate stamped images put together with a brad. And they actually spin if you want them to (not on their own, of course!)

Because Rich Razzleberry is such a dark color, I cut a piece of Whisper White card stock to fit inside of the card and then stamped the coordinating stamp to finish off the birthday greeting. The stamp set I used is called Petite Pairs and it's so fun because it has two little greetings that are meant to go together if you'd like, but they are separate stamps.

Stamp Set: Sweets for the Sweet (available in both wood and clear mount), Petite Pairs (available in wood and clear mount)
Paper: Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Brights Pack DSP (Tempting Turquoise stripes & Pumpkin Pie polka dots)
Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Silver Brads, Dimensionals
Tools: Paper Snips (used to cut the intricate pinwheels with ease), 2-1/2" Circle punch, 1-3/8" Circle punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, Heart to Heart punch, Extra-Large Oval Punch

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Party hats make me happy, so this next card is such a bright and cheery one! And, again, because there was such a big group, I had the party hats pre-stamped because it was only one stamp which needed four different colors. Can you imagine the chaos that would be with everyone sharing one stamp...oh the mess of those poor ink pads! :)

Another card with lots of Stampin' Dimensionals...and some Dazzling Diamonds glitter, of course!
When I first designed the card, I cut each little party hat topper with my Paper Snips, but then I imagined 20+ people doing that and decided to try a different way!
Thankfully the circle from the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack fit perfectly!

Stamp Set: Pennant Parade (available in both wood and clear mount), **upcoming Sale-A-Bration set called Outlined Occasions (sentiment)

Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Pretty in Pink
Ink: Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist, Pretty in Pink, (markers in all four colors to color in confetti around "Celebrate"), Staz-On Black
Accessories: Rhinestone Jewel Accents, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Dimensionals
Tools: Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, 1-1/4" Square punch, 1-3/8" Square Punch, Petite Pennants Builder punch

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New this year at my card making nights is an "add on" project for anyone who might want to make a 3D project. Some like to do more than cards, so I thought adding this option would be a good change of pace. This is optional and I usually ask that the guests tell me ahead of time if they'd like to make one (or more!). I decided that I would prepare more than who had said they wanted to make them just in case there were others who might have changed their mind once they got here. It's a good thing I did make extras, I almost sold out of all of them...and I made 19 kits!

This project is made using two of the Scallop Envelope Bigz Die cut outs to create a "pocket". For a quick look at how to make one of these, head on over to Julie Davison's blog. This is similar to a project she posted back in 2009!

Inside the pocket, you can slip a fun size pack of M & M's (or Ghiradelli chocolate, among other kinds of candy). The little note card slips right behind the pack of M & M's.

Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, I {Heart} Hearts

Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Subtles DSP Pack (Pretty in Pink stripes), Play Date DSP (retired, but still in the Clearance Rack for only $1.99!), Red Glimmer Paper
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Sticky Strip (to secure the two pieces together), 1/8" Pretty in Pink Taffeta ribbon (retired), Dimensionals
Tools: Heart to Heart punch, Full Heart punch, Small Heart punch, Big Shot, Scallop Envelope Bigz Die

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Such a fun time with some great ladies...looking forward to the next "Third Thursday" card night already!

And, now it's time to get ready for "Fourth Friday" Stamp Club starting next week!

i {simply} love you

I just wanted to pop in to share with you a quick Valentine's Day or any day to say "love you" card.

I received all of my new Mini Occasions Catalog toys a few weeks ago and have been just fiddling a little with this and that to figure out how it all works. For this card, I used the new Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die for the main focus. It's truly very simply, but it works for me!

Want to know a little secret? Occasionally (Ha! Who am I kidding?! Much more than occasionally...) I make a mistake or try something and don't like it. In the past I've been known to rip apart the card and scrap it all together, but I'm trying REALLY HARD not to go to drastic measures and instead just work with the mistakes. Well I made a mistake on this card in the top right corner (I was trying something and ended up not liking it AT. ALL.) But instead of just giving up, I adapted...thus the reason I have a folded corner with a mini library clip and a linen thread bow. I'm thinking no one would have ever known about my mess up, but telling you this means that it's OK to make those mistakes...just work with them and try a little something different before you rip the card to shreds!

Remember our new motto for the New Year...

Don't over-think the process, just do it!

Stamp Set: Short & Sweet
Paper: Whisper White, Melon Mambo
Ink: Melon Mambo
Accessories: Dimensionals, Mini Library Clips, Linen Thread, Pearl Accents
Tools: Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die, Backgrounds 1 Texturz Plates, Big Shot

In other stamping news....

I have my monthly 3 for $6 card night tonight! I look forward to starting these up again and this will be my first one of the New Year! We meet on the Third Thursday of every month and tonight will be a PACKED HOUSE! Should be fun...more card samples will be coming your way!

butterflies in-color

There must be something about butterflies lately because I have yet another butterfly card to share with you today! My friend celebrated a birthday yesterday and I wanted to send her a special card made just for her! Over the weekend, I sat down and waited for some inspiration. It didn't come right away, so I grabbed the nearest Papercrafts magazine and when I saw the picture on the front, I got to work! Isn't this card with the butterflies on the buttons beautiful? That was my inspiration!


Now I wanted a card that would mail easily (nothing too bulky!), so I went with no buttons, but kept with the tone on tone look. I decided the 2011-2013 In-Colors would do the trick!

I made the "birthday wishes" by stamping the word birthday and wishes separately using the Fabulous Phrases stamp set. I then punched them out using the Word Window punch, but also cropped it smaller on both ends, so the word window wasn't as long.

Using Dimensionals the butterflies seem to fly off the page!

Stamp Set: Fabulous Phrases (comes in both wood and clear mount)
Paper: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Coral Calypso
Ink: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade
Accessories: Dimensionals, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, Rhinestones Jewel Accents
Tools: Word Window punch, Adorning Accents Edgelits, 1-1/4" Circle punch, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Big Shot

bundle of love challenge

Updated to add on 1/20/12...I'm so excited that the following card was chosen and I was the "Monkey Princess" at A La Card Monkey!


It's been soooooo long since I've participated in a sketch challenge and yesterday I was really wanting to make a card for fun...not for an upcoming event, birthday, or any other reason. Just for fun! So, I visited A La Card Monkey and joined in their sketch challenge #91...with "a bundle of love" theme!

This week's sketch...

I wanted to stretch myself and go a little outside of the box I usually stay in and picked up a stamp set I didn't think I'd ever ink up, but decided just to go for it! The colors were inspired by a card I had seen on Stampin' Connection (a Stampin' Up! demo only website). I just loved the look of Pool Party and Blushing Bride, so those are the colors I stuck with (adding a little Early Espresso in there, too). Most of the products used on this card can be found in the *NEW* Occasions Mini Catalog!


You can't tell very well from this photo, but I used the *NEW* Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz. I sprayed it on the Blushing Bride card stock framelit behind the heart. I LOVE THIS STUFF!!! It's gorgeous in person...and sparkles beautifully!

Stamp Set: Take it to Heart (available in both wood and clear mount), sentiment - "Be Mine" from an upcoming Sale-A-Bration stamp set called Outlined Occasions!!
Paper: Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso
Ink: Early Espresso
Accessories: Rhinestone Jewel Accents, Stampin' Dimensionals, Twitterpated Designer Buttons, Blushing Bride 3/8" Pleated Satin ribbon (I pulled out the pleats as I just wanted a little splash of Blushing Bride...click on the link to take a peek at how cool this stuff looks!), Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled ribbon, Blushing Bride Smooch Spritz
Tools: Fashionable Hearts Embosslits die, Hearts Collection Framelits Dies (this punched out the heart shaped stamp), Labels Collections Framelits Dies

Head on over to A La Card Monkey to play along!! You have until Thursday at midnight to link up your own take on their sketch.

butterflies and birthdays

Remember that goal of mine for the New Year? Less over-thinking the process of making the cards too complicated and more just doing it and actually sending them out! Well, I have good news...I'm on track with that goal! I had a couple of friends I had been thinking about and wanted to send a card to just to let them know that. In the past I would "put it on the list" and most often it just wouldn't get done. Not this time!!

To "get 'er done" and send the card off in the mail, I decided to keep the card simple. I love me some purple, so I reached for this color first.


Stamp Set: Apple Blossoms - sentiment (retired hostess set)
Paper: Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade, 2011-13 In Colors pack
Ink: Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: Pearl Accents, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die (one of my favorites!), *NEW* Adorning Accents Edgelits Die, *NEW* Adorning Accents Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

I added the Dimensionals behind the butterflies to make them "fly" off the page...


I wanted to play with my new "toys" I got from the Occasions Mini Catalog, so I thought this card would be the perfect chance to get out my Adorning Accents Edgelits Die & Textured Embossing Folders to match! The Edgelits die cuts and then the Embossing Folder created the embossed look above the cut. I hope to use these more in future projects. It took a little bit of mastering and I feel like I have a little more to learn yet, but my first time was fun, so I'll get them out again!

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My kids and I went to a birthday party on Friday and sticking with my butterfly kick, I got out my never-been-inked-before Flight of the Butterfly that I had purchased back during the Online Extravaganza in November (I snagged it at 50% off!) It had been on my wish list for awhile, so I knew this was the perfect chance! This is a two-step stamping set, so I got out my Stampamajig to line up everything perfectly...love that thing! If you don't know how to use the Stampamajig and you are a proud perfectionist (like me!) ask me how!!

Another quick and simple card, but perfect for a sweet little 4-year old girl!

Stamp Set: Flight of the Butterfly
Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Cheerful Treat DSP (hostess exclusive)
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette
Accessories: pink rhinestone brad, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch

We brought our little 4-year old friend a purse filled with a couple of goodies for a mother-daughter date. I wrote a little poem to go with the gift, typed it up and added a few little flowers to give it a little something extra. I'm pretty sure her mom (my good friend) probably appreciated the poem and gift cards for the date more than she did, but there were a few little goodies in there just for the birthday girl like nail polish and lip gloss. What 4-year old wouldn't want that?

Hope you all have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

conversation hearts

Updated to add on 1/15/12 - What a treat it was to find out that Tiffany at My Crafty World chose my Conversation Hearts as one of her Crafty Picks #48. Thanks, Tiffany!!

I am so excited to have had a chance to play in my craft room the last couple of days! (Although I have to admit my house is suffering because of my "play time".) By yesterday, I had all three cards planned for next week's card night, and today I finished planning the "add on" project for that same event. Another goal I have for 2012 (in addition to sending out more cards this year!) is to have my cards and projects for my events planned at least one week before the event. I was too stressed last year in trying to get things done last minute! I know it will often depend on the month of how busy things are, but thankfully I have one event planned ahead of schedule and for that I'm proud of myself! Now, the cutting card stock and other things to have all the supplies prepared for the event? That will have to come this weekend after I get more confirmations of those attending! It's looking to be a pretty good turn out, so I'm glad!

Since I was such a good girl and I completed my tasks, I decided to make a few little treats I could have ready to go for Valentine's or to bring to the local consignment store where I have my cards for sale. You can never start thinking Valentine's Day too early, especially when you're a stamper!! I used the 1x8 Cellophane Bags newly introduced in the Mini Holiday Catalog...they carried them over and you are still able to purchase them!!

Conversation Hearts Skinny Bags
{with matching tag}

For the tag: I used the Candy Conversations single stamp in the new 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog. To match the candy hearts, I stamped it in various colors...Almost Amethyst (retired), Marina Mist, and Pretty in Pink. Then I punched out each heart using the Small Heart punch and used Stampin' Dimensionals to place them on the Modern Label punched out shape. The ribbon is 1/4" Marina Mist & Pretty in Pink grosgrain. I kind of like that the colors aren't your typical red and pink!

Helpful hint for filling the skinny bags with candy hearts. Use a marker to push them down into the bag. It will help the candies go in straight.

Candy Conversations
{wood mount single stamp - $8.95}

Have a blessed day and thanks for stopping by!

time for a new session of stamp club!

For those of you in the Portland-Metro (Oregon) area...

Interested in building your Stampin' Up! supplies without having to spend the money all at once?

Do you want to find ways to be more creative and schedule in a little "you" time?

Being part of a MONTHLY STAMP CLUB offers you all this and so much more!

{If you are interested in seeing some of the projects we created in stamp club during our last session, click HERE.}

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WHAT IS A STAMP CLUB?
A group of stampers that come to "club members only" events once a month (committed for 6 months) to learn NEW stamping techniques, use my supplies and make projects for FREE! Each member is committed to making a minimum monthly catalog purchase of $25 (+ 10% shipping of your order) for 6 months. This is a great way to build up your supplies gradually without spending the money all at once.

WHAT DO I GET AS A MEMBER OF A STAMP CLUB?

Members get a number of benefits including:

· A FREE copy of our current Idea Book & Catalog OR *NEW THIS YEAR*...if you already have a catalog you will receive $5 in catalog product of your choice.

· A FREE stamping event each month while the club runs, where you'll learn new techniques, plus collect patterns and ideas for great stamping projects.

· FREE hostess benefits during your month as hostess and *NEW THIS YEAR* you will get free shipping on your own order during your month as hostess.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

Make a minimum $27.50 purchase (includes shipping) each month for 6 months & bring a snack or dessert to share on the night that you are the "hostess". Events will be held at my home, so no need for you to clean & prepare the house for guests...bonus for you!

WHEN AND WHERE DOES THIS ALL HAPPEN?

The club will begin this month (January) and will run through June to the end of the current catalog. Monthly club events will be held at my home on the FOURTH FRIDAY of each month, beginning on Friday, January 27th. If you ever can't make it to the club event it's no problem! Just get your order to me the night before our meeting and come to the next one! I will send you the projects you missed for you to create at home.

WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN AS HOSTESS...

· You are guaranteed $25 to spend on either hostess exclusive products or anything you choose in the catalog (and possibly more if you choose to collect orders outside of the stamp club members...I highly encourage this during your hostess month!)

· You will receive FREE SHIPPING on your order the month that you are hostess

· A chance to bring a friend to the club event for FREE!

random projects

I've gotta get my groove back!! I feel like I have spent the last couple of weeks just looking at the piles of stuff I end up shifting from one room to the next! My craft room was taking a major "back seat" to all of the other projects I wanted to accomplish, but finally by Saturday night I think I actually have it cleaned and organized to be able to get back in there and start working again. I'll have to post craft room pics soon because my mom made some fun curtains for my closet (I removed the doors) and I feel like I have a great organization system going on. I purchased a 12 x 12 paper rack from a paper store closing out and snagged a card spinner, too! I still have a few more things to be hung, but I'm just waiting for my hubby on that one! ;)

So, in the meantime I thought I would share with you a few random projects I've worked on recently...

I covered these small clipboards (6x9) for the kids to keep in the car. My daughter is always wanting to write or draw on something, so I thought this would be perfect! I decided to attach the paper with adhesive and Sticky Strip instead of Mod Podge which is what I originally tried. For some reason the Mod Podge just warped the paper and I didn't like the way it looked. I was pretty proud of myself for not just scrapping the project all together, but instead I started over and tried something else. Such a concept, huh? ;)

I used the Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Sizzlits to die cut the letters for each of their names and used my "sticker maker" to add adhesive to the back of the letters. I liked the way it looked with their names on the bottom of the clipboard even though I'm sure they could guess whose belonged to who. I cut 8-1/2 x 11 white copy paper in half and a stack of paper is clipped to the clipboard ready to go. (Note: The paper is non-SU!...I have to use up some of that "contraband" paper somehow!! *wink*)


I also had in my stash (everybody has a "stash", right?) some short gel pens in different colors, so I found a gel pen that coordinated with each of the paper colors. I attached half of a Velcro circle on the clip part and the other part on the gel pen. Now they'll always have a pen to draw! I also decided to add some little bits of ribbon to each of the clipboards for an added flair.

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Another little project I worked on this past weekend was making some hand sanitizer bottles. These make such great gifts! I purchased some hand sanitizers at The Dollar Tree and peeled off the front label, then added either some rub ons (retired) or a vinyl flower (which demonstrators have been able to buy in bulk in the past). Adding the ribbon finishes the project perfectly! You'll notice I also added a few pearls to some of the flowers on the front of the bottle. The bonus is that these are refillable, so you can reuse them for however long you need to!

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We had MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) on Monday and just like each month I brought my group a little gift for January. I wanted each of them to have a little notebook to write down some of their goals for 2012...or just to use as a place to jot down anything they needed to! These are mini-composition notebooks I picked up in September on the school supplies clearance. Kind of wished I would have snagged some more! They were great quality notebooks and ended up only being $.25 a piece.

I covered each of the notebooks with retired Stampin' Up! DSP (Sweet Pea) and added some ribbon to tie around the notebook and ended it with a knot. I didn't take a picture of the back, but I also covered the back of the notebook using a coordinating color of DSP. I decided to use Mod Podge with this project and it worked great! With Mod Podge, I glued the paper to the notebook and then covered over it with another layer of Mod Podge that dried perfectly clear. This will help prolong the life of the notebook as it gets shoved in the purse or glove box of the car.


I added an initial for each of the ladies in the group using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Sizzlits (just as the same with the clipboards, but used the lower case this time).

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I was able to spend some time in my craft room Tuesday to get ready for my upcoming card night next week, as well as to make a few cards to mail out to friends. I'm still sticking strong with my motto..."Don't over-think it. Just do it!" I found myself chanting that while in my craft room. It actually worked! ;)