Magpie Challenge at Creative Cookbooking

Tara from Magpie Club is our guest designer at Creative Cookbooking this month. Her challenge has two parts and the prize is one of her kits! Click here to join in the fun. {hint...your odds are pretty good at winning since not too many people have entered yet ;) shhh}

The first part of the challenge was to create a food LO using only the colors black, white and gold. This was realllllly hard for me but once I found the background paper, things came together. The paper is actually printed with Christmas theme text but since we normally have the same meal for Christmas and Thanksgiving I went for it. This was our first (and so far, only) meal that was just our little family. I happened to be pregnant with The Tasmanian Devil (she's that NOW, not back then) at the time and had just had an ultrasound. See... she was making a turkey hand wave at us? We told the big girl at that meal that she would be a big sister so I thought it was appropriate to add the ultrasound picture.I wanted to journal about our meal and how we told the big girl about the little girl, so I added a hidden tag for all of the journaling. The gold mat is actually a piece of mat board that had come in a project kit a few months bag. I had no interest in the project so I've been using it on LOs and I really like the dimension it adds. It is NOT the easiest thing to work with though since it's too thick to cut in a trimmer and the finish is not one that takes to adhesive well. The ribbon also came from the kit - and I've got to tell you, at times like this, it really comes in handy that I hoard so much!

Be Merry! {Fancy Pants Christmas Magic: Merriest Tale, Chestnuts Roasting, Bough of Holly}

It's been forever since I've touched one of my kits from my monthly group that meets...they gave us way too many Christmas kits way too early. But I knew I was going to like the Fancy Pants kit with the brown and cranberry colors. Perfect for the girls Christmas portraits!

This first LO is of the holiday card I sent out this year, using one of Julie's sketches for Magpie Club: I actually created that layout after I did this next one. I saw that Ali Edwards posted what she does with her holiday cards and thought it was a fantastic idea - why didn't I think of that?! I don't get very many cards, so I used bigger sections of each card and for a couple, I used more than one piece. I especially love that we can keep pieces of our parent's handwriting.

I'm really pleased with how the pages turned out and I was able to do them both in just a couple of hours. And now I don't have to feel bad about throwing away cards every year!

Mini-Muffin Tin Christmas Countdown Calendar

This project has been very similar to birthing a child. In the beginning, you're very excited of the idea. Then you get frustrated with trying to get all of the supplies ready to actually get started on it. Next, you're so happy to begin the process...then boredom sets in (24 of the same thing...several times over). Seems like months go by, then you're just ready for it to be done with already! Final anticipation as the last pieces come together...and then when it's done...it's not quite as big of a deal as you had anticipated. I am glad to know that she is super excited about it! She woke up this morning and went straight for it - VERY disappointed that we aren't starting this right away. Poor thing!!

Some closeups:

Everything is magnetic - including the little circles inside the tins. So if I get tired of the design or want to use it for another holiday, I can reuse the tin!

Now I need to figure out where I will store the days as we remove them...And decide if I want to include a title. I could cut out some words in the green/red cardstock using my Silhouette and put them at the top and/or bottom....like "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" or "December". What do you think- Add words or leave it alone? If you vote for adding something - what do you suggest?

******Edited to add:

I forgot to give credit to someone who I lifted an idea from... I try to always give credit when I steal an idea ;) I came across an Etsy seller in my search for ideas on how to make each square different and I came across SugarPlumMommy. It was actually one of her sold items...I took her idea of using the ribbon like I did above on #6. There are a couple of other Etsy sellers that have these types of calendars - so check them out if you want one (or need ideas!).

I'm now kicking myself in the behind for not just cutting out the dates with my Silhouette!!! You don't even want to know the complicated process I went through...

2 Day Benefit Auction

One of the blogs I follow is participating in a benefit auction. You should go check it out and see if there is anything you are interested in :) Bidding is easy, you just leave a comment on the post for the item you are interested in.

Click here for the master list.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

If I still had coworkers... :)

If I was still teaching, everyone I encountered today would get a heart paperclip attached to something :) Except maybe the kids...at least they wouldn't get theirs until dismissal LOL

Look at how cute this is! Even without the ribbon, it's still cute.
I saw this at Kristina's blog and had my Bestie grab me some large white, pink and red paperclips to use in future layouts and cards. I'm hoping she'll spread my idea and pass some heart paperclips out to other paralegals or lawyers today :)

If you click here you'll get a very short video that shows how to make them - it is SUPER easy!

Santa Christmas Card

I had a sudden urge to design my Christmas card for this year. I know, it's not even Halloween yet...but if I need supplies, I need to order them soon.

I pulled out the Christmas stamp sets that I own and started looking online for ideas. I want a card that is red and black because the picture of my soon to be three year old daughter is going to be taken in a red petticoat.

Side note: I hosted a portrait party last weekend and we saw a preview of the petticoats that Tasha bought for her Christmas Mini-session....so I went out and bought a cute top from Gymboree and blue jeans (hopefully she'll wear them!) to go with the red petticoat. If you are in the Houston area and want Christmas pictures, checkout this site. You can also check out Tasha's blog here for more info on the pettis. I love Tasha's work so much that she's the only photographer that I've used in over a year and a half!!!

Back to business: I came across a santa card online....and I've seen them before...I think I even made one at a stamp class! But I knew this is exactly what I wanted since my daughter's shirt says "Santa's Favorite" on it. So this is my version. I didn't have silver eyelets but may get them to try it out. I heart rhinestones right now...they are the "o"s in Ho! Ho! Ho!

What do you think? Any suggestions? I'm thinking of making the buckle a little thinner...

Plan to post this as an item for sale on Etsy whenever I finalize the card.

Finally, some Halloween cards!

I can't really use Hurricane Ike as an excuse anymore, but it sure does take a while for things to get back to normal!


I'm back in the groove for posting to Etsy now and my Halloween cards are listed. I won't bore you with anymore excuses :)

This was the final Halloween card that I was working on...I love the ribbon and rub-ons with this card. The Stampin' Up! pumpkins are just too cute!
I'll start working on the Christmas cards and gifts next!

Cool giveaway

One of the blogs I watch on the left (fellow Etsy shop owner, Everyday Celebrations) is featured here and you can enter to win an adorable Halloween Quiet Book. If you win, you can always give it to me :)

She started her shop around the same time I did but is having much more success than I am! I'll get back on track soon LOL... I have a couple of LeAnne's products and love them!

Have a great weekend!

Halloween Cards

We've had power back for a week and a half and I've been trying my hardest to get things back in order. I do have a couple of Halloween cards to post at the shop and will be doing that soon. Here's a sneak peek:



I have one more idea in my head that I plan to make today...and then get them all posted for sale!

Christmas Control Journal

Since my daughter's birthday is just days after Christmas, I'm always a little overwhelmed with the planning and gift buying for both celebrations. PLUS, being a teacher, we normally worked until the 22nd or so of December - not much time off to prepare!

I've always kept a list on one piece of paper that listed who I was buying for, my limit, and any ideas I had. Plus, I kept all receipts in one location so that I could easily find them for refunds or exchanges if needed. My list would get very messy and I was in need for something a little bit "more". Right after Christmas last year, I discovered Flylady. The control journal made perfect sense to me! It was exactly what I needed. Holiday meals, parties, functions, Christmas card list and gift ideas could all be combined into one notebook. These pictures are of my own control journal for this year. I've already printed several forms from the Flylady site to help me set it up, plus I've been clipping pictures of gift ideas and saving coupons or flyers. Two pockets in the front for coupons, gift cards, etc.
To store my receipts and gift receipts (I think I will label each envelope still)

A friend of mine forwarded this site to me as well - and it suggests starting in September to prepare for a stress-free holiday!

If you'd like a journal like this - I can personalize the front to suit you, please visit my shop :)

Christmas is only 15 weeks or so from now!!!