A Moment in Time

Easy Peanut Brittle

I'm popping on here today to share with you one of my favorite quick recipes I use every year for quick gifting! You may not even need a pen to write it down it's so cinchy!

Microwave Peanut Brittle:

1C Sugar
1/2C light corn syrup
1C plain peanuts
pinch of salt
1TBS butter
1tsp Vanilla
1tsp of baking soda

Place the first 4 ingredients into a microwavable 2quart dish and stir. Microwave on high for 4mins. Stir, add butter. Microwave for 4 mins more. Add Vanilla and baking soda. Your candy will begin to get foamy. Stir like crazy and then pour out onto a parchment (or greased) lined baking sheet.  Spread as thinly as possible. Let cool and then break into pieces.

I just popped mine into a flat bottomed clear cello bag and added a front and tag from the Christmas   Cards and Tags set.  A quick gift in less than 15 mins!!  OH but be warned!!!!  Put your mixing bowl straight into hot soapy water immediately to make your scrubbing job easier later!

"Season's Greetings"

More gift ideas coming your way!!!  I promise I will showcase some holiday cards in the coming days as well because I know we are running out of time to get them made and sent!!!

So today I thought I'd play on a pun. Those who know me know that I LOVE puns and so this next gift idea is right up my alley! Maybe a bit cheesy but I love it! 

 I'm all about giving impressive gifts for low cost, also it never hurts to have "a little something" for hostess gifts or drop-ins during this busy season.  Okay so here we go.

First I took two sheets of cardstock. I then took the dashed circle stamp from our Pampered Package set and created a pattern.(Click to enlarge any photo)

I then took the largest solid snowflake stamp from the Snowflake Season set and filled in the circles. Don't stress if the pattern isn't exactly consistent. This is what lends a bit of homemade charm to your package!

Also, you may have noticed that I am stamping directly on the back of my Scor-Mat, I love this because if I go off the edge of the cardstock then all I have to do is wipe it clean. Even Staz-on ink comes off with a little nail polish remover!

 

 

 

 

I then turned my cardstock over  and oriented it on the upper right hand corner of my Scor-pal and scored at the 10" and the 5" mark.  I then turned it counter clockwise into the horizontal position and scored at 10" and at 4 1/2" and 2". Burnish all of the folds.

 

Repeat on second piece of cardstock on the back side. You will notice that the main box is off centre, this isn't a problem because you will not see this once it has been completed, provided you scored on the BACK of both of your pieces.

 

With the WIDER margin on the right hand side of your cardstock, carefully cut out the 4 rectangles at the top...two on each side on both of your pieces of Carstock. You should now have the 1 inch score marked section at the top. 

 

 

Also cut out the small corner rectangles on the BOTTOM on ONE piece of cardstock, just cut to the fold on the other from the bottom up to make tabs.

 

 

Now Take your Coluzzle or craft knife and cut a window in the middle of one of the pieces of cardstock. I used the 4th track in on my rectangle template (Keep the discarded portion, this will be a great piece for a matching gift card!). On the back side, adhere a piece of acetate over the opening to create a window.

 

 

Use Scor-tapeor glue the large bottom flabs together first, then the small tabs on the inside. The sides should now have a narrow and a wide on each side... assemble this so that the larger flaps are on the OUTSIDE of the box.

This cute little box holds 4 of our 4 oz clear top tins! Here's where the pun comes in.... wait for it!! :)

 

 

I filled each of the tins with a separate seasoning mixture, Creole, Southwest, Taco, and Dry Ranch Dressing mix. Really, you could simply choose four of your favorite seasonings (use your imagination here!! Just think of the possibilities of this little box... homemade popcorn seasonings, bath salts, candies...all occasions really!).

I got these recipes from the "insider's Recipes Masters Edition" from E-cookbooks.net. This is an AMAZING cookbook with a TON of copycat recipes. 

Slide all of your tins in and fold over the top to the back of the package.

Punch two holes through all of the pieces of cs with your Crop-o-dile... I suggest using your measuring guards for this to regulate the depth.

 

 

I then took the largest double ended tag die and ran it through my Cuttlebug. I then stamped on the Words "Season's Greetings"!!!  Are you seeing my pun now? hahah

I then threaded some white grosgrain ribbon through the top of the box bag and back through the holes to secure it.  A great gift which can be modified for any occasion!!!

 

I tucked the little matching card in under the ties to show the options (remember, this little card is the what would be discarded portion of your cardstock where you cut out the window!)

**Another noteworthy tidbit...  these tins all stick to the magnetic Knife holder which IKEA sells for about $12.99. You could probably hold about 8 tins along the holder. Great for a housewarming gift! 

 I store all of my loose eylets and buttons on one of these above my workshop table.

If you complete this project please send me a link to see what you've done by posting in the comments section! I'd LOVE to see everyone's take on this project!! 

Recipe:

Stamps: Snowflake Season(RBD)- snowflake image and sentiment,  Pampered Packaged(RBD)- dashed circle

Ink: White Pigment ink SU

4 4 oz round clear top tins- RBD

brads, White wide grosgrain Ribbon (RBD), acetate, Riding Hood Red CS- SU!

Relax and Unwind

  Making candles was something that I was always unsure of trying. I thought it would be messy and difficult and that you had to know a lot of things about it.  Well, I'm here to tell you that it is none of those things! 

On a whim I purchased a bag of soy wax flakes to give it a whirl. Soy wax flakes are great because they are for containers (no molds required) and you can microwave them until they melt to the proper consistency.  I purchased mine at Michaels but you can buy it anywhere... many online stores as well.  I also purchased candle scent concentrates and colors (I later ended up sticking with just the scents because I liked the vanilla color).

The following information was found at soy scentsational

Soy wax can be melted in the microwave or in a double boiler. If using the microwave, melt the wax for 30 seconds at a time and stir. If using a double boiler, stir the wax as it melts. Heat the wax to about 160 degrees. I used my meat thermometer since the cleanup is so simple!

Wicking

The recommended wicks are 100% cotton cored wicks for soy wax. These wicks create a nice and even burn pool. You will need to wick your container. If using a single wick, center it in the container. If you are using a large container, use multiple wicks and place them in the container equidistant from each other. Burn pool size greatly affects scent throw. An ideal burn pool is ¼ to ½ inches deep, and the full diameter of the container. Over wicking will produce a deeper, quicker burn pool, but may cause sooting, or emit the fragrance too fast. Wicks should be kept trimmed to 1/8 inch.

To center your wicks after pouring, put it between 2 pencils as they rest on top of your container.

Color

Add the color after the wax is completely melted. Add the dye slowly, a small sliver at a time, or your candle may be darker than you want. To test the color, drip a small amount of the colored wax onto a white dish.

Fragrance

Soy wax can be used with most any fragrance or essential oil. Add your fragrance just before you pour, otherwise it may evaporate as it sits in the melted wax. One ounce of fragrance is recommended for one pound of wax. You can double scent your candles and use 2 ounces of fragrance per pound of wax, if you like an extremely fragrant candle.

You can also use the fragrance in soap, and make matched gift sets!! (Cinnamon and cinnamon blends are not recommended for skin products)

Pouring

We suggest pouring at 120 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit for most applications. You can also pour at 100 degrees Fahrenheit as long as the wax is kept in constant motion. Lower pour temperatures may eliminate possible frosting while producing a smooth top and good adhesion.

Candle Cooling

Allow the candles to cool undisturbed and uncovered at room temperature. When cooling multiple candles, allow at least ½ inch space between containers for even cooling. Allow the candles to cure for at least 24 hours before burning. Place the candle burning instructions/warning labels on the bottom of your container after cooling.

The above instructions are only suggestions, and your results may vary. Testing and experimenting are the only way to achieve the effects and results you desire. Be sure to follow all safety precautions and directions recommended by the manufacturer of the tools, materials, and equipment you use.

Clean up

Clean up is a snap! Just wash your equipment in soap and warm water. You can also wash out your spent candle container and reuse it again!!!  Think of all these options!!

 

Here are mine once they cooled!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here are mine after a bit of decoration!

If you're wondering what is in the bag it's Bentonite clay. It's for mud baths or facials. All you need to add is equal parts of clay and water, apply to face, light a few candles, draw a nice bubble bath and let the mask dry.

I am planning to add a bottle of wine with this  set and present it to a fellow care-giver I know (it's care-giver month!!)

 

 

Recipe:  4 oz and 8 oz clear top tins

Stamps: Pampered package

Ribbon: Hint of Lime taffeta edge satin

Winter Lip Balm and rub

   I was looking at our small round tins wondering what I could do with them and I started googling recipes for lip balm. Well I found one, and then modified it a bit.  

If you've ever noticed how lovely coconut oil smells you'll see why I picked this one! Also, it is a solid at room temperature but melts at body temperature making this a prime candidate for lip balms and rubs. You can find unrefined virgin coconut oil at some ethnic cooking suppliers but you can also find it online. Here is the store I bought mine from. I wanted to be sure I got cosmetic grade and that it was pure. I melted mine in a double boiler, but I'm sure you could use the microwave on half power... I then added a few drops of mint extract to the melted coconut oil. I added in some beeswax to make it a little more resistant to melting on a warm day.

*tip  keep a spoon in the freezer to dip into the melted oil to test the consistency and see what the balm will be like once it has cooled.

I also added a 1/4 tsp of cocoa powder to my second one which was just divine!!! This colored it in the tin but it leaves no trace of color on your lips.

However, if you do want to add some sparkle or color to your balm then just take your favorite shade of lipstick and add some shavings from it to the blend! It's that simple!

 Once cooled place the lids on tightly.

I then got on a roll and decided to make a body butter/rub as well.  I melted down more coconut oil and then added an equal part of cocoa butter which I purchased from the same online store to make it a bit more creamy and also add that yummy smell. I infused it with vanilla bean and it was just scrumptious! I poured it into one of our round flat 8oz tins.

Here are some other lip balm/ rub flavors to consider:

- lavender mint (essential oils)
- lemongrass
- chocolate lavender
- cocoa butter rose (Valentine’s Day!)

be sure to try only a drop or two of essential oil the first time! You don't want to accidently cause a burn.

I then decided to decorate the packaging so that I could give them as Christmas gifts, (afterall, I made a whole batch!!) so here are some of the pictures.

I then decided to make a matching card to complete the ensemble! I wont go into detail today on how to make the card as you're probably getting frightened by the length of this post! I'll list the supplies at the end though :)

 And here is the whole ensemble!  I think it's a wonderful treat for anyone to recieve! It's especially nice in the dry winter months. The coconut oil is SO soothing, the natural vitamin E in the mixture is great both for dry skin but also for pregnant women and preventing or treating stretch marks (hint hint, are you thinking baby shower gifts!?) I love to use it as a bedside treat before going to bed.           ENJOY!!! 

Recipe:  Stamps: Snowflake Season, Polka Parts

Ribbon: Mineral Ice Satin dot ribbon

Ink: Soft sky, Palette Burnt Umber, new canvas

Cardstock: Kraft, Very Vanilla, Soft sky

Tins: 1 oz deep round, flat round 8oz tins from RBD

Winter weddings

 As the lavender rose gains popularity as the choice of wedding flower I thought it would be fun to work it into a theme for an entire wedding.  The lavender rose primarily stands for enchantment, majesty and love at first sight making it the perfect choice in the bride's bouquet. I began playing with the color theme of lavender and after some research found that the plant lavender goes hand-in-hand with the meaning of the roses. The plant is believed to have been taken from the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve. However, the powerful perfume came later. According to legend, the clothing of baby Jesus bestowed the scent when Mother Mary laid them upon a bush to dry. This may explain why the plant is also regarded as a holy safeguard against evil. In many Christian houses, a cross of lavender was hung over the door for protection.Its holy reputation may have increased during the Great Plague in London in the 17th century, when it was suggested that a bunch of lavender fastened to each wrist would protect the wearer against the deadly disease.

Lavender and love are an ancient match. In an apocryphal book of the Bible, we again hear of the use of lavender. Here the story tells us that Judith anointed herself with perfumes including lavender before seducing Holofernes, the enemy commander. This allowed her to murder him and thus save the City of Jerusalem. The overwhelming power of this seductive scent was also used by Cleopatra to seduce Julius Cesaer and Mark Antony. The Queen of Sheba offered spikenard with frankincense and myrrh to King Solomon

By Tudor times, lavender brew was being sipped by maidens on St. Lukes day to divine the identity of their true loves. They'd chant, "St. Luke, St. Luke, be kind to me. In my dreams, let me my true love see." Lavender in the pillows of alpine girls brought hope of romance, while lavender under the bed of newlyweds ensured passion. Finally, a famous nursery rhyme called "Lavender Blue, Dilly Dilly" was written in 1680 and talks of "Whilst you and I, diddle, diddle…keep the bed warm." Lavender-inspired loving strikes again!

Here are some of the supplies I'll be using to make some favors for the wedding guests. Test tubes Which we sell for $4 for 4, a great deal for all the possibilities they hold. An embossing buddy (or dryer sheet), silver cord, white palette ink, and our thistle satin ribbon.  

 

I've decided to make two options. One filled with lavender, and another filled with sweets.

The first one was made by trimming the taffeta edge satin ribbon ends to look forked.  I then stamped the sentiment from Cupid's Arrow "to love is to have a heart, to be in love is to make it beat" in new canvas palette ink and heat set. I filled the test tube with dried lavender buds (can usually be purchased bulk) and layed the ribbon across the opening and then corked the tube.  I then lightly mod podged the ribbon to the tube along the side to keep it flat.  Another little tidbit of info about lavender is that it comes from the mint family and is entirely edible.  I've included a recipe for lavender sugar which is a special treat for anyone! I added it to my tea the other night and   I must say it added the most wonderful taste. I honestly believe that the essence of lavender also added a bit of a calming, soothing effect to the tea.  Note* you can also put this recipe into the food processor (buds and all!) and and make it into powdered sugar to make icing with or sprinkle on baking. MMMM!So here is the pdf file you can download and print these yourself! 

 

 Download Lavender sugar pdf

 

   Here is my second take on these favors if you aren't sure about the lavender.  Here I've used my embossing buddy to first remove all the static from the test tube.  I then mounted my image to be stamped on the smallest acrylic block I had.  I inked the stamp and then CAREFULLY rolled the stamp around the test tube. This can take a bit of practice because the glass is slippery but once you get the hang of it it's not so bad.  Because the ink stays damp on the glass for quite a while it is possible to emboss on it!  That's another great thing about our test tubes. They are made out of borosilicate (Pyrex) glass and can handle the heat of embossing!  Once the EP is on over the images you can use a small paint brush to dust off any unruly powder (hopefully there's not much if you've used your embossing buddy or dryer sheet).  Use the heat gun to melt the EP and effectively heat set the ink!  Careful the glass gets HOT!!! I held the cork. I added the candy inside (note* wait until the test tube cools completely!!!! or your candy will stick to the sides!  ask me how I know! ) I stamped the same image again and punched out with a 3/4" circle punch.  I stamped another of the sentiments from Cupid's Arrow stamp set and created a little tag which I attached with silver cord. I added a little ribbon with a one loop bow (I think they look sooo cute!) in the Thistle dot printed satin ribbon. Who wouldn't want to take home one of these darling things! Just picture how cute they'd look in a basket by the door!  You could also monogram the tags or the top with the bride and grooms initial.

Now what about a matching place card?  I just took  a bit of 19 guage wire from the craft store and wrapped it around a small object and then a larger one, and the smaller one again to create this clip. I created a matching place card template which you can print off here

 Download Matching place cards 

and I stamped it with the foliage image from the Wedding Wordsstamp set from RBD. I then added a guest's last name using the simple Occidental alphabet set.

 

 

 

  A very quick yet crowd-pleasing and sentimental option.  You could also add some handmade lavender soaps or other items to complete the theme. There are many uses for lavender and in place of the sugar you could suggest a warm bath sprinkled with healing lavender! The possibilities are endless.

Nestabilities Dies

So I thought I'd show a little step-by-step on using the Nestabilities dies for die cutting/embossing.

Here is the stacking "sandwich" so-to-speak for die cutting. Notice they are all solid plates and no tan polymer mat, that is for embossing. I am demonstrating this on my Cuttlebug as this is the only machine which I have (and LOVE). If you have similar questions on other die cutting machines I may be able to help but I have only actually used my Cuttlebug.

So to begin you stack your plates (from the bottom up) A,B, Spellbinder's Die raised edge up, cardstock or material, Cplate.

Run this through your machine and you'll end up with a die cut shape. This is where you decide if you'd like to emboss or just keep the oval die cut shape.  For this tutorial, I've decided to emboss.  So we now make a new sandwich. From the bottom up:  A plate, B plate, Spellbinder die WITH die cut still in place, your cardstock to be embossed, and then three sheets of cardstock (you may only need two if you are using quite heavy cardstock, trust me... I broke a B plate in half testing this theory!) Second B plate, and Tan polymer mat. 
The great thing about these dies is that before where you were limited by the reach of the punch or embossing folder you are now able to place the die on any area of your project without being limited to the outer edges!!  

It helps if you keep three pieces of pre-cut cardstock with your tan polymer mat to pull out in a hurry.






       Here is a closer look at the finished stack.

Here are the beautiful results of my now embossed card front!! Of course you are still left with a beautifully die cut and ebossed oval as well!! I made a stack of 10 of these cards to keep on hand and it only took me less than 15 minutes to make them all.

Here is a close up of the detail of the embossing.  As you can see I ran through the smaller oval in white as well as the small scalloped oval which matches in awesome aqua.

I think the embossed oval gives an added touch of elegance.

I used the largest butterfly image from the set Benevolent Butterflies and used the rock and roll technique to get the variation in color. I used haystack and landscape in Palette ink.  I then added the little extra detail beside the oval using one of the curls from Elegant Edges. You may also have noticed the butterfly's curly antennae! This is also another of the curls from the elegant edges set.  I added some glitter for sparkle and some rhinestones and ribbon for a little bling!  I chose to leave this card without a sentiment so that I can pull it out for any occasion which arises and stamp whichever sentiment I need at the time. I find this particularly helpful when I am short on time and in a rush!

Here is the final card! The ribbon is our Hint of Lime taffeta edge satin ribbon.  If you have any questions don't hesitate to post in the comments section and I will answer them ASAP!!   I'll also post a compatability chart (compiled by Nichole Heady) for other die systems below in case you have a system other than the Cuttlebug.

 

---> Big Shot by Ellison Design™
Capabilities
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders Style Die™.

How-To
To use a Spellbinders Die in the Big Shot:
1. Layer an acrylic mat onto the thick white pad.
2. Place either two Sizzix® Adapters™ or one Spellbinders White Spacer Plate onto the acrylic mat.
3. Place Spellbinders die on the Spacer Plate, blade side up.
4. Place paper over die.
5. Place another acrylic mat over paper. Roll through the Big Shot.
6. To emboss the die, remove the Spacer Plate.
7. Place Tan Emboss Pad over paper, put acrylic mat on top again and roll through Big Shot again.


---> Big Kick™

Capabilities
With the Big Kick, you can both cut and emboss Spellbinders Embossing Dies.

How-To
From the bottom up, to cut:
1. Universal platform (thick white mat from sizzix)
2. Clear acrylic mat
3. Spacer plate from Spellbinders
4. Spellbinders Style Die (cutting side up) that would mean the side with the ridges
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Clear acrylic cutting mat

Second Step- to Emboss (from bottom up) :
1. Universal Platform (thick white mat from sizzix)
2. Clear acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders Style die with paper still inside the die
4. Two pieces of tan Spellbinders Polymer
5. Clear acrylic cutting mat


---> Cuttlebug™

Capabilities
With the Cuttlebug, you can both cut and emboss Spellbinders Embossing Dies. Results are beautiful (see a photo tutorial above)

How-To
Cutting Sandwich - (Stack from bottom up)
1. A plate
2. C plate
3. Spellbinders die face up (rough side up)
4. Paper or cardstock
5. B plate

Run through Cuttlebug machine.

Embossing Spellbinders Dies in the Cuttlebug- (Stack from bottom up)
1. A plate
2. B plate
3. Die face up (with die cut still in die)
4. 3 pieces of cardstock
5. 1 Spellbinders tan polymer mat
6. 2nd B plate

Run through Cuttlebug machine

Muffin coffee bag gift

      Who doesn't love a good homemade bananna muffin!? You'd be crazy not to love them!!  I made a few extra in a batch the other day (I always keep overripe bananas in my freezer for when inspiration hits) and I decided to give them to a good friend of mine as I knew she'd be stopping by. I find the best time to give something like this is when the receiver least expects it! 

Here's my recipe (well, it's not really mine, it's from The Best of Bridge cookbook "Best of the Best" which is the MOST wonderful cookbook ever and one I turn to time and time again, you should see the greasy, splotchy pages!)

 

I love to modify the ingredients and I used whole barley flour for these and they were great. Next time I'll add some nuts and chocolate chips I think. This recipe also doubles very well.

 

Banana Muffins

1/2 Cup Butter or Margerine    125mL

1 Cup Sugar    250mL

2 Eggs

1 Cup Mashed ripe bananas    250mL

1 1/2 Cups Flour (I used whole Barley for these and it was delicious)    375mL

1 tsp Nutmeg    5mL

1 tsp Baking Soda    5mL

2 tsp Hot Water    5mL

1 tsp Vanilla    5mL

 

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs and Bananas. Mix Well. Stir in flour and nutmeg. Dissolve soda in hot water, add to banana mixture. Stir in vanilla. Fill greased muffin tins 1/2 full.  Bake at 350F (180C) for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Makes 24 medium muffins.

Now for the bag recipe!

I used one of our Kraft window coffee bags and stamped it with white ink in the largest of the Polka Parts patterns (say that 10 times fast!). I then used SU's Baja Breeze ink and stamped the open mate for the Polka Parts pattern on top of the solid prints.
I then took the ovals from Elegant Edges and used the same colors, white for the solid oval, and Baja Breeze for the inner detailed oval (I LOVE THIS OVAL, you'll see it a lot!). I then took the "Enjoy" sentiment from the Pampered Package set and finished off the focal point by stamping in the centre. Finally, I tied a bow with our BEAUTIFUL Rhombus patterned ribbon in Mineral Ice to complete the look. She was more than thrilled with this little gift, and it only took a few mins to put together (literally less than a tv commercial!).

   Click on the photos on the left to enlarge (just as any pictures on the blog)

 SUPPLIES:

RBD Kraft Window Coffee Bag

Stamps: Renaissance By Design's Elegant Edges, Pampered Package, Polka Parts

Ribbon: RBD's Rhombus pattern in Mineral Ice 

INK: White Craft ink SU, Baja Breeze Dye ink from SU

Fancy Flourishes

Today I thought I'd share one of my favourite sets and the versatility of it. This one is called Fancy Flourishes and the possibilites are literally endless! All of the images in this set are separate and although this can be time consuming it is worth it! I considered putting them all together, but when I was designing this set I decided it was the only way to make this a truly customizable set. I would recommend if you have multiple acrylic mounting blocks to haul them all out and position a few of the images on each block so that you don't have to keep taking them off and on (although this works too!)Here I started by making the main "stem" of the flourish and keeping it quite simple. I find that it's always easier to add later than to have to start over because you've added too much too soon. Trust me, it's hard not to go crazy and fill every spot but then you'll run out of room later!  I used our Waterlily green Palette ink for this. I then used the smaller swirls to fill in the gaps.and added a few of the leafy touches to fill in the flourish.  I find that if you only ink half of a longer swirl you can double your flourish options! This can take a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it I promise you'll absolutely LOVE this set and you'll turn to it time and time again. You'll be seeing me use it quite a lot, I think I'm in love. 
I've also found that if you think your flourish is "missing something" then try adding the small dot image in various places to draw the eye. This adds a subtle breakup of the image. Here is a view of the assembled flourish.  I then added a bit of Landscape green (stamped off) to the design to make it pop a bit (not shown in this picture).

I created a focal point using the "Thank you" sentiment from the Ornate Ovals set.

I ran a piece of Awesome Aqua cardstock through my Cuttlebug with the scalloped oval die and then with the cream cardstock in the slightly smaller classic oval. I pierced around the edge and stamped another flourish to coordinate. I added a bit of ribbon in hint of lime taffeta edge satin (this didn't photograph very well, in person the greens match nicely).  I then mounted the focal on with dimensionals, rounded the corners and there you have it!

 

 

 

 

Classic, elegant and simple all at the same time. There are so many possibilities for this set, whether you use it as a background builder, an accent set, or the main focal image, the potential is there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now, I thought I'd show you another way to use this set to prove how versatile it is.  I started similarly by making the main vine in Landscape Palette Ink.

This time I used the feathery accents as my choice of filler.  I then took the two star images from the Christmas Cards and Tags set and inked them in red. I stamped them around the flourish image to make it look Christmasy.

I took my glue pen and some glitter and snazzed it up a bit on the stars and the little dot image, I love glitter and nothing says Christmas card more to me than glitter!  I threaded a button with hemp twine and added it to the middle of my sprig for interest.  I stamped the Merry Christmas Sentiment on the lower right corner in red again. The sentiment also comes from the Christmas Cards and Tags set.

I then trimmed it up and mounted it on Old Olive CS from SU. I mounted it on a Riding Hood red card base and there you have it! Two totally different looks from the exact same set. I can't wait to see what you've done with it! 

The time has come!

Well everyone, here we are.  All of my months of hard work and vision have finally come to be. The Store is finally open for business! I am over the moon and probably will not sleep for a few more weeks but I am running on pure adrenaline! I am so excited to share everything we've worked so hard to bring to you. So go ahead, see for yourself!! 

I will be posting a lot in the next few days/weeks (even multiple times a day, *hint hint*) so keep checking back for giveaways, project ideas, introductions and well... blogging!  I am still receiving shipments of product daily so be sure to check the website for updates!

Snowflake Season Box bag

  Here is a little bag which matches yesterday's card!!  This little one is done using my new favorite tool my Scor-Pal. The tutorial for this box can be found on the Scor-Pal website and was created by the ever-talented Beate Johns.

This little bag is filled with scotch mints which always remind me of my grandma, I'm not sure exactly why but I must have seen them around her house as a child. The closure for this bag was made using the SU top note die on a piece of cardstock which was folded over and just the edge of the die place over the fold. I tied it with ourMineral IceTaffeta edge satin ribbon. Have I said how much I LOVE this ribbon ;) 

I'll be heading out for the weekend on a scrapbooking retreat so you wont see any posting from me for a couple of days... but Monday is the BIG day so be sure to check back as there will be lots of excitement in the air!! Cheers!

~D