It's finally beginning to feel like Christmas!

I have been a member of an awesome group of crafty ladies here at Hood. We meet once a month to scrapbook or make cards. For Christmas we had a gift exchange and I made a basket of "Gifts that keep on giving." There were so many things I wanted to make, I couldn't decide, so I decided to make them all!!! I had SO much fun making them!

Here's what the ladies got...

Potpourri box.

"Popcan" filled with mint candies
Snowman ornament

Matchbook candy holder

Inside of candy holder

Scor Pal box with Chocolate nuggets

Candle with image added

Back of candle

I know I probably went a little overboard with the gifts this year, but I had so much fun making all the goodies I had to give them away! What fun is it to make if I can't share it with other people???

I received some wonderful gifts in return and feel VERY blessed to know these very talented ladies!!!

Baby Blessings

I'm so excited I can finally show this to you. I have been waiting, 1) for my bestest, oldest friend, Jennifer, to finally have her baby and 2) for her to receive this gift before I posted it! Both have happened, so now I can show!

I wanted to do something special for my friend... I found this sketch and tweaked it a bit. I came up with this card. I found the ribbon many, many months ago in New York (seems like forever ago!!!) and have yet to find a reason to use it.. till this card. You can't really see, but the circles on the ribbon actually match the rose and green on the card. Perfect!

This was my baby gift for Jennifer's little girl, Sophia. I found the chipboard "BABY" some time ago and knew exactly who I would use it for! I had to wait till I found out if it would be for a girl or a boy! Once that was found, I got to work!
I used a pack of coordinated paper and started out!
I had so much fun designing each page and trying to figure out what to add.
I added some "picture" spots that she can choose to replace with pictures of little Sophia or leave as is. (That stamp of a baby always reminded me of my little Riley!)

Then I added some scriptures, spots to write memories and some pretty flowers...

A little bling, here and there, some paper piercing...

And put it all together!

I love how all the colors and patterns fit together and made it all flow. I had SO much fun with this project, I may need to venture on to other projects with more of the chipboard words!!!

Shared Security

My Dad and I share something in common... ok, a lot of things in common, but for this post, it's Scripture. We both find strength in Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In everyway acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." (NIV version)

As I was making my 6x6 album page for BVC, I knew this would make an awesome gift for my Dad. He works at the church and has felt the stress of Pastor Skip's plight and has had to make up for the lack of said pastor at work for sometime. I wanted him to know he is thought of, appreciated, and loved as well! I found these really cool 5x5 shadowbox-type frames at Hobby Lobby (50% off this week!) and cut the 6x6 album page to make it fit. These colors are so him and I love it. It was really hard to photograph, because the outside edge is a mirror..

I took it to church tonight when I went for Pastor Skip's prayer service and had my mom sneak it onto his desk. I hope it will bring a smile to his face when he finds it tomorrow, as well as put a skip in his step! (no pun intended!)

When I got home from the service, I knew I wanted to re-create it for myself. I changed the colors a bit and came out with this design. I actually think I like the first one I did, but this one is in the frame and already on the TV stand. It will stay.

Creative Catch-Up

Today is my "catch-up" day!

I made another 6x6 page for my "Proverbs to live by" book for the BVC09 Challenge! I had a "vision" for this page. I saw the verse and knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use. I envisioned it in a "spotlight" frame, so I decided to play around with it. I needed somthing simple and quick and I am quite pleased with what I came out with.

I wanted a small purse to carry when I didn't have the diaper bag, but couldn't find anything I liked (that wasn't $50!). That's when I came up with this purse I made. I bought 3 bandanas and sewed them together... iron on a star, add a strap and taa-daa!

I had made some of these books and magnets for my Sunday School class, but this time we have a man for our "guide" this go-round, so I had to tweak them and make a more masculine one. I really like how it came out. I think I may make one for me!

Last but not least..

Randy chose to make these for his school Valentine's Cards. I gave them the option to buy some in the stores, but they both chose to make them again. (they are my boys, after all!!!)

In school, they have been learning about the Chinese New Year and they learned how to write "love" in chinese. When Randy saw this stamp on my shelf, he said he knew exactly what he wanted to do! We crimped strips and wrapped them around Lik-em-aid and he's done!

Riley's are already finished, but he took them to school before I could get a picture!

He's toooo quick! I'm going to make some more for the kids to take to their Sunday School classes on Sunday, so I'll have a picture of them then. I've got a little project going for my Sunday School class, too.. but I haven't finished them yet.

My BIG project right now is a wedding cake for our church's re-newal of vows this weekend.

I'm doing a 3 tier wedding cake and 2 grooms cakes. Hopefully it will all work out! Be sure to check back after Saturday for pictures!!!

Christmas crafts

Once again we made ornaments for the boy's teachers. I could only find large ones this year, but it actually worked better.

Here's a close up of them. The "snow" is actually called "fake snow" and so far it's the best stuff I've found in all the years I've been making them. I added a little bit of turquoise glitter and I LOVE how they came out.
Randy made this in class and I'm definately going to try and recreate it! It's just made out of circles, folded and glued. What a cool idea!!!I LOVE these "Box in a bags" I found at this site.
I actually found it through Angelosity, as always!

Here's a cool new magnet I made trying to find something to do for the boys' teachers. It's cute, but I ran out of seed beads to use in them! I'll have to remember it for next year!

Here was my "almost Christmas card."

I really like this, but I found something else I decided to use that I'll show later once I get all of my cards mailed out. Don't want to ruin the surprise!

Diaper Bag

I've been working on this Diaper Bag since before I left New York. I had the image in my mind and knew what I wanted, I just had to actually sit down and "do it!" Thanks to some help from my mom, some guidance and assistance, I finally got it completed!!! It's made out of Jason's ACU uniform he wore in Iraq during his last deployment. The inside is a laundry bag he took with him, too. I wanted Colt to have a unique bag, and this is it!!!

This is the front of the bag.

Slanted pockets are actually usable!!

Inside features 3 pockets and 3 pen holders. The pockets and pen holders were taken from sleeves on the AUC and a pocket from the pants.
Side 1.. shows Jason's current unit, 1st CAV and his unit pin for 6/9. Little bag above is used for Colt's pacifiers. It slides on the handle made from an actual belt.
Other side with Jason's deployed unit...4ID and his Buffalo pin from 7/10 CAV.

It took planning, cursing, ripping of many stitches, but it's finally done and I love it!!!

Raising Cadet Morale

Cadets here start their finals on Saturday, so in an effort to help them through and let them know they aren't forgotten, Jason asked if I would make these little "West Point Morale Bags" for them. I made them for Jason's soldiers when they were deployed to Iraq and they were received with much appreciation! However, that time I had my mom's help, and we only made about 100. This time, I manged 150 of them, all in about a weeks time. My goal was to get them out before Friday to all the cadets, and I made it!!! YEAH!

The card says:

A stick of gum to remind you to stick with it.

Fire Jolly Rancher to light your fire when you feel burned out.

3 Musketeers to remind you how sweet teamwork is.

Tootsie Roll to remind you not to bite off more than you can chew. (I should take this to heart!)

Starburst to give you a boost of energy.

Butterfinger to remind you we all make mistakes.

Chocolate kiss to remind you, you are loved.

Whoppers to remind you to always tell the truth.

Smarties to help you when you need some extra brain power.

Snickers to remind you to take time to laugh.

A bag to help you keep it all together.

West Point's colors are Black and Gold, hence the black bag and yellow ribbon! They were fun, but I don't want to do them again for a LONG time! Now I'll just have to make them for the plebes (freshmen) each year, but that's only about 30 or so... I can manage that!

And since I had the camera out, Brodie had to have her picture taken, too!!! She is saying, "Taaa Daaa!" because we were finished. She actually helped me, too! She put all the little bags of candy in the black bags and had to give me five everytime she did it! It was cute, and actually very helpful!

So, now I'm off to my next project... Christmas presents for the boys' teachers and our "adopted" cadets! I honestly don't know what I'd do if I didn't have a list of things I needed to do! Probably sleep!!!

Cute gift idea!!!

I found a new thing to make!!! I love this cute little bag! It's made out of Card stock and holds cards! I made one for my friend who hosted my Baby Shower. It was so much fun to make!!! I wanted to do something that didn't involve stamping, so I used one of the Simply Scrappin' Kits... how easy! I got the tutorial from here. It was really simple to follow and you can modify it anyway you can think! I can see it being awesome for teacher's gifts, my secret sister, and anything else I can think of!!!
I made matching cards to put inside... I used the same Simply Scrappin' Kit so they all went together. I loved this WHOLE set! Makes me want to get some more kits just for this project! I also included a little notbook I altered with the kit. I used the sketches that I have been using from Angel and it was so quick to create 5 cards! Now, I just need a reason to make more!!!

Baby Shower Boxes

I'm having a Baby Shower tomorrow and I'm a little excited! I haven't had one since Riley, so I'm excited! Not just for the shower, but for the chance to interact with adults! Guess I need to practice conversations that don't consist of "because I said so," and "in a minute!"

I made some little "thank you" boxes for the guests. I had a hard go at finishing these... they just wouldn't come together. I think I finally got it figured out and this is what I came up with. I found some cute little heart candies that have baby sayings on them! Perfect touch! The bear is from the set I'm using for the Birth Announcements and I think he's adorable!

Ok, I'm off to take cupcakes to Randy's class because today is HIS BIRTHDAY!!! I can't believe he's 8! Where has the time gone???? I'll take a picture of him at school with his "Octopus Creature" cupcakes. They turned out pretty cute. Then I'm off to eat lunch with Riley so he doesn't feel to left out. Busy Busy Busy! BUt I love it!!!

Chocolate, Chocolate and chocolate!

I have a "Secret Sister" from my church group and this is the first gift I have made for her. I'm comfortable posting it on here because I know she has no idea who I am... all the better to surprise her with things! Her info sheet says she loves ANYTHING chocolate, and lots of it. She loves the color pink and she just had knee surgery last week, so I combined all of them and came up with this "Cure-all" kit. It's a Whitman's (appropiate, I thought!) Chocolate box, covered with DP and FILLED with choclate. On the front side is a card with "Directions" as follows..."For best results, take one at the first sign of ailment and repeat as often as needed. May require several doese. Refills: Unlimited. caution, may be addictive!" I plan to leave it for her at our next meeting on Wednesday... along with the following card:


The circle says "chocolate is proof that God loves us." I thought that was appropriate since it is a church group! I didn't have any chocoalte colored ribbon like i was hoping, so I had to settle for a strip of paper, but I think it looks ok.



I'd better go catch up on my Thank you card writing since's it's almost been a week since Brodie's party.. I'm hoping to have a few more cards done today, so I'll try to post them if I do!

Fruit of my Labors

I finally finished my projects... and I'm ready for a break! I'm rather pleased with how these came out, all 30 of them! They took some creative flair, since my paper supply is running low, but I really like the color themes. I'm anxious to start the study tomorrow. I need a fresh breeze in my stuffy life right now. A spark to get me back up to where I need to be.

This pregnancy is taking more out of me than I thought it would, but I'm hanging in there. I guess there is a reason why you are meant to have kids young! It's tiring!! We had a very busy weekend and it wiped me out. I'm ready for rest, but not sure if I will ever find that again! Randy's cub scouts started today and we had 15 boys out of 22 show up for the first meeting. WOW!!! 15 seven year olds is STRESSING! How do teachers do it!?!?!?!?!?

Ok, it's midnight and Brodie and I have an early AM, so I'm going to get to bed. I'll post more soon... you know, as soon as things slow down! :-)