Bon Apetite!

I know---you think I fell off the planet...

or abandoned my blog!

Not the case!

I've been working my little fingers to the bone

and I am

SOOOO EXCITED

about my finished project--I just can't wait

to show it off.

My groupies tell me they don't look at my blog

and this is one time

I hope they are telling the truth

or they won't be surprised at our next meeting!

 

In December

Theresa (aka my partner in crime)

and I usually do a little make and take project

for them

and they have decided they want to

do another recipe swap this year

instead of the cards we did last year.

Well...there's only one problem with that...

I don't cook...much.

Unless I absolutely have to.

My other half does

(and yeah, my late husband cooked too---

I know-you hate me!)

So my repertoire of recipes is

mighty slim.

But ---wait!

I had a brain fart  storm...

and I knew what I wanted to do...

 

So I started scouring blogs to find a template

for an apron pattern.

I got my mail idea here...

http://whiffofjoy.blogspot.com/2012/09/apron-cardrecipe-book-by-andrea-danz.html

Andrea did a great job....

but it wasn't in English (and trust me, it lost something in the Google

translator and with the measurements being metric...oy vey!

 

But I used it as a spring board...

 

I found another template 

here

and cut and pasted and altered it

to make it work for something similar to Andrea's apron...

and this is what I came up with...

I had a helper...

I had to do six of these

and each apron color and pattern were different--

the stamped images are from

Crafty Secrets (lady) and Artful Impressions (kitchen).

They were all hand-colored with Copics

and then fussy cut

(I can hear Theresa screaming from here! lol!)

 

 

"It depends on who you decide on calling!"

that I printed on a doily

(I just decided on my font and size,

printed it on cardstock,

then layed the doily over that where I wanted it to print,

taped it down on 4 sides with plain old Scotch tape

and ran it through the printer!)

The phone image is a clip art from I am not sure where...

and the silverware is Crafty Secrets again...

as are the  images on the front of the little "favorites" book

 

It's what's inside that little book that  is important...

since I don't cook---but I can call for take out...

instead of a recipe book---I made a mini phone book

with all the names and numbers of our local restaurants,

well most of them anyway!

 

 

I decorated the inside pages---again all colored with Copics

that was the easy part---

laying it out to print right was a pain in my royal

ah-hum yes well...

I needed to mount my "recipe" apron on something

so I searched ebay for vintage kitchen or some such under

scrapbooking--the paper I picked was from

Ruby Rocket--

a paper company I had never heard of

(imagine!)

and I had quite a pleasant surprise

when it came yesterday---

I knew it was double-sided...

but it wasn't paper--

it is a very nice heavy double sided cardstock

that I got for a song!

It's AWESOME stuff!

And carries through that vintage theme perfectly!

So--I just stuck a recipe and clip in the pocket to show you

it's a pocket!

I have tried that chicken recipe once upon a time tho---

Back to my pocket...

So I cut a 6x12 piece...

I scored on the 6" mark

then on one of the 6"x6" sides I cut a slit to the score line

at 3"

Follow me?

Then...I adhered the top 3"x6" panel to the top of the opposite side

and then taped the other 3"x6" panel on 3 sides---to make a pocket!

I am sure that's as clear as mud-but it worked! 

I got the benefit of having the pretty retro images visible

on both sides and the bottom inside pocket is the burlap image

that was on the backside of the paper

that was ok but not awesome.

 

This project took some time-

as I am sure you can tell!

Days. Actually.

More time that I have put into any one project

in a very long time.

But I did it slowly---small bits and pieces

and I had a great time playing.

Thank God hubby cooks---or I would have been calling

for lots and lots of take out!

The measuring spoons in the photo shoot

were my grandmothers.

The little red apron in the photo shoot

is mine from childhood.

It has a terry cloth pocket

and another that is a little hand towel stitched to the apron itself.

It graces my church pew that we use

as a bench to our table

and the former hymnal racks hold cookbooks!

Speaking of cookbooks...

The Good Housekeeping Cookbook

was one my late husband gave his mother some years back...

the binding is tattered and peeling...

but it's a precious keepsake.

And yeah, when I need to know how to cook something

I've been known to take it out a time or two!

 I will be assisting my husband/chef tomorrow

with anything he decides to trust me with...

dish detail for sure.

Hope everyone has a happy and blessed

Thanksgiving.

Me?

I'm thankful for a husband who cooks!

Bon appetite! 

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,

Successful Show!

Many many thanks

to all who shopped at our

Holly Days Craft Show

yesterday

and to Theresa and her helpful family

for all their hard work

in helping us set up, unpack, repack

and tear down.

It's a lot to do in one day

(and it begins in the dark!)

and I honestly don't think

I could do it without them.
Thanks to hubby, too, who did what he could
to help even when it came to the catnip fishing pole crises
the evening before he was due to leave...
 

 

Theresa and I met  at Holly Days

some years back---

we swapped phone numbers and became fast friends.

Here she is with her side of our "store"...

She keeps me laughing!

 

My space looked better in personthan it does from the pics I took!

Ugh!

Looks way to cluttered to me  --  must be the angle...

 

I was trying to set up a "dry run"

the day before to figure out

what to and not to take for displaying my goods...

the one out of 4 cats who doesn't like catnip

took over "catnip corner" of my table...

 good thing I was just trying to get an idea of

what I wanted to do!

 

My goddaughter showed up...

look at those hoopy earrings!

 

We have some great ideas for next year...

and, inbetween time

I am seriously thinking about

an Etsy shop--

even though I've had issues with them

over my (shop) name that we can't seem to resolve.

I may bite the bullet and pick a different one anyway.

We shall see.

I would appreciate any suggestions, pros, cons,

helpful hints from anyone whose got some experience

with Etsy or even e-bay...

 

A coworker shared her germs on Thursday

then getting overheated loading up in the cool weather on Fri

left me with a scratchy throat and snotty nose

and by last night

well, I really didn't feel well.

SOOOO thankful

for that extra hour sleep...

and I played hookey from church

as I didn't want to make anyone else sick.

 

Time to repack, inventory, and restock.

One more show for the season...

right after I take another nap...!

 

Oh-

Theresa pointed out that I had that hateful word verification thingy

on my blog---

I apologize--and I *THINK* I have taken it off...?!

 

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,



 

It's the day before Holly Days...

and all through the house...



peace prevails...

 

Wait--

 PEACE?

Calm?

 

the DAY BEFORE HOLLY DAYS?

 

Never before heard of here.

I've not lost my mind.  I am not dead...

And yes,

I will have the usual booth

with my great friend Theresa

tomorrow.

I had prepped for another craft show

in September that I didn't get to do

because I was sick.

So in between then and now

 I finished a few more projects

and all I had to do yesterday

was have hubby help me bring my baskets

down from the attic.

The "stock" boxes are packed, inventoried and ready.

The display baskets are lined up.

I may do a dry run layout today to see how I want to set up

since I have some new items this year.

Oh-and go to the bank.  I need to get change.

And load the truck.

Other than that...I am ready to go.

I did discover---

I only have one catnip fish fishing pole---

so I may put some of those together.

May not.  We'll see.

 

I am loving it!!!

And I am feeling a real need

to do some serious FLYLADYING of this house

after tomorrow

and in between prep for the last show of the year.

 

If you are in  my area---

come shop at HOLLY DAYS tomorrow

from 9-4.

We'll be right outside the main doors

and we have lots of great things at great prices!

 

For now

I think I'll have another cup of coffee...and relax.

 

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,



My TRICKS and Their TREATS!

Today

didn't start off on a good note

one of the cats

decided when Poppa left for Wal-Mart

at 7:15 AM

(don't ask me why!!!)

Momma needed to know about it.

Not much sleep after that.

Did I mention...

I could have slept until 8?

Projects today

went down hill

after I had to go to the same store

husband was at earlier

and they didn't have what I needed.

I just had to make do.

Not enough sleep-having to "make do"

did not make Momma a happy camper.

 

After a almost 2 hour MUCH NEEDED nap...

I decided to try one more thing.

And that put a smile on my face!

 

Halloween is upon us

and I am sure that I will have

20 little 2, 3 and 4 year olds

knocking on my office door!

What to do that's not too scary?

 

I thought about the "Pumkin Teeth" holders

and candy corn

but again, they are 2, 3 and 4

and the correlation would be lost on them--

and all they are REALLY going to care about

is the candy inside!

 

So...

I applied the KISS principle---

Keep it simple, Sharon!

And---no POP DOTS are needed!

lol!

(Theresa's in shock right now...!)

 

So-here's my TRICKS to make these...

gather your tools and supplies--

you will need:

cardstock or designer paper

adhesive

crimper

paper cutter (not shown)

stamps and ink (if not using dp)

and of course --CANDY!

(not sure why the empty glass is there-?!)

Now, I needed to maximize my paper

as my supply was limited---

I cut my paper at 5 1/2" x 4" so I could get

an extra one or two out of a 12x12 sheet...

This is probably the absolute smallest you can go

and get a fun size package of M&M's in there!

I'd recommend if you have enough paper

cutting it at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"!

I then stamped my design and added

To: You

From: Ms. Sharon

(I am not one of their teachers-

I work in the church office and

thought parents would want to know

where it came from)

Next put adhesive on ONE SHORT end

and BOTH LONG SIDES

Roll the short end around and make a tube...

(think toilet paper roll here...)

smoosh the bottom together

stuff your candy in

and smoosh the top together in the opposite direction

of the bottom...

(think the sour cream holders Wendy's used to have....)

Next stuff one end into your paper crimper

and roll it one or two turns

flip it to the other end

and do the same thing again.

This just gives it a little extra "oomph"

and staying power to keep it sealed

(it looks cool, too!)

Here's what they look like all done...

I did 30 in about one hour

I was stamping the "Boo"

and "To/From" on each one as I went

otherwise it probably would have been quicker

if I had stamped all images

and then assembled.

I was going to add a ribbon

but remembered

KISS...

and  I left well enough alone!

 

So-

there you have it-

my TRICKS to make their TREATS!

 

BTW

the little black cat

highly approved of the stamp selection!

 

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,



What My Groupies Made...

First and foremost

let me say that I cannot take

creative credit

for this month's "groupies" project.

It was designed and created by

 

Valerie Dietz

and, with her permission,

I cased and copied it

for my groupies.

 

You can see Valerie's other awesome artwork

by visiting her blog here...

 

So-that said...

let me show you what we worked on...

The banner "bases" and letters

were cut with the Cricut Close to My Heart

Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges.

I color dusted the edges of the base cardstock,

stamped and colored all the "embellishments" with Copics

and then cut them out by hand.

Yep-I did this for 8 banners!

My groupies then assembled them themselves....

The pretty ribbon

is CTMH color-ready seam binding.

It came/comes white.

I dyed it to match our project

simply by running an ink pad over it

until it was the color I wanted!

You can also use a few drops of reinker in a plastic bag

and mush it around (very technical term!).

It is super easy to do!

I used a Copic marker to outline each letter

and that really made them pop---

and well, if you know me

then you already know

I POP-DOTTED EVERYTHING!

Lots of dimension to this baby!

The burlap is our new burlap ribbon-

it's awesome to work with as well!

I am surely going to order more it as well as

the seam binding!

It was really an awesome class!

Everyone did a great job keeping up with one another

and were thrilled with their project!

A great decoration for several holidays!

 

On another note,

I absolutely love the crescent moon!

I've heard some call it

God's eyelash...

but that little sliver of light

really spellbinds me...

and when I saw it the other night-

I just knew I had to try and capture it.

This photo

was taken with my Cannon Elph point and shoot-

it is not photoshopped...

I did fiddle with settings (on the camera before I took it)

and I have no clue what I did...

but I got the light from the house below

and the moon!

I am THRILLED!

 

Ok.

It's almost lunch time-

gotta do some flyladying today

and it's off for my mammogram this afternoon.

It's Breast Cancer Awareness month

if you didn't already know that

and trust me-

that few minutes of discomfort

is FAR LESS UNCOMFORTABLE

then chemo and radiation

and surgery!

A few minutes---that can save a lifetime.

Someone close to me

had a scare a year or so ago.

I will never ever forget the moment she told me

she had something suspicious.

I kept her message on my phone

from when she called and said,

"I'm crying-but it's ok!

Thank you, Jesus, it's nothing!"

Go get yours.

Please.

 

Until next time,

happy stamping and scrapping!

Blessings,



Faith...

 

good topic for a Sunday post, don't ya think?!

My colors look so washed out-

not sure why-

the dp is a real pretty aqua color-

maybe too light for the camera-

and I opted to pick up the brown and green

 with the  stamped saying, flower and ribbon.

I've had this stamp forever

and it says:

Faith

Fear

 knocked

at the door

 

Faith

answered

 

No one

was there.

 

The word "faith"

goes along the side of the sentiment

 

So I had to do some fancy

masking and stamping

to get what I wanted

and I won't begin to tell you

how many times

I had to punch that border

with my God-awful Martha Stewart punches!

I really do not like them.

Seriously.

They are terrible.

This is going to be a little decorative piece

for a friend of mine.

Hope she likes it.

 

Until next time

keep the

even when Fear knocks!

Happy stamping and scrapping, too!

Blessings,