Go to The Paper Tree to place your order!!

I know I have had so many emails waiting-thank you for your interest. I always get so excited when releasing a kit.

AND we do have the Not So Tricky Treats class available!!

Don’t miss them, supplies are limited

asking for some teachabella images???

 I LOST everything in my email so please re-email me so I can send that to you.

Also if you emailed me and I have not replied it is most likely because I have lost every thing. So if you need something-please re-send.

THANK YOU for your patience as I got this together today. I actually created it the other day, but had family things to do, and camera batteries to charge.

I am excited to share another template with you all today.

Here it is!

Diamonds are a girls best friend- Bloomin Basket Tutorial This was totally Tiffany & Co. inspired.

OK I have to say that Stampin Up! has released some MUST have items for me. One being their new Big Shot Baskets & Blooms Bigz XL die that retails for $39.95 US. You can find it on page 29 of the SU! Holiday mini catalog. REALLY CUTE!

“My” problem was, I really didn’t want to buy the die because I am not a huge fan of the round design. I also wanted to be able to make it BIGGER, or smaller. I love versatility and things that actually hold a descent amount of “something”. I am a very visual person, so by just looking at this the light-bulb went off.

I took a look at it and thought “That would be SO EASY to do.” So I did My design is obviously NOT round, but was definitely inspired by that uber cute die cut.

I hope you all enjoy my little tutorial I have here to share AND maybe it may save you some $$!! I know I have a good wishlist of items, and limited amount of money. I would like to spend it on consumables

You can make this larger or smaller by changing your starting size and how much you score it! Just remember the sides, and bottom should be the same

Here we go!

My finished Bloomin Basket is about 5 inches tall, 3 inches across, and 2 inches wide.

Supplies I chose

I used Women of Life,  Its a Celebration  Aqua Mist cardstock, Dark Chocolate ink, Dark Chocolate Satin ribbon, spellbinders tags, coluzzle,scor-pal, score mat,Tim Holtz ruler, Hobby blade, Doodlebug factory Bling (thanks Tracey!), 1 1/4 circle punch, redline tape.

You will need:

 2 pieces of cardstock cut to a square. I chose 8 1/2 X 8 1/2 (if using 12 X 12 you can get a much larger version :D)

A scoring tool, ruler, hobby blade, redline tape, circle tool, circle punch.

Directions

On both squares (8 1/2 shown here)- Score at 2 inches, then again at 6 1/2 inches

Turn cardstock, and score at 2 inches (to create the bottom)

Layer the 2 pieces together, making sure they are the same, and the bottom is to the left, then punch your 1 1/4 circle.

Now you have to pieces that match exactly

Take your coluzzle (or other circle template) and cut a 1/2 circle.

For this I aligned the hole with one of the cirles, and cut 2 up, on both pieces.

Here is the cut 1/2 circle, when finished

Now comes the cutting angles! I put my cut piece into my scor-pal. Then I just took my ruler to the edge of the 1/2 circle handle, and angled it. I aligned it on my Scor-Pal, with my mat, at about 3 inches, then used a hobby blade to cut.

Now this next step is to make sure your angels are EVEN!!

I put my ruler with the edge where my angle ended. I then used my hobby blade to make a tiny mark, to ensure I would be cutting at that same angle. This is just quicker and easy!

Repeated the step above.

This is the finished cut

Now when doing your 2nd piece, if you remember that angled measurement you should be golden. BUT to make it SUPER easy, take the scrap from the first piece, and lay it over the 2nd one! This will ensure PERFECTION on both sides of your box!

Those are my 2 finished pieces.

Now we put it together!

If you WANT to stamp it. NOW is the best time :D, then continue on to assembling.

Just line up the scored edges, and the bottom score marks.

Make sure you cut the bottom panels (as seen in photo)

It then just folds together!

Simple as that! This box takes seriously a whopping 5 minutes to make after your first time. That excludes stamping.

AND the best part is that now you can make it larger or smaller!!

Thanks for reading. I hope you have time to give it a try

Come back tomorrow for our Papertrey Ink Design Team Challenge!!

Make a Smilebox photobook

As promised, for those interested, there is a Smilebox for the kids first day back to school. Don’t worry, there are only 11 photos, so you won’t be there all day

Its great getting back into the swing of things. I forgot how busy the school year is! Between dropping off, picking up, field trips, PTO (I am joining this year-I THINK!), 2 kids in soccer, dance class, and girls scouts-its running everyday. Maybe that is why they years just fly by, and my children are just sprouting up, in what seems to be overnight! When is there time to fit in that homework?! YIKES!

The older they get, I am certain the more crazy things will get too.

I will say I do get a lot accomplished with my time while they are gone. Its a great 3 hours of QUIET!! Then its back to-

MOM! Shes looking at me!

 Mom! He colored in my coloring book.

MOM! She won’t share!

MOM! Can I have a snack? (for the 18th time)

 MOM! He won’t stop chasing me!

MOM! He hit me!

MOM! She’s in my seat!

MOM! he/she said “hate it” (I don’t like my kids using that word, so its considered a swear word in my house), although I think I use it time to time and that is NOT good. I have to work on that.

MOM! She is kissing me, and Im going to throw up! (NO JOKE! He really does. Its ridiculous!)

So I so enjoy watching my Martha Stewart as I craft, in total PEACE!

Don’t get me wrong. I love my children, no matter how insane they make me. I know I will miss all the bickering-someday. Just not today

Anyway here is another card for you!

 My Prince Charming

Isn’t that always the wonder? If the girl kisses the frog, will he actually turn into a Prince? I know I dated MANY a frog until I got mine! LOL!

These images are from Elzybells-the Fairytale Collection. Seriously some of the cutest images ever! I used my copic markers to color them. They are just too fun.

I went with colors I RARELY use for this one-Really rust, Sahara Sand and Olive. It was inspired by this Stampin Up! collection of paper I had in my stash.

I used a shimmery organdy ribbon from Michaels that is actually an orange, but when put with this looks rust. YEAH!!

Also in my archives………………

 Hello from me

I make so much stuff, and take my photographs all at once, that I often forget about things! I know its really awful. Anyway, this is one of those creations!

I used basically the mostly the same colors as above, just in different proportions. See, really rust can be a really great color. ANY color can work if you use it right (except YOYO YELLOW! EW! That color should be banned :D)

This went to a PSF’s mother who had a birthday this month. I hope she liked it.

This set uses Olivia’s Birdies , and the sentiments on that page as well.

I loved the thought of the birdhouse hanging from the branch. I HAD to make the little bird peek out of the birdhouse. I just colored, cut, then punched a hole in the house. Stamped a bird, colored it, then layered it behind the cut birdhouse.

The little nest is flocked, so it looks so cute in person. I just sponged some greenery around the leaves to give the tree a fuller effect.

Of course I color spritzed Love that tool. Then to complete it, added some flowers.

I like it!

Well I must go get in some mytime, before the day flies past me. More exciting things to come. More releases, and peeks, and the PTI Design Team challenge. I love my project for that. Like NOTHING you have ever seen here, from me before. Very cool.

Tomorrow is our Saturday Sketch! Don’t miss it.

Also check out  Kendra & Leigh blog, they have peeks for you!

Later

 Rainbow Line up

Every Friday Christine has started doing a design team focus. That way we don’t overload you with samples during the release time. You can check out the ATS Blog HERE!

Todays design team focus is on the C.C. Designs scenery and sentiments sets!

I created this one above using  just the flower from the scenery set. A very simple card. I stamped the flower 9 times, and colored each one in a rainbow of color. The white one, has a page pebble on it for some POP!

The next card was one using JUST elements from the sentiments set

 Blocked sentiment

I stamped the little flowers, then punched them out. The rectangles are stamped in white craft, and are also from the set. Made a sentiment flag, and added a glitter prima-DONE!

OK I’m on the run.

That was a SUPER quick post!

Oh its just a day of awesome news :D 

I got me email back to working! Bad part is I have NO past emails. Only stuff sent today :C I am NOT happy with verizon right now. In fact if you see smoke, outside, its from me-FUMING mad. Long story. They were useless, and I had to spend countless HOURS manually deleting over 26,000 emails! And NO there was no load and delete several. GRR! OK back to being thankful it is up and running If you emailed me and need something, please re-send.

Did I ever enjoy the first day of school!! I got so much accomplished in my measly 3 hours of peace. While its sad to see the kids go off and grow another year, I thought I’d be wandering around the house wondering what to do with myself (yeah right! LOL!). Try getting 8 creations done, and cleaning the house! Now that is what I’m talkin about.

Later I got to my workout. I skipped the morning blog post in order to take advantage of MYTIME Sorry I was SO overdue for some of that.

I will share photos of thier first day later.

I have MUCH promotional sorta stuff to share. Sorry there is no other word for it! But its all good stuff!! Lots of great things for you to check out. Keepin you up to date.

So here we go!

Did you know that I am a guest designer forElzybells!! I LOVE Elzybells to pieces. You have no idea. The UK images are larger and I lvoe them. You can read all about that HERE! I actually got choked up reading what Elisabeth said about me! WOW! Hugs Elisabeth. You know I {heart} you!! Really honored.

Tomorrow I will feature a sneak peek for a new release atSU Ink

I have an article featured HERE!!! It uses one of my most favorite projects. I was so happy I was asked to par-take in that. The article came out really nice too! Thank you Kate!

I have like 8 thing published in Oct issue of Crafts N Things (yes I am excited about that-also August featured 5 or 6 too!!) Hope you get to check that out.

MFT is having a contest!! Check it out HERE! 

Pink Cat Studio is due for another release, and is having another contest!! Check that out HERE!

AND my dear friend Sharon is also having a SALE! You may remember I worked for A Chemistry With Paper, a while back. Well now they are turning one! Congrats Sharon!! Figured I pass along her sale with you.

Here is her SALE info. She is also having a contest.

WHEW! Are you exhausted yet?

Just had to keep you in the KNOW. I hope I am not missing anything :C

OK now onto typing my blog posts.

Anyone have any idea how I can extend my days? I really need a few extra hours!

Be back-

What am I going to do without my EMAIL?!!

 I am having MAJOR  email issues. So bad so that the support tech had to escalate my issue to a big wig. It will take at least 2 days to fix :C

OMW! I can’t even believe that.

Bottom line I have not been able to get new emails, well since yesterday, since over 36,000!!!! Emails from the past few months are trying to get resent to me by some weird fluke! BIG system glitch, that they have no idea what is going on.

Obviously I can’t let that many into the inbox, and we can’t delete them from the main place.

Long story short don’t email me till at least Monday, because every email till then will get deleted. I can email I just cant get my responses.

Its very frustrating!!!

Anyway-tomorrow is the sketch and my anniversary! I am getting my hair done too, AND we have a date (AND a baby sitter!!) so that is the silver lining of the day. More important than any email is Alexa’s labs are great!! No signs of the Leukemia returning-Thank YOU God!!!

So tune in tomorrow if you can

PS Amber is looking great too So we should all be great for the Wedding.

Till tomorrow.

Hi everyone

No additional eye candy today, besides my post at JustRite Stampers (see post below). Im feeling so sick today and can barely sit up. I have a terrible cold, and sore throat. Pounding headache. One word-BLAH!

But I did forget to share some things (OOPS!)

OOPS! I forgot to let you all know about this Check it out HERE!

Also every Wednesday there is a challenge! Check this weeks out HERE!

AND Drumroll…………………….

Details HERE!!

Also ATS issues weekly challenges as well! Check them out HERE! 

The kids go back to school next Wednesday so that means I may actually get to play along! YEAH! MY TIME!!!

WARNING NON STAMP RELATED

 Its my blog so Im going to share this non-informative, shout out to myself anyway! LOL!!

 I have been working out everyday and eatting well. Avoiding ONE temptation at a time. Not looking at the BIG picture. Kind of like an exercise AA program! LOL! One day at a time.

In a week and a half I have lost a size! I don’t know about the pounds because I thankfully don’t own a scale. I think I’ll just go buy clothing, so I don’t get obsessed with the numbers! I did measure myself today since I am starting a new workout program (hopefully tomorrow if I can stand), and I would like to see what results I get from it. I also have to say seeing the numbers of myself is HORRIFYING!!! It will definitely help me resist that Caramelo bar or bag of twizzlers!! Maybe I should paste them to the fridge? Um, no. maybe not.

SO…………YEAH!!! I went to buy something for the wedding I have this weekend, and while I still look hideous, I look better than I did last week! LOL!  So I feel really good about that. I am seeing results of my hard work.

I guess my point is, if you have a goal SEE IT, DO IT, LIVE IT!! No matter what it is. Everything takes hard work, but if you put in the effort you can do anything. I have done this with many OTHER areas of my life and had much success with that mentality. I am truly determined this time around. If I can get through a child with cancer, I can work hard to lose a few pounds. I have done it before, then had more kids, and the list of excuses goes on and on.

 I just had to share with you. I know many of you are struggling with this too. So thanks for “listening”.

Enjoy the day.

HI world. I posted 2 posts each day for the last 3 days. So scroll down!!

Thanks (as always) for checking in

 Warm fuzzies

I am so not into winter right now (as it is about 87 degrees) but I really LOVE this particular Magnolia image. I don’t know their names, as Im not a huge Magnolia buff-but if you do, please chime in.

 I get mine from here –> magnolia.us@shaw.ca Just email Diana and she can email you the catalog. She ships to US and Ca if you are wondering.

 She is just so gosh darn cute. PLUS I got some of these felt snowflakes, so I had to use them before I forgot and they lost their flare with me. No idea where I got them, but I love them. All in shades of purple! My most favorite of colors.

They went perfect with my Papertrey Ink Guidelines paper.

Here is a close up

You cannot tell by the photo but I did my shadowing using the Pebbles Pearlescent chalks. Its just so pretty and shimmery.

Don’t think of this as a winter card! Think of this as something that gives you warm fuzzies! That is exactly what I get when I read peoples comments (and while I almost always forget to link them) blog awards, and tags. I also love when people email me to tell me in what way I may have helped inspire them to do something. Can I get a great big AWE!!! Seriously!! You are all just so amazing.

 Some recent awards come from Suzanne, and Kristy! Thank you.

I also have to give a shout out to my BFF Tracey who started a blog! FINALLY!!! You can see her here. Make sure you say HI!! Speaking of which I need to take a moment and comment myself. YIKES. I have hardly been home since last week.

Ok I better run. Taking the kids to Discovery Zone today. Fun stuff.

Later.