Thinking About... A Good Book and Starbuck's

Like I said yesterday, getting a little stir crazy over here. I remember the days, full of "me time", where I could spend hours with a book at Starbuck's. Mind you, I wasn't pleasure reading; it was for school. But still, some alone time. *sigh*

Stacey over at Curtain Call got me going with her inspiration photo of hot chocolate.

So I combined my hot chocolate with Newsprint DSP, to represent my love for a book and a hot drink. I also used Mojo Monday layout #159.

I used the swirly pattern from Backgrounds 1 texturz plates to give my background some steamy dimension.

Stamps: Like It A Latte; Paper: Cajun Craze, Almost Amethyst, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Newsprint DSP; Ink: Chocolate Chip, Almost Amethyst, Cajun Craze; Accessories: Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Oval punch, Backgrounds 1 texture plates, Big Shot.

Thanks for stopping by!

Snow Day Stampin'

I haven't been stamping for days. Snow days, sickness, cabin fever, getting on each other's nerves... I finally dragged myself to the stampin' room. Krystal and her team know how to get to me with their inspiration challenges!

My daughter and I were watching the birds hopping around the newly fallen snow this morning, going after the bird food. That helped determine this card.

I brayered the sky and snipped out a birdhouse. I created the bird by stamping on the back of my DSP and cutting him out. A bunch of sponging later, here ya go!

Stamps: Season of Friendship, Cheep Talk; Paper: Bashful Blue, Real Red, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla, Whisper White, Love Impressions DSP; Ink: Early Espresso, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Basic Gray, Chocolate Chip marker, Basic Black marker; Accessories: Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Brayer, Heart-to-Heart punch, Crop-o-dile, Sponge, Texture Plate Kit #4, Northern Flurry embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

Thank you for stopping by!

February Issue of Paper Crafters Sampler Sneak Peek

The February issue of Paper Crafters Sampler will be released on February 10th. And I'm excited to share a sneak peek of my project in this month's issue.

A bit of egg decoration, a splash of spring time flowers... I can't wait for Spring! Remember, if you do sign up for this month's issue, to use code PCSHB, so Melanie knows I sent you. Thanks!

I plan to make another sample, with different design, for next week. Keep an eye out for that!

Thanks for stopping by!

Homemade Projects

Thanks for coming back for further descriptions of the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-Bration Blog Hop projects, featuring the stamp set Homemade. The first project is a baked goods ensemble.

Here is a close-up of the frosting, made by applying Tombo multipurpose glue, coating with a 1:1 mixture of Dazzling Diamonds glitter and white embossing powder, and heating.

The card was a CASE of Nancy Littrell's card.

Stamps: Homemade; Paper: Real Red, Whisper White; Ink: Real Red, So Saffron marker; Accessories: White embossing powder, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, 1-3/4" Circle punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Real Red striped ribbon, Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon, Linen thread, Finial Press embossing folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Tombo multipurpose glue.

Here are all the fun no-calorie treats, inspired by a past cover of the Stampin' Success magazine, and a great excuse to make some of these goodies!

Information on the chocolates box can be found on this post.

For the cupcake, I used the Perfect Setting die for the cupcake wrapper. Inside there is a cupcake paper, which you could hide a small gift. The top was created by sewing each layer of ribbon into a rosette by using a running stitch along one edge of the ribbon and pulling to gather. I attached the ribbon layers and button to a 2-1/2" circle of cardstock to make the "lid". For the cupcake box, I followed this tutorial by Becky Roberts.

And some pictures of the final fun project in the grouping, the explosion box with a paper cake.

The cake and box took about one week, on and off, to make. A labor of love! It has pink taffeta ribbon wrapped on the bottom layer, texture from the Texture Plate Kit #4 on the middle layer (the woodgrain-type pattern), and Perfect Polka Dots texture on the top layer. 3-3/4 x 1/8" strips of Regal Rose paper was quilled and attached around the middle layer. And the Rose Red rosettes were created by punching various-sized circles, cutting a spiral, rolling and dipping into Dazzling Diamonds.

Cupcake and Box - Stamps: Homemade; Paper: Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, SAB Ice Cream Parlor DSP; Ink: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie; Accessories: Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain, Daffodil Delight grosgrain, Pumpkin Pie button, Linen thread, Jumbo eyelets, Window sheets, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, Perfect Setting die, Big Shot, Dimensionals.

3-D Cake and Box - Stamps: Homemade; Paper: Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Springtime Vintage DSP; Ink: Rose Red; Accessories: Linen thread, Rose Red seam binding, Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1-3/4" Circle punch, 1-1/4" Circle punch, 1" Circle punch, Itty Bitty punch pack, Rhinestone jewels, Pearl jewels, Vintage Flower adornments, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, Sponge, Stylus, Little Leaves die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Texture Plate Kit #4, Scallop #2 die, 3-D Pop-Up Cake die, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Two-way glue pen.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stampin' Addicts Sale-A-Bration Blog Hop

**Please note: if you are looking for the Paper Crafters Sampler 3-D Cross Gift Box blog hop, starting on Saturday, please go down to the next post.**

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Sale-a-bration Blog Hop! Have you seen the SAB catalog yet? For each $50 spent, you can choose a free stamp set or accessory pack from the SAB catalog. Not only are there eight great offerings, which were showcased previously by my hopmates, but there are 69 sets from the main catalog listed on the back page. Any of the main catalog sets valued at $14.95 or less - I love that!!

If you have been following the blog hop in order, you have just come from Kim's blog featuring the stamp set Bliss. Kim always has over-the-top beautiful projects!

Today I will share some projects using the single stamp from the main catalog called Homemade. This is a great stamp to use around the holidays or anytime you want to snazz up a little lovin'-from-the-oven gift for a friend.

So the obvious choice for this set is for baked goods. Hubby whipped up a zucchini bread for friends, so why not dress it up with some ribbon, a little stamped tag, and a coordinating card?

On Monday, I'll have a close-up and description of how I made the frosting on the cupcakes.

Since I am not a baker, I created a few things that would last a little longer, look just as yummy, and have no calories! In fact, this is what I love about papercrafting - the colors are just good enough to eat!

Inside the explosion box, you'll find...

And this single stamp is perfect for a baking scrapbook page!

After the fact, I realize Little Missy is eating frosting out of a store-bought tub. Too funny! Ok, I admit, it wasn't all homemade... but there was a mixer involved!

Come back on Monday for more pictures, further descriptions, and supplies lists. If you aren't yet a member of Stampin' Addicts, you can sign up here. Make sure you check out the next stop to see what Barbara at Creative Stampin' Spot put together using the single stamp For You Flower. She made some amazing projects.








The complete blog hop listing:

1. Rhonda (rhondag) -- So Happy for You
2. Jennifer (SunflowerStamper) -- Punch Bunch
3. Twila (tjdstampsalot) -- Ice Cream Parlor DSP & Quick Accents
4. Joyce (bronocomom) -- Digital Content CD
5. Sarah (willsygirl) -- Sweet Summer
6. Kim (s1itcher46) -- Bliss
7. Heidi (hlw966) -- Homemade
8. Barbara (cre8tivestamper) -- For You Flower
9. Lisa (genesis) -- Tiny Teacup
10. Adriana (escape2stamp) -- Always Elegant
11. Krystal (skdeleeuw) -- Wellness Wishes
12. Yapha -- Bear Hugs
13. Carmen -- Extreme Skateboard
14. Holly P. (HollyLogic) -- Forest Friends
15. Jennifer (jentimko) -- Funky Four
16. Holly K. (catrules) -- Ornate Blossom
17. Cindy (CindyE) -- A Flower for All Seasons
18. Tanya (tanya27) -- Itty Bitty Bits
19. Sara (lilyinkpad) -- Tart & Tangy
20. Kandi (kandicejo) -- Fine Flourish
21. Cheryl (lovetostampandscrap) -- Thank You Kindly

Thanks for stopping by!

PCS Cross Gift Box Blog Hop

Welcome to the Cross Gift Box blog hop, the first Paper Crafters Sampler hop of the year. You may have arrived here from Kelly's blog. She has some gorgeous creations! Welcome and glad to have you here!

Easter Wishes is the theme for February's Paper Crafters Sampler, and the exclusive template for this box is included in the issue. This box is perfect to hold a little Easter gift, party favor, or a gift for Confirmation or other special religious event. So come hop along to check out the design team's take on the template. The contributors to this month's issue will also be sharing sneak peeks of their projects in the upcoming days.

I was so pleased to make a religious project, especially focusing so strongly on Christ. Sadly, I don't make these type of projects very often. And after all, Easter is the most wonderful holiday of the Christian calendar. I found a beautiful ceramic box on etsy, which I tried to recreate, staying with a vintage theme. I just love the sentiment from Just Believe, which I made into a small bookmark. I had immediately thought of God when the set came out.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Sense of Time, Just Believe, En Francais BG; Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, So Saffron, Peach Parfait, Old Olive, Very Vanilla; Ink: Soft Suede, So Saffron, More Mustard, Peach Parfait, Old Olive, Soft Suede marker; Accessories: Sponges, Old Olive satin ribbon, Crystal Effects, Color Spritzer, 1-3/4" Circle punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle punch, Crop-o-dile, Little Leaves die, Big Shot, Cross giftbox template.

Next up along the hop is our fearless leader, Melanie. She really knocks my socks off! :) If you get lost, go to Paper Crafters Sampler's website for the hop participants' links (left-hand margin).

Thanks for stopping by!

3-D Thursday: I've Created A Monster

Little Missy sure did get into decorating for Christmas. As Valentine's Day rolls around, she wanted to buy a wreath for decorating. We spent some time, literally one hour after Mr. Brown brought the new toys, cutting out hearts with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts embosslit. And she had to have at least one Glimmer paper heart punch out.

Well, I've been decorating the Valentine's wreath (below), and she needed to decorate her bedroom too! A crafting monster has been born... She had a great idea of stringing up her collection of hearts. Here is her creation.

For the wreath, Little Missy wrapped the ribbon. The paper hearts didn't add a nice touch, so we ditched them for the felt rosettes instead.

Accessories: Red satin ribbon, Pearl adhesives, Felt, Table Setting Die, Big Shot, Tombo multipurpose adhesive, Grapevine wreath.

And I've been wanting to make some felt heart confections. The directions can be found in the Paper Crafters Sampler trial sampler.

Accessories: Felt, Sweet Pea felt pieces, Faux pearl string, Punch Windows Movers & Shapers, Big Shot, Tombo multipurpose adhesive.

Thanks for stopping by!