Some changes in 2010...

As I say goodbye to 2009, I look towards 2010.....I have decide to make a few changes in my life and some of them affect this blog. Over the past 4 months I have changed my eating habits and moving my body more and more. The exercise part has become almost addictive, and I find that I want to spend more and more time running. In fact it has become a goal for 2010 to run a 5k and a 10k race. Not win, but just finish.
As of right now I post something on this blog 6 days a week, and I try to create all the post on Sunday afternoons and then just go back and tweak them the morning before they post. I also try not to type too much that way readers can quickly view the post and move on. I know as more and more people start blogs I find myself sitting at the computer for a few hours a day looking at what is going on in every ones life and craft rooms.

In order to get something on the blog 6 days a week I feel that I have quickly made something just to have a post, and it hasn't been my best work. Lots of times I made a project because I had to, instead of because I wanted to. I want to put the FUN back in my crafting. I have and I always will love paper crafting, I want to get back to loving it the way I did several years ago. You have all been so nice and commented on everything and I thank you all for your wonderful words! It really does make it worth wild to create something and share!

So, in 2010 I will be cutting back on the number of posts per week. Only posting when I have something wonderful to show you instead of everyday. I also plan to have more templates, step by step projects and maybe even some video tutorial. (I have to get over how silly my voice sounds when recorded)

Best Wishes for all of you in 2010!

A tree of Thanks

Right before Christmas I missed a color challenge over at Jeanette Lynton's Blog and I am posting my card now.

Supplies from CTMH-Pondarosa Pine CS, Juniper CS, Tulip CS, Colonial White CS, Chocolate ink, Juniper ink, Pondarosa pine ink, tulip ink, grow with love stamp set, black pen

Be sure to go by her blog and check out the awesome trees that she made!

Garage Findings

A while back I worked on a project that required using items from the garage--these little frame hooks (I think that is what they are called) were just too cute not to use. They made wonderful tag toppers.

Supplies from CTMH-Emporium pattern paper, Colonial white CS, Crystal blue waxy flax, paper flower, cocoa ink, crystal blue brad, say it with style stamp set

I also used a spiked washer for the center of the flower--you can tell I don't spend a lot of time at the hardware store, I don't really know the true names of things!

Also-be watching for a Blog Give Away at the end of the week-to celebrate 100,000 hits!

A very white Christmas!

I live in the part of the country that was hit by a major snow storm on Christmas Eve and Christmas. Although a white Christmas is what everyone hopes for, not so much when you have family headed right into it. Everyone was safe, some made it slowly and others had to stay home. It was a great Christmas.
Glad that the sun is out for a few days to melt it all away. So I am in the mood for a "sunny" card.
Supplies from CTMH-Sunflower CS, Colonial White CS, Dutch blue CS, Pattern paper from Animal Cookie, Sunflower ink, Dutch blue ink, cranberry ribbon, white daisy marker, prisma glitter, foam tape, treasured stamp set

These are a few pictures from around my house.

Merry Christmas to All!

Enjoy this wonderful season with your family, friends and loved ones---remember the true reason we are celebrating ---For God so loved the world, that He gave us His only begotten Son

Merry Christmas, Love Aaron.

(Be back on Monday)

Snow covered card

This quick and easy card uses liquid glass and fun flocks to create the snow.

Supplies from CTMH-Cranberry CS, Topiary CS, Chocolate ink, Topiary ink, White Daisy CS, Colonial White CS, Fun flocks, Liquid glass
Other-Forrest frinds stamp set, take a bough stamp set from papertrey ink, brown ribbon

Cocoa Covered almonds

Store bought of course. By this time I have baked about ever thing I have time for or that my ever shrinking clothes will allow.....

I keep these around in case some one comes by or we get invited to a Christmas party.

Supplies from CTMH-Bamboo CS, Chocolate CS, Chocolate ink, White Daisy ink, pretty pins, Chocolate ribbon, Chipboard snowflake, liquid glass, holiday red button, hemp, January word puzzle stamp set

other-gold glitter, beads, jar

Christmas Stocking

A quicky stocking stuffer. I filled several nugget tins with chocolates and they will make a great stocking stuffer or quick gift for someone who drops by.

Supplies from CTMH-Jingle paper pack, Tulip ink, juniper marker, red sparkles, white ribbon, fun flocks, stocking style stamp set
Other-tin and chocolates

If you don't have the CTMH Wishes book, I recomend getting it. It has several sections of card workshops or groups. Simple patterns to make a set of cards using a few papers and supplies.

For this set I used the Greetings cards starting on pape 111.

Supplies from CTMH-Aspen level 2 paper pack, outdoor denim ink twilight ink, twilight marker, outdoor denim marker, orange marker, all decked out stamp set, winter cozy mini medley, prisma glitter

Enjoy your weekend and I will be out finishing up a little shopping. Me and the rest of Lubbock I am sure!

File 13

like others, this one ended up in the trash. I just couldn't make my 1st attempt work. I was going for a winter card with snow covered house.....it was all wrong.


So I started all over and this is what I came up with.

This is my card for the CTMH Color challenge at Jeanette Lyntons blog. Be sure to drop by and see all the wonderful things she has created.

Supplies from CTMH-Grey flannel CS, White Dasiy Textured CS, clear embossing powder, twilight ink, heavenly bamboo ink, grey flannel ink, paper flower, white ribbon, pewter brad, Thank you stamp set, felicity stamp set

WOW!! 100,000 hits!

Thanks so much to all my wonderful readers. I promise to have a 100,000 Blog Give away real soon!

Christmas critter

This is one of my favorite cards that I made this year. I love the shiny water against the fluffy snow.
For the water I covered CS with Liquid glass and I used liquid applique for the snow.
I also love the look of the browns with the blue color.

Supplies from CTMH-Colonial White CS, Desert Sand CS, pattern paper from Aspen, Crystal blue Cs, Liquid glass, Liquid applique, Bamboo ink, Desert sand ink, crystal blue brads, foam tape, December word puzzle stamp set, four seasons stamp set
Other-Forrest friends stamp set from papertrey ink

Last Minute stocking stuffers

A few mini clipboards to tuck into the stockings this year.
If you would like step by step directions on how to make these click here.

Supplies from CTMH-Jingle pattern paper, juniper ink, December word puzzle stamp set, just fror the holiday stamp set, black marker
Other-chipboard, binder clip, notepad

Acetate & Tissue Technique

This is a really fun technique to try out. I really loved the look of the card in the video, so I copied a lot of it--the shape, scallops, etc.

I can't wait to give this a try for Valentines day-

Supplies from CTMH-Black CS, Colonial White CS, pattern paper from Bella, pattern paper from twitterpatted, colonial White ribbon, desert sand ink, black staz on ink, prisma glitter, liquid glass, heavenly blue re-inker, hello there stamp set, holiday hoopla, stamp set

other-transparency, tissue paper, nestiblities die cut, scallop punch

If you would like to try this technique out, visit this website for a video tutorial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhxeylZncu8

Hot Cocoa Part 2

This is the second set of hot cocoa packets that I made for my craft fair. These are inside a glassine bag that has a cardstock flap.

Supplies from CTMH-Colonial White CS, Black ink, twilight ink, orange marker, prisma glitter, twilight fabric brads, felt snow flake, black button, hemp, all decked out stamp set
other-glassine bags and tea time stamp set from papertrey ink

Craft Fair Hot Cocoa

Last weekend I hosted a craft fair in my house, just invited a few people that I knew could use some quick gift ideas.
These Hot cocoa packets were a big hit. I got the idea for the spoon from the Paper Crafts Holiday Cards and More book.

Supplies from CTMH-Jingle pattern paper, Juniper ribbon, Juniper ink, black ink, twinkle brads, Just for the holidays stamp set, January word puzzle stamp set,
Other-spoon, Holiday tags stamp set from papertrey ink


I also made another version, I will show that to you next week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

You Make me Smile

This is my card for this weeks color challenge over at Jeanette Lynton's Blog. Although the colors are great for Christmas projects, I thought they would work well for a just because card too!

Supplies from CTMH-Outdoor denim CS, Cocoa CS, Colonial White CS, Cocoa ink, Outdoor denim ink, Sorbet ink, Colonial White crochet ribbon, Hello there stamp set, foam squares

other-nestiblities die cut

Bundle Up!

I love winter, or at least the part that includes being inside drinking hot cocoa by the fire. I really like snowmen-don't tell anyone, but I would rather watch the snowman get built. I don't really enjoy that cold, wet feeling. Like I said I love winter---from inside!

Supplies from CTMH-Aspen paper pack, Outdoor denim ink, prisma glitter, orange marker, creme brulee ink, twilight ink, outdoor denim ribbon, All decked out stamp set, January word puzzle stamp set

other-scallop punch

Christmas Bird

A really simple card to create and popping the bird and branch off the card really gives it that extra something.

Supplies from CTMH-Evensong pattern paper, Olive CS, Colonial White CS, foam squares, Cranberry ink, Chocolate ink, Olive ink, Bird Basics stamp set, Whoo Loves you stamp set, sorbet brads
other-take a bough stamp set from papertrey ink, thread

Rustic Snow Flake Card

My favorite decoration for the holiday season is snowmen and snowflakes. I think I like them so much because they will work all the way through January. Cause it takes me that long to get the decorations down.

Supplies from CTMH-Desert Sand CS, Colonial White CS, Desert Sand ink, Colonial White ribbon,, clear sparkles, feathery flakes stamp set, January word puzzle stamp set

other-snowflake charm

Simple Cookie Recipe-really!

One of my favorite things about the Holidays is the cookies and candies-although I need none of them I enjoy them so.
This recipe has to be the easiest recipe ever.

Mint Cookies
1 package Wilton Candy Melts Dark Cocoa Mint
2 sleeves Ritz crackers

Melt chocolate. Dip crackers in chocolate. Cool on wax paper.

See I told you it was so easy.

Supplies from CTMH-White CS, Clover Meadow CS, Holiday Red CS, Black ink, Colored pencils, clear sparkle, Merry pursuit stamp set

other-clear box, red ribbon

Recycled pin

Last year one of my Christmas presents came in a gift bag with this snowflake pin on it. I saved it a whole year and made this card with it. This picture really doesn't show how sparkly the pin is.
Supplies from CTMH-Black CS, Colonial White CS, Colonial White ribbon, Gold brads, black ink
Other-sentiment from papertrey ink, scallop border punch

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Little Sneeky Peeky....

of the Jan. 2010 CTMH Stamp of the month. This card is for the color challenge at Jeanette Lyntons Blog this week and that sentiment is from the soon to be released Jan. Stamp of the month.
Supplies from CTMH=Colonial White CS, Cocoa CS, Desert sand CS, Olive CS, die cute flowers, desert sand ink, barn red ink, colonial white brad, barn red brad, True Friends stamp set
Other-brown ribbon


Be sure to go by Jeanette's Blog and check out the wonderful Christmas project that she made.

Christmas Circle Card

One of the best things about Clear stamps it the ability to form the stamps in to any shape that you want. For this card I re-formed the "let it snow" to make it fit around the circle.

Supplies from CTMH-Aspen Level 2 kit, Outdoor denim ribbon round, out door denim button, floss, January word puzzle stamp set

Other-papertrey ink snow flake stamp, nestiblities scallop circle

Simple Sticker project

I used the CTMH Sweet Home Stickers for this project-using stickers can really make your projects quick and easy. For the house I use a little baby powder (or you could use corn starch) to make the sticker un-sticky or more like a die cut. I added a little liquid glass to the windows and attached it to a chipboard piece.
Supplies from CTMH-Sweet Home level2 packet, barn red ink, sweet home stickease, foam squares, liquid glass, heavenly blue ribbon, chipboard H, O, M, E, western flourshes stamp set
other-chipboard, crop-o-dile

I really did...

sew all those squares. I think my sewing skills are improving. I love how this card looks like a Christmas Quilt.

Supplies from CTMH-evensong pattern paper, cranberry ribbon, sorbet CS, Colonial White CS, Chocolate ink, Olive ink, Olive brads

Other-Christmas Tags stamp set from Papertrey ink, thread.

Get your Life in Order

Today is the last day to sign up for my 2010 Calendar Class. You can find all the details here

These are just a few of the samples that I made up. We will be decorating the cover of the CTMH 9x9 calendar and the stamping the inside using the wonderful CTMH Word puzzle stamps.

Chipboard reindeer

When I saw the chipboard snowflakes from CTMH my first thought was "reindeer". I also used the negative part of the snowflake for the ears.

Have a great weekend! Back to work for me on Monday!

Hearts

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you go shopping at 4 am this morning? Me-nope. This card is for this weeks color challenge at Jeanette Lyntons Blog. The colors she choose are Creme Brulee, Goldrush, Cranberry and Chocolate.

This card will go to the host of Thanksgiving this year.

Supplies from CTMH-Chocolate CS, Goldrush CS, Colonial White CS, Pattern paper from Key to my Heart, cranberry ribbon, cranberry ink, chocolate ink, creme brulee ink, foam squares, Thoughtful Season stamp set

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is not Dixie, but she can sure relate-Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from my house to yours!

merry and bright

I made this card so long ago for a Paper Crafts project call. I have been saving it, and I love to just sit and look at it. Don't think I can even send it....
The little green tree is from a package of trees by Mrs. Grosman stickers and the green clip is from Stampin up.
All the other supplies are from CTMH

Notepads for Craft fair

Over the weekend I whipped up several of these notepads for my upcoming craft fair. I used a wonderful stamp set from papertrey ink-called Take Note.

Mini Card Set for Unscripted Sketches

This week I used the sketch from Unscripted Sketches to make a set of mini cards. They measure 2.5x3.5 each.

Supplies from CTMH-Twitterpated Paper Pack, Chocolate ink, Bamboo ink, watercolor pencils, Beautiful day stamp set, crochet ribbon

Be sure to go by Unscripted Sketches to check out all of the wonderful projects for this week.

Christmas Gift Set

I really like the kraft or brown sack color-It looks soooo good with the deep red color.
For the stars on this set I stamp them in white pigment ink and then sprinkled them with glitter before they had time to dry.


Ohhh and these peppermint and white chocolate kisses are the best-I will have to stock up so I can have some through out the year!

Have a great weekend!~