Thinking of a Number...

Hey y'all. I thought we could play a little game and maybe pass out some blog candy?

Easy Peasy - I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100. Post a reply to this message with your number and here in a little while I'll let y'all know who wins. Hows that sound?

Of course if no one replies to this message then I'll just feel like a big goof, won't I?

Homemade Holidays Stamp Camp

One of my favorite family traditions is to make holiday decorations - doesn't matter which holiday - but the Christmas holiday is the best! As a kid I would come up with some pretty "interesting" decorations and like a trooper my mother would proudly display them for me! With such encouragement how could I help but LOVE this tradition and want to share it with you? Here's my chance!

Join me in my home on Saturday, December 15, from 2pm - 6pm for my Homemade Holidays Stamp Camp. We will be making five ornaments using Stampin' Up! supplies. There will be refreshments, holiday themed games, and door prizes. Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up for 2008 classes and clubs before anyone else!

Supply fee is $20.00.

Registration deadline is December 10.

Call me today to reserve your space!

Back at it Again

I just can't seem to stay away from making Fall/Thanksgiving themed items! As you know, Thanksgiving is only a few short days away and I've still got a list of things to make. This little number is part of my holiday centerpiece and was inspired by a similar project shared by Karen Gibson.

So far I've made just this one, but plan on making another. I would like to have made three, but have run out of jars. I'm also thinking about how to make this same project with Christmas paper and stamps, wouldn't that be cute?! Anyway, here is my supply list!

• Outlaw DSP
• Creamy Caramel CS
• Really Rust CS
• Close to Cocoa CS
• Close to Cocoa Ink
• Glue dots
• Rhinestone brads
• Paper crimper
• Votive Candle
• Small Mason Jar

Now I'm off to stamp up a table cloth! Wish me luck!

Glass Charms

As promised - here is a sample of the glass charms I made for my Thanksgiving table. This one is actually Davy's. I made one with a flower for myself and one with leaves & an acorn for my husband.


After stamping and shrinking the plastic I covered them with micro beads so they will glimmer in the candle light!

To attach these to the glass you can put a jump ring through the punched hole and string it on a ribbon. Last year I used gold cord, this year I used our tan gingham ribbon.


If you need instructions, email me and I'll be happy to help you out.

Thanks!

Continuing on with the Giving Thanks theme I seem to be stuck on this month, I'd like to show you what I worked on yesterday evening and finally finished this morning. I can hardly wait for Thanksgiving now, with all my cute decorations!

For this project I used:

• Simon Lower Chipboard
• Fall Flowers Designer Paper
• Always Artichoke Grosgrain Ribbon
• Crop-A-Dile

I used Stampin' Up!'s Anywhere Glue Stick to adhere the paper on to the chip board, and cut away the excess with my craft knife. After sanding the edges I punched two holes at the top of each letter with my Crop-A-Dile and then thread the ribbon through.


In the past I've tried different glues and adhesives for attaching paper to chipboard and have found that I really like using Stampin' Up!'s Anywhere glue stick for these projects. Unlike other glues (like YES! Paste or decoupage medium) the Anywhere glue stick dries quickly. If you've not used it lately (or ever), I suggest you try it, it's inexpensive, holds well and these glue sticks last a long time!

Tomorrow I'll be working on stemware charms and maybe even some place cards or napkin rings for the table. I guess you'll just have to check back and see what I come up with, won't ya?

Tumbled Marble Trivets

Ahhh... My husband is off to work, Davy is off to school, and I'm toasty warm in my bathrobe and socks. Even the dogs are cooperating by taking a peaceful snooze behind me. The only thing this morning needs now is a new post on my blog followed by some stamping time in my craft room!

As promised, here are some of the trivets I made yesterday. It is so super simple I thought I'd go ahead and walk you through it one time just for the fun of it.

Supplies:

• Tumbled marble tiles - available at your local home improvement store
• Craft ink pads - various colors
• Stamp set of choice - I used Bud Basics
• Oven - preheat to 250 degrees
• Small felt pads - also available at your local home improvement store

Instructions:

1. WASH your tiles and allow to dry completely. I did this the night before so I would be SURE they were dry and ready to go.
2. Stamp your images using Stampin' Up!'s craft ink pads.
3. Pop in the oven for about half an hour or until it looks like the ink is completely dry. This will heat set the ink so it should not fade or run.

See? How easy is that? These two trivets will grace my Thanksgiving and Christmas table, but I'm thinking about making another set for my mother and sister.

Same supplies and instructions apply if you are making coasters from the smaller tiles. I'd love to see what you make. Email them to me and I will post them here for everyone to see and enjoy!

Getting Ready for Giving Thanks

I am so excited about Stampin' Up!'s Paper Party Promotion. I've gotten four sets of designer series paper for the price of three! One of the sets I got was the Fall Flowers papers, and they are too cute for words. It is SO easy to make great gifts with Stampin' Up!'s Designer Seriese paper that it is almost a no brainer!


Today I'll share the gift set I've made for Davy's teacher Mrs. Lea. I've put together a paper purse, note pad and decorated pen. I'm thinking about adding in a little bit of candy or something like that, maybe I'll get to that tonight after dinner.

For this gift set I used: Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper, Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, Natural Hemp Twine, Really Rust eyelets, Old Olive card stock and marker, Sahara Sand Card stock, Really Rust card stock and marker, Shrink Plastic (non-SU! product), Scallop punch, large and small tag punches, and a metal edged tag (retired). I used the Pick a Petal and Tagger's Dozen stamp sets.

Tonight I'm finishing up work on the trivets I'll be using on our table this Thanksgiving. There are some finishing touches to be done there, but I will be sure to share just as soon as they're ready to be photographed. Until then, happy stamping and don't forget to call me with your Paper Party order!

You Call This Work?

Oh boy! I've been a busy little bee this weekend! It occurred to me on Friday that OMG! I only have THIS week to finish getting ready for the NCA Mega Crop! So I checked my to do list and added like twenty things and then turned on the TV - plenty of time - RIGHT?! Yeah.... SURE... Right...

So finally about six last night I get off my duff and get to work. I stamped my contact info on Inspiration Sheets and Mini Catalogs. I printed and folded Technique Pamphlets for my class. I removed all the retired cards from my display board. And then finally, once my husband and sweet boy were in bed I got down to work.

I made this Frap Bottle set and had a wonderful time making it! I was SO excited about how it turned out. The bottles are filled with hand made bath salts made by yours truly. I'll give the recipe below in case you'd like to make your own!

For this project I used River Rock, Blush Blossom, and Very Vanilla Card stock; Blush Blossom, River Rock and Pretty in Pink Classic Ink pads; Pink Organdy (I just LOVE this ribbon!), and Pink Grosgrain Ribbons; Polka Dots and Paisley Stamp Set; See You Around, and Petals Wheels, Large Oval, Scalloped, and 1-1/4" Circle Punches; and Signo White Gel Pen.

Milk Bath Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 C Dry Milk
• 1 C Epsom Salt
• 1/2 C Baking Soda
• 1/2 C Dead Sea Salt
• 1/4 C Citric Acid

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Cover tightly to retain integrity of ingredients!

Could that be simpler?! Oh, and to use this stuff is SO nice! If you're inclined you can add extra special ingredients like chammomile flowers or even some Essential Oils. If you're not used to using these though, I hope you'll find a reputable website to learn how to use them.

For Chocolate Milk Bath the directions and ingredients are the same as above, except you need to add 1/4 C Cocoa Powder. Couldn't be easier right?!

Yummy - but don't drink either of these please! It will give you the trots and really they wouldn't taste good at all!!

Alright now, time to get back to the craft room and get some more stamping done! I can't wait till Saturday! I hope to see you there! Remember to come by my booth to sign up for my door prizes - a free catalog PLUS a gift certificate!!

Envy Flower

You just never know where you'll get inspiration! I was watching Trading Spaces this morning and one of the designers was working on a little girl's room. This particular team made some really cool flowers to hang from the ceiling and the following tutorial is my take on her idea.

Supplies

• 5 #10 Envelopes
• Jumbo Wheel of Choice
• Jumbo Wheel Handle
• Stampin’ Up! Ink Pad (or cartridge)
• Dotto Adhesive
• Oval Punch
• Paper Trimmer
• Craft and Rubber Scissors

Instructions

1. Seal all envelopes.
2. Wheel both sides of all envelopes
3. Cut all envelopes in half – at the 4¾ inch mark.
4. Punch the two corners on the OPEN edge of the envelope using the Oval Punch
5. Trim off excess of corner with paper snips.
6. Run adhesive down the middle and across the bottom of each envelope, stacking one on top of another until all are adhered in a pile.
7. Run adhesive on the top envelope just as you did the previous nine.
8. Attach the top envelope to the bottom envelope to make a complete flower.

I would absolutely LOVE to see any examples you make with this! Email me at stampinmerr@email.com!!

Daisy Crazy

That time of year has nearly arrived! Children dread it, parents wish for it. Yes, I'm talking about BACK TO SCHOOL! Or, as in the Chenoweth household, time to go to school for the first time!! That's right, our Davy, sweet, innocent and docile creature that he is will be wreaking havoc on someone else for most of the day soon!

Jump back a week in time however and picture me with my child (who is never messy and always does exactly what his mama asks him to) in Staples. We're buying school supplies and Mama's desk supplies, cause after all I do have a business to run too! We're tossing stuff in the cart right and left and the magic item tossed in happens to be a combo-pack of printer ink.

For purchasing that combo-pack we received a $10 gift certificate for Staples. My first thought was "Duh, of course I get one of those AFTER I buy school supplies." That little nasty was followed by: "But maybe I can give this to David's soon to be VICTIM - I mean teacher!" (You know, kind of butter her up and get in her good graces before David shows his inner demon!)

So, tonight has been spent trying to dress up that ugly gift card into something I can give to Mr. School Boy to hand over to his poor poor poor unsuspecting teacher on open house two days before school starts.

I used Purely Pomegranate and Bashful Blue card stock, the Build-A-Flower Accents and Elements, the Much Appreciated stamp set, as well as my Stardust Pen (non-Stampin' Up!) I went a little crazy with the flowers, but I was enjoying myself and so that's OK with me. I wasn't sure I'd ever make a project I liked with these flowers and it turned out to be more fun than I imagined it would be! So anyway, that's the front of the card. The inside isn't decorated so I won't bore you with any more on the card.

To accompany the card - and hide the UGLY Staples gift card - I used the Accents and Elements tin. First I punched holes at the top with my Crop-a-Dile and threaded some of the Double Stitched Purely Pomegranate ribbon through to make a little handle. I then punched three holes across the top to insert some of our Circle Rhinestone Brads, I used cool colors for this project. Then I put on some of the self adhesive die cut flowers from the tin on the top, a lot fewer this time though! Time to move on to the chipboard now. I took the "L" letter from our On Board series and covered it with Purely Pomegranate ink. Because I think the "L" looked more like a "1" I cut it up a little to look more like an "L" and punched three little holes down the top with the Crop-a-Dile. Time to go a little crazy with the stardust pen again and viola! All done!

I'm actually thinking about going back in and adding more flowers to the tin... I'm thinking it needs something and it may just have to be more more more more more flowers!! LOL!

Someone, quick!! Stop me!!!!!!

Tea Bag Card

What madness! The Red Hot Crop is only two days away and I am NEARLY READY! This last week my living room and dining rooms have been turned into Stampin' Up! Heaven! I've got the table covered with current projects I'm finishing up.

There's a small table in front of the TV with my forms and fliers and hostess packets and other things that I needed to go through. The counter is set up with my card display boards so I can fill in where I need to. And there's a humun-go rubbermade chest in the middle of the floor where I've been storing things as I think of them!


So beyond the chaos that is my house... I thought I'd share my Make & Take for the event. Isn't it cute? (Gwen Mangelson took all the pics for me! Cause it's kinda hard only having two hands!!) It is a Tea Bag Holder card, and just as easy as can be to make!



Materials:
Sahara Sand Cardstock 3-1/4"x9-3/4"
Buckaroo Blue Cardstock 2-1/4"x2-1/4"; 2-1/4"x1-3/4"
Whisper White Cardstock 2"x2"; 2"x1-1/2"
Sentimental Journey Patterned Paper 3" x 3"
Paper Trimmer
Bone Folder
Adhesive
Sticky Strip
Under the Weather Stamp Set
True Thyme, Basic Black classic ink pads
Blender Pens
Mellow Moss and So Saffron Ink Refills


Instructions:
1. Cut cardstock and patterned paper to sizes indicated above.
2. Using bone folder score Shara Sand Cardstock at 3-1/4" and 6-1/2". Fold along score lines and crease with bone folder
3. Cut the right most section in half cross ways to remove a small triangle. (see diagram)
3. Stamp Bowl image in Basic Black ink onto the 2x2 Whisper White cardstock.
4. Ink the steam stamp in True Thyme ink, stamp off on scratch paper, then stamp above bowl image.
5. Pick up some Mellow Moss ink with the blender pen, and color in bowl image. Use the same technique to color in soup and chicken on bowl.
6. Mount this square onto the Buckaroo Blue cardstock, and then again on the patterned paper. Set aside.
7. Using True Thyme ink, stamp sentiment on smaller Whisper White cardstock, mount on Buckaroo Blue cardstock. Set aside
8. Run a line of sticky strip along the bottom edge of the last pannel, remove backing, and fold over to make a pocket.
9. Adhere matted bowl image to the front of the card.
10. Open card and adhere sentiment.
11. Insert Tea Bag in pocket and you're done!

Hope you enjoyed the project! Have fun!

Enchante

Enchante means "Nice to Meet You," or something there abouts, in French. I only took one semester of French in college, and that's one of the few words that stuck with me! So when I decided to do a "Book of Me" it was natural to title it Enchante. (That, and because the name of the paper I used is Enchante from Stampin’ Up!)

This book is intended to be a piece of me handed down to my children. I want them to know what kind of person I was, both growing up, and as an adult. This book is really special to me, and hope that it will be the same to them after I’m gone!

The first thing I did was to remove the wire binding from the book. (I used Stampin’ Up!’s On Board Art Journal for this project!)

For the cover I used Enchante Paper from Stampin’ Up!, Eggplant grosgrain also from Stampin’ Up!, Beaded wire – I bought it ages ago and have no idea who the manufacturer is, but I love the stuff! – and a flower from Prima. I mod-podged the paper on the cover of the journal; then wrapped the ribbon and beaded wire around and tied them off. The Prima was attached using glue dots.

For the pages with journaling I typed them up in Microsoft Word and ran the pages through my printer. I have great hand writing, but making lists and stories that long seems daunting to someone who’s more used to typing than actually writing!

The different subjects I’ve covered (or am going to cover) are as follows:

Vital Statistics
Things I’d Tell a 13 Year Old Me
My Faith
My Accomplishments
My Goals
My Husband
My Children
My Favorite Things
A Letter to My Children

If you have any questions about how the pages were formed, please drop me a line and ask away!

Happy Birthday Thomas!

Yes folks, that's right. Our Thomas is two years old today! I can't believe how much he's grown - both physically and emotionally since he joined our family! I look at him, and can still see the shy and cowering boy we was a year and a half ago. He would run away and hide when anyone would approach him. These days he's more likely to yell at you if you come near (because some of that poor abused little boy will always be a part of him.)

I was not convinced at first when Tim said we had to take him in. I worried about him snapping at David, or never getting over the scared piddling thing; and I was certain that we could never be able to even pet him because he was forever running away from us.

But I began working with him anyway. Our training started with me lying down with my arms out stretched and my eyes closed. After waiting five minutes or so he would cautiously approach me, sniff at my fingers and then scoot away. Still more weeks went by before I was allowed to tiptoe ever closer to him before he would run away. Within a few months however he had become my shadow, my closest companion, and my sweet sweet baby!

So in honor of how far my boy has come since joining our family I have made him a special little treat. (Yes, I know he has no real appreciation for the fine art of paper crafting.) This little pint sized paint can is filled with his favorite treats from the doggie bakery in Springfield.

XOXOXOXOXOXO

The Chenoweth household has been gearing up for Valentine's Day in a BIG WAY! Yeah, I know we've got over a month until Love Day hits us, but really, is there ever enough time to make all the things you want to for a holiday? (Plus a good number of our craft items are being sent overseas to a certain someone whom we LOVE above anyone else!)

I started off making the Love Book. It's small, mostly because it needs to be able to fit in a cargo pocket. I used two chipboard hearts picked up at the local scrapbook store and covered them with Bazzil card stock. On a third, smaller heart, I modpodged the pretty patterned paper (Called Devotion from Basic Grey's Blush line) and sanded the edges on all three hearts. This same paper is on the front inside cover of the book.

I made an accordion binding for this book. Remember making fans in primary school? Same theory, cut it to fit the angles of the heart and you're set to go. Attach the binding with sticky tape and then attach the heart pages - trace and cut the large hearts for pages of more Bazzil card stock.

For the closure I attached a strip of taupe Bazzil cardstock to the underside of the small heart and the other end to the inside of the back chipboard heart. I used tiny self adhesive magnets to keep the book closed. They're from Basic Grey as well; I found them at Hobby Lobby for $6. Good buy!

I used Primas and gems, ribbons and glitter (though it doesn't show up in the pics) to decorate the book. I plan on adding in some more self portraits of myself - all in black and white for more drama. That should please the man who's forever begging for recent pictures of me! lol.

I did the card this morning using stamps from Magenta. I absolutely love these stamps, and have quite a few from this company. They're unmounted and stored in CD cases so thankfully don't take up much room! I colored the images in with Prisma colors and attached it to some Stampin' Up! card stock (Regal Rose and Bravo Burgundy.) The small square in the upper left hand corner is popped up with a pop dot. The sentiment was cut using my Cricut with more Bravo Burgundy card stock.

Visiting Teaching Gifts

Today I spent the day doing Visitng Teaching. That's where my compainion and I go to the homes of a few ladies in our church. It's meant as a time to reach out to our sisters and grow a stronger bond within each other and with Heavenly Father. It really was a special time today, and I have to admit, there were times that I cried. The women I visit teach are some of the most beautiful souls I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and I know that I am truely blessed by having them a part of my life.

So tonight I set to making Christmas gifts for my Visiting Teachers. They're a couple of really great ladies, and I so enjoy the time I spend with them every month and at church on Sundays! My hope was to make something that would show a portion of my love for them. That being said I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they enjoy these gifts!

I started off making monogramed cards with their first initials on them. I used Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Very Vanilla and Rose Red. I cut the letter oval with my cricut using the Jasmine font! I used Bravo Burgundy ink and the Paisley Background stamp on the Rose Red cardstock.

Then, after I made the cards I made beaded pens. If you need instructions on these, go to Splitcoast Stampers (the link is at the very bottom of the page under my mug.)

The last thing I did was make a card pouch to hold all the loot! For this I used 9"x9" page protectors. Cut off the holes and sew it on to a piece of 11.5"x9.5" Creamy Caramel cardstock, leaving the top edge un-sewn. Score and fold the cardstock just above the pocket to make a flap. Decorate the flap. I used velcro dots as a closure.

I really really really hope that they like these. They didn't take too long, and really I think that they turned out rather well. The hardest part is going to be giving them away... OR maybe I should make a set for myself?!

Containing Myself

Ahhhh... Ever create something you're completely happy with? I did tonight. I got to use some of the self adhesive die cuts from Stampin' Up!'s Just Delightful Simply Scrappin' Kit as well as the little bitty bit of paper I had left over from the SAB swap.(That would be the striped paper on top.) In addition to the SS Kit I used "Flirty" ribbon from the Winter Mini and Bashful Blue cardstock. I added the white dots with my Signo Gel Pen all over the Bashful Blue cardstock for a little interest.

On the lid of the box I put Pretty in Pink cardstock stamped randomly with three different stamps from the Delight in Life stamp set (Sell A Bration set) all in Pretty in Pink ink. Add So Saffron brads to the little self adhesive die cut lable. Next I cut the word "Cards" out of Certainly Celery using my Cricut! Add a little Signo Gel Pen and VersaMarker for some depth and I am tickled pink!

Snow Under the Microscope..... Slide

Hello there friends! I haven't forgotten you, really! Between the holiday season and weather, and plans for a trip to Ohio things have been a little busy. But never too busy to stamp!

Yesterday my order from Lumpy Stuff arrived. I have been waiting for this box for a while, and am so happy that it's here! Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to it until tonight!

I decided to play with the microscope slides first. They're a little intimidating at first, mostly because I held them in my hand and my mind went TOTALLY blank! Yikes! But I got over it!

I used the Snow Flurries stamp set (recently retired), white StazOn, silver and a few shades of blue alcohol ink. On both slides I stamped a snow flurry in white StazOn randomly on the slide and set aside to dry. I grabbed a blank slide and covered with blue and silver alcohol ink.

For the darker slide I put the slides together and ran foil tape around the outside edges. On the lighter slide I sandwiched a piece of tissue paper between the two slides and then ran the edges of the slides with the foil tape.

It’s hard to tell how sparkly these are by the picture. The silver ink really catches the light beautifully. I'm going to attach pin back on to these and sell them at the upcoming craft fair, debating though how much to charge for these!

The other project I've been working on is Tea Bag Holders. Instructions for these cute little cards can be found on Split Coast Stampers. I'm going to keep tweaking these, but I thought they would come in handy in this season where everyone is getting sick. The tea enclosed is honey lemon - great for those sore throats.

My third recent project has been beaded inkpens using the paper from the winter mini catalog. I'll have to come back later and add pictures!

Until then though, have a safe and happy holiday season!

-Merr