I love Thanksgiving. It's all about food and family. You get a day to enjoy what you have and to celebrate the past year. Love it.. Our whole family ( except Jill's family) is getting together this year at our home. That would be 24 people. That is the most we have had at our Thanksgivings in a long time. Bring on the food. We have a 20 pound turkey, a turkey breast, and a whole spiral ham. Hope that is enough.
Our Holiday Fair was pretty successful. We doubled our monies. We are looking to do more of a craft fair next year in hopes of improving our sales. We are looking to really just support our paper crafting hobby. My sisters, Phillis and Andrea, are coming over to work on a 6 x 6 album of their own. I want to "infect" them with the desire to paper craft... Also, I want to see how I do with a class on paper crafting.
Since I didn't sell all my Christmas cards I am going to use them for MY Christmas cards. Smart, huh? Now I don't have to fret over making them. They are all done. I can go to Disney and not worry about what I have left to do for holiday prep.
Love the hedgehog stamp set.
Christmas cards this year
Love the inside of this card.
Finally got to use this stamps
We made an Album in a Box to sell at the Fair, but
My smaller Christmas cards
they didn't really sell since we brought them all
back home. I love them, though. I might try
and sell them on my blog; just to see if anyone might want one. If I don't sell them, I will use them for my own photos.
I loved this "steampunk" style album. I guess I like the vintage look of the pictures and the embellishments.
Album in a box
Inside the album you have the same pull out photomats that the 6x6 has; plus the same tags and pockets. I think these albums store easier than the 6 x 6 albums.
Anyway take a look at my latest album.
Inside pocket
Inside tag
The cover holds the album pages.
Tags
Pocket holding tag
Cute embellishement
A flap to hold more pictures
Photomats pull out of the ends of the pages.
I am sad to say that I made a "Thinking of You" card for a friend that fell down her basement stairs. She broke her neck, but is doing fine with a neck brace. Her husband is waiting on her " hand and foot". I am so thankful that she is alright. Pray that her recovery goes smoothly.
Here is the card that I made for Bobbi.
Praying for a smooth recovery.
I am working on the centerpieces for our 4... count them... 4 Thanksgiving tables. It is alot of fun figuring out how each table should look. I will post pictures next time.
We await my sister, Phillis and her husband, Cary's arrival on Sunday. Excited to see them. Oh boy, more helping hands. Happy Thanksgiving preparations!
I have been working soooo hard on getting ready for this Christmas Holiday Shopping Event being held at the Topsham Cornerstone Church in Topsham, if I haven't mentioned this enough. My sisters and I are working round the clock to be ready. It is kinda fun doing the projects we have wanted to do, but now have a deadline to do it.. If my cards don't sell I will use them for my Christmas card this year. Good thinking, huh?
This is what I have been working on : Card in a Box, Envelope Albums, Treat Boxes, Christmas Cards, and an Album in a Box ; just to name a few. I have been busy.
5 cards with envelopes for 15.00.
These cards were really fun to make. I think 3.00 a card for buying 5 at a time is not bad.
I have made one more of the Card in a Box cards.
More cards....
Card in a Box that folds for sending
They are easy to make but the theme and the elements of the theme are time consuming. I made this box to be elves going through gifts. However, I think the elf hat covers his ears, so I am going to cut his present ears off ( Ouch!) and put them lower. My sister, Chris, agrees with me. She thinks he looks like the Grinch.
Card in a Box winter scene
The second Card in a Box is a winter scene with a deer and a bunny. I
used white Flower Soft for the snow. I like the effect it gives the
whole card.
I plan on making at least one more. I hope it doesn't take all day. I am using Graphic 45 on the last one. I love that paper because of the quality and the artistic elements. So pretty.
Christmas Album in a Box
Opened Box with pages showing
Tags on another page
Flap on a page for more pics
Last page with tags
Love the boxes that have an album hiding inside. The box is easy to make using black chipboard. I bought the directions from Paper Hoarder, I think that is the name. Doesn't sound right, though.
Pyramid Treat or Gift Boxes
I have been decorating these pyramid treat boxes or you could put a gift
inside. One of the sides comes open when you remove the ribbon. I love
Christmas paper especially if it sparkles. I think they look festive. If
they don't sell, I will decorate my fireplace mantel with them for the
holidays.
Christmas Tags
I discovered I love making tags. They are so cute. I am not sure which ones are my favorite. The Santa tags came out great. I used Enamel Accents for the buttons. On the snowflakes I just used a Sizzix die cut for the snowflake and added gems and a sentiment. Love 'em.
I have to go rake leaves now. I hope this is the last time. Some leaves just don't want to fall. It will be good exercise and then back to work. I will be making another Album in a Box and another Card in a Box. I hope to finish decorating my cigar boxes , too.
Hope you are getting excited for the holidays to come. I know I am.
My sister's and I have decided to have a table at the Holiday Shopping Event at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Topsham, Maine ( Rte.196. 9-1 o'clock) on November 16th. We are working feverishly to make all the projects for our table. We got together this weekend to see what we have so far.
I have been working on making the Envelope Mini Albums. This is a new project for me. I discovered the tutorial on Pinterest and kinda like how they are coming out. This is the first one that I have finished. I am working on a second one and have that one almost done.
Envelope Mini-Album
I used Graphic 45 French Country paper. Love it.. The paper is absolutely gorgeous. The cover a embellished quite a bit, but love how it came out.
Inside pages
Inside pages with tag
Inside pages with photmat
The pages are large enough for pictures, tags, and adding whatever you want. I think some people might like these better than the 6 x 6 because it will hold just a few pictures. Sometimes that is all you need . It could be used as a travel journal, too. You can add whatever you want into the pockets. I hope to make a few more for people to buy. If they
Inside pages with belly band
don't sell, I will keep them for my travels.
Betsy over at Paper, Scissors and SuperHeroes has a wonderful written tutorial on how to make these mini albums. Here is her link: Paper, Scissors, Super Heroes.
My next project I think is so cute. My sister, Chris, over at Calla Lily
Studio, discovered the directions for A Card In a Box. The box is
really simple. It's the "stuff" you put inside that takes all the time.
Usually it is a punch art theme. I chose the Nativity Scene I found on
Pinterest. Here is a link to her card. She has done a great job with these figures. I tried to case has as best as I could.
I used my Spellbinders circle die cuts, and book die cut. I also
Card In a Box
used my scallop punch for the little lamb.
I typed the verse on the computer and used Tim Holtz's crackle paint for an aged look.
The box video tutorial is great except the gal is from the U.K. and her measurement are in metrics. Check out my sister's blog for a link to the video and the conversion into inches. Calla Lily Studio We hope to have ten different ones. Chris has some great themes for her boxes.
What I really like about this card in a box is that it folds up and fits into a 6 x6 envelope.
The sentiment on the back.
Folded card
Christmas!!
We went to Pier One that just opened in South Portland to get some inspiration and that Christmas feeling in November. What a great place! It was way too busy. Don't go there on a Saturday. I got great ideas for more boxes and albums. Well, gotta get back to work. I will have more items to share in a few days.November 16th will be coming fast and furious.
I have been working feverishly on my many projects still left to do... I just finished (just in time) my Halloween treat bags. I found some inspiration on Pinterest with the many different Halloween characters, but I changed them and made them my own. I really love how they came out.
Can't wait to give them out.
I always have a hard time trying to figure out how much candy to give to each child. This year I wised up. The bags are so helpful in that you just hand one to each kid. Love that..
I think we will only get two kids, but I made 5 bags, just in case. Plus we have more candy. We weren't here at Halloween last year, so I am not sure.
I used my Sizzix spider die cut on the pumpkin
and the mummy. I also have a set of alphabet letters from Sizzix to cut out "Boo!". The ghost is my own creation. I cut him/her??? out freehand and used markers for the eyes and mouth. Easy...
The other great thing about the bags is that you can't sneak any candy. Love that.. bye the way the other candy is downstairs in the basement in our freezer. Should be safe there.. Hope so...
Well, my sisters and I decided we would do a Christmas Craft Fair this year. It is being held in Topsham at a church. We did it two years ago and had a good time , but not alot of people. This year we are told that they have advertised more and they had more people last year. We decided to give it a whirl again. We are making mini-albums, albums in a box, Christmas cards, Christmas gift boxes, bookmarks, altered boxes, and anything else we feel like working on. It is not until November 19th, I believe.
I have started working on my Christmas cards in a box. It is a set of 5 cards and 5 envelopes in a decorated box. I have made three boxes. I hope to make 6 in all. I need to now work on the cards. Here is a pic of the boxes anyway,
Three of the six boxes done... Yeah!!
I really enjoy making these boxes. I gave a link to the gal who has a tutorial in past posts. Just search "Christmas Fair". The boxes are wicked easy to make. I love decorating them with whatever comes to mind. I used my Memory Box reindeer die, a Sizzix snowflake die, and a Stampin up stamp. The sentiment is from Stampin Up, but the banner is from Spellbinders.
Well that is all I have so far. I will be working from now until the fair getting ready. Good thing I am retired.
P. S. I am almost done with my son's and his fiance's mini-album on our visit to Canobie Lake Park.. Love getting things done.. Don't you?
I am so excited to have a project done that I have been working on FOREVER! I finally had to get it done because I couldn't find anything to go over our new oven. Once I get a piece of plexiglass over it I will hang it; or should I say my husband will hang it for me.
Done!!
I found this idea on Pinterest. Again where else do I find really neat ideas. The gal has a video showing how she did her designs. I thought it looked pretty cool. So I decided to try it.
I think it came out pretty great. My sister, Chris, gave me the idea of putting a quote about the kitchen on it. I searched the web and found this one. I was going to put "resistance is futile-CHOCOLATE". But I thought it was better to go the homespun way. Although I may use the chocolate quote somewhere else.
I plan on hanging it and taking a pic to post on my blog, so keep on checking back.
We are heading to Dover tomorrow to check out the stuff at our favorite craft store: Stamped Designs. Jeannette has the Pan Pastels for sale now, so we are making it a fun day of shopping at her place to check them out. We also plan on visiting our other favorite place: Just the Thing. Great shop with vintage finds and other very interesting stuff. Can't wait.
Oh here is a link to the Paper Punch Medallions video: Paper Punch Medallions
Hers looks way better than mine, but I think she must have a lot more corner punches than I have in my supplies.
Beautiful time of year
Fall is definitely here. We have been enjoying the warmish weather. Our veggie garden has been cleaned out and made ready for the winter. We have been watching our newly planted grass/ lawn grow. This weather has really made it "take off". Next spring we should have more green grass and less crabgrass. Amen.
Hope you are having a wonderful Fall.
I have been working on three projects at the same time.. How good am I? I get up around 5:00 in the morning which is the perfect time to work on my papercrafting . It is quiet and I can concentrate on my creative energies. I sound pretty fantastic, don't I?
I finished a Memory Box for my friend, Elaine. She had given me some fabulous tops that she didn't need anymore. I love her!! So I decided since she wouldn't take money to make her a Memory Box. I had purchased the directions from the gal at Paper Hoarder Disorder. You can check out her blog by the same name, if you are interested in the video tutorial and written directions. You get both for $5.00. I thought it was a good buy.
I really enjoyed making this album box. You had to be careful how many embellishments you used and make sure they weren't too bulky 'cause the box has to close. So I used more "flat" paper embellishments. I cut out tags from Graphic 45's Secret Garden Collection. I love this paper collection. I wish they would add some new collections to their line. Some paper was from My Mind's Eye, too. Here is a video that I made so that you could see some of the work that I have done for this album.
These are the photo mats that fit into the slots of each page.
Picture or journaling could be used here.
I gave her the box the other day and she loved it. Elaine has grandchildren that she sees alot and takes alot of great pictures of them. This album will be filled with her great times with them.
I am now working on finishing up my other two projects. One is favor boxes for our Thanksgiving meal. I found the directions for these on Pinterest. The gal that does the written tutorial does a great job explaining how to make these cuties. I added a maple leaf punch and the names of each family member attending the dinner. I will use these boxes as "name tags" set in the middle of a white plate. I distressed the leaves and name cards to give them a little more depth and color. I really love making them now that I can whip one out pretty fast with fewer errors as I go. Here is a link to where I
found the directions to make these cuties..
I am also working on finishing up the mini-album for my future daughter-in-law, Kristin, and my son, Nathaniel. We had a great time at Canobie Lake Park this summer and I wanted to give them an album commemorating that time. This is the third album I have done in the 6x6 size. This is a great size 'cause you use less paper. This album uses the hidden hinge system for the binding of the pages. I got the video directions from My Sister's Scrapper. She does a super job with her directions. Here is a link to her site for instructions, in case you want to give it a whirl. Pocket Page Mini Album
I may have given you this link before , but it is handy to have it here, too. I am presently working on the pages for this album. I had to order more
I have the cover done and now I am working on the pages.
magnets 'cause I ran out. I got them from Ellen
Hutson's online site. She has pretty good prices.
We have had a wonderful Sept/Oct for outings. Kristin called a couple of weeks ago to see if we didn't want to go for a ferry boat ride to Baily Island . We jumped at the chance 'cause it was only $12.00 a head and it is a great time to see the fall foliage. We weren't disappointed. The trip was awesome. A little chilly but not bad with a fleece jacket. Here are some pics from that trip.
The Ferry
Kayakers
On the boat
Portland Head Light
Nathaniel on the right
Searching for gold on Bailey Island
Nathaniel and Kristin
Russ has to go to the Fryeburg Fair every year that we can. It is a fun time with lots to see. The food was everywhere. We had an awesome maple whoopie pie. Yummy. The exhibits were fun to look and wish I could do some of the neat things people do with cooking and crafts.
Fryeburg Fair
Whoopie pie
Awesome exhibit
We had alot of fun this fall. Right now we are working on growing the grass on our new lawn and getting the gardens ready for fall. It is hard work, I tell you. The next big project I have to work on is cleaning my craftroom. I am not looking forward to that ,but I like it when it is done. Here is a picture of my organized paper. I guess I had better get busy with cleaning.
