Holiday Blessings

I just want to take a few minutes to wish all of you a verry Merry Christmas and a New Year filled with good health and much happiness. Thank you for stopping by, making comments and following this blog. I truly appreciate all your kind words and encouragement.

May you days be filled with laughter

Your nights with much cheer.

May your loved ones be ever present

As we celebrate a new year.

Much blessings to all of you.

Barbara

Wine Glass Charms

How are your holiday plans coming along? When I think I am ready, I remember something else that I just HAVE to do! With that in mind, I have just the perfect little craft that you can make now and use throughout the holiday season. My Grafico sent these wonderful images for us to use in a craft. The current challenge is "Cocktail Party." This challenge ends on December 30th.

The fact that they are already colored makes them extra easy. I remember how easy it is to forget which glass is yours, having charms to put on each glass is much more elegant than writing a name with a marker. You could also have your guests write their names on the back  on these charms/tags, just in case they forget which tag they had :)

 This is a close up view.

These charms/tags are sooo easy to make. After running the images off onto cardstock, I used a Marvy punch to punch out each image. The edges of the tag were inked with gold pigment ink then distressed with a CTMH distressing tool. Finally, I added a ribbon from my treasury of ribbon to a ring, which is actually a pierced earring ring, from Michael's. This project is easy, inexpensive, and useful. Make them for yourself or give them as part of a hostess gift. Being handmade, I am sure they will be appreciated.

I hope that I have inspired you to take a few minutes to find some time to do something you love this week.  When you have completed your project click   HERE   to enter into the My Grafico Challenge. Please feel free to leave a comment. I read each of them! Would love it if you would follow this blog also. Have a wonderful holiday and a blessed new year. Hope to see you again in 2012.

I am sharing this project with:
make it monday: Anything Goes
ooh-la-la-creations challenges: anything but a card
corrosive challenges by janet: anything BUT Christmas
sparkles forum challenges: Anything but a Christmas Card
the crafty pad: Anything Goes but Christmas
sir stamp a lot challenge: Punch, tags, ribbon

Christmas Friends

I was so excited to receive the following files from My Grafico. I had so many ideas in which to use these images. They are just perfect without adornment and can be use as gift tags and/or ornaments. I also decided to create a winter scene to be used as the base of a serving tray.

This is the file: Christmas Friends:

I you don't have a machine that will cut SVG files, you can just hand cut them as I did.

This is the tray that I made with the images. I used a garage sale frame, cleaned it thoroughly, and added handles on each side. (You may have to look closely because the handles are also dark.) I used scrap paper for the sky and trees. The snow was polyester fluff as well as some artificial snow. The snowflakes are a Martha Stewart punch. You can serve your holiday treats right on this tray. I did put some paper doilies down before putting the cookies on it. This would make an inexpensive  and thoughtful gift.

One of the teddy bears was fashioned into a gift tag/ornament. I use some Recollections clear glass beads to highlight the fur. I punched a hole at the top and added a ribbon and baker's twine.
Both of these projects were so easy. You still have time to make your own gift tags and a quick little gift.

Our challenge this week at  My Grafico Crafts is : MASKS. You still have until December 16, 2011 to participate. I hope that I have inspired you to take a few minutes this week and be creative. It will make you feel so relaxed.  Please feel free to comment, I love to read what readers think and perhaps follow this blog. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week.

I am sharing these projects with the following blogs:
craft your passion challenges : Tag You're It
crafty bloggers network: A Christmas Gift
crafty boots challenges : Christmas
cupcake craft challenges: "Don't look at the light"
heart song inspirations: Snowflakes
make it monday: Anything Goes

Masks

We have a new and unique challenge: MASKS  at My Grafico .You will have until December 16, 2011 to create a special mask. Think: Masquerade, Mardi Gras, New Year's Eve, Santa, St. Nicholas, Angels masks etc. You can create a project that isn't a mask but uses a mask in the design. I am sure you have lots of ideas. You will love the inspiration from our talented Design Team. You can check their projects out HERE.

We had the choice of 2 SVG files to use. Don't worry, you can print them on your CS or DP and cut them out just like I did!

I chose to do a New Year's Eve fancy mask!

Don't you just love the "bling", sparkles, pink feathers and of course the eyelashes? This was a fun project!
Materials Used:
DP: K&K paper pad- Michael's
Brads: Michael's
Feathers: JoAnn Frabrics

I hope that I have inspired you to create a mask or use a mask on a project. Thank you for visiting this blog. Please feel free to leave a comment and/or follow this blog. When you have completed your project you can post it HERE. Have a wonderful week.

I am sharing this project with:
crafty boots challenges: Anything Goes
make it monday:  Anything Goes
ooh-la-la-creations challenges: Lots of Sparkle
paper creations ink: Bling it Up
dream valley challenges: Sparkle
catch the bug blog: Anything Goes
digi doodle shops best: Lots of Sparkle
paper-crafting journey: Anything Goes

Christmas Accessories

We want to thank all of you who have participated in our current challenge at  My Grafico Crafts . The good news is that if you were too busy to post last week, you still have this week. Our current challenge is: Dinner/Cleaning.

Our feature this week will help set a “Christmas-y” mood. Christmas Accessory Stamps by Dilek Design Studio are great for card making, gift wrapping, or any other project you are working on this Christmas season. I was so excited because I had so many ways to use these. I am sure you will be seeing some of these in future posts too. 

I chose to use a Christmas tree and one of the stocking images in this project.

 The Christmas tree is layered as well as the three stockings. You can see them better in the next picture.

This is a side view so you can see the dimension.

This was such an easy project. The adorable images and the delightful DP worked so well together. The stockings were paper pieced then glittered on the cuff and edges of the socks. The tree also has some red glitter and bling from a gelly roll pen. (Love these Pens!!) The sentiment was stamped in gold ink and backed with DP. Finally the bow was made using my new bow maker!! I can't wait to put someone's special gift into this bag:)

I couldn't resist making an ornament too. The holly was paper pieced too. I chose to cut the slit in the leaves to make it 3 Dimensional.  I used red glitter on the holly berries and some red bling. All of this was layered on a purchased snowflake. The bow was again made using my new bow maker! So simple, yet to elegant.

Materials used:
DP: K&Company
Stamped sentiment: Recollection
Images:My Grafico Crafts
Glitter: Martha Stewart
Gelly Roll Glitter Pen
Gold Pen: At You Spica
Gold Ink: Tsukineco
Bow maker: Joy Crafts
Snowflakes: Dollar Tree
Ribbon: Michael's

I had so much fun making this Christmas ornament and gift bag. I hope that I have inspired you to create your own unique ornament and decorate a gift bag for someone special. Thanks for visiting this blog. If you need any more information, please feel free to contact me. I enjoy reading all of your comments. If you want some holiday gift ideas, please feel free to follow this blog. If you would like me to visit your blog, just leave me a note and blog address. Have a wonderful week and may you find some time for you to do what you love.

I am sharing these projects with:
craft your passion challenges: Tis the Season
crafty bloggers network: Not a card
crafty boots challenges: Anything Goes
hooked on craft challenges: Winter Wonderland
incy wincy designs: trees
2 sisters challenge blog: holiday
make it monday: Anything Goes
ooh-la-la-creations challenges: Lots of sparkle
paper creations ink: Christmas
polly craft challenge blog: Christmas Fun
crazy challenge: Snowflakes
lil red wagon: Christmas Theme
the paper shelter: Christmas Sparkle +red, green, gold
4 crafty chicks: Snowflakes

Dinner/Cleaning

I hope that you have been enjoying all the creative challenges at My Grafico Crafts. The challenge this week is Dinner/Cleaning. This should be an easy one for all of you celebrating Thanksgiving Day this Thursday. Following is the set we were sent to use in our project:

I'll have to admit that this was a challenge for me! I had several ideas and changed my mind at the last moment. My project is pages for a  Smash Journal. I created a SMASH Journal for myself  before I knew that this name existed!! My journal is a small spiral bound notebook that I use to paste clipped treasures and write notes in. I use my journal for recipes that I want to try, household tips, things to remember, inspirational pictures and even E-Mail address...anything and everything. It it a great way to keep little bits of paper from becoming lost. Someone named it: SMASH JOURNAL...how clever! I decided to make one for Christmas for my DD and DDIL.  It can be a scrapbook, of sorts, for "everything important" that year. I had to decide how to bind it economically. I was so lucky to find these small Vera Bradley 3 ring notebooks @ TJ Maxx :). Now I can have fun creating  the designed pages. I love the notebook idea because the pages could be moved around and categorized.   I used plain cardstock to print the digital stamps and accented with stamps, stickers, DP, embellishments and punches. Keep watching for more pages soon!!

Thanks for visiting this blog today. Perhaps I have inspired you to create a Smash Journal.  I welcome comments and suggentions. I learn so much from my Blogland Friends. I will be posting more of my journal pages soon. If you want to keep informed, please feel free to follow this blog. ** We would love for you to participate in our current challenge: Dinner/ Cleaning at My Grafico. When your project is complete, just click HERE to submit.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. May you all be blessed with family and friends to celebrate this special holiday.

I am sharing this journal with:

bearly mine-challenges: My favorite Things

creative craft challenges: Free For All Challenge :)

sassy cheryls challenge: Anything Goes

make it monday: Anything Goes

Love Bug

We want to thank each of you who have participated in the bi weekly My Grafico Challenge: AUTUMN.
If perhaps you have forgotten, then lucky you because you still have until Friday: November 18, 2011 to participate. Just click HERE to enter our current challenge.

This week we were sent the following file Love Bug to use in our projects.

I love that this file is pre-colored. I had so many ideas for using these images. Finally, I decided to alter a frame that I picked up this summer.

This frame will be used in my granddaughter's bedroom. The knobs can hold all her charming necklaces or her hats. This was so much fun to create and so easy too. I am sure that she will love it.I used DP from Michael's for the background, a little glitter on the flower centers and the word peace is computer generated. The colors are actually brighter than they appear in the picture.

Thank you for stopping to visit. I hope that I have inspired you to "create" this week. You will love My Grafico files. They are so easy to use.  Please feel free to comment and/or follow this blog. Have a wonderful week and Peace to all of you!!

I am sharing this project with:
crafty card makers: Recycle
heart song inspirations: Glitter
karens doodles challenge blog: Anything but a card
make it monday: Anything Goes

Autumn

Are you ready for a new challenge at My Grafico? Our challenge for the next two weeks is:  AUTUMN. 

We received the following digital stamps to use in our project:

I chose several stamps to show how simple it was to create an advertisement. Using only Microsoft Word, I combined the elements and colored them with copic markers and prisma pencils. Next, I chose the darling scarecrow to make a note holder cover. There are so many possibilities to choose from with this set. Can you see scrapbook pages adorned with these images as well as altered items for the home?

I colored the images and added a few 3D stickers from my stash for this poster.

This note holder cube was in a grab bag from Michael's! Along with coloring, I added some stickles for shine and a little sticker. The image stamp was from the $1  box at Michael's.These projects took very little time to complete.
I hope that you will consider trying one of the My Grafico digital stamps. They are so easy to use. Also, I hope that I have inspired you to create an Autumn project. When complete you can click   HERE   to enter the current challenge at My Grafico. Thanks for visiting. I would love for you to leave a comment, and/or follow this blog. Have a wonderful week.

I am sharing my projects with the following blogs:
craft your passion challenges: Anything Goes +brown
Creative Stamp Friends: Orange+brown
kaboodle doodles: Red, Orange, Yellow, Brown
make it monday: Anything Goes
craft spot by kimberly: thanksgiving table decor: place card holder
cooking it up with katie: anything but a card
little darlings challenges: Anything but square

My Little Farm

If you have not entered our recent challenge at My Grafico "Come Out of the Box," you still have until Sunday November 6th to post your project. Meanwhile we have another file to share with you. The following file, "Build Your Little Farm", comes in SVG and jpeg files. I am sure that you can think of so many ways to use all the farm elements.

Here is how I chose to use this little farm set:

My granddaughter had so much fun with all the farm elements. She chose to add some of her brother's vehicles and her little doll. It was fun seeing her move and redesign the setting! This is such an easy project. All you have to do is run the file off on CS and cut it out leaving a little extra to fold back for a stand. The file is precolored :) I found that the items stood best when I prescored the fold lines. Also, I reinforced the bottom of the silo and trees for stability.
I hope that I have inspired you to create a project with any of our files. For more inspiration or to enter the current challenge please click HERE.

I am sharing this project with the following blogs:
make it monday: Anything Goes
paper playtime: Anything Goes
polly craft challenge blog: Anything Goes
card cupids: More than one fold
crafting when we can challenges: Anything But a Card

Autumn Gift Box

Are you ready for a new challenge at My Grafico? For the next two weeks our challenge will be:

Come Out of the Box. Enter for a chance to win this SVG & Printable Favor Gift Box by Sherry K. Designs. Entries will be accepted until November 4th, midnight. We were given the following SVG file to use in our project. (Don't worry, if you don't have a machine that will cut this type of file, your can cut it with your scissors. Easy Peasy!!)

I chose the milk carton box shape to make a darling Autumn Gift Box. I ran the template off on DP and cut it out. The assembly directions are very easy. I added a couple of orange ribbons and some twine to tie it shut. Decorating it using with a handmade rose and handmade hat pins made it "elegant!"

Materials Used:
DP, Ribbon, CS: Michael's
Baker's Twine
Vintage Button

Thank you for visiting this blog. I would love it if you would leave a message. You are welcome to become a follower. You never know what my next surprise might be :)  I hope that I have inspired you to be creative and Come Out of the Box. When your project is complete, your can click  HERE   to enter the current challenge at My Grafico.

I am sharing this project with:
bowsnberries-bosenberries: Fall color challenge
crafty boots challenges: Autumn
kaboodle doodles: The meaning of Fall
make it monday: Anything Goes
tsg clear stamps: Fall/Autumn
unstampabelles challenges: no stamps used
vo stamps: Fall/Autums
clear it out challenge: Use trims fro my stash (orange ribbons)
deep ocean challenge blog: Fall colors
lil red wagon: Fall themed project
the paper shelter: Harvest: colors
the pixie cottage: Sweet as Candy

Little Monsters

I hope that you are having fun making Baby Shower cards/projects for My Grafico Challenge.

Baby Shower is still the theme of our challenge this week. So click HERE when you are ready to enter.

This week we have another amazing file to show you...Little Monsters. These files are SVG files. If you have a machine that will cut them for you, you are so fortunate. However; you can print and cut them yourself. It just takes a little longer.

These adorable monsters reminded me of Halloween, so I made a Memory Matching Game using most of the images. It was so easy, just run off two copies of each image you want to use, cut them out in a rectangle, then back them with another cardstock. You can also play this game as "Old Maid"..."Lost Monster" by randomly picking one card to leave out of the deck. Then no one will know who the Lonely Monster is until s/he is holding the last card :) I ran the little monsters off on white cardstock then used a spray fixative to glue them to the cardstock.  (No coloring necessary!)

Here is the game, first showing all the pieces I chose.

Here I have assembled some of the cards to play the game with. If you are playing with pre school children, you may want to begin with only 6 pairs.

Materials Used:

White Cardstock: Georgia-Pacific,( Wal Mart)

Orange Cardstock: Michael's

My Grafico File: Little Monsters

Spray Fixative designed for paper

I hope that you have enjoyed visiting this blog and have time to visit and look around. If you like what you see, please feel free to leave and comment and/or follow me. Have a wonderful week. 



I am sharing this project with:

Creative Stamp Friend: Halloween
hippity with ippity: Fall Colors
hooked on craft challenges: Something Spooky
make it monday: Anything Goes
paper retties blog: Halloween
squigglefly: Face your fears!
stamp with fun: Gift
crazy challenge: Halloween
theres magic in the air: Halloween Colors
the house that stamps built: Halloween
my mums craft shop challenges: Reminds me of a song: The Monster Mash
just-hanna-stamps: Halloween
stamp insanity: Anything but a card
wags n whiskers rubber stamps: Fall Colors

Welcome Baby

We want to thank all of you who have participated in the recent My Grafico challenge. Winners are announced and can be found HERE.  This week our challenge is Baby Shower.

We were given the following images to use in our project.

I don't happen to know of anyone, at the moment, who is expecting. However,I know that Mom's To Be always can use a gift card. This a gift card for a free night out. It could be used now before the baby comes or after for a quiet night out for just the couple. The gift card holder is a mini pizza box. I fashioned the mini box from CTMH cardstock then covered it with CTMH DP. The image was cut with a Spellbinders die then distressed with lilac ink. The ovals were colored lilac with copic markers then dusted with fine glitter.  I also distressed the edges of the delightful poem too.

Recipe:

DP & Cardstock: Close To My Heart

Ribbon: Michael's

Die Cut: Spellbinders

Colored ovals on spellbinder: Copic markers dusted with Martha Stewart fine glitter

Poem: Karl and Joanna Fuchs

Ink: CTMH-lavender

Sentiment: Computer Generated

Mini Pizza Box Template: Score Pal Site

I hope that you have enjoyed visiting this blog and that perhaps I have inspired you to create this very easy gift card holder. The My Grafico set has so many beautiful ladies to choose from. This would be so helpful to those of you who will have several baby showers to attend. We hope that you will join us for the current challenge that will last for two weeks. Please click HERE for more information. Please feel free to comment, I really do read all your wonderful comments. I would also love it if you choose to follow my blog.  Some interesting creations coming soon and a surprise!!!

I am sharing this project with:

paper makeup stamps: Anything goes

hooked on craft challenges: Anything but a card

karens doodles challenge blog: Distressing

make it monday: Anything Goes

cutie pie challenge: Glitter. ribbon, lilac

cooking it up with katie: Recipe: Fabulous, Fun, Folds!!

i brake for challenges: Girl Power

my mums craft shop challenges: All Creatures Great and Small

truly scrumptious challenges: Distressing

trimmies craft challenge: Bright Colors

pixie dust studio pixie challenge: Anything but a Card

stamp insanity : Anything but a Card

cuddly buddly : Checks, Plaids, Gingham

stempelsonne : Shopping ( Mom to Be is holding a Credit card!!)

wags n whiskers rubber stamps: Handmade: Handmade Gift Card Box

Missing You

 Thanks for stopping to visit!  My Grafico Halloween Challenge is still open until midnight October 7th. If you have not linked your Halloween project just click HERE.
This week we were fortunate to receive the following images:  Green Fingers.

These images remind me of Spring Planting time. The empty chairs makes me think of friends who no longer live close by so that we can chat. These were my thoughts as I designed the following

 Double Twisted Easel Card.

The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. ~Elisabeth Foley

Recipe:
Template:http://www.card-making-magic.com/doubletwistedeasel.html
DP,CS' ribbon: Michael's
Buttons: Vintage
Sentiment: Computer Generated
Images: My Grafico
 
This card is simple but stunning and folds flat for mailing. It will certainly impress the recipient! I hope that I have inspired you to make one in the near future. Please feel free to leave a comment and/or follow this blog. Don't forget it is not too late to enter our Halloween Challenge. Have a wonderful week.

I am sharing this project with:
craft your passion challenges: Anything Goes + Ribbon
make it monday: Anything Goes
card cupids: Make a card for someone special
2 sisters challenge blog: Fancy Folds
fussy and fancy challenge: Try a new technique
card makin mamas: Show some folds
digi stamps 4 joy: Anything Goes
4 crafty chicks: Anything Goes
the stamp man challenges: pears or pairs

Halloween Favor

We want to thank everyone who participated in our last challenge at "My Grafico." We hoped you had fun with the outdoor challenge.  The winners of this challenge will be posted on the My Grafico Blog HERE. For the next two weeks our challenge will be Halloween. This is such a  great challenge and it is early so you really can use your cards and/or projects for Halloween!!
The Design Team was presented with the following images to use in our crafting.

Each one of them are darling. It was a difficult decision which to choose. I hope to have time to use several of them in the near future. I will be sure to post them when my projects are complete. If you don't want to miss any inspiration, you might want to become a follower:)

This is a diminutive, charming, little favor. Perfect for a Halloween party.  I plan on making several for little "thinking of you" treats for a few adult friends.

  This treat box is also a template available at My Grafico.

 I chose not to color the image because I wanted to highlight the details in this tag. I did trace the 31 with a glitter gel pen to add some sparkle. I also added a silver stripe with a silver foil pen.

The M&M's were added in the treat bag then secured with baker's twine. I chose to use a non traditional Halloween color but this DP does have spiders on it. If I could find candy spiders, that would be a perfect treat!! The template I chose is so easy to use. This project was quite simple and easy to complete in just a few minutes. It would not be difficult to make several.

Recipe:

Template and image:My Grafico

DP: Holiday paper stack from Jo Ann Fabric

Baker's twine, glitter gel pen, silver foil marker

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope that I have inspired you to create something unique for Halloween or to use one of the templates available at My Grafico.  When you have completed your Halloween, project you can click HERE to post it. Good Luck but most importantly: Have Fun!!

Please feel free to leave a comment and/or become a follower.   Have a wonderful week and enjoy the beautiful "Indian Summer" weather.

I am sharing this project with:
diekreativenstempelfreunde: Anything but a card
critter challenge blog: Anything goes
kb challenges: Halloween
make it monday: Anything Goes
paper playtime: Halloween
belli challenge: Must use string
digi stamps 4 joy: Anything Goes
fresh brewed designs: Keep it Simple
more than favors: Fall
truly scrumptious challenges: Clean and Simple
crafty ribbons challenge: Anything Goes
southern girls challenge: Anything Goes
crazy 4 challenges:Halloween
s s d s challenge: Favorite color: red