first day of school

I am so excited...I can finally announce my news... I have been selected as a Design Team Member on My Grafico!! This is a digital stamp company. We are encouraged to think "Out of the Box" when designing our projects. My first project is probably one that you have  not seen before unless you live in Germany. While working in Germany many years ago, I was curious about the darling cones that children carried with them to school on their first day. 

I wanted to share this tradition with all of you. So, if you have a few minutes read on...

In the history of mankind you can find many major inventions — such as the creation of the wheel and the light bulb — but there are also small ones like the Zuckertuete (literally translated, "sugar bag" or "candy bag"). This is a German tradition played out every September at the start of the school year. The First Day of School, Einschulung, is a very special event in Germany that symbolizes the importance of a child's formal education. The Zuckertuete — a special cone-shaped container that is about three feet tall filled with candy, toys and school supplies — is a gift from the parents to their children so they feel special on this important day. Literally...a sweet way to begin their formal education.

I understand that this cone (schultute) is given to children only once - when they enter first grade, the beginning of their formal education. It is only appropriate that I design one for my granddaughter who will be starting first grade in another week!

Here are some fun things to put in the bags: crayons, erasers, watches, yo-yos, hair clips, gum and stuffed toys. And as is the German tradition, fill the Zuckertuete up with some authentic German candies such as marzipan, chocolate kugelns (kisses), and gummies.

# I used a large black cardstock from the Dollar Tree to make the cone. The darling digital stamps are from My Grafico Crafts. The sentiment is computer generated and then cut with a Spellbinders Die. I distressed around the edges of the die with CTMH ink. I also added Stickles to the girl's skirt, her hair clips and the lights on the bus. I tried to show both sides of the cone so you could view more of the digi stamps. The ribbons as well as the fabric, at the top of the cone, was from Jo Ann Fabrics.

This was a difficult project to photograph because of all the 3Dimensionality! I hope that I have inspired you to perhaps create a Schultute for a special child entering first grade :) Maybe you will try to create something...out of the box for your next project!  I hope that you enjoyed visiting my blog. Please feel free to comment and/or follow this blog.

I am sharing this project with:

die kreativen stempel freunde.: School

daisy doodles creative challenges.: Anything Goes

heart song inspirations: Anything Goes

paper pretties : Back to School

stamps r us challenges: Anything Goes

crazy challenge:NEW School Year

catered crop: Ribbons, Stickles, Collage, Layering digital Stamps

sentimental sundays: Back to School

all sorts challenge: Back to School

just us girls challenge: Back to School 3D Challenge

just some lines blog: Anything But A Card

one stop craft challenge: Anything But Square

send a smile 4 kids challenge: Use a die cut

dutch dare-card challenges: Anything but a Card

Good - Bye Tonsils

You might just think I am a little crazy...What's a Nonnie to do when her only granddaughter has to have her tonsils out...Make a card for her...of course!! The tonsillectomy was today and "little one" is OK. Thanks Goodness. Her mom baked and decorated a "Good-bye" tonsil cake that we shared last weekend. Of course she received lots of little presents and good wishes along with popsicles and sherbet.

Her love of peace signs and bling inspired me to craft this card. Can you see the error??? The peace sign is upside-down!! I should have been more observant!

The paper pack was from Michael's so it made it easy to layer the DP. The sentiments were computer generated. This brought a smile to her face and if it helped ease her fears, I am glad.

Recipe:

DP, peace sign stickers, ribbon: Michael's

I hope that you enjoyed viewing this card and that I have inspired you to "think outside the box" when creating cards. Sometimes the most unusual and least expected cards are truly appreciated. This is why I love crafting cards. I have not seen too many Good-bye tonsil cards in the stores!! Please feel free to leave a comment and/or follow this blog. Have a wonderful weekend.

I am sharing this card with:

tuesday taggers

One Stitch at a Time: Anything Goes

ai factory challenges: anything Goes

craft us crazy: Anything Goes

paper-crafting journey: Anything Goes

shellys images blog: Anything Goes

stamp insanity: Anything Goes

Happy Birthday Sports Enthusiast

Well...my mojo is back!! Thank Goodness. I created three cards. All for the grandkids! This card is for a grandson who just loves sports...All Sports. What could be better than this stamp for a special card for him? I started with a sketch, which makes me comfortable. Then I choose the papers from a special sports package available at Michael's. Love all the sports related DP!  The Brads in the upper right each have an initial on them t g r (his initials.) Sorry, you cannot see this in the picture? I used some ribbon, also from Michael's behind the picture. Did you notice the green grass adjacent to the footballs?  I stamped the image on a tan DP then colored it with Prisma Pencils, blended it,accented with Gell Roll Pens and fussy cut it. I love the way it turned out!

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The second picture shows the inside of this card

Recipe:

DP, brads, & ribbon: Michael's

Distressing ink: Tim Holtz

Rubber Stamp:  Darcie's Country stamp

Border: Fiskar's clear border stamps

Coloring: Prisma Pencils

Sketch: 2 Sister's Challenge/sketch 2

I am usually very critical of my work. However, I am so proud of this card!! I love the details that I was able to color using the Prisma Pencils and just how everything came together as I had hoped. I also was pleased that I could personalize this card with the initial brads. I hope that you enjoyed viewing my card. Perhaps I have inspired you to create a card for a boy/man. We all know that these are more difficult cards to design. Please feel free to leave a comment and/or follow this blog. Don't forget to visit again soon. I have three more projects to post this week. Have a wonderful week and please take the time to do something that makes you happy.

I am sharing my card with:

(T)anything challenge: Birthday/Celebrations

ladybugs crafts ink challenge blog: Favorite Stamp

oldie but a goodie challenge: The Great Outdoors

shopping our stash: My weakest Link: DP!!

tuesday taggers : Anything Goes

use it tuesday: Indian Summer and use something forgotten: I have had the initial brads for quite awhile and was waiting for the perfect time to use them. These personalized this birthday card. When I think of Indian Summer, I think of the last hurray- outside before being inside all winter...a change to play any sport, even if it is only a few times before the cold weather and snow return:0)

bling it on challenges: A= arm band, B= Bear, C= card  ABC challenge

hobby stuggu: Card for a Man

cards for men: Anything Goes

diekreativenstempelfreunde: Design your own background

the angel company:  Recipe:  3 Brads, 2 Patterened Papers, 1 Ribbon

incy wincy designs/:  Recipe: 3 Embellishments, 2 Patterened Papers, 1 image

one stitch at a time challenge: Anything Goes

sparkles forum challenges: For the Boys

Riley on Vacation!!

I wall thrilled to learn that I had won a Riley stamp from Riley and Company for participating in their recent Blog Hop. I chose Zip-Line Riley. I have so many ideas and sentiments in mind for this adorable moose. You will have to return soon to see what I make. Perhaps I will inspire you!  If you don't want to miss anything, please follow my blog :) Have a wonderful day. Hugs

A BIG THANK YOU TO RILEY AND COMPANY ONLINE STORE. You can check out their wonderful stamps by clicking HERE.

cupcake

Here is a clean and simple card that we made at Stamp Class.

Sometimes it is fun to make a card that can actually be sent in the mail! The postmaster just smiles when he sees me now!! He is thrilled that I take the time to make so many people happy with my cards and of course..not said...I spend more money at the post office!!

All of the materials used for this card are from Close to My Heart.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

divas by design challenge: Birthday Celebrations

(W) fresh brewed designs: CAS

(T) a spoonfull of sugar challenge: Birthday Celebration

(T) anything challenge: Birthday Celebration

(T) tuesday throw down: Birthday Celebration

(M) incy wincy designs: Something old: Sentiment Stamp/ Something New: DP

(S) birthday sundaes : Must have Birthday Sentiment on Front of the card

(SAT) crafty our days away: Birthdays

(SAT) ellephantastic challenges: Add Some Layers

(SAT) send a smile 4 kids challenge: Anything Goes...for a child

(F) card makin mamas: Birthday Cards

I hope that you have enjoyed this post. Creating a simple card is fun and so easy to send. Just choose fun colors. They really don't even have to match! This is a perfect sketch for a boy/man birthday card. Please feel free to leave me a coment and/or become a follower of this blog. I hope that I have inspired you to try a simple card or just case this card using simple, classic shapes. Thanks for visiting:)

Hand Made Crocheted flowers and Hat Pins

Since I have taken a leave from design teams, I have been dabbling in several creative outlets. I hope that your will enjoy viewing them.  Let me know what you think...

 I received several beautiful crocheted flowers from Dorcas, as a win in a blog hop. I decided to try my hand at these even though I have never crocheted with anything this thin.  I plan to attach them to cards with a brad, or insert a bead / button in the middle and glue on a card.

My next creative endeavor is hat pins. We had a bead exchange at our stamp club. It was so interesting to see the variety of beads that members brought. Arranging them was like Pick-up-Sticks!! 

I would be glad to swap them with my blogging friends...let me know what you would like to trade for them.