And the stockings were hung...

It is so hard to believe that Christmas is so close! Wasn't I just handing out candy to trick-or-treaters? Didn't I just make pumpkin pies and roast a turkey? Time, like snow, is flying too fast!



I have had some camera issues - as in, the children had decided it would be fun to play photographers on Safari with Mama's camera - and as a result, there was one time-out, a bit of yelling, and one broken camera. If I hold the lens on just so, I can get a halfway decent photo... but if I lean over too much, the lens falls out and then there is more yelling...

I was able to take this picture of a layout I made for Etsy. The stockings were pretty fun to make - I don't know if you can see it or not, but the red one on the left has a real jingle bell on the curly toe :) I had to get creative with my layering to fit the word "stockings" on the one 12x12 page, but was able to manage it. And let me tell you - so glad that I got back into stamping, because my ink in my printer is out, and I wanted to print "hanging the" on some cardstock... but luckily I have my little set of letter stamps, and stamped them out instead!

Speaking of stamping... If I can get my lens back on my camera today, I will take a picture of my card for the "Once Upon a Wednesday" challenge at Pixie Cottage! I created the sketch for this challenge, and it is simple and sweet :) While I am fiddling with my camera, head over to the Pixie Cottage Blog to see the other DT member's take on this sketch. You have lots of time - until December 20 to enter this every-other-week challenge, so get your sketch on!

It's a cupcake kind of day...

So after three days of no solid food, I have been in Thanksgiving leftover heaven. Yay real food! My hubby's procedure went great, and all is good. My need for something other than broth and Jello manifested in dozens and dozens of paper cupcakes.

That's right - paper cupcakes. With some fabric and buttons too! I have made these little cupcakes for scrapbook pages and cards, and thought I would put some on Etsy and see if other people might like them too! There are two varieties, and lots of flavors :) Do you know what one of my favorite things about selling crafty goods is? Making up the names. I love making up names for my creations. Like these cupcakes, for example. In my shop you will find Aunt Greta's Cupcakes, and Cousin Nellie's cupcakes, Winterberry and Polkaberry... I don't really have a cousin Nellie, but I do have an Aunt Greta, and the pretty checkered red fabric made me think of her. Nelli's cupcakes are inspired by Little House on the Prairie, and Nellie's surprising success at the culinary arts...

While listing these little cuties, I have been entertaining myself by playing "Farmville", a game on Facebook. Hello new addiction!

Well, I have another batch of cupcakes coming out of the oven - I mean, the studio - so I need to quit chatting and get those sweeties on the shelf while they are still warm!

Have a great day,

Big Sales, a treasury, and don't forget to Play with the Pixies!

I love the holidays, and I love my family, but let me tell you... I am glad for things to get back to "normal." Everyone goes back to work and school tomorrow, and the schedule-lover within can't wait for the routine to resume. Of course, now that I am updating this post, I have two little boys home with coughs camped out on the couch watching cartoons and drinking apple juice...

My mom and dad assured me the turkey was fabulous, and they agreed that the pecan pie was the best they had ever had. I love my folks! I was sooo nervous hosting my first Thanksgiving, but it went pretty darn smoothly! I made all my pies the day before, and prepped my casseroles the night before. I even watched an episode of the Martha Stewart show about preparing a turkey... I didn't use a cheesecloth or brine ole Tom in white wine, but I did slather on the butter like she instructed :)

So now I have a refrigerator full of yummy leftovers. My husband has to have a simple procedure done on Monday, and has been on a liquid diet. Nothing solid since Saturday morning - and fabulous wife that I am, I said I would do it too. Misery loves company and all that. Plus I would feel bad loading up my plate with turkey and stuffing while he sadly sips bland broth... I'm trying to remember if he gave up coffee with me when I was pregnant...

I didn't brave the crowds this weekend, opting instead to stay in my jammies, eat broth and put up the Christmas tree. I have a big sale in my Etsy shop, though - still doing the *Buy Three, get one FREE* card sale, and am also offering free shipping on all goodies! I also plan to list some seriously sweet paper cupcakes today. I think all this broth and liquid nonsense is manifesting itself into my crafts - all I want to do is piece together cupcakes...

Oh, and I am also featured in a treasury! As many of you know, I am obsessed with treasuries! Nightlady made a super pretty treasury of Blue Christmas, and my paper flowers are among some really pretty blues...


Don't forget that the latest challenge at Pixie Cottage is "Getting Stitchy!" I am having camera issues, and hope to get that resolved asap - I want to share my stitching on my card for the challenge! But have no fear - the fabulous design team has lots of pretty cards for you to look at on the Pixie blog. You have until Sunday, December 6th to enter, so lots of time yet!

I hope you have a great day. I can't wait to raid the refrigerator tonight...

Gobble Gobble, I hope my pies don't wobble...

Happy Pre-Turkey Day! I have been baking all morning, and have three pies done, and one more in the oven. Pie, that is :) Two pumpkin, one pecan, and one chocolate-creamcheese-pecan yummy pie... The turkey is cooling his heels in the refrigerator, and I have all my ingredients ready for the side dishes. Luckily, Mom is bringing sweet potatoes, apple dumplings, and pistachio salad. And folding chairs.

I still need to go out tonight and get rolls, and I might need another thing of whipped cream... I made a lot of pies...

I wish I had a picture to share of a card or something, but my darling Mikey was apparently snacking on my USB cord. He likes to chew metal. Seriously, he does. So I need to find a plan B, because I made some seriously cute paper flowers, and I have a few cards I want to share too....

Ok, well, I need to check on the kiddos and the pie. I ran out of the dratted tin foil, so the edges of my pecan creations are overdone :( Oh, well. It's called, "Eat around it, people!"

If I don't have a chance to pop in tomorrow, I hope your turkeys are juicy, your pies unburned, and your families safe and healthy :)

Happy Holidays!

Let It Snow!

I am super excited about a new project - Self Standing Scrapbook pages! I have had such fun with the easel cards, so I decided to do some experimenting and paper engineering... and made some scrapbook pages that are display pages! I am making some for my Etsy store, some for Christmas gifts, and some for me!

Here is a snowy themed one. It has a little paper pieced boy on it. He reminds me of Randy from "A Christmas Story". You know, the little brother that "can't put my arms down!" There is a photomat, a journaling pocket with tag, and I even made a protective case/envelope for when it isn't on display :)

Last post today, I swear....

I have been so busy creating the last few days, I hadn't had the time to post what I have been making! And since I have about 19.5 minutes until the bus delivers the munchkins, I figured I better seize the moment (especially since these two challenges are due asap!)

This first card is my entry to my first ever to the Just Magnolia challenge blog :) The challenge was distressing (not to me, to the card, silly!) and I had a lot of fun aging the edges, teastaining the fabric...

This is the only magnolia stamp I have, and after using her, now I know why so many of you love your magnolias! She was really fun to color :)

Ingredients
Papers:MyMindsEye
Image:Magnolia
Embellishments: fabric, buttons

My other card is a little more seasonal. Drawing inspiration from Our Creative Corner, I went autumnal and thankful for this easel card. Loving the easel cards! I used the sketch from Sketch Saturday, and used Kraft paper as requested by Daring Card Makers :)

This stamp was toooo fun to color, and I really had a blast finding just the right papers for her :)


Ingredients
Papers:Graphic45, Creative Imaginations, brown Kraft Paper
Image:Greeting Farm Anya
Embellishments: fabric, buttons, punch

Chilly Willy....

I mentioned the other day how I made my first ever easel card, and I can safely say I am addicted to this style. Thanks to Crazy for Challenges for challenging me to do this, as well as providing a fabulous link to a great tutorial! I made this little card with the super cute sketch at Sunday Sketch and Stamp, and Cupcake Craft wanted to see something that was "Snow much fun!" This card is pretty little - it is only 4" square, but perfect for this stamp I won from Peachy Keen Stamps a while ago. Finally, using the recipe from Stamp Something, I limited myself to 1 ribbon, 2 papers, and 3 embellies... For such a little card, it sure holds a lot of challenges!

Ingredients
Papers: Basic Grey, MyMindsEye
Image: Peachy keen
Embellishment: sparkly brads from stash, vintage ribbon

GLEEful to be Home for the Holidays...

So who watched "Glee" last night? Such a good show! It just gets better and better :) I swear, I have a "new" favorite character each time I watch... and just when you think you have a someone "figured out," they surprise you...

And as for Home for the Holidays... I am hosting my first ever Thanksgiving dinner this year! I am sure I'll burn the turkey and forget the potatoes, but I am going to give it my best. I made this card with the theme of old fashioned goodness, and have entered it into the Mojo Monday challenge. I love silhouettes, and when I found this set of rub ons in my stash, I had to use it!

Ingredients
Papers: Basic Grey
Images: Rubons from Marah Johnson
embellishments: sparkly brads, and fabric from stash

Glee photo from imusicdaily.com

I am super excited and I'll tell you why - Because it is "Once Upon a Wednesday..."

Every other Wednesday we will host a challenge, and we want you to play. Prizes and fun and inspiration abound, and because you have a week and a half to get your entry in, there is plenty of time to find your creative magic...

Head over to the Pixie Cottage blog to find out the rest of the details. There are some super cute stamps you could win, as well as a chance to become a guest DT :)

I created the sketch for this challenge, and would love to see what you come up with:

Here is my take on this sketch.


Head over to Pixie Cottage to see the rest of the Design Team's work - you won't be disappointed :)

Ingredients
Papers: MME, Graphic45, PaperPizazz
Image: Candy Cane Wishes from the Pixie Cottage
Embellishments: fabric, brad
Colored pencils, copic marker, Zig marker

SALE, SALE, SALE! ... and good morning of course :)

I found a challenge that asked to create an easel card, and I was a little intimidated at first, having never made one... but then I did! It was fun, and wasn't too difficult at all :) I love the display aspect of these cards. Very fun! I need to take pictures as soon as the sun decides to come out :)

I watched Bring It On yesterday (I know!) and totally got into this cheerleading flick. I am a movie producer's dream - I pretty much get immersed in any movie if I get watching it :) So I was cheering away and making cards all morning while the pumpkins were at preschool...

"My name is Kristen! Yah! And I make cards! Yah! Gooooooo Crafting!"

With all the cards I have been making, I need to clear out my shop to make room! If you fancy stocking up, check out my Etsy shop - I am having a Buy THREE cards, get one FREE! Sale :)


A happy day to you!

Treasure this day...

Good morning! We had the most lovely weather this weekend, and we took full advantage of it. Steve raked leaves (Mikey and I jumped in the piles - Johnny was napping, so don't tell him or he will be mad he missed out on this), we all went to Frankenmuth on Sunday and had a lovely time. We walked around the village, threw pennies in the pond, and found lots of things to add to our lists to Santa :)

We came home, went to the neighborhood playground, and then came home and hung our Christmas lights. I know, I know - it is early. But weather in Michigan can go from 70 one day to 40 the next, and I don't fancy hanging lights in piles of snow :) But I promise I won't plug them in until after Thanksgiving. Not too much.

Today I plan on working on some scrapbook layouts, a couple of cards, and I hope I can get that flower tutorial done as well. I also plan to walk on the treadmill, but now that I am sitting here, drinking my coffee and chatting with you, I might skip that. Listening to the soundtrack to Forrest Gump and sipping my java is making me feel cozy and very un-treadmilly.

Here is a little card I made last week for a few challenges. It was difficult at first, as the challenge at Cute Card Thursday was primary colors. Normally not a primary color kind of gal as I lean towards the faded/muted tones. But that's why it is a challenge, right? :) Pairing this challenge with the color scheme of black and red from Creative Inspirations, I used the sketch from PaperTake Weekly, and made this any occasion card:


Ingredients
Image: Gorjuss Girl from Sugar Nellie
Papers: BoBunny, Paper Pizazz
Embellishment: ribbon from stash
Copic markers, colored pencils, ink

All Dressed Up...

I mentioned the other day how I have discovered my new favorite thing to make - paper flowers! I made a girly-girl layout with some of my favorite papers, and when I saw the Mojo Sketch 111, I knew I had to make a card with these papers and my favorite little floral pretties! I swear, if I had a little girl, her entire scrapbook would be in pinks, greens, and black and white...

I had a comment asking if I would do a tutorial for these flowers, and I will work on it this coming week while the munchkins are at school.

I also have some big plans for some blog candy (I have over 100 lovely followers, over 100 sales at Etsy, and almost 1300 hits on my blog!) to give away, so stay tuned :)

For this card, I did the fancy little flowers, and I also pieced the skirt together a bit. I stamped it first on white cardstock, then three times on patterned paper. I then "built up" the skirt in sections, layering parts of the skirt to give it a bit of dimension. I didn't pop dot it or anything, because I wanted it to be subtle...



I made the inside cute too - nothing fancy, just coordinating papers and brads :)

Ingredients
Image: Inkadinkado
Papers: Prima (patterned) and Bazzill (pink cardstock)
Embellishments: brads in centers of flowers
Ranger Distress Ink

Jingle all the way...

Today is Saturday Showcase at Pixie Cottage! The Design Team has created some seriously cute cards. Oh, and don't forget - tomorrow is the deadline for our "Once Upon a Wednesday" challenge! You have until Sunday midnight to get your entry in. The theme is "celebrate!" so get that card made and have a chance to win a 20$ voucher to Michelle's Scrapbooking and More. Not only does she carry fabulous Pixie stamps, she has the best deal on copic markers I have ever seen (seriously) and she has Flower Soft, Primas, Spellbinders, Stickles... whomever the random winner is, they will be like a kid in a candy store! Not only is there a random drawing, the design team picks its top three favorites from the entries and those fancy winners get a pretty little button for their blog!

My card features a stamp from one of the new designers, and he was super fun to color! I attached a real jingle bell (carefully grunged and kind of rusty but in a good way) for a vintage touch. I used the sketch from Cupcake Craft Challenge.

Ingredients
Image: Pixie Cottage
Papers:Cosmo Cricket, Graphic45, DCwV
Embellishments: Ribbon and bell from stash

Running on Empty, Cupcakes and Girly Girl-ness

For starters, I want to go on the record and say that I love Daylight Savings Time. The Fall one. I really, really enjoy falling back and getting that extra hour - especially with Christmas only about seven weeks away. The Spring Forward thing I am not so fond... So between this extra hour and all my vitamin C and echinacea, I have been a scrapping fool...


It feels like Halloween was forever ago, and yet it was just last week! In fact, it was a week ago that I made these little yummies...


I felt sooo fancy because, while the cupcakes were from a mix, and the frosting from a can, I tinted that canned frosting orange. I know - Martha Stewart I am not, but for a gal who usually plops the batter in a pan and pretty bakes just so she can lick the beaters, going that extra yard and coloring the frosting and adding sprinkles and adding a fake spider, well - fancy! I packed the cupcakes in the van, crammed Johnny in his winter coat, and hit the road with an extra five minutes to spare, heading to Mikey's class party...

... I should have known things were going too smoothly.

Exiting off the highway, I was about to hit the brakes to slow down, when my van started to slow down by itself. Now, my "Low Fuel" light was on (it almost always is - I know, I know - naughty me. I put a few dollars in here and there...) but I was pretty sure it hadn't been on that long... anyway, by the time I got to the traffic light, my steering wheel was locking up. I coasted through the red light using every ounce of energy to turn right, and landed mercifully in the driveway of the gas station with my tailend still in the road.

It was raining, I didn't have my purse, and Johnny was asking, "Where are we mama? The party isn't here, is it? Hey mama, hey mama, what are we doing? Hey mama...." Long story short, two attendants, one random lady getting gas, and little old me pushed the van to a pump (they let me get gas on my honor to return to pay) while Johnny was yelling that he wanted to push the van, too...

I left the gas station with a grateful heart, and four cupcakes less :) I returned later that night to pay for my gas, and my faith in the goodness of strangers is restored. Thank you, Speedway on Hill road, and thank you Random Lady who helped push my van in the rain...

On a happier, and less soggy note :), I listed probably one of the cutest girly-girl layouts I have ever made on Etsy this morning...


It doesn't have any crazy elaborate piecings or anything, but I just love the colors, and the papers from Prima are some of my favorites. And I made these cutie little flowers - my new favorite things! I might just make a bunch of these pretties and finish watching Baby Boom tonight after the boys go to bed... I just love Diane Keaton, and every time I watch this movie I want to move to Vermont and help her make baby food...

Hope you are having a great week, too!

Scrapping left and right...

I have been so busy making cards, I hadn't been doing too many scrapbook pages lately. This week, after mountains of Vitamin C and Echinacea, I am finally feeling better!

I have had a cough that has just lingered, I have been tired.... blah blah blah... but I am actually feeling like myself! I made some layouts for Etsy, and here are some of them....


a few have sold already, and I plan on making more! I have some great Christmas papers, and there are some embellishments I am dying to use...