I cranked out a project!

I can honestly say it is the first time I've just gone on with my bad self and completed something on a whim. I decided to make a gift for a few people - family & friends so I made my prototype last night. I think it turned out pretty cute and when the recipients add their photos I bet it will look even cuter! I tried to leave plenty of room for the photos on either side which was hard - I wanted to fill the whole thing up! Made from the front half of a file folder that I found through a link on a blog feed over the river & through the woods. I hope to find it in my trash so I can post the link in case you might want to give it a go.

Front/Outside:



Back/Inside:



I had to flatten it in order to scan it but it folds like zig zag when it stands up. I used bookmarks for my tags since they were the perfect size.

Two posts in one day...I know

It's crazy - blame it on the weather but Lisa S just sent me the neatest blog link - you'll find it over there in my link list "A Sheet Load!" They give you ideas on how to cut up just a few sheets of paper and get a whole stack of cards from it. Who can't use that kind of help???

Sad sad scans....

of my Christmas Cards....I'm not sure what's up with the coloring of the scans nor do I know how to fix it but you get the idea. My cameras are both on the blink so I didn't get pics of all the different designs - namely my favorites. I used the same basic design and all my scraps from past recipe swaps, layouts and what not. As my list has grown my cards seem to have gotten less and less detailed (read complicated, time consuming, frustrating) but I was pleased with how these came out despite my minimal effort. I mean it should be a joyful time to make Christmas cards for your loved ones and friends; those you may not have spoken to in a while. Anyhow, here are a few:

Paying It Forward...

As promised, I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on this post requesting to join this Pay it Forward Exchange. Not sure what you'll be getting as my brain is flooded with ideas and you may not receive it next week, but you will receive it within the New Year :)

The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog. So basically, if you comment, you’re on. I’ll send you something crafty that I’ll make for you. Once you sign up, copy and paste the above paragraph on your blog, and three other lucky people will be recipients of your handmade work. I got mine from a great new blog I just found. This is a positive way to start off the New Year. Awesome of you ladies to have started this act of kindness.

Wow - a whole month!!!

It's been a while since I posted....not sure if anyone reads it but I'll humor myself into thinking so.... I've been working like crazy to get caught up on my swaps and here comes Christmas just around the bend. I have lots of projects and my deadlines are strange this year. Here's praying I get it all done. Some stuff I can't post just yet on the off chance a recipient might be reading but once they've gotten the gift I'll let ya see it!

Here are a few swap cards:

The first is a fall card and my inspiration came from some Mother's Day transparency shaker pockets. The person who made them had sewn transparencies into pockets with cute little flowers inside but I never made it to the sewing part. I did my best with the envelope LOL. I glued the tree up top so you could get the true fall effect.



The second is a shabby chic card where I supposed to use TAC stamps but I forgot and used SU....this set matched so well I guess I got sidetracked. I inked a CTMH chipboard buckle in the ruby red to match the stamped image. I used the melon ribbon b/c it matched some of the text on the friendship paper.



On the last card I FINALLY used my QK balloon die. I wish I had positioned them differently and maybe got 3 instead of 2 but I'd already stamped my happy birthday....love these stamps by the way! I bought the CTMH set that has nothing but Happy Birthday sentiments and this one is long and skinny so you can form it any way you like.




All this paper Lisa G gave me from her slab who knows how long ago. I've really been on a mission to use what I have and stop buying so much. It really put it in perspective for me just how much stuff I've got when I put it all in my scrap rack... That's all for now but I will have more soon :)