Our One and Only Annual Clearance Sale!!!

We're starting the week off with a bang!
I'm clearing out the leftover kits and pieces parts from the past 6-9 months of inventory, and I'm selling them at a rock bottom price! Last year these sold out on the first day...and they are all currently packed up and ready to ship out! Each kit will contain at least 2 alphabets and a load of embellishments, as well as paper and cardstock from kits used in the past year. Each kit will contain at least $40 in product--and they will go quickly! Click on the link below to snatch one up...because once they're gone, they're gone!

SOLD OUT!! Thank you!!

28 days of love

Ahhh February, the season of love...

and you know I love mini books, that's why when I found this site where Alissa will be listing prompts for 28 days of love in February I knew I better get busy on my album!

So I took my goodies with my February project kit and put this baby together....

now I'm just awaiting February so I can fill each day with journaling and photos. Join with me, I'd love to see what you create!

Pom Pom Love...

Hard to believe that these little gems (purchased at JoAnn's for $6.99 for the pair) made all of these garlands...
You see, we're getting ready to celebrate a big birthday in this house in a couple of weeks. And we're pulling out all the stops...

This is such an easy and FUN craft, the whole family has been involved! Our 8 and 11 year olds have made their own garlands!

When it started to get a bit crazy, we decided to wrap the garlands around corrugated board, in an effort to keep it from tangling. Worked perfectly!

Remember the Valentine garlands on my mirror from last week? Yep--there is a red and pink one there. I made some for teachers and a neighbor...and three more for our house...

In anticipation of the upcoming festivities...I made three for Mardi Gras! We love an excuse to party around here! I have two in the works now...one for St. Patrick's Day, and another for our niece's all PURPLE birthday party!! The possibilities...can you see them???

Before the Valentine garland, I had these up with snowflakes. Everyone loved our "snowballs"...

You can view this awesome tutorial here for more info. Be careful though...they're really addictive! (Just ask my gal pals who were over a couple weekends ago...hahaha!!)

Enjoy your weekend!

Divided Page Protectors

At a recent crop, I admired my friend Amy's use of divided page protectors, and was inspired to share...
I have at least two packs of these sitting around, why didn't I think to use one of them as a journaling area, and adorn it like she has? How cute are these!!

I love that she fit in a bunch of photos that she loved, but didn't scrap. I love that some spots were left for journaling, and others were left as a spot to embellish...

And I plan on using MY divided page protectors this weekend. I may even share my results!! Anyone up for a challenge??

The Graphics Fairy

Have you met The Graphics Fairy? If not, let me introduce you to her. She is a generous soul who shares really awesome vintage images, a new on each day--for free! She has over 1,600 images on her blog!

The Graphics Fairy's blog has a fabulous search page, where you can browse images by subject, e.g., birds & eggs, architecture, ephemera, ads, botanical, patriotic, and so many more. In honor of the upcoming holiday, I've gathered together my favorite Valentine's Day images from The Graphics Fairy's site to share with you today. If you click on the images, you can save the full size image.

 How adorable is this little guy? Can you just picture this on a Valentine's Day card?

This one's going on a layout I'm making:

Another cutie:

 Cool vintage postcard:

Here's another one I'm using on the page I'm creating. I'm using it to hold my title, but it would be great as a journaling spot, too!

Love this one!

Another pretty. I'm thinking about using it and fussy cutting the doves and flowers to use as an embellishment.

I think these vintage images are a perfect complement to the WIP February Project Kit. (In fact, I'm using two on a layout I'm creating right this moment.) Lots of the other images would go great with the WIP February Add-on Kit. Come to think of it, the many nature images available from The Graphics Fairy would add great touches to the WIP February Main Kit, too!

There are tons more Valentine's Day images, not to mention the 1,600 images in all the other categories. Go take a peek. I'm sure you'll find something that's just perfect for your next project!

Valentines Cards

Valentines Day is known in modern day as the exchange of affection, flowers and greetings between friends and lovers. Since the early 19th century, many of those greetings which were hand created, have now given way to massed-produced greeting cards. We, the lovers of all things paper, embellishments and ink have continued the tradition of sharing our love and friendship via the handmade card, tag, or mini album.

I just wanted to celebrate that a little today. While I am sure you are all receiving, if not already received, February’s WIP kit, my January kit is still sprawled about. I have been using up scraps and creating a stash of cards that will soon find their way to many friends across the country.

I invite you to do the same.

The first one here got her own envelope with a polka dot insert.

The one here received some buttons from my stash and  very tiny paper punches.

 

 The doily and stitching was lifted from one of my projects from the gallery. Makes it easy that way. I also dabbed the black and white polka-dot paper with the Malted Mild dabber as the dots were white. Added just enough cream to work. After the paint dried, I added a script stamp then stitched the doily to the card stock.

My Valentine Garlands

I enjoy decorating for holidays. This year, I have recycled a few older Valentine Banners (this one and this one) and garlands, and have added them to a few new ones. Here is a display of the garlands in my foyer...
One of the garlands I really had fun with this year is the paper heart chain. Start off with a folded sheet of 5.5" x 8.5" piece of cardstock...

Cut the cardstock into half-inch strips. Feel free to alternate colors like mine (red and pink)...

Using the fold, turn the open ends inward and staple. Simple as that!

Chain one onto the next...

And you'll end up with a ton in no time at all...

I used the garland all over my house, and made a bunch for two of my children's teachers too! Give it a try...

Be sure to also check out this garland made with photos, along with this one that inspired it! How cool!!

Enjoy your Monday!

And the Winner is...

Mary Ann Jenkins! Mary Ann--please email me at Turay413@gmail.com with your address confirmation, and I'll get your kit out to you ASAP! Thanks so much! Be sure to check out our facebook fan page to see if your name was picked over there, too!

A very special thank you to each one of you who submitted a kind comment or sent a sweet email. I truly love what I do, and sincerely thank each one of you for supporting us for these four years! Here's to many more!!

Happy Anniversary to US!

Four years is cause for celebration, for sure! Leave a comment and a random number generator will select a winner of a February Main WIP Kit on Saturday, January 23rd. Be sure to check out our facebook page for an additional chance to win as well!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What's your fortune

With Valentine's day approaching wouldn’t it be fun to predict your fortune, or at least predict your kids fortunes by filling fortune cookies with your own love notes.

I’m sure they will wonder how you found fortune cookies just for them…

Your local grocery store should have them I've also seen them in bulk at GFS stores.

To make them you type or write your fortunes on small strips of paper. Have them cut and ready to go. Microwave your fortune cookies, one at a time for about 20 seconds. (microwave times may vary) They will then soften for you to open and swap out the fortunes. Reform the fortune cookie to its original shape.

Crafty Happenings...

My boys are not into Star Wars (I know--shocking, huh?)...but for you Mama's out there who DO have kiddos who love Storm Troopers, I thought this idea was just too good to not post about. An empty milk container...who knew?

My sweet friend Cindy is a writer for Creative Play, and put together this awesome article and tutorial on how to make puppets out of socks. I'm all over this one, folks! Can't resist those cardboard mouths! :) Her kids are also just the cutest. We both taught together in a former lifetime...

Enjoy your Wednesday!!