Thankful

I hope everyone had a pleasant Thanksgiving spent with family. I know I did. We even started a new tradition - a thankful journal. I got the idea from Cathe over at Just Something I Made.
Everyone who came for dinner took some time and wrote in it. It will be interesting to open it up next year and reflect on each entry.












I had my first craft fair this past weekend. Other than the awful noise, I had a great time and made quite a few new friends. Crafty people are so friendly. It was enough of a success that I think I'll go ahead and do more than one next year. Though I won't make my mother sit with me like I did this time. I have to admit that having her there eased a lot of my unwarranted nervousness. What I didn't sell at the fair has been listed in my Etsy store, so please stop by and check out all the holiday items.

I've actually been pretty busy with Reverie Creations these past few weeks while preparing for the craft fair. I've had a couple special orders; including the two notebooks below. The first one was left to my own design, and since I love the colors red and yellow together, I used quite a bit of Jenni Bowlin.














The next order was for another notebook, but I was given more direction with this one. I was told that the recipient was in love with pink, leopard print, music and inspiring quotes. I looked high and low for the perfect leopard print paper, but to no avail. I did find this nice sheet of paper with brown flocked sihouettes that I thought looked a lot like leopard print, so I went with it. I think it turned out nicely, and I certainly hope the customer likes it. Her name is Kara, by the way; therefore the "K".

Thank you for spending some time with me and have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

Mandee

You all know that I have an Etsy shop. It's been my passion for about a year now, and I finally got my first special order. One of my repeat customers (I am so thankful for her) asked me if I could make her an upcycled notebook with a vintage feel with some sort of inspirational saying on the front. That was my direction, and this is what I came up with.

I took some My Minds Eye Laundry Line paper and a little bit of vintage lace and the rest just fell into place. I absolutely love My Minds Eye. They have so many beautiful floral patterns that it's almost hard to choose which one to start with let alone cut up. The large daisy is from the Oriental Trading Company. I've ordered quite a bit from their scrapbooking embellishment line. They've certainly come a long way from the party favors. The small brown paper flower is of course Prima with an added a vintage button and a piece of hemp cord tied in the middle. The tag was traced out and stamped with sentiments from The Scrappy Cat vintage line. Love them too! I heat embossed some of the words to add a bit more interest and added Kaiser Craft pearls to anchor it a bit.

The inside got a little attention as well. I made a small library card pocket from a template downloaded somewhere off the internet. Sorry I don't remember where from, but I find quite a few templates on line. I also found the bookplate online as well.

My loyal customer was very pleased with the outcome, and I couldn't be happier. It's all in the details.

Thanks for spending some time with me.

Have a great day!

Hugs,

M.

Grateful

Thank you just never seems like enough, but I wanted to take this time to show my appreciation to all those men and women who have given more than expected for all of us.

Thanks to Cathe Holden at Just Something I Made for allowing the use of the above image.

Hugs,
M.

"Green" never looked so festive...

We all have those magazines laying around...the ones we don't ask for but somehow end up in our mailboxes...sometimes three a day! I know I have tons hanging around all over my coffee table waiting for me to peruse them or get rid of them, but I always have a hard time tossing them out. It's paper no-less, and we all know how I feel about paper. Anyway, the other day I sat down to watch one of my favorite shows, and wouldn't you know it, it's a repeat. So, I pick up one of those catalogs and start browsing through only to find that everything inside is way out of my price range. What to do with it? Why not recycle it, but into what? I thought with all the colors on the pages they would make great bows, so I took a store bought bow apart and was amazingly surprised at how easy they are to make. I started in and after about twenty minutes I had four already done.

My two oldest daughters, ages 7 and 9, also made a few for their teachers. They are just that simple to make.

Supplies you will need:

Magazine page

Scissors

paper fastener/brad

something sharp

double sided foam tape that can be cut to size

Step 1:

*Cut your magazine page into roughly 8 or 9 strips. Perfection is not necessary.

*Take one strip and cut approximately two inches off the top so it's shorter than the rest. This will be the first strip you start with.

Step 2:

*Loop the strip like shown. *Flip it over and loop the other end.

Step 3.

Poke a hole through the middle and slip it onto your paper fastener/brad.

Step 4.

Continue looping the rest of the strips and adding them one by one to the back of the first.

You can add more strips or less depending on your preference. Once you have all the strips you want, just split the prongs on the brad to secure.

Step 5.

Place a piece of double sided foam tape to the back so that it can be attached to a package easily at a later date.

And there you have it. Beautiful bows from all those over-priced sales catalogs.

Please post a link to the bows you've created!!

Thanks for spending some time with me! Have a great day!

Hugs,

M.

Ornaments Galore

Still working on items for the upcoming Christmas Fair. My favorite items to make are these adorable cones. This one is victorian style with an image of Marie Antoinette. I added Prima glitter flourishes, a crown with crystals and tucked a little tulle on the inside. The purple around the top is just a piece of paper that I fan folded and then glued to the inside. A little different than the last few I've made. I thought it added a nice touch.

These next set of cones turned out a little more festive. Again, I added the fan-folded paper along the top with chipboard bulb ornaments attached to the front. Some ribbon and red string finish them off.

I also made these gift card holders using an old soap box as a template. I went ahead and traced the soap box onto paper, reglued them and punched a couple of holes on the top to string ribbon through. Embellished each and voila, complete. These were so easy to make.

I'll post some more later as I've got to get the girls onto bed. Thanks for spending some time with me.

Hugs,

M.

Let's not forget...

With the holidays fast approaching, we sometimes get busy and forget those men and women fighting overseas: keeping us all safe. Some of them have been away from their families for months. I know I do my best to say a prayer every night for success in their missions and their safe return home. My husband is a retired Navy veteran (having served on many missions), and I'm extremely thankful that he's home safe these days. Though I don't have to worry about him anymore, I still feel for those who have family fighting in these countries that don't appreciate what they're doing for them.

I'm a member of the Etsy Paper Street Team and we're sending a care package to a Marine troop serving in Afghanistan. We're all using our creative energy to make Thank You cards in order to let them know that they're being thought of and appreciated. It doesn't seem like much, but I do know that they look forward to anything they get from home. It keeps morale up and helps them stay focused.

These are two of the cards that I've sent along.



If you feel like you'd like to contribute to a care package being sent overseas, contact your local VFW. They're always sending packages full of little necessities, goodies and cards of well wishes. They'll take anything you can give...toothpaste, deodorant, candy, combs, shampoo, puzzles...even a donation would be appreciated. Let's not forget that some of these men and women won't be home for the holidays because they're fighting to keep our freedoms.

Have a great day!
M.

More than enough?

Can we say OMG!!?? I have been working like a madwoman trying to get enough of an inventory for the upcoming craft fair. This being my very first, I'm nervous about not having enough to sell and then actually selling it. With handmade items, you put a little bit of yourself into each and every piece, and there you are...out there to be judged by every potential customer. Will they like it enough to plop down money for something you made??

One of the items I've finished is this small book to remember birthdays and anniversaries. It measures approximately 4"x6" and is made with recycled EK Success mat board, DCWV Indian Summer paper, Jillibean Soup alpha stickers, Making Memories chipboard shapes and lots of other embellies...tied together with twine.



Each month is tabbed and includes an envelope for storing gift ideas, receipts and such. It also includes a page with the days of the month numbered and the birthstone and flower information.

I know with the size of my family, one of these comes in handy.

Well, with the long weekend and nothing to show for it, I should really get back to work. Thanks for spending some time with me.

M.

Christmas in October

I've been busy trying to get ready for the Christmas Fair that I agreed to do for the local School Boosters Club. Here are a few of the ornaments that I've finished so far.

I love these little cones. There is so much you can do with them, and they can be left as is or you could fill them with little goodies or even gift cards. I used October Afternoon paper and lots of vintage stash. I call these Victorian Cone Ornaments.

These cut little star/flower ornaments were so easy to make, but I have to admit to getting covered in glue. I used various nostalgic holiday papers from Oriental Trading Company and stash buttons. The ribbon is Martha Stewart. Again, great for the tree. I even did some in light blue and heat embossed some white chipboard snowflakes for embellishment. I was happy with the way they turned out and plan on doing some more.

Finally, I had some contact paper left over from lining my kitchen cabinets, and I thought they would make great little decorative cones. The paper design was herbs, so I took it just a little bit further and added vintage seed packet images and some little satin rose buds. I was happy with the end results. What do you think?

That's just a sampling of what I've accomplished thus far for the craft fair. It's so hard to find the time to keep up with everyday life with three girls and an ailing grandmother that my blog seems to be the one to suffer. I realize that I only have four followers, but I do feel an obligation to keep up and so I will do much better at it in the future.

Take care and have a wonderful day!
M.

Where does all the time go?

Again, sorry for the long time between posts. It's crazy as hell around my house this time of year. We're getting back into school routines (Girls Scout meetings, band practices, teacher conferences, and student council meetings). All the extra curricular activities makes for long days and shorter nights. I know that when I'm on the go all day long, it takes me a while to wind down enough in order to sleep.
I've been able to keep up with my crafting none-the-less. Whenever there is a spare minute, I'm in my office working those creative juices in order to get ready for my first craft fair on December 5th. I'm still nervous about it. Will I have enough things? Will they sell? What will my table look like compared to everyone else? Will I fit in? Normal new kid on the block jitters, I'm sure.
Here is a little sampling of what I've done as of late.

These are thank you card using scraps. In my opinion, you can never say "Thank You" enough. I'm thinking I might make these into a card set by making a few more and putting them into a handmade box. I can see it all tied up with a pretty ribbon.

This card came out just as I imagined. That's unusual for me. I used a vintage image from the internet printed on photo paper and then used up some more of my scraps. An any occasion card.

I've been really getting into the holiday cards for the fair. This is one using another vintage image. My daughter's love this one because of the cat, but I just thought it represented the innocence of the holidays....sometimes lost in all the hoopla. Again, I used scraps...I love the fact that card making uses all my paper scraps up. My office doesn't seem half as cluttered now, and my scraps bin is looking a little scarce...LOL. My husband likes the vintage look, and I think I agree with him. I have more cards that I'll post tomorrow.

My family is so supportive of my creativity. My sister asked me to make some gift tags for a friend of hers. She wanted them to look vintage with some sort of wine theme. I came up with these. I thought they came out nice. I added beads to the ties to add a little flair. She says she's going to use them whenever she gives someone a bottle of wine. Perfect!

Thanks for spending some time with me.

M.

A big decision made!

Christmas in August. Yup, I made the decision to do a craft fair on December 5th, so I've started on all the holiday cheer! I've made about 20 cards and a few Thank you card sets, a couple of web address books and a few journals so far. I realize that I have so much yet to do, but I wanted to give you a little sampling.


Have a great day!
Hugs,
Mandee

"Don't let yesterday use too much of today" ~ Erma Phillips

I'd like to start by apologizing for anyone who might read this blog on a regular basis. I haven't been so good about keeping it up to date, and for that I am truly sorry.

I have so much to catch you up on since my last post ~ I'll probably crash the blogger server! My girls started school. Miss Molly is now a big 4th grader. Seems impossible to me, but she reminds me everyday whenever I get a little overprotective. Madison is in first grade and grows bigger and smarter every time she gets off the bus at the end of the day. Time passes in a blink.



My father also turned the big 6-0 on the first day of school. He's actually taking it much better than my Mom who turned 60 a few months before, and although I hate to admit it, better than even I did with turning 40. I made this little card for him using an owl stamp from The Paper Company. I've had the stamp for quite some time now but have never found the right card to use it on. Also used Making Memories large tag, OTC cardstock frame and Thickers alpha stickers. I outlined the white letters with a black marker so they'd stand out more against the striped background.



I also made him a dry-erase TO DO board from an old frame. I included pictures of all his grandchildren with Making Memories paper, die cuts and buttons, Colorbox pigment ink, OTC stamp, Pink Paislee alpha stickers and lots of stash. He really liked it and thought it was rather creative. :0)



Not only did my father, mother and I have a big birthday, but my husband also turned 40. I went with something a bit less mushy this time. I just love the paper from Crate Paper's Static Collection. It reminds me of my husband. I also used American Crafts ribbon, Thickers felt alpha stickers and DCWV cardstock. On the inside it reads: "for 40 more (at least)".

Since I was on a roll with my father's dry-erase board, I decided to do one for my husband. I used DCWV "The Mod-Retro" paper, Autumn Leaves epoxy stickers, American Crafts alpha stickers, Colorbok alpha stickers, OTC clock stamp, and lots of stash.

Along with all the good there certainly must be some bad. I lost my Grandfather on August 29th at 89 years young. He was the foundation of our family and will be missed in more ways than I can even put into words. I created this layout of him and my Grandmother shortly before he passed. I have it framed and hanging in my office now.

I've had a really hard time getting over the fact that Bampa isn't at his usual spot at their kitchen table for coffee on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Sunday family breakfast gatherings aren't the same without his strong opinions being voiced or his dry sense of humor. It's been weeks and still my heart hurts every single day. I was told that the pain will pass and life will get back to normal, but I don't believe that normal will ever return. Not the normal I used to have. Bampa was too much a part of my every day life for normal to be anything but different from here on end. I'm not sure I'm ready for different.

A friend of mine also lost someone recently and I wanted to send her a sympathy card. I have such a hard time with sympathy cards, but I managed to make her one. I used K&Company paper, DCWV paper, vintage book page, Kaiser pearls, Fiskars edgers, Joann woven sentiment tag and a few items from my stash.

Well, I appreciate you letting me ramble on and on. I've created quite a few things over the last few weeks, but I'll save them for another day. Remember to cherish what you have and don't waste time worrying or wishing for what you don't.

Hugs,

Mandee

A day at the office...

I've been busy trying to catch up after my week of vacation. I had some cards to make for friends and family. This one is for friends who just recently lost their son unexpectantly. It was a sad day, and it makes you appreciate the time you have with your loved ones.

This card was one I did on the spur of the moment. I had these spiral journaling cards from Making Memories that I hadn't used yet, and the rest is history. I really easy card to do.

Another spur of the moment card. This one took a little more planning, but I love the way it turned out. I used Making Memories paper with Fancy Pants chipboard shapes. For the flower, I used Oriental Trading Company's large daisy. They've got quite a large supply of scrapbooking products now.

This is my very first attempt at a criss-cross card. My daughter, Molly, and I did one together the other day. I was happy with the way it came out. I used Fancy Pants paper, die-cuts and ribbon, Making Memories chipboard, OTC large daisy and a little "cherish" charm from Joann's.

Thanks for looking! Have a wonderful day!

M.