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.