Back To School Cool~

Today is the day! You know, the one where we trade lazy mornings for up with the sun and rush to get everyone ready and out the door. The kids were all up early, filled with first day excitement and nerves.

Some wise people say "happy wife, happy life." I personally subscribe to the theory that a well caffeinated teacher is a happy one! So, it really can't hurt to start the year off with a little "getting to know you" gift. Seriously, though I just spent an entire Summer with my children and I appreciate how hard teachers work! The mini glassine gift bags are from Target, and unfortunately I can't remember where the Washi tape is from. I decided to keep it simple, (especially since in true Steph fashion, I left it to the last minute) $5 gift card, a few Cafe Rio Coffee caramels and the card. Easy breezy!

The card is nothing to write home about but seeing as how I stamp so infrequently these days I'm putting it out there. The stamp is from a retired? Stampin' Up! set that has been collecting dust, and desperately wanted to be come out and play. :)

Oh, yeah Martha Stewart's got nothing on me! ;) I had this whole back to school lunch thing planned out in my head last night, fresh fruit salad, PB&J "Sushi", and homemade granola, of course it really would have been helpful if I had ensured that we had the ingredients for this dream meal or if the children would eat it. 

What would BTS be without the first day photos? Some were more cooperative then others. Just one more I hissed, no don't touch your sister, please, just smile, we are almost done! Oy! 7:45am and I already need a break, sure hope I can convince the three year old that "big girls" take naps, I know this one needs one. How many more days until Winter break?

xoxo,

Hoedown Time~

Happy Wednesday to you! It's Hambo Hoedown time again! This week we have a really fun challenge. Use a Hambo image and create a project that incorporates a tag. I love tags! They are usually quick and easy to create and they add the perfect touch to a gift!

 This cute little guy is Monster. He is accompanied by Beast Friends Forever. The base of my tag is a Spellbinders scallop circle, My Favorite Things Open Scallop Doily Duo Die-namic and Stampin' Up! scallop circle punch. The sentiment is stamped on a Stampin' Up! Curly Label. I colored Monster in with Copics. My boys just love this image! Be sure to stop by the Hoedown and check out the other DT samples. They are adorable! Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Pixie Magnet~

This week over at Pixie Dust Studio the challenge was to create anything but a card. I have to admit that lately that really is a challenge for me. I decided to create a fun little refrigerator magnet. 

Sorry for the glare. After I colored my Pixie in with Copic Markers (which I LOVED doing), I arranged her on my cardstock base. Basically it was like creating a card front. I was mindful to use only flat embellishments. Just before I laminated it with my Xyron I added two sticky backed magnet strips to it.

Easy Peasy! I give you a simple fridge magnet! Sorry I haven't included more detail. My 5 month old isn't sleeping much at night and therefore neither am I. I am seriously drained. Thanks for stopping by. 

Perfect Package~

It's time for another My Favorite Things Guest Designer contest. The theme for October is "Perfect Package". I had to think about this theme for a few days. Then it hit me. Well it was pretty obvious really! HALLOWEEN! It's seasonally appropriate, one of My Favorite holidays, and I just got the new Pure Innocence Little Witch from the last MFT release! KISMET! So here is my perfect package~ Halloween style...

What we have here is a card, goody bag with gift tag topper, candle (for decoration only, not to be lit), decorative jar of candy corns, and a candy bucket. I used a lot of the same elements to help tie all of the items together. Cute little witch PI is paper pieced and colored with Copic Markers. I think the thing I love the most about this set is that just by changing a few basic elements it would be perfect for any gift giving occasion (Christmas, baby shower, Valentines Day, Mother's Day etc...). 

The Candle and Goody Bag have basically the same tag, give or take a few elements. I hand rolled the black seam binding roses. The "Boo" banner on the card and banner around the candy corn jar is fabric that I ran through the Big Shot with my MFT Pennant Die-namic. Once I had punched out a whole bunch I threaded them with a needle and voilà instant mini banner! :) I have to admit discovering this made me ridiculously happy! LOL! The candy bucket is from Target Dollar Spot. I wrapped it in the same fabric (that I got at Joanns) and attached my ribbon combo and layered tag.

Here's a close up of the goody bag. The topper is a Fabric Top Note Die and then my layered tag. A bit of SU! and Offray ribbon complete the look and keep the cello bag closed and the goodies inside! :)

The card features a "BOO" banner. The letters are old Creative Memories letter stickers but, any small white letters would do! Since my Janome and I are still not speaking I faux stitched around my card with my Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen. The candle is pretty basic. I wrapped it with fabric and attached my layered tag. This is definitely for decoration only. No fire please! ;) That's it in a nut shell. I had a lot of fun creating this ensemble. If you have any questions please let me know in the comments. I really hope that I get the chance to play along with the uber talented girls at MFT and share more amazing projects with you as the Guest Designer. It would be a huge honor! The other entries into this months contest are seriously amazing! You can check out all of the eye candy here! I wish all of the girls who entered the best of luck! Stop back later in the week for a step by step tutorial on how I created my layered tag. I may even try out a few themes.:) As always thanks for looking!

I Played Here~

The Pink Elephant~ Trick or Treat

Ribbon Carousel Challenge #23- Anything Goes

Scrap Creations~ Fall 

Crafty Ribbons Challenge~ Halloween

Supplies~ Cardstock- SU!, Ink- SU!, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen. Stamps- MFT Pure Innocence, Verve Sweet Scallop Tag, Bountiful Harvest. Die-namics- MFT Fancy Flourish, Open Scallop Border, Open Scallop Doily Duo, Pennant. Cut Above Die- Verve Sweet Scallop. Ribbon- SU!, Offray, Divine Twine (MFT), Seam Binding. Flowers- Prima. Fabric & Candle- Joanns. Metal Bucket- Target. Thread- Coats and Clark. 

Tag You're It!~

It has been a most productive stamping day I must say. I have one more project to share with you. I just couldn't let the week pass me by without playing along with the Pixie Dust Studio challenge. I do look forward to it each week! The images are just so darned cute, and fun to color too! This week we had to create a tag or at least a project that incorporated a tag. 

I just LOVE this little Pearl of Wisdom Pixie. The first time I saw her I knew I wanted to create a book mark for my niece Hannah Faith, and that is exactly what we have here. The DP is Basic Grey with machine stitching. My machine and I are not exactly on speaking terms yet but, at least it didn't eat the bookmark/tag. :) The stamp and bracket label are both MFT. Ribbon is SU!, as is the cardstock and ink. I colored Miss Pearl in with Copics. The chipboard letters are Bazzill. I have something really fun to share tomorrow. Stay tuned! :)

I Played Here~
Totally Stampalicious~ Make A Bookmark
PIO Challenge #35- Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
My Time To Craft- Challenge #154 Here Come The Girls
Crop Stop Challenge #34- Anything Goes
Ruby's Rainbow Challenge #10- Stitching
Paper Play Challenge 34- Back to School
Stamp Something- Back To School
Totally Papercrafts #81- Back To School
Allsorts- Back to School

Buttons~

Happy Monday morning! It's a new week and that means another fabulous Elizabeth Mae's challenge. So here it is~ Buttons! We all have 'em and now it's time to use them on your fantastic projects! Here's what I created.

It's a place card favor holder featuring the Angel Girl digi. She is super sweet colored with Copic markers. I gave her freckles, just 'cause i could. :) The inside of the holder houses a sweet treat. I think that I am going to make these for my 3 year old's birthday party. They are super easy to throw together! 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to play along this week at Elizabeth Mae's for your chance to win a free digi!

Supplies~ Cardstock, Ink, Eyelet Punch, Corner Rounder, Scallop Circle, Ribbon, Letter Stamps. Stampin' Up!- Copic Markers.- DSP. MME- Buttons. Craft Store-

Corner Bookmark~

Happy Monday everyone. Here we are a the beginning of a brand new week which means a brand new Elizaberth Mae's Challenge. This week's challenge is to create Anything but a Card. I have to tell you I have been in a card making groove lately and to switch gears and make a Non-Card was quite the challenge. Still it was a lot of fun! I chose a Corner Bookmark for my not a card project. 

This adorable little lady is Wink, Wink Emma. I colored her up with Copics and punched her out with my SU! Curly Label punch. She is sitting on top of a bed of mixed Prima's. I layered her with some Colorbok Flea Marker DP and a little Bakers Twine. My SU! eyelet border punch finished the job.

Here you can see the back of the bookmark. A little more DP and a button are a perfect combination. These corner bookmarks are easy and fun to make. You can find an excellent tutorial here by Beate Johns. Thanks again for stopping by. Be sure to head over to the Elizabeth Mae's blog and see the other fabulous DT samples! TTFN~

Good Morning~

Good morning crafty bloggers! I have a really fun little project to share with you this morning but first I want to share the reason that I am having such a good morning! As I sat down with my cup of coffee this morning and checked out all of the latest challenges I realized that my card was chosen as the winner for last weeks Pixie Dust Studio Challenge! This was very exciting news to me and definitely made my morning! It was especially lovely because, I had such a hard time with that particular card. LOL. Anywho, back to today's project.

What we have here is a fun little bookmark featuring one of the new CS Designs House and Home Sentiments. This sentiment was so fabulous to work with. The hearts are colored in with Copic markers, I saturated around the outside of each heart with my colorless blender and got this cool bleeding effect. I liked it! I wanted to create something that wasn't a card. The fabulous little house is constructed out of Basic Grey scraps. There is lot of chocolate chip ink going on here. I also use a fantastic canvas tag from Making Memories (The flowers & buttons are from the same line). The ribbon is SU! I can never have enough bookmarks so this is kinda perfect. I can't wait to sit down and create something else with this fabulous little digi sentiment. Thanks for stopping by!