Hippity Hoppity

If you are an avid reader of my blog, then you know I am definitely still a kid at heart...which completely explains why I love the website "Mr. Printables"...it is chock full of fun, free printable downloads for kids! Check out these ADORABLE Bunny Party Favor Bags - aren't they just the cutest...and you can make them in a matter of minutes (seriously) with very few supplies. First of all you need a computer, Internet connection, and a printer...and I am guessing if you are visiting my blog, you have all three...next you need a several pieces of white cardstock or heavy paper (which many of us have on hand). Do you have your paper loaded in the printer, yet?? Okay, so now click on this link for the Bunny Party Favor Bags - you can now easily download and print four (yes, I said FOUR!) different Bunny Bags for FREE! - there is one large and one small pink bunny...one titled "Strippy Jumper" and one titled "Woolly Socks" (which are both small - meaning each fits on one piece of 8.5" x 11" cardstock). Once you have the selection you want printed, you will need scissors, a scoring tool/board (don't fret, a bone-folder or pen cap works great for scoring), a craft knife, and a glue stick...you can find all those things around the house, can't you?? Now, time for the "crafty" part, cut on the solid lines, score on the dashed lines, and use a craft knife to cut the two lines where shown (this is where the ears fit through)...fold on the score lines...and glue where it notes "glue"...that's all there is to it...easy peasy! There is also an stinkin' cute Frog Favor Bag and it has step by step directions and photos of how to put a favor bag together...wouldn't the Frog Favor Bag be fun for a stitching retreat?! The last and final step is to fill your bag(s) with treats...and maybe a little Easter grass or tissue paper. Fun, easy, and affordable...and you can make them for or with children (or a big kid, like me)...and simply precious...

Decorative Pin and Button Packages

Those of you who read my blog regularly will not be surprised by this post - it combines several of my favorite things: decorative pins, buttons, fancy ribbons, pretty papers, and gift giving! What you may not know is: I have always been fascinated by Origami - the traditional Japanese art of paper folding...as a child, I checked every book out of the local library on the subject....and I was always trying my hand at folding special treasures. It was only natural to combine all of these loves into decorative pin and button packs. I used pretty papers and cardstocks to fold holders with a pocket on the front and and a pocket on the back...and then tied them together with fancy coordinating ribbon. The front pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized heart straight pins...and the back pocket holds a card of 5 decorative pearlized leaf straight pins...and attached in the center is a poly bag of 24 matching buttons. The holder is tied with approximately a 1/2 yard of decorative ribbon and is placed in a transparent bag tied with tulle. Each packages is different and unique...and I have already put together 25 sets. I will slowly be adding them to my Etsy shop over the next several days. As a member of several stitching/sewing groups, I have always looked for gifts I could make/purchase in bulk, so I could have a present for each member - these are just perfect for that scenario....don't they look adorable all packaged up and ready for gift giving?! I have enjoyed working on these between my hours of model stitching - they have been a nice creative break...

I know several of you are waiting for needlebooks in additional fabrics to be listed in the shop and that will happen in the next couple weeks - I have a pile cut and ready to be pieced together...just give me a little additional time, as I am currently stitching several class models for upcoming events. As always, so many creative ideas and endeavors and not enough "play" time...

Bottle Cap Magnets

Today is a better day - head cold is still here, but stomach flu symptoms are diminishing and I am able to function. Thank you all for your well wishes!

This afternoon, I had fun finishing up some bottle cap magnets while watching the Michigan football game (WAY TO GO BLUE!!!) - another simple task that I could manage with my miserable cold. The materials list is pretty small to make these beautiful bottle caps: pretty papers or stickers, glue, scissors (a 1" round circle punch helps tremendously), magnets, bottle caps, and Diamond Glaze by Judy Kins. There are many good instructions, tutorials, and videos on this subject (some use different materials) - if you are interested in making your own magnets, just do a Google search and you will get lots of great advice. I managed to finish-up twelve magnets today -which will be holiday gifts....and I have pretty paper picked out for another batch in the near future...

This rest of this afternoon, I plan to try to do a little model stitching...as much as I can handle on cold medication...I am ALMOST finished with the model for "Beauty In Simplicity" and I want to get it to the framer this week - then I plan to continue work on the "Friendship Blooms" model...

A New Toy - A New Creative Spark!

A brand new toy arrived on my doorstep this week, courtesy of My Crafter Corner! My Craft Corner is an online community for all types of crafters and artisans - this community with over 1,500 members has all sorts of groups, forums, and member pages, all full of creativity and inspiration. Each year they have a "Meet & Greet" contest where the grand prize is a Cricut Expression cutting machine...and this year, I happened to be the big winner (I can't believe it - I am still in awe)! I never expected to receive such a generous prize simply for meeting other creative people. I actually received two prize packages - one containing two Cricut cartridges and one containing the Cricut Expressions machine (and it had two additional cartridges!). I am not a big scrapbooker, so I wasn't as familiar with this personal cutting system as I probably should have been...but once I watched the enclosed DVD and saw what it's capabilities were, I was blown away by this amazing prize! If you read my blog often, then you know I am a huge stationery fan and love to send notes in the mail - when I found out I could make my own cards and gift tags, I was over-the moon!

After looking at the manual and viewing the enclosed DVD, I jumped in and loaded a piece of white card stock - I just started cutting/trying different shapes and sizes, getting used to how the machine worked...oh my goodness, was I ever impressed...all of a sudden my mind was working overtime thinking of all the creative aspects and how to incorporate this machine into my already overflowing studio...I was inspired more than I ever imagined! After understanding how the machine worked and trying a couple different cartridges, I decided to jump in and make my first card - I opted for a thank you note - cutting a dark brown card and beige envelope...then cutting the letters for THANKS and a couple flowers and a heart - WOW, I made one on my first try - it is not the most exciting and it is far from perfect, but I am learning!

Okay - so now I have another new crafting addiction...I know, just what I needed...I have already purchased some beautiful papers and cardstock...and I have a couple more cartridges on the way. If you have one of these fancy schmancy machines and have any tips or tricks for me, please pass them along...and if you have favorite cartridges, I would love to know what they are, as well...

Thank you to My Craft Corner for such a phenomenal contest prize...and for sparking my creativity...