it was the books' fault

Can it really be that long since I last posted?  Sorry about that.  I read a book.  Okay, 4 books. 

When I start to feel overwhelmed ( being too busy or thinking too much) I read.  Some people may drink or eat or smoke or exercise (smarter choice),  but I read.  I can enter someone else's world and forget about mine for awhile. 

Some may call that avoidance but I seem better able to handle things after I've zoned out for awhile. 

I pulled out the Nooker (Nook Color) and looked up FREE books because I'm cheap.  This one had very high ratings.  It is not the type of book I normally read.  I like historical fiction.  Historical fiction with some religion and romance thrown in and you got me.

This one had none of that. But because it had such good reviews I thought I'd try it.

Modern day girl security guard, danger, profanity and sex.  Totally not my cup of tea. 

But I gotta say; I digged it.  There are parts that are very sweet and laugh out loud funny.  Some parts are a stretch but not enough to make me stop reading. 

There are 4 books in the series with another coming out.  Check it out, the first book is free. 

This was another one I really liked.  Its not free now on the Barnes and Noble site....sorry.   There are more to the series but for some reason I like how this one ended just fine. 


Okay enough book talk.  I really just wanted to show you some bag tags I made. 

Jack of all Trades, Woodgrain and Fabulous Phrases sets.  Naturals white, old olive and crumb cake cardstock.  Pumpkin pie, old olive and black Stazon inks.  Window frame framelits, xl bird punch, hemp, big shot, sponges. 

I put these on the latest orders I delivered.  I wrote a little thank you on the back.  I hope they like them. 

I punched out the leafy branch from the bird punch and just used my fingers to curl up the stem and then just man-handled it to come around the stem of the pumpkin. 

Did you all have a nice Halloween?  This was the first Halloween that all my babies weren't home.  Yes, I might have teared up a little. 

We had a few extra girls over to trick or treat with us.  Did I get a pic of Grace by herself?  Nope.  So I cropped a pic because I knew you would want to see. 

I wanted her to wear ruby red slippers but they were against it.  She even wore a broom on her back.  We got LOTS of candy around here. 

Alrighty then, thanks for letting me share.  I promise to have more stampy projects coming up. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking things out.

Blessings, b.

Sorting Hat?

Hidey Ho!  I hope today finds you all just wonderful.  The weather is cooling off again.  It was 101 yesterday.  UGH!  (my children just informed me that I'm old because I always talk about the weather.  Well, I think the weather is interesting.....give me a break man.)

Anyway, this old lady has a little Halloween card to share. 

I don't send out Halloween cards.  Well I guess I do now because I'm going to send this to 18, along with a little care package.

Jack of All Trades and Teeny Tiny Wishes sets.  Basic black and very vanilla cardstock.  Black Stazon and more mustard inks.  Howlstooth and scarington DSP, 2 way glue pen and dazzling diamonds glitter. 

There was a card in the latest PaperCrafts magazine the used a layout something like this and so I thought I'd try it. 

Just cut strips of your DSP and lay them all wonky on the card and trim.  Great way to use up those little pieces.

You can see the glitter better here.  I can also see a cat hair in it.  Well she misses her cat so I'll just say I did that on purpose ;)

I had a hard time getting the hat to ink up completely.  Its the first time I've used this stamp and I guess I need to condition it.  (the best way to condition a stamp is to rub it with an eraser or stamp it with Versamark a few times) BUT, I decided that it looked kinda old and Sorting Hat-ish this way. 

I'm guessing everyone knows what the Sorting Hat is. 

I'm going to put this card in the box I'm sending her.  I've got some other goodies in there too.

Grace and I made her a bunch of goodies that she can give to her friends.  She'll give me a hard time that I made them but I'm hoping she will secretly enjoy it. 

Alrighty then, thats all for today.  I hope your weather is more Fall-like than around here. 

Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging out.

Blessings, b.

sour cream for everyone!

Hey there! 

On Sunday I had another workshop.  Yay me!

This time I didn't spill or ruin anything.  Yay me!

But I did forget 2 items.  Dang it! (And there was one other thing I messed up on the card we made but I'll tell you about that in a few days.  It would be so unlike me to have things go perfect.)

Lucky for me the hostess had one thing and the next door neighbor had the other thing.  So it all worked out.

Remember the sour cream containers that were so popular sooooooooooo long ago?   Well we made one.  A pumpkin one.

Jack of all Trades and Teeny Tiny Wishes set.  Tangerine tango, old olive and black Stazon inks.  Howlstooth and Scarington DSP, big shot, window frames framelits, black taffeta ribbon, word window punch, crimper and 1/8" circle punch.

Isn't it cute?  Love that crooked little smile.

Just the perfect size for some Skittles or M&M's or gummy worms or..............

I remember when I was first taught how to make one that I had never seen a sour cream container quite like this.  I guess some fast food places use this design.   I'm sure if I had a mind to I could have figured it out on my own but I though maybe some of you are like me and just don't have a mind to.  So I thought I'd do a quick little tutorial on how to make them. 

Lets begin shall we?

Mine uses a 5"x6" piece of paper.

Turn it over and lay a thin line of glue down the short end.  I used my beloved Tombow Multi glue.  This was actually too much.  A little goes a long way.

Roll it up.  You can rub the paper on the edge of your desk or bone folder to get it going in the right direction first to help you out.

One of the ladies at the workshop had the idea of using a toilet paper tube to use as a form and then you could just slide it off.

Line up your seam off to one side and stick a little glue in there and pinch closed.

Get it?

Remember your crimper?  That tool that is collecting dust in your bottom drawer?  Get it out and crimp the end just 2 or 3 clicks.

Cool eh? 

This would be the time to fill it with candy.......or jewelry......or a gift card (you might need to start out with a bigger size piece of cardstock).....or tickets......or money..............

Then squish the open end the opposite way of the closed end and lay some glue in there.......

and pinch it closed and crimp it.  Now you've got a nifty shape.

People will be in wonder at your cleverness.  Then just punch a hole in the end and tie a cute tag on and you're all good to go.

These are so easy and you can do them for any kind of occasion.  Just think, showers, wedding favors, you could make 25 of them and turn them into an Advent calendar, classroom treats......

Try using different papers too.  Vellum makes a really fancy looking one.  Its easy to make them bigger or smaller too.  Just start with a different size rectangle.


Okay, I've got one last pic to show you.  I was working in the garden........I know you've been wanting a garden update huh?.............and I saw that the top of this carrot was good size so I pulled it.  It wasn't fully grown yet but check it out:

HA!  A 3 legged carrot!  Oh my, why is it so easy for me to get a kick out of veggies.  Remember "Carrots in Love"?





Okay, I'll stop there.  Thanks so much for stopping in and hanging out.  You give me warm fuzzies........which is different and much better than the hot flashes.

Blessings, b.