Favorite Christmas Photos

I took two incredible photos this year.  One of my kids and Gracie and the other of the nine Weatherby grandkids.  Everyone looks great in the photos and my camera is amazing!

The first photo I am entering in the Let's Scrap Challenge #178.  The rules are to use one of their sketches, I chose Sketch 3-2-11; include one of their techniques, I added mosaic tiles (#49) to the layout; scrap a family event or tradition, the annual family photo; and to include actual sewing on the layout, one of the layers is sewn in place.

Here's the original sketch:



I used the left side sketch for mine:

I love this paper pack!  I bought it for 60% off at Michaels.  It's called Homemade  Holidays by Simple Stories.  I learned how to do the multi-loop bows on the Weekly Scrapper emails that I get from the Scrapbook Expo website (LOVE).  The green label on the left side is cut with my cricut Art Philosophy and CTMH label stamp.  I had the pine needle border strip from an old swap that I was in.  The heart and white/red polka dot paper were scraps.  Everything else is from the pad.  I used five different patterned papers on this layout!

This second layout is from the My Creative Sketches challenge blog.  The original sketch:



And mine:

I used the same paper pad and used NINE different pieces of patterned paper.  The only solid cardstock I used was the black for the photo mat.  I used punched hearts, CTMH stamps for the label & title, chevrons and polaroid cameras in the left corner.  The poinsettia flower is something I had from forever ago and the "Happy Holidays" was from a Cricut cartridge that I borrowed.  Oh, and a little music note washi tape to hold the title to the page.  The snowflakes and hollies around the edges are on the base patterned paper.  Did I tell you I love that paper pack? 

Check out these challenge sites at:
My Creative Sketches
Let's Scrap

Happy Holidays!

Never a Dull Holiday

Christmas and come and gone and now it's time to get organized in the Command Center.  Before I start chatting, I want everyone to know I GOT A CAMERA FOR CHRISTMAS!  I'm so excited.  It can be both a point and shoot and I can take it off auto and manually change shutter speeds, lights, etc.  It's so awesome and so unexpected. 

I got an order for five journal books so I've been working on those since my friend would like to have them to start the new year.  

Here's a few photos of them:

I still need to put Journal, Thoughts, or something like that on the covers...

and finally...

I love the new paper pads that I'm using now.  They have the kraft covers so I don't need to cover them completely.  She wanted at least two for boys so I had to think outside the box for that.  I have others that she can choose from but wanted to make a few more so she had a good selection.

Happy Holidays from the Durham family:

I strongly believe, let me rephrase that, I know that all my children are good looking but rarely do I take a photo that all four look good.  This may be the first one in a long time that they all look good even Gracie!  I just love this photo!

49er Birthday Bash

For those of you who don't know, I just turned 49 yesterday.  And since we are San Francisco 49er fans, we all wore our fan gear for our family photo.  Even Gracie is wearing a 49er t-shirt. 

So Happy 49th to me...

Love my family!

Mantel decor

And

I'm not sure if the cardboard really looks like white-washed wood, but I think the "nails" gives it that look.

The letters are made with book print.  It's hard to tell with this photo.

I wanted to decorate our mantel since we moved here and finally overcame the procrastination monster and did it!  The JOY sign is an up cycle that you know I love to do and the "subway" art is faux made from cardboard, paint, and the cricut.  I love how they turned out!

Holiday Boutique Part I

Some photos of the Holiday Boutique we participated in on December 7th:

Overall great day!  Great event, great customers, great organizers and great vendors.

Carly and I crowned our booth "Cutest Booth" at the event.  We LOVE how our upcycled shelf looked at the corner of our booth.  The little sage chair was perfect in that spot too!

Happy Holidays!

Glitter Mountain

This has nothing to do with anything, but I was cleaning an area in the Command Center and started emptying the container that I use to store my glitter.  Ummm...if you ever hear me say, I need to buy some glitter, please slap me!

I love how my glitter collection is an assortment of vintage glitter (got that from my mom's friend) and new fine glitter as well as glitter made specifically for stamping.

One more view:

So pretty!  I realized as I snapped this photo that I also have some black and fuschia glitter but of course that's in another spot.

Right now I'm working on some 3D snowflakes and I promise I'll use lots of glitter!

Have a sparkly day!

Not Just Pinning but DOING...

I am challenging myself to actually make some of the things that I'm pinning on Pinterest.  Here's the link to the project I'm working on...Santa.   And here's a photo...




 


 Now here's mine:

She attached her Santas to a bag, but I'm making little Snack Packs and will put these on a topper.  Of course I haven't taken a picture of those yet, but I will and post soon.

The Santa is made entirely using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge available through CTMH.  She gives instructions on how to make it but I'll include the shapes and sizes:

White Cardstock:
1 1/2" Button 16 Decorative Layer
2 1/2" Button 46 Layer Shift
2 1/2" Button 38 Layer Shift
3 1/2" Button 17 Shape7 (regular button)
1" Button 1 Circle1 (regular button)

Red Cardstock:
2 1/2" Button 8 Shape11 (regular button)

Skin Tone Cardstock:
1 1/2" Button 12 Oval2 (regular button)

I cut my "doily" in half instead of folding and I used a 1/4" hole punch for the nose instead of an oval but otherwise just follow the directions.  Really, once you cut out the pieces, it's easy to figure out how to put it together.

Pretty cute, huh?  It always amazes me when people think outside the box (or in this case, shape).  I would never think to use certain pieces and create this.

BTW, for those of you wondering what a Snack Pack is.  I plan on placing a microwave popcorn, cocoa packet, some candy and marshmallows in a 4x6 cellophane bag and put a topper on it.  I made these Santas and also some NFL logo inspired shapes to put on different toppers.  I'm working on putting these together today so I'll come back and post soon.

Thanks!

Nugget Tins

Here are some photos of the nugget tins I've been working on.  I have one more style that I'm doing but I need to find the right snowflake paper. 

I bought these tins a long time ago with a bulk buy group and thought I'd make them for a craft fair but never had the chance.  I sort of forgot about them until I started rummaging through my closet and found the box.  I'm really happy how they turned out.

I think these would be so perfect for teacher "Thank You" gifts or even a little something for the chocolate lovers.  They are filled with 12 nuggets.

I used the cricut for all the cut outs.

Doodlecharms:  apple
Art Philosophy:  black label and newsprint starburst
Joy of the Season:  Santa hat

Paper:  loose paper from Michael's Recollection line (apples) double sided
Union Square Recollections paper pack (vintage look)

Wine Anyone?

As promised, here are some of the wine tags I made for the swap.  I kept some of the "Subway Art" Christmas tags and the House Mouse on grapes Thank You tags.  I love the chalkboard art tags I made.  I also made a Congratulations for a new baby and a coach Thank You tag.  These little pieces of art were so easy and fun to make.  Now I need to buy some wine!  LOL
Speaking of wine, my friend brought me a bottle of some Whipped Sparkling Wine.  Don't remember from what winery, but YUM!  Mix it with orange juice and it's just like a 50/50 bar!  Dangerous!

I'm Still Here...Really, I Am

I promise I've been crafting along as always but my camera pooped out (well, actually I can't find the charger and my battery pooped out and I've been too lazy to go buy a new one).

Lately I've been making:

Wine Bottle Tags for a swap and then starting on a spree...so like me :)
Christmas Craft Fair products
Scrapbook Layouts
Birthday Cards

I'll post some photos soon.  I promise.  I am excited to report that I'm taking over my son's old iPhone to take photos and blog from there.  In case I never told you, I am probably one of the very few that does not own a cell phone.  It's sort of my thing not to have one.  Who knows why?  I surely don't, but it's definitely a conversation starter.  Anyhow, he upgraded to the iPhone 5 and his other phone was just sitting there and I thought, hey I can use it for the camera and internet.  So, my daughter is going to show me how to work it and I'll have no more excuses.

So...look for that soon.

Thanks for hanging in there for me.  

Handcrafters' Holiday Boutique

Lots of photos from the boutique we did last Saturday.  It was such a great event.  Lots of great vendors!  Lots of shoppers and great customers.  We weren't sure how this would go since our last boutique this time of year didn't go so well, but we did great!  Exceeded our sales goal and the time went so fast.  We'll do this one again.

80th Birthday

Here's another layout I completed this weekend.  I wish we would have taken more photos, but two photos is better than none.

We celebrated Grandpa Charles' 80th birthday at Vasona Park in Los Gatos.  It was nice to see the family and also extended family.

The layout is based on this sketch at My Creative Sketches:



And here's my layout:

The "0" was obviously cut way too big, but instead of tossing it, I thought it would make the layout a little quirky and you know how much I love quirky! 

Another layout full of just paper embellishments.  Quick and Easy but that's how I like it!

July 4th Fireworks Fun

Ok, I'll admit it.  I take the worst pictures!  This two page layout was started with this sketch:



Check out the Let's Scrap challenge blog.  I haven't participated in awhile because I've been busy making items for the craft faire, but yesterday Carly, Karen, Callie and I attended the CYC 2nd Annual Fundraiser Crop in Modesto.  I finished cropping all the photos I wanted and some other projects as well.

Get to the blog by clicking here.

What's Poppin'?

Lots and lots of tootsie pop holders, that's what.

I made lots of these tootsie pop holders for the All Handcrafter's Fall Boutique which is being held next Saturday, October 12th in Manteca.

I figured I'd cover all happenings in October.  Thanksgiving, Fall, Halloween, Football Season and Breast Cancer Awareness.  I'm also making some "50 Sucks" holders for my sister, Sherry's 50th birthday on October 14th.  If I have time, I'll make more just because they are so cute, quick and easy!

You start with a 7x2" strip of cardstock and score at 2 1/8, 3 3/8, 5 1/2, and 6 1/4.  Punch a hole in the area between the 5 1/2 and 6 1/4 score marks.  I used my crop-a-dile to cut a lot of the holes at once.  I cut a 1 3/4 x 1 3/4 square of patterned paper and adhered to the front panel and then decorated.

Thanksgiving Blessings:  leaves are an old Stampin' Up set, label punch from Stampin' Up! (SU!)
Pumpkin:  cut from the Simply Scarecrow Cricut cartridge at 2 1/2"
Halloween Witch:  Greeting Card Kids Stamp set from SU!, red bling w/hand drawn spider legs/web
Football:  Scallop and circle punches from SU!, Football cut from Sports Authority Cricut cartridge and the stamp is from CTMH Play Ball stamp set
Breast Cancer Awareness:  Scallop and circle punches from SU!, pink ribbon from the CTMH Artbooking Cricut cartridge at 2 1/2"

I'm entering the Decorate to Celebrate challenge since I think these would make great Halloween favors, giveaways, treats, whatever!  In fact, I'll probably bring some in to my coworkers before the end of the month.  To check out more challenges on Decorate to Celebrate challenge site click here.

Boo Boxes

I've been creating things for the October 12th Fall Boutique I'm participating in but it's hard to know how much and what will sell during this time.  Of course, I'm thinking Halloween, but do people buy Halloween crafts?  I guess we'll find out.

I had these plain white boxes for awhile and knew one day I'd do something with them.  Well, I wish I would have saved the other nine that came with them, but live and learn.

I just put together some random stuff and came up with these three different treat boxes.  The paper is old Stampin' Up! paper from I think 2 years ago.  The blank fringe I made with black crepe paper.  I love fringe! 

Over the Hill

I'm so excited to be asked to be a Guest Designer on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge blog.  Click here to see more ideas and challenges.

I selected the "Over the Hill" theme to participate in since a lot of my friends and family are starting to reach milestone birthdays (including myself next year). 

I made this "Over the Hill" crown for the 50th Birthday Girl to wear on her special day.

A giveaway crown from Burger King was used as the base.  I selected two different black/white patterned paper and used my xyron to put adhesive on the back.  The pink circle was cut using my Art Philosophy cricut cartridge (available through CTMH).  The fringe was made by stacking black/white/pink crepe paper together and sewn down the middle.  After it's sewed together, I cut strips every 1/4" or so (I really need to get one of those shredding scissors) and then use my hands to crinkle the fringe.  The number "50" and the "Over the Hill" sentiment were also cut with the cricut.

These crowns are so much fun to make and by using the already prepared crown makes it so easy to finish!  By the way, I always ask for two crowns every time I go to BK.  They must think I have a couple of grandchildren, but only I know my secret...tee hee hee!

Cartridges used:
Art Philosophy
Over the Hill