A big order on etsy!

This week, I got a convo on etsy from a lady that works for Rowe Fine Furniture, a furniture manufacturer, asking if I would be interested in a big order. They have a new line of furniture by an international fashion designer and she wanted me to make marble magnets using pictures of the exclusive fabrics.

How cool is that?! I'm still not sure why she chose me out of all the sellers on etsy that sell marble magnets. It was just a special blessing from God.

There are 12 new fabrics, so 12 magnets in each set. I was so excited to see that 12 magnets fit perfectly into the rectangle tin that I use for my refrigerator scrapbooks.


So, we chatted back and forth and she requested 55 sets (that's like 110 of my 6-magnet sets!). I told her I could have them finished in 2 1/2 weeks. Am I crazy? I'm not sure...

I've placed my order for more rectangle tins and neodymium magnets and I've bought enough glass marble gems to sink a boat. I think I'm ready.

I'm looking forward to the challenge and the sense of accomplishment that I know will come when I finish such a large order.

But my fingers may never be the same again...

Slave Labor

Well, we've started consistently doing chores around here. Okay, I already was doing them, but now I've allowed my children to partake in the great joy that one receives as a result of doing chores on a daily basis.

Ever since I posted about wanting the boys to have regular chores, I've been "testing" them to see what they can do. I have been pleasantly surprised to see all that they are capable of and how eager they are!

I'm also wondering why I didn't start this sooner! These kids are a huge help!

I took popsicle sticks and wrote the boys' chores out, one on each stick. Then I used baby food jars (the large ones) and decorated them. I know, I know, that step was unnecessary, but it was fun!

Russell got an alien in a space ship:


And Randall got a rocket ship:


As you can see, each boy gets two jars. One has "To Do" on it and the other has "Done". I choose the chores each morning and put them in the "To Do" jar. As they finish them, they, obviously, move the popsicle sticks to the "Done" jar.

I also have extra chores that they can do (after they've finished their regular ones) and they can earn extra money for doing them. They are marked with a red dot so I remember that they are extra. And, I have an extra jar for the chores that aren't necessary that day (like emptying the trash or putting away clean clothes, etc).


I still haven't decided how much they will get for an allowance (One dollar? Two dollars?), so I don't know how much the extra chores should be worth either. Ten cents each? A quarter?

I'm going to list out what each boy has for chores and I'd love advice if anyone has other chores that their kids are doing at my boys' ages!

Russell (7):
Make bed
Put dirty clothes away (this is done throughout the day and moved to "Done" at the end)
Put clean clothes away (when I do laundry, he takes his clean clothes and hangs them up or puts them in drawers--neatly)
Gather and take out recycling
Take trash out
Empty dishwasher
Help load dishwasher
Water garden (Russ and Rand rotate between the veggie garden in the back and the flower garden--if you can call it that--in the front)
Set table
Clear table
Pick up toys (throughout the day)
Read (for 20-30 minutes)
Write in journal (this one is just during the summer to keep his brain sharp) :-)
Practice piano (this one won't be done much during the summer because he gets a break while his piano teacher has and gets adjusted to a baby!)

Some of his "chores" (like practice piano or read) aren't really chores, but they are in there to remind him and help make them good habits.

Randall (5):
Make bed
Put dirty clothes away
Put clean clothes away
Empty small trashcans (we have two in the bathrooms and one in the computer desk; he empties them all into the lightest, empties that into the kitchen trash and returns all cans to their original spots)
Empty dishwasher (silverware and stacking bottom rack items on the counter for Russ to put in the cabinets)
Water garden
Set table
Clear table
Pick up toys
Read (with me listening for 10-15 minutes)
Practice handwriting (again, just during the summer)

Extra chores:
Wipe prints off around light switches
Help make a meal
Clean toilet
Sweep bathroom
Vacume bedroom
Wipe down kitchen table
Read extra (they can also do this for extra Wii minutes)
Fold towels


Some of these still require my supervision, but I've been so pleased with their willingness to help and with how teachable they've been to my instruction on how to do the chores!

Friday was our "first official day of summer vacation" and it was a great day! The rule for the summer will be that chores must be done and kids dressed (teeth brushed, etc) before anyone can play the Wii, ride bikes, etc. Monday, everything (minus reading and "school work") was finished by about 8:15! I was shocked! I know that not all days will go that smoothly and that some days, it might be a battle to get them to do what they're supposed to do, but I feel like our summer is off to a great start!

The kids also help get the mail, dust and whatever other things I think to ask them to do. I don't know why I didn't start this sooner. Maybe I didn't realize what they were capable of.

Last night, Slade and I went to Shreveport to celebrate our 10-year anniversary (a month late, but better late than never!) and the boys packed their bag with no help from me! Then when we got home today, they both unpacked their things *and* put them where they belonged. Normally, I just do things like that myself because it's easy and I don't think to have them do it.

I'm so proud of them!

Any tips on other chores they can add to their repertoire? What about allowances? I was thinking a dollar in quarters, with .25 going to church and .25 going to savings, leaving them with fifty cents of their own. Or two dollars, one in quarters, one a dollar bill, with .50 going to church, .50 to savings and one dollar for them. I know it's not an even 10%, but they don't understand percentages yet and it's easier to divide out that way.

Well, we're enjoying blasting off to chores!


And, I leave you with a joke.

What did the alien say to the rose bush?

Take me to your weeder!

Ba-da-dum!

Mother's Day Love

I don't think I've blogged before about the photo pendants and photo magnets I am making and selling in my etsy store, so I figured Mother's Day was a perfect time to tell you about them!

Warning: Shameless plug to follow!

Show off those loved ones (human and furry) with a custom photo pendant, made using your favorite picture.

There are three sizes available: (bottom, counter-clockwise to top--yeah, that was a random way to arrange them, I know) small square, rectangle and large square.


Each pendant is made using smooth glass tiles and the photo(s) of your choice, which is e-mailed to me for resizing and printing.

The small square glass tile pendant measures 7/8" x 7/8" (23 x 23 x 5 mm) and includes a small sterling silver-plated bail.


The rectangle glass tile pendant measures approximately 1 3/4" x 7/8" and includes a large sterling silver-plated bail.

Pendants can be vertical:


or horizontal:


The large square glass tile pendant measures approximately 1 3/4" x 1 3/4" and includes a large sterling silver-plated bail.


The back of the necklaces will be sealed with a clear acrylic gloss to make them more durable, but they are not water-proof.


I can also make photo magnet sets. Photo magnets are sold individually, so you can decide how many tiles you want in your set(s).


Magnets come in a small, round metal tin, perfect for gift-giving or storing the magnets.


Pendants and magnets can be in color, black and white or sepia. You can edit your photo or just e-mail me and tell me how you would like me to edit it. I will crop your picture for the best fit for the tile size you choose.


16-18" silver ball chain necklaces, as well as black leather or brown leather necklaces, can also be purchased to make the gift ready-to-wear. Necklaces are an extra $2.50. The leather cords do not fit inside the bail on the small pendants, so only the ball chain necklaces will work with the small photo pendants.


So, how does it work? I'm so glad you asked! Okay, so you didn't ask, but I'm so glad you are still reading so I can pretend you asked...

E-mail your photo(s) to me at redrhino4@sbcglobal.net.

Include:
* what size pendant you want/how many magnets you want
* whether you want color, black/white or sepia coloring
* any special instructions for cropping
* what necklace you want, if any

Personalized gifts are perfect for wives (if there are any guy reading this), as well as for the grandmothers of your children (aka mothers and mothers-in-law).

Pendants and magnets take 2-4 days to make, so e-mail soon to get yours in time for Mother's Day!

Shamless plug is now over. Thanks for humoring me.

Now go say to your wife: "Hypothetically speaking, say a wonderful husband wanted to have a necklace made for you using our child(ren)'s picture for Mother's Day, which picture would you want on it? Hypothetically speaking, of course. Just humor me." And then smile to yourself because you are so subtle that she will never guess what wonderful present you are planning for her.

Another SMS Giveaway!

And just in time for Christmas!

I discovered a wonderful blog called Bloggy Giveaways a while back. Every day, a new company is featured and a giveaway is hosted for their products or for a gift certificate to their website. I won a gift certificate to... well, I won't tell you yet; that's a whole 'nother post!

Anyway, you, too, can be a winner! Unfortunately, I can't remember what Melanie, the genius behind the blog, is giving away for me... I *think* I am giving away 3 gift certificates... I think. Anyway, whatever it is, I'm sure it's good! Not that I'm a little biased.

So, go ahead and enter! I'd love to have one of my friends win!

In case you were wondering about the title, SMS is Scrapbooking Made Simple. If you didn't know that, then I hope you win so you can know it forever and ever after. Amen.

Jackpot!

This morning, my mom called and asked if I wanted to go garage saling. I hadn't showered, the house was a mess, Randall was still in jammies... Sure!

We had a great time and so did the kids! We had Randall, Josh, Julia and Ally. My mom gave each kiddo a ziplock bag with $2 or $3 in quarters so they could be on the look out for treasures and we headed out.

We went to about 8 or so garage sales and just had a good time. My mom didn't buy as much as I did, but she was still happy with her purchases.

And I was very pleased with my finds!

The whole kit and kaboodle:


I found brown sandals, perfect condition, for a buck. An ornament hanging thingy that I can use when I want to take pictures of things for my etsy shop that need to hang (handmade ornaments, etc). A roll of crochet thread that I use when I make hanging tags for gifts. And two battleship games, one big one and one for travel.

More in detail:

I got this pretty wooden dresser at one of the early sales for $5! And it's in mint condition! The drawers are super long and will hold... well, I haven't exactly decided what they will hold yet. Any advice?


I also found these two holiday containers. The top one is glass with a clear lid. It will be perfect for Halloween candies to give to a teacher next year. It is in brand new condition. I paid $0.25 for it! The bottom one is plastic and has poinsettias around it. Perfect for taking Christmas cookies to all those Christmas parties that I know are just around the corner. I think it was also twenty-five cents.


Last is one of my favorite finds--a huge stack of practically new condition Golden Books. Unfortunately, they were fifty cents each and the lady wasn't budging. I decided it was worth it because I want to use them to make these journals I've seen all over the web. I have the binding machine and all. They are really in such good condition that I probably got them for a good price.


So, all in all, a great trip! Everyone came back to my house for egg salad sandwiches (my mom and me) and chicken nuggets (the non-egg eaters...).

It was a fun, impromptu trip and I'm glad we were free to do it!

Feeling a tad bit prudish?

I am sitting in the computer room at the Hilton-South Lake, waiting for the other girls from our MOPS steering team. We are at MOPS convention and are having an absolute blast! But, of course, I have to check my e-mail...

And, I'm glad I did because two of my refrigerator scrapbooks are being given away TODAY on A Tad Bit Prudish's blog! Go here for your chance to win one of two tins being given away!

I can personalize your tin, too... for a small fee. Oh, no, I mean, for you, free! Well, for everyone, free, but for you, too! So, go check it out!

I'm off!

...As in, I'm out of here, not I'm "off"... Anyway...

I'm heading to Dallas this weekend with about 5 other ladies for our scrap weekend. I missed the last one and I'm really looking forward to this! I have pumpkin muffins, pimiento dip with crackers, some of the fixins for our taco dinner tonight and a plan. The plan is to scrap til I cr... Um, that's not right. There's not a good word that rhymes with scrap. Let's try this... The plan is to crop til I drop. There, that's what I meant.

So, Slade will be single-handedly preparing food for the boys, keeping the house clean (someone's coming to see it tomorrow), keeping the boys clean and doing all the fun Mr. Mom stuff all weekend. And, I'll be scrapping. Did I mention that already?

I'm looking forward to it and I hope to get a lot accomplished. I enjoy getting a "Me Break" every once in a while. I don't have to be Wifey, Mommy or anything else. I get to just be Me. Okay, I really get to be Me even as Wifey and Mommy, but I enjoy being Me without any responsibilities.

So, here's to being Me without any responsibilities except to scrap. That's my mission. I choose to accept it.

I'm not sweating, but I bet you are!

How do you like my title? We made it to Colorado, safe and sound, although it took us longer than we expected... More on that later.

But, the weather here is beautiful! 30's at night and 70's during the day. Beautiful!! We've been hiking, shopping, played in snow (in shorts and short-sleeve shirts!) and just had a great time.

I'll do more of a play-by-play when we get home because Chad and Laura have dial-up and it takes longer. Right now, we're in Grand Lake at the public library, so I thought I'd say hi. We're going touristy shopping (my favorite!) shortly.

Head over to my scrapbooking blog for a chance to win a refrigerator scrapbook. Tip Junkie is doing a give-away through her blog for different Mom-prenuers and I'm one of them! :-) So, if you've always wanted a refrigerator scrapbook, and I know you have, haven't you?!, then go post on my blog and then on hers.

Have a great day and I'll blog ya later!

Wish you were here...

Actually, I wish *I* wasn't here. Well, I wish I was planning to not be here. I mean, I wish I were planning and packing and getting ready to leave here. Hmmm, have I confused you? 'Cause I've confused me, too.

What I mean to say is that a group of my friends are, at this very moment, all happily packing and preparing for a scrapbook weekend in Dallas. I am not. I am blogging and thinking about the load of towels I should go fold, since I don't have anything else to do right now. Wah.

The past month and a half have been pretty busy and about a month ago, when Slade and I were talking about future weekends, he said, "We seem to be pretty busy and it looks like you're going to be gone for 3 weekends out of the next 6. Is there something you can give up?"

What I should have said is, "No. But thanks for asking."

Instead, I said, "Well, I've already paid for the BSF retreat and I might not ever get to go on another one, so I can't give it up. I've already paid for the craft fair (coming up next weekend--May 10th!), so I can't give that up. I guess I can give up the, gulp, scrapbook weekend."

To which he should have replied, "Oh, no, dearest, I would never ask you to give up your scrapbook weekend."

Instead, he said, "Great. Thanks, sweetie."

So, here I am, missing out on a super fun weekend away with girlfriends, laughter, lots of food and lots of scrapbooking.

But...if I were to be completely honest (and I shouldn't even have to say that if I'm always completely honest, should I? Hmmm...), anyway, to be completely honest, although I am bummed that I won't be there, I am relieved to have this weekend with no big plans. We have been busy and it can get overwhelming. I also would hate to be gone two weekends in a row.

So, here's to sleeping in tomorrow, getting no scrapbooking accomplished, but spending lots of fun time with my family. *Cheers!*

Strange Weekend...

It's been a kinda strange weekend so far.

Slade left Thursday morning to go out of town for work. That was the night Randall threw up.

Friday, Randall said he felt fine all day, but ate hardly anything. That night was the crop night at my friend, Jennifer's. Since Randall had been fine, I took Christy up on her offer to watch the kids while I scrapped. She offered to keep them all night! That was easier for both of us, rather than me coming in around midnight to get them. She was planning to bring all 4 kids to me so she could go to one of Rebecca's jewelry shows and then put in a few hours at work.
So, last night, I scrapbooked from about 7 (I got there at 6, but just chatted and dilly-dallied until 7) to about 11:30 or so. As I was getting ready to leave, my friend, Christy, said, "I don't want to jinx you, but are you going to be okay by yourself?" I hadn't even thought about the fact that I would be completely alone in a dark house. Yikes.

But, she didn't jinx me because it just gave me time on the drive home to pray for God's peace and reminders that my overly active imagination is not from Him. It was very strange having the house completely to myself. A very good strange, but still strange. It might be many moons before that ever happens again.

I played on the computer a little and was in bed around 12:20. I had a few times of irrational fears, but I just prayed and reminded myself that they were just that, irrational. And, God was good. I fell asleep pretty quickly and slept wonderfully.

As I was laying in bed, before falling asleep, I was just thinking about how blessed we are. We have a huge (in comparison to other countries... and even to many in America) house and lots of JUNK to fill it. We don't have to cram into a one-room shack or sleep bundled under piles of blankets to stay warm or anything. It made me very thankful for all we have.

Then, when I woke up at 6:15--what was that?!--I was able to be lazy in bed and I even fell back asleep until about 8. The phone ringing actually woke me up, but I needed to be up anyway.

As I was getting ready (in a quiet house with no one needing help with anything!), I called Christy and offered to come get the kids since I was planning to go to the scrapbook store (which is on her side of town) for their garage sale. So, I picked up all four kids (Kyle had to work this morning, too, and then he's coming to get the kids for Josh's soccer game shortly) and we headed to the scrapbook store.

None of the kids wanted to play in the play area, so I warned them that they would have to stand near me and not run around or rough house while I shopped. Unfortunately, there wasn't really anything good left. I bought a baggie of unmounted stamps for .75, but that was it. I"m not sure if I'll even like them because it's hard to tell without the actual image. We'll see. Then it took about 30 minutes to stand in line just for them to ring up what I had. Then we had to go to the register and stand in line to pay. Grrr. There has to be a better way. Oh, well.

I do think I sold most of the stuff I had in the garage sale, which means lots of store credit. Woo hoo!

I also bought a big paper rack to help organize my abundance of paper. I'm hoping to get a table when next I go to IKEA so I'll have a workspace and I'll put the paper rack on it. Fun stuff!

So, now Randall (who was whiney and cranky at the scrapbook store) is taking a nap and the other three are playing outside until Kyle comes. Russell has had really pink cheeks and red ears all day and he mentioned at lunch time that his ears and cheeks really itch. I don't know what that could possibly be, but I gave him some Benadryl and he said the itching has stopped. He's still rosy, but not feverish, so I'm assuming he's okay. I hope so, at least.

Before small group, I have to bathe kids and then run to Wal-Mart for supplies. I got everything I signed up for when I went shopping earlier this week, but there's always a few other things that are needed. I just didn't want to brave Wal-Mart with Randall acting as he was this morning!

Then we have small group and Slade has to miss it. One of the other guys, Joe, will probably be leading it. I'll probably try to leave a little early, or at least just as soon as it's over, because I have to drive our babysitter, Bracie, home and I want to get kids in bed on time. I have to be at church at 8 and I'm not sure how I'm going to do that with the kiddos, but it'll work out.

Whew. I'm tired just remembering and typing everything. This single parenting isn't for wimps! I'm thankful I don't have to do it on a regular basis. And, I miss Slade... Hopefully, he'll get to head home tonight, but he's not sure still.

Well, I'd better get Josh dressed in his soccer uniform. Later!

Scrapbooking Blog

I am finally posting on my scrapbooking blog. I plan to post regularly. I have some scrapbook layouts posted. Check 'em out and let me know what you think!

I'll be watching the mail!

Well, I finally made the jump and bought some Copic markers. I bought the Copic Ciao style. I found them on eBay, my favorite shopping haunt, and got them for 2.18 each, including shipping! I couldn't get them for any cheaper than about $4.20 at Hobby Lobby (that's when they're 30% off).

Why did I want Copic markers, you ask? Well, check out these blogs and their amazing cards and you'll see why I was drooling over Copics.

* Debbie (Thinking Inking) was very helpful when I e-mailed her a few months ago to ask what Copics even were. I had heard of them on quite a few of the stamping blogs I enjoy, but I didn't know what made them better than any other stamping marker. You'll have to scroll down a bit on her blog to get to some of her cards.

*Also, Taylor (Taylored Expressions) has lots of fun cards with images that have been colored in with Copics.

I looked on eBay and they were only slightly cheaper than I can get them here. So, I waited and kept searching for them. There were a few auctions before the one I finally won, but I was determined to pay less than $3 each. So, I was patient. And, when I began looking on eBay, the timing was great because I had a small rush of sales in my etsy shop! I don't know what it was, but I had a little rush (yay!) and it gave me the money for the markers. So, then I really started looking.

And, I got lucky and won a set of 35 today. I can't wait to get them and play with them. I am so not an artist, but lots of non-artists use Copics and with great results. So, I'm excited and I'll be sure to post some cards... once I get the hang of what I'm doing!

Whoo hoo! I won!

Ever since I went to the Stampin' Up! party a few weeks or so ago, I have been interested in stamping again. I don't know if I'll ever be as into it as I am in scrapbooking, but I do love seeing what other people come up with.

I have subscribed to many stamping blogs and enjoy seeing the beautiful cards that get my creative juices flowing. One blog that I have enjoyed reading is Cindy's blog, Creating with the Heart.

A few days ago, Cindy listed some blog candy (another word for free goodies) and I commented for a chance to win. I have commented on other blogs in the past and I've never won. But this time, I really liked the paper she was giving away and I couldn't wait to see who had won. I assumed it wouldn't be me because I'm just optimistic like that.

My heart jumped when I saw MY NAME! And, it was spelled correctly so I knew it had to be me! :-)

So, I'm looking forward to getting this paper (you can never have too much paper!--that's my motto). I had thought about using it on paper bag albums, but it's so fun and funky and I think I'll figure out a way to use it on my personal layouts, even though it's smaller than my 12x12 papers. I might use it to make a refrigerator album for my dad. He said a good birthday present for him would be a "non-girly" refrigerator scrapbook he could put on his filing cabinet at work. I don't know if he was just being sweet and supportive of me or if he really would like one, but I appreciated his request. (Okay, I just looked at the picture again, and the paper might be too girly. I'll have to see how the other patterns look. *grin*)

This Saturday, my friend, Mandy, is having a scrap day at her house, so I'm looking forward to doing some scrapbooking. I also have another Stampin' Up! party to go to. You can never have too many stamps--another of my mottos. *grin*

Marble Magnets

I love making the marble magnets I sell in my etsy store and at craft shows. They are simple (although there are a few steps) and they are just so neat! The glass marble magnifies the image underneath and it just looks clear and crisp.

Marcie (who is 1/2 of my favorite singing group, 40 miles North) asked how I make them. So, I thought I'd give you my long, detailed description. I discovered this fun idea on FamilyFun.com.

So, here we go!

Like the article says, trim your images before you glue them on. I've seen people say glue it and then trim the excess off, but it looks terrible on the back and warps the image!

So, you'll have your images already trimmed and the marble picked out for each image. Then I use a dab of tacky glue on one image, press it onto the glass marble and then move the image around to get the glue all over. Let it sit for a short while (like maybe while you do a few more).

Then, while the glue is still slightly wet, press around the edges to mold them to fit the edge of the marble. (Do circles have edges?) That makes all the difference! If you don't do this step, the image won't sit flat on the marble and it won't look as good.

Then glue your magnets to the paper on the marble. I use tacky glue and it's always been strong enough. You can buy small magnets at Wal-Mart (10 for $1.10-ish) or super strong neodymium magnets from eBay (like I do), if you plan to make a lot.

Here are some extra ideas:
* consider the colors in the kitchen of the recipient, if giving them as gifts
* decorate an altoids tin (rectangle or circle) for a teacher and put a set of magnets inside--once the magnets are on her/his filing cabinet, they now have a holder for small odds and ends
* use magazine images
* use symbols from an old map/atlas
* use small photos (really small...)
* type names, silly words, etc up on the computer in a small font
* do a few for each child in their favorite color(s) and let them hang their artwork on the fridge--when they use up all their magnets, they have to take off old artwork to hang new (sneaky, eh?)
* use left-over wrapping paper to make holiday magnets you pull out each year
* glue a thumbtack to the back instead of a magnet and let Dad take to work
* glue a thumbtack to the back and let kids use to hang up pictures of friends/schoolwork (on a bulletin/cork board)

If you give these as gifts, you can put them in a tiny ziplock bag (you can buy 100 tiny craft zip top bags at Hobby Lobby for about $2 or less). If you're really ambitious, you could make a topper to decorate and staple to the top.

Let me know if you make some! I'd love to see pictures!

Christy's Teacher Gifts

My sister, Christy, and I came up with a great teacher gift for Christmas a month or so ago. She wanted small gifts (because she needed 9!), but more than just a card or gift card.

So, this is what we came up with. I made magnet sets that matched the paper she chose and I figured out a way to attach the magnets to the cards. The teachers can just pull the ribbons in the middle and the magnet set will come off. They still have a card that they can keep and the magnets are a useful gift.

Someday, when I have spare time, I think I'll make sets to list on etsy. They're unique and inexpensive. Christy had Josh dictate a letter to his teachers telling his favorite things about their classes and she added a short note of her own. Very personal and thoughtful.

Teacher Gifts

I have seen nugget tins all over the stamping/scrapbooking community lately and decided to make some for teacher gifts this year. I LOVE them! I almost hate to part with them! Of course, where would I put them all?!

I decided not to use Christmas-y paper since they are more of "Thank you" gifts that are given at Christmas and not really Christmas gifts. Although I do love the Christmas-themed tins, too!

I found the tins at Specialty Bottle for the best price anywhere! They were available at Papertrey Ink for $2 each! Luckily, they were sold out, so I searched elsewhere and got the great deal of about $0.80 each. A good reminder to think outside the box when scrapbooking because sometimes you can find a better price when it's not being sold for scrapbooking. I also got the round tins I'll need for my Advent Calendar that I will have made by Christmas next year... The round tins can be used in a similar way to the nugget tins and just filled with M&Ms, candy corn, valentine hearts or any small candies.

So, here are a few pictures of the tins that I took to BSF yesterday to give to Randall's teachers, as well as my co-leader, our Children's Supervisor and our Teaching Leader.




The "sour cream containers" have Reese's Pieces inside. I found the idea for those on a stamping blog and have looked and looked, but can't find the blog! I usually bookmark where I get an idea, but this one is lost in cyber-space.


I used a paper crimper that I had actually put into my garage sale pile! I think I bought it at Wal-Mart for $10 or so. I used it on one scrapbook layout and hadn't used it since so I was going to get rid of it. I'm SO-O-O-O glad I didn't get rid of it before I discovered this fun idea! I can use it to wrap candy bars, too. Stampin' Up! sells a crimper for about $26, but you can find a generic one that works just as well.

To make the sour cream container, I started with a 6 x 6 sheet of designer paper. I used double-sided tape to make it into a cylinder (like a toilet paper roll). Then I used double-sided tape on one end and closed it up. I filled the tube with candy and then, using double-sided tape (I love double-sided tape!), I closed the other end in the opposite direction. Then I used my crimper and crimped the flat ends. Super easy and so, so cute!

You could punch a hole in one of the crimped corners and put a tag on it, too. Or just tape a tag to the container. These would work for party favors for any occasion, just change the paper to match. I've also seen people punch two holes in the middle of a crimped edge and tie a bow from ribbon threaded through. Lots of fun ideas! I'm thinking these might make good Valentine's Day favors for Russ' class. I just need to find a good Valentine-y paper.

First Cut with my KNK Element

I never did post this. My very first cut with my new KNK.




That title was for a layout of Russ and Rand's birthday last year. They had a Cars party (along with every other kid in America, I'm sure) and I love how it turned out. It only took me half of forever, but once I get more comfortable with it, I'm sure it will be quicker. I hope...

Of course, that was a few months ago... and I have hardly used it since. I did make a few word books (Sisters and Grammy and I began a few Spooky books that are sitting underneath the KNK), but basically, it has just sat in the guest room/craft room. I no longer shudder when I walk past it and I don't have nightmares about it anymore, but I haven't taken the time to get it out, either. Part of my excuse is how stinkin' busy I've been with orders. A great busy, but still stinkin' busy. And, I guess the other part of the excuse is that it takes so much time as I'm learning it and I just don't want to give that time right now. I don't exactly regret purchasing it, but if I could have rented it before buying, I might not have bought it... But, once my scrapbooking slows down, I'll get it out and get better acquainted with it.

Really.

How many days 'til Christmas?

I found this idea on this blog. It was made by a Stampin' Up! demonstrator (aka genius). I love it!


All the steps to make it are here and I think I just might make it! It will take lots of time and preparation (getting all the supplies together), but by this time next year, I just might have my very own hidden treasures Advent Calendar! (You think I'm kidding...)

The tins can be found at Michael's, but I couldn't find a price online. I also found some that I think are the same size here. That is where I buy my tins for my accorion scrapbooks.

I thought about putting Bible verses on slips of paper inside the different tins. Or maybe Bible verses and candy--can't beat that!

So, ask me next year if I made it...

Just don't ask me if my tree is up yet...

Scrapbooking Weekend

Well, this post isn't about hamsters, can you believe it?

I am trying to stay on top of organizing our digital picturs by months in folders on the computer and so I was titling (is that a word?) lots of pictures and came across these. They are from our fun and very productive scrapbooking weekend back in July.

As you can see, we all spread out and make quite a mess when we scrap.




We're not a real smiley bunch, are we? Well, actually, we are, but when you're scrapbooking like your life depends on it, it can get kinda serious. We all had a blast, though, and I know our next one must be coming up soon...

Personalized Block Set

I enjoy wasting (um, I mean, spending) my time browsing through crafting blogs. Even if I don't have a clue how (or time or desire or whatever) to make the things I see, just seeing someone else's handcrafted items inspire me in my crafting.

The idea on this blog just makes me want to go and spend the day scrapbooking. Of course, it takes little to no encouragement to make me want to go sit and scrapbook the day away, but this idea is so cute! It would make a great Christmas gift, no matter the age of the kid, because they can be used as decoration in the room even if they won't be played with.

So, those of you that are crafty, what inspires you in your art? What websites/blogs do you enjoy reading?