A little bit of this and a little bit of that!

A few different things to post today--I needed a break from the Christmas cards so I played along with the SUDSOL sketch challenge and made a few giftables for the Latenightstamper's challenge.  I finally broke down and purchased this Perfectly Preserved stamp set and I am so glad I did--it is so fun to play with.  I love the Real Red with Pool Party, don't you.

 

Stamps: Perfectly Preserved

Paper: Real Red, Pool Party, Whisper White, DP

Ink: Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party

Other: ribbon, markers, small oval punch, blender pens

 

Next are a few simple giftables.  Nothing too fancy just quick and cute.  The first on is for someone who loves to do  her nails.  I created the little pocket/box to hang off a bottle of nail polish remover and hold some nail stuff.  I was not happy about the fact that I could not find matching files, and such.  Oh well it is the thought that counts right, lol!

 

And finally a candle using a bunch of pre-cut papers that I no longer needed.  They were left over from a class project so I rolled them up and attached them to the outside of a gladd votive holder.  Finished it off with a strip of cardstock and some retired felt snowflakes. 

 

That is it for tonight--I will be back in the morning to post the new sketch for the week so be sure and stop back--Goodnight!
Mary Jo

Take note.

Isn't this just the sweetest little note holder? I made the little note paper on the MDS and the box was really easy too. If you are a regular follower of my blog you know that I love butterflies so this is perfect for my desk. It was one of the club projects for last month. The girls really enjoyed it. I made them each some sheets of the note paper with their names on them. Fun project.  I used the tutorial found HERE.

 

Hope you week is going well, mine has been crazy busy. 

Mary Jo

VC Rocks Final Blog Hop of the year.

Welcome to the final blog hop of the season for the VC Rocks' crew!  Another sad reminder that the summer is almost over--I want a re-do!  But although I am sad about my summer coming to a close there is good news too!  And that is the fact that there are 19 stops on this blog hop and the crazy talented members of the group are going to be sharing so many creative ideas with you that your head will be spinning!  The theme of this hop is Punches-Big Shot and Score Board projects.  I believe I used all of those and the MDS too!  So I suggest you find a comfy seat and enjoy the hop.  If you just came here from Jane's Stamp With Jane blog then you are on the right path but if this is your first stop that is great too, you can just keep right on hopping along until you end up right back here--that way you won't miss anything.  And of course if you get lost at any time you can always visit the VC Rocks home page and see the complete list of hoppers along with the links to their blog.  So no worries--just enjoy yourself.

My projects will begin with a few more teacher gifts.  That is the challenge on the Latenightstamper's group for the week and it is so appropriate as my son will be going back to school soon and I never send him empty handed!  I shared a few projects with you already in the previous post so if you missed those you might want to come on back after the hop and see them.

The first project is using the score board, bigshot and the MDS program.  It is a simple 2/4/6/8 box that is full of pencils for my son's teacher.  You know that is something that a teacher can never have too many of.  I decorated the box with a scallop cut on my big shot with the Tasteful Trim Bigz Die, then I added a cute saying created on the MDS to the front and finished it off with a tag cut from the Two Tags die.  Simple, fast and practical!  Score one for me!

 The next project also using the the score board, bigshot and the MDS program.  This one needs you to use just a tiny bit of imagination because it is supposed to be filled with homemade cookies but since my son does not go back to school until September 6th I thought I better wait a bit before I baked them, lol!  So use your imagination and pretend this cute box is filled with delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies--I can smell them already!

Again it is another simple box but I cut a window in it using the Apothecary Accents Framelits and the big shot.  The saying was done on MDS!  Again, quick, cute and this time yummy!

The final project is a big one for me.  Our church is hosting it's second annual women's retreat in September and these will be used there.  Again you may need a bit of imagination here--sorry.  They are decorated bags with matching decorated clothes pin magnets.  Last year we did the sweetest thing throughout the retreat.  We took time to write little "love notes" to the other women.  Just little notes saying we were glad to meet them, or that we enjoyed spending time with them or that they inspired us or any other little thing you could think of to lift up and encourage our sisters in Christ.  The bags that we used to hold the heart shaped pieces of paper with the notes on them kept falling over and it was difficult to find the right bag to put the notes into--each bag has someones name on it.  So I thought it would be fun to decorate the bags and hang them on a clothes line with matching decorated clothes pin magnets that the ladies can keep and use after the retreat as a reminder.  Hope this makes sense-Here is an individual bag--there will be names on each bag by the flowers.

And here a few of them hanging on a "line".  I still have a bunch more to make but they fit this theme well since I used punches for the flowers and the big shot for the butterflies on the magnets!

Each bag will be the same layout and design they will just use different colors and designs--I am using some of my retired DP that I have way way way too much of, lol!  I hope you enjoyed my project for this hop.  Now you can jump on over to see what the talented Barb Furlong has in store for us on her blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Mary Jo

Blogger's challenge--3d

I can not seem to get back on track with life since my little vacation!  Funny--I still just want to sit around and craft all day--NOT going over too well with "some people"!  Although my friend Chera said it was ok to do so and I think that MUST count for something!  Anyway it is Friday and I have been trying to get back on track with the Blogger's challenge and so far so good.  Why don't you play along too--you can view all the details HERE.  This week Lisa gave us a challenge to make something 3d.  I am already working on teacher gifts so this is a perfect fit! 

I had so much fun making these and they were so simple too.  I chose paper from a back to school pack I had in my stash and went to work.  I used modge podge to attach the paper to the clothes pins, added some three dimensional glitter embellishments and then added magnets to the back of the clips.  Simple, fast and so cute.  I added some matching paper to a coaster and clipped them right on there to keep them together, bagged them up and they are ready to go!  Thanks Lisa, another gift done for the teachers!  Yippee. 

Come on and play along with us.

VC_Rocks Blog Hop

This month's blog hop is anything but a card.  Should be a super fun one to check out.  I am sure you will be amazed at the great projects our talented stampers are going to share with you.  Enjoy the tour!  If you get lost along the way you can view the entire list of participants on the VC_Rocks blog by clicking the logo below.

The official start time for the hop is 

10am Eastern Standard Time.

My post was all fun and games.  Don't you just love that!  I truly do love to craft, pretty much any type of craft--the one craft that I want to do but really can not is sewing so I decided to give it a try with the fabric I purchased from the Holiday Mini.  It has been just sitting here calling my name.  I was able to get three projects for one piece--then I spent a little time making a game for my son and I to play at restaurants and such.  That is at the end of the post.  I hope you enjoy my projects today. Let's get started.

First up is a checkbook cover with a matching note pad for my purse.  Be kind on me--I know my stitching is not the straightest--it took me forever to just get the machine threaded, lol! And I was making up the patterns as I went along.  I am actually pretty happy with the results.

Here is the checkbook cover open...

And the note pad open...

Then I had a small strip left so I made myself a necklace!!!

Isn't that fun!  I sewed a strip of material then added small light wooden balls (would have used Styrofoam but only had these).  I added the balls one at a time and tied a knot next to each one.  It was not long enough to reach the back so I had to add some wire wrappings and some chain to the back.  Pretty neat looking in real life.  It don't really match the shirt I have on in the picture but you get the idea--don't you??

All three of the projects were made from one piece of our material.  I also used my flower folds die, a button, ribbon, wooden beads.

Next is a super fun game for my son and I to do when we are bored at restaurants.  It is just like Tic Tac Toe but it is called Cats and Dogs--friends fur ever!

 Here is the tin open...

And  a close up of the game pieces.  I used bottle caps with magnets on them.  We have been having fun with it already!

Well that is all from me today!  I hope you enjoyed my Anything but a card projects.  Click on the images below to be taking to the next blog or you can even go back to the previous one if you need to.  See you soon and enjoy the hop!
Mary Jo

It's a Blog Hop--Big Shot Madness Style

VC_ROCKS BIG SHOT MADNESS

Join me and 32 of my fellow VC_rocks members as we hop around to see some fabulous projects showcasing our Big Shot!  That is right there are 33 stops on this tour so be sure have your favorite drink and a few minutes.  Of course you can always do it a little at a time, but once you get started you know you won't want to stop.  The projects will be well worth the time!  There is a full list of the participating blogs in order on the VC_rocks home page if you get lost or find a link that is not working.    I hope you enjoy my projects for today.  I needed a thank you gift for a teacher that loves butterflies and purple.  So this is what I came up with.  There is the main card that my son and I will be signing and then there is a box with four cards and envelopes and a calendar/memo hanger,   I hope she likes it.  Here is the picture of the whole group.

I tried to keep it pretty simple and only use a few items.  I focused on the Top Note die and the Strength and Hope stamp set.  Here are the items individually... the main card...

This one has only the tops of the top note on it.  You can see them above the sentiment.  Here is the box with it's matching cards.

And the calender/memo hanger...

So do you think she will like it?  I hope so.  All of the projects use the same items:

Stamps:  Strength and Hope and Swirls and Curls Hostess set (both in current mini catalog)
Paper: Concord Crush, So Saffron, Whisper White and in color dp pack
Ink: Concord Crush and So Saffron
Other: white organza ribbon, top note big shot die, embossing folders, jumbo eyelets, rhinestones, circle scissors plus, white gel pen, tool kit

Have fun on the rest of the tour!

PREVIOUS BLOG                                         NEXT BLOG

Blogger's Challenge--Giving Thanks

I love to take time to sit back and think of all the things I am thankful for, it really make you remember just how blessed we are.  This week Lisa gave us a thanksgiving theme to work with.  This first card may look like a birthday card but it has the Bright Blessing at the bottom and it is actually a thanks for being you card for a male on his birthday.  What better time to let someone know how thankful you are for them. 

This next card is just a fun fall thank you.  I love these colors.  The stamp set is retired but we have a new one out that is very similar.  I really wanted the new one but could not justify since I have this one and a few others just like it, lol!  So I just pulled this one out again and pretended it was new!

And finally another one of those treat boxes (see the Christmas one made into a place setting HERE). These are so cute and easy too.  I will be posting a tutorial by tomorrow night.

Don't forget you can see all the projects the other players made by clicking HERE.  There is a ton of talent in this group so it will be well worth your time.

Have a fabulous weekend!
Mary Jo

More with the Big Shot--Halloween Treats!

The challenge this week on the Latenightstampers group is to create something with the Big Shot--anything works, cards, 3-d, embossed items, you name it as long as it uses the big shot.  My first two samples were for the sketch challenge this week.  I used the embossing folders and the top note die.  If you missed that you can find them here.  I thought I would make a cute little candy treat holder for Halloween.  I do not do much for Halloween, but I do generally send something stamped for my son's class.  I also need items for classes and clubs.  I thought this turned out pretty cute, tried to keep it kind of simple as they would be made in multiples. 

I used the baskets and blooms die for the basket --with a little altering.  The bat is made with the owl punch.  Hubby says his eyes are too big but I thought he was cute.  What do you think???

Stamps: All Holidays, Autumn Harvest
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, In Color DP pack
Ink: Basic Black
Other: markers, watercolor pencils, gel pen, word window punch, owl punch circle punches.

Hope you are having a great week!  Thanks for all the well wishes for my hubby.  Seems he has shingles.  Quite painful I am told.  Hopefully he will be feeling better soon!

Thanks for stopping by,
Mary Jo

Bloggers Challenge -- Red White And Blue

Lisa is always so good at being right on with the themes for our Blogger's Challenges.  This week we are doing Red White and Blue.  I had lots of fun making this fun flower pot with candles.  And the card is just using up more of those pre-cut scraps I have laying around.

ETA: I thought this was a good idea for a giveaway gift for Party Lite distributors,

I do not intend to burn like this so don't worry, lol!

 I found this tin in the dollar spot at Target.  So cute, matches with the flowers from the flower folds die so nicely, don't you think? I am so glad I finally got this die.  I have been making so many things with it.  At mommy and me we made flip flops, barrettes, hair bands, pins and baseball caps with it! I will take pictures of the stuff when I finally get it all unpacked.

Stamps: None
Paper: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White
Ink: None
Other: crimper, ribbon, flower folds die, candles, pop dots, sucker sticks

Now for the fast and simple card.

Stamps: Four Square
Paper: Brilliant Blue, Bashful Blue, Real Red, Whisper White
Ink: Brilliant Blue
Other: small flower punch from punch pack, ribbon, rub on, embossing folder, pretties kit

Be sure to click on the logo on my sidebar to see what the rest of the talented ladies in the group are doing for their red white and blue challenge!  I sure it will be fabulous.

Hope you have a fabulous holiday weekend!
Mary Jo

Sunday's Featured Stamper challenge on Stampin Connection

Today on Stampin Connections we are honoring Barb Mulikin.  Barb is one of my favorite stampers, I haven't been following her in a bit do to lack of time and not really following anyone but I was pleasantly surprised as I knew I would be when I looked around her gallery and blog.  I chose this project for my inspiration for the week.

Such a fun little gift, especially with the end of the school year coming up.  Thought it would make a great staff gift. So here is my version...

I was trying to use up the retiring Pink Passion Paper.  the folio is made from one piece of 12 by 12.  There are 8 note cards and envelops inside with a pad and matching pen. 

Stamps Think Happy Thoughts
Paper: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DP
Ink: Basic Black, Pink Passion
Other: pearls. Butterfly sizzix die, circle scissor plus, scor pal,  Flower Fusion Felt flowers, large brad, velcro, pen, pad, envelopes

Hope you have a fabulous day, be back later with my Technostamper Sketch Challenge for the week.

Blessing,
Mary Jo

Where would we be without Teachers?

I am so thankful for good teachers.  I get nervous when I start to think about all the budget cuts coming and what we may loose.  My son is special ed and may loose aids and other stuff with all the cuts--especially if people vote down the new budget.  So will all that I thought I would make a gift for my son's teachers.  I have to make a few more but I think they turned out adorable.  We did these in club this month.  It uses the new First Day stamp set from the new Summer Mini.

It is a dry erase easel with matching pen and a tin with candy and the ornament punch rose.  This was so fast and easy to make.  The erase board is actually one of those plastic picture frames turned on it side.  The top part is inserted inside the frame and then I added sticky dry erase sheets to the front.  I used some retired paper to make the pen match.  Fun and easy project.  I got the directions for the rose  HERE .

Stamps: First Day
Paper: Real Red, Whisper White, retired apple paper
Ink: Basic Black
Other: ribbon, dry erase sheets, plastic frame, markers, ornament punch, tin, candy nugguts

See ya bright and early in the morning.
Mary Jo

Quick - Easy-Cute and for the kids.

This week's blogger's challenge is to use punches or diecuts.  Well this is perfect since I have a Mommy and Me class at my church tomorrow and I wanted another quick and easy idea.  The kids range from 4-10.  Big gap.  We are making the photo holder and desktop calendar from this post and then I thought we could make these too.  The sayings are too cute.

Here is a picture of one in my son's book.

In case you can't read the sayings here they are...

If your a bookworm, we are made for each other.  apple
Lemon help you keep your place.  lemon
Berry yourself in books. Reading is sweet.  strawberry
Orange you glad you are reading this book?  orange--not shown.

Stamps: Tart and Tangy
Paper: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: yoyo yellow
Other: markers, gazzle cutter for bookmarks, circle punches, computer for words.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend.  I know I will.
Sleepover in a church guy with bunch of cubscouts!
Mommy and Me classs.
Church--busy weekend but will be so much fun!

Mary Jo

For the Birds==Valentine that is.

This is a project I created for the Latenightstampers Demo Only Group weekly free tutorial program.  Each week someone posts a different tutorial on the site.  This is only week three but they have been great so far.  They are step by step and 100 percent SU.  So if you are a demo you might want to hurry over to the group and sign up--it's free and full of fabulous stamping ideas and business tips.  Can't go wrong.  This is a different group that the Latenightstamper's group that anyone can join.

I make a different version of this cute idea each year for the kids in my son's class.

come on over and check it out  CLICK HERE and then click join.

See ya in a couple of hours with this week's sketch challenge.  Don't go too far.

Mary Jo

Happy New You!

New year, new goals, new Three Clover's challenge. This week we are to make a card or project that show something about our new year's resolutions.  I know that one of my goals as the new leader of our Women's ministry is to get more people involved in events at church.  My goal is to have at least 75% of the women at our church participate in at least one thing this year.  If I put enough out there I hope to be able to do it with out a problem.  We have been trying to focus on not only in house stuff but helping around our community and all over.  One of the things I want to do for fellowship is give mom's a chance to spend some quality time with their child -- one on one.  So I am starting a new Mommy and Me class at church bi monthly.  This will be the projects for January.  This is not to make money I am only charging for supplies and having the kids bring snacks so they can craft and then fellowship for a bit.  An afforadable, safe and fun thing to do on a Saturday afternoon.

The photo frame can be like the one above or more boyish with the Dude stamp instead of friends.  The calendar is for Mom's desk.  More details later, got to get my son to bed.

Goodnight,
Mary Jo

Geez I have been busy.

Hmmm, I kept forgetting to post on here, how funny is that. Something I do nearly every day and I just keep forgetting this week. Nothing like being CRAZY busy. Anyway, I hope you had a super terrific Christmas! Mine has been great. We still have some family to celebrate with tomorrow so we are not done yet.

So I thought I would share the gifts my son and I made for his class. They were so fast and easy to do.


Now that Christmas is over I am ready to move on the Valentines and regular all occasions cards. I have not been in my studio since Wed. morning. YIKES, no wonder I don't feel "right"!

See ya tomorrow--I promise, lol!

Three Clover's Thursday Challenge and More!

Welcome to another Three Clovers Thursday challenge on Wednesday Night. I am so lucky to be on the Design Team for Kerry and her challenges, I get to see them before you do. I hope you will join us this week we are making ornaments. I am just loving the way mine turned out. I hate some copper sheets laying around for (dare I admit it) about 5 years or more, lol, so I thought I should use them for something. Isn't this just beautiful. This is my absolute favorite SU Christmas set -- simple, elegant and to the point--that is what Christmas is all about!


Don't forget to head over to Kerry's blog and see what everyone else has done with this challenge.

Stamps: Christ is Born
Paper: Brushed Silver and Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark
Other: embossing powder, glitter, embossing plate, copper sheets, circle scissors plus, ribbon


This next share was actually a last minute little gift idea for the people who came to our Advent Pot Luck dinner at church tonight. I made up 40 of these today and they were a big hit. I have to thank Sandi MacIver and Janet Wakeland for my inspiration. Janet actually has a pdf of the poem on her site!




Stamps: Holy Triptych
Paper: Always Artichoke, Brushed Gold, Whisper White
Ink: Always Artichoke craft
Other: computer for poem, clear embossing powder, hand held punch, ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today--Hope you are having a fabulous week!

Mary Jo

Holiday Plate

This is the project we are doing at this month's clubs. I think it is sooooo cool. I have only designed two centers so far but I am loving it. What do you think? What a fun idea and so nice to have a spot that is constantly changing with the different holiday's! It was really hard to get a decent picture with the glare on the glass so I have the centers posted alone at the end of this post. Hope you enjoy! This is only one plate with centers that can be changed out for different holidays, seasons or events. I glued a piece of black cardstock to the back of the plate so you would not see the hanger through the plate. The centers are attached with velcro.

Christmas Plate...



Thanksgiving/fall plate



centers alone...




I am excited to make many more of these centers and change them out often. I was thinking it would be cute to even have personal ones for family birthdays. Maybe with their baby picture on them. Hmmm the possibilities are endless!

Happy Tuesday!
Mary Jo