Hope you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

I hope all of my USA friends enjoyed a happy and safe (and delich!) Thanksgiving.  We are all heading into December, no matter where we live, isn't that amazing?  I have been busy as a bee working on projects and playing with Twinkling H2Os and Radiant Rain products, and I am in love.  :)  They are vibrant and gorgeous, and easy peasy to work with!  I promised to show you some projects I have been working on, so here they are.  I used some fun stamps from Red Lead and some Stazon ink to create a vintage base to work with.  Here are a few cards ~

I used some vintage fabric on this card, I love how it turned out.  Wish you could see all the sparkling loveliness irl, it is very pretty!

Next, I used a different Red Lead stamp, as well as a sentiment stamp from another company and created two similar cards ~

I will be posting directions on the Bind-It-All Blog soon on how I created the bottom card (stay tuned!).  I used the oh-so-fabulous Distrezz-It-All, and it was boatloads of fun to create.  Of course, I also used a few of these sparklie lovelies~

I have been playing with these shimmery sparklie paints like crazy, and will show you a few other projects in the next few weeks.  I have to say, if you love sparkle, then you DEFINITELY need to pick up some Radiant Rain and Twinkling H2Os!  Oh my, they are so fun and easy to work with and they add boatloads of color! 

I finished the grandkiddies Santa Countdown, YAY!!!  I also finished one for our house, because we definintely need one here too. :)  Here is a pic of one, with the extra set and extra numbers below.  It was pretty time consuming to create, I was surprised.  But then again, each little number or santa was like a bitsy little quilt, so I guess I shouldn't have been.  They are cuter that cute though, wish you could really see them ~

I have also been working on other bits and pieces of things.  Here are a few belts I zipped together super quickly for the grandkiddies stockings ~

Here is a wee little hair bow and belt for my three year old granddaughter who loves Mickey and Minnie and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse ~

I have been decorating for Christmas too.  The last few years have been very crazy and sometimes not so happy for our family.  We have all gone through an awful lot, but thankfully things are a bit easier for us now.  Hopefully they will continue this way for years to come.  :)  Anyway, I decided that I need to make things a bit cozy this year, even if I don't have boatloads of time to do so.  I used to decorate like CRAZY, spending weeks to do so.  I no longer have that kind of space to decorate, nor do I have that kind of time.  But I do have some spots that have just the right amount of room, and I have been sneaking in a bit of decorating time here and there as I can.  Here is a pic of my one super bitsy little FUN and BRIGHT pink tree, located on our recycled island in the basement (the fabulous big and sturdy oak unit used to be in a library in it's previous life) ~

closer view

I found some darling little pink tiny trees at Hobby Lobby, and since they were half off, they had to come home with me.  Don't you like my hubbies Harley wall hanging over my sparklie pink stuff?  ;)  he he, lovely!

Here is a pic of one of my fav trees.  I bought this tree in Shipshewana over a dozen years ago.  I wanted a skinny tree, and they were hard to find then.  I was thrilled when I found this one! It used to be located in our hallway at our old house.  We had a lovely wraparound staircase and the hall between the kitchen, den, basement, and front entrance was nice and big (the foyer).  I wanted a tree there, but not one that would take up a lot of space.  So this tall skinny tree was perfect.  I bought the tree topper in another shop in Shipshewana, I loved the contrast between old metal and the glitter, then I made over 100 star and heart ornaments in two sizes and several differnt tones of ivory for the tree.  Of course I used lots of chunky glitter!  I still hang those ornaments on this tree, in addition to a few different red ornaments and some glittery coated baby's breath.  It is now in our dining room between some of my favorite artist (Nancy Noel) pictures (still have to put the tree skirt under the tree).  Hope you like it ~

Last year when I went to Frankenmuth with friends, I found a beautiful old world style glass cardinal ornament.  Can you see it clipped to the tree in the pics below?

Of course, we also have our smores tree, and our regular Christmas tree put up.  I did not take pics of those yet, so I will share them next week.  My granddaughter and grandson love the smores tree, and keep putting items near it to play with.  It is on our fireplace hearth, so it is a perfect height for them to "arrange" things.  :)  They are very creative, gotta love that!

Well friends, that is it for me this week, I need to get my rear in gear and finish a few tasks.  Don't forget, if you are in the market for a new Bind-It-All or Distrezz-It-All, they are on sale for a limited time.  Check them out here. 

Hope you all have a safe, happy, and creative week ~ Pam

Are you freaking out because it is almost the end of November?

Well, you aren't alone!  :)  I was feeling a semi panic attack coming on when I finally decided that whatever I get done this year is great, and whatever I do NOT get done, oh well.  I guess that is one of the perks of aging, things begin to freak you out just a wee bit less.  I am sure other worries will take over, but in the interim, I am going to ENJOY the holidays and blast Christmas songs on Sirrus every day.  My crafty area is semi somewhat organized, and I have a few Christmas trees up and decorated, and I even have a few other things done.  I will still be working on projects like a wild woman the rest of the year, as well as working and teaching in Chicago, but I am not going to freak out about how much I get done or don't get done, totally not like me at all. I am going to give myself a break this year and just enjoy whatever I get done.  I hope I can keep this attitude into next year, wooooo, it is fab!  OK, enough about my new attitude on my to~do list.  On to what I am working on this week.

I don't have any pics to share yet, but I can tell you I am working on this stinkin' adorable project for my grandbabies ~

Nancy Halvorsen is my fav, fav, FAV fabric and pattern designer.  Her stuff is so whimsical and fun and loving.  Love it!  I am making two, one for the grandbabies, and one for our house. 

I am also going to start working on a crib quilt, bumpers, diaper bag and other little baby girl items for our granddaughter who will be arriving in February. Her momma picked out the cutest colors for the darling little penquin theme items. I will share pics of the items as they are available.  Of course, I am also working on more Christmas cards and tags, and have been playing with the BEST and most sparklie paints ever!  I received some Twinkling H2O's paints and daubers, and have been tinkering with them.  I totally LOVE these things, they are soooooooooo incredibly sparklie, and you can control the amount of color so easily.  Stay tuned for projects, I will have some to show next week.

Enabler alert!  If you are interested in buying a new Distrezz-It All, or a Bind-It-All, now is a GREAT time to do so!  Check out the Zutter Bind-It-All site for pricing details.  You will save a bundle on either of these two fab tools.  I use both ALL the time, and love them. 

Well friends, I need to make some pumpkin cheesecake rolls, since they disappear quickly around here.  I hope you have a marvelous week, and if you are in the USA like me, a blessed, happy, and safe Thanksgiving.   See ya next weekend!  Happy creating ~ Pam

Card making time!

Helllllllloooooooooooooo!  How are you all doing?  Fab?  Super fab?  I hope so!  I have been cleaning and sorting things at my house like a mad woman.  I did not get a chance to do spring cleaning this year, so I am doing the big fall cleanup instead.  :)  I have snuck a wee bit of time in to work on cards though.  I am having a few friends over for a card making party in a few weeks, and I am determined that they will leave with some completed cards this year.  We like to visit and snack, and play with supplies, and will do so again this year, but darn it, we are also going to be productive.  I will show you  the cards we will be creating, but first, here is a pic of a donation made to the United Way.  They are having a silent auction at work, and I made and donated this Love Is tote and Christmas Album for our department (Please bid on it if you work for Memorial Hospital, all the money goes to The United Way) ~

OK, here are the cards ~

I just received a fun new stamp from Red Lead, and created this card with it.  I am still tinkering, since I need to make a few for a swap over at Red Lead, and I am not yet totally thrilled with the final product.  I like it, but don't LOVE it yet.  I am sure you know what I mean.  :)  I do love the darling little children in this stamp, it reminds me of my kids when they were little, adorable, and sweet ~  

A few more cards we will work on at the party ~

<><>

The card above is a card similar to one I made for a challenge over at Citrus Tree Studio a few years ago (I still love this style card).  Definitely making one of these at the party!

I am also starting work on some fabric projects, including a few advent calendars for the grandbabies, and one for our house, and some other odds and ends.  I can't believe it is already the second week of November, time is definitely ZOOMING by.  I appreciated that extra hour today due to setting the clocks back,  wish I could have an extra one every week.  ;)  I am sure I am not alone in that thought. 

Well, I do need to do a little more sorting in my crafty area, so I better get back to it.  Hope you all have a FABULOUS and creative week.  Happy crafting ~ Pam