Long time no chat! :)

My goodness, I am sorry I have been MIA!  WOOOOO, things have been very chaotic here.  I apologize.  I meant to share these darling scans with you sooner, but if you aren't able to use them for Valentines this year, maybe you can use them next year.  I found some great valentines while I was out hitting the antique shops recently.  Some are from the early 1920s!  Wow, it was so neat looking through them.  I am sharing some of them, hope you enjoy them too ~

 There were a lot of little folding card type valentines.  Here are a few (I scanned them open and closed) ~

  

 



This scan has multiple valentines, just crop out what you do not want (the bottom right red square-ish valentine is one that is pictured several valentines above, scanned open front and open back) ~

This is a stiff little card, similar to a greeting card ~

Inside portion ~

This fun little valentine folds twice, like a regular little card. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and week!  Stay warm too!  Happy creating ~ Pam

Time for some winnnnnnnerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssss!!! :)

Hello everyone!  First I would like to say a great big THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to peek at my blog post, and to leave a comment.  It is sooooooooooooooo fun to read comments about projects!  Love it!  So thank you everybody! 

Next, a great big THANK YOU to those of you who signed up to be followers of my blog, or who already do follow my blog. I appreciate each of you!!! OK, on to the winners, I am sure you want to know who they are.


First, the winner of the Zutter Goodies Surprise Pack is ~

BARBARA!!!

Barbara said...



Wow - this puts me to shame! My prescribed exercises are taped to my bathroom mirror which does NOTHING for the decor! You have inspired me to greater things, Pam! Thank you for sharing!

Barbara, please email Nan your shipping info at nan @ binditall.com .  Please make sure you take out the extra spaces in the email addy, I didn't want any spambots to pick up Nan's email addy.  :)

Next, the winner of my blog candy for posting and being a follower on my blog is ~

iluvmybugs

iluvmybugs said...



Great workout journal...love the cover!! I'm a new follower and can't wait to see what you create next! TFS

Please email me your shipping addie pmooie at hotmail . com  (be sure to take out the extra spaces and change at to @).

Congrats to the winners, and thanks again to all of you!  I do have a little something for everyone that stopped in, scans of little heartfelt vintage valentines.  Just copy and save it to your computer (save the hula girl below, and the heart valentine above as well, aren't they cute????).  I am going to the antique shops again this w/e, and hope to find more cutie vintage valentines.  If I do, I will share them in the next blog post, so check back often! 

Thanks again for hopping this last week!  Take care and happy creating ~ Pam

Time for the Zutter 11 for '11 Blog Hop! WOOO HOOOOO!!!

Hello there!  Are you all excited to hop along with us during the Zutter 11 for '11 Blog Hop?  We sure are excited to have you hopping with us!  Welcome!  You should have arrived here from Lynne's blog.  Here is a list of the 11 blogs in order of the hop ~

Annette West
Emeline Seet
Fleur Smith
Jennifer Priest
Lea Sanders
Lynne Forsythe<------ You should have arrived from here
Pam Sandy <----- You are HERE now :)
Nan Paturzo -----> Go HERE next
Shelley Haganman
Vicki Flinchum
Bind-it-All Blog

What is in store for you on this blog hop journey?  Well besides the fun projects posted, there is also the chance to win PRIZES!  YAHOO!!!  Gott a love that, doncha think?  What kind of prizes you ask?  Well, each blog post you comment on gives you a chance for one of the fun prize packs from Zutter ~
a Zutter supply pack of "Owire, covers, Cover-Alls and surprises"
That is right, there will be ELEVEN prize packs awarded!  One from each blog!  So make sure you visit each blog, and leave a comment to be entered in the drawings!  I also have a little blog candy for those of you who are either already followers and leave a comment, or who sign up to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment.  Details posted at the end of this blog post.  :)

One last and final goodie for EVERYBODY is that there is a bonus discount happening at the Bind-It-All site right now.  You get an extra 11% discount on all regularly priced items when you shop and use this code at the Bind-It-All site -

CODE: Zutter11 Valid through January 31 only  Got it?  Great!


Alrighty then. I am excited to share my project with you today.  I decided that since I will turn 50 this year (YIKES!) that it was time for me to get my rear in gear and get back in shape.  To help me stay focused, and on top of this, I decided to create a journal style book for myself so I could track my progress and stay encouraged along the way.  My project is an 8 x 8 Mini, using the oh-so-FABULOUS Cover-Alls. I LOVE those things!  They work perfectly with the 8 x 8 Page Protectors.  I can edit my book every time I work out, and keep my writings clean, and legible too!  WOOO, how perfect is that?  Pretty dang sweet I think!  Take a peek at my book, then I will tell you how I created it.

Front cover ~

Standing view ~

Back Cover ~

Inside ~

First, I used one of the 8 x 8 White Bamboo Spine Cover-Alls, and painted the cover with a Radiant Rain Paint Dauber by Luminarte.  I used the lovely green blue toned Guatamalan, it is very sparklie and lovely.  I just popped off the dauber tip, and used a paintbrush to paint deep rich color onto the cover. 

Next it was time to prepare some of the items I wanted to use on the cover.  First I grabbed my Distrezz-It-All, and distressed the edges of some paper from my stash, older Basic Grey and some pearly looking gold and white paper. I layered these on the front and back of the album.  I continued layering papers from my stash onto the album cover front and back.  Some of the paper was edged with Fiskars Scalloped Scissors (love those scissors, so quick and easy to create a bit of fun on paper edges). 

Next, I stamped one of my favorite stamps, Message and bottle onto white cardstock, then cut it out.  You can find this fun stamp at Red Lead Paperworks (GREAT store!), along with other fun vintage-y stamps.  I also used one of the Statement Stamps stamped on white cardstock(musical notes on the bird branch above) and painted it with a Radiant Rain Paint Dauber (Mallard).  I used the Hot Cinnamon Radiant Rain Paint Dauber on the body of the bird (posted about this in mid December, check it out).  I used Eygptian Gold on a few embellies I planned to use (some Jillibean Soup Journaling Sprouts, among other things.)

Time to start layering everything together!  I pulled some letter stickers out of my stash, including Thickers, and some My Little Shoebox  and other small letter stickers.  Everything was glued down, and lots of bling came next.  Gotta have some sparkle to get me through those workouts!  ;)  I also used rubons, several different journaling pens, ribbon, chpboard shapes, and puff and shiny fabric paint.  Lastly, after the Stickels had dried on my bottle, I used some Glossy Accents so the bottle looked like it was glass.  I wanted the glass bottle to look like it was holding sifting time. 

Here is a close up of the cover front, kind of on an angle so you can see the dimension a bit better ~

Now it was time to work on the inside of the album!  I took 2 packages of the 8 x 8 PrePunched Page Protectors, and sandwiched them between 2 sheets of the Movable 8 x 8 Page Protectors.  Next, I grabbed the insert from the Cover-All, and bound everything together using the 1 1/4" Antique Silver O'Wires.  I slipped them into the album. 

Time to add my calendar pages!  I printed each month (I used Outlook Calendars, feel free to use your favorite site) and cut it and folded it to fit into a Permanent Page Protector.  I want to be able to slip the calendar page out of the Page Protector and notate what I did for a workout each time I work out.  The hubs and I just joined the beautiful, beautiful new YMCA in Niles, so we are going to seriously work out.  Anyway, after I had the 12 Permanent Page Protectors filled with one month each of the calendar, I labeled them using bits of scrap paper that I edged with my scalloped scissors.  I then stapled them onto each page.  The first Moveable Page I labeled Goals, and the last Moveable Page I labeled Notes.  Almost ready!

Lastly I flipped my book over, and put some sparklie stickers on the back with the word Remember, then I wrote this -

If you think you can't, you are probably right.  Get rid of your stinkin' thinkin'!  That is going to be my mantra, and I am going to add different quotes that I find inspirational to this back cover.  It will be kind of my doodle word page, easily visible since it is the cover.  I also have a notes page inside in case there is something private I want to remember.  I know I will add bits and pieces of things that catch my interest, and write notes all over my workout book, that is the purpose of it.  Kind of like an art journal workout book.  I can easily add pages using the 8 x 8 Moveable Page Protectors, and put them anywhere within the book.  Love that!!!  All in all, I am very happy with my workout mini book, and can't wait to be inspired every time I use it! 

OK, thank you for patiently reading my post.  Here is a picture of a few of the goodies that will be sent to one lucky blog follower who leaves a comment on my blog during the Zutter 11 for '11 Blog Hop ~

There will be a few other items included as well.  Gret for Valentine's Day card, tag or scrappy projects!  All you have to do to be entered is sign up to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this thread.  If you are already a follower, then all you have to do is leave a comment on this thread.  Easy peasy, right?  Can't wait to hear from you!

Well, time to visit Nan, the next stop on the blog hop.  Happy Hopping!!!  Take care ~ Pam

Zutter 11 for '11 Blog Hop starts JANUARY 5!!! YAHOOOOO!

Hellllloooooooooo everybody!  How was your new year?  Fabulous?  I hope so!  We had a lovely new year here.

Guess what starts JANUARY 5?  If you guessed the Zutter Zisters Blog Hop, you are CORRECT!  Yahoo!  Lots of chances to win prizes, and of course there will be fun projects posted as well.  I can't wait to show you what I made!  I am bound and determined to make 2011 a great year, and I will show you how I am starting it off.  Curious?  You will have to check it out on the 5th.  heh heh heh heh!

What kind of prizes will be offered during our Zutter 11 for '11 Blog Hop?  How about Zutter supply packs of "Owire, covers, Cover-Alls and surprises"?  Sounds great, right???

  Here is a peek of what I am offering for blog candy to one lucky follower of my blog in addition to the prizes offered during the blog hop ~

Lots of fun little things to add to a valentine card, book, or layout.  February will be here before you know it ya know!  I am also adding a few other vintage valentine scanned and printed images.  I found them last year while scouting out some antique shops, and they are absolutely darling!  You will love them.

PLUS, if you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas, or if you forget to order something before Christmas and now you are raring to create, check this out ~

Shopping discount code for 11% off everything that isn't already on sale at Bind-It-All!

Deets ~ Valid through January 31 on the Bind-It-All site only.  Code will be given during the blog hop, so make sure you pop back here on January 5th!

Alrighty then?  Can't WAIT to hop with you on the 5th!!!  Happy creating, and see ya soon ~ Pam

Played with a bit of paint today, and other odds n ends.

Hi there!  How are you?  Hopefully super fab!  I played with a Radiant Rain Dauber ~ Hot Cinnamon.  Woooo, it is so pretty and sparklie!  Love it.  I worked on blinging up some embellies.  I hope to work on tags this Friday when I am home.  This is going to be a crazy chaotic week, so that will be my next bit of free time.  Anyway, here is a pic of some of my stuff ~

I added some Sakura 3D Dimensional Glaze to some pieces, and some Glossy Accents to others.  Some items I left as they are.  I can't believe all the sparkle!  Woo, love that.  I promise to show you what I create with these bits of odds n ends soon.  In the meantime, I promised to show you a few more cards I made with the Bazzill Card Bases my friend Patti sent in the RAK I won (she has a great blog, go check it out).  I am LOVING playing with these babies!  Fun colors, and it saves me time cutting and folding.  These cards were like 3 minute cards.  Here they are ~

Isn't Bruce stinkin adorable???  His name is Bruce Wayne, because he has a mask like Batman.  We just call him Bruce.  Yes, we are kind of weird!  :) 

Remeber when I posted this card a few weeks ago? You can go check out the tutorial for making it on the Bind-It-All Blog.  Take a peek, and please tell me what you think.  I hope someone finds the tutorial useful.  It doesn't have to be a Christmas Card, you can change it up to be whatever type card you want.  Have fun!

One more bit of news ~ Citrus Tree Studio will be having a SUPER fun Online Crop.  Here are the deets ~

Friday, December 31st (starting at 6:00 p.m. (eastern)) through Sunday, January 2nd, 2011 (ending at 12 midnight(eastern)).

Hope you check it out, it should be a blast, fun challenges, and Cindy always gives out great prizes to the winners!

Well, sorry for kind of a short post, but I need to go cut and wrap my carmels.  They take forever to make, then they have to sit undisturbed for 24 hours.  Ater that they take forever to cut and wrap, yikes.  But they are delich, and the people who receive them always love them.  So they are definitely worth the work.  It has been 24 hours since I poured the carmel in the baking pans, so off to cut and wrap I go.  Hope you all have a creative and happy week ~ Pam 

WOOOOO, it might be freezing outside, but it is warm in my crafty area!

Helllllllllloooooooooooooooo!  How are you?  Fab?  Super fab?  I hope so!  It has been crazy busy around here, but I have still been able to sneak some crafty time in.  Here are a few pics of what I have created the last few weeks ~

Some fun ornaments ~

Here are a few close up shots ~

I played with some fun buttons that I received in a Blog Candy package from my friend Patti.  It was Ah-mazing!  Loaded with alllllll sorts of fun things.  I grabbed the buttons and made the wee little wreath ornament, it only took a few minutes to complete.  Thanks Patti!!!  :)  Here is a peek at the wreath while it was under construction ~

A few more ornaments or package decorations, I used some of the fantastic Twinkling H2Os for lots of shimmer and shine ~

Here is a side view of one of the clips, I used wee little clothespins, now I can easily attach these little angels to the tree, a wreath, or a package ~

A close up view, can you see the shimmer?   ~

  

Cards, this one created with a stamped sheet of cardstock that I painted with the Radiant Rain Daubers (took about 15 seconds MAX to cover a whole sheet of cardstock, LOVE the sparkle and vibrant color), and of course used my quick and easy Distrezzer to distress some of the edges ~

Another card I made, this took about 2 minutes to put together ~

I also used some of the beautiful Bazzill Cards and Envies that Patti sent me, sorry I forgot to take a pic.  I will share those next week.  :)

Then this afternoon I made the YUMMIEST Chocolate pecan Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies.  I will definitely be making a few more batches to share!   

I hope you are enjoying the month of December.  It has been kind of wild here weather wise, but then again, it is December.  Hope you are all staying warm and dry!  OK, I am off to wrap a few presents, so take care.  Have a joyful and creative week ~ Pam  

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 ~

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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