*New* Distress Ink Markers

 I just saw a Tim Holtz video from CHA showing the brand new Ranger Distress Ink MARKERS.  Wowsers!  I just HAD to share it with you!  Check it out!!! (Click on it twice to see it larger)

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A special Christmas card

After seeing a beautiful Christmas card made by Karen at "Luv To Stamp" on Pinterest last night I decided to make my daughter's bestie a card using the braided ribbon technique for the wreath. How much fun that was & Easy Peasy ta boot. Here are a couple of video tuts that show you how it's done......HERE and HERE. I used a pretty 1/4" green satin ribbon (the green is actually a little more greyish green but I had a hard time getting the color just right in PSE).

The sentiment was computer generated by me using the beautiful 'Chopin Script' font. The DP was from Bearly Mine Designs 'Vintage' set. I used my Scallop Circle Nestie & Long Classic Scalloped Rectangle Nestie & the rest of the embellies were from my stash.

I'm entering these challenges:
Paper Sundaes: #100 Celebrate (Christmas)
Paper Playtime: #63 Anything goes plus a Sentiment

Thanks so much for visiting me today & have a Merry Merry Christmas one & all.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

PCI Guest Designer card

After entering a challenge recently at Paper Creations Ink they chose me to be a Guest Designer. How cool is that! They gave this darling image by Sassy Studio Designs called "Santa's Helper" from their "Sassy Holiday Collection". (Thanks a bunch Sassy Studio Designs!) Doesn't she look pretty sitting on top of that huge prezzie. Wonder what's in it. Do you think she should shake it? LOL Uh...better not just in case it's breakable. LOL This is challenge #13 at PCI with a "Christmas Theme". Can you believe we're only about a month away from Christmas. Yikes! Where has this year gone?

The DP I used is from K&Co's new Christmas paper pad called "Elizabeth Brownd's Visions of Christmas". I loved the pretty blue paper with snowflakes & musical notes. The "Santa's Helper" digital image was colored with my Copics E0000, E000, E00, E31, E41, E50, E51, E53 / R11, R20 / BG0000, BG10, BG11. Then cut out with my oval & scalloped oval Nesties. The bling button, gold doily, gold ribbon & glitter snowflake are all from my stash. I distressed the edges of the DP with Ranger's Distress Ink 'Frayed Burlap'.

This was my first time adding sequins to a card. I purchased a bunch of cupped sequins from Cartwright. They have such a huge selection at such a good price so I got a big variety. These gold sequins came from an assortment pack with a mix of different Metallic colors. They are 6mm Metallic slightly cupped sequins. The 'cupped' center makes a great nesting place for the bead. What pretty little flowers they make. I'll definitely be using this technique again. The opaque ones are really pretty too.

Just in case anyone wants to know how I attached the sequins to my card:

I used some thin 34 gauge gold wire (I think it's called beading wire.......it's old & the label fell off.....lol) to "sew" the gold beads & sequins onto the top of the card. I cut a piece of wire about 4" long. Then strung the bead onto the wire & moved it to the middle of the wire. While holding the bead super straight & making sure it was centered between the bead holes so the holes wouldn't show......I twisted the wire close to the bead. Then I pierced a hole in the DP & threaded the wire through to the back, secured the ends with tape & cut off any excess wire. Easy peasy!

I'm entering the following challenges:
DYSU Challenge: #46 blue
One Stop Craft Challenge: #158 blue
Paper Pretties: Christmas card using non-traditional Christmas colors
Pollycraft Monday Challenge: #120 Christmas fun
The Craft Garden: Christmas without red or green
Wags' n Whiskers: Christmas themed
Daisy Doodles Creative Challenges: #47 Christmas must use digi
Hooked on Craft Challenges: #12 use punch or die cut
Paper Sundaes: #96 Beautiful bow
Pile It On: #47 Anything with a "P" (prezzie aka present)
2 Sisters Challenge Blog: #66 Let It Sparkle
Just Some Lines: Tic Tac Toe (glitter, digi, die cut)
Outlawz challenge: Pam111911 Christmas or winter celebration
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days: #21 texture & must use digi
Crafts 4 Eternity: R#46 Embellishment recipe (snowflake, bling, doily)
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge: #109 Snowflakes
Frosted Designs: Fabulous Friday Challenge ~ Die Cuts!
Creatalicious Challenges: #28 Christmas & sparkle
The Paper Shelter: #40 Snowflakes

Thanks so much for visiting me & please pop on over to PCI to enter their Challenge. They would love to have you join them. This card will be traveling to Mass. to my dear friend Mary.

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Coffins revisited.....bwahahaha

I thought someone may be looking for a last minute crafty gift to give your special Trick or Treaters this year so I'm sharing these coffin boxes that I made last Halloween. Here's my POST.

If you just want the link for the pattern & tut..........it's HERE. (The pdf patterns are in #2 of the "Coffin Treat Box How-To" section labeled "top" and "bottom".)

I've also shared my Blessing Mix in the same post HERE (farther down the page). Enjoy! And try not to eat toooo much candy! LOL

Huggies & Sweet Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing a Crepe Paper Tree tutorial

Isn't this GORGEOUS!!!! Karin at Creative Chaos shared a tutorial on making this beauty. She has wonderful......step by step directions that even I could follow. lol I just HAD to share this with you all.

Enjoy!
Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Beware!

I made these cute.....uh I mean SCARY (BOO) little Coffin Treat boxes for my teenage granddaughters (plus one of their friend's who lives here part time) & for my daughter (cuz she'll always be my little teenager...heeheehee) . They absolutely flipped over them. I got the template & tut from Martha Stewart crafts HERE. I used double sided cardstock so I wouldn't have to wait for glue to dry. LOL I am sooooo impatient.

This is the inside of the 'coffin'.......(lid is propped up on the left side). Of course these were full of chocolate..........their FAVorite thing in all the world.....LOL.



I got this idea from the amazingly talented Jodie from Oz. Check out her cute Coffin Treat Box here. And while you're at it.....browse around the rest of her site.......you will be amazed.......her cards & creations are stunning! Thanks Jodie!!!

So if it's toooooo late to make these for your cute little Trick or Treaters this year.........be sure to bookmark this page. I'll also try to remember to post this a bit earlier next year.

I also made my usual Blessing Mix. It is a traditional Thanksgiving recipe but for my family......it just wouldn't be Halloween without it. I've used variations of this recipe throughout the years. I used to add pretzels but my crew is sick of pretzels. LOL So I just use Bugles, Goldfish crackers, peanut M&M's & honey roasted peanuts. I didn't add the candy corn either cuz I think we've had just about enough. LOL I've had a little 'candy corn' shaped bowl on the kitchen counter for at least 2 weeks now. So we're "over it". LOL

Here's the original yummy recipe for you.......

2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&Ms-brand chocolate candy
16 Hershey's-brand chocolate kisses

You can put these in little treat bags or just ziploc bags cuz it will be gone lickety split. LOL It makes for such a nice treat. So whatever you add or delete from the list (I saw one variation that used 'red hots' instead of 'candy corn').......just make it your own family tradition. Your family will thank you for it. My family would cry their little eyes out if I didn't make it. LOL

For those interested in the symbolism behind the traditional American Blessing Mix.........

BUGLES: Shaped like a Cornucopia or Horn Of Plenty - A symbol of our Nation's abundance
PRETZELS: Arms folded in prayer, a freedom sought by the founders of our country
CANDY CORN: Sacrifices of the Pilgrim's first winter. Food was so scarce that the settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn per day.
NUT OR SEEDS: Promise of a future harvest, one will reap only if seeds are planted and tended to with diligence
DRIED FRUITS : Harvest gifts of our bountiful land
M&Ms: Memories of those who came before us to guide us to a blessed future
HERSHEY'S KISS: The love of family and friends that sweetens our lives.

I also made some traditional Rice Krispie treats to balance out all the chocolate. LOL Can you tell we love sweets. LOL

Have a happy & safe Halloween!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Get Punchie & Tie a Bow

I came across this video while visiting Donna at Ruby Slippers. She shared this video showing the new Martha Stewart "Punch All Over The Page" punch (soon to be released). But what intrigued me was the little tut that Peggy shared on tying a bow onto a card (it's about 4 minutes into the video). Check it out & tell me what you think. I thought it was a terrific idea on how to keep your ribbon from sliding all over the front of your card. Cute idea! Thanks to Peggy at CropStop.com.

(btw.....Peggy's "Big Mouth" is actually the Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite....LOL)

Have a FABulous day!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Getting punchie.........

I was wandering about "Inspiration Tips, Techniques & Tutorials" today & found this wonderful video tut on "Making Paper Hydrangeas" with a heart punch by Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds. She also shows how to make little curly type vines with an oval punch.



Have fun creating! I'm definitely going through my punches today to see what other 'outside of the box' uses I can find for them........how about you? LOL

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

A seriously cool Topiary

I was visiting my friend Andrea at The Paper Purse today & she shared this seriously cool Paper Flower Topiary featured on My Mind's Eye Blog complete with free instructions.

Isn't it beautiful! I can see it made in varying colors & sizes.....from a tiny petite version to the large one they made. I can see a cute little vintage birdie or two hanging around it or a butterfly or two or three. You could even glitter it up or turn it into a cute Christmas tree. (you can see my imagination working overtime. LOL) The possibilities are endless!

Thanks a bunch for sharing this Andrea!

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Distress Ink Video TUT by Tim Holtz

I just came across this Tim Holtz video where he shares various Distress Ink techniques for we cardmakers (or is it "us" cardmakers...LOL). He is soooo uber talented.

In this video he shares how to achieve various looks by using his Distress Inks in several ways........"Wrinkled Distress", "Wrinkle Free Distress", simple backgrounds with his Ink Blending Tool & a rubber stamping technique using various Distress Ink colors to achieve an awesome look.



Hope you enjoy this video as much as I did!

(Just a side note: I wanted to post it here so I always know where to find it.....LOL)

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing an Embossing TUT by Tim Holtz

What a FABulous idea "THE" Tim Holtz just shared on his blog. (If you're not a follower.....you are really missing out on some great stuff.)

Anywho.............I just HAD to share his TUT with you. I'm aaaaallll about sharing (hence the name "Sharr-a-hug".....LOL.....I like to share more than just hugs.....LOL). Okay.....nuff about me.....onto the 'share'.

Tim shared HERE how to emboss those long strips of paper or in this case.....a long tag.....that just doesn't seem to fit in your embossing folder. He even gave permission to cut (gasp) his beautiful "Texture Fades" embossing folder.

So get your handy dandy craft knife ready and give it a try.

Thanks for checking in with me.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Copic Ciao Number TUT

This is my very first blog TUTorial so please be gentle………………

Let me start off by saying that I ♥love♥love♥love♥ my Copic markers!!! I have a total of 84 of these beauties both Ciao & Sketch but since the Ciao's are the least expensive I have more of them. The only thing I don’t like about the Copic Ciao markers is that they don’t have the color number on the end of the marker barrel as they have on the Copic Sketch markers therefore I decided to create my own. And this is how I did it.
(***scroll down to the bottom of this post to see a picture of the barrel ends of the Sketch & Ciao markers...........the picture is clickable to get a closer view.)

Supplies needed:
Sticker paper or Address Labels
Computer and Printer
1/4" Hole Punch (this is the standard size round hole punch)
Corsage Pin

♥♥♥First you will print the Ciao color numbers you need onto the labels or sticker paper……leaving enough space around each number to fit inside your hole punch. I used the font Calibri font size 8 for most of the color numbers. I used 7.5 for the larger numbers like RV000 so they would fit inside the punched circle.

♥♥♥Then hole punch the number…….centering the number in the hole (turn the punch over so you can see what you’re doing). Then hold the little circle you’ve just punched out in your fingertips (you may need to use the corsage pin to gently push the circle out of the punch) & using the tip of the corsage pin….gently fold back the edge of the sticker & slip the pin tip in between the layers. The backing will come right off. The sticky number circle will stick to the pin & you can ease it onto the end of the marker. Use your finger or fingernail to tap it in place. And voila! There ya go!!! Easy peasy!!!

I suppose you could use a medium to cover the number once it’s attached to the marker………like a protective covering but I didn’t think it was necessary since my markers are guarded very carefully. LOL



I store my Copics in this pretty "luggage" style box from Michael’s......(love these lovely containers for storing my crafts). Inside I have 2 clear storage boxes I purchased at Joann’s crafts. They have built-in dividers to store the Copic color families perfectly. When I tip the box I can see all of my numbers now. No problems in searching for a certain Copic Ciao marker. ( I chose to put the numbers on BOTH ends of my Ciao markers so I could see them on either side of the clear boxes……….but you could just do one marker end.) This box also holds my ink refills.



On a side note: I keep my skin & hair color Copics that I use the most in this separate little plastic photo box (also from Michael’s). (I don't use the blue markers for hair or skin........LOL......that's just to show the difference between the Sketch & Ciao markers.........and to show you the little round circle I made.) I have more of these little boxes so when I'm working on a project (like coloring my cute little Tildas) I have all the markers I'm using at my fingertips. It also helps me to remember which colors I used in my project before I return them to their other little "home".



♥I sure hope this TUT helps you. If you have any questions or don’t understand something, please email me.♥

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~

Sharing a Flower Tut..........

While blog surfing today I stumbled across a flower tut & an amazingly talented flower maker........would that make her a florist or a flower designer.........hhhhhmmmmm........not sure what to call her but her flowers are amazing.

The flower tut is on the Just Magnolia Challenge Blog HERE .

The oh so talented Michele has her own site.....My Little Space On The WWW. Scroll down to see her amazing floral creations. Just beautiful! I'm just going to HAVE to get one of those Sizzix Flower Layers dies. Oh great.........one more thing to add to my "MUST HAVE" list. LOL

Just wanted to share a wee bit of inspiration with you all.

Huggies & Blessings ~♥♥♥~