Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Fun Kids Valentines with Kiwi Lane

Today was my first post as a Kiwi Lane Design Member and if you came from their blog, Welcome! If you haven't checked today's post, head on over to their blog.

I had so much fun making valentines with my kids.








If you are not a follower yet, be sure to jump on over to that right side bar and follow via Google Friend Connect. There will be a fabulous prize drawing as soon as I reach 50 followers. (There will be some great Kiwi Lane templates included in the prize!)

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Kiwi Lane DT Doodles- Week 1 and 2

I have already professed my love for sketch challenges and wanted to share another one of my favorites with you. Kiwi Lane Designs is well into their second week of DT Doodles and they are absolutely fantastic! The ladies that do these sketches are phenomenal and so inspiring! The last 2 weeks have been 2 page layouts, which I am in desperate need of because I have huge stacks of pictures to scrap. If you want in on the fun, be sure to check out their blog every Monday. You won't be sad you did. :) (Do the sketch and enter to win $25 gift code to buy some more sweet templates!)

Week 1 sketch:


My interpretation:


Templates:
Paisley Place 1 A&B and 2 A&B
Bracket 3
Celebrate 4
Tags 6

We R "Hall Pass"
American Crafts Thickers and cardstock
Downtown Tape "Old Hollywood" Washi Tape



Week 2 sketch:

My interpretation:



Templates:

Adorn 3A, 2B
Tags1, 5
Celebrate 1,2
Rings 3

Fancy Pants "It's Your Day"
American Crafts Thickers, cardstock, and twine

Authentique's January Sketch

I am a huge fan of sketch challenges and enjoy the inspiration that comes from them. I am also a huge fan of Authentique paper. Their lines are gorgeous, it look and feel. I love that these two things are combined in Authentique's monthly sketches. Here is their January sketch:


Here is my take on it:


 

I used Authentique's Festive line and DIY Thickers from American Crafts.

There is still plenty of time for you to participate, as the due date isn't until Wednesday, January 30. Head on over to their blog for all the details.

Friday, January 11, 2013

A Christmas Gift to Melt a Grandparent's Heart

Every year I struggle with what to get our parents for Christmas. It is so hard trying to buy them something they don't have. I usually end up going the handmade route and I love it. I think it will be a new tradition to always make them something. This year I scored a Kaisercraft lace up journal album from Scrapbooksteals.com and it was perfect!I combined it with MME's Follow your Heart and Kiwi Lane Templates to create a photo display that just melts the grandparent's heart.

Front Side

Back Side

The Kiwi Lane Templates I used were: Paisley Place 3A, Strip Set 1/2 inch, Adventure 6 & 5, and Accents 4T. If you haven't tried the Kiwi Lane templates, you have got to try them out! They are fabulous and make crafting and scrapping so easy!

If you haven't already, click on over to the right side of the blog and become a follower. As soon as I hit 50 followers, I will be giving away a prize package that will include some of these wonderful Kiwi Lane templates. :)


Christmas Happenings

I had every intention to get this post up before Christmas, and then before New Year's, but it seemed that I took on too many projects again this year. (When will I ever learn?!) Even though it's late, maybe it'll give you some ideas for this coming Christmas and you can get a head start. :)

1. Every year I try to give a treat that you don't have to use right away. We get way to many cookies and treats that I feel overwhelmed, as I'm sure many others do. I try to do a treat that doesn't have to be consumed immediately. I found this fabulous recipe from Bakerella for a jar mix and just had to try it. This jar gifts were for secretaries, people we worked close with at church and a few other people. (Once made, these cookies are so delicious that they will be gone in no time.) I ended up with 17 of them and with an assembly line, they aren't too time consuming to make.


2. My husband wanted something more than just jar cookies for his boss. I am really glad is boss is a she and not a he because I don't think these cards would have been such a big hit.


3. I love giving neighbor gifts each year, but often struggle what to do. I don't want them to break the bank, so i am always searching for a cute, easy, and inexpensive gift. I found the idea for the popcorn bags (and some many other cute ideas) here.


4. At our Church, the kids are in a Primary class for a whole year.  I feel like a small token of thanks is in order for the hard work they put in all year and for putting up with my kids each week.  For these, I hit up a Bath and Body Works sale after Thanksgiving for the soap and made a tag using the Kiwi Lane Templates. Some Pebbles paper, American Crafts ribbon and glitter ribbon, and some Pink Paislee bling completed it. I wrote a personal not on the back and they were ready for the kids to give.


5. I signed up to bring a dessert to our church party and the kids had a blast helping me decorate. The recipe came from this book.


6. These cards were made to go along with the cookie mix jars and whatever extra cards were needed. They were a combination of Pebbles paper, American Crafts ribbon and rub-ons and some jewels i found lying around.