Holiday 2013 Handmade Gift Exchange

I participated in another exchange this year, this one over on Craftaholics Anonymous. My swap partner was Christina Fiedler. Again I forgot to take a picture of what I sent, but it was crocheted dish cloths/potholders, coasters and one of my list jr. notepads.

Christina created for me this lovely table topper and 3 pins.

Grateful Shoebox Swap

 

Sisters Carrie and Monica hosted another of their famous Sister Shoebox Swaps and I joined in. I love these swaps and the wonderful "sisters" that I have met along the way.

 

The theme was Grateful and I was partnered with Elise. We have so many things in common and it was fun getting to know her. Carrie does a wonderful job partnering gals up each time.

 

I forgot to take a picture of what I sent her (will post a link after she posts it on her blog), but here is what I rec'd from her:

 

 

 In the photo above: chai tea, (that I've been having about every morning), candle, chalkboard stick, turkey tea towel, tags and hoop wall hanging

cool pumpkin, my favorite chocolates, recipe and recipe cards, very pretty leaf napkins, JOY wood wallhanging, burlap "grateful" banner and the coolest house cookie cutter.

Thank you so much Elise for all the goodies! It was like Christmas came early opening everything. Ü

CC Tree Milk Carton

YAY! I'm finally back from being so sick! This week on Cutting Cafe, the DT was given the choice of these files to create with:

CHRISTMAS BAG TOPPERS - TEMPLATES AND CUTTING FILES

STOCKING BOX.....TEMPLATE - CUTTING FILE

CHRISTMAS SHAPES MILK CARTON.....TEMPLATES - CUTTING FILES

CANDY CANE BOX SET...TEMPLATE - CUTTING FILE

It was really hard to choose! I love all Regina's work, but decided to go with the Milk Carton with the tree option.

I didn't do the tree window, but rather cut the box solid and then cut the tree separate 3 times with scrap cardstock and once with patterned paper for the front and back of the box. I layered them and then adhered to the front of the box with Tombow adhesive. The star is a punch I have and I punched 2 out of scrap cardstock and one of the yellow polka dot and layered. Tombow's Dot Adhesive is perfect for pieces like this with sharp points, tiny images, etc. After applying the adhesive you just rub away the excess.

I used more of the yummy designer paper from a paper pad I got at Hobby Lobby 1/2 off a couple of month's ago. I love this paper and wish they sold it in single sheets. Esp the holly paper.

Thank you for stopping by and be sure to stop by the Cutting Cafe blog later today or tomorrow to see what the rest of the DT created. Don't forget to leave a comment on the Cutting Cafe blog for a chance to win 3 files of your choice! 

Holiday Hop with Core'dinations

Did you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving? We did. The kids were here and we enjoyed having them home and it just didn't last long enough. But with Thanksgiving so late, they will be back in a couple of weeks and will be home for about a month, so looking forward to that.

This week on Tombow the team is hopping with Core'dinations. A little about  Core'dinations cardstock:

Every sheet of acid free, 80 lb. cardstock has a color core which "core'dinates" with the surface color... no white core!
They allow you to choose to keep the core color hidden or add your own creative touch by sanding, tearing, or embossing.

For my creation/project today, I have a gift bag using Core'dinations cardstock that I sanded and Basic Grey papers. I also used Tombow's 

Stamp Runner Permanent Adhesive and Irojiten Dictionary Colored Pencils

:

Tombow will be giving away:

Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Fastener Tabs

Stamp Runner Permanent Adhesive

Refill, Stamp Runner, Permanent

  Core'dinations will be giving away an amazing prize package of Tim Holtz & Ranger Distress Cardstock and a sand it set.

 "subject to availability"

To be eligible to win, please comment on each of the designers projects  and don't forget to "Like" the Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock Paper Facebook Page and "Like" the Tombow Facebook Page.
If you don’t have a Facebook, still comment on the projects and Tombow will select someone to win a prize just for playing!

Now it is time to hop over to Clare's blog.

Here is the Lineup for the week:

 

Monday

Tombow: http://blog.tombowusa.com/

Debbie: http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/

Clare Buswell http://clare-buswell.blogspot.com
Gail Lindner http://www.gaillindner.typepad.com/

Jennifer Edwardson http://3dfoamandasandingblock.blogspot.com/

Core’dinations: http://www.coredinations.com/index.php/category/scrapbook-blog/

 

Tuesday
Melissa:

http://www.inkclinations.blogspot.com/

Tracy Gruber www.owlbecraftin.blogspot.com
Suzanna Lee http://www.lifestrivialities.typepad.com/

Jill Lebbin http://everydayisanoccasion.com/

 

Wednesday

Jennie:

http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

Mary Pat Siehl http://siehledwithakiss.blogspot.com

Vivian Keh http://contadinak.wordpress.com/
Debbie Standard http://debbiestandard.blogspot.com/

Kate Nolan-Denham http://scissorsspatulasandsneakers.blogspot.com/

 

Thursday

Marie:

http://mariebrowning.wordpress.com/

Ellen Sosnoski http://closeyourears.blogspot.com
Kim Moreno www.livingthecircuslife.blogspot.com

Ava Gavloski http://cottagerca.blogspot.com/

 

Friday: We will announce the Winners. Tombow will be announcing our via Facebook at 3:30 Eastern Time!

Cyber Monday

Check out these awesome sales that start today!!

Follow us for inspiration:

Black Friday Shopping Deals

Here are a couple of great Black Friday Shopping Deals and you don't even have to fight traffic and wait in line:

Cutting Café:

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL - 5 for $5.00 or 10 for $10.00
Hello all our BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL has just been posted....it's our best sale again.....ANY 5 SETS FOR ONLY $5.00 or ANY 10 SETS FOR ONLY $10.00...
sale good from today until 11:59pm Friday the 29th of November 2013
http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/the_cutting_cafe/2013/11/black-friday-special5-for-500-or-10-for-1000.html

Tombow:

http://tombowusa.com/black-friday-daily-deals.html

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers. I've been sick the past couple of weeks, but will be back soon with new projects/recipes/etc to share.

100 Days of Tombow

Have you seen all the posts and talk on FB and the Tombow Blog about "100 Days of Tombow"? If  not, be sure to check it out, there have been some amazing projects.

Here is a quick refresher on the 100 days of Tombow Program:
“Since its launch in March, more than 60 crafting bloggers have joined forces in contributing to this amazing movement in crafting and scrapbooking history. Every submission for the “100 Days of Tombow” blogging program will result in a $100.00 product donation to the Council for Arts Education.  Each of their projects have contributed to Tombow’s goal of donating up to $10,000 in product to the Council for Art Education and have been featured worldwide on social media outlets such as Pinterest, Facebook and YouTube. Not to mention, the campaign has been recognized by multiple national crafting media outlets, resulting in more than 3 million media impressions amongst craft bloggers. Wow! This is definitely something that you do not want to miss!”

This week the Tombow DT is playing along and sharing projects with you using Stamp Runner Dot Pattern Adhesive, Dual Brush Pens, and Irojiten Colored pencils.

I created another notepad holder perfect for making lists and keeping track of holiday info, using a new set from Inky Antics called "Santa's List". The designer papers are from Fancy Pants'

 

I used the Stamp Runner Dot Adhesive to put the pieces together, Irojitens to color the image and then Dual Brush pens to deepen the color for shadows. I also used Mono Aqua Liquid Glue to add glitter to the "fur" on Santa's outfit.

This is how the post order works this week:
Monday Nov. 25^th: Debbie  **you are here**
Tuesday Nov. 26^th : Melissa
Wednesday Nov. 27^th : Jennie
Thursday Nov. 28^th : Marie
Friday Nov. 29^th : Tombow a post on BLACK FRIDAY Specials J It includes Stamp Runners…J


I also wanted to share links for Tombow's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

http://tombowusa.com/black-friday-daily-deals.html

http://tombowusa.com/cyber-monday-specials.html

Harvest Handle Bag

This week's Guest Designer is Jaded Blossom co-owner Candace Pelfrey. The Tombow DT along with Candace are showcasing Thanksgiving/Fall projects.

I had purchased Harvest Handle Bag template from Jaded Blossom and thought this was the perfect time to showcase my project.

 

I used Tombow's Mono Adhesive Dots and Mono Adhesive Power Bond to put the box together. I think these would be cute to create and fill with candy/treats and have one for each person who comes for Thanksgiving.

Irojiten Colored Pencils Volume 9

 

Here is the week’s Line-up:
Tombow Blog
Debbie
Melissa
Jennie
Marie
Candace
Tombow Blog

In order to enter to win the prize, please comment on all the Design Team’s projects this week as well as “Like” TombowUSA and  Jaded Blossom on Facebook. We will announce the Winner Friday November 22^nd at 3:30 EST!

BFB The Governess of Highland Hall

"The Governess of Highland Hall" by Carrie Turansky is set in the early 1900's. Julia Foster and her parents were missionaries to India and had to go home to England when her father became ill. Unable to support his family, Julia takes a job at Highland Hall as a governess to 2 young children as well as the master's (William) 2 teenage cousins whose parents have died.

 

The children are ill mannered, the master has trusting issues due to his late wife's life, and some of the help at the manor make Julia's life a challenge.

 

Both Julia and William are doing what they can to support their own families and come head to head more than once.

 

Carrie Turansky is a new author to me, but I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one in the series. However, it doesn't come out until fall of next year!

 

Here are some links relating to this story:

Podcast

Facebook

Author's web site

Pinterest

More Info

Author Bio

I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review.

Pinned It Made It Monday

I helped host a couple's wedding shower a few weeks ago and these cupcakes as well as these were the featured dessert.

These are Key Lime Cupcakes that I made from this recipe.

I made the blackberry filling, but did not like it. I also did not like the frosting, it was too sweet.

The frosting is Cool Whip colored a light purple (the couple's wedding colors were lime and purple) and then drizzled with melted seedless blackberry jam. It was very light and refreshing. The bride likes fruits and vegetables and the groom likes peanut butter and chocolate, so we had the 2 different kinds of cupcakes.

I am linking this up to Country Girl at Home for her Pinned It Made It Monday challenge.

JOY Banner

Tombow is hopping this week with Guest Designer Michelle Woerner. Be sure to look around when you visit her blog during the hop. You will definitely be inspired!

Since Michelle is on the Spellbinders team and with Christmas around the corner and my love for making banners, I am sharing this JOY banner I created using Nestibilities Pennant and Scallop Pennant Dies.

I used Tombow's Mono Multi Liquid Glue, Mono Glue Stick, Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, Power Tabs, and Stamp Runner Dot Adhesive.

The "j" and "y" were cut with my Silhouette using font "Jester". The leaf is from a punch.

 The snowflakes were cut with Cutting Cafe's Snowflake Kisses Box (for the small snowflake) and Snowflake Shaped Card Set for the larger snowflake. The chunky glitter is Sand Dollar Pearl Dazzlers by Art Glitter.

Here is the prize being given away this week:

MONO Multi Liquid GlueMONO Adhesive Removable
Refill, MONO Adhesive Removable

 

In order to enter to win the prize, please comment on all the Design Team’s projects this week as well as “Like” TombowUSA and Spellbinders on Facebook. 

Now it's time to head over to Melissa's blog.

 

Here is this week’s Line-up:
Tombow Blog
Debbie
Melissa
Jennie
Marie
Michelle Woerner
Tombow Blog

Favorite Things Pizza Box

Cutting Café Design Team is creating projects using Regina's Pizza Box Cutting File. The file also comes in PDF form is you don't have a cutting machine and is still easy to create.

I also used  A Few of My Favorite Things Printable Set to decorate my box, along with some sequins, ribbons and yummy papers.

Don't forget to visit Cutting Cafe's Blog tomorrow to see all the inspiration from the other DT and comment for a chance to win files from Cutting Café.

Pinned It Made It Monday

Yes, I know it's Tuesday. Ü I didn't see Tammy's post up until today.

 

Today it is snowing. We are suppose to get 2-4 inches. We'll see... Good day to be canning pears!

 

I have a couple of recipes to share with you.

First is this spaghetti sauce that I canned. It was very yummy and definitely a keeper. Before I just used Mrs. Wages Spaghetti pkgs that you add to your tomato juice, but I ran out and needed to get the tomatoes done, so searched Pinterest and came up with this recipe.

 

Then with our pear tree full of fruit, I was needing some pear recipes.

 

I made this recipe:

source: Bunnys Oven

 

 was not impressed with the crust at all, BUT loved the filling, so decided to make lots of it and can it.

 

Last night, I went out and picked all the pears up off the ground and there were 7 five gallon buckets, plus probably a couple more left on the ground. I will be canning pears in my sleep!

 

But we needed to can them all as the tornado this summer took our other tree, so not sure we will get any fruit next year. You have to have 2 pear trees to cross pollinate. Guess we will be looking for trees next spring. (also lost an apple tree and it split another one we aren't sure we will keep)

 

I am linking this up to Country Girl at Home for her Pinned It Made It Monday challenge.

Tombow Sparkles

This week Tombow is hopping with Art Glitter and the DT is all sparkly. 

I created this fun fall notepad using Elizabeth Craft Butterfly, Tombow Dual Brush Pens, Mono Aqua Liquid Glue, and Art Glitter's Crystal Transparent Ultrafine Glitter.

Here is a close up of the butterfly and sparkly glitter

Want a chance to win some goodies? Comment on all the Designer's projects on their blogs for your chance to win!

Dual Brush Pen Set, 6 Jewel

2 Peewee Art Glitter Kits

Now it's time to head over to the super talented Melissa to see how she sparkles this week.