Elves Make Christmas Happen

Did you know that each month at the Ribbon Carousel we give one winner who participates in our challenge their very own ribbon carousel?  And we always make it easy to play along.

This month our theme is

The Holidays

Last year, my little family began the Elf of the Shelf tradition.  I was writing down ideas that I had for our elves on little scraps of paper or post it notes all over the house.  They easily would get lost or thrown away and I was tired of frantically look for them late at night.  This year I decided to be more organized and create a little notebook for jotting my ideas down in.  

I started with a notebook that I found in the $1 bin at Michaels.  I covered it Bazzill Peanut Cluster cardstock and Echo Parks, Seasons Greeting designer paper.  I fell in LOVE with Pixie Elf Lucy from CC Designs and was in luck that I could get it as a digital image. I wanted it to be make it larger so it would be in scale with the size of the notebook.  After coloring with my Copic markers, I then cut the image out and popped it up with foam tape.  The sentiment was computer generated using two different fonts but I don't remember which one's they were now :(  I added some zigzag machine stitching and the last bit of my favorite Satin Pleated Ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.   

Copics Used:

Skin: E13, E21, E00, E50 (Cheeks R02)

Hair: E47, E44, E43, E42, E41

Shirt: YG99, YG97, YG95, YG93, YG91, YG21

Trim: E43, E42, E41

Stockings & Hat: E18, R39, R37, R35

Jingle Bells: Y26, YR24, Y17, YR31

 I hope my creation has inspired to you play along with us this week at the Ribbon Carousel Challenge Blog,  Remember, your creation can be anything you'd like, just be sure you use ribbon, bakers twine, lace, thread...(anything that comes on a spool) on your card or project.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Cheeky Geeky

Click HERE for There She Goes -  Little Treat Blog Hop

Welcome to the MAY PREVIEW DAYS with The Greeting Farm!

Before I get to showing you some brand new projects today with some FRESH new stamps, we have a few announcements we'd love to share:

**  First of all, we are adding ONE NEW PREMIERE FARMER this month!  Please help me welcome RACHEL PARYS to the TGF Design Team... we are thrilled to have her and her beautiful card making skills on board!

**  Second, we've had some changes to TGF Challenges and are very grateful to have heard such positive feedback so far as we've turned them over to our Showcase DT.   Please make sure you visit the TGF Blog (and check out it's cute new makeover while you're there!) and tune into the Left-hand sidebar for all of our current challenges in ONE place!  

**  We'll be giving away ONE stamp during each day of previews, so be sure to visit the TGF BLOG for that information as well!

** Last but not least , please join us for our RELEASE DAY BLOG HOP, prizes, and fun on MAY 1st, when FOUR NEW STAMPS will be available on the Farm!   

If you've been a reader of my blog for awhile, then you know that I have a serious girl crush on all of The Greeting Farms Cheeky images!!  So when my design team stamps arrived (I'm always so excited that I rip the packages open while I'm standing at the mailbox) I kissed the stamp and literally skipped back into the house thinking of all the fun to be had with her!!

Let me introduce to you....Cheeky Geeky!!

Acckkk!!  Isn't she AWESOME?!?!  Oh gosh, I just LOVE her!!  xoxoxo

I used papers from Crate Paper's School Spirit Collection and machine stitched all paper panels.  Behind the image, I placed a piece of cork and heat embossed the sentiment onto some Antique Gold Satin Scalloped Edge ribbon from the Ribbon Carousel.  (Click HERE for a tutorial on how that's done.)
I applied a generous amount of StarDust Stickles to her headband and Glossy Accents to her glasses.

For my second project, I made a little notepad for myself from a plain kraft covered notepad that I bought for $1.  I used these beautiful DCWV adhesive backed fabric papers that I had been saving (for just the right little project) to decorate the cover.  (I did NOT remove the paper backing since I knew that I wanted to machine stitch on the fabric and the backing paper made it a little more sturdy.)  I created the "notes" using MFT's By the Letters Die-namics and added some gorgeous Festive Fushia Vintage Seam Binding.  I adore how this came out and I'm using the notepad for all of my "crafty" notes!!  :)

I know all my TGF Fans are going to want her...but how would you like a chance to WIN her?!?!  

Just leave a comment for me and on Rachel's Blog today 'cause there's a little Cheeky Geeky surprise hiding on one of our blogs!  Next, make sure you go to the TGF Blog and let us know that you stopped by our blogs and we'll announce a winner of Cheeky Geeky tomorrow!!  

(You have until 11:45 pm CST tonight to comment and win)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

YNS Winter Fun Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Winter Fun Blog Hop!!

This is my FAVORITE release (I say that every time don't I?) and I'm excited about these fun images this month.  If you've arrived here from Amy's Blog then you're in the right place.  If not and you'd like to participate in the Blog Hop CLICK HERE to be taken to the start.

This release is being combined with our regular YNS Challenge which is

~ Holiday Winter Themed Card or Project ~

And of course what fun would a Blog Hop be without prizes? And we don't have just one but THREE!!  There are 3 prizes hidden among the DT blogs and winners will be drawn from the secret prize bloggers comments!!  :)

HOP ENDS: DECEMBER 12th

There are also some fabulous specials going on right now at the YNS Store.  New Bundle Packs will be available plus an awesome variety of stamps in the YNS Bargain Bin and YNS Deal of the Week.  And with every order until Dec 25th...Karen will include a little Christmas gift just for you!!

I just ADORE these snow globes and all the sweet little images that fit inside.  For weeks I've been writing down Christmas gift ideas for the kids on little scraps of paper.  I know...completely unorganized and not like me at all.  But I've been so busy that I just haven't had the time to create a Holiday Planner this year.  Then I remembered this little notebook I snagged out of the dollar bin at Michaels a few weeks ago.  I colored the Christmas tree and Snow globe images with my Copics then cut it out and popped it up with foam tape on a Kraft cardstock tag.  I covered the base of the snow globe with sticky notes before I sprayed the globe with (Sparkle) Sheer Shimmer Spritz and added a touch of Polar White Flower Soft for snow.  Since the notebook had a smooth almost glossy finish to it I had to heat emboss the lettering from Papertrey Inks - Trajan Monogram.  I LOVE the way it turned out and it fits perfectly in my purse to take along shopping.

Well, that's it from me today... Your next stop along the hop is the very talented Diana.  

Good Luck and I hope you enjoy the Hop!!

BEFORE YOU GO....I have BLOG CANDY going on right now.  I'd love for you to enter...CLICK HERE for your chance to win!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! 

Christmas Planner

It's time for another monthly challenge at Elisabeth Bell's World.  

This time we'd like to see a gift for someone with a card or a gift bag.  I might have cheated because I made this for ME!!  LOL  Although if my mom and sister see this they will try and steal it for themselves so it might be a gift after all.  

Last year I made VERY elaborate Christmas planners for my mom and sister.  They were spiral bound books (made with the Bind-It-All) with lots of tabs for Calendar pages, Wish Lists, To Do, Meal Planning, Etc..  It was so pretty that I never even wrote in mine!!

Well, as much as I would have liked to have done that again, I simply did not have the time this year.  So instead I covered a little notepad and will use it for all keeping track of all of those holiday Things to Do, Buy and Bake.

Inside I created a little pocket for receipts, etc and a ribbon loop for my pen.

I've used Shopping Willow and  gave her festive Christmas bags by paper piecing them.  Now, if only I could look that fabulous while out shopping.  LOL

Challenges:

Creative Inspirations = #88 Color Scheme (Red, Gold & Green) - There is gold in the DP

A Spoonfull of Sugar = #131 Anything Goes

Lollipop Crafts = #11 Christmas

Pile It On = #46 Winter means....Christmas shopping!!

Stamptacular Sunday = #86 Time for Giving

The Crafty Pad = #98 Red & Green

Copic Creations = #39 Shading Paper Piecing

Bunny Zoes Crafts = #6 Christmas - Anything but a Card

ABC Christmas - X is for Xmas

Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the States!!  My family and I are at my Mom's today enjoying a yummy Thanksgiving dinner, taking naps, writing out our Christmas lists and decorating her tree.  That's my family's Thanksgiving tradition and I'm going to enjoy every second of it!!

I am very blessed and have SO MUCH to be Thankful for ... My sweet little family, my health,  my faith, and my friends.  That includes all the the new friendships I've made because of this little blog of mine.  I know that I always say "Thanks for stopping by", but I want you to know just how much I really mean it.  I know that there are millions of blogs out there and I am very thankful that you have come by to visit ME!!  :)  

So THANK YOU from the bottom of my HEART!!!

Wendy

xoxo

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues" - Cicero

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Christmas Release Blog Hop!!

You should have arrived from Guest Designer Cindy's Blog.  If not make sure to start at the beginning with Crystal's Blog.  We have lot's of wonderful projects to share with you as well as prizes and a 15% of Sale going on right now in the Your Next Stamp Store.  

One lucky winner drawn at random will receive a surprise new release stamp package.  Make sure to leave a comment on each DT member's blog and then leave your link at the end of the hop on Karen's blog to be entered.

We are also having (4) mini candy draws at regular stops along the hop.  So be sure to keep hopping to find our where.  If you ever get lost along the way here's the line up:

Crystal Irwin

Cindy Haffner

---> Wendy Ramlakhan (Me!) <---

Chris Olsen

Kerri Michaud

Angela Wood

Beth Ranney-Thomas

Simmone Clay

Sylvia Blum

Jen del Muro

Linda Cummings

Jenny Cierley

Maureen Wong

Tori Wild

Karen Dedman

And now my I'd love to show you my project.

Edited to add: This project is currently featured on Paper Craft Planet - Sooo EXCITED!!  :)

Christmas is just around the corner, and if you're like me your starting to feel the urgency to get things ready.  I hope my project's today will inspire you or at least motivate you to start on your own Christmas projects.  

Here you can see my family's 

2010 Christmas Set.

This is my second year of making a set just like this.

(I'll post a picture of last years' set in a few days)

My set includes:

*  Christmas Cards

*  Kid's Thank You Cards

* Gift Tags

* Notebook

Here's a close up of our Christmas Card for this year:

Yep, I make the kids send thank you cards!!!

And a cute little Notebook for all those Christmas lists!

I created it by covering chipboard and using my Bind-it-All.

And the Gift Tag for all those presents!!

This adorable Penguin Greeting stamp is perfect for those Christmas mass production projects. Very little coloring, but with lots of those little extra touches (like gloss & glitter!) that will be sure to have the recipients feeling special without you spending tons of time making them all.  Believe me, it's very easy to do and TONS OF FUN!!

Challenges:
My Partner in Crafting Crime = #12 Clean & Simple
Pollycraft = #64 Anything Goes
Stamp Something = Something to Celebrate
Anything Goes = #19 Christmas has come early
City Crafter = #25 Hooray for the Holidays

Well thanks so much for stopping by today!

Wendy

Recipe:

Stamp: Your Next Stamp (Penguin Greetings) & Papertrey Ink (Vintage Label)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Papertrey Ink (Fresh Snow)

Paper: Papertrey Ink (Kraft) & Bo Bunny ('Tis the season snowflake)

Stickles: Star Dust

Glossy Accents

Pop Dots

Ribbon: American Crafts

Nestibilities: Scalloped Square

Copics Used:

R59, R46, BG15, BG11, Y19, Y38, C9, BG10

Take Note!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE notebooks!! It is a strange school supply attraction/obsession that I have. (I also have this same obsession with recipe books, day planners, and address books too, but we won't go into that right now.  LOL)   But, I really enjoy making my own.  Here's a peek at the inside.  I used sheets of chipboard and cut them to make my notebook a 5x7.  The papers are October Afternoon (Fly a Kite) and the ribbon, buttons, and chipboard shapes are all from American Crafts (Dear Lizzy).  I sanded the edges and then used Tim Holtz Distressing Ink (Vintage Photo) to give it that vintage/shabby look.  I LOVE IT!!!!  I used 7/8" O-Wire for my Bind-It-All and put it all together.  The inside sheets are just notebook paper that I cut down.

I like having a little notebook nearby when I'm making my cards so that I can quickly jot down the supplies and Copic markers that I've used. Then when I'm ready to make a post on my blog, I just grab my notebook and I have all my info right there.  This little notebook will be so fun to look at and use everyday!!  Most of the supplies came from my friend Nana, who sent me some really yummy blog candy last week.  When I opened the package I knew right away what I wanted to do with it.  She has made some really cute notebooks recently and looking at her stuff inspired this little creation.  (Not near as good as hers'....she does beautiful stitching on her projects - but I think she would like it.)  Go take a look at her blog.  You'll love it!!

Okay, I promised to share some vacation photo's from last week so here they are!! 

Thanks for stopping by today!!  :)

Wendy