York Peppermint Patty Containers

These are the peppermint patty containers that I made for the craft fair. Since not all of them sold, I put the rest up on my Etsy site. It's www.kristyscraps.etsy.com, if anyone is interested.

Here are my pictures:




I used mostly PTI to decorate the jars. I did find the most adorable miniature bells at Michael's though that I had to tie to the ribbon that goes around the containers. I did two different color schemes; the traditional red and green and then brown and blue.

Winter Frames

I made frames last year using these frames that I found. Boy do I wish I could find more because they are perfect! I am actually going to start an Esty shop which I've been thinking about doing for a while but didn't really have enough stuff to post at the same time. Well, since I didn't sell out at the craft fair, I figured this would be the perfect time. That said, I have an Etsy shop :). I feel so special hehehe. I'm also trying to make some Christmas gifts, including hand-knit scarf, hats, and neck warmers along with wool felt table runners with hand-sewn pictures, stocking stuffers for family members, and a few other gifts. I can't be too specific because I don't want to give anything away. I'm going to post some of the frames that I had displayed at the craft fair. They are all on sale in my Etsy shop. There are also close up shots of all of the mini-frames on Etsy too. My store is called KristyScraps and the link is here.
Fall Frame


Holiday Wishes Frame


Merry and Bright Frame


Warm Winter Wishes


Grateful Frame

I'm Still Alive!

Wow! I feel like I've neglected by blog in a way but in another way it has been nice to have a break from it. I was getting caught up in blogworld and not taking the time to enjoy all of my hobbies. I have been getting prepared for a craft fair that is tomorrow but I just wanted to post a few things quickly. First of all, thanks to those of you who left a response in my last post. I appreciate your kind words. I won't be back home until Sunday night because of the craft fair that's at the school where my brother-in-law is principal. We are spending the weekend with them. Secondly, if I have a chance to photograph my craft fair booth and items, I will share the pictures here. I think that catches me up!

Update

I just am not having time to make cards or projects right now. I'm staying pretty busy with work and other projects, not to mention trying to stay caught up with purse orders. I have also been a bit discouraged lately with my work so I don't feel very enthused or motivated.

Anyway, I'm knitting a lot lately so I'm working on some fall decorations and some Christmas gifts. That's taking a lot of my time also. I have also found a new hobby that I want to try. If it works out, I'll post it on here.

Thanks to everyone who comes and checks out my site. I will continue with Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge, but there probably won't be much else than that for a bit while I try to figure things out. I may start posting all of my crafty stuff though...I am still being crafty :).

Thanksgiving Frame

Another PTI release has come and gone. I enjoyed making my projects since I know exactly what I want to use them for. All of the projects looked so nice. I placed my order last night at 12:08 a.m. and am so excited to get my stuff.

My project today is for Thanksgiving. I had this frame that I found at the Everything's a Dollar Store. It comes with three different colored frames but I liked the olive green against the black so I traded out the little frames. I found some coordinating buttons from my stash and used the First Fruits set. I love the pineapple and I just popped up the greenery. It looks nice on the entertainment stand.


Close up

Side view (my favorite view)

Supplies:
Dollar store frame
PTI First Fruits
PTI cardstock
PTI Perfect Match ink
Rhonna Farrer buttons
Twine from Wal-mart beading section

GSS Submission: Spooky Treats Vials and Containers

Here's one of the GSS submissions that I entered for this month. I made two other projects that you can see over in the gallery at PTI and I'll also post them for the next couple of days. I had a specific purpose for every project I made for this month and I felt like it was easier to create a project when I already knew what I wanted to make. The first project is for a girl's night that I'll host in October. I get together each month with a group of gal pals. The past two years we played Bunco but now that our group is smaller, we just get together and play a game. I wanted to create some centerpieces that could hold some candy treats for my guests. Of course, I had to use Spooky Treats and Spooky Treats II. I actually used both of the stamp sets for this project.

First, I got out the wooden containers and painted them with black Making Memories paint. I created an insert that would hold the vials upright. I measured the height and width of the paper then used my Scor-Pal for my lines. I put the corks on the top to determine where to cut the circles. I used Shrinky Dinks for the first time and LOVE them! I just want to play with these all the time now and my friends can't believe I didn't play with Shrinky Dinks growing up (I'm an '80s child.)

I coordinated each container because I'm a perfectionist :). I also put my Essential Glue Pad to use to stamp the saying on the front. I stamped onto the paper with the glue pad and then covered it with Martha Stewart Onyx glitter. It's amazing how well the glue pad works.

I used the circular labels from Spooky Secrets I to attach to the top of the cork and tied the Shrinky Dinks around the vials with a bit of ribbon.

Here are the pictures of my project. Just bear with me because there are a lot of pictures:

Spring Moss and Summer Sunset tops of the vials:


Close ups of the front with the glitter:


The Shrinky Dinks (Not just for kids!):


Supplies:
Wooden boxes from Michael's
PTI cardstock
PTI ribbon in Aqua Mist and Summer Sunset
PTI Perfect Match Palette Ink
PTI Spooky Sweets and Spooky Sweets II stamp sets
Shrinky Dinks
Black ribbon from stash
Bazzill black paper
Nestabilities
Essential Glue pad
Martha Stewart Onyx glitter
Vials are from Martha Stewart but I bought them last year in Halloween clearance section

On another subject, my DH and I went to the hospital yesterday to see our new nephew. He's just adorable and he's such a good baby. I can't wait to see him again. My sister-in-law had a C-Section so she's in a bit of pain but she said it's so worth it. My brother-in-law is just so happy he can't stop smiling, actually both of them are so very happy. It's also the first baby in the family so it's extra special. We love them so much and they are going to be such great parents.

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

Good Saturday morning! My husband and I are headed to Lexington to see our little nephew. I'm an aunt for the first time. He was born Friday morning at 9:21 and we are so excited to be go see him.

Today is also Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge. The sketch for this week was challenging for me but I was able to come up with something tonight. I used PTI products, of course! I haven't used kraft paper as the base in a while so I got that out and then used the Remember stamp set. I love the poppies and the 2-step stamping turns out so well. I added some sparkles with Spica atYou glitter markers. I love combining buttons with brads or other things so I put the prongs of the brads through some green buttons. I think it's my favorite part of the card. For the flower part of the sketch, I stamped a poppy onto vellum and then cut it out and popped it up.

Without further ado, here's the sketch! It's so fun to participate and it gets you to work outside of your comfort zone sometimes. It really sparks my creativity.

Here's my interpretation of the sketch.

Close up of the vellum flower

Supplies:
PTI cardstock
PTI Remember stamp set
PTI ribbon
Brads from Joann Fabrics
Spica atYou marker in black
Rhonna Farrer buttons
velvet brads

Join in the fun! Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

It's that time of the week again and honestly it's about all I have time for right now. With the school year in full swing, I'm staying really busy and since it's a new job, I am planning, grading, and doing more than ever. Oh well, I enjoy teaching and my job so it's worth it. I just wish I had more time for being crafty.

I was able to get Photoshop Elements 6.0 with a great teacher discount at Best Buy last weekend and I'm still trying to figure out how in the world it works so I don't know that my pictures will be the best. I got the "Missing Manual for Photoshop 6.0" so we'll see if that helps. If anyone has any suggestions or places online that I go for tips, please let me know. Thanks!

The sketch for this week is:


I used the new PTI set, First Fruits, which is great! Coordinating patterned paper is available too and it's just beautiful. I overlapped the Chocolate Brown and Summer Sunset. I love how PTI coordinated their monthly colors but all of the colors can be worked together to make a beautiful combination. On a different note, I tried the rocking method for the first time with the chocolate brown and spring moss. I'm not sure that it turned out the best or that I even did it the right way but I'll learn. I used my Essential Glue pad for the leaves on the background to glitterfy them with some Martha Stewart glitter. Then, I stamped the individual leaves throughout. When I was making this, I wished that I had smaller versions of these things. I think that's about it!

A close up of the glittery leaves:


Join in the fun! Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

I LOVED this sketch! I am also feeling so ready for the fall, Halloween, yummy apples, and falling leaves. I had to use the Spooky Sweets stamp set by PTI. Of course, I thought I'd use the new set but I also bought the old set at the same time and I ended up using the first set. I love them both and can't wait to play with the second set.

My card today has lots of glitter, slime, and Halloweeny things....what a great mix :). I pulled at the edges of the ribbon to give it a spookier less put together look. I used the Essential Glue pad for the first time and it is definitely essential! I got the Essential Glue pad from Papertrey Ink. It's $10 and you get a blank pad which you apply the glue to. Once it's applied, there are a certain number of uses for which it will be good for. I used it for the spider and the bat and it turned out great. I used Martha Stewart glitter glue for the name plate because I wasn't sure about the smooth surface. I popped up the green stem to make it stand out. I think it turned out well.

Some close ups of the glitter:



Supplies:
PTI white and Summer Sunset cardstock
PTI Spooky Sweets stamp set
PTI Summer Sunset ribbon
Heidi Swapp black brads and name plate
Martha Stewart slime punch
Martha Stewart glitter
Essential Glue (which really is essential; I love this and it turns out perfect every time)

Join in the fun! Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

August Blog Hop

First of all, this post is late tonight because we've had a plumber here working for the past two hours. We had three problems so the landlord arranged for this plumber to come and fix everything. I was frantic trying to get my project done because I had it visualized in my head but I had to put it to work. I hope I can still post my blog and participate :)


It's time for another Blog Hop with Papertrey Ink! This month's challenge was to use a CD case. I have always had people who said that they can't make cards; it's just too hard or they don't have time so I decided to make it easier. I created a card-making kit. I also decided to make the three cards so that you can see what it will create. I included all of the ribbons, stamped images, shapes, card bases; the only thing someone will need is adhesive. I think that it turned out pretty well.
All of the cards and the kit

The outside of the kit

Inside of the kit

Individual cards



Supplies:
All PTI :), if you want more specifics, let me know

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

It's that time of the week again! Another great sketch challenge. I just had a blast with this sketch and I hadn't been able to craft all week so I made three cards. They are all three very different and have different degrees of difficulty. The first card is my rocker chick card, which my husband called "funky" but I don't think he meant it in a good way :). I used the Love, Elsie line which I forgot how much I love, especially those rubber stickers. The second card has the most work in it as far as coloring and placement goes. The third was a quick card and I just love the owl's green sparkly belly!

Here's the sketch for this week. It's so great and it's easy to get great cards out of such a great sketch!

Here are my interpretations of the sketch:

Supplies:
Love, Elsie rub-ons and rubber sticker
KI Memories wave paper
Around the Block heart brad
PTI white cardstock
Bazzill cardstock
Me & My Big Ideas rhinestones
Maya Road opaque flower

Close up of the pop up fence

Supplies:
PTI Boards and Beams stamp set
Copic markers
PTI cardstock in Spring Moss and the white
Nestabilities
PTI chocolate brown ribbon
Round corner punch

A close up of his glittery belly:

Supplies:
PTI Wise Owl stamp set
Spica AtYou glitter markers
Heidi Swapp brad
Bazzill brad that has the two holes
PTI chocolate brown ribbon with coordinating patterned paper
Stampin' Up word window punch
PTI brown and cream cardstock

Join in the fun! Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

Wow! Another great sketch. I did find it more challenging this week because of school being back in the swing of things. I love working at my new job but it's just constant planning for the next day, especially since we are on the block schedule and I have kids for an hour and a half at a time. At first, it was really hard to gauge how much to have and what kinds of activities to do. I think I'm getting better.

Anyway, onto the sketch challenge. Here is this week's sketch:


I made two cards again; one that is simple and one that is not so much. I'm not sure about the card that isn't so simple. I feel like I am missing something or did something that didn't make the overall card turn out like I wanted it to. I do love the little butterflies that are all over the card. The Martha Stewart punches are great! Which card do you like better?

Close up of the itty bitty butterfly. I put four of them on the card and then the larger one on the stamped flower.

Supplies:
Basic Grey patterned paper
PTI cardstock and vellum
Nestabilities
PTI Garden of Life stamp set
Buttons
Stickles
Martha Stewart punch

Supplies:
Rhonna Farrer rub-on
Martha Stewart punch
PTI cardstock
Nestabilities

Join in the fun! The sketch is awesome. Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

So Bummed

I'm so bummed that I haven't had a chance to play with the new Papertrey Ink stamps. I don't think I'll have even one project to submit for the monthly GSS submissions. My DH said, "That's what happens when you go back to work!". Isn't that the truth? Maybe I can still squeeze one out tonight...probably not though considering my huge stack of papers to grade lol. Okay, just had to whine a little.

Blog Award

Thanks to One Creative Life for the blog award. I appreciate it very much especially at such a busy time of the year with school starting up again. It makes me remember to take some time to create and not stress so much about work.



Here are the rules of the nomination and award acceptance: 1) The winner can post the logo on her blog 2) Link the person you received your award from. 3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs. (I chose eight :)) 4) Put links of those blogs on yours. 5) Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

I'm going to nominate all of the ladies that I work with on Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge. It's only been a couple of weeks but I find myself so excited when I get the sketch from Lauren in my inbox and then I can't wait to see what everyone else has created! Check out their work if you have a chance.

Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/

Lauren's Saturday Sketch Challenge

It's time for another Saturday Sketch Challenge and this one is awesome! Thanks Lauren. I got so excited that I made two cards. The first card is pretty busy so I wanted to make a simpler, softer card too.

Here's the sketch:



It's such a fun idea to have five embellishments right in a row. Of course, this is a busier collection but it could be simpler, like in my next card.
I just love putting things inside of buttons. For the blue button, I put a green button and red rhinestone inside. It just looks snazzy to me!

Supplies:
American Crafts pattern paper
Rub-ons, big brad from Creative Imaginations
PTI cardstock
Heidi Swapp ghost heart
Diamond Stickles
Random buttons and other embellishments, sorry I don't remember which brand


Just a close up.

Supplies:
American Crafts patterned paper
Random buttons
PTI cardstock and vellum
PTI Flower Garden stamp set
Making Memories glitter bracket
PTI ribbon

Join in the fun! The sketch is awesome. Thanks for looking and you can go look at the other ladies' blogs too to see what they did with the sketch:
Lauren Meader: http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
Tamara Harder: http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com
Maria Levine: http://riacreations.blogspot.com/
Dawn Easton: http://www.TreasureOilerDesignz.blogspot.com/
Kirsten Dubosque: www.kirstendubosque.blogspot.com
Kim Gasper: http://stampinintherain.blogspot.com
Alicia Weimen: http://www.happystamp.blogspot.com
MacKenzie Bruckler: http://midnightscramper.blogspot.com/