Family Traditions... Practical Scrappers Challenge

Our challenge this week at Practical Scrappers was to do a layout about holiday traditions - what a fun way to remember those things that a family holds near and dear!
Every year I bundle my kiddos up for a trip to Grand Junction for the Parade of Lights. My brother & his family join us and we usually end with dinner at a local BBQ joint {my fave!}. This layout features pics from this year's parade - my nephew's first (he slept the whole time) - and by far the coldest one yet! We froze! Literally! And as such, bailed about half way through, which was fine because it was a loooong way back after dinner. I forget that it's now almost 2 hours from my house to downtown Grand Junction - one way. Thank goodness for good weather & safe driving.
Anyhow, ignore the really bad picture of the layout and focus instead on the way-fun print on that die-cut paper. That's from BoBunny, as are the matching letter stickers. I also used Bazzill card stock, some K&Co. glittered embellies and Stampin' Up buttons & twine. The ribbon was from my stash - I think I got it at a local paperie/stationary store.
Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas to you & yours!

I hope that your season is filled with love and peace

With big open hearts for sharing

With a smile for everyone you encounter

And a great big hug for those you hold dear


Merry Christmas, my friends!

Be safe and full of good cheer with many best wishes for a happy new year!

Christmas Chocolate... post 2 of 2

This year each of my kiddos have about 10 teachers - even Soph who's in kindergarten, because even those little ones go to a different class for nearly every subject - so we're going to be doing TONS of teacher gifts this year.

Our challenge this week at Frosted Designs was to create something winter or Christmas themed, so I thought it would be the perfect chance to get started on some of them!

Here's a little thank you gift that we'll be giving to their specials and subject-y teachers (like gym, library, math, etc.) It's a little purse filled with Ghiradelli chocolate squares - my favorite.

The inside has enough room for the kiddos to write their own greetings and to include a 3x5 picture of them if we are so inclined. I didn't get quite that far with this one, so I subbed the inside picture with a coordinating piece of paper.

Once I created the template, it was actually a pretty easy project. I love how cute and quick it was - especially since I have so many of them to make!

This was made with a bunch of products from my stash, so I don't know who makes everything. The cardstock was Bazzill, the silver twine and rub-on were Stampin' Up, the chipboard snowflake was Maya Road and the crackle paint is Tim Holtz by Ranger. For this project, I found that the purse itself looks best in a coordinating color to the patterned papers you're using (i.e. not white or cream) beacause it really makes the rest of your project really pop. But hey, that's just me! =)

Hope you all have a safe & happy holiday season! Thanks for reading!

Christmas Chocolate... post 1 of 2

I don't know what the weather has been like where you are, but here in the Colorado Rockies it's been positively chilly! Tonight, it was down to -6 by 7:30. Brrrr.... There is nothing I like more in cold weather than a nice, steaming hot cup of cocoa, extra chocolaty, filled to the brim with marshmallows with a candy cane stir stick. Just thinking about it makes warm and cozy... I might have to have me a cup before I go to bed.

Anywho, our project this week at Practical Scrappers was to share a gift wrapping idea or something we've made as a gift. This little altered lunch tin fits both categories:

It would be great alone as gift wrapping for a small present (like a few pairs of fun & funky socks), or to hold this Warm Winter Wishes gift set, filled with all the fixings for the perfect cup of cocoa:

Hot Cocoa

Tons of Mini Marshmallows

Mini Chocolate Chips

Mini Candy Canes

This tin was originally used as packaging for some chipboard snowflakes from Maya Road. The papers and die cut girl are from My Mind's Eye - the little Eskimo girl has some Stickles for a little extra jazzy touch. I added some rub-on snowflakes from Stampin' Up and tons of ribbon from my stash to complete the look.

A scallopy scallop kind of day... (Frosted Designs Challenge)

It's no secret that scallops often find their way onto my projects - so this week's challenge at Frosted Designs was right up my alley!

I just got my new Threading Water Fiskars border punch this week, so it was a perfect opportunity to put it to good use. I combined that with these new holiday papers that I picked up right before Thanksgiving... and Sophia snagged from my stash to create some impressive art work... what a bummer when she gets to my fancy new paper first! I managed to salvage a few pieces to create this card. After piecing everything together, trimming out a few trees, I put the largest tree on pop dots and added festive sparkly stars to all the tree tops.

I don't know where the patterned papers came from, but the card base is Bazzill, the ribbon and sentiment rub-on are all Stampin Up; the ink is Tim Holtz Distress Ink, and the sparkly stars are from ColorBok.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the rest of the great artists over at Frosted Designs!

Hooray for Christmas... Cards!

I am notorious for making tons of cards but not sending out a single one. I've been a demonstrator for one company or another for nearly 6 years, now, so I've got a lot of extras. I have so many that I usually donate a bunch every year to our brave troops so they can keep in touch with their families. I have grand intentions of sending them, but somehow, I never get around to it. Sad, right? =p But that's what happens when you have a gigundo family!

Anyhow, I really like making Christmas cards, even if they never actually go further than my card box. I like this card so much, though that it might actually get sent to someone special... now who's the lucky recipient?

The papers are Bo Bunny, cardstock is Bazzill, stamp is Imaginesce, ribbon & Water Color Wonder crayons are Stampin' Up, and the Stickles are from Ranger. Oh - and that little metal embellie is from Making Memories.

Be sure to check out Practical Scrappers this month - they're offering a whole smattering of special Christmas projects EVERY SINGLE DAY from November 29-December 19th! There's tons of awesome gift ideas, home decor and cards to be found - you definitely don't want to miss it!
This also fits the Sketchy Thursdays bonus sketch that's due 12/2 - the winning design gets a set of Copics - awesome - totally worth a shot!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a great week!!