Ben Franklin

While in Maui, I would always visit a craft store called Ben Franklin.  I thought it was a Hawaiian craft store chain and didn't realize that they were "all over the place" on the mainland.  So, after doing some research I found one about an hour away from me in the sleepy town of Grass Valley.

I was impressed by their inventory they had.  And was surprised to see a large Scarpbooking/Stamping section.  They also had Copic markers for $5.99.  Not the best price, but ok for retail.  But I did find a stack of 250 card bases cut and pre-scored for $7.99.  I can finally stop using my good white cardstock as card bases and dedicate them to stamped images only.

Vday RAK!!!

On Valentine's Day I came home to find a box sent to me by my good friend Tammy at thestamperscottage.blogspot.com.  How nice of her to think of me!!!  Well, she sent a sweet Valentine's Day card and an adorable tic tac toe stamp set.

Tammy even gift wrapped the stamp set for me!

I'm already thinking of things to do with this set.  XOXO's on a wedding scrapbook page, mini game sets for a kid's card, or just using the hearts, stars and flowers on their own.

THANK YOU TAMMY!!!  

Valentine's Day 2011

Hello Everyone!  I hope everyone is enjoying their 3 day weekend.  I am so thankful I have tomorrow off from work.  As much as I love my job, they tend to not acknowledge federal holidays.  So, when we are actually given a paid day off from work, it makes me more and more appreciative of the time off!

This past week was Valentine's Day!  I hope everyone enjoyed Vday in their own way!

This is the card I gave to my husband this year.  I made this at a Stamp Camp my friend Lisa hosted.  He loved the card and agreed that "we're good together."  

My Valentine's Day gift from my Hubby.  Love Hello Kitty!

And the matching watch!

Flash Back Friday 8.0

Hello Everyone!!!  Happy Valentines Day!  I hope everyone is enjoying their Happy Heart Day.  I will be uploading my Vday card pictures soon.

But this blog posting is about the newest Flash Back Friday 8.0 Challenge.  8.0's challenge is to post your very first 3D project.  And my 1st 3D project I posted was my stationary box.

Believe it or not, I used pattern paper scraps on the tags, cards and the box.  It pays to keep the scraps, you never know when they will come in handy!  

If you would like to play along, just check out the Flash Back Friday Challenge site!  It's tons of fun and you might just win some blog candy while you are at it!!!  

Happy V Day everyone!!!  

Hawaiian Happy Birthday

Who doesn't like birthdays?  And who doesn't like Hawaii?  Put the two together and it's a match made in heaven!  Made this card for my mother in-law.  I purchased the snow cone and hibiscus stamp while in Maui.  The stamps are Dandelion Designs.

The little hula girl was a stamp from A Muse. The inside of the card I wrote, "Hope your birthday is filled with sunshine and shaved ice!"  

Speaking of shaved ice, the best shaved ice in Maui is Ululani's Shaved Ice in Lahaina.  They made their syrups with real fruit, real sugar and filtered water.  They taste less sickening sweet than the other HFC syrups.  My favorite combo is Lilikoi, lime and tropical punch.  YUM YUM YUM!!!!

SORRY!!! Dang Samsung!!!

I love my Samsung Fascinate phone.  It's a digital camera, camcorder, computer, phone and ipod all in one.   I thought I struck gold when I found this smartphone.  It was so convenient to take pictures and videos of my crafting finished projects for my blog.  And then the glitch started...no longer able to transfer pictures to my laptop, which means...no more blogging.

So, while I wait for Samsung to find a software upgrade to resolve this issue, my blogs will be limited.

Ok, now that technical business is out of the way...how about some great deals?!  A Muse was having a sale on their winter stamps, and well, I can't resist a sale.  And apparently neither could my friend Tammy.  And one of our selections was a super cute ice skating squirrel stamp.

  It's hard to see, but I used my Copic Spica clear glitter pen on the squirrels' sweaters for a little bling.

Flash Back Friday 7.0

Hey everyone!!!  Amy over at Flash Back Friday Challenge is hosting another challenge.  Number 7.0 to be exact.  I was the lucky winner of Flash Back Friday 1.0!!!  What are the odds of that?  Well, challenge 7.0 has to do with GLITTER!!!  I have the task of reposting my first card using glitter.

It's not a lot of glitter, but you can kind of see the strawberry and cherry glazed over with stickles!  I gave these cards to my bosses for Boss' Day!

Play along!  Flash Back Fridays are so much fun, and a walk down memory lane.  And it enters you a chance to win a free stamp set!  Woo Hoo!!!

New Years Clean Up

My goal this weekend was to clear out some old items from closets and make donation piles.  And I am pleased to say, I stuck to my goal and cleared a lot of old items out of my house!

While cleaning the closets out, I noticed I had purchased fleece fabrics years ago with the plans to make Barkley a new blanket.  Well, the fabric got shoved in the back of the closet and buried under years of odds and ends until I discovered it once again!

I decided to to a quick and dirty no sew fleece tie ended blanket.  Plus, he wouldn't appreciate quilted lines, applique and double stitched ends anyways.

Here you can see I started cutting my fringe ends.  I thought this pattern was so cute.  Just perfect for a little boy doxie.

And once it was finished, little Barkley hopped up on the chair and then the table to test out his new blanket.  Looks like it's a winner!  Now, GET OFF THE TABLE!!!  What's gotten into you dog???!!!  LOL.

Food Coma

Is everyone recovering from their New Years food coma?

I made shrimp and pork gyozas for my New Years celebration.  Need to hurry up and eat all of these up because DIET starts TODAY!  LOL.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Years everyone!!!

These past couple of weeks have been so busy, yet exciting for me.  Birthday, Christmas and now New Years!  

I must have been a good girl this year because Santa gave me enough money and gift cards to get my Kindle!!!  I am not a huge reader, but the Kindle is so amazing, that I actually enjoy reading!!!  I even downloaded my very first book.  I chose Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain.  As a foodie, I love his perspective of food, culinary secrets and his bad boy behaviors!  I am about 1/2 way through the book, but highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read. 

Rather than purchase an expensive Kindle cover, I decided to whip out the old sewing machine and see what I could scrape together.  I found a cool pattern online and decided to give it a whirl.  

If you decide to use the pattern listed in the link, please note that I had to cut an extra couple inches off the width.  The Kindle was sliding back and forth in the case and didn't seem secure enough.  Also, my button function on the sewing machine was messing up, so I decided to use velcro instead.  

And as you can see, I made the interior lining the quilted portion and the solid fabric as my exterior.  I plan on making another cover and will have the quilted side as my exterior.  

Happy New Years to everyone!