Here are some of the things I was working on last week for my not so secret sister gift.  She knows who I am now but I didn't want to post until after she had the box and could see everything.  Most of the cards were "CASED" which means Copy And Steal Everything.  I visit several other blogs occasionally and when I come accross something I like and I happen to have the supplies I try to copy it.  So what does this have to do with you?  It means, that like me, you don't have to be artistic to achieve great results, you just have to be able to duplicate it! 

Posting again

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted!  I have finally settled in at our newest location-a suburb of Chicago, IL.  I am now working at a local middle school and loving it!  The schedule is great and I plan to do lots of stamping.  Check back in a few days to see some of the projects I've been working on.  After my secret sis has had a chance to get her package I will post some pictures of what I have sent her.  In the meantime if you haven't received a Sale-A-Bration catalog contact me to get your very own mini catalog!

Michelle

Moving...Again!

It's official-we're moving again.  This time to a suburb of Chicago.  I only have a few more days until the moving truck arrives.  New York has been nice, and we will miss our neighbors and friends! 

Speaking of friends, here's a project I made for my secret sister last month. 

Its a felt pouch made to look like candy corn.  I used the Big Shot pennent die and cut it out four times, I then cut 3 of the pennents so that I could sew them together to get the different colors of the candy corn.  Once the three different colors were sewn together I used the one solid one for the back of the pouch and stitched it together with the tri-colored one to create the pouch. 

The Big Shot is just the coolest tool ever-it can cut through so many materials!

Can you believe it's October already?

I can't believe September is gone!  When I got my secret sister package Halloween seemed so far off, and now it I feel like it's just around the corner!   I promised a closer look at some of the gifts from my wonderful package so here you go....

Tote-ally Tess craft keeper-it's a plastic storage folder that has been personalized just for me!  Isn't it adorable?  My name was spelled using alphabet dies with the Big Shot.  The entire decorated piece of cardstock was then inserted into the plastic folder and attached to the inside using mini glue dots in each of the corners.

Here is a look at some of the cards, super easy and super cute when you use Stampin' Up!'s Designer Paper-these cards use the Wicked Fun Specialty designer paper from page 172 in the Idea Book and Catalog.

It's been too long!

I know it's been too long since I last posted- I started a new position at work.  I now work M-F and when I'm home so are the kids.  I haven't had much time to do any stamping myself but I did get a package from my secret sister!  What a great surprise to come home to after a long day at work!

Here's a look at some of my goodies

Isn't my secret sister talented!

Brads, Pearls and Daisies-Oh My!

I'll post some close up pictures of the cards she made later-more of the not so scary type projects!

Not so Scary Halloween Project

Today I have a pretty Halloween project to share with you.  It's a wreath made out of fabric and Stampin' Up! striped grosgrain ribbon.  I used a fabric with orange, black and cream colored plaid pattern along with Basic Black and Pumpkin Pie 1 1/4 wide SU ribbon to create this wreath.

The technique is really quick and simple-
1. I cut the fabric with pinking shears (the zig-zag edge) into strips about the same length and width- I didn't even measure them, just "eyeball" it. 

2. Then I cut the ribbon into lengths about the same as the fabric. 

3.  All you have to do after that is tie them in knots on a styrofoam base and that's it! You can alternate fabric and ribbon for a more finished look if you like-I did 2 fabric strips, 1 black ribbon, 2 fabric strips, 1 orange ribbon and so on.

 I plan to embellish it with something else after I go shopping, but that's for another day....
Pretty easy, right?  Email me pictures of your creations when you try this!

This one's for you Honey!

I made a card for my hubby today-he's been very patient with me lately!  I used a stamp set I earned for free during SAB but had not opened yet.  It's called "Things I Love".  This is a pretty straight forward card with stamps, ink and cardstock as well as a few punches and the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.

    

The colors are Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.  Hope he likes it even though it's got girly colors!