Tag Archives: Forest Friends

A Paper Carrot for Peter

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I’ve been on a basket theme lately.  There was the basket class, and the basket club, and a few other baskets that I did just for fun.  Here’s one from the class:

  • Teeny Tiny Wishes, Woodgrain and Forest Friends stamp sets
  • Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait, Early Espresso and Whisper White card stock
  • Play Date and Ice Cream Parlor (SAB) Designer Series Papers
  • Pumpkin Pie and Early Espresso Classic ink pads; Versamark ink pad
  • 1 1/4, 1 3/8, 1 3/4 inch circle punches; 2 1/2 inch scallop circle punch
  • Crop-a-dile and Pear Pizazz Seam Binding
  • Embossing powder and heat tool; Pearl Jewels; Stampin’ Sponge
  • Big Shot and Petal Cone Bigz die

I’m still on my “carrot” kick, and I’ll confess I had a lot of fun with this project.  I thought the Woodgrain background stamp was perfect for carrot texture.

Looks like I need to find some tangerine Jelly Bellies to put in a cello bag and tuck into the cone.  Actually, I need to bring Jelly Bellies into my house about as much as I need the proverbial hole in my head.  I’m a nibbler, and little candies like Jelly Bellies or Dove Chocolate eggs (Dark Chocolate, please) or little snack size ANYTHINGS are my downfall.  I’ve actually purchased some Easter candy, but it’s well hidden.  I purchased it because when you live on a small island if you see something you want you’d better buy it Now.  Heaven forbid we arrive at Easter and the only things left on Mr. Safeway’s shelves are the yucky kind of jelly beans and Peeps.

Speaking of Peeps…I don’t eat them, my kids don’t eat them, but I generally buy a package for each kid and put them in their baskets just to be silly.  About 5 years ago, I took a group of high-school aged Girl Scouts to camp and at the last minute threw in a couple of boxes of Peeps with the marshmellows for our campfire.  Honestly, you have never seen anything so strange as a roasted Peep – except perhaps for the look on Cheryl’s face when she decided to eat one.  (I have no idea what posessed her to attempt such a thing.)  According to Cheryl, not only are roasted Peeps vile, but they do this kind of foaming thing.  I wouldn’t know.

Honestly…I’d better quit now.  Such a ridiculous story, and I haven’t even gotten to the part about the Roasted-Peep contest at my son’s birthday party.

 

 

 

My Desk-top Make-over

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I’m an office supplies dork.  I love nice pens and Post-it® notes and crisp pads of paper and colored push pins and highlighters and Sharpies®.  You can imagine my reaction when I saw the matching file folders and envelopes in the Family Organization Suite.  Those big bold flowers and that goofy owl are a great starting place for a desk-top make-over:

Play Date Class projects

I’m offering a class this month to get the make-over started.  We’ll make the jumbo paper clip book mark, the Post-It® note holder and the clipboard plus a coordinating card (that missed the photo) for $15.  Class will be Thursday morning September 16 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and Tuesday evening September 21 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.  Take a 10% discount on any of the Family Organization suite products on pages 92 and 93 of the Idea Book and Catalog with your paid class attendance – a few of those items are pictured below.  I hope you can join us!

Play Date Family Organization Suite

An un-tutorial on the Matchbook Style Sticky Note holder

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I’ve had a couple of requests for more detail on some projects in the past few days.  I have to be honest – I don’t see tutorials in my future.  I don’t really have the patience to set it all up, and especially to do video.  Ugh.  That means a script, and lighting, and maybe editing, and — aaarrrgg! — a manicure.  I don’t think so.

But when someone asks so nicely and tells me how much they love my blog, how can I say no?  (PLEASE do not test me on this.  Ask my kids:  I am capable of saying no.)  Here are a few photos and some dimensions for the matchbook style sticky note holder:

Matchbook style Sticky Note open

Here’s the basic folder.  The cardstock is cut to 7  7/8″ x 3  1/4″ and scored at 1/2″,  1″,  4 1/4″,  and 4 1/2″.  That gives you room for a standard 3×3″ sticky note pad – it’s about 3/8″ thick.  If you’re making these as favors or give-aways you can split the pads in halves or even thirds and adjust the scoring marks accordingly.  (Sorry, I detest fractions – you’ll have to do the math yourself.)

Matchbook style sticky note holder from the side

Here you can see the way the Sticky Notes fit into the cardstock.  The score marks at 1/2″ and 1″ make the base of the matchbook cover.  I’ve used a 1/2″ circle – actually two of them adhered together with Tombo-the-miracle-adhesive – and attached to the center of that first 1/2″ tab with a brad.  I put the brad through the circle in the bottom half to leave enough room to tuck the top flap in.  I tried buttons, which I thought would be cuter, but you couldn’t cheat them to the bottom like that and they didn’t hold the top flap down.

Ta Da! The Matchbook Sticky Note holder

Here’s the finished Sticky Note holder, all ready to go.  I’m working on my September class and this will be part of it.  Wouldn’t you like to come to Maui to go to this class?  I have room for you…

I need to learn the keyboard shortcut for the “registered trade-mark” symbol – you know, the R with the circle around it.  All this talk about “Sticky Notes” is really annoying.

Looking for a quick card?

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I think I finally “get” clean and simple.  Truth is, I was just looking for simple when I came up with this idea, and the clean part just followed along:

Happy Easter, Forest Friend

  • Forest Friends, Inspired by Nature and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • So Saffron and Whisper White card stock
  • Soft Suede and Sage Shadow Classic ink pad; Pretty in Pink Classic ink refill
  • Big Shot and Movers and Shapers XL Bigz die
  • Curly label and Scallop Trim Border punches; Aquapainter
  • So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon and Stampin’ Dimensionals

The Movers and Shapers die is SO easy to use.  It took me a long time to spend the money – I kept thinking I could do the same thing with one of our punches.  You can get close with the punch, but you are limited to punching within a short distance of the side of the card.  The big difference, though, is that beautiful pierced border that the Bigz die puts around the opening.  That embellishment really makes a difference – and did I mention it’s quick?  You put a piece of paper on the die, run it through the Big Shot, and out comes a trimmed, scored and punched card, ready to roll.  This is the thing to use when you have a lot of cards to make.

I’m having an absolutely fabulous Saturday.  My son is driving himself all over the island to his many activities today – Scout work day, youth group project, lunch with friends (we’re meeting him there), then up to the harbor to go on a whale watch with his friends as a belated birthday celebration, and finally to the track meet (we’ll go watch him compete).  Did I mention he is DRIVING HIMSELF?????  You don’t know how happy that makes me.  I know he’s happy to have his license, but I’m telling you, I’m the one who is truly thrilled.  We’ve had some very serious discussions about maturity, responsibility, and the consequences of abusing the privilege of driving.  Each time as we wrap up, I remind him that if I have to take the keys away because he has abused his privilege, we are both going to be unhappy.  And if Mama ain’t happy, honey, ain’t nobody happy!

Happy Saturday!

Hello Forest Babies

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There’s a new baby I’m looking forward to meeting.  His Auntie, Grandma and Grandpa are here from the Mainland, so I’ll wait my turn – but while I am waiting, I made him a card.

Welcome from the Forest Friends

  • Forest Friends, Woodgrain and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red and Soft Suede card stock
  • Brocade Blue, Ruby Red and Soft Suede Classic ink pads
  • Versamark ink and Whisper White Craft ink pad
  • Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Stampin’ Sponges, piercing tool and mat
  • Jumbo grommet, Soft Suede polka dot ribbon and Scallop trim border punch

There was a lot of masking involved in lining up these images.  It’s not hard at all – and it doesn’t take much time.  Stamp your image on a re-positionable note and trim it out.  I just stamp again after I’ve stamped my first image – you only need the outline.  When I’ve used the mask I stick in inside the storage container for the stamp set so I don’t have to cut another one the next time.