Helloooooooooo...

I haven't posted anything here FOREVER. So sorry! I will be catching up A LOT... in the mean time I wanted to share this awesome giveaway with you!! Hope one of us wins it! Go to Donna's site to see more about it!

Quick signs...

My hubby had a little leadership luncheon at our church. We went with a sports theme because he wanted to emphasize working TOGETHER.
I didn't have time to print out anything or get out the Cricut...but he wanted something with the theme written on it.
This is what I came up with. Simple hand-lettered signs and treat bags.

Dontcha just love streeeeeeeeeetch writing? =]

Encouragement Box...

This was made for a recent Etsy order. It's kinda like the Joy Box, but it has verses more geared toward encouragement. The buyer chose every verse and quote. I liked the mailbox for it and chose that instead of the band aid box style.

Coffe Card Swap...

I participated in a swap on a stamping message board that I frequent.
It was my first time swapping here, but I might do it again sometime.
This is what I came up with!

I made a card with Stampin' Up! set called Sip by Sip and used their Top Note die....'course I borrowed the Top Note die, but it is on my wish list. I used it with my Cuttlebug!
I also filled a clear pillow envelope (bought on ebay) with coffee, espresso, and latte candies. The tag was made using a set from Hero Arts that is coffee themed.

Close up...

Pop dots under the Top Note die.

Packaged and ready to go in the mail.

The bigger pillow box set is for the hostess.

It was fun!

Have you done any fun swaps lately?

New Ideas at Going Buggy and a Blog Candy offer too!

You've gotta stop in and visit Enfys at GOING BUGGY.
She's got great card ideas on there and I really like that her work is unique from a lot of others that I've seen online. She's offering up some pretty cool blog candy too, so check her out!

Fun Food Idea...

Head over to Bakerella for this amazing idea! They did it for Father's Day, but I think it would be a great treat for any time during the summer - don't you? Looks easy enough too! Have fun. Be sure to send me a link of pictures if you try it out. I am sure you will see a future post here of our attempt at it! =]

Ribbon, Ribbon Everywhere...

...and not a drop to drink! Wait, no. That's not how it goes.
Anyway, I have a lot of ribbon.
Ding, ding, ding!! The understatement of the year!!
Okay, enough of that. I do have a lot of ribbon.
I would like to say upfront that I got most of this stuff from swaps, yard sales and clearance bins...
I Corinthians 14:40 says, "Let all things be done decently and in order."
Oops. That has not been happening. So, I thought I'd share some before and after photos.

BEFORE: So I had a whole brown bin full of spools. Some spools on my organizer on the wall, some more in a ribbon organizer case and then random strings and pieces and bits in the metal thingy shown in the picture. Not good at all.

First thing I did was take each spool, wrap them up and tape 'em down. I do not like all the loose ribbon and ends when they come unraveled. Pure chaos! I would like to get some of those tiny (short ones) stick pins to put in them, but this will do for now.
Then I organized by color. I had a hard time deciding if I wanted it by color, type, thickness... I went with color since this is pretty much what I'd need for card making or scrapping. I'd want to start with a certain color rather than grosgrain, sheer, 1/2" or 1/4"... you know what I mean, right?
So, I started putting the spools on my wall organizer in ROY G. BIV order as best as I could.
AFTER:

I put as many up there as I could fit. Then I put the rest into the organizer case. It held the small spools mostly. I also took any rolls that I had double of and put that away in the brown bin. No need to have all that out.
Zip up organizer:

Brown bin with doubles and too large spools.

Lastly, I dumped out all the loose ribbon. I have these mostly from swaps that I have participated in in the past. My daughter helped me as I used a flat iron (for their hair) to straighten the ribbon and organize it all. Wow. Anybody need Halloween ribbon? I don't even really do "Halloween". That must've been from a swap.
After I got them all ironed - a ribbon iron by Pebbles Inc. is definitely on my wishlist - I doubled them up and put them in another brown bin. Those sit decoratively on a shelf in my scrap space.

I must say that I was quite inspired by sorting and organizing this. I thought of several cards and layouts that I could do based on the ribbon I had. Is that strange to start with a particular ribbon and go from there?
Oh, well. Whatever works, right? How about the first two to ask, gets some Halloween (and maybe more) ribbon sent their way? Just leave me a comment and mention it!

Large Binder Clips as Photo Holders...

Did these for my ladies when I taught on a PURPLE theme. =] The pink and brown one was made by a friend and sits in my scrap room.

Made these for the goody bags for my scrapbooking retreat. Did them up in little cellophane bags.
Makes a great grad gift or favor for a party....
Here are some more simple ones I made for graduation gifts. Just pop a gift card on top and go!

Your PURPLE is showing...

Head on over to my other blog - "It's Just Me...and my coffee..." to read about my "not so shabby", SHABBY friend and this beautiful LYDIA JAR she sent me. You can also read about this very special jar and the story behind it HERE.

I am sure you will see some beautiful altered art very soon, thanks to my generous friend! Thank you so much Lea! HUGS!

Fun mail...

Look what I found on my doorstep last week! Lee over at Lemons2Lemonade had an extra one of these and wanted to share the wealth! She asked that in order to be in the drawing, we'd need to ask her a question. For every question (up to 5) you asked, she'd enter your name that many times. My name was drawn!!
It's a really fun Journal Notebook with pages you can tear out to use on your layouts or projects. Can't wait to play with these! Thanks, Lee! You can find the original post HERE. The questions and answers are in the posts following that one.

If you know me at all...

Some super easy photo or gift card holders I made with large binder clips and a quick graduation card I made using the Tassel Time set from SU.

...you know I love all things hand-made. Well, just about all things... Anyway, here are some awesome etsy giveaways here at PaperCakes!! Go check them out!

Speaking of etsy...I will be getting some new and fun stuff in there really soon! It will be a mix of all sorts of things, but be ready!! =]

Have a great new week and in the mean time, think on this:

Ecclesiastes 3:11~~"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end."

Here birdie, birdie!

Ever since I made the theme "Bless Our Nest" for our ladies banquet, I've become obsessed with birds, nests, cool cages...anyway, I think I mentioned all this before.
So, I stumbled upon this blog when I googled some info on nests. Lots of fun and creative information and she's also got a giveaway going on. Go and check it out.

Bless Our Nest...

Our ladies banquet theme this year was "Bless Our Nest". I've taken quite a liking to birds, cages, nests...

I thought I'd share some pictures of what I came up with and put together for centerpieces and such.

This cage was borrowed, I'd love to find one like it, but I added the nest, baneer, bird, ivy, etc.
This was the main centerpiece.

I had 4 of these - 2 green and 2 cream. The verse on the tags are Psalm 84:3

These were branches that had a little grapevine wreath nest on them and I added some plastic eggs, real feathers and little birdie.

This was the group of them. They looked great on the tables.

Here are some Edible Bird's Nests that we made. You just take chow mein noodles (the crispy, salad bar type) and pour melted chocolate on them. Mix or toss quickly and then carefully form them like nests on wax paper. Place jelly beans or chocolates to resemble eggs. Paste them on with peanut butter. Yum. We had one at every place setting in cellophane bags.

Thanks to Feeling Scrappy!

Just wanted to say "Thank you!" to Jayne and everybody else over at Feeling Scrappy. My name was drawn during their blog party and I won some beautiful rub-ons. LOVE me some rub-ons. I am looking forward to some play time real soon. I promise to share what I come up with!!

I also got another package on the same day, but I am not quite ready to post about it all just yet. I've included a picture, just to entice you to come back and read more about it. Hahaha!

I will say that this package has really helped me with a post over on my It's Just Me...and My Coffee blog. The person that sent this boat load of blessings is a friend that I've never met in person. She and I have discovered that we just might be Kindred Spirits!

Anyway, here is a peek. Come back soon to read all about it.

Fruits of the Spirit...

A very good friend of mine was attending a Ladies Tea and was in charge of decorating three tables. I was happy to be able to help her out with the favors. The first table was a fruit theme and she chose the verse from Galatians that speak on the fruits of the spirit. She provided the jar candles and this is what I came up with.

The little cards were placed on each plate.

Here is the table all set up!

Here are some cards I made for her Candy table. The theme was Sweet...verse from Proverbs.

I love the bright, cheery colors.

You don't have to spend a whole lot of money to make a table look nice. Add a personal touch to favors without spending a ton of money!

Happiness Always...

Just a quick set of cards I made for someone. A set of 4 each.

I really enjoyed coloring each image with the chalks. Very soothing.

It was pretty late when I completed this set. I would've liked to put

more detail in the apples, but I was working against a deadline. =]

Stamps and medium:

Stampin Up Warm Words, Give Thanks and Chalks

Metallic Chalk Set...

...from Pebbles Inc.! Wouldn't you love a set? I know I would! I love their products and I am happy to announce that they are giving 6 lucky winners a new set. Head over and see for yourself!

Pet Rock Buddies...You know you want one!

Don't you just love Etsy? These hand-made Rock Buddies come as a pendant or just as a "pet". Each comes with their own story too. Fun, right? Go check them out here: Rock Buddies Makes a great gift and conversation piece. =]

She's celebrating her BLOG-iversary!

Head over to DEBBIE'S site for this awesome blog candy give away. I believe it's going on 'til the end of this month! I have been wanting to try out the Copic markers for some time and who doesn't love the new Basic Grey lines? Yum!

We are all invited....

Click on the photo to head over to Feeling Scrappy to join in on their birthday celebration BLOG PARTY!! They will have lots give aways, classes, tips and fun. Check 'em out!

Wonderful Happiness!

I had a chance to make some cards the other night.

My friend Desiree did thank you cards like this.

I basically just copied hers, but changed the words. =]

Easy, quick and cute.

Materials: My Mind's Eye, DCWV Cardstock Stack Brights, Stampin' Up Warm Words, CTMH Black Ink, Martha Stewart Balloon punch, Glittered Cardstock (manuf. unknown)

Passing along the word...

Just thought I'd pass along some of these Blog Candy offers that I've come across. Just click on the link and head on over. Good luck, 'cause some lucky girls gonna win it! ;]
Cuttlebug Giveaway at Creating From the Heart - I love the Cuttlebug. This one ends today, so hurry!
Copic Markers and More at Paperlicious Oasis - I've heard so much about Copic Markers. These things help anyone to color like a pro!
Spring Collection at StarDust Gems and Ribbon - Just in time for Easter. Lots of fun stuff to play with here.
Birthday Celebration at Morganpigg Mamma Malin - Beautiful ribbon, flowers, stamps, brads and more. Who wouldn't love all this??
Sizzix, Stamps, Ric Rac and More at Crafty C's Crafting Library - I can think of lots of things to make with these great items. Check her out!
20,00o Hits Celebration at Doing Life - Oh, wow. Some great stuff here. Basic Grey rub-ons, fabric flowers, Color Box Fluid Chalks...too much to list. Run, don't walk!

Well, that's it for now! These lovely ladies offer up the blog candy to generate traffic on their blog, but also to share some love with their bloggy friends. Join in on the fun and check back here, because you never know when I will be offering up blog candy again! =]

Yummy tiered basket...

Looky what I picked up at Target! I've been wanting one of these baskets to use as a fun storage/decor/display thingy in my scrap space.
I threw some my Cat's Eye Fluid Chalks in the top basket, but really don't know what else I want to display in there.
I want it to be fun AND functional. Any ideas?

Something for my Shabby Friend...

I think she's already checked in for the day...so it's probably safe to post this now. Hee hee. I hope she likes it. She has inspired me so much with her blog the Shabby Old Potting Shed and her crafty blog Shabby Secret Garden.

Although I have never met her face to face...I feel like we are kindred spirits!

So, Lea, I hope you like it. I hope it makes you realize that someone in California is thinking of you and praying for you!

Have a great weekend to all my bloggy friends!!

I'd love to hear from you if you stop by here!