A Thanksgiving Project

During this time of the year, many of us find ourselves reflecting on our feeling of gratitude. This is a mini-album I put together last Thanksgiving to house my families' notes of gratitude. I'm planning to do the same project again this year, maybe something more along the lines of this adorable box by Alexandra.That's my beautiful sister alongside my gorgeous niece (I must go warn them I put their photos up here!)


I found the original instructions for creating the meander book at Splitcoast. Below you can download and print my instructions I created for a class:

Meander Book Class

Holiday Cards 3

The Mojo Monday card sketch inspired this card's design. Classic colors of artichoke and burgundy with a touch of gold.

Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye

Cardstock: Stampin Up! Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White

Ink: Bravo Burgundy

Accents: gold mini brads, velvet ribbon, pop dots

Ratings

Aesthetic: 4

Ease: 3

Cost: minimal

Liklihood this will be my holiday card: 25%

Holiday Card #2

Here's day 2, compliments of the cooperation of my art-loving four year old this morning. Love when I can snag time to create with him! I'll write up the deets for this card later.

Holiday Cards Day 1

I've cooked up this kookie idea in my head that for the month of November I'll post a holiday card a day. Typically, I like to avoid this type of commitment-filled posting, because somehow it's nearly always destined for failure. Maybe it's the start of a new month on the start of a new week (I love when that happens!) that makes me feel like CraftySuperGirl, or maybe I'm just on the prowl for a handmade holiday card, too. Whatever it is, this may be a good way to test some out (and possibly inspire you to make a few of your own this year, too *wink*wink*). And I have a stash of cards to fall back on if I'm feeling a bit lazy on any given day.

We'll give it a whirl. So here's number one:



Aesthetic Factor: 5 (1=eh, 5=very pleasing)
Ease of Mass-Producing: 2 (1=impossible, 5=easy peasy)
Cost: Minimal
# of steps: approx. 15
Likelihood I'll be making 85+ of these: 30%

A quick search through the Splitcoast gallery yielded the inspiration for this one. The card itself is cut with the Sizzix Bigz Circle Scallop. The snowflakes are stamped in Versamark ink and accented with Stickles Crystal. One of the trees is pop-dotted for dimension, and both are accented with Stickles. The tops of the snowdrifts are glittered with Shimmerz. I punched the ornament top from a juice pouch using the SU! dog tag punch and threaded it with jute.

I love that this card could actually hang on recipients' trees. I would adhere a photo to the backside along with a greeting. This card doesn't open making it more cost-effective to produce. Hand trimming the trees, applying and drying the glitter, and creating the hanger makes this card a slow-going one.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! (Patterned Pines, Cold Play, Warm Words and Holiday Tag Team)
Paper: Stampin' Up! (Bashful Blue, Whisper White)
Ink: Stampin' Up! (Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip), Tsukineko (Versamark)
Glitter: Ranger (Stickles), Provocraft (Shimmerz)

Random Projects

I'm playing a game of catch-up before this week gets underway. Here are a couple of random projects that I worked on last week.

It was a week of trying out new things. Some that worked (I drew my own pattern onto newspaper, and learned how to blanket stitch for this one)

And, well, some that (ahem) didn't really...work out quite...right.
Those little grey blobs up there are supposed to be five-petal crocheted flowers. I am applauding myself for sharing the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly with you! Aren't you lucky!!?! If I can afford to waste any more time on these, and actually succeed in getting one semi-right, you will all be the first to know. I attempted to follow this actually very well done tutorial, but alas, I am no crocheter. I have, however, been knitting feverishly (at every red light, parent pick-up line, and sporting event) in hopes of meeting Christmas gift deadlines.


This last project was made from a free downloadable pattern I somehow stumbled upon. I love the style of this bag, and it is made entirely of 2 fat quarters. This bag cost me, are you ready for this?, $1.58 to make! And, yes, that's a Lolly butterfly accent smack dab in the center there.

If you give this a go, I would recommend a decorator-type fabric with a bit of weight to it for the outside of the bag. I picked up some Pelon fusible fleece that I will iron onto the outside fabric to give it a bit of body. I'll keep you updated.

I'll be back tomorrow with my take on Method Playground's challenge for this week. It's a great challenge you're not going to want to miss!