top dog dies: give thanks

Each year for Thanksgiving, I like to create a gratitude journal for family members and dinner guests to record what they are grateful for.  More recently, I have been creating place cards for the table setting.  This year, I was lucky enough to have some Top Dog Dies to help me out.

Using the Scallop Box Die

I created place card favor boxes:

20 of them:

Each one topped with a handmade flower

filled with a pearl center.

The boxes themselves are filled with some chocolates for a post-dinner, pre-pie treat!

For this year's gratitude journal, I decided to create a banner:

Each pennant has a glassine envelope that contains a Project Life card for recording this year's gratitudes.

Each pocket is embellished with an accordion-folded medallion made with the Sizzix die

and trimmed with paper cut with the Madison Border Die

I love that this year's "journal" doubles as holiday decor!

For those of you celebrating tomorrow, have a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.  And for those living in other parts of the world, may you always find something to be grateful for.

top dog dies: pretty as a polaroid

This month, Top Dog Dies let their Design Team choose some dies from their collection to work with.  I didn't hesitate to pick this little cutie:

Photo Mats Die TW018

I made several cards that I'll be sharing soon, but I couldn't wait to show you this framed garland wall art.

I recently found some pretty inspiration from Journal of Curious Things.  She did a Pretty Polaroid Project and she inspired me to make my own little set of 'Pretty Polaroids':

These were so fun to create.  Here are some close-ups of each:

Sizzix Butterflies and a vintage button

Cute chipboard die cuts and papers from an American Crafts Dear Lizzy collection

More Dear Lizzy papers and accents 

Tag is from TDD Darby Doliy and Tags set; butterfly is Martha Stewart punch

Here they are again.

If you want your own Photo Mats Die, please visit the Top Dog Dies store

on my hook Monday

Happy Monday!  

This weekend I did something I don't usually do: I took some time to sit down and crochet.  Crochet for me has become something I do while I'm waiting.  It's my travel craft: car rides, doctor's visits, hockey practices, guitar lessons.  It's the perfect little grab-and-go craft.  But lately I've realized I wasn't finishing projects, and the projects I'm working on have been in the works longer than they should be.  It was time to do something about it (plus I had some gifts on a deadline to whip up).  So I sat myself down, let the dishes stay in the sink, the laundry in the baskets, and the vacuum in the closet and I made time to just crochet.    It worked, 'cause I have two projects to show for it.

A cute little Baby News Cap:

pattern from Donetta Johnson

 A pretty-in-pink Coffee Mug Cozy:

pattern by me can be found in this post

And what's a mug and cozy without a gift card to the new local coffee shop?!

Here's to making time for more crochet!  {The dishes were still there waiting for me anyway.}

winner winner

I'm a giveaway host delinquent.  So sorry to keep you all waiting for the Rainbow Loom book giveaway winner.

Carrie McLean and her daughter are the lucky winners.  I have sent you a message on Google+, Carrie.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

giveaway: rainbow loom book

Winner = Carrie Mclean!
view the drawing here

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Fox Chapel Publishing and asked if I would host a giveaway on my blog for Design Originals new book:

Totally Awesome Rubber Band Jewelry

My boys recently caught onto the Rainbow Loom craze and were using their fingers to craft bracelets for themselves, their friends, and their family.  They were beyond excited when a copy of this book arrived in our mailbox.

We picked up a loom so they could try out some of the bracelet styles pictured in the book.
They loved it!  This full-color book is fun and engaging for little (and big!) bracelet makers.

Some of the fun designs included in the book.

First, they flipped through the 48-page book to choose a project.  The brightly colored and doodled layouts are packed with jewelry-making info and tips.
Once they settled on their design (of course it was the Starburst Bracelet on pg. 34), they choose the number of bands needed from the "What You'll Need" list, and set to work loading the loom following the "Load It Up!" diagram that accompanies each loom project.  Each band is numbered on the diagram making it easy to follow.  As long as you load the loom in numerical order you'll have a fun and funky bracelet (my son had to learn this the hard way!).  They also provide "Load It Up!" diagrams for alternate color schemes.

A bracelet made by boy #2 for his aunt.

Next comes the sometimes tricky part of hooking the bracelet.  The book makes this part easy by providing detailed step-by-step photos along with written instructions for how to "Get Loopin'."  There are also directions for finishing your bracelets, as well as projects other than bracelets, such as earrings, a flower charm, a belt, and more.

My little guy designed and made this one.

You can take a peek at the book in the preview below:  

 

The boys and I loved making some of the bracelets in this fun new book and the nice peeps at Fox Chapel sent me an extra copy of the book to giveaway on my blog.  

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me how crazy the kids in your life are for this rubber band jewelry.  I will pick one random winner on Saturday, November 9th.  

Due to shipping costs, this giveaway is open to addresses in US and Canada only, please.  Thanks so much for understanding!