Holly Days

Whew, what a busy weekend.  I am spending today getting caught up on chores, and carving out an hour to 'put my feet up' {smile}.  I spent a lot of time last week paper crafting, to increase my inventory of products to sell at some up-coming arts and craft fairs.  I know that my husband has 'missed' me, seeing as all my waking time was spent in my craft room.  Poor man.  But, that commitment and focus hasn't changed.  I have another arts and craft fair this next weekend, and I need to make some more items that sold out yesterday.

On a bright and cheery note, the folks who did stop-by my booth and take a look, did say how pretty my things were (smile).  I even have a few special orders that I need to start working on, too.  Busy little bee, I am.  But I do enjoy the whole process of paper crafting {smile}.

I took a photo of my booth just before the start of the 18th Annual Holly Days Arts and Craft Fair, this year.  However, the photo was taken with my phone, so it isn't the best, and the morning sun was shining right onto my display booth {frown}.  But, all in all, it was good.

Right to Left and Top to Bottom:  the carousel holds hand-made cards that I have made this year.  Just in front of that, is a gray wooden frame that is holding magnetic letters.  On top of the white shelves, is a white 'basket' that is holding snowman poop, in the black wire 'basket' is tubes of magic reindeer food, and the last wire basket holds magic Santa keys.  In the cubbies of the white shelves are (right to left) gift boxes, then gift card holders, and small gift bags.  In front of the white shelves (right to left), are altered mini note books, then covered note pads and then food-safe bags with vintage/shabby tags.

At the end of the table, I have 3 rows of canning jars with Blueberry Spoon Fruit, Vanilla Spiced Peaches, and Cranberry Relish.  On the vintage white cake stand, I have my home-made pure Vanilla extracts made from different vanilla beans from Mexico, Indonesia, Tonga, and Uganda.  These different regions, with their different soils and climates, create unique tasting vanilla beans.

I had a sweet time talking with other crafts, and meeting folks who stopped by to chat.  If you are in the Albuquerque, New Mexico area this coming weekend, please stop by my booth @ the Cleveland Middle School.  And if you received a post card of my craft fair schedule, don't forget to bring it with you, to receive your exclusive gift {smile}.

Note Pads

I have been working on some crafts for some upcoming holiday arts and craft fairs, held here, in Albuquerque New Mexico.  A couple of the items that I really enjoy making is altered notebooks and covering note pads.  I know that sounds kinda boring.  But, I find the whole process alot of fun!  I always make some of these items in non-holiday themes.  That way, this item is also appropriate after the holidays.

covered notepad

altered notebook

The covered note pads have 25 pages of lined paper.  The altered notebooks have 80 pages of lined paper.  I don't make my crafts in mass production.  So almost everything is an original.  The most of one thing I have made is a gift bag.  I made four.  I'll share a sneak peak photo this weekend.  So stay tuned.

Blessings

Happy Saturday!  Wow, this month is screaming by.  Does anyone else find themselves trying to play 'catch-up' with how fast this year is going by?  

Holly, from Our Creative Corner, has a great challenge for us this week.  I love it, when a design team member gives us a great challenge.  I love to be challenged, but not too crazy.  I love to have some creative freedom and to give the challenge our own sense of 'life'.  And Holly has given us an inspiration photo and some guidelines.  How clever.  How creative.  How wonderful.  So, without boring you any longer, this is the inspiration photo:

This photo has some wonderful colors, textures, designs, and tons of different elements!  Holly tells us to, 'find some inspiration from this fancy table setting and create a Thanksgiving, Holiday, or New Year's paper craft'.  So, take your que from this photo.  And create something wonderful to share with us!  For me, I'm still working on craft fair items, and so, I decided to create a guest blessings book.  When your family and friends share your Thanksgiving meal, instruct them to each write down what they are 'thankful' for.  Here is my Blessings book:

 

The blank journal measures 5 1/4 " x 5 1/4".  The original cover is light blue with this  huge unattractive tea cup on the front.  I kept the back cover original.  So, i worked with the light blue.  I cut a darker blue cardstock to fit the front cover, and then added some newly arrived pattern paper.  I wanted to use pattern paper that reflected the colors and patterns in the inspiration photo.  I used a scallop die to create the scallop trim.  I wrapped scallop trim with a scrap piece quilted ribbon.  The quilted ribbon has the diamond pattern on it, like in the inspiration photo.  I just love the words and font on the larger tag: I am thankful for you.  Love it!  And a seperate stamp created the 'Blessings' stamp at the upper edge of this journal.  I stamped it in a dark brown and heat embossed it.  So it has some presence and some texture.  I just love the shades of yellow and orange in this pattern paper.  I wanted those colors to really pop, so I added a yellow paper flower on top of an orange silk flower.  I felt the flower seemed 'naked' and so I used a die to cut the butterfly shape out of a pressed wood piece.  I inked the edges with some brown ink, to give the wings some definition.  I added the metal tag holder piece, because I thought the journal needed another texture/element.  I added the 'love' tag, to help express my feelings for my family.

So, its now your turn.  Lets see what you create with this wonderful inspiration photo.  Take your time.  Get in your crafting space, and lets see what you have done!  Share your talents with us! 

1st Instructional PDF - Altered Notebook

Ok, here it is! My first instructional PDF is now available for purchase! The cost? $3.50. Purchase through paypal; www.bachnucmed@excite.com (Sharon Wheet). When you purchase this PDF, you will get 5 pages of step-by-step instructions, as well as color photos to illustrate the instructions. (The instructional PDF will arrive as an attachment to your email.) At the end of the instructions, I have also provided a few different varients. That way, this will work for any size notebook, any designer pattern paper you have, as well as any embellishments you would like to add, and any size text box! Make the sample and take the information to continue to create wonderfully creative altered notebooks!

Paper Crafters Holiday Gift Exchange

So, for our Nacho Average Stamper holiday gift exchange, we were to make/create something using Stampin' Up! products. The price range is $5-$10. So, nothing too expensive and nothing too cheap. So, here is what I made!

I printed the template for the paper tote onto Chocolate Chip cardstock. I used the Greenhouse Gala DSP to add some color. I did the trim in Baja Breeze, to help bring out the blues in the tiny flowers. I stamped the definition 'inspire' in Baja Breeze. I chose that definition, because it is one of the home decor elements. And, I love it! I think that as demonstrators, not only do we create, but we also inspire our customers (and blog followers) to create something out of paper, or to use a product in a new way. I had to add the rhinestones! What girl doesn't like bling?

I covered a notebook with the same supplies. The stamp set I used for the flower is Greenhouse Gala, and the 'take note' is from Notable Ornate. I colored the floral image with markers (Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery). And I also created a cover, for a Stampin' Up! notepad. If nothing else, she can use the products in a workshop to jot down notes, names, ideas for workshops, etc. And, she can reproduce the items for hostess gifts! Functional, creative, and inspirational!

I will have the PDF for the covered notepad available for sale in Jan. 2011. I will repost that when it is available.

Thank you for looking. And, if you don't make it back here before Saturday, Merry Christmas!