Bunco Nine

~ photo heavy post ~

As promised from yesterday, I have another Bunco prize/gift to share with you today.  We are currently at number nine.  (Counting down backwards from eleven)

If you are just joining me, I stamped and heat embossed this little mason jar in early espresso embossing powder, onto very vanilla card stock.  I punched a 3/4" circle from the same digital paper I used to make my reminder cards, and added (alternating) a gold or silver sticker number.  I fussy cut the jar image out with scissors and sponged the edges with crumb cake classic ink.  I wrapped the top of the little mason jars with coordinating bakers twine.

As with all of the prizes, a kraft gift bag decorated, along with a matching little gift card.  An altered clothes pin to hold the prize number.  And of course, the prize!  But before I share the prize, I wanted to share a quick photo of the gift card.

This prize is a desk top calendar.  The finished size is 4" x 4".  That way, it doesn't has a large footprint, and is super sweet!  Here are the photos:

the cover.  super plain, but you won't see it.

I used Market Street pattern paper, from My Mind's Eye.  I just love this rustic, vintage-y look.  I wanted to keep the months kinda flat.  The pages lay better.  I used my Bind-It-All to put the spiral piece thru the little 'book'.

Thank you for stopping by!  See ya tomorrow!

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}.

Paper Gift Bag

This weekend had a very nice start!  I caught up with two of the most lovely ladies, to craft it up!  We get together a few different times of the year, and paper craft. We talk about what's going on in our lives, laugh, and truly enjoy each others company.  So, when The Hen House, hosted another stamp retreat this fall, we all signed up to attend, and requested to sit together.  

One of the paper crafting traditions, is to craft something for your table mates. Yes, there is such a term, and yes, that is what we are!  Since I have been making some holiday gift bags, I thought why not make a paper gift bag, to hold some treats for these ladies.  So, here is what I made!

I used paper that I already had on hand, and mix and matched different stamp companies.  The long text stamp is from Tim Holtz.  It says, 'imagination is more important than knowledge. for while knowledge defines all we already know and understand. imagination leads us to all we might yet discover and create.'   The initials and 'my friend' are from Stampin' Up!.  The tag at the top of the bag, 'just for you' is from Paper Trey Ink.  I adhered the same pattern paper to small clothes pins to help hold the bag closed.  The ribbons are from my stash, and the vintage buttons from Paper Trey Ink.

I hope this weekend finds time for you to do what you love!  And spend some time with those who are important to you. 

Well, I am off to bed.  I will share a photo of the cupcakes I need to finish tomorrow.  3 dozen white cake and 3 dozen chocolate cake, with a sweet cream filling, topped with a whipped pink butter cream frosting, and a light dusting of edible glitter.