NOTEBOOK DECORATED WITH DIE CUT VINYL

My husband got this notebook to give to his niece, Lara, who is 13 or 14 y/o. She loves pink and really wanted one of those Dell notebooks with a decorative cover, but the price just wasn't right. So . . . I used my handy dandy Big Shot to cut the vinyl elements that I applied to this notebook! SU products used, other than the Big Shot, were Serif Essentials alphabet dies, the bird from the Birds & Blooms Sizzlits dies, and the Swirly decorative strip die. The flowers were cut with the Sizzix Paper Sculpting Daisy die, and I used a Spellbinders die to cut the butterflies. I used SU's white gel pen to dot the center of the flowers. I hope Lara loves her decorated notebook!

MR. TWIGSTER'S MAILBOX

I could really use your comments on this project! The glittery snowflakes, which were die cut from foam, are much prettier than they appear in the picture, but what do you think of this project--overall? SU products used include the Big Shot die cut machine, Sizzix Originals Snowflake die, Sizzix Sizzlits Snowflake die, Sizzix Join in the Cheer die, Mr. Twigster stamp set, 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" circle punches, and the scallop circle punch.

WHO'S BEEN SENDING "PINK" SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES TO MY HEAD?

I just noticed that for the past week, all but two of my project posts have involved the color PINK!!! Someone has hooked me to a "paint the world pink" subliminal message machine or something! I'm not complaining . . . I love the color . . . I just thought it was interesting that I've used it so much lately. I even used it earlier this week to design this card for an upcoming stamp-a-stack!

HAVE A SWEET DAY!

This is another Scallop Envelope box created by cutting four envelopes with the Sizzix Scallop Envelope die. The embellishment on the box is what I am featuring today! It was created with the Scallop Circle punch and makes a great embellishment for a gift! For the box and embellishment, I used SU's "Holiday Treasures" designer paper. The stamps featured in the picture are from the "Crazy for Cupcakes" stamp set which is on sale right now. Cupcakes!! Get your cupcakes!!!

PAINT CAN GIFT FOR BABY

One of my customers is expecting a grandson anytime now, and I decorated this paint can and filled it with little goodies for Aiden (the baby). Isn't that a pretty name? Debbie, if you're reading this, best of wishes to Aiden and his mommy!

SUNFLOWER DIVA

Shhhh . . . don't tell anyone, but I used contraband to make this card. I don't know what it is about these long-legged ladies, but I just love them! I used SU markers to color the stamped image and then added glittery highlights and clouds with assorted colors of Stickles. As long as her legs are, I thought it would be cute to have her head up in the clouds! The embossed dotted background was created with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, which I ran through the Big Shot die cut machine.

I JUST CAN'T PUT THE CUPCAKES DOWN!!!!

I guess cupcakes (stamps) are like chips . . . you can't stop at just one! I used a mix of holiday papers (ha!) on this card. Other SU products used include Chunky Essentials glitter, Old Olive brads, Old Olive ribbon, and the distressing tool from the Cutter Kit.

HOLIDAY SHIRT GIFT CARD HOLDER

Can you tell that I'm working on project designs for my Holiday Stamp Camp? I think this will be one of them! I just love this "shirt!" The white "t-shirt" pulls out of the pocket, and a gift card is attached to it.

STILL CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES!

And here's another one! This little stamp set is quite easy to design with! Best of all . . . it's on sale now!

CRAZY FOR CUPCAKES

Looks delicious, huh?

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Each year, when October rolls around, I like to do something to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month. My sister is a breast cancer survivor! It's been almost 22 years since she faced the battle, and I guarantee you that she has not forgotten the fear or reality of that life-changing event. Can you imagine being 24 years old, with a 4-year-old daughter and a 6-month-old baby girl and being told that you have breast cancer????? With any form of cancer, the word most spoken is HOPE, understandably. For my breast cancer awareness card this year, I decided to incorporate that word in my design. I hope my sister knows how special she is to me and that I, too, have not forgotten what she had to endure. I can't possibly imagine what it was like for her, but I celebrate each day that I have her in my life!

"MUMMY, I WANT CANDY!"

You've probably seen "mummy" creations--they're rather popular this year for Halloween--and that's what prompted me to create this "mummy" treat box. It's really an easy project, although it can take a bit of time to make. Sponging ink on the edges of the card stock strips is what takes the longest, but it's an important detail, I think.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT BETTY!

Betty is my great-aunt, and she has always been special to me. Her daughter, Teresa, was my best friend all through the school years. You may remember reading about the "good cousin/bad cousin?" Well, Teresa was the bad cousin. No, she wasn't that kind of bad . . . she was the fun kind of bad. Have you ever heard "A friend will help you move, but your best friend will help you move a body"? That's the kind of friendship that Teresa and I had. Fortunately, I never had to move any bodies for her; nor she for me! Anyway, Aunt Betty has a birthday on Wednesday, so I made this card for her. She was always an excellent cook--chicken pie and gingerbread were her specialties as far as I was concerned. Teresa and I used to accuse my sister of faking illnessess just so she'd get to leave school early and camp out on Aunt Betty's sofa and enjoy warm, homemade gingerbread! Aunt Betty even named her chicken pie recipe "Regina's Famous Chicken Pie" in a local homemaker's club cookbook. Chadrick couldn't believe that with my cooking skills I managed to have a recipe named after me, so I told him it wasn't named after me because I wrote the recipe but because I LOVED the way Aunt Betty made it! No matter how many times I follow that recipe, I'm convinced that it's Betty's special pan and a sprinkle of love from her hand that makes her chicken pies so much tastier than mine. Anyway, I'm sending Betty some special cupcakes, sprinkled with SU's Fine Cosmos glitter! Happy Birthday, Aunt Betty!!!

THE ONE AND ONLY SPIDER

Why is he the "one and only," you ask? Because he was a pain to make! A couple of days ago, I saw some similar spiders made with Peppermint Pattie's between the scallops. They were adorable, but I wanted my spider to have a box between the scallops so he could hold any kind of small candy. I decided to use punches to create the "box," but I'm not pleased with it because it was difficult to get the sides to stay in place. My advice, if you wish to make a spider box, is to just make a regular box--not from punches. The sides will be stronger, and it will last longer. Punches used to create this spider include Photo Corner, Scallop Circle, Key Tag, 1/2" Circle, and 1/4" Circle.

"HOLIDAY TREASURES" GIFT BOX

My guys went to the Panthers game today, and I stayed home and did laundry. Of course, I stamped and created, too. Slowly, but surely, I'm beginning to design projects for a holiday stamp camp, and this is one of them. This project uses the Big Shot and "Top Note" die, "Holiday
Treasures" designer paper, a gorgeous piece from the Vanilla hodgepodge hardware kit, and a fun/simple glitter technique! Can you see that there's a tree beneath those glittery dots?

BIG SHOT REFERENCE GUIDES FOR CUSTOMERS

These are the cute "quick reference" guides that I made for my customers who purchased a Big Shot machine from me. Learning to use a die cut machine can be intimidating, and I decided to put together (in booklet form) some of the helpful tips and "sandwich recipes" that I have learned over the years. I had already made my own Big Shot reference book, but I'm making one of these little ones for myself! All customers who order the Big Shot Starter Kit from me will get one of these helpful booklets!

STILL BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL

I guess if I would put supplies up when I'm finished . . . these two cards would not have been made. Ha! I'll bet you thought I was going to fuss at myself, didn't you? No way!!!!