Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and Blessings to you and yours.

Happy Halloween

A Happy and Safe Halloween to you all

RIP Pumpkin King

A Creatively Green Project Challenge.
Using a box create a Halloween themed project for under $5.oo.

Here are the bones for my project.
Styrofoam ball .50 from my personal supplies
Free Newspaper
salt flour & water from my kitchen
Paint ,Mod Podge ,hot glue and Ink from my supplies.
I will estimate between $1.25 - $1.75 worth of supplies to complete this project.

The end result... a Paper Mache Pumpkin King Tombstone.

I used the hot glue to create my inscription and added dimensions

While I am on the subject of tombstones.....it is the Halloween Season after all !

What better than a Graveyard for a Halloween delight or fright !

My Great Grandfather was a Stone Mason.

Entering into business with his brother they carved a living, out of Memorials for the deceased.The above monument photograph was sent to me, by one of his Grand daughters while researching this branch of my family tree. What a treasure to come across.
The story goes that he carved and was particularly fond of this piece, so the photo continues on today.

It's resting place, the rolling hills of Forest Hill Cemetery Utica, New York.

A beautiful landscape of hills and valleys surrounded by trees .On this video at time marker 1:32...not positive but I believe you may see this Stone Angel .

Next trip up North I think I will have to check this out.

One can not discuss Cemeteries with out mention of the "City of the Dead"to be found in the City of New Orleans.very interesting history behind these Crypts.

Another unusual cemetery is located in London, England.

The grounds and the carvings are stunning.

You may read a little of High Gate Cemetery's history here , you will also find some additional hauntingly beautiful images.

Here you will find some tombstone Epitaphs of some famous people.

For a little Halloween fun stop by here and create your own Epitaph.

Thanks for stopping by :).

Egg-cellent Easter Ideas

Preparing , for the Easter celebration would begin on Good Friday when I was a young girl,

a tradition that I have tried to carry over with my family.

Easter Egg coloring would be done on Friday evening and finished up by Saturday morning.

Making way for the preparation of any foods that may be made ahead.

The best dishes would be brought out and cleaned as well as the silver.

By the afternoon thoughts would go to the decorating of the table.

With my Grandmother offering up some fun ideas for the decorating .

Here are some links of Easter projects that I personally thought might be fun for the whole family to try.

First on the list is the decorating of the eggs.

Nicole Wozniak, creator of "Lumpy Page Designs"

has posted some fun tutorial projects this week on her blog , showing different techniques on decorating your Easter Eggs.

Glitter Eggs

Decoupage Eggs

Altered Project Friday Eggs

Some wonderful ideas from" Purple Trails "for those Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddies also some printable Easter games to keep the young ones busy while the finishing touches to the dinner and table are being added.

Easter Egg Hunt ideas

Printable Easter Games

Jeanne Winters of "Inspiring Ideas "

Decorating your Holiday table with paper Mache Eggs.

Quick and easy project that adds such a nice touch to the Easter Celebration.

Paper Mache Eggs

Andrea Walford from "Sunny Stampin"

Has the cutest idea and tutorial for a Center piece , would make a great companion for the Paper Mache Eggs.

Easter Lollipop Centerpiece

Milliken Linens

a tutorial on how to create a rabbit fold for your Easter dinner napkins.

Bunny Rabbit napkin fold

Roses on Paper

a quick and easy tutorial for dressing up candles for the Easter table with stamps , tissue paper and wax paper.

The end result looks very nice.

Decorating candles with stamps

That's it for today..hope you all have a wonderful Celebration of the season !

Thanks for stopping by : )

Hometown Christmas Holiday Kickoff

I don't know about anyone else,but for me the Holiday season really begins with our annual Christmas Parade.

I love everything about a parade, School bands, floats, local fire companies and all the holiday cheer that is extended between the parade participants and crowd of onlookers.

And most importantly the arrival of Santa on a horse drawn sleigh !

Over the weekend I was able to attend this years parade with my Mother.

Her first taste of the Holiday season in her new town !!

Then off to a local restaurant for a warm beverage and lunch.

Grand day to help get in the holiday mood.

I used Photobucket3 to collage my photos as I had over 200 and to protect some of the participants identities.

Just thought I would share with you a little taste of my hometown spirit !

Happy Thanksgiving

Count your blessings instead of your crosses; Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes; Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears; Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean; Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth; Count on God instead of yourself.
~~Author Unknown~~

Happy Thanksgiving to all !!

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

I found this Contest Challenge Link on the "Canadian Scrapper's Carnival Bog"
for a November Guest Design Team Member Spot at Scrapbooker's Clubhouse Blog.

The Challenge,to create Altered Thanksgiving Table Decorations.
I like to take on different Contests that I find with the idea in mind that I will enter.

Sometimes it works out that way,but most times I am just happy to have completed the challenge and be happy with what I have created.
This is one of those moments..I thought it would be nice though to give credit to where I found my inspiration .

The Pilgrim Hat is created from Pepperidge Farm "Pirouette" Rolled Cookie Tin.
Using adhesive backed black Felt,brown Felt and a Chipboard frame embossed using Versa Mark Ink and Copper Embossing Powder.

Using branches from my Lilac Tree sprayed with Clear Acrylic Sealer.
Dried Moss to cover the top and Styrofoam for holding the branches in place

Stamping my Card Stock with Versa Mark Ink. Using some wonderful leaf stamps from "Close to My Heart" and embossing with different colors of embossing powder.

Layering the back of my Card stock Leaves with Patterned Paper,Inking the edges with

Rangers Antique Linen Distress Ink.

adding a few extra twigs and curly Q's from my back woods.

My daughter-in-law, has graciously accepted to have the centerpiece grace her Thanksgiving Table this year as we celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time in her new home.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Canadian Scrappers and Crafters, hope you all have a lovely Holiday ! :)

Digital Easter Freebie

Happy Easter and Spring hope you all have a wonderful day.
Thought I would share a freebie and some holiday links.
If you would like to download "Doodle Peace" you may do so here.
Hope you all find peace in your personal celebration of the season.

Easter Around the World

Easter Symbols and Meanings

Rite of Spring

Easter and Spring Crafts for the family

Easter Videos on the History Channel

Biblical Art

"Christmas Around the World"

What a Holiday treat for Digital Scrapbookers!

"Christmas Around the World" is a collaboration of digital designers from around the world spreading the Holiday Cheer,the kits will be available for FREE download from December 10th thru the 16th.

Even if you are not a digital Scrapper..within the kits you will find many elements from the contribution of 78 designers that would work so well for those Holiday Hybrid projects or layouts.

Three Cheers to all the talented digital artists that contributed to this project!!

And a big Thanks to Kim for bringing this project to life.

Remember they are only available for one week...so stop on by and pick out your favorites while still available.

(a little sneak peek of three of the kits contributed by MooTwo Designs and

ScrappyCats Designs )

"Christmas Around the World Kits"

Dress up those packages

Wrapping Paper Jean Marie

box by Craft ideas

Tags by Jessica Acs

Martha's Ribbon

Decorations are up,the tree is trimmed and the holiday shopping is in full force.

Instead of the traditional wrapping paper that is found in your local stores ,why not take the time to give those holiday gifts a special touch of your own.

A few ideas that I came across that I found helpful.

A tutorial by Martha Stewart to help give you the perfect bow every time.

And of course we need some cute little Christmas tags to add to our beautiful ribbons.

Here is a tutorial by Jessica Acs for some Holiday tags courtesy of iScrap that really add to the holiday spirit of your packages.

How about your own little gift box for that special little Holiday treat that you would like to share .While you are visiting check out all the other fun projects that are available for your viewing at Craft ideas lots of Holiday Inspiration to be found.

One of my favorite sites Country Living has some helpful ideas for Holiday packaging and wrapping

My personal favorite is to stamp onto plain Crafting paper with my Holiday Stamps,add a touch of ribbon and you have added not only your own personal touch to your gift but also to the wrapping.

Some other wonderful Holiday ideas may be found on these sites....Have fun!

Traditional Advent Calendar

Growing up in our house we always had an Advent calendar to help count down the four Sundays before Christmas.

Times have changed and so have the many types of Calendars that may be found to help count down the days before Christmas.

With a tutorial located in the tutorial Section of iScrap designed by Jessica Acs,

My advent Calendar was easy and fun to make.

I used coloring book pages scaled to size for my pocket covers, and traditional advent activities located on the web to my tags with some fun activities scattered in the mix.

Glitter Gel pens to add some glitz.

Lots of fun and easy to make project..so many possibilities to make this tutorial work for your personal Holiday celebrations.

Holiday Craft Inspiration

As the Holiday season is upon us,many extra tasks are added to our everyday normal routine,

and the stress level begins to rise.

For me unwinding at the end of the day,consists of heading to my craft room to create.

With not much time allowed for large projects ..I search the web for simple and fun holiday inspiration to get me in the spirit.

Here are a few that I have come across and would like to share.

INSTRUCTIONS

candy cane vase

snowmen gift cans

Candy Wreath

Santa Advent Calender

Paper Crafts

Holiday Gift Card Holders

In my home during the Holiday Season all small gift packages

and special envelopes become part a of our families Christmas tree decorations.

BHG's "Creative Collections" Holiday Crafts Magazine 2007 Issue,

featured a stocking gift card designed by One Heart_One Mind

I thought it was a clever idea.

Using the pattern insert that came with my magazine.

I found it very fast and easy to make..creating three cards in a row.

Now that I had the fundamentals down for this card ..time to add my own twist.

The pattern called for covering both sides of a Stocking chipboard shape with Paper of your choosing....I used instead for my stocking a cardboard insert that came from my 4X6 Photo Paper Pack.

Punched 2 small holes on the top left inside of gift card to add ribbon for hanging.

You can use your favorite Stocking & gift card envelope templates to create this card.

Kicking in Gear for the Holiday Season

Have you started planning or creating for the Holiday Season?

Have not caught the spirit yet or are lacking inspiration?

Have I got the spark you need...Tonight EST 8 pm-10 pm DragonFlaire Studio Designs

will be kicking off the Holiday Season with a PARTY !

Launching a release of The Scrapper's Holiday Planner !

All types of fun and inspiration to be found!

Want a sneak peek !

Sketch "N" Scrap

Big Congratulations go out to Jacqueline for her winning hand at the Sisterhood of Scrap

Texas Hold'em Challenge...Jacqueline was holding a diamond flush...WTG!! on the flush Jacqueline!

The sisters also have a fun Card sketch posted for Sketch Saturday.

Working on a project this week I still had my pile of little scraps sitting on my desk..thought I would put them to use and give the card sketch a try.

I like to make up my own paper piecing patterns...but for some reason I find animals to be a bit

of a challenge for me.

Happy to report this one came together very easy with the help of Basic Grey (un)Dressed chipboard...made for a perfect set of Antlers.

Stop on by the Sisters and meet the designer of this sketch

she also has some fun stamps for sale in her store

It's a Scrapper's Holiday Party !

If your looking for some fun and Inspiration this weekend

stop on by DragonFlaire Studios.

They are kicking off the Holiday Season with a

release of "The Scrappers Holiday Planner"

Stop on by and catch the "Holiday Spirit"!

You need to register and have approval to the message board

you won't want to miss out on this fun Holiday Bash!

You can read more about it here

Meet the designer of the "Holiday Planner" !

World Card Day at the Sisterhood of Scrap

Challenge#2

Challenge#3

Sketch Challenge #5

Sketch Challenge #4

Sketch Challenge #1

All week the Sisters at the "Sisterhood of Scrap" have been posting some very creative sketches and Inpiration challenges in Celebration of World Card Day.

Having had a busy week on the homefront I was finally able to sit down and try my hand at a few of the challenges today.

I thought I would use some of my supplies that I had not used in some time.

Making friends again with some of my Stamps,embossing powders,Puffy Paints and watercolor pencils....good stuff !

There are 10 challenges posted at the SoS if you need a little push to get some of those holiday cards out of the way...head on over to the Sisters and see if you can find a little inspiration to give you a kickstart!