Beary Nice Gift

I saw about a month ago something similar to what I made. However, when I tried to find it again to look at more of the details, and low and behold, I was unable to find it again. So I made my own template, experimented a bit and came up with this. The way I figure it, I would have had to modify the other anyway, since I wanted to put two gifts inside. The one I made I made to look like a purse, perfect for the little girl I made it for. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, and I think she will like it as well. Christmas can't come soon enough!
The images are both from Stamp Fairy World, isn't he the cutest?! The blue paper you see here is The Paper Studio and the more blue-green paper is Amanda Blu. The ribbon on the 'handle' came on a gift, not sure of the brand. Below is the surprise on the inside:


The ribbon is from my stash-not sure of the brand. It is difficult to see in the picture (although this one kind of show it), the ribbon inside matches the ribbon on the sides. The snowflakes are a punch by Marvy, I punched them in light blue and inked them silver. Below is the picture of the back. The tag is a punch, inked in silver, the paper is the same as around the images on the front. The G is chipboard I inked to match (the one getting this Christmas gift's name begins with G).

Here is a close up of the StampFairyWorld images~I wanted to showcase my coloring (markers and chalk) as well as the darling images.
Don't forget that Stamp Fairy is currently having a design team call. Like these images? Get more information here.

Challenges:
Anything Goes-animals
Crafty Creations-beauty on the inside
Creative Inspirations-Christmas or winter
Digital Tuesday-let it snow
Lots to Do-favorite technique-coloring with markers and chalk
One Stop Craft Challenge-snow people-do bears count?
Papertake Weekly-cut it out-punches
Wild Orchard-Blue Christmas

Design Team Openings

There are a couple of design team openings at a couple of the websites I frequent. Digi's With Attitude! is looking for new design team members (click on their badge on my sidebar to go to the DT call). As well as a newer site: Stamp Fairy World. I've never been on a design team before, but I might apply for fun... we shall see.

Gift bag

Alright, I know one of the blogs I follow made a really cute gift bag for Bath and Body travel size containers. But now that I want to make one, do you think I can find it~nope! Has anyone seen this and know where I can find a tutorial for it? I am hoping whoevers blog I found it on follows me and can direct me to that post.

Thanks in advance,
Brandi

Fairy Good Day

Attempt #2 at painting backgrounds (and I left it at that, as I was so pleased with how this one turned out). Again the image is from Karen's site, which I am very grateful for! It is hard to see, but there is a fairy on the flower.
I tried to stick with fall colors and keep it simple (as I wanted to showcase the background).

Challenges:
Digital Tuesday-winged creature+digital image
Digi Doodle Shop-fall
Flutterby WEd-open+fairy
MyGrafico-fall colors

Painting Backgrounds

I was nannying and the little one wanted to paint. He showed me where the materials were and there were no watercolors, no kid-friendly materials, just acrylic paint, brushes and sponges and a paint smock. So we painted. And I decided that although I'm not a painter (at all) I'd give it a whirl. This card isn't done yet, I need to add flowers to the right-hand side. But I wanted to post a picture before it got done, so you can see what a terrible painter I am ;) But I'm ok with it.
I will say that I tried really hard on this one, and I'm not really pleased with the outcome. I had an image in my mind, that didn't work out (it never does) and I think my idea clamped handcuffs on my creativity. The image is from a public domain site by Karen. She ha a bit of everything and they are all free.

'Tude

Attitude is not often seen as a good thing; but over at Digi's With Attitude! Attitude is in~and once you look at their digis, you will see why-they are absolutely adorable! That is one reason why I am honored to have received the 'My Blog Has Attitude' Award. And the best part about the award? It comes with a 5 dollar gift certificate~yea! As part of receiving the award, I am to tell you three things that make me unique and pass the award on to 5 others (so you can have a chance to get your 'tude on).

Three things:
1. My passion is teaching children. Right now it's preschoolers, although I would love to get a job teaching elementary or middle school students.
2. I am easily excited (for instance, I jumped up and down when I won this award)
3. I think technology is great, but it sometimes takes away from the beauty God gave us. Nothing makes me happier than a walk in a gorgeous park with someone I love.

Now for Five Folks Who know How to Bring Attitude :)
Tammy of Tammy's Creative Tidbits (a crafter to whom I can never compare)
Stef of Glitterbabe's Greetings and Glitterbabe's Challenge
Sid of Harpie's Crafty Corner (a man who is an expert crafter~a rarity)
Jen of Jen The Crazy Scrapbooker (although she does lots more than scrapbooking)
Melanie of Courtney Lane's Designs

Click HERE to see what you need to do to get your gift certificate.

For My Man

My husband asked me if I had a bookmark the other day and I didn't. So I made him one tonight and tucked it inside this 'manly' card. I have always had a hard time doing guy cards, because I tend to be 'girly' with my colors and style. So I kept this one simple, followed Papertake Weekly's sketch and added a fun embellishment. Here is the card (you can see a little of the bookmark on the side):
The image was so fab I didn't want to 'girl it up' by adding color. Now a close-up of my home made embellishment:It is a piece of plastic I found lying around (not super thick, but not paper thin either). I inked it (with a background stamp, didn't expect it to show), added embossing powder and heat it up. My husband will tell me I wasn't being safe (I burn myself all the time on my clue gun, he says I get hurt more crafting than doing anything else). You have to heat it a few seconds, hold something on the plastic to achieve the desired folding, then repeat until it looks like you want it to. You wouldn't have to use powder, I just wanted to add color.

Also goes with digital Tuesday Challenge-something new+digi (I hadn't used the vellum yet)
and Polly Craft Monday-doodles

Flowers of Thanks

I had soooo much fun making these flowers!! I had forgotten how great layered flowers look! Some of these are from Ileena (not sure which cartridge she used) and the smallest one (8 petals) is from a punch-Marvy Uchida. The brads are old ones, the glitter is stickles, the ribbon is Robert Stanley. The image is Meljens-(I did separate the Thank You, which was above the image) she has lots of great ones!
I used markers for most of the image, with the exception of the fur-which was pastel chalk.
Challenges:
I used Sentimental Sunday's sketch
I added doodling (in stickles) for PollyCraft Monday
Glittery/Girly/Glam-Creative Inspirations
Glitterbabe's Challenge-glitter+thanksgiving

Happy Mail Day!

I went to go down my stairs to check the mail today and found a box in front of the door (I guess they don't knock to let you know you have a package unless they need a sigy). I recieved my altered can (part of a swap) from Yolie! She also included a few goodies inside~what a wonderful surprise! I always sign up and send mine out and forget that I'm getting one in return :D

Then I walked down to my mailbox to find a creative card from Grandma Carol (my husband's grandmother) and a package from a blogging friend in Spain (I am in the US, so that is really exciting!!!). She included lots of fun stuff. As I type I'm thinking I might have to do a post to show off her card and all the fun stuff I received today. (and the best part-no bills!)

Thanks, gals! You made my day and make me really, really want to get crafting! I have to finish cleaning, but soon I will get to play!

OK, pictures, as I hinted at:
Some digi stamps that Ileena printed for me to play with and some flowers (cut from the Cricut, although I'm not sure what cartridge).
Here is a bookmark and the card she sent with the package. You should click on the photo to see it up close, so many awesome details!And the altered can Yolie made me:
She knows I love purple!
And butterflies!
And the surprise she left on the inside!
:D

Bouquet

My maids of honor and I decided we would do the bouquets (for 5 bridesmaids and myself), boutonnieres (for 5 groomsmen, groom, 3 ring bearers, pastor, 2 dads, 5 grandfathers) and the corsages (2 mothers, 4 grandmothers and one sister). Quite an undertaking, I tell you! After a couple hours of shopping and three nights working for five hours, we were done!

The lovely lady holding a bridesmaids' bouquet in the above photo is Savanna, a life-long friend.
The equally lovely lady 'hiding' behind my bouquet is my wonderful friend, Heather. It is hard to see, but I also added some stickels to the dots randomly in the large circle.
The ribbon running along the bottom of the pages (gold) and the ribbon used in the bow are leftovers from our bouquets. The purple is Offray brand 1/2 inch and the gold is Big Lots Holiday Gold Wired Ribbon. Fun Fact: The Easter Lillys in the bouquets were white and the gals colored them with fabric spray paint (they said it was fun~I wasn't there).
You can't have flowers without butterflies! The butterfly and the scalloped circles are from the Stamping Cricut Cartridge. The Cala Lily digi stamps (there are 3 total) are from Shell at Silly Shells Digital Creations (she has loads of free digis!)
The sentiment that worked so nicely with our creating of bouquets is from Ann at Sentimental Sundays. I colored it with pastels and added some stickles. Below you can see the lily again.
The sketch for this layout can be found at Creative Scrapbook Divas (I entered this in a challenge there). It really pushed me to be percise (all the photo sizes were designated), and to be creative in adding the details (hence the lilies, rather than the dots).

Other Challenges:
Anything Goes-the letter B-B is for Bouquet!
Connie and Mary-anything that glitters
One Stop Craft Challenge-Anything Goes
MamiDoodles-anything but a card
Little Paper Shop-Buttons and Bows
Flutterby Wednesday-Anything goes+fairy or butterfly
Creative Inspirations- Glitter, Glamor, Girly
Crafty Creations-Fables and Fairytales-getting ready for a fairytale wedding :)

Whew! That was a lot!