Friends 'til Christmas Part III

I got Elf Mail!!!! So yesterday when we were on our way home from the pizza place with some movies to watch while we munched I asked that we stop by the mailboxes on the way home. I got a box!! I wasn't expecting anything really. I had a great mail week, only one bill a much needed check and lots of great swap goodies. Anything received today was a bonus and boy was this day a bonus!!

I waited until after we ate, it took me every fiber of my being not to stuff that giant NY sized slice of pizza into my mouth and deal with the consequences later. As soon as I opened it, I could smell cinnamon! Just lovely! Inside of the box was an adorably wrapped box with the cutest ornament on it! Check out the pink and green jingle bells!!

And look what was inside!! I am really getting into trying out different mediums for altering things. I really feel like only so much can be done with paper and glue, not to mention the amount of money I spend on paper and glue. I have a hard time justifying spending $40 on paper to the other half, but if I can throw in some art supplies and paint brushes it makes both of us feel better! LOL, must be a mind thing, because it all equals more time in the craft space for me!

Glass Bead Gel and some fantastic artists brushes!

Gesso!!! I really love this stuff, there is much that can be done with it and I am so ready to put on my smock/DF's old t-shirt and get down and dirty with my new toys! But breakfast awaits me and I need to finish up some gift wrapping and ornaments for others before I can indulge in artist joy!!

And these craft sticks! They are for the application of these wonderful mediums! So cute and I can't wait to use them!!

I am very thankful to have such an awesome elf! She has truly spoiled me with things that I love and and really going to enjoy using to make gifts for others. This year will truly be a handmade Christmas! I am too excited to get started on my gift making!! Thank you elfie/friend!!

Stuff That Shoebox!!!

This is a swap I'm in over on the Cricut message board. It's a partner swap that takes place over the course of about a month. This was my first time doing it and I had so much fun!! We were given a word or phrase for each day (30 days) and we were challenged with coming up for craft items that relate to the word that our partner would like to have in her box. We were given the option of buying an already decorated box or making one ourselves and from then on, it's all up to us!! We can shop from the store, make items or shop from our stash. Well guess what?! I got my box from my partner today!!

I took some of the words literally and some of them not so much...they are all totally open to your own interpretation and I love that!! I can't wait for my partner to get her box! I hope she likes everything!

I had taken out my DSLR camera to take some amazing pics. Well...I took pics of everything wrapped up and of each day and had some really good ones. The problem? Apparently my camera and my Macbook don't like each other because I can't get them to upload grr... So I retook the pics...sans the wrapped pics because all I have left of the wrappings is a giant ball of tissue paper. Hopefully I can work something out with the other pics, but for now here are the ones I took with my Droid...another reason I love this phone, it's takes amazingly clear pics...all of the photos on my blog were taken with that little beauty! Enough of the chatter, here's the pics!!

My box!

Day 1: To *DIE* for

Day 2: Pin it Up

Day 3: Sew and Sew

Day 4: A Set of ________

Day 5: Pumpkins

Day 6: Sis's Fav 2 Adhesives

Day 7: Flooded With Flourishes

Day 8: HM *BRICK WALL* card LINK

http://www.splitcoaststa...es/tutorials/brickwall/

Day 9: Clear

Day 10: Made From Scratch

Day 11: Trendy

Day 12: FOUR (4) seasons...1 item for each season

Day 13: Dazzlin' Darlin'

Day 14: HANDMADE Flowers

Day 15: Textures

Day 16: Favorite Snack/Treat

Day 17: Fancy Ribbons

Day 18: Days, Months, Years

Day 19: I LOVE this..U need 2 try it!!

Day 20: MAKE a BOX..fill it with Leftovers

Day 21: BIGGER is better

Day 22: A tool

Day 23: Odds N' Ends

Day 24: Orange you Lovely?

Day 25: Birdie Birdie

Day 26: Circles ~ squares and other shapes...Oh my!

Day 27: A Non Scrap item for Sis

Day 28: How Charming!

Day 29: Read the Small Print

Day 30: Smooches

Extra gifts for my daughter :)

Thank you so much, Julie!! We love everything! I can't wait to get to using these goodies!! I I neeeeded the Glossy Accents! I actually cut my bottle in half t get the last bit out of it yesterday! LOL!! I can't wait to play with the grungepaper...I have heard so much about it, but I couldn't ever find any.

I hope you enjoy all of your goodies!!

Altered Composition Notebook Swap

This is a swap from the Cricut Messageboard. It was a secret sister swap. This is the journal I made for my pal. I chose to do a holiday vintagey theme. She likes vintage looking things, so it was quite fun making this for her. I hope she liked it.

Front cover:

Inside front cover:

Inside back cover:

Back cover:

This is the one my secret sister, Renee, made for me! I love it!! It's Halloween themed and so very cute!! I have already started using it to list my Halloween projects and my storage places for Halloween decorations and cookbooks. I tend to lose track of these things!!

Thanks, Renee!!

Front cover:

Inside front cover:

Inside back cover:

Back cover:

I love it!! Thanks, again!!

Twilight Fire and Ice Recipe Swap

Ok, so I don't classify myself as a Twihard, but I did finally see the movie a few months ago and I'm hooked!! I can't wait to see the others. Maybe we can watch New Moon this weekend! I joined this swap because I'm addicted to recipe swaps. There I said it, I'm A-D-D-I-C-T-E-D! I love to cook and eat and try out new recipes...especially ones where I don't need to prop my Macbook up on the counter so I can follow the directions, LOL These little cards are awesome!!

We were to make a Fire (Jacob) recipe and an Ice (Edward) recipe. One on one side, the other on the back. I had a lot of fun making these! So inspired to try some more Twilight related things!!

Here's Fire; Grilled Strip Steaks with Sweet Potatoes:

And Ice; Red Velvet Cake:

For Edward, I found an online image, tinted it blue, printed it out. Then I mixed some Inksentials Crackle Accents and Doodlebugs glitter and spread it over the pictures. I love the way it came out!! Hope you enjoy!

Various Things made from DCWV Amber Autumn stack

I'm weaning myself from a certain board...but I made these for a swap that we were to use the Amber Autumn stack from DCWV. It really is a beautiful stack. I actually used the card sets to make these.

ATC's:

I forgot to take a picture of my journal spots, but I like the way they came out, I was really working on the fly with those. They look like little cards. You flip it open and there is blank space for you to journal in.

Twinchies:

Card:

I can't wait to make more things with this stack. It really is beautiful, I love the colors on it!! Autumn is my favorite time of year!