Sweet or Savory?

I can't believe Valentine's Day is just over a week away!  Where does the time go?  I mentioned before that I've made some scrappin' friends. We really enjoy getting together when we can. I also love that Mitch goes to crops too.  One Friday he and Dawn went just the two of them.   

 I'm thrilled to be holding my first ever Altered Frap set class on Saturday Feb. 11 at 1pm at Picture This.  I have made two samples and will let them choose which one they want to make.  My creative and clever son Mitch came up with Sweet or Savory as our way to promote the class.  The choices are to make a Valentine's Gift Set or a Picnic Storage set.  I think the picnic storage one is winning out from the ones I've talked to.  

 I filled the Valentine frap bottles with foot soak salts, chocolate and hot cocoa mix.  It's up to your imagination what you can put in the bottles and of course make these gift sets for. Dawn and Mitch are always coming up with new ideas. 

I've been pretty creative lately. On Friday Mitch and Dawn had the day off (they work together) so Mitch went over to her house to see about viruses on her computer and then later we met at Picture This to do some card-making and scrappin'.  I made three whole cards in the time that we were there...but it's just nice to  be able to talk, laugh and relax a bit. Being creative always improves my mood. I will show you the cards I made and Mitch's scrapbook pages.

Love this Unity stamp and the embossing folder

Dawn let me use some of her punches and I punched a lot of paper.   All of a sudden this card came together. Another great Unity Stamp.

I thought it would be great to make a card to go with the Valentine's Gift Set.

Mitch is doing fashion layouts. I think he wants to show his great fashion sense.

 

Well that's it for now. I don't want to overwhelm you with all I've been creating lately.  My neglected blog needs more posts then, don't you think?  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Christmas Shopping Season

I really wish we would all consider this as the holiday shopping season approaches. There are so many wonderful artists, crafters and local places out there. You can find wonderful gifts on Etsy, Artfire, Ebay and a few others.  Take a little time and Google handmade gifts.  I know a lot of my friends and family are crafters and you'd be supporting such wonderful families. Carmen

 

Here are some ideas on how to shop this year--

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition

As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

· Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

 

· Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

 

· Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

 

· Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

 

· There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

 

· How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

 

· Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

 

· My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

 

· OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

 

· Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

 

· Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

 

· Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.

THIS is the new American Christmas tradition.

Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations, and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other, and isn't that what Christmas is about?

My First Altered Frap Set!

Yeah, yeah I know I'm behind the times. Everyone was making these sets a couple of years ago. I've tried making them in the past, but the carry case was different, so it was a little harder to make and I just didn't like the look. At work Mitch drew names for a gift exchange. He got a gal that likes cocoa. So I thought I'd make this set and have one of the jars have cocoa in it. He also got a pretty red mug with white snowflakes to go with it. I found this wonderful My Mind's Eye Bohemia 2-sided paper last night and it worked out perfectly! I plan on doing another one for the Phase 1 nurses at Karmanos. Tim has to be there for a drug trial on Weds. so it'll be great to give them some goodies just before Christmas! I found quotes online by putting chocolate quotes in a google search. Of course Mitch had to have a movie quote too! Click on each photo to make it larger if you'd like to read the quotes. Let me know what you think. Hope you're having a fabulous weekend. Are you all done with your gifts yet?