IT'S A MINI BUT A GOODIE

Happy Friday everyone!!! This week really flew by, I can't believe it is already the long weekend! Tony and I are going away for a much needed couples weekend and we are really looking forward to it! We really don't get very much time alone with two teens - they do their own stuff, but still need us around to take them, give them money, remind them of homework, chores, etc.  You get the picture, lol! So, I am excited but have TONS to do today before we leave!  However, I did not want to leave without sharing a cute little mini layout  I recently did at a workshop.  I like to teach 6x6 layouts because if they have never scrapbooked before, it does not seem so overwhelming, and I usually show them how they can "grow" the layout into a 12x12 *wink*  The base of this layout is the new in-color Island Indigo, and I love the deep, rich blue of this color! The accent colors are River Rock and Cherry Cobbler with some Timeless Portrait patterned paper used with the Lace Border Punch.  I love using this punch with patterned paper, it always comes out looking so very pretty!  That fabulous, giant stamp in the corner is called Hello Doily, and is fast becoming a favorite for me! The sentiment is from the stamp set Language of Friendship, a beautiful set that allows you to use our punches on everything stamp in there! I used the Decorative Label Punch and popped it up on dimensionals over a piece of Victorian Lace ribbon - total YUM! The pretty border on the Cherry Cobbler strip was made using the Scallop border punch, and adds some softness to the layout.  Simple, but pretty, right??! I love doing 6x6 layouts, they are quick, and you usually can create an album in a small amount of time.  Love that! So, if you want to have any of these products, all you have to do is go to my online store and shop  your heart out! Or, you can contact me and I will be happy to take your order! Now, I am off to get ready for my weekend with the love of my life! I hope you all enjoy the long weekend! Don't forget, all next week I will be doing Product Spotlights featuring projects using all New Holiday Mini items so make sure you check in and see them! I would love to know you stopped by, so leave me a comment :-) Happy Stamping!!
Layout Recipe:
Paper - Island Indigo, River Rock, Cherry Cobbler, Naturals White card stock, Timeless Portrait Designer Series Paper
Inks - Island Indigo, Cherry Cobbler classic inks
Stamps - Hello Doily, Language of Friendship (sentiment)
Tools - Lace Border Punch, Scallop Border Punch, Corner Rounder, Designer Label Punch, Dimensionals
Accessories - Designer Buttons, Victorian Lace ribbon

A LITTLE BIT OF SPICE

Good morning everyone!!!!  WHOOHOOO!! Today is an exciting day! Why you ask?  Because today is the FIRST DAY OF THE NEW HOLIDAY MINI!!!!!  I am in LOVE with this mini - it has soooo many fabulous new products in it, I just squeal with joy each and every time I go through it - and believe, me, I look at it a lot, LOL!!!  If you don't have a copy of this fabulous mini and want one of your very own, contact me and I will get one out to you right away! In the meantime, if you click the image in my right sidebar, it will take you right to  my site and the mini products :-) You DO NOT want to miss out on seeing all the fall and holiday goodness available!

I thought you might want to see some of these products today, so I am sharing a wonderful little gift set I made using the Spice Cake product Suite - soooooo YUMMY!!!!!!  The color combination of Soft Suede, More Mustard, and Pool Party are just amazing together - I can't seem to get enough of playing with this paper, lol!!! I made a card and gift box for someone special who needs a little lift so I hope she likes it as much as I do.  The box was made using one of the new products available in the mini - four Kraft gift boxes in one pack for only $2.95 - this is a GREAT deal!  I decorated the outside of the box and the inside flaps with the yummy new Spice Cake Designer series paper.  Then, I wrapped a piece of Pool Party ruffled ribbon around the box and tied a bow in front.  Honestly, it does not need anything else, the paper is so beautiful it can stand on it's own :-) So, I saved my embellishing for the top of the box!

Here is a close-up of the top of the box! I used Pool Party card stock to cover the top - this blends so nicely with the patterned paper, I just love it! I then added two punched pieces of patterned paper using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch - soooo pretty! I then added an accordion flower made from another piece of Spice Cake, and decorated the top with two punched circles of card stock and a pretty Soft Sued button with a linen thread bow threaded through it.  With my love for banners, I could not resist adding one so I stamped the sentiment from the Happy Greetings Stamp Set, sponged it with More Mustard classic ink, and added a cute little vintage brad!  I just love this box, and I know I am now hooked on making them, so stand by for more of these little cuties, lol!! Now, on to the card!

I used the same colors on the card, adding a Soft Suede base. The More Mustard layer I ran through the Big Shot using the Houndstooth embossing folder, and then sponged it all over with More Mustard ink. All my papers were distressing using our distressing tool - great tool that I use a lot! The image is from one of our new Holiday Mini stamp sets called Always Thankful - beautiful images in this set! I used my stampin' markers to color the image, stamped it, then spritzed it with some water to give it a nice watercolor feel! And, that beautiful fabric on the side is from our new Spice Cake fabric selection, which is absolutely beautiful!! The sentiment is another one from the Happy Greetings set, which can be found in the main catalog. Honestly, it has the best sayings, I use this one a lot! I made another banner (I know, I know, heeehee) using Naturals Ivory card stock, then used my Mat Pack to add some texture along the top.  It is held on the card using one of our cute little mini library clips - aren't they just so fun??! I had a ball making this gift set, which will be filled with some goodies and delivered to my friend today! And, I am loving the holiday mini so much that I will be doing a Product Spotlight each day of the rest of this week and into next week to show off all of this holiday goodness!! I know this is a long post, but I had a lot so show you so if you stuck through it all, you ROCK!!! And, if you can't wait to get your hands on these fun and fabulous products, head on over to my online store and they will be on their way to you soon! Or, you may contact me and I will put your order in for you!  I will leave you with the recipe, and I will be back tomorrow with another fabulous project from our new mini catalog! Until then, I hope you find time to be creative!
Gift Set Recipe:
Paper - Pool Party, Soft Suede, More Mustard, Naturals Ivory card stock, Spice Cake Designer Series paper
Inks - Soft Suede, Pool Party, More Mustard, Always Artichoke classic pads and markers
Stamps - Everyday Greetings, Always Thankful
Tools - Dotted Scalloped ribbon border punch, 1 1/4 inch and 1 inch circle punches, Curly Label punch, Big Shot, Houndstooth embossing folder, distressing tool, Mat Pack, Paper piercer
Accessories - Spice Cake fabric, designer buttons, vintage brads, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, linen thread, mini library clips, Kraft Gift Box

SWEETS FOR THE SWEET

Good morning all!!! It has been a busy, busy week here at the Hobson household as the kids started back to school, my husband went back to work, and I went back to stamping, lol!!! I needed a few days off to catch  my breath, and try to process all of the things that have happened in the last few weeks.  The medical scare with my husband was a total reality check to me that we are getting older and that we need to make sure we take good care of ourselves so we can be around to play with grand kids (no, none yet, my kids are not old enough, lol!) and also have that fun adult time together when the kids are all grown and living their own lives!  So, there has been a lot of reflection and changes to make things healthier around here and I think it is good for all of us! And, now I am back to stamping and it feels good!!!  I had a couple of workshops this past weekend and I wanted to share the cute little hostess gift that I demonstrated and then gave to my hostess! I made this cute little candy holder using the fun new Big Shot die called the Petite Pocket Die - isn't it just so cute??!! The card stock is the new in-color Pool Party, and it is just fun, totally reminds me of summer! The accent color is made using the Calypso Coral in-color, another fun color! Heck, I like them all *wink*  After cutting out the pocket, I ran it through the Big Shot again using the Stripes embossing folder.  Since it already has all the score lines, it was a snap to put it together, allowing me to concentrate on my pretty accents, which is ALWAYS my favorite part, lol! The Calypso Coral card stock is punched along both edges using the Eyelet Border punch and then made into a belly band that can slide off and on, but for this project just stays right where it is, lol!  Those fun candy treats are made using the Sweets for the Sweet stamp set - I just stamped them in Daffodil Delight and Pink Pirouette, added some of the new Dazzling Details (available TOMORROW with the new Holiday Mini!!!!), and then punched out using the 1 inch Circle Punch!  The ribbon along the bottom is the yummy Island Indigo Ruffled Ribbon with the sentiment stamped in Calypso Coral classic ink, then punched out using the Small Oval Punch. And, of course I added a rhinestone - bling is good with everything *wink*

Here is a close-up of the actual candy sticks and tag - I got them at a local candy store we have downtown - you know, the kind that has all the old fashioned candy that we all love so much?? That is one of the good things of living in a small town, you still have these kinds of places - just love it!  The Petite Pocket is actually big enough to hold three of these candy treats so there are lots of different things you could use as little gifts to put a smile on someones face! I wrapped the three candy sticks in Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, then added a sentiment from the Clearly For You stamp set because I wanted one small enough to not overwhelm the rest of the project :-) I punched it out using the Jewelry Tag punch, which is perfect size for small tags like this.  It is tied on using Whisper White twine.  I presented this cute little treat to my hostess when I was done putting it together and she just loved it! It makes ME smile when I can make someone else happy with something I made with my own hands - it beats buying something by a long mile!!! If YOU like the products you see here, all of them can be purchased in my online store, including all the new FABULOUS HOLIDAY MINI products!!  Or, you can contact me and I will be happy to place your order for you :-)  I hope you all have a fabulous day - mine will be filled with stamping so I just know it will be a great one!!! I will be back tomorrow with another fun project to share so until then, Happy Stamping!!
Candy Treat Recipe:
Paper - Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White card stock
Inks - Calypso Coral, Island Indigo classic inks
Stamps - Sweets for the Sweet, Clearly for You (sentiment only)
Tools - Big Shot, XL Petite Pocket Die, Stripes Embossing Folder, Eyelet Border Punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Small Oval Punch, 1 inch Circle Punch
Accessories - Island Indigo and Calypso Coral Ruffled ribbons, Whisper White twine, Basic Rhinestones, Dazzling Details(available in the Holiday Mini)