Owl Pillow Box Treats

I was asked to make 80 of these for the teachers and staff at a local elementary school.  GONNA NEED SOME COFFEE

All of the ribbon came from the dollar bin at a craft store. 
I used several different patterns.

First I cut an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of card stock in half.
Second I cut out the pillow boxes using a Big Shot.
The die scores the fold lines for me. 
Third I embossed them using various embossing folders.
Then that I added double sided tape to one of the flaps.
LOVE THE SWIRLS!

 Then I stamped the little owls
using the Forest Friends set from
Stampin' Up!  I stamped these on the space left on the sheet of paper I cut the pillow boxes out of.  First I stamped a page and cut them out using a circle punch.  THEN GOT MORE COFFEE Second I arranged the punched owls on the next page to plan for the most in a sheet.  Third I punched those out and used the sheet with the planned holes as a template for where to stamp the owls on the next sheet.  This allowed for the maximum use of the cardstock so there was little waste.  Of course I'll use flower punches on what's left of that to save for later projects.  SEE COFFEE HELPS ME THINK.

I printed up a message for each one using a mailing label template from Avery.  Then cut them into strips using a paper trimmer.  I wrapped them around little fun sized bags of candies and stuffed them inside the assembled boxes.

I cut the ribbon at 5 or 6 inches to allow plenty of room to tie at the top. THEN GOT MORE COFFEE



I did end up layering the owl circles on slightly larger circles.  AFTER I GOT MORE COFFEE. I punched holes in them and tied them with string to the ribbon.  You could certainly adhere them straight to the boxes.  The ends of the pillow boxes are not glued shut.  The recipient will only have to remove the ribbon to get inside the box.  Then the whole think can be reused.

                             TAH-DAH! 




 Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.  I hope you've been inspired!   YEP, THAT WAS A WHOLE LOT OF COFFEE...

New "Desk"

I went from a workspace like this. Yes that's a file cabinet.

To a work space like this!
I took another desk apart and placed the top on the two file cabinets.  I couldn't use the whole desk because space is limited around here.

Thank You Butterfly

Here are some cards that I made for the lady I work for.



The butterfly was die cut from Color Book patterned paper using a die cut and Big Shot from Stampin Up!  The image behind was stamped and then I added glitter glue to accent it.  Half-backed pearls added the perfect touch.



Another one in a lighter color.  -->















<-- One has more shape to the wings.  This gives it "movement."












Here are some that I sponged the edges in Soft Sky ink, then stamped the image in Early Espresso.  Both stamp sets were borrowed so I don't recall their names.  However, they are from Stampin' Up! -->





                                                                     
<-- A close-up of the leaves on the tree.  I added glitter to each one. and then a little on the  "T"     and "Y" in the sentiment.
                                                                                                 

Please let me know what you think.  Thanks for looking!

Night With A Friend

The other night my friend's husband was on the night shift.  She asked me to come over and "catch up."  She has an amazing craft room.  One day I'll talk her into letting me photograph it for this blog.  But I digress.  I didn't have anything to work on so she handed me some things to do.



First she had me sort the flowers she had already punched.
She likes to do this with her scraps while she's watching television.



Then she had me shape the flowers.  I accomplished this by using the ball of an embossing stylus to press the tiny flower into the palm of my hand.



Then she had me punch and shape more! 
I think I finished around 2am.



Meanwhile, she was working on these tedious, but adorable little darlings.
 

We had a really sweet time together talking about crafting, children, and everything possible in-between.  If you have a friend you haven't talked to in a while don't wait any longer. 

Here's a link to her website if you'd like to check it out:  http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/stampingwithcindyowens/

 

Hand Stitched

 

 

At one time I was heavily into crosstitching.  It is a nice portable craft that has served me well waiting through countless hours of waiting.  Waiting for children to get out of band practice, off work, ER visits, and long hours waiting while loved ones were in surgery.  Needless to say it was a very busy season in our lives.  I had a friend that faithfully worked to keep me sane.  I stitched this for her more than ten years ago.  Recently she posted this picture on social media.  Her little way of reminding me that she's still with me as I start the next round of waitings.

Time Well Spent Notepads

Here are some little notepads that I gave away at a teacher's training workshop.  The little pads came in a set of four for one dollar.  I used bits of and old Simply Scrappin' Kit and a stamp set called Time Well Spent from Stampin' Up!  Honestly, I had stamped and colored the images more than five years ago.  I am on a "use up all the scraps" binge.  I apologize for the pictures that are upside down.  I cannot seem to get them right-side up.

 

 To get the measurement for the spine I just held the notepad on the paper and bent it a little, then scored it.  Nothing on this project was exact or really measured.

 

 

On these two I did use an embossing folder and the Big Shot.  All were adhered with a liquid glue.  I felt it would be safe since these were small and light weight.

 

 

These were really simple and the recipients thought they were great.  Hope you're inspired!

Valentine Tea

Here's a sample of the place cards I made for a Valentine Tea:

 

 

I cannot remember what I cut everything at or the name of the Designer Series Paper.  It was what was left of a retired pack from a few years ago.  The hearts are punched out using the Heart Trio Punch out of the Red Glimmer Paper.  The name was printed on Whisper White card stock with a computer printer.  I used the paper trimmer to emboss the lines.  The hearts are popped up with Dimensionals.  They looked very elegant on the tables.

 

 

 

 

Each mother/daughter duo brought their own teacup and saucer.  She choose one of her great-grandmother's (on the right) and I choose one that my husband gave me (on the left).

 

Each table had a different teapot that was loaned from one participant's vast collection.  The ladies setting the tables knew how much I like cats.  I would serve tea with this one any day!

 

 

Only now do I realize that I failed to get pictures of the gorgeous serving table.  For that I apologize.  We did enjoy the sweet fellowship, along with a plethora of tasty teas.  I relished the stories of grandmothers, mothers, and aunties that owned the different cups.  I especially enjoyed observing aged hands gracefully lifting delicate cups to smiling lips while hearts burst with love and memories.  And I will never forget seeing my girl across the table doing the same.