Time to Make the Buckeyes

I waited too long this year to make these. I usually start in November, but, well, I lost track of time this year. I thought I'd show you the process I described back here.

**My usual disclaimer: I took these one-handed and in not-so-good light, so I apologize in advance for the condition of the photos.

After you follow the steps in that other post for mixing the butter + PB + Vanilla extract + powdered sugar, you end up with a huge bowl of this stuff:

It doesn't look like much right now, but just wait!

I started the paraffin & chocolate melting in a double boiler:

... then I rolled that vat of "dough" into this tower of balls:

The chocolate is almost melty enough:

Once it's mostly smooth, you take one of the PB concoction balls and put it on the spoon:

... then you roll it around until coated:

Let most of the excess chocolate run out of the spoon, then place the coated ball onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper:

Here are the first 35:

You take that sheet to a large, flat surface (I left my long table up after this weekend's classes), slide the wax paper onto the table:

... then repeat. This recipe makes about 15 dozen, so that's 5 cookie sheets of 35, plus a few more.

There is no way I have room in my fridge for all of these, so I went ahead and packed up a bunch of them. Here is a box I made up for a co-worker who saved my behind yesterday while I was home being a slug:

I even tied it with a bow:

This is the box each of my boys will be getting in their care packages:

I love that the USPS invented Flat Rate shipping boxes. These things are HEAVY.

I have a small bowl left after packing all that, which is why I usually make multiple batches, but not this year. That small bowl will go to my mechanic and his staff for taking such good care of me this year. I love those guys!

In other news, while making these this morning, my window screens were attacked by a crazy squirrel. If any of those pics came out, I'll share them with you.

Happy Tuesday, and stay warm!

Bragging rights

I won something! Whoot! Remember this card I entered in the Cinema Saturday Pride & Prejudice challenge?

I blathered on about it here. Well I WON! They chose me as one of the 4 winners! I am so pumped. Yes, I am very proud, too. :) You can see all the winners and what each of us won here. It's so interesting to see the different things from the movie that we chose as inspiration for our entries.

Okay, back to your regular programming now. Thanks for stopping by!

Annual Self-Challenge

Every Winter I try to think of something to do to challenge myself. I mostly fail to do anything about it, but sometimes it works. One year I waited until April, then challenged myself to use ONLY papers from the Scrap Heap. I actually made good progress and made 150 cards in one month! ALL out of the Scrap Heap!

So I sat here this evening trying to think about what to do this Winter. Hmmm ... think think think ... and I've decided I must use (at least once) all the new stuff I still have in the shopping bags and then put them all away. If I actually accomplish this, I will have nothing left on the floor in the Captains Quarters and I should be ready for next season with all sorts of cool cards.

Yeah, I know, it sounds scary. And unrealistic. And dreamy.

We'll see if I succeed or not. We'll also see if I wait until April to begin. HA! Could happen. I could also change my mind tomorrow.

In other news, I had two of my three monthly Stamp Camps today. I have tomorrow off of work, and I plan to go to the Post Office, do laundry, and clean off the Captain's Table. I have one more Stamp Camp tomorrow night, and then I hope to work on my holiday cards on Tuesday. I know, it's not Dec 24th yet. I've always been an over-achiever. :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamp Camp Projects - DONE!

Finally, the last project for this month's Stamp Camps:

It's a little dark and blurry because I've already moved my lamps back to where they belong for tomorrow. Sorry, it is much worse than usual. ;(

This is a variation of this card I made back in August, when I first got my paws on the stamp set:

The only differences are (1) no sewing, (2) paper instead of fabric for the red & blue dotted piece, and (3) Marina Mist taffeta ribbon instead of Baja Breeze satin. It's really a busy card, and I hope there won't be too much grumbling. Also, I need to use the same punch as on another project, which is already sharing ink with a third project. I am now officially crossing tables, which is just about as efficient as crossing the beams. But The Ladies are troopers, and they share very well.

I do have one new person coming tomorrow. I sure hope she won't think me totally scatterbrained. ;/

I also finally made the pocket for this purse. I'd originally wanted to make it because of the pocket, so I find it hysterical that up until now I've done everything BUT the pocket.

Here is what I'm blathering about:

Cute, huh? Here it is closed:

I still haven't figured out how to keep the pocket closed, but I did want to show The Ladies what it would look like, and they can play around with it.

The SU scallopped envelope die is too small to fit a gift card, so you need to trick it. I learned this skill on Patty Bennett's blog with this tutorial. It's sooo easy to do!

You may notice I have two projects that need the Big Shot. Yes, once again: Standard. Operating. Procedure. in my world. So I've pre-cut all the pockets for them, but I'll show them how I did it. I think this project is fussy enough without them having to die-cut the pocket, too. The second Big Shot project is the embossing folder on the Valentine's card above. I may do those, too, as it's another fussy card. Fussy, fussy, fussy. I can hear them now.

So now I need to disappear all of this crap stuff and get ready for tomorrow's sessions:

OMG, what a mess.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ornament & Crafting Cap

As most of you know by now, I'm pathetically behind with planning projects for my monthly Stamp Camps. You also know, if you've been here more than once, that this is not unusual. Nope. Standard Operating Procedure.

So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this project, complete with amazing video, to teach me how to make this:

Now you know if *I* can make it, it's not all that difficult, right? I used SU Shimmer white paper and the same Serene Snowflakes stamp set she used. Since my Wild Wasabi ink pad is Missing In Action (maybe it fell into a black hole or is visiting a parallel universe), I was forced to use Pear Pizzazz for my green, which also means I now have two projects using the same ink. Of course. Standard. Operating. Procedure.

So this innocent-looking folded dealio is pretty fat. Look:

Lots of folded shimmery goodness. Here it is open:

... and from the side:

Because I am lacking in beads and baubles that would work, I made this a 100% SU project (where she did not, I might add) and I used a Jumbo Eyelet as my closure:

I am so freakin' clever. That's three projects ... well, actually 2.75. I still need to make the pocket for the purse I made back here. My fourth project will be a Valentine's Day card using the set in the Holiday mini catalog. It will be! Fer sure.

In the Christmas Miracle Department, when I got home tonight I checked to see if I have any more Shimmer white paper for, well, you know, 16 kits? And I DO! Phew!

In other news, I got a prezzie from Germany! Look - a hat:

One of my tweeps in England has a writing hat, and he inspired me to want a crafting cap. Another tweep in Germany decided I needed one for Christmas, so she went shopping and found this for me; it arrived today. L-O-V-E!!!

Look at some of the detail:



She said I need to wear it sitting back on my head. Well, I have such a BIG HEAD, it slips off no matter where I put it, so I have a clip holding it on in the front. You can kindof see it on the left here:

Isn't this FUN?!?!?! Here's another angle of it on my head:

And all the bling actually jingles when I walk around. So fun! (You should have seen me trying to take pics of the top and back of my own head. OHMYGOSH! ;/

Now that I have a crafting cap, I guess I should get crafty, non? This is my official first real weekend with no show and no market, so I have all day Saturday to be productive. Not sure I can manage that, but I'll try!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mail!

I got happy mail! My blog pal Lauren over at "...all the GOOD blog names were taken ..." is blessed with the fussy gene, which I lack. Check this out:

Isn't it GOR-JUS! I A D O R E this. Check out that corner:

... and the layers of paper and trim:

WHY, oh WHY, can I not do this?!?!? Sigh. I love everything she does, and I feel so special having received this in the mail. Lauren? *MWAH*

In other news, I have revived my near-death Etsy store, so that mini store linky thing in the right side bar is no longer a big empty. Show season is over and it's time to settle in for the Winter. I'll upload more as time permits.

And I might, just MIGHT get crafty in the next day or two so I'll have something to share that *I* made. It could will happen. Don't look so shocked. I do, after all, have my Stamp Camps on Sunday and Monday, and I still need 2.25 projects for them, so it may be midnight Saturday, but it WILL happen.

Thanks for stopping by!

(Slightly) Embellished Bag

I had to go to a mall tonight. I KNOW! I am allergic to malls, but I did it anyway, for the good of the team. It's across the street from work, so naturally I drove. Hey, they have a parking garage, and that way I wouldn't have to go outside in the cold wind.

The good thing is people know I'm allergic to malls, so I was given very. specific. detailed. directions, so I was able to make a bee-line straight for the store, then high-tail it out of there. I intensely dislike shopping. Intensely.

The store gave me a handsome bag, but it's a dead giveaway for what's inside. Just look at this:


As I drove home, my mind was working ... working ... something had to be done ... and when I got home I did this:


I think it's passable. Do you think it looks cheesy? Does it need (wait for it) ... ribbon?

I am proud that I used one of my Marvy punches to make the flower large enough to cover the logo:


Very proud. AND I opened another pack of poinsettias. I was looking for a pink or purple button to use, but guess what? I have everything BUT. Of course. So I used the poinsettias.

So it is done, and that is all I have done. I may still be recovering from that shopping experience. {shudder} If I can't point and click and have it end up on my (or someone else's) doorstep - ain't happening.

I'm still down 2.25 projects for this weekend's Stamp Camps. Clueless. And people keep signing up, so I'd best get my rear in gear, huh? Ach - it's not Saturday midnight yet. LOTS of time. ;/

Thanks for stopping by!

Cutting it Close

I almost titled this post "Wherein I Redeem Myself". The nice thing about Chanukkah is it lasts for 8 days, and I have a chance to get cards to my kids before it ends. I'm cutting it kinda close this year. ;/

Here's the card I just made:

The card stock is shimmer paper; the white is SU and the blue is PTI. I have hoarded both. The image is (I forget, and the cat is in my lap, so I'll edit this later) and the sentiment is PTI. I stamped both in Versafine Sapphire and embossed it with clear EP. The flames were colored with a gold glitter pen. I broke out my yet-to-be-used Wonky Square Nesties (kinda manly, non?) and decided they were wonky enough that I didn't need ribbon. *thud*

If I get these to the Post Office tomorrow, there's a chance - albeit slim - they'll get delivered in time. Cross your fingers for me!

Thanks for stopping by!

Another Reveal (Long)

Once again, we are having a "my room is messier than your room" issue*, so I thought I'd set the record straight once and for all and do another Full Reveal. It pains me to do so, especially after editing some of these photos, but it's part of my purpose in life to make you feel better about your own crafty messes, so I'm glad to do it.

Earlier this year, I did a reveal very similar to this one, and in some ways I think this one may be a bit tamer. I may refer to the other post on occasion, so please feel free to look back.


Let us begin.

First, The Path. People laugh when I mention this feature, but it's true! Look:

A Path. Sigh. I couldn't make this up.

Now for a look at The Captain's Table:

... and from the front:

I guess this really isn't all that bad. Hmmm ... look at all that space on the grid paper! There's no space anywhere else, but still ... that looks bigger than 6x6 to me!

And as all crafters know, our "space" can be ANY flat surface, which includes the floor. Here is the floor to the left of The Captain's Table:

... really, now, this is TONS better than it was back in June! TONS!

And the floor to the right side:

This may be worse than in June. The paper cutter and ATG are missing, though. We'll get to them momentarily.

Turning the corner, we have this:

... and it needed some numbers:

1. Non-recyclable trash.
2. A box of stuff purchased from various places, still NIP (New In Package.)
3. Stuff from my LSS.
3+. More stuff from my LSS. I HAD to have it, don't you understand?!?!
4. Stuff from a local art store - mostly to make my own stamps. I brought them with me to KY in April, then I brought them back home, untouched. We were too busy laughing to make stamps, but at least the materials are well-traveled.
5. Card stock from GinaK. Nowhere to put it, so it lives here for now.
6. The Remnant Box.


So last month I moved to the Dining Room table for some elbow room, and it is now a disaster, too. Let's take a look:

Some quick numbers:

1. All the supplies for my Stamp Camps. They live here.
2. My photo studio. Seriously.
3. Everything else (including the ATG from the other room).

Please ignore that big X in the back right. That is a small table that has become a catch-all table for crafty things. I am trying to get it under control.

And again, all flat surfaces are fair game in the crafty world. Here is the chair to the left of where I sit at the Dining Room table:

The chair seat contains all the, "Okay, I'm done with that" stamps and also my paper trimmer. On the floor, leaning up against the chair are a 12x12 pack of Figgy papers from BG that I used this past week, plus a package of pre-cut card stock that came with one of my GinaK sets. I messed up and got a kit instead of just the stamp set. ;/

Also, each month I set out my Stamp Camp projects with all the necessary supplies as I start to prep for my kits. Since I occupied the Dining Room table, I was forced (FORCED, I TELL YOU!) to set up the big table early this month to have a staging area. We need to look at that, too:

Not too bad, actually. Let's take a closer look:

1. Two Thanksgiving cards I removed from my craft show boxes. They will live in the seasonal pile in the closet of the Captain's Quarters until next year.
2. A box of cards I brought back from Chloe's today. I need to work them back into the inventory.
3. A purple serving dish I bought at World Market. I can't get the tag off it, so I put it down in frustration and it's still there.
4. Pile of white and cream card stock. It's gone, now.
5. All the boxes of cards I have removed from my car, finally. Some of these cards will get posted to Etsy (eventually). The rest will languish until next Spring.
6. The two finished projects for this weekend's Stamp Camps.


So there you have it. I am tired from typing this, so you must now be exhausted having read it. As a reward, I should probably give something away, like stuff from the "omg, I must have it it's only $1" bin in the Captain's Quarters. Hmmm, let me ponder this for a while.

I still have 2.25 projects to make for this weekend, so I'll be posting something crafty very soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

* Plus one of my tweeps in Holland wants to see our crafty spaces.

Why I love this gig

Just a short post about a series of events that reminded me why I love making cards to sell.

1. I was doing a craft show on Nov 16th when a woman came into my booth and asked for a business card. She was asking on behalf of neighbor of hers who couldn't make the show, and wanted my business card. I thought that was interesting, but I was pleased someone actually looked for me on purpose!

2. I had a message on my answering machine from someone who wants to buy some of my cards as a gift.


I called her back today, and it turns out she is the one who had asked her neighbor to get my business card. She had purchased some of my cards at last year's show, sent them off, and one of the recipients was so taken by the card she'd received that this woman wanted to gift her with more. She looked at the backs of the remaining cards, and none of them had my stamp on them (they weren't mine), so she was out of luck.

She remembered she'd bought them at that particular show, and she couldn't make it this year, which is why she sent her neighbor to collect my business card.

Now we have an appointment for her to stop by and shop my cards this Saturday, from the comfort of my Living Room. I'm even going to give her a box to put them in. Funny that I had this idea to let people create gift sets out of any 4 or 5 cards and I'd give them the box. No one has ever done it in 7 years, so I have plenty of boxes. :)

This is also why it is so important to include your contact information on your cards. People do look at it, even years later. I am pumped!

Thanks for stopping by!