Custom Bookmarks with Tassels! + VIDEO

Hi friends,

Today I have a non-card project to share that I created for myself!

Here they are:

I recently picked up 4 books to read over the Summer (and beyond) so I made one bookmark for each of them. They feature the cute Lawn Fawn critters reading their own books. Each bookmark also has its own tassel. I used the WeRMemory Keepers' Fuse Tool to create the plastic pockets. But if you don't have it, you can get a similar look by using a laminating sheet through a laminator or Scotch Self-Sealing Laminating Pouches.

Here's a peek of the back- some cute critter bums 🙈!

If you want to see how these came together, you can click ----> HERE, or watch below.

 

Supplies Used:

Bookmark Duo dienamics- My Favorite Things

Fluffy Cloud dies- Sunny Studio

Bookworm stamp set & coordinating dies- Mama Elephant

Don't Worry, Be Hoppy stamp set & coordinating dies- Lawn Fawn

Slow Down and Enjoy stamp set and coordinating dies- Lawn Fawn

Small Slimline with Lift the Flaps- Lawn Fawn

Perfectly Plaid Rainbow paper- Lawn Fawn

Really Rainbow Scallops paper- Lawn Fawn

Hello Sunshine Remix paper- Lawn Fawn

Chunky glitter- Lawn Fawn

Assorted twine

pony beads- kids craft section

Thanks so much for poppin' in today!

Until next time...

Happiest of Holidays!

Hello friends,
Thank you for taking the time to visit my little blog and for all the good cheer you bring me all year long!

Wishing you lots of lovely crafternoons! Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!

Blue Mystique Orchids

Hi friends,
I wanted to share some beauties I got for my birthday.
These are Blue Mystique Orchids:

Yes, these are real---> Real gorgeous!!! They are not hybrids, but rather color enhanced to make these beautiful blue ones.

Here are a few closer peeks at it:

I love orchids and for some reason, they love me back cuz they're the only kind of flower  I don't kill ;0
Once all the flowers are gone, I will move it outside in front of my kitchen window to join my other pretties.

Just a little something to share :) I have a crafty project for ya tomorrow!
Gotta Go!

Takin' Notes

Hi ya friends,
As you probably know, I teach Spanish to mostly High School Freshman. I'm really enjoying the change & on most days, it's very entertaining! Lots of comedic personalities! Well, I have a student who L-O-V-E-S to draw. Instead of taking notes in my class---> he's drawing. (How dare he not hang on my every word, right?!)
      Well, one day I confiscated his sketch book & started looking through it & I was blown away! His illustrations were quite frightening, but the detail was incredible. I asked him if he was in art classes & he said he really hadn't done much formal study. I told him how I work with people's stamps & digi images & he seemed genuinely interested. I said, "I'll tell you what, if you take notes during Note-taking time, I'll create a card with an image you create & you could give it to your girlfriend. That will score you some points with her- trust me ;)" So he accepted my offer & on the spot, in a matter of seconds, he drew a picture. He was pretty excited & handed me his illustration & then I said, "Oh wait, you need to sign it. Artists sign their work." so he was happy to do so.

Here's the card I made with his image:

I used one part of it (the bunny on the cliff) because the other part was a little frightening- LOL!
The bunny is looking up at a moon that resembles a mix between Mr. Burns of the Simpsons & Freddy Krueger! LOL!
I colored it with Copics & added flower soft for the grass.

I gave it to him & he was excited (which made me feel like a million buck$!) Of course, the other kids around wanted to look at it & suggested I sell my cards to Hallmark! Hee! Hee!

A few days later, I asked him if he had given it to his girlfriend and he said, "No way! I'm keeping it!"
Awww, make that 2 million bucks!

Just thought I'd share a little of how, as a teacher, I'm helping to create the future artists & graphic designers of the future :)
And is he taking notes during Note-taking time???
---> You betcha!

My Top Ten Cards Blog Hop

Hi there friends,
While visiting Shelly's blog, I saw that she was participating in a blog hop featuring your own top 10 cards of the year. I thought it was a fun idea & a great way to recap the year. So... I'm in!!!!
Here are the 10 cards I chose to highlight:

#1: Tissue flowers for the PTI Blog Hop

 #2 Mojo Monday Sketch

 #3 Firecracker Designs & Mojo Monday

#4 City Crafter Guest Designer Card

 

 #5 Cardabilities

 #6 Cardabilities

#7: Kleenex Box Pop-up Card

#8 Pop-up Apple

 #9 Mojo Monday& CC Designs

 #10 Magnolia: Loving Bridal Couple
(Remember I said I thought she looked preggers... well, in the next collection there was Baby Tilda!)

Aaaaand these are my top 3 projects:
Teacher's Lunch Box

Back Pack & Pencil

Teepee for Tilda

It was so fun to look back at the cards & projects I created over the year. I'm sure this is something I'd like to do again :) Hope you enjoyed a walk through my top 10 cards & projects with me!

You can find all the deets to the hop----> Here.
Thanks so much for peeking!
Gotta Go!

Merry Christmas!!!

Hello to all my friends near and far!
I wanted to wish everyone a wonderful & joyful Christmas & the happiest of holidays! Thank you for popping in to my little blog corner of the universe & for blessing me with such heartfelt comments. You have no idea how much I appreciate your kindness :) 

To my glitter bee sisters- muah- big hugs to each & every one of you! You are all so special and make everyday feel like the love of Christmas time :)

Enjoy where you are, don't let this time of year stress you out! (and I am totally saying that to myself right now, by the way!)

I'm off to buy my last 2 gifts on my list & unfortunately that means I'll be taking my life into my own hands as I head to that 4 letter word---> MALL! :{ ugh! Ok, y'all. I'm going in! Wish me luck ;) Hopefully I'll make it out to blog another day!

BIG, big hugs to ya!

Is YOUR Doggie this CUUUTE???

Hey there friends,
I have the cutest doggie to share with you today. I bought him for my Grammy for her birthday. She LOVES flowers & I thought she would love this:

      (Please excuse my background. I just took some QUICK pics of it in my patio :(

What kind of doggie would this be? Shih Tzu? Poodle? Whatever it is, I thought it was adorable. Look at all the details! My grandma said she didn't want anymore "junk" to clutter her house for her bday- she just wanted flowers. So when my son & I saw this in the florist shop we thought this was a good choice :) there was nothing else in the store like it.
Here are more peeks:
close up of face:

(The nose is a black pom pom, tongue is ribbon. All the flowers are real- not one is artificial)
Close up of body:

(See the little butterfly on her back :)
Here's a view from the back:

It looks like she's lying in a flower bed :) (It is finished on all sides)

Here's a view from above:

I love the creativity! It reminds me of something you'd see at the Tournament of Roses Parade! And just as I was hoping for, my grammy couldn't get over it! She loved it :) and that was what mattered to me.
Thanks for peeking at the poochie :)
Gotta Go!

Happy Birthday Grammy!

Hi friends,
On this day, 83 years ago, a very important person in my life was born--- My grammy. If I had to name one of the most influential people in my life, grammy would top the list. When I was a little girl, she would take me along wherever she went. When she took cake decorating classes at the local community center, I went too. When she took floral arranging classes, I was there. She taught me how to crochet potholders and make scarves & blankets for my Barbies. She bought me crayons and art supplies so I could explore the artist in me. I know that my love of papercrafting today stems from her. She's my biggest fan & my biggest supporter.
     I LOVED helping her make tamales, but I LOOOOOVED eating them more! She makes the BEST, YUMMIEST food!!! One of the most important lessons came from simply watching her live her life. My grammy is fearless. She's adventurous. Her thinking is "You'll never know until you try it."
So when people say where I get my adventurous, free-spirited nature, & sense of humor, I say I get it from her:

This is my grammy. So sweetly posing for a picture next to this tree until she decided  she'd rather do this...






wait for it...







wait for it...

SWING FROM THE TREE!!! OMGosh, she didn't even put her purse down!!! Yup, this is where I get it from :) This picture was taken about 4 months ago during one of her excursions. (Tee! Hee!)

Happy Birthday Grammy!!!!! I love you and... Thank You... for everything I am.

And Thank you, friends, for letting me share this with you.

If it's Free...It's For Me!

Hi there dear friends,
I wanted to share a couple of things for those of you who are teachers or know ones who are in California.
The first offer:
Universal Studios Hollywood is having a Teacher Appreciation all month long. Any certificated teacher can visit for FREE and friends & family get 50% off (up to 3 people)
You can find all the deets ---> HERE.
The second deal:
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is also offering FREE admission to teachers all month long too!
You can find all the deets --->HERE.

We'll be visiting Universal Studios Hollywood later this month for my little one's birthday. If you know anyone who could use this info be sure to let them know. In this economy, it's great to get a freebie and a good deal :) 'cause like I always say: "If it's FREE...it's for me!"
Gotta Go!

Kitty Betrayed

Hi friends,
I'll be back later with something to share, but I thought I'd share this funny video my brother sent me. We totally share this kind of twisted sense of humor and if you're like us, I'm sure you'll crack up too!

Awww...wards :)

Hi friends,
I've been greatly honored with 2 awards from my dear blog fiends... er, I mean... friends, Mary, Carrie, and Kristina. I'm so sorry I haven't posted sooner, but I truly do appreciate these :)

First from Mary and Carrie (hey, you rhyme!) this award:

Thank you Bee buds! Please visit their blogs with a Venti sized coffee cup, 'cause you'll be there for a while! To accept this award, I need to list 10 things that make me Happy:

1) Chocolate! mmmmmm
2) my family (when they listen to me, and then tell me I was right ;)
3) my friends (near, far, & far away in blogland)
4) Taking the time to notice the little things... (the sparkle on snow when the sunlight hits it)
5) Seeing & doing Random Acts of Kindness
6) working with children (the secret to what keeps me immature young)
7) this hobby that serves as my therapy (not cheaper therapy, just waaaay more fun!)
8) shopping for craft stuff! I probably need professional help for this one :)
9) sharing ideas, techniques with others & being inspired by others
10) Saturday & Sunday

This award comes from Kristina (the head Cricuteer)

Kristina is always so encouraging and no matter what crazy thing I create for the DT, she's always supportive & generous with praise. Thank you for everything!

Now el problema... 11 fellow bloggers to pass these awards too. Yikes! I'll start with:
Lisa-- (i don't know if she knows I've been secretly stalking admiring her work for a long time!)

Gaby-- She also has a jewelry blog and oh..be..still...my..heart just stunning pieces she creates!

Lynnor-- who has been so generously kind showering praise on projects I've created. Tickled, I tell ya!

Sankari-- leaves me speechless (that's how AMAZING her work is!!!)

Brooke-- love her vintage projects

my fellow Dreamers & Glitterbees-- Seriously, I am so lucky they let me play with them. Talented ladies! If any of you haven't received this, please grab it! I know many have, I just don't know who hasn't :(

Thanks so much for peeking!
Gotta Go!

Lake Tahoe Trip

Hey there friends,
I feel like I've been gone forever, but it's only been since Friday! My family and I spent the long weekend in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and it was incredible! We had so much fun!!! The boys went skiing and snowboarding. I didn't this time 'cause I caught a dreaded case of bronchitis and I was coughing up a lung :( I'm a sunny California girl, what can I say? ;)
Today, I thought I'd share a few pics of beautiful Lake Tahoe:

 

  

 

 It was snowing like crazy, but there were loads of sunny times too. Don't ya think these pics are begging to be recreated into cards? I'm thinking brayering, but I'm not going to be able to create something as splendid as the real thing.

Thanks so much for peeking today! I hope to get back to my craft table soon :)
Have a beautiful day!