My Buddy's Keeper

Hello friends,
Wowzers!!! Thanks so much for your comments on the Gift Card Buddies :) Got your gift card buddy? Fab! Now let's make a place for them to hang until it's time to go shopping. Here's...

"My Buddy's Keeper"

It's a hanging pocket organizer for your gift card buddies :) You need a place to keep them all organized right? So let's get on with the deets!

Here's what you'll need:

standard size (A2) envelopes. As many as you have GC buddies
Adhesive of choice
Dowel or pencil

So here's how easy it is to put together:
Click on any pic to get a closer peek :)
Adhere your envelope's flap to the bottom of the next envelope

(The flap is on the underside) This creates the pockets.

Adhere a (9") dowel to the top flap. Fold flap over the dowel. You are applying adhesive to the flap itself.

If you don't have a dowel, a new pencil would work perfectly. You can wrap some Patterned paper around it to coordinate with your project & to hide the fact that it's a pencil :)

Decorate as desired.
I used different CB embossing folders that coordinated with each buddy.

(Click on the pic to see a closer peek of the embossing)
1st Pocket: Hello Kitty EF (set of 3) I only used the 2 smaller ones
2nd pocket: Textile texture
3rd pocket: Tiny Bubbles
4th pocket: Stars
The alpha monogram on each was made with the Jasmine Cricut Cart

Next, Add ribbon so that you're able to hang it. Tie a strong knot to each end. I made separate bows & adhered them with glue dots. I can't make mine too frilly 'cause I'm in a house full of boys.

So simple, but now you'll always know where your cards are at :) I doubled up on the gift cards so that mine actually holds 12 (most of them Starbucks! Hee! Hee!) so they do hold more than 4 or 6.

To keep everyone honest ;) we write the person's initials on the corner of the gift card with a Sharpie. We do get duplicate cards & this way we DO know who they belong to.

Ok, so that's the end of my tuts for this year :) Thanks so much for your comments on each of the tuts I've created. I'm still undecided about which video camera to get, but I look forward to bringing some video tutorials in 2010! Yaaay! I love video tuts! If you'd like to suggest a camera you like/use let me hear it, won't you!  I would like to make a decision soon :)

YMH has Cricut & Cuttlebug supplies, so if there's something you'd like, you can check them out ---> here.

Have a Happy New Year! and as always, thanks so much for peeking at my projects. I hope you like them enough to want to give them a try :) See ya next year Friends!!!

Gift Card Buddy

Hi Ya friends!
Today I have a little project I created to help organize & keep track of the gift cards we received for Christmas. I call it:

"Gift Card Buddy"

I made one for each of my boys & myself too :) So here they are:
Here's mine:

(mine holds six gift cards, everyone else's holds 4) I also made a little strap that swings over to the front. Hello Kitty holds it closed with velcro dots underneath.
The innies:

The Deets: Cricut Carts: Hello Kitty Greetings & Hello Kitty Font
Supplies: HK Pattern Paper, White, Black Cardstock, red glitter paper

Here is my hubby's:

The Deets: Cricut Cart: Graphically Speaking
Supplies: Paper: Monrovia- SEI, Night of Navy, River Rock- SU!

My older son's:

The Deets: Cricut Cart: Sports Mania
Supplies: Sports ball CB Die Combo, Paper: Sports -K& Co, basketball, More Mustard, Choc Chip-SU!


 My little one's:

The Deets: Cricut Carts: Spongebob Squarepants, Ashlyn's Alphabet
Supplies: Paper: Black, Yellow, Stars CB Embossing folder

They were very easy to put together. So do ya want to see how to make one for yourself??? Here's a tut for ya:

Cut an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet in half (5 1/2") ---> You'll be able to make 2 buddies from 1 sheet of CS :)

Score at 4 1/8" and 4 3/8" so you create a 1/4" space in the middle

Fold along your score lines & you're half done!

Now cut 4 pieces of paper (or more) 4" x 1 1/2" to create your inner pockets

Use the 1" circle punch & punch half circles in your pocket pieces. This will make it easier to pull out your gift cards.

Add 1/8 Scor-Tape (or your fav strong adhesive) to 3 sides as shown:

Adhere your pockets to your card base & you've reached the finish line!

Now just embellish as you wish :) See, easy peasy. Do you like???

Here they are again:

But wait... there's more! There's one more little project I created to go along with the Gift Card Buddy. So go make your buddy & meet me back tomorrow. Same kitty time, same kitty channel ;)

If you're looking for Cricut/Cuttlebug supplies & carts don't forget to check out the YMH Store ---> here. If you don't see something you'd like in stock, Kristina can get it for you. Just let her know :)
Gotta Go!

I'm in LOVE!!!

Howdy friends,
Today I wanted to share a timesaver that ended up being a lifesaver. Well, I gave several gift cards & goodies this year & didn't have time to make a whole lot of cards for them. Then I remembered I had bought (a while back) a gift card die (Sizzix). So I dug it out & quickly & easily whipped out some gift card holders that turned out super cute!!! Here's a peek:

and the innies:

Then it hit me! I realized that they were the exact same form as the ones you get at Starbucks! See?

This die is awesome!!! Oh, I'm in L-O-V-E :)  It comes out in one long piece & with a couple of folds, you've got a gift card holder! It literally took me under 1 minute to make one ( I timed it! :) Hmmm, so I wonder which came first? The Starbucks one or the Sizzix one? Doesn't matter! This die is on my list of fav's!

Noooo, this is not the project I was talking to you about yesterday (hee! hee!) That's coming tomorrow or as soon as I'm done editing the pics. :) But since it is about gift cards I thought I would share this gift card holder. Now, today's project is for giving gift cards, but what do you do with the gift cards you receive??? Ahhh, that's what we'll find out... tomorrow :) Hee! Hee! Hee!
Gotta Go!

Look Ma! No layers :)

Hi there friends,
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas or holiday you celebrate. There are quite a few this time of the year! I was so fortunate to receive lots of goodies for Christmas so I had to get busy on my thank you cards. One thing I don't think I do well in my card crafting is to keep it simple. But, I needed to make about 25-30 thank you cards so I had to KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie!) I decided to make simple, no layered cards. So here's what I made:

(sorry for the lighting & bad pics :( unfortunately I had to take pics at night & even with my OTT light, they would not come out well.)

I used one of the CB embossing folders I won from Shelly's blog candy! It's beautiful swirls & snowflakes- very pretty. I traced over the swirls with my glue pen & sprinkled ultra fine glitter for sparkle. I heat embossed "Thank You" & wrapped ribbon around the card. Very simple, but very pretty, I think :) The stamp set is Wonderful Words (SU!)

Thanks so much for peekin' today! Are you in the mood for a project? Well, I've got one coming your way soon :) I'll give you a hint... Got gift cards??? Uh huh!
Gotta Go!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas to Friends near & far!
I wanted to thank each and everyone of you who take the time to visit my blog, leave comments, or send emails. Those are gifts you give me each day :) that truly warm my heart. I enjoy sharing my creations with you and I'm so tickled that they make you :)  or inspire you to create your own goodies.
I especially want to thank the Dreamers who faithfully stop by & visit. What a pleasure it is to be part of such talented and fabulous ladies. Big hugs to each of you!!!
I also want to thank Kristina for letting me play on the YMH Design Team. I've so enjoyed creating for YMH.
Soooo, here's my last Christmas card for 2009. I created it for you, friend.
Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night!
Happy Holidays!!!

Make a Smilebox greeting

MOJO 118 for Dad

Hey friends,
Tomorrow is Christmas Day, and guess what??? I did all my shopping in one day :) It was easy knowing everyone's getting clothes so I only had to go to 2 stores and I found everything I needed & on sale! And... it wasn't even crowded! SCORE!!! I didn't mean to wait so long, but with the death of Fluff, I just didn't feel much like going out. Anyhoo, here's this week's MOJO Monday Sketch:

Here's my card:

This card is going to my dad so I kept it pretty simple & I used up my scraps :) I don't know how I feel about the punched border strip??? Hmmm, I think I need to put something else there.
Here's a peek of the inside:

Keepin' it Simple. I've got only 1 Christmas card left to share---> (insert tears here). I love making Christmas cards. I think I could make them all year, but new stamps and DP are on the horizon and I must heed the call :)

Thank you for peeking at my card today! My boys are on their way home from the Bay Area (where they've been all week) so I need to pick up & tidy up the place.
Gotta Go!

The 411

Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Many Merry Messages -SU!
Ink: Almost Artichoke, Close to Cocoa- SU!, Chestnut
Paper: Almost Artichoke, Sage Shadow -SU!, Jolly By Golly- Cosmo Cricket, Bazzil (red & beige)
Tools:  Punches (floral vine, arch lattice, snowflake)- MS, circle punches
Other: twine, Adhesive Gem- K&Co

MOJO Christmas with pop

Hi friends,

I'm late with this MOJO sketch (it was for last week) but here it is anyway.

Here's the sketch:

Here's my card:

and a peek of the inside:

There's a pop up sleigh yay! I luuuv anything pop up! It's just so fun :) This is made with the Sizzix 3D die which was very easy to put together. There's a Santa with his sack you can add too. The embossed gifts & snowflakes are Martha Stewart punches. The stamp is So Many Scallops (SU!).

Thanks for peekin' at my card today. Christmas is literally hours away and guess what? If you guessed I haven't started shopping yet---> you're right! You get a cookie :) Soooo,

Gotta go!

Christmas Card Display Cards & Thank you's

Dear friends,
Thank you soooo much for your kind words over the passing of our sweet Fluff. I really appreciate your words of encouragement & sympathy. I'm so very touched :) I'm still very sad but I guess time will make it easier to deal with.

Today, I thought I'd share some of the cards I posted on my Tabletop Display---> here. They're made with retired SU! papers (that I hoarded of course ;) Anyhoo, since a few people asked to see the cards, I'm happy to oblige.

All cards are made with SU! products. (No, I'm not a demo, but I luuuv SU! products :) The other nice thing is that all three cards use the same stamp set, but they all look very different. So for those of you that are just getting started & you're sad because you haven't collected a billion sets, not to worry. You can create different looks with just one set.

This card was made with Real Red CS/ink, Garden Green CS/ink, Whisper White, Season of Joy Stamp Set & other acc's.

This card uses Retired DP & in colors :( Soft Sky & Blue Bayou as well as Whisper White. Stamp sets used: Season of Joy & Many Merry Messages

This one is probably one of my favorite cards. It's a standard A4 card with double front pockets. The tags can be pulled out & used as bookmarks.

This card uses Real Red CS/ink, Old Olive CS/ink, Very Vanilla & retired DP & season of Joy Stamp set.

Thanks so much for peekin' today :) Can you believe I haven't started my Christmas shopping yet? The past few days have been sad for me, but I need to get out of the house & get going for my boys. I'm going to try & spend the day shopping tomorrow & catch up while they're gone.
Gotta Go!