Busy Holiday Season

Ok, I know I have no excuse this time :o). It has been way to long since I update my blog. But, that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything! I have been so busy that I haven't had the chance to even sit down and type. I've done more craft fairs, a home party, made Holiday Gifts, two card workshops...here are a few pictures and I promise that I will get back on track soon!




Both of these cards are done using Mistletoe. I just love this paper packet. It is traditional with a some flair. And, CTMH papers are double sided which expands the possibilities for creativity. The reverse sides are just as pretty as the "main" sides. The second card I've posted combines both sides of the snowflake paper.

Here are some fun shots from the Mistletoe Workshop on the Go afternoon...ah...we started at 11:00am and kept making cards until 10:00pm!

My cousin even came all the way from Georgia for the Workshop!

Last but not least, here is a picture of my table at a friends Open House...
So you can see that I've not been sitting on my "tinsel" doing nothing! :o) I have so many more goodies to post! For Now, Happy Crafting!

Another Craft Fair

I have yet another Craft Fair tonight. That is where I have been...busy working on items to share with everyone. This is a small photo book I did combining new and old Close To My Heart products. The pages were cut using my Cuttlebug and a Sizzix die. The papers include Just Chillin' (unfortunately retired) and a new Stamp Set called Snow Flurries.

Just because an item is retired, doesn't mean you can't use it anymore! :o) CTMH will be retiring many of our favorite papers in the near future and I will post that list soon. The good news is that retired products make way for new and wonderful items. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Today's Craft Fair Creation

As you know, I have been participating in a number of seasonal Craft Fairs. I keep trying to come up with "different" types of items to sell. Here is today's experiment.

I found these cute little jars in the Wedding section of a big box craft store. Once I got them home, I had to figure out what to fill them with. Hum...off to the Internet I went and found this recipe for homemade bath salts. It was the first time I have ever tried anything like this and it was not an easy task to find all the ingredients. Anyway, after feeling like I was back in Chemistry class, I set out to decorate the jars. Using my 1 1/4 Close To My Heart circle punch I made the gift tags. The images are from a retired stamp set that I have used to pieces. The holly was stamped and then colored in with a blending pen. I added a little bling using my Spica pens. The "to" is from last month's CTMH's stamp of the month. I hand tied the bows adding the the gift tags and embellishments as I went along.

I think they are a "keeper." What do you think? For Now, Happy Crafting!

Saturday Craft Fair

Just thought I would post a quick picture of my Craft Fair table from yesterday. Another successful and fun day! I shall post pictures of some of my new items soon. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair Pictures

Wow, am I tired! I haven't been around for a few days because I was busy working on items for the Craft Fair I participated in yesterday. Because of my work schedule, I have to find any event I can that is scheduled on a Sunday. When I signed up for this one, I didn't realize that it was outside. Visually, yesterday was a very pretty day in Philadelphia. BUT, it was cold and very windy. As you know, wind and paper don't mix. :o) I spent the day drinking hot coffee and chasing bows and cards around the parking lot....I finally gave up and but my goodies in bins. So much for a pretty display and a Make and Take. Ah, but I was able to sell many cards and other goodies. I even managed Custom Orders for Party Favors! After my teeth quit chattering, it was a good day!

For Now, Happy Crafting!

Spring Craft Fair Season Begins!

Wow, how time flies. It feels like I just finished up working on Christmas items for all those Craft Fairs. I haven't been around for a few days because I have been busy making goodies for a few Spring Events. Last Tuesday, I found an ad for a Church that was struggling to find vendors for a fair that was Sunday....yesterday.... I had 2, count 'um, 2 Easter Cards and one basket. Most of my cards and altered items are at a local Consignment Gift Shop so I didn't even have any non-seasonal items either. I spent almost every waking hour from Tuesday Night until the moment that I had to leave yesterday making goodies. Whew, I made it.

Traffic was a tad slow, but I had the opportunity to meet many lovely people. And, isn't that why we share our crart anyway? :o) My next Fair is in 3 weeks, so maybe I can catch up on some sleep. For Now, Happy Crafting!

A New Twist on Altered Binder Clips

I made it through the Weekend of the Craft Fair. If you remember, I had a table at a craft fair on Friday Evening and another all day Sunday. BTW - I had to work on Saturday. I was up at 3:15am yesterday morning making items to replace what I sold on Friday Night. Both days, I exceeded expectations. Yesterday, I met a many wonderful people including Santa....I haven't shaken Santa's hand in many years! :o)

Each venue is different. As I gain more experience, the set up and break down becomes easier. If anyone can think of a way to display loose cards (other than the obvious wire rack....trying not to have to purchase one) please leave me a comment. People just don't seem to flip through the cards....Here is yesterday's set up....

Driving home after Friday Evening's event, I had an idea. I quickly altered a binder clip with Christmas pattern paper and added a candy cane. What a great place card or buffet marker for your Holiday table.

The visitors to Sunday's affair liked the idea....what do you think? I did this very quickly so think of all of the possibilities of how you could make a festive Holiday table!

For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair Weekend

I have a good news, bad new story. Because of my work schedule, I can't participate in a Saturday Craft Fair. (If I never mentioned it, I am the Classroom Coordinator and Teacher at a big box Craft Store and during the Holiday Season I do demos at the store every Saturday). This weekend, I have a table at two different affairs....Friday Night and an all day Sunday event. Well, the good news is I am home from the Friday event and sold piles of items. The bad news, I only have 36 hours to replace the sold items....remember I have to work on Saturday....AHHHHH...how long can I go without sleep???? :o)

I am tickled. The sticky note holders were a big hit. I recently posted a picture of them here. I also sold every Tree ornament I had made. I never even had a chance to post a picture of them....The crowd even grabbed every Christmas Card Set I had made. So, now I have to figure out how I am going to get cards, sticky note holders and ornaments made for Sunday...what a fun problem. Here are a few pictures including some Gift Card Holders I added to my inventory.

If I don't get another post done until Sunday Night or Monday, please forgive me. :o) For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair Sticky Notes

What a busy weekend. I spent some time checking out the inspiration on the Operation Write Home Blog Hop. If you haven't had a check to check the blogs, please take some time and check out a few. It is a wonderful cause and there are so many committed and talented individuals who participate.

The rest of the weekend was spent preparing for the two, count 'um, two craft fairs I am participating in this weekend. I have gotten myself into a pickle. I have no clue how much inventory I should make. If I sell out on Friday, I have no time to make replacement items for Sunday as I have to work on Saturday. Did I ever mention that I am the classroom instructor for a chain craft store? Those stories are for another post.... :o)

I made several of these Sticky Note Holders. They were fast and I am pleased with the way they came out. I have more made but 5 fit comfortably in the picture...


I covered 4x4 inch chipboard with pattern paper. The binder clip was altered to match the chipboard, the circles were stamped with a matching image and the sticky note stack was attached.

I also was made a few more of those chipboard picture frames that I showed here. They work up easily also, but take a bit more time because of the cutting and matting.

Oh, what else have I been doing? Friday evening we also had a card making party at the house. Lots more Christmas Cards got made! I even made some time to practice with my new camera.

I'll post more Craft Fair goodies as I get them done. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair

Whew, I'm toooo pooped to pop! I had a great time at the Craft Fair in the Fox Chase section of Philadelphia yesterday. I met so many wonderful people and sold a few goodies too! Here are a few pictures of my table. Sorry the color is off in the pictures. The Fair was in a large gym and the light was streaming through the high windows.

Every week, my display gets a little larger and a little better. What do you think? All suggestions are welcome! For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Table Items

I got up this morning (again) at 3:30am to work on items for the Craft Fair I am participating in tomorrow. Sounds crazy, but I have always been a morning person. I put the '70's station on and I am ready to "boogie." :o)

Here is a card that got done this morning. It was made following the Splitcoast Stampers Inspiration challenge.

I heat embossed the Christmas Tree in white on a Ponderosa Pine background. The mat is done in Cranberry paper and dry embossed using a Cuttlebug mat. I added Cranberry brads and glitter for some bling. The Christmas Tree is from the Close To My Heart stamp of the month called "Holiday Warmth." It is a great stamp set with multiple images including snowflakes, sentiments and this great tree. It is only available for one more week so visit my website so you don't miss out.

I also got altered composition books finished. These were a great seller at last weeks Craft Fair so I pushed to get several done this week. Here are a few.

The books are completed using Twitterpated, Bella and Animal Cookies. All these paper packs are available in the current CTMH Idea Book. The word "Notes" on the lavender book were stamped using a stamp set called Posterboard Alphabet. I would have never bought it, but it was an set received for attending Regionals. I am so thrilled with it and happy to have it. Goes to prove that sometimes you have to see something used to appreciate it. The other letters were cut using my Cricut.

Well, it's off to work soon. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fairs, Crops and Cards

Where does the time go??? I just realized that I hadn't had an opportunity to tell you the full details about the Friday Night Crop and the Craft Fair. We had a great time at the Friday Night Happy Hour Holiday Card Crop. Several ladies got a head start on their Holiday card making. They also had goodies and libations, too! :o)

It was a lot of fun. As they finished their cards, I posted pictures on my Facebook page...Close To My Heart (CTMH) Stamping and Scrapbooking with Cindy...for all to see. Check out their wonderful artwork. You can get to my Facebook Page by using the link on my sidebar.

Saturday, I had to work a few hours and then put the final touches on my items for Sunday's Craft Fair. That event went well also and a big thank you to my good friend "Lady Doc" for helping me out.

Whew, we were both pooped. It is a great deal of work setting up but so well worth the opportunity to meet new people. I am off to do yet another one this weekend! :o)

Yesterday I crashed. I didn't even make it to the end of the Phillies game....Go Phillies....but I did manage to get a Clean and Simple Card made for the SplitCoast Challenge. The challenge was to complete a Sympathy Card.

The card is made on a 6 x 6 inch base of Bamboo Card Stock. I used a sheet of DP from Paper Garden and the matching My Acrylix Stamp Set Spring Equinox. Both the paper and the stamp set are retiring at the end of the year. This is a good time for me to remind you that several products will be retiring and I have a list of the papers on my sidebar. Please ask me for a list of the stamps because if there is something there you like, once it is out of stock, you'll won't be able to get it. :o(

I hope to post a few more thoughts about my success with the Craft Fair as I get time. For Now, Happy Crafting!

Fun Projects for My Next Craft Fair

I am busy getting ready for another Craft Fair. This one is on Sunday at the Town Hall of a small community just outside of Philadelphia. Getting ready for these affairs is a lot of work but I had so much fun at the last one that I had to do it again! :o)

Here is a door hanger that I hope catches someones eye....


Unfortunately, both CTMH stamp sets I used are retired. I have to admit that when I cut out the bees, I didn't want to be bothered cutting out the antennae. I just cut them off and added the glitter pipe cleaners. I think they work, what do you think?

I also made this altered cutting board hanger.

I covered the board with paper from the Jingles Creative Basic Paper Pack. I have found that the easiest way to cover an item is to measure and cut the paper around an inch larger than the project. I use a plain glue stick to adhere the paper. I line up the edges as best as I can to reduce the amount of trimming. I use a straight blade and carefully cut the excess. I sand all sizes with a emery board. One more tip, to give a finished look to an altered wood item, I always "stain" the areas not being covered with paper. I use a water based "stain" that I purchase at the LCS. It can be found with the little bottles of acrylic paint. I just squirt some on and wipe the item with a paper towel making sure to remove any excess. It dries in no time and gives the item a "finished" look.

To finish the cutting board, I got wooden letters. I mixed Juniper re-inker with pearl paint so that they perfectly matched the Jingles paper. The snowflakes were cut with a Sizzlet die and heat embossed with Silver Pearl Powder. The Tulip scallop circles were cut with a 2 inch punch. All the items were attached with glue dots. I added the jingle bell and beads in with the bow for interest.

Altered items are fun break from card making and we still get to play with paper. :o) For Now, Happy Crafting!

Craft Fair!

Well, I did it! I had my first table at a Craft Fair. What fun... :o) It was located at Augustus Lutheran Church in Trappe, PA. What a tranquil setting. The Church is the oldest unchanged standing Lutheran Church in continuous use in America. It has a fascinating history and their website has pictures of the interior. Anyway, back to the Craft Fair. It was well organized. All the spots were marked and each vendor had a reserved parking spot right at their location. Boy did that make life easier. Having no prior experience, I had no idea what set up works best or how much product to take. I've read that having your own business means that you have to leave your comfort zone. Today was a perfect example. I used my best judgement drawing for all the Craft Fairs I have been to in the past, talking with friends and research on the Internet. Here is what I came up with....that's DH standing in the background.

I had lose cards and card sets, bookmarks, door hangers, altered binder clips, altered clothes pins, altered composition books, tile coasters, altered tea lights, some crocheted items and Close To My Heart Idea Books. When all was said and done, I didn't sell as much as I had hoped, but I did sell some things. I met some wonderful people and made some great contacts. Will I do it again??? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, I have signed up to participate in another one in October. More details to follow on that big event. :o)

By the way, I realized that I haven't given you an update on the new Kitty...Bombay. She is alive and kicking....no really, kicking. My arms and legs look like her scratching post. She's now about 12 weeks old and has a great personality. The scratches are from her playing! She is so mischievous and without warning, plops on your lap and goes to sleep. What joy to have a "child" in the house! :o)

For Now, Happy Crafting!