handmade cass

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a new year filled with lots of crafts. We took a little drive to our local sledding spot and were greeted by giant snowflakes all around. Fingers crossed for a white Christmas at our house.

I am part of a Stampin' Up club that meets every other month to exchange cards and work on holiday projects together. This month we are exchanging a set of gift tags to use for Christmas presents.  I spent waaaay too long making these wreath tags with a paper bow, watercolor leaves, and Stickles berries. And I was very excited to use my Envelope Punch Board and the Notcher Punch to make a self sealing envelope from vintage music sheets. Inside the envelope I have a mix of gift tags all ready to be used this Christmas. I hope they enjoy! Supplies : stamps - A Muse wreath | Hero Arts doily | Memory Box reindeer | Avery Elle snow globe ribbon - American Crafts glitter - Stickles tools - We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board and Notcher Punch | Stampin' Up bow punch | Marvy circle punches

I have a good friend that also loves paper crafts and I don't get to see her often. So I am sending her a surprise package with some snow globe shaker tags she can gift to her three kids this Christmas. There were a number of new snow globe stamp sets this year, but I liked this one best because of the sweet little deer. Supplies : stamps and dies - Avery Elle Snow Globe ink - Memento markers - Copic glitter - Martha Stewart ribbon - American Crafts cardstock - Memory Box | Neenah Solar White And since I had an extra 20 minutes I made a few quick tags for my own kids this Christmas.  I used my Sakura Glaze pens to make the ice a bit shiny (because these pens dry much faster than Glossy Accents). The walrus cracks me up. Supplies : stamps - Avery Elle Polar Pals ink - Memento markers - Copic | Sakura Glaze cardstock - Memory Box tag punch - Stampin' Up ribbon - crochet thread

I am part of a group that exchanges cards every other month, and for December we are exchanging sets of gift tags. This will be my third year as part of the group and I really want to step up my gift tags this year. So I'm starting early on some watercoloring. I have used this A Muse Artstamps "wreath and berries" stamp every year but this is my fist time watercoloring with it. Way faster than Copic markers! And of course my mini crafter wanted to watercolor too. I love when she makes family portraits!

What do you give the guy that has been married to you for 10 years? A handmade card of course! I had to think of something extra special for my husband on our anniversary, since he has seen it all. A gold stag and some watercolor did the trick I think. And the sentiment inside says, "Oh deer, I love you!" followed by some other mushy stuff.  I'm entering this in the Simon Says Monday Challenge and choosing the topic "wonderful watercolor" from a couple weeks back, and the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge "wrap it up" because it is a tag. Supplies : die - Savvy tag - Avery watercolors - Prang metallic cardstock - Stardream card base - Michael's

I just got the new Hero Arts Sleeping Fox stamp , and I am pretty excited about it. I fell in love with it and had to have it. But then I didn't know what to do with it once I got home. Does that happen to anyone else? After seeing the Hero Arts Holiday Card Challenge I forced myself to make something. Anything. I had seen a series of white monochromatic Christmas cards that I really liked, so I used that as my starting point. One Christmas card done. Check that off the list! Supplies : cardstock - Neenah Solar White, Limba Wood Grain, Stardream stamp - Lia Griffith by Hero Arts ink - Stampin' Up letter stickers - Basic Grey glitter - Stickles, Wink of Stella Brush paper doily vintage dictionary paper

I loved the challenge this week because I could try out a few new products and techniques that I haven't experimented with before. I created a tag that I can't wait to add to a random happy mail package for a friend. After digging through my supplies I found some things that I wanted to try for the first time (like this Any Tangerine stamp set and the translucent embossing paste).  Supplies : stamp set - Amy Tangerine by American Crafts embossing paste - Dreamweaver stencil - Heidi Swapp sequins - Avery Elle ink - Stampin' Up manila tag ribbon

I was inspired to make a colorful ombré gift tag for the Simon Says Monday Challenge this week. I started with a lace background stamp and used a sponge to dab on three ink colors from light to dark. I finished it with a metallic name tag and wide silk ribbon. Ready for gifting! Supplies : stamp and ink - Stampin' Up manila tag metallic Stardream paper silk ribbon

I made two cards this weekend that qualify for Simon Says Monday Challenge this week - Love That Technique . I needed a card for a friend that just found out she is having a baby girl. For that one I used the fussy cutting technique to cut out a dress from another part of that patterned paper. Supplies : patterned paper - Amy Tangerine, Memory Box mini clothespins twine And I also needed a birthday card, but wanted to use this "hola" stamp from an older Studio Calico set. I flipped that clear stamp over and used the back to stamp solid circles on the card - love that technique! Supplies : stamps - Studio Calico ink - Stampin' Up glitter - Wink of Stella vellum patterned card base - Michael's

Has anyone else been coloring? I have been using Copic markers for a few years and just succumbed to buying the ZIG Clean Color Real Brush markers. When I was checking out on Amazon this coloring book was suggested so I added it. I'm having fun coloring when I can't muster up enough crafty mojo for a full project.

My husband needed to send a few thank you cards and he requested something a little less cutesy than the last one I made . I have had this starry background stamp from Hero Arts for a long time and was so excited to use it! I did some ombre stamping with Stampin' Up ink and love the results. And I also managed to mess up the embossing on the second card so I had to add another layer. I even tried using the EK powder tool this time. Embossing gets me every time... Supplies : stamps - Basic Grey by Hero Arts, Lawn Fawn, Stampin' Up dies - Lawn Fawn ink - Stampin' Up patterned paper - Memory Box, Webster's Pages embossing powder - Stampendous powder tool - EK Success markers - Copic

Penguin Books reached out to see if I wanted to participate in a Roald Dahl Day celebration by doing a themed craft. How could I resist? Reading and crafting are my two favorite activities! I love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and wanted to make some glittery candy treats. But my daughter (age 4) was very insistent that she only wanted to do watercolor painting today. So a quick online search led me to a great selection of Roald Dahl coloring pages. My daughter is still a bit young for these, but she loves books and i am just teaching her how to sound out the letters in words. So maybe we can try them for bedtime reading soon. How fun is this golden ticket? Hopefully by next year's celebration - September 13th - we will have started reading these big kid books. I really hope to instill in my kids a deep appreciation for books and reading!

The Wednesday challenge from Simon Says Stamp this week is Make It Colorful . I had started some rainbow thank you cards way back in December for my daughter's rainbow birthday party.  But time got the best of me and I had to go with a much simpler card. This was the perfect chance to finish up a project I was excited about. Supplies : washi tape - We R Memory Keepers crochet thread - Aunt Lydia's patterned paper - Amy Tangerine wood heart - Studio Calico Stickles & Glossy Accents - Ranger

I was so inspired to try something new this week, as part of the Simon Says Challenge "No Ordinary Paper" . I have never tried mixed media because of my super duper strong pull towards a clean and simple aesthetic. I wouldn't exactly describe this first attempt as a mixed media collage, but a step in the right direction for trying something new creatively. Supplies : Corrugated cardboard - from my recycling bin Stardream metallic cardstock (green) Chevron punch - Stampin' Up Embroidery floss - Amy Tangerine embroidery kit by American Crafts Paper doily Kraft paper bag - from my recycling bin USA stamp - Hero Arts Archival Ink - Ranger Watercolors Manila tag ABC stickers - Creative Imaginations Ribbon

Yesterday I made a card in about 30 minutes in order to get it submitted to the Simon Says Monday Challenge before the deadline. But when I went to send it off for a birthday today I didn't like it. So I took it apart and my daughter and I reinvented the card before getting it in the mail. Before and after: I added more Glossy Accents and some Wink of Stella to the card and my daughter asked me to make her another one (and it should be "exactly the same") for her to keep. That was the only way I could pry this finished one out of her hands. And while I was taking apart and putting back together, she made a card of her own to send to her cousin. I love sharing this hobby with my daughter! This is her finished card.

I love the "Here's The Scoop" set from Lawn Fawn. It was the first stamp set I thought of for this week's I Scream For Challenge . Since I was cutting it close on time my Glossy Accents isn't quite dry yet. :) Supplies : Ink - Memento Markers - Copic Other - Glossy Accents by Ranger

A while back I teamed up with Crafteeo to test drive a helmet kit that you can assemble and decorate with your kids. I am so happy to support a company from my hometown that promotes creativity and imaginative play. My own daughter loved the painting process and the LED light feature on this helmet would please any kid I know! After you take the time to construct this helmet (or any of Crafteeo's other kits) it is durable enough to withstand lots of rambunctious play. Please take a moment to check out Crafteeo's newly launched Kickstarter campaign . If they can raise the funds and reach their goal, Crafteeo will be able to put out a new set of products. They are offering some great incentives for their Kickstarter backers - take a look !

I was so inspired when I saw Jennifer McGuire's shaker card that was all shaker and no card. For the Simon Says Sparkle and Shine Challenge I decided to make a gift tag for my sweet daughter who loves all things shiny and crafty. I don't have the Fuse tool that Jennifer McGuire used in her video but sewing works just as well. I had initially tried to do this tag in a circle, but I need to stick with sewing straight lines for now. This one turned out much better! Supplies : Page protector - Staples Sequins - Advantus Cardstock - DCWV Ribbon - Creative Impressions Sewing Machine - Janome

I am participating in this week's Simon Says Get Dotty Challenge. I needed to make a card for a friend expecting a baby that isn't feeling so great right now. Morning sickness is the worst! Supplies: Stamps - Lawn Fawn Ink - Memento Markers - Copic Stencil - Memory Box Embossing Paste - Dreamweavers Cardstock - Neenah Other - vellum, card base

I recently returned from an amazing family vacation in Hawaii. My husband's parents live there, so it was great to play with cousins and hang out at the beach. During some vacation downtime I ordered the Stay Fresh stamp and die set from Avery Elle because I knew that I would need it for my scrapbook. Now I am using it for everything! This shadowbox came together quickly and I love this little pineapple more than ever.  This project was made for the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Blog, Anything Goes . Supplies : frame - Ikea stamp - Avery Elle die - Avery Elle ink - Archival Ink by Ranger Distress Stickles paint - Prang Watercolors

I used to be semi-obsessed with this amazing DIY blog called Young House Love. And they wrote about house portraits a number of times: here , and here , and here .  I kept this idea in the back of my head for a few years.   So when my family finally moved into our very own home I had to make it happen. Then I saw a write up in our paper about a local (who also happened to be our neighbor when we first moved to town) that painted buildings around town .  I sent an email and the next thing I knew, this was happening... I will be taking my custom portrait to get matted and framed so I can proudly display it in the home where we are creating memories every day. You can  check out Terry Brooks' artwork here . 

I have a few YouTube channels that I watch every week. One my favorites is Laura Bassen, and her masked card this week had me so inspired! I pulled out an older Avery Elle set that I had not used yet for the "anything goes" challenge at Simon Says . Love the sentiments in this Modern Leaves set!  Just wish I could find a better white ink. I have tried a number of them and they never turn out to be opaque on dark card stock. Suggestions? Supplies : Stamps - Avery Elle Ink - Memento | Hero Arts | Brilliance Cardstock - Papertrey Ink

I just bought this "Stuck On You" set from Lawn Fawn and I couldn't wait to use it. I did some Copic shading to add some color to the middle succulent and I love it! I used the Lawn Fawn "Claire's ABCs" set to add a sentiment for the Simon Says thank you challenge . And I have been wanting to try Copic coloring with polka dots using the colorless blender. Need to use these markers more often. They're fun! Supplies : Stamps - Lawn Fawn Ink - Hero Arts Shadow Ink | Memento Die - Lawn Fawn Markers - Copic | Wink of Stella

The XYZ challenge from Simon Says this week made me think of a gift for my daughter's preschool teacher. I knew that I wanted to make something super practical and not knick knacky. A set of thank you cards seemed perfect because I know she uses them throughout the school year.  I made sure there was a yellow one in there just because of the challenge! And I will package them up in a little gift bag with some apple stamps and a bow. Supplies : Embossing folders - Provo Craft Die - Memory Box Stamps - Hero Arts Bow punch - Stampin' Up Cards & cardstock - Michael's  

I've been participating in the weekly challenges from Simon Says Stamp as a way to force me to finish some projects. And it is actually really fun! The challenges don't have stringent requirements and I have all the supplies on hand. No excuses! Instead of a card this week I decided to make a gift tag for the stencil challenge . It turned out too matchy-matchy in the end...but it's finished. I'm hoping this forced creativity will rub off so I can finish some other projects around the house. Supplies : Stencil - Simon Says Stamp Embossing Paste - Viva Mist - Studio Calico Tag Punch - Stampin' Up Crochet Thread - Aunt Lydia's