Gift Exchange Items

I LOVE giving (and receiving) gifts; no matter what they are.  It is something I have always enjoyed.  I hold my Mom responsible since she is the same.  The only thing that is bad about it...I tend to over analyze and think too much...because I want it to be special!

My friend and downline, Xellina, had a crop at her house this past Saturday.  (I LOVE being back around my scrappin' friends!)  She offered a gift exchange and there will be few (if any) times that I would choose not to participate.  I altered several things...  I got the canister at Big Lots.  I just used some Washi Tape to wrap around the rim and then adhered a retired silver flower.  The chalkboard area was already provided, with a piece of chalk!  I filled it with chocolate chip cookies.  For the bag, I just took a silver bag, used a vinyl cut that was too big for another project and placed it on the bag.  A couple of pieces of Washi Tape and Red Shimmer Trim and tada; a gift bag was born!

The photo of the frame just doesn't do it justice.  I sure wish I had taken time to take a better photo of all of these creations.  It was a frame I bought at Big Lots.  I cut a photo opening in the matte, just like was done in the original frame, and decorated it up with Hopscotch, some fun stamp images and a little bling.  It really came out nice!

It seems like the person who ended up with it was pleased so I was happy.  I still have some other gifts to create before the holidays are over.

It's Hump Day!

Heartfelt Sentiments Team Paper Packet Focus

Thank you for joining me on our team Blog Hop where we are showcasing products using the Ivy Lane paper packet this month.  The hop is a circle so feel free to click on the link at the bottom of each post to keep moving through.  I have also provided a link to the participant's blogs below.  If you are coming from Marianne's Blog, you are on the right track.  Thank you for joining us!

1. Melissa Robinson - you are here*
2. Tonya Whitehurst - http://heartandsoulscrappers.blogspot.com
3. Joy McHargue - http://www.studiowowjoy.com
4. Judy Faye Garner - http://judyfaye.blogspot.com
5. Marianne Hancock - http://thescrapbookchick.blogspot.com

I am excited to share my creation using the "Ivy Lane" paper packet from Close To My Heart.  With the retreat I attended last weekend, we were invited to participate in a gift exchange for altered/papercraft-type items.  I pulled from some items I had in my papercrafting studio and this is what I came up with (thanks to the help of my Mom on the quilling).

 This is a mini cookie jar I had purchased for 1/2 off at a craft store before Christmas.  I decorated a few to include some homemade chocolate chip cookies.  While I didn't include cookies this time, I did fill it with some Hershey's kisses.  It was so simple to decorate as I just cut three circles out of the paper packet - one for each side and another for the top.

Then, I incorporated a technique taught to me by one of my downline, Mary Collins.  She taught us how to Quill at my retreat in February.  The flowers were cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge - cut at 5", 3" and 2".  I used Liquid Glass to glue the flower to its' base and then to adhere it to the jar top.  The leaves were created by cutting 1/8 strips of paper, curled around the Quilling Tool, and then pinched on both ends to give them their shape.

The jar was a big hit with a few people fighting over it to take it home.  Now, I think I need my own so I will be creating another one sometime soon.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave a comment, if you will, and continue hopping over to Tonya's blog to see what she has in store for you.

Happy Hoppin'!

Altered & organized!

In just a few days our new Close To My Heart letters will be sent to those in our customer database.  It is beautiful, professional-looking and full of useful information.

I have been pondering a way to manage my customer contacts so that I can not only add new customers to necessary databases but also have them accessible for quick access.  I have debated numerous options and then remembered... DUH!  I bought an alterable wooden "rolodex" a couple of months ago so why don't I use that?  And I did...  So it went from this...

 to...(drum roll)...THIS!  

Isn't it much prettier?  I should hope so!

I painted everything but the underside with white acrylic paint and used our lovely and discontinued Sophia paper to decorate it.

I alternated the tabs between cardstock colors: Pear, Hollyhock, Blush and Honey - all paper that coordinate with the Lucy paper packet.  Then I used our exclusive Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge to create the scalloped tabs and some retired letter stickers from non-other than CTMH!

I am absolutely proud with how it came out and will look forward to adding new contacts as I seek opportunities to receive them. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Still lovin' Sophia,