December Art with Heart - Favorite Things!

Are you ready for Christmas?

I for one am NOT! I think this is the first year that I am not ready at all! I swear last time I looked at the calendar it was October! How is it that November flew by and now it is a few days before Christmas?

Well..........
Tis’ the season for a new Art with Heart Challenge! December is “Favorite Things” and we want you to play along!  This month is essentially anything goes.  Just share your favorite things whether it be a die, paint, ink, color or project.  

So My favorite die is.......

Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Blocks/Cubes, 3-D

You may ask why and I will tell you why. It is because I can use it for so many things. 

Just watch and see!

So for today's project I used the 3D Blocks/Cubes

Little Sizzles Mat board

Using my Big Kick I cut all my pieces out

I adhered all my paper on

I used a Tim Holtz Die to die cut the word Joy on the largest block

All pieces are now ready to be put together

Once put together - I die cut some feet for my tower. I used Eileen's new Sewing box die. I love the feet/base on it and am using them on so many projects.

Once I attached the base I used some distress ink and adhered some snowflakes. I added a knob at the top. In the bottom block I added a 

battery operated candle.

Using the same die I have made these projects and that is why this die is one of my favorites!

 Christmas gift box/keepsake

Valentines tower filled with candy

Halloween tower

All of these are made with the same die! And that my friends is why!

Please join us in this month's Art with Heart challenge! It's is so easy to join and just show us your favorite die, paint, paper anything!

Thanks for stopping by!

I am signing off until after CHA! I will be back in January.

Merry Christmas and have a safe and wonderful New Year!

A Special Night at Barnes & Noble

Do you LOVE books? Well this is the ULTIMATE destination for book lovers!

BARNES & NOBLE Booksellers is a magical place!

BOOKS! Those magical things you hold in your hands and turn the paper pages and you can get whisked away to far away places. You can learn new things!

                                                   

Only half of the group

On this special evening, it was a Creative group outing that brought us to BARNES & NOBLE. Out fearless leader Laura Kelly Walters was being honored for being featured in the magazine WHERE WOMEN CREATE. The creator of this magazine Jo Packham was also on hand at this private reception! What a privilege to have been included in such a wonderful event that empowers creative woman! 

Laura Kelly Walters

As I strolled around BARNES & NOBLE I noticed how many people were engrossed in books and magazines. Young and old, from all walks of life. Guess what? Each and everyone of them had something in common, BOOKS!

This is how I felt!

As part of a creative group I was very excited to learn that on that night BARNES & NOBLE was having a SPECIAL EVENT! They had a COLORING EVENT! They had supplied markers, crayons and colored pencils. They had wonderful images on fabulous card stock and the cutest envelopes, just waiting for someone to color them!

It is so outstanding of BARNES & NOBLE to have events like this!

Check your local Barnes & Noble Events page!

Did you know that BARNES & NOBLE have a kids club? YES they do! I think this is a great way to keep the next generation reading and learning new things. To explore places they may never reach, but can because of a book! For birthdays, Christmas I always like to include a book or two and have since my Grandchildren were born. Bonus benefit the children get a cupcake on their birthday from the cafe! Who doesn't love a cupcake?

This of course is not my first trip to BARNES & NOBLE. I have been going for years, in fact it is one of our favorite things to do on a Saturday evening. My husband and I will go to dinner followed by a night at BARNES & NOBLE. It is so relaxing and comfortable. One more reason I LOVE BARNES & NOBLE was my daughters first job was with them. They gave her such a great experience that I credit them with her work ethics today!

Thank you Laura Kelly Walters for being our fearless leader in our creative field and to Jo Packham for helping us all become STRONG woman!

Let's Make This Season Udderly Smooth!

A smooth season sounds amazing doesn't it?

Well you can have Udderly Smooth skin for this season!

No, not the holiday season!

But the DRY CRACKED skin season!

This would be an amazing gift for the mailman or your child's teacher!

Anyone who works with their hands!

 Super fast, fun and easy!



I found this little black box at the dollar store (3 for $1)
Guess what? While you are at the Dollar Tree pick up some more Udderly Smooth products!

How fun is this!

Don't forget about yourself though, keep some near your work space as your wrapping your gifts!
Handling all that paper your hands tend to dry! I have been using the Hand & Body lotion and love it! But the Udderly Smooth Foot Cream is the best! I love it! The Foot Cream is actually helping the horrible dryness I have had since moing to Colorado! In Minnesota I did not have to worry about dry air as much as I do here in Colorado. Since using the Udderly Smooth Foot Cream I have noticed a improved apperence and feel to my feet! Just my humble opinion!

Ohhhhh and then after all your shopping your are going to want to sit down and put some of this amazing Udderly Smooth Foot Cream on! Calm those sore aching feet with a little TLC!
Slip on some cozy socks and enjoy!

Thank you to Udderly Smooth who has kindly included me in this campaign.
All experiences and feelings are all my own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Design your own Christmas bags

CHRISTMAS GIFT BAGS

GlueDots | December 1, 2015 | Project Ideas | 0 Comments

Christmas gift bags are easy to make and customize for your celebration. All you need are kraft bags (or recycled paper bags with handles), Glue Dots and cardstock. Designer Donna shows you how to make easy, custom gift wrap for your holiday.

Designed by: Donna Budzynski
Time: 25 Minutes
Level: Beginner
Size: 8” X 10”

Here’s what you need:

• Ultra-Thin Glue Dots®
• Kraft bag
• Cardstock – Canvas Corp farmhouse Christmas Stripe on Ivory
• Twine
• Red burlap scrap
• Colored pencils
• Gamsol – OPTIONAL
• Paper trimmer
• Small stapler

Here’s what you do: 

1. Cut three strips from farmhouse Christmas.
2. Cut red cardstock base to fit your wide strip.
3. Adhere strip to red cardstock using Ultra-Thin Glue Dots.
4. Adhere Happy Holidays and snowflake strips above and below middle strip.
5. Color any areas on strips to add color – OPTIONAL blend with Gamsol.
6. Using Prismacolor pencils draw some designs between the strips – OPTIONAL Blend.
7. Attach red burlap with staple and tie twine around bag handle.

*This bag would be fun to do with the kids! Children are great at doodles!

~Donna

 Either format of Ultra-Thin can be used for this project:

Quick Gift - Simply Fast

Need a quick and easy holiday gift? Pick up a few empty jars (or upcycle a few you have in the recycling bin), decorate and fill with a sweet holiday treat! Designer Donna shows you how easy it is turn jars into quick holiday gifts.

Designed by: Donna Budzynski
Time: 20 minutes
Level: Beginner

These jars are so cute and so easy to whip up at the last minute!

Here’s what you need:

• Ultra-Thin Glue Dots®
• Cardstock Canvas Corp – Jolly Christmas sayings on white
• Jars (Target $1 section)
• Twine
• Mini Sled (optional)
• Candy (I chose Santa Hat Kisses)
• Hot Chocolate (marshmallows optional)
• Scissors
• Paper trimmer

Here’s what you do:

1. Wash jars with dish soap and warm water before using. Let dry completely before filling and decorating.
2. Using your paper trimmer and scissors cut out pieces of cardstock with sayings.
3. Once jars are dry adhere your cardstock to the jars using Ultra-Thin Glue Dots.
4. Fill jars with candy, hot chocolate or other tasty treats and close lid.
5. Tie twine at top of jar in a bow – I added a little sled for decoration.

These are great to have around for last minute gifts to neighbors, teachers and friends.

~Donna

Any format of Ultra-Thin Glue Dots can be used for this project:

Craft A Ornament with the Kids

These Ornaments are a no fail!

No matter what age they turn out so cute!

What you need:
Glue Dots®
Buttons
Plastic ornaments
Misc. Ribbon
Gems
Kids!



 Lay out all of the buttons and gems and Glue Dots® and let them Create!

So much fun and not a whole bunch of mess! (Unless they decide to have a button fight!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Art with Heart Challenge Sewing Themed

Hello everyone it’s time for a new Art with Heart Challenge!  This November the Inspiration Team and Eileen are celebrating the new Sizzix collection Stitchlits!  This collection is sewing themed and features new Thinlits, Bigz, Scoreboards and Scoreboards XL dies for you to create sewing themed Sizzix projects with.  Check out the entire Stitchlits Collection HERE.  Our theme this month is “A Stitch in Time”.  You can interpret that theme however you like just show us your oh-Sew-crafty projects for a chance to win some of my new Stitchlits Sizzix dies.  

I decided to use a new embossing folder - Sew Happy!

You can see it HERE

 Emboss your paper and pick out your Embroidery floss! It is as easy as that!
All you have to do is get comfy in a chair in front of the TV and stitch away!
This is SEW relaxing!

 I used crossed stitch and straight stitch. Nothing to fancy.
I do recommend to use two threads. I tried three and it did tend to rip the paper a bit.

 Once your done you can frame or make it into a card! This would be great to give to give as a card to that quilter or sewing friend! They would cherish it for sure!

This was so relaxing! I am going to have fun with this line!

I also have been playing with Eileen's new Stitchlit flowers and hoop! Oh my!
Sew fun! Using fabric and paper is so fun! How cure is this!!!!


You can check out the entire Stitchlits Collection HERE and be sure to check with your local retailers about Stitchlits and other Eileen Hull Dies!

Remember always a prize every month! Enter your projects before it's to late!
Go here to add you projects!

FALL CANDY BOXES

GlueDots | October 13, 2015 | Project Ideas | 0 Comments

Designer Donna brings the fall foliage inside with fall candy boxes. Fill with treats or something special and give to your neighbors, friends, co-workers, or teachers.

Designed by: Donna Budzynski
Time: 1 hour for 6 boxes
Level: Beginner

Here’s what you need:

• Glue Lines®
• Ultra-Thin Glue Dots®
• Twine
• Cardstock – fall colors
• Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board or small boxes
• Distress ink – peeled paint, spiced marmalade, vintage photo-Tim Holtz
• Archival Ink Wendy Vecchi – Potting Soil
• Small Candy Bags (Optional)
• Die Cut Machine
• Die Cuts – Leaves
• Die Cut 3D Block/Cube by Eileen Hull
• Background Stamp – Something to add interest
• Ink Blending tool

Here’s what you do:

1. Die cut boxes (using Mat Board) and leaves (cardstock).
2. Stamp background on all boxes using Archival Ink.
3. Distress ink all boxes and leaves using blending tool.
4. Adhere boxes together using Glue Lines.
5. Cut off the top flap of the box, so the box is open (optional).
6. Adhere leaves to the front of the boxes using Ultra-Thin Glue Dots.
7. Tie twine around the boxes as desired.
8. Fill bags with candy of choice or peanuts.

**Use these for place settings by adding names to the leaves.
**Also write words of “Thanks” on leaves.
**Or just randomly place around the house for decorations with snacks.

~Donna

Any format of Ultra-Thin Glue Dots can be used: