Okay gang...we're back in business!

The hustle and bustle has calmed down after all of the holiday hoopla, and I'm ready to buckle down. Due to our recent blizzard, there wasn't a whole lot of hustle - more like a lot of couch time under the blankets with the boys close at hand! After the electricity was restored, the heat turned back on, and a much needed shower....I discovered that the electricity in my craft room wasn't working. UGH!!! It just never seemed to end. Not every room in our house has great lighting (due to the fact that it's a 120 year old house), and the craft room probably has the worst of all. Finally, after Andy spent numerous hours trying to get our driveway cleared, I sent him down to the basement to see what the problem was - an easy fix. Breaker had been flipped - I'm sure caused by the gazillion power surges we had. Then, I go to turn on my computer - no internet service....that took a few days to correct - it was on the providers end, so nothing I could do about it. But trust me, I was trying everything! It had been 5 days without internet and I was feeling like I'd lost all

connection with the outside world! How easily one becomes "in dire need"!

While in boredom, we did have a good time feeding these beauties:

These guys were HUNGRY - they were eating what the squirrels dropped out of their feeder, then once Andy saw them coming up to eat, he started putting out some extra corn for them. The one thing that did was bring on more squirrels too. So, we are now feeding 4 squirrels and 4 rooster pheasants, and tons of other great birds too - Cardinals (my fav!), Blue Jays, Gold finches, Nuthatches, Juncos, and of course, Sparrows! We are a nature family, so this is always entertainment for us!

Okay, yeah, I know, you guys want to see some projects. Well, now that Christmas is over, I can show you this trio of frames I made for my little 6 month old nieces' room:

Frame #1:

Frame #2:

Frame #3:

Here are some detail shots:

I used a combo of DSP, chipboard, some new felt flowers (these go on sale w/ SU! on Jan. 5th!!). You are even getting a sneak peak of some of the new DSP that comes in an awesome, gloriously HUGE pack of paper, and it's a steal!

This butterfly is die cut, and then embossed. I'm coming around on the butterflies - I didn't really like them for a LONG time, but man, they are growing on me....

Aren't these little felt flowers adorable? I just love them - from the moment I saw them.

Making this girly stuff really gets my hopes up for a girl. Guess we'll know in a little over 3 months! Yikes - 3 months!!!! I don't know what to do with girls, but guess I could figure it out. Better not get my hopes up.....

Well, this is the last post of 2009....bye, bye '09. And here's to 2010! Stay tuned tomorrow - 2010 has some great things in store for you - that's right - FOR YOU, my blog followers, my customers, my friends!

I hope that all of you had a great holiday season!

Ta-ta dearies!

Jen

A birthday card???

Yes, a birthday card right smack in the middle of the Christmas season....don't fret my blog peeps - I'll have more Christmas stuff coming up for you. What I'd really like to show you is the awesome NEW SU! things that I've been playing with. But, unfortunately, they are items that I've submitted to Paper Crafts to *crossing fingers* try and get published. So, now I need to come up with some other items to show you some of the new and awesome things SU! has coming out in January. I will tell you that the clear mount system ROCKS!!! I can't tell you how much easier it is to stamp. I'm going to feel bad for my wood mount stamps, because I have a feeling they are going to get neglected...poor things!

Alrighty - you came here to see a creation right? Here you go:


I had fun developing this card - I took the background piece (Certainly Celery), ran it thru the Big Shot using the Polka Dot Texturz pad. Then, I used a small paintbrush and brushed some Frost White Shimmer Paint onto the raised polka dots. The cupcakes were stamped with Stazon (my favorite black ink), then colored with watercolor crayons. Again, I used the paintbrush and shimmer paint to do the frosting - which just turned out so cool - I loved it! FYI - the shimmer paints are only available until January 4th - you NEED this stuff, you really do. So, to order some - go to my SU! website and click on the shop now link at the top right corner. The cupcake image was cut out using the circle cutter, and the Melon Mambo scalloped circle was cut with the Big Shot and the large scalloped circle die.


I stamped the Wish Big stamp ( not SU) and layered it onto Chocolate Chip, then put a ribbon on it to make it appear to be a tag. I think that's it....it was really pretty quick to throw together. The Crazy for Cupcakes set is one of my favorite for birthdays - I just wish it was clear mount now, but I'll deal!

Okay - that's it for today....the baby is kicking, and I've got restless legs, so must move them.....

Thanks for stopping by!
Jen

Gift goodies

I have a thing for gift packaging...I just love a pretty wrapped gift. When I take sweets to the neighbors at holiday time, I want that to have some good presentation too. One thing my mom got me started on was giving snack mixes instead of candies and cookies. They are easier to make, and just as yummy. My mom is even clever enough to come up with some good names for her snack mixes. So, this year, I purchased these windowed coffee bags, and thought they would be awesome to give some yummy stuff away in. The one pictured here is not filled yet - I need to get to cooking away. Cookies would be awfully cute in this bag tho too!
Here are the tags on the front:

They are glittered with a two way glue pen and dazzling diamonds. C'mon people - you know I almost always have to have 2 things on my projects - ribbon, and glitter!!!!
Here is the entire bag.

Do you see anything that might be a sneak peak???

Here are the tags again, and little closer, just so you can REALLY see the glitter glittering!

Hmmm, now I wonder what yummy item I should fill this with???

Thanks for stopping by today!

I LOVE snow!!!

This project has been done for quite some time - and those of you that are in my Stamp Club will realize that this is familiar. It's the tote that we made at our November meeting. My customer and Stamp Club member, Judy was the one who originated the idea, using the paper and ribbon, and it was so stunning, I had to duplicate it. The original that was made for Stamp Club was this one. Those in the other Stamp Club loved it so, most of them went with this design also. It's quite striking, and a great use of the flocked pattern of the Christmas Cocoa DSP. I added the tag - which is, of course, vellum snowflakes!!! Are you sick of seeing those from me yet???

Detail shot of gift tag:

Back side of gift tag:

Isn't that snowflake paper just gorgeous?

In the meantime...it's been snowing here in Iowa. I LOVE it!! I think you can tell a true Iowan by whether or not they like snow. And, if I wasn't carrying around this little item in my belly, I'd be able to get my snow pants on, and out there I'd be. Building a snow fort with my little guys. Will loves the snow just as much as I do, and has been dying to go out. I let him out this morning for about 10 minutes. But since it was only 3 degrees out, I couldn't let him out there very long. He was bummed out to have to come in, but maybe this afternoon the sun will warm up the air a bit more. Anywhere - here's a shot of some of our snow.

One of those poor little trees is completely buried under a snow drift. I hope it doesn't get hurt, the poor little thing!

I feel bad for any little birdie out in this house. Out there in the blowing snow - brrrr!!! Those snow drifts behind the birdhouse are about 5 feet high in the high spots. In a few days, I'm sure they will be transformed into some pretty cool forts. Good thing, my hubby is good at building forts, and enjoys it just like Will and I do.

Okay peeps...gotta get this posted so that I can get my Stamp Club stuff prepped. Gotta trim the tree tonight, and then an ultrasound bright and early in the morning to see the little one and after that Andy and I will be getting our Christmas shopping done.

So, ta ta!!!

Tag Box...

....are you wondering just what a tag box is? I was when I first heard it. Well today, Splitcoast had a Technique Challenge (they do every Monday apparently) to make a Tag Box. I was quite curious, so checked it out. It's a little box made from shipping tags, and if you don't have shipping tags, not a prob - just make a couple. The directions are on Splitcoast - just go to the lower right hand side of their home page, and click on Monday: Try a New Technique under the Weekly Challenges headline. Then, click on the challenge for 12/7/09.

I did absolutely no stamping for this one. And it went together very easily and quickly.


For my focal image I used the snowflake punch to punch two snowflakes out of vellum cardstock. (this is one of my new fave things to do, if you haven't noticed!) I used my 2 Way Glue Pen all over the top snowflake and then sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds. I should warn you that this WILL cause your vellum snowflake to curl up. In some cases, I'm okay with this - but in this case I wasn't thrilled with it. So, I used some more 2 way glue, and stuck it down to the snowflake under it. FYI - they aren't lined up on purpose! I then layed the entire snowflake bundle on it's front, being careful not to bend any "arms" of the snowflakes, and put some weight on it for a while so it would flatten back out.
The rest is pretty self explanitory. Just paper, and ribbon!

This was a very simple project - and QUICK!!! I will be using these for my mail lady with some specialty cocoa and yummy marshmallows tucked into it. (Kris-don't tell your mom ahead of time!! Should I stick one in my mailbox for you and Zoey too??? I'm sure she'd deliver it to you!)

Okay peeps - that's all for today - Jay Leno is distracting me - I must go now!!!!

Jen

Deer Thanks...

As I type this blog post (actually on Sunday afternoon), I'm sitting in my chair, listening to my 3 year old snore on the couch (since he refused to nap in bed today), and watching Ma and Pa Cardinal gorge themselves on sunflowers seeds out of our feeder. The snow is beginning to fly, and I couldn't be happier. I'm ready for snow, and a White Christmas. Okay. On with the show....





Yesterday I showed you the treat bag that I gave to our "retired" babysitter. Today I'm showing you the thank you card that went with it. Again *gasp* with a Winter Post stamp used. But also, the Thanks from Thank You Kindly set.

I again used the snowflake punch, but left off the glitter. My paper is all now retired - Baja Breeze, the DSP is retired too, and i can't remember what it is....even the ribbon is retired :( !!! I loved the DSP tho - because I have 3 packs of it open in my stash!!!! Crazy - I am such a paper hoarder.

Alright - I'm somewhat brain dead today - I don't have much for you, nor a whole lot to say....except what's rolling thru my head...."as long as you love me so, Let it SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!!!" There you have it - now you'll be singing it too!

Ta-ta folks!

More Winter Post creations....

Okay - so, once I got the Winter Post set out, I just couldn't put it away. I do so love this set. Well, a couple of weeks ago, our old babysitter, well, she's not old, she's just not our beloved babysitter anymore - but still much loved; she showed up at our house with a BIG bowl of homemade Chicken Noodle soup. She had seen on FB that Andy (dh) was less than impressed with the homemade Chicken Noodle soup I had made, so she brought us some of her yummy stuff, which was MUCH better than mine.
I needed to return her bowl to her, and since we were headed to the town that she moved to for a photo session of my boys, I made up a batch of Chex Mix and filled one of these too too cute coffee bags.

Of course I had to jazz it up with some ribbon - last years Riding Hood Red striped ribbon. Then, I stamped the skaters in Choc. Chip, colored them with watercolor crayons (you must get these!) and die cut it with my Big Shot (you need this too!). I used a Nestabilities dies to cut the shapes. That's what's SO nice about the Big Shot - you can use it with about any die on the market; it's very versatile. I thought the skater image still needed a little sumpin' sumpin', so I added the little postage mark - in Ruby Red, but it's been stamped off twice! I didn't want it to stick out like a sore thumb, and even with stamping it off once, it was a little too vibrant.


I punched two snowflakes with the snowflake punch - one in Ruby Red, and the other in vellum cardstock. The vellum one, I then used a two way glue pen all over, and added some Dazzling Diamonds (my fave glitter!). I also added glitter to the cuffs and hat brim of the lady skating.

FYI - when you use the two way glue/glitter on the vellum, it will curl as it dries. I happen to like this look if it's in the right setting. Reminds me of the way that Queen Anne's Lace dries. My snowflake here hadn't started to curl just yet.

Thanks for stopping by peeps!

Jen

A little Vintage Christmas...

Winter Post was by far my favorite stamp set last year, and I still love it this year - but for some reason I draw a blank when I try and figure out what to do with it. So, I kinda copied my card from last year, and just revamped it a bit....


I really like this image of the skaters. It's so nostalgic! I used to ice skate a lot, and loved it. Dorothy Hammill was my idol! While I never mastered much for spins or jumps - it was a great winter hobby. I even recall one VERY icy winter, we had a "pond" in our driveway, so I was able to ice skate in the driveway!!!


Overall, I like this card. I added the snowflake this year - which I layered - a Ruby Red snowflake underneath one that was punched out of the newsprint paper that comes in the Night & Day Specialty DSP. The image of the skaters was cut out with a Nestabilities die. I really roughed up the edges of the kraft postcard portion with the distressing tool on the Cutter Kit from Stampin' Up! I wanted it to look like it had been sent thru the ringer and was aged. And I really {heart} the twill ribbon - it's very, should I say, cooperative??? It just seems to lay well, to tie well, I can get a practically perfect knot - I think anybody can get a great knot with this ribbon!!! (Don't worry Stamp Club girls - I'll continue to tie knots for you!!!)

Okay - that's all for now! Do you want more tomorrow? Oh, of course you do - my wish is at your command!!!

Thanks for stopping!

Jen

The Black Friday/Cyber Monday winner is.....

.....drumroll please!!! Karen Lantz!!!! Congrats Karen! I will send you your $50 Gift Certificate via email!

Now, onto today's regularly (err...irregularly) scheduled program! Today's card is actually a CASE'd (Copy And Share Everything) card from Kristina Werner's blog. I hadn't looked at her blog for a long time, so after checking it out, I decided to try and recreate her card.

I used some of that fancy flocked paper from the Christmas Cocoa DSP collection. It might remind you of some old wallpaper - but I think it's pretty stinkin' nifty! Used my white gel pen to go around the outside of the DSP with some faux stitching!!! I stamped the Season's Greetings on vellum cardstock with versamark and then heat embossed it with white ep. I was surprised at how well the vellum reacted to the heat tool. (I was envisioning smoke and fire!) Punched out the snowflake image, added a button. Easy peasy!!!

Cute - eh?

More tomorrow - I know! FOR REAL!!!!

Jen!

Retro? Noel...

I know you all have been patiently waiting for some new things on here - fear not my fellow blog readers....I've got a lot to show you this week! While I've been working away in my stamp room, most of my creations have been given away or going to Splurge! in Denison to be sold. I've forgotten to take pictures of most of the items (ugh!) However, I did break out my camera and start snapping photos of my most recent items. Here is one that came together, somewhat by accident - I was at a total loss when this one started, but in the end....I think it's pretty stinkin' cute!

I used the Holiday Lounge paper - and I stared at it for quite a while, wondering what to do with it. I looked over my stamp collection, and thought that the Big on Christmas set would work well. So, I stamped the image, and held it up to the paper. Stared at it some more. Then decided what colors to use, and colored the Noel image with my markers (Ruby Red and Taken w/ Teal). I looked at it all some more...thinking...hmmmm...where is this going to take me? Glitter - yep, glitter - I {heart} glitter! (I know you secretly do too Karen! Especially on paisleys!) So, I added some glitter to the ornament image, decided that I needed to pull in some more of the red, so punched the scallop border. I turned the Noel image into a tag, rounded the corners and punched a slot in it....it was a good decision! The card was still missing something....so, I pulled out the Jolly Wheel - and that seemed to do the trick! There you have it!

Alright peeps - that's all for today....I do have something for you tomorrow tho, I PROMISE!!!!

Jen!

Holiday Extravaganza!!!

You do NOT want to miss this sale! Stampin' Up! is offering tons of great products at up to 50% off now thru November 30th! And, I'm going to sweeten the deal for you! If you place an order between now and November 30th via my website or email, I will put your name in a drawing for the Patterned Pines stamp set (Holiday Mini Hostess set) and a package of Christmas Cocoa DSP, and a spool of Soft Suede Polka Dot ribbon! So, go to my website: http://jenarkfeld.stampinup.net/, and click on the SHOP NOW icon in the upper right corner and get your hands on some great deals!!!

Tin-sel!!!

Okay - I completely apologize for my absense! Geez, I log in here today, and see that this post was initially started on November 8th, and here I am 12 days later, finally with an opportunity to finish it. I recall when I started this post, I was falling asleep while I was typing, so, I gave it up....since then tho, I've had 2 Stamp Club meetings to prep for, my Christmas Stamp-A-Stack, Alex's birthday party, and now, I've done up several creations for a new gift shop that's opening in Denison, IA. I'm excited to be a part of that, the bad thing, I created, and created until I ran out of Snail! Eek, now I need to prep for Scrapbook club, and am hoping I can scrounge up some adhesive! Ok, well, here is the post that I initially had started......



Well, howdy all! I've got one of my favorite projects to show you today. I know that a lot of people ask for gift cards for the holidays, and it's probably the most popular gift to give and to receive. Yet, I always think - HOW BORING!!!! Well, not anymore. You just need to find some ways to jazz up that gift - and here's a nifty way:








This is a tin that Stampin' Up! Accents and Elements come in. You can also purchase these empty tins on my website, by clicking on the Shop Now icon in the upper right corner, then look for them on the clearance rack. Once they are gone, they are gone!




These are quite simple to make. I simply used rub-ons on the tin itself (last year my stamp club made these, except we heat embossed snowflakes on the tin - which was awesome!), made a cover from the Top Note die. That easily slips off to open the tin, and viola!

These were all made with retired paper and rub-ons, except for the rub-on on this ornament.

Isn't it more fun to give a gift card when your presentation is awesome??? I know the recipient really enjoys opening these.

FYI - these will be for sale at Chris Pridie's Gift Shop in Denison. Along with some for birthdays....too cha-cha for words (if I do say so myself!)

That's all for today peeps!

Jen

Gifts for giving...

Here's a nifty gift packaging idea - and *gasp* this one is NOT a Christmas project....I know, I know, I'm off the Christmas bandwagon for a day, maybe two. (I've also got Alex's birthday invites to concoct - well really just finish up - the plan has been formulated already) Then I'll be hopping right back on that Christmas wagon....I even about put some Christmas music on the other day. I couldn't stop signing - something I can't remember now, but I was in the mood for Christmas music! (I know Sandy, there is nothing wrong with listening to Christmas music all year round!!! )

Okay, back to our regularly irregular scheduled program....this gift package. Well, I got these coffee bags from Papertrey Ink, and needed a little something for my sister's birthday, whom I typically give money to, and then we go shopping, but I wanted a little extra "thing". So, I crafted up this coffee bag and filled it with some caramel corn (which has a story of it's own).

This was quite easy. It came with a window, so I traced the window onto some vellum cardstock, so I would know where to cut the window in my paper. Layered some paper up, stamped a could of images from the SU Circle Circus set (say that 5 times real fast!), and viola! Done. The bags are even lined so that they are food safe.

Hey - and just to toot my own horn. My post with the Cocoa jar in it (below) is going to be featured on the Yahoo Group - Stampin' Up! Late Night Stampers. Such an honor...I'm a bit in shock! So - picture it, I'm doing a little dance, buda belly and all!

Alright people - that's it for now....off to work on Alex's B-day invites!

Here is another simply, quick, inexpensive little Christmas project:

I purchased a glass jar from Wal-Mart, filled it with cocoa mix, and a cellophane bag full of marshmellows. Of course I decorated it first. Really quick and easy - just rubbed on some snowflake rub-ons in silver, tied a ribbon on the neck, then added the cute little tag. I punched the red snowflake, then added a bit of Platinum Shimmer paint to the edges. Glued it and the button to the tag with mini glue dots. The back of the tag has the directions written on it for the cocoa preparation. I did see in our grocery stores that there are some yummy flavored cocoa mixes out there. I haven't personally tried them - but they did sound good.

I think this is a great gift for teachers, grandparents that already have everything, secret santa gifts, etc.

That's it for today folks!!!

Halloween over, Christmas countdown begins!

So, now that Halloween is over, the Christmas rush shall begin. In my vow to not let the Christmas Chaos beckon my inner Scrooge, I'm starting on my Christmas projects and shopping earlier than normal. And since my dearest husband may still be combining thru December due to our wetter than normal fall, I may have to do most of the gift shopping myself. Normally Andy and I take a day and get all of our shopping done. We have a great day of shopping and a nice lunch out - I think both of us usually look forward to it. That may not happen this year..... So, here's a nifty little gift bad that I've already whipped up:


I know, I know - it's adorable isn't it??? I got the template from Papertrey Ink, and ran with it. It's a pretty good sized bag - the front and back take up an entire 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper (including the bottom and sides). I used Kraft paper as the base, then covered it with DSP from Merry Moments. The ribbon crazed person that I am actually broke out the twill tape to use in leiu of ribbon. *gasp* I actually love the look it gives here. The tree is from the Patterned Pines Hostess Set from Stampin' Up, and I punched it out with the Wide Oval punch. The scalloped oval is from my Nestabilities die set - which works well with the Big Shot! I think the Big Shot was probably my best purchase over the last year. I like the fact that you can cut and emboss with it, and it works with other dies - they do not have to be SU dies.


Here is a close up - isn't it stinkin' cute??? I just love those trees.

Happy Halloween!!!

Hope you all have a spooky fun day! Halloween is one of my favorites - it's just all about good fun, and the kids love it. Wanted to show you the treat bags that I made for my neice, nephew and sisters....


These were super simple - just a brown lunch bag covered front and back with paper and punched a couple of handles in them. In fact, there is absolutely no stamping whatsoever on these. I used rub-ons for the images - they coordinate well with the paper I thought.

It was a good quick project, and I could cram a lot of candy in the bag too!

I told you that I would post a couple of photos of my boys in their costumes:

This was my cowboy creation. I didn't have a pattern to go off of - so I just decided to wing it. I patted myself on the back a whole bunch. I think they turned out really cute, and I think the boys really liked them. Will commented to me that I was doing a nice job. I put a big red star on the back of Will's vest, and Alex had some additional "fringe" on the back of his.

Here they were shoving their mouths full of gummy snacks. Alex (on right) likes to put as much in his mouth as he can and try to chew it all up. He could have been a cowboy!

And last photo - with their Aunt Mallory as Peter Pan....too cute!

Have a fun and safe Halloween!