Clearance is a scrappers best friend.

With the advent of a new family comes the opportunity to build an album. I stopped at JoAnn's on the way home from the ceremony and grabbed what I'd need. OK, so I grabbed what I'd need for seven albums. I couldn't help myself...it was on clearance. I got all this for $35!

2 -8x8 albums (at $4 each I should have gotten more)
2 - pads of double sided paper - $3 each
1 - pad of coordinating glitter punch outs  - $3
10 - packs of coordinating embellishments  -less than $1 each
 1 - roll of glue dots (not on sale, but I was OUT)
2 - rolls of ribbon (which were not on sale - lame)
and a partridge in a pear tree, which will be served for dinner.

Admittedly, Other paper sets would have gone better with the brides outfit. (It's all about the bride!) But nothing in the right colors grabbed my fancy. So...if you can't find paper you love, love the one you find on the cheap.  ;-)

WMD - Wisdom of the Aged

Years ago my mother recognized that with 7 children and 34 grandchildren, keeping track of birthdays and holidays was going to be increasingly difficult as families grew and age took her memory. So she solved the problem by a) sending money rather than gifts and b) delegating distribution to the parents. It's a brilliant plan really, no one has ever returned the gift because it was the wrong size or color or age appropriateness. 

So each year at Thanksgiving Mom writes checks to my siblings and I as the current year's Christmas gift and birthday giving for the following year. When the kids were young I just used the money to buy gifts. Now the kids are on to me; they want the cash. Figures. So I try to find some clever way to gift the money to the kids. This year I made these adorable Toy Soldier Boxes. The cut file and assembly video are free on SVGcuts.com.

I also remind the young uns to send Grandma a thank you card, which has never happened. Lightbulb!...This year I'm going to give each kid an addressed, stamped Thank You card and tell them when they give it back to me with a nice note, ready to mail, they can have their Grandma Gift. I'm feeling a new tradition blossoming. Too bad it took me 30 years to think of it. This is why I talk to myself... I'm only brilliant in complete sentences.

WMD - Rosette Christmas tree

This very cool rosette tree was shown on the Archiver's Online ad a couple of weeks ago. There are printable instructions on their website. Another great project for the Martha Stewart scoring board. This is what I'm making on this Where's My Desk Wednesday. Photo pending...

(updated 12/6/2012) Here's mine.  I chose to leave it undecorated. It's a lot smaller than it looks, only six inches at the base and about 10 inches tall; just right for setting on a mantle.


The paper is the O Christmas Tree stack by MME. I love it; so nice and glittery. However, double sided cardstock may have been a better choice. The photo makes me feel like my slip is showing.

Rosette Turkeys

Here is my little turkey flock, ready to adorn the Thanksgiving table. I'm not much of a cook so this is my contribution to the celebration. They are based on the Tim Holtz Quirky Turkeys but I used the MS scoring board rather than a die.

I made the bodies/faces from basic shapes on MTC (2 circles and an elongated tear, welded and stretched to 2.25 inches tall for the body, a kite for the beak and half a yin/yang for the waddle.) But if you don't want to make your own, Cricut has several choices or there are some freebies on the web.

Here are cutting measurements to get three turkeys per 12x12 sheet:
Cut paper vertically at 10.25. This will give you a strip to punch circles for stability. Contrary to what Tim says I put one on the front and back of each rosette. It made them easier to glue together.
Cut 3 strips 1.5x10.25
Cut 3 strips 1.25 x 9.75
Cut 3 strips 1x9.25
Punch along one long edge of each of these 9 strips with your scallop edger, score at quarter inches, then follow Tim's instructions.

The rosette paper is from SEI's Nutmeg stack.

WMD - Trick or Treat

My job has moved to a new building just around the corner from O My Crafts. Will Call is just like Trick or Treat: you go to the door, say the magic phrase and walk away with a bag full of goodies.

This is what I got today at O My Crafts for around $20. Imaginisce Glam Rocks, Martha Stewart scoring board, 29 packages of Making Memories Bravissimo! sentiment packs, Making Memories Halloween stamps. Add to that a "25% off any online order" coupon code (OMC25). TRICK OR TREAT!

WMD - Witchy pops

With Christmas cards done in September and Spring Cards on my desk I was starting to get a bit season confused. I thought a quick Halloween craft might fix me right up.

This cute and easy to assemble Witch hat SVG is free over at SVGcuts.com. I cut 8 per 12x12 sheet of double sided cardstock. I made 24 of them in an evening. Three sheets gave me lots of variety.  Inking the edges took most of the time but is totally worth the effort. It's a treat that looks like you fussed, only without the fuss. How can that be bad?!?