After seeing Patty Bennett's blog post about the Build-A-Brad bracelet using materials she found at Michaels, I just had to use my Mother's Day gift card to Michaels from my mom to make one for myself! I finished it today. I used some scraps I had from the retired Four Seasons designer series paper to create my bracelet. Use a 1/2 inch punch to punch out your paper and adhere it to a Build-A-Brad. I used some snail adhesive and it seems to be holding fine. Add the clear top of the Build-A-Brad and you are ready to start assembling your bracelet. Patty's blog post gives some information on how to assemble the bracelet, so I won't bother to repeat them here. I was not able to attach the rhinestone brads like Patty did on one of her bracelets (how she did it I don't know, as I couldn't get it to work), so I ended up using more Build-A-Brads instead. We'll see if the ladies at work like it and maybe we'll do a workshop to make more! This was my first time using my Build-A-Brad set, and what a fun way to use it! Thanks again for visiting my blog!

Revised Mother's Day Card

I really didn't like how bright the Cameo Coral flower came out, so I went back and colored another flower with a Blush Blossom marker, and I like the final result much better. My mom loved the card. She has saved every card I've ever sent/given her, and when they went back to Maine for the summer to visit friends and family, she took them all with her to show off. I think she's my biggest fan. This Friday, she and my dad are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. What an amazing accomplishment! I hope my husband and I get to celebrate our 50th. We hit the 17 year mark this summer. Speaking of anniversaries, I haven't made their card yet! I'd better get busy on it! Thanks again for taking the time to read my ramblings.

Happy Mother's Day!

I realized last night that I hadn't made my mom's Mother's Day card yet, so I was getting some ideas from Splitcoast, using the Carousel Notes, and I came across this one by Laura Brown. I loved her design, so I modified it a little for my liking. It's the first time I've used the flowers in my Pretties kit that I've had since it was first introduced, and I had fun learning to color the flowers with my markers. I used Cameo Coral and Close to Cocoa. I think if I had it to do over again, I might try Blush Blossom instead, as the Cameo Coral ended up darker than I would have liked. I absolutely love the PSX "For My Mother" sentiment. I used Chocolate Chip craft ink, with clear embossing powder. I should have inked it up better and pressed harder on the textured Groovy Guava cardstock. On the Chocolate Chip piece I used the larger swirl from the SU! Priceless set, stamped in Whisper White craft ink, with clear embossing powder. I like the milky appearance on the brown instead of bright white that I would have gotten had I used white embossing powder. On the inside, I used "Happy Mother's Day" from Stampin' Up's All Holidays stamp set. I can't say it enough - I LOVE the Afternoon Tea designer series paper and the Carousel Notes! So glad that SU! is giving us an additional month to purchase from their Occasions Mini Collection 2008 catalog - I'm nearly out of this gorgeous paper after Friday's workshop! Thanks so much for visiting my blog, and watch for some blog candy coming up when the counter hits 5,000.

Green Carousel Notes Purse

Here's the inside of the green Carousel Notes Purse that I finished early last week. On Friday, eight of the gals from work got together in my classroom to make a total of 12 purses. It was great to get together in this creative sort of setting. We had two newcomers to the group, which was great. I think they had fun and hope they'll be back again the next time I host a workshop. Thanks again for visiting my blog!

Another Carousel Notes Purse + A Peek at Another

I'm hosting a workshop at work on Friday afternoon and we're going to make... guess what? Carousel Notes Purses! I wanted to have at least two versions to share, so this weekend I made a blue version. My husband liked it and wants me to send one to his mom in Hawaii for Mother's Day, so I made another blue one last night and got a good start on a green version. Hopefully I can find some time tonight to finish the green version, then I'll be set for Friday! I need to add pictures to the blue one for my mom-in-law tonight so we can get it in the main tomorrow, too! Thanks for looking!