Saturday, November 13, 2010

Fiskateer’s Gift Making Extravaganza

The Fiskateer’s Gift Making Extravaganza was in full swing this past weekend on the message board. Tami who is one of the Lead Fiskateers had posted 15+ challenges on the Fiskateer message board to inspire you to create some awesome gifts or even to get some ideas for gifts that you can give.

Challenge #1 is to create a Gift Card Holder – Tami also posted a great video tutorial showing you how to make one. I decided to go a different route & created two different gift card holders. The first one shown is a stocking gift cardholder. The top part is a flap that lifts up & under it you place the gift card. Then next one I made is a Santa Hat. In the bottom part of the hat there is an opening to put the gift card. (The gift card can be seen from the back of the holder). These were both fun, easy projects to make. I added some glitter to both of them as I felt that they needed some bling. The holly was cut with my new Sizzix die.

I wish that I could take credit for these cute gift card holders but unfortunately neither is my idea. I found both of them while surfing the net & thought that they were so cute. I did change the papers & embellishments on both.

Here is a picture of the Santa Hat Gift Card Holder:The next picture shows the outside of the stocking.This picture shows you the inside of the stocking where the gift card is stored.Challenge #2 was a 2 part challenge. The first part was to change your profile so that your Fiskateer number was displayed as your profile picture or in your signature (or both). This was an easy challenge. The second part was to create something to show off your number and unfortunately I didn’t get that part of the challenge done.

Challenge #3 was to post your favorite recipe & part two of the challenge was to do a gift wrapping for it. Unfortunately I only had time to post my favorite recipe.

Another challenge that I was able to finish was Challenge #5 Cards and Tags. I created 2 quick & easy Christmas cards that involved no stamping. That’s a rare one for me as 99% of my cards are stamped.Here's what I came up with: Next for Challenge #9 - Wrap it Up you had to come up with a creative way to wrap up a gift. I decided to do an envelope bag. Here’s mine:Challenge #12 - Deck the Halls was to create some type of holiday decoration for your home or as a hostess gift during the season. I created a triangle gift box that can be hung on your tree & then removed for easy gift giving. Here’s mine:I’ve jumped around on some of the challenges because of the deadlines. The next challenge that I did was Challenge #15 where we had to post our favorite Christmas movie & then make something that uses the colors or theme from the movie.

I have a difficult time picking just one movie. My favorite Christmas movie has to be Christmas Vacation. I just love it when Clark (Chevy Chase) is locked up in the attic watching old home movies. I also enjoy Prancer & of course it always makes me cry. Another good Christmas movie is The Night They Saved Christmas (with Art Carney & Jaclyn Smith). It’s a really good movie in my opinion & makes you really believe that there is a Santa. Then of course there is The Santa Clause with Tim Allen.

I decided to make ATC’s using the theme from these great Christmas movies. I did these up pretty quick as the deadline was approaching & I also had to watch Dancing with the Stars. lol Here’s what I did:Well that's it for now. I think I'll check the list and see what challenges are due today. Hopefully I can find some time & effort to be creative today. Thanks for looking & have a great day.

Winners of the Land of the Free Because of Brave Blog Hop are

The winners of the Land of the Free, Because of the Brave Veteran’s Day Blog Hop are…

Drum roll, please!

The winner of the Scrap'nTote, generously donated by Marlo of ContainYaCrafts is from Deb's Blog, If It's Groovy - Josie, comment number 5. Josie said, "Wonderful! Cheryl is such a nice person too....she welcomed me when I joined the Fiskateers! I love the photo of the baby too!"

Our second big winner, of the Spellbinders Nesties, donated by Anne of Paper Patch Crafts is from Christel, at One Scrappin' Sista - number 41---Gina Thornton! Gina said, "Cristel, thanks so much for sharing your father's stories and family member's as well. Thanks for hopping along with us!"

Karel will be contacting the winners for their mailing information or you can contact her yourselves if you see this.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this hop your projects were amazing, to Karel for all her hard work & for all those who stopped to visit & hopped along with us.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave Blog Hop

Welcome to our Veteran's Day Blog Hop! Veteran's Day is very important to me. My father fought in WWII as did his younger brother. My Paternal Grandfather had 2 brothers who fought in WWI as did my Paternal Grandmother's brother. My Grandfather's youngest brother was killed in action on May 14th, 1917 at the Battle of Somme, Vimy Ridge, France. He was 18 years old.

These amazing men and women put their lives on hold to go off and fight for us and our country. They leave their families behind and sacrifice so much for us. How do you thank someone for making such a sacrifice. Somehow, thank you just doesn't seem enough.

A few years ago I had come across these record albums at a yard sale and immediately scooped them up. I decided to alter one to use as a sort of memory album for my father. Although it's not complete at this time, I do have the album done and thought that I'd show you just what you can do with these old albums. I used Basic Grey paper and covered the album cover as well as all the inside pages. I cut out the hole using an exacto knife and intend to put a photo of my father at different stages of his life peeking through the holes. Now that the album is complete, I have the difficult task of figuring out just what photo's to use and embellishments. Since my father passed away when I was 11, I want this to be a book telling my son about the Grandfather that he never knew. (My son is also named after my father).

A few years back when it was the Year of the Veteran, I wrote & requested my father's war records from WWII and would like to include some of the information from them as well. The pockets in this album are large enough that I can also add layouts or even include his war records & tuck them inside it for safe keeping.

This first photo shows the before & after of what this record album looks like.This next photo shows the inside pages of this album now.This last photo shows the side by side of before and after. I just love how this has turned out so far & can't wait to start working on adding the photo's and journaling.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop. There are 19 talented ladies waiting to show you their amazing work.

In order to be eligible for the Grand Prizes, don't forget to leave a comment on each & every blog. The winner will be announced tomorrow on Karel's blog at One By One The Flamingos Are Stealing My Sanity http://karelj.blogspot.comNow off to the hop.

If you've come to my blog from Jennifer at Young’s Scrappinghttp://youngsscrapping.blogspot.comyouare on the right track. Next on the list is Judy at Be Present Be Realhttp://bepresentbereal.blogspot.com

If you get lost, here's the list of blogs participitating in today's hop.
1. KarelJ at One By One The Flamingos Are Stealing My Sanityhttp://karelj.blogspot.com
2. Celeste at Touched By a Butterfly http://www.touchedbyabutterfly.blogspot.com
3. Deb at Tidbit’s Place http://tidbitsplace.blogspot.com
4. Michelle at Peanut Butter and Jelly Designs http://peanutbutterandjellydesigns.blogspot.com
5. Jennifer at Young’s Scrapping http://youngsscrapping.blogspot.com
6. Diane at Crafting This Moment http://craftingthismoment.blogspot.com
7. Judy at Be Present Be Real http://bepresentbereal.blogspot.com
8. Marianne at Life From Marianne’s Table http://number1aunt.blogspot.com
9. Deb at If It’s Groovy http://ifitsgroovy.blogspot.com
10.Christel at One Scrappin’ Sista http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com
11.Belinda at Queen Bee’s Musings http://queenbeesmusings.blogspot.com
12.Colleen at Col’s Creative Corner http://scrappycol.blogspot.com
13.Summer and Jennifer at Cricut Diaries http://cricutdiaries.blogspot.com
14.Rachel at Suburban Crafter http://www.rachelstampshappy.blogspot.com/
15.Gina at Gina Thornton Stamping http://ginathorntonstamping.blogspot.com
16.Becky at Sew in Stitches http://sewinstitches.blogspot.com
17.Rebecca at Creations With Becca http://www.creationswithbecka.blogspot.com
18.Bobbi Jo at Sassy Sweet Diva http://sweetsassydiva-gspot.blogspot.com
19.Angie at Gypsy Paperie http://gypsypaperie.blogspot.com
20.Linda at The Tulip Collector http://thetulipcollector.blogspot.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Land of the Free Because of the Brave Upcoming Blog Hop



I am happy to announce our "Land of the Free Because of the Brave" Upcoming Veteran’s Day Blog Hop on November 11th. We are so excited to inform you that Marlo Letterle, of the wonderful Scrap'nTote has agreed to donate one of her fantastic Totes for our Grand Prize Blog Candy! If you aren't familiar with her product, please check her out here!: http://www.cricutcartridgestorage.com/
I can't believe how blessed we are to have her on board!

Important Note: In order to be eligible for the Grand Prize Blog Candy you must leave a post on EVERY blog in the hop and leave a way to be contacted. Winners will be chosen using random.org, and announced on Karel’s blog on the 12th. http://karelj.blogspot.com If she doesn't hear from the winner by the 15th, she'll choose another winner.)