Are you a Beanie or a Bonnet?

This weekend, my workshop gals and I are making beanie hat gift card holders!  We are using the tutorial posted by Carolina Buchting on Splitcoast Stampers.  I provide guidance and pre-cut materials and workshop fee covers materials and a donation to the Southern Ontario Animal Rescue.

Our kits use this teal-green, white polka-dotted paper.  Depending how you dress the brim, you can make it a birthday bonnet or a boyish beanie!  I was so impressed with how easy it was to put together.  I had to alter the instructions a little because I don't have a handheld Crop-a-Dile.  I have the Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite, so I could not easily slip it between the layers to punch my hole and set my eyelet.

I like my revised way better anyway.  It's easier to work with flat pieces.  The other revision I made was to round the corners of the brim at the top.  I think it makes it look more like the brim is going around the hat instead of the sharp edges in the original samples.

I made whole bunch of these, they were so easy (and fun!)

On some I used buttons and a straight-bottomed brim.  I think that style lends itself better towards males.  I also created a Naked Baby Beanie!  Now, before you all report me to the authorities, the "naked" applies to the BEANIE.  These beanies aren't dressed in any patterned paper.  I simply embossed the cardstock, added ribbon and didn't even dress up the eyelet hinge.

I used a Stampin' Up! punch for the brim lace on them.  On the others, I used decorative scalloped scissors.  Any border punch or border die would work though!

This one is my best attempt at a male winter hat.  The reveal is in the next photo.  The gift card sits under the cap!  The cap is hinged and tucks behind the brim.  Open it up and reveal your gift card!  (It would work as a money holder too.)

Of course, I had to make some that were holiday themed

I think it's going to be a VERY fast class but oh so fun!

The Holidays Are IN!

Now that October is gone, it is time to turn my brain on to the idea of Christmas.  Yes!  I feel the holiday spirit weaving its way in to my thoughts.

On Saturday, I went to the "Made by Hand" show at the International Centre in Mississauga.  I think it was the first ever.  It featured only local Ontario artists.  I saw many shops that I recognized from iCraft and Etsy.  Among them, I met:

• Ahkriti, a jewellery maker on iCraft - a hardworking, inspiring lady with a great eye for colours
• Thunderpeep, a digital artist selling stationery and other papercraft both on iCraft and Etsy, an artist with fabulously crisp and out-of-the-box designs
• Sewlutionsbyamo, a handmade leather accessories shop on Etsy (including wallets and cuffs), one I have long looked at on Etsy for seamlessly practical AND fashionable items

I went to the show originally just to check it out.  It was larger than I thought it would be.  I also noticed on the flyer that the door proceeds sponsored Crafting for a Cure.  Door tickets were amazingly low for an International Centre event (only $1 or $2).  My entry was free because I brought the flyer.  I went to their site (WARNING: Some pages launch video immediately.)  I found that they take product donations.  So, since I wasn't contributing to door proceeds, I rummaged through my scraproom and donated: a whole bunch of Christmas paper, two unopened Tombow Aqua glues, one opened and one unopened Scotch photo splits, a bunch of stickers, some cardstock alphabets (punch outs) and some ribbons.  It was probably a 2 inch thick stack of stuff plus the ribbons and glues on top.

Dropping off my donation at the entrance put me in a warm fuzzy mood.  I wandered for a bit first, not really looking hard because I hadn't intended to buy anything in particular.  I saw some hand painted ornaments that I really liked though.  There was a deal to buy 5, so I made a little set out of them.  Once I bought that, then I remembered I needed a tree topper too.  I found a couple but I bought the smaller one because our tree is not super tall.  The topper is pictured at the top of this post.  I LOVE the contrast of the jingle bell colours against the neutrals of the angel.  Plus, the jingle bells are such a happy sound!  The other things I bought were gifts, so I'm not going to mention them here.  All in all, I was very happy with my purchases.

It was a good kick off to the Holidays!  We had a family skate that night.  We rented an indoor ice rink.  When you split the cost between a few families, it was quite affordable and less intimidating for the little ones than a public skate.  Our nephews started out shaky and nervous but were having fun by the end.  We let them take it slow and their confidence kept building over the hour.  Skating was another happy holiday feeling!

Sunday, I worked on my workshop samples and instructions.  The item was much easier to make than I imagined!  I made a whole bunch of samples AND all the kits too.  (I'll post those soon.)

There's something in the air, I tell you.  Something good.

Mousy Birthday

I finished my Grammie's custom order of cards for this year.  I included 10 holiday cards, a handful of Thank-you cards and two birthday cards.  Here's a peek at one of the holiday cards:

It's a snowflake holiday card.  I used a BossKut snowflake die and an Quickutz snowflake embossing folder.  I love the look of embossing.  The die cut seemed to match the style of the embossing folder, so I went with it.

I also made these mousy birthday cards.  I tried to keep them masculine, but the mouse is a girl.  So, I think it makes this card gender neutral.  Since Grammie is a girl and she is the sender, the mouse can be her and it can be sent to girls or boys.

I coloured them with my copics.  I also used a sparkle gel pen on the flower centres for a touch of glitz.  The digital image is from Di's Digi Downloads.  She has some really cute critters.

These ones are larger than normal cards.  I had some 4.5 by 7 inch envelopes that I wanted to use up.  However, I don't like making cards larger than 6 inches.  At 6 inches I can get 2 from a 12 x 12 inch page of cardstock.  So, I cut these envelopes down and added a patterned paper flap.  I got the idea from the tailored envelope tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.

Next on the to-do list: Make the sample for my upcoming workshop!  This one is going to be finished just under the wire.  That seems to be the trend as of late!

Fall Auction Date for Dog Rescue

The date of the Speaking of Dogs online auction has been announced!  They will have over 200 items available, including my dog mini-album.  My album is one of the less expensive donations but a lot of supporters have donated BIG ticket items too.  Please remember to check out the offerings from FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4th, 9am to SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13th, 9 pm EST.