Tag-A-Month 2013 Desk Calendar

Hey there and Happy New Year!

 

I've got something pretty cute to share with you.  I thought it would be fun to make myself a little desk calendar to keep track of important dates as well as any upcoming submission deadlines. 

This little calendar WON'T be crowded with all the Mom's Taxi kind of appointments.  It's supposed to stay CUTE!  HA HA!  Anyway.... I don't know about you but I just LOVE making tags.  They are so fun to make but I never know what to do with them besides stick them on packages or gifts.  So in honor of my Tag Love..... I made a special spot on this to change out a new tag each month.  Check back here the beginning of each Month this year and you can see a new tag! 

The base was made by cutting a strip of 12" cardboard and just folding it into a stand.  EASY PEASY!  Then I also created a pdf file of all the months for 2013.  If this sounds like something you'd want a copy of then shoot me an email and I will gladly send you the pdf.  shannavineyard@gmail.com   

 

Okay.... here's my fun little project!  Happy New Year!  Hugs!

 

 

 

 

 

Peace, Love and Happiness

Okay... so I lied about you not hearing from me again until next week.  I have been working away on some "Have to" projects but couldn't resist a quick "want to" project when I ran across the current challenge over on the Paper Smooches blog.  It was to use a polaroid or a camera in your design.  I was checking out their FREE Digi Stamps and instantly fell in love with this adorable candy cane heart. I knew exactly what I was going to create.  I don't own a polaroid stamp and couldn't find a pattern online that I liked so I drew out my own.  I have it posted below if you want to save it and use it too for anything! Anyhoo.... I hope you can tell in the photo how I glittered in the red parts on the heart.  It's always fun to pull out the messy stuff.  The sentiment I used on this is also from Paper Smooches and it's called Pretty Phrases.  It's one of my new favorites. 

Okay...... that's all I wanted to share really quick!  I hope ya'll have a great weekend and get to put a dent in that Christmas shopping list!  I will be working on some more design projects as well as cheering for my Macey on the soccer fields all weekend.  She has 5 games!  Happy Holidays!  

 



Christmas Sweets......

Today I will share some Christmas sweets!  Some edible and some not-so edible. Hee hee!  This first insanely fun and cute stack of sugary deliciousness is something the girls and I have been working on the last few days.  And we absolutely plan on making more of them.  I saw this idea on a friend's Facebook page and knew right away I had to make some!  I have a sugar cookie recipe that's been in my family for YEARS that is by far the best one I've ever tasted.... and I have no doubt it's the Almond and Lemon extract that sets it apart from all the rest.  YUM!

Isn't it fun??? And it's so, so easy to make! All you need is a set of star-shaped cookie cutters.  I have a set of four that I found at Hobby Lobby for super cheap. All different sizes.  Made the cookies then iced them and stacked them up!  Then added the little edible sprinkles and balls. I think there were three of each size cookie. anyhooo.... I love the recipe... for the icing too!!! So here it is for you... so you can try it out yourself!

Yummy Sugar Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 pound margarine

2 cups sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

1 tsp. almond extract

6 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Cream together margarine and sugar. Add eggs and mix.  Add vanilla, almond and lemon extracts then mix.  Add 6 cups flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix together then chill 1-2 hours in covered bowl.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 mins.

Icing Recipe:

1 box powdered sugar, 1/3 heaping cup butter or

shortening, 1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients together and add milk to get to desired consistency.  Color with food coloring as needed. 



 

If you end up baking some.... you'll have to share how you like them!  I've never had anyone say this wasn't the best sugar cookie recipe ever!  Seriously! LOL



 

Okay.... I'm going to be working away like crazy this coming week on some projects for Bo Bunny so you most likely won't hear from me again until next week sometime.  Unless it's some quick Facebook posts.  I'm ALWAYS posting over there! HA!  But I thought I would leave you with something else that's super sweet!  I have a couple of cards in the current issue of Create: Christmas Cards magazine by Northridge Publishing.  It always makes me squeal like a kid at Christmas to see my creations in print so I wanted to share!  I hope you're all enjoying this Holiday season!  Hugs!

 

 

 

 





Lots to Share Today!

Hi again! I know... it's only been a few days since my last post.  SHOCKER right?  HA! I told you I'm changing some things up and it will get back to being super crafty around here!  All KINDS of crafty!  Most of you know I dabble in a lot of things. I have a brain that doesn't shut down. For all kinds of reasons but a lot of which is scrappy-crafty related!  Hopefully YOU will enjoy that part as much as I enjoy sharing.  Okay... this post is gonna be longer than normal for me so I better get to it!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and saying so many wonderful things about my Winterings Cards.  The lucky winner of the Winterings drawing is........

 

Sorry I decided to do the drawing a little early because I have a full weekend ahead with soccer, basketball, birthday parties... and much more!  Sooooo.... Lisa P... email me please with your mailing info and I will get your goodies out to you! Congrats girl!  And I hope you'll share what you create with the fun products! 

 

Did anyone happen to notice my blog since you came here last?  I thought it was time for something a little fun and festive! I've been playing around a lot lately with the cute little Instagram photos so I decided to use them in my banner.  Holiday-ish right? 

Which one is your fave?

 

Speaking of getting fun and festive... my home is looking a lot like Christmas.  I'm sure yours is too! One of my favorite things to collect during this time of year is Snowmen of all kinds.  Being born and raised in Arizona where we don't see snow unless we drive 3 hours North... the Snowmen hanging out around my house just makes it feel wintry and Christmas-y even when it's still 74 degrees outside.  I love this little family of snowmen that sits on my bathroom counter.  I was totally inspired by the colors and the glittery cuteness so I made a card using some older lines by October Afternoon. 

 

Here's the card I created after being inspired by this sweet snowman family!

 

 

The fun snowman stamp is manufactured by PaperSmooches and the set he came from is called Swanky Snow Dudes.  Seriously cute!  Oh and for those who might be curious... the snowflakes are punched from a sheet of glittered foam from Hobby Lobby.  The snowflake punch is just the XL size by Martha Stewart. 

Some of you know how much I also love to play with digital scrapbooking.  So I thought I would also share this super-cute snowman card I made a few weeks ago since he fits right in today!

 

 

Okay.... that's it for all things scrappy today but one more thing I wanted to share with you that totally tugged at my heartstrings!  I do childcare here in my home full time and design when I can during naptimes or late at night.  But yesterday one of my sweet kiddos turned TWO so I made her some cupcakes.  Her name is Ariana.  She's a doll.  I have to share these sweet pics I got of her and the chain of events trying to eat her cupcake.  She was soooo happy to have it.  Then.... tragedy struck when the cupcake crumbled all over on the table in front of her.  She was pretty devastated as you can see.  LOL She really thought she wasn't going to get to eat it.  THEN.... once she listened to me and I showed her how she could still eat it.... well... you can see how that turned out. HA! 

 I love kids. They are a lot of work.  A LOT. But they do bring a lot of JOY.  Especially our own. The ones who know how to get on your LAST nerve. But the same ones who know what it takes to turn Mommy or Daddy into mush in a hot second! 

There's nothing so rewarding than being a Mom.

 

Thanks for stopping by today! 

Have a great weekend and see ya next week!

 

 

Winterings Giveaway!

I'm so happy and excited to have the creative time I have now be MY time. To play with whatever I want... whenever I want.  For those of you who have asked about my Monthly Card Kit Club... I'm sorry to say that I've finally retired that creative commitment. I kept that going for three whole years.  And while it was a blast... it was also an insane amount of work. BUT... thanks again to all of you who kept me in business!  Not only did you allow me to keep creating but also helped pay the bills while we were in Mississippi and I will forever be grateful for that!

I am so excited to be able to get back to creating more and sharing more here on my blog. It's been completely neglected over the past couple of years and that's about to change. I also look forward to sharing things that are going on with my family and myself as well.  I can't wait to share some SUPER fun things in the next few months so stay tuned!

Today I want to share a few cards and a tag I created using Little Yellow Bicycle's new line called Winterings.  You can see that collection HERE in much more detail. They were generous enough to send me some products that I could work with and then also give to YOU!  My sweet readers!  Soooo.... after you've checked out these little creations.... be sure to leave a comment by Friday November 30th telling me which one is your favorite and you will be entered into a drawing to win some Winterings goodies from Little Yellow Bicycle!  Winner will be announced on Monday the 3rd of December.   Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

 

 



Happy Holidays School Fundraiser

Hi there!  Thanks for stopping by my blog! 

My freshman daughter, Bailee just made her High School basketball team and is super excited! 

They are having a Free-Throw fundraiser to earn money for the team and tournaments so I told her I would help round up donations for her if she would help me sand and paint!

We are selling these CUTE wood snowman Christmas ornaments just in

time for the Holidays!  Perfect teacher gifts or to put on top of your packages

and of course your Christmas tree!  This little guy measures just under 6" tall not including the wire hanger.  He's $10.00 shipped!  You get one with every $10.00 donation so you can purchase as many as you like!  Please email me if you have any questions.  shannavineyard@gmail.com 

Click on the PayPal "Buy Now" button below to purchase. 

Thanks so much from Bailee AND myself and Happy Holidays!

 

  

 

October Card Kits

This is my LAST official month of doing the monthly card kit club.  It is something I've been contemplating for a while now but couldn't pull the plug because I just love it so much.  But now that we are moved and settled in.... life has been kicking me in the butt!  My childcare is in full-swing now, thank heavens, and I need to be available "after hours" for my family. My girls are growing up at lightning speeds and I just don't want to have any regrets.  I hope that makes sense.  Anyway.... on a fun note.... because I won't be doing the card kits that have been taking up any extra "creative" time... this means I get to "play" for fun and "make things" like I used to!  LOL  So that part I am looking forward to when life allows for it.  Probably nap times. :)

 

Sooooo.... here's my last Peek ever of the monthly card kits.  October. it has three fun Christmas cards in it.  I love them.  I'm thinking I should have about 6 extra kits this month.  If you want one then please shoot me an email.....  shannavineyard@gmail.com   Thanks!♥