I'm Finished with Card Candy

OK, this is the last card candy I'm making for a really long time. I finally have enough to send to my stamping friends as promised.

I've had a lot of questions about what backing I use to adhere the items in the package. I just use a clear plastic card envelope and I put a tiny piece of double stick tape on the back of the card candy and stick it to the inside of the clear envelope. That's it really.

Busy with Card Candy

Today I was busy most of the morning making these packages of card candy. I promised some of my SBS16 friends that I would send them, so figured I should get as many done this weeekend as I could.

25 Swap Cards

I made this card using a great new stamp set from The Angel Company, I think it's called Linear Sentiments. I combined two of the stamps from the set and stamped the black background on the red card stock. There are 25 girls in this swap so I'm really glad that it was only card fronts and not an actual card.

My SBS Secret Swap Sister--Stacey!

First, I have to apologize to Stacey for not getting these photos posted sooner. Stacey is super talented and I just LOVE her work. I was lucky enough to get her as my SBS16 Secret Swap Sister. Here is just a small part of the goodies she sent me...I already used some of the fun stuff.

I saw this card on Stacey's blog and just raved about it...you can see why...isn't it great? I love the way she used colors and shading to make this so wonderful. And it looks even better in person!

Here is a photo of most of the neat stuff she got me. There is a big package (I don't think you can see it in the photo) of printed papers that are perfect for Halloween. She sent me some really cool British stamping magazines. What's so neat about that is I can't get those here, so it was fun seeing other types of designs. Along with the magazines were templates, more patterned paper and die cuts. She also sent me five (yes FIVE) rolls of American Crafts Elements ribbon in really great colors of yellow, pink, green and brown...love them! I got a package of eyelets, pink and blue rhinestone stickys, a Studio G stamp set that celebrates Friends...how great is that? She also sent a package of purple fabric (that's right, not paper, but the good stuff...fabric) flowers. But that's not all. She made me some really great projects. First is the door hanger that reads "Do not disturub. Stampin' in Progress." I love it! She make a booklet that holds about 20 stamped images (lots of Bellas and Rubber Romance! Yippee!) I got some giant altered paper clips with an "S" on them, along with matching clamps. Let's see what else. A beautiful bookmark...or, since the bookmark is made with a flat wooden stick, I could even put it in my indoor plant container...oh wait, I kill plants...that's why I don't have any...bookmark it is! There was a notepad holder and last, but finally not least she made a really cool stationary set. The box opens up and has cards, tags, small note cards, a place for stamps (which she place some embossed "stamps"...love those too!) and a matching pencil and note book. Wow!!! How awesome is Stacey! Thanks girl!

I'm going back to work!

That's right. I've been away for too long. I thought I would be OK going to school full time again, but I really miss being in the work environment. I know, sounds crazy. I am going back to Real Estate. I'll be working in asset management. Only problem is that my new job is about 20 miles from my house. That means a long drive across the river to the other side of town. Ah well. And oh, I start tomorrow! I'm still going to try to keep going to school full time. Yeah, I think I'm superwoman and can do it all (don't we all think that?). Speaking of school...I just got my grades...I kept my 4.0 GPA. woo hoo.

Better go...I have swaps to finish and I want to get them posted here before the weekend is over.

Blog Candy

OK, so I'm finding out that there are some folks that don't have their own blogs. So I'll change the requirements for the blog candy below. All you need to do is leave a comment. If you do have a blog and you reference my blog candy there, you will get a second chance to win. Again, you don't need to have a blog, just leave a note on the entry below. Good Luck

A Little Something to Give Away

Well, I got my finals done this week...still waiting for my grades, but I think I did better than I originally expected. No classes for two weeks...yippee! With the extra time I had, I spent a little bit of time in my stamping room. But first, let me share with you a funny story...well it was funny when it happened. If you follow my blog or know me, you know that I'm always saving containers and such to use in my projects (I know you do it too!). This week, as I emptied the plastic CoffeeMate container, I said "I wonder what I could make with this?" My husband, who was pouring coffee, said with enthusiasm, "Wait, I know!" He grabbed the container from my hand, walked across the kitchen and dropped it into the trash can. "There, that's perfect," he replied. I took that to mean that I have way to many "treasures" sitting around waiting to be crafted. So, I went into the closet in my stamp room to see what I could put to use.

I came across this Crystal Light container that I saved. I also had the smarts to save the little cups inside the container. You know, they hold the drink powder and you peel off the little foil cover.

I used one of my punches and cut circles to cover the little cups. The punch was the perfect size. I filled the cups with some baubles. But I only had five color baubles, so I filled the sixth cup with some mini die cut flowers. Then I used adhesive to put the paper circles over the cups.

I decorated the paper circles with Prisma flowers, buttons, and stickles.

I covered the container with paper and ribbon. I used a stamp from the new The Angel Company set called Sweet Goodies to make the tag. I love that new set, and plan on using it a lot this year for the holidays.

I used a scalloped punch, flower, button, and stickles for the lid of the container. As you can see, all of the cups stack inside the container.

Now, what to do with this? I noticed that my blog will be reaching 100,000 hits in the near future. So as a little pre-celebration, I think I will give this away. Yes, this is my first blog candy! All you have to do to have a chance to win this is to comment to this post. If you list me on your blogroll, you will get two chances to win. I will be drawing a name on August 15th.

For a Friend

Gosh, I have so much going on. My wonderful daughter just moved back home with us. It's an adjustment having a 22 yr old come back to the nest, but I love her so much, and I'm actually enjoying her more this time around. She has matured so much, and we talk and laugh so much more that we ever did before. But I must say, it's just hard for me to quit mothering her. The other day she, my husband and I were out eating breakfast and we were getting ready to take a fairly long trip in the car. As we were getting ready to leave, I asked her "Do you need to use the restroom before we leave." Can you believe that? She just looked at me, smiled, hugged me and said "Mom. I'm a big girl now." And we all just cut up laughing. She'll always be my baby!

One of my very best friends has a birthday this week. I hope this card makes it to her in time. Her father is having some medical issues right now, I know it's been weighing on her more and more. I keep praying for a positive outcome and letting her know I care. Hopefully, this card will make her smile.

I don't know what Bella image this is. I got the image from my SBS16 sister, Stacey. She was my secret sis and sent me the greatest package this week. In true Sonja fashion, I couldn't wait to take photos of the entire package before I started using up the great stuff she got me. But I will pull most of it together and post a picture soon. Umm, of course, the yummy candy she sent me is already gone...go figure.

This is another of my weekly cards for C. The image is from CTMH and was sent to me by another great SBS16 friend, Melanie.

Well, I need to go. I have final exams this week, so I probably won't be posting much till that is over.