HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE! AND RESIN PENDANT WINNERS!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY-FRIENDS!!!

Hello, everyone!!!  And a very happy New Year's eve to you all!!!

I thought when I'd completed my project I'd have more time for posting, however, with so many relatives in Chicago for the holiday season, I've found myself doing more running back  and forth than I'd even imagined.  AND because I drive, more transporting relatives back and forth!!!  Although it's all so wearing, I'm really enjoying myself and all the families -- but I've been really missing you!

I  apologize for not getting to and giving the resin pendant drawings as much attention as I'd hoped to too and this is the last drawing!  After our big family New Year's celebration tonight, our families will all be either gone and/or leaving for their homes on Monday;  I promise to be back on a more regular basis by then.

In the meantime, I have the winning generated numbers for the drawing:

Congratulations, numbers 10 and 27, which are the comment orders of mforquor of "Melissa Made"  Blogspot and Helen of "A Taste of DC" Blogspot.  Congratulations ladies!!!  And congratulationas to all the ladies that have won!!!  Please email me your pendant photo or word(s) to audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net.com

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for participating!  To those of you who have not yet submitted your pendant information, I will need it no later than Friday, January 7, 2011.  I will begin completing the pendants next weekend to have out in the mail the following week!!!

Well, I'm getting ready for our New Year's celebration, so I'll off,  but before I go I wish you all a very wonderful New Year's filled with all the blessings, hopes, wishes and dreams you deserve!!!  May you bring in the New Year with joy, love and laughter!!!

Hugs!

JUST AN UPDATE!

Hello, everyone!  I hope this post finds everyone well and enjoying the holiday season still!!!

I am well, and still enjoying family that are here visiting for the holiday!  I have relatives here from Philadelphia, Washington, and Louisianna.  My hubby has relatives here from California and Mississippi.  Everyone is spread out staying with different families, so we've been back and forth visiting, and trying to organize one big New Year's eve celebration where we can all come together -- so far, it's been a joyous week!!!  I hope you and your families are taking the time to "live, laugh, and love".  For us, we don't get together often, so the holidays become particularly important.

It's been wonderful being able to drop in and visit with some of you, and seeing some of your amazing creations!!!  I still have a lot of getting around to do but I'm enjoying taking the time in between family visits admiring all your work!

Still haven't been able to just jump into crafting yet or playing with my new Imagine but after all the family festivities I'll have all the time I need to do that too -- still looking forward to some pointers from any of you on this Imagine!

Anyhow, I wanted to drop in to just let you know, as always, I'm thinking of you.

Before I leave I want you to know, my aunt actuallty asked me to tell all my blogging buddies hello and happy holidays from her!  I guess she's finally paying attention to how much blogging and all of you mean to me.  Guess she's put her envy to a side for the holidays -- LOL!!!  For all of you that have asked about her, she's doing well, just got another perfect bill of health!!!

Please don't forget to sign up for the resin pendants too.  Next week is the last week and, as a note, I'm trying to come up with something exciting for you to help me bring in my blogging one-year anniversary, which is January 3, 2011!!!

Hugs, and ... I'll be seeing you!

HAPPY, HAPPY DAY!

Hello, all my wonderful blogging family-friends!

I am so glad to be back to you all!!!  I've prayed you all had a beautiful Christmas!

I am so very happy to be back to blogging again, and I'm enjoying trying to get around to visit all of you!  These last few weeks have been more than hectic for me and before I jump into any projects, I just want to relax a bit and see what you've been up too -- I've missed so very much and got so very behind!

I did have a wonderful Christmas!  My hubby did all the cooking (including the trimmings) and he did such a wonderful job!  After having to rush to get in last-minute Christmas shopping and getting my house back in order, all I had to do Christmas day was relax and enjoy wonderful family and friends.  Hubby and son made sure I had nothing work-related to do!  They waited and served all our guests, cleaned the dinner dishes and all else left to be done at the end of the day.  Wasn't that wonderful?  And, I needed really needed that!  I was truly exhausted!!!

So, what did I get for Christmas?!!!  Well, I got many wonderful gifts; however, the crafy candies I received were a Michael's gift certificate from my son to purchase carts for my brand new Cricut Imagine which was one of the gifts from my hubby.  Now, I know it's a wonderful gift, but I've not yet become the Imagine enthusiast so many of you are; therefore, I think I'll need a lot of help from you all that have and enjoy it, to get me to at least  a point of " some" more excitement over it.  Playing with it so far, it will only cut from the Gypsy -- I can use my Expression still to do that; I can't use Design Studio with it, and I can only use the old carts with it to add color and patterns -- I can use patterned and color paper on my Expression to achieve this!  It doesn't weld, you can only size in 1/2 increments, and there are only a few carts other than pattern carts; and the ones available haven't excited me too much -- so can anybody add anything to help boost my interest?!!!  I'm hoping over time the machine is upgraded to a point where I can finally use Design Studio with it -- hopefully.  However, I do appreciate the gift and I'm sure to figure out some interesting things to do with it.  I'm planning on taking some time to play and explore it more this week between the on-going family holiday festivities and blogging.  If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

As a note, I've updated the post for the resin pendants.  I apologize that I haven't had the time to give the attention to and promoting this give-away as I planned, but I didn't expect my recent project to be as demanding as it turned out.  I do hope those of you that haven't already commented to win a pendant will do so!  It's open to all my followers -- old and new!

Anyway, as I said I'm thrilled to be back; look forward to seeing all your wonderful projects and visiting with you.

I am so happy and blessed to know you all, and I am so happy to know you had a wonderful Christmas.  I look forward to sharing the blessed New Year!

I'll be seeing you...

HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!

A very warm, safe, happy and blessed holiday to all of you -- my wonderful and dear friends!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAY!

FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST!!! AND, RESIN PENDANT DRAWING!!!

Hello, everyone!!!  And, happy holiday season to you all!!!  I've missed you so very muuch!

I've finally got through all my orders.  Actually, I was done on Sunday, but I spent this week getting my house back in order and preparing for the holiday with my family.  Of course, I had to get out here this week and sort through "last minute" items to find decent gifts but I managed to get everyone taken care of.  My only regret is that I didn't get the opportunity to get cards completed and out like I'd wanted to.

This was a very hectic month for me, I took on more than I could actually handle, and ran into all sorts of difficulties -- I'm so glad this is over, and I don't think I'll do it again next year.  My hubby commented that for all the soap taken out of this house, not one bar would have my name on it.  He's right!  I make it, he cuts it, we plastic wrap it, and then it all goes out to get packaged with someone else's name on it.  But,...  as my nephew says "dems the breaks"!!!  LOL!

I am so happy to be able to get back to blogging and look so forward to visiting and seeing what you've all been up to!!!

In the meantime, I have the winning draws for the resin pendants:

In the order of comments, these numbers correspond to:  Barb of Barbs Boys and

Terry Oulboub.  Congratulations, ladies!

Please email me the information for your resin pendants at:  audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net

I am still waiting for emails from:  Wendy of Kingston Kreations, Amber of Staying Crafty, and BridgetL.  I need your photo or desired wording by December 30.  Please make certain to get it to me.

Well I'm off to do some "little" last minute things before tomorrow but I'll be to visit for a while!  I'll be back next week to do all my catching up on all I've missed.

I'd like to say thank you to those of you who sent me cards and who so faithfully commented, visited, and kept up with me these past few weeks.  I so very much appreciated it!  Of all I was doing, I did not feel forgotten and neglected, eventhough I couldn't get back to you; that means so very much to me!

Now before I get out of here, please remember to comment for your resin pendants for the drawing on Friday, December 31; good luck!!!

Have a wonderfully Merry Christmas and you'll all be with me in my thought, prayers, and throughout my holiday.

Love ya!

CHRISTMAS SNOWFLAKE CANDLE HOLDER

Hello, everyone!  As usual, I hope all's well.

Today, for my design team presentation over at Pam's, I'm sharing this cute and super easy little candle holder:

What you'll need to make this is:

1-  8.50" x 8.50" sheet of vellum ( I was fortunate to find some with the snowflakes already printed on it)

1-  8.50" x 6" sheet of black cardstock

1- battery operated votive candle (you can purchase from any Dollar Store)

Start with vellum and very gently, so as not to tear the vellum, score along the top at 8.50" sides at 2", 4", 6" and 8"; turn paper once to the right and score at 2" all the way down.  What you will essentially have is a 2-4-6-8 box pattern as shown below:

Next, cut along the score marks of each bottom section up to the 2" score line forming your tabs; cut out the 1/2" tab entirely:

Fold along the score marks, glue or use double-sided tape to put your box together: 

 

Great, now let's make the base.  Do the same scoring with the black sheet of cardstock at 2", 4", 6" and 8" along the 8.50" top, cutting out the tabs and the 1/2" tab:

STOP!!!  Instead of folding it into a box, at this point, we're going to cut out a half circle between the first long panel (I used the bottom of my glue container):

Here's a close up of what your half circle should look like:

Now fold all four (4) of the panels together with the tracing on top but leaving the 1/2" extended, like this:

Okay, now cutting through all 4 sections, cut out the half circle  When you open the paper your pattern will look like this:

Now you can fold and put your box together.  When that's done you'll have this:

Now we're going to glue the bottom of the vellum candle holder to the top of the black cardstock base to get this:

All that's left is to decorate it and drop in your battery operated candle!   It's so east!!!

I used gold tape to cover my seams where the holder and base meet, and for fun I pop-dotted my initial to it.  You can decorate yours any way you like!!!  I preferred mine tall because I'm going to do them in pairs and I thought that would look nice, however, you can adjust yours to be shorter if you'd like.

Soooo, are we ready to see what it looks like all lit up?!!!  Okay...

I hope you like it!!!  As you know, I'm really very busy, so I gotta run!  But...,

I'll be seeing you!

DECEMBER 17 PHOTO RESIN PENDANT WINNER!!! AND A CORRECTION

Good morning, my wonderful friends.  Hope all's well!

I promised I'd be back with the drawing results and here I am.  The two (2) numbers generated by Random.org. were:

The numbers 18 and 9 are the placement order postings for Kingston Kreations and Love that Bug -- WENDY AND STACY you have won a resin pendant.  Please email me at audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net.  Congratulations!!!

I also need to make a correction to the December 10 drawing.  I incorrectly announced Amber of Staying Crafty as a winner for the generated number "11".  The person in that placement order for number 11 was Happily Scrappin and she should have been correctly announced.  I apologize to both you ladies --Amber for mistakenly announcing you, and you probably realized that as you didn't respond;  Happily, for not announcing you at all as the correct winner.  Therefore, as this error was on my part, I will be honoring Amber with a pendant as announced but, in case Happily hasn't already recognize my error, I'll be contacting her to let her know she was the actual winner for the December 10 drawing.  So, again, congratulations to AMBER and HAPPILY!!!  Of course, Amber you're number will no longer be eligible as you will be receiving a pendant.

I hate mistakes and I guess they're going to happen from time to time, so when I make them I'll always do my best to be fair, and honest, and clean them up as much as I possibly can.

So, now I guess you're all wishing I make a mistake on your numbers too, huh?  LOL!!!  Well, who knows, another mistake can always happen!

Okay, as you probably know, gotta run!  LOTS of work to do yet!  But LADIES please do email me with your photos/words for your pendants!!!

In the meantime, I'll be updating the sign-up post for the next pendant drawing for next week!  Good Luck!!!

As an aside, I do have a small project I'll be presenting as my design team assighment on Pam's blog tomorrow, Saturday, December 18.  So, I hope you'll all join me over at http://www.thebugbytes.com/ (and here, hee-heee)

I'll be seeing you!

REMINDER FOR PHOTO RESIN PENDANT DRAWING!!!

Hello all my wonderful family-friends!  I hope all's well!

I am so sorry I have been unable to come and visit but I've been having a rough time these last few weeks, and more busy than imaginable.  To give you a brief summary of what I've went through, I was late getting my first batch of soap to the customer and worked feverishly through the night to have it ready for him the next day.  Ironically, the second batch came out too strong, so it wasn't usable -- I think I was just too tired to have even attempted starting making in the first place.  Next, I had one box filled with 27 glass bottles of parfum and the hubby accidently dropped the box -- you know the rest!  I had to redo those bottles!  Unfortunately, I haven't had time to take any pictures, I've been moving so fast with none of the time available at the rate I'm going.  I'm tired but trying to get through this.  I don't think I'll be doing this again next year, it's getting to be way too enormous.

Anyway, I wanted to remind you that I will "pop" in tomorrow for the pendant drawing.  I don't know if there are any new participants but I'll be doing the drawing for those of you who have posted.  If you haven't, you have until 12 p.m. (CT) tonite!

Again, I apologize for having to run, but I still have a considerable amount left to do and I have to have all my orders completed by Saturday.

I'll be dropping back by tomorrow with the drawing results!

I miss you all so very much, and I hope holiday preparations are going great!!!  I should be back next week!  And for those of you who have contacted me and send me some love, thank you so very much!!!

Hugs!

P.S.  I'm still waiting on photos/words for resin pendants from a couple of the winners -- don't forget to email them to me.  My email address is:  audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net

RESIN PENDANT WINNERS FOR TODAY'S DRAWING!!!

Hello, everyone.  I hope all is well!

Sorry I'm a bit late posting the drawing for today but I'm really pushed right now.  Hopefully this will all be over by the end of next week -- if I can survive it!!!!  I guess that says how I feel right about now!

Well, since I'm sorry to have to jump in and right back out, I guess I'll get to the matter of this post.  First, let me apologize for having to be so abrupt but I'm really backed up right now, and I'm not having an easy time.

Okay, the winning numbers selected by Random Generator for today's (Friday, December 10) drawing are:

The numbers 4 and 11 correspond to the placement orders for:

1. Dawn
2. Amber

Congratulations, ladies!!!

TO ALL WINNERS:

Please email me at audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net to follow-up on the specifics (photo and/or words desired on your pendant) by Friday, December 17.

I've noted I've received several questions from some of you, and I'm not ignoring you.  I will respond to your questions soon.

Again, I am so very sorry I have to run but I will get back to you all as soon as I possibly can.

Miss you!  I'll be seeing you!


P.S.  Good news!!!  A bright side this last days was when my aunt's doctor they examined the cancer and she will not have to have the chemotherapy!!!  YEAAAAA!!!

I'M MISSING YOU SOMETHING AWFUL!!!

Hi, everyone!  I hope you're all doing well!!!

Although I really don't have the time to spare, I just had to drop in to say hello and to let you know I really miss you.  Sorry I've been unable to post and/or visit these several days, but I'm soooo behind in getting everything done.  I really pushing myself trying to make my quotas and deadlines, and having to work alone this year and with being concerned too with my aunt, I'm having a very difficult time.  I'm tired but I do have a few moments where I really enjoy the challenge of getting through all this.

I've got all my soap poured and it's setting right now in a cool place in the basement.  Once it's set, I can cut and shrink wrap it.  I will snap some pictures once it's ready so that you can see.  In the meantime, while waiting to do that, I've been busy on the other toiletries I have to do.

I started out trying to take pictures for you as I go, but as the time gets nearer to getting everything ready, I'm not finding much time to stop and take pictures right now.  I would like, while I'm taking this moment, to share with you some of the pictures I have managed to "squeeze" in:

Here are just 2 of the bags filled with the bottles, jars, etc. I have to fill with toiletries:

This picture is where I started pulling out and organizing some of the ingredients I use in my toiletries:  essential and fragrance oils, unrefined/refined shea, mango, and cocoa butters, vitamin E, Glycerin, sweet almond oil, etc.  These is just some of what I pulled off my shelves to get started.

I make everything in separate batches according to the different essential/fragrance oils being used.  The perfumes and body oils are colored according to their different scents.  Here is a batch of lotion I'm whipping up:

To assure everything stays clean and sanitary, before capping all the bottles and jars, I first make certain it's sealed.

After the containers are filled and secure, I get the labels ready to label them.  Here're some items ready to be labeled:

Here's an order that's labeled.  This is part of an order for linen sprays.  This person is giving each of his favorite customers s a personalized bottle -- 31 bottles!!!  Whty am I not somebody's favorite customer?!!!  LOL!

This order is for a friend who has an auto supply / repair shop.  He's requested 6 personalized car refreshers and 50 just to put in his shop to sell and/or giveaway:

 

Oh, and I've just got to show you this!!!  This is the second year I've made this and this year I've gotten over 100 requested orders for 2 different spa's.  Last year when I made this, I wasn't sure how well it would be received but it was a hit!!!  This is a whipped cream soap and it is absolutely luscious!!!  I put loads of good stuff in it, and made it to lather really-really well!  I put the spoon in it just to show you how thick and creamy it is:

I'm going to keep this unopened one for myself!!!

Well, I've got to get back; I've got so much to do in so little time!!!  Sorry I don't have the time to visit with you all right now but, as much as possible, I'll try to keep you posted.  And, I'll have pictures of my soap for you as soon as they're ready!

Don't forget, those of you who haven't already done so, I'll be back for the drawing this Friday for the resin pendants;  be sure to sign up!!!



I miss you all terribly!  But..., I'll be seeing you!

Sorry, I've got to go!

RESIN PENDANT WINNERS!!!

Happy, happy Friday!!!  Another wonderful weekend!!!  I hope everyone is alive and kicking high!!!

I am so pleased today to announce the first of 5 sets of two (2) winners for my "thank you" resin pendants.  The numbers selected by random.org are:

In the commentor(s) entry order, placement numbers 14 and 3 belong/attach to:  Flamenco92627 and BridgetL!!!

Congratulations, ladies!!!  I hope you'll love your pendants!!!  You will have until next Friday, November 10, to respond.

Good luck to the rest of you on the next post for drawing #2.

Please note:  Please read, the entry post as I've made an announcement that you need not re-enter comments for any of the following weeks once you've commented.  You will maintain your order placement throughout the drawings until you either win and/or until the drawings have concluded. 

All new entries (those who have yet to enter) will place in the order of their comments following those already entered, and your comments/placement numbers will also remain until you either win and/or the drawings conclude.

This is for your convenience, however, you can comment again to enhance your chances to win, if you'd like to!

Well, I'm back to the grinding board; I'll check back with you when I can!!!

Hugs!

RESIN PENDANTS DRAWING TOMORROW, DECEMBER 3!!!

Good afternoon, bet you thought I wasn't going to make it back today, huh?  LOL!!!  If it were left to my aunt, I probably wouldn't be here -- she's jealous of you all!!!  LOL!!!  Can you believe that?!!!

Thank you for dropping by and for your comments on my DT project for She's A Sassy Lady today.  I always appreciate your feedback on my projects, and I'm so delighted you enjoyed this one.

Anyway, I needed to drop by here to remind you tomorrow is the drawing for the resin pendants.  Two (2) recipients will be randomly drawn, so if you haven't gotten your name on the post for them, please hurry and get your entry in before midnight (CT)!!!  I will announce the winners between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. tomorrow.

I also mentioned I had to pass on a blog award, and now I have to also acknowledge 2 others I just received; again, the "Stylish Blogger" award from my friends Samantha, aka Wife2TJ and Debbie.  These are very talented friends I admire and love to visit, and I hope you will also drop in on them when you can.

Ladies, thank you so very much!!!  I will add your names for this award to my sidebar under the award.

This award I'll be passing on right now is one I received earlier from Sheila  and Wende, and one I hadn't previously received; therefore, as I promised, I'd love  to show some love to these deserving blogs by passing it on to them::

1. Love My Paper
2. Melissa Made
3. Cokie Pop Paper
4. Enjoy the VA Sunshine
5. Southernbelle Scrapper
6. Staying Crafty
7. Creative Genieous
8. Passionately Artistic

Please visit all these crafty and talented ladies!  And, again, thank you very much!!!

Well, I've so much to do that I need to get to, so that's it for now.  I don't have much time right now to do much crafting for posting, but I will continue to try to visit with you as much and as often as I can;  but it will be slow going!  If I can squeeze in a few minutes to craft, I promise I'll use it to share with you!!!

See you tomorrow when I announce the pendant winners!!!

Hugs!

AN ADORABLE LITTLE POINSETTiA CANDY OR GIFT BOX

Hello, everyone!!!  I hope all you lovely people are happy and well!

Well, have you all visited Sheila's yet to see this cute little project I'm presenting as my DT project for this month.  I think it's so cute and, of course, I have a cut.file for you too!  It's a one piece hexagon box (the lid is attached):

I've filled mine with Christmas candy but it can be used to hold any other small gift:

Let's get started making it by first cutting out both pages of the cut.file:  you will need a 12" x 12" sheet of cardstock for the first page which is the box and lid trim, and an 8.50" x 11 (or smaller) for the second page which is the lid topper and box bottom trim:

Once you have you're pieces cut out, starting with the box cut.file you will fold in all the tabs and sections as shown:

Now  fold up each box bottom section and glue the tabs in place to the opposite inside sections, as shown below:

Okay, now we're going to add the edge trim to the top lid to cover those tabs and secure the lid:

Wooo-hooo, we're almost there!!!  Let's take the lid topper and bottom trim cuts from the second page cut.file and glue those in place:

Finally, I used Stickles to outline and cover up the raw edges around the topper and trim, but you may want to use something else:

All right!!!!  Now decorate your box any way you like and fill it up because it's done!!!  Easy-easy-peesy!!!  Here's another little look at my finished project:

I hope you like my project, and will enjoy making it for yourself!!!  And, I hope you let me see what you did ifyou do!!!  But, please, do let me know what you think -- I'd just love to hear your comments!!!

Now grab a copy of the cut.file which is at the bottom of this post.  The carts used for this cut.file are Accent Essentials and George.

Thanks for stopping by, and as always...

I'll be seeing you!

my hexagon box.cut

PLEASE BE REMINDED!!!

I hope it's going to be a wonderful Wednesday for everyone!!!  ( I hate the term "hump" day -- LOL!!!)

I wanted to sneak in here -- at 4:40 a.m. -- to remind you of several things:

• don't forget to join me at Sheila's  tomorrow (Thursday, December 2)  for my DT project presentation;
• this Friday, December 3, will be the first drawing to select two (2) lucky people for my personalized photo resin pendant giveaway, so get your comments in; be sure to not miss that, and
• after my presentation on Sheila's blog, at some point during the day tomorrow, as promised I'll be posting the five (5) bloggers I'll be passing a recent award on to, so you may want to check that out too.

Other than to tell you I'll be trying my best to get around to seeing what you're up to when I can later today, I think that's it for now!  If I think of anything else, I'll get back to you.  Gotta be at my auntie's early today because her nurse will be there and then back home to my toiletry making, so now I'm going to bed to try to get a few hours much needed sleep!!!  LOL!

I'll be seeing you!!!