A TUMBLER FOR MY SON

Hello, friends and family! AND, wow, welcome new followers!  Thanks for joining my family and we love having you.

This is just going to be a quick post of a project I made at the request of my son.  He gave me a tumbler and a couple of images, and asked what I could do to personalize the tumbler just for him.  It seems a few of the guys in his lodge had their own unique drinking container and he wanted one for himself too!  "Finesse" is what his lodge brothers (and some close friends) call him -- I don't think I even want to know why!!!  LOL!!!  Here's the tumbler:

Well, I probably won't be back with another project again before Thursday when I'll have a DT tutorial/project over at Sheila's.  I hope you'll all join me there..., or meet me here.  I think you just may enjoy what I have prepared!  In the meantime, I will be around, so...

Hugs, and I'll be seeing you!

CRISS CROSS CANDY 2-POCKET POUCH & TAG

Happy Sunday, blogging family!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and crafty weekend!

I have another little project to share today -- a criss cross pouch with 2 pockets and a tag to write your message on:

I added these little chocolate covered peppermint candy sticks into the top pocket because I love them; I especially like to use them to stir in my coffee... delicious!!!  I thought it would make a nice gift, however, any small item that fits would be nice too.

Here's a picture of the tag tucked into the back pocket:

I hope you like it!!!

As always, I love you all, big hugs, and...

I'll be seeing you!

GIVE A GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

Hello, all my family-friends!

I hope all's well in blogland, and that we're all having fun!

It seems I'm stuck on holder projects; the other day a cassette tape holder and today a cd holder project!  However, it didn't start off that way, I began by just playing around with a piece of left-over metal and the project pretty much evolved from there.  Playing around with the square of metal, I sanded it, distressed it, inked, glittered, embossed and inked it again.  When I'd finished I thought it looked pretty cool, so I decided why not make it into a gift holder for the cd I'm giving a younger cousin going away to college next year.  The cd is called "Freedom to Learn... Your Way".  It is an SAT and ACT power prep cd, and I'm giving it to her to assist her in preparing for her college exams.  From what I understand from a friend who's daughter also used this cd is that it really is very good.

Anyway, I grabbed some leftovers and started decorating!  Here's what I came up with:

This is the cover  to the cd/holder with the metal square attached to the front, and with a leftover cameo I'd made from polymer clay; several gold silk roses, leftover ribbon, and a couple of metal book corners.

Here's the cd/holder attached to the inside of the cover:

So what do you think?  I hope she likes it!!!  I think a gift of knowledge is one of the best gifts we can give our young people.

The other day I told you I'd share a few pics of my brother and niece who recently visited with me.  Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to do much because of a family issue, but one precious share we always find time to do together is visit and place flowers on our mother's, his oldest son, and other family members graves.  I apologize that the pictures really didn't come out that well, but I'm sharing them anyway:

My brother and me

My niece (and, yes, that's my Buster.  He came along too!)

If you're remembering the picture of my niece from last year with all the long hair, well..., she's 13 years old now -- growing and maturing -- and my brother finally relented to letting her cut it all off after her begging him for months.  Me..., I like it!!! 

Okay, one more picture!!!  This is my niece and me, although it's really blurry... lol!  Oh..., Buster wants me to remind you he's there too -- see his little head peeking over the flowers near our feet!! Heeeee!!!

That all for now!  I'm off to play some more and maybe even get in a few visits, so...

I'll be seeing you!

HERE I AM!!! AND I'VE GOT A PROJECT!!!

Hello everyone.  I am so happy to be here!!!  I hope you've all been enjoying a wonderful summer to date.  I've missed you terribly and I'm doing much better now that things are beginning to look up.  Unfortunately, I've still one thing left to do which is saddening me, so I'll only ask for your continued prayers and support.  Of course I won't bore you with my gory details -- which would take too much time anyway -- besides, I'm ready to just enjoy getting back to life, crafting, and blogging!

Before my project introduction I'd like to say thank you for the beautiful cards some of you sent me which were very comforting and well received, and for all the emails and cherished comments. I appreciate your taking the time, and for thinking of me. I'd also like to thank several new followers -- I'll have to get around to visiting with you personally as soon as I can; however, as I'm only now returning from an extended time away it's going to take some time catching up to everyone.

My project today is made from an item I found going through an old video camera bag while really searching for something else in my closet...LOL!  Remember these?:

Yes, they're old cassette tape cases!!!  Well I decided I could recycle these, and something I came up with was to turn one into a card holder:

The clasp embellie on the top of the holder is a button that I added a matching image to and covered with Glossy Accent:

Now, here's the case open along with several of the matching handmade business cards:

The open lid on the case can also be used as a display for the cards:

I love the shabby chic look and feel of this little case; I think it turned out adorable and that it'd make a great gift idea!  Some other ideas I have are to use them as mini recipe or index card holders.  Now, if you have some old ones lying around, I challenge you to come with an idea of your own!!! But let me see -- I may have a little prize for you!

Trying to keep this post short, so I'll be back soon with another project!  I also have a few pics to share of my brother and niece who visited recently.  So until...

Love you all, hugs, and I'll be seeing you...

I'M STILL ALIVE!!!

Hello, blogging family.  I hope all's well and that everyone is healthy and happy.

I realize I've been away for quite a while.  To keep things simple, things haven't been going as easily and/or as smoothly as I would have liked and, although it's nothing serious, I'm now having some health issues of my own to deal.  Of course, I'm trying to cope as best  I can but, under the circumstances, my only down time seems to have been "down and out" time.  I've been unable to do anything recreational lately; I've definitely been unable to do any crafting and/or to be a constant here in the neighborhood.  Although I sorely miss you all and all the blogland activities, I haven't intentionally neglected my blog nor any of you, you have all been in my thoughts and prayers.  I only wish I could tell you how much I miss being here to the extent you could really understand.

As of now I hate to say I cannot commit to any regularity or frequent visits here but I do expect to have some time Thursday -- I'm not promising anything but I would love, and am anticipating, being able to do some crafting ( I desperately miss my hobby) and getting in some visits with you.  I wish I could be more definite but at this time I'm taking one step at a time.  Anyway, I am looking forward to Thursday with high hopes; I think I'm deserving of a bit of fun... lol!

Now to those of you who have emailed me, not to overlook your concerns, thank you so much for your prayers and your emails; I'll respond to you as soon as I can.  And, to Sandy, who really helped in keeping me grounded through her constant reaching out; providing an ear when it wasn't expected and always a prayer just when it was needed -- a very special "thank you". 

As I understand it, several of my family-friends have also had some life/family experiences or difficulties.  If any of you are visiting, I really hate I wasn't around to provide some words of comfort and encouragement during your time of need but please know as you are now, you've always been in my prayers

Again, I'm hoping to be able to share some time with you on Thursday or shortly thereafter; however, if I don't make it, please know it's because I couldn't make it -- but that I'll be here as soon as I can.

I love you all, miss you all, and I'll be seeing you...

A LITTLE TABLE-TOP WEDDING MINI ALBUM

Hi!  I finally made it back!!!  Thank you so much for being patient in waiting for me; I've been trying to post this project since yesterday but was detained by the hubby all day yesterday, and immediately after posting the RAK winners earlier this evening we received unexpected company ( a nice surprise and most pleasant visit).

Okay, at last I get to share the little wedding project I've been promising.  It's a little coin envelope table-top mini wedding photo book.  This is the top of the book and the letter "Z" is the last initial of the couple receiving it:

The book is kept closed by a tab with a magnet attached and each of the envelopes hold a tag which is removed by pulling it out using the rhinestones at the top of the tags.  The embellishment on the first page is a bird made of polymer clay that I molded, painted and glittered:

Here's a picture with all the tags on the envelope-pages pulled out:

There are also tags tucked into the top of the album that can be pulled out for pictures:

And, there are pockets with more tags that pull out for photos and/or to hold sweet little love notes...lol:

Although I haven't shown each individual page, there is embossing, pearl and crystal swirls, and wedding bell Peel-Offs on the pages; you may need to click on the photos just to get a better view of what I do have pictured. 

This was such a fun project, and I really wish you could see this up close and personal because it really looks better in person than the pictures give it justice.   I haven't gotten to it yet but I'm going to make a matching box with a wedding wish on the top and give this is lieu of a card to the happy couple.  I hope they like it!  I hope you like it too!!!

Would you believe I'm working on another wedding project!  Don't know how soon it'll be before it's completed but you will be one of the first to see it... lol!!!

The other evening I had the opportunity to visit with many of you, and so enjoyed your projects or just saying "hi".  Unfortunately, I've still got a lot more rounds to make, so I'll be seeing more of you as soon as I can.

In the meantime, as I'll be spending time this weekend doing some last minute Mother's Day shopping and celebrating with auntie and family, I wish you all a very happy and blessed Mother's Day!

Hugs!

RAK WINNERS!

Happy day, everyone!!!  Are you all having a happy day?  I certainly hope so, and maybe I'm going to make it a bit happier with some "candy" for my RAK winners!!!  So, if you're ready:

• For the scrapbook pad and bling mesh on post  http://cuteandsome.blogspot.com/2012/05/ready-for-more-fun-stuff.html, Random.org. selected:

The winner is St. Kitts Scrapper!!!

• For the French Manor Cartridge and bling met on post http://cuteandsome.blogspot.com/2012/05/want-some-candy.html, Random.org. selected:

The winner is Pink Bling Crafter

Winners, please email me at audreyfrel@sbcglobal.net with a mailing address.

Congratulations, and please look ahead for the next giveaway - coming to this blog soon!!!

PS -- I have a project post following shortly!