Do you like my new blog? I love it and think it fits me perfectly! I still have a few things to add but for the most part it is complete.

As you can see, right now I am slightly obsessed with my Cuttlebug. Yesterday I was wondering how a small brown paper bag would emboss using an embossing folder well… let me just say, perfectly! I used the textile embossing folder (seems to be my favorite) then covered the embossed bag using Ranger Distress Inks in Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade. My friend Wendy would be so proud. Then while at CHA I watched Wendy do a Perfect Pearl demo and so… I used this too in Copper from the Metallics collection!

I think any of these embossing folders could help you create wonderful treat or gift bags for the holiday seasons as well as party favor bags for a birthday.

And… just a little FYI… I have family on the way coming to stay due to Hurricane Ike and I have my first book deadline next week so I might be a bit late on tutorial posts but I will do my best to get some things up.

Everyone I know loves candles so I plan on accenting several like this one for the holiday season and giving them as housewarming gifts. I’m also thinking about using them as placecards for each dinner guest at Thanksgiving. All I need to do is tie the sheer oval around individual clear votive holders. Then when the candle is lit the sheer will have a stained glass effect.

These would also be cute on a child’s table setting by tying some around clear plastic cups and filling them with candy corn or tying them around linen napkins to use as napkin rings. I could go on and on as there are so many ideas for this little cutie.

This candle accent was created using a Maya Road Sheer Oval Keychain Set, Alcohol Inks by Ranger in Terra Cotta, Latte and Pearl, Maya Road Jonathan Chipboard Alphabet, Adirondak Metallics Acrylic Paint Dabber in Gold and Gold Glitter from the Regal Glitter Collection by Melissa Frances.

To get the embossed look I ran one of the Oval Sheers through my Cuttlebug using the Textile Embossing Folder. It is attached to the candle with tulle.  This project takes about 5 minutes from start to finish.

I’m not much of a Halloween kinda person. So I am already thinking about Thanksgiving. Don’t get me wrong I love having trick-or-treaters come to the house but decorating for me is pretty much a carved pumpkin.

So this weekend I started thinking about making table decorations for Thanksgiving and let me just say… I am so loving my Cuttlebug. Did you know you can run any of the Maya Road Sheers through the Cuttlebug? If you didn’t you do now and gosh is it ever fun! Here is a little project I created using some of the Sheer Blossoms and the Textile Embossing Folder.

I used Ranger Alcohol Inks in Terra Cotta, Bottle and Pearl on the Large Blossom and Gold and Latte on the Small Blossom.

To alter the Square Scallop Chipboard Coaster Book I took two pages and sprayed Brown and Gold Maya Mists over the entire front and back of each page.

Additional Products Used: Maya Road Buttons - Earth, Maya Road Trinkets Metal Elements - Blossoms, Maya Road Philadelphia Uppercase Alphabet, Adirondack Metallic Acrylic Paint Dabber - Gold, Melissa Frances Regal Glitter Collection (Gold), Melissa Frances Autumn Splendor Vintage Transfers, Floss, Tulle and a Berry Spray.

is the PITS! Lately I have been working on several projects and I cannot share any of them just yet. This is torture for me. I love to share my projects as soon as I finish. But last night I did have fun making my own embellishment for a project and I can share this so here goes… I have never used a die cutting system. I always create my own templates, trace them onto paper, cut them out and go from there. I tell ya I am a very old fashioned kinda girl when it comes to stuff like this not sure why… most likely it is because I am too picky and have to have everything just so so. Anyway, last night I decided to play with my Big Shot Die Cutting System I received in my MMM prize package. Well let me just tell you now my head is swirling with ideas. That thing is so much fun. I used some shrink plastic by JudiKins, a Sizzix Sizzlits Snowflake #2 Die, Ranger Stickles in Star Dust and a rhinestone. This cute snowflake is going to be an embellishment for a mini album and believe me more will be made for holiday projects, gift tags etc.

Last week was a great publication week. My Little Foof House, Family Message Board and Valentine’s Day Wall Hanging will all be in the Feb./Mar. issue of Paper Trends.

Three layouts… Santa Baby, Yep… It’s March and Our Tree will be in the Winter issue of Scrapbooking and Beyond.

Don’t forget to check out the MMM Blog. You will find a lot of great tips, ideas and layouts posted almost everyday. Today I posted a little project using one of the “Tis the Season” stamps designed by Sande Krieger and some shrink plastic.

FYI… I am starting to fill my teaching calendar for 2008. If you would like me to come and teach at your local scrapbook store or retreat send me an e-mail and I will see if a class can be scheduled.