PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Christmas Ideas and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

Give out loads of holiday smiles with this

terrific gift card and Hershey Kisses holder:

The Santa is actually a Target Gift card and I put the gift receipt in the top pocket. Normally, the gift card would go in the pocket and you can check out the how-to video thanks to this Pinterest pin:

BACK AND FRONT VIEWS

Original Pin HERE

...and another blogger's Christmas variation:

Original Pin HERE

Here's a cute Snoopy card idea made with punches:

Original Pin HERE 

It gave me some inspiration to create a

few birthday cards this month:

I got the little Woodstock online as a piece of clip art that I printed and cut out. You can print my version HERE. After I cut out Woodstock, I cut the legs from the body and pasted them in a sitting down position.

Here's a lovely way to send out a thank you

or a December birthday card:

Inside View:

Tree and Bear Stamp Set:

White Christmas from Stampin' Up

Sentiment:

Simply Wonderful from Stampin' Up

This was my Pinterest Inspiration:

Original Pin HERE

My MISTI helped me mass produce this card for all of the thank yous I'll need this holiday season, and a mask let me sponge in the SU Pool Party ink where needed.

These little treat boxes were based on a previous post HERE:

Finally....a table centerpiece that's

quick and easy:

Original Pin HERE

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year

and I'll be taking time off from blogging to enjoy it.

Happiest of holidays with abundant joy

and creativity in 2017!...

and I like to end each year with this poem

that my friend, Michele, sent to me

many Christmases ago:

Twas the night before Christmas, I’m glued to the tree.

I’m wondering what Santa will bring just for me.
Could it be new cardstock or inkpads or lace?
"Or stamp sets," I said, with a big smile on my face.
And that’s when I saw him..."Hi Santa," I said.
To which he replied, "You should be in bed!"
"Oh, dear!" I said, "I’ve just been caught...
But I was hoping to see what goodies you brought."
He took a brief look at my room where I work.
Then he shook his head quickly, and left with a jerk.
...And I heard him exclaim, as he put it in gear,
You’ve got enough crap, I’ll see you next year!

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Paper Divas and the Very Best ofPinterest Pins

I'm so lucky to be in a group of talented paper crafters and we call ourselves the Paper Divas. I hosted our last meeting and here are some of the items we created and shared:

The inside of my card was the result of

this Pinterest pin:

Original Pin HERE

I made a Pilgrim version like this for each person 

and put it at their place setting for a good laugh!

I got the idea from this pin:

Original Pin HERE 

Katie taught us how to make these lovely

card boxes that held 4 cards with envelopes:

This is the SU embossing set for the outside flap:

The flap closes thanks to a little

circle of Velcro that Katie brought

on Amazon.com.

She even made a template for each of us!!

...and here were her 4 cards inside the box:

Using SU products, Katie made these two

cute Christmas cards, too:

Alice Brown let us make this stunning card:

This was a Starbucks gift card favor I had

at each person's work area:

These holders were so much fun to make thanks to

a pin that includes a fantastic how to video:

Original Pin HERE

...and here was the Taste of Home dish that we feasted upon.

I made the whole thing in my cast iron skillet, but a

a casserole dish works well, too:

Cornbread Taco Bake

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 25 min.

MAKES: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
• 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup chopped green pepper
• 1 envelope taco seasoning
• 1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix*
• 1 can (2.8 ounces) french-fried onions, divided
• 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• (I added 2 cloves of finely chopped garlic once the ground beef was browned.)

• Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in the corn, tomato sauce, water, green pepper, garlic and taco seasoning. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. baking dish.
  2. Prepare corn bread mix according to package directions for corn bread. Stir in half of the onions. Spread over beef mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes.
  3. Sprinkle with cheese and remaining onions. Bake 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and a toothpick inserted into corn bread layer comes out clean. 
• *Try experimenting by adding various items to the cornbread mix such as olives, green chilies, etc.

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Wedding Cards and the Very Best Pinterest Pins

We had a bridal shower recently in our family and these were some of the cards made for other family members to give to the bride:

Pinterest Inspiration:

Original Pin HERE

 Original Pin HERE

I loved how this card turned out:

Pinterest Inspiration:

Original Pin HERE

This was an experiment that

worked out just fine:

I used my Cricut for this card:

Inside Sentiment

SU Stamp Set: Simply Wonderful

Pinterest Inspiration:

Original Pin HERE

...and here's one more project I made for the

shower thanks to Pinterest:

I bought indoor/outdoor black paint at Michael's

for the groom pumpkin and hand-painted

the lower 1/3 area of the fake - but

real-looking pumpkin.

Original Pin HERE

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: My Halloween Card and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

I found this DSP with a metallic silver design and

when I sponged black ink around the edges,

it made the silver pop even more!

Inside Sentiment

Bat Punch = Martha Stewart

(Sentiments Done on My Computer)

...and here were the cards that gave me inspiration:

Original Pin HERE

Original Pin HERE

Check out this fall treat:

Original Pin HERE

I made them for a party, put them on a metallic tray and they were a big hit! So easy, too!

HAPPY HAUNTING!

PIN IT FRIDAY FAVS: Cards from My Pen Pal and the Very Best of Pinterest Pins

My pen pal, Leslie-Ann, in BC, Canada has been the source of multiple happy dances lately thanks to the lovely cards she creates and sends my way! Here are some of her most recent pieces of art:

Leslie-Ann sent me these pics of products used:

She put this die on the inside of the card.

This is the purrrrfect card for my cat-loving friends!

Here are some more cat cards on Pinterest:

Pinterest Pin HERE

Pinterest Pin HERE

Pinterest Pin HERE

Pinterest Pin HERE

Pinterest Pin HERE