Everyday Art

Do you create something daily? I try to, especially Mondays, when they are slow!

Here's what I came up with today, and I have to thank Ibis for sending me a pic of someone else's altered little treat bags. Check Ibis' website out. See if she doesn't make you smile, too.

Paper - Graphic 45
Shape - Label by Spellbinders
Distress Ink - Tim Holtz for Ranger
Stickles - Ranger
Stamp - Wendy Vecchi for Stampers Anonymous




Stop by and cut some of these cute labels for treat bags. You are welcome to use my Spellbinder dies any time you are at Croppinsville.

Capture your life in Art!

Saturday's $1 Make and Take

Stop by Croppinsville Saturday and make this cute lil Spinner Fly.

We'll be using grungepaper that has been run through our die cut machine and then cuttlebugged.
Paint him and alcohol ink his spinner body and add a few more touches - easy peasy!

Not local? Let us know, we will gladly send a kit complete with cuttlebugged grungepaper butterfly, spinner piece and complete instructions.

Shaker Tag

SUPPLIES
Shaker Tag - Croppinsville AccuCut Die Cut Project
Stamps by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous
Snap by Tim Holtz (ideaology line for Advantus)
Beads (from some trim - source unknown)
Inks - Distress Inks by Tim Holtz for Ranger
Glossy Accents by Ranger
Copic Marker

Cathy Caddy

It was slow this weekend at work, so I had a lot of fun working on this caddy. I have one done in Jenni Bowlin papers, but I really love this one. I am grateful to my friend and fellow designer, Jackie McFarland, for creating a template for it - made it so much faster.

I absolutely love the new Memory Capsules. I filled mine with some of the beads from the gold trim on the front, and a snap.

Cathy Caddy by Bare Elements (Creative Imaginations)
Papers by Graphic 45
Bling Flower by Bazzill
Harware by Tim Holtz (Inkssentials Memory Capsules and Frames and Idea-ology Hitch Fasteners, Philosophy Tokens, Swivel Clasps, Snaps)
Flower Brad by Marah Johnson (Creative Imaginations)
Charcoal Black Paint and Matte Medium by Claudine Hellmuth
Distress Ink and Alcohol Ink by Tim Holtz (Adirondack by Ranger)

The business cards are in half of an old cassette case that I alchohol inked with one of my favorite combos, red pepper and caramel. Doesn't that make you hungry???

Hope you like!

New Look!

Well, I'm remodeling everywhere, and I really love fidgeting with my blog, so I went with the new look that I'm using at http://croppinsville.blogspot.com. The template is called Whimsy and you can download it at SuckMyLolly.com. Warning, it does remove your widgets, or gadgets, all the little extras you have.

I learned that too late for my Croppinsville blog, but here I thought ahead, opened them all up, and saved them into Notepad, then copied them back after loading the template.

Piece o' cake.

I wanted to tell you that while we're "remodeling" - everything in our Online Store is 25% off. With a purchase of $40, you will also receive free shipping. So, enjoy the savings and don't forget to share the good news with your friends.

Catching Up and a chance at a little Fall Freebie

Wow, where does the time go.

It's mid October, the last debate is upon us, and I'm wondering why I haven't finished with the Halloween decorations. I just added some Christmas songs to my playlist, trying to get ahead of things.

I'm trying not to fret too much about the world around us, but I have found that the stress is just kinda creeping in anyway. Silent little signals, like tummy grumbles and headaches, a tight neck, and a quick temper. So, I turn to my crafts.

I've been trying to get more organized. I'm sort of messy. Okay, I'm a lot messy. I would love to know how you all stay organized. If you will send me your favorite getting and staying organized tips, I will send you out a little Fall present. When I'm not sorting or re-sorting, I have been working on Tim Holtz tins and store swaps - we're doing a Gratitude Journal Swap, a recipe swap, a FALL ATC swap, and a Fall Gifts swap. I finished my swaps already, I know, hard to believe. I am also going to surprise everyone and do Journal Covers, and I haven't done those yet.

I signed up for a new group called All Things Tim. I am going to do a swap there too, and I thought I might do an extra round. I need crackle paint however, and ours hasn't come in at the store yet. Harrrumph! I don't actually need it as much as I am dying to try Tim's October technique. I have everything but the crackle paint. I will try something different.

Anyway, if you would like to join the group, it's http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AllThingsTim - and please tell them I referred you so I earn my brownie points, dontcha know!

I hope Fall finds you enjoying the changing leaves, the crisp air, and the pumpkins. Mmmm, pumpkins. If I hurry out now, I can stop and pick up some cream cheese on the way to pick Jr. up at church. Then, I can make a Homemade Gourmet Pumpkin Cheesecake. Oh yeah, now that's stress relief. Baking and tasting. Two of my favorite pasttimes.

I promise to update soon with pics of my latest endeavors. We're getting ready to do a makeover at the store, so I will clue you in as I can.

Hugs and scrappy kisses all.

Good Karma from the Dalai Lama and Me TOO!

I got this in my INBOX from my Hubby, by way of our good friend Jim. My blog is my vehicle for passing it on.


1) Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2) When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3) Follow the three r's: Respect for self, Respect for others, and Responsibility for all your actions.
4) Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5) Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6) Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7) When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8) Spend some time alone every day.
9) Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10) Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11) Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12) A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13) In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14) Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.
15) Be gentle with the earth.
16) Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17) Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18) Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19) Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Of course the e-mail gave details on HOW MUCH my life would improve if I forwarded it to XXX number of people. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLECH! I just found it good enough to share!