An open letter to Saint Nick,

I know it's late, and I didn't make a list this year, but man-O-man this would be a cool thing to get this Christmas. The Fuji Instax Mini Instant Camera.
OK. OK. I know I have a BIG camera. And I know I have my purse-cam too. And I really love them both.

Yes, I have the flip video cam and I vow to use it to create cool scrapbook tutorials in 2010, but I would REALLY like this little guy.

I mean, seriously, the little polaroids it creates ARE awesome for scrapbooking and all kinds of projects.

And, there's a cute version of it with pink appointments ----v
OK. That's it. I just wanted to share this last minute gift idea I had. And besides, Santa, you know me. If it's too late to put in my request, I'll just do what I did last year with that really cool blingified western belt I thought I had to have. You remember. The one that you didn't bring me. {Was it because I was naughty last year? I think not.}

Anyway, I can do what I did last year when the belt was NOT under the tree on Christmas morning. {And we both know what that means.} Bloggers - check back tomorrow to read about last year's belt fiasco.

So, Santa baby, I'm just saying....

Oh, and by the way, can you do me two more favors?? First, when you stop at my friend Candi's house, will you please tell her I KNOW SHE'S 29... I've been reading about it for what seems like a lifetime now and she needs to update her blog??? And secondly, for my friend Kim, ditto. {not that she's 29, but that I have listened and watched that piano recital a gazillion times now and as much as I love Christian, I want to see and read something else?? I mean really, Santa, I thought she made a pact to be a better blogger. You might want to leave her a little note concerning that one!}

Again, I'm just saying...

Off with you now.. there's work to be done and not much time left.

Just a thought...

Purple Cows Holiday Ideas Blog Hop!!!

Hi blog hoppers! Thanks for participating in the the Purple Cows blog hop and checking out all our GREAT holiday creations!! I know you'll get lots of cool ideas!!

First up from me: a 4" X 5.5" interactive card. It's quick and easy and sooo much fun. And the best part is: you can use up patterned paper scraps to create this gem! All it takes is a piece of cardstock that's 5.5." x 12" to start and some paper scraps complete the project!!

You start with the 5.5" x 12" card stock, which you cut out of a 12" x 12" sheet. I use a Purple Cows 1040 cutter... it's my favorite precision cutting tool!

Next, score the card stock vertically (down) the 5.5" direction on the 2", 4", 8" and 10" marks! (solid lines indicate where I scored in the photo below.) Then, you CUT 1.5" in from on the TWO 12" sides, between the 2" score and the 10" score. See the dashed lines in the photo below?? Those indicate where I cut the paper. (Solid lines are where I scored, and dashed lines are where I cut completely through the paper.)

Next, you need to fold the card stock into the shape below -----v.

It's easy to fold the card like this, because you scored it in the previous step! And, if you fold it wrong the first time, it's all good. You just refold it until it looks like my photo above!

Now, cut the following pieces of scrap patterned paper, ink the edges and glue or tape to the card, like the photo below. Make sure it's random, because that makes it even better!!

1 piece 2" x 3.5"

2 pieces 2" x 1.5"

4 pieces 1" x 1.5"

2 pieces 1.5" x 5"

2 pieces 1" x 3.5

It will be obvious where the paper scraps go! And, after you've place them on the card, stamp, ink and embellish to your heart's content!! --- v

I also punched some gingerbread men out of the same cardstock, inked the edges, stamped some snowflakes on them and attached them to the card with a mini stapler! This is a CHEAP, QUICK AND EASY card idea and after you make one, you'll want to make more!

Supplies and tools used: Purple Cows 2 in1 Trimmer #1040; Score-Pal; Cardstock; Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly paper; Colorbox and Versafine Ink; Unity and Catslife Press stamps; Fiskars Squeeze punch and Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher.

Another quick idea is how to make a gift bag a little more special looking.

Take the same punch you and punch shapes (snowflakes and gingerbread men on the above gift bag), ink them and then staple them to a plain brown gift bag, to the tag and to the tissue paper used inside the bag! Don't give it too much thought when you attach them... the more random they are, the more eclectic and creative it looks!! Then, tie a wired ribbon on the bag (so it holds it's shape) and you're done!!

Thank you! Thank You, for visiting my blog! Come back again soon for more fun and frivolity than you can stand! I guarantee it!!

Right now... continue hopping on over to my friend Pinky's Blog. She ABSOLTELY ROCKS and I know you're gonna love her work! And, don't forget to leave a comment on the last blog, for a chance to win some cool Purple Cows stuff!!

Just in case you need it, here's the hop order and the other blogs to visit today:

Pinky

Jing-Jing

Kryssi

Elisa

Smanatha

Tanisha

Vicki

Paula

Robin

Liana

Michelle

Vennita

Holiday Ideas Blog Hop TOMORROW!!!

Hey bloggers! Tomorrow is an exciting day because Purple Cows has a Holiday Ideas Blog Hop, starting at 10am CST!!

Go to their blog located HERE to start the hop!!! I guarantee you'll end up back here at some point, to check out a quick and easy holiday idea from yours truly!!

Now, go out and CREATE SOMETHING GREAT...

until tomorrow!

Photoshop fun...

If you've noticed my blog header recently... you've picked up on the fact that it's been changing.

That's because I'm working with a bunch of techniques and brushes in Photoshop!! The possibilities are endless and you can spend {literally} boatloads of time in it. And, like any other software, the more time you spend working with it, the
better you get.
So I started on something small, like my blog header, with hopes that in the near future I can create some digi stuff. Not sure what, yet, but it should be a fun little adventure!!!

Do any of you blogger friends use Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements for work with scrapbooking?? Just wondering. I purchase a lot of eclectic digi art and resize/customize it to print out on cardstock and use on projects. As much as I love the digital stuff, I love the tactile feel of paper and using ink A WHOLE LOT MORE.
The more I think about it... I'm really a "hybrid" scrapbooker because almost everything I do has some digital stuff printed out and placed in the mix.

What about you?? Leave a comment and let me know if you've ever downloaded digital elements, etc., and if you like them!! If you have downloaded some stuff and had problems with it, what were they?? Who knows, maybe I'll answer some questions if you post them!!