Designer Spotlight

Good morning! Welcome to Unscripted Sketches Christmas in July. Today is another Designer Spotlight day and it's shining right on me! The holidays are so hectic both at school (I teach first grade) and with trying to fit everything in with my family and traveling to see the inlaws, so I try to plan ahead a bit. It just doesn't always work! This year I'll also be going to Grad school so I really need to plan ahead.

One thing I make sure to do, is thank those people who are always helping me out during the year, like coworkers, classroom volunteers, family and friends. A sweet treat can be so much more special with a bit of special packaging, which is what I'm showing off today.

I found this sweet mini paint can at Michaels for a couple bucks and was able to dress it up simply, but elegantly with some SU Christmas dsp and ribbon. I added a tag (with to/from on the back) and put the santa hat on to make it a bit more festive. I couldn't leave the top bare either:

I'm not sure what will go in this, but that's the great part of planning ahead. I almost baked cookies just for the sake of photos but it's been HOT here for two weeks, and if I bake them I will eat them. I've been good about exercising and losing weight so I don't want to do that! These can be filled with candy, cookies or even tiny gifts. We'll see when the time comes.

I didn't want to just show off packaging that I spent money to buy before decorating. Luckily I save EVERYTHING just incase. You really can use just about anything.

This jar has been with me for many years. I think it came with a Christmas cross stitch kit from a former coworker who taught me to crochet and knew my love of crafts. So the hat came with it too! I just added a tag and I can either fill it with something yummy or add ingredients for a friend to make their own something yummy...festive pot holder and all!

At school we do a Secret Santa every year (for those who want to participate) and I have not yet met a recipient that didn't list CHOCOLATE as something they like. This funky little test tube will look great filled with some M&Ms (red and green of course). I kept it from a watch my father-in-law brought back for me from a trip in the Carribean. I knew I could use it eventually!

And while I'm sure I could spend a week going through the basement and finding things I've kept "just incase" I wanted to make a few simple tags for last minute things. This may go on a plate of cookies, a candle, or a bag of candy. The perfect size (2 1/4 x 3) to go on something small:

They are all together with my Christmas decorations now so I should be all set come December 1st. Now just what should I fill them with? Leave me a comment with an idea or what you traditionally give as little thank you gifts.

Smiles,

Unscripted basket

I'm back to blogging (didn't I say that last week?) with another fun project with an Unscripted Sketch. This week I was stumped by the large panel so I just shrunk it to fit a fun project....a little wooden basket (4 inches tall) that I got a long time ago at the dollar store. It's become a fun springtime/Easter basket that I think I'll give my MIL. I found those fun Making Memories brads at a local scrapbook store. I guess I should make some Easter cards this weekend to use the rest of them!



I'm planning on blurfing this weekend and hope to stop by and see what you've created. Head on over to Unscripted Sketches to play along, check out our first Top 3 choices and see all the other inspiration!

Smiles,

Keeping track

In keeping with my New Year's post and some of my to do's for the year, I wanted a way to make sure I stayed on track with my working out this year. Of course being reimbursed by my insurance helps, but I know I can get to the gym more than 8 times a month....most months at least! I took this week's Unscripted Sketch and flipped it on it's side to alter a composition book.

My plan is to just have a small calendar for each month attached to a page where I can circle days I went to the gym. I can also keep track if I do a weigh in at home and hopefully lose a pound or two, though as long as I feel good and the clothes fit better I'll be happy! I'm also still trying to keep it clean around here--when I see a good routine or exercise in a magazine I can rip the page out and have a place to keep it and refer back to it. I figured if the notebook is cute I'll be inspired to USE it!

I hope you head over to Unscripted Sketches to play along this week. I had a busy week without too much crafting so hopefully that changes for this week. Can't wait to see what you create!

Smiles,

Paper (SU): Tea Party dsp, Basic Black, Almost Amethest, Certainly Celery

Stamps: Take Note (Papertrey)

Ink: Perfect Plum, Black

Other: So Saffron ribbon, circle punch, Blackbird brads, crocheted flower

Just a Note

Hooray for Saturdays!! Yes, it means I'm up early and off to work at the store, but I get to sleep in a bit later than on school days and it's also time for a sketch from Unscripted Sketches. This week I was completely stumped until a coworker gave me the best little book of post-its:

Her fiance is an admissions counselor for a nearby college, and these are freebies for high school guidance departments (shhhh, don't tell!). The front obviously had the college's name but I fixed that with this week's Unscripted sketch:

The silver elastic cording is anchored into the back of the book to keep it closed and protect those precious notes when it's in my bag.

Be sure to check out the sketch and see all the rest of the DT's fabulous work. I can't wait to see all the creativity flowing with this one, so head on over to play along!!!!

Smiles,

One small kiss...

Happy Saturday morning and welcome to another Sketch it Saturday from Unscripted Sketches!

I had a magnet on my fridge with all the important numbers I may need to contact my insurance company. At the end of summer we're switching insurance so I decided to take that blah magnet and dress it up to be functional.

I'm loving my new set of Kids Quotes and can picture creating a few more magnets with them.

**Edited to add: The Kids Quote set came from AC Moore. I'd admired it in the stamp aisle a few times and happened upon it in the SALE aisle at the back of the store...nowhere near the stamps! It was meant to be and only $4.99.

This one measures 2 1/4" x 3 3/4" and I love that it is both decorative and functional. I hope you find time to take today's sketch and create something great with it. Be sure to check out all the rest of the DT's great work by clicking on their names on my sidebar.

Smiles,

Paper:Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue DSP, Very Vanilla

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Brocade Blue

Stamps: Kids Quotes (Inkadinkado)

Other: Hero Arts gemstones, blue ribbon, scallop edge punch

Cheers for Unscripted Sketches!

Happy Saturday everyone, which means it's time for another Unscripted Sketch! In a time crunch this week I grabbed an empty Altoid tin and discovered that small projects come together quickly....at least with this fabulous sketch it did!

The tin and ribbon caught my eye amid my craft mess, so choosing the other colors was a no brainer. I'll need to be eating many more Altoids to create more of these....or looking for people who already have them on a regular basis. Like I told the rest of the Unscripted DT, either way it will be a quick creation and super minty breath!

Here's the inside of the tin:

I loved this sketch and my gift card holder so much that I had to make a matching card to go with it. On this card I used 3 buttons because of the Button, Button challenge over at Stampin' Out Alzheimers, a fundraiser near and dear to my heart.

Check out what the rest of the DT did by clicking on their links on my side bar. Be sure to check out all the sketch and fabulous inspiration over at Unscripted Sketches, and I hope you find time to play along this week.

Smiles,

Tin details
Paper: Pacific Point, Only Orange, Very Vanilla
Ink: Tempting Turquoise
Stamps(SU!): Lots of Thoughts (front of tin), On Your Birthday (inside of tin)
Other: Altoids tin, ribbon, Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder, scallop square punch, 1 1/4" square punch, button, corner rounder

Card details:
Paper: Pacific Point, Only Orange, Very Vanilla, unknown green
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Black stazon
Stamps (SU!): Tag Time
Other: stamp n write markers (green galore, pumpkin pie), scallop border punch, buttons, blender pen, ribbon, Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder, corner rounder