Sleep-over Bags

I have been busy working on Christmas presents... Here is a sneak peek. This is for one of my nephew's bff, so I should be safe posting this. :) 

It is a sleep-over bag. It measures 24" x 27", has a draw string, it's lined, and his initial is on the front. 

It is deffinately a step-up from the plastic Wal-Mart bag he uses. Don't you think? :)

Family Album - Envelope Album

I made this envelope album for my aunt so that she would have a small album that would hold photos of all her loved ones.  I used the larger 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 envelopes. I love how it turned out.

The paper I used was from a old K and Company pack that I purchased a couple years ago. I love the colors and that there were so many coordinating papers, it also had several pages of really nice coordinating die cuts. I kept the embellishments simple and used cream and brown ribbon on the tags.

Waterfall Paper Bag Album - Christmas

I love  searching YouTube for different types of paper bag albums. There are so may different ways to make them and I love seeing the different designs that people come up with. This album is made with only two bags. The first bag is folded so that there is a 1" gap between the front edges and the second bag folded so that there is a 3" gap between the front edges. The bag with the 1" gap is put inside the other bag. This creates the waterfall effect. 


I placed a grommet in the top left corner of the front of the album. I tied a small piece of ribbon through it and added a small charm, that I created with a Tim Holtz fragment and some paper. I attached it to the album with a jump ring and a safety pin. 

The first page has a "super mini", there are two pages that can be used for journaling or small photos.

Page two holds a large tag, inside the open end of the bag, that has decorative paper on one side and solid paper on the back for journaling.

Pages three and four.

Pages five and six. Page six holds the second large tag.

A view of the back

These mini albums are quick and easy and prefect for gifts.

Christmas Album

I made this mini envelope album for my aunt for Christmas. The design is similar to the fall albums in that it is made using envelopes. I love making the envelope albums because they are so easy. I used the Basic Grey, Blitzen collection. It is Basic Grey's Christmas collection from a couple years ago. I still really like the collection so I decided to try and the use the rest of what I had in a couple mini albums.

Pages One and two.

Pages three and four.

A view with the tag removed and the flap open.

Pages five and six.

A view of the "extra mini" album.

Pages seven and eight.

Close up of tags.

Pages nine and ten.

View with tag removed and flap open.

For the last three or four years I have been making the majority of my Chirtsmas presents. I will start posting more ideas for presents as we get closre to Christmas.

Pumpkin Bread

I found this recipe when I was in college and broke. I started making this bread as gifts for family and friends during the holiday season. The best part about this bread is that it is so much better after you freeze it. I usually start making it in September. What is nice is that it is really easy to personalize it for the person you are giving it to by adding in different ingredients. I usually make batches that include, walnuts, pecans, dried cranberries, raisins, and last but not least chocolate chips. :)  I make 10-15 batches each year. I go to the dollar store and get the small loaf tins, one batch will make 4 loaves.  

I get rave reviews every year about this bread. In fact usually by the end of September people start requesting it. :) Try it!

Pumpkin Bread:

3 1/2cups flour

2 tea. baking soda

2 tea. salt

1 tea. baking powder

1 tea. ground nutmeg

1 tea. ground allspice

1 tea. ground cinnamon

1/2 tea. ground cloves

3 cups white sugar

1 cup canola oil

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups solid pack pumpkin puree

2/3 cup water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two regular size loaf pans. I use 4 smaller sized ones. In a mixing bowl, combine the first 8 ingredients. Set aside. In a new bowl mix sugar, oil, and eggs. Once mixed, slowly combine pumpkin. Then slowly add in the flour mixture, once it is all mixed together slowly add the water. Then pour the batter into the two prepared loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven for 55 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan. I buy the small light weight tins at the dollar store, so I just leave the loaves in the tins.

Yum! Try it, you will be glad that you did!

Fall / Harvest Cards

I found an old pack of ready made fall die cuts that I had never used. I was about 99% sure that I would never use them on pages so I decided to use them to make some cards. I added a little distressing ink and some pop dots and this is what I came up with. They are going to be perfect to deliver with my pumpkin bread.

I have a fabulous pumpkin bread recipe. It is even better after you freeze it. I usually make two or three batches at a time and then freeze it. I pass it out to friends and family a week or so before Thanksgiving. I will post the recipe next week. :)

Fall Mini Album #1

I made this album as a gift for my best friend. It was made with 4 1/8" x 9 1/2" envelopes. I love envelope albums, they are so simple and quick to make. I used the Recollections fall paper pack from Michaels.

The cover was made using Bazzil paper, I am not sure of the color or texture. I attached a ribbon to the spine and a small dangling charm that says "Give Thanks". The letters and numbers on the front are white Doodle Bug rub ons. The acorn die cut was a ready made that I purchase when I purchased the paper at Miachaels.

 

These are the first two pages. I cut out the pumpkins and the crow, placed them on the page with pop dots and added a little orange distress stickles to the pumpkins. The tags all have journaling spots on the back of them.

Pages 3 and 4 ~ I attached the spiral clip to the blue flap and tied a small bow with a peice of white fiber.

 

 

 Pages 5 and 6 ~ I cut out two acorns and a small leaf from another peice of paper and applied them with pop dots to the front of the orange flap. At the top of the flap I placed another square clip tied with a yellow piece of organza ribbon.

 

Pages 7 and 8 ~ Inside the file folder is a small tag album. Three small tags are attached together with a small bad and I added a ribbon for decoration.

 

Pages 9 and 10 ~  The blue scallop die was one of the ready made ones that I purchased. I also cut out a small pumpkin, attached it with pop dots, and then added a little bit of orange distressed stickles for interest.

Happy Fall Y'all!