Dried leaves piled into a bowl have that holiday spirit. I picked leaves off my fruit tree and dried them under a heavy sheet (that allowed the edges of the leaves to curl a bit, giving the leaves a holly feel). They are too delicate to string into the garland, so the alternative is this arrangement that reminds me of a wreath. Love!

A waterless snow globe: miniature tree, tiny gifts and kosher salt captured in an inverted glass and glued to a glass coaster. The gifts roll around in there to my delight.

A circle die, wool felt and a sewing machine can make wonders. Follow this link to a picture tutorial: felt-scarf-tutoroal

Black and White and Read all over! That’s the state of my library. I have lent out so many books, and received so many in return I cant keep track. That is~until now.

I decided I needed a way to track my books and remind my friends~in a pretty way~of who owns what. Every time I lend a book I make a book plate to put inside. It has my name on it with the date. When I return a book, I make a special “Thank You!” by tucking in a cute bookmark, like this one. Everyone remembers and I even get requests to borrow books because everyone wants a bookmark!

Here’s how to make this bookmark:

1. White Bazzill Basics paper in the Cuttlebug with the A2 Floral Fantasy Emboss Folder
2. Black Bazzill Basics paper in the Cricut Expression Machine using the Cindy Loo Cartridge
3. Navajo Blue Bazzill Basics paper hand cut bird
4. All pieces glued using tacky craft glue
5. Ribbon strung through hand cut hole and fastened with white brad.

It’s that easy!

Happy Reading!

Now that I know the magic of the Cuttlebug Machine I can make all the jewelry I want. Lately I have been attracted to the tough-but-cute cuff bracelet, the kind Wonder Woman is famous for. For this one I proclaimed my love for my favorite animals~birds. Make your own, here’s how…

How to make an embossed bracelet:

1. Buy two pieces of thin sheet metal (tin and copper) from a hardware or hobby store.
2. Determine the correct size for your arm by wrapping a piece of paper around your wrist…be sure to leave allowance for folding the metal over an eighth inch all the way around. The metal is sharp! You’re going to want to protect yourself.
3. You’ll need 10mm letter punches if you want to put your own words on the bracelet (buy them here.>>) Otherwise you can run both layers though the Cuttlebug.
4. Cut the metal bands using tin snips or heavy duty scissors—watch the edges! They’re sharp!
5. Select the patterns you would like embossed into the metal from the large line of Provo Craft embossing folders. For mine, I chose the Typeset Folder, ‘cuz you know me and the letters.
6. With a rubber mallet punch the words into the tin and emboss the copper with the folder.
7. Using the rubber mallet and the edge of a work surface, hammer the edges over to hide the rough edges.
8. Adhere the two metals together using brads, and you’re done!

Now get in that invisible jet and go save the day!