Handmade Saturday: a new holiday tradition (?)

Hi All,

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday it's definitely time for a change of
pace. Announcing Handmade Saturday!!!! All the shopping. None of the
knees or elbows. With actual pleasant human beings !

So what am I talking about? On Saturday, the 7th, from 10 - 6, I'll be
among several ladies selling handmade items for gifts or for yourself at
Scrapbook Blessings in Newbury Park. I've heard one lady will have handmade
jewelry and another does BEAUTIFUL Iris Folding (a art form of its own).
What the others might bring is a mystery to me at this point but I'll have
small gifts (ready to give for people you just don't know what to get), lots
of cards (Christmas and others), teacher gifts, stocking stuffers and even
some burlap and fabric wreaths (I thought I'd try something new).

When you're done at the Boutique, be sure to check out the rest of Scrapbook
Blessings. It's a marvelous store and I'm pretty sure Beth will be running
a special or two.

Come out to find a more PERSONAL gift outside the Land of the Internet and
Box Store.

Where: Scrapbook Blessings
300 Giant Oak Avenue
Newbury Park
(805) 375-1568

When: Saturday, Dec 7th,
10am until 6 pm

Why: Because handmade is
always nicer.

I hope to see you there. Either way, have a wonderful holiday season and I
hope to see you in 2014.

Marcia Yoshida
Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator

Phone: (805) 479-8385

Email: Mlycat@earthlink.net

Blog: Www.marciaplayswithpaper.blogspot.com

Order 24/7: www.playwithmarcia.stampinup.net

Seventeen Years

Seventeen years ago, tonight, I sat in a bewildered fog.  Seventeen years ago, this morning, I teased my dad as we crossed the street on the way into church.  The next time I saw him , he was laying on the floor dying, his brain crushed when an aneursym exploded in his head. 

Seventeen years ago, my dad donated his corneas, his kidneys, his liver, his skin, and his bone joints to people he'd never know but wanted to help.  He'd already donated multiple gallons of blood in the previous years.  He'd made his wishes known.  He wanted to help people.  That was who he was. 

Tonight I'm sad but I realized that, after seventeen years, I've finally gotten to the point where my gratitude for having had him in my life outweighs my pain.  I think of all the wonderful things he was before I think about losing him. 

I think of him singing.  I think of him carefully working through issues to find what he really believed to be right and ethical.  I think of him working hard to teach kids regardless of how much they might resist.  I think of him working on his "farm" and coming in bone sore and tired, but happy.  I think of him reading to learn as much as he could.  I think of him loving a good dirty joke.  I think of him telling fairy tales in "Pig Latin" and beating out rhythms on the kitchen table to see who could name the tune first. 

I'm grateful for my dad's life and his effect on mine.  He and Mom taught me to value honesty and integrity.  They taught me "stuff" isn't all that important.  They showed me our country and the value of books and music. 

I always felt safe when my dad's hand was on my shoulder. 

The pain of losing him is always there but I'm grateful that the good memories now outweigh it.  I'm grateful that my mom finally has someone to love again and that he's respectful of my dad's memory as Mom is of his wife who's passed on.  Bill, my mom's companion, is a good man too.  I think they would have liked each other.  I'm grateful that Bill and Aaron get along and so glad that Aaron has a "grandpa-like" figure in his life but I so wish he could have known his grandpa.  They would have gotten into lots of trouble together. 

Seventeen years is a long time and it's yesterday.

Don Christensen, thanks for being my daddy.  I love you.
 

Photo Display Blocks. Teacher Gifts or ???

How do you display your favorite pictures?

 

These wooden Photo Blocks with wire holders have been decopaged and topped off with pretty ribbons in matching or coordinating colors.  They'd be wonderful to display photos on an office desk or as a Teacher Gift.  Christmas is coming up faster than any of us want to believe! 

 

Each block is 3" with a 4" black wire photo holder.  I covered some  with GORGEOUS Washi Paper I found in Little Tokyo (LA) and some in some cute Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers.  Most are decopaged with a glossy finished and two with a glossy finish with glitter in it. 

 

I can deliver locally (Camarillo area) or ship at your cost.  We can also arrange for you to come by and take a look in person.  Please email ( mlycat@earthlink.net ) to let me know which you'd like.  There is one of each block pictured. 

 

 

The ones in this picture are covered with Washi Paper and are $9.00 + tax apiece. 

 

The one on the left has cranes flying up and down.  Sorry, I missed photographing this one separately.

 

Cranes -- $9.00 + tax

 

Neutral Waves -- I absolutely LOVE this one.  $9.00 + tax

 

 

Blue Dragonflies - $9.00 + tax

 

Chrysanthemums -- $9.00 + tax  I've been told that Chrysanthemums have historically stood for the Emperor of Japan.

 

 

These were covered with Stampin' Up! Designer Series  Paper.  It's a different look than the Washi Paper but still very pretty.   These are $7.00 + tax apiece.

 

 

 Bright Mosaic -- $7.00 + tax

 

 

Clouds - $7.00 +tax   Perfect for those "dreamy" pictures. 

 Polka dots -- $7.00 + tax  This one has glitter in its finish (sorry it's hard to tell from the picture) and would be awfully cute for pictures of a sweet little girl. 

Rainbow Stripes -- $7.00  Another one which would be fun for a little girls room or for pictures of your little princess.

If you are interested, please let me know and be sure to check out my cards (June 2013 postings) if you'd like to give them as gifts.

Thanks! 

Marcia

 

Christmas Card Class -- November 3rd -- Come join me!

My last scheduled Public Event for the year will be my Christmas Card Class on November 3rd.  Meet in the Choir Room at Camarillo United Methodist (291 Anacapa Drive) to make these four cards for only a $10 Materials fee (Checks made out to CUMC, please).  I'll provide all materials and instuctions.  You just come and make beautiful cards for people who deserve better than store bought.   Please RSVP to mlycat@earthlink.net by October 27th for guaranteed inclusion.  After that you can call (805) 479-8385 to see if there's still room.  I hope to see you there for a little Christmas Cheer.

Snowy Window -- You won't believe how easy this card really is.

Simple but Elegant

Just a silly one with the wonderful Boot themed Stamp set from Stampin' Up!

Our most complicated card for this class.  Not so difficult, but a bit time consuming.  SO worth it!  Save this one for someone on your "Super Nice List".  :>)

 

I hope to see you there.

Marcia

Christmas and Birthday Cards and packaging for the Last Card Buffet of the Year

 

My LAST Card Buffet for 2013 will be held on Friday, October 18th at our usual location in Oxnard.  Come any time between 7pm and Midnight to get ideas and make prototypes for your own Christmas Cards for the year or just make a few for the super special people on your list.  Contact me for the address and please let me know you're coming so I can try to set up accordingly. 

 

There will be 11 Christmas Cards available along with 3 Birthday Cards, a little gift box and a gift card holder.  Bring your own SNAIL (double-sided tape) for a discount.  You may purchase your own SNAIL for $7.00 if you don't have one.  All cards will be $1.50 if you use your SNAIL or $2.00 if you use mine. 

 

My thanks to the folks who were nice enough to share their ideas for some of these cards.  I'm afraid my creative gene wasn't fully in tune with my timeline for all of these designs but I wanted to show off the wonderful Stampin' Up! products. 

 

If you'll be unable to attend the Card Buffet and would like information about how to purchase the materials for any of these cards, please let me know and I can tell you what's in the "recipe".

 

 

There's a real shimmer to this one in person. 

 

 

Simple and quick but elegant

Every time I see this stamp I hear music in my head.  :>) 

Have you been behaving yourself?

 

I'm loving this star too. 

 

The glimmer paper in Silver and Red make this sparkle. 

Cheery little Snowdude!

You can make this as a super simple Christmas Card or as a Thank You for after the holidays.



Here's some more of the Washi Tape I'mcoming to love.

Here's a sweet card for your sweetie.  Or, not so sweet, if you see what I stamped on the inside.  You have to come to the Card Buffet to find out.  :>) 

There's that Henry the Elephant wishing you a Merry Christmas!  Guess why I continued the flare out from his trunk.  That's right.  It's not a design element.  It's there to cover up where I stamped badly.  It happens to all of us.  ;>)

A cute little box and tag for your tiniest gifts.  This could be good for a small piece of jewelry (Hint, hint).

 

Here's a goodie bag folded to become a gift card holder. 

 

 

The three birthday  cards are down here in case you missed my Birthday Card Class.  WHich would you like to make?

 

Stamping and watercoloring CAN go together as is indicated in this card I modified from Deb Valder's design. You'll love using the Stampin' Up! Aqua Painter for this one.

 

This simple card is made with the Bring on the Cake and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets. I threw a little Baker's Twine and some rhinestones for a little "pow" but this could easily be modified to be quite masculine with diffent color choices. Thanks to Melissa Stout for the idea.

All things Halloweeny (Halloweenish?)

Here are a few things I've made that you can add to your Halloween goodies and make All Hallows Eve a little more fun.  Email me if you'd like to get your claws into any of them.  ;>)  Shipping can be arranged.

 

These little signs could be fun in plants around your office or on the table at your Halloween Party.  They are each on sticks about 7" long (bamboo chopsticks). 

 

$5.00 + tax for the set

8 sets available

  

 

Halloween Card - 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"      Comes with white envelope.
I am SO loving Washi Tape!  :>)

$3.00 +  tax
7 available

Halloween Card (inside)

Little Monster Bookmarks
These little guys "bite" the corner of your page to save your place.  They're silly little things but they make me smile.  :>)     Come as 2-eyes or Cyclopsian (1-eyed).  Come on over to the house to pick yours out or let me choose (the papers vary but all have the same eyes and fangs with purple bodies).

$0.50 + tax apiece
38 available 

Paper Halloween Lanterns

These are just over 8 1/2" tall, not counting the ribbon to hang them.  They cast an eerie glow in the dark with their electric tea lights (included).

Muahahahaha!!!

$7.00 +tax
2 available

You can get a little idea of the glow in this picture.  It's even better in the dark.  Sorry about the fuzziness.

Let me know if you have any questions.  Thanks!

September Card Buffet

Here are the projects available for my September Card Buffet.  It will be on September 20th from      7 pm until Midnight.  If you'd like to come, email  (mlycat@earthlink.net) or give me a call (479-8385) so I can give you the location.  You select what you like, make it, and pay me based on whether or not you brought your SNAIL (double-sided tape -- you can buy one from me for $7.00 too).  Stay as long or as briefly as you like. 

 

Here are a few details and prices:

 

Cupcake Dress Card: 

 

Have you noticed there are a LOT of cute cupcake wrappers for sale these days?  I used one for the skirt on this card along with the Stampin' Up! Mosiac Madness stamps, punch, and embossing folder.

$1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

 

Hi Flip Card

This one is made with one of my favorite new toys.  I used a Thinlit Die to cut this card so the section where it says,"hi" flips over when you open it.  What fun!!!   Click on the link, above, to see how it works.         $1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

Hairball Birthday Card

I have a weird sense of humor and I'm enjoying the Giggle Greetings stamp set I used for this card along with the big background stamp Positively Chevron and the splatters I added with the Gorgeous Grunge Stamp Set.           $1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

Butterfly Dots Card

This one is super easy and quick using the Swallowtail Stamp and some Sponge Daubers.  Thanks to Barb Hendrickson for the design.

$1.50

Halloween Card

Here's a quick and dirty card using the Halloween Happiness Stamp,  and our Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape.  Thanks to Janis Sinko for the idea.

$1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

Halloween Beast Bookmark

This little guy, designed by Rae Harper, will mark your place in your creepiest books.  It's a terrific smile getter for a book lover.

$0.50

Halloween signs for your party or Halloween Dinner with a special Monster in your life.  They're made with the Halloween Bash and Halloween Happiness stamps and a collection of Stampin' Up! punches.  Each is mounted on a chopstick.

$5.00 for the set with your SNAIL / $6.00 with mine

Halloween Lantern

This lantern, based on an idea I cased from another demonstrator (Sorry I can't remember who!!!)  stands a little over 8 1/2 inches tall.  It contains an electric tea light to add a creepy, flickering glow to your Halloween decorations.  Tea light is included.

$5.00 with your SNAIL / $7.00 with mine

It glows MUCH better than this.  I still haven't mastered taking pictures in the dark. 

Gatefold Birthday Card

This card takes advantage of the Make a Wish stamp set and our Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper.  Instead of using an ink pad, I used out wonderful markers to color the stamps.  Come on out and I can show you how. 

$1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

Road to Happiness cards

The next two pictures are 4 different ways you could use the Road to Happiness Stamp Set.  These are just the card fronts.  Your card will be on Cardstock the same color as the car.  I stamped and used markers to color.  It's a fun, versitile set.  I threw on a little bit of Basic Gray Stitched Grograin Ribbon to continue with the "road" theme.  :>)

$1.50 with your SNAIL / $2.00 with mine

Autumn 12 x 12 Scrapbook Layout

This Layout was made with the Gently Falling Stamp Set and the Autumn Accents Bigz Die along with the Stampin' Up! burlap ribbon, linen thread, and Antique Brads.  I also used three different embossing folders and the sticker sheet in the second picture below.

Even though this sticker sheet isn't a Stampin' Up! product, it matched our colors so well I knew I wanted to use it.  If you choose to make the layout you'll get the entire sticker sheet too.

Autumn Layout with sticker sheet -- $8.00 with your SNAIL / $9.00 with mine.

Sweet Friend Birthday Box

 

This 3 1/2" x 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" Kraft Gift Box can be used a million ways.  I hope you like the one I chose. 

 

$3.50

 

Gift box side and bottom view.

 

I hope you find something you like and come out to make it. Only 2 more Card Buffets in 2013!