Simple Superstar Christmas Card #1

It's funny how this time of the year, the thought of adding one more "job" to your list can very well be the straw that breaks the camels back!  Honestly, last night I had a little melt down because I felt like I had not had one minute to myself.  The day consisted of working for hubby, cutting the lawn leaves with the rider, climbing the roof to get the leaves out the eaves troughs, hanging the outdoor Christmas lights, making a roast chicken dinner complete with mashed potatoes and gravy, cleaning up after dinner, building lego with my son, putting the kids to bed, finally putting away my mounds of clean clothes and then.....CRASH!  Seriously.  I just had to have a little pity party just so I had a minute for ME.  Truly.  Why is there so much to do?  And I know I am not the only one!  Everyone I talk to is the same especially this time of the year.

I'm here to save you from a major meltdown.  I had the melt down.  I took one for the team so you can stay sane while making your Christmas cards this year.  Truly.  Do not put too much pressure on yourself and let your Christmas cards be the "straw" that did you know what!  Follow my lead and look like a superstar while maintaining your composure.  Here's how....

Step 1:  Choose great papers like shimmer card stocks (what do you know?.....they can be found at The Pickle!).  They are elegant and get noticed on the card wreaths next to those white, glossy boxed cards.

Step 2:  Choose great dies.....Cut snowflake heart die out of that great red shimmer card stock.

Step 3:  Cut merry word die out of gray card stock and add a little glitter.  Glue to the red shimmer card stock.

Step 4:  Create an elegant look by keeping matting square and adding lots of layers.  And you're done!  Oh, I guess I did crank the die through an extra time using white card stock to add a couple of extra white snowflakes to the bottom of the card.  But that's it really!

Easy.  Stress free.  You're composure is most definitely in check while your superstar cape flies proudly in the cool winter breeze....♥.  PS....Thanks for letting me vent!  Ha.

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Advent Calendar for Hubby

(Just in case you missed my posts from last week)....the challenge was on to get an advent calendar done for my hubby in time for December 1.  Once kids came along, I stopped making projects for Trev and I thought that was terrible. I had a few days and thanks to a great DIY kit ($22.99) and a great 6x6 paper pad (Warm & Cozy), it all got done with time to spare!

Here is a better look at the completed project!

I added extra little goodies like the star brads.

All papers including the words "Trees and Hockey" were from the 6x6 pad.
Number stickers are included in the kit.

I included a little love note (ahhhh....♥) and a chocolate for Day 1 and guess what?  I think he actually liked it and was quite surprised.  He is a man of few words but I think his shy smile said it all (ahhhh....♥!)

Tag Swap
Just a little reminder that any of you who entered our annual tag swap, your tags are due by THIS Saturday.  Feel free to come in any time during our regular store hours to drop them off.  Thank you to those who have already done!  We even had one participant mail hers in since she lives out of town (we got them Pat!).  All I can say is WOW!  Everyone's tags are incredible.  I better get on my game and try to wow you too!

December Cheer
I know you guys find the store to be warm and cozy on any given day but we thought we would add a little extra warmth for the month of December.  Stop in on Saturdays (during store hours - 10am-3pm) and enjoy a warm cup of apple cider on the house.  Don't be shy.  We'd love to see you.  And hey, why don't you bring your latest creations for a little show and tell!!

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Shop the Neighbourhood - November 29!

So have you heard about this event yet?  It is all about encouraging people to shop locally!  Now you guys know I am ALL about this concept.  And it's not just because I OWN a small business.  I have been shopping local, small business FOREVER!  I have a soft spot in my heart for the little veggie stands on the side of the road, the kiddie lemonade stands, the craft shows, the boutique style shops.  These entrepreneurs are all taking a chance on a dream and really....that takes guts.

I often do an annual blog post around this time of the year about the importance of shopping local.  Remember my post a few years ago about buying a bike from Todd at Smith Cycle or wonderful gifts from Barb at Barrypatch?  Are you on a first name basis with any of the stores you frequent?  I get a wonderful sense of belonging and community when I walk into a store where the salesperson knows me as Kim!

The YellowPage Group has taken this same concept and are encouraging AND facilitating it so it spreads nationwide.  What a brilliant idea on their part.  Today we are bombarded with US based advertisements about  "Black Friday" promotions.  Why not wait one day and get some great deals just down the road.  SAVE your gas.  SAVE your time.  SUPPORT your neighbour.

Here is a link to the deals in Chatham, Ontario!  Please remember this is the inaugural year.  Next year this event will be even bigger, with even more participants!  You will be able to say you were there when it all began back in 2014!

FREE Gift with Purchase

We are celebrating the Shop the Neighbourhood event with a FREE Kaisercraft 6.5x6.5" paper pad for EVERY $50 purchase!  This is a $9.99 value with over a dozen different styles to choose from.  

These paper pads are gorgeous with specialty papers, die cut pieces and more.  Great for card makers with their reduced pattern size.  Also wonderful in doll houses!  Use the beautifully coordinated papers on your page layouts.  Say it with me....the possibilities are endless!

Forget your Iron...Take an EXTRA 50% off

We will also be passing on an EXTRA 50% off all items on our clearance "ironing board".  (Of course our sales bin is on a wooden ironing board).  Where else would it be?!  There are some great things here too people!  You want to have a look!

Together, let's get this concept rolling....

Kim

Store Hours

Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm

Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Activity - Idea #3 - Cookie Cutter Ornaments

Ok.  How cute is this idea?  My sister Kell had seen an idea similar to this on line and said it would be the perfect combination of Homebaked plus Paper Pickle.

I should have known.  I just googled the image
Kell sent meand this is a Martha Stewart idea.
I must try the photo ornaments next!

And I couldn't agree more!  They are cookie cutters dressed up with scrapbooking paper, washi tape, ribbon, etc.

 So this ornament is my favourite!  It incorporated Tim Holtz's mini Christmas trees, ribbon and washi tape.

I must say that this came together even more perfectly than originally planned.  I picked up cookie cutters from The Superstore.  I think realized that Tim's mini trees fit into the star.  The cookie cutter was shiny silver and that just did not match my tree so I grabbed some of our wide paper tape from Little B and voila!  It was THE EXACT thickness as the cookie cutter.  A little cheese cloth and Stickles finished the bottom of the tree.  What do you think?!?  Doable?  Definitely!

Advent Calendar Update

Thought I should update you on my calendar progress.  Here is what I had accomplished last night before I turned into a turd on the couch!  Seriously I had my flu shot in the morning and I could not move off the couch between 9-11 last night.  That is so unusual for me.  I NEVER watch tv and yet all I could imagine myself doing what napping and laying down.  Tonight I hope to get a little more completed before the December 1 deadline!  I LOVE the Warm & Cozy line that Laina told me was a must to bring in.  Thank you!  It was the perfect paper to use on hubby's project!  I just love when things come together!

Am I inspiring you yet?  What projects do you have on the go?  Remember, Saturday is show and tell day at the store!
Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm

Christmas Activity - Idea #2 - 2015 Calendar

 I'm back with another fun project and/or gift idea.  Every year I make the Basic Grey calendar kit ($23.50).  Every year I am reminded how MUCH I love this company AND this project!  Actually, I am reminded of how much I love this company and this project every time I look at it hanging on my wall...that's the best part!

It's funny how excited I get about this kit.  I re-read my post from last year and I had to laugh at my pictures of the project.  Seriously, Kim?  You were taking pictures of the completed project while you waited in line at Laura Secord?  Now this is love people!  Ha.

So the kit works exactly the same way as it always has....there are pre-printed pages which act as the "base" of the page.  BG has included a great assortment of stickers, chipboard and die cut pieces to enhance your page.  The best part is that everything is labelled so nicely.

Another great thing is that you are able to follow along with the instructions or feel fee to change the page as you wish!  The page above for March was the last page I completed because I couldn't decide if I liked the picture of Coulter or the picture of Julia better with the background colours.  I decided that they BOTH worked well and there was just enough room on the layout to accommodate both!  Another side....parenting tip #6 - when working on family projects such as this, make sure you have EXACTLY the same number of photos of each kid otherwise further meltdowns and/or feeling of guilt may ensue....damn!  I just counted and see Jules got one extra photo!  Oh well.  Coult is pretty chill.  Next year I will give him an extra shout out!

As always, I chose photos based on the colours in the "base" and colours in the photo.  

This year I am going to go one step further with my calendar and actually jot down events on the calendar.  I think it is important to get down some of these fun milestones ANY way you can...I may even let go of my inner perfectionist and not worry about the ink colour not matching!

I also plan to take my 2014 calendar apart and slip the pages into an 8x8 album.  I think this will be a great way to preserve the layouts.

 Just flip through those photos and find the one that speaks to you and add it to that month!

I absolutely LOVE how this page came together.
I followed the instructions 100%.  Just awesome.

I just love when things come together so nicely AND so easily!  This project was completed over the course of two nights after the kids were in bed.  You just follow along....not much thinking involved.  You feel productive.  You feel creative.  You look like a rockstar (yet, AGAIN!).  That's what I'm talking about.

Kim

Store Hours
Wed-Fri - 10am-5:30pm
Sat - 10am-3pm (Shop the Neighbourhood Event!)