A gift bag of cards....

I made gift bags of cards (4 in each bag) for Christmas.  Each bag had the cards, envelope and a Gel Pen.  The cards were copied after samples of cards I saw on various sites/blogs.  (Yea, 2012 resolution--- I will create my own designs....

Starting with the bags, I took blue cardstock and sprayed it with liquid pearls.  I tied Baker's twine from Scrappy Mom's around it.  The little penguin is from Paper Trey Ink.  I used a glitter pen on the snowflakes to bling them up.  The tag was cut from a Spellbinder Nestabilities die cut. There is a Happy Holidays sentiment stamp from Stampin' Up on each tag

 Here is one card:  I used a Paper Trey Ink newspaper stamp.  This card was on a prior blog but I re-created it again for my gift bag sets.This was actually created by Creations by Christina.  [Christina makes great videos-- and is really creative, with PTI products and Cricut stuff.]  I actually put two of the same image on top of each other to give it a bigger impression of a 'stack.'  I put distress ink on the edges.  The sentiment came from a clear stamp from Michaels (Hero Arts) and was put on a Spellbinder Nestability diecut.  The twine is from Paper Trey Ink.

 This is a lovely stamp from Paper Trey Ink. I love this stamp. I saw it on a sample card  from Nichole Heady (of PTI) and actually recreated it with many different colors.  I believe the sentiment is an Inkadinkadoo sentiment that is stamped on a Paper Trey Ink Die cut and stamp outline.

This is another sample card I saw on Nichole's site (see link above).  I love this die cut from Paper Trey Ink. I then used the PTI Mendhi stamp inside the squares using VersaMark. 

 You have seen this sample before, when I did a Thank You card series.  I silver embossed these images on Pink watercolor paper.  The pink  background is a combination of Distress stains.   The sentiment came from Lawn Fawn.  The die cut is Spellbinder Nestabilities.

Candy wrapper, a card, and cat gift

Here are a few assorted gifts/tags I made for the holidays:

I wrapped a Godiva chocolate bar in paper and then adhered a Paper Trey Ink Snowman

Here are two Christmas cards that I made using Lawn Fawn's snowman set and Copics

Paper Smooches stamp colored with Copics.  This was a gift for a cat. I tied the tag with Paper Trey Ink's twine

Gift card holders.... super idea Mary!

I saw this tutorial on Cardztv. It's super easy and can be made really fast.  If you haven't been a subscriber or follower of Mary's site, you should consider it. She puts on videos all the time and is really good at explaining things!!!   

Embellishments are from Recoolections

A Farrell's just opened up in our City (see gift card above).  It's a great place for kids parties.  It's in an inconvenient location of being on my route home from the gym... and having a walk-up window. 

Amuse-bouche:
Here are photos from Christmas photos from the gift opening extravaganza...

Sigh... I'm hoping he'll outgrow this "phase" and become a KINGS fan.

Colt FINALLY got his squirrel.

SamUL is exhausted from the 'cousins'

 I went to my uncle/aunt's on Christmas for a visit as he's been not feeling well.  Here is a view of Griffith Observatory/ Hollywood sign from his patio.

My father has a captive audience.

View of downtown Glendale and Burbank (towards the left)

Christmas backpacks, filled with goodies

I filled these little backpacks with m&m's and a movie pass.  I made little tags to put in the bottom pocket.  The stamp was from Paper Trey Ink.  The ink was Jenni Bowlin.

I LOVE these backpacks. They take a while to make (especially with the eyelets)... but they're worth it!

Amuse-bouche:

 Here are some photos from Christmas Eve:

Sammy and Grandpa

Clark Kent and his mother

Please DROP something

Seaweed salad and Sashimi (tuna, yellowtail, salmon, and octopus)

Still waiting...

SamUL:  I can't get away; he's got me by the leash

G's trophy for roller hockey

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE ZOO

We wish you a happy holiday today---
Love, Naomi, Colt, SamUL, Jim and Dwight, and Stimpy.

Coming into the home stretch ....

I have been running around like crazy all weekend, working on cards and gift packages, driving all over the place to get my pre-holiday items done.   I can't post any of my creations for a while (note: I didn't make a lot of things, just many 'sets of the same thing').

I really need to get started earlier next year.

:(    

Rather than have a quiet blog, I am just posting random nonsense to entertain y'all.  

Look at this cute reindeer outfit I got SamUL at Petsmart (50% off!!!).  It has a little tail too.

 I also got this cute little Santa's hat to put on a small dog head.  Here it in on Colt's Cranium.  And you're right. He is not happy.

What a beautiful COAT you have... a story from the zoo

You may have noticed how shiny SamUL's coat is...

Would you like to know his secret?....

Why yes.... that is a COSTCO size of  Triple Omega supplements that has been torn open by the jaws of death (Colt).   Luckily all 180 liquid softgels weren't all in there.  There were probably 100 of them in there.

And yes, between two dogs, all softgels 'disappeared.'  I say 'disappeared' because I never saw them again. EVER...  Not coming out the front or the back end (if you get my drift).   I immediately called the vet's office who told me there might some vomiting and diarrhea (which never occurred in the days to come).  Quite frankly, I'm not sure where those all went.  I can only guess that they did imbibe in them as (a)  Colt's muzzle smelled faintly of fish oil that night....  (b), their coats have been so shiny and soft ever since. 

A gift bag... and SamUL's first Christmas present

Let's get to the craft before I bore some of you with more photos of SamUL... (snort).

I made this bag based off of a bag that Jeni at FlipFlop Creations posted on her blog.  This bag was actually a birthday card from a group of about 30 people.  I filled it with paper $1 bills and everyone got a paper $1 bill and wrote their sentiment on it. There was also a gift card nestled in the bag with some tissue paper (for bulk).

Amuse-bouche:

Here's the time for you to flee--- as I'm bringing out more photos of my dog... (haha).

One of my friends gave Sammy a Pillow Pet.  It's a purple Hippo. Considering it looks strikingly similar to a stuffed chew toy, he must be monitored when using it (at least for a while).  Initially, he tried to toss it in the air-- but after several strict "No"'s... he settled down with it.  [Thank you Auntie P!!!!]

Goodbye Marlooney??? (Not so fast... I WILL STALK YOU)

I am so sad to read that Marlooney is 'retiring' (is that the proper word?) from our blogging community.... TO LIVE HER LIFE.  

Just Kidding.... sort of.  She has been such a good blogging friend and inspiration to me.  I've only been fortunate to know her a bit over a year but, like you all, she has entertained, inspired, and made me LAUGH.OUT.LOUD!!! (A "LOL" simply doesn't express the laughter that came out of my pie-hole).  

Luckily, I know where she lives and have the financial means to stalk her... although only in the warmer seasons.  I do not stalk in snow, Marlene.

If you haven't been reading my prior babbling posts, please quickly RUN to try to read and view some of her blog entries.  HERE!  I hope she won't take her blog away from us.  Please leave it up, Marlene!!!

It'd be like reading Judy Blume books on a bad day. 

I understand she will still be creating her fabulous images and selling them on Squigglefly-- so she won't be gone forever!  

I didn't make the cards displayed below for Marlene but I was going to showcase them tonight. How poetic.

All kidding aside, I'll miss your blog postings, Marlene. You'll always be 'the QUEEN' to me. And.... Yes, I Will Stalk You (snort).  :)  Your student and fellow tv junkie, Naomi

*************************************************************************************************

These cards are 5.5 x 8.25 ".  I used a Britta Swiderski's idea of using silver Embossing powder and Distress Stains. (Seriously... my 2012 Resolution is to try to create something On My Own.  I'm so thankful there are talented people I can copy to get my technique down-- however I really have to take the training bra off...  LITERALLY)
The clear stamp is a clear stamp set (I believe Inkadinkado, at Michaels).  I then rubbed Distress Stain (Tumbled Glass and Broken China or Spun Sugar and Worn Lipstick) over it and rubbed it all in with my fingers (very messy). I also sprayed some Perfect Pearl on it. I used white watercolor paper to absorb the ink.  The ribbon is from Michaels (50% off!!!) and the sentiment is from Paper Trey Ink (using either Melon Mambo from Stampin' Up or Speckled Egg from Jenni Bowlin).  The sentiment tag is a Spellbinders nestability. 

Thank you, for tolerating my tv addictions...

Before I bore some of my reading audience with the header, let's get to the card. I made this card to thank an employee at my gym.  I won't bother getting into the minutia but I was appreciative of his effort to help me out.  He is a front desk staff  member and he is ALWAYS there.... dawn, dusk, Saturdays, Sundays.  I made this card, using Penny Black's Cow (how appropriate, for the gym, eh?)   The embossing is from Cuttlebug, and I used Copics, Glossy Accents on the pink lemonade, and Liquid Pearls on the bikini.  The sentiment came from Inkadinkado and the ink is Jenni Bowlin. The sentiment was on a diecut from Spellbinders Nestabilities. The background of the cow was done with Chalk.

Amuse-bouche:
Today, I went to Target to buy more Gardein's (haha- they're on sale. I bought 5 bags... cleaned them out of "Mandarin Chicken.").   I decided to mosey past the DVD's and nearly screamed in GLEE. 

WHEN DID UNIVERSAL DECIDE TO RELEASE THIS? AND WHY WASN'T I NOTIFIED??????  :)

$29.99 at Target

To see the intro to an episode of the Six Million Dollar Man, and re-live the 70's, please click on the link below:

http://youtu.be/HofoK_QQxGc

[And to all you nay-sayers out there... Be thankful I'm not going on and on about my other 'childhood favorite show' (haha!):
Check out the ABBA-like choreography in the first 30 seconds of the clip.

I practiced daily- my Donnie & Marie choreography on my stage (long coffee table) with my microphone (pencil).   Thank goodness camera phones didn't exist back then  or you'd be seeing another YouTube video.  :)
I could have been an Osmond, don't ya think?... well, an Asian Osmond...  :)

My first dog, Sachi.

And yes, I have this CD. Yes, I said CD!

CD gift holders, featuring my winter penguin....

Isn't he cute??? Yea, I know. I said that about my snowmen... but check out my cute little penguin. He's a diecut available at Paper Trey Ink (with corresponding stamp set).  [Theresa: you might want to add this one to your order too.  :)   ]
The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  I put a little pearl bling on his hat!

I used Jenni Bowlin ink and my Sakura glitter pen to bling up the snowflakes.  I used Crystal Snow glitter on the penguin. Copics were used on the beak and feet.  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink was used to stamp the image.  The sentiment was cut via Spellbinders Nestabilities.

Amuse-bouche:
Don't know if you heard much about the wind in So Cal.  Lots of damage.  People at work said they were up most of the night because of it.  NOT ME!!! The dogs and I slept through the whole thing. HA.  Apparently, I'm a good sleeper (haha). 
All kidding aside... I'm anticipating congestion and/or allergies in the coming days.  :(  Claritin- take me away.

Have a great Friday everyone!!!!