CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR THE GRIFFINS

My cousin ordered these stockings months ago and they have been finished and just sitting in my craft studio waiting to be mailed.  I finally got them mailed out on Monday and they have been received, so I can finally post them here on my blog.  Rhonda called me as soon as she received them and said she loved 'em!!  I tried to add a little something different to each one of them.  I have had so many people say......I would love to buy a stocking or two from you, well........  I am trying to get some made and they will be in my etsy shop soon.  I am making my fabric totes right now and hopefully by the end of the week I will have my little shop opened up.

                  http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadeByKarenLee

I am so looking forward to my week off work.  I call it my stay-cation!!  I will be sewing my little heart out!  But......this morning its Maj Jongg with my friends Nita, Darlene and my daughter Lisa.  We are all meeting at Lisa's at 10am for a day of game playing and eating!!

A tote for Krista

I came home early this morning from my daughter Lisa's house.  We had a fabulous 4th of July.  Lots of family and friends and way too much food!!  My grandson Michael was in charge of lighting the fireworks again this year and he sure made us proud.  Thanks Michael for being such a little man last night.

Okay......back to my tote!!  My niece Krista wanted a tote with stars..... after digging around my fabric stash I was able to find fabric with stars!!  This isn't the best photo, but in person this tote is loaded with little stars.  I hope you like it my dear Krista.

This tote measures approx. 17 in. x 17 in., fully lined w/ 5 inside pockets of different sizes.

July 4th!!!!

I'm wishing you all a very HAPPY 4th of July!

Dominick's Bag

I just finished up this bag for my grandson Dominick or should I say Dominick's mother, my daughter Lisa!  She wanted a "boy" bag to carry around his stuff when they are out and about.  I used a Robert Hoffman fabric that I have had for sometime.  Heck, I've had all my fabric for sometime.  I originally used it as a quilt backing.  The inside is fully lined and has 5 pockets to put all kinds of goodies.  Now......my niece Krista wants a bag.  She wanted it made with star fabric, but I don't enough star fabric in my stash, so I'm going to talk her into polka-dots.  I've got lots of cute polka-dot fabric and who doesn't like polka-dots?

Could this layout become a sketch????????

Pam over at Ideas for Scrapbookers is giving away a couple of nice prizes.  There are a couple of things you can do to enter.......1.  e-mail her one of your layouts that you would like to see turned into a sketch.  2.  go to her blog Ideas for Scrapbookers and leave a comment.  Easy, right!!!

This is the layout that I e-mailed her for consideration.

 
Products Used: Cricut cartridges, Jasmine & Doodlecharms
AC cardstock
Craft Essentials brads
Pigment chocolate brown ink
Aleene's clear tacky glue
Scotch 714 adhesive
Prima's Got Flowers
Prima's Mulberry flowers
Fiskar's paper trimmer

A Day With My Family

                                                                       Dominick

                                                     Kelly, Michael & Dominick

                                                                 Dominick & Mia

                                                                          Mia

                                                                Michael & Mia

                                                        Steve, Kelly & Michael

                                                                       Lisa

I AM SO PROUD OF HER!!!!

I am so proud of Jake's long time girlfriend, Nga.  She has worked very, very hard these past 4 years and last Sunday she graduated from UCDavis!!!!  I love her bunches!

Get Sketchy Card Challenge #43

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!!  I came home on my morning break and whipped up this card using the above sketch from GET SKETCHY.  I needed one more Father's Day card, this one is for my brother Mike.  He was really a big part of my children's lives when they were growing up.  They think of him as a dad.  Love you Brother!!

what I used........

paper:  Little Sprout - Crate Paper

American Crafts Large Brads (Chestnut)

Darice Glitter Hemp Cord

Scotch ATG 714

Stitching using my Janome sewing machine

computer font

Moxie Fab World - Tuesday Trigger Challenge - Mapping Color

The challenge over at Moxie Fab World was to make a card getting our inspiration from this wonderful colorful pillow!!  I dug through my stripped paper drawer and came up with 3 papers that I thought would work for this challenge.  I needed to make a Father's Day card for my son-in-law so I was really happy when I saw what the challenge was this week.  I'm really lovin' that pillow!

What I used..........

papers:

Courtyard Stripe - Chatter Box

Western Stripe - Chatter Box

Recess - Basic Grey

craft paper scraps from my scrap bin

Sticky squares - Making Memories

Scotch ATG 714

Aleene's Tack Glue

Darice Glitter Hemp Cord

Brads - Making Memories

Buttons - from my cousin Rhonda

stitching using my Janome sewing machine

computer font

Messenger Bag

I got up at 6:30am, did a little farming on FaceBook and then started making this bag.  The pattern called for a pocket on the front, but I thought it looked better without it, so I left it off.  It also called for making it with strips of fabric, but I chose to use just one large cut of single fabric.  I really love this print and didn't want to add others that would take away from this party of bright flowers.  It also called for a button hole closure, but I didn't want to mess with a button hole on the flap, so I'm going to do a velcro closure.  I'll be making a trip to JoAnn's with coupon in hand sometime tomorrow.  This bright fabric just puts a smile on my face.  I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.  Mine was very relaxing and I'm ready for work in the morning.....well, sort of......LOL!!!!

Card Patterns Weekly Sketch Blog Challenge #68

I used the sketch above from Card Patterns Weekly Blog Challenge to make this 3 3/4 x 9 inch Father's Day card.  I just love these tall cards, I made one last Saturday to take to a birthday party.  It was the hit of the cards!!  Even the men at the party admired my card.  It made me feel really good.  I'm not a stamper, so I wrote the sentiment with a marker.  Normally I would have used my computer for the sentiment.  But.....being a father's day card, I thought a marker was a perfect tool to use.  One day I might try my hand at stamping, but not now!!  Oh, I have stamps and ink, but I just freak out when I try and use them.  Weird....I know....LOL!!  I think my son will like his handmade card from his mom.......whatta ya think?

CREATE!

I came home from work this afternoon and put the finishing touches on my altered wood letters.  I just needed to add the flowers and bling.  I can't wait to get them hung in my little hide-a-way!!

Next Project - Altering!!

I'm home on my morning break and decided today would be the day to start on this little altering project.  I bought these letters a couple of weeks ago at JoAnn's and have been itchin' to get started on them.  The papers that I decided to use are from Martha Stewart - Classic Woodlands.  I've had these papers for along time and I'm trying to use up supplies that I already have on hand.  When completed they will hang in my craft room.  Well......I better get started as I will be returning to work in an hour.

Birthday Card for Ruth

Today I will be attending Ruth's 90th Birthday celebration.  Ruth is my son-in-law Steve's grandmother.  I have been honored to get to know her the past couple of  years.  She is a very sweet lady.

The inspiration to make this 3 3/4 x 9 in. card came from Irina Blount.  Her blog EVERYTHING PAPER CRAFTS is full of wonderful cards.  You must take a few minutes of your time and check out her work.  Thank you Irina for the inspiration.  

I FINISHED MY BAG!!!

I got up early this morning and was able to finish up my bag.  I just needed to sew on the straps.  Which ended up not being easy to do.  But they are attached and I'm very happy with the way this bag turned out.  I made one last week and made a lot of mistakes, this one went together with no snags!!!  My best friend......the seam ripper...... was never used!!!  This fabric was originally  going to be used to make a quilt, but I think it made a beautiful bag!  I just love all of these Asian print fabrics.  I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend.  My little grandson Dominick is coming over soon to spend the day with his maw (thats what he calls me)!!

My Current Project

This will soon be my new bag!!  I cut the strips of fabric on my break from work yesterday.  I  started sewing them together last night and finished making my 17x17 squares on my break this morning.  I have had this Asian fabric for a couple of years now.  I was supposed to make a quilt with it, but I stopped quilting a few years ago and now I'm trying to use up the mountain of fabric that I have been storing.  I'll be back with my finished bag in a day or two!!!  Now I must get back to work.