Mystery of May Day

The tradition of the ancient Roman and Druid holiday of May Day has endured for centuries. It has been a celebration of spring turning into the pleasures of summer. Gathering flowers and branches became a tradition and "bringing in the May" became a popular activity on May 1. The giving of baskets became part of the festivities later in the evolution of May Day. Today baskets are often made by little children, filled with candy or flowers and then placed on people's doorsteps or tied to the door handle, as they ring the doorbell and dash away before they are caught. You can participate in this activity yourself by making a special May Day basket or using any small basket to fill with flowers to give to a friend.

This year I've made 48 May Day Baskets to share....the kids helped me fill them tonight. I covered half of them with retired SU designer paper I had on hand and the other half I just added ribbon "handles" to Dixie cups. (I thought the tulip print was cute and liked them as is) What can I say I was trying to save time, the stress of this week is getting to me. Although, I can't wait to spread a little cheer tomorrow! Happy May Day Everyone!!

May Day Basket's

Sample of the "Love's Me" May Day Basket's

Sample of the "Petal's & Paisley" May Day Basket's

Very Simple May Day Basket...Anyone can do!!

(Minimual Cost 90 cups $3.00)

For the Love of the Game

Spring time for most men equals golfing....I know my father in law just can't get enough of the game! I don't have many "manly" stamp sets so when I saw "And So Many Mower" from the Occasions Mini I had to have it. I thought they would make cute Father's Day and Birthday Cards, and boy was I right.

"And Many Mower"

Project Supplies: And Many Mower & Wonderful Favorites Stamp Sets, Urban Garden Designer Paper, Pacific Blue, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White and Gray Cardstock, SU Hodgepodge Hardware, Ribbon, Circle Punch, Coordinating Ink, Sponge Dobber (Basic Gray for shading around golf ball) Blender Pen and Mat Pack, Cricut Celebrations Cartridge for Large Circles and Cuttlebug Swiss Dott Emboss Folder on Golf Ball.

Project Supplies: And Many Mower Stamp Set, Blue Bayou (Retired) Designer Paper and Cardstock, Chocolate Chip and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Black Stazon, Coordinating Ink, Blender Pen, Blue Bayou Ribbon (Retired) and Dimensionals.

Project Supplies: And Many Mower Stamp Set, Winter Green Designer Paper, Not Quite Navy and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Black Stazon, Watercolor Crayons, Blender Pen, Circle Punch, Sponge Dobber (Basic Gray Ink for shading around golf balls) and Dimensionals. Non SU Cuttlebug Swiss Dott Emboss Folder for Golf Balls.

Your #1 Fan

Today I made Ashton's teacher, Mrs. Woodbury a trophy...I wanted to come up with something extra special for her, tomorrow is her first day back after running the Boston Marathon. I highly respect anyone that can run 26.5 miles....I run and cycle every day and know I couldn't do that. So, hat's off to Mrs. Woodbury!!!

To create the trophy I cut two squares of blue cardstock (4 ½ inch squares) and scored each side one inch from the edge. Then I cut one score mark on each corner to create the little blue bases for my transparency sheet. The transparency sheet was 8 x 11 and I folded the 11 inch side every 2 ½ inches leaving a 1 inch flap to create a tube. The transparency tube was attached to the bottom base with sticky strip. I then filled the tube with Hershey Kisses and before attaching the top base to the candy tube, I cut a small slit in the top and fed a strip of blue cardstock through the top for attaching the "running girl". Added some gold ribbon and a tag that says " You've outdone yourself again." (From SAB 2009 Stamp Set Congrats) This trophy was quick and easy and I am thinking about making more for Party Favor's for Aiden and Adison's "Sports Theme" Birday Party in June. (Maybe just make them a little shorter so, it doesn't take as much candy to fill...use a 4 x 11 sheet)

Trophy

Project Details: All in the Family & (2009 SAB) Congrats Stamp Set, SU Circle, Scallop and Small Oval Punch, Ribbon, Transparency Paper (Occasions Mini), Glue Dots, Water Color Crayons, Blender Pen and Sticky Strip...last but not least 2 Bags Hershey's Kisses.

Match Box

Finally getting around to using my new Match Box Die for my Big Shot. It worked slick....so much easier then cutting them out on my own. I thought I would make a matching card as I love having these types of things on hand. They make awesome teacher gifts!! I'm always looking for a reason to pat our teachers on the back! I used card stock for the bottom and top of the box...I've read that if you don't use card stock on the bottom the box it is really hard to put together, but you can use designer paper for the top. I can't wait to make more of these, the possibilities are endless. The card is hard to see all the dimension, as the lighting is bad in my craft room at night since I've painted. I cut out the flowers from the Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set and put dimensionals on the back, added ribbon. It really pops, but very hard to see that in my pictures. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Sorry, I can't resist updating everyone on my new baby chicks. We've had them three days and already they have grown! Hope everyone had a wonderful "Spring" weekend!

Project Supplies Match Box: Great Friend Stamp Set, Match Box Die, Raspberry Tart & Tangy Designer Paper, Pink Pirouette Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Dimensionals, sticky strip, Sponge Dobbers, Rose Red Stamp Pad and Brad & Hershey's Nuggets.

Project Supplies Card: Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set, Raspberry Tart & Tangy Designer Paper, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Oval and Window Punch, Brad, Dimensionals, Mat Pack, Markers and Ribbon.

Baby Chicks...Day 3

Blog Candy Winner

I'm excited to announce Shanna is our Blog Candy winner, all winners are picked randomly, so when I read her comment it really hit home. This was the first Easter without my Mother in law, so we can relate to how important family gatherings are and how much more meaning they have. This Easter we added 6 baby chicks to our family, which really made our Easter extra special. The kids had fun naming them and look forward to watching them grow. I know it will be an Easter they will never forget!

Shanna's Comment: "My favorite thing about Easter is that every year we go to Yankton to spend with my brother-in-law and his wife and kids. The kids have a blast. We color eggs, decorate Easter cookies, go to multiple Easter Egg Hunts, and just hang out with our families. It is a such a great time. This year is the first Easter since my father-in-law passed away so the memories that we talk about will be extra special"

Shanna, please shoot me an e-mail with your address and I'll get your Stamp Set mailed out right away, Congratulations. melsagaser@hotmail.com

Great Friends

My heart wasn't into stamping tonight as I'm worried sick for all of our friends fighting major flooding in Lisbon. Some are moving furniture from their main floors, some are evacuating and some are hunkering down to fight.....it is hard to believe until you see the pictures. (My heart just breaks) Matt and I lived in Lisbon the first 10 years of our married life...it is home for us (even though we've moved away now) and probably always will be, home. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone tonight!!

Project Supplies: Great Friend Stamp Set (Occasions Mini), Urban Garden Designer Paper, Match Box Die for the Big Shot (Tag), Baja Breeze & Whisper White Cardstock, SU Ribbon, Pretties Kit, Baja Breeze Ink, Sponge Dobbers (Shading on tag) and Dimensionals. Cricut Celebrations cartridge to cut out the circles....I really need the circle scissors!!

Easter Blessings

I'm happy to say my husband bought a new computer router so I will have no more problems getting online. Yeah!! The Water in the back yard so far is flowing (again) away from the house. I'm a little nervous what the next few days will bring. (I feel very blessed to be ahead of the game this time, or so we think!) We are getting the pumps running tonight!! I've spent a total of 3 hours outside moving snow and making sure we have no more ice jams! I'm exhausted and tired so cards or projects today...just Blog Candy! I hope to have enough energy to finish my Easter projects tomorrow.

To win this SAB Botanical Blooms Stamp Set all you have to do is post a comment now until April 17th about what your Easter Blessings. (Could be where you went, what you did or favorite memory of Easter) The winning entry will be posted on April 17th....your stamp set will be shipped anywhere in the USA free of charge. (I will pay the first $4.80 for any international shipping charges) Good Luck!!

Easter Bunny

I know I said I would post blog candy today, but I've had computer issues up until now...and I'm about late for work. I am posting quick the peppermint patty bunnies Ashton and I made today for her classmates. They were lots of fun, but I wish I hadn't gotten my nails done...made the process much harder then it had to be. It's like all of a sudden walking around on stilts. Have a great night and I'll post blog candy tomorrow along with the punches and supplies used to make these cute Easter Bunnies.

Trains 101

My son, Aiden is not into Thomas the Train or trains in general. So, I am a little dumb when it comes to Thomas the Train and his locomotive friends. On Monday it was our nephew's 5th birthday and we asked him what he wanted and he kept saying "Henry". I'm thinking a Hemi?? Some type of truck.....needless to say he educated me on Thomas and all of his locomotive friends. I headed off to Target to find "Henry"......I found out Henry is a green engine, my first guess would have been red. I soon found out "James" is red. Aiden now wants to know more and before I know it he'll be into trains!! I guess now I'll be tracking down a Thomas the Train DVD.

I wanted to make a special card and I thought about my new Choo Choo Stamp set I just got out for the Occasions Mini. I got excited and wanted the card to match Henry....but you know me a plain green train isn't that exciting! So, I had to spice it up a little! I hope he enjoys it as much as I enjoyed making it. This card was inspired by two cards on splitcoast that I meshed together....by MacKenzie & rgardengloves. (Thank You)

Choo Choo Birthday Card

Project Supplies: Choo Choo & Wild About You Itty Bitty Backgrounds (Retired) Stamp Sets, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip, Wild Wasabi (Retired) Cardstock, SU Garden Green, So Saffron, Purely Pomegranate (Retired), Ellegant Eggplant, Really Rust, Creamy Carmel, Cameo Coral and Basic Gray ink, Dimensionals, 2-way Glue, Versa Mark, Ribbon (retired) and Marker, Cuttlebug Swirl Emboss Folder, Alphabet #5, and Plastic Googlie Eye.

"Henry"

Easter Surprise

I've been working on a small surprise for three special little boys for Easter, since they are unable to come home this weekend. I wanted them to know we are thinking about them and hope they have a wonderful Easter! I'll be posting an Easter Surprise for all of you tomorrow! (Blog Candy)

Project Supplies: Wagon Full of Fun Stamp Set, So Saffron, Rose Red and Bashful Blue Designer Prints Paper, Rose Red, Bashful Blue and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Markers, Ribbon, Dimensionals and 2 Way Glue.

Project Supplies: Tags So Much Stamp Set (Retired), Bashful Blue & Whisper White Cardstock, SU Watercolor Pencils, Ribbon, Tag Punches and Blender Pen,Carrot containers (Dollar Tree $1.00 for three) and filled with Easter M&M's

Easter Bunny S'mores

Thought I better get a head start on "Easter" teacher gifts tonight, since Easter is now less then a week away. If you know me, you know I love any excuse to bring treats to the classroom or bring teacher gifts!! This year I'm making Easter Bunny S'mores, yummy! They are quick and easy to do....I plan on making more tomorrow and letting the kids help me. I know this project will tickle them pink!

Easter Bunny S'mores in a Jar Recipe

Ingredients:

1 sleeve graham cracker crumbs

8 Marshmallow bunnies or Peeps

1-1/4 cups Easter M&M's

1/3 cup Brown Sugar

Instructions:

1. Reduce 1 sleeve graham crackers into crumbs

2. Layer 2/3 of the crumbs in a 1 qt. jar.

3. Place 8 marshmallow bunnies or peeps standing up, facing out around the inside of the jar.

4. Press them up against the glass, but don't squash them.

5. Carefully spoon remaining crumbs in the center of the jar to support the bunnies, pressing down to keep them snug.

6. On top of this pour 1 1/4 Easter M&M's

7. Spoon 1/3 cup brown sugar into the center of M&M's, gently pressing with a spoon.

Attach a gift tag to say:

Easter Bunny S'mores

*Empty the jar contents into a bowl. Snip the bunnies into bits with kitchen shears or cut up with a knife. Return the bunny bits to the mixture. Mix Well.

*Melt 1/2 cup butter; add 1 tsp. vanilla. Pour this over the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pat into a greased 9" square pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 min. Cool and cut into bars.

Wagon Full of Fun

The Stampin' Up box has been finally opened after staring at me for three weeks! I should probably say I've been tripping over it!! I got many stamp sets from the Occasions Mini....this is one of them, Wagon Full of Fun. This is a very versatile set and I thought it would make cute Easter cards. I'm sad to say I probably won't get Easter cards out this year as I originally had planned due to flooding. Easter is a week away and I have another busy week a head of me, trying to put back the rest of the basement. Now that my craft room is back together and organized, maybe I might just surprise myself!

Project Supplies: Wagon Full of Fun (Occasions Mini) & Just So Sayings Stamp Set (Retired), Whisper White, So Saffron, Basic Black and Bashful Blue Cardstock, SU Markers, Black Stazon, Ribbon, Dimensionals, Window Punch and Black Brad, Cricut Celebrations Cartridge for Scallop Square and Cuttlebug Swirl Emboss Folder.

Project Supplies: Wagon Full of Fun Stamp Set, Sweet Slumber Designer Paper, Whisper White Cardstock, SU Scallop Punch, Watercolor Pencils, Aqua Pen, Dimensionals, Cello Bags and Sticky Strip, last but not least....Jelly Beans!

Project Supplies: Wagon Full of Fun & Hugs and Wishes Stamp Set, Rose Red Designer Paper, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White Cardstock, SU Ribbon, Scallop and Circle Punches, Dimensionals, Basic Black and White Ink.

Back and Better Then Ever!

It's been 2 weeks since we had overland flooding take over our house, what a mess it created!! I've been working for the past week on getting my life back in order!! After my craft room was spread from one end of the house to the other I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to redecorate and get a better organizational system going. I started with painting the walls a bright cheery color, thought that might help the sour mood the flood put me into. So, I'm glad to say things are finally back together. I am still missing items (stamps from my favorite stamp set...Cheap Talk) and projects that were on my desk when the water struck. I hope to find them soon!!

I'm most proud of my scrapbook paper organizer I bought at Hobby Lobby. All my paper is out and visible, I love it! I also labeled each 12x12 scrapbook sleeve with the designer paper name and coordinating colors. Thought this would save me time. I hope to jump into my unopened box of stampin' up stuff...It's been sitting in the entry way now for 3 weeks and get some awesome project posted this weekend. (Yeah!!) Thanks for being patient with me!! As an added thank you I'll be getting some blog candy ready for you! Enjoy!