Happy May Day! + Free Image

Have you ever got to twirl around a maypole?  I have to confess I've always wanted to - but never have.  We don't really see May Day celebrations here in America.  But I think it's time to bring it back.

I'm going to do my part.  I've come up with a little treat that even has a maypole!

What do you think?  This was pretty darn easy to do (so I need to go make a few more to share) and it's quite festive.  I simply twisted some ribbons together and stuffed them into the jumbo straw.  Then I just added a flag and flower - both on toothpicks.  I held it in the nutcup and poured in the  M&Ms.  The M&Ms are heavy enough that they hold it in place.

I love this sweet maypole image!  It's by Mary Blair - she did a lot of fun stuff for Disney in the 50s and 60s.  While we're talking about May Day, I've got a suggestion for you:

Visit my daughter, Lauren!  Her blog is Lovely.  You'll find out some interesting things about May Day and get a recipe for a very pretty May Day salad.  Have you ever made anything with edible flowers?  I'd like to try after seeing Lauren's post.

If you would like a copy of the vintage May Day image, click here.

So, let me know if you celebrate May Day and what you do.  And somebody find me a Maypole!!  Happy May Day to you! 

Easy Filofax Dividers Video + a Winner!

Good morning!  We've got a storm going on here.  It should be light by now, but it's nothing but dark!   We sure need the rain...

I finally found some paper that I wanted to make my Filofax dividers out of and it wasn't what I expected.  On one of my Michaels excursions, I came across some wrapping paper in the dollar bin that was also marked down 60%!  My first thought was that it must be really cheap and thin, but the the patterns were pretty and unusual, so... I bought it anyway.  At that price, surely it would work for something!

I am still surprised, but it is really nice and it matches my Filofax!  Isn't this pattern cool?

 I used some Stampin' Up goodies to decorate it:  Starburst Sayings, Starburst Framelits, Fun Flowers Bigz Die , Paper Doily Die.  (Starburst Sayings and Framelits come as a bundle at 15% off - they are limited edition and are only available until May 31st.)  If you check these out, you can also check out what's retiring, there are still a few really cool things left.

I've got a video showing how easy it is to use the Stampin' Up Envelope Punch Board to make these dividers.   It's amazing all the things that can be done with the Envelope Punch Board:  envelopes, boxes, tab folders just to name a few.  The tab folders can be used as dividers, like I'm showing, or for cards, pockets, even organizing!  In the video, I've also got a little extra - a cute decorated paper clip using the stamp set Storybook Friends.  If you are interested in all things Filofax, be sure to check out Philofaxy - it is very fun!

And now the winner of the Fox Gift Bundle!!

Rebekah email me your address - you can use the link on my sidebar.

My husband selected Rebekah's name for me this morning as he was heading off to work - he's got a deadline to meet.  It seems architects are always working up to the last  minute!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment - I always wish I had one for you all!  I love all of your ideas.  Have a wonderful week!

dot com + Fox Gift Bundle

Hi, there!  Guess what?  I'm officially a dot com!    My domain name is chouxchouxpaperarts.com.  You don't have to change a thing - my blogspot address works just as well.  Isn't it cool that they both go to the same spot?  As you can probably tell, I'm working on my blog - oops, I should probably say I have someone helping me with my blog.  Her name is Pepper from CC Blog Design and she is very good and VERY PATIENT!   We are still tweaking and I haven't put a thing on my new pages yet.  Hopefully I'll get to that soon.

Let's have a little celebration in honor of my .com-ness!   I found a darling fox stamp and set of three sentiment stamps at Michaels.   You can see two of the sentiments above.  I picked up an extra set to start the FOX GIFT BUNDLE!

That's not all in the Fox Gift Bundle.  See that fun white frame around the fox?  That's from a set of Spellbinders Dies.  The dies are part of the Fox Gift Bundle, too!

I think these mini pillow boxes are just adorable! Here's the back so you can see the clear pillow box a little better.

Cute, huh?  Two mini pillow boxes are included in the Fox Gift Bundle, too! 

 This shows everything in the Fox Gift Bundle:

The stamps and Spellbinders dies are new in the package - it was just easier to photograph mine.  I would like to send this gift bundle to one of you.  Here's how:

Let me know in your comment that you would like to create with the Fox Gift Bundle. It's that easy. Leave a comment by 11:59 on Saturday, April 26th.  I will select one commenter by random selection and announce the winner on Sunday, April 27th.  

Please check back on Sunday!  Especially if you have no contact info listed.  

So glad you stopped by!

Smile: Sweet Girl and a Puppy

Hi, there!  Did you have a wonderful weekend?  My sweet girl and her husband were here, so you can be sure I've been smiling!  

I'll bet that you're smiling at this cute image!  I was browsing the images over at Free Pretty Things for You and this one called my name.   

It is free for you right here.  Keren has cutie pie images that are hard to resist - so I just don't! 

(The pink smile tag is made with Stampin' Up Scallop Tag Topper Punch and Positive Thoughts stamps from Precious Remembrance.) 

I'm trying to use papers that I've had around and resisting buying new ones for awhile.  However, when I come across really wonderful digital papers, I usually snap them up.   The mint and white paper (on the square circles frame) is part of a beautiful set from Grepic.  I used another pattern from the mint set on my chocolate bunny tag treat here.  

Hope you have a lot to smile about this week - so glad you stopped by!

Pink Egg Card + Free Image for You

Here we go, with another sweet and cute Easter image!

Don't you love that pink egg?  And those cute chicks?   

 I've had a couple of questions recently on how to create an extra tall card.  This  Easter card is 6 1/2" tall  and opens at the bottom.  That's too tall to make with a piece of 8 1/2 x 11" cardstock.  Making an extra tall card is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3.

Cut the front of your card first.  Add 1" to the length.  If your card is to be 6" tall, cut the cardstock 7" long.  Score at 6" (the desired height of the card).

Cut a piece of cardstock for the back at the same width.  I've used a different color here and offset it a little so you can easily see the back from the front.   I always add a little to the length just to give me plenty of wiggle room.  Slip the back into the fold of the front.  Glue back of card to the front fold.  And cut off the excess.

Now you have a tall card.  Easy, right?

To download the vintage pink egg image, click HERE.

Hope you're having a wonderful week!

Luv You More Than Chocolate Bunnies: Perfect for a Guy

One of the things I struggle just a bit with every year for my Spring Show and Sale is making sure that I have an Easter treat that will work for a guy.  This is what I came up with this year:

What do you think?  I think it works great for guys -  and gals, too!  I guess that's why I tossed a pink egg back there!  That makes this Chocolate Bunny tag very versatile.

The pillow box size - perfect to hold two of those sweet chocolate bunnies - is 3" x 4".   The tag size is 21/2" x 4 1/4".

Here are a few of the other supplies:

The bunny die and felt are from Papertrey Ink.   I think I picked up the Chocolate Zing Embossing powder there, too.  I looked for the stamp set, but I can't find where I got it.  If you know, please let me know!

My guy doesn't know it, but I made an extra one of these for him!

Do you have other guy ideas for Easter?  Let me know...I'd love to see them!

Sweet Vintage Easter: an Image for You

I know I've said several times that I love sweet and cute.  I came across this sweet vintage Easter card and couldn't stop smiling from the time I grabbed it, paid for it, and drove home. The boy and bunny fit 'sweet and cute' in spades!   That little bunny stamp in the top corner is part of Storybook Friends from Stampin' Up and it fits my 'sweet and cute' love too!

Take a closer look at the diamond border in mint felt.

The diamond border is actually not a diamond border at all.  It is the negative space between two chevron die cuts!  Take a look:

 Not a bit of felt wasted and a cool border, too!

This boy and bunny would like to go home with you, too!  If you would like to have this sweet and cute image to create with, download it HERE.

So glad you stopped by!

Wedding Bells with Free Pretty Things for You

Today is my first contributor post for Keren at Free Pretty Things for You.  So excited to be sharing with you creations featuring one of her vintage images.  And Keren is offering her image, Wedding Bells (pink and blue ribbon versions), free to you!

Keren's  blue and pink wedding bells are beautiful and do a fabulous job of wishing new (and couples who have been married a while) well.  

I just love this sweet little card and all it's layers.  It features the Blue Ribbon Wedding Bells image.  It also features items from the Make Mine Gold kit.   I think this would be a lovely way to write a personal note to a daughter who is getting married or perhaps, to a daughter-in-law to be.  

Kirby, one of my office team members at work, special ordered an anniversary card for his wife, Gail.  When Keren showed me the wedding bells image, I thought it would be perfect to create an anniversary card.  

Even though typically wedding bells would be used for a new couple, I think the pink version made a nice anniversary card for Kirby to give Gail.   I used a tiny gold tag to highlight their 37 years.

Would you like to have both wedding bell images for your creations?  

To directly Download the Pink Ribbon Wedding Bells Click HERE!  To Download the Blue Ribbon Wedding Bells, Hop on over to FPTFY!

Thank you, Keren, for the beautiful wedding bells images!

One more thing:  The winner by random selection (that's my husband pulling a name out of a basket) of the Cute Girls Card Kit is:

Martha Dehne

(who has two friends coming to visit)

Martha, email me with your address (email is in my sidebar) and I will get your package in the mail ASAP!

Thank you to everyone for all your so very sweet comments - I wish I had enough kits to send you all one!

And thank you for stopping by - I hope to see some of your Wedding Bells creations!

Free Pretty Things For You

A little while ago, I had the most lovely invitation.  Would I like to be a contributor at Free Pretty Things for You?    I didn't even have to think about it - I emailed Keren back with a very enthusiastic YES! and when do I start?

Today is the day I'm being introduced as a new contributor on the Free Pretty Things for You blog.   I have been a fan of Keren's for quite some time - I have so enjoyed her darling vintage images and her famous Linky Party.  Such yummy things to see!

I need to tell a little bit about myself - if you know most of this feel free to skip this part!  I've always had projects going, but didn't really start in the paper arts until my daughter, Lauren, went off to college.  She is the only child and one of those terrific children that you never want to go, so I had MAJOR empty nest syndrome.  I had to have something to fill up that empty space.  I know when I found paper crafting my husband, Dennis, was glad I found a hobby.  Little did he know how big a part of my life it would become.  I'm always busy:  filling special orders, keeping my local business locations with inventory, and creating, creating, creating!!  

In honor of this beginning with Keren, I've got three things to tell you.  Lots of photos follow!

What is it?  One of my new kits:  Cute Girls Card Kit.  What do you get?  

Everything you need to make three adorable cards featuring those cute girl pins.  Here's an example of what you can make:

How do you win?  Leave a comment!   You have until Sunday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m. (central time) to leave a comment.  Be sure your comment let's me know you would like to win!  Winner (using random selection) will be announced on Monday, April 7th.  On that day, you will want to see  Keren's free wonderful image and the projects I created with it.

Now for the second thing:

I made three projects with the Easter Kit contents.

The first one is a pretty treat envelope featuring a graphic mint and white envelope, an air dry clay frame and chocolate bunny. 

You get everything for this project (except the candy and adhesive).    

I've gone more vintage for the second project with a bit of modern thrown in with the badge featuring an Easter pin.  Here's a close up of the badge:

You get everything to make this project, too!  Here's the third project:

It is whimsical with the bunny pins and hand drawn doodle frame.

It's perfect for one egg.  And again you get everything you need.  You can find the Easter kit in my etsy store.   There is only a very limited number available.  And just in case you are a little worried about the doodling, here is item number three:

I have a quick video with a tip for an easy way to create the doodle frame.

You can watch it here or on youtube.

What do you think?  Fun and easy, right?

Okay, just to wrap up:  visit Keren at Free Pretty Things for You and at her Etsy shop.  If you would like to win the give away, Cute Girls Card Kit, leave me comment.  If you would like to see all the contents of the Easter kit (and/or to purchase), visit my etsy store.

Thank you for stopping by!