I Have Moved!!!

I will no longer be posting on this blog. Come see me at my new home - VinDeeLoos.com. I am excited to start this new adventure Come on over and see what I have been up to.

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

We will be in Stillwater on September 14th for Fall Into the Holidays craft show at the Payne County Expo Hall. We will have items like the following:

These will be either necklaces, magnets, or worry stones.

I can do custom orders. The stones that are 2 colors can be done for any school or team colors. The pendants can be purchased with or without the necklace (which I make also).

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Changes A Comin'!

I am getting back into my crafting - mainly painting.

I have 2 Christmas Trees that needed toppers. They are both themed trees. One is my Tonkawa tree. The tree holds my Tonkawa ornaments made by Audrey Schmitz and other ornaments. The other tree is my camper tree. 

These are the tree toppers I painted.

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Crafty Christmas!

We decided to make many of our Christmas gifts this year. We lucked out and found 2 saws (that I have been wanting) on sale for Black Friday. We bought a miter saw and table saw. I love them. We made Yardzee/Farkle and Yard Jenga. My oldest niece - Holly - who is 23 now, showed me a picture of a wine rack that she would like to have. She believed in us more than we believed in ourselves. :) I don't have a picture of it yet. Holly will need to send us a pic once she has it up in her dining. room.  Vince says it feels good to know your blood, sweat, and tears went in to the gifts.

Hannah will be graduating in May. It is so hard to believe. She will be moving into the dorms and playing soccer. We are so happy for her! We decided to make a jewelry display that she can take with her. 

Heidi got her ears pierced this year. I designed her earring holder myself. We even added some earrings to it for when she opened it. She got other earrings for Christmas and immediately added some to it. :)

My Cricut and Gypsy died. :( I had to upgrade. Since I don't want to be tied to internet to work, I did my research and decided to go with the KNK Zing Orbit. Vince got it for me for Christmas. I LOVE IT! I had to wait until after Christmas to finish making Brian (my bil) and Holly's stocking stuffers. These are bottle openers.

I love working with Sure Cuts A Lot 4 Pro and my Zing Orbit. I can't wait to start etching glass blocks again and making vinyl designs for shirts. My mom knew I wanted a heat press and was going to have my husband get me one for my birthday (it is the 19th of this month), but she is as excited for me to make shirts as I am. She got me a heat press for Christmas. I am ready to get my craft back on!

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

RVing ROCKS!

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. Life happened. I got a job teaching 4th grade. This is my 4th year there. I still craft some, but don't have the same amount of time. 

In January we bought a camper. I have wanted one for years. We love it. It is the floor plan we dreamed of getting. It is just the 2 of us and the boyz. We didn't need a bunk house and couple's retreats are hard to come by (used).  This was our 3rd weekend out with it and I am so looking forward to the summer. 

Have you heard about the painted rock movement? You paint a rock and hide it for someone else to find. Well many RVers do this and I knew it would be something I would enjoy. I joined RVing ROCKS!  on FaceBook. This weekend I painted some rocks and hopefully they will be found and shared to the group. 

Setting down, getting ready to start. 

My first creations - ready to hide. My dad doesn't want me to hide the bug. I need some larger rocks and I will hide one at his house.

This one was finished today. I kinda like it. 

We go camping again for Memorial Day. I will share my new creations. 


Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Just Because

Over the weekend I went on a few blog hops. One of them was the Connie Can Crop Birthday Blog Hop. I really like the cards that Michelle from Michelle's Craft Room did. I had to scraplift the idea.

Here is my version of Michelle's card.

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Happy Birthday Hannah!

My niece Hannah turned 13 last week. We had her party on Sunday. Two of nieces are getting to the age that they are becoming hard to buy for (teenagers). I asked Hannah what she would like for her Birthday. She told me she wanted an adult journal. That I could do!

I took my 4 year old niece Henley to Hobby Lobby to pick out paper to alter a journal for Hannah. Henley picked out an orange demask paper. I thought she did a good job. I used this tutorial from Split Coast Stampers to make her journal. The only thing I added was the piece of elastic to keep the journal closed. I cut Hannah's name out with my CriCut and used my I*Rock to bling it up.

On Sarah's "My Christmas Stash is Low Hop! at It's What Keep Me Sane I saw a gift card holder at Michelle's Craft Room. I really like it. She posted this tutorial. This is the gift card I made for iTunes card we also gave her. I heat embossed the Happy Birthday.

It was funny. My sister commented she did not know who our gift was from. When Hannah pulled out the journal Henley yelled, "That's from Aunt Neece!" Henley told me she wants a journal too in green zebra. I need to make her a litle one so she can draw in it. :) Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Falling In Love With Your Xyron Again!

How many of ya'll have a Xyron? I have three different sizes. I have the 1.5" Sticker Maker

, 

the 2.5" Create-a-Sticker

, and

the 5" Creative Station

.

I loved them when I first got them, but over the years found myself using something different. The adhesive never stuck like I wanted it to. My friend Linda from Nothin' Fancy posted a tip on FaceBook and on her blog (follow the link to see her really cute Flip Flop Cards). It has made me fall in love with my Xyron again.

Linda said after you run your item through the Sticker Maker to then run the sticker through your CutttleBug

!

What a simple solution! It sure makes the tiny, tiny pieces so much easier to work with. The sandwich I use is Plate A, Plate B, sticker, piece of thick cardstock, Plate C. I run mine through my machine 3 times. I want to make sure the adhesive adhears really well.

I would show you what I have been up to, but I can't until this evening. I have been makeing my 13 year old niece, Hannah's birthday gift. She got a FaceBook account for her birthday and I don't want her to click on my link when my post shows up in here timeline!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Unmounting Stamps

I keep saying I don't have any stamps. I guess I can stop saying that now. I had a picture box full of mounted stamps and a plastic shoebox of acrylic and unmounted stamps. A month ago I started putting my acryllic stamps in cd cases. Today I finished them. I still need to stamp all of them on pages so I know what is in each case. Today I unmounted all my rubber stamps and got them in cases. I now have 20+ cases full of stamps. I really didn't know I had that many. :) Guess I have not reason not to get stamping!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Things With Wings

I have a rose tattoo on  my ankle. I have had it since I was 30. I want another one. My card for the President's Day VCMP "Things With Wings" Challenge at Penguin Papers is kind of taken from my next tattoo. I want a heart with angel wings and halo and music notes around it. Evidently I really like hearts with angel wings. I have 2 different stamps that were purchased years apart in different states.

Here is my card.
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Texture Omit/Selective Embossing Challenge

I am gonna start by saying this card looks much better in person than it does on the computer. The Sweet Mellon ink is is much brighter in person. 

This card is for the President's Day VCMP Texture Omit/Selective Embossing Challenge at Bunny Scrap. I made my embossing diffuser with my cricut. I did learn not to make the diffuser too complex. Since I was using a cupcake stamp, I decided to do a cupcale diffuser. You can not make out the cupcake after running it through the cuttlebug. The difusser was easy to make and I will use it again, but only using simple shapes. :) 

If there are any photo experts out there, I would appreciate any suggestions to help my pics look better. 
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Hoppy Birthday!

For the OWS Virtual Card Maker Party at Deliteful Gifts the challenge was "All Creatures Great and Small". For this card I used my Four Legged Friends cartridge and cut the frog at 2 inches..

Here is my Hoppy Birthday Card!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Operation Write Home

I have decided I want to start making cards for our soldiers. I am gonna start makeing cards for OWH - Operation Write Home. This is taken from OHW's webpage:
"Care packages filled with hundreds of handmade cards are sent to our contacts, restocking every 6-8 weeks, and are sent in time for the long journey back home to loved ones. Each box is packed with great care, alternating styles, colors, and cardmakers from all over the USA, creating “eye candy” for heroes who see only khaki around them. The topper on each box is a plastic bag filled with 20-30 letters from adults and children across the country, letters handed out especially to those in need of a positive word from the homefront."

OHW has challenges to help keep the cardmaker's creative minds flowing. I am joining in on their President's Day Virtual Card Making Party. The first challenge is "Zig Zag Your Cards!"   I made my Chevron stripes with my Gyspy and Cricut.

PS - There is no glitter on my card. The flash from my camera make my zebra stripes look funny. 

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Copic Storage Help!?!?!

Now that I am building my Copic Marker inventory, I need to find a way to store my markers. Every time I go to Hobby Lobby, I pick up more. Right now I just have them laying on my work table. I want to be able to keep them together by color and easily accessible. I also need it to be inexpensive. 

So my questions to ya'll is: Do you have any suggestions? How do you store your markers? Do you have a pic of what you use? HELP!?!?!?!?! Please! 

Thanks, :)
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Challenge Entry

I decided to enter one of my cards into a challenge. I am entering this card into Lexi's Creations Challenge 83 Valentine's/Love Challenge.

I went with a non-traditional Valentine's Card. I am around high school and middle school kids that are really into fishing and hunting. I don't see them being into the lovey dovey Valentine's stuff.

This is another fish stamp from Inkadinado's Inkadinkaclings fish stamps.
I used Copics R27, YR68 and YR61 to color my fish.
The hook was made with a paperclip. I din't want anyone to be injured by using a real hook.
The background is embossed with the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder.
I used Studio G turquoise inkpad directly on the raised portion of the background.
The sentiment is one I made on my computer.

I hope you enjoyed my take of a Valentine's Card!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

A Couple More New Cards!

During my Hobby Lobby shopping trip Friday I found some cute fish stamps. Why I fell in love with them is beyond me. I don't fish, I don't eat fish, I just am not a fishy person. These stamps were the cutest thing though, so I got them. With them, I made this cute card.

I used my Copics markers to color the fish. I searched for a cute sentiment and found this one at Tiddly Inks. I don't remember which Cricut cartridge I found the heart on. Again this is made from my scraps container. The blue background is embossed with Cuttlebug Spots & Dots folder.

On Pinterest I saw a card I fell in love with and used it as my inspiration. This card was my inspiration. This is my take on it.

The background paper is Texture Brown from Paper Studio. The gifts are Fall Vertical Stripes from Paper Studio.  I used a brown cardstock as my base. I used some paper called Brown Paper Bag for the inside of the card and for the shadow of the bows. My gifts are 2 inch squares with the shadow just a bit bigger. I just used a scrap for that. I also used some brown paper to make the "+" on the gifts. The bows were cut from, I believe, Home Decor. They are 1.5 inches and come already with the shadow. I used a cream cardstock for the bows and then mixed my Recollections Pumpkin glitter with some glue and painted them. After they dried, I used Studio Glitter Glue from the dollar bin at Michael's. It is a bronzey color.

I also did some etching on glass blocks over the weekend, but I can't show those yet. They are gifts.

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Thank You and Happy Birthday

I needed another Thank You card. This card is for the Choir Director at the church I work for. I decided to change her card a little. I was as Hobby Lobby and saw the Sizzix Sheet Music embossing folder and just had to have it. I also purchased my first set of Copics. Boy do they make a difference. I bought some other markers tonight, but I am returning them tomorrow for another Copics set. All I can say is WOW!

I used the same design stamp as before, but used Lilac and Violet Copics to color. I used the Sizzix Sheet Music embossing folder and the thank you is from Stampabilities. I also used my I*Rock to bling up the card. 

I have been on pinterest quite a bit lately. I am trying to get some card ideas. I found one I liked here. This is my version of it.

Everything used was from my scraps pile except the bottom map. It is from my safari stack. The stars were cut on my cricut from Home Decor at 1.5 inches and then I used the polka dot embossing folder to emboss them. The ribbon came from Hobby Lobby. The stamp is from a set from Hobby Lobby.

I hope to get to spend some time in my craft room on Sunday. I have some blocks I need to start etching!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Man Has It Been A Long Time!

Wow, I know it has been a while since I have been here. A lot has happened since my last post. I got a job as a church secretary. I like it, but would really like back in a classroom.  My niece Holly tore her ACL in the first basketball game of the year last year and was out all season. I still went to the games. We made it to State last year for the first time ever in school history for girl's basketball. My folks moved from Blackwell to Tonkawa. We moved from Blackwell to Tonkawa. And so much more.

It has taken some time to get back in the swing of things. I have finally started crafting again. I have a nice big craftroom. I more storage than I have stuff right now. We are gonna have to do something about that! :)

The first thing I made is some thank you cards. I don't have many stamps. I don't have good markers. I really haven't made many before. I even had to look up online how to sandwich my Cuttle Bug folders. 

Well, these are my cards. I used my polka dot cuttle bug folder. The stamp is one i got at Michael's in the $1.00 bin. I used my I*Rock to add some bling. I don't have any special markers. They are just something cheap that I picked up Michael's. I would really like to get some ProMarkers or Copic Markers but that will be for when ever I can afford some or if I get lucky and win some. The sentiment is from some stamps I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I inked around the sentimnent with Quick Quotes Powder Puff Chalking Ink in Pink Cheeks and Green with Envy.

Well, I said the first thing I did was make cards, but I guess that was a lie. The first thing I did, with the help of my husband, was build a work table. 

I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!!! The area underneath makes a good playhouse for my niece. 

Uncle Vince is laying under the table watching TV while Henley is having a tea party.

The sewing machine cabinet is all the workspace I had at my old house for crafting. I am in hog heaven right now. 

The rolling carts under the table that holds my machines the 2 bookcases at the far end, and the paper tower is all the storage I had at the old place.

This is the built in storage in the new place. 

Just more work/storage area.

Needless to say, I am loving my new space. Hopefully I will be posting tons of creative things in the near future. Wouldn't it be nice if an organized friend of mine could come help me organize?

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Yum, Yum I found a recipe similar to Old Chicago's Sicilian Pepperoni Rolls!!!!!!!

My FAVORITE thing to eat at Old Chicago is their Sicilian Pepperoni Rolls! I can't get enough of them - especially since I don't live close to one anymore. :(

I found a Copycat recipe at wegottaeat.com submitted by Stacy Clark. I am so excited and can't wait to try it.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

- Pizza dough (enough for 1 pizza - I've used a number of different mixes and recipes, and the only one I don't recommend is the Pillsbury kind that comes in a tube)

- 1 package pepperoni
- 1 cup shredded mozz cheese
- 1 cup (or a few slices) Pepper Jack cheese
- 6 green onions, sliced
- Caesar or Ranch salad dressing (this seems to be the "magic" ingredient - the tangier the dressing the better!)

Directions:

Mix the dough according to the directions, roll it out into a thin rectangle and slice it into 6-8" long strips. Top each strip with pepperoni, cheese, green onions, and a fairly generous amount of Caesar or Ranch dressing. Roll the strips from end to end like a cinnamon roll - whichever side ends up flatter will be used as the "bottom". Place a pepperoni on the bottom and put the roll on a greased cookie sheet or baking pan. Bake for 18-20 min at 425 (or until dough is golden brown).

Until next time ~ VinDeeLoo

Winter Holiday Blog Hop

Welcome to the Winter Holiday Blog Hop being hosted by yours truly! Grab a hot chocolate, sit back and enjoy. I know you will find many things to love by the 9 women joining me in this hop. 


Back in October my mother and I went to a large craft show in Oklahoma City. One booth was crawling in spiders. They were all over the booth, laying around and hanging on a Christmas tree. I was very confused. The man then told us about the Legend of the Christmas Spider. They were even selling a book about The Christmas Spider.  Mom just had to get one. Being a teacher, I had to get the book AND 2 spiders - one for my house and one to use in my classroom (when I get one again).

Mom and I made some Christmas Spiders to be given to the children at my church. I got on line and looked at the various versions of the story. This is the story that we liked best. Each child will also get a copy of the story when they get their spider.

The Legend of the Christmas Spider

 Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year....the day on which the Christ Child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left anywhere. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling. To avoid the housewife's busy cleaning, they finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.

T’was Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and the children were delighted. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit. The oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep through the crack in the door to see him. Silently they crept out of their attic, down the stairs, and across the floor to wait in the crack in the threshold. Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit and quickly the spiders scurried into the room. They must see the tree closely, since their eyes weren't accustomed to the brightness of the room... so the crept all over the tree, up and down, over every branch and twig and saw every one of the pretty decorations. At last they satisfied themselves completely of the Christmas tree’s beauty.

But alas!! Everywhere they went they had left their webs, and when the little Christ Child came to bless the house he was dismayed. He loved the little spiders, for they were God's creatures too, but he knew the mother, who had trimmed the tree for the little children, wouldn't feel the same, so He touched the webs and they all turned to sparkling, shimmering, silver and gold!

Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on our Christmas trees, and according to the legend, it has been a custom to include a spider among the decorations on the tree.

 A folk legend from Germany and the Ukraine.

Here are a couple of the spiders we made.

I hope you are having a wonder Christmas Season. I can't believe Christmas is almost here. I am sooooooo not ready. I have purchased very few gifts. I better get to work. Don't really know when we will be able to finish. :(

Well enjoy the hop. Here is the line up!

1.  VinDeeLoo - VinDeeLoo's This 'n That! <-----You are HERE!
2.  Alina - Addicted to Scrapbooking!!!! -----> Go Here Next!
3.  Paula - Scrap Your World
4.  Jessica - That's Uneek
5.  Yolonda - Crafty Scentiments
6.  Martha - A Scrapping Time
7.  Leah - Leah's Card Designs
8.  Lissa - So Many Crafts, So Little Time
9.  Sigrid - LoveScrapReflect
10. Monica - Scraps 2 Treasure

Everyone have a Merry Christmas and safe travels!
Until next time ~ VinDeeLooAddicted to Scrapbooking!!!!