Latte Love

In September, a friend and I were out shopping.  In a major bookstore she spied a knitted coffee cozy for a travel mug and fell in love.  Until she looked at the price tag. 

“Put that down!” I told her, “I can make you one”.  Her eyes got wide and said “Really?!”,

“Sure, I can knit. How hard can it be?”

I’ve never knitted in the round on double pointed needles.

How hard can it be?

It’s not impossible, but it sure was a challenge!

After a few re-reads of my “I learned to knit” book; an in-depth conversation with my Nonna (Italian for grandmother) over Thanksgiving dinner (Canadian Thanksgiving is in October), a quick swing by her house the next morning before the 7 hour drive back to London to pick up some size 4 double pointed needles, and I was ready.

Ready to try a total of nine different patterns, 4 types of wool, and receive a good lecture from my massage therapist about my knitting posture.

I am stubborn.

I am a perfectionist.

I want my customers to be satisfied.

So I knitted on until I was happy and turned my vision into reality.

I combined my new love of knitting with my forever love of paper, and created Latte Love.  A hand knit coffee sleeve with a coffee-themed gift card holder, perfect for the holidays and every other reason to give a coffee lover a gift card.

 

The gift card holder just might be my favourite part, but I’m so proud of the knitting.

 

 

 

 

 

I designed my own packaging within the clear card box, to allow the coffee sleeve and gift card holder to be ready to wrap and put under the tree.

 

 

 

 

I was over the moon when the first Latte Love gift set sold in 10 hours on my Etsy store.

 

 

 

 

Latte Love is currently available in orange at A Paper Buffet and I am working on some more turquoise and will be adding a purple one as well. 

Custom orders are always welcome at A Paper Buffet or by email at

apaperbuffet@rogers.com

 

 

Share the Latte Love!

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,Latte Love,knitted coffee sleeve,gift card holder,gift set,Etsy

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Wildflower Kids Rubber Stamp Release Day!

Wildflower Kids Rubber Stamp Company is releasing two great sets today available exclusively at Stamp Happens.

No Girls Allowed

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Pretty in Pink

 

 

 

 

 

Aren’t they great?!

I get to play with Pretty in Pink and I had so much fun colouring them up…until I spilled my water all over the table! 

Good news: I only ruined 1 out of 2 projects. 

Bad news: I ruined 1 out of 2 projects.

Guess that’s how the cookie crumbles!

So here’s the project that was not affected by the tsunami on the table,

I haven’t made a 4.25 x 4.25” note card in a while, and FINALLY got to try Jacquie’s smooshing technique with the ribbon.

I really like how light and girly this is, and I just love the wording “giggles and laugh” doesn’t that just scream girly slumber party to you?

 

Here’s a detail shot, these are the first pictures with my new camera; if you click the picture, you can see the texture of the paper.  It’s gorgeous in real life, thick and wonderful to hold, and these were actually scrap pieces left over from a custom order of bridal shower invites.  I loved the paper so much, I couldn’t throw out any of it.

Now head on over to the other Stampin Sistahs and see what they put together to show you,

Senior Sistahs

Tonya ~ Beth ~ Julie ~ Jen

Stampin Sistahs

Alyssa ~ Donna ~ Gayle ~ Leigh Ann~ Sarabeth

Then cruise on over to Stamp Happens and pick up your very own set from the Wildflower Kids collection- and there’s lots of Holiday digi items too! 

 

 

 

 

ps- thanks for all the lovely comments from the New Moon blog hop. I’m still making my way through, so I’ll continue to hop as I find time :)

Happy Monday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: wildflower Kids Rubber Stamps,stamp happens,A Paper Buffet,handmade cards

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Twilight Tuesday.com New Moon Blog Hop!

*You should have arrived here from April D’s blog. If you haven’t please go back to Twilight Tuesday’s home page to start the hop*

I was so excited and honoured when I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the New Moon hop. I knew I’d have to bring my A- game after a very long hiatus in the TTIC weekly challenges (after formerly participating in every one!). I love these ladies and what TTIC has become over the past year.

I pondered and pondered over what I would do. I wanted the project to represent New Moon well; and y’all know I’m Team Edward *swoon* but New Moon really is about Jacob and Bella.

Although Jacob drove me batty for most of the series, I can appreciate his love for Bella and their friendship.

My project may not be as eye-catching as some others, but it is deep with meaning.

I wanted lots of layers to represent the layers of love and friendship between Jacob and Bella.

I wanted straight edges; Jacob feels his love for Bella is simple and straightforward and without the complications of her love for Edward.

I wanted knots to symbolize the tie that Bella and Jacob will always have to each other.

I wanted a sentiment to express the commitment Jacob makes to Bella.

I didn’t want it to be fussy; neither Jacob nor Bella are.

Jacob literally follows Bella off a cliff- how perfect is this quote?? It’s from a book of Quotes for scrapbooking and I’ve used them before for friendship cards.

Card base is SU Very Vanilla with layers of SU Chocolate Chip and SU Kraft paper. Brown Satin ribbon is from Michaels.

Next stop on the hop is my fellow Stampin Sistah Leigh Ann who is guaranteed to have something awesome waiting for you.

I hope you all enjoy the movie; I was so busy with work, I totally dropped the ball on getting tickets for tonight, so I’ll have to wait a little bit to see it. Until then I’m living vicariously though all of you!

Happy New Moon Friday!!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: New Moon,Twilight Tuesday,blog hop,Jacob,Bella

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4 Morgans; 2 sketches; and a whole lotta Sassy Christmas cards!

Dear Beth, creator and owner of Stamp Insanity Stamps. I heart you. I heart Morgan and I heart the Naughty and Nice set.

I took some non-traditional Christmas colours and went to town, using first the MojoMonday sketch and, this will qualify for the Basic Grey Challenge this week too.

I heart Morgan so much, I made another card, switching the Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper.

I heart her even more, I found Jen Del Muro’s SFYTT and made another, using more BG Eskimo Kisses, and the very last of my coveted SU Purely Pomegranate paper.

“who you callin’ a Ho Ho Ho”

Beth, you are a genius. Did I tell you I heart you?

I switched the papers and the location of the snowflake, but kept the sentiment, because, you know, I heart it.

Matching snowflakes on the inside.

I heart snowflakes too.

Do you heart Morgan as much as I do? Show Beth you love her, and visit Stamp Happens, the ONLY place to buy Stamp Insanity stamps.

Happy Tuesday,

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Mojo Monday,SFYTT,Basic Grey,Eskimo Kisses,Stamp Insanity,Stamp Happens,snowflakes,Christmas cards,a Paper Buffet

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Wildflower Kids Snowman has left the building!

Remember this guy? 

I sized him and coloured him for a gift tag, but then it wasn’t working, so I made this card?

 

Well, the Wildflower Kids Snowman, lets call him Sid, he was talking to his friend Pax the Penguin.

Pax told Sid the Snowman about this new housing development that was going up and that Pax was really happy living there.

So Sid packed up.

He left. He gave his notice to his landlord and packed up his stuff and moved out!

 

 

 

Sid is all unpacked at his new place and wants to invite you over to check it out.

Sid is soo much happier in his new place!

The windows!

The view is just incredible!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sid brought some of his snowflakes to make the new place feel more like home, but he is downsizing, so he didn’t bring them all with him.

 

 

Sid’s got lots of space though, so don’t worry.

 

 

 

 

The best thing about Sid’s new place? Totally mobile! He can pick up and go anywhere around the world with just one stamp!

Talk about cheap airfare!

 

 

 

Want Sid at your place? Easy Peasy.  Click here.

Want to make your very own home for Sid? No problem.

Wildflower Kids are available exclusively at Stamp Happens.

 

 

 

 

Happy Tuesday ;)

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,Etsy,Wildflower Kids Rubber Stamps,Stamp Happens,Snow Globe,Snowman,snowflakes,handmae cards,greeting cards,Christmas cards

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Pax the Penguin…in a snow globe?

Have you seen these snow globe cards making the rounds? They’re just awesome!

I found this tutorial at SCS and it’s really simple to follow.

I was lucky enough to win Pax the Penguin from the The Character Cafe Blog Hop last week, ( I was super thrilled, because he was my favourite out of all the new releases) and thought he was perfect for trying in the snow globe.

Isn’t he CUTE!??

I used the Imaginisce paper again, and some SU Real Red ribbon. SU Certainly Celery makes the card base.

I used embossing powder to make the snow at the top of the globe and stamped the snowflakes in Opaque Staz-on cotton ink.

Here’s a look at the inside, I used the same embossing powder on the snow on the inside, and coloured Pax with my prismas and used OMS to blend. I used some blue glitter and Crystal effects on the fishing hole.

Here’s a side view of the card. I thought I was being smart going to the office supply store to get some overhead transparencies to use instead of ‘clear cardstock’…but it was TRIPLE the price! Go figure?

The best thing about this card is that it fits in standard A2 envelope!

This card is available at my Etsy store, along with a few others I’ve added this weekend.

I’m totally hooked on the snow globe, and hooked on Pax. I made a birthday card for my little cousin who’s turning 3 in a few weeks.

Pax comes with a few different messages, and this one just makes me giggle! Y’all know how much I love puns!

I used BG Lime Rickey DP for this card with some SU Night of Navy and Going Grey cs for the layering. I coloured Pax the same way, but added some Fun Flock to his belly since my cousin is little and I like the texture it adds.

I know I’ve been quiet here for the past few days, but I’ve just been super busy crafting. I’m trying to get my stuff ready to take to the Hair Salon here in town to sell, and I’m getting ready for my first ever craft show Dec 5th…yikes! A bit nervous what to expect; any advice from you craft show vets would be awesome…**wink wink, nudge, nudge **

Oh! and do you like my new banner? I made it with the help of Joyce from Happy Cloud Moments who posted a tutorial on her blog! it’s much easier than I thought!

Happy Sunday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: handmade cards,snow globe,SCS,Pax the Penguin,The Character Cafe,SU,Stampin Up,Basic Grey,Imaginisce,Happy Cloud Moments

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In Flander’s fields

the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

~Lieutenant  Colonel John McRae, MD (1872-1918); Canadian Army

Written May 3rd, 1915; Published December 8th, 1915.

To the men and women who fight to keep “our land/glorious and free”, I thank you.

Happy Remembrance Day

Technorati Tags: In Flander's Fields,John McCrae,Remembrance Day,poppies,November 11th,Canada

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Holiday release from Stamp Insanity

Beth from Stamp Insanity has done it again! You will LOVE the 3 holiday releases!  And where do you get them? Well, thanks for asking! At Stamp Happens of course! They are the only place on the web to order Stamp Insanity stamps!

The Holiday release has so many awesome images, but truthfully, the sentiments are my fav! A little on the edgy side and a whole lotta fun!

So lets get to it! My image is from the Naughty and Nice set:

Stamp Insanity Morgan is channeling her playful side!

Card base is SU Old Olive, layered with Bashful Blue and Real Red.  The DP is from Imagininisce Polar Expressions Pine and Peppermint and super sparkly!

I took a hint from the paper and added some MS glitter to everything I could on Morgan’s outfit!

You may have to click on the picture to make it bigger, but I added glitter to her trim on her hat and dress, belt and shoe buckles and her earrings.

I struggled  a bit with the label, it looked too bare just white, and the Prisma didn’t blend as much as I wanted it to, so I think I may redo that.

 

You’ll see my water mark is back…I finally received my order of PhotoShop Elements! Yay! no more dark pictures! It was perfect timing since I just loaded Windows 7 on my computer.  I had to spend quite a bit of time today reloading everything back on to the computer…don’t you hate that? So, forgive me, but I’m still configuring Live Writer so here’s my next request:

Hop on over to the side bar to find the other StampSistah’s links and visit them for some inspiration…by the next post I will have all my links reprogrammed…I promise!

Don’t forget to head on over to Stamp Happens and pick up the new Holiday release!

Happy Monday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: A Paper Buffet,Stamp Insanity,Stamp Happens,Morgan,Naughty or Nice,Christmas,Stamps,handmade cards,Santa

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Wildflower Kids Digital ‘Tis the Season

I think the right side of my brain has ADD.  The right side of our brain is the creative side (vs. the left side which is responsible for logical thought) and mine seems to be ALL over the place lately.

Remember yesterday, when I said I had a completely different vision for that winter card? Another main image? Well, I just couldn’t sit still while that image sat coloured, cut out and ready to use on my stamp table.  Truth be told, I printed out the snowman digital image planning on making gift tags.  Then I got sidetracked by patterned paper.  See, I told you, I think my right brain has ADD.

I went to a trusted sketch site Jen DelMuro’s {i heart 2 stamp} to find some inspiration. So here goes:

I was planning on following the sketch exactly, but the size of my digital snowman from Wild Flower Kids Stamps was a little bit too big (remember I already had him cut out, otherwise I’d have just resized him).

I was thinking the card needed a sentiment, but I just couldn’t fit it in.

I left the inside blank, but added more snowflakes you can see peeking out here.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you about the sparkly snowflakes! The best thing about this paper is that the glitter stays put! No random flakes of glitter all over the table, in your hair…etc.

Want a little giggle? Look closely at the snowman’s left branch hand.  Click on the picture to make it bigger if you have to.  I narrowly escaped a very vulgar gesture by this snowman by almost snipping off one of his branch fingers! LOL.

Ok, so it might just be that I should totally be in bed right now, but I find it hilarious!

Want to play with the snowman on your own? Head on over to Stamp Happens and check out the whole ‘Tis the Season release by Wild Flower Kids Stamps …you will not be disappointed!

 

I’m off to visit my friends and Godson Ethan this weekend; we’re going to a cooking class so I’m looking forward to stocking up on some yummy quick and easy meals since work has been so chaotic lately!

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Wild Flower Kids Rubber Stamps,digital stamps,Stamp Happens,I heart 2 stamp,sketch,A Paper Buffet,snowflakes,snowman,handmade cards

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Mojo (111) on a Thursday

 

It’s been so long since I participated in the MojoMonday sketch,  but after seeing Donna’s incredible take on the sketch, I was inspired!

 

I had a completely different vision for this card, a different main image in fact.  But it wasn’t working with the distressed look of the card.  So I switched it up at the last second.

I apologize for the dark pictures…I’m still awaiting my delivery of Photoshop and I’m counting the days!

The DP is Cosmo Cricket, and I’m totally in love with it!

 

I distressed the edges with TH Frayed Burlap ink; the image panel is SU Very Vanilla with some Frayed Burlap rubbed on to match the distressing on the DP.  I think I’m thrown off by the Taken with Teal I used to mat the DP, but it’s the perfect match and I needed another layer…be honest- what do you think?

I love! this wide SU Old Olive ribbon, but have been limited so far in using it.  I think it works pretty good as the second panel in the sketch…although to mail this card, I think you’d need extra postage because of the thickness.  Maybe in the spirit of Christmas the post man would let it slide ;)

I haven’t chosen a sentiment for this card yet, although I’m thinking “Season’s Greetings” over “Merry Christmas”.

The snowflakes are punched from THE most gorgeous sparkly paper I found at Scrapping Great Deals on the weekend.  You will be seeing lots of sparkly snowflakes!!

Main image is from SU- Season of Joy- which is quickly becoming my favourite Christmas stamp set.

Happy Thursday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: Mojo Monday,sketch,snowflakes,handmade cards,Stampin Up,SU,ScrappinGreatDeals,A Paper Buffet,Cosmo Cricket Paper

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Win my Twilight Bookmarks on ThingsMommysLove!

Check it out! To celebrate the release of New Moon, ThingsMommysLove blog is having 18 days of giveaways!

You can win one of two sets of my Twilight bookmarks on

ThingsMommysLove!

Rules are outlined on ThingsMommysLove and don’t forget, I’ve got new Twilight Bookmarks available in my Etsy store!

Good Luck!

Ps- LeighAnn, I still need your addy to mail you your blog candy! :)

Happy Tuesday!

Ciao for now,

Technorati Tags: twilight,vampire,werewolf,bookmarks,A Paper Buffet,ThingsMommysLove,giveaway,contest,New Moon

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Blog Candy Winner!

Ok, so here’s the list of all the entries; for those who linked in their side bar and told me, you got a second entry.  Some of the comments didn’t have direct links to blogs, so if you did link to your blog but didn’t mention it, I had no way of checking…It seems that Echo will be going away soon (for those of us who don’t want to pay for it) and a new CommentLuv enabled system is in the works. Hopefully that will work out any kinks.

On to the list!

1. Alison

2. Jen

3. Sarabeth

4. Donna

5. LeighAnn

6. Maureen

7. Rebecca

8. LanaC

9. Margie

10. Margie

11. DragonLady

12. DragonLady

13. Ginette

14. Annelies

15. Katrin

16. Katrin

17. Jacilyn

18. Jacilyn

19. AndreaM

20. Yvonne Nash

21. Yvonne Nash

22. Elisabetta

23. Heike

24. Heike

25. Kendra

Random.Org picked 5!

LeighAnn you won!!  You can click on the screen print to make it bigger, I couldn’t find how to just get the number generator in the shot.

LeighAnn- send me an email to “apaperbuffet@rogers.com” and I’ll have the candy sent out this week!

Thanks to all who entered, I loved “meeting” you all and hearing your stories.

Happy Sunday!

Ciao for now,

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