The Winners, and a little Christmas Slipper

Hey Bloggers,
Thank you for helping me celebrate my 10,000th visitor to my blog!  For the last five days,  I have been asking viewers to sign up and join my site, and in return they would be eligible to win a prize worth up to $20.  We had five winners in five days, and the winners are as follows:

 Shari Lindsay

 Connie Riley

 Judith Strausbaugh

 Ann-Marie McIntire

 Patty O'Malley 

Thanks to all who participated, and please keep blogging!  

I love having you come visit me!

Today for fun I wanted to share a little project I did last year, but did not post to the blog.  I ran across the photos and decided to show you today!  I hope you like them.
My friend Cindy Williamson and I decided we wanted to make some Christmas Slippers.  They were originally shown in a 2011 article in a Stampington publication. We liked them so much we wanted to recreate what we saw in the article.  However, the pattern was not easy to master, so we came up with one on our own.  We selected patterned papers we thought would be pretty, gathered some ribbon and other embellies, and put the shoes together.  We had a lot of fun, but decided we probably won't be going into the shoe business any time soon...

Here are our creations:

If you would like to make these slippers and want the pattern I used, leave me a comment and I'll get one to you!  Be sure to leave your email address as I can send it in a PDF file.
Congratulations to our winners and until next time,
Happy Creating!
ReNae

A Scary Halloween Craft Party!

 Hello Bloggers!

Halloween isn't just for kids, and here is proof!  

Halloween Friends gather at Ink Paper Rubber
Our local stamp store, Ink Paper Rubber was the location of a party October 31st held for some scary "Older Kids".  Chili and spooky snacks were on the menu, including Punch with floating eyeballs, edible mandibles, and other delicious and creepy fare.  

Mary Kay Dorrell samples some of the delectable and spooky treats!

A frightfully good time was had by all!  The award for Best Costume went to Mary Kay Dorrell who dressed as shown below.  Can you guess what she was?

Too cute for words!

Other costumes included a Peacock, Baboon, and a Witch.

Jen, the lovely Peacock

Judy, The Caped Baboon

A straight from Hogwarts, Connie Riley and her Dancing HAT!

The highlight of the party was "Creepy Craft Wars".  

The contestants were put into teams of two, and were charged with creating a Christmas ornament made strictly out of recycled materials.

A ski slope with snowmen made of cotton balls, skiing on toothpicks was chosen as the winner, and other entries were a bird house made from a toilet tissue roll, a Christmas tag made from cardboard, a crafty table, and a hand-beaded decorative ornament, all with the emphasis on having FUN!

THE WINNER!
(designed by Ann-Marie and Judith)

THE RUNNER-UP
(Best use of recycled materials)

Embossed tag made of Cardboard 

Hand-Beaded Christmas Ornament

The best part was getting together and having some old fashioned fun!

Thank you to Jen and Manna for putting on this fun-filled spooky evening!

Jen oversees Manna as she serves up floating eyeballs.
(shaking her tail feathers while she serves!)
We all had a great time!
Who says Halloween has to be just for the kiddies???

Happy Creating!
ReNae

An Autumn Road Trip to Florilegium!

Hi Bloggers!

A couple weeks ago my friends Gia, Ann-Marie and I hopped in the car and headed up north...(north of the river that is), to Parkville, MO to find  a wonderful store called Florilegium.

It was a wonderful autumn day and I am glad I can share it with you!

Hey Gia!  Wait for us!
(Gia drives us out of her maze of a neighborhood)

Come with us as we leave Overland Park, Kansas and drive north of the Missouri River, up to Parkville, Missouri and Florilegium. 

Beautiful Fall Colors

Gia's beautiful Overland Park neighborhood

If you like sewing arts, weaving, knitting, beading, crocheting, mixed-media, embroidery, or just looking at pretty things, this place is a must-see!  I can't express in words the way a crafter feels when going into a place like Florilegium.  It's magical!  Everywhere  you look you see something different and something you are certain you can work into one of your projects!  I'll let you see what I mean...

Parkville, Missouri, an old river town, is 35 miles north of Overland Park
near the Kansas City International Airport

There it is!! Florilegium!

Is that a dust mop?  No it's a dog who is sleeping on the counter!
The Shop Girl welcomes us with a smile!

Gorgeous antiques and interesting doo-dads are everywhere!

Button button, who's got the button?

A wall of gorgeous ribbon!

Hand embroidered ribbons behind a glass case are just stunning!

Close up of the button case

A hand-sewn crazy quilt close up!

Look at these gorgeous vintage buttons!  I want them all!

I wish this room full of delicious yarns and fibers was in my home!

Hand-dyed silks and yarns

These colors are so incredibly vibrant!

My two silly gal pals Ann-Marie and Gia, smiling from ear to ear.
How can you be anything but giddy when you go to Florilegium?
Next time you need a lift, take a road trip with your pals to an inspirational destination!
It'll make you smile!
Happy Creating!
ReNae

Christmas Tags using La Blanche Stamps

Hi Bloggers~
Last year, I was asked to make a couple samples of a La Blance Santa With Holly stamp for our local store, INK PAPER RUBBER in Downtown Overland Park.  Here's what I came up with!

This tag was stamped with Versamark Ink, 

and then heat embossed with Vintage Mahogany from Stampendous.

Next I used Distress Ink in Fired Brick and and my blending tool, to ink up the tag.  After inking, I took the Picket Fence Distress Stain and blotted it onto Santa's beard and the top of his hat.  Running water over the tag helped blend it better.  I cut the greenery out of the new Christmas die from Tim Holtz, using several colors of  core'dinations paper.  I wanted it to look like Blue Spruce.  I cut out holly leaves and evergreen leaves in Blue and Brown card stock and sprayed them with Sugar Plum Fairy Glimmer Mist.  Once the mist dried,  I glued the leaves and holly on the tag coordinating where the leaves and holly were on the stamped image.  Star Dust Stickles was added to look like snow, and I applied Prima and Memory Box jeweled stickers for a little sparkle!  

The vintage lace is from Ink Paper Rubber.

I tied some old vintage seam binding on the top and that was it!

First I stamped the image of Santa with Versalfine Ink.  

Then I sprayed on  Walnut Ink from Tsukineko.

When it dried, it looked like cork board!  The next step was to cut the lace and ribbon, measuring the width of the tag, then the length.  The ribbon and lace with pearls are from JoAnn's Creativity Center.

I then tried different arrangement with the lace, until I was satisfied with the way it looked.

I glued on the bling, which was found in the ribbon section at JoAnn's.

Stickles were lightly added, first green, then red and gold around Santa's face.

Once the Stickles dried, I selected ribbon for the loop.  I added a Prima Flower and that was it!

Which one do you like the best?

BE SURE TO COMMENT!

Happy Crafting!

ReNae

The 10,000th Hit Contest!

We have accomplished a milestone and it's all thanks to YOU!   October 31st marked the day that Crabtree-Creations received it's 10,000th visitor!   I am very happy that there is so much interest in my blog, and I want to thank each and every one of you!

Let's meet under the CRAB-TREE!

I love blogging and truly enjoy bringing you stories about paper crafting, art techniques, new products and other crafty topics.  I have learned so much from you all and want to celebrate by having a CONTEST!    

Here's how it works:
1. Leave a comment below, telling me which crafting item you would love to win. A stamp? embossing folder? die? paper pad? 
You name it!  *(Your prize will be customized to what you put on your comment)  So let's say "Jane Doe" loves October Afternoon paper.  She writes this in her comment below, then when her name is chosen, that's what she wins!
2. Go to the bottom of the blog and sign up to "Join This Site"  
It takes only a few minutes.  If you already subscribe to my blog, all you have to do is leave a comment, telling me what product you like or would like to win...that's it!
3. Keep reading the blog, as one winner will be announced each day for the next 5 days!
NOTE: Only persons who are signed up as "followers" will qualify for the prizes.

I will have 5 winners, prizes valued up to $20.  So don't miss out!  Tell "Santa" (me) what you want, or what you like, then simply post it in the comment section.  That's it!  And make sure you have signed up to Join this Site, or you will not qualify for the prizes. This is a wonderful opportunity for both of us!  

I get new followers and you win goodies!  

What crafting item do YOU  need?
Follow my blog and maybe you'll win it!

Okay, it's time to start thinking about what you want to win!

Remember you MUST "join this site" at the bottom of my blog.
Current members need only leave a comment...

HAPPY CREATING!

ReNae

* OUR FIRST WINNER*

Shari Lindsay

A Penny Black stamp of her choice!

Shari your prize is waiting for you @ Ink Paper Rubber

(located in beautiful downtown Overland Park, Kansas)

CONGRATULATIONS!

**OUR SECOND WINNER**
Connie Riley
An embossing folder of her choice!
Connie your prize is waiting for you @ Ink Paper Rubber!
Not your typical paper supply store!  
CONGRATULATIONS!

***OUR THIRD WINNER***
Judith Strausbaugh
The Gothic Cathedral die by Memory Box
You may pick up your prize at Ink Paper Rubber!
CONGRATULATIONS!

****OUR FOURTH WINNER****
Ann-Marie McIntire
A quatrafoil die by Taylored Expressions
You may pick up your prize at Ink Paper Rubber!
CONGRATULATIONS!

*****OUR FIFTH AND FINAL WINNER*****
Patty O'Malley 
A Fairy Stamp
I will mail your prize to you!
CONGRATULATIONS!