Blogging With Mainely Twigs

Link Up For Pink!

2011-09-23T17:40:00.000-07:00

October 1-14th. Lots of prizes and fun. Click on the button above to learn more.

Trevor's Card

2011-05-19T16:12:00.000-07:00

My laptop got sick and I have been having withdrawel! This is the card I made for Trevor. It's in the mail so hope he gets it soon. Think it will make him smile? Sure hope so.

Can You Help This Little Boy?

2011-05-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

I just got an email about this little 8 year old boy named Trevor Wright. He was diagnosed with leukemia( t-cell leukemia) yesterday and was having his first chemo today. I have just finished 3 years of chemo so know firsthand what is ahead for this child! You can read his story here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=187075221343517
If you would like to make a card for him he would love to receive it! Thank you.

Feel Better Card

2011-04-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

Just a simple little card that can be whipped up very quickly to have on hand when needed. The sentiment is a Cuddlebug embossing folder I got with my machine. I have used this little guy so much! Entered into the challenge at http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/ Thanks for popping by and hope you have found some inspiration!

Shaped Card

2011-04-16T17:05:00.000-07:00

I love shaped cards! I made the castle card for my youngest GD a few months ago so now that her sister is turning 10 I had to do a shaped card for her as well. I decided on a birthday shaped card this time. It came out lovely I think! Myah is very girly and will love it. She always tells me what pretty cards I make her. I made the entire card (the ribbon roses were purchased) with my fantastic Make The Cut software. This is a fantastic program and I can't imagine creating scrap pages or cards without it. If you don't have it definately check it out! Easy to learn and so much fun to use. If anyone is interested in the cut file for this card I am happy to share it. Email me and I will send it right out to you.

Bing Music Challenge Card

2011-04-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

I made this card for a challenge on one of my forums. The theme was music. My MIL loved Bingo and apparently she was talking to me because the little message tag on the side says "music to my eyes". Bingo was "music to her eyes" and this is what came out when I sat down to make the card. Definately a unique card. Thanks "Ma" for your inspiration! Thank you for taking a look - hopefully I have inspired you to create something wonderful!

Easter Bunny Card

2011-04-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

Love this sweet little bunny from "From My Kitchen" cartridge.

Rolled Roses Card

2011-04-11T13:36:00.000-07:00

Another card with rolled roses. Love making these, they are addictive! These have been smashed (very technical term) down after I rolled them and added a little glue here and there before dragging them through the glitter.

Castle Birthday Card

2011-03-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Made this card for my GD's 7th birthday. I put a picture of her in a gown costume inside the front doors. When she opened the doors up she said "was I there when you bought the card?". We laughed so hard. I haven't made many shaped cards so far but they are fun to do. Hope you try one if you have stayed away from them! I use Make the Cut software for most of my card crafting. It's a fantastic program, please check it out if you don't have it.

Lucy Loves the Snow!

2011-03-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

My little Lucy loves the snow! She was born a year ago in december but this is really her first fun filled winter in the snow! She thinks she is a snow plow the way she puts her face down in it and just pushes herself along. Love this picture of her!

Latest Card

2011-03-22T08:10:00.000-07:00

Just made this card yesterday and love it. Love the soft feminine feel of it! It's going to a young lady that is having surger. Hope she likes it!

Cancer Update!

2011-03-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

Finished my 4 weeks of chemo and I am officially still in remission! YEAH! Feeling good but get tired very easily still. That will take some time to get back to normal, if ever. I am so thankfull to be done with treatment and able to get back to living my life chemo free. Will have my first chemo free scan in May and hopefully it will continue to be cancer free.

Rolled Rose Flowers

2011-03-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

I LOVE paper flowers and keep trying new ideas on the internet. I cut my own spiral for these in different sized and spiral widths. I use a double pointed knitting needle with a little double sided tape on the tip to roll them, works great. I smash (very technical term) some of them down after I roll them then use diamond glaze dabbed (another very technical term) here and there. Lastly, I drag them through my glitter and let them dry. The leaves are cut from a file I have in Make The Cut. I like to give them some texture with my stylus or a crochet hook. I also added some branch cuts from a Martha Stewart punch. Think they came out pretty! Also used stickles on one of them. If you haven't tried them yet you should give it a go, very easy and so pretty on a card or scrap page!

Mr. Hotstuff!

2011-03-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Want to share this page layout with everyone. Isn't he adorable!!! I will use this for my grandson, Dalton. I have some pictures of him in his pool last summer and one will go on this page. Dalton even looks like this fella. I got this cut file from Beanie. You can get to her blog here: http://beanies-tag-your-it.blogspot.com/
She has wonderful cut files to share.

MORE BLOG CANDY!!!!

2011-01-08T15:43:00.000-08:00

Just want to let you all know about MORE great blog candy. This one is for a year subscription to the new bug magazine! Wow, what a give-away. Click on over to Paper This and That and sign up for the drawing, only have till Jan 12 so get going! Check out her free svg cut files while you're there. Good luck!

Almost Done!

2011-01-06T07:18:00.000-08:00

I will be starting my LAST (hopefully) 4 weeks of chemo in 2 weeks. It's been a long 3 years and there were times I didn't know if I would be able to do it. I had so much support and love from friends, family and my church family. I will have a CAT scan and blood work next week and see my dr. for what I pray is good news before the first chemo treatment. Will update my blog as soon as I can.

Blog Candy!!!!

2011-01-06T07:06:00.000-08:00

Just want to share this with everyone. I love Cheryl Ann's cut files and want to share them with everyone. She has tons of great cut files on her blog for FREE! Be sure to get on over and take a look at her offerings and while you are there sign up for her blog candy. Good luck! Just click on the button on the left.

Last For Now!

2010-11-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

This is the last one for today. Another year-round flower tissue box cover. Again, these are going to the animal shelter craft fair tomorrow. I used crinkled ribbon on this one.

Tissue Box Cover With Flowers

2010-11-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

This one is a little different, can be used year-round. The flowers are curled and inked with distress ink. Came out very pretty, I think.

Another Holiday Tissue Cover

2010-11-26T08:37:00.000-08:00

Another Holiday Box Cover. This one is made with DCWV Christmas Stack 09 also, kraft cardstock from JoAnn's, did another scalloped circle cut for the top opening and used a Martha Stewart edge punch for the decorative edging around the box. The tree is a cut file from MTC. I used a cuddle bug snowflake embossing folder on the red paper and distressed it a wee bit with my Tim Holtz vintage photo distress ink. Love how it came out!

More Tissue Box Covers!

2010-11-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

This is an adorable gingerbread man. He is from the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge. I made the scallop circle cuts on the top with MTC. Love that program!!!! Design papers are from DCWV last year's Christmas stack, the cardstock is mostly Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler. Love that color too. Oh, the brown is kraft cardstock from JoAnn's. I found a pack of 50 8.5x11 inch sheets for $3.99! Bought red and kraft and have been happy with both of them. The kraft cardstock is very good and would work great for cards as is the red. Very good buys.

Tissue Box Cover

2010-11-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

Just want to add a link for anyone wanting to check out the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers for these tissue box covers. http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tissueboxcover.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Tissue Box Cover

2010-11-23T08:40:00.000-08:00

This is the first completed one. Lot of grunge on this one, I love grunge! Embossed most of the DP with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. Snowflakes are from Winter Woodland cartridge. Had some cotton lace that went perfectly with everything. Really like these! Have 2 more almost completed. The tutorial can be found on Split Coast Stampers website.

Oops!

2010-11-02T16:54:00.000-07:00

Not the first time I have forgotten the picture!!!!

Holiday Card

2010-11-02T16:51:00.000-07:00

Just made two of these last night and like them more than I thought I would. A slight sparkle to the snowflakes that is really pretty. I like the country, candy, festive look of them. Will make more for cards for soldiers program for next year and put them away since I am in a holiday crafting mood.

I am excited about tomorrow! Meeting with a group of ladies that are interested in making cards for soldiers. I have wanted to get a group together for awhile now. If all goes well we will be making cards for the soldiers along with cards for other groups like the veteran homes, recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Some of the cards are given to them to use to send home to family and friends and are blank and others are actually written to soldiers that are wounded, disabled, etc. We also hope to make head covers for cancer patients. I went through very long hard chemo 2 years ago and lost all my hair so I know what it is like to want something pretty to put on. When I was strong enough I started making cotton hearcovers to take with me when I went for chemo. They would be gone by the time I left that day! I have been in follow-up chemo for two years now and continue to make and take them every time I go. I also give them to anyone that is in need be it local or putting some in the mail. Would love prayers for this group to be successfull. I will update my blog as to our progress.

Card Challenge Entry at Cooking With Cricut - Pumpkins

2010-10-23T16:29:00.000-07:00

I love pumpkins and have entered this card in the challenge over at Cooking With Cricut. Made many of these for the soldiers Thanksgiving cards. Pumpkins make me smile!

Been a busy day!

2010-10-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Super busy day today, worked at church for our annual holiday chicken stew lunch and craft sale. I worked the craft tables, my favorite place to be! A good day, I really enjoyed it and got to talk with so many nice people and catch up with a few friends I have not seen in awhile. Been finishing up my cards for the soldiers this last week. will get them mailed off and start thank you cards for a local animal rescue organization. I offered to make them thank you cards for "strut your mut" fund raiser on Oct. 30th. I can't attend the walk and all the fun (I am teaching a card class) but will do lots of thank you cards for them Also working on cotton head covers for the cancer center when I go for my next chemo. Will be making cards of hope to take along also. The head covers and cards never last long! I make cotton head covers that have elastic and a cute little tie in the back and just slip on so easily. I wore them constantly when I lost my hair. During winter months I make them lined with flannel for added warmth. As you can see I have lots to do in the next few months. Never bored!

This is a picture of my beautiful oldest grandaughter Jenny and her husband Zach. He is stationed in Japan and arrived home for a month leave just a few hours before this picture was taken. Jenny is still waiting to join him in Japan. Soon we are all hoping! They have been apart for a year. So good to see them together!

Lucy and her first bath and grooming!

Poor baby! She was so scared. She didn't know what was happening and very frightened. She has since adjusted to the visits to the beauty shop and knows it's nothing to fear.

Cards for soldiers

2010-09-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

I make cards for soldiers in two forums and want to share the most recent ones here. The first one is for Christmas.

This second one is for Thanksgiving. Sorry for the dark picture of the right, my digital is ready to give out and sometimes doesn't want to work correctly.

Another Challenge!

2010-09-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

This is new for me - never do challenges! Two this week, I'm on a roll. Just whipped this card up really fast for the Jitterbuggin Challenge. Nothing very fancy but it was fun. I will give it to my grandson for his teacher. I used Plantin Schoolbook for the apple, and the scallop. Hugged the apple with my wonderful divine swirls embossing folder(couldn't live without this one). Words are computer generated. Dalton is in Kindergarten and will love giving this to his teacher!

My First Card Challenge!

2010-09-12T17:01:00.000-07:00

Been MIA for quite awhile but back at it again. I completed my first card for a challenge today! I did the sketch for sketch saturday challenge. Love this little gingerbread man and the holly paper! I turned my card sideways for a change. My camera wants to die and is giving me a hard time so I appologize for the picture. I took about 10 and this was the best I could get. Guess I have to have a new one. Had fun doing it and am wanting to do more Christmas cards! Thanks for looking!

Card Class

2010-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

Did my first card class last Saturday. I had 7 ladies there and 1 made 2 cards. Also made 2 kits for ladies that couldn't make it but still want to make the card. This is the card. Fun was had all around!

Slowing down today!

2010-05-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. I spent the morning in church and had a nap in the afternoon. Today I made a card. Got a new cartridge for my cricut (From My Kitchen) and love this sheep cut!

knitting Socks

2010-04-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

I love to knit when I sit and watch TV. Don't know how many pairs of socks I have made but still have a waiting list of wanters. My mom loves them and always wants a new pair. I just finished a pair for her knit with Plymouth Encore yarn. Love this yarn and plan to grab more at my local yarn shop next week.

Running As Fast As I Can!

2010-04-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been busy, busy, busy! My new baby puppy is a little sweetheart but I forgot how much work they are! The girls (other 2) don't care for her because she wants to play all the time and the 5 cats don't want to be bothered with her either. Lucy is a 3 month old black and white Shih Tzu.
Jessie, my American Eskimo was malled by a very large Chow and had surgery and has a major scar but she is doing fine. Gracie, one of my kitties had to be shaved and today had to go back for an eye injury. Most likely from Lucy trying to play with him.

This is Lucy!

I haven't gotten many cards done but did do a couple of scrapbook pages for my granddaughter's albums and 2 pages for my own album. I also got 5 chemo caps sewn and will be taking them to two Cancer Care centers. I did drop off a set of 4 cards to help raise money for a local animal shelter. So, as I said, busy, busy, busy. Here are a few of my cards.

What I enjoy now!

2010-03-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

My big passion is making cards and scrapbooking my family pictures. I bought myself a Cricut Expression about a year ago and use it every day. It is almost an addition at this point but I enjoy it so much! I mostly make cards for friends, family, church sales or any other reason I can find. Paper is like fabric to me. Since I am also a sewer/quilter I have an extensive fabric collection but the paper has overtakin even my fabric now. Here are a few of my cards.

Lots of changes in my life!

2010-03-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

As the title says, lots of changes. I am no longer making wreaths. I closed my business 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with lymphoma - a blood cancer. I have been thru 8 rounds of chemo, lost my hair, faced the possibility I would not survive and come through the other side. Definately have a new perspective of life and what I want to do with mine. Enjoy it each and every day! I still have to have chemo treatments every 6 months for 2 years, 1 year is complete as of February, 2010.
My blog will change since I no longer make wreaths but I do other things to share here. If you are looking for twig wreaths you will be able to get them soon. My middle son is taking over and the beautiful wreaths will be available again. I have had so very many people contact me asking for my wreaths and I thank everyone for their tremendous support over the last 10 years. I will let everyone know when he is up and running. My son has gone back to college at 39 for his engineering degree. He is raising 2 sons with his wife, Pam. Mainely Twigs will be an extra undertaking for him. I hope everyone continues to support him as they did me.

NEW FALL BERRY WREATH

2007-09-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and so are my Fall Cranberry Berry Wreaths. Gorgeous red cranberries and twigs. Love this wreath with the green leaves mixed in for accent color. What goes better with Fall and Thanksgiving than Cranberries! Click here to see this wreath and many others.

Moving!

2007-08-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am buying a house! This will be the first home of my own since my divorce 2 years ago and I am so excited to be moving. All my belongings will get to come out of storage and keep me company again! I may be spending a few weeks getting settled but will continue to take orders.

I was so lucky to find this house - located on a dead-end road with only 7 house. Quiet and very low traffic for my kitties and dogs with lots of woods for them to roam in. Not the dogs! I will continue to work in my existing shop for now but hope to get a new shop built next spring.

Also have a new twig wreath to show you! This is a one-of-a-kind. It is made with a birch base twig wreath and has lots of raspberry, blueberry, blackberry artificial berries and green leaves for accent. I love this one. My mom loves it too and I am having a hard time keeping it away from her!

Summer Activities At Mainely Twigs

2007-08-17T14:32:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe summer is turning into Fall here in Northern Maine. The cool evenings are upon us and it's great sleeping weather! I love Fall most of all.

Here at Mainely Twigs I am gearing up to start gathering twigs and other natural supplies to fill my storage room. I enjoy this part of my business most of all because I can be out in the beautiful sunny fall days. My two little doggies love it too because it means they can go into the fields with me. I have a miniature beagle (Queenie)and an american eskimo (Jessie). They love running around the fields investigating all the great new smells while I gather my twigs. We always have fun and go home tired!

New Wreaths!
I have added some new wreaths over the summer. You can now get pip berry wreaths! Lots of colors to choose from. I will also be making swags with pip berries. Here is a picture of one made with yellow pip berries.

What I have been up to!

2007-06-14T07:48:00.000-07:00

Haven't been here for awhile - spring is pretty busy for me because this is when I cut lots of twigs for my wreaths. Now that leaves are all out I am getting caught up on other things.

Working on some quilts, organizing things. All in all it's restfull work that I enjoy sometimes.

Took my two little doggies to the beauty parlor yesterday for a spring clipping. My little American Eskimo got a major clipping and she is a little uncomfortable with the new cut I think. I love it - discovered she has big ears! She was so hot during the uncomfortable days and will feel great for the summer now.

I have added some new things to Mainely Twigs! More pip berry colors in stock. Mustard, Navy, Burgundy, Mauve, Red are all available. They are availabe in the heart wreath shown here or in a traditional twig wreath. Sorry the pictures are not where they should be!

Well I guess I better get to work today. Wishing you all a blessed day.

Another New Wreath!

2007-03-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Here is another new one! I love designing new wreaths and am always looking for things I can use in my wreath to make them unique. This is a one-of-a-kind wreath that reminds me of the fields of wild strawberries here in Northern Maine! I have spent many happy hours with my mom and sister picking these delicious wild strawberries and this wreath brings back some of those wonderful carefree days spent together. I like the unique oval shape of this wreath. I hope to have more oval designs soon.

New Wreaths!

2007-03-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been busy making some new twig wreath designs here at Mainely Twigs this winter. I love them and hope you will too. This is one of them - Sunflowers & Crows nesteled in a pretty Birch twig wreath. I found these sunflowers and just loved them. There are buds and blooms in the wreath and they look so lifelike. I thought a raffia bow fit well with the theme but my green/tan country check bow would also look great in this wreath. The wreath measures approximately 22 inches total diameter. You can see this wreath and others on my website.

New Things!

2006-12-19T08:19:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of new garland embelishments I am going to put on my wreaths. I love the rusty tin but think the white will also be great on wreaths. I think the rusty tin bells and snowflakes are a nice "winter" touch after the holidays. I will be adding them to the web site shortly.

My Babies!

2006-12-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

This is one of babies! Her name is Jessie, she is a 5 year old American Eskimo. Very loved and very spoiled! She loves posing for me and will wear hats very well.

My Favorite Winter Wreath!

2006-12-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

Rustic Twig Wreath
This is one of my favorite wreaths! A fantastic twig wreath to display through the winter, in a rustic decor home or in a vacation cabin. The small brown cones give it such a unique look!