Creating in the cracks...

Right now things are pretty exciting as we prepare for wedding number 2 at our house! My oldest daughter will be married in May and as she is miles away, we are doing a lot of phone calling. I'm SO grateful for cell phones: How many of you remember when you had to pay for long distance calls? Growning up, even calling the city 15 miles away was long distance! Thanks goodness those days are past.

I've been doing a little creating in the "cracks" of life: Those moments when I can grab a few previously unscheduled minutes for getting crafty as well as some big projects we had to tackle for the wedding...

Here's what I've been up to:

My mom and BFF Kelli (and my sister and daughter-in-law, not picutred) helped me make 500 wedding invitations! Couldn't have done it alone: Thanks ladies!

Kelli's birthday was in November, but I just got around to giving her a gift, so it had to have a cute bag to go in (above left).

Back in August I volunteered to help with Teacher Appreciation week, so with the help of my husband and youngest daughter, we cranked out 100 thank you cards with a little treat inside at the beginning of April.

If you follow Creative Juice by Loni on Facebook or Instagram, you have seen a few of these (and other projects). As much as I love my blog, it's easier to post to the other two, so while I will continue to post here, you'll probably see me sharing more on the other two social media outlets :)

Meanwhile, don't forget that FREE SHIPPING ends Friday:

Grab 'Em Before They're Gone!

It's time to say goodbye to some of our wonderful stamps and accessories as Stampin' Up! makes room for NEW product to come in the 2014-15 catalog! And isn 't it thoughtful of them to offer FREE SHIPPING this week to make parting a little easier?

Click below for the retiring stamp list:

And this one for the accessories: 

Ready to order? Shop in my store ASAP because both stamps and accessories 

are available WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

When you place an order on my website before April 30th, enter hostess code DCQ2GPS4 and I'll send you a thank you gift in the mail :)

Easter Eggs and Memory Albums

Look at me! I actually finished a project BEFORE the holiday! Feeling pretty good right now :) These little Easter Egg "thrones" are such fun to make with a few punches, stamps and the Big Shot!

So I don't have time to make a lengthy tutorial, so let me give you a few tips for making them:

• Cadbury eggs are too small. I found some larger eggs at Costco (they are hollow)

• Cut a 8.5"x2.5" strip from one end of your card stock and score it (down the long edges) at 1/2" and 2" (the Simply Scored board--item #122334--makes all your scoring SUPER SIMPLE). Then chop it up into 2"x 2.5" pieces and punch a hole using the 1-1/4" circle punch (#119861) in the middle like this----->>>>
   
• Cut the rest of the card stock into 2"x8.5" strips. Score them at 3.5" and 5". Punch the ends with the Scallop Tag Topper Punch (133324). 

• Line up the Designer Frame embossing folder (#123130) with the first score line from one end and run through the Big Shot --->>>>>

• Punch the middle of the embossed frame out with the Large Oval Punch (#119859)

• Adhere the "throne" piece between the two sides with SNAIL adhesive, add egg and embellish as desired! I used the flowers and punch from the Petite Petal bundle (#134821-wood or #134822-clear mount). As always, you can purchase these supplies from my Stampin' Up! store!

And in upcoming events, if you have a mother, friend or grad that you need a thoughtful gift for, come to my Mini Memory Album class! You can bring your own pictures or come to create the book and add photos later. The cost is $17 and you MUST bring your own Scissors, SNAIL adhesive and Glue Dots. If you forget your adhesive, I will let you buy new ones from me :) Please register below.