Hey, hoppers!!  Didn't know if I'd have time to squeeze this in, and really didn't have any big ideas until this morning...driving home from dropping off all the critters...so when I got home, I carved out some time for a  project to go along with this theme...

If you've seen or made the little toilet paper roll holders, you'll know exactly how this was done...just with felt instead of the roll covered in paper...

I didn't actually adhere anything to the original cardboard roll...but it was very handy to have during the 'building' process and while adhering everything.  Just 'shimmied' it off when it was time to stitch up the bottom and everything else was dry.  I also pulled the top edge up off the roll enough to stitch my ribbon handles on very early in the process, then pulled it back down to finish the embellishing. (I wanted to cover the stitching with the twine.)  It wasn't the easiest thing to photograph...wish I would have had a pretty Christmas tree up to hang it on...

Here's the stitching that closes it up...

I'm thinking most of you have seen these so I'm not going to bore anyone with details of how to make it.  You can dress 'em up or dress 'em down...make 'em really simple or more elaborate with all kinds of trim. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer.  I will say PTI's felt proved to be nice and sturdy and held the shape well...I have some other felts that would not have worked as nicely.  Here are a couple made from the roll, covered in paper that were left from my daughter's party this weekend...

They really are fun to make!
Thanks for dropping in!  I've got a screaming headache and need to go get groceries :(
~Geri~

Hope this finds you with a great week behind you and a great weekend on the way!  It's Tip Top Shape Friday at the Creative Paper Trade blog and this week we're incorporating squares into our designs.  Simple,  right?...

 For my first project, I embellished a square frame. (JoAnn Fabrics) I cropped up the little freebie image Andrea offered during our intro week to create this sweet little tag...

  

...and, of course the answer to that question would be to 'be unique'...I used a little Fiscars punch to add that to the bottom.  And in the center is a pretty little 'unique' butterfly...she couldn't decide what color/pattern wings to wear (Andrea offers too many pretty choices...what's a girl to do???) ...so...why limit herself to traditional matching wings, right?  Just like my little Jilli right now...she'll throw anything on and say...'what do ya think, mom?  CUTE, huh?'

Sometimes I wonder what people might think, but I try to let her make some of those decisions on her own.  It's good for her.   And who cares if you're not all match-y match-y!

I think she'll like this...

One more project featuring an image from  Andrea's Framed Out set.  Went with butterflies again...I've got Jillian's birthday on my mind...

This one's made with fabric and tissue, as is the little flower.  I sprayed them with a little shimmer mist, held them with tweezers and blasted them with my heat gun to fluff them up a little...

Brought everything together with some pretty MME papers and a Craft's Meow sentiment...

Wanted to share...I wasn't quite happy with how my frame was blending in with the papers. I was almost there, but not quite, until I decided to print the frame on another piece of MME paper with a really subtle background...

  

Even though it was hard to see in the photo...this made all the difference for me in the finished product.  I printed the image (frame) I wanted on normal paper, then placed my paper of choice on top as to not waste any more than necessary, and taped it down...

...and printed again...that did the trick!!!
OK...I've kept you long enough...you didn't have that much coffee in your cup, did you???  Andrea and Ginny have some additional inspiration over at the main blog.  And we've tweeked our challenge schedule a little to give you more time to create and add to the inspiration!  Better head over to the Creative Paper Trade now for the details!
Thanks so much for stopping in!!
~Geri~

How about a nudge to break out your dies, stickers, and stamps that include letters???

 That's what this very first "paper nudge" (always on Wednesdays!) challenge is all about over at the CPT blog!  And, oh my...is there ever some lovely inspiration waiting for you there!  Just take a peek!
From Andrea...

And Cherry...

And here's mine...

That little heart was punched from a doily image from the 'Rustic Fall' set in Andrea's shop.  Don't know if I'm sold on this card or not, but...it's growing on me!  ;)

I needed this little nudge, myself!  Letters add so much interest and can make a big statement (literally, I guess!)  Especially when they're all different sizes, styles and colors. (LOVE what Andrea came up with, don't you?)  So what are you waiting for?  Head over to the blog, soak up the inspiration, and get crackin'!!

Thanks so much for your visit!!

~Geri~

We (Creative Paper Trade team) are so very excited to get our challenges and inspiration rolling...today is the day!!! Hope you'll jump on board and help us inspire each other! It wasn't my turn to create for this challenge (we'll offer 3 per week--Sunday's challenge, Color My Week, will always offer color inspiration), but I couldn't resist the inspiration...

...so I dug in...

(I think I'm beginning to have a thing for birdies ;) That little guy was cut from one of Andrea's Bright Days tags.  The little sentiment was created from another tag set, Sweetness. I set him in a little chipboard 'window' (we like to keep an eye on each other)...

The pretty papers at the top and the bottom are from the Shabby Twirl and Checks and Dots paper sets, and the little felt flagged pin is from Love Struck (one of my favorites of Andrea's embellishment sets).

If you head over to the CPT blog, you'll see more inspiration from Andrea and Lisa, and details of how each week's challenges will work, including this pretty little prize package for a random winner at the end of the week.

So glad you stopped in!
Happy Sunday, and have a wonderful week!!!

~Geri~

...my sweet friend, Cherry, will be creating along side the other gals and me at the Creative Paper Trade.  Cherry is one of my all time favorite artists...I'm always so inspired by my frequent visits to her blog (girl's got a gift!)...it's so worth your time to visit her there, if you haven't already.  Here's just a tiny peek at the loveliness she creates...

And there's more over at the Creative Paper Trade so hop on over and say 'hello'!
Always good to have you here!
~Geri~

Finally made time to fit in my attempt at the...

Goodness this made me nervous...

And just so you know...I failed!!!  I took me 11 min., 40 sec.  And I was rushing so much...thinking ahead...and forgot that I had planned on running the stamped portion through my Cuttlebug with a woodgrain impression plate before adding flowers and gems.  Had I remembered, I wouldn't have had time to re-stamp some additional leaves and fussy-cut them.  And your probably wondering...'what color ARE those leaves???'  Well, they are PTI's New Leaf green (misted first) and boy, that's just NASTY!  NOT happy at all with that color.  But it was the '10 Min. Craft Dash', you know...no time to change my mind!...

As I look at the inspiration colors again...I'm thinkin' the green Tim Holtz distress ink I have would have matched better, and worked better with the misting.  (Next time!) Even when I have an hour to make a card, I want a do-over...so you can imagine how I would like to tear this apart and re-vamp.  On the other hand,... it really was so much fun to challenge myself to this...trying to hang on to my fussy, shabby style...watchin' my son's stop watch and everything...kind of exciting!  Really looking forward to the next one!!

Thanks, Ginny and Paulina!!  And thank you, friends, for popping in!!!

~Geri~

It's Jessica's turn...

...and here she is...

...and while I've never met her, obviously, I can tell she's full of bright and spunky personality and will be a treat to work with!  She's made up a 'berry sweet' project to share over at the Creative Paper Trade...here's a peek...

Hope to see you there!

~Geri~