Happy 2014!

Happy New Year friends!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and stayed warm (yikes it's been cold).  While I have been having fun with my kiddos home on break, I did have the chance to work on some new projects that I gave out as gifts for Christmas. I have re-opened my Etsy shop with a new line of paperie products that I am excited to share with you.

The first two sets of stationery I created were named after my late grandparents, Harvey & Veronica. My grandpa would have celebrated his 100th birthday this past December, so I thought naming my first two sets of stationery would be a nice way to pay tribute to the both of them.

The Harvey Fred Collection by Pamela Smerker Designs

They are double sided (meaning the back side of the card has a pattern printed on it as well) folded note cards that measure approximately 3.5" x 5".

The Veronica Collection by Pamela Smerker Designs

My hubby and I didn't "purchase" any gifts for each other for Christmas, however I HAD to give him something. So I created this mini card set just for him, which would work perfectly for anytime of the year, especially Valentine's Day. Say hello to the "24 Things I Love About You" set of mini note cards.  I wrote down some of the little traits that make me love him, as well as memories of him that I love. I wasn't sure if he would think this gift was corny, but he truly loved it and had to read the entire box before we could move on. I can't tell you how wonderful it made me feel to write all of these "things" down, but how great it was to see his reaction. aaaahhh LOVE!!

"24 Things I Love About You" Mini Notes by Pamela Smerker Designs

"24 Things I Love About You" Mini Notes by Pamela Smerker Designs

 All of my stationery and mini note cards come printed and packaged in clear plastic boxes. Super cute for yourself OR as a gift!!

I am seriously having so much fun creating cards again, after all it is the reason I got into blogging 9 years ago. It is kind of fun to see the transitions I have made, from stamped card making to paper pieced party goods and now digitally designed cards and party goods.  I love creating!!  Stop by my shop,  www.pamelasmerkerdesigns.etsy.com to see all of my other sets. As you will see, I have been having fun!

Again, happy NEW YEAR!! See you on Friday with my "My Life Squared" round up. I am SO ready to get back in to the swing of things!

DFTBA,
PS


*Side Note: All of my custom party favor boxes are being moved over to our D & P Celebrations shop to go along with the party printables we have available there.

12 Days of Christmas~ Day 12 {Just Keep Swimming}

This quote seems extremely appropriate this time of year...OK anytime of year really. Sometimes that is all you can do when life gets crazy..."just keep swimming".  SO for my 12th Day of Christmas Crafts and Party Favors, my gift to you, "Just Keep Swimming" note cards. Print a bunch of these out, tie them together with some A2 envelopes and pretty bakers twine and give them out as gifts or party favors. I may just frame one of these as a reminder to never give up and to keep dreaming BIG! You can download your FREE "Just Keep Swimming" note cards HERE

Thank you SO very much for your continued support and kind words of encouragement. You are the very best bloggy friends a girl could ask for! I wish you all a very happy holiday season!

As always...Hugs,
Pam

12 Days of Christmas~ Day 8 {Snowman Tags}

Just a quick post today friends. I have been sick with a sinus infection, so the holiday crafting has been nothing short of a big fat mess. We attempted to make peppermint candy wreath ornaments and all they did was get slimey and stay gooey! So to make up for no post yesterday and nothing really new today I have a FREE download for you.

 You can find these Snowman gift tags HERE.  I promise I will be back on Monday with something crafty!!

Happy Weekend!!
Hugs,
Pam

12 Days of Christmas~ Day 7 {Neighborhood Elf}

 So excited to share this adorable FREE download from Anders Ruff, so you too can be the neighborhood Elf! Actually this is my first year of "Elfing". We have "Boo'd" lots of times around Halloween, which I will talk about later.

So how to you play? It's the same way you Boo someone at Halloween. You fill a bag with inexpensive goodies, a couple of items I put in our bags were silly bands, holiday pencils & my Hot Cocoa Mix (don't forget to download and make your own Hot cocoa Mix, shown on Day 3). Leave the bag on the front doorstep of a friend or neighbor. You must include a "door sign" and "poem/instructions" so that the recipient knows what this is there for and how to pass long the favor. Then the recipient will or should place the Elfed sign on their front door to let others know that the Elf has already visited. Now it's the recipients turn to play Elf. Hopefully the whole neighborhood will be sporting their Elfed signs in their window or on their front door.


So the very first time I Boo'd a neighbor was about 12 years ago. I feel like I should have my profile blurred out and a voice changer thingie going on while I tell this story. Anyway,  we were in a brand new neighborhood (didn't know anyone really) with lots of other young families, should be perfect for Boo'ing right? I had dreams of my little Boo's sign popping up on every door in the neighborhood...um maybe not?? So I get my boys to bed because their are only 2 years and 6 months old. It is dark out probably around 7:30 at night. I am killing myself laughing because I am sneaking around the neighbor's house across the streets all stealth mode in my slippers, ya know pretending to be an FBI agent hiding behind corners like I am on some secret case or something. Basically I am being a major dork! SO I get to the front porch and I hear someone, so I am like crap do I ring the door bell and just hand the parent the goodie bag or do I go freak out mode, ring the door bell and run like hell. Of course I choose the latter of the two. I ring the door bell drop the bag and run down their drive way like a crazy woman.  I barely get to my side of the street when I hear the neighbor opening the door. Who the heck answers their door that fast...seriously! Anyway,  I quick turn, twist my ankle, my slipper goes flying off and into the air. What else can I do but make a dive roll into our bushes. SO I am half crying because my ankle hurts and half laughing because if someone saw me they are probably wondering what the heck I am doing. If someone would have taped this whole episode I would have made a lot of money on "America's Funniest Videos". Needless to say neither of my neighbors hung up their Boo's signs and I never told them it was me. It was suppose to be a secret after all! Since then we have moved and I eventually gave up on the secret of "Boo'ing". I call my neighbors and friends now to let them know ahead of time that I was popping over and to let their kids answer the door to find the surprise. This not only makes them feel better knowing who gave their kids a bunch of goodies (and that they were safe), but also they know when the door bell rings to take their time answering, so I don't have to do a flying leap into their bushes. I can't wait to play Elf this year and I hope you will too!

A big thank you to Anders Ruff for creating this adorable Christmas version and for helping us all share the gift of giving!

Happy Holidays!
Hugs,
Pam

12 Days of Christmas~ Day 4 {Stamped Candles}

Welcome back to our blog series the 12 Days of Christmas Crafts & Party Favors For Kids.  This craft is one that has been around for a long time. I first made these candles probably 4 years ago and thought they were such great inexpensive gifts. Now this craft is definitely one that is more for adults since you use a heat gun, but steps 1 & 2 are perfect for kids who are old enough to hold a stamp and slap it on paper.

Supplies you will need:
White candle (purchase a few smaller ones to practice the heating technique)
White tissue paper (used for wrapping gifts)
Rubber stamps of your choice
Stamp pad in your choice of color
Scissors
Heat Embossing gun

Step 1

Measure your candle and cut a piece of tissue paper to fit around your candle without overlapping. Make sure the height of your paper is approximtely 1" less then the base height of your candle. This will give you a half an inch border on the top and bottom.

Step 2

Stamp your image all over your tissue paper, either in a pattern or randomly. Aly used Stampin' UP!'s stamp set called Snow Swirled with the Ballet Blue Classic ink pad.

Step 3

Once you have finished stamping, lay your your tissue on the candle. Make sure to hold the paper firmly so that the air from the embossing gun doesn't blow it all over the place. Little by little in circular motions heat up the tissue so that the wax from the candle melts underneath and adheres to the tissue. I only do about a 1-2 inch vertical area at a time. MAKE SURE you pull your gun away every few seconds and don't leave it in one spot OR ELSE you will melt the candle too much and you will have weird waves or ripples on your candle. Another result of over heating would be scorching your tissue paper, don't want to do that either. TAKE YOUR TIME, it will so be worth it!!

Step 4

Move your way across the candle inch by inch and again please take your time...slow and steady win the race!!  I keep my candle on the table and roll it as I move along. This helps flatten out any wax that might be soft yet. Practice does make perfect, so by a few extra candles even if they are smaller versions to get the hang of it. Once you have it down you will want to make a million of these, they are addictive.

Step 5

You are FINISHED!! Once the candle has completely cooled you can hardly tell there is any paper on there at all.
Wrap these up in some cello with a pretty ribbon and give them away this holiday season! Heck if you are like me and own 50 million stamp sets, make these for any occasion!

• A giant birthday candle to help someone celebrate or as party favors!
• Every Holiday
• As a thank you gift stamped with flowers or leaves
• Make smaller versions as shower gifts with monograms stamped on them. 

The list could go on and on! Try them they are SO much fun!!
Hugs,
Pam