creativity Rx

I did, in fact, doddle at my two creative sources today.

First, at the scrapbook store, I browsed the aisles looking for beautiful papers. Ideas fluttered into my head and it was lovely just to be out and about.

As I was checking out, I was invited to create the "make and take" project...



It was instant creative gratification. I especially loved using ordinary coarse sandpaper to distress the edges of the patterned textured papers. I hadn't tried that before but I can't wait to apply that tecnique to some projects in the works.

When I have time (and even sometimes when I don't!) I walk nearly every aisle over at the craft store. I know that store by heart and I love finding new things...



Like these ribbons wound on little bobbins! They call them "Jam Ribbon" and display them with jars with the idea that you can fill jars with them. Talk about eye candy! If you have trouble finding the display in your store, look on every endcap. At my store they were in the floral department endcap.

I also picked up these sweet little Valentine tins...



They are for packaging the new batch of Valentine charm bracelets due to arrive this week. How's that for letting the cat out the bag? I can't wait to see them...and I know you are anxious too. The price will be a bit higher to reflect the increasing costs for Melissa to make them. I know you can appreciate how much work goes into them, let alone in finding all the little bits and bobs. She's a genius at it but good golly, it's bound to add up.

a hundred wishes

Do you remember when 100 was the highest number you knew? "I wish I had a hundred dollars" or, better yet, "I wish I had a hundred wishes!"

Well, then, here they are for you. One hundred wishes on a roll.

Keep your roll next to a mason jar and make a new tradition for your family. When anyone wants anything, and if they've been particularly good, maybe they get a chance for a wish to come true. They tear off a wish, write what it is they desire upon the back, and then place it in the jar.

And, then (this part is entirely up to you) when you are feeling generous and happy with the wisher's behavior, you can fish out a wish or two and go about making it come true.

A hundred wishes is too many for me today. But if I had just three wishes, here's what they'd be:

1. The mess that accumulated whilst I convalesced is magically sorted, straightened, vacuumed, tossed, and swept Bewitched style.

2. My cupboards are full of interesting ingredients to make fabulous dinners for the balance of the week.

3. I had the company of you to join me for a cup of tea, a cute little cake, and delicious conversation laced with plans for the one hundred wishes coming our way.

Get your wishes here and meet me for tea in an hour. I'll do my best to clean the hundred little messes all around but especially by the sofa.

on the mend

I'm starting to feel like myself again. My head is still stuffy and my joints still stiff but I do believe I am on the mend.

I have dozens of little things to do today now that I'm feeling better. One of them is a trip to the craft store AND the scrapbooking store. I think I'll allow myself to get lost for a while in both.

I have so many new products on their way...some that I've made and others that I've found. They'll be drizzling in as these days come and go.

Here are two new things that are available now...

Available in five yummy polka-dotted colors, these tiny pocket albums make the most wonderful gifts, especially when you include your favorite snapshots when you present them. Or, tell me, my friend, wouldn't it be delightful to create a miniature scrapbook page highlighting your little dearies?

Click here to select yours.


Now, isn't this a sweet alternative to the standard box of chocolates?

This heart-shaped box comes outfitted with fun embellishments and supplies for creating papercrafts. Click here to order yours.

I've gotten a few requests lately about my plans for Club Little House. I'm giving it lots of thought and am trying to decide if/when we'll have another installment. The last one encountered lots of problems and left me feeling not as joyous about it. But maybe I'm ready to give it a try again.

Okay, off to my errands. Thanks so much for your get-well wishes. They were good medicine.