www.susankweckesser.com

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year!

pineapple

What a busy year! In fact it was so busy that time just seemed to race by! I want to thank everyone for there wonderful words of encouragement and for their friendship! It really has meant a lot to me! Sometimes we are thrown some difficult challenges in our lifes and it really is nice to have friendly word to lift you up …so thank-you! Thank-you also for being a part of the Christmas Love Campaign! It is NOT over yet! There still is the final give away. The deadline has been extended to Sunday, January 2, 2011. If you don't have Facebook please leave your comment here on the blog with a link to your pictures, blog or work! There still is an awesome prize package to give away that has products in it from all of our sponsors including a 1 year subscription to Canadian Scrapbooker!

Plus, I have some major changes going on around here with some exciting news, so you will see some changes going on  here during the next few weeks! Really exciting stuff, but I can't tell ya quite yet!

Well, I hope that all of you and your families have a fantastic New Year! May you all be happy, healthy and super creative! I look forward to a very creative 2011!

Keep on Scrappin'

                 Susan

Monday, December 27, 2010

Paint a Snowman

wooden snowman

A super fun idea that I found several years ago to make, is this wooden snowman. I don't know about you, but I love snowmen. There is something about them that they just make me smile! This guy is so super easy to make. Your whole family can help to make a batch to give away as a winter treat to friends, family and neighbours.

Supplies:

~ 1 by 1 wood post

~ white, rose, black, & orange acrylic paint

~ buttons

~baby sock

~ heavy gauge wire

~1" by 3" piece of fabric

~ glue gun

~embellishments

~small wood dowel

Cut wood to 5" length and paint white.  Drill a nose hole and two small arm holes. Sand small dowel at one end to resemble a carrot and then paint orange. Paint on eyes and mouth. You can also lightly dab on the cheeks. When dry, glue on buttons and glue in nose. Cut two three" lengths of wire. Wrap around a pencil to get a nice curl in the wire. Then glue each wire into the arm holes. Take baby sock and cut off the foot section. Then take the fabric and tie at the half way point of the sock. This is the snowman's hat. Glue the hat onto the snowman. Add any embellishments that you like.

   Well, Christmas is over, but the Christmas Love Campaign is NOT over! Remember we have another giveaway going on. You have a chance to win some awesome product from Jenni Bowlin! Just leave a comment here or on the face book page letting us know how your spreading some Christmas Love!

***Remember, just because Christmas has ended, it doesn't mean that the LOVE has to end!

Have a super fantastic day!

      ~ Susan

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Adding a little bit of spring to your Christmas decorations.

butterfly mittens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why not mix two beautiful seasons together -WINTER and SPRING when your are creating Christmas decorations this year. It is appealing to the eye to add light and airy cotton flowers to a pair of heavy mitts. {Opposites really do attract!} After taking a small 3 inch pair of wool mittens that where whip stitched together, I used glue dots to attach flowers, buttons, and a pearl spray, I also used a cute whimsical butterfly from JENNI BOWLIN to top it all off.  Now I have a cute little decoration to add to cookies plates that I hand out on Christmas Day!

JB

*'Next give away is here for the Susiebee Studios CHRISTMAS LOVE CAMPIGN!  Leave a comment on the blog or on our face book page with a link to how you have spread some Christmas Love and you could win a fantastic gift pack from Jenni Bowlin!'' You have until December 27, 2010 to leave a comment. Remember all it takes is a smile, a kind word, a plate of home made cookies, or a home made card to change some ones day!

Thank-you for everything you do everyday….you truly are special! Don't forget it!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

                    ~Susan

 

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Christmas Ornament Mystery…

october Afternoon ornaments

Had a little fun fun making some cute little ornaments with October Afternoon's cute Christmas scrapbooking paper. I used some star chip board shapes and then fancied it up with some awesome ribbon from Maya Road. I thought it would be cool to randomly 'surprise someone by decorating their cedar with these cute decorations. {smile} I sure hope that they liked stars! To make them water proof, I sprayed them with a couple coats of outside acrylic sealer.  They were easy to make and so fun to deliver! I thought that it would be a great way to spread a little 'love'.

Next giveaway is this week….. PLEASE…..send those comments & pictures in! Christmas can really be hard on some people sometimes….so let's share a smile, a homemade card, or even a kind word! Thank-you for everything that you do. The things I have read and heard are so cool!

YOU GUYS ROCK!

  ~ Susan

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Mini Christmas Birdhouse

 

Cosmo Cricket bird house

Cosmo Cricket bird house 1Cosmo Cricket bird house 2Cosmo Cricket bird house 3

[Use little pieces of your paper to create tags, patches and focal points.]

Cosmo Cricket bird house 4

How fun is it at Christmas to make things that are small and glittery! LOTS of fun! I love it!

I found some miniature bird houses and wooden blocks at the local craft store. The blocks measure 2 inches cubes….nice and tiny. I then used some great whimsical paper from Cosmo Cricket and used Mod Podge to put it on. So quick and easy! Once it was dry I took  light sand paper to rough up my edges to give a nice aged look. Oh…and you can't forget about the GLITTER!!! What Christmas bird house is complete without glitter and a few pearl & rhinestone embellishments!

Now I just need a little bird!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Stitching Embellishments

 

Remember when...cover

mitten close up

mitten close up 1

Try something different when you are making embellishments for your scrapbooking layouts, cards, mini albums or other craft projects. Why not try using embroidery stitching to fancy up embellishments. Stitches are really easy to do and will add some whimsy to you project. For my little mittens I used the 'lazy daisy' stitch. Figure 1

fig.1detached_chain_stitch

If you don't know or remember stitches, there are my web sites that show instructions how to do these stitches, like Mary Corbet's Needle & Thread . Give it a try…you might like it!

We have another give away today! We want to hear how you are spreading some Christmas Love so please leave a comment or visit our face book page and show us what you have been doing! The prize package includes some of October Afternoon's beautiful Christmas paper!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Trimming a Card

snow day card

Ribbons are so practical and fantastic! You can get them in so many wonderful designs, colors and textures. I love this velvet and pompom trim from Chatter Box. If you are stuck for time this Christmas, but you still want to make some cards, a quick way to make some cute cards is to embellish the card with a few strips of ribbon! Viola! Instant card. I took a coordinating pencil crayon and lightly edged around the card.

*Remember,you don't need any extra stress at Christmas, so simple but beautiful cards sure will help!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Adding a Bit of GREEN

 

Christmas Bulbs 5

paper white bulbsChristmas Bulbs Christmas Bulbs 1Christmas bulbs 2

Every Christmas I love to add a little bit of greenery in our home. Not only do I LOVE the color GREEN, but by the end of December the leaves have been off the trees outside for a couple of months and I miss gardening! So I take advantage of all the Christmas bulbs that appear in the stores at this time of year. They are so easy to plant. Even children can get involved in the excited  of watching a little plant grow inside your house. What is even better is when the plant is finished blooming, don't throw it out. Just let it dry and then you can plant it out side in the spring time. Most of the time it will survive for you.

Well, I know that everyone is busy with all the Christmas activities going on but I don't want you to forget about our Christmas Love Campaign. The winners from the first giveaway where announced on our Face Book page so, please go check it out! I have been so touched by all the fantastic stories coming in! Thank-you! Let's keep on going!

LET'S SHOW THE WORLD THAT CRAFTERS AND SCRAPBOOKERS DO CARE!!!!

We have another draw on Thursday, December 9, 2010 for a great prize package including product from OCTOBER AFTERNOON! Don't miss out! Leave a comment a our blog or Face Book page about how your spreading the LOVE!!!

REMEMBER: you can enter more then once and tell everyone!!!!

                            Susan

Friday, December 3, 2010

Got all teary eyed….

 

At Christmas time I love receiving Christmas cards. It is so exciting to open a card and see who it from, read the news, and look at pictures to see how people have changed. I also love making and giving Christmas cards. As my children have grown it has become a tradition. We take a evening, or two where we sit down and work on a few cards to give to friends and neighbours. The cards usually aren't perfect, but they are full of personality and heart, not to mention that we had a lot of fun making together.

Well, we had our first Christmas Love give away the other day and I have to be honest, I really got so teary eyed reading the posts. I love hearing and reading how people touch other people lives. It is so fantastic! Thank-you so much for sharing with us and going the extra mile! Our winners are: Kate, Sandy, Edleen, & Sandy Ang. Could you please email me at susiebeestudios@gmail.com to claim your prize.

                        {Congratulations!]

Remember, we have giveaways going on until December 31,2010 and you can enter more then once! Spread the news and share some CHRISTMAS LOVE!!!!

Angel Pink 1

Angel Made by Sandy Ang.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The First Give Away!!!

 

      We had so much fun this past week-end as we found found our outside Christmas lights and bundled up to go outside to put them up. It took a little convincing, but once I got every one outside we had a lot of fun! So much fun that we almost forgot that it was cold out. It took a while afterwards to warm up toes and fingers, but that was alright because it was a good excuse to have mugs of hot chocolate! Just seeing those Christmas lights sparkling outside has really put me in a 'Christmas' mood! I love it! I had fun painting up these little nut crackers; these guys are only about three inches tall.

I have been getting some amazing prizes donated for the Christmas Love Campaign and I really am excited about it! Even my children have started to get really excited about this contest and they enjoy telling there teachers and friends all about it! I really want to start spreading the CHRISTMAS LOVE, so  LET'S GET THIS PARTY
STARTED! Leave a comment on my blog by Wednesday,December 1, 2010
briefing saying how you have or plan on SPREADING THE CHRISTMAS LOVE, or post your
comment & or picture here on our face book page. Someone will end up with an awesome prize from 7Gypies!

I can't wait to see what everyone is doing To Spread the CHRISTMAS LOVE this year! REMEMBER… you can enter more then one time and remember to grab a blinkie and put it on your site or your blog. Let's have some fun and make sure to tell your friends to join in!

Keep on Scrappin'

                  Susan

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Leftover Scrapbooking Paper -> Ornaments!

 

Paper Strip Ornament

We all have lots of scrap scrapbooking paper around, so instead of tossing in out you can make some really fun for you tree or to give as gifts. They really are super fun and easy to do. So round up your kiddos and make up a batch!

We have been getting so many wonderful prizes for The Christmas Love Campaign. I can just will the excitement building for this, but I need to hear what YOU are making or doing to reach out to spread some love. I really am anxious to start give away these prizes! SO LET"S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! Leave a comment on my blog by Wednesday,December 1, 2010 briefing saying how you plan on SPREADIN THE CHRISTMAS LOVE, or post you comment on the Susiebee Studios Inc. Christmas Love Campaign Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susiebee-Studios-Inc-Christmas-Love-Campaign/123578867702220 . Someone will end up with a awesome prize from 7gypies!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mixed Media Canvas

sunny day painting

I got out some glazes, papers, papers, and inks and then I had some fun playing. 

          Sunny Day 3

         

        sunny day 1

Sunny day 6

I love using Glimmer Glam to create whimsical drips of color. It also made a nice magical sheen on my work.Sunny Day5   Sunny Days 12

I also Mod Podge some canvas pieces onto my work with nice accents of color. I did not want to be rigid with this piece, so the only formal parts of the work are the bits of the pattern that I used.

Sunny day 17  Sunny Day 15

Sunny Day 2

sunny day 7  Here's a  flower create from an old pattern covered with mod podge, and enhanced with Delta Ceramcoat  acrylic paints. I then outlined the flower with Glimmer Glam & Glimmer Glaze from Tattered Angels.Sunny Day 14 (2)  To give a slight pattern to the canvas I used a Tatter Angel stencil and Glimmer Mist ChalkBoard. This also gave a aged look to the canvas at the same time giving a neat faint pattern.

Sunny Days 8

       Sunny Days 10   

Sunny Days 11  To give my work a cool aged look I brushed on a layer of Distress crackle paint from Ranger, when I was done.

20101122_72

I mixed Mod Podge with Glimmer Glam from Tatter Angel and got some neat textural effects.

{If you mix these 2 mediums together you get a nice effect when working on plastics.}

Sunny Days 13

*My Piece of Sunshine!!!

        Susan

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Making Christmas Bags as a Family

 

 

christmas bag close up

'Just put out a whole bunch of craft supplies and let your children have fun create gift bags for your family to pixie!'christmas bags

We have a tradition in are family that for each holiday during the year our family 'pixies' other families.

pixie~ to bake goodies for another family, package them, go to their house & put them on the door step, ring the doorbell & run away with out them knowing who did it!

We have a great time doing this tradition! Part of the whole plan is getting ready for it. First we bake goodies. Usually something simply that everyone can help with like chocolate chip cookies or rice krispie squares. Next we get our bags ready. The kiddos have always loved crafting, so what better way to use up odds and ends. I let them make up the bags any way they want to. It may not be the way that I would have done them, but they are having fun and they look really cute in the end, plus we are spending time together as a family!

If you haven't tried it, give it a try this year! It is so fun!

                         Susan

Monday, November 1, 2010

Hello November…

 

20100915_10

It seems like just yesterday that I was buying back to school supplies & clothes for my kiddos and now here I am packing up Halloween decorations as I work on my Christmas baking, craft & shopping list. I really am excited about Christmas this year. I know, I can’t believe it either!  What is even harder to believe is that we don’t have any snow here in southern Alberta yet, so I am taken advantage of that. I am creating fall crafts while I can! I know that the United States has their Thanksgiving coming up and even though I am not American I have decided to celebrate it. I have family living done there and I have so many good friends in the States … so why not I say. I love Thanksgiving! So to start, I created this fall layout using some of my favourite products from Fancy Pants.

This is going to be a great month…and ‘fingers crossed’, the snow doesn’t fly too soon!

Keep on Scrappin’

               Susan

Friday, October 29, 2010

Altered Halloween Book

 

Halloween sign

What a wonderful week full of costumes and goodies! I had to take all my kiddos to the dentist yesterday but they didn’t have time to change. I had the biggest smile on my face as I walked in into the dentist with a gaggle of children following all dressed up in their costumes. My youngest, Jessica, whispered into my ear, “Mom…tell them that I’m wearing I costume!” She was so worried that they were going to think that so always dressed like that! So cute!

                                   Altered Halloween Book

Halloween Book 3

Halloween Book 1 

Halloween book

I found one of our old, beat up baby board books that was going to be thrown away and I had some fun altering it to make it into a Halloween decoration. So easy and quick! The girls have fun making these for gifts for teacher and friends too!

Well I hope that everyone has a fantastic and SPOOKY Halloween!

                     Susan