PLAYING WITH PAPER

I had a play date with myself and look what I did. Yes, I had lots of fun.

Sometimes a girl just has to have fun! I found myself trolling around You Tube and came across a tutorial on how to make gift cards and boxes. It was love at first site. I am pretty sure I was on a site called "my sisters scrapper." I am not sure if she came up with this idea or if it's been around for awhile.

Each one of these boxes contains four cards and four envelopes.

I really wanted to embellish the fronts and  you can see just how sweet they are.

 This is the front of one of the boxes. I also added a Handmade with love charm.

 These are the envelopes, all four are different and each one has it's own little card.

 You could use these for party favors, bridal gifts, hostess gifts and thank yous. I think the ideas go on and on as well as the uses for this cuties.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my latest treasures and come back again soon for more wonderful ideas.

Sweet and Shabby Soap Pockets Are In

 When I came in here and saw that I had not posted since last August, I was shocked! I have been busy with family and life in general, but it didn't occur to me that I had negleted my blog so badly. I hope I have been missed.....LOL

 Last year was not the best year for me, and my website was calling my name. Sometimes you have to listen to the little voice inside your head saying, "get to work!!" My soap pockets are my original design and my customers seem to like them. I have always collected  handmade soaps from as far back as I can remember, so I came up with an idea to use the pretty sachet bags to house the soap. When the soap is gone, you are left with a beautiful bag to hold your jewelry or little what not's.

 These petite totes also make wonderful sachets. Given as gifts, they are perfect for teachers and also Mother's Day.

 They are easy to make and in the near future I think I will do a tutorial on making them. This one has one of my signature handmade roses on top of a piece of vintage crochet work. The Battenburg lace was part of a table cloth I bought while traveling in Germany. It's been used for many years now and was showing it's wear, so I thought I would re-purpose it into something nice for someone else to enjoy.

 All the little details are important to me and you can see that in the above photo. Sooo shabby sweet. There is vintage lace in the blue bag below and a piece of a crochet doily in the blue bag below. The soap I include with each bag is handmade in Italy. They smell so good and I can't resist them when I see them. Italian soap used to be easy to find, but it's getting harder each year. I may have to begin a new career by making my own, Hey, there's a thought!! If you enjoy these beautiful bags, you can find them on my website,
http://someplaceinthyme.com

BE STILL MY HEART

Have you ever asked yourself what it is about the shape of a heart that makes us melt or simply just smile?

I can't have enough hearts through out my home, they make me happy.

I think I am mostly parcial to the elongated hearts that you find when you look at primitives or grungy crafts. I love those.

But, for my website, http://someplaceinthyme.com I prefer to create heart sachets and fill them with dried lavender buds. Oh boy, do they ever smell so sweet and fresh.

I had so much fun creating these hearts. Some have beadwork and some have fringe. They make the perfect gift too and are ever so romantic.

The above blue, key to my heart has found it's way to another home, but the three sachets above the blue are for sale. I hope you have enjoyed my post today and come back soon. I love to share what I have been up too.

LOVIN THOSE TUSSIE MUSSIE'S

Since I have discovered the art of creating a Tussie Mussie, I have to admit, "I am in love with this craft." There are so many beautiful papers to choose from, and of course, playing with trims, ribbons, lace and bobbles....well, it's just fun!!

 These can be found on my website, http://someplaceinthyme.com along with many other styles and colors. The Halloween Tussie has been sold, but have a peek, you might find something you love.

If you enjoy working with paper, please give this craft a try, it's fun and it's easy too. Tussie Mussie's make a great gift for teachers, friends or keeping for yourself. Fill with small gifts or with sweets, what's not to love!?

~~THE LOVE OF A TUSSIE MUSSIE~~

I have discovered a love for the Tussie Mussie, you know? the victorian cones that hold anything from treats to candy to sweet gifts.
I have always wanted to make one and this is my second. When I listed my first Tussie Mussie, I was happy to have a sold sign on her before nightfall. Off she went to the great state of Hawaii.

This was my first Mussie ever. I love how she turned out, but the second one in my opinion is prettier.

Maybe it's the creamy yellow of the roses, or the Venise lace, but no matter why, I love her and the romance she brings into my life.
This Tussie Mussie can be found HERE.

~~Soap Pocket Sachets~~

I have had this idea for soap pockets for many years, and finally got around to creating something I think is wonderful.
After doing the pockets, which can be found in a previous post, I had some round bars of Italian milled soap and decided to create a pocket for those as well.
I came up with the idea of sachet bags with ties on the sides. Enjoy....

These were listed today on my website, SOMEPLACEINTHYME.

They make great gifts. Don't forget Mother's Day, that will be coming up in May.

I am considering doing a tutorial on these beautiful pockets in the future, so check back often.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit with me. Be sure to check my main blog Someplace In Thyme, as I am doing a tutorial this week on creating a cottage/shabby bottle. Very pretty and oh so easy.

~~SOAP POCKETS AND JURY DUTY~~

This past month has flown by so fast, it's hard to believe that it's April already.
When I peeked at my last post, it was a month ago!! I am so sorry to all my followers that I have not been around for that length of time. I promised myself to do much better in the future.
That being said, where have I been?
Well, for a little more than a week, I have been serving on jury duty.

When I saw the summons, I was thinking, "this just can't be happening to me" afterall, it hasn't been two years, has it?
You see, the law in AZ, or at least Maricopa county where we live, states that if you serve, it's two years before they can call you again. If you have been summoned, but released, it's 18 months before they can summons you. Man, time sure can fly by.
I was summoned what seems like yesterday, but the case was canceled (or settled out of court) and so I was not expecting this.

I did end up being picked, questioned and did sit on the jury. In fact, I was juror number two!
I honored my call to duty and quite frankly, I enjoyed it. I had never experienced the system before and it was all very interesting.
The case was a domestic abuse case and we found the defendent "not guilty." There was such a lack of evidence, we didn't understand why it was brought to court in the first place.
Anyway, without having to relive the whole ordeal, I served proudly and would proudly serve again.
The hardest part? Going into Phoenix daily and driving the I10 in commute traffic......UGH and UGH again.

I have found that my website was sorely lacking in a very popular item I have been creating, so getting back to my soap pockets, here is what I have been up too since my duty:

Four new pockets have been listed on my website as of yesterday.

I have always loved this fabric.....so romantic and just down right beautiful in it's simplicity.

Handmade paper roses, a snipet of vintage lace and a vintage button, decorate the top of this pocket....so sweet.

I have had this cotton fabric for years now, but just a bit left, enough to create this little beauty. I hope you enjoy it.

These each hold an Italian milled bar of soap in the scent of limone. Very fresh and perfect for gift giving, don't forget Mother's Day.
I am in the process of creating more of my soap sachet pockets. These are different from the pockets above, as they are more of a bag, with ties at the sides and instead of a bar of soap, they hold a round Italian soap in the scent of Lily of the Valley and Orange. The bags should be on my website by the end of the week.
If you would like to see more, please visit Someplace In Thyme.