Guest Designer for Scrappin' Sista -- A Fashionable Gift for Christel & a Giveaway for YOU!! :)

Hello, hello, my lovely friends!! Today, I am so incredibly excited to be a Guest Designer for my dear friend, Christel of Scrappin' Sista!! You see, her BIRTHDAY is coming up and she's CELEBRATING all month long with a HOST of Guest Designers!! When Christel asked me to help her celebrate... Well, let me just say that it was a party I was NOT going to miss!! :)

Now, for those of you hopping over here from Christel's blog (THANK YOU SO MUCH!!), let me start by sharing a little bit about me... My name is Amy, and I am "The-Mom" to two very wonderful kiddos whom I lovingly refer to as "The-Boy-Child" and The-Girl-Child"... Both of my fantastic children are in college now, so I do spend a fair amount of time traveling to their various sporting activities. Since The-Girl-Child just joined The-Boy-Child at college this year, it's been quite an adjustment for me and the "furry" part of our family -- The-Toby-Dog, The-Snickers-Cat, The-Peaches-Cat, and The-Turtle-Cat (aka the glitter-loving-cat)... While I miss my fun-loving, super-smart kiddos every day, it's certainly true that "absence makes the heart grow fonder" as I've learned to enjoy the moments we do have together even more... I'm awfully lucky that The-Boy-Child has a radio show each Friday afternoon that I get to listen to through the computer, and that The-Girl-Child calls often enough that I don't forget the sound of her voice!! :)

I've been crafting one thing or another since I was a small child -- My earliest crafting memory is of painting ceramic figures, though I also vividly remember my mom and I tediously cutting out paper dolls that would keep me occupied for HOURS, DAYS, even WEEKS... As I grew into the age of Barbie... Well, I created entire villages for them (probably influenced by my love of the Little House on the Prairie books since Skipper owned a General Store just like the one the Olsen's had)... My love of creating things with paper was quite evident even then, as I made little notebooks, picture albums, and envelopes complete with lick-n-stick stamps!! From cross-stitching to crocheting to tole painting (I was once the youngest person to ever attend a tole painting convention!! Yee-haw!!)... From card-making to scrapbooking to, well, anything else artsy, crafty, or involving hot glue... I love dabbling in all of it!! Of course, I "blame" this on my ultra-talented parents, as there is nothing that I can do that they can't do better!! :)

Okay, let's get on to the project I made for Christel!! I actually had another item in the works for her, but it just didn't work out (sometimes, when I try something new, it takes a few more tries -- So maybe you'll see a version of my original project in a few weeks -- wink, wink)... :) But I know that Christel really likes the vibrant colors of red, purple, and turquoise AND she's very fashionable and chic (I have my own version of fashion, but we'll save that for another day!! LOL)... So I decided to make her one my explosion purses in a few of her favorite colors...

I just love making these purses as they are super quick and simple to make, you can personalize to match the style of the recipient, and they are always well received!!

I was super excited with how the handle on this one turned out, as I used the Crinkle Ribbon from 3 Girl JAM to give it an extra-fun look (I'm giving away two sets of 3 Girl JAM's small ribbon bundles by the way -- to enter the drawing, be sure to CLICK HERE!!)...  I also used the Crinkle Ribbon to tie on the tag and across the front of the purse flap.

My "happy birthday" tag was created by using a clear sticker (with the sentiment in black) adhered to the purple tag...  I added the red by coloring in the letters with a RED sharpie marker -- this is a quick and easy way to get the color you need on a basic sticker!! :)

The purse "flap" is created by adding a piece of 4"x7" piece of red cardstock (embossed with my Cuttlebug "houndstooth" embossing folder) to the 12x12 base that makes the purse.  I like to score this strip at 4" and 4.25" to create the top edge of the flap -- it seems to keep the purse closed more nicely.

Some "bling" gems from Creative Charms and a sentiment stamps from the "Fashionable Friends" Stamp Art Set by K Andrew Designs finish off the front of this purse...

I added a velcro closure to keep the purse closed...

And when the purse is opened, you have LOTS of room to add anything your heart desires!!  Fill it with pictures of your favorite fashionable friends, inspirational quotes, memorabilia...  Hey!!  You can even stick a gift card in here for an extra-special gift for an extra-special friend!! :)

If you would like to make one of these for a friend (or yourself), here are the base instructions:

I'd like to take a moment to thank Christel for allowing me to help CELEBRATE her birth-month -- Christel, it's such an incredible honor and privilege to know you...  Your kind heart and generous spirit have offered me plenty of sunshine!!

If you have never visited Christel's blog or are not yet a follower, I invite you to visit her today and become a follower!!  Her beautiful posts are sure to be a bright spot in your day...  Please be sure to wish Christel a Happy Birthday by visiting her blog -- If you wish her a Happy Birthday on my Guest Designer post over there (click HERE to go there), then you'll be entered to win one of my 6x6 paper packs as my thank you to YOU for helping me CELEBRATE Christel!! :)

Thank you so much for stopping by today...  Until next time,