Happy Thursday!  Since we are lucky enough to have a 5th Thursday this month I get to take the reigns on the blog and give you a “blogger’s choice” post with a hybrid angle. The first thing I want to spotlight is our fabulous ScrapMatters monthly newsletter.  If you are not currently subscribed make sure you click on the link in the left hand column of the blog to get added to the mailing list.  There were some “technical difficulties” with sign-ups a few weeks back but the link was recently added to the blog to make finding it easy.  Don’t forget to tell your friends, too!  It is an amazing resource!!  Each month you will find highlights of kits that are new to the shop, interviews with featured designers and community members, announcements of upcoming challenges and events, tips & tricks, a hybrid tutorial, featured layouts, quotes, and more.  To top it all off there is also a *FREE* kit designed especially for the newsletter each month!!  You don’t want to miss out on these amazing designs.  We are lucky to have such amazingly talented designers here at ScrapMatters!  Check out what Designs by Tater and Digi Keepsakes by Monica shared with us this month … isn’t it great?!?!

Now for the hybrid part …. I love to create something unique out of somthing that might be seen as ordinary.  I often look at things and “see” them as something other than intended.  I’m sure many of you reading have a tendency to do the same thing   Don’t be afraid to go outside the box!!  It is so fun to give a gift and hear “I never would have thought of that!!”  Here are a few examples of things I’ve come up with recently (some were previously posted in my gallery):

This is a drink holder from Sonic Drive-In all dressed up as a caramel apple kit … perfect for delivering to neighbors in the fall!  I also made a different one for my daughter’s teacher on the first day of school with her favorite drink (Diet Coke) and snack (Peanut M&M’s).  Credits: Fall Splendor Kit & Pumpkin add-on from Haynay Designs

Here I took a container of Jiffy Pop created to deliver for Secret Santa gifts over the holidays.  I’ve also done these and attached a gift card to a video store.  Credits:  A Cherry on Top Kit from Erica Zane

I took an inexpensive photo brag book and rather than putting pictures in it I created a recipe book to include in the goodie bags at my daughter’s birthday party (it had a baking theme).  I included some of the guest’s favorite recipes along with blank cards so they could add to their recipe collection!  Credits:  You Say it’s Your Birthday from ScrapMatters Design Team, Brag Book page for cover by Sya’s Blueprints (with a few “extras” from me)

Last but not least I’ve got a fun idea for Valentine’s Day!  I took water bottles (I used the 16.9 oz. bottles from Costco – Kirkland Signature), created a label for them, and tied on a “punch” packet!  My kids *LOVE* to mix these up so I thought it would be something fun and different than the usual sucker or piece of candy.  I used the “Owl Luv U” kit from the newsletter this month and wrote “Owl be ‘pleased as punch’ if you’ll be my valentine”

Wanna make some of these water bottles for yourself?  You got it!!  Tater and Monica graciously allowed me to share my label with all of you   Just click on the image below to download!

Thanks for stopping by … I hope you have a thrilling Thursday!!