Time Flies

Okay, so I looked through all of my cartridges, and believe it or not, I could not find a clock of any sort!  I did, however, find a few phrases with the word "time", so I decided on this one from Birthday Bash, since I am still making the stash of Birthday Cards for my mother-in-law to use throughout the year.  The cake is also from Birthday Bash, I used WRMemory Keepers Baker's Twine and Stickles for the candles.  Anyway, this card is being entered into the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge of "Time Flies".  Hopefully, it will still be accepted in the challenge even though there isn't a clock.  And a side note, time really does fly!  I can't believe that it has been 9 months since my baby was born and 8 months since my husband was diagnosed with cancer.  It seems like our life is in slow motion at times, but then again, it seems like it is flying by.  My husband started another chemo cycle today, we only have three left of this particular type, and it seems like we just started the first cycle, so yeah, time can fly by, even when you're not having fun:)

Another Year Wiser

My Craft Spot issued the challenge of "Wish Big!" (Anything Birthday).  I used this challenge to create a more mature, masculine birthday card.  This owl was cut from Create-A-Critter and the phrase was cut from Birthday Bash.  I inked around the edges with a creamy brown chalk ink from ColorBox and used hemp cord to add a little something other than ribbon.  I really like how it turned out, hopefully so will the recipient :)

Love Love Love

 

 Cut It Up's challenge of "Love Is In the Air" and Whimsical Designs challenge of "All About Love" is perfect for getting our minds focused on Valentine's Day. It will be here before we know it! This card was created using George for the heart shape and the embossing folder Doodle Hearts from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby). I used Spellbinder's Classic Scallop for the borders on each side of the card. Spellbinder's Edgeabilities comes with three possible borders and I used two of the three styles.  The mat on the inside of the card was also embossed with Doodle Hearts.  I liked out it turned out, just don't know who it will be given to yet :)

It's Your Birthday!

Little Scrap Pieces issued a challenge to stock up on our Birthday cards, we can never have enough on hand, right?  Well, I have a nephew that turned 5 last week and my family is getting together in a couple of days for cake and ice cream to celebrate.  I didn't have a card ready for a little boy, so I created this using the Cricut Lite Playtime cart that came with my Expression.  The balloon is cut from Birthday Bash.  I embossed the mat with Swiss Dots.  This was a fun little card to make, I just hope it doesn't get ripped to shreds once my nephew opens it, he can be a bit destructive :)

Red, White, and Black Challenge

Okay, so I think this is one of my favorite cards I've ever done :)  CardzTV Stamps issued the challenge to use only red, white, and black, so as I was going through my paper, I came across a paper pack that had a solid red sheet with a cute little skunk in the corner...it totally inspired me and this is what I came up with.  Create-A-Critter, is one of the funnest carts and this skunk is "so stinkin'" cute.  The balloon is from the same cartridge.  I used twine for the balloon string and the scallop is cut from Spellbinders Edgeablities Classic Scallop.  Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

1, 2, 3...

I have been having so much fun making cards again and participating in these challenges!  Here is yet another card for yet another challenge over at Creative Time For Me.  It's as easy as 1 bow, 2 patterned papers, and 3 buttons.  This was my first time using baker's twine, and I am really loving it.  The image is cut from the Songbird cart and I distressed the sentiment with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink.  I am using so many new techniques and embellishments that it's opening up a new world for me with card making...thank you everyone for the inspiration you have given me!

Just Jammin'

Here is a fun card I created for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge (Sound of Music) and the Bitten By the Bug 2 challenge (Fontastic).  This MP3 player is found on the Paisley cart along with the font/phrase.  I used the Spellbinders Edgeabilities Classic Ric Rac for the border along the side.  I really like how it turned out, I just have to decide who/what I am going to give it to/for.

Have Your Cake...

I combined two challenges for this card, Pause Dream Enjoy issued the challenge themed "Desserts" and Paper Playtime issued the challenge themed "Brown".  Chocolate Cake, anyone?  Yes, please!  This slice of cake was cut from Sweet Treats, with Divine Swirls embossed into it.  The lettering on the inside was cut from Lyrical Letters.  I love brown and pink together, so this card was definitely my style!  Hope you enjoy, even if you can't really eat it!

Colors and Flowers

This is my creation for the gofishchallenges.blogspot.com challenge using the pastel colors of blue, yellow, green, and pink and the littlescrappieces.blogspot.com challenge to use a flower.  Again, I used this challenge to come up with another Thank You card I need to send out to family.  The flowers/vase is cut from Kate's ABC's.  I used the Swiss Dots embossing folder for the mat. The craft/pink polka dot paper border was made using the Spellbinder's Edgeabilities dies Classic Scallop and Classic Ric Rac.  I am kind of obsessing over the Edgeabilities right now.  Joann's had them 50% off last week and I have always gone back and forth with buying border punches, but could never commit to them.  These dies are perfect for me!  They take up little storage and you can mix and match them so you have more than just one possible border...genius!  I also chalked around the vase with some ColorBox Cat's Eye Chalk Ink, the Chocolates & Blueberries stack.  Kind of obsessing over the chalk ink too, Michael's had them on 50% off this last week and I bought two stacks.  Super excited to start using all of my fun and new crafting tools this year!

 

Cardz TV Stamps DT Challenge "Baby New Year"

One of my best friends had a baby at the end of December, her 5th boy!  I am so excited for her and her family! For the Cardz TV Stamps DT Challenge we needed to make a baby themed card, so I made this to send to her.  The baby was cut from the Best Images of 2006 Cricut Cartridge that I have, but it's regular cartridge is New Arrival.  I have been searching for a stamp set that has sweet baby sayings, and may just have to give in and buy Cardz TV's.  The stamps I used were from a Studio G $1 set, and the embossing folder is Swiss Dots.  Thanks for checking in!

 

"A Banner Year" Cricut Cardz Challenge

Here is the card I made for the CardzTV Challenge "A Banner Year".  I used the Country Life cartridge for the banner and letters and Accent Essentials for the little swirly images.  I threaded the banner and attached it with two brads in the corners.  This was a different style card than I normally do, but I thought it turned out pretty well.  I have so many people I need to thank in my life that have been willing to help me and my family out at this time, it's the perfect opportunity to use these challenges to create thank you cards.  Hope you enjoy!

Paper Playtime Challenge #1 - Pets

So I don't know if a butterfly necessarily qualifies as a pet, but I love this butterfly!  I think it is the prettiest image!  It is found on the Once Upon a Princess cartridge.  I got this cartridge for Christmas, and I love it!  Especially since I have a baby girl now :)  I printed the "Butterfly Kisses and..." from my computer and tried to find a font that matched my stamp "Birthday Wishes".  I really love how it turned out.  I have also enjoyed decorating the inside of my cards too.  I never really thought of doing that, but was inspired by Mary over at CardzTV (I love her videos).  Anyway, Paper Playtime's first challenge of the year was to create a pet themed card, so this is what I came up with.

 

You Rock! Masculine Card

I am back at it...making cards!  It has been quite the year since I posted last March!  I had a baby in May and then my husband was diagnosed with Cancer (Lymphoblastic Lymphoma) in June.  So needless to say it has been a busy time in our lives and I have only recently been able to get back in my craft room.  My husband is doing okay, he is through the worst portions of his chemo.  It's a 2 year treatment plan and we are almost to the maintenance phase where he will be able to return to work.  The baby is perfect, she is such a blessing and I truly don't think I would have been able to get through this crazy trial without her sweet spirit, she is without a doubt a true miracle.  I have many goals this year, but they all center around being "better".  And one of them is to be a better, more consistent crafter.  I have found that crafting is my escape and I have needed to escape many times during the last 6 months.  I want to get back into challenges and making cards for others.  So here is my first card for my first challenge this year.  It's for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and we needed to make a masculine themed card.  I have a nephew with a Birthday this month and thought this would fit the bill.  Hope you enjoy!