BBTB2 - Happy Camper!

Welcome to another challenge over at BBTB2!!!

Do you love camping?

Well, I do!

My family and I enjoy camping, 4 wheeling, camp fires, and

I especially LOVE fishing!

My 5 year old son is getting "hooked" too :)

Anyway, I was lucky enough to choose the theme for this week's challenge

and because summer is winding down and only a few more weeks (HOORAY!!!)

'til school starts, I thought it would be fun to make projects centered on

Happy Campers or Campin' Critters

basically ANYTHING to do with Camping!

So here is the card I came up with...

I used Echo Park Paper Happy Camper and

CardzTV Stamps for both sentiments.

The fun fishing deer comes from Campin' Critters (LOVE)

and the mat is from Elegant Edges.

The twine is from American Crafts and 

the brads are from Hobby Lobby.

I have a video to show you how it all came together...

Thanks for checkin' in!!!

Getting To Know You Blog Hop

Hello All!!!

Today I am excited to share with you a different kind of Blog Hop!

It's a Getting To Know You Blog Hop!

I was tagged by my good bloggie friend and fellow crafter

Rhonda from Scrap Happens With Rhonda.

You can check out her blog HERE.

She is an amazingly talented crafter and is

THE Queen of Mini Albums!

I am blown away by all of her awesome projects she comes up with

week after week.

And her craft space is AMAZING!!!

I am also honored to design along side her over at Decorate To Celebrate!

So here's a little bit about me...

1. What Am I Currently Working On

Right now I am currently working on a project
for my son and the fact that he is starting
Kindergarten in just a few weeks
.... I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Oh, yes! I CANNOT wait and unfortunately
I am not going to be one of the Moms
that is crying that first day of school -
but, then again maybe I will -
tears of JOY!!!

Anyway, I know that Box Tops are a big thing
to collect for schools,
so I want to make a fun container
to put these in as we start cutting them out.

I haven't even started my project, other than cleaning out the
large Taco Seasoning container
from Costco that we recently ran out of and
as I was about to throw it away I thought,
"No, I can make something from this!"
I am planning on having this project done
Wednesday so be sure to check back on the 6th :)

2. How does my work differ from others of it's genre?

Oh boy! This is a toughie!
But honestly, I sometimes feel that I am the last living crafter
without a Silhouette or Explore or ANY way to cut SVG files,
and I honestly don't have any intention of going that route anytime soon.
I don't even use Cricut Design Space or the computer at all when crafting.
So I guess, because I am a avid Cricut Expression/Cartridges user that sets me apart.
I also LOVE mixing and matching papers together
and finding cuts that match the papers.

Here is an example of a card I just posted on Friday...

3. Why do you create what you do?

I would say that cards make up 90% of what I create.

At first I really wanted to try and make money from my cards,

but honestly haven't really figured out a way to do that.

I don't really think that people would by them :)

Since I don't sell them, I often ask myself "WHY am I doing this?!?!"

I just have this HUGE collection of cards now.

Yes, I do give them to friends and family and my MIL buys

Birthday Cards from me (just to be nice, I think),

but the majority of them I just keep.

So WHY?

Well, honestly, crafting is an escape for me and I ENJOY making cards!

It's basically my hobby and I need to remember

that I don't necessarily need a reason to keep doing it!

It is just an expression of who I am and it's what I like to do :)

Here is one of the first cards I made

and I did make it for my BIL...

4.  How does your creating process work?

When I approach a card, I always start with the theme of the card.

Then I will either pick the paper or the image I am going to use.

Then I figure out the sketch of the card.

I LOVE looking through the sketches over at

Mojo Monday for inspiration!

From there it usually comes together fairly quickly.

Some cards are so easy that they take 10 minutes,

others take me a lot longer because I over think it,

or just can't figure out what I am doing or where I am going with it :)

But on average I would say that I can create a card from start to finish

within an hour.

Here is one of my most favorite cards

and wouldn't you know it, I still have it :)

So there you have it!

A little bit about me!

A couple other random bits of info...

I LOVE paper!!!

And some MUST HAVES for me in crafting are

Sentiment Stamps

Twine

Embossing Folders

Foam Tape

and

Chalk Ink

I also have a You Tube channel where I show

how some of my cards come together!

Now, I have asked 3 other of my crafty blog friends to

play along with this hop and I hope that they will participate

so you can get to know them and see their amazing talent!

Arin - A Piece of Life's Pie

Laura - Crafty Chicks Creating

Georgiana - Carson's Creations

I have served on DT's with these ladies and I LOVE them all!

So check out their blogs and follow them for an overload of

inspiration!!!

Thanks so much for checkin' in!!!

CardzTV - Queen For A Day

SNIFF SNIFF!!!

I am so sad that my time as a CardzTV designer has come to an end!!!

It was such an honor to be working with Mary

and all the other amazing DT members!

The last challenge that we were given was

to create a Feminine Birthday Card using

3 Pattern Papers

So here is what I came up with:

I followed a recent sketch from Mojo Monday

and really loved how feminine this card turned out.

My papers all come from My Mind's Eye

Lost & Found Market Street 6x6 paper pad.

The crown image is from the Home Decor Solutions cartridge.

I cut the base image out at 1 1/2.

I also cut the blackout and shadow and layered them all together.

The crown is popped up on some foam tape

to stand out from the b/g paper.

My scallop circle is from Mini Monograms and I cut it at 4".

The circle was cut from George at 3" and the

scallop border was cut from Elegant Edges at 1"

I cut the banners freehand.

My ribbon is from Michael's as well as the flowers and flat back pearls.

The sentiment "Queen for a day!" is from 

CardzTV's "This N That" stamp set

and the inside sentiment is from "Happy Days"

I just used some scraps left over from the front to create the bottom border.

The scallop is from Elegant Edges, cut at 3/4".

I hope that you will join us for this challenge

and I will sure miss seeing everyone's projects :(

I am going to be linking this up over at

Die Cuttin' Divas - Anything Goes challenge too.

Thanks for checkin' in!!!

BBTB2 - BEE-utiful Summer

Happy Monday!!!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Today over at BBTB2 we are starting

a new challenge all about BEES!!!

There are so many cute bee images on

so many fun cartridges,

it was tough to decide which one to use!

I haven't used the bee on the

"Just Because" Cards cartridge,

so that's what I chose!

My paper comes from Prima Marketing "Doodle Deux"

that I picked up from Hobby Lobby.

I used vellum for the wings of the bee and popped

the image up on foam tape.

I cut the scallop circle from Mini Monograms

and the circle from George.

The enamel dots are from Recollection's (Michael's)

and the sentiment comes from Craftin' Desert Divas

newest stamp set Lil Bit Buggie.

I even have a video to show how it all came together!

I am also entering this into Little Scrap Pieces.

Thanks for checkin' in!!!

Craftin' Desert Divas July Release Blog Hop!!!

Welcome to our fifth Craftin Desert Diva's stamp release blog hop!!!
Today is Day 2 of the Hop!
Hopefully you were all able to hop along yesterday
to see the FABULOUS projects everyone created!!!

I'm super excited to share with you in full the CDD July release stamps.

There are five new stamps that are being released

in the Craftin Desert Divas Shop and are available now for purchase!!!

So without further ado here are the latest stamp sets:

Gotta Wear Shades - you can purchase them HERE

Lil Bit Buggie - You can purchase them HERE

School Zone - You can purchase them HERE

 

All Star Sports - You can purchase them HERE

Blooming For You - You can purchase them HERE

HOW AMAZING ARE THESE SETS?!?!

We have a few specials for this Hop as well!!!

Every purchase receives a FREE

Too Cute by Jessica SVG pattern

made especially for this release.

With a minimum 2 stamp purchase

you will receive a FREE mini stamp.

Use code: JULY to save 20% off your ENTIRE purchase.

The mini stamp & sale will end Aug. 1, 2014.

Here is the free pattern with purchase: 

Here is the free mini stamp with any 2 stamp purchase:

 

Tara is giving away one stamp set each day

& Too Cute by Jessica is giving away

$25 gift card to her store (regular priced items).

And now for my project....

I LOVE this stamp from Tara's new stamp set

Lil Bit Buggie!

And naturally I pulled out the Walk In My Garden

cartridge for this sentiment.

I cut the flower at 2" with a shadow

and the bee at 2 1/2" with a shadow.

I used some yellow glitter paper for the wings and

added a Glitter Dot from Recollections to the flower.

I popped both of them up on some foam tape.

The hexagon comes from Accent Essentials.

My papers were mostly from my scrap stash,

except for the b/g paper.

It came from Ki's "Growing Garden"

6x6 pack I found at Wal-Mart.

Super cute paper pad!!!

The white ribbon comes from American Crafts.

I trimmed the corners off of the sentiment mat and

used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink for the stamp.

Now...

Next up on the Line Up is the amazing Melissa!!!

Winners will be picked from a different blog each day,

so the more you comment the more chances you have to win!!!

And be sure to check out the

Craftin Desert Diva's Shop

and the

CDD Gallery

where we'd love for you to share

your projects using the CDD stamps.

Blogs on the hop today:

Tara - www.craftindesertdivas.com

Kathy - https://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com

Ilda - http://www.ilovedoingallthingscrafty.com/

Mayra-http://mayrasdesigns.blogspot.com/

Migdalia - http://craftingwithcreativem.blogspot.com

Emily - http://molliemugsblog.blogspot.com

Melissa - http://iliketocreate.blogspot.com/

Jenny - http://crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/

Lori -http://got2bcrafting.blogspot.com

Jessi- http://www.mylifeinartsncrafts.co 

Jessica - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Too-Cute-by-Jessica

Have fun hopping!!!

Thanks for checkin' in!!!

Cut It Up - Shape Cards FEATURING An Animal :)

Hey All!!!

Happy Friday!!!

I hope you are ready for another challenge today!

Our amazing Sarah has chosen a super fun theme too!

Here is all the info:

Cut It Up Challenges

Challenge #50

Shaped Cards with a Twist -

Must Include an Animal!

Sponsor:

Kadoodle Bug Designs

$10 Gift Certificate

My Project:

Holy Moly, I first have to tell you that I am SUPER lucky

to have had my 5 year old pick out the image for my card today!

I knew the challenge was a shaped card,

but I totally missed the part about it

needing to feature an ANIMAL!

I seriously don't know how I missed that :)

Anyway, I knew I wanted to make a little boy Birthday card.

I also knew that I had some AMAZING paper

I wanted to used from My Mind's Eye called

Boy Crazy - a 6x6 pad.

Naturally, with this paper I wanted to put to use

my Robotz Cricut Cartridge because

they really were made for each other :)

So I had my son come in and pick his favorite image

from the cart and I really wanted him to choose a robot,

but he was set on using this Dog-Bot.

I am SO GLAD that he did,

because I would have totally had to re-do my card - LOL!!!

And a Dog is a Dog even if in Robot form right :)

Here is the inside:

I also used Art Philosophy for the shaped card and

arrow on the front.

I used CardzTV stamps for both my sentiments

"Going In Circles" & "This N That"

I also used some Enamel Dots from Recollections

on the front of the card.

Seriously LOVE these embellishments.

This was a super easy card to put together,

and I have a video to show you how I made it...

I hope that you will join us for this super fun challenge!

And don't be like me a completely miss using an Animal :)

I am also going to enter this in over at

Pause Dream Enjoy - Use 3 Different Pattern Papers,

My Craft Spot - Just For Little Boys

and Little Scrap Pieces - Show It Off Saturday

Thanks for checkin' in!!!

Decorate To Celebrate - Pool Party!

Happy Wednesday!

How hot has it been where you are?

I swear where I am, everyday constitutes a

POOL PARTY!!!

And that is just what Decorate To Celebrate has in store

for this next challenge!

We want to see how you decorate for

these fun events!

My family has Pool Parties every Saturday during the summer,

so I decided to make a sign for my parents to put on

their back door...

I found this awesome phrase on the Pack Your Bags cartridge!

I cut it out of some heavy duty cardstock 4 times and glued them

all together to make a thicker faux chipboard.

Then I cut it and the layer function out of some fun pattern paper.

I added some flowers from Recollections, instead of the image's flower,

and cut the coconut image from the cartridge

to add more detail to the phrase.

The raffia is just glued on the back and

I tied a bow at the top for an easy hanger!

I think this turned out so cute and can't wait to show it to my folks!

I hope that you will join us for this challenge,

and remember you can always show off Birthday Party Decor too!

Just, please, no cards or layouts!

Thanks for checkin' in!!!