I am attempting to maintain a blog filled with random bits from my life and family as well as my adventures in crafting.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Captured...

Cricut, Create A Critter

 
I am such a slacker and just got around to making my nephew's birthday card.  His birthday was the beginning of Oct...ooops!  And he turned 16....double oops!!!  So in honor of his "big" birthday, I wanted to make him a more "mature" masculine card.  He loves taking pictures and is taking a bunch of film classes, so I thought this would be a good card to give him.  So onto the card itself...I have An Inky Situation to thank for the sketch of this card, Create A Critter for the camera, Echo Park This & That Charming 6x6 paper pad for all the pattern paper, and My Creative Time's "Life Is Good" stamp set for the sentiments, inside & out.  I used the Stripes embossing folder from the Paper Studio and my brads also come from Hobby Lobby.  The camera is popped up on some foam tape.  I like the look of this card and hope my nephew will as well.  I am going to be linking this card up over at a couple "Anything Goes" challenges too; Craftin' Desert Divas and Die Cuttin' Divas.  Thanks for checking in!!!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Craftin' Desert Divas "Anything Goes" Linky Party

 
 
Up For Grabs:
Cardz TV - Set of CTV stamps
 
Designs on Cloud 9 - $20 giftcard
 
My Scrap Chick - $10 giftcard
 
My Project:
Cricut, Elegant Edges, Art Philosophy, Thank You Card


Welcome to another Linky Party over at Craftin' Desert Divas!!!  We are excited for our ANYTHING GOES theme and want to see what you come up with.  For my project, I needed to make a Thank You card for my Aunt.  I searched the archive over at Mojo Monday and found an awesome sketch to work from.  All my paper is from My Mind's Eye "Reunion" 6x6 paper pad.  I used Elegant Edges to cut out my scalloped mats (both front and inside) and Art Philosophy for the scalloped ovals for my sentiment tag.  Everything else I free handed.  My flower comes from Michael's and my ribbon is from American Crafts.  I have a video put together for you to watch so you can get all the fun details.  Please join us for our linking party over at Craftin' Desert Divas and link up ANY new project!  I will be linking this up over at Little Scrap Pieces for the Fun Friday Linky Party too!  Thanks for checking in!!!

FCCB Challenge #184 - Signs of Fall

Cricut, Stretch Your Imagination, Elegant Edges,
 
Welcome to another FABULOUS week over at FCCB!!! We are anxious to see your projects for our new challenge "Signs of Fall".  One of my favorite things about fall is watching the leaves change colors and start falling from the trees.  I love leaf piles and how beautiful they can be.  So I decided to create a card using the tree from Stretch Your Imagination - it's a perfect image of one of my favorite signs of fall.  I used Elegant Edges for the mat and popped both the tree and mat up on foam tape.  My tag is cut from Art Philosophy and my gems are from Freckled Fawn.  All my pattern paper comes from Doodlebug Designs "Happy Harvest".  My card is a portrait style and opens from the bottom.  I cut an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock longways at 4 1/4", then folded it in half - still and A2 sized card.  I hope that you are able to join us this week for our challenge.  I am also going to link this up over at Craftin' Desert Divas for the Anything Goes linky party.  Thanks for checking in!!!

Bitten By The Bug 2 - Halloween Challenge






I may or may not be burned out with Halloween, and it's not even here yet...Uh Oh!  Just kidding!!!  And as I am finding out with my little boy getting older, Halloween isn't just one day - it's basically Halloween WEEK!!!  And it's no different over at BBTB2!!!  We are celebrating all things Halloween this week and want to see all your fabulous projects that use our favorite machine - The Cricut!!!  Well, it's my favorite, anyway :)  For my project I pulled out my Stretch Your Imagination cart and cut this fun little spider (who I think is tap dancing).  I also wanted to play around a little with him because he seems like he should be free to move around on the card.  I didn't want to use an Action Wobble, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Action Wobbles, but I wanted something with more freedom.  So he's a spider, right? and spiders have webs, right? So why not dangle him from a web string?  And that's just what I did.  I attached him to some embroidery floss and let him go!  You can't get the full effect from the pics, but hopefully I have captured enough for you to get the idea.  My paper comes from an All Seasons pack and I did use some glitter paper for his top hat, "jacket", and tap shoes.  The mat that he is on was cut from Elegant Edges along with a shadow.  The stamps are from a couple of Studio G $1 sets.  I think it turned out pretty cute for ALMOST being burned out with Halloween projects for the year :)  I will also be linking this up at the Halloween party going on over at Cardz TV.  I hope that you will show off your tricks or treats with us at BBTB2 and that you have a FANTASTIC Halloween WEEK!!!

Saturday, October 26, 2013

HIMCR - Use a Critter Challenge #121

Challenge #121
Use A Critter
We want to see your projects crawling with critters!!!
 
Up For Grabs:
Cricut Lite Wildlife Cart





My Project:
Cricut, Create-A-Critter 2, Action Wobbles, Christmas Card

 
For my project, I decided to make a Christmas card using the cutest little critter from Create-A-Critter 2 - the little Christmas Mouse.  I, in NO WAY, think mice are cute, but this little guy was too cute to pass up!  I also wanted to use my new Christmas paper pad from Doodlebug Design "Home for the Holidays" - LOVE LOVE LOVE this paper!!! I bought it from Theresa the Scrapbooking Queen at her Royal Castle Shoppe on Facebook.  I also bought the Action Wobbles from her, and what makes this critter even cuter is that he is on one of these FABULOUS gadgets.  My sketch comes from Mojo Monday and I will be entering this in over there too.  AND I was just introduced to another challenge blog Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards, they have a critter challenge going on too, so this will be linked up over there as well.  I have a video to show you how this card all came together.  I hope you are able to join us this week over at HIMCR for our fun challenge and can't wait to see what you come up with!!!  Thanks for checking in!!!
 

Monday, October 21, 2013

FCCB Challenge #183 Home Decor

 
What a fun challenge we have going on over at FCCB this week - Home Decor!!!  You can never have too much decor, right? Well, I wanted to put together a door hanging for Fall and this is what I came up with.  I used some chipboard and covered it with some fun leaf paper, cut out my "FALL" from George, and used Designer's Calendar and Create-A-Critter 2 for the leaves, acorns and pumpkins.  I used my Zutter Bind-It-All to bind them together and popped my letters and images up with foam tape.  I have some closer up pics so you can hopefully see the details.  I hope you will join us this week showing your Home Decor projects using your Cricut! I LOVE being inspired by all of your creativity!!!
 


BBTB2 - Use A Pumpkin



This week over at BBTB2 we have a challenge all about Pumpkins!!!  I am going to be heading out in search of pumpkins this week with the family for our porch decorations/jack o'lanterns and am excited to find the "perfect" pumpkin!  But as far as Cricut cuts go, I think the pumpkin from Celebrate with Flourish is pretty darn close to a "perfect" pumpkin so that is the cut I used for my card this week!  I am anxious to see all the different pumpkin images that you come up with and how you use them on your cards, layouts or projects!  I have a video showing everything used to make my card, so I hope you watch it.  I hope you will be joining us this week for our challenge, too!  I will be linking this up over at Craftin' Desert Divas Halloween Linky Party, Exploring Cricut's Halloween Challenge, and CardzTV "Ghosts and Goblins" challenge.
 

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Pick of the Patch

Cricut, Simply Charmed, Peachy Keen Stamps,



Here is my first card for the Peachy Keen Stamps challenge! I don't know why I haven't entered one of their challenges until now, but better late than never, right? Anyway, they have a sketch challenge this week and I wanted to make another Fall card using the pumpkin trio from Simply Charmed. I cut them out at 2" and used the PKS Everyday Character Face Assortment. I did color in the eyes with a white gel pen for extra character.  My papers come from Doodlebug Designs "Happy Harvest" and a couple DCWV stacks - you'll never guess which ones so watch the video to find out :) I also used George for a few of the cuts.  I printed on my computer the festive sentiments.  I had fun making this card and using my PKS's. Thanks for checking in!!!

HIMCR - Color It Challenge #120

Challenge #120
Color It!
Use markers, Copics, colored pencils, chalks, crayons, whatever your choice on your projects
 
Up For Grabs:
A Set of 3 Copic Markers
(Fusions Set)
 
My Project:
Cricut, Art Philosophy, Bic Mark-It's, Happy Birthday Card
 
WARNING!!! This is only the 2nd time I have used my Bic Mark-It's so PLEASE go easy on me :)
I am trying to venture into the world of coloring, and because I am so new, there is no way that I can justify buying any Copics, but I could swallow the price of the Bic Mark-It Set from Amazon.  I also bought a colorless blender from Michael's to see if it could possibly help me and my beginner technique.  The digi image I found by doing a search for "Free Digi Images Cupcake" on Google.  I used my new cartridge Art Philosophy to cut out my square scalloped card, scalloped mat, and my sentiment circle.  My background paper is from My Mind's Eye Twinkle Twinkle Little Girl mat stack and my purple glitter mat is from ColorBok (Wal-Mart).  I used CardzTV "Happy Days" stamp set for my sentiment "Happy Birthday".  I rounded the corners of both of my glitter mat and cupcake image with The Paper Studio's small corner rounder and popped up both mats with foam tape.  I hope you are able to join us this week over at HIMCR for our Color It! Challenge, and please check out the design team's projects, they are all amazing!!!  I am going to be linking this card up over at Die Cuttin' Divas and Little Scrap Pieces as well.



Friday, October 18, 2013

Cut It Up Challenge #30 Halloween

 Cut It Up Challenge #30
Starting October 18th
Ends October 30th @ Noon EST
 
Our Awesome Sponsor
Prize
$5 Gift Certificate to Digital Delights
 
My Project:
Cricut, Create-A-Critter 2, Halloween Card
 
I seriously think I am going to be using every single Halloween cut in Create-A-Critter 2 by the time this month is over - LOVE LOVE LOVE all of them, they are so cute!!!  So my little Trick or Treat Pumpkin bag is from that cartridge, I cut it out at 4" and ran the orange piece through the Cuttlebug using a Chevron Embossing Folder from The Paper Studio.  My patterned paper is from The Paper Studio All Seasons II, Recollections All Seasons, and The Scrapbooking Company; my candy corn stickers are from a puffy sticker set I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby a year or so ago and can't remember who made them.  I used my Zig Zag Scissors from The Paper Studio to cut along the one side of my paper and popped up the bag on some foam tape. I'm really loving the "fun" this card conveys about trick or treating!  Hope you will be linking up with us over at Cut It Up for this Halloween/Day of the Dead challenge.  I am also going to be entering this card in the CardzTV "Ghost and Goblins" challenge, the Halloween linky party going on over at Craftin' Desert Divas, and Little Scrap Pieces.  Thanks for checking in!!!
 
  

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Pumpkin Treat Box

Cricut, Wrap It Up, Halloween Treat Box
 
Here is a fun little treat box I made using the Wrap It Up Cartridge.  I cut this box out of some black cardstock at 8".  The pumpkin doesn't have the stem under the box feature, so I cut it out of some green cardstock at 2 1/4" under the shift-layer feature to make it work.  I decorated the box with some fun pattern paper from a $1 Scrapbooking Halloween pack.  I had some fun ribbon in my stash, don't know where it's from, and I added some black buttons.  Super easy!  I am going to be entering this project into a few challenges: My Craft Spot "3D Halloween", Paper Playtime "Ribbons and Buttons", CardzTV "Pumpkin Patch", and Decorate To Celebrate "Halloween Party".  Thanks for checking in!!!


Monday, October 14, 2013

BBTB2 - Awareness Month

Cricut, Pink Journey, Lyrical Letters, Breast Cancer Awareness

Hello all you BBTB2 fans! This week we have a FANTASTIC challenge going on!!! As you may well know, it is Awareness Month and we want to see your projects that honor the importance of being aware of the different illnesses and dieseases out there - especially Breast Cancer!  It is so critical that, as women, we get the screenings done that are so important to help detect Breast Cancer as early as possible.  I had my first mammogram done this year, and IT'S NOT THAT BAD!!!  Really!  Piece of CAKE!!!  And after watching my husband go what he went through this last year, I'm getting one done as often as possible to detect any sign of abnormality as soon as it may appear! I strongly encourage you to as well!!!

For my project, my mom asked me to make another "something" for her friend who just learned that she has Breast Cancer and is going to start chemo in the next week or so.  I told her of the phrase "fight like a girl" and she LOVED it, so I made this wood plaque for her to give to her friend so she can hang it on the wall, or just display it however she wants.  The plaque comes from Wal-Mart and I just painted it with a rose colored acrylic paint.  I Mod Podged some patterned paper from My Mind's Eye on top and used Pink Journey for the ribbon and phrase "Fight".  I used Lyrical Letters  for "like a girl".  My flowers are from Recollections and I just used glue dots to hold those down.  My mom loves how it turned out and we are both praying that her friend does put up a fight through her treatments.

I hope that you will join us over at BBTB2 this week, I would love to see what you come up with and what awareness/cause is near and dear to you!

"Boo"quet

 
 
Simply Charmed, Create-A-Critter 2, Halloween Home Decor
 
I had another awesome opportunity to make a fun Halloween decoration.  This time it is because of the AMAZING linking party going on over at Craftin' Desert Divas!!!  I decided that my front entry needed a little something more Halloweenish so I took my vase that normally holds silk flowers and turned it into a "Boo"quet!  I used Simply Charmed to cut out the ghosts at 9 1/2", 8 1/2 " (on flip), and 7 1/2".  I used Create-A-Critter 2 for the bats - 2 cut @ 4 1/4", one at 4", and one at 3 3/4".  The "Boo" is also from Create-A-Critter 2 and I cut that out at 4 1/2".  I painted dowels from Home Depot with black acrylic paint and I just had some purple and white tule in my stash that I was able to use for the bow.  I think it turned out super cute - super simple - yet super cute!!!  So come on by and link up your Halloween projects over at Craftin' Desert Divas - would love to see what you come up with!!!

FCCB Challenge #182 - Black and Purple

Cricut, Create-A-Critter 2, Action Wobble, Halloween Card
Are you ready for Halloween? Well over at FCCB this week we are hoping to help you by inspiring you to create a project featuring the colors Black and Purple!  I have created this fun and simple card by using the adorable spider from Create-A-Critter 2 and putting him on an Action Wobble.  I ran the witch's hat through Swiss Dots and cut a shadow for some extra dimension.  My sentiment is from a $1 stamp set from Studio G and I popped it up on some foam tape.  I did cut around the sentiment with my Paper Studio "Victorian" scissors, and both my spider web paper and dotted ribbon are also from Paper Studio.  Super easy to put together!  I am also going to link this up over at An Inky Situation "Dress Up" challenge.  Please join us this week over at FCCB and show off your fun projects using Black and Purple!

Saturday, October 12, 2013

HIMCR Super Scraps Saturday - You're A Doll

Cricut, Paisley, Action Wobble, Freckled Fawn, Happy Birthday Card

I am LOVING Super Scraps Saturdays over at HIMCR!!! It really forces me to use my scrap stash and I realize that I still have some awesome choices of paper as I look through them!  I would venture to guess that we all have awesome paper in our stashes that we can pull from to create cards or layouts, so I hope that you will join us this week for our challenge!  We also have a fabulous sponsor for the week - Freckled Fawn.  They were so nice as to send the DT some of their unique and fun embellishments to use on our projects, and I really liked incorporating them on my card.  My card is made using the Paisley cartridge, Elegant Edges, and Mini Monograms.  I also put my doll on an Action Wobble - so so so FUN!!!  I have a video that shows how the card all came together, so I hope that you will watch!  And please stop by HIMCR and link up your projects using your SUPER SCRAPS!!!

Monday, October 7, 2013

FCCB Challenge #181 "Have Your Cake"

Cricut, Sweet Treats, Birthday Card

 
It's another week for a FABULOUS challenge over at FCCB!  "Have Your Cake!"  Yes, eat all you want so that you have plenty of inspiration and energy to create a card, layout, or project featuring a cake or cupcake.  Naturally, I think of a Birthday card when it comes to cakes and cupcakes and that's just what I made for this challenge - a fun girly birthday cake for a fun girly pre-teen.  I did have my niece in mind when I first started this card, but it turned out WAY too girly and she is such a tom-boy that this wouldn't have worked for her.  (I've got to come up with something soon though, her birthday is next month!)  Anyway, I used Sweet Treats (LOVE) for my cake and my paper comes from DCWV Birthday 6x6 paper pack.  I also used a sketch from the MojoMonday archives.  I have put together a video for you to see how this card came about, hope you'll check it out!  And I hope you will join us over at FCCB for this FUN challenge!!!  I am also going to be entering this over at Exploring Cricut for the Birthday Celebration Blog Hop they have going on, and even though I didn't add a button, brad, or jewel, I did add Stickles to the flame of my candle...so it kinda works for the challenge :)

BBTB2 - "Fall Leaves Are Falling"

 
Cricut, Designer's Calendar, Elegant Edges, Thanksgiving Card

 
Can you guess how I'm feeling? Excited, yes, excited again because I am posting my first DT project for Bitten By The Bug 2!!!  I am now designing for another one of my favorite challenge blogs, and I couldn't be more thrilled!!!  So the challenge this week is "Fall Leaves Are Falling", and they certainly are where I'm at - how about you?  I LOVE fall and I had fun making this Thanksgiving card that captured the essence of the season.  I used Designer's Calendar for THE perfect maple leaf, and I used Elegant Edges for the mat on the front.  I did emboss the mat with The Paper Studio's "Leaves" embossing folder and my patterned paper comes from Doodlebug Designs "Happy Harvest" 6x6 paper pack (LOVE).  I have a video to show you how the card came together, so I hope you'll watch!  And I hope you link up with us over at BBTB2 this week!
 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Trick or Treat

Cricut, Simply Charmed, Lyrical Letters, Halloween Decor
 
I am excited to have some Halloween Decor (finally) and I have Decorate to Celebrate to thank!!!  The challenge they have going on is to create a decoration or favor for a Halloween Party.  I host a family party at my house each year and I get to show off this cute Trick or Treat sign I made!  The base is chip board and I attached them together by using a hole punch and tying ribbon through them.  I used Simply Charmed for all my images, Lyrical Letters "Jack Sprat" font for my letters, and my paper and ribbon is from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).  I will also be linking up over at Little Scrap Pieces for the Fun Linky Friday.
 
Here are some close up looks at my sign: 




Monster Bash

I am so excited to post my first Design Team project for Hiding In My Craft Room!


The Challenge for this week is to use Halloween Colors - you don't have to make a Halloween project, just use the fun colors associated with Halloween.  There is an awesome Halloween Bundle up for grabs too!  So be sure to get your cards or layouts linked up over at HIMCR!

For my project, I made the invitations to my family's Halloween Party that is at my house every year.  It's just a front and back (not a card, but still A2 size).  I used Create-A-Critter 2 for the little monsters and bats.  The phrase is also from that cartridge.  I used paper from The Paper Studio's All Seasons II pack and cut around the edges with a pair of zig-zag scissors, also from The Paper Studio.  The black and white circle ribbon was just from my stash, not sure where/who it's from.  I printed the actual invitation off my printer and used the "chiller" font.  I really LOVE these little monsters and hope my nephews and nieces get a kick out of them too!  I will also be linking this up over at An Inky Situation for the color challenge going on over there.  Thanks for checking in!!!

Cricut, Create-A-Critter 2