Win the Art Philosophy Cartridge!

You an win this awesome cartridge!  I know I'm crossing my fingers!  Click here to enter!

Grandparents' Birthday Cards

I made these simple cards for my grandparents, both of whom have birthdays in October.

I used the Give a Hoot Cricut cartridge for the adorable deer!  I used yellow stickles on the center of the flower.  I also used Storybook for the scalloped oval.  The stamp is from the Inkadinkado Chelsea Sentiments.  I used DCWV white glitter paper and a butterfly punch to decorate the oval.  

For my grandfather's card I used the Zooballoo Cricut cartridge for the tree.  I wanted it to look like fall, so I decorated the leaves with orange and yellow stickles.  The sentiment is from an Imaginisce Birthday set.

Back to Crafting!

I haven't posted in FOREVER!  Hubby and I were traveling during the entire month of August!  (His softball tournament near DC, our vacations in Atlantic City and Philadelphia, staying with my family in Virginia, and my sister's wedding in Cape Hatteras, NC.)  We came back the day before I had to go back to work (I'm a teacher)!  With the beginning of the school year things have been crazy!

I did finally open the Cricut Expression I bought back in July!  I'm so excited about it still!  I've used my "baby bug" since 2007.  I made 2 cards for my grandparents' birthdays next month last weekend.  I'll post them later.  And I have a scrapbook page in mind to create, I just haven't found the time to create it.  Maybe next weekend.

Disney Pixar Blog Hop Day 2!

There's an awesome blog hop going on with great prizes and Disney themed projects!  Today is day 2, but you can go back and comment on the projects from day 1 also!  Start here.

Disney Dreamer Designs is your second stop.  Melissa is giving away the Disney Classics Cricut cartridge today!  Go here to enter to win!  I know I'm crossing my fingers for this one!  It would be perfect for a project hubby and I have in the works....

 

Cards I Made or Finished Today!

My sister is getting married on the beach in Cape Hatteras, NC next month.  Today I made her a card.  I scraplifted an idea from Cousley over on the Scrapbook.com galleries.  

The marquee shape is from Elegant Edges.  The sand dollar is from Life is a Beach, and the shells are from Paper Doll Dress Up (it's actually from the mermaid's outfit!)  I used colored pencils to accent the shapes, and foam adhesive to pop them up.  Congratulations is from Holiday Cakes.  I embossed the background using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.  The punch is Martha Stewart Deco Fan.  The ribbon is just some from my stash.  On the inside I used another marquee shape in ivory for the card message.  I also made a pocket to add gift cards.

The second card is one from my stash, I can't exactly remember how long ago I made it.  It's a very simple card.  I added the yellow "ribbon" (not sure what you'd really call it) to make it look a little more finished.  I have a box of cards so that if I need a quick card I have a few to choose from.  I really didn't have much time today to craft, so this was perfect.

14th Show Hosts Revealed: I Heart Faces Photography Show

Today's giveaway on My Craft Channel is a Cricut E.  Click here to go to their blog.  Today's featured hosts are from I Heart Faces Photography Show.

13th Host Revealed: April Meeker of Second Sister Designs!

Enter to win a Cricut Expression here on the My Craft Channel blog.

Today's host is April Meeker of Second Sister Designs.

Worked on my Wedding Scrapbook Again FINALLY!

I don't have any pictures to post, but I finished 2 layouts for my wedding scrapbook this weekend!  This has been the hardest project for me to finish, which I guess explains why I'm on year 6.....

All of the engagement/dating, wedding, and reception sections are done, I've just been fighting with the honeymoon pages.  This weekend I finally had some free time to plan!  I loosely sketched out the pages, found the perfect pictures to use, and finished two layouts!  It doesn't sound like much, but I feel like I'm finally getting somewhere.  I'm hoping to find some extra time this weekend to work on the pages again.

Me at Rainbow Falls - Hilo, Hawaii

 

Introducing Angie & Wendy of Ella Publishing (Cricut E2 Giveaway)

Don't forget to enter daily to win an E or E2!  Click here to go to the My Craft Channel blog.

Here are today's featured hosts, both used to be with Simple Scrapbooks magazine (my favorite magazine before they stopped publication).

Wendy Smedley and Angie Lucas

My Craft Channel - 20 Cricuts in 20 Days Giveaway!

My Craft Channel is giving away 20 Cricuts in 20 Days!

Fourth Show Host Reveal: Art. Redefined with Christy Tomlinson 

 

Check it out HERE!

Stacy Julian Joins My Craft Channel

 Check it out here!  Also be a part of their 20 Cricuts in 20 days contest.  I'm crossing my fingers I'll win one and upgrade from my baby bug!

http://mycraftchannelblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/stacy-julian-joins-my-craft-channel.html?showComment=1310503979659#c379180945016076834

Anniversary Card

Things have been hectic here!  I've been helping/traveling with Mark to his softball tournaments (the latest one was last weekend).  I barely had time to finish Father's Day cards to mail out last week!  Somehow I thought I'd have time to make a card for my hubby for our anniversary... it totally snuck up on me!  This morning before leaving for summer school I cut out the palm tree from the Life's a Beach cartridge, and folded the card itself.

I had planned on finishing the card while Mark had practice this morning (since summer school is only a few hours for me).  Storms canceled his practice.   I had to finish the card after lunch while he worked on the computer.

I kept it simple - no time for anything like Stickles to dry!  I hand cut an "island," adhered the layers of the palm tree, and stamped "Happy Anniversary" using My Pink Stamper's "Happiest Moments" set.  I also used some foam adhesive to pop up the tree.  Simple, but I like it!

 

Our Anniversary!

Today is our wedding anniversary!  We were married on June 21, 2005 in Hawaii!  Mark has been crazy busy, but somehow today found the time to make lunch for us (BLT's).  He bought and cut up fresh pineapple, and had IZ playing on the stereo (Hawaiian music) when I got home from teaching summer school.  He even bought some chocolate covered macademia nuts from Mauna Loa - a place we'd visited on our honeymoon!  (The hotel we stayed in also had some waiting in our room for us when we first arrived in Honolulu before our wedding!)  He also bought me the sweetest card!

My favorite part of the day was when Mark asked to see our wedding scrapbook!  It's STILL unfinished (just they honeymoon section is left for me to do), but he didn't mind!  We sat together and looked through it.  It was great to read all of the journaling and relive the happy moments from when we were first dating, our engagement, and our wedding day!

My Pink ATG "Holder"

I kept looking at holders for my ATG, but didn't feel like spending the money.  (And hubby is WAY to busy right now with tournament softball to make me one.)

I found this desk pencil holder on clearance at Target not too long ago. I don't know why I bought it!  On a whim I tried it with my ATG and it works!  It's not fancy but I can safely set my ATG down without worrying about the adhesive sticking to other stuff.

Father's Day Cards!

I had so much fun making cards for my Dad and Grandfather!

For my Dad's card I used the car and phrase from the Holiday Cakes cartridge.  I used a Uniball Signo white gel pen for some detailing, and a transparency as the windshield.  I used foam adhesive to pop up both.  For the background I used my Cuttlebug and the Diamond Plate embossing folder - with aluminum foil!  I adhered the foil to cardstock first before running it through.  I had originally planned to use twine on the front of the card, but forgot and adhered the background to the front of the card with my ATG.  (Once it's stuck, it's not moving!)

For my Grandfather's card I use the duck, pond, and cattails from the Give a Hoot cartridge.  I embossed the pond with the D'vine Swirls folder and then used Glossy Accents to make it look more like water.  It was my first time using Glossy Accents!  I had trouble with the layers of the cattails (tearing every time I cut the top layer). I gave up and just used gel pens to color in the cattails. The clouds are from Pooh and Friends.  I used a Studio G stamp and brown ink.

Crush One for the Cure and my birthday

Before my birthday (June 7), I had a little time to craft (when I wasn't working on grades for the end of the school year).  I cut out 50 pink softballs for my hubby to use for a softball tournament last weekend.  I thought I took pictures of them, but I must not have.  I used the Sports Mania Cricut cartridge.  They turned out really well, and were posted up on a banner that read "Crush One For the Cure" last weekend.  Every girl who hit a home run had her name and team info posted for everyone to see.  Sponsors also donated money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

For my birthday, hubby and I went out to dinner (El Rodeo - one of my favorites!) and for ice cream at Malley's Ice Cream Parlor.  He surprised me with a really sweet card and potted roses!  We stopped buying gifts for each other before we got married (one too many overly expensive gifts for each other in the beginning.) 

 

Blog Candy Giveaway - Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge

Raina at Raina's Favorite Crafty Things is giving away this awesome cartridge once she reaches 100 followers!  


Raina's Favorite Crafty Things

Border Punches - Way to See What I Have!

I don't remember where this idea came from, but I love it!  I punch a strip from each new border punch I purchase, and record the name of the punch.  I can easily see what I have to pick the perfect punch for a project!

Organizing my Cuttlebug Folders!

For the longest time I stored my Cuttlebug folders in their original packaging.  I had to buy a DVD storage type container about a year ago, and that too was getting too full!  Nilda posted this idea on the Cricut messageboards and knew I had to try it!


The container is from Joann's and is meant for sewing patterns.  It works great with the folders out of their packages!  And there's room for more!

Here's a link to Nilda's post on the Cricut messageboard.
Cricut MB Post 


Here's mine.  I just wrote the names of the folders on the folders directly, and organized them (by dots, flowers/swirls, and holiday for now.)  It also included folders from other manufacturers.  The new 5x7 Cuttlebug folders work, but they have to go in sideways to fit.

Haven't Crafted in a While....

Wow... I can't believe it's been almost a MONTH since I've crafted.  Needless to say being a middle school teacher close to the end of the school year is really kicking my butt!  I did design Father's Day cards for my father and grandfather on my Gypsy, but I haven't cut them out yet.  

I'm really excited about a technique I saw online - embossing aluminum foil!  I bought the Diamond Plate Cuttlebug folder to use since it goes perfectly with the car-themed card for my Dad I'm designing.  My first two tries weren't perfect.  I mistakenly used my ATG to attach the foil to a piece of cardstock - so when I embossed you could see the lines of the ATG tape!  Oh well!  I used spray adhesive the second time, but didn't like the edges (and I also got some of the spray adhesive on the front when I turned it over on the mat.)  I'll hopefully try again this weekend!

Cricut-tastic Award!

Thanks to Two Chics and a Cricut for this awesome award!!!!(http://twochicsandacricut.blogspot.com)

 So here are the rules:

 Wear this badge proudly on your blog and share it with friends. Share this award with 10 people that you think have Cricut-tastic blogs. You also have to tell 5 cricut related things about yourself.

Here are 5 Cricut-related things about me!

1.  I can't craft without my Cricut!  Whether it's a title, a small die cut, or a large image, I love my Cricut!

2.  I've been using my Cricut "baby bug" since I bought it in 2007.  Since then my cartridge collection has grown, but I'm still using my baby bug!

3.  I'm totally drooling over the new E2... but I'll settle for an E some day!  Hubby wants me to wait until my baby bug dies.  Makes sense I guess....

4. Robyn (My Pink Stamper) has been such an inspiration and a huge help when I first got started!  Her how-to videos and awesome projects are awesome!  I still check out her blog each week!  

5.  My favorite cartridge at the moment is Create a Critter.  Storybook is a very close second.  Elegant Edges is on my wish list, and will very likely soon be my number one!  (If I can find it in store near me, that is.)

Here are my ten blogs!  Check out their awesome creations!

1.  Card Creations By Lorraine 

2.  Lissa at So Many Crafts, So Little Time

3.  Melissa at Disney Dreamer Designs

4. Alex at You Had Me at Craft 

5. Andrea at Divine Domesticity

6. Raechel's Cards

7. Stephanie at Love to Create Cards

8. Believe Dream Create with Maria 

9. Amanda at Stellar Scraps and More

10. Court's Crafts

  

Mother's Day Cards

A little last minute, but I made cards for my mom and grandmother today for Mother's Day!  

The hummingbird is from Give a Hoot.  I looked into what types of hummingbirds live in Virginia (where my family lives) and then tried to recreate the ruby-throated hummingbird.  I just cut the body in three different colors, using glitter paper that cut beautifully with my baby bug!  The patterned paper was just some I had in my stash.  The vines are also from Give a Hoot, welded with my Gypsy.  I cut the frame from the Mother's Day 2010 cartridge.  The stamp is from See D's that I picked up a while ago at Pat Catan's.  I used the Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug folder for the background.  My mom has several hummingbird feeders and is really excited to see them in her yard!  Her Mother's Day gift has a hummingbird theme also!

My grandmother's card is pretty simple.  I used a Darice embossing folder called Scrolls.  The paper is Core'dinations from the White Wash collection.  I love how this paper looks sanded!  The Grandma saying came from the Mother's Day 2010 cartridge.  I added some adhesive rhinestones to the flower centers.

ETA - I talked to my mom, and she said my grandmother loved the card!  She has dementia and has a really hard time communicating.  My mom said that my grandmother went back to get the card to show my mom the first second she saw her.  I'm so happy she liked it! 

Updated Some of the Cards with BLING!

First, please excuse the poor cell phone quality (it was plugged in charging also...)  I kept looking at these two cards and thinking they needed a little something....  I looked through my stash and found some adhesive gemstones (didn't feel like pulling out the I-rock with dinner going).  They're still pretty simple, but I'm happy with them.  Out in the mail tomorrow!

Easter Cards!

I thought I'd decided I wasn't going to make cards this year... my parents are coming up to visit me in Ohio(they live in Virginia) on Wednesday, and I'm going back with them to see my family for Easter!  I saw some really cute cards on the Cricut messageboard (thanks for the idea TatianaBelova!)  I searched and found a cut file made by Capadia to make the shaped cards using the Easter 2010 cartridge.  I had forgotten all of the cute cuts on that cartridge!

The Chick on two of the cards is from Create a Critter, the "Have a Tweet Easter" and chick stamps are Studio G.  I of course used Stickles (Icicle, and I think Stardust) on the chicks and the card in the top center.  I may have to make a few more this week, and I may go back and add a little more detail to the ones I made tonight.  It was fun to create again, especially after cleaning the house all day! 

Working on My Wedding Album!

So far I've posted pictures of cards I've made here, but no layouts.  (There are some in my Scrapbook.com gallery, made before I started a blog.)  Last night I worked on my still unfinished wedding album, and finished another section!  Hubby and I were married in Hawaii, so the scrapbook is kind of untraditional.  So far I've finished engagement, wedding, and "reception" sections, the latter finished last night!  (I say "receptions" because we got married by ourselves on the beach, and then visited my family in Virginia and his family in Ohio, where we live.)  

I think I've been putting off finishing this album because I've wanted it to be too perfect.  I keep having to remind myself that the layouts are for hubby and I to enjoy, and our future kids....  if we like them that's all that matters.  Last night after I finished the final layout for the reception section, I started playing on my Gypsy and planned several of the honeymoon sections!  It feels good to be a little closer to finishing this album!

Darice Embossing Folders

I found these at Pat Catan's for 2 for $5!  They emboss just like Cuttlebug folders, giving a very deep impression.  Is it sad that I may have to go and buy a few more?

Studio G Cling Stamps!

I really need to stop "browsing" at scrapbook stores!  I found these at Pat Catan's for $1 each! They had Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Wedding, and Baby themed stamps.  I haven't tried them yet but was excited to see something new!  I'm sure it's only a matter of time until they'll show up other places!

Cindy Loo Cartridge Giveaway at Sherrie Scraps with Passion!

Sherrie Scraps with Passion is giving away this awesome cartridge to celebrate 200 followers!  The giveaway ends on April 12th!

Cricut Luau Seasonal Cartridge Giveaway - A Mermaid's Crafts Blog

Lisa at A Mermaid's Crafts is giving away this awesome cartridge to celebrate reaching 100 followers!  You have until April 16th to enter!  I would love to win this cartridge to use on my honeymoon album!

Ilene has an awesome giveaway on her blog, What a Bunch of Scrap
She's celebrating making the My Little Shoebox DT!

Card for Mighty Max Low

I finally had some free time today to sit down and make a card for Max Low.  I posted information from Pink Cricut earlier about Max, a 12-year-old boy battling leukemia.  He wants to receive a million cards!  

Here's a link to my earlier post, with Max's address.  Mighty Max Low


For my card I used the Everyday Paper Dolls cart for the bike (cut twice) and a silver sharpie on the spokes/accents.  I also used the "Welcome Baby" Cuttlebug folder/die set.  I love this folder that I picked up for $2 at Big Lots a while back!  I used Co'ordinations cardstock that I sanded to make the dots pop.  I also sanded the edges and the rectangle before stamping "Get Well Soon" using a Studio G stamp in my stash. 

Scrappin' Mommy Huge Giveaway!

Scrappin' Mommy has a huge giveaway on her blog for reaching 1000 followers and 70,000 blog hits.  The picture is only ONE of the three prize packs she has up for grabs!  
Scrappin' Mommy

DCWV New Stacks - Video and Giveaway

Visit the DCWV blog to see a video of these 5 new stacks!  You can also leave a comment for a chance to win TWO of these stacks!  

Sister-in-law's Spanish Menu

My sister-in-law, a freshman in high school, is staying with us this week.  She reluctantly asked me last night if she could use some of my scrapbooking stuff for a Spanish class project.  She chose the Loop de loo font from the Lyrical Letters cartridge.  The fireworks are also from Lyrical Letters.  Here's the cover and first page of her menu.  She also did dinner, dessert, sides, and beverages.  I think she did a great job!

Disney Dreamer Designs Giveaway

 Melissa over at Disney Dreamer Designs has some awesome projects and blog candy including the Cars cartridge!  Check it out!  The blog hop is through tomorrow.  I'm off to the rest of the hop!

Disney Dreamer Designs

DCWV Giveaway!

I can't attend (it's in Utah), but I'm hoping to win some of their awesome paper!


Check it out here: DCWV Diary

Darice Embossing Folders at Pat Catan's

I was very excited to see a new brand of embossing folders at Pat Catan's (a local craft store).  I haven't bought or tried any yet, but thought I'd post some pics.  They were taken with my phone, so please excuse the poor quality.  I felt really awkward taking pictures in the store!