MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

I just wanted to wish all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  This has been an amazing year for me and my family.  I am so grateful for all that I have and I am truely blessed.  I have a wonderful family, a roof over my head and food in the house.  I know that many children are without this year and my heart and thoughts go out to them and their family.  I try and remind myself everyday when I get down that I need to be more grateful and appreciative of what has been given to me.  I hope all is safe and happy.  I love seeing the made up trees and the lights.  It just does my hear so good and brings me such greatness.  Hears wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!!!!

Items used:
12x12 Linen closest DCWV
6x6 My Minds eye Fine and Dandy Girl (cut in half in a diagonal and placed in each corner)
8.5x11 Melon Berry Papertrey ink paper(used behind the printed flower paper
8.5x11 the paper studio Souffle Mums" paper
4x6 DCWV Neutral chocolate(brown) for "Images of me" title
My Momenta orange (used for the typwritten journaling)
silhouette cameo used for the title (ravie font at 72pt)
pink pre-printed ribbon (not sure where it came from since it was a scrap piece)
fiskars squeeze punches - oopsie daisy and 1 inch circle
Spellbinder's nestabilities small deckled mega rectangles (#4 and #5)

I just love these colors together.  It feels motherly and summery.  I decided to leave the "whitespace" since some page designers says its okay.  Plus there really was not anything I wanted to add to the middle.  I tink if I had it would be too busy and the flowers are already busy enough.  It seems to let you draw your eyes to the pictures which are suppose to be the focal point of this layout.

Belated Thanksgiving layout

On this page I decided to do a 8.5x11 page.  The cardstock is rip avacado by papertrey ink, ribbon from micheal's, We R Memory Keeper's 6x6 Autumn Splendor paper pack, micheal's 3D thanksgiving phrase (118507) and Inkssentials opaque white pen.  Again and easy simple layout.  The "happy thanksgiving" 3D sticker I have had for almost 2 years (I dont buy stickers anymore since I have cricut machines).  The ribbon went really well with the layout.  I have taken Tim Holtzs and Creations with Christina's advice about buying white ribbon and coloring it to match your layouts so I am trying to use all of my designer ribbon stash.  I really like using the Tim Holtzs stains to color my ribbon.  It works out so well and I have about half of the colors so I can match almost any color for my layouts.  I hand wrote on the page again.  I'm really liking this concept.  I think I got the idea from Stacy Jullian.  I have to make sure that I leave myself enough space to journal.  I really like the sticker.  it cost $1 to $2 dollars but it fits my page really well.

Silhoouette Cameo Style

On this page layout I used mu new toy the silhouette cameo.  The 12x12 page is Colorbox pealescent bright pink.  The girl on bike is a image I paid for out of the silhouette library (2.5w x 12l)  and I welded together in a chain to create the border.  I used the spellbinder's nestabilities: curved rectangles (#6), labels eight (#6), classic ovals(#4) and lacy ovals(#5).  The let's ride is from microsoft words font (can't remember the image).  The ribbon is of course from Micheals.  I have chosen to hand write on my pages more rather than using a background sheet or journaling tag.  It kinda feels more personal and more like a real journal.  I really love how the bikes turned out.  I used the silhouette to do this and it took a minute to get it off the cutting mat because it was so small and very detailed.  I wish I had did the title in a differnt color since it looks lost on the page.  Maybe in a green or blue color would have been better.

Best Friends Imagine cartridge card

I pre-made this card for my Mom who's birthday is fast approaching.  I currently have a ton of cards made and I am thinking of paying it forward to some friends since I know I will never use them all.  The pre-made card is from Micheals Recollections kraft.  Micheal's recollections 8x11 white paper used to make the background for the front and inside card and for the doll.  Doll cut at 3.5.  Used My Pink stamper set "family and friends" stamp.  The ribbon is from Micheal's (yes I do buy a lot from micheals.  its the only craft store in my town).  Kept the card simple and it turnes out pretty nice.  Really loving my imagine.

Best Friends Imagine Cartridge

I have had this cart on my list since it came out.  I finally bought it at JoAnn's for $44.00.  I so love this cartridge.  I used it to showcase my girla playing basketball.  I love how the cart allows you to choose from different outfits, hair styles and skin tones.  The 12x12 bazzill and i used bazzill white 12x12 to do the printed background as well.  My journaling is through microsoft word and I used the micheals recollections stitiched punch to go around the 8x11 pink archivers cardstock.  actually all of the images were printed/cut using 1 sheet of bazzill white 12x12 cardstock.

Whimsical Design Blog Hop

Whimsical Design Hop

Good morning Whimsical . Today is the Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop, and they are so excited to be revealing the first four stamp sets in my new stamp line. They had so much fun designing these, and how they  LOVE the way they turned out. They  have designed these to be very versatile, as I wanted to create sets that you can get a lot of use out of. They all have different fonts on them, in all sorts of styles, from elegant to playful. One of my favorite things about these is I designed them to fit in your standard sized oval, circle, and square punches. Most of them will also fit into the nestabilities dies. In addition, the stamps are made in the USA from the best polymer available! I have been very impressed with how wonderful they stamp, and emboss. You do not need to apply much pressure when inking or stamping. Here is the reveal of the sets:

Whimsical Fun-Volume 1

Everyday Sentiments

With Love

Snow Much Fun

The for whimsical designs  shop is now open and all stamps are available for purchase. To see the stamps enlarged all you need to do is When in the shop you can click on the set and they will enlarge so you can get a closer look at all the sentiments. Now for my blog hop project:

MY NEW TOY - Silhouette Cameo

My  new toy and I so love it.  I am glad I waited since this one just came on the market in the last month but it was showcased at CHA a few months ago.  It was an awesome choice.  I use it for fonts.  It is fairly quiet and very easy to use.  I just have to figure out the print and cut.  It does 12x12 and the Silhouette store has thousands of images and font sets and designs.  Plus on Tuesdays there is a free design to download.  The images cost 99 cents and very few a more than that but it is all reasonable.  I do wish there were more videos but maybe I will try my hand at making videos.  I must get back to playing.  I will upload my projects that I have been working on this past week.

Man...Dog...Exhausion?

Well as my awesome husband pointed out to me...I misspelled "exhausion" in the title but spelled it correctly in the journaling.  I was going to fix it but I normally am a terrible speller so this page is "truly" me....I got a new toy...its the Silhouette Cameo to use for titles and this entire page was created using the Cameo.  I got a good deal on "black friday" and I am so glad I waited.  It does 12x12 pages and I got a free $10 gift card and it was half priced digital images so the machine comes with 50 and I bought 10 more and still have $5 on my account.  I watched several videos where they had a cricut and a silhouette SD.  They do work beautifully together.  I find myself using it for the text and to cut intricate backgrounds.

Itms used:

12x12 shiny grey brazzill

letters DCWV beige

recollections paws and bones

tim holtzs embossed kraft paper

gold leafing pen

flocked paper from michaels

Christmas Cards/Gifts

I made these for my co-workers.  This was the first time I did something on this level.  I usually give out cards.  So this year I still gave out cards but added some chocolate goodness.  Plain M&Ms are my favorite and you get "more bang for your buck" with plain than with peanuts.  Plus they had cool christmas colors which made it even better.  I used up all the bling in my stash and some paper I bought off of the .25 cent rack at Micheal's.  I also used washi tape as border.  I used a 1 inch fiskars punch and Stamps of Life for the wreath.  I made a total of 16 and since the bottles are plasic, the guyys at work can use them for paper clips or anything small in the office.  The total project took an hour and a half and 5 bags of M&Ms.  I kept it simple and easy since this was a starter project.  My nmext craft project will be an "Advent calendar".  I will post step-by-step when I start.  Some of my friends commented on the skull and cross bones on the back of the paper.  I made a reference to the fact that chocolate and sometimes be your best frien or your worse enemy....LoL

Christmas Cards Part 2

This was another favorite of mine.  I am really enjoying using the cricut craftroom (CCR) with my imagine.  It still will not allow me to link my carts since the library will not load.  I even did a restore and it did not work.  So for now I just place the cart in the Imagine.  I love the Authentique 6x6 paper pack.  I used it on all of the cards.  I went to Micheals on Thanksgiving and bought 3 carts and got "jubilee" free.  One of the ones I bought was "Winter frolic".  Lots of layers on this cart.  Many more than I had imagined.  I used the ornament 1 on page 64.  All items were cut at 2.5 x 3.7.  I also used the phrase as well and cut it at 2.75 x 2.5. I also used the Marth Stewart christmas sticker borders.  Still used the micheals kraft pre-scored cards.  It was easier that way...no cutting or scoring.  The paper is a mixture of Recollections and Bazzill cardstock.  The ornament is popped up on the shadow with foam dots.

Christmas cards galore Part 1

Its has been a very busy weekend.  First I want to post how thankful I am for this past year.  Family, friends and work.  I get to spend some of my weekends doing a hobby I love which sometimes it feels more of a relief and less of a hobby.  I did not brave the stores but I did brave the internet and i am now 85% to 90% complete for our girls with christmas.  I broke down and bought a new tool but I will save that for another post since it will be here on Monday.  The first series of cards were the one's listed below.  I used cricut cartridge "create a critter" page 73.  main image reindeer, layer 1 cut at 2.8 x 3.7.  I used the peachy keen "wide-eyed and bushy tail sizw 1 3/8; martha stewart christmas sticker borders, micheals recollections kraft cards (4.25 x 6.25), authentique 6x6 "wonder" paper pack.  The "joy" phrase cut at 2.8 x 1.5using bazzill green and micheal's black paper.

Embossed and inked metal

This card I tried something a little different. I used Tim Holtzs alcohol inks (3 different kinds), cuttle bug embossing folder, hero arts treasure the moments stamps, micheals $1 ribbon and bazzil cardstock cut at 4.25x11. I used the embossing folder to emboss the ranger metal. I also inked the inside of the embossing folder to to play up the de-bossed image and used the alcohol inks to play up the embossed image. Used a stampin up roller stamp for the border. I really like those and they work rerally well when you use a ruler and go real slow. Hard to ink up well. I recommend buying the ink cart attachments to make it easier. I also used memento cat eye inks. The solvent ink dries quickly so there is no smearing on the image.

HALLOWEEN 2011

Halloween 2011

This was a fun layout.  I used bazzil deep red 8.5x11 cardstock, martha stewart vinyl spider, martha stewart dippy dew, picket fence and bat punches.  Used the gypsy and cricut cartridge simply charmed pages 58 and 59 for the "R.I.P, bat and tree" and used the gypsy font for "halloween".  I kept it simple so the whole layout took about an hour to the cuts correct.  I used stamps of life for the "R.I.P". 

A weekend of cards

The cards are just a few that I am making to send out for christmas. Nothing fancy. I did not want tp create the same card. I want to make them different and unique. The circle cards I got out of the Michael's $1.00 bin. They are not very thick so I added a little gerth to them to make them stronger. I used the 6x6 My Mind's eye christmas paper. I so love their paper and that size. I can use them on layouts and cards. Plus I use the plain for the backgrounds and use either 8x8 or 6x6. I rarely use the 12x12 size unless I am going to use it on my imagine. I find myself using white 8.5x11 or 12x12 and using the print/cut feature. I find it a little harder to paper piece. I still have the original cricut but it only cuts 6x12. Really think of getting an expression but im not sure. Still on the fence...plus I can get really cheap now.  Any way.  The gingerbread people are peachy keen stamps...love these.  The trees I used cricut craft room and christmas.  I cut it out 8 times and place two on each card using foam dots.  I alsi used some recollections bling and some gold dazzle stickers as well as Martha Stewart christmas borders, stamps of life and inkakdinkado clear stamps.

CRICUT CRAFTROOM - AMAZING

Well I just used the cricut craft room and made a card for my sister-in-law using the Imagine More Cards.  It was sooo AWESOME!!!!!!  I love how you can link your imagine cartridges something you can not do with the Gypsy (I still love my gypsy).  Even though it was hard to figure out how to link the cart's.  I love how you can place your items on the virtual mat and see placement.  I am so sold.  I love how you can see the entire provo cricut cartridge library and be able to play with the Imagine cart's in color.  I made the card for my sister-in-law but as I discovered I need to make it a little larger but I wanted to show the items cut.

UPDATE TO WHAT IS HAPPENING

Well I have been working on making Christmas tags (will post later) and cards to go along with some homemade gifts I am making for my fellow coworkers.  My goal is to try and do weekly updates.  To post what I do as well as to give myself an outlet to my thoughts and some creativity.  But I wanted to keep you posted on my happenings so stay tuned.

Missing In Action.......

Well it has been a while since I have posted to my blog or entered a blog challenge.  I created some Thanksgiving cards for the parents.  Below I used

Tim Holtz sizzix embossing folder
Cricut cartridge Birds on Parade cut at 5 inches
Marths Stewart glitter
Recollections pearls

 Card2

Card2(inside)

 CARD3

CARD3(inside)
paperwishes dazzles
jelly roll pens

FCCB Challenge #79

Challenge Me Monday #79

How beautifully leaves grow old.

How full of light and color are their last days.

~John Burroughs~

#79 – Leaves are Falling
Create a project with leaves on it

Authentique 6x6 paper pack - glowing

Distress Crackle paint - rock candy on the top leaves

Stampendous Pearlustre - Carnelian used on the "happy thanksgiving"

Hero Arts clear cling "seasons of giving" used for the "happy thanksgiving"

Stamps of Life "thanks2fall" used for the small pumpkins

Micheals' chocolate card 4x6

Tim Holtzs core'dination colorcore cardstock for the leaves

cricut cartridge "Cindy Loo" using the gypsy leaf branch and shadow cut at 3.47

VersaMArk watermark stamp

Stampin Up classic ink - mellow moss

Smooch Spritz

 

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge 32

Celebrate The Occasion

Ready for Challenge #32!!  This week's theme is "Any Occasion (must use ribbon)"!!!!  So, let's get crafting:)  Team #2 is leading the way!!! Create a project and post by October 2nd, 11:59PM (EST).

Please do not back link, make sure your project is new for this challenge, mention CTO in your post and link back to CTO blog. Thanks! Please only one entry!

Thanks for playing with us this week!
Theme: "Any Occasion (must use ribbon)"
Entries due by Sunday, October 2nd, 11:59PM (EST) 

HAVE FUN!!!!

I found this challenge by participating in another challenge.  You only have to add ribbon to the project.  I tried some new techniques for me on this one.  The items used are:

Bazzill Basics Island Breeze - 4x6 card size

QuicKutz metal sheets

Tim Holtz alcohol inks - lettuce, stream and eggplant

Hero Arts Clear cling "treasure the moment" cl156

Micheal's dollar bin ribbon

Dew Drop VersaMagic Turquoise Gem chalk ink

Cuttlebug 5x8 Kassie Brocade (2000215) embossing folder

Whimsical Wednesday Challenge " I Do Not Ask"

Whimsical Wednesday Fall colors

Here are the guidelines for the challenge:
1. Create a card or project inspired by fall colors, must include a handmade embellishment. 
2. Please put in your post that you entered your project into this challenge with a link to this blog. I do not ask that you make a project just for my challenge. I know that there are lots of fun challenge blogs out there and I encourage you to play along in as many as you want:) So go ahead and enter your project where ever you like.
3. In order to become eligible for the prizes you must enter the challenge, become a follower of this blog, and leave a comment under our post's
4. Link your project to InLinkz by October 5 at midnight.

We have a brand new challenge every week, but each challenge stays opened for two week. You still have one more week to enter the "Just Because" challenge. We are looking forward to seeing all your project's. Thank you for stopping by, and for your support of Whimsical Wednesdays. Happy Fall Yall:) 

embossed glue dots

















Items used:
Authentique 6x6 "glowing"
Stampendous Pearlustre Carnelian embossing powder (used on the glue dots to make my own embellishment)
Inkadinkado trick or treat 99133 clear stamps
Colorbox pigment ink - orange
Michael's recollections black and white cardstock
Zot 3D glue dots
Recollections 4x6 chocolate card

MFT WSC - Sketch 39

MFT WSC - Sketch 39

Items used:

Sakura jelly roll souffle colors - 924, 936, 905 and 929 used to color the clothes

Sakura jelly roll glaze - 819, 836 and 803 used to color 2 balloons and hair

Sakura jelly roll stardust 727 lime star used to color the  middle balloon

Dew Drop memento cottage ivy for "simply irresistible"

Dew Drop VersaMagic red magic (used to edge) and Midnight Black(used to stamp image)

MFT clear stamps "birthday balloon Jolinne"(for the image) and "All dressed up Jolinne"(for the saying)

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots 37-1604

Bazzil cardstock and various scrap pieces of paper

Sizzix sizzlits Wavy Box #2  from the window & frame making set

Glitter Glue Dots -- Oh My!!!

Glitter Glue Dot Technique

I used Stampin Up paper mellow moss

Michaels Recollections stamps 

VersaMark watermark stamp pad

Michaels Recollection extra fine glitter - Apricot

3 different paper tapes (can not remember by who)

I saw a video where the lady laid out glue dots and used embossing powder and heat set it.  So I decided to use glitter and use the small glue dots and it came out pretty cool.  I may try this on a larger area or even try the embossing technique.  My goal is to try more techniques that I find in magazines as well as enter more blog competions.

MFT WSC #38

My Favorite Things WSC Sketch #38
http://www.mftstamps.com/blog/?p=6992

I used brown poster board and cut it down to size 5.5 x 11 folded at 5.5
Stampin Up ribbon
MFT clear stamp " Let's hear it for the boys"
used paper piecing for the tv, rug and remote
Bic ultra fine markers

GIVIN INCHIE A TRY

A INCHIE CARD

I thought I would try my hand using inchies.  So I decided to incorporate it into a card.  The cardstock is from Stampin Up (not sure of the color).  I used old scraps of paper and glued to a card and used my squeeze 1 inch punch to punch out the squares.  I also used metal sheets by QuicKutz.  The lamp rubber stamp is from Unity stamp Itty Bitty called On the bright side (1B-01).  The Kraft paper is from Recollections from Micheal's best to use and cheap to buy when on sale.

Anniversary

ANNIVERSARY - PACKER STYLE

This LO marks 12 years that my husband and I have been together.  We had an awesome family weekend.  We drove to Charlotte, NC. to go to IKEA (and it is everything that anyone has ever said about the store.  We can't wait to go back with a shopping list) and to see the Green Bay Packers play the Carolina Panthers.  We stayed in an amazing hotel and the girls just loved the pampering.  Every once in a while you should allow someone else to cook and clean.  For this 12x12 LO I used:
Bazzill 12x12 "butterfly" paper
Bazzill 6x11 bling strawberry cardstock
12x12 Little Yellow Bicycle "floral ledger" paper
DCWV 5x7 blue cardstock
Me & My Big Ideas 5x7 Modern Milan paper
cricut cartridge "Printing Press" for number "1" ans "2" cut at 3.34width x 5.00height using the gypsy and cricut imagine
- the number were cut 6x's.  3x's in the bling strawberry and 3x's in the white (cut at 6x11) and glued together to look like a thicker
BIC mark it markers in the extra fine point to color the flowers on the side and to do the journaling.

The Techie Scrapper

I decided to try more 12x12 page LO's.  They do not come easy to me.  I used mu Cricut Imagine and the "Lyrical" cartridge.  Techie Scrapper cut at 2.0.  I also used my little sewing machine and I sewed down the 6x6 Authentique "Uncommon" paper with stickers from Karen Foster Design.  Paper tape is old and I do not remember the brand name. 

Fantabulous Cricut Chalenge - Yellow

Challenge Me Monday #75

The colour yellow is such a sunny, cheerful colour and can really brighten up a project. This week, we are challenging you to add the colour yellow to your Cricut projects.

#75 – A Splash of Colour

Use the colour yellow on your project

Items used:

micheals recollection 4.25x6.50 card

archiver's 8.5x11 paper - canary and sunburst

cricut cartridge -  George basic shapes and gypsy

stamps - Fiskars layers away dots/points layer away & Hero Arts Best Gifts

Memento ink pear tart

3D pop dots and foam tape

squares cut at 1, 1.25, 1.5 and 1.75 layers twice to have the middles cut.  This was made possible after long hours (2 hours) with the gypsy.  Not an easy task but different.  The 3 larger squares are cut at 3.75, 3.5 and 2.25x2.75

MFT WSC 35

My Favorite Things WSC sketch Challenge 35

Remember to add your version of the sketch to the Splitcoast Galleries using this week’s keyword MFTWSC35.
You have to upload by Tuesday the 6th at NOON EST for your chance to win up to a $20 voucher to the MFT Boutique.

And, we hope you’ll come chat with the MFT Designers and fellow MFT Fans over on the MFT Forum.

So much fun.  I used mu At Spica pens lemon and red to color the boy.  I used the MFT Super Boy stamp.  VersaFine ink.  My Minds Eye and Stella Rose paper.

Throwback Thursday Cricutless Challenge

My Creative Time

Here are the details for this challenge:

*** This is a "CRICUTLESS" Challenge! Meaning, you are not allowed to use your cricuts, imagines, e2's or your gypsy girls! Basically, we are taking it back "Old School"! You are totally allowed to use punches &/or your cuttlebug!

*** Create a CARD using the colors PURPLE, ORANGE, GREEN & BLACK! 

Items used:

Authentique - glowing

ellison stephanie barnard - framelits

the stamps of life - spooks2scare set #13

memento ink - indigo and bamboo leaves

micheals' recollection 4.25x6.5 brown cardstock

brazzil 4x6 cardstock - green and purple

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

I always do a first day of school page.  Each of the girls have their own 8x8 album that I started on their first day of pre-school up to the current.  When they reach the twelve grade I will give it to them.  My girls are one school year apart so it is always interesting.  I them make a 12x12 page for my own album to keep.  Here is the completed project.  I used for the first time (I have had it for 4 years).  I have never used a sewing machine on a page and I always wanted to do it.  Now I am hooked.  I only did one side but I can see doing it on cards now.  I used the Ek-Success border punch, DCWV cardstock border paper(2x12), sizzix large die "school supplies,  recollection back to school stamp, Colorbok 12x12 paper pack pearlescent

My First "Smash It" Book

Distress concord Ink

I saw a great deal of videos on YouTube about Smash It and Junk journal books.  I thought I would try my hand at making one as a gift for a friend of mine who is retiring.  It's a start but it could be better.  I added watercolor paper, stencils, Distress Inks and stains, Glimmer Mists.  The chipboard came from the Micheal's dollar bin,  The paper is a mixture of brazzil, recollections and archivers.  Stamps used were paper trey ink, TPC Studio, hero arts and hot off the press.  I definitely enjoyed making this and can't wait to make more and perfect it.  I definitely will use my bin-it-all next time.  I'm really enjoying the tim holtzs stains and the tattered angels glimmer mists.  I just purchased the claudine hellmuth studio paints.  I will use it on the next junk journal...