Christmas Card Challenge

Happy Monday!  Today starts a new challenge over at Exploring Cricut - Christmas Cards!  If you haven't started yours yet, head on over to our Design Team's page and check out what we have to inspire you!

The card I made for this challenge goes against the "red and green/trees and santas" style that I typically send out.  I had a baby boy this year in March, and I really feel a strong personal connection to what Christmas is really about this year because of that.  So here is what I came up with:

 

I cut the manger/baby out of Bazzill Bling cardstock using the "A Quilted Christmas" Cricut cartridge.  The patterned paper sky is a sheet of Echo Park's "Wintertime" by Bella Road, and the hills are kraft paper torn and distressed along the edges.  I used 3D Foam Dots to pop out the manger, and created the star using my iRock for the first time ever!

Wishing you many blessings this Holiday season, and much inspiration for getting your cards done.  Don't forget to link up your Christmas Cards over at Exploring Cricut!

About this Card:

Kraft Base

Pattern Paper - Echo Park "Wintertime" by Bella Road

Die Cut - "A Quilted Christmas" in Bazzill Bling

Sentiment - My Pink Stamper "Christmas Wishes" in Memento "Rich Cocoa" Ink

"Scattered Straw" Distress Stickles, 3D Foam Dots, Hot-Fix Gems/iRock, Tea Dye Distress Ink

Wonderful Wednesday!

Today, my project for the Exploring Cricut blog is a composition notebook altered into a Prayer Journal:

 

I picked up a bunch of these composition notebooks when they were on sale during Back-to-School season, and this is the first one I've had the time to play with.  I covered the front and back covers with kraft paper, glued a strip of thicker cardstock (Bazzill Bling/eyelet punch) down the spine, and decorated the cover.  My church has a Secret Sister program, and I am going to give this to my Secret Sister as a gift this coming Sunday.

I used the New Testament Cricut Cartridge for the Bible and Dove cuts, and I used the font from Winter Woodland and welded the shadow on my Gypsy.  I used Glossy Accents on the Bible cover to make it look more 'book-ish'.  <<-- I love making up words :)

Too bad I can't sign my name to it... It is a secret, after all!

Have a crafty day!

About this project:

1 Composition Notebook from Walmart

Kraft Paper from Joann's

Bible - New Testament Cricut Cartridge + Glossy Accents

Dove - New Testament Cricut Cartridge + Pearl Pen eye

Prayer Journal - Winter Woodland font, welded on a Gypsy

Glitter Bling Frame - Making Memories

Pearl Flourishes - Prima

Giving Thanks Challenge

This week at Exploring Cricut we're 'Counting our Blessings'.  The challenge is to create projects that celebrate Thanksgiving.  In the season of "Counting Blessings" and giving thanks, I wanted to take the opportunity to make some special cards for some special helpers I have.  My husband and I teach 22 kids (3 & 4 year olds) at our church every week, and we have AMAZING adult helpers that show up every week to help.  This Thanksgiving, I want them to know how much I appreciate them for their dedication week after week, so I've made a few of these to hand out this week:

 

The best aspect of this card is, aside from the card base, the entire card is made from scraps - BONUS!!!

Don't forget to thank the special people in your lives this holiday!

THANK YOU for stopping by, and don't forget to post those projects over at Exploring Cricut!  We'd love to see what you've made!

About this card:

Brown Card Base: Papertrey Ink 'Dark Chocolate'

Gold Mat & Leaves - Bazzill cardstock

Leaves - Cut from 'Simply Scarecrow' Cricut Cartridge

Sentiment - Cut from 'Winter Woodland' Cricut Cartridge

3D Foam Dots, Stickles and Gunmetal Pearls

Birthday Wishes Wednesday

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by to check out my latest card - I created this Birthday card for my boss, whose birthday is this weekend:

There are so many things to love about this card :)

First of all, I made the whole thing using scraps (BONUS!).  Second of all, I LOVE BIRDS... there are so many cute birds on so many different cartridges, but I still think Cricut needs to come out with an ALL BIRDS cartridge (Not like the 3-Birds ones - too cartoon-y).  Thirdly, it had been a while since I used my Bazzill Bling card stock, and now I remember why I loved it so much - it cuts SO nicely in the Cricut - now I have an excuse to go buy more...  and more... and more... :) I mounted the white mat and the bird on 3D foam dots for some depth (and an extra $0.20 to mail).

Thanks for stopping by, and Happy Early Birthday to my Boss!

If you like what you've been seeing from me, please consider becoming a follower!

Don't forget about the challenge going on over at Exploring Cricut!

About this Card:
White Base & Eyelet Mat - Gina K luxury white card stock
Pattern Paper - My Mind's Eye "Penny Lane"
Solid Card Stock - Bazzill Bling
Ribbon - American Crafts
Bird - Cut from Cricut Cartridge "Give a Hoot" in Bazzill Bling
Sentiment - Stampin' Up "Watercolor Trio" set
Mat - Spellbinders Eyelet Circle
Ink - Memento "Bahama Blue"
Fiskars Eyelet Punch, 3D Foam Dots, Primas, Pearls & Gems

Challenge Monday

Good Morning!

Thanks for stopping by to see my first inspiration project as a Designer for Exploring Cricut!

Our latest challenge is as easy as 1-2-3!  You'll need to incorporate onto a card, layout or any project:

1 Pattern paper

2 Cricut cuts

3 Colors

Need some help getting started?  Here's what I whipped up for this round:

I used (1) sheet music patterned paper, (2) Cricut cuts (small mat from Elegant Edges and the music note from Quarter Note) and (3) colors: Black, white and kraft. I embossed the tan mat under the music note, used stickles on the note, and mounted the whole piece on 3d foam dots for some dimension.  I also distressed the mat to visually separate it from the sheet music.

I can't wait to see what you all create using this round's fun 'recipe' :)

Come play with us over at Exploring Cricut!  Have a great week!

About this card:
Base - Kraft cardstock by Papertrey Ink
Music Sheet Pattern Paper - Recollections
Sentiment - My Pink Stamper
Cricut Cartridges: Elegant Edges & Quarter Note
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Allegro
Stickles: Black Diamond
Distress Ink: Old Pape
3D Foam Dots
Black/Kraft Paper - Recollections

Big Announcement!

Good Morning!

I am very excited to share some news with you!  Starting today, I am a new member of the Design Team for Exploring Cricut! 

This is my first time being on a design team, and I am so excited.  Please visit Exploring Cricut and become a follower - there are projects posted daily, and challenges every other week - we'd love to have you join us!

I'll be posting my first project tomorrow, so please be sure to come back for some inspiration, and consider playing along with us!

Have a great day!

Gearing Up For Fall Crafting!

Hi Everyone...

Again, I've gone a couple of months without sharing with you!  I guess a newborn in the house will interfere once in a while :)  I love Fall (although I'm sad to see Summer go) - Fall really gets me in the mood to craft!  Fall color are my favorite, and I'm already thinking about all of the great things I'm going to make for the Holidays.  I have a few gifts to make and want to cut out some vinyl sayings for our walls.  What are your big projects for Fall?

Before I sign off, let me share some things I made this summer:

Birthday Card using up some scraps

A mini-album I made out of a 12x12 sheet of paper.  I found the idea on Pinterest here.

Sorry these pictures are sideways... I CAN NOT figure out how to rotate them >:(

A simple sympathy card using embossing & pearl pens

Finally, a gift for a really cool 6-year old who loves his monsters!

(Cuts from Cricut's Mini Monsters cartridge, Font from Birthday Bash)

Enjoy the changing of the seasons, everyone!