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!

Boater's Birthday

Good Morning!
Two posts in one week???  This is crazy!  I forgot how much fun blogging was, so my renewed energy has produced today's post.  Today I'm going to see my brother to celebrate his birthday.  He is an avid boater, so I knew I wanted to incorporate that into his card somehow... Here's what I came up with:

 

I just love how it came out!  I used the "Fun In The Sun" cartridge by Cricut for the boat/guy (in my brother's boat's colors, of course), and I used the Disney "Dreams Come True" cartridge for the 'splat'. I added Glossy Accents to the water under the boat and to the water drops to make it look wet - this card was just screaming for that accent!  Thanks for looking, and have a great weekend!

About this card:

Card Base: Kraft Cardstock by PTI

3 Mat Colors - Recollections

Die Cuts - "Fun In The Sun" Boat; "Dreams Come True" Puddle

D'Vine Swirls Embossing Folder

Sentiment - Studio G stamped in Staz-On Timber Brown

Glossy Accents, 3D Dots

Cook Out Card

Hi!

Sorry to have been a stranger lately - My husband and I just had a baby boy at the end of March, and he has been keeping be busy NOT making cards lately :)  Every now and then, however, he does nap and I am able to sit down and create :)  On an even rarer occasion I take a picture and find time to blog... So here it my latest:

 

Friends of ours had us over for a cook out last week, so this is the thank you card I sent them. I created the "tablecloth" background by gluing 1" squares in a staggered pattern.  The 2 cuts are from Cricut' Block Party cartridge, and I know it's hard to see, but I used pop dots on those to give the card dimension.  I added the little ant because he made me giggle - I used my black pearl pen to make him.  It feels so good to be playing with paper again! :)

I submitted this card for the following challenge:

Bitten by the Bug "Come and Get It Summer Foods Challenge"

About this card:

Card Base: Stampers Select White from PTI

Other papers: Bazzill (Hot Dog & Bun) and Recollections

Stickles: Red

Sentiment: Pink by Design

Die Cuts: Cricut Cartridge "Block Party" Cut at 2"

Ant: Viva Decor Pearl Pen - Black

3D Dots, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Anna Griffin Cuttlebug - New Folders

Hello Everyone!

I decided to take the plunge last week and ordered the new Anna Griffin Cuttlebug off of HSN.  I primarily did it for the folders (like everyone else, right?), but the machine is so pretty too!  I already have a green Cuttlebug that works just fine for now, so I'll be putting the pretty new one on the shelf as a backup for the inevitable day when mine breaks.

I saw a lot of comments on message boards asking for pictures of the folders that came in the bundle.  I decided to take pictures of the folders that were included, and have inserted them here for everyone to see.  It may help you decide if you HAVE to have one too :)  I hear they'll be offered again in April, and they may be offering just the folders at some time as well.

I apologize up front, the red border folders didn't photograph well - I couldn't find a way to get them to come out better - sorry!

Enjoy...

These are the Anna Griffin A2 Size folders + Borders:

Matelasse

Brocade

Aviary 

Foulard

These are the Anna Griffin 5x7 Folders + Borders:

Poppy

Pirouette

Acanthus

Rosa

These are not Anna Griffin, but were included in the bundle:

Cross My Heart 5x7

Simple Flowers 5x7

Fabric Swatches set - 5x7

I have no idea why this photo uploaded sideways - For the life of me, I couldn't get it to rotate...

Fabric Swatches Set A2

Which one is your favorite? I'm thinking Poppy & Aviary!!!