A Blog Award!

Butterfly Award!

I would like to thank Carolyn (MamaC) for awarding my blog the "Butterfly Award"! To accept the award, I must answer the following questions and then pass the award on to 10 other blogs.
Check out Carolyn's blog, here, it's wonderful! Mama C sent it to me on September 9th,  I am sorry I am so late in posting the thank you for her!

1. Name my favorite color.

Green

2. Name my favorite song.
One In A Million by Larry Graham, my wedding song. Friends by Eric Johnson, and You by Gary Moore (Hubby and my "song" It was a little too fast for our first dance, so we choose One In A Million.

3. Name my favorite dessert.

Chocolate Ice Cream

4. What 'wizzes' me off at the moment?
Hypocrites

5. My favorite pet.
I can't possible choose between my kitties and puppies! I love all of my guys the same!

6. Black or white?
Grey

7. Biggest fear.
Losing my loved ones

8. Best feature.
My DH says I have the kindest heart of anyone he has ever known. I like that description of me.

9. Everyday attitude.
Deal with whatever comes my way

10. What is perfection?
My son. He may not speak or be the class jock, clown, or valedictorian, but he knows no hatred and is just pure love

11. Guilty pleasure.
Watching Disney with my son. Some of the shows he watches I find to be very funny.

12. When I am upset I...
Cry

I have to pass this on to 10 other bloggers. I would like to award it to

1. Renee at http://random-scraps.blogspot.com/
Stop by and see her fabulous work. I just started following her blog, it is lovely

2. Beth at http://thunderbirdlindybydesign.blogspot.com/
She is so talented and you have to see her AMAZING project on her blog. You'll know what I'm talking about it as soon as you get there.

3. Dayna Sabrina at http://www.sabrioletdesigns.blogspot.com/
She made a gorgeous Gratitude journal featured at TheBugBytes. On her blog, she takes sketches to new heights.

4.  LaShavia at http://thecraftypinkbutterfly.blogspot.com/
She had a fabulous blog filled with all types of ideas.

5. Dana at http://danascraftycorner.blogspot.com/
I also just started following her blog and I am obsessed with her hand-made stick pins.

6. Megan at http://inspiredbycolor.blogspot.com/
She can take a flea market find and turn it into something beautiful. I love her layouts too.

7. Donna at http://nanadonnascarddreams.blogspot.com/
Her cards are stunning! I love how she uses the Cricut and stamping to create her art.

8. Suzanne at  http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

 Her blog is filled with fun ideas and challenges. My favorites are her Graphic 45 projects.

9. Diane at http://horsebunny.blogspot.com/
She has a fun blog with fantastic ideas! Look around for her vinyl tee shirt. It's great!

10. Belinda at http://queenbeesmusings.blogspot.com/
Last, but my favorite! She is wonderfully talented. What I love most about her blog are her she weekly inspirational posts that are incredibly uplifting. She is an amazing person.

My Banner for the Cricut Expression 2 Design Challenge

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Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters!
Provo Craft is having a design contest for their HSN premiere of the new E-2 (not the anniversary edition) on Monday September 26th. They announced this contest way back in August, but I wasn't going to enter. On Saturday night, I decided that I was going to enter the contest. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! LOL! I worked on it most of Sunday and Monday, and here is my finished project. The only requirement was that the banner spell Cricut.
I sent it today by overnight, so at least it's on it way!

Here's the information on it.

 

Materials

 

Carts used:

Chic and Scary

Happy Hauntings

October 31st

CTMH Art Philosophy

Birthday Bash

Cricut Everyday

 

Extras:

Papers are from my stash (mostly K&Company and Recollections)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Frayed Burlap and Black Soot)

3D Crystal Lacquer

Martha Stewart Glitter

Stickles

Gauze

Feathers

Viva Decor Black Anthracite Pearl Pen

Tulle dyed with Tim Holtz Distress ink Spiced Marmalade refill

I-Rock and I-Rock Metallic Gems

Pop Dots, Terrifically Tacky Tape, Zots, Glue Dots and MS Decoupage Gel

For the first pennant, I used the Bug Head from Cricut Everyday and dressed him with a mask from Teresa Collins' Chic and Scary. I used a harlequin paper from K&Company, then added Metallic gems with my I-Rock. I added some feathers and used pop dots to raise the mask up on my little bugs face. I should note that before I packed the banner up, I added more feathers. I think it looked better, but I forgot to take a picture. The flower is from Close To My Heart Art Philosophy. If you haven't ordered this one yet, contact my good friend Belinda at CTMH . She is a great rep! I embellished the flower with two flowers from my Prima stash, some colored wire that I curled and a stick pin from my stash. I used some Black Soot Distress Ink on it, then put a dab of green stickles on my finger and rubbed it on the flower. The mat on this pennant and the last pennant is from Happy Hauntings. I used my Gypsy to hide the contours and cut the image on Recollections paper. I sponged some Frayed Burlap Distress Ink on to the paper. I also roughed up some tulle, then used Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink Refiller to dye it. I adhered it under the mat for some shabby goodness.

Next are the letter pennants to spell Cricut. I used Birthday Bash to cut all the pennants. I alternated two pennants that I chose on this banner. I distressed all the pennants using a Tim Holtz Tonic Distressing Tool. Since I have zero talent in the sewing department, I doodled some "faux" stitches on p;all the pennants. I used the bug font from Cricut Everyday for my letters. I matted each of the letters with the Spider Web from Chic and Scary. I glossed them with 3D Crystal Lacquer and added Martha Stewart Onyx Glitter to them. They are very sparkly!
For the first letter "C", I used the Jack O'Lantern from Chic and Scary. I added some black cardstock to the back of it and glossed the eyes and mouth with Cyrstal Lacquer. I colored accented the Jack O'Lantern with some YR copics, just for fun. I think it added a little more dimension to it. The flower is Art Philosophy. It's the spiky flower. I added a prima flower as a base for it. Since I was going for a shabby look, I sort of mashed the flower up a bit. Did I mention how much I love this cartridge?

The letter "R" has two Ghosts from Chic and Scary. I popped them up and added Diamond Stickles to them around the edges and on a few choice spots on them. I was planning on leaving it at that, but decided it needed a little something extra. I added the word " Beware" from Happy Hauntings. I used a red copic to give it some color around spots on the edges.

Of course the pennant needed a Black Cat, so I chose the Cat from Chic and Scary. I used Crystal Lacquer on him to make him nice and shiny! Where there is a Black Cat on Halloween, there has to be a Witch. My Witch must have left in a hurry because she forgot her hat! The Witch's Hat is from Happy Hauntings. I distressed the edges of the hat with the Tonic Distressing Tool. I added Martha Stewart Onyx Glitter to the hat's band using Crystal Lacquer and popped the Spider up with a Pop Dot.

On the next letter "C", I went with my favorite cut on the Happy Hauntings Cartridge. The Witch's Boot. To make it look like the boot was laced, I added some Divine Twine and tied a little twine bow on it. Another flower from Art Philosophy with some gauze and twine finish this pennant.

I used the Bat and Witch from Chic and Scary on the Letter "U". I popped them both up on the pennant. I only wanted a touch of glitter on the Bat, so I used Crystal Lacquer on the edges, then sprinkled some Martha Stewart Sugar Plum glitter on it. This glitter is from a Halloween set I picked up last year on clearance. It is purple in the container, but took on a green hue when applied to the black cardstock. Very cool. I wanted the Witch to really sparkle. so I used the Crystal Lacquer and 

Martha Stewart Hematite Glitter.

I went a little buggy for the letter "T".  I cut the Spider from Chic and Scary at various sizes and popped them on the pennant. I kept thinking they "needed" something but wasn't sure what it was until about an hour after I thought the banner was finished. These spiders needed eyes! I used my Viva Decor Pearl Pen to give them beady little eyes. Yuck! They look very cool with the paper.

The last pennant just may be my favorite. Since I dressed up the first bug, I wanted to do the same with the last one. I cut a bug head and another mask from Chic and Scary, but then decided I wanted something different for him. I took some gauze and dragged it across the top of my Frayed Burlap Distress Ink Pad. Using Martha Stewart Decoupage Gel, I wrapped my poor little bug up in the gauze. Boy was it messy! I tried to leave an opening so the mummy bug could see where he was going! I added some dimension to his eyes with the Viva Decor Anthracite Pearl Pen. The last flower is also my favorite, It's another Art Philosophy flower that I distressed with Black Soot ink and black stickles.

When it came time to string the pennants together, I wanted  to use gauze, but I was afraid it wouldn't be strong enough to hold the pieces, so I went with ribbon from my stash, and then tied some gauze in between the pennants. It came together nicely.

So that is my last minute Halloween Cricut banner. I had some fun creating it, but I have one last photo to share.

This is why you should never wait until last minute to enter a contest or challenge!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Weekly Challenge

Weekly Challenge!

 

Every other week join us for “Challenge Friday” where we will announce a new creative challenge. We want you to feel inspired to use your supplies in new ways. Have fun with it! Check back often to see the beautiful entries from your Circle Friends . . . you are sure to leave with a desire to get cutting!

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Weekly Challenge #40: Glittery Card Sketch Challenge!

The Challenge: This week we want to see your interpretation of the following card sketch. Please include some kind of glitter or bling on your card.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include at least 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing. One entry per person, please.

How to Enter: Submit your entry using the InLinkz tool found at the bottom of this post. Please post your full name along with your entry. Entries are due by 9:00 pm MST on Thursday, September 15th, 2011.

Prize: This week the winner will win $25 in credit added to their Cricut.com account. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.

Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Friday, September 16th, 2011.

Hi Friends and fellow crafters! It has been a crazy week, so I am keeping my challenge post short and sweet. I used my Circut Close To My Heart Art Philosophy to cut the three large acorns. They are made from mulberry paper and the tops are made with SEI velvet paper. The medallion where the sentiment is stamped is also from CTMH Art Philosophy. I used green velvet SEI paper for the frame and K&Company paper for the background. I stamped the sentiment and embossed it with green Zing Embossing Powder. The mat for the three acorns is from the new Circle exclusive cartridge Sophie. I created a shadow with my Gypsy by copying the leaf frame and then hiding the leaf contours, so I was left with the shadow. I really like this frame. I used Prima papers for the mat and K&Company for the shadow. I used an acorn from the Imagine Cart Enjoy The Seasons as an accent on the sentiment. I glittered it with stickles. I also glittered the gems on the corner of the card with Cinnamon stickles.

I stamped Andrea Acorn by Kraftin' Kimmie and colored her with copics. I added some glitter on her dress using Atyou Spica Pens in clear and red. I also added some Cinnamon stickles to her cloak and necklace. The pictures sadly don't do the glitter justice.

I love Autumn, I love the crisp weather and the colors of nature. I made this card for a family friend who's birthday just passed and I didn't get the card in the mail on time. The sentiment says "Aw Nuts, I Missed Your Birthday"

I love Kraftin' Kimmie stamps and they are some of my favorites to use with my Cricut cuts on cards.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

God Bless America

Never Forget

Thank you to the men and women who ran into the buildings on September 11. 2001, to those who came out, to those who didn't.

Thank you to the men and women who have been protecting our freedom these past 10 years and all those who have protected us all the years before.

Thank you to those who are sick today because they spent so much time at Ground Zero looking for those who were murdered so that the victim's families could have some closure.

I will never forget what it was like when I went back to work a week later and saw the trucks driving past my building with pieces of the Towers twisted and smoldering on their backs.

I will never forget the smell

I will never forget the posters of the missing

I will never forget the people I knew and those I came to know because I saw their pictures for weeks on my office building

I will never forget....

Not Ever

May we never see another day of such pain and horror

God Bless America

Cricut Circle August Magazine Challenge

Hi friends and fellow crafters! I have decided to make better use of the Circle Membership and try to participate in more challenges. I figure it's a great way to use some of my stash and win prizes! This is my entry into the August Circle Magazine Challenge.

 From the Cricut Circle Blog:

AUGUST MAGAZINE CHALLENGE

 AUGUST COSMO CRICKET CHALLENGE!

Cosmo Cricket has been with us from the beginning, so we are super excited about this contest. They always produce such fabulous product that fits perfectly with the Cricut and Cuttlebug machines. This month’s contest will be a fun way to put all of your favorite things together.

Contest Rules: Use any Cosmo Cricket product, at least three Cricut cuts, and any Cuttlebug folder. Contest will open on August 20th. Please upload a working link or picture of your project to the blog under the Magazine Challenge tab. One entry per person. Entry deadline is Friday, September 9th. The winner of this contest will receive $150.00 credit on Cricut.com! Don’t forget to take a high resolution picture so if you win, you can send it in for the Magazine!



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Materials:

Cricut Gypsy

Cricut Imagine

Cricut Cartridges - Blackletter, Country Carnival, Dude & Elmo's Party

Cosmo Cricket Paper

Dew Drops - Memento Rich Cocoa & Brilliance Cosmic Copper

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Fired Brick

Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Diamonds Folder

Viva Decor Gold Pearl Pen

Star Eyelets, Assorted Brads & Fibers

Colored Wires from Making Memories

3-D Crystal Lacquer

For the challenge, I used Cosmo Cricket Twist and Shout/Get Happy Paper. I picked this paper up when my LSS was closing over a year ago, and it was just waiting to be used! I had originally thought I would make a layout with it, but since I am scrapbook "challenged" I decided to go with a banner for my son's room. He is into Zeke and Luther on Disney, and he loves the X Games, so I wanted to make him something using Skateboarders. I used the Imagine Application in my Gypsy and Country Carnival to color and cut 3 skateboarders from the Dude Cartridge at 3.5 inches each.

Above is the star I used from Elmo's party. I loved the way it looked and it gave me a built in shadow!

I cut the stars from Elmo's Party at 7.75w by 6.75h. To make the shadow, I hid the inside layers and cut the stars using the Cosmo Cricket Twist and Shout side of the papers. Then I hid the outside layer and used the smaller layer as the mats. I used the Get Happy:Crush side of the Cosmo Cricket papers for the smaller stars. 

I cut Dan's name from Blackletter and flooded it with the harlequin paper from Country Carnival. I distressed the letters with the Memento Rich Cocoa and Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress Ink. I ran them through the Cuttlebug using the Diamond Embossing folder. I used the Memento Brilliance Dew Drop in Cosmic Copper over the embossing to give the letters some extra texture.

To embellish the stars I used the Memento Inks and Distress Ink. At the Circle Blog this month, they are running a series of posts called the ABC's of Scrapbooking. The September 2nd post was titled "E is for Eyelets". The post reminded me that there are so many different ways to use the eyelets I have, so I took some star eyelets and used them for embellishments around the skateboarders, along with using them to connect my stars.

I dug through my stash and found some great brads from Creative Imaginations Mara Johnson line, so I used them on the banner too. I used the gold Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add some extra embellishments to the letters.

I used the 3-D Crystal Lacquer on the Skateboarders for extra shine. I was cautious with it because I was afraid the Imagine ink would run, but it worked out well.

I used some EK Success Mega 3D-Dots to pop the skateboarders up. I have had this package of dots for what seem like an eternity, but always felt they were too big to use on cards. They worked perfect on the banner because it gives the skateboarders a feeling of height. I think the kids call it "Getting Big Air"  You can see how big these pop ups are in this picture. You can also see the colored wires that I used as embellishments on the skateboarders too. I created them by winding the different colored wires around a paint brush and attached them to the skateboarders. I used some fun fibers from my stash to connect the stars, but was afraid they were too light to hold the whole banner up, so I added black leather twine to the first and last star to take some of the weight off the fibers.

Here's one more look at the finished banner.

I had so much fun creating this for my son. He picked out the skateboarders himself! I wish that one day I can see him on a skateboard and not just watching from the sidelines.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen