Col's Creative Corner

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge - A Couple Of Valentine Treats

2012-02-14T18:49:00.003-05:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! Happy Valentine's Day to you all! Today I am sharing the treat bags and a fun lollipop arrangement I made for my son's class. I got this idea from Jillian Deiling Cassity's January 23rd post at the Cricut Circle Blog. If you aren't a Circle Member you can still check out her personal blog. I am entering this into the Cricut Circle blog's monthly challenge. This is the challenge info.

FEBRUARY MONTHLY CHALLENGE: Share the Love Challenge!

February is the month of LOVE. What better way to share your love with someone else than to take the time to create a handmade gift for them?! We challenge you to do just that!
The WINNER of this challenge will receive a $150 Credit to Cricut.com!

The Challenge: Create a handmade gift for a loved one using your Cricut machine(s).
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.
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 Wednesday, February 29th, 2012.
Prize: This month the winner will receive $150.00 in credit to Cricut.com.
Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Thursday, March 1st, 2012.

My son got a real kick out of this and his teacher loved it. It is so simple to make and it only cost about $2.00! LOL! The pail is a dollar find in Target and the Lollipops were 99 cents! Everything else was from my stash.
So I said it was simple and I wasn't kidding. I cut a flower from Flower Shoppe at 2 inches, used my Crop A Dile Big bite to punch a 1/8 hole in the center of the cuts. I went with the small hole because I didn't want to mess with glue. The hole was a just a bit smaller than the lollipop stick, so the flower stayed nicely without any adhesives. I did have to work the lollipop stick a bit through the hole, but it was easy. So the lollipop flowers were done in a flash. Here's a close up of them in the container.

The heart pick is from Smiley Cards, the digital cartridge that I got with my Gypsy ages ago. I have never used it prior to Saturday, but I think I'll investigate it further now. I am pretty sure I didn't fit the tongue in the correct spot, but it's cute in a goofy sort of way.

The two Robots are from one of my all time favorite cartridges, Robotz. I adore the cuts on this cart and have used it for so many different projects for my son's classes. They were cut at 4 inches height for the Robot and 4.67 height for the Robot Dog.

When I made my cuts, I made sure to have the cricut cut 2 shadows. I took a bamboo skewer and hot glued it between the two shadows so that they looked finished in the arrangement. Here's a shot of them from the side.

How do I love Robotz? Let me count the ways....
At least 6 more ways! LOL! I made a 5 inch tag using Tags, Bags, Boxes and More and another Robot cut a 4.5 inches for the Valentine Goody Bag. Using my computer, I printed out Greetings Valentine. I think the font is called Earwig Factory, funny right? I used lots of Distress Inks and Ranger Perfect Pearls on the edges of the tags. I dressed up the Robots with Viva Decor Perfect Pearl Pens in Black and Silver and made sure to add some stickles on each of them for some sparkle.
Here they are in progress. I had to look all over my table for one of the Robot's missing shoe. :-) It turned up eventually. It is a lesson for me to never walk away from the table unless all the pieces are adhered on to wear they are supposed to be!

Here they are finished. I filled the cello bags with some candy for my son's friends. There's one missing because it was in the fridge, one of his classmates cannot eat solid foods, so I always make sure to include a couple of yogurts for him. I just never remember to take them out for pics.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Birthdays Winner!

2012-02-11T13:28:00.001-05:00

Thank you all so much for the sweet comments on my blog! The winner of the Cricut Birthdays Book is Queen Bee who said:

Queen Bee Feb 1, 2012 04:06 PM

Gorgeousness! Thanks for the opportunity to win a great book-I've had my eye on it for a while:)

I hope you are going to love the book!

I don't have a post today because I don't want prying eyes to see what I have been working on! : -)

They will eventually be posted, but later!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Happy Birthday Cupcake! and Blog Candy Winner!

2012-02-01T17:53:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! I just want to express my sincerest gratitude for all the wonderful comments on my Heart Topiary. It meant so much to me to read all of them.
Now for the winner of my blog candy.

Sara who said:

This is wonderful!

Thank you Sara! Let me know which gift card you prefer and I'll get it in the mail to you!

My Mom has a wonderful friend who is celebrating her 89th birthday tomorrow. She is an amazing woman who is still independent and sharp as a tack. I will admit that I totally idolize her. I hope I can live to 89 and be just like her. We gave her a gift card to her favorite store, but I wanted to give her a little something extra. The Heart Topiary was out since my Mom laid claim to it, so I needed something else for Rosalie. I remembered that I wanted to recreate this adorable cupcake that was featured in Northridge Publishing's Cricut Birthdays Book. It is on page 114 and was created by one of my favorite DT members, Michele Kovack. I don't think she posted it on her blog, I wish she had so you could see how fabulous her card and cupcake are!

Here are the details:

Cricut Anniversary E-2 and Gypsy

Carts Used:

Cupcake - Flower Shoppe, Cindy Loo, Gypsy Wanderings and

Tags, Bags, Boxes and More

Card - Birthday Bash

Other Materials:

Styrofoam Ball

DecoArt Snow-Tex

Martha Stewart Glitter - Coarse and Fine Crystal

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Tea Dye

Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Tea Dye

Stampin' Up Stampin' Pad - Melon Mambo

Viva Decor Pearl Pen - Cream

Happy Birthday Stamp from Stampin' Up

Ribbon

Prima Tulle Flower

Skittles

Birthday Candle

K&Company Papers

Glossy Accents

Hot Glue Gun

Martha Stewart Decoupage Glue and Sealer

First I made the "cupcake". I know the Snow-Tex has a tendency to take a long time to dry. I brushed the Snow-Tex on the Styrofoam ball and set it to dry. I used a jar to sit it in while it was drying. While it was still wet, I sprinkled it with Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter.

Once half of it was dry, I repeated the process to cover the whole ball.
I cut the Butterfly Cupcake Wrapper on Cindy Loo at 3.20 Height. Then I used the hide contour feature to create a shadow base for the wrapper. Sorry, I forgot to get a picture of it. I took Distress Stain Tea Dye and dyed a ribbon with it. I brushed the ribbon with Martha Stewart Decoupage Glue and Sealer and sprinkled the MS Course Crystal Glitter on it. Once that was dry, I used some red tape to adhere it to the inside edge of the cupcake wrapper.

Sorry, the last picture doesn't show the shadow cut. I forgot to take a picture of it yesterday, so I "recreated" it for the blog today with a spare ribbon and wrapper. LOL! Once everything was dry, I hot glued the ball into the wrapper and decorated it.

For the wrapper, I cut a flower from Flower Shoppe at 2.12 inches width. and inked the edges. I bent the leaves and when I liked how they looked, I cut the edges of the leaves for interest. I used Glossy accents on the flower to adhere more MS Coarse Glitter. I had an extra center cut from another flower, so I used that as an accent. I added a twine bow and thought it looked sweet!

I added the candle and glued some pink and pearl skittles on the cupcake. I found a couple of butterflies that I had cut from Gypsy Wanderings when I made a Topiary last year in my stash, so I decided to put them to good use and decorate the cupcake with them. Michele Kovack used butterflies cut from the cupcake wrapper for her cupcake. Here's how it turned out.

And one final look at the cupcake

The card was a piece of cake to make! LOL! I used K&Company papers, lots of distress ink and MS Coarse Glitter. The card was cut from Birthday Bash at 6.50 inches high. I cut 4 of all the layers so that I could decorate the inside and the back of the card. I cut a small tag from Tags Bags Boxes and More and stamped it using Melon Mambo and a Stampin Up Birthday stamp. I decorated the bottom of the tag with some small pearls that were laying on my table. The inside sentiment is my own that I used my computer to print. For the front of the card, I used some lace and a beautiful tulle Prima flower from my stash to decorate it. I wrapped some twine around the candle for fun.

Inside of card

Back of card

This was a fun card to create and I really love how it turned out. It's similar to the one Michele Kovack created, but has my own touches on it. If you don't own the Cricut Birthdays magazine, it is a treasure trove of fun ideas. It's one of the Cricut Ideas Books I would recommend to my fellow Cricut crafters.

Thank you again for all your support and the wonderful comments you leave. They really make my day! I have ordered a copy of the Cricut Magazine for blog candy. Please leave a comment to be entered. I will be drawing a winner next Friday. I'm hoping it will arrive by then!

One final look at my version of Michele Kovack's Birthday set.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!
Colleen

Did you all see the DCWV booth at CHA?

2012-01-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

Holy Moly! If you haven't seen it here it is. Don't forget to stop by Die Cuts With A View blog here

They are having a giveaway!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Love Is In The Air Blog Hop

2012-01-27T23:59:00.002-05:00

Welcome to the Love is in the Air blog hop hosted by the very creative, Paulette from Around the Block with Scrapalette! You should have arrived here from the amazing Carolyn's blog. Didn't you just fall in love with her project! All the bloggers in today's hop are incredibly talented and I would hate if if you missed any of their crafts, so if you are just stopping by my blog today, you'll want to go back to Around the Block with Scrapalette and start at the beginning of the hop. Plus, you can enter to win blog candy. Don't we just love candy! LOL!
Today's blog hop is all about love and Valentine's Day. Why not go and grab a beverage, sit back and enjoy some Valentine's Day sweetness without all the calories!

Here's the Blog List:

Paulette from http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/

Dana from http://danascraftycorner.blogspot.com/

Beth from http://thunderbirdlindybydesign.blogspot.com/

Sis from http://papercraftscissors.wordpress.com/

Doreen from http://polkadotpaperprincess.blogspot.com/

Cindy from http://www.inlovewithpaper.blogspot.com/

Deb from http://www.queenmommy.com/

Michele from http://www.michelegreen.com/

Carolyn from http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com/

Colleen from http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth from http://www.217creations.com/
Sukie from http://www.scrappindhilly.blogspot.com/
Sharon from http://designsbysharon.blogspot.com/

Renee from http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/

Tammy from http://www.scrapcavecreations.com/

Brenda from http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/

Amy from http://scrap-pix.blogspot.com/

Jami from http://thepaperfarm.blogspot.com/

Terri from http://scrappinwiththebug.blogspot.com/

Meg from http://peacockpaperie.blogspot.com

My project is inspired by a walk around Michael's a couple of weeks ago. I saw all the Valentine decorations on the shelves and just had to browse them for ideas. There was a small Heart Topiary with some berries on it that I really liked. I thought, I could make something similar to that for my home. Since I am still on my self imposed spending ban and participating in the Using My Stash challenge, I went straight home with only some adhesives and got to work on my own Heart Topiary.

Here are the details:

Circut Anniversary E-2

Cartridges used - Love Struck and

CTMH Art Philosophy

Distress Inks - Tattered Rose,Victorian Velvet, Barn Door,

Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon, Dried Marigold

and Festive Berries

Clay Pot, Dowel and Styrofoam

White Acrylic Paint, Crackle Medium and Gloss Gel Medium

Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - Pink Ice

Martha Stewart Glitter - Garnet

Scotch Quick Dry Glue

Hot Glue Gun

Ribbon and Red Raffia

And finally, lots of patience!

I created my project using the Circut Craft Room. I wanted a heart that was open, yet simple in design. I couldn't find any on my cartridges, so I used a heart from Love Struck, then copied it and sized it to fit into the center. The smaller heart would act as a cut out. This gave me the heart base for my topiary which is 6.18 x 5.8 in size. I didn't want to make it too big as the only clay pot I had here was 4 inches.

Here's how it looked cut out on the mat.

Here they are off the mat with the center removed. Yes that was a cover for a DCWV paper stack. LOL! Told you I was using my stash.

I was going to cut paper to cover the hearts, then decided to run them through the Xyron machine and glitter them. I used Martha Stewart Glitter in Garnet. I sealed the hearts with Gloss Gel. This is how they turned out.

I hot glued a dowel I painted white to them, then hot glued them together.

For the flowers I used the Rose from Art Philosophy. If you don't already own this cartridge, you have to get it! It has everything you need to create the most beautiful projects, pages and cards. My wonderful crafting girlfriend Belinda is a Close To My Heart Representative and can order it for you. I started with roses sized at 2 inches. I used two 12 x 12 papers in cream and pink. The roses looked like this in the Cricut Craft Room.

Here they are cut.

I inked all the roses in the various Tim Holtz colors listed above, then started gluing and rolling them up.

After I was done with the first 25 roses, I realized that they were much smaller than I was anticipating and decided to cut more roses at 2.5 inches.

All totaled, I cut, inked and rolled about 100 roses. Here are some of them as I was working on them.

Using a quilling tool, I started out rolling them very tight. Then I decided to try making them a little more loose and just used my fingers to roll them.. Here are some examples of the roses. They are rolled in this order, tightest, medium tightness and loose. I used a pin to work the center of the rose to my preference.

Once I had all my roses cut, I placed them on the base to get a feel for how I wanted to position them. Once I had an idea of what I liked, I began hot gluing them to the hearts. The first side went nicely. About half way through hot gluing roses on the other side of the heart, I realized I hadn't cut enough roses and had to cut another sheet of 2 inch roses! Once they were inked and ready to go, I was able to finish the heart. This is what it looked like.

I took a clay pot that was hanging around here for ages, and painted it white. I used some crackle medium to add some interest to it. I sprayed Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Ice Pink on it to bring out the cracks and give it color. I coated it with the gloss gel to seal the Glimmer Mist. I like the effect of the Glimmer Mist with the crackle medium. Cool, right?

To finish the Topiary, I used some Styrofoam to attach the dowel and then added the Red Raffia. I hot glued a bow to each side, and declared this one FINISHED!

This Topiary took a few days to make, but in the end, it was worth it. I hope you are inspired to try one for yourself.

Now for some blog candy! If you want to make a Topiary like this, you might need some supplies. I am giving away a $10.00 gift card to Michael's or AC Moore, your choice. You don't need to be a follower, but please leave a comment and a way for me to contact you to be entered in the drawing. I will choose a name using Random.Org on Tuesday morning. If you are visiting from the Cricut Boards and don't want to leave your email, let me know you MB name and if your name is chosen, I can PM you for your details.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I hope you enjoy the rest of the blog hop. Your next stop on the hop is the very talented Elizabeth at 217 Creations. I know a fabulous project awaits you there! You are going to love her blog, it's one of my favorites!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Coming Soon!

2012-01-24T18:20:00.001-05:00

Hope you can jon us for some Valentine's Day fun!

My first Cricut Craft Room Project!

2012-01-15T21:08:00.001-05:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!
I hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend! I am attempting to re-organize my craft room as part of my New Year's resolution to become better organized. Now that my two soaps are gone, (yes, I watched All My Children and One Life To Live) I now have an extra 10 hours a week to get it done!
Thursday afternoon I was cleaning out my paper shelves, and I came across my wireless adapter that I ordered quite some time ago for my Cricut Expression 2. Being of short attention span, I quickly forgot about the papers I was trying to organize and went about the business of seeing if I could get my wireless to cut something using the Cricut Craft Room. I placed it in the machine, couldn't get it to work, called Comcast, our Internet provider, who having no clue what I was asking about, told me to call Provo Craft. So I did, and a rep told me she didn't think the adapter was compatible with the WEP channel I was using on my router. So I did the only thing I could do, I messed with the router settings. Naturally, I had disastrous results. I ended up losing my lap top's connection. Again, I did the only thing I could do, I attempted to fix it. LOL! Not a good idea. I spent 5 hours trying to get my connections re-established. I call NetGear only to find that my router is 1 year old, so no longer covered by any warranty, but I can get the Gear Head service.....for a price. Yeah, for $89.95 I could get unlimited assistance with my router and other computer problems. I could have paid $39.95 for a 1 time issue fee, or $69.95 for 6 months worth if assistance, nah, I took the 1 year option because I can say with much certainty, I will be calling them again. LOL! After spending about an hour on the phone with the Gear Heads, my Internet was running again and he explained that the adapter would work just fine with the router. He did admit that he wasn't sure what a Cricut was, but he thought he could get it to work. LOL! It was late, and my son was getting tired of sharing me with the computer, so I said I would call back in the morning. Friday morning, I went to my Expression to see if it would connect, and it did! I didn't have to call the Gear Heads, it was a happy moment in my craft room! I didn't have the chance to use the Cricut Craft Room, but yesterday, I finally created something.
Anyone who follows Tim Holtz knows that he was giving previews of his new products for the Winter CHA this week. I am still on my spending ban and I knew I shouldn't even look, but I did. I love his products enough to ~~test~~ torture myself! I was OK, until I saw his On The Edge Sewing Die This is my type of die-cut. I was motivated to see if I could create a version of it using the Cricut Craft Room, and went to work on it.
I used several carts to create my version. Art Nouveau for the base, which can be welded to a page later. The scissors are from Cricut Everyday, the spool is from Country Life, the buttons are from Paisley and Wild Card. I couldn't find a bobbin, so I used a circle from Country Life, copied it, then re-sized the copy and copied that 4 more times to make the holes in the bobbin. Clear as mud, right? Here's how it looked in the CCR. The two colors are actually layers that cut as different mats.

Here's how it cut.

Below is my rough draft, I was just messing around with the pieces to get an idea of how they would look.

I went with a real button to see if I would like it. The jury is still out on a real button. I think it's just the button I used, it was a reject from a layout and laying on my table, so I grabbed it.
I was so pleased with my version of Tim Holtz's Die Cut. I want to tweak the spool of thread, but for now I will keep this one. I have been wanting to make a mini book about crafting and this will be included.
One problem I did encounter is that when I originally tried cutting it, I couldn't establish a good connection between the CCR and my machine, I realize now it was because I didn't have a cartridge in the machine. silly me! Well, I figured I would cut it as a Gypsy file, and imported it to my Gypsy, but when I opened the file, nothing was welded and the design was all over the place. I don't know if I missed something in the save, or if it's a glitch. I'll try another file and see what happens. If anyone knows why this occurred, let me know. I'd be very grateful!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Paper...

2012-01-08T15:04:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! I hope everyone has been enjoying the possibilities the New Year is bringing to us all! We have started to take down our Christmas decorations and that has made me feel kind of sad. Our front yard is now a wasteland. No more lighted deer or spiral trees, no little white ducks, no gigantic snow globes, soldiers or Snoopy santas (yes, I like the blow up decorations and I won't apologize for the pure joy they bring me! Ha-ha!) no colored lights on the bushes and porch. It's a sad sight. I needed a pick me up and quick! I was rummaging through my scrapbook papers, which always makes me happy, and found some paper from when I first started scrapbooking. I can still remember picking it up in AC Moore and knowing that I had to have it. I took it home, couldn't figure out what to do with it, and sent it to the wasteland that is my paper stash. It hasn't been seen since November of 2007. Until yesterday. I love all things Dr. Seuss, and the Grinch is by far my favorite. I think what happened to this poor piece of EK Success love was, being so new to scrapbooking, I had no clue what to do with this paper. It wasn't a solid color, it wasn't even a print, it was a paper with a theme design. I still am not sure how to describe these papers. LOL! I know, I was clueless on how to design with it. You know these papers, the ones that have quotes or designs, like my Grinch paper. I've picked up papers like this before and then stored them all away. I must have found 10 different papers like this in just one paper pile, oops, I mean stack. I then decided that I had to use the paper, and issued a challenge to my fellow Using My Stash thread members. Create something from your stash using a paper or even an embellishment that you have had since, well, forever! So I set the Grinch on my table and looked at him. I took some lights down from my windows and looked at him. I them turned to my little curio cabinet and a light bulb appeared over my head. I should use the paper to showcase my collection of Grinches. I have bigger pieces around for Christmas, but most of my favorites are ornaments my beloved Aunt Dorothy gave me very year starting in 1997 until she passed away in 2009. My DH has picked up where she left off, and gets me something Grinch related now. My sweetie...

I took a few pictures, printed out the one I liked, and left it next to the paper. I looked at it, and walked away. I was still befuddled as to how to use the paper! Four and a half years into paper crafting and I was drawing a blank on it. LOL! Then my son did something that I was too blind to consider, he dropped a bling star on the corner of the paper and walked away. This time I stayed and started the page. Everything is from my stash. The cardstock is Recollections. The ribbon at the bottom of the page is from Prima. I picked it up on clearance in Michael's a couple of years ago. I used my Martha Stewart Snowflake Punches create the picture border. I added some bling from my stash to the snowflakes. I still have issue using these punches. I always end up having spaces and gaps on the sides. I covered up on gap with a Grinch I had printed out from Michael's The Knack last year. I colored him with copics. I used some Crinkled ribbon that I got from scrapinkris on etsy to anchor the Grinch down and cover the unfinished bottom. Kris is one of the DT members for the Cricut Blogs and her Crinkled Ribbons are gorgeous. I was glad I ordered them before my spending ban. LOL! I was surprised at how much a difference the ribbon made. See the pics below:

Grinch with the ribbon anchor

Grinch without the ribbon anchor

I also used the Crinkled ribbon to make a bow, then I cut a heart tag from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More to use as a journaling tag. I attached it with a link from 7 Gypsies. I used my Sophie Cartridge to make the doilies that I used to embellish the bottom of the page. The green swirls are brad that I have also had since 2007. They came from QVC, back in the day when QVC still had scrapbooking shows.

I used Distress Ink on the cuts, then added some Ice Stickles to the edges. I also added a little sparkle to the Grinch that is part of the page with the Ice Stickles. Finally, I added two more stars to the one my son dropped on the paper that started the layout.

Considering I really had no idea what to do with the paper for over 4 years, I think the layout turned out ok.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Why not dig through your old papers and create something too!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Weekly Challenge #48: Creative Resolutions for 2012 Challenge!

2012-01-05T22:24:00.000-05:00

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!

Weekly Challenge #48: Creative Resolutions for 2012 Challenge!

The Challenge: Whenever the New Year rolls around, we tend to do a little self-evaluation and decide what we want to do differently in the year to come. For the challenge this week, we want you to think about your CREATIVE resolutions and record them in some way. Do you want to stretch your creativity in new ways? Maybe you want to try a new hobby or learn something new. Maybe you want to simplify. Whatever it is, get those goals down on paper! Jennifer Yates has a sample of her project below.

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, January 5th, 2012.

Prize: We will select one winner to receive $25 in credit added to their Cricut.com account. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.

Winner: The winners will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Friday, January 5th, 2012.

Hi friends and fellow crafters! I decided last minute to enter the weekly challenge at the Circle Blog this week. I have a few crafty resolutions and one of them is to enter the blog challenges as often as I can. I would also like to try to get a project published in one of the many magazines I subscribe to. I think that would be a blast! My biggest resolution is to Use My Stash! I have waaaay too much stuff. I created this 12x12 scrapbook page in honor of the first round of Using My Stash 2012 thread at the Circle. I participated in two rounds last year and loved it. It kept me within a budget and I found I was very inspired by my fellow participants. When January 1st came around, we decided to start a new round and have some very talented crafters enjoying creating great projects with our stash.

All the paper is from K&Company. I have had this stack for so long, that the cover fell off, so I don't even know what line it's from! LOL!

I used my Gypsy to design the page, The letters are from Kate's ABCs, the copic marker, scissors, glitter bottle and the fun phrase on the picture are from Cricut Everyday. The heart mat is from Elegant Edges. The journaling mat is from Paper Trimmings.

I'm sorry about the blurry picture, my camera was not co-operating this evening. I just had to point out that Paper Hoarder phrase. It is so me!

I love the little copic marker! I have many of them in my stash and enjoy using them as much as I can!

I am thinking I might want to make a couple of more resolution pages since this one was so much fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T15:52:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to my Friends and fellow Crafters! I can't believe a whole month has gone by since my last post. I was so busy enjoying the holiday season and didn't want to pressure myself this year, that my poor blog was neglected. We had a wonderful Christmas here in NJ and I hope everyone had the happiest, healthiest holidays where you are too! I was crafting when I wasn't doing the decorating, cleaning, cooking, baking, chauffeuring, and the shopping, so I am going to share some of this seasons newest creations that I have been working on this week and over the weekend.
Here are my Lili Of The Valley cards:

Here's another Lili Of the Valley, how I love these stamps!

And finally, one of my favorites. I used the Cricut New Testament cartridge and my Imagine for the sentiments. This is a wonderful cartridge.

I also used my Imagine and Santa's Village for a couple of cards.

How cute is this snowman? How about those mats? I finally picked up some Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss paper. I found it on clearance in Michael's for $6.00 in December. Nice! I used the new Cricut Circle Cartridge Paper Trimmings for the mats.

I'm pretty sure the mat is from Elegant Edges, I ran it through the vagabond using a Tim Holtz folder.
I am proud that I used only items from my stash and I kept the designs similar so that I was able to create more cards than I usually do.

I have a couple of resolutions for my crafting along with my personal resolutions. I hope to use more of what I have and spend less on supplies that I already own. I still have a couple of pieces of the K&Company Berry Sweet stack that I need to use up. I broke my resolve to not buy paper until I had used that stack all up, but considering I started my challenge in March and didn't buy any paper until December, that's not too bad. Another resolution? I want to get my craft room organized. It was cleaned over the holiday, so it went from this:

To this:

Notice the stack of paper on the table? All Christmas paper....I didn't buy any paper this year until the day when Michael's had the $7.99 stack sale. I only bought a package of paper, so I managed some sort of self-restraint. LOL! Inside the box under that stack? More paper and a bunch of stickers, rub-ons, and other assorted Christmas embellies. As part of my crafting resolutions, I would like to make a couple of Christmas cards and layouts during this year and use some of it up. Finally, I am also resolving to finish projects that have been started and abandoned.

Thanks for the wonderful comments I have received over this past year and for stopping by my blog! I pray we all have a wonderful year of good health, happiness, prosperity, and lots of laughter! May all our trials be light and our homes filled with good times!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Weekly Challenge #46 Flower Fusion Challenge

2011-12-06T20:41:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters. This is my entry for the Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge.

Weekly Challenge #46: Flower Fusion Challenge!

The Challenge: We all have them in one form or another . . . flowers! Most of the time we buy them in a package, use a few, tuck them away and then forget that we have them. This week’s challenge we want you to shop your stash and incorporate purchased flowers into your project, whether it’s a card, layout, home decor item, etc. Be sure to include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts on your project.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 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, December 8th, 2011.

This was an easy one for me because I have a ton of flowers. I love my paper flowers so much that my sweet Husband buys me Primas on Birthdays and Holidays. LOL!
Like most of my fellow crafters, (I'm guessing) I am still making Christmas cards. This is one I made with my Imagine, my Gypsy using the Imagine Application and I finally played around in the Cricut Craft Room. That's how I created the Elegant Edges Loop Border on the top of the card.

The Details:

Cricut Gypsy and Imagine

Santa's Village, Christmas Wish and Snow Angel Imagine Art Cartridge,

Christmas Cheer, Joys Of The Season and Elegant Edges

Stickles, Tinsel Ribbon, Glitter Flowers, Ribbon,

Stamps from CTMH and Whiff Of Joy

Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise Ink

This is one of my Mom's favorite cards so far. I admit, the Yeti is the sole reason I picked up Santa's Village. I loved the feel of this cartridge, but was willing to wait until later to order it, that was UNTIL I saw the Yeti. My favorite character in Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is the Bumble, and this guy was the closest die cut I have seen to him. I ordered it as soon as I could. LOL! One the cartridge arrived here, I couldn't wait to make something with him. I had been playing around with my Imagine application and had just made the Sleigh using Christmas Wish and Christmas Cheer. I also had an extra border that I had made in the Cricut Craft Room laying on my table. I had the background paper cut from another project that I had used the Snow Angel cartridge for. This background paper was too big for my project, but the perfect size for the card. It all just came together so nicely. My snowflakes on the front and inside are from Joys Of The Season. This is where my flower requirement came in. I've had these pretty glitter flowers in a tin forever. They were attached by a magnet glued to the tin and hanging above my craft table. I was "saving" them for who knows what? I had made the front of the card and was trying all these Prima Flowers on it, but nothing suited it. That was when I saw the tin and knew they would be perfect. I had the sentiment stamped already and just added some ink and stickles to the edges. That was when the stickles bomb blew up, and the next thing I knew, there were stickles everywhere! I even stickled the Yeti! LOL! It's a little hard to see in the pics, but it's there! I included the one buy I made on Black Friday, some tinsel ribbon from Michael's. It's pretty cool across the loop border from Elegant Edges.. I will definitely be on the lookout for this during the clearance sales. I want a few more colors, but I am trying to stay close to the spending ban. So far, no paper, a few cartridges, and some Distress Stains. Not too bad. I am still getting over my Stamp buying spree a few weeks ago. LOL!

The snowflakes are popped up. The flowers are sweet, aren't they? Here's the inside of the card. I used a Whiff Of Joy Sentiment, a Joys Of The Season Snowflake that was in my snowflake stash, some ribbon and another Glitter Flower. I'm pretty sure the paper is my My Mind's Eye, it was alone in a pile of Christmas Paper from last year. I could be wrong....

I think I may make a couple more of these. It's a cute card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope everyone has been enjoying the Christmas holiday season so far. We have been busy trying to get our decorating and shopping done, but having some fun at the same time. I pray all my family, friends and crafting friends are happy and healthy throughout the Holidays!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Lili Of The Valley Anything Goes - Challenge 122

2011-11-28T10:13:00.001-05:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters! Today's Christmas card is another Lili Of The Valley Stamp and I have finally decided to try to enter one of their challenges. This is for the Anything Goes Challenge at Lili Of The Valley Challenge Blog
This image is called Carol Singing and is from last year's Christmas collection. I colored it with copics and used some Sparkly fluff on the hats and snow. I found the Jolee's corner snowflake stickers in my stash and since I am trying to stop hoarding my supplies, I added them on the image. They look really cute on the card.

I wanted to bring an element from the image onto the card and chose the lamp post. I used my Circut Circle Cartridge, Pop Up Neighborhood, to cut the lamp post. I added some sparkle to it with 3-D Crystal Lacquer and Martha Stewart Glitter. I found the Jolee's wreath sticker with a whole stash of Christmas stickers, and decided it would be the perfect accent for the lamp post.

Once again, I used the Close To My Heart Acrylix stamp from the Art Philosophy bundle for the sentiment on the front of the card. Inside the card, I used a computer generated sentiment and decorated it with a Sandylion sticker. All the papers on the card are from K&Company's Christmas collections that I had in my stash.

I really want to make a couple more of these, but I have challenged myself to use as many of my Christmas stamps as I can this year, so no doubles for me.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Blog Weekly Challenge

2011-11-24T11:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! On a day when we are all so thankful for the amazing gifts life gives us, our families, friends, the gift of laughter, love and health. I am also thankful for the gift of creativity. I am the only one of my family and friends who crafts, so I am thankful for the crafting community that I discovered through the world of blogs and message boards. It's a world full of inspiration and wonderful people that enjoy sharing ideas and support.

3-=Weekly Challenge #45: Run for the Border Challenge!

The Challenge: Borders can be simple & sweet, elegantly detailed, masculine, or playful . . . and they can be that perfect final touch to add to your project. We want you to make a run for the border . . . your Cricut Borders, that is. Create a projects of your choice and include a Cricut Border cut somewhere on your project. Be sure to include atleast 2 Total Cricut Image Cuts on your project.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 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, November 24th, 2011.
Prize: We will select one winner to receive $25 in credit added to their Cricut.com account. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.
Winner: The winners will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Friday, November 25th, 2011.

This is a short post today. I wanted to enter this week's Circle Challenge and had a great idea for my submission, unfortunately, it was taking a little longer than I hoped, and I knew last night that I would not finish it in time. Back when the Imagine was introduced by PC, I didn't think I wanted or needed it, it turns out I was wrong. It's a great machine that is loads of fun to play with. Here is my submission for challenge

The Details:

Imagine Machine

Carts:

Santa's Village Imagine Cart, Imagine Basic Shapes, Elegant Edges

Joys Of The Season, Christmas Cheer

The Extras

Kraft Paper, Paper from my stash, Rub-on sentiments,

Stickles, Distress Inks

"Inchie"

The card started as my playing with Santa's Village to see what the paper looks like I took a basic shape from the Imagine and printed it green. Then I made the shape slightly smaller and printed the Merry Christmas Paper. I printed out Santa in layers. I love this cut, he reminds me of the old Coke Santa. I used some stickles to outline the cuts. I used the border from Elegant Edges for my border as required in the challenge. The sentiment is a rub-on from Little Yellow Bicycle that has been around in my stash for a couple of years! I thought it looked nice over the border.

Does anyone from the Circut boards who might be stopping by remember the Inchie swapping madness? That is where the two embellies on the card are from. The Santa Hat is made by me. I used Joys Of The Season for the Santa hat and Christmas Cheer for the inchie square. I really wish I knew3 who made the second scalloped square inchie. It only had a number on the back. I have held on to my inchies and every so often break them out to use on a card or page. So thank you to the Cricut crafter who created this inchie! LOL!

The inside if the card is a cut from Elegant Edges. I printed a computer created sentiment on the smaller cut and then kept my fingers crossed that the cut would be centered on the Imagine. It wasn't the first two times, but I got it right the 3rd time. The flower is from my stash.

Here is a close up of Santa.

I love how this card turned out. I can tell just from playing around with Santa's Village that it is going to be a favorite!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Thank you for following me and for all your blogs that I visit for inspiration!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Tis The Season

2011-11-16T08:06:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends and fellow crafters! I hope everyone stopping by the blog over the next few weeks likes Christmas Cards! Something tells me I'll be posting alot of cards! Maybe I should just change the name of my blog to Col's Christmas Cards Corner! LOL!

The Details:

Cricut E-2 and Gypsy

Cricut Cartdridges- Sophie and unknown

Vagabond

Cuttle Embossing Folders: Swiss Dots and Snowflakes

Nestability Die Cut

Lil Of The Valley Stamp

Close To My Heart: My Acrylix Celebration stamps

Copics

Prismas

Prima Flowers

Stickles

Martha Stewart Silver glitter

I was clearing off the ~~mess~~ table after making my Christmas Tree the other day and found this image stamped and ready to go between a couple of piles of papers. I adore Lili Of The Valley stamps and have many of these sweet characters in my stamp collection. This one is called Angel Gabriel and can be found here along with 99 other wonderful Christmas Stamps. I must have had a plan for this image because it was already cut with a Nestability. I matted the image with a piece of Christmas paper from My Minds Eye, Wonderful Winter Glittered Paper. It had been so long since I used my Nestabilities that it took me a couple of passes through the Vagabond before I realized that I needed to put a cardboard shim under the die cut! I love the shape of that particular die cut, but the largest nestability I have for it was the mat on the image, so I pulled out my Gypsy and opened the Cricut Circle Cartridge, Sophie up. I found almost exactly the same shape was on my cartridge! This became the whole card. I cut a card at 11 and 1/2 inches, then created 2 more mats. I realized that I will never have to use a nestability again! It's almost impossible to tell which is the Nestability and which is the Cricut Sophie cut.
As I was looking at Angel Gabriel, I started to think that it has been ages since I've colored with my Prisma Pencils. I discovered Copics shortly after buying a set of Prismas, and was blinded by my love of the markers. LOL! I started coloring the little shepherd boy with the Prismas but didn't have a good skin color, so I pulled out a couple of copics. I love the little shepherd, he reminds me of Linus with his blanket wrapped around his head in A Charlie Brown Christmas. When I went to color the sweet little Angel, I couldn't find the colors I had in mind, so I went with BG0000, BG000, BG02 and BG10 to color her. I used Platinum Stickles on her halo and some Diamond stickles on the snow, the stars and the Angel's wings. The image ended up becoming a hybrid of Primas and Copics. I think it turned out cute.

I ran the layers through the Vagabond using my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Snowflakes folders to add some texture to the card, and finished it off with some Prima Roses that I had in my stash. I was tempted to break out my Flower Shoppe cartridge for this card, but I really want to use up some of the hundreds of Prima flowers I have. I think they look pretty.

For the inside of the card, I found a couple of white stars on the table, so I glittered them with MS Silver glitter. I layered them in an alternate pattern and popped them up for some height. I stamped the sentiment, and added some Aqua Stickles around the edges of the Cricut cut. I love the stamp set that came along with my Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cartridge. My wonderful online crafting friend, Belinda, is a CTMH consultant, so if you are still haven't ordered this cartridge, stop at her CTMH blog, here and see what it's all about! Belinda provides great customer service and is also a talented crafter! The stamps are a dream to use, too!

So many cards, so little time! Next year, I will start my Christmas card creating in January!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

My Own Personal Challenge

2011-11-13T20:21:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! Did you ever feel like challenging yourself to try something new? Yesterday, I was looking at my ~~mess~~ craft table and decided that I was going to make a card using only what was sitting there. I went with a Christmas card since the card making season is upon us! Here's what I came up with:

Everything on this card are left overs from the Circle Challenge card. I almost tossed the strips out in the garbage, but decided against it. The bird was cut when I accidentally enlarged it on the Gypsy and didn't realize it until I cut it with my Cricut. I added some Jolees crystals that were on my table to the strips.

The sentiment was going to be the one for the inside of the challenge card, but I tossed it aside and cut the sentiment with my Cricut. I dressed it up with an extra border I had, and a couple of bronze skittles. I also used the skittles on the front of the card. I added the hearts to the other side of the card for fun, and used some Distress Stickles in Rock Candy on it. It's hard to see the Rock Candy, but it has a real nice effect on the hearts.

So that is my quick card. It's pretty cool that this

turned into this

The best part is that the card only took me about 20 minutes to put together once I had the idea. I know I saw something similar in one of my magazines, but for the life of me, can't remember which one! I hope you enjoy my left over card! Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Monthly Magazine Challenge

2011-11-11T13:11:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends and fellow crafters! Can you believe it's Veteran's Day already? My Dad and my Uncles were all veterans, so I always try to remember the true reason for today. It's not just great sales, it's about great American Soldiers and all they, and their loved ones sacrifice for us. Thank you to all the Vets that have kept my Country, my fellow Americans, other countries and their citizens, and my loved ones all safe from harms way! God Bless you all.

OCTOBER MAGAZINE CHALLENGE!

Who's feeling lucky today? It's 11/11/11!
I hope I am one of the lucky today and win the magazine challenge at Cricut's Circle Magazine Challenge! Anyone who owns a Cricut knows $150.00 credit will go a loooong way towards some great cartridges and crafting happiness!

OCTOBER SKETCH CONTEST!

We are so excited about our new sketch section in the Circle Magazine that we want to get you in on the action! Use this month’s sketch on page 9 and 10 of the October Issue to create your own masterpiece. It can be a card, layout, decor item, or whatever you are inspired to create.
Contest Rules: Use this month’s sketch and at least 3 Cricut cuts to create your project. Contest will open on October 22nd. Please upload a working link or picture of your project to the blog under the Magazine Challenge tab. Please, one entry per person. Entry deadline is Friday, November 11th. The winner of this contest will receive $150.00 credit to Cricut.com!

My details:

Cricut Imagine and Gypsy

Cricut carts: Snow Friends, Christmas, Flower Shoppe,

Celebrate With a Flourish, Ribbons and Rosettes and

Imagine Celebrate The Seasons

Vagabond and Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing folder

My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas Paper and K&Company Christmas Papers

SEI Red Velvet paper

Tim Holtz Ticket Stamp

Tim Holtz Distress Inks: Iced Spruce, Festive Berries,

Evergreen Bough and Gathered Twigs

Tim Holtz Crackle Paint: Rock Candy

Stickles: Aqua, Gold, Diamond and Orange

Viva Decor Pearl Pen: Anthracite

Glimmer Mist: Spring Rain

Assorted gems from my stash

I am so behind on Christmas Cards. Thank goodness I made a few back in July for the Christmas in July online swarm! LOL! This card will go to a friend of mine who is a true snowman lover! Since the sketch we are following were two cards that are in the online Circle magazine, I'll tell you what I thought were the components for it. The three components from it for my card are the wreath, which on the sketch is a circle component. The Heart, which is a heart on the sketch, and the snowman which is am image of your choice for the sketch, I also think the border was a component, but I'm not 100% sure, so I used one anyway. Better safe than sorry!

I love the snowmen on Snow Friends, so I decided to use one on my card. I was lucky in July online swarm, and won a great My Minds Eye paper stack courtesy of Sara on the Cricut Circle boards. I loved the snowflake paper in it and wanted to use that as my background on some kraft paper. I broke my spending ban, (although not the paper ban part of it) and ordered the new Tim Holtz Autumn and Winter limited edition Distress Inks, so I figured I had better use them. I inked the flower from Flower Shoppe, and a Tim Holtz Ticket stamp. The colors are amazing. If you are a distress ink fan like myself, my advice is to grab 'em while they are out!

I have to say that I am a major paper flower maniac, and the I can't get enough of these flowers. My Prima flowers have been collecting dust since I was given this cartridge!

The border was cut from Ribbons and Rosettes, it's a pretty Christmas Tree. I can't wait to try the Rosette that matches this cut! I tied some twine around the border for fun.

The heart was made by following a technique from Tammy Tutterow's Blog which was a debossing technique using Crackle Paint in Rock Candy. I am obsessed with this technique and have so many ideas running through my head for it. I used a studio G stamp to lightly stamp "I Believe" on the heart, but I am thinking about going back and making it darker, I still haven't decided. The Rock Candy Crackle paint doesn't translate well on the pictures, but it looks really cool.

I used a wreath from Christmas as the Circle component. I found some green and red gems on my desk and used them as berries. I like this wreath and have to remember that it's in my Gypsy so that I'll use it again.

The inside of the card is a shape from my Imagine Machine and a color pattern from Celebrate The Seasons. I cut Let It Snow from Celebrate With A Flourish and used that as my sentiment.

I really enjoyed this challenge, and I hope my girlfriend enjoys this card! So all that's left for me to do is to link it up and hopefully this will be my lucky day! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Some Halloween Fun

2011-11-02T13:40:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends and fellow Crafters!
I know these are a few days late, but I wanted to share a couple of Halloween projects that I made. Back a few posts, I entered a couple of cupcake treat boxes in the cuttlebug challenge on the Cricut Circle blog. I loved them so much that I made these fun treat boxes for my son's class at school for Halloween. If you have a Cricut and do not own Sweet Tooth Boxes I highly recommend this cartridge. I am always sending something into school or to my Mom's friends, so this really comes in handy for packaging them in fun ways.
I like that you don't have to only put cupcakes in them, either.

One of my son's classmates cannot eat solid foods, but I know he can have Yogurt. I was able to make him a treat box and put a Yoplait in it for a near perfect fit. Sorry for the sloppy picture, I didn't realize the holder was not flat. I fixed it right before I left to deliver them to the class. Isn't the bat fun? He was easy to put together. I used the bat from Hello Kitty Greetings, hid the contours and resized the wings. After the wings were cut, I did the same thing again only this time I resized his nose and eyes. For his fangs, I just hand cut a couple of triangles. I made the bow with the cuts from the Ghosts. Here is the original post for anyone interested. I am already working on the Thanksgiving design for the next batch of cupcakes. LOL!
I also wanted to make a little something for my neighbor's 8 year old son and this is what I came up with.

It was hard to get a good picture of the container. I used an empty Utz Pretzel Rod container and added some cuts from Mini Monsters and Bump In The Night. I filled it with some candy, hot wheels, popcorn and a card.
The card is my favorite. I saw a card with the sentiment Greetings From Your Closet on page 64 of September's Cardmaker magazine. I thought the Greeting was adorable and it was perfect for the Bump In The Night cartridge monsters.
I used a door from the Wildcard Cartridge and added some glitter to the panels. Since it was a Halloween card, I wanted to grunge it up a little, so I used Gold Crackle Paint and brushed it over the glitter and door. I cut a sign from Freshly Picked, then made some cuts into it and ran it through the vagabond. I distressed it and used distress ink to age it. The word Greetings is cut from Winter Woodland. I cut all the monsters from Bump In The Night. I really love that cartridge.

The inside of the card is also Bump In The Night. The sentiment actually says "In your closet" but I altered it by cutting the word "In" off and adding "From" to the phrase. I found the word on the Sentimentals cartridge. I added a bat sticker that I had in my stash to cover the hole left by the word "In". I didn't sign the card from us, but did address the card to our neighbor's son. I added a "wall" to the back of the card, just to make it look like the door is in a room. I also used distress ink on that, too.

My neighbor knew immediately where the bucket came from, as did her son. I think the handmade card gave me away!
I hope everyone that celebrates Halloween had a fun day!
Now it's time to take down the decorations and get ready for Thanksgiving, It's so hard to believe how fast this year has gone.....

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Monthly Challenge Home Decor

2011-10-21T16:29:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! Wow, Halloween is only 10 days away, I have got to get busy! I still have to finish the cupcake holders and assorted treat ideas I have for my son's class. Believing I was going to have so much done by now, ha! I made extra banner cuts when I entered the Cricut Banner contest, so I was hoping to actually make myself a banner for Halloween this year. Something tells me that may not happen. At least I have the outside of my house decorated...

Last month in the Cricut Circle Magazine, magazine DT member Janet Wilkins created a fabulous Spooky tree and I knew I had to try my hand at it. This is my version of her tree. Janet used a black tree branch and a 4 inch block, Unfortunately it has been so wet around here that I needed to buy a branch at AC Moore. It lights up and I got it for $5.00. Don't you just love 50% off coupons! LOL! At 17 inches, it was the smallest of 3 sizes. I may go back and try a bigger version of the tree for the holidays if I have the time. Here is the info from the Circle Blog for the challenge.

The Challenge: Create a Halloween Home Decor project! Your project must include at least 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.
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 Sunday,October 30th, 2011.
Prize: This month the winner will receive $150.00 in credit to Cricut.com.
Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Tuesday, November 1st, 2011.

So with all the new carts just released, I REALLY need to win this challenge! LOL!

Here's how I created my version.

Materials

Cricut Gypsy

Cricut E-2

Carts used: Chic and Scary, October 31st and Happy Hauntings

Martha Stewart Glitter: Glow In The Dark, Coarse Glitter, Peridot and Onyx

Stickles: Black Diamond and Purple

I-Rock and Jolees Hot Fix Crystals

Ribbon and Twine

3-D Crystal Lacquer, Ranger Glossy Accents

Styrofoam and a cardboard box from my stash

Papers and Chipboard

I designed all the tree charms using my Gypsy and the cartridges listed. I cut them using the E-2 on multi-cut 2 times. The chipboard I used was a backing I had saved from a paper stack that I actually finished! The tree charms were all cut between 1 and 1/2 inches to 2 inches.

I hid the contours on my Gypsy so that the chipboard was basically a shadow of the ornaments. Then I went back, copied the cuts to a new page on the Gypsy, and cut them with my chosen papers. I also flipped all the images and cut them, as well. I added lots of glitter, stickles and some bling for embellishments. Once they were all dry, I punched holes in them and used some natural twine I've had for ages for ties.

Here are a couple of favs.

I love the October 31st cut from Chic and Scary. I used some Theresa Collins Halloween paper for this ornament. I added some Black Diamond Stickles and orange ribbon for some extra decoration. In the picture above the close up, you can see that I used the negative cuts for the other side of the ornament. I love the coarse glitter on the Witch. Every spooky tree needs a sparkly black cat! That is the MS Onyx glitter on it. The purple witch ornament has a funny story attached to it. It's not in any of the pictures of the tree because it went missing right before I took the photos and turned up right before the tree was leaving the house to go to it's new home. It seems a little kitten thought the twine was for him to play with, so he took it, must have batted it around then lost it under the TV stand. I tried to get a picture real fast of it before my DH took it for delivery, and got picture proof that I should sweep more and spend less time crafting or on the internet! LOL! Yes that is a kitty hair on it in the picture, yes it was properly cleaned off before DH left the house, and no I did not sweep under the TV stand even after finding the ornament! I wanted to do a close up of my favorite Halloween cut this year, the Headless Horseman from Happy Hauntings, but unfortunately, it came out blurry. Here he is on the tree.

I used MS Glow In the Dark Glitter on the tree. I used MS decoupage Glue and sealer to adhere the glitter.

I found a box that I had saved for future use that was perfect for this. And opened it flat.

I covered it with paper and ribbon, then hot glued Styrofoam inside it for the tree.

I added all the ornaments to the tree and tied an orange ribbon around the bottom. This is it lit. It's pretty, isn't it?

I decided to make this tree for one of my dearest friends, my son's Godmother. She was here visiting us last week when she showed me a picture on her phone of a Halloween tree from Walmart that she had wanted since last year, but couldn't find anymore. My DH was a sweetie and took it to deliver to her today. This was a fun project to create and give as a gift. If you have some extra crafting time, why not give this one a try?

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Circle Blogiversary Challenge

2011-10-14T18:58:00.000-04:00

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

BLOGIVERSARY CHALLENGE: Cuttlebug Challenge!

The WINNER of this challenge will receive a Yudu CardShop Machine!
The Challenge: Create a project of your choice using your Cuttlebug machine as the main focus. Your project must include atleast 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 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 11:59 pm MST on Friday, October 14th, 2011.
Prize: The winner of this challenge will receive a Yudu CardShop Machine.
Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog the weekend of October 15th-16th, 2011.

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! Today is the final day for the Cricut Circle Blogiversary Challenge entries. I had really wanted to enter this particular challenge because I would love to win the Yudu Card Shop. I have been enjoying seeing so many fun and creative ways to use the cupcake treat box from Sweet Tooth Treats Project Cartridge. There have been Pumpkins, Apples , and even Angry Birds! LOL! I 've been thinking that it's a fun way to send cupcakes in to school for my son's class this Halloween. He only has 6 students in the class, so it won't be an overwhelming project. Here are the materials I used.

Materials

Cuttlebug

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Rivets, Bubbles, Swirls, Zig Zag Border and Swiss Dots)

Gypsy

Imagine

Cricut Cartridges (Sweet Tooth Boxes, MS All Occasions Cake Art, Happy Hauntings and MIni Monsters)

Embellies, Brads, Purple Stickles and String from my stash

I-Rock and I-Rock Glam Rocks

Scor Tape, Pop Dots and Glue Dots

On the Monster, I used my Cuttlebug and embossed the lid with the Rivets Cuttlebug Folder. I also embossed his hands. The hands, face and scar are from Happy Hauntings. They were layers for a monster on it. I used a piece of yellow cardstock for a background on the eyes, then added Glam Rocks on them. I cut the monster's hair from the grass border on MS All Occasions Cake Art and ran it through the cuttlebug with a zig zag border. I used pop dots to adhere the hair. I hand cut a little tag and wrote for you on it, then tied it to the monster with some black leather string I had laying around on the craft table.I used two brads for the bolts on his head. Here he is finished:

The ghost is my first attempt at making the cupcake box. I think I may have put it together wrong, but it's a learning experience. LOL! I used the Bubble cuttlebug folder for the lid, the Swirls for his eyes and mouth and my all time favorite Swiss Dots for the bow tie. I cut his eyes, mouth and bow tie from Mini Monsters. I outlined his tie with Purple Stickles and used a plastic Trick or Treat embellie in the center. I thought I had google eyes somewhere, but couldn't find them, so I used pop dots on his eyes. Here is the finished Ghost:

Aren't they a pair? I had a blast creating these. I am excited to make some more for Halloween.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Monochromatic Color Challenge

2011-10-09T19:41:00.000-04:00

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BLOGIVERSARY CHALLENGE: Monochromatic Color Challenge!

The WINNER of this challenge will receive a Gypsy Handheld Design Device!

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice using a monochromatic color scheme. Your project must include atleast 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.

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 11:59 pm MST on Friday, October 14th, 2011.

Prize: The winner of this challenge will receive a Gypsy Handheld Design Device.

Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog the weekend of October 15th-16th, 2011.

I wasn't planning on entering this challenge, but my Mom needed a simple card for a note, so I created this. Both cuts are from Damask Decor. I colored the images with the blues from the Blossom Cartridge on my Imagine. To finish it, I added some blue ribbon and I-Rock Gems.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Blogiversary Challenge

2011-10-07T22:39:00.000-04:00

BLOGIVERSARY CHALLENGE: Imagine Layer & Print Challenge!

The WINNER of this challenge will receive a Cricut Cake Machine!

The Challenge: Use your Imagine Machine to print a background (it can be a solid color or a patterned paper from your Imagine cartridge) and use it on your project as well as cutting an image of your choice in layers- that’s right, choose the layers option on your image and print out one or all of the layers offered, piece them together on your project!

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.

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 11:59 pm MST on Friday, October 14th, 2011.

Prize: The winner of this challenge will receive a Cricut Cake Machine.

Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog the weekend of October 15th-16th, 2011.

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters! I know, most of you are not used to seeing 3 posts from me in a week. I'm lucky if I can get 3 posts in 2 months in on a regular basis! I have been trying to keep up with the Cricut Circle Blogiversary Challenges. This is for a Cricut Cake. The one ProvoCraft machine that I don't own. It was a simple challenge too. That made it even better for me. I rarely make full cards with my Imagine. Most of the time I will just use the Imagine to cut images from my Gypsy, so this was different for me. I've owned the Imagine since May, and this is technically only the 2nd card I have made using it. LOL!

I used Just Because for the base of the card. The challenge requires using a background printed from the Imagine. I used Imagine More Cards and printed the lined schoolbook paper for my background. I also used Imagine More to print the Hello image and a layer from a tag on the cart for the word Friend. Since it's white, it's hard to see, but I used an Atou Spica Glitter pen in clear over the words Friend and Hello for some sparkle.

I used the Imagine Cartridge Enjoy The Seasons and a shape from the Imagine to print out an extra layer. I really like that green paisley design on the cartridge. I outlined it with Gold Stickles.

For the layered requirement of the challenge, I printed and cut the Apple with the Worm, also from Enjoy The Seasons. I printed 6 apples, 3 extra sets of leaves and 1 extra worm. I took one apple and adhered it directly to the card. Then I used pop dots and adhered the next apple. I took 2 apples and adhered them together so that they looked double sided. I did that again with the final 2 apples that were left. I scored the apples down the center. I used hot glue and glued the two apples on to the apples on the card. Using pop dots, I popped the leaves in layers and the worm. I used glue dots and placed dew drops all over the apple. Here's how it looks from the side.

I finished the card off with some pink and green ribbon. I used another piece of lined notebook paper I printed from Imagine More Cards for the inside and left it blank so that I can jot a note when I want to let one of my friends know I was thinking of them. It was a fun, easy card to create.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Sophie meets Alice in Wonderland

2011-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

It’s been ONE YEAR since we opened the Circle Blog! Can you believe it?! One year of friends, one year of inspirational projects, one year of challenges, one year of prizes, and MORE! And we have LOVED every minute of it! We have loved creating alongside of you and getting to know you. And we are ready to CELEBRATE!!!
So this week will be a week full of challenges . . . an online crop of sorts . . . with chances to win some FABULOUS prizes! Each day we will present you with a creative challenge. At the bottom of each post will be an Inlinkz tool for you to submit your entry for that particular challenge. (Be sure to enter your projects on the correct day to qualify!) All entries need to be NEWLY CREATED for our Blogiversary Celebration. Play as much or as little as you would like! But remember that All challenge entries will be due by Friday, October 14th, 2011. WINNERS will be chosen and announced the weekend of the 15th-16th. Have fun and GOOD LUCK!
Now for our first challenge!

BLOGIVERSARY CHALLENGE: Exclusive Circle Cartridge Challenge!

Whether you have been a Circle Member for a quarter or a year . . . we want to see you ROCK your Exclusive Circle Cartridges for this challenge! Please create a project of your choice using one or more of the exclusive Circle cartridges: French Manor, Shall We Dance, Cricut Everyday, Pop-Up Neighborhood, or Sophie! The WINNER of this challenge will receive a $75 Credit to Cricut.com!
The Challenge: Create a project of your choice with one or more of the Cricut Circle Exclusive cartridges! (French Manor, Shall We Dance, Cricut Everyday, Pop-Up Neighborhood, or Sophie) Your project must include at least 2 different Cricut Image Cuts. And YES! You can mix in other cartridges with your Circle Exclusive cartridges.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but 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.
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 11:59 pm MST on Friday, October 14th, 2011.
Prize: The winner of this challenge will receive $75.00 in credit to Cricut.com.
Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog the weekend of October 15th-16th, 2011.

Hi friends and fellow crafters!
The Cricut Circle Blog is one year old and they are having all types of fun challenges this week. I can't believe how fast this year has gone by. Last year when the blog first launched, I was home recovering from surgery, so I had nothing but time on my hands. I was super lucky and won a case of mats and blades! The best prize ever! A year has gone by, and I have barely scratched the surface of my big win. My sweetie hubby says I am hoarding them like a happy miser! This week, I plan on using my mats and blades and enter as many of the challenges as I can. This is fair warning to my sweetie hubby, it looks like our house will be pretty messy by Saturday! Oh, and get out the menus, we'll be ordering in alot this week!
I had wanted to send a birthday card to one of my Mother in law's good friends, but got behind and missed it. I decided to take this opportunity to use the new Cricut Circle Cartridge Sophie and make a fun card for her.This is what happens when Sophie meets Alice in Wonderland

Materials:

Cricut Gypsy and Imagine

Cartridges: Sophie, Sophisticated and Home Decor

Vagabond and Cuttlebug Embossing folder

Crafty Secrets Greetings From Wonderland Stamps

Copic Markers

Ribbon, Buttons, Chain, Embellies

Martha Stewart Glitter

3-D Crystal Lacquer

Tim Holtz Distress Inks and Memento Gold Dew Drops

I am a huge fan of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, or any version of Alice In Wonderland, for that matter. Last year Graphic 45 released it's Hallowe'en in Wonderland Paper and I knew that I just had to have it. I ordered a 12x12 paper stack and then hoarded it for a year. Right after I found the paper, I discovered that Crafty Secrets had a set of Alice stamps called Greetings From Wonderland. It was a must have, which sat for, that's right...a year, unused. I decided that these stamps would be perfect for a belated Birthday card. I am really enjoying the new Circle Exclusive Cartridge, Sophie. It has amazing card carts, doilies, bookmarks, it is just full of wonderful images. It's my favorite of all the Circle carts, so far. I chose to use card 2 from page 53. It sort of reminded me of a Fleur De Lis. I used Grahic 45 Hallowe'en in Wonderland paper as the mat. Under the Sophie card cut, I added a piece of K&Company paper that was in my scrap basket. I used some purple jewels that were in a container on my craft table to add a pop of color to the brown cardstock that I used to cut the card. I added the red velvet ribbon to the front of the card.

I can't believe that I haven't used these stamps before now! I LOVE this Queen Of Hearts! Look at that face! LOL! I colored her using Copics and Atyou Spica Glitter pens. The heart scepter and crown have much more sparkle than the pictures show. I used pop dots to raise her up on the card.

I used the March Hare as my main focus of the card, since he is the one who is late in Alice, much like my card was late. I cut a doily from Sophie and ran it through the Vagabond with a cuttlebug folder.

I took some Gold Memento Dew Drop and highlighted the embossed design with it. I also adhered the March Hare with Pop Dots. You can see a better view of the doily on the picture below. I know the doilies on Sophie will be getting much use on my cards.

I cut two Pocket Watches from Teresa Collins Sophisticated Cartridge and decided to stamp the sentiments on them. I doodled the numbers. That is not something I would typically do, but I was forced into it, LOL, because the number layer didn't look right with the stamp. I took two buttons and added some chain that I have had on my table for an eternity and used them as embellishments for the watches.

The stamp set included the Red King! The poor King gets no love, so I colored him up and added him to the card. He's quite noble, isn't he? Too bad the Queen is really the one who wears the pants in that royal family!

I cut two hearts from Home Decor, then used 3-D Crystal Lacquer to add some Martha Stewart Glitter to them. I like how they came out, I used three colors on the hearts instead of just one. I like the effect.

I used my computer to create the sentiment. When I showed it to my dear sweetie, I learned something new about him after 30 years, he has no clue what Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is about! He was truly baffled by the sentiment.

He said he wasn't sure if my Mother In Law's friend would get it, but I assured him that he was probably the only person on the face of this earth that didn't get it. LOL!

Here's one last look at the complete card.

I think my Sophie cartridge will be meeting with my Alice stamps again in the future! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

So much glitter! Weekly Challenge #42

2011-10-04T14:16:00.000-04:00

Weekly Challenge #42: World Card-Making Day Challenge!

The Challenge: For this next challenge, we want to see you show off your card-making skills in honor of World Card-Making Day (October 1st). The requirements are simple . . . create a card with any theme you would like using your Cricut machines!
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, October 13th, 2011.
Prize: This week we will choose THREE winners to receive $25 in credit added to their Cricut.com account. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.
Winner: The winners will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org

So Much Glitter!

Materials Used

Gypsy

Imagine (just for cutting)

Cricut Cartridges:

Happy Hauntings, October 31st,

Grey and Teal Cardstock

Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland Cardstock

Martha Stewart Glitter, Various colors

Glitter Glue and Decoupage Glue and Sealer

Viva Decor Pearl Pen

Doodlebug Flock (black)

Distress Inks

I-Rock & Jolee's Hot Fix Crystals in Red

Some embellies from my stash

3-D Crystal Lacquer

My entry for the Challenge is an extremely sparkly Halloween card. It was so messy and fun to create. A couple of years ago I saw a great card topper using glitter to create a gradient background in Cardmaker Magazine, and I used that as an inspiration for my card. I didn't follow the actual color gradient but the entire card topper is glittered. I would recommend if anyone wants to try this, run your cardstock through the Xyron. I was out of Xyron adhesive and used Martha Stewart Glitter glue, (very messy!) and then Martha Stewart Decoupage Glue and Sealer to seal the paper. I will list the colors by the names they have in Martha Stewart's Glitter set, and in parenthesis by what I call them. LOL! I started with a mix of peridot (green) and brownstone (brown) on the bottom, then a layer of onyx (black) into a layer of hematite (silvery black). The top layer is mostly lapis lazuli(blue) with a sprinkle of charoite (purple). As I layered the colors, I would leave a little glue uncovered so that I could sprinkle some of the next color before adding the full layer of color. I let it sit over night and once the glitter was dry, I brushed the sealer over the paper. The sealer also takes a very long time to dry, so if you try this, make sure you have lots of time to let it all dry. I tried to get a picture of the sparkle, but it doesn't show as well as I would have hoped.

Once it was dried, I adhered it to a 5.5 by 5.75 card. I designed the card on my Gypsy. The Headless Horseman, the headstone with the blackbird, and the two background jack o' lanterns from Happy Hauntings. The moon is the layer from the tombstone. I just cut it larger. I used Distress Inks to add some extra color on the moon. For a little extra sparkle, because this card just doesn't have ENOUGH sparkle, I used my I-Rock and Red Jolee's Hot fix Crystals on the corners.

The tree, center jack o' lantern and tombstone behind the Headless Horseman are all from October 31st.

I used Doodlebug Flock on the Headless Horseman. It's much thicker than the flock I am used to. It also caught some glitter from the paper. LOL! That's the glitter on the horse in the picture. I used a little Gold Stickles on the horse for his bridle.

I also cut two additional layers of the Headless Horseman in Green and Red for his cape and the grass. I used 3-D Crystal Lacquer on his head, the cape and also on the eyes and mouths of the jack o' lanterns.

Here is the inside of the card. The cat and phrase are both from Happy Hauntings. The paper is from Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland. I'm pretty sure the paper that I cut the Happy Halloween from is K&Company. I had the scraps on my desk, so I used them. I used some embellies I had in a small container for the corners.

This is my first Halloween card for the season. I love Halloween, so I am sure there will be more cards coming in the future! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

World Cardmaking Day!

2011-10-01T15:16:00.000-04:00

Michele Kovack at http://chelemom.blogspot.com/2011/10/wcmd-giveaway.html is having a great giveaway for today. She does the most wonderful work! If you aren't already following her, you should stop by her blog and see the beautiful creations she shares!

Happy World Cardmaking Day!

Colleen

A Blog Award!

2011-09-24T00:00:00.005-04:00

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

2011-09-21T08:56:00.000-04:00

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

2011-09-15T22:40:00.000-04:00

Weekly Challenge!

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.

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

2011-09-11T00:01:00.001-04:00

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

2011-09-05T19:46:00.005-04:00

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!

*****************************************************************

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

Blog Candy Winner!

2011-08-29T17:57:00.000-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!
I am so touched by all your wonderful comments! Thank you everyone for hopping with us this past weekend. It was so much fun! A BIG thank you again to Kristen for hosting this.
I used random.org and the number drawn for the MS punches is 14.
Congratulations to Kim M who said:

"Fantastic project - those flowers are gorgeous!"

Thanks for the kind words! I'll be emailing you for your info! Congrats again!

Thank you again for hopping with me!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Welcome To The Fall Blog Hop With The Circle Sisters!

2011-08-27T01:21:00.007-04:00

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Welcome to the Fall Blog Hop with Circle Sisters!

Hi Friends and fellow Crafters!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I am so excited to be hopping with you today! This is my first hop along with my Cricut Circle friends. My sweet hubby surprised me last year with a membership to the Circle, and while I was not sure at first, I have had so much fun that I renewed this year! If you are hopping along with us, you should be coming from the very creative Gamma's blog. If you've just happened to come across my blog, please check out each of these talented ladies participating in today's blog hop. Kristen's blog is the beginning of the hop, so jump on over to see her fabulous blog, then follow along to enjoy the amazing creativity of the Circle sisters! A big thanks to Kristen for hosting this hop! Here's the line up for today's hop!

1. Kristen http://fantabulouslypink.blogspot.com/
2. Michele www.michelegreen.com
3. Roberta http://www.txscrappermom.blogspot.com/
4. Mary http://www.marebearscraps.blogspot.com/
5. Renee http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/
6. Carolyn http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com/
7. Gamma http://gammascreativecorner.blogspot.com/
8. Colleen http://www.scrappycol.blogspot.com (You are here!)
9. DoodleDiva www.doodledivadesigns.com
10. Kimberli http://kimberliscreations.blogspot.com/
11. Lisa http://addictedtothecricut.blogspot.com
12. Gonecampn http://www.scrapcavecreations.com/
13. Momto2cuties http://www.inlovewithpaper.blogspot.com/
14. Scrapalette http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/
15. Dana http://papermemories4u.blogspot.com/
16. Darcy http://dlmbscrapping-time2create.blogspot.com/
17. Lavendergal http://ibecircled.blogspot.com

18. Withdrawn
19. Brenda http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/
20. Madylyn http://inspiredbycolor.blogspot.com/
21. Nancy http://lanancyworkshop.blogspot.com/
22. Debbie http://bugginattheseams.blogspot.com/
23. Tracy http://www.scrappininthewoods.blogspot.com/
24. Sharon http://designsbysharon.blogspot.com/

My project for today's Fall Blog Hop was inspired by the September issue of Cricut Magazine. The entire magazine is fabulous this month! The first project I tagged as I read through it was on page 12 by Janet Wilkins. She created a beautiful flower cone. I was in the process of planning a scrapbook layout for the hop, but quickly changed gears! To make this cone, I used:

Cricut Machine

Gypsy

Flower Shoppe Cartridge

Celebrate With A Flourish Cartridge

Floral Moss

Glimmer Mist

Ranger Alcohol Ink

Ribbon

Twine

Brads

Stickles (Black and Diamond)

Distress Inks

Paint ( I used a Ranger Dauber)

Bamboo Skewers

Hot Glue Gun

The cone in the magazine started with an 8x8 square. I fiddled with the 8x8 paper for about 10 minutes before I gave up and rolled a 12x12 piece of paper into a cone in less than 2 minutes! LOL! I am not sure why I couldn't master the 8x8 cone, it just wasn't happening! The paper I used was from K&Company, Susan Winget: Nature. It's a beautiful collection of paper that I had in my stash and was thrilled to find a great project to use it with.

I used my Crop-A-Dile Big Bite and punched a hole on each side. Well, I thought it was on both sides. Turned out, one of the holes was almost in the center of the cone...I decided to work with that, so I punched a third hole where it should have been the 1st time around, (Don't laugh, it can happen to anyone! Ha-ha!) and added eyelets to all three holes. I took a leaf brad and this little metal leaf I had for I can't remember how long, and colored it with Alcohol inks.

I wanted to use some fringe ribbon, but didn't want to use the cream color, so I dyed it with Oregano Alcohol ink. I applied it directly to the ribbon.

I cut two strips of paper to wrap around the bottom and tied some twine around it. I also added a piece of K&Company Adhesive ribbon to the bottom. For the top, I added the fringe ribbon, but it needed something extra, so I added a piece of rust chenille ribbon. I put the leaf brad through the metal leaf and attached it to the spare hole. (I'm calling it a happy accident!) I tied bakers twine twisted with natural twine through the eyelets to make the handle.

I cut my flowers at different sizes ranging between 2.5 and 3.5 inches. Flower Shoppe is a wonderful cartridge and if you don't already own it, I would recommend it to anyone who uses flowers in their projects. I have a ton of Prima flowers, but since Mother's Day Bouquet and now Flower Shoppe, I am thinking it's time to donate the primas as I barely even look at them when I working on a project. I used a mixture of papers on the flowers. I used assorted distress inks on the petals and pieced the flowers together with Scotch quick Dry Glue and brads. I sprayed Glimmer mist on the flowers and shaped them when they were wet.

Using Celebrate With A Flourish, I cut 2 scarecrows at 3.75 and 2 apples at 2.75. For the flourished layers, I used Dark Green SEI Velvet paper on the Scarecrows and SEI Red Velvet Paper on the apples. I layered them and used some stickles to add some sparkle.

I painted the Bamboo Skewers and hot glued them to the backs of the flowers, scarecrows and apples.

I arranged the flowers and used Floral Moss to fill in the blank spots. Here is a close up.

I originally planned on making a pair, but due to some gal named Irene, I got stuck doing Hurricane preparation today. I have everything I need for the matching cone, so I hope to put the other one together this weekend. I loved this project so much, I was planning a Halloween themed cone on my Gypsy while I was waiting at the Doctor's with my Mom this morning.

Speaking of Halloween, how about some blog candy?

As soon as school begins and the weather turns cooler, I start thinking of Halloween. I've been like this since I was a child. For my blog candy, I have four fun Halloween punches from MS to give away. Leave me a comment to be entered. I will draw a number using random.org on Monday, provided we have Internet service....

Your next stop on the blog is DoodleDiva www.doodledivadesigns.com You are going to love her blog! I know she has a wonderful creation to share with you!

My crafting assistant, Ozzy, and I thank you for hopping with the Cricut Circle Sisters and Friends today! I hope you have a wonderful day and if you are in Hurricane Irene's path, please be careful and stay safe!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Fall Blog Hop!

2011-08-23T22:28:00.002-04:00

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge

2011-08-22T13:54:00.005-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!
I have finally decided to enter a monthly challenge at the Circle Blog. Here are the rules:

AUGUST MONTHLY CHALLENGE: Create a Scene Challenge!

There are so many fun Cricut cuts available on our cartridges including trees, buildings, backgrounds, flowers and more! For this next challenge, we want to see you utilize these cuts by creating a scene on your project.

The random winner of this challenge will receive a $150 Credit to Cricut.com!

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice utilizing your Cricut Cut Images to create a scene! (You are not required to use it, but your latest Circle Exclusive cartridge, Pop-Up Neighborhood, has tons of great images for building a scene!) Your project must include at least 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but 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.

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 Tuesday, August 30th, 2011.

Prize: This month the winner will receive $150.00 in credit to Cricut.com.

Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Thursday, September 1st, 2011.

I have to admit, this was truly a challenge for me. I love paper crafting, but scrapbook pages don't come easy to me. I really don't know what my hang up is with 12x12 pages, but as much as I love seeing other crafter's work, putting a layout together just eludes me. Now let's add having to create a whole scene, I feel a panic attack coming on just thinking about it and I have my pages finished! LOL!
I suppose I could have made a card, but I don't think it would have been too challenging for me. Not being one to take the easy road, I went with a full 2 page layout! I found some inspiration in my record collection. Yes, I still prefer albums, but I do have an Ipod, and this song is on it, so let's say the inspiration came from the Ipod, shall we? One of my all time favorite songs is by the late Gary Moore, and it's called Parisienne Walkways. There are two versions. My hubby, the musician, loves the instrumental version. I admit, it is beautiful. I prefer the version with the late Phil Lynnot's (from Thin Lizzy, yes I am THAT old!) haunting vocals. Parisienne Walkways. Here is a YouTube video, in case you are curious.

I used several cartridges on this. The Hat Shop, Bakery and Lamp Posts are from the Circle cartridge Pop Up Neighborhood. Everything used was in my stash. The papers I used on the buildings are from Die Cuts With A View Luxury Stack, an oldie but goodie stack! The background sky is from Me and My Big Ideas. The background paper is from DCWV Far East. I had wanted to give the appearance of a wall or more buildings as you walked, so this paper was perfect.

I added some extras to the buildings. I used an EK success scallop punch to put the awnings on the

Bakery and the Hat Shop windows. I also added hand cut curtains on the Hat Shop's upper floor windows. The window box, birdcage and the potted plants are from the lite cartridge, Bloom. I cut the images in white and colored them with copics. I added some stickles to the flowers for sparkle, although you can't really see them in this picture. I used a piece of Bo Bunny Abbey Road for the plants, but again, cut the shadow and pots with white cardstock and colored them with copics. I used Crystal 3-D lacquer on the pots for some added interest.

I cut the shopper from Forever Young and dressed her in Basic Grey Paper from my 6x6 stash box. Her poodle is cut from Summer in Paris. I only used the shadow for the pup, then flocked her tail, paws, and head. I added a gold collar and bow on her tail with stickles. I used a piece of junk chain that I had laying around for the puppy's leash. Very chic......

I did the same thing with the cakes in the Bakery's windows.I cut them in white and colored them with copics. I used a Glitter Snow Writer for the icing, it adds a nice texture to it, then topped the cakes off with 3-D Crystal Lacquer.
I cut the Eiffel Tower from the Summer In Paris seasonal cartridge, and added some Jolee's hot fix Crystals to it with my I-Rock tool.

The cute couple are from the Sweethearts Cartridge. They remind me of the lyrics, "Those summer days spent outside corner cafes" from the song. That sad printing on the Bakery Door is mine...It should translate to the Cake Shop. It's not so bad, I just took a poor photo of it! LOL!!!

I had a spot on the end of the 1st page that was open, and I thought it needed something there. I used Just Because Cards and cut the bike out. Yep, that's more of my chicken scratch.

I wanted a cobblestone look for the sidewalk, so I ran a piece of great cardstock through my Cuttlebug with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I used Burlap distress ink on it to bring out the pattern.

I added printed lyrics from the song, and a block from Word Collage that I used a Chomas Pen to print with my E-2. I originally wanted to use my Imagine to print it, but for some strange reason, when I would load the paper on the print only setting, it just sent it out the back. I had these pens for about a year, and had never used them, so I finally tried them out. I like the results. I had really wanted to use my Calligraphy Collection Cartridge for the title, but it tore when I was cutting it, so this worked for me...

So this is my entry into the challenge. I think it took longer to create than Notre Dame! LOL! I suppose that is why it is called a challenge!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!
Colleen

Using My Stash Challenge

2011-08-15T23:48:00.001-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!

Over at the Cricut Circle Message Boards, there is a challenge to use only our stash until September 1st. I jumped at this challenge because I have way too much stuff! Here are the guidelines for the "Using My Stash Challenge"
**adhesives and tape can be purchased
**blades and mats can be purchased
**ProvoCraft products, such as cartridges, folders, dies, and machines are allowed
**something that is needed to complete a project
**No impulse buying or just because you have a coupon!

I have stuck completely to the guidelines. I have even been on a self imposed Cartridge ban, although my Mom offered to buy me the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cartridge from one of my best crafting buddies, Belinda. If you haven't already picked this one up, I fully recommend it! Contact Belinda at her CTMH site if you need a rep to order from. You can also see some of her wonderful artwork at her blog.
So for my first card, I used my Harry Potter Digi Stamp from Simply Betty Stamps to make a card for one of my dearest friends. We haven't gotten together since Christmas and I was missing her. She is a fellow Potter Nerd as my DH calls us, so I knew she would appreciate this one! The background paper is from K&Company Happy Trails. I love my K&Company paper! LOL! I FINALLY used some Tim Holtz paper that I have been hoarding forever to make a doily cut from Art Philosophy! The front sentiment, "Accio" for non-Potter nerds, is a summoning charm used when you want something to come to you. I printed that and the sentiment on the inside with my computer, and grunged it up with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in walnut. All of the embellishments have been sitting around my craft room for quite some time. The swirls are Prima Say It With Pearls that I had to have for something ages ago. I was right, it makes a great spell shooting from Harry's wand. I have had it so long, that package was collecting dust! The Hello embellie is from 7 Gypsies that I picked up when my LSS closed 2 years ago. The beads are from Basic Grey, and the flower is Prima.
Here is the inside of the card.

Naturally, I colored Harry with my copics. I used some Diamond Glaze on his eyes to give the glasses effect.

Next are two cards for the family of a fellow Circle member. Her daughters lost all their belongings in a horrible fire. Another Circle member asked us to make cards for her daughters and young Grandson who thankfully is OK, but traumatized. I made him a card using my Imagine and the Buccaneer cartridge. The card has 2 wobbles (that I made) on it. The boat wobbles and the pirate in the look out wobbles.

I tried to get a picture of it in motion, but it just wouldn't take. It is fun to watch the pirate wobble as the boat wobbles, too. I hope her grandson likes it. I am also sending him a little something to cheer him up.
The whole card is Imagine except for the back and the inside top which are K&Company Happy Trails paper. I used Life's A Beach for the word Ahoy, ran it through my vagabond using a cuttle bug folder, I think it's bubbles and used Diamond glaze to give it a wet look. I also outlined the letters with copics. The O in Ahoy is from LAB, I thought it was a sun, but I am not so sure! The waves are also from Life's A Beach, and I ran them through the vagabond as well. I used a white gel pen to add the dots to the waves. I used MS glow in the dark glitter that I got on clearance a year or two ago (it was a good deal for 1.99 and it's a big bottle!) on the sails. Here is the inside of the card.

I computer printed the sentiment, then distressed the daylights out of the papers. I cut a couple of "V's" into the paper in various places, ran some black copic marker around the distressed edges, and used Tim Holtz Distress inks, walnut, old paper, antique linen and burlap to give it an aged look. I tied some baker's twine around the sentiment because I had it sitting in front of me on the table. Then I added another pirate on it just for fun. It turned out to be one of my favorite cards that I have made.

The last card is for her daughters. I used my Imagine and Lori's Garden, which I owned even before I had an Imagine! The paper is K&Company Gypsy Baby Paper. The ribbon has been sitting on my desk for sometime now, and I was so happy to finally use it. No more moving it around!

I used my copics on the image to change a few colors on the bird and flowers, then used Diamond Glaze and sprinkled MS Chunky Glitter on it. A couple of years ago, there was seller on eBay where I got about 6 or 7 sets of MS glitters for about 4.00 each, plus free shipping. It feels good to be finding reasons to use it!

The cuts on the inside are from Art Philosophy. I just love this cartridge! I changed the color of Thinking of You (I am pretty sure it's from Paper Lace) with a copic. Then I shined it up with some Diamond Glaze and added a glittered flower with a skittle center for a little extra pop of color.
The horrible rain that we had here made it nice for me to create these cards. It was even better knowing that everything is from my stash. It's amazing how much I have acquired in just 4 short years of paper crafting.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. I hope to continue posting using my stash creations until September 1st. I still have a couple pieces of Berry Sweet paper left to use! LOL!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Berry Sweet Makes A Return!

2011-08-10T18:40:00.000-04:00

I don't want anyone to think that I have forgotten about finishing that blasted K&Company paper pack. I just needed to place the challenge on hold for a little while. I still haven't bought any paper, so the paper ban remains in full effect! I needed to make another Birthday Card for one of my Mom's friends, so out came the Berry Sweet paper! This girlfriend is 85 years young, and she loves when I make her cards. She loves dolls, so I make it a point to use some type of girl image on her cards.

This sweet image is from Make It Crafty and she is called Summer Dreams. I colored her hat and dress with RV00, RV01, RV02, RV04, RV06 and FRV01. Her hair is a mixture of Y21, YR23, YR14. YR24, E97, and E99, Her skin is the usual, E0000, E000, E00, E001, E11, E93 and R20. I used a white gel pen to add some dots on her sandals and hat. I kept her monochromatic because I knew the paper was very busy. I used some daisy ribbon I had for the bottom. I cut the corners and the shapes on the card using my Teresa Collins Sophisticated cartridge, Enjoy the Seasons Imagine Cart for the colors and my Imagine. I popped the Summer Dreams girl up using Pop Dots. I cut Happy Birthday using Paper Lace and my Imagine.

I decorated the inside of her card with the Berry Sweet Papers and a computer generated sentiment.

She was so happy to receive the card and made quite a fuss over it. Seeing how much my Mom's friends enjoy receiving handmade cards truly makes me happy that I started this hobby.

I am entering her in a challenge at Make It Colourful Challenge 29 The challenge is to color using Pinks!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Adventures with Shrinky Dinks

2011-08-07T20:58:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends and Fellow Crafters!
Did you ever have one of those crafting experiences that you just have to share so that you can prevent your crafting friends from suffering the same fate as you? If you scare easily, read no further, but if you wish to avoid the pain I have suffered over that past week, come with me on this journey...
A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned I was in my first online swarm at the Cricut Circle Message Boards. I had so much fun, and even won a fun prize from my fellow Circle member Sara. When you participated in the swarm, you were asked if you wanted to be in a swap. It has been ages since I did a Cricut Swap, so I went ahead and signed up for a charm swap. Easy, right? Twenty-five charms by August 13th. Totally possible. Or was it?
Last week, on the swap thread, most members were saying they were using Shrinky Dink material and their Imagines. Sounded awesomely simple, pick an image from my Snow Angel Cart, place material on mat, cut, bake, done! So here is how it went for me.
Mt first attempt

I tried the imagine cart ornament first, blech...
Next I cut an ice skate from my Trim the Tree Seasonal Cart, and colored it with copics. the color was very light when I colored it, but I had the bright idea to add Holographic Embossing powder and heat it with a heat gun after I baked the shrinky dink. Another blech...
Next came a trip to AC Moore and I broke my spending ban, I picked up Grafix White Shrinky Dink Material. Using a coupon, it was under $4.00 so I didn't beat myself up too much about that. My Mom picked up a package, and I picked one up. That would give me 12 sheets. I figured that would be plenty to cut 25 images. Plus, I just knew that it would work great with the Imagine, or would it?
Here's what happened

Yuck. Then on top of that, I ended up tossing some material out because I had no idea I could wipe it off and use it again. Thanks to my Circle friends, I found out that it could be re-used, so I dug it back out of the trash! Since it was already cut, I couldn't use it on the charms, so I'll stamp or color them with copics some other day. (or year!)
Next came some great advice from my friends at the message boards. Test the Shrinky Dink material by licking my finger and when press it on the paper, it will stick on the side to use.
That worked! I made sure I had the right side, sanded the material and tried again. I had better results, but for some reason, the first image on my material still had the line running down it. I decided that I wanted to use this cute snowman, but even cutting on multi cut 3 with the Imagine, it was still giving me trouble and I ended up tearing about 12 snowmen trying to separate them from the material. Back to the message boards I went, where I read to make sure to clean the blade often. Sure enough, my blade had a powder substance on it that was what was causing me all that trouble! Thanks to Sara for that helpful tidbit!
I decided to switch to a round image and tried again after going to AC Moore and buying even more Shrinky Dink material. This time I was on my own at the store, but I had $10.00 off a purchase of a $25.00 art supply purchase. Seems that Shrinky Dink material is considered kids crafts. Thanks for nothing AC Moore! LOL!
I left my extra Shrinky Dink materials behind, and went home with one package that I used another 40% off coupon on. I attempted to use Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel on my charms like a fellow swapper Nadia, did, check out her blog here, it's awesome. Here's how mine turned out

Yeah, it's not your eyes, that's how it turned out. Cloudy...I tried going a different route and slowly added the UTEE, this is what happened

It got bubbly and was uneven. It wasn't as cloudy as the first ones, but ick, not swappable at all. Maybe, I thought to myself, Diamond Glaze could work if I put it on slowly.

That doesn't work, unless you seal the charm first. LOL! Back to the message boards, and I got some great ideas about sealing them with spray sealers. I had a can of Duncan High Gloss sealer, so back to oven I went, made about 14 more, and off to spray them. The 1st one turned out great! I gathered up the other 13 or so and here's what happened to all of them

Yellowed! The whole lot of 'em! So here's what I was left with

What a bubbled, yellowed, cloudy, bleeping mess! LOL! By now it's Thursday night, and my sweetie is out jammin' with his band. I can't leave my Son and my Mom alone while they are both awake, so I get up early Friday morning before my son, and run out to Michael's, which is less than 10 minutes from me, grab a can of Krylon Triple Thick Clear Glaze, and head back home. My son is still sleeping, and my Mom felt like she helped out, so I am officially on a winning streak! I cut 20 charms, but didn't take into consideration the 1st one that smears as I mentioned earlier in this post. Still not considering the loss of material, I spray all the charms I have so far, and yeah! They look fabulous! I lost a couple of them, but still, they turned out good, right?

I was well on my way to having them finished and ready for mailing by Saturday, until I went to cut more of them and realized I was out of White Shrinky Dink Material!!! Oh No! I walk into the craft room, grab my Gypsy, open a new project. I chose the Circle Logo from Everyday Cricut, and a Santa Hat from Joys Of The Season, weld them together, size them to 3.5 inches and grab the Grafix Matte Shrinky Dink material that I originally had sitting in my craft area. I tape it to my mat and cut it on my Imagine! It needed one slight tweak, I had to set the multi-cut back to 1, because it tore the material at 3. Once I had the first cut the way I liked it, I copied the image to my Gypsy file page and cut away. I was able to cut 30 of them with the 6 pieces from the package that I already had! I finally had what I considered to be an acceptable swap charm! Now, with fingers crossed, I hoped I could finish them without the drama from the past 4 days!
Here's what I used ( I also used Candy Cane Stickles, but it was MIA for the photo)

I colored my Circle Logo with copic colors G17 and RV29. I decided to try embossing powder one more time and used red Zing on the hat after I colored it with the copic. It adhered nicely to the copic. I baked them at 300 degrees for about 6 minutes.

When I took them out of the oven, here's what they looked like

I didn't think I wanted to send them like that, the Zing looked OK, there was some sparkle, but, it could be better. I grabbed some Candy Cane Stickles and added it to the hat. I let that dry, then used some Diamond Glaze on the Circle and added MS Peridot Glitter. That looked pretty, very sparkly. The hat need something extra on the trim, so I used a Glitter Snow Writer on it and I was done!!!!! I used my Imagine and Snow Angel Cart to cut cards for them. I used a dollar stamp to add Happy Holidays to the cards, and pierced them. Finally, I used some floral wire to attach the charms. Here is the finished product

And here are 25 of them!

I put them in ATC sleeves and they are ready to be mailed tomorrow!
If you have been considering making shrinky dink charms, I hope you will not have to ever follow in my footsteps! It was quite the experiment for me, and I still don't really know why everything went so wrong at the start. Maybe my Circle Charms were meant to be, well, Circle charms!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

I've been a crafting fool!

2011-07-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!

With the horrible heat wave we had recently, I spent my time in the house crafting. Over at the Circut Circle boards, there was a fun online swarm for Christmas in July. There were 6 challenges, and I was able to complete 4 of them! Not too shabby considering I can barely get a card done in a day! LOL!

I may do a post with my projects later, but for today, I want to share a card I made for my oldest nephew. He has made the big transition into his full independence by moving in his 1st apartment, and he bought a new car! I am so proud of the young man he has become. My brother's four son's have always been the other part of my heart. I can hardly believe that they are all young men now. Life truly goes by in a New York minute. I couldn't let the occasion pass without sending him a card. We are a silly bunch, so nothing serious, just a fun card with some cash for him to get what he wants.

It's a simple card, and easy to make. I have been feeling my way around my Cricut Imagine, so I used that to create the papers and letters on the inside of the card.

Here's what I used:

Cricut Imagine Carts: Country Carnival, Kate's Kitchen, Nursery Tails and Hopscotch

Cricut Cartridges: Groovy Times, MS Seasonal Cakes, and April Showers

Floral Wire (26 gage)

Glue Gun

Viva Decor Pearl Pen (Anthracite)

Diamond Glaze

DYMO Letra Tag Maker

Core'dinations Cardstock

American Crafts Silver Metallic Cardstock

I used April Showers for the house and cut it at 2.35x3.95 with my Gypsy, I used MS Seasonal Cake for the Grass, and broke an image into layers from Kate's Kitchen for the sun. I did the same thing with the tree from Nursery Tails. I like being able to choose certain elements from an image and cutting only what I have chosen with the Imagine. I used Hopscotch to create the cloud paper. I used Country Carnival to print the paper I used inside the card, and the sentiment. The New Car and New Place on the front of the card are made with the DYMO. I'm not sure if I like it, I am more of a stamper or computer generated sentiment person. Maybe the next time I'll cut the lettersThen and see how that looks. Once that was done, I had some fun with the car.

I cut The car from Groovy Times at 4 inches. I used a scrap from We R Memory Keeper's Teen Angst Stack. I cut the window, bumpers and windshield with the American Crafts cardstock. I used diamond glaze to make it look more like glass on the window and windshield, and outlined it with my Viva Decor Pearl Pen. Once it was assembled, I decided I want it to wobble. I have seem so many wonderful creations using wobblers these days. You can get more information at Action Wobble Inc on these fun products. Or.....you can do what I did and just make your own. The spending ban is still in effect, so I decided to make my own wobblers. There are a wealth of videos on you tube showing how to make your own. The first one I came across was here by Ellen at Card Monkey who makes a really nice card. Her wobblers are fantastic, but sadly I didn't have a punch or foam mounting squares, so I was on my own. Here's my poor Richard's version. I found some floral wire that I had from my floral wreath creating days, got out the glue gun and went to work. The little peppermint candy looking embellie was to pop it up, but I decided against that when it was finished. I found a scrap of metallic cardstock and cut it into 4 pieces. I poked a hole through two of them for the wire.

I took some wire and wrapped it around a paintbrush to make the spring.

Then I pushed the wire through and glued it to the cardstock. On the first side I just haphazardly glued it. On the second side, I curled it so it looked a little better.

This is what it looked like after finishing the first side.

After that I hot glued the other square on the top and it was finished. This is how it looked. It's not as pretty as the one in the video or the real ones, but it was economical and it works! LOL!

Here it is in action!

I finished the inside of the card with the letters I cut from Country Carnival. When I went to add the Viva Decor, I had a harsh reality check, the sentiment was off center! Luckily, I think my nephew will notice the cash and not the letters!

I now have a bunch of ideas for these bouncing (get it?) around in my head! I think they will make another appearance here!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Winner of the bug candy!

2011-07-23T15:45:00.000-04:00

Thanks for the responses to my test blog! The winner of the blog candy chosen by random.org is Denni who said:

I love crazy looking caterpillars because it seems that they always turn into gorgeous butterflies! I found out your little friend is called a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar and turns into a, you guessed it! GORGEOUS Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly! You can check it out here: http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/spicebush-swallowtail-butterfly.php
So did you scoop him up and make a little habitat?? ;)

So what was the blog candy? Here it is

There is a package of all occasion stamps from K and Company, Heidi Swapp ghost shapes, much like the caterpillar was a disguise for the butterfly, some butterfly charms and a cute Studio G stamp.

Thanks for the information on the little creepy crawly too! I did not make him a habitat, but I have been on the lookout for the butterfly!

Drop me a line with your info, so I can send this out to you!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Make It Colourful Challenge #26

2011-07-22T21:31:00.000-04:00

From The Make It Colourful Challenge:

SO LET’S GET COLOURING!!

Grab your favourite colouring medium, whether it be markers, pencils,
water colours, finger paints or even digital colouring and see how you go

colouring WILD COLOURED HAIR!!

Please note:

You don’t have to use a Make it Crafty images, but if you do you could win yourself
TWO Make it Crafty digi stamps!

This challenge is open to Anyone who LOVES to colour.

————-

Challenge Rules

Your project must be a NEW creation

Note: You can just submit a coloured image

(This is a colouring challenge after all!!)

Cards, Scrapbook Pages, ATC, Altered Art & More

The colouring must be YOUR colouring

You MUST colour your digi or rubber stamps with your chosen colouring medium.

You MUST link to Make it Colourful

I needed a Birthday card for a close friend. She is a colorful person, so I went with Zoe Celebrates from Make It Crafty . I used my Cricut Expression 2 to cut the swirls and then used the extra pieces from the inside of the cuts as confetti on the card. I made the matching flower using the new Flower Shoppe Cartridge that I just received. I think I am going to like this cartridge very much! I love making flowers and this is perfect!

I used the spare pieces from the cuts to decorate the inside of the card. It's a very bright and colorful card! I plan on tucking a nice gift card to the local Michael's in it for her as she loves to do wood burning and stenciling projects.

I colored Zoe with a ton of copics. For her hair, I went with lighter pinks. It's my first time trying a hair color that is out of the "ordinary" range of hair colors, and I am now hooked! I will be doing more like this in the future.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Kraftin' Kimmie Challenge Card

2011-07-17T12:35:00.001-04:00

From The Krafty Girl Challenge Blog
Our hostess today is the rather witty Carole Burrage!! She has presented us with a challenge.....should you choose to accept this challenge, you will be asked to FINISH the inside of your card!! Personally, this is a HUGE challenge! I almost never finish the insides of my cards and I always marvel at the gorgeousness that others create. I love it when the inside looks as beautiful as the outside....I just never have enough time to do it!! haha!

We hope you'll join us for this week's challenge and if you use a KKStamp on your design, you could be the random winner of the stamp used on Carole's gorgeous card!!! Which just happens to be.....JEANNIE, one of our NEW stamps!!

I was really excited to see this challenge because I have been concentrating on how I finish the inside of my cards. I have been trying to add some beauty to the backs of my cards as well. I am entering one of the cards I created for my DH for our 21st wedding anniversary into the challenge. I used Raychel by artist Annie Rodrigue available at Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps for my card. I colored her with Copics and used my Cricut Expression to cut the embellishments for the front. I created the sentiments using my computer. The papers are from K&Company with an appearance on the hearts from the You're Berry Sweet Paper that I am still trying to finish! The music paper is from DCWV.
At least I have stayed true to my self imposed paper ban! It has been a long spring and summer seeing all those great new paper stacks available in Michael's! LOL! By the time I finally finish using up the papers in the blasted Berry Sweet collection, all the papers I was drooling over will be on clearance!
This is the inside of my card

I blanked out the personal information to preserve my Hubby's reputation! LOL! The border is Anna Griffin Paper Ribbon. It's been sitting on my craft table since well before Christmas and it made for a great addition to the card. I added skittles to the corner of the sentiment to dress it up a little.

It's been so long since I've entered a challenge and this was the perfect one to join in on because of my love of all things Kraftin' Kimmie!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

E Gads! I am such a city girl!

2011-07-11T15:51:00.000-04:00

I was assisting my Mom to a friend's car the other day when I looked down and saw a bug I had never seen before. Ok, I will admit that after I took the pictures and looked more closely, I probably should have realized that it was just a caterpillar, LOL! It really had me going there for a few minutes though! I still have no idea what it will become after metamorphosis, because where I come from, caterpillars have little fuzzy fur on them! This one looked like it wearing a disguise!

See that black mark? I thought that was an eye! Silly, right? So why is this here on my crafting blog? Comcast upgraded to Xfinity, and when I would try to upload pics to my blog or message boards, the internet would shut down. This is a test, but you can still leave a comment if you choose, there just might be some candy in it!

Happy Bug Hunting!

Colleen

Been Caught Stealing!

2011-06-23T15:54:00.002-04:00

Ok, not stealing, just scraplifting! This is my version of Cindy Royal's Birthday Pinwheel Set from page 84 of Cricut Magazine's June/July 2011 issue. I knew I would have an opportunity at some point to create my own version of the card so I tagged the page for future use. My Mom announced that she needed a card for a friend's birthday last night, so off I went.
Since I am still finishing up the K&Company Berry Sweet Papers, I used them for this card. I honestly thought the paper would be near the end, but here is what's left.

Oh, and there are smaller scraps left too. I am going to have to do some layouts soon because using the paper just for cards will prevent me from buying any new paper for the next two years! Oh well, enough complaining about my paper ban! Here is my card:

Materials used:

K&Company Berry Sweet Paper

Martha Stewart cardstock (Green and Pink)

Cricut Expression 2 Machine

Mother's Day 2010 Cartridge

Walk In My Garden

Cuttlebug and Swirled embossing folder

Lollipop stick, Flower Embellies, Buttons

Viva Decor Pearl Pen

Happy Birthday Stamp

I cut my base of the card at 5 inches. The pin wheel from Mother's Day 2010 is 2 inches, the flower from Walk In My Garden is 1 inch and the leaves are .75 inches. The banner from Mother's Day 2010 is 5 inches long, so it fit across the entire bottom of the card. I cut the rectangles with a paper trimmer, I adhered the patterned papers and stamped Happy Birthday with Stampin Up Raspberry ink. Getting the border on the banner and stamping the sentiment were tricky. I tore a couple of borders because they are so fine, and I had a little trouble centering the sentiment. After a couple of tries, I was able to get a nice stamp, but it still wasn't as centered as I hoped it would be, so I added the little flowers.

Here's a close up of the Pin Wheel

I can't believe it took me so long to discover the pin wheel on this cart! It will be making more appearances on my cards! I cut the flower from Walk In My Garden and ran it through the Cuttlebug

I added some little buttons to the rectangle the flower is on and used my Viva Decor Pearl Pen to add some embellies to the corners. Using my computer I generated a sentiment and added another flower for interest.

I think the Cricut Design Team are incredibly talented crafters and always enjoy the blog and magazine designs they work to create for us! If you haven't seen the ProvoCraft's Cricut Blog, check it out here or by clicking the link on the sidebar. I am now subscribed to Cricut Magazine so that I can get even more inspiration! I have a feeling there might be more scrapping crimes committed soon!

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

I got a blogger award!

2011-06-22T17:36:00.000-04:00

Thank you Stephanie

I would love to say a big thank you to my fellow Circlet Stephanie for this wonderful blog award. A long time ago, when I was first new to blogs another wonderful blogger Girlia sent me an award, but silly me, I couldn't figure out what to do! LOL! So this is my second award, but the first one I actually know how to post!
You have to check out Stephanie's blog, she just makes the cutest pages for her incredibly adorable children. I am always impressed by how great she is with the Imagine and Cricut Expression machines.

One of the provisions of the award is to share 7 random things about myself and pass the award on to 8 blogger friends. Here are some facts about me:

I still like to listen to heavy metal music from the 80's, I just don't fit in leather pants anymore!
I drink too much coffee.
I love to watch Sci-Fi movies and my two favorite shows are Smallville and Supernatural.
I watch Zeke & Luther and Phineas & Ferb with my son and actually laugh out loud at them.
I still love to play video games.
Although I signed up for Online Copic Classes, I never actually took the class! I am still kicking myself for wasting the money.
I took up paper crafting to keep busy after quitting smoking.

I would like to pass this blog along to these wonderful crafters, please visit their blogs and see what I mean!

Karan at http://scrapbooksandpapercrafts.blogspot.com/
Melissa at http://createdbymissie.blogspot.com/
Scarlet at http://thescarletsquirrel.blogspot.com/
Belinda at http://queenbeesmusings.blogspot.com/
Diane at http://horsebunny.blogspot.com/
Mel at http://doxiemeldesigns.blogspot.com/
Jodie at http://jodiesscraplab.blogspot.com/
Carolyn at http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com/

These bloggers so some amazing creating! I am so happy to pass this award along to them because while I may not always post comments, I am always inspired by their art!

Thanks for stopping by today! I really hope you get the chance to check out my fellow bloggers!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Bring It On!!!

2011-06-22T15:12:00.000-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters!
This is an exciting day here in our household. My son is gong to have a whole summer off starting today! I know this is may be a strange announcement to many of you, but those who know my son or have children that are differently abled, you know what I mean. Most of you know my son is Autistic and he has attended Extended School Year programs since I worked with other parents and one amazing teacher in Bayonne to get them started in 1994/1995. Up until this summer, he has always had some type schooling throughout the month of July and half of August. Last year was not a good school year for him, so when the new year rolled out, I was hopeful that he would have a better year. He was doing OK, until his bus driver had to leave her position in February. She drove him for almost 9 and a 1/2 years, so this was a monumental change for him. Sadly, the bus company that provides his transportation is uneducated or inept, to say the least, about providing a stable bus ride for him and the other students on the route, and the school year began to crumble. My DH and I made many attempts to drive him in, but that also was not part of his routine, so some attempts were successful, others, not so much ....
We decided that this year, we would cut our son and our fellow tax payers a break, and give him a full Summer Vacation. My school board was not happy about his absences anyway, so this is my way of saying that I understand that our economy is completely messed up and I don't want to see anymore of our taxpayer money being wasted. So here we are, This may be one of the craziest decisions we have ever made or one of the best. I am not even going to consider what may happen come September and just take one day at a time. Things are sure going to be different here and I hope that I won't end up totally neglecting my crafting, but between my Son and my Mom, I may not be around too much, or who knows, I may be around more! Well life, let's do this! Bring the summer of 2011 on!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Weekly Challenge/ A Father's Day Card

2011-06-20T16:14:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends and fellow crafters! Thanks for stopping by the blog today. With the end of school, Father's Day, several graduations and birthdays this month, June is exceptionally busy for me this year. I have been neglecting my blog terribly. I have also been neglecting my paper challenge, so that K&Company paper collection is STILL not finished. I was in Michael's the other day and was drooling at the sight of the paper, but I still have paper left, so no paper for me!!! :(
I couldn't use it on any Father's Day cards, and the graduates are both young men, so the paper challenge waits as well as any paper that I may have been admiring in Michael's! I decided to participate in the Cricut Circle Challenge this week so here are the details:

Weekly Challenge #34: Father’s Day Card Sketch Challenge!

The Challenge: Get a head start on Father’s Day and create a greeting card using the sketch provided below. Have fun!

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, June 23rd, 2011.

Prize: This week the winner may choose to have $25 added to their Cricut.com. 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, June 24th, 2011.

Here is my entry

The three cartridges I used for the card are Ornamental Iron for the gate background, Elegant Edges for the shape I stamped on, then on the inside I used a Pen Work cut from French Manor to add some interest to the sentiment inside. It's a very simple card because my DH is the clean and simple type!

The stamp sentiment on the front is from Verses Rubber Stamps and it's called Love and Magic. It's a very pretty sentiment and describes how I still feel about my DH after 30 years. It's a little blurry, but here is a close up of the stamped image.

I used Basic Grey paper for the background color and Tim Holtz Lost and Found Paper for the base and the embellishment papers. I cut the shape from Elegant Edges and then stamped the sentiment on it. I printed For My Husband from my computer and then trimmed it to fit with a paper trimmer. I used American Crafts Metallic cardstock for the fence then slightly distressed it. I used Viva Decor to add the black accents to the saying and sentiment. On the inside of the card, I added the Pen Works cut from French Manor cut in Black Velvet paper from SEI on the bottom of the sentiment. To give it a finished look, I used more Viva Decor to add the black accents on the corners.

My DH is a wonderful husband and father. He does not have it easy, with a disabled child, and he has his ailing Mother In Law living with him, yet he tells us everyday that he loves us and always is quick to be supportive of my crafty endeavors and everything I do. I try to express my gratitude about how much I love and appreciate him, but I don't think there will ever be enough words for that. We have been together for 30 years now and I pray every day that we will be blessed with another 30 years to enjoy our life together.

Happy Father's Day to all the Husband's and Dad's out there!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

A Card for Finley

2011-06-03T15:24:00.001-04:00

Hi friends and fellow crafters! I have been so busy lately that my crafting time has taken a big hit. I usually keep my blog about my cards or crafts, so I haven't updated it recently. I've finally had the chance to sit down a create something.
I am a member of the Cricut Circle, and sometimes a fellow member requests cards for special reasons. This is a card for Finley, a fellow Circlet's neighbor's 3 year old child. The child had an accident that resulted in cutting her thumb off. Surgeons reattached it, and were treating it using leeches. Hopefully Finley is on the road to recovery.
I wanted to make something fun for Finley, so I used my favorite High Hopes Stamp, Dudley the Dragon blowing bubbles. I am still using that never ending supply of K & Company's Berry Sweet Paper! :) I also used DCWV Glitter Cardstock for the base of the card. Using my Cricut, I cut the background from Recollections cardstock that I had sitting on the shelves for at least a year! The smaller mat is that blasted K&Company Paper and I cut some circles to use for bubbles from white cardstock. I found out two days after the card was made that I did have a bubbles cut on a cartridge after all! I am beginning to think I have way too many Cricut Cartridges! For the inside of the card, I used more K & Company Berry Sweet paper and wrote a little poem that I printed on cardstock.

I know, I am not a poet, but lucky for me, Finley is only 3 and should enjoy it simply because it rhymes! I added some Jolee's crystals with my I-rock for some sparkle.

I colored Dudley with pretty much all the YG copic markers I have! He looks much brighter in person. I suppose I need to check the settings on my camera. The mushroom is colored with RV's and I added some stickles. The bubbles are BG0000, B000 and RV000.

I used Diamond Glaze and sprinkled MS Glitter on it before it dried to add lots of sparkle on the front of the card. I popped the "bubbles" with pop dots and added some little flowers I had hanging around on my table for more bright colors and sparkle. I printed out the words on the computer and added them on two small tags I cut on a some scraps of ---you guessed it---K & Company Berry Sweet Paper!
I finished the front with some bright Prima Flowers.
Hopefully this card will brighten a sweet little girl's day. It made me very happy to create it for her!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Why won't this paper pack ever end!!!!

2011-05-18T16:26:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends and fellow crafters! I wanted to share a new easel card/tissue holder that I made using K&Company Berry Special Paper, one of my favorite Lili Of the Valley Stamps, my circut machine and my copic markers.
I followed the same pattern that I did for my Frog Tissue Holder from KarelJ's last blog hop. My poor mother almost had a fit when she saw me pack it up to mail to my BFF! I'm not quite sure, but she seems to think that each card I make is for her to keep! She adores all the Lili Of The Valley stamps I have so I went with this one because she loves dogs. I colored her with my Copics and added some sparkle to her swing with my I-Rock and Jolees Crystals. I used Stickles on her pony tail bows for some shiny goodness! I cut two branches from my Cricut Cindy Loo Cartridge for the swing's anchor. The ribbons and embellies were on the craft table, so I just grabbed them! The stick pins are from Chloe's Closet, they were also found on the craft table!

On a final note, about the title of this post. If anyone remembers back a few posts ago, I said I am on a paper ban. I have way too much paper and I really need to use up what I have before buying anymore. I challenged myself to use an entire paper pack up. Well, I chose K&Company Berry Special Paper mostly because I was planning on making a couple of cards using my Kraftin Kimmie stamps featuring Lily Lemon and Stella Strawberry. I thought, it's bright and pretty. I obviously had many plans for this paper and that was why I bought it last year, or maybe it was the year before? ;-)
Big Mistake....this paper pack NEVER ends! Seriously, I think my DH is playing tricks on me, as soon as I think I am a couple pages away from finishing it, I find more paper from the collection. Not just little scraps that I can discard, claiming they are too small, either. These are over the 3 inch limit I set for what I should throw out. Yes, I have size limits. I used to save all the smaller scraps, then one day realized I had a jar filled with curled up scraps, not to mention the basket filled with pieces that were too small for me use with my Cricut or even use punches with. So I set the size limit. So far it has worked on keeping the scrap factor down to a minimum. Anyway, I am glad that I didn't choose one of the monster paper stacks, you know, the ones with 100 or more pages of paper that I had to have for that one design...
Stay tuned for at least another project, maybe even two featuring the lovely Berry Special Paper! I still have that page left that has the sock monkeys on it!!!!!!

Thanks for coming by today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Cricut Circle Blog Monthly Challenge

2011-05-14T22:34:00.002-04:00

MAY Monthly Challenge: Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

MAY MONTHLY CHALLENGE: Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Tic Tac Toe . . . Three X’s in a Row! That’s the goal in this challenge. Look at the tic tac toe board below and choose three squares in a row. Use the challenge prompts from all three squares to create your project! In Juliana’s sample project below she used the bottom row of the Tic Tac Toe Board; Flower Image Cut, Cuttlebug Folder, and Imagine Papers. We can’t wait to see what you do! This month, in honor of National Scrapbooking Day (May 7th) we will be giving away a Brand NEW Cricut Expression 2: 5th Anniversary Edition to FIVE WINNERS!!!! Yep! You heard me right! FIVE WINNERS!!!!!

The Challenge: Create a project of your choice using the Tic Tac Toe board above to choose THREE challenge prompts in a row. Project must include at least 2 different Cricut Image Cuts.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but 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.
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 Monday, May 30th, 2011.
Prize: This month FIVE winners will be selected from the entries to win a Brand NEW Cricut Expression 2: 5th Anniversary Edition. Yep! FIVE WINNERS!!!! 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 Wednesday, June 1st, 2011.

Dream A Little Dream...

Here is my submission for the monthly challenge. I was obsessed with using the twinkle girl image from Cricut's Nursery Rhymes Cartridge after seeing this layout that MamaC from the Cricut Boards did for the E-2 Birthday Contest. I just loved that layout. So I had this idea in my head for a month, but just couldn't find the time to actually create it. I used the side step card instructions from Splitcoast Stampers for this card. All of the cuts are from my Cricut Cartridges. These are the carts I used:

Nursery Rhyme - Twinkle cut at 3.5

Hannah Montana - Pegasus cut at 2.5

Paisley - Unicorn cut at 2.6 ( no shadow used)

Stand and Salute - Stars assorted sizes

Kate's ABCs - Mushrooms cut at 1.77

Life Is A Beach - Sun cut at 1.25 and 1.60

Martha Stewart All Occasions Cakes - Grass cut at 5.5, 2.5 and 2.5

Straight From The Nest - Grass cut at 1.45

Gypsy Wanderings - Dream cut at 2.00

Cindy Loo - Trees cut at 2.75

I decided to use the top row of the Tic Tac Toe Board

The first box is to use a sun shape. I cut two suns from Life Is A Beach and layered them. I used K&Company Specialty paper and inked it with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. I put some stickles on my finger and ran it on the smaller layer of the sun. It's hard to see in the pictures, but it's there!

The second box in the row says to use your Gypsy and add a welded image to your project. I welded 4 stars of assorted sizes together, cut them with white Bazzill cardstock and added Stickles Diamond Dust to sparkle them up.

The final box is to use buttons to my project. I used them as apples on the tree.

I used SEI white velvet paper for the Pegasus and the Unicorn. I used American Crafts Silver cardstock for the manes, tails, and the wings on Pegasus. I added a dot of Viva Decor for the eyes. I used Gold Stickles on the Unicorn's horn, and silver for the Pegasus' mane.

I also cut the Twinkle girl with the same papers. Since stars were a running theme on the card, I decided to use little stars instead of flowers on the patch of grass the she is standing in. I added some mushrooms that I cut with K&Company's Berry Sweet papers. I am still on my paper ban until I finish this stack. I like how the mushrooms turned out! Very colorful! It seems that no matter what I do, I can't finish this stack of papers. I thought I was down to a couple of pages when I did the frog tissue holder post, so imagine my horror when I found 3 more papers tucked inside a cubby! The cuts I used for this card were so small, they didn't even make a dent in the papers I have left! :-)

The background papers are DCWV glitter cardstock and the grass is from We R Memory Keepers Hippity Hoppity collection. Here is one more look at the card.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

I know It's Only Rock and Roll

2011-04-25T13:33:00.001-04:00

Hey we have a winner from our Toadally Frogs Blog Hop!

Congrats to Doverdi who said
Toadily cute tissue holder. Thanks for the great tutorial too!

April 24, 2011 3:47 AM

I will contact Dustin Pike to arrange for your credit to Doodle Dragon Studios!
Thanks to everyone who blog hopped with us this weekend. I appreciate all your wonderful comments and I appreciate you all for taking some time out from a busy holiday weekend to hop along with me!
I hope you will join me in May for Karelj's flower blog hop. I am hoping to design something fun for this!

Speaking of fun, how about a Kenny K card? I know I have said it before, but I LOVE these stamps! I am surrounded by guitar players, so when I spotted this digi, I had to have him. I am lucky that I have a teenage nephew who actually enjoys my cards, so I knew right away who I would make a card for. When I gave it to him, he put it on his dresser and his Mom tells me he still has it there! I feel so loved!
I used some old DCWV Rock paper for the base of the card and We R Memory Keepers Teenage Angst for the design. I had some funky bling left in my stash from Halloween, so I used one of the goth crosses on the sentiment. I kept it simple. I colored the Rock Dude with copics, but unfortunately, my clean up crew (aka: son) came along and put them away for me before I could make a list for the post. He should be so obsessive with his hot wheels!
Here's a close up of the Rock Dude

I love his telecaster guitar! It's hard to see in the picture, but I added some Diamond Glaze on his tongue and teeth. It looks hysterical! I tried to make him look grungy. My shading is getting better, but I need to focus on grounding my images. I usually fussy cut my images, so I haven't given too much thought to learning to ground them. I need to think more about it because he looks like he's standing on a pile of dirt! LOL! If anyone has some hints on grounding, I'd love to hear them! Almost 2 years of coloring with Copics, and I still have so much more to learn!
Thanks for stopping by the blog today! I hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed Easter and was surrounded by love!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen

Welcome to the Toadally Frog Blog Hop!

2011-04-23T00:01:00.003-04:00

Got A Frog In Your Throat?

Sneezing due to colds or allergies? Maybe you can use a tissue?

Welcome to the Toadally Frogs Blog Hop! We have "Toadally" amazing crafters hopping along and we are out to prove that Frogs can hop on Easter, too! You should have come from the very creative Patti's blog. Isn't her project "Toadally" awesome? Did you just happen to stop by my blog today? Why not go back to Karelj's blog to hippity hop from the beginning? You will "Toadally be hoppy" you did!

Today for our Toadally Frog Blog Hop, I have a fun project that is a perfect little just because gift for a friend, teacher, family member, or maybe even yourself! I really enjoyed the tissue box cover that I made for my Father-in-law's girlfriend, and I started thinking that it would be fun if I could make a smaller version for a desk or nightstand. I did an Internet search and found a nice tutorial on making a mini tissue box cover here, I thought that would be perfect on an easel card! So I set to work.

I used the same size paper as used in the tutorial, a 4.5 x 8.5 piece of cardstock, and scored it at 2, 3, 5.25 and 6.25 inches. I used a piece of scrap paper and drew some lines to show where you would score the paper for the purpose of this post. I used my MS scor board to make this project because my Scor Board doesn't have the quarter measurements.

I used a small nestability to cut the opening to dispense the tissues. The tutorial is a little more involved, but since I was planning on adhering it to the card, I went very basic on my tissue box. The tutorial gives extra instruction for adding a border on the tissue holder. I really liked how my paper looked on the card, so I skipped that part.

Tape or glue the bottom of the box together.

Easel card

Then I made the easel card. I followed the basic instructions at Splitcoast Stampers but I made my card 5.5 inches. I scored it at 5.5 x 8.25, and used a 5.5 x 5.5 square for the base.

Once I taped the square on it looked like this

I used some craft cardstock for the easel base of my card. Once the base was done, I got to have some fun decorating it. I used a Dustin Pike monthly stamp from the March collection. I was surprised at how many Froggy digi stamps I have. I never even looked in my rubber or acrylic stamps for a frog. I love this frog! I colored him with Copics G0000, 05, 07, 14, 16, 17, 21, for the frog and E23, 34, and 47 for his sign's handle. I used my computer to print out Gesundheit on green cardstock, inked the edges and paper pieced it to the stamp. How about a close up?

I was going to use "Bless You" on his sign, but I thought Gesundheit was more whimsical. And really, isn't this a whimsical frog? He's "Toadally" cute and wishing you good health!

I used We R Memory Keepers Papers for the background on the card and I inked the edges with some distress inks. The papers I used are from the Hippity Hoppity Collection. This collection has some really fun papers with it! The paper for the scallop and the tissue holder are from K&Company's Berry Sweet Collection. If you have been following my posts of late, you know I am trying to finish out a full stack of paper while on my paper ban, and Berry Sweet was the stack I chose to use. I am down to 3 pages left! Woo-hoo! I found a left over butterfly on my craft table so I added it to the tissue box. I used my I-Rock to adhere some Jolee's hot fix crystals and a bow. See that bow, shh, don't tell my hubby I told you this, but HE made that bow! Really, he did! I have had a bow easy hanging on my clip it up for over a year, I never used it. Nope, not once. In my effort to use my papers, I realized I have slew of tools I have never used either. This is one of them. So I removed it from it's clip and set out to use it, after all, I must have really needed it, right? I found a video on You Tube and after 6 tries, called my hubby in just to see if it was the tool or the mechanic. My experiment proved that it was.....THE MECHANIC! Yep, he had a bow on his 3rd try, and he's left-handed! He then tried to get me to promise to NEVER admit to a soul that he made a bow, I laughed and said I going to use it on the card and was going to tell everyone! So his secret is out, he can use a Bow Easy, and I can't! It's fabulous bow, isn't

it?

Here is a side view of the card.

The easel makes it easy to fold down for mailing. I am mailing mine to a girlfriend that has been under the weather lately. I hope it will cheer her up. Here's one last picture for you.

How about some blog candy? Since I used a Dustin Pike's image for the project, I am giving a $10.00 credit to Doodle Dragon Studios so you can try some of Dustin's digis for yourself, what's even better is that there is a big sale going on now, so that will get you ALOT of digis! Leave me a comment and I will choose a winner Monday. Don't forget to leave me a way to reach you!

Thanks for stopping by the Toadally Frog Blog Hop today! Your next stop will be Janice at Cricut Confessions. Wait until you see her beautiful blog! I know you find her project for this hop absolutely "ribbeting"! It's spellbinding!

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter!

Happy Crafting!

Colleen