Tutti Fruiti at TPV!

When I saw The Paper Variety's challenge this morning, I just knew I had to play along!  

First I thought I was going to make a card but then I remembered I still have pictures to scrap from my niece's 1st birthday...in just a few weeks, she will be 3! I looked through some paper collections that I haven't used yet and came across the Crate Paper Neighborhood collection.  I found a few papers and a banner in there that matched the pictures quite nicely!

The background paper was labeled 'Home' and I used the 'Visit' paper to cut the top layer of the title from my Simply Charmed Cricut cartridge.  I used my swatch book to match cardstocks and was able to use some scraps of Papertrey Ink Melon Berry, Aqua Mist & Simply Chartreuse on the title shadow, photo corners & strawberries. The darker pink paper is from my way old stash.  I made the photo corners using my paper trimmer and deco scissors.

TPV is hosting a DT call too, you can check out the details HERE!

TFL!

May LOAD - Day 7 and another challenge

This is my 4th page for today and possibly my last so I am going to enter it for my Day 7 of LOAD.  I'd hate to get distracted and not make another page by the deadline tonight!

I started this layout using the 2nd NSD challenge from the Scrapfriendly Yahoo Group.  The challenge is to use newer photos, papers & tools.  I used adorable pics of my niece Emily, some MME Stella & Rose Hazel papers, and used my Cricut (and Gypsy)!! The yummy was cut from the Simply Charmed cartridge - first time using it! The cake was cut from the Sweet Treats cartridge (my 2nd time using this - I originally bought it to cut some flags that I used on my wedding bookmark favors)

TFL!

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #4

I have a fun Birthday Sundaes challenge to share with you all today!

I found this inspiration picture for the design team to work with...I came across it on one of the many wedding blogs that I still follow.

{Source}

Here is my take~

I am so proud of myself! I used my Gypsy to cut out this sundae from the Birthday Bash cartridge.  The piecing isn't perfect but I'm so happy I was able to get it cut and together. I used to use my Cricut all the time but as the cuts got more involved, I shied away from using it..not that I stopped by cartridges LOL! So hopefully this will get me cutting more again. There are lots of Cricut challenges I would love to enter! I cut the banner using the banner dies from Papertrey Ink.  If I thought of it ahead of time, I would have run the pink pieces through the Cuttlebug but since I already glued them down, I went looking for teeny tiny stamps to use as a sentiment.  They are from a Stampendous cupcake set.

In this side view, you can see the Smooch I used to bling up the sprinkles. 

The paper is from the older than old stash!

To play along with Birthday Sundaes and to see the fantastic design team samples, please click HERE!

Lasting Memories Challenge #28

Sigh...the weekend is almost over :(

But the good news is I have a new Lasting Memories challenge to share with you! 

"You're the Boss"

Please show us your unique style!

And........we have a sponsor for you!!

You can win one of three prizes, check out all the details HERE 

and see how the design team used images generously provided by our sponsor!

Here is my take on the challenge.  I really loved using the Journal Set #2 from Tiffany's Doodles! You can see 2 of the photo corners on each picture and well as the journaling spot.  How fun to be able to color it to match anything you are working on! Now that I noticed it, I should have colored the photo corners too. 

 I took these pics the day we adopted Amber.  

We had to wait for a vet to check her out before we could leave. To me that means photo op!

I used last week's Creative Scrappers sketch, however I did rotate it to suit my pictures.

Now show us how 'You're the Boss"!!

Layout Details: Basic Grey Max & Whiskers paper, bloomers, chipboard; Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type letters, misc. letter stickers, Storybook Cricut cartridge (for the scalloped circle), Journal Set #2 from Tiffany's Doodles

Lasting Memories #24

Good morning!

I hope you are all having a great weekend! I haven't crafted as much as I hoped, but the weekend's not over yet! Since it's Sunday, it's time for another Lasting Memories Challenge!

This week's it's to use your Cricut and/or Die Cuts! I have to insert a PSA here ~ if you have a Gypsy for your Cricut, learn how to use it LOL! You'll see below...that big yellow bone, should have been 5 inches wide, not 5 inches tall rofl! I haven't gotten all of my cartridges loaded, I've played around with it a bit but haven't tried cutting anything from the Gypsy yet. I had to rework my layout to accommodate the big bone since I didn't feel like digging to find the same shade of yellow cardstock. I have to say I really like how it turned out!

I am really enjoying scrapping our puppy! I used Basic Grey Max & Whiskers paper for the background and the Bloomers & Glazed Brad for embellishment. The bone was cut from the Cricut Paper Pups cartridge.

You can enter your layout HERE and while you're visiting, check out what the rest of the DT created!

Anything Goes for PaperCutz #69!

While you are reading this, I am one of those early morning shoppers that is out and about. Crazy I know LOL!

Today's PaperCutz challenge is Anything Goes!

I was originally going to make a card featuring shopping to celebrate Black Friday, however I am in the midst of reorganizing my craft room after I had to move some stuff around for electrical work that had to be done last weekend. I came across an American Crafts modern album that I bought a few years ago to alter for our Philadelphia mini vacation and never got around to getting it done. I decided while cleaning that it's time to really buckle down and get stuff made.

I used paper from the Basic Grey Boxer collection and modge podged it onto the cardboard. The state of Pennsylvania was cut with the Cricut 50 States cartridge and the text was cut using Ashlyn's Alphabet. A few embellishments from my stash were added and it's done! Now I can start adding the pages of the trip that have been scrapped for ages (and hopefully this will motivate me to finish the rest of the pages LOL!)

To join in with this week's PaperCutz challenge and to see what the rest of the design team created, please click HERE.

TFL!

Down on the Farm

I made two cards today yay! You'll see the first one on Tuesday for Party Time Tuesdays!

Here is the second card that I created~it's for a Down on the Farm swap. I just had to sign up so that I could use my Taylored Expressions' Udderly Sweet stamp set & Garden Variety Project Pantry kit for the first time! All of the paper (except the brown) and embellishments are from the kit. I went old school too by using decorative scissors for the 'grass'.

I also tried something new, the Cricut Design Studio. I've had the software for about 2 or 3 years and never used it. I cut the fence from the Wall Decor & More cartridge at 2.75 high & 5.5 wide. It was great to be able to set the exact size - not sure why I waited so long to play around with it!

TFL!!

PTT #18

Happy Tuesday!

I finally have a PTT card to share with you all!

This week's challenge is a color challenge, when I was coming up with challenges I thought it would be fun to name some of them after cakes so this one is called "Carrot Cake Challenge" and the colors that should be used are orange, brown and white/ivory and don't forget the birthday wording on the front of your card!

I created this card for my FIL's birthday on Sunday. The paper is from the SEI Moonrise collection, the leaf was cut from the Stretch Your Imagination cricut cartridge and the sentiment is from the Paper Makeup Stamps Birthday Cheer set.

I used an FTL layout from last week~

To join in the Party Time Tuesdays fun, please click HERE where you can enter and also see all the wonderful samples from the design team!

Card Supplies~

Stamps: PMS Birthday Cheer

Paper: SEI Moonrise

Ink: Memento

Other: Stretch Your Imagination cricut cartridge, American Crafts ribbon, SU corner rounder, chocolate spica pen

Paper Cutz Challenge #60

TGIF!!

Woohoo the weekend is finally here! Lots of plans ~ tomorrow I am doing a 2 mile walk with the local Compassionate Friends organization and then on Sunday, my husband (so fun to say that!!) and I are going to the Big E.

Today's Paper Cutz Challenge is to make a card, LO or craft project using a digital, hand stamped or Cricut cut image of a critter. Use any colors or theme you'd like. Show us your critter love!

For my card, I am using a reindeer from the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge. I received it for a challenge last month but ran out of time to make it then. It's perfect for today's challenge! I just {heart} reindeer and this one is the cutest!

I used one of my new Basic Grey Sizzix embossing folders for the background, have you seen those? So many fun different ones! The designer paper is from the American Crafts Jolly collection and the sentiment is from a Hero Arts stamp set.

Please be sure to link up your critter project to the Paper Cutz Challenge blog and while you are there, check out what the rest of the design team did! You'll be wowed!

Have a GREAT day!!!

Lasting Memories Challenge #5

Happy Sunday!

I have another announcement to make ~ Karen asked me to stay on with Lasting Memories full time and I said yes! I am really starting to enjoy scrapbooking again and inspiring all of you to get those memories scrapped too!

Today's Lasting Memories Challenge is two-fold..."Take a Sentimental Journey" and use computer generated title and/or text. I have to admit, I didn't quite follow the sentimental journey part, trying to find 'old' pictures to take a journey with is like trying to find a needle in the haystack in my room right now. So....I went with these recently printed pictures of my cutie patootie niece.

The journaling reads: "When I saw Gracie's kitchen, I knew I had to get pictures of her playing in it. I wanted to be able to use my 'From My Kitchen' Cricut cartridge. She's having a ball frying an egg, although I don't think she's ready for customers just yet!"

I used the Cricut Cartridge 'Ashlyn's Alphabet' for the title and the 'From My Kitchen' cartridge for the eggs and oven. The font of the journaling is Baby Boston which was downloaded from the internet, although I can't quite remember where.

It was quite fun to use the computer for journaling, I typically handwrite all of my journaling. I got to play around with a bunch of fonts before I decided which one I would use. My tip of the day is to use spell check before you print it out though LOL! Wanna guess how I learned that tip?

I hope you will take a 'Sentimental Journey' with us this week! Please have your layout linked to the Lasting Memories blog by 9 pm EST on Friday night for a chance at the Top 3. For more inspiration, check out the blog and you can find my team members' blogs on my left sidebar.

Have a great day!

Image Organization

I bought 3 white cd/dvd boxes from Walmart shortly after Christmas and I *finally* took the time to alter one last night to hold my stamped/printed images.  It’s a good thing that I bought 3 of them LOL….the first one is full and I still have piles of images sorted all over my desk and some under the desk.  Nooooo more image swaps for awhile, heck I don’t think I need to stamp my own stamps (except for sentiments) for at least a year!

Here is the inside.  I filed the images alphabetically by company and some of the larger piles have subdivision dividers.  The entire middle section of the box is all House Mouse images LOL!

Paper is Basic Grey Bittersweet and the tabs were cut with the 'From My Kitchen' cricut cartridge at 2.25 inches.

TFL!

Lasting Memories Challenge #2

Good morning!

It’s time for another Lasting Memories Challenge!  This time we would like to see you use buttons & bows on your layout. Also, don’t forget to check the Lasting Memories blog to see if you are a winner for the blog candy and to see all the wonderful buttons & bows creations by the DT!

Here is my layout ~  The theme inspired me to scrap these pictures of my nieces.

I diecut the shaped paper with my Cricut Storybook cartridge. It’s so fun to be able to do this with any shape! The buttons were threaded with some skinny ribbon I found in my stash.

Supplies~
Paper: Basic Grey Olivia, DCWV
Other: buttons & ribbon from stash, thickers for the title, Cricut Storybook cartridge

To participate in the Lasting Memories challenge, please link your ‘buttons & bows’ layout to the Lasting Memories blog by July 30th. Top 3 will be announced on July 31st and a new challenge will be posted on August 1st!

A Hop for the kickoff of Lasting Memories!

Good morning and Happy 4th of July!

Welcome to the Lasting Memories blog hop! You should have arrived here from Kelli's blog, if not please start back at the beginning HERE.

The first challenge is to create a layout using red, white & blue theme. Be sure to leave comments on each stop during your hop because there is blog candy hidden along the way - to be eligible, you must enter your red, white & blue layout on the Lasting Memories blog, in addition to leaving the comments.

Here is my creation ~

I had such a fun time putting this layout together. I drew a sketch of what I wanted to do the other day and was so pleased that it turned out just the way I envisioned! The large star was cut from the Cricut (George & Basic Shapes cartridge) and the 'firecrackers' were embossed with the Cuttlebug stars embossing folder. The 'New Haven' was cut from the Cuttin' Up cricut cartridge.

Your next stop on the hop is Mandy! I hope you all enjoy the wonderful creations that the team has come up with, I'm excited to see them too!

I'll be back later with a patriotic card and then another Christmas card!

Other challenges entered:
The Cuttlebug Spot - Celebrate Independence Day
For Fun Challenges - card or project showing your country's spirit
Paper Cutz #48 - 4th of July

EDLC Days #1 & #2

I am officially insane!

I decided to join in a 30 day daily layout challenge at Scrappin-n-Chattin. The payoff? I'll hopefully have 30 pages to add to my books by the end of the month and if I win, I'll hit the jackpot! The entry fee was $6 and the winner will win stuff from their wishlist (and we all have those, right??)

Day #1 - Dog Gone Cute
This is my adorable niece, Grace. These pictures are from when she was just about 4 months old, in 18 days she will be 2! I really love how this page turned out. I didn't use a sketch, how about that? LOL! I got the title from one of my title books and I cut it out with Ashlyn's Alphabet cricut cartridge using dp from Making Memories Sabrina collection. The border was cut with the Paper Pups cricut cartridge, first time ever using it!

Day #2 - Soon to be Mr & Mrs
This is a different layout for me, it's more 'pretty' than cute. I dug deep in my stash and pulled out this dp from Provocraft, the tag is from some sticker sheet I found in with these pics and the little squares are cut from a Fresh Cuts sheet (remember those??) The pics are my bff and her now dh. I flew out to California 4 years ago to be in their wedding and now they live here, which makes me so happy, as she is helping me plan my wedding!

TFL!

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!!

I think it's so very cool that us scrappers have a special day!

I have a special page to share with you today. Sketches! by Tamara asked for volunteers on their facebook fan page and I was one of the chosen ones to help out with a NSD challenge. How very exciting for me!

The challenge I was chosen for, along with my friend Kim (woohoo!), is the recipe challenge.
These three elements needed to be incorporated ~

• N - Number
• S - Stitching (first time I've EVER stitched on something, thanks Bazzill In Stitch'z)
• D - Die Cut (tree was cut with Cricut Cartridge Serenade, love that cart!!)

These pictures are from the first day of spring in our yard this year. It's our first spring here, so it was very exciting for me to have flowers blooming and getting to spend time outdoors here :)

Check out Sketches! by Tamara to see the other challenges throughout today, I'm looking forward to the sketch one! It's a beautiful day here, so we are going for a hike and then I'll be back at my craft table.

Have a great day!

Same Set - 3 cards

This weekend Danni challenged the Weekend Crew to use a stamp or stamp set and make 2-3 cards with it. Since this will be a long post, I'll include the supply list of all cards at the end.

I chose my new Loads of Fun set from There She Goes. When I saw samples made with this set, I just had to have it because it was fun and made me giggle. I really love how clean and nice these stamps stamp!

Here is the first card -


This is the inside -

I used this week's Unscripted Sketches #42 for the layout.


Here is card #2 -


I used this week's Sweet Stop sketch for the layout. I used the Storybook cartridge to cut the scallop out.


And last but not least -

The sentiment on this one cracks me up! I used this week's Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge for the layout.


So which one is your favorite? I think I like the first one best :) I still haven't used all the stamps in the set, so I'm sure you'll be seeing many more cards in the future!

Supply List - all images stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black
Card #1
Paper: Basic Grey Origins
Copics: E31, E41, E27, YG63, E18, YG67, Y15, Y35, YG11
Other: Nestabilities Labels 1, prima flowers & brads from stash

Card #2
Paper: Basic Grey Sugar Rush
Copics: E41, YG25, R29, T3, E18
Other: Storybook cricut cartridge, spica pens, ribbon & flower from stash, brads from Making Memories

Card #3
Paper: Basic Grey Ambrosia
Ink: Memento
Copics: T1, T3, R29
Other: Fiskars threading water punch, glossy accents

Thanks for visiting! I'm off to clean off my scraproom before dinner, hoping to scrap a little after we watch a movie later (Dirty Dancing anyone?? One of my favorite movies ever!!)

SFYTT with Biker Bee

Here is a card that I created over the weekend for a patriotic swap. I just love this cute little bee from Stampendous, he's all ready for a parade!


Here's the Sketch for You to Try sketch that I used from last Saturday. I changed it to a vertical card versus a square, don't like paying the extra postage they require!

The Recipe:
Stamps: Biker Bee ~ Stampendous
Paper: DCWV, Paper Company, GP
Ink: Tuxedo Black ~ Memento, copics (sorry don't have them written down!)
Accessories: diamond stickles, cricut (george cartridge for the circle), marvy giga scallop circle punch

Thanks for visiting!

MAY 1st Reveal at Just My Sketches!

It's time for the May 1st reveal over at Just My Sketches!

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:
This is Julia with Flowers from Anki's Sweethearts for Susana's Card Art and Design. I've had her for awhile and inked her up awhile ago. She just happened to match the scraps that I used to make a card the other day. I pieced her dress with Fashion District dp from My Mind's Eye and colored her with copics, but I forgot to write them down. The base of the card is PTI Aqua Mist run through the Cuttlebug with the textile folder. The big flower was cut with my new Lyrical Letters cricut cartridge.

If you play along, please link your card to Deanne's blog.

TGIF!!

Just for Fun

I created a card yesterday just for fun! It's a rare occurance when it happens. I'm usually creating a card for a swap or an occasion.

I went to Michaels on Saturday to get some ribbon for a special card and I saw that they had the Lyrical Letters cricut cartridge on sale for $40! I walked around the store for a bit debating on purchasing it. I walked back over and it was still there, so I just had to get it!

Here is my creation:

I swear the flower matches the card better IRL! The dp from a DCWV stack - either the spring or #6, don't remember which! The cardstock is PTI Pure Poppy and Aqua Mist. I just love their cardstock, its such a nice weight and it usually matches whatever I am working on. Both flowers and the 'hello' were cut with the cartridge.

Thanks for stopping by!

A is for...

One card...two purposes. This card was created for a swap A is for ___. So I chose apple, not very imaginative LOL, but it does use a poorly neglected Stampin Up set called Give Thanks. I also used just scraps on this card, yay! The sketch was for Taylor's Year of Cupcake Challenges - TECC52JP, which you can see HERE.

The Cricut George cartridge was used to cut the circles and ovals. I used my new copic markers to color in the apples and my Stampin Up watercolor crayons for the pail. I'm trying not to neglect my old coloring methods, just because I've fallen hook, line & sinker for my new markers LOL!
Stamps: Give Thanks (Stampin Up), Say It In Style (CTMH)
Paper: Georgia Pacific, DCWV, Bazzill
Ink: Tuxedo Black, Ladybug (Memento)
Accessories: copics, watercolor crayons (Stampin Up), brads (American Crafts), George cartridge (Cricut)

TFL! I have more to share but must save it for another night.