Rodeo

For this layout, I used Creative Scrappers Sketch #126 which you can find here.  What a wonderful inspiration this site is!!!  I've had these papers in my stash for a while so I can't even tell you what they are but I love doing western themed pages!  I made another of the "pleated flowers" and then I cut some stars out of some jeans one of the boys had outgrown.  That "saddle up" stamp is from a Unity stamp set.  These pictures are from back in 2001 while we were stationed in Germany and we went to this rodeo on one of the military bases there.  It was so much fun!

Life Is Good

I made this layout for a Scraplift Challenge over at Crop Chocolate.  I used the Life is Good paper pack from Echo Park and I have to say I've purchased several of the Echo Park kits over at Crop Chocolate and I have loved everyone of them.  They coordinate together so well and I could sit for hours trying to find papers to go together so I love that they have done this for me!

CROP CHOCOLATE CROP!!!

Crop Chocolate is having an online crop this weekend!  You can check out the challenges here!  There are lots of awesome challenges going on and AMAZING prizes to be won!  I've not seen the entire list of prizes but I know at least some are Crop Chocolate credits!!!!  Be sure to check out the Sweet Talk also for lots of fun mini games!!!

Prayers Please

I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything for a while.  I have company here and they are staying in my "craft room" so I haven't really done anything for the last couple of weeks.  I did want to stop in and ask all of you sweet followers to say a prayer for my Dad.  You may have seen me post at one time or another about the fact that he is battling lung cancer.  He just finished a round of radiation and is continuing with chemo but he has been feeling really rotten lately and I'm really worried about him.  For those of you that are separated from family and friends by many many miles (in my case a big ocean, too) you know how hard it is to be so far away especially when something like this is happening.  I thank all of you for stopping by and I would truly appreciate your prayers for my Dad.

Fun in the Sun LO!

Here is another LO made with the same kit as the one below.  On this one I used one of the huge "glitter stickers" I called them in my last post but when I opened it they are really like overlays.  These are absolutely beautiful!  The photo doesn't do them justice at all but the colors are gorgeous! Here is a close up of it...

 Hope you like it!  That beautiful day at the beach stamp is from Catslife Press.  Isn't if fun?  They have all kinds of these "seal stamps".  I think they are a wonderful way to add some journaling info!

Get Picky Sketch #1

I was blog hopping the other day and ran across this great new sketch blog called Get Picky and I couldn't wait to try out their first sketch.  Here is what I came up with using the Rusted Sun kit from Fancy Pants which I picked up for a steal at Crop Chocolate.  I used my Cricut Life's A Beach cartridge to cut out the surfboard and the large circle in the background.  That little bit of green cardstock on the surfboard and the flower are all I used that did not come from this kit.  I couldn't believe it when I opened this kit as it came with overlays, beautiful rubons, thick stickers, alphabet stickers, a huge sheet of glitter stickers, lots of beautiful doublesided patterned paper that I really had a hard time deciding which side to use.  I'm going to get tons of projects done just from this one kit!  I made my flower by simply braiding some yarn and then adhering it to a cardstock circle just winding the braid into a circle and adhering it with fabric glue as I went.  I then added a Brad Buddie in the middle.  I wish I could take credit for coming up with that but alas I can't and I cannot remember for the life of me where I saw it done.   I'm sure I probably have it saved somewhere and if I find it I'll post it for you but it was very simple to do.  I love the look especially for a boy's page where you don't want a girlie flower!  Here is a closer view:

Creative Scrappers Sketch #125

I used the Creative Scrappers Sketch #125 for this layout.  What a talented bunch of designers they have over there!  I get so inspired everytime I visit their blog!  I used some DCWV papers for this one that have been in my stash for a while.  I used the SU medallion stamp to add some interest in two of the corners of this cool distressed paper.  I added some rubons for my title and some flowers and buttons out of my stash....some randon bling and I was done with this fun layout.  My sweetie pie looking all cute in her pigtails!!!

Halloween 1999

Here is another layout I made using the Happy Halloween kit by Echo Park.  I'm just loving these papers!!!  All the papers except the cardstock are from this kit as well as the haunted house and the 1999.  The rubons, decorative pin and the kit all came from Crop Chocolate.  If you aren't familiar with this site, be sure to read my posts below for more info and check it out.  You'll be glad you did.  They've been posting some beautiful Christmas kits already!  I'm so proud of myself on this layout as I didn't follow a sketch but it came together pretty quickly as I knew the papers I wanted to use and they are all from the same kit so they color coordinated already!  I used my cute Halloween seal stamp from Catslife Press again on this layout.  I love round stamps!!! 

Practical Scrappers Sketch Challenge!

I just LOVE a sketch challenge.  It's such a great start as the hard work is done already.  Anywho....I am using the awesome sketch from last Friday's sketch challenge over at Practical Scrappers. I couldn't wait to play with my new Happy Halloween papers by Echo Park which I picked up from Crop Chocolate.   If you haven't checked out Crop Chocolate it is a great "daily deal" site but it has so many awesome deals everyday so you want to check often.  I can't wait to get the new Echo Park Christmas pack!!!  It's in my shopping cart now....you can actually save the things you want and keep them in your cart until you are ready to check out which saves you bundles on shipping...plus they have FREE shipping for all orders over $60.  All the patterned papers are from that Halloween kit except for the orange on the lion and it is from Echo Park's A Walk in the Park.  I'm so loving these Echo Park kits and they are just full of wonderful papers.  I've still got oodles of both kits left and can make many many many more projects with them.  I also used the Making Memories Spook Alley Shimmer Rub-Ons which I also picked up from Crop Chocolate.  I played with my Glimmer mists on this layout and I've learned that I have a pretty heavy hand (he! he!).....got to practice a little on that!  I used some more of my wrinkle ribbon that I made using the Glimmer Mists (maybe I should stick to doing that with my mists).   I had one Catslife Press stamp that I love so I went looking for more and found I can order direct from the company so I did.  They came so super fast and I used one of them (Halloween Seal) on this layout and you can find it here.  I absolutely LOVE their seal stamps!  As I was looking for the link so you can see where to purchase the stamp I used on this layout I saw they just released some brand new ones!!!  I foresee another order for me!!!  My hubby doesn't have to do any Christmas shopping this year!  Oh and by the way, that cute little lion is from the Create A Critter Cricut cartridge....love how this cartridge layers!

Creative Scrappers Sketch #122

I decided to join in the sketch challenge over at Creative Scrappers this week and this is what I came up with.  I used papers from a couple of kits that I purchased recently at Crop Chocolate, the A Walk in the Park and Happy Halloween kits by Echo Park.    If you haven't heard of Crop Chocolate before you really should go check it out....and remember they are our sponsor this week at SMC so you could win a $25 credit to their site.  You can read more about Crop Chocolate and our challenge this week in my post below.

Sew Many Cards Christmas Challenge

This week's challenge at Sew Many Cards is to make a Christmas themed project.  I chose to use this ADORABLE polar bear....you can purchase this cutie here.  This patterned paper is some left over I had from last year but I'm pretty certain it is by Imaginisce.  I printed my image rather large because I wanted to have plenty of room to color!  If you look real closely at his Santa hat you can see that I used some fun flock on it so it has lots of texture.  I also added some glaze on the berries but it doesn't show up in the picture very well.   Hope you like it....here are the copics I used

I am so excited about this week's sponsor, Crop Chocolate.  Jon & McCall have graciously donated a $25 credit to their store for this week's challenge winner.  I shop over there all the time.  It is a "daily deal" site but I put that in quotations because they have numerous deals throughout the day so you want to check their store often as you don't want to miss out!  Plus.....you can put your items in a shopping cart so that you can save up and check out all at once hence saving on shipping.  If you look back through my posts you will see some of the goodies I have purchased over there and there are lots more to come as I just got in a really cute Echo Park Halloween package!  Here is a little more info about Crop Chocolate:

CropChocolate.com – Sweet Deals for the Scrapbooking Addict!

At CropChocolate.com™, we sell all-things scrapbook. But here's the catch, we only sell one item at a time – at a delicious price. Every day several items will be posted – so act fast – a limited quantity will be sold at deeply discounted prices. No time to let it temper.

Chocolate à la Carte or “la Carte” is a 45 day shopping cart, once an item is added you have 45 total days until it expires out of your la carte. Just add all your goodies in “la Carte” and pay shipping only once! Free shipping with cartes over $60 in the USA, over $100 in Canada, and over $300 international.
CropChocolate.com was founded by a marketing group with immeasurable experience in one-deal-at-a-time online marketing. No matter what you use – a cup, a gallon, a vat or a tank – you can't contain their experience of successfully taking sites in targeted industries from nuts to soup... in this case molten chocolate. CropChocolate.com is the first scrapbook site to migrate from a one-deal-a-day to a one-deal-at-a-time and they did it in less than 60 days.

We are continually looking for sugary brands and delicious deals where everybody wins – the manufacturer, the consumer and CropChocolate.com. Please contact us at sales@cropchocolate.com if you want to participate in the CropChocolate.com sweetness.

Sweet Shopping!

Can't wait to see what you make this week!!!

Sew Many Challenges - Embossing Challenge!

This week's challenge over at SMC is a technique one.  We are asking that you use embossing (dry and/or wet) on your project.  I chose to work with this fall image which you can purchase here.  This image was part of a special fall package last season so if you dont' see it right off just email Angela and she will get it for you.   She is updating some of the images on the site.  I LOVE texture so....I used one of my Tim Holtz embossing folders for the green base and I also did a little distressing (tearing) on the red borders but it isn't showing up very well in the picture.   I also used distress ink on the image panel (love doing that).  I also used some wet embossing on my sentiment.  The patterned papers are from the Imaginisce Apple Cider line (love those too).  This was a very fun card to make!!!  Here are the copics I used:

We are so excited to have Stich from Stitchy Stamps as our sponsor again this week!  She has generously donated 3 stitchy stamps from her store to this week's winner!  She was so very sweet to let me work with this sweet image and I have to say I love how this card turned out!  She is called Can I GO Too and you can purchase her here. 

Isn't she just the cutest?!!  I used some of last year's Basic Grey Halloween papers and some sheer black ribbon with kraft and black cardstock to make this card.  The picture doesn't really show the sparkle but I did go over the dress and hat with a Stardust pen and it is really cute IRL.  I did color my image with copics as usual, however, I either failed to take a picture or misplaced the file.  Can't wait to see what you make this week!!!

Sew Many Challenges Halloween Theme

Isn't Miki cute all dressed up as a pumpkin?  This week's challenge over at Sew Many Challenges is to make a Halloween themed project.  I chose this cute little pumpkin and you can purchase him here.  I think he is just ADORABLE!!!  I followed this week's sketch over at Mojo Monday.  The patterned papers I used are from the Jen Yanok Halloween Mat pad by K & Company.  The cute little tag is from an older SU set.  Here are the copics I used:

We are super excited to have Claire Phillips from Hope Jacare Doodles as our sponsor this week.  She has graciously donated her Cockatoo Rubber Stamp to this week's winner (you can see a picture of it on the SMC blog).  She has such a beautiful whimsical style....love it!  I got to play with this image called Cupcake Stand.  You can purchase it here.  

I made this card using some patterned papers from my DCWV Sweet Stack.  Made me hungry just working with it!  Here are the copics I used on this treat.

I hope to see you over at the SMC blog with some spooky projects!!!

Sew Many Challenges!!

This week's challenge at Sew Many Challenges is to make a project in honor of Grandparent's Day.  It can be a love theme or a thank you theme.  I chose to work with Owen and Duncan.  That little boy sure is cute but Duncan just steals my heart....isn't he cute?!!!  You can purchase them here.  I used some patterned papers from Garden Variety by Cosmo Cricket.  I printed the sentiment on my computer and just cut it out as a banner and added some baker's twine.  Of course, I had to had some ribbon from my stash as I seem to think nothing is complete until it has some ribbon (he! he!).  Here are the copics I used:

                                  

We are thrilled to have Kayla Thomas from Purple Panda Designs as our sponsor this week.  Kayla has graciously donated 4 of  the winner's choice of her beautiful images to this week's challenge winner.   Here is a little bit about Kayla:

Hi! I'm Kayla from Purple Panda Designs and I'm 16 yrs. old. I love to draw and I love Panda's. I love to color them purple, which is where my name came from. I love to draw animals mostly. My stamps are hand drawn from my own ideas. Please be sure to visit my blog for updates and news about Purple Panda Designs. Would love to have you as a follower. I hope you enjoy my stamps.

You can read more from Kayla on her blog here.  Can you believe she is only 16? I don't have that kind of talent now and I'm not going to say how many more years I've been on this earth than she has.... I hope you will join in the fun this week!  Can't wait to see what you create!

Sew Many Cards Birthday Challenge

Isn't that just the sweetest little bear you ever did see?  This week's challenge over at Sew Many Challenges is to make a birthday themed project.....who doesn't need a birthday card now and then?  You can purchase this cutie right here.  I was blog hopping the other night and found the cutest idea by Teri Berrios and I couldn't wait to try it.  What a great way to use your scraps from other projects!  Check out her beautiful card here.  I used my scraps left over from the A Walk in the Park kit by Echo Park which I purchased at Crop Chocolate to make this card.  Super quick and easy card to make!  Here are the copics I used on this project:

Simon Says Stamps has graciously agreed to sponsor us again this month and they have donated a $10 gift certificate to this challenge's winner!  If you haven't been shopping over there.....you really need to check it out.....they have soooooo many items to choose from and wonderful prices, too!  Can't wait to see what you make!

Echo Park A Walk in the Park

I picked up this cute set of papers from Crop Chocolate.  It is A Walk in the Park and it is made by Echo Park.  It is a fabulous kit and such an awesome price on Crop Chocolate!  Crop Chocolate has lots of deals going on everyday such as the Making Memories Slice for only $89.99.  If you aren't already shopping over there you really should check it out.  It isn't like the other daily deal sites as they have many different deals everyday AND you can put your items in a shopping cart (ala carte) so that you can bundle it all up and save on shipping!!!  Anywho pretty much everything came out of this kit except the buttons and the brown cardstock.  LOVE it!!!  Oh, by the way, I cut that cute little golf cart out on my cricut!  Hope you like it!  I'm entering it in a sketch contest over at UmWowStudio ....  wish me luck!  There are several sketches to choose from and the winner gets a gift certificate to Crop Chocolate!!!  Come on over and join in the fun!

Sew Many Challenges Christmas Challenge!!!

Have you ever seen a more ADORABLE Santa?  This week's challenge over at SMC is to make a Christmas themed project.  I chose this sweet image called Santa Believe to work with and you can find him here.  My card base is SU Baja Breeze and the red is Pure Poppy from PTI.  The patterned papers are some papers from Making Memories that I have been hoarding from the Tinsel line.  I wish I could take credit for the super cute layout of this card, however, it is this week's Mojo Monday sketch (152) .....isn't it fun?  I'm also entering this is one of my other favorite challenge sites The Pink Elephant and this week's challenge is ribbon and sparkles!  Here are the copics I used on this one:

We are so excited to have Stitch from Stitchy Stamps as our sponsor this week!  If you haven't been over to her site you really need to check it out....ssseeeww many cute images!  Here is a little info about Stitch:

Hi Everyone, my name is Stitchy and I create under the name Stitchy Stamps...I have been creating

digital images for designers for almost a year now and try to learn something

new everyday...I started out in paint shop pro about 8 years ago and started

making digital scrap kits...then I was introduced to the wonderful world of
paper crafts and card designing...like I said, learning new everyday, the rest
is history...I can't draw enough to keep me satisfied anymore lol...

Living in a small town in upstate New York, tucked away where cable doesn't
even go...friends are far and few between...But being on the internet for the
past 10 years, I have gathered quite a few from around the world...Just like I
learn something new everyday, I also try to meet someone new every day too...
Thank you Angela and Company for allowing me to sponsor for you...I am truly
honored...

Stitch has graciously donated 3 images of the winner's choice to this week's challenge winner!  So not only can you win some AWESOME SMC images but also some Stitchy Stamps ones also soooo....come on and join in the fun!!!!

Sew Stitchy SMC Challenge!!!

We're back up and running over at Sew Many Challenges and I have to say it was a nice summer break but it felt really good to start crafting again!  We are doing a "Sew Stitchy" challenge for our fall kickoff and I'm so glad as I purchased the Janome Sew Mini specifically for this purpose months ago and I really haven't done much with it so.....that's the beauty of these challenges.... they get us doing things and trying techniques that we've been wanting to do but....life happens and we don't get around to it.  I went with the squiggly look since I can't really even draw a straight line let alone sew one.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  This cute image is Tayla eating Watermelon and you can find it here.  Those fun bright patterned papers are from the Garden Variety line by Cosmo Cricket.  The ribbon is by American Crafts.  Here are the copics I used:

                                           

We are so excited to have Tiffany Richards from Tiffany Doodles as our sponsor this week.  You will absolutely adore her images and she has generously donated 5 of the winner's choice to this week's challenge winner!  You can read more about Tiffany on our challenge blog.  So...I hope you will join us over at SMC this week as Angela and Jeri have been busy over our summer break "cooking up" some fun!  Would love to see your comments as I've sure missed my blogging buddies!

Beautiful Layout

I apologize for being MIA lately.  I've just been really busy with the kids and I've not had much "crafting time".  Sew Many Cards will be starting up their challenges again now that everyone is getting back into the school routine, etc.  I'm working on a project for this Friday's challenge right now and I'm so excited to be back in my craft room!  The layout above is one I made using the uber talented Marion's ( A Piece of Craft ) tutorial.  I just love her style! 

WOW....I can sew! Not well but....

I know this is super easy but I'm still so proud of myself that I actually made this.  I am so so so not a seamstress!  It is made out of a pillowcase and if you google pillowcase dress you won't believe all the results you will find.  Literally all I had to do was put in armholes and a neck.  I did have to take it up a little so there is a seam also along the side but because it is a pillowcase the hem is all done already!  The bow on the bottom is put on with a snap so I can remove it for washing!  Now to find some really cute pillowcases....it seems most of the stores only have solid colors so I'm hoping to run across some neat ones at the thrift store!  I did make another one out of fabric from the bolt the other day and it actually was pretty easy, too.  I added a solid color border across the bottom of a seersucker cherry print and it turned out cute.  It only took less than 1/2 a yeard of fabric so still a very inexpensive dress to make and....when they outgrow it as a dress let the ribbons out and they can have a long top and wear leggings or shorts with a shirt underneath.

Halloween (Ryan)

I wanted to play with my Peachy Keen face stamps so I went to work on this Halloween layout of Ryan back in 2000.  I don't know the makers of the patterned papers....had them in my stash.  The title is a rubon from Karen Foster that I just cut down to fit my page.  I used my cricut to cut the spider and the super hero.  I used the new hide feature on my Gypsy to hide the cuts for the faces on both.  Here is a close up of the super hero.

                                                     

I got a little carried away trying to add some highlights to his hair....kinda makes me think of Elvis.  Hope you like it!!

Bunny Blu (Stitchy Stamps)

Isn't this little bunny just the cutest sad bunny you've ever seen?  This sweet image is from Stitchy Stamps and you can purchase it here.  I just thought he looked so blue that I couldn't work with any other color on this project.  I used some papers from October Afternoon's Ducks in a Row collection (cute stuff!).  I printed my sentiment from my computer and used SU punches for the tags.  The buttons are from PTI and the green cardstock is SU Kiwi Kiss.  Here are the copic colors I used:

Unfortunately, we won't be having a blog hop this week.  Angela has not only been without a computer for the last several days but also without AC and it is over 100 degrees where she lives so.....we are all taking a little break while she takes care of those priorities.  Be sure to check out our blogs, though as we will all be posting some fun stuff!

Crop Chocolate Projects

The Crop Chocolate Chocolatiers had an online crop this weekend.  I didn't get to participate in all the challenges but I did get a few things done.  Here are a couple.  The card was made using Making Memories black/white mat stack and the flower is one of those scalloped circle flowers I love to make.  The layout uses some of the Making Memories Embellishment Papers (great versatile patterned papers).  If you've not heard of crop chocolate....hold on to your seats because you are going to LOVE it.  This is not just another one of those "daily deals" sites.   Crop Chocolate has several deals a day so you will want to have a window on your computer open with it and refresh it several times a day as you can't beat the deals you will find...i.e.  Slice machine for $89!!!  Plus....if you check out the Sweet Talk you will find a chat board that is full of inspirational ideas and a wealth of information about a huge variety of topics!  To get to Sweet Talk just go to the Crop Chocolate site here and click on community and you will see the Sweet Talk option.  If you don't see the current deal then click on the treat and you will find it.  Just take a gander at some of the past deals (also under the community tab) and you will see some of the awesome prices and don't worry if you see something you have to have as if you keep watching it may well come up again!

Growing Pains

I made this layout for an online crop I was trying to participate in but just too much other stuff going on....I did get this layout done, though.  I used a layout in Creating Keepsakes by Jennifer Davis as my sketch.  The patterned paper is from Making Memories Embellishment Papers and the "ruler paper" is actually a tape by Making Memories (going to get more of that stuff!).  I used my slice to cut out the title and the journaling block.  Hope you are having a great weekend!

My Little Indian Boy

I'm really working hard to get my 35mm pictures scrapped!  Here is another LO I had fun with.  I used my cricut mini monograms cartridge to cut my circles and the Old West cartridge for the title.  The background paper is from Debbie Mum's Harvest and Holiday pack and the other patterned paper is just something I had in my stash.  Hope you like it!

Sew Many Cards Anything Goes Challenge!

This week's challenge over at Sew Many Challenges is Anything Goes!  I have been itching to play with this sweet little lamb....haven't ewe? (he! he! he!)   "Ewe" can get Ellie here.   I have a good friend and neighbor who is getting ready to leave the island in a few short days so I wanted to make a "miss ewe" card.  I took some PTI kraft for my card base and then some SU Baja Breeze cardstock and stamped some clouds from a Verve stamp set called Up Up and Away to make the blue layer of my background.  The green dotted paper is from Scenic Route.  I made another of the dictionary print flowers (love those) and then I used my computer to print my sentiment and then punched it using a MS tag punch.  The cute button is from Papertrey Ink also.  Hope she likes it!  Here are the few copics I used....one great thing about this image is it doesn't require a lot of coloring:

We are tickled to have Stitchy Stamps back again as a sponsor!  They have generously donated 3 free digital images for this week's challenge winner.  So....not only will you get some really cute SMC images but also some Stitchy Stamps one as well.  Anthing Goes....what is there not to love about that????  Hope to see your projects soon!!!

Heidelberg Castle

I am slowly but surely getting through some of my 35 mm pictures that have been boxed away just waiting to be scrapped.  This LO is of a trip we took with some friends to Heidelberg Castle.  What a neat place!!!  We so miss Germany!  The print patterned paper on the background is from Imaginisce and is called Letter of Love.   The castle print paper is from The Paper Patch and is called Buckskin Burlap.  I used my cricut to cut my castle and the luggage tack and did lots of distressing on this one.  Distressing is actually very therapeutic....really!  Hope you like it! 

McMahon Five Designs

Isn't she beautiful?  This beauty is from McMahon Five Design and you can check their designs out here.  Sue McMahon has graciously donated a $15 gift voucher to her store to this weeks SMC Challenge winner.  I wanted a "Victorian" feel on my card to go with this lovely lady.  The green patterned paper is from Pink Paislee 365 Degrees line and the peach paper is from Autumn Leaves.  My flower was made from some scraps I had on hand.  I used some flower soft and pearls to adorn her beautiful dress.  Here are the copics I used:

                                    

Hope you like it and I really hope you will join us in this week's challenge!  Hope to see your project over at SMC!

Sew Many Cards Fancy Fold Patriotic Challenge!

Isn't this sweet image fun?  This is Tayla and Owen Independence Day and you can purchase it here.  This week's challenge over at Sew Many Challenges is to make a "fancy fold" card with a patriotic theme.  I chose this fun image and I made a gate fold card.  Here is a picture of it open:

This is a really easy card to make.  I cut my paper at 10" x 5" and then scored along the 10" side at 2.5" and 7.5" which gives you a 5" square card.  I used some pure poppy PTI cardstock and my basic white Georgia Pacific cardstock that I get at Walmart by the ream.  The blue star patterned paper is from my good friend Sandie and I'm not sure who the manufacturer of that paper is.  I cut my stars using my Cricut and layered them so that one stays on the bottom layer when it opens.  Here are the copics I used:

We are so excited to have Sue McMahon from McMahon Five Designs as our sponsor this week.  She has graciously donated a $15 gift voucher to her store to thsi week's winner.  She has not only some really cool digi images (stay tuned for an example of one of those) but she also has lots and lots of other supplies and tools!  Hope to see you over at SMC!!!

The Cutting Cafe Cute Critters!

I am so excited to get to work with Regina Easter's Cute Critters from The Cutting Cafe.  Regina is phenomenal!!!  I am always amazed at what she and her DT put together.  If you are every in need of motivation, be sure to check out her blog(s).  This sweet bee image is from her Cute Critters set which you can purchase here.  You get tons of cute images and sentiments with this set!!  The patterned papers I used are from Making Memories (black/white) and October Afternoon (yellow dots from Farm Fresh ....love those papers...).  I only used copics Y32, Y35, YR21 and YR24.  I used my new Tim Holtz bracket dies to get the fancy edge on the bottom and then I used my largest "ticket square" nestie...that is not the proper name but I can't remember what the "real" name is.....I then used my SU ticket corner punch to make the yellow and black layers match up.  I added some SU glitter to my bee's wings and some ribbon I picked up at my local craft store.  I love that the sentiment is incorporated in this image so I was all set to go.  This card came together in minutes.  If you haven't already joined us at Sew Many Challenges for this week's Christmas project....come on and get ahead for the holidays and have some fun with us!  Not only could you win some awesome SMC images but Regina has also donated some Cutting Cafe sets as well!

Just Biking!

I had so much fun with this layout.  I really haven't played with banners at all even though they have been very popular for a while now.  I wanted to use a banner on this layout but it just looked so plain in the upper corner there that I decided to make it a sun and my banner the rays.  I thought it turned out pretty cute and then it made a nice place for my title.  I cut the banner on my Cricut with Calligraphy Collection and the bike is from Independence Day.  I used the "skid marks" for my tad of journaling.  I've got to play around with photographing my layouts more.  I have a hard time with something that large.  I don't know why it is that much different than photographing my cards but I just never seem to get the same quality of picture.  Hope you like it!

Verve Ready, Set, Stamp Challenge!

I made this card for the Verve Ready, Set, Stamp Challenge.  You can get more information here.  The challenge ends Monday the 14th and the challenge is to make a project using the Up Up and Away stamp set.  I did some paper piecing which was actually quite fun!  I used some of my scrap papers and this came together pretty easily.  I love how the top 2 balloons are floating right off the mat they are on....that was an afterthought as the image was just too large and it was covering up all the cute little clouds I had stamped (also from the same up up and away set) but I didn't want to loose the balloons so this was my compromise.  I am having way too much fun using this messy ribbon technique....it works great when you don't want a cutesy bow but you are like me and think everything needs some ribbon!  Hope you enjoy!!

Sew Many Challenges - Anything But A Card Christmas Theme!!!

This week's theme over at Sew Many Challenges is to make something, anything but...a card..., with a Christmas theme.  Now, I LOVE Christmas but I'll be the first to admit my talents are very lacking in making altered projects so....be easy on me!  I cut the popcorn bag at fit to page on a 12x24 paper and then just embellished as you see.  I used some white flock on this cute little bear's hat and some glossy accents on the candies.  If you would like to purchase this bear you can find him here.  Here are the copics I used:

We are so excited to have Regina Easter from The Cutting Cafe as our sponsor again this week!  She has graciously donated 3 sets of digital images from her store to this week's challenge winner so....come on and get in the Christmas spirit with us!!!  Can't wait to see what you make!!!  Stay tuned as I was lucky enough to get to work with some of Regina's wonderful images and I'll be posting my project soon!