Glimmer Mist Love.....

Today's Thursday Tutorial over a FCCB features a clever idea From Sara at  One Day at a Time on using your Cricut to make a template for misting masks. 

I just had to give Sara's tutorial a try since I do own one bottle of Glimmer Mist in Peppermint Stick from Tattered Angels, I think I've used it like once, now twice......

You can check out my post and Sara's tutorial  HERE:

Since my mist was red and Sara already made hearts, I decided to cut the word love from Opposites Attract a 2.74 inches.

Hint: If you choose to mist a word, you have to remember that you'll be misting the negative cut so you'll need to keep the inside pieces of your letters.

I love the look of Kraft paper, white and red so I went that look by adding Martha Stewart gingham paper tape, red twine and a heart banner. Looks like I already have a card made for Valentine's next year.

Thanks for looking!

Linking with
Ribbon Carousel-Anything Goes
Party Time Tuesday-Anything Goes
Sarah Hemmer-Link Up Tuesday
The Spotted Chick- Kraft Paper
My Creative Time- Throwback Thursday
SJ Crafts- 3 of Something

Basket Full of Eggs...

Last Easter I sent out handmade cards to friends and family that were similar to this Egg basket card.

When I think back now to all those cards I made, I'm like....Geez, I must of had some spare time to make all those!

Well, at this time last year, I hadn't started this little part-time job  my blog so I guess I did have a little more time to spend just crafting.  

Here's how I made this card from Doodlecharms:

Instead of using my Gypsy to weld a basket as a card base, I just cut the shadow of the basket twice, scored for a fold and adhered together.

The outer layer basket is cut at  5.61 inches and then I ran it through the crimper.  Yes, I had to blow the dust off that tool!

 

The eggs are cut at 4.76 inches and I  used various embossing folders, a hole punch and Stickles as egg decorations.

Thanks for looking and sorry friends and family, you'll just have to print a picture of this Egg Basket card for this year. 

Linking with:
Getting Cricky- Easter Blessings
Exploring Cricut- It's a Spring Thing
Shopping our Stash- Circle or Dots
Unstampables- Easter
Patches of Pink-Spring
Wacky Wednesday-Spring

The Paper Variety Tutorial....Glitter & Twine Embellishements

Today I'm sharing a tutorial for  The Paper Variety  on a few reasons why I like to use this 1.5 inch Xyron. This little " X-thingy" is marketed as an Create-A-Sticker tool but instead of using it to make stickers, I've found the adhesive very useful towards making embellishments. 

Like:
*adhering glitter evenly without making a mess on your project.
* adhering delicate or sheer ribbon so you can't see your tape/glue application.
*useful in making twine embellishments.

Every crafter has various techniques or adhesives they choose to use but I like using this small Xyron because I know I can get an even application of adhesive every time.

First step, run your die cut face down (which is the side of the adhesive) through the Xyron. Rub well to active the adhesive then peel off the backing.

I'm going to add glitter to the word Baby for my project. The letters are cut from Birthday Cakes cartridge at 1 inch. 

For my finished project, I used crystal glitter but you can't see it in the photo, so in this example, I used dark blue glitter. After you shake off the excess glitter, you can see how the glitter sticks really well, evenly covered and dry, unlike using glue.

Another fun embellishment I've made using a Xyron are these twine buttons.

To make these twine buttons, I run my circle through the Xyron, cover the adhesive side with small pieces of twine, trim off the excess twine then ink the edges.

Here's my finished project thanks to the Xyron adhesive.  How sweet is this little gift bag cut from Plantin Schoolbook?

Thanks for looking and I hope this little X-thingy is inspiring to you,

Linking with:

Ribbon Carousel- Twine

Decorate to Celebrate- Baby Shower

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge....Spring is Blooming

Ahhhh.... the weather is getting warming, the trees are blooming and that means Spring is in the Air.  What excites me the most about warmer weather is Flip Flops....closed toe shoes just cramp my style!

For challenge # 103 this week at Fantabulous Cricut  we want to see you use at least 3 flowers on your Spring project.

For this card I used Gypsy Wanderings to cut the Cherry Blossom at 1.71 inches.

The blooms are embossed with swirls and have a flower & pearl center.

When ever I make cards to send out, I'll always add a coordinating envelope.  My Go-To cartridge for an A2 card envelope is Plantin Schoolbook cut at 5.25 inches. 

To make the envelope liner you can either cut the envelope again with pattern paper and trim off the side flaps or you can do what I usually do and just stick a piece of pattern paper inside and use a corner punch to round the edges.

Thanks for looking and we look forward to you linking up with FCCB...Spring is in the Air Challenge. 

Linking with:
Scrapalicious- Die Cut
Shopping Our Stash- Buttons or Bows
Celebrate the Occasion-Welcome Spring
Patches of Pink- Spring
Whimsical Wednesday- Celebrate Spring
Really Reasonable Ribbon-Spring

A Little Bit of Lucky Gold....

We don't really do anything special for St Patrick's Day except help the kids set their Leprechaun traps with  hopes of catching one.  

My daughter keeps asking me when St Patrick's day is?  She's only 5 and has no concept of time yet. Everyday is fun for her.  Anyways, she's only focusing on the green treats and chocolate coins that may come along if she's lucky.  I should of named my daughter, Candy instead of Reese... LOL.

But, if we do happen to get lucky this year and catch a Leprechaun, I made a hut for him to live in. You can check it out here... Leprechaun Hut.

There are quite a few St Patrick's Day challenges out in blog land right now so I thought I'd join in the fun and make a card. 

Here's how I made my Luck of the Irish Card:

Kraft Paper & Cardstock
Holiday Spring Cards- cut at 4.75 inches
Jute twine
Dots embossing folder.

Gold Button- After looking though my stash of  about 957 buttons, I couldn't find a single gold button-Ack!  So, I just decided to make one myself by adding gold Stickles. 

Thanks for looking...

Linking with:
The Kraft Journal-Luck of the Irish
Cooking with Cricut-St Patrick's Day
My Pink Stamper-March Blog Hop
Cardz TV- Wearing Green
Paper Issues-Go Green
Wacky Wednesday-St Patrick's Day
Getting Cricky- Color Challenge

The Paper Variety Sketch Challenge.....Buttons and Burlap

We have a special papercrafts challenge for you today!   The Paper Variety has teamed up with ScrapFIT to offer you 2 challenges in one!

The Paper Variety has created a sketch challenge and ScrapFIT has offered up a journaling challenge. Put them together and you will get an awesome layout and a chance to WIN a prize from both places!

The Paper Variety's sketch challenge...

and ScrapFIT's Workout #64 journaling challenge-

Its Easy as 1, 2, 3...

The 'Its Easy as 1, 2, 3..' Workout is here and all you have to do is list out numerically your journaling on your layout! This could be a list of your Top 10 favorite moments from last year, a list of goals for the new year or the countless reason you love ScrapFIT (Just kidding!). Show us your numbered list!

Be sure to incorporate this journaling workout with the TPV sketch above so you can enter your layout at both places!

I haven't created many layouts in last 2 years so I found myself blowing the dust off a vellum sentiment that went along with my numerical list.

 I kept the layout simple by using ribbon, buttons, glimmer mist and burlap. The background paper is from Fancy Pants and I tore Core-dinations paper to use as a photo mat boarder.

I also have to mention that I made this entire layout without using my Cricut, now that's a rare occurrence for me!

My numerical list includes the things I love about my kids.

Let me tell you these Sketch LO challenges I have to come up with as DT member of TPV are a real creative challenge for me-Ack!   I guess my creative direction has steered more towards making cards and 3D projects than scrapbooking.

My fellow design team members at TPV sure know how to do a TKO when it comes to layouts! I don't feel like mine measures up to there ability but at least I can say my kids look cute in the photo!

 Who wants to win some Bo Bunny and Echo park?

Uh hu.......For your chance to win A Boy's Life, just comment on both today's ScrapFIT Workout #64 post HERE and today's TPV challenge post HERE. You needn't enter our dual challenge to win this prize. This is simply a giveaway just for leaving a comment at each blog! :)

The randomly chosen challenge winner at TPV will receive Bo Bunny's Alora collection kit!

Also!

TPV will award a random commenter this fun Echo Park "A Boy's Life" collection kit

Now hop on over to ScrapFIT to see how their team worked this Sketch Workout! Enter your layout at TPV and ScrapFIT for a chance to win prizes at both places!

Thanks for looking and linking up with TPV & Scrap Fit.

Linking with:

The Color Throwdown

Just a Guy Card....

It's my little brother's birthday this week so here's his clean, simple and to the point card....just like most guys.   Well, maybe I should write "some" guys instead of "most" guys as for being clean and simple...hmmm?

Anyways, he's turning 25 and it makes me think "Gosh, really, he's how old?" and then I remember how old that makes me......Ack!

 

Here's what I used:

Kraft Paper
Cor-dinations Paper- torn, embossed and sanded- Love this stuff!
Embellishments- Burlap, wood button, twine & metal brads.
Studio G Sentiment

Thanks for looking!

Linking with:
My Craft Spot- Manly Cards
Celebrate the Occasion-Metal
CAS- Sentiments
Paper Playtime- Guy Card

Inspired by Pinterest...

Yeah-- Jinger Adams along with The Scrapbooking Queen are having a Design Team call! 

Can you hear every Cricuteer saying a "Whoo Hoo" right now?  I've decided to submit a project which describes me best as a person, a crafter and a friend.  

Here's my project and the story behind it .....

Ok, so I got my neighbor hooked on Pinterest, really I'm sorry, but like who isn't?

Now she's become like a Pinterest addict who actually does make A LOT of the DIY crafts she pins and she's good, like really good!   I keep telling her to start her own blog so she can show off all her Pinterest awesomeness but she's just to busy lurking, pinning and crafting to take the time.    

It's also like totally awesome having a crafty friend who lives across the street too.  It's not uncommon for us to run back and forth at odd hours borrowing supplies we need to use, like now, not tomorrow, like now at 10:00pm because the whole household's asleep.

Since it was my crafty friends birthday recently and she of all people can appreciate a good craft, I did what I love the most and made her a unique, personalized gift inspired by the creativity behind Pinterest.

I cut out words of inspiration and put them into an 8x8 shadow box and on the front of her birthday card.

Dream(it), Create (it), Inspire (us) and then Wish (we thought of it) kind of like Pinterest-Ha!

The papers are from K & Company -Handmade paper pack. The 3 stars are cut from George and Basic Shapes at 4 1/2 inches, 3 1/2 inches and 2 1/2 inches.

The stars were scored to make dimensional, edges inked and a button or pearl embellishment was added in  the center.

Torn paper, twine, pearls and buttons were also added as additional embellishment inside the shadow box. 

I used the font from Birthday Cakes cut at 1 inch to cut my inspirational words.

You know what's funny? I own 3 Cricut Cake cartridges yet I don't own a Cricut Cake machine...uh huh...I just love all cartridges!

Let me tell what my crafty friend did after I gave her the shadow box, she distressed the wood frame!  It looks great too, I told you she was crafty!

What an awesome opportunity this is to be able to link up with Jinger's and The Scrapbooking Queen DT call.

I wonder if the DT members will get a pair of flashy shoes in there goodie box..hmmmm?.  Do you remember those green shoes Jinger wore on HSN during the launch of the Expression 2?    Oh yeah...that's what I'm talking about, those are Cricuteer shoes!

Thanks so much for looking and being an inspiration!

Jar Full of Buttons...

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   Who  collects hoards buttons?  "I do, I do, I do!"  Well here's a super creative way I found to use up a handful of those buttons. 

If you love this 3D Mason jar as much as I do, then check out my post and  Debbie's tutorial featured this week on Fantabulous Cricut -Thursday Tutorial's-

HERE!

For my jar full of buttons, I use the mason jar cut from  Doodlecharms.   I added some twine to the lid and used up about 40 random, hoarded buttons.  I chose a stamped sentiment from Pink By Design. 

You know what else I like about this idea?  You actually use both the positive and negative of your cut...I mean how creative is that?  Usually, the negative part of the die cut goes in to the trash or in my case, the floor.

Side note....Did you happen to notice those cute little spools of twin in the picture?  Oh yeah, those cute little spools came from Cassie at Paper Issues.  There so cute I don't even want to use them!  Ok, I just used the word cute 3 times in 3 sentences...uh-huh...but they're sooooo cute!

Thanks for looking and make sure you check out Debbie's 3D Mason Jar tutorial featured on FCCB-HERE.

Linking with:
Whimsical Designs-Green
Crop Stop- Rainbow of Colors
EAD Designs- Color Challenge
Party Time Tuesday- End of the Rainbow
The Friday Mashup-Green, Yellow & 3D

Looking Fabulous at 40......

I made this Birthday card for my "super-crafty" Sister-in-Law, really that's what her name should be!

Not only is she fabulously crafty she looks "Fabulous at 40!"  Doesn't every women want to look Fabulous at 40?  I've still got 2 more years to go...Ack!

Wild Card- Base

Elegant Edges- Base and Layer

Storybook- Font

Dots Embossing Folder

Stamped Sentiment- Generic

Thanks for Looking!

Linking with:
Birthday Sundaes- Sentiment Card
Celebrate the Occasion-Shaped Birthday Cards

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge......Luck of the Irish

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I'm  super excited to be apart of the Fantabulous Cricut Design Team and sharing with you my first design project!

For FCCB Challenge #101, Luck of the Irish, we want to see your projects using shamrocks or the color green.

Last year, my kids and I set a trap to catch a Leprechaun.  We didn't have any luck catching him but he did leave us some chocolate gold coins. 

So this year, in case we do catch him, I made a little Leprechaun hut for him to stay in.  My kids are super-duper excited about this!

 

This was my first  time using Tag, Bags, Boxes & More 2 and I didn't realize how helpful that little scoring blade would of been. 

Since the score lines aren't marked on the cuts....Eeeek....you really need to pay attention to the assembly directions in order to score in the appropriate places.  There's a very helpful little manual that comes along with this cartridge too.....thanks Cricut, finally!

Anyways, I figured it out and I think this little hut turned out so dang cute!  My kids love it too and are already discussing the trap for this year.

 

 

Our FCCB sponsor this week is Jaded Blossom and I had the privilege of  playing with there Luck of the Irish stamp set.  So fun since I don't really own many St. Patrick's day stamps. 

 

In case you get lucky and catch a Leprechaun, you may need a home for him. So here's how I made this lucky leprechaun hut....

TBBM2- dog house cut at 9.94 inches.
Sweet Tooth Boxes- windows cut at 5.12 inches.
Paper Doll Dress Up- shamrock cut at .53 inches
Wood-grain embossing folder from The Paper Studio
Kraft Paper & Cardstock
Burlap

 

Did I happen to mention that Jaded Blossom is our sponsor this week?  Just how cute are these Luck of the Irish Stamps?

Thanks for looking and we look forward to you linking up with  Fantabulous Cricut Challenge ,  Luck of the Irish projects -HERE!

Wish us luck on catching our Leprechaun this year.  At least he'll bring chocolate!

Linking with:
Jaded Blossom-Project with Green
Paper Issues-Go Green
Bitten By The Bug- Shamrock
The Kraft Journal-Fun Shapes
Scrappy Moms Stamps- St Patricks
Krafty Girls-Feelin Lucky
Decorate to Celebrate-St Patrick's Day Party
Creative Cutter Room- St Patrick's Day

Cub Scouts Blue and Gold...

Phew...I've been busy super this week.  I was away for the last 10 days and as soon as I got back into town I needed to start working on 10 centerpieces for my son's Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. 

Here's what I came up with.......

I'm a craft hoarder and I've been hoarding coffee cans for the last year so I finally found a use for them.  I decided to recycle the cans into centerpieces by covering them with paper.

The Scouts emblem is a Fleur-di-lis and I actually didn't think I had a Fleur-di-lis cut but I did a search on my Gypsy and it turned out I had 6 to choose from!  I just love all those Cricut cartridge hidden secrets!  I chose to use the Fleur-di-lis from Sweethearts cut at 3.75 inches along with the shadow base.

Ok, I'll give you a little tip in case you ever want to recover coffee cans.  Coffee cans measure 12 1/2 inches in diameter and my paper strips were 12 inches so I had to come up with a solution for the missing 1/2 inch.  I decided to adhere an additional strip of embossed card stock with the Fleur-di-lis emblem to cover my paper gap.   Then to give the cans a little more outdoorsman look, I tied jute twine around them.

 Ten cans and 20 Rosettes later! 

 The Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge has Fleur-di-lis cut but since I needed 20 and didn't have the time to get really detailed I just made these rosettes by hand. They measure at 3" and 4" wide.

For the rosette middles, I embossed some circles with the Fleur-di-lis emblem and printed off some Cub Scout clip art.  The boys loved the Rosettes and like boys do, they began to pretend the dowels were swords.  I wish I had made enough so everyone boy could of took one home, maybe I'll do that for next year.

Here are the centerpieces on the table at the banquet with balloons tied in the middle.

 and here's my little Wolf proud of his awards.

Thanks for looking and Happy Birthday to the Boy Scouts.


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Linking this with:
Decorate to Celebrate-All About Boys
Scrap It Girl-Recycle
4 Crafty Chicks- Anything but a card
Sisterhood of Crafters- Recycle