Gift card Explosion boxes..

I am so excited for tomorrow to come! Tomorrow I will be presenting my son;s two teachers with these gift card boxes. I collected donations from other parents and each teacher is going to receive 3 gift cards that total $110, wow!! I know they will be very happy with that blessing. I was looking for a unique way to present the cards to them and a member of the Cricut Message board directed me to these boxes. You can can see go here and see the video for the original ones. I have so many more projects to get done, so I am off..

Brown and Gold Ornaments...

About a month ago when Walmart was putting out there Christmas decorations I saw these beautiful brown ornaments, glitter, frosted and shiny. They were in a big container with about 25 and they were the shatterproof ones. I just knew they were going to be on my tree. Of course I think it was just after Halloween, so I wasn't quite ready to buy them. Once I decided my tree was going to be brown/gold and it was time to buy I went off to Walmart to get those ornaments. Three Walmarts later I was minus those wonderful brown ornaments. I did find a container with 4 brown, and then a bunch of gold with brown accents. I was going to have to make that work. Well, I decided to try and make a few brown ornaments for my tree and these are what I came up with. I used brown cardstock, overhead projector transparencies, and the Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge. I only made 4 but I am pretty happy with how the turned out..
You can see the tree here.

Grand Prize Winner!!

I was the grand prize winner of Scrappin Attacks raffle drawing. They were celebrating their 1 year anniversary and I decided last minute to go and check out the make and takes they were having. I also spent $20 which entered me into the drawing. The drawing was going to be held at 1 pm, and they would call the winner shortly after. So as the day went on I knew I hadn't won, boohoo!! Well, I got a call at 5 pm letting me know that I did in fact win. I couldn't believe that I had won, it was a great basket fill with a bunch of goodies..

Thank you Scrappin Attack!!

Check out Crafty Chatter's Blog Candy..

One way for me to build up my supply would be to win some blog candy. I haven't had much luck but I keep on trying. This one looks amazing ( as most of them do!) Please go check out Crafty Chatter's Surprise Blog Candy. If I don't win maybe you will! Good Luck!!

Combined Challenges...

This has been such a hard week for me. My son (21 months) has the flu and yes the doctors are saying it is H1N1. I have been house bound since Monday and the only time I see daylight is when I look out the window. It has been tough and I need a break!! Since that break isn't coming anytime soon it is nice to know that I can combine challenges. I am able to take a moment, make a card, and have a feeling of accomplishment. I have combined 3 challenges in this one card, and I have to say thank you to these blogs for allowing this.
The most challenging part for me is trying to create something even though my supplies are lacking. I had all the paper and even some fibers for the color part of the challenge, but not much else. The stamp is from a set I bought a couple of weeks ago. I know I used one of the faces in my last challenge but it seemed that the faces would once again work here. I must say you will most likely see many of the same things until I can build up my supply.
Okay so the challenges I am participating in with this card are MMSC24 (card sketch), Play Date Cafe (color scheme) and finally Creative Inspirations Challenge Blog #19 (number).
When I started out making this card I had the first two blog challenges in mind, but then I remembered my sisters birthday and thought about Creative Inspirations challenge.
Well I don't have much more time, my son is crawling all over me but I hope you enjoy my new card. I am loving these challenges because I don't have to start from a blank slate and at times that works just fine...

It's All In The Attitude!! MMSC#23

I am still new at sketch challenges, in fact this is only my second attempt. I am thinking I may have missed the deadline, but I still had a fun time making this card. This card is for the MMSC #23. It takes me a few attempts to figure out exactly what I am going to make. This is very challenging for me since I am still building my supply and it is lacking quite a bit. For this card I used some old tulle I had around from my making tutu days. I used a 1920's stamp. The patterned paper is from a kit I bought on clearance (like 4 years ago). I only had white flowers that I bought from Walmart a long time ago, so I inked them with black ink and then sprayed them with glimmer mist. The stamps on the tickets, and the side is from a Close to my heart set. I used my Cricut Expression to cut the ovals (In my Kitchen) and Fabulous Finds for the tickets. You might not be able to see but the paper that the "IT'S ALL IN THE ATTITUDE" is stamped on is pictures of Theater tickets..

I am pretty exited about how this card turned and I am going to try the MMSC # 24 .

Peachy Keen Blog Challenge 13..

I figured it is about time I put my crafting to good use and enter my very first blog challenge. I am entering this card into Peachy Keen Blog Challenge 13 http://peachykeenstampschallenge.blogspot.com/. The requirements for this challenge were to have a stamped image, use blue and purple, have at least three snowflakes, and it must have a greeting.

I used the "A Child's Year" cart to cut out the card base in a deep purple (hard to tell from the picture) cardstock. I embossed the front of the card with the Snowflakes cuttlebug folder and inked that with a white stamp pad. It just so happens that Abigail got into my ribbon bucket yesterday and has been playing around with this blue and white snowflake grosgrain ribbon, perfect! I embossed a chipboard ribbon slide and used that for the bottom of the cards, along with the ribbon (added stickles to the ribbon), and a snowflake.

The stamped image part worried me a bit because I am a basic stamper ie. stamp, ink pad, and voila, art! I don't generally color in my stamps (when I use them) but I didn't want just a stamped image. I dug up some watercolor pencil and colored the tree in with those. Then I used a q-tip and paint brush to blend. I used stickles on the tree for a more detail. I can't remember (to lazy to go look)which cart I used for the scalloped circles or the greeting (embellished with stickles). I used two more snowflakes and Ta Da!! My first blog challenge card is complete.

Now we just have to keep our fingers crossed!!

Joy: Card

When Abigail was a baby I got into making bows and clippies. I went crazy buying a ton of ribbon, mainly grosgrain and embellishments. As she got older (she is now 3) and I got pregnant with my son, making bows became less and less of a hobby. I have tried to figure out what I will do with all that ribbon and I have come up with one way to use it.

I made this card using a card cut out from "A Child's Year" Cartridge, both the marquees from "A Storybook" cartridge. I embossed the card using the Cuttlebug and d'vine swirl. I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tattered Rose.

I made the flower, I can't believe how happy I am with how it turned out. I saw this tutorial on Just Magnolia when I was looking up info on how to make your own paper flowers. I don't have the Sizzix die so I went through the Cricut Carts that I have and found the poppy flower on "A Storybook". I modified it to work with this cut out.

Of course I used two colors, and sizes of grosgrain ribbon from my stash and a stamp I bought for .99 cents.

I am going to try to use up some of my ribbon on a few more cards. Hope you like my "Joy" card..

A Workbox Giveaway...

This is such a great giveaway and I just couldn't imagine what it would be like to own one of these Workboxes. If you would like a chance to win a Workbox in your choice of color visit Rachelle's Writing Spot for all the fun details. She along with 9 other blogs (all listed on her site) are hosting this giveaway. Each blog is hosting a giveaway for either a Ribbon Box or a Scrapmabob. The winner from each blog will then be entered into the drawing to win the Workbox. There are many ways to get entries for the individual blog giveaways, and wow if you win one of those then your chances for the Workbox are 1 in 10, I like those odds!!
So go check it out, enter in all the available ways... and good luck!!!

Check out http://www.theoriginalscrapbox.com/catalog/ for product information. I looked at to see what else The Original Scrapbox carried and I think the Mini-box would be perfect for my craft area (that is of course if I don't win the Workbox!) If you look and decide to make a purchase Enter this code when you place your order to get $100 off your shipping: 100Writes

Quick reference:
http://cricutchristmas.blogspot.com/
http://www.rachellewrites.blogspot.com/
http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/
http://auntiethesis.blogspot.com/
http://www.vanillajoy.com/random-giveaway-the-workbox-from-the-original-scrapbox.html
http://www.themommy-files.com/
http://capadiadesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.myorganizedchaos.net/
http://lifeaslou.blogsome.com/
http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/

Little Girls Birthday Card!!

There is a certain someone who will know exactly who this card is for and I hope you like it!

This card was made using my Cricut Expression and Cuttlebug. I embossed the pink paper with the Cuttlebug using the swiss dot embossing folder and the white paper was embossed using the d'vine swirl embossing folder. The little dancer was made with the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge (hair from EDPD). I used glitter paper for the outfit and the number 2 (cut using Storybook Cartridge).

I added a flower with a brad and added Stickles to both. I also added the plastic rhinestones for a little extra bling. I hand drew the face and used chalk to blush the cheeks. I just ordered a set of stamps from Peachy Keen, so my faces are going to start looking much better. Overall I am pleased with the way this card turned out and the best part was I finished it in 10 minutes!!

Can't wait for the party on Saturday!

Scraps 4 Fun and Peachy Keen Stamps Blog Giveaways...

I love Blog Candy Giveaways and I am hoping that I will be able to host my own giveaway one day. For now I am entering and spreading the word about Blog Giveaways. Check out my side bar and check out all those great giveaways out for yourself. One that I really have my hopes up for is the Scraps 4 fun candy (click picture above). I have been using my Cuttlebug on my cards and with my having the Paper Doll Cartridges I have had my eye on getting a few Peachy Keen Stamps. One of the rules to enter the Scraps 4 Fun giveaway was to become a follower of the Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge blog.

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge blog is also having a fantastic giveaway. Look how mnay Stickles they are giving away, wow!! So go check out those two giveaways by clicking on the above pictures and don't forget to look in my side bar. Have fun and good luck!!

Witch Girl Card..

I have to say that I am getting a bit frustrated with myself and how my projects turn out. There are people who were born with the crafting gene and I am not one of them. I love to do crafts and try to be creative, so when my light bulb won't turn on, it is frustrating. I am going to keep moving forward because I am hoping the more I create the better I will get at it.
Last night I worked on a Halloween Card using the PDDU cartridge. I found some clearance Halloween paper and used just a small portion of that. I must have sat there for hours trying to come up with some creative juice and eventually came up with a witch card. I also used the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch for the borders... My face drawing technique needs some help, but I am hoping to buy some stamps from Peachy Keen and then my faces will be perfect. I used black diamond stickles on the hair, bat, and kitty cat. I am enjoying the Paper Doll Dress Up and Everyday Paper Doll Cartridges. They are so fun and I think I will end up doing lots of projects with those.
My creativity is a work in progress.....

Train Frame and Anniversary Card.

I have completed two projects. Hurray for that! The first project is an Anniversary Card for my in-laws. If I do the math right they are celebrating 54 years. I used my "A Child's Year" cartridge for the boy and girl and "Storybook" font cartridge for the "Once upon a time". I embellished the wording with baby blue Stickles (still trying to figure out how to use that stuff). I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the white cardstock and then used chalk to add a hint of color to that. I used glue dots on the back of the boy and girl for added depth. I am REALLY a horrible when it comes to sending out cards, really I should be ashamed..
I am very happy that I am ahead of the game. I have a whole 9 days to get this in the mail to them

My second project is a picture frame that was given to me for my son Mason's class. Mason is 21 months old and his teacher sent home the frame to be decorated for a family picture and then brought back to school. This is so the kids can see their family through out the day. Mason loves Thomas and trains. Really it just amazes me how much. My husband drew Thomas the Tank Engine on Mason lunch bag and he goes crazy, yelling "train" every time he sees it.

It was only fitting that I would decorate the frame with Thomas in mind. I found a piece of Thomas the Tank Engine cardstock at Michael's which worked out perfect. I traced the frame onto the back of the cardstock and then glued the paper on to the frame. I used the "Everyday Paper Dolls" cartridge to make a train Engineer (Mason). I was so exited to see it had a curly hair feature, since my son has curly hair.. see here, I go on and on about his beautiful curls.

I then used the "A Child's Year" font to spell out Mason's Family. I used Mod Podge over the paper for added protection, then I put glue dots on the back of the train engineer for added depth. All in all I am please with my first two projects using my Cricut. Have I mentioned that I just adore my pink Cricut Expression..

Introduction to My Creative Pink..

I have done it! I have started a crafting blog. This is actually kind of funny because my poor family blog is often neglected. I am working on this, first step is to admit the neglect right? So why have I started this blog? Well for one thing I want my family blog to be just that, about my family. In my entry into the craft world I have stumbled upon lots of craft sites and giveaways that require me to post on my blog. This has just made my blog kind of busy and detracts away from the kids. My second reason for starting this blog is so that I can document progress with different projects that I will do. I hop around from blog to blog searching ideas, getting inspiration and then I come to my little corner and try and create. The key word is try, but I do try and that is what is important.
I will be doing different types of crafts but mainly I will make cards, scrapbooking, and sew. I just purchased a Pink Cricut Expression and have added to my sewing with the purchase of a serger. This is going to be a lot of fun and I can't wait to see where my creativity will take me.