Back on the Saddle...

Hey everyone!

 Are we all ready to start a new week?  I know I am :)  I wasn't in the crafting mood much last week.  Not making the My Pink Stamper Design Team kind of took the wind out of my sails in the beginning of the week {more than I had expected actually} and now I have this horrendous summer cold.  Seriously, it's almost worse than the winter ones!  How is it even possible to get a cold like this when it's 100+ degrees out?!  Weird.

Anyway, this is just a note that I'll be back on the saddle in no time with a couple of the things that I have in the works.  If I could only shake this darn 'boogie nose' {as my 3 year old calls it}!  :)

Have a great week and we'll see ya soon!

My Pink Stamper Live TONIGHT!

Remember to tune into My Pink Stamper tonight at 10 p.m. CST for the announcement of her new design team and {as always} lots of fun!  Robyn and Karlee never disappoint, LOL!  See ya there :)

Christmas in July, for real!

Hey everyone!

"Christmas in July" is really more than just a saying in my family...well, with my grandma anyway.  She enjoys giving her Christmas gifts in July because "then people have an opportunity to use them if I get them something seasonal."  We live in Minnesota so the winters are very cold, long, and very white {read: if you receive anything not related to winter, you wait a very long time to use it!).

So, here we are in July and yes I've already received my gift :)  I wanted to make my grandma a Christmas Thank You and I must say that I am really proud of myself :)  This is the first shaped card I've ever made, the first project in its entirety that I created with my Gypsy, AND I think the little guy is ADORABLE!  What do you think?

Mr. Claus wasn't difficult by any means but it took me a little longer just because it was new to me :)

Materials Used:

• Santa Claus from Simply Charmed (5.21"X 4.63")
• Cardstock: Cream, Kraft, Black, Red, White, Pink
• StarDust Pen; to outline Santa's beard swirlies
• Cuttlebug Folder: Divine Swirls
• Martha Stewart Glitter Glue in Carrara Marble: Santa's hat poof 

Merry Christmas....in July :)

HURRY!

You've still got time to get your entries in for the My Pink Stamper Design Team Call!  The challenge ends TONIGHT!  Entries will be accepted until 11:50 pm. CST TODAY so hurry, hurry, hurry!  For details, click HERE.  Good luck :)

My Pink Stamper Design Team Call

WOW!  I'm so super excited to be able to join in the fun this time around by 'trying out' for the My Pink Stamper Design Team!  A BIG thanks to Robyn for giving us this opportunity :).  WOO-HOO!  If you haven't submitted a project, you still have time.  You can check out Robyn's requirements HERE and/or I've listed them below:

*You will need to have a blog that you regularly post on for at least 3 months.*You cannot already be serving on a DT that has product that is a conflict of interest (most DTs are just fine as long as they do not sell product that is similar to My Pink Stamper Original Cricut Stamps idea)*Your project must be made just for this challenge*Post a pic on your blog with a full recipe along with what the challenge is about*This needs to be a new project that you make just for this challenge*Only one entry per person, please*You do not need to be a professional but you must have a love for the craft!  :)
Challenge:  Make a card, scrapbook page, or other Cricut project with your favorite Cricut cartridge using the following colors......
OrangeTurquoise GreenBrown(other optional color of your choice) 

I have to admit, when I looked at the color choice I thought "Robyn must be crazy!" LOL! However, after creating my entry, I'm in love! This is probably my all-time favorite {double} layout. I kept it simple because I wanted the focus to remain on how lucky we are that we were able to take that picture! {My great-grandpa is still alive and kickin' it in his own house at the sweet age of 94.} It's just such a sweet reminder how important family is :).

 

  

Although I stuck with the color requirement, I did use varying shades of these colors.  My (optional) color was cream!  My favorite Cricut Cartridge {right now} is Cheerful Seasons from Creative Memories; the Dragonfly, Flower, and Font were all cut from there.  

Materials Used:

• (2) 12 x 12 'Nougat' Cardstock
• (2) 11 3/4" x 11  3/4" Cosmos Cricket 'Ribbon Sandwich' Cardstock
• (2) 11 x 11 'Papaya' Bazzill Cardstock
• Photo Mat: Chocolate Truffle cut at 4.5 x 6.5" and Intense Turquoise cut at 4.25 x 6.25"
• Dragonfly: cut at 2.25" from Cheerful Seasons Cartridge
• Flower: cut at 4" from Cheerful Seasons Cartridge
• Cosmos Cricket 'Brunch' Cardstock
• Additional Bazill Cardstock in the following colors: Leapfrog, Chocolate Truffle, Saltillo, Intense Turquoise, Cream
• Adhesive: ATG Gun and Dimensionals (Dragonfly and Flower)
• i-rock and orange gems
• Martha Stewart Glitter Glue in 'Cinnabar'
• Brown Ribbon
• Tag Maker Punch
• Fiskars 'Threading Water' Punch

If you haven't submitted your project for a chance at Robyn's Design Team, HURRY! 

You have just a few days left.  Good luck :)  Thanks for stopping by!

 

'THE' Card

Happy Saturday everyone! 

In case you missed yesterday's post, this project and I did not get along! :) {read about it HERE}  However, I persevered and in the end, I love how it turned out {thankfully!}.  The card is for a friend that lost one of her furry friends this past week.  Her family has really been put to the test this year and truth be told, she has done an AMAZING job handling everything.  

Sparkly cheeks and antennae :)

  I kept the inside pretty simple and used one of my metallic pens to send a note.

I know it's simple so it's crazy that I ended up spending so much time on it but I couldn't let that little bee win, LOL!  All will be worth it if it brings a smile :)  

See ya soon!  Have a great day!

One of "those" days...

Raise your hand if you've ever had one of "those" crafting days where it seems everything {plus one} works against you ? {Umm...in case you're wondering, yeah both of my hands are raised}  Three words can sum up my 'one of those days' experiece: WHAT. A. MESS.  

Perhaps a few pictures would help? :)

This would be the black embossing powder that flew everywhere, OOPS! 

I do NOT recommend spilling super fine embossing powder, HA!  To say it's everywhere is an understatement.  Note to self: before blowing on a piece of paper to make sure there aren't any stray grains, make sure there isn't an entire tray full of the excess that can {and most certainly will} take flight.   

This is what happens when you *think* you heat embossed enough because you're in a hurry for dinner.  Think again! :)

I also ended up wasting using an entire sheet of 12 x 12 card stock for a 5" (almost) square piece, I had to cut my image twice (some pieces three times) because I wasn't paying attention to the sizing, and I didn't cut the base of the card properly so it ended up opening differently than I had hoped.  

Honestly, by the end of this 3-hour card I was laughing so hard about the ridiculous-ness of the situation my husband thought I delirious.  Maybe I should have stayed out of the craft room today?  

Nah. It was worth it! :)  Just please tell me that I'm not the only one raising my hand(s)?  :)

P.S.  Oh, of course I'll show you the card....tomorrow!  It's ADORABLE!  

Christmas in July

Hello my friends!  Can you believe we're half way through July?!  Where the heck has the summer gone (and yes, I totally say that every season)?  It has been so HOT, HOT, HOT here in Minnesota {shame on me for complaining considering in January I will be frozen through and through} that it's almost unbearable to spend a lot of time outdoors.

Needless to say, because of the heat and humidity we've spent a considerable amount of time indoors crafting away.  I just finished up scrapbooking a handful of pages for my dear friend (I'll post pictures if I get her OK) and completing my cards for the Christmas in July Card Swap with Scrappin With Cricut.  I really enjoyed both projects, although the latter of the two was much easier (more on that later). 

Anyway, if you want to join in on the swap registration is open until tomorrow!  You only need to make 3 cards (and you'll get 3 in return) and have them in the mail by July 20th.  Click HERE to join the fun.

I kept my cards pretty simple because, well not everyone is bling-y as myself :)  Plus, I love when I receive a card that is super cute but easy in case I want replicate it {in my own way of course}.  Take a looks-y at one of them below. 

Sorry the picture looks yellow, it was late! 

Each strip is a little sparkly and so pretty!

The "'Twas the night before Christmas" is a rub-on sticker and the strips are border stickers that I just lined up (I purchased both of these on close-out after last Christmas).  SO simple but SO cute.  I love this card (and I am totally in the mood for Christmas crafting now)!  

Thanks so much for stopping by, see ya soon!

Banner, Country-style

Hey everyone!  Here is the other banner that I cranked out for my nephew's birthday.  He is a sweet, little boy that loves (and I mean LOVES) tractors, specifically Mpls Moline tractors.  Happy Birthday little man!

Click on any picture to take a closer look!

I tried to country-fy the banner because well I'm pretty sure that his daddy would not allow anything with sparkle or ribbon :)  Gregory is 100%. ALL. BOY.  (which is SO not what I am used to in our house of pink.) 

 I used jute for the thread part and it looks great!  Fits right in with the tractor theme :)

 The red panels are an embossed paper with stars that look kind of shiny. 

 The tractor background is popped up :)  

Recipe:

Banner:  Birthday Bash 5.5 inches

Font: Birthday Bash 3 inches

Tractor/background: All About Boys 2.75 inches

Grass: Sports Mania

Jute rope

Patterned paper: DCWV All About Boys Stack

White, Brown, Yellow Cardstock: Recollections

Green Card stock: Creative Memories Green Apple

 Thanks for stopping by...Happy Sunday!

Banner...Grrrrrr!!!

Hello!  So I am FINALLY able to post some of what I've been working on, HOORAY!  I didn't want to post them too early because they were gifts but the party is done so here we go....

I've been on a banner-spree as of late because, well I love them. :)  My niece and nephew (two different sisters) share a birthday so I whipped a couple of these bad boys out for their birthday parties.  

Click on any of the pictures for a closer look!

Taylor is a lime-green fanatic so I knew she would LOVE this :)  ( I left the tulle quite long on both sides to make sure she was able to hang it in her room.  It can be trimmed accordingly!)

 I fanci-fied the letters because she's 11 and what 11 year old doesn't love some bling-age?  Each letter in her name received 3 little crystals, courtesy of my new i-rock!

 My original idea was the put turtles of some sort on each end panel but the lime-green leopard paper was too busy and too much green.  The stars worked well!

 I used glitter paper for the stars because, of course stars twinkle, no?!

The stars and all the letters were given dimension too.  They all popped up nicely!

Recipe:

Banner (Black base and Patterned paper): Birthday Bash 5.75 inches

Font: Creative Memories Cheerful 3.5 inches

Stars: Rock Princess 4 inches

Patterned paper: Recollections

Black Card stock

DCWV Glitter Paper

I-rock crystals

Black Tulle 

I also entered this in Cooking With Cricut's Weekly Challenge!!

Make sure to buzz by tomorrow to see the banner I made for my nephew :)  It's adorable!