I'm so EXCITED...!!!

Well, I can share the news…!!! I have been chosen as a design team member for The Cutting Café. For those who don’t know, The Cutting Café, owned by Regina Easter, is a one stop shop for printable stamps and digital cutting files. Boy do they have some talented designers and I’m honored to be joining them. My term starts January 1st so be sure to check back often to see what we’re up to.

In the meantime, why don’t you stop by the Cutting Café right NOW and feast on all the goodies. Just click on the the blinkie below and you're there!



Stay tuned for more SOON!!!

Christmas Joy... CCC #55

Where has the time gone? It’s so hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. The Cricut Cardz Site has a great challenge for those who have a few last minute cards to get done. The challenge this week is simple. Make a Christmas card with a mini banner on the front. You can use any cartridges and any colors. Easy Peasy!!! Here’s my card. Now it's your turn.

Enjoy…





Details and cartridges used for this card are as follows:

Card Base – (4 X 7 Real Dial Size) – Base Camp
Christmas Presents Base – (2.78(w) X 2.99 (h)) – Winter Frolic
Presents Layers - (2.99 (h) ) – Winter Frolic & Mr Frosty (Cricut Imagine)
“Christmas” Banner & Shadow “(0.9 (h)) – Christmas Cheer
Joy Banner (1.0(h) – Christmas Cheer

Quickie Birthday Card...

Here I go again with my last minute cards. Perhaps that's why it's a nice Spring card during Winter... Well, I'm in Texas and Winter sometimes brings nice Spring temperatures... Nonetheless, I've completed this card to give to one of my church members. I hope she likes it.

I used October afternoon "Fly A Kite" scraps for all the papers.

3 X 3 Christmas Gift Cards… CCC#53

Time for another Cricut Cardz Challenge!!! The challenge this week is to create a set of 3X3 Christmas Gift Cards or Christmas tags using any color and any cartridges that you like. I made a set of 6 cards. I really loved this challenge.

For this challenge I used the Base Camp, Winter Frolic and Christmas Cheer Cricut cartridges.

Now let’s see your take on this challenge! You can enter HERE

Happy Thanksgiving... CCC #51

Confession…. I never do Thanksgiving cards… NEVER! Well, now I’ve done two this year and it’s all because of the Cricut Cardz Challenge. This week’s challenge is to create a Thanksgiving card using the colors BLUE, BROWN, ORANGE, YELLOW and WHITE ONLY. This was a bit challenging for me, but that’s what it’s all about, right?

Now it’s your turn. Stop by the Cricut Cardz Site and inspire us with your designs!

Enjoy…

Details and cartridges used for this card are as follows:
Card Base – Brown Cardstock (5.4 (h) – Lacy Labels
Circle Cut – White Cardstock (4.5 (h) – Lacy Labels
Middle Pumpkin Shadow & Pumpkin (1.65 (h)) – Create a Critter
L & R Pumpkin Shadows & Pumpkins (1.20 (h)) – Create a Critter
Wheelbarrow & Shadow (1.74(h)) – Walk In My Garden
Leaves and Shadows – (1.1(h)) – Create a Critter

Merry Christmas... CCC #50

Design Team #1 has done a fabulous job with this week’s challenge over @ the Cricut Cardz Challenge Site. This week they will inspire you with Christmas cards using the “card creative feature” from any cartridge. Stop on by and join them. You can use any colors too. I decided to play along with Design Team #1. I used the card feature from the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge for the card base. I welded a square in the card to make an opening in the card then I used the card frame feature for the pink layer. The Christmas tree is pop dotted on the inside of the card. The tree was cut from the Christmas Cheer cartridge and the bows are from the Christmas Solutions cartridge (that is a FREE download if you purchase and register a Cricut Gypsy by 12/31/2010). As you can see, I used non-traditional Christmas colors because that’s the mood I was in. All bling is courtesy of the Imaginisce I-rock tool.

Don’t forget to check out the Cricut Cardz Site. We’d love to see your take on the challenge!

Enjoy…

Dashing Through The SNOW… CCC #49

There’s an all new challenge posted at the Cricut Cardz Site. Stop by and join in on the fun. This week’s challenge is to create a Christmas card. Well, there is one stipulation. The card has to contain something that starts with an “S”. Beyond that, you can use any colors and any Cricut cartridge that you’d like. For this challenge, I chose to use snow, snowflakes, and a sleigh. I added a little sparkle to the sleigh, snow mound and snowflakes with stickles and glitter.

Don’t forget to check out the Cricut Cardz Challenge Site and play along.

Details and cartridges used for this card are as follows:

Card Base Stamp cut – (5.50W X 5.50L Real Dial Size) – Base Camp
Square cut – Blue Cardstock (4.60W X 4.90L Real Dial Size) – Base Camp
Snow Mound - (5.25W X 1.15H) – Paper Dolls for Everyday
Sleigh Base and Shadow – (1.59H) – Christmas Cheer
Reindeer Base & Layers – (2.65H) – Christmas Cheer
Snowflakes – (1.70H) – Christmas Cheer

You Have My "SUPPORT" - CCC #47

It's Cricut Cardz Challenge time again. This weeks challenge is to make a card for Breast Cancer Awareness month. I hope you will join us in this challenge!!! Lets do it for the millions of individuals who know the up close and personal effects of Breast Cancer.

All items were cut with the Cricut with the exception of the rosette. The rosette was cut with the Sizzix Bigz 3D flower. I love that die cut.

Details and Cricut cartridges used for this card are as follows:

Card Base (2 - 4.85"(h)Lingerie cuts welded(shadow feature)) - Forever Young
Brown & White Polka Dot Layer (Lingerie Cut - 4.85"(h))- Forever Young
Pink Ribbons (all cut @ 1.25" (h)) - Stand and Salute
Envelope (cut @ 8.45" X 6.65") - Just Because Cards

Enjoy...

Imagine-Nation Challenge w/ Emma

Here's a card a made for the 1st Imagine-Nation Monday Challenge with Emma. She gave us an easy start. The challenge was to use the Cricut Imagination to create anything we wanted. The only stipulation is that we had to use a stamp.

I used a combination of Cricut cartridges and Imagination cartridges for this card. The scallop base came from Accent Essentials. I used the Imagine to print the color on the scallop base using an RGB Code. The patterned paper and the tea cup are from the Imagine Best Friends cartridge.

The "enjoy" stamp is from Papertrey Ink and the "Two Cups" stamp is from Stampendous.

I'm still amazed at being able to use only white paper to create such colorful cards and LOs with a Cricut.

Enjoy...

Wind Beneath My Wings...

I'm still getting to know my Cricut Imagine. I admit I haven't had a chance to spend a tremendous amount of time playing with it. I never cut out the various words and phrases that are on most Cricut cartridges so I thought it would be great to use the Imagine print function & use one of the phrases as the sentiment on my card front. I really like that feature.

Anyway, on this card, the Sentiment & branch were printed via the Imagine. The butterflies and leaves were both print and cut using the Imagine. The machine does so much more than this and in time, I'll be doing a whole lot more...

Enjoy...

O Give Thanks... CCC #45

Sometimes simplicity is a good thing. I hope that’s the case with this card as I decided to go with a simple elegance. This card was made for the Cricut Cardz Challenge where the theme this week is THANKSGIVING!!! You get to make a Thanksgiving card using any cartridges and any color you like! So, whether you choose the simple approach or decide to go all out, I do hope you are inspired to play along with us. Check us out HERE.

Details and cartridges used for this card are as follows:

Card Base (3.75 X 11 square folded in half & top corners rounded) – Base Camp
Card Burgundy Layer (3.75 X X 4.25 – top corners rounded) – Base Camp
Small and large leaves (cut @ 1.00 & 1.35) – Stretch Your Imagination


Enjoy…

BABY Love... CCC #43

Back again with another great challenge from the Cricut Cardz Site. This week the challenge is to make a baby card using the colors orange, green, yellow and white ONLY. I’m always challenged by color restrictions (unless you restrict me to my favorites black and some accent color). This challenge made me stretch a little beyond my normal color choices.

I think this little giraffe cut is too cute. As a matter of fact, it is so cute, I decided to cut a mommy and a baby giraffe. All in all, this was a fun challenge.

Details on cuts, cartridges, and sizes are below… All bling was applied with the i-Rock by Imaginisce.

Stop on by the Cricut Cardz Site and join in!!!

Cricut Cartridges (and sizes) used:

Card Base (2 5.5 X 5 inch welded ) – Lacy Labels
Card Layer (5.10 X 4.90) – Lacy Labels
Mommy Giraffe (cut @ 3.10) – Sugar and Spice
Baby Giraffe (cut @ 1.70) – Sugar and Spice
Large and small Butterflies (cut @ 2.50 & 2.05) – Lacy Labels

Enjoy…

Take it Slow Card... Cricut Imagine...

OK... I've always admitted that I'm a gadget girl sooooo when the new Cricut Imagine (CI) was announced, I was immediately interested. Of course, I said I'd wait until it had been out for about six months before I purchased. Well that was before the HSN launch. After seeing the HSN bundle, I purchased that day! And since we're a team, I convinced my BFF and scrappy buddy Karen to purchase too!!! It didn't take much LOL!

This card was done solely with the Imagine (with the exception of the sentiment at the bottom). This entire card started as just white paper. I used the CI Best Friends cartridge to print the pattern papers and used the RGB feature to get the matching solid blue on the turtle's shell and the solid black on the turtle's body as well as the black paper at the bottom of the card. I ran the black paper through the Cuttlebug.

This is a simple card that was totally done in one 12 X 12 piece of white cardstock (there was paper left over). So far I like the CI. I can see lots of possibilities.

Enjoy...

Seasons Change...CCC #41

The Cricut Cardz Site has a great challenge this week!!! The challenge is to create a Fall card using any Cricut Cartridge and any colors EXCEPT brown, orange, and yellow…

For this card, I chose green & burgundy as the dominant colors with touches of blue here and there.

Be sure to stop by the challenge site and see the wonderful creations from the CCC Design Team. I hope you’re inspired to play along!!!

Cricut Cuts & Cartridges Used for This Project:

Tree (cut @ 4.25”) – Stretch Your Imagination
Birds – Gypsy Font
Picket Fence (cut @ 1.15”) – My Community
Leaves (cut @ 2.5”) – Paper Dolls for Everyday
Acorns (cut @.95”) – Create a Critter

Enjoy…

Cricut Cardz #39... and some cool NEWS!

The theme this week over at the Cricut Cardz Challenge Site is “Back To School”. I chose to make a shaped pencil card and a matching envelope (for the teacher who is returning after summer break). I really love the weekly CCC challenges… I get to love them even more NOW that I am DESIGN TEAM MEMBER!!! I’m thrilled to be able to join such talented ladies for a 6 month period.

So stop by and jump in on the challenges. It’s sure to be fun!

Cricut Cartridges Used for This Project:
Pencil – My Community
Envelope – Just Because Cards

Enjoy…

Just Because...CCC#38

Well, the team over @ the Cricut Cardz Challenge Site made it pretty easy to participate this week. The challenge this week is simply make a card any size, any colors, any cartridge. Basically, anything goes… Since I’m building up my card supply and reducing my scrap supply, this challenge was just perfect. I made a “Just Because” card using Cricut Lite Lacy Labels and Live Simply cartridges. I just love the lite cartridges. Patterned Papers used are a hodge podge of Basic Grey, Colorbox, and October Afternoon.

Enjoy…

Maya Road Chipboard Album...

I finally used this chipboard album that I purchased 3 years ago. Yep three years ago @ the Creating Keepsakes Convention, I purchased several albums. I had so many plans for them. Better late than never, right? Anyway, I just returned from vacation and thought I'd put my purchase to use by making my younger cousin an album of our cruise to the Bahamas. Actually, it's more for his mom because once my cousin loaded the photos to his Facebook page, in his opinion; the trip had been well documented.

My discovery during this project: Chipboard albums are FUN!

Enjoy...

Cherry on Top... Blog Award

How cool to return from vacation and find this blog award from Scrapin Mom of One Inspiring Little Boy ... I LOVE her designs! You guys should check her out.



One of the criteria for this award is to tell 3 things you love about yourself... Here goes...

1. I love that I can make people laugh.


2. I love that I've been blessed with great family and friends.


3. I love creating... especially with my Cricut.
   

The next criteria is to pass this award along. I will be doing that soon. Stay tuned.

Until then...., enjoy!

Birthday XOXO...Throwback Thursday 8

I finally had the time to participate in Emma’s Throwback Thursday Challenge. I came across her site a few weeks ago, but I hadn’t been able to make the deadline until NOW!!! The Throwback Thursday Challenge focuses on the older (not used as often) Cricut cartridges. This week’s challenge was to create a project relating to birthdays using the Cricut Celebrations cartridge.

Of course, I did a simple card (it’s what I do most)… The black scalloped layer is the shadow feature on the #5 button (page 86 in the handbook). The embossed white layer is the blackout feature on the #9 button (page 90 in the handbook). The three birthday hats are welded cuts from the {hat2} image (page 103 in the handbook). I added a little bling to the hats with the iRock. So glad I had the chance to participate.

Enjoy…

Aged To Perfection...

I just purchased the Cricut Lite Lacy Labels (LLs) cartridge and couldn't wait to use it. So for the shaped card base & the tag/label, I used LLs. And to accompany it, I used another of my favorites, Forever Young. This card is a little more whimsy than the norm, but I kinda like it.

I even had time to make a matching envelope for this one. I used the Cricut Just Because Cartridge for the envelope.

Enjoy...

Hey U...

I just love the Create a Critter Cricut cartridge. It has such adorable cuts. This little bird is one of my favorites For this card,I used Bazzill cardstock and October Afternoon patterned papers.

Enjoy...

Hard Rock... Orlando

It's been a long while since I've posted a layout so I thought, "why not make today different?" I'm usually behind the camera so it's rare that I have a photo of myself to scrap. But here's one that I took @ Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. I was right in front of the Hard Rock Cafe. Yep... had to go in and buy a guitar key chain since I've decided to collect one from all the places I visit.

For the LO, I used a combination of October Afternoon scraps. I finally used those beads I bought months ago when I saw how Sasha Holloway used them in her LOs. Her scrapbook style is FAB & I get inspiration where I can... LOL!

Enjoy...

P.S. - I've got to work on a better way to photograph layouts... Pointers anyone?

Cake Minus the Calories...

This fun cake shaped card has zero calories. I made it using the Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cartridge. Seems I’ve been visiting my older cartridges lately although, I really love the new ones too. This was quick and easy to put together.

Enjoy…

I believe... You can fly...

Here's a card that I made for a younger cousin who is in her first year of college. She's so smart and while she's excited about college, she's also nervous. I wanted to let her know how much I believe in her! I used the new iRock tool for the bling on this card. It's a pretty neat tool and since I'm a gadget girl, it was a must have!


Enjoy...

Hello...

I’d almost forgotten some of the fun cuts on the Cricut Wildcard Cartridge. I wanted to make a simple “Thinking of You” card with a simple sentiment. Since the card was so plain, I added some crinkled ribbon (although it doesn't look crinkled in the photo) to dress it up a bit. Anyway, this “oldie but goodie” cartridge has served its purpose once again!

Enjoy...

Simple Flower Card...

This card is one of a set of Thinking of You cards that I was asked to make. I chose my favorite color combination. I just think fuschia, black, and white go so well together. The flower and vase were cut from the Cricut Walk In My Garden cartridge. I roughed the flower up a bit and added some Stickles to give it more of a distressed look.

More to come…

Enjoy...

Some for the Reserve...

Just dropping in to share a couple of cards I recently made. For the purse card, I used the Cricut Forever Young Cartridge and for the present card I used the Cricut Sweet Treats cartridge. The cards aren’t made for any specific occasion. They are meant to be multi-purpose. I’m trying to build up my card supply so I can have some in reserve. Boy would that be a departure from the norm!

Enjoy

Baby Card from Doodlebat Font...

Since I was on a roll with the polka dot paper, I decided to create just one more. This time I created a card for a baby shower. My Pazzles was feeing a little lonely so I dusted it off and went to work. This dress card was created using a doodlebat font from ScrapNfonts called "DB Baby Clothes".

Enjoy...

Mother's Day Part 2

Here's the second group of Mother's Day cards that I made. I decided to do fun cards this year rather than elegant cards. My cards mirrored my mood. Once again, I let the polka dots rule. I like them, what else can I say...

Anyway, Happy Mother's Day to all of the mothers out there. Hope your day is wonderful!!!

Mother's Day... Dot * Dot * Dot

It’s kinda obvious with this set of cards that I’m a polka dot fan, right? I don’t know why, but when I have a group of cards to make, I tend to stick to a general pattern and color. I guess it's easier to get them done when I do it that way. Well, this is my first set of Mother’s Day cards, but I’ve got more to make. It's nice to know so many great mothers. Off to the post office with this group.

Teacher Appreciation Cards…

This set means a card / gift a day during Teacher Appreciation week for my niece’s Kindergarten teacher. JuliAna (that’s the niece) is a lover of animals so EVERYTHING has to have an animal theme. She picked out all of the animals for the cards and was very pleased with herself I might add. Her mother and I were able to sneak in the cupcake gift box because she happened to be engrossed in a Scooby Doo marathon at the time. She did; however, take breaks during commercials to do a little embossing for me… I refer to her as my little “Cuttlebug-ler”. She says she’s putting bumps on the paper. Either way we are in sync! We used Create A Critter and Sweet Treats for most of the cuts.

Enjoy….

Blog Award...

I wanted to drop in and post a blog award that I received from Mrs Diva2U. What a wonderful surprise. Be sure to go on over to her blog and check out her wonderful creations.

The rule is to pass it on to 12 people. Stay tuned... That will be forthcoming.

Until then, have a wonderful day!

Oh Happy Day…

Here’s a birthday card made using the Cricut Just Because Cards (JBC) and Forever Young (FY) cartridges. I love the FY cartridge and I can see that the JBC cartridge will quickly become a favorite too. That’s my quicky post for now.

Until next time…

Enjoy…

Welcome Baby...

I made this card for the coworker of a friend. The pink and brown color combo is one of my favorites. The Circuit New arrival cartridge was used for the Stroller. I’m managing to use all of my scraps as well. No new papers on this one.

Enjoy….

A Little Birdie Told Me…. 2S4Y Kazan #49

Just dropping in to post my take on this week’s 2 Sketches Challenge (Kazan #49). Once again I pulled out my new favorite, PTI Polka Dot Basics II stamps, for the bottom portion of the card. I used Cricut Straight From the Nest for the bird and oval scallop.


Enjoy…

Miscellaneous Card Set…. PTI March Blog Hop

I’ve only had PTI stamps for a couple of weeks now, but I couldn’t help participating in their monthly blog hop. This month’s Blog Hop Challenge is to use buttons along with one PTI product. Right now, I only have PTI background stamps and one set of their sentiment stamps. So I used all of the PTI products that I have.

I made a set of all occasion vase shaped cards. I used buttons for the flower centers. I don’t know the brand of buttons (just grabbed some from my stash)…
I used PTI’s background stamps to decorate the vase. The stamps used are: Retro, Polka Dots Basics II and Dot Spot. I used PTI Mega Mixed Messages stamps for the sentiments.

Fun times…

Enjoy…