I am so excited and thankful to say....and a new challenge from The Cuttlebug Spot

How exciting!!! I am the blog of the week!!! That just makes me so happy! Thank you to Jami and everyone at Scrapbooking.com Magazine!!

Now, we have to celebrate!!!!! So, to celebrate I am going to host a RAK (random act of kindness)!!!! The scrappy community gives me so much and I want to give back!!! Lookie what I snagged up at Michael's the other day!!! It's one of the new Martha Stewart holiday border punches!!! Yall know how much I adore punches!!!

So you wanna WIN it???!!! All you have to do is become a follower of this blog and leave me a comment. Be sure to include your blog address or somewhere that I can get in touch with you. That way, if you are the lucky winner....I can contact you to get your mailing addy. I will use the list randomizer at random.org to randomly select one winner on Saturday, Nov. 21st. So be sure to check back on my blog on that day to see if it's you!!! Whoo hoo!!

Now, as always, we have a fun new challenge for ya at The Cuttlebug Spot! If you are not familiar with The Cuttlebug Spot, we focus on using the Cuttlebug machine and embossing folders in our projects. It is one of my favorite blogs! There is always so much inspiration on there!!! If you would like to join us for this week's challenge, go here....

http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/

This week we are creating Thanksgiving projects. For my DT project, I created a Thanksgiving board book. I have been working on this book for months and am so glad I can finally share it with you. I designed it myself using Inkscape. I used SCAL 2 (Sure Cuts A Lot 2) and my Cricut Expression to cut it. I will be offering the SVG files for this complete project for free on my SVG blog. If you would like those, here is the link for you....

http://southernbellesvg.blogspot.com/

I used the following Cuttlebug embossing folders on this project:
1. Swiss Dots
2. Script
3. D'Vine Swirl
4. Mosaic Texture
5. Pumpkins
6. Autumn Type

I used Stickles glitter glue for some bling. I used the Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page combo set of punches in 'rings' for the borders around my photo mats. Here is the picture of what the board book I designed looks like in Inkscape....

Now, for the real thing. I just am in love with this book. It is my favorite board book I've done so far. I only wish yall could see it in person. I wanted the book to almost tell a story of Thanksgiving. The book opens with the word 'Thanks.' Then I added the Mayflower, Pilgrims, Native Americans, and a turkey. I used my Bind It All to bind the book. I added a combo of brown tulle and brown ribbon on the rings. Also, if you are curious, I cut the book out at 5" tall.

****NOTE: If you are having trouble seeing these images, if you will click on them, it will bring them up larger. Then just hit the 'back' button to come back to the post. :)

'Page 1'
I used some chipboard for the word 'give.' I embossed with Swiss Dots and used the aforementioned punch.

'Back of Page 1 and Front of Page 2'
I used some alphabet stickers from Making Memories for back of page one. Now, page 2 is my personal favorite in the book!!! I just love how the Mayflower came together. Of course, I had to add the rock to symbolize the pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. I used D'Vine Swirl on the clouds and rock. Now, if you are going to undertake this project, this Mayflower will take some patience when piecing, but it's not too hard. It is just time consuming. I spent over 2 hours on it.

'Back of Page 2 and Front of Page 3'
Aren't those pilgrims so fun? I just giggled the whole time I was making this book.

I used the 'Mosaic Texture' embossing folder on these photo mats. I cut the word 'feast' out using my SCAL 2. This font is called 'Lauren Script'.

Up close of the pilgrims. These did take a bit of patience to piece, but not too bad. I think it took me about an hour and a half to piece them and add Stickles.

'Back of Page 3 and Front of Page 4'

I used the 'Script' embossing folder on these photo mats. The word 'family' was also cut with SCAL 2.

Up close of the Native Americans....now I will be honest, these were a bit harder to piece. I spent about 2 hours on them.

'Back of Page 4 and Front of Page 5'

I used the 'Pumpkin' embossing folder on these pages.

Up close of the turkey. The turkey was very easy to piece. I spent about 30 minutes on him.

Back of book...

I used the 'Autumn Type' embossing folder on these photo mats.

Whoo, I think that is all. Lots of pix today, huh?! LOL. But I wanted to share this one with yall. I hope you will like it. I sure enjoyed creating it. If you decide to give it a go, I hope you will have lots of fun with it! I'm here if you have any questions along the way!!! Feel free to drop me a line anytime!

As always, thanks for stopping by my blog! Don't forget to sign up for the RAK!!!!! Yall have a beautiful day and Happy Scrappin'!!!!!