A 'Revealin' Monday

Hey yall! How are you on this Monday morning? Good I hope! Today is the 15th, so that means reveal time again for Treasured Scrapbooking. I have had these first 2 project done for a while, but had to wait to reveal. We are to reveal layout #2 and our altered projects today. I was assigned to kit #1 this month. I just have loved this kit. It was so much fun to work with. The ribbons are so yummy!!! I would highly recommend this kit if you are in the market. I have made several layouts and an altered project and I still have goodies left over!! Love it! First, for my altered project, I created a paper topiary. This was really so easy to do and so fun. I used my Cricut to cut out the circles needed for the topiary. Then I gathered various items from around the house (urn, moss, wooden dowel, foam, and hot glue) to assemble it. So it was very cost efficient. Here is the topiary:

If you would like the instructions on how to make this topiary, go here:

http://www.heatherbaileydesign.com/HB_PaperTopiary.pdf

Next, here is my second layout for the month. This is Carter. Even at 3 years old, I can already tell what a heartbreaker he will be. LOL. I used the Cricut Storybook cart for the bracket looking shape. I used my sewing machine on this one too for some stitching. Here it is:

If you can, do come on over to Treasured Scrapbooking today to see the rest of the DT's fabulous debuts!!! Awesome stuff!

http://www.treasuredscrapbooking.com/forum/

I also wanted to share 2 new layouts with you. First, this week at The Cuttlebug Spot, we are celebrating our fathers. I created this layout in honor of my Daddy. I used the Swiss Dots and Script embossing folders. I cut the heart with the Cricut Wedding Solutions Cartridge. All papers are by Cosmo Cricket. I also included some cherry printed ribbon and stitching. The poem, which is printed on vellum, is one that I found online. This layout is also doing some double duty. I am using it for the 'Superman' challenge and 'layout with no pic' challenge on Treasured Scrapbooking. Here it is:

If you would like to join in on this fun challenge, visit:

http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/

Next, it's time for another fun challenge at the Chirper Challenge blog. We were asked to follow a given sketch (which was designed by Beth on Treasured Scrapbooking). Also, we were to use black cardstock as our base and use only bright solids, no patterned paper. We were to doodle in either black or white. I have to admit, this one was a toughie for me! No patterned paper is hard!!!! I did squeeze in some patterned ribbon though. I used the following Cricut carts: Cuttin' Up, Home Accents, and Home Decor. I also incorporated some stitching, K & Co. embellishment, Stickles glitter glue, and ribbon. Here is the layout:

Do come on over and show us what your Cricut can do for this fun challenge:

http://chirperchallenge.blogspot.com/

Well, that is all for me today. The Treasured Scrapbooking newsletter should be out any day now and when it is, I will post the projects I made for it as well. So do come on back if you can!!! I hope all of you have a wonderful week! Take care and as always, I appreciate you stopping by! Hugs!

Unscripted Sketches #10

Happy Saturday Yall! I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend! It's Saturday and that means there is a new sketch at Unscripted Sketches!!! Yay! Here is the layout I created for this week. I used my Cricut a bit on this one. I used the Printing Press cartridge for my rings, which I stitched on. I used Storybook for the corner flourish and Plantin' Schoolbook for the title. I stickled the letters using Red Stickles. I also stitched around my photo. I added some flowers, lace, and a paper embellishment.

I hope yall will come on over and join us for this week's sketch!!!!

http://unscriptedsketches.com/

Oooh, one more thing too...this is the first layout I did using a new toy of mine. I bought the Basic Grey Magnetic mat this past week and I am in love!!!! It makes putting together a layout so EASY!!!! If you are like me, how many times have you stuck something down on a layout and then decided that it is not in the right spot or you are trying to piece a layout and things keep moving!!! It is so frustrating! So, yall have got to get this! It is beyond awesome! A new fave of mine!!! Here it is in case you have never seen one:

http://store.scrapbook.com/bg-met-642.html

As always, THANK YOU for stopping by my blog! Have a wonderful day! Hugs!!!!

Happy Anniversary

Hey yall! It's another Monday and a new week. As always, Mondays mean another fun challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot. Our founder, Nilda, has a wedding anniversary coming up this month and asked us to create a anniversary card. Her and her hubby will celebrate 15 years!! That is so awesome! Congrats Nilda! Here is the card I created. I used the Birds and Swirls folder for the background. I inked it with the 'Worn Lipstick' Tim Holtz Distress Ink. I cut the bride/groom with the Wedding Solutions Cricut cartridge. I used D'Vine Swirl on the brides dress. I added some toile for her veil and bling down the back. I also incorporated some paper pleats. I embossed the strip above the paper pleats with a Cuttlebug border embossing folder. The sentiment is a rubon.

So do come on over and join us this week:

http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/

Have a fabulous week!!!

Christmas In June and Some Croppin' Work

Hey yall! How are you doing? I hope you are enjoying a relaxing weekend. I am beat I tell ya! I've been croppin' for 2 days and am worn out! But it was oh so fun!! Most of the layouts I finished will fulfill challenges for this month. I wanted to share them with you.

First, this month at The Chirper Challenge we are exploring the Cricut Christmas cartridges.

http://chirperchallenge.blogspot.com/

I have created the following 12x12 layout for this. I used the following cuts:
1. Storybook (Accent Frame/Corner Swirl) at 10 3/4" for the background.
2. Home Accents (Corner 1) at 5" for the corner swirl behind Santa
3. Christmas Solutions (Santa Face w/ shadow) cut at 3".
4. Christmas Solutions (the word 'Christmas') cut at a 1 1/2".
5. Home Accents (Label) cut at 1 1/2".
6. Lyrical Letters-Loop De Loo font (the word 'magic') cut at 1"
7. Lyrical Letters (triangular flags) each cut at 1"
8. Joys of the Season (snowflakes on banner flags and on Santa's hat) cut at 3/4".

I also incorporated some stitching, Stickles glitter glue, blue lace trim and Martha Stewart branch punch. I used some chalk and watercolor pencils on my Santa to distress him up a bit. I love to make the cuts on Christmas Solutions look vintage. Here is the layout:

Now, on to what I accomplished at the crops. I did not get too much done. I guess we all chatted a bit....LOL. First, this one is called 'Sweet Tooth' and is of Carter baking his first brownies. As you can tell, he was a huge fan of licking the spoon. LOL! I used Storybook for the corner. I also added some ribbon, stitching, Thickers, and used the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch. These papers are DCWV. Here is the layout:

Next, this one is called "Reflection." This photo was taken during a recent trip to Gulf Shores. Carter just loved the beach!!! I used my Mom's Life's A Beach cartridge for this one. I cut the sunshine myself and added some sheer ribbon and doodled with a glitter pen. I also used some chalk on the seashells to make them look more lifelike. I used the glitter pen again on the palm tree. This was such a fun cart to play with! I can't wait to purchase it for myself. Here it is:

This next one is called 'Mirror Image.' Carter and his Uncle Brandon have a very special relationship. They are so close and Carter just loves to hang out with Brandon. I love to watch the two of them together. I always get teary watching. Brandon is so good with him and it makes me realize what a good Daddy Brandon will make one of these days. I used Lyrical Letters for the title. I cut them with the 'Loop De Loo' function on. I used Printing Press for the rings. I also used the EK Success Swiss Cheese border punch around the edge and then distressed. I also incorporated some buttons and ink. Here it is:

This one is of Carter and his Momaw Ron, as he calls her. I used Home Accents for the flourishes, Doodlecharms for the lady bug, and Lyrical Letters for the title. I used the Fiskars Apron Lace punch and included some pink trim and bling. I included some pink decorative stitching around the edge and some brads.

Last, I created this layout for Carter. I used Printing Press for the ring and Lyrical Letters for the word 'Moment.' I also incorporated some Thickers, ribbon, and stitching.

Well that is all I created during the croppin' sessions. I thank you for stopping by and hope you have a great week!!!!

Time To Be Unscripted

Happy Saturday Yall! I hope you are enjoying a beautiful weekend. Today is Saturday and that means that my first DT project at Unscripted Sketches debuts. Yay! I really love this blog! It is so much fun!! Each Saturday a new sketch is posted for 'Sketch It Saturdays'. I just adore sketches! They are so helpful when it comes time to create. They give me a jumping off point and I love that!!! So please do come on over and join us for this fun challenge:

http://unscriptedsketches.com/

Here is the layout I created for this week. These are some of Carter's Easter portraits from last year (2008). I used the following Cricut carts on this one:
1. Cuttin Up for the lettering
2. Home Accents for my leaves
In the center, I wanted to create a dimensional effect. So I took a scalloped circle piece of paper and cut out the center. I then did a spin on the 'exploding box' technique to curl up the edges. You will be able to tell more about those curled up edges in the close up photos. I then inked up the curled edges in moss green. I used the moss green to highlight the edges of the photos, leaves, scalloped circle, and the 12x12 patterned bunny paper. I added some ribbon around the circle and then put a decorative stitch over that. I used Prima flowers and a button on top of my leaves. I had a lot of fun creating this layout. It was time consuming, about 4 hours worth of work, but I enjoyed myself. I love these pix of Carter. It was the last year he would be wearing the cute little outfits that the little one's wear. He is a big boy now and dresses more like his Daddy, but I sure enjoyed those years. My husband hates the little outfit. Go figure, but I, and I'm sure many other women, know how adorable he looked! Oh and a funny little story for yall to go with these pictures. During this portrait session, he posed with real bunnies and chicks. As you can tell in the top photo, it looks like the little yellow chick is going for a dive. If you guessed that, you would of been right!!! Carter picked it up and said 'Fwy, Duck' ("Fly, Duck")!!!! The photographer managed to get the shot right before he tossed it. That child! I swear, he cracks me up!!!!

Can you see the curled edges?

If you would like to know how to create this 'exploding' technique for yourself, you can visit here. This is one of my good friend's, Cristal, blog. She creates this with a heart, but it can be done with any shape you would like:

http://blueyecicle.blogspot.com/2008/02/exploding-heart-picture-tutorial.html

I promise it is so easy and so fun! It really will give you some great dimension!!

As always, I thank you for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend! Hugs!

Let The Sunshine In!

Hey yall! How are you doing today? Good I hope. I wanted to share with you a card I made for The Cuttlebug Spot. On the blog, we feature Cottage Cuts Dies from The Scrapping Cottage. I was asked to create a card using the sunflower die. You can see the die here:

http://www.scrappingcottage.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=4384

This die was so much fun to work with!!! It is so easy to use with the Cuttlebug too. I used some ink on the flowers. I used the following embossing folders: Swiss Dots, Distressed Stripes, and D'Vine Swirl. I incorporated some yellow ribbon trim, felt ribbon, and brown ribbon as my stems. I also added some Stickles to my butterflies. Here is the card:


Thanks for lookin'! Yall have a great day!!!

Time To Reveal

Hey yall! I am so EXCITED today! It's the start of a new month and it's gonna be a great week! Mom is flying in on Wednesday to spend some time with Brandon and I. We are going to have so much fun! We have a crop planned with some of my girlfriends on Friday AND Saturday! Whoo hoo!!! I can't wait!

Well it is June 1st and this is a very special day for me. My term as a Design Team Member on Treasured Scrapbooking officially starts today!!!! YAY!!!! I am just so excited and thankful for this opportunity. I am working with some awesome ladies and am looking forward to a fun filled 6 months. If you have never been to Treasured Scrapbooking, you must stop by! It is one of the best scrappy message boards on the web! Here is the link:

http://www.treasuredscrapbooking.com/forum/

Each month Leslie debut's some fabulous kits. If you would like to see the kits, feel free to hop on over to her store at TS and check 'em out! They are super yummy!

So, let's get started with the reveals. First, as a member of the DT on TS(Treasured Scrapbooking), I am required to do one challenge per month. June is National Candy Month, so I focused my challenge around candy!! Yummy!! My 'recipe' for the challenge is to create a layout using:
1.bold, bright colors for all the yummy colors we see on our favorite treats
2.circle(s) for tasty gumballs
3.ribbon(s) for the bow tied atop a box of chocolates
4.flourish/swirls for the savory swirls of chocolate in a candy bar
5.pick one: star or heart for the shapes we see in a bag of mixed candy

Here is the layout I created using products from June Kit #2. I just love her kits! They make pulling together a scrappy project so easy. Everything is coordinated and so fun! This layout is of my in laws, Kenneth and Vicki. They really are one of those couples who are perfect for each other. They are so cute together! I always enjoy getting to go visit them. For this layout, I used the Cricut Home Accents cartridge for my flourish and also included some stitching.

Also, as a member of the DT at TS, on the first of each month, I get to reveal a sketch and coordinating layout. We are assigned a kit to work with for the month. This month, I was assigned to Kit #1. Here is my sketch:

And here is my layout. I created this layout using Kit #1. This is Carter and his mommy, Caressa at the beach. If you notice, the photo looks a bit blurry on the edges. I used a program on my computer to blur the edges so the eye would focus on the center. It looks so much better in person, but did not photograph too well. Still, I hope you can tell about it.

So that is all of the reveals for TS for now. I will be revealing my newsletter projects, second layout, and altered project for the month in the weeks to come. So be sure to come back to see those if you can. I am really excited to show yall my altered projects!!! ;)

Next, as you know, Monday always brings us another fun challenge at The Cuttlebug Spot. This week Nilda asked us to pull out those stamps and use them on a card. I used a Tilda stamp that Nilda sent me. I used my watercolor pencils and waterbrush to color her in. I also used the following embossing folders: the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder and the Sizzix Squares folder. I also incorporated some stitching, ribbon, twine, and a little metal charm. Here is my card:

So pull out those stamps yall and join us at The Cuttlebug Spot for a fun challenge. You can view the rest of the DT's wonderful cards here:

http://thecuttlebugspot.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you there!

Next, I don't know if you remember, but I had told yall about making the design team at The Chirper Challenge. I am so excited about the opportunity to work with all these talented scrappers!!! The blog focuses on using one of my favorite toys.....my Cricut! We were asked to create a project that includes something with wheels (I chose a train) and the colors red/green. Also, the project cannot be Christmas related. I scrapped a recent surprise anniversary trip to Baltimore, MD. Brandon is fascinated with trains, so we had to visit the B&O Railroad Museum while we were there. For this layout, I used the following cartridges:

1. Christmas Solutions(train)

2. Storybook(shaped paper)

3. Cuttin' Up(alpha's)

4. Home Accents(flourish)

I also used my Cuttlebug and embossed parts of my train using the Swiss Dots and Distressed Stripes embossing folders. I stitched on some delicate gray lace with the sewing machine. I also incorporated a metal hinge, paper doilies, red rain dots, and distressing. Here is the layout:

If you would like to join us for this fun challenge, go here:

http://chirperchallenge.blogspot.com/

This really is a fabulous blog! I hope I see some of my fellow Cricuteers there!!!

Whoo! That was a lot to reveal!! But still so fun! I thank you for stopping by my blog to take a peek. I hope each of you have a fabulous week! Take care and Happy Scrappin'!