BBTB/WMG/Grass

This is the third week of the Designer Choice for BBTB. Oh So Talented DeeDee Campbell selected Walk In My Garden for the cartridge, and she asked us to design with the grass cut.

Well, I went to the Cricut cartridge manual, I looked at the grass cut and I figured "no way" do those look like grass to me. I had no idea what to do, but I shuffled around, lay down the papers, some sewing, the cuts and a darling set of trees and birds from a font called dbmulberry lane from Scrapnfonts who sponsored this challenge. Hop over to BBTB and take a look at the great cards the designers created. Mine?....well, at least I entered something!!!

CC/Bingo, I just love you..

At Cutting Cafe, Regina has presented a wonderful new set called BINGO. How this brings back memories of playing Bingo with my Dad and beloved step mom...and now and then I would win. It was so exciting. I miss my folks terribly but I have the most wonderful memories with me. Here is my card. The background paper is scrapbin grabbies, I added a MS punch for the doily edging, a lovely punch of hearts, a ribbon, some buttons and the sentiment is a rubber stamp. TFL, and do go see the Bingo set at Cutting Cafe.

Play Date Cafe Challenge #4

My dear friend Sandi is the host this week on The Play Date Cafe design team. Her work is always so wonderful and playful and imaginative. Her color choices for the challenge are chocolate brown, tan, cream and blue-green.

I just happened to have this little card already made and I simply added a blue/green swirly girly corner decoration from a Cuttlebug die to make it meet the challenge. And ...as the wise men say, "gather ye acorns while ye may"... Sound advice. TFL...and visit the Play Date Cafe for some neat inspiration.

BBT/Storybook/Bird

I am so pleased to say that it was my turn to be the host of Bitten By The Bug for the week. As I mentioned on BBTB blog, I was happy that Carla had the first host post (and it was fantastic) and I could follow her lead. Each designer gets to select the cartridge and the die so I chose Storybook cart and the bird. I love birds, and since winter is nigh, I thought I would make a card that honored the last fling for Spring. Here is my card. TFL, and please visit BBTB to see the wonderful cards that the designers made. You'll LOVE them, I promise.

Cutting Cafe/Thanksgiving

Regina has released a new set for Thanksgiving. You can see the set here.

I love anything with a Thanksgiving theme and with the large block printable, the card just fell into place. I drew one of my silly turkeys for the decoration, and added a brown checked ribbon to seal the deal. That large scalloped edging is from my new mega size Martha Stewart Stamp I got at M's yesterday....Hope you like my little card.

Play Date Challenge #3

Play date Cafe is featuring their third challenge....the color challenge asks that project designs use black, white and fire red. I love this color combo and since I needed a few monogram cards for a friend with a C initial (not me) I decided to use those colors for my first card. I like it. TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Christmas List

Regina of Cutting Cafe has some absolutely perfect printables for this holiday season. I have chosen to do some projects featuring her Holiday Planner... You can see the printable set here.

I have done a few styles, and I adjusted the sizes.

This is a planner that was bound with the Zutter wires, ...there are 3 tabs which separate the sheets for cards to send, gifts to buy and notes. I love this set....

This is a tri fold cover ... so simple to make. I just mounted the pages for the sections and scored on each side and then folded.

This is the inside of a folder that has an insert section rather than securing the pages on a main mount.

Cutting Cafe/Christmas Stuff....

Regina's Cutting Cafe has the cutest Christmas printables. Here is a card from the Mitten Shaped Card set. The card fits perfectly in the envelope which is included in the set. I've added a little Christmas ribbon and a snowflake.

Sweet Christmas Duck wearing a hat. This printable is from "Christmas All Around" set in Cutting Cafe. The circle sentiment and Duck was shaped with my Scalloped Circle Nestie, and mounted on red and green Nestie shapes in the larger sizes. I've added a ribbon, and Duck has been glazed with Crystal Lacquer. The design was placed on a simple Gate Fold card.

BBTB/JOS/Penguin

At BBTB we are starting a new and exciting adventure. Each week a design team member will select the cartridge for the card design and she hosts the challenge. This week Carla, the wonderfully talented Carla, is the hostess. You have to visit BBTB and look at the darling projects featuring this precious penguin. I love penguins and I had a lot of fun creating this card for the team. Joys Of The Season has one of the cutest penguin cuts so I cut three... I ran the base papers and card through my Cuttlebug embossing folder, I added some snowflakes, a sentiment and some doodling. Hope you like it....and please visit BBTB to see the creations.

Just Us Girls Challenge #5

Just Us Girls Challenge #5 is on the books....and I had a lot of fun making a card to meet their deets. The challenge is to use a Holiday theme card featuring a frame and a photo. This is one of my fave photos of my dog, Heidi Sweetface. She is such a character, always snooping around to see what is going on. I had my big jar (an old mint jar) full of larger ribbons. I pulled out this beautiful red ribbon, she sniffed the ribbon and before she knew it, I plopped it on her noggin. I always have my camera at hand and now you see Miss Heidi in her Holiday hat (of sorts). I dug out the real thing and here is my card. Hope you like it...TFL...and do do do visit Just Us Girls to admire this fantastic blog. And do do do enter the challenge.

Play Date Challenge #2

Play Date Cafe is on their 2nd challenge...and here is my take. The color challenge is to capture the colors of autumn with brown and/or black coupled with orange and yellow. I had some papers that I was given at one of the latest scrapbook crops and the paper was 5x7 in size. I find these papers are fantastic for making cards rather than scrapbooking. This is a glimpse of just two of the cards which are seriously layered with Labels Eight from Nesties. On the white card base I have placed the largest label in black, and to that the next 2 smaller sizes with some of the pattern papers, and finally the next small size of label in a solid cream cardstock. The layers were all glued together and then I ran it through my Cuttlebug embossing folder. I wanted to make 4 cards to place into a Card Folder and so I selected the Indie Art Cricut cartridge. Below you will see the darling bee and the ladybug on two of the cards.

This shows the Card Folder and the 4 cards.
The Card Folder is simply a 12x8 piece of patterned cardstock which has been scored with a 2 inch strip in the center. The two sides are folded up, and two small side strips are glued to the front and back panels. The sides of the Card Folder are open except for the small "tabs" holding the folder in place. I edged the front of the Card Folder with a Martha punch, and I've added more labels, a flower and a dragonfly die.
Here are the four cards. Each card has a different die from Indie Art Cricut cartridge...a bee, ladybug, dragonfly and butterfly. I also made a score line around the layering by scoring with my Scor-It board.
This will make a handy gift for someone, donchathink???? TFL... Now, why don't you visit Play Date Cafe and join in on their challenge?

BBTB/SYI/Tag

Congratulations to the winner of the felt flowers. Carol of Carol's Cards. Please email me at least by November 4th so I can make arrangements to get the flowers mailed to you. Thanks to all for playing along.

Happy Monday and not only are our design team cards up on the BBTB site but it's a wonderful blog hop as well. If you are here, I hope you came to my blog from Regina's wonderful creations. Our task from Regina was to create from the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge and to use the Pointed Tag. A little additional rule: Make this a Halloween theme. Easy to do since I am in the Halloween time of year spirit. Here is my card. I used the SYI cart all the way on this... I cut the tag with the orange checkered paper snippet from my scrapbin, added some background paper in the theme of things, and then cut the pumpkin and two spiders as well. That cute brown ribbon with white polka dots came from my ribbon stash. I added my trade mark harlequin corner and a jewel for pumpkin's eye. Thanks for looking and now in the heart of a blog hop, you will dash over to DeeDee's blog to see her wonderful creations. I love DeeDee's cards, she puts her heart into each one. Also please let me direct you to Shelly's blog...she has a darling card for you to admire.

Here is a little bit of blog candy. These are my felt flowers. They are cut out from felt on my Sizzix die cut machine ...and the die offers variations in the size of flower so they are great to just stack up, add a felt die cut leaf, sew a little button on. These are great for most anything: cards, scrapbooking, purses, totes....

There are five being offered in colors of red, orange, and bright pink. Leave a comment that you would like to be in the drawing. On October 31st I will do the draw, so please check back after 4PM AZ time and if you are the winner of the draw, please email me so I can get mailing instructions. Thanks for looking. I love all comments. They make my day....

Just Us Girls Challenge

I've found a wonderful blog and I am going to enter my card for their challenge at Just Us Girls. This DT does the most awesome projects. The current challenge is to do a 3D flower....and this is the card I've created.

This view is the inside of the card. The pattern paper has been run through my Cuttlebug Embossing folder for Swiss Dots, and the white sentiment base has been shaped with my Nestabilies and Cuttlebugged. I have added a dimension flower which was created with my Cricut Machine with the Walk In My Garden cartridge. The green leaf has been cut by hand with decorative scissors and the leaf has been distressed with my chalk pad. The sentiment is a rubber stamp.

The card style is a Gate Fold and one of the issues I seem to have with this style is the inability to close the card and keep it closed. You will notice that I have made a little strip of paper on the lower flap, and there is a small tab that slips into it. Aha, a closed card at last. The flaps have Cuttlebugged papers that are also edged with Martha Stewart's Doily Punch. The base for the flower are Nestabilities, two sizes and they have been Cuttlebugged. Oh how I lovezzz m' Cuttlebug. The flower was cut in 4 graduating sizes from Walk In My Garden cartridge and of course, each flower was put through my embossing folders before stacking. I've curled the petals, added a center and a sweet little Martha Stewart butterfly. Just for some additional color and embellishment I've added two wine colored ribbons.

This is a view of the card slightly open.

Play Date Challenge #1

This is so much fun to be on the Play Ground Floor for the first challenge on the Play Date Cafe Design Team. The challenge is a color challenge, and I have selected autumn colors for my entry.

I used Cricut Basic George cartridge to cut a 5-1/2" capital O to get an open frame. I switched to the Stretch Your Imagine cartridge to cut out the word "autumn" and the wonderful leaves. I selected pattern papers with the two changing colors of the season, I doodled on the leaf and then ran it through the script Cuttlebug embossing folder. Stickles have been added here and there. Some of the leaves have been lifted with popdots. I have some wonderful velum sentiments which I had added to display in the center of the open frame. I like the way this turned out and I hope you do as well. TFL, and do visit Play Date Cafe to see the wonderful creations from the designers. My friend Sandi is one of the designers and I am always entranced by her projects. The whole team is very very talented.

BBTB/CN/Sign

It's Monday...It's Monday and I love this day because that means Regina has loaded up the cards and projects from we designers on BBTB. This challenge she asked us to design with the Sign die cut from the Christmas Noel cart but we were to use a Halloween theme. You must go see the darling cards the gals did...simply awesome Halloween eye-candy. Here is my take. I used the sign, but it isn't the center of attraction. I love this little skeleton, the ghostie, and the bat and cat (from PDDU cart) and the poem is one of my mind creations. I've written poems and children's stories for years and years.

TFL and do go visit BBTB.

30,000 Blog Hits Blog Candy

Thank you all, I have hit that wonderful 30,000 hits and I am so happy. I always appreciate every single visitor and I love comments. They make my day. Now...to announce the winner of the red Mickey/Minnie Mouse SweatJacket. The winner is......LILLIE. Email me, girl, and I will get that jacket off to you poste haste.

You ARE awesome...!

Here is a little deal for ya. I am approaching a wonderful 30,000 hits on my blog and I want to do a bit of celebrating. Here is a red sweat jacket I made and it is embroideried with Minnie and Mickey mouse dancing. It is a size medium sweatshirt that I cut down the center, created a red and white polka dotted placket.

I am offering this as blog candy. All you have to do is sign up to be a follower and leave a comment on this post that you are my follower and you would like to win the sweat jacket. When my blog count rolls up to that 30,000 count I will do a draw. Keep an eye out...and check back to see if you are the winner. If you are, I will ask you to email me so I can get the deets on mailing this jacket to you.

My Friend Sandi

I am so happy to announce some great bloggy world news! My wonderfully talented friend, Sandi Kelly (Celtic Woman) is the guest designer for 2 weeks on Die Cuts R Us, AND she is now on a new Design Team called Play Date Cafe. I plan on playing the challenge on October 22 so be sure and check the site and play along too. Check out Sandi's blog here and she'll lead you the way.

BBTB/PD/Monster

Aaaaaack, as my friend Sharon would say when she sees something sooooo cute.... Regina asked us to design with Paper Dolls cart and to use the monster cut. Well, I had so much fun with this cut, I did TWO. You must go to BBTB and see the designer's take on this challenge. After I cut two sweet Monsters, I added the spider web and spider from the PDDU cart. TFL...

Heartfelt Thanks

This is a Thank You Card and I made it to present to those messageboard friends on Cricut. Yesterday I lost a treasured friend. She had been fighting her cancers and the effects of chemo. So many wonderful people on the Cricut board sent prayers and good thoughts and 52 sent lovely cards to Carole. There just is no way to describe how she cherished those cards, and as her health declined, she still took the cards and looked thru each one. I received many emails from Carole's sister and she never failed to tell me how Carole was so enormously heartwarmed at the caring. Carole is free now from her nightmare pain and I know she is happy and healthy and smiling. I am very sad to lose my precious friend.

50th Wedding Anniversary

A friend needed a card for a 50th Wedding Anniversary so I offered to make one of my cards that I love to make... This is actually 6 folded cards, stacked and bound with the Zutter BIA. I've added a lot of ribbons on the wire, and each page is embossed, die cuts are added, there are pockets to hold messages and sentiments, ...the die cuts come from Storybook cart and the sentiments are from Celebrations, Wedding Solutions. I've added jewels and more ribbons, and my little Cuttlebug embossing folders were very very busy. I didn't photograph every page but these will give an idea of how the card looked.

The last page is much like this page. It has a pocket to hold a tag that is a "to and from" tag. This page has a pocket to slip a lovely anniversary sentiment into.

My favorite part of the whole card is the front cover. I used the Fleur de Lis Spellbinders die as a base for the Wedding couple to stand on. The edges of the folded cards were punched with the large scallop punch. I love the effect...

TFL.... These are great fun to make and well received.

Black/White/Red Card

I love this color combo. Anything with black and white paper is a winner, add a wee bit of red and I love the end result. Have you ever noticed the little bird on the Lyrical Letters cartridge from Cricut. I just found this darling critter and had to make a card. I had paper left over so what could I do but make a second card....The ladybug is an MS punch. The sentiment is one of Regina's special Cutting Cafe printable sentiments. TFL.

BBTB/HA/Chandelier

Regina's challenge for us was to use the Home Accents cart, and to design with the chandelier cut. The card top was cropped short so that the chandelier would "hang" off the edge. I used scrapbin papers, added some gems on the various globe areas. The sentiment is from Opposites Attract (one of my fave carts). Hope you like it.

Please drop over to BBTB and see the wonderful designs from the team. I am so proud to be on this team with such talented designers who always spice things up with their imaginations and new designs. TFL....

Cutting Cafe Giveaway!

A WINNER.... Congratulations to LOUISE who has won the draw for the Cutting Cafe giveaway. Please email me, Louise, so Regina can get that set right to you. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to leave a sweet comment. I appreciate each of you.
Regina is letting us designers offer a wide range of giveaway printables from her Cutting Cafe site I have chosen to make a card using When I Count My Blessings. Here is the card.

The sentiment, of course, is a Cutting Cafe printable from When I Count My Blessings, I've used border punches from Martha Stewart, a pretty red and white polka dot ribbon tied with a wooden heart that I painted at least 10 years ago. I found this little treasure in one of my "buttons n' stuff" stashes in my craft closet.

Leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on October 7th. Please check back by October 10th after noon for the winner and if you are the winner, I will ask you to email me with your particulars so Regina can get the set emailed to you. TFL, and thanks for stopping by.

YouTube Yippy

Well, Regina has done it again. She has created something fantastic to put a spotlight on her wonderful Printables and the designers who worked with them. You must visit Youtube and see this great gallery of wonderful cards using Regina's Cutting Cafe Printables. My little ole' Boo Crew card is about 40 seconds or so into the video. Yayyy, Regina...and thanks for highlighting my card. I enjoyed seeing all of the wonderful cards the designers created.

Published me...

I am always so pleased to say that 5 of my cards are published in the October/November issue of Ready Set Create. Please see here for information on purchasing an issue.

Resignation

Just a note... I have resigned immediately from the Die Cuts R Us design team. All is fine....It was just something that I needed to do for myself.

BBTB/GS/Priceless

I HAVE A WINNER: JAN FARNWORTH...please email me with your addie so I can make arrangements to mail the Apple dish towels. Congrats to Jan, and to each of you who played along, I thank you so much. I appreciated each visit...
Well it's fun fun fun time because Regina lets us do a blog hop each month end. I so enjoy these and I hope you do as well.

We were asked to use Cricut's Graphically Speaking cart and to design with the "priceless" die. I was at a loss on how to even make this work and then I ran across this treasured photograph of my son at age 16, all spiffied up for his first high school prom. He looked so handsome in his tux and that blue cumberband ... so I took the photo and made it part of a greeting card.

It is a tri-fold card with the photo on the left, down the center is "always remember" cut out from some scrap bin papers. I've used Nesties on the right side of the card and added the words "first prom" just above the Priceless cut. I love the way this card turned out and I've mailed it to my 40 year old son to chuckle over.

Leave a comment and you will be put into a drawing for the two little handtowels that I have embroideried with an apple.. One towel is a smaller size..I will draw the winner on October 6, so check back after 4:00 AZ time that day. If you are the winner I will ask you to email me so I can make arrangements to mail the towels to you. If I do not hear from the winner by October 9, I will draw a new name. Now, you must blog hop to Michelle's blog and see her wonderful work.

Felt Flowers

I love making Felt Flowers.... The tub of felt was put in a closet and forgotten so yesterday I hauled it out, cut bunches of flowers from my Sizzix dies, sewed the stacks together, topped the flower with a button. Adds a bit of pizzaz to a card, I think.

I suspect some of these will end up in packages on my Etsy Shop. TFL.

BBT/CampOut/Dragonfly

It's Monday....and that means BBTB has the challenges up and as always I rush to see what the gals have done and as always I love every single project. I am just so so proud to be on Regina's design teams... We were to design from Cricut's Camp Out cartridge...Here is my take on that dragonfly. I cut her out on blue polka dotted paper twice, and then added some emphasized eyes. A little ribbon ties around her...waist? Dragonflys do have a waist I think.... The flower is a Cricut Walk In My Garden cut 5 times in 1/2 inch size differences. I've added embossing from Cuttlebug on both the card base and the flower. The sentiment is a rubber stamp and it is mounted on the lower left of the inside. The card top has been cropped and scalloped and the flower hangs off. TFL and do visit BBTB to see the wonders...

Cutting Cafe/Coffee Date

I so love Regina's Cutting Cafe printables...and

this sentiment in her new release coming up struck my fancy. I hope you will take a peek at Cutting Cafe to see the wonders that she offers for us all to create with. I had fun making this card and decorating the little coffee cups from Beyond Birthdays Cricut Cartridge.... I ran papers through the Cuttlebug embossing folders, I sewed a wee bit, I added a ribbon,. TFL...

DCRU Tuesday Challenge/Media

Here is my take on the current DCRU challenge to use other media on a card...like embossing, shading, gel pen doodling. We all know Carole loves to doodle on her die cuts, right?

TFL and go here to see the challenge by Gwen. I used my Quickutz dies for the dog, cat and flower, and the sentiment is Opposites Attract cartridge from Cricut. The base card has been run through my Cuttlebug with the Quickutz Embossing folder for big polka dots.

Tie Dyed Flowers

My friend Diane did a wonderful tutorial on tie dyeing paper using shaving cream and inks....  It's right here. (Scroll down to Friday, September 11 post)
This is my version of a tie dyed paper.  I scooch (izzat a word?) Marvy ink pads all over white card stock, blending in one color after another.  I love the final result.  For this card, I used  Walk In My Garden Cricut cart for the flowers and leaves.  I cut the flowers out in graduated sizes, decreasing by 1/2 inch with each cut, stacked them, curled the petals and doodled on the petal for final effect. The card base has been polka-dotted with the Quickutz Polka Dot Embossing folder which I ran through my Cuttlebug.  TFL... 

Regina's Cutting Cafe News

You must check out here..... Regina is having a special on her wonderful printables.  You will see some wonderful "all about Cupcakes" printables... Please....go see...  I have made some of my cutest cards using her sweet images.  

Happy Holiday

I took one look at Regina's Holiday Background Printable for Happy Holidays and I just had to make a card.  I am now in the process of trying out several holiday cards so that I can decide which styles I want to do for my mailings at Christmas.  I love this simple card and this is probably going to be among the choices.  Regina's Cutting Cafe is sooooooo neat and she has absolutely wonderful designs to choose.  This is the entire site, and if you want to see the background I've used on my card here, just scroll down.  You will see so many wonderful things to love. 

Now...onto my card.  I printed off the Holiday background and then I ran red and green cardstock through my wonderful Spelllbinders Fluer de Lis die cut, (bought that from Die Cuts R Us..check out their store right here)....I added a wee little snowflake in the center along with a clear jewel.  And I was so pleased to stumble across the red and white checkered ribbons to add. 

DCRU Tuesday Challenge/Pop Up

Today was my post on DCRU for the Tuesday Challenge, which followed my Monday post for a Main Tutorial ...and the subject was Pop Up Cards. Simple ones. There are so many styles from quick and easy to detailed, laborious wonderful pop up cards. Here is a Blooming Flower Pop up showing the inside which opens to a flower that literally blooms right before your eyes. It is an easy card to make. See the DCRU tute for details.
Here are two simple pop up cards. The front has been decorated with Cricut's New Arrival cartridge for the baby theme, and I have used several rubber stamps and a Sizzix die cut for sentiments on the outside. And oh how easy to use pre-printed pre-made cards.
This is a sample of the inside ... a small insert has been glued to the inside of the base card that has a "shelf" and it is on that shelf the pop up art is placed. I have added some alphabet letters as hang off sentiments.
Thanks for looking and I hope you will read my article on the Die Cuts blog.

BBTB/Pooh&Friends/Present

Regina was early in posting our cards for the BBTB team so I am early in posting mine.  I was so excited when I saw that the challenges were up on the site because it's always such a delight to see what my design team sisters have created.  Absolutely wonderful stuff.  Go see here. 

When I was in Tucson, Deb shared some of her Tilda images with us and I found this darling Tilda holding a tag.  So what better to pair her with than the Present challenge?  Here she is...colored with my new Copics from Die Cuts R Us.  I cut the Present out with scrapbin papers, and I've added 3 Martha Stewart jewels to the bow.  The sentiment is done from the Calligraphy Collection and I absolutely love the cut out letter available.  Tilda sits on a strip from a MS punch. The base card has been run thru the Cuttlebug embossing folder.  Thanks for taking a look, and I hope you will visit Bitten By The Bug to take a look-see on the designer's cards. 

lookie lookie, ETSY UP..

Hooooray.  After weeks of messing with it, my Etsy Shop is up and running.  I stressed over it and thanks to my friends Sandi and Diane, it all came together.  I have about 10,000 cards (at least) to add over the months, and there are some of the hurry-up-and-sew-them totes.  As time marches on, maybe one of my quilts will show up too.  So take a look here, and see how cute the Etsy mini-show looks on my blog over to the left. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll take a look-see at the Etsy shop.  Took me long enough...!!!!

DCRU Thursday Blah blah blah

On Thurs we designers write about mini-topics....sort of capturing some of the trends in the card making/scrapbooking market.  Love to have you jump over to Die Cuts R US and take a read on my post about sewing on cards. It is one of my most fav things to do ....  Thanks.... see you there. 

DCRU Tuesday Challenge

Today is Tuesday and that means challenge day at DCRU blog. On my prior post I spoke of Diane's inspiring article on using negative scraps. Today was the reveal of the cards the designers submitted for Diane to show. There are some really wonderful cards, great ideas and Diane's ideas gives many an inspiration for doing a project using that part of the paper that might get tossed. Here is my card, and for details, please see Diane's post. TFL.

DCRU Tutorial/Negative scraps

Diane, One of my talented design team sisters on Die Cuts RUs has a spiffy tutorial on the blog today about using negative die cuts. The card she shows is wonderful. Negative hearts placed over beautiful themed paper that fits perfectly. It is so easy to just toss aside the papers after we've cut dies out, and sometimes they end up on piles of other paper. Now and then I take time to go through the stacks and I come up with papers that match perfectly and make a wonderful card or project which features the negative cuts. Take a look at Diane's post. She does a great job of inspiring. And check back tomorrow too because you are likely to see some other samples.

BBT/PP/Ribbon/Blog Hop

UPDATE: The winner has contacted me and her towel will be mailed on Monday.

We have a winner: 4Furbabies.  Please email me soon and I will get the handtowel mailed to you. Thanks to everyone

who played along and congrats to the winner. 

If I do not hear from the winner by September

11, I will do another draw.  
Oh yay, this is month end and time for our

end of month blog hop that mixes so wonderfully with our BBTB challenge for the week.  Regina asked us to design with Paper Pups and to use the ribbon cut.  Here is my card...a cute little dog posing for his dog show and that ribbon.  My blog candy is (oh no another hand towel) a flower design in orange and white on the towel.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a look at the card and the blog candy, please leave a comment if you want in the draw.  I will draw the winner on Thursday September 3, after 4:0o PM Az time.  Please check back then, and if you are the winner, please email me so that I can make arrangements to mail the towel.  Now to continue on with the blog hop fun, do do do go to Donna' blog and see her absolutely wonderful work and her blog candy ... Oh, and PS, check out that frog birthday card on Donna's blog that she did for lil' ole' ME for my birthday in July. 

I cherish this card.... 

DCRU Giveaway

I am proud to announce that I am the sponsor for the DCRU giveaway. Go here

and follow the instructions if you care to be in the running for the froggy towel I am giving away. Now...if you follow ME, you know how I feel about froggy.. so for me to offer up one of my froggy towels is a special thing.

Cutting Cafe/Thank You

Regina at The Cutting Cafe has released some new sentiment stamps.  I love this Thank You sentiment circle, and I made the card bright n' cheery.  Do visit her site here...and see the cutest sets. 

Thanks for looking. 

DCRU Organization Tips

One of my DCRU design team sisters, Diane, has written a wonderful article

about organization tips on scrap papers. We all know what a challenge this part of working with paper can be. I've had so many organization systems, I could write a book. With each new system I evolve into a better tidy clutter but I have so many steps left to go. Take a look here, read this wonderful article. Perhaps you will see yourself, nod your head, and get some great ideas.

DCRU Tuesday Challenge

At Die Cuts R US the Tuesday challenge was to create something using a date as the main focus. I selected August 22 and on my calendar that date is highlighted by a tiny blue heart. It's a very special date, indeed.  My son was born the end of July, but he was a preemie, a wee tiny little guy who couldn't come home to us until August 22.  And although his true birthday is a special day this date is a date that the world became a lot brighter.   The details are on DCRU so be sure to stop and see all of the cards and projects the designers made. 

BBTB/Wild Card/ Owl

Oh Happy Monday to all.... Weekends fly past, don't they?  Each Monday I rush to the BBTB site to see the cards and projects that Regina posts from my designer friends.  This week the challenge was for the Wild Card cartridge and to design using the owl.  I looked at the cut and I thought "Oh noooooo, what am I going to do with THIS"?.  Please go and look at the designer's cards, but meantime here is mine.  The inside says "ME!"...TFL...and have a great Monday. 

DCRU Friday Tutorial

Happy Friday. I remember this day with such fond affection during those "working years" and I was always so gleeful when wonderful Friday rolled around and it was the last day of work for a busy week. Today is Friday Tutorial at Die Cuts R Us and it was my turn. I did a Halloween Star Card and I'd love it if you stopped here to take a look and leave a comment.

Have a great weekend.

Cutting Cafe/Halloween

Announcing the winner:  Rheannon, you won the draw.  Please email me so that I can get that Halloween Labels set to you.  Congratulations, and thanks to all for playing along. 
That sweet Regina! ... she has some wonderful sets up for giveaway.  I have chosen to make a card from the Halloween Labels set here....  If you will leave a comment on my post here, I will put your name in the draw on Sunday August 23.  Please check back Sunday evening for the name of the winner.  Once I announce the name, please contact me no later than August 25th or I will draw a new winner.  Thanks for playing....

WOW-Working on Wednesday

It's Wednesday....and  for Die Cuts R Us design team sisters, we are having fun reporting what we each are working on.  What are YOU working on?  I am doing two card challenges, a card for a birthday friend and my biggest project is to scrapbook 25 photographs taken in September 2008 at an Arizona Quilter's Hall Of Fame induction ceremony.  I had the wonderful pleasure of nominating my dear high school friend Dee and her partner Audrey for the Hall of Fame.  These photographs are special, and this album will be for Dee's birthday coming up next week.  Shsssss....  If you are visiting me, tell me in the comments section what you are doing today.  Thanks for visiting me.  Visit my DT sisters and see what they are up to today.

DCRU Challenge Tuesday

Tuesday is Challenge Day at DCRU so you must

stop over and see the cute cards.  We were to 

do a color challenge; chocolate brown, teal, and white or ivory.  I used a Tilda image, colored her

in with my Prisma pencils and Odorless 

Mineral Spirits.  The sentiment is a Hero Art

Stamp, and I added some ribbons.  Tilda  is

featured on a round scallop Nestie which has

been put through my Cuttlebug embossing 

folder.  TFL...

A Friend Award

I am so thrilled to show my new Blog Award from Diane, one of my design team sisters on Die Cuts R Us.  This is one cute award and says it all, doesn't it?....friends walking side by side.

Thank you, Diane.  

I now pass this on to:  All of my blogging friends deserve 

this really cute award because we walk beside each other

every day in our blogging adventures. 

Go Look...

The DCRU store is having a wonderful sale. Take a hop over and take a look see.  Lots of great bargains goin' on. 

BBTB/WMG/Envelope

This week on BBTB Regina asked us to use Walk In My Garden cart which is one of my favs.  There is just everything wonderful on this cartridge.  She gave us a little stipulation though. We had to make a yellow envelope.   So here is my take on that assignment.  The paper is ...well, I LOVE it...it's bright and cheery and it was just screaming to be used on this very BBTB project.  On the card, I added a black flower, a center with some of the paper itself, and an orange ribbon... For the envie I used a circle scalloped Nestie, and cut it in half so the scallops would wind around the lower envie flap. 

All in all I was happy with this bit of summery project. 

TFL...And hop over to BBTB and just look at the wonderful creations.  

Blog Award from Sandi

How thrilled I was to receive this beautiful blog Award from my sweet friend Sandi Kelly.

I am to tell 5 things I like and then share this with five.

1. I love my family, my friends and my dog...this is all one love!!.

2. I paper. And anything it creates

3. I love fabric and anything it creates.

4. I love blogging and sharing

5. Steak and lobster.

Now I wish to share this with:

Vicki

Margie

Kris

Joy Sikes

DCRUS Tuesday Challenge Day

Today is Tuesday Challenge at DCRU and you have to check out the designer's projects to see the fun cards featuring "layers".  This was the challenge.  Make a project using die cuts, papers, embellishments, ribbons...just so there are layers.  Check out the store here to see all of the wonderful tools you would need to make such darling cards.

Here is my card:
The base paper is Nana's Papers for Little Boy, the sentiment is Sizzlits.  I used two Nestie scalloped ovals and ran them through the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Swiss Dots. The scallop edging is a Martha Stewart doily punch.  The sweet little blue birds are from Cricut's Wild Card cartridge and to Mama Bird I added a sweet white ribbon.  

Join the challenge.   Make a card featuring layers.  Leave a comment on the design team blog and a link to your card.  See the DT blog for all the details. 

BBTB/CelebrtsTag/Teddy

 I was so happy to do this challenge.  First of all, I love the Celebrations cart..it has so many neat neat dies on it.  I love this Square Scallop Tag and that was part of our assignment. 

To pair with this lovely tag, we each received a die from Go Kreate.  I love this little Teddy Bear  ... I have a lot of Teddy dies but somehow the look on this face perfectly matched the fact that the word HUG was also on the die.  When my son was wee little he would bang his finger on a toy he would  tell me "me needs a hug" so....!   As you can see, I cut the Celebrations Scallop tag out 4 times for the layers and of course my wonderful Cuttlebug played a big part in embossing.  There is a tiny jewel on Teddy's tie. TFL, be sure to check out the other designs and join us by making your own card and posting it in McLinky.  

Cutting Cafe Flower Shape Card

WINNER UPDATE:  Lisa B., congratulations...  please email me and Regina will get this set to you.  Thank you all for playing along.  If I do not hear from the winner by August 18 I will draw another name. 

Well now...I love this card. .... It's a new set from Regina's Cutting Cafe Flower Shaped Card set here. . AND she is letting me do a giveaway on this very set . Just leave a comment and I will do a draw on August 12th after 4:00 Arizona time. Be sure to check back on that date to see whose name is drawn, and I will then ask for some email information. Notice, if you will, the cute little frame where the sentiment resides. I sewed around that and cut apart a sentiment stamp to put on the various lines. This is from another set on Cutting Cafe here. For this post, however, the giveaway consists of the Flower Shaped Card. I cut the flowers out, rubber stamped on the flower shape and used my circle scalloped Nestie for the flower center, and I added a punch flower and jewels in the center of that. MS punch decorates the edges.

Birthday Fun

 

Look at these wonderful faces!  This was taken at my 72nd birthday dinner with wonderful friends.  

DCRU Giveaway

Oh my, I wish to announce a giveaway  of a Just Rite stampers set and you simply must sign up for it.  Please visit DCRU and these are your simple steps: 1. Become a follower and leave a comment 2. Post about the giveaway on your blog and leave a link on the DCRU blog.  The deadline is August 9, and the winner will be announced on August 10. Lots of luck.  This is something wonderful to win.

DCRus Tuesday Challenge Day

Happy Tuesday, you sweet visitors!...today is challenge day at Die Cuts R Us and I am so pleased to present my Monogram Card.  We were to design a project to feature a  Monogram and I selected the beautiful font from Cricut Storybook ...sold right here at DCRU.  The card base is from Wild Card which is one of my favs....the card is cut at 5 inches, and I ran the base through the Cuttlebug Embossing folders. The white mount squares are Nesties in the square circle and oval, also Cuttlebugged. (I love that word...)  I added some white dots with my acrylic paint, and a lovely jewel to the initial C. I put on a pretty ribbon and a tulip die cut from Storybook.  Since my initial is C, perhaps I will use this card to send to some sweet friend, or it could end up in the trays of the other 10,000 cards that may end up on Etsy someday.  Please visit the designer's  blog here to see the darling cards, and you should leave your card as well on Mr. Linky.  Great contest going on!

Cutting Cafe/Congratulations on your Wedding

It is Saturday and I did the draw.  JOY SIKES, congratulations.  You are the winner.  Please email me quickly so we can get this wonderful Wedding set to you.

I love this card.  This is a sentiment from The Cutting Cafe "Congratulations on your Wedding" set  I had fun putting the card together.  I ran a cream colored cardstock through the Cuttlebug Embossing folder, then I added another layer in white cardstock that was embossed and has a MS fancy edge punch. I used an oval scalloped Nestie to open up the center so the sentiment would show. I cut out the heart and the flower from the Cricut Wedding cart, and I added some pearls in the center of the flower.  The ribbon?...it was just laying around and I am so happy I found it for this card.  Here is most exciting news.  Regina says I can do a giveaway with this set.  How neat is THAT?....  just leave a comment, and on Saturday I will do a draw. Be sure to check back no later than Monday, and if you are the winner, I will ask you to email me with your information. 

Thanks for looking, thanks for playing along....

Cutting Cafe/School Days

A winner:  It's Saturday and I've done the draw for this darling set from Cutting Cafe.  SHANA... please email me so I can get this set to you.  Congrats.  And thanks to all for playing along... 

I am so excited.  Here is a simple card I made with one of Regina's Cutting Cafe new releases called School Days.  There are so many cute printables in this set, ...please hop to here and take a look. 
I actually printed out the apple on white card stock and used my colored markers to color in the apples  I used my Nesties to cut out the circles and I ran them all through my Cuttlebug Embossing folders.  Now here is the exciting part.  I get to giveaway the School Days set.  Please leave a comment, and this coming Saturday I will put your name in the draw.  Be sure to check back no later than Monday.  If you are the winner, I will ask you to please email me so I can have Regina give you this darling file.  Tfl.... 

BBTB/AE/Snowflake

Ahhhh Monday and our posts arrive on BBTB.  I rush to see what the girls have done with the designer challenge and I am always filled with admiration at the ideas.  Please visit here  to admire too.  

Our challenge was to use Accent Essentials, #13 which is this wonderful snowflake.  I used my marker pens in a blue to draw the snowflake and then I cut it out 3 times .  Initially I had just the oval shape fold over card with a blue ribbon that says "snowflakes fall".   I had to give in and place it all on an A2 card because I couldn't get the oval to stand free. The oval was run through my Cuttlebug Embossing folders.  Snowflakes were stacked with pop ups, a small snowflake dots the center and I've added gems and a hang-off sentiment of JOY from Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge.  TFL and have a spiffy Monday.

Excitement ....!

I am so pleased and excited to announce a new Design Team.  I will be a designer for  Die Cuts R US ... You simply must visit the site here so that you can see the activity that will be going on each day.  It's inspiring, it's a learning adventure with exposure to so many different ideas, so many wonderful products, so many talents.  I am proud to introduce the designers.Sammye Jo, Diane, Margie, Jessica, Amber  Cara, and Gwen.  Please stop by their blogs, say hello, sign up to be a follower.  You'll be so glad you did.  Here is the link for the Design Team.   Mustn't forget the link to the Store

Now, let me tell you a bit about this new first-ever design team.  There will be tutorials for the how-to creations, giveaways (those are always fun, aren't they?) Product Reviews (want to know about that new card making or scrapbooking tool or product  you saw somewhere and you aren't sure what it does), there will be wonderful useful tips and techniques, and features on some of your favorite scrapbooking and card trends.  Each Tuesday there will be a new challenge listed.  Be sure to sign up as a follower so you don't miss a single thing. Be sure to watch the store for wonderful products. 

I'm very excited.  There are new things I need to learn like being in a Google group.   New experiences are fun.  ... I am a bit nervous, so bear with me...

Published me...

The new issue of August/September Ezine is out with Ready Set Create and I am always so pleased to say that I have a card in the mag.  If you wish to see some really inspiring and creative projects, take a look here.... You get a great dose of wonderfulness with Jen's mag and her prices are wonderful too.  TFL...and when the 30 days are up under the publishing stips, I will post my card ...which was done with the clear sheets. 

Happy Friday everyone!

BIG NEWS EXCITING NEWS

Watch for some wonderful news Saturday morning...

BBTB/GP/People/BlogHop

I HAVE A WINNER:  Congrats to ASHJOY for winning the Rocking Horse Hand Towel. Please email me before August 5 with your name and mailing address  ... Thanks to all for playing along with the blog hop/blog candy.  

It's Monday and we know what that means... Regina has scheduled another BBTB Blog Hop and I so so love these. You can blip from one blog to another to see the designs AND you can sign up for some pretty spiffy blog candy. If you are here, you probably have arrived from Enfys' blog. A true delightful experience! Her work is wonderful, inspirational, and just pure genius in design and ideas.
Here is my card. We were to design from Going Places and we were to use the people cut.
This is just a blank couple holding hands so I had to dress them up. I figured a vacation would be just the ticket...and the ticket would be Hawaii. The vacation dies are from LAB, a fun fun cartridge to work from.


For my blog candy, I found a cute little white hand towel that I embroidered with a rocking
horse. These are not expensive towels but I love to embroidery on them and give as gifts.
Please leave a comment and your name on my blog and I will put you in the draw. Be sure to check back on the draw deadline of August 1st. If you are the winner, then I will ask you to email me with your information so I can mail the towel to you.
Now.... please blip over to Sandi's blog to see her delightful designs and fantastic techniques and ideas. Talk about getting inspired!...Thanks all for stopping by. Have a super day.

Sunday

Stay tuned...Blog Hop on Monday.

Butterflies Flit

I love Regina's Cutting Cafe and the sets she offers.... I love to look at the cards the designers create and the gallery full of cards to admire. Hop over there right now and take a gander at the beautiful Butterfly set.

With that said, here are three cards I did using Regina's sentiments. I love this little simple card. I double mounted the sentiment and ran it thru the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. The card front was also embossed and the butterflies come from a MS punch. I've added some feelers, and a dab of tiny pink micro beads.

Such a simple to do card. The MS butterfly punch, a sweet pearl and two pretty white ribbons atop an embossed mount.
I was pleased with this card. First of all I love the circle sentiment with the butterflies swirling all around. Going with that, I used four MS punched butterflies with small pearls and put them in a circle with tips of wings touching. TFL...I always appreciate your visits.

Free Stuff @ The Cutting Cafe

Wow, what a treat you are in for if you perchance to The Cutting Cafe here. Regina has a set that she is giving away free until the end of August. Hurry.... you don't want to miss these.

BBTB/IA/Cone

Today is Monday and that means Regina has posted the designer cards for the Indie Art Ice Cream cone challenge. I always rush to the site to see the fantastic cards. Please visit here and you can see too.

For my card, I used some scrap bin papers of red white and blue. The crochet flowers are from Paper Blooms. Aren't they darling? Leah does a wonderful job on these. The sentiment is from Regina's Cutting Cafe, 40 Ways to say Happy Birthday. And of course I ran the background paper through the wonderful Cuttlebug Embossing Folder.

TFL...

Blog Candy Mice Towels

UPDATE:  WINNER...Vicki, congratulations, you won the draw. 

Please email me with your addie and I will mail off these cute Mickey and Minnie Towels.  Thanks to all for playing along with my celebration blog candy.  

My blog has had more than 23,000 hits which makes me smile big.

So I am celebrating with a little gift for my friends who stop by to visit.

These towels are not expensive but they are fun to embroidery on.

Here are two. Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Something cute to lay on your sink. So leave a comment and I will put your name in the draw which will be next Tuesday, July 28th ...and that happens to my birthday. TFL...

CuttingCafe/Giveaway YAYYYY

Update: Katarina now has her Nestling Boxes Template.

A WINNER: Congratulations to KATARINA. Please send me your email address by July 22nd so that we can get the Nestling Boxes Template sent to you via email. If I do not hear from the winner by July 22, on July 23 I will select a new name. Congratulations, Katarina, and to all who stopped by to leave a comment, thank you. I appreciate each of you.

Regina has told us that we can offer a free set from The Cutting Cafe. All we have to do is pick a set, make a card or project and then we can offer the set through a drawing in 3 days.

How wonderful is THAT?

First of all, I LOVED the Nestling Boxes Templates that she just released. There are three boxes; the biggest box is approximately 3 x 2.5 with the smallest being 2 x 2-1/2. You can stack them, or decorate them and sit them side by side as I have done here.

Here are two of the nesting boxes decorated with holiday dies and holiday papers. I stacked the two boxes, and nestled in a Christmas text die.

These represent the three sizes and I made the bottom of the box with pattern papers, the lid with white card stock that has been rubber stamped. I added ribbons and some dies, and some beads.

Now, all you have to do is leave a comment and I will do a drawing on Saturday morning.

Thanks for looking, thanks for playing and lots of luck. These are wonderful templates and so much fun to work with.

BBTB/M&F/Ring

When Regina selects a challenge, it's always a good one. This ring icon from Mickey & Friends cart was the whopper of a challenge for me. I sat and looked at that ring cut and simply could not come up with anything so I just cut out 8 rings, stacked them and created a pretty flower. There is glitter in the center along with a pink jewel. I added some rick rack paper, a green ribbon and the word LOVE is from Jubilee cart. (I think)... Please visit the BBTB designer site and prepared to be impressed with the wonderful cards.

Hallmark Challenge/A Sunny Day

Kris had the task of selecting the weekly challenge for our Hallmark Scrapbook Messageboard fun. She chose ...sun... How appropriate, especially here in parts of Arizona. In Phoenix yesterday I read it was about 114 and it surely felt like it too. Here is my card. The sun and cactus dies are from the original dies. TFL...and stop by Hallmark and join in our fun challenges.

Journey to 1,000

What a find.... I saw Donna's post about this wonderful opportunity and fun thing for all of us to enjoy.

The Cuttlebug Spot has this fantastic wonderfulness going on right now and I hope you will join in because it's.....well, FANTASTIC.

They are trying to reach 1,000 followers by the end of July, and for this they are offering $1,000 gift certif from Custom Crops. WOWZER.... Anyone can join. Here is what you need to do.

1. Become a follower of The Cuttlebug Spot. If you already are, the first step is done.

2. Post a link to this contest on your blog. If you don't have a blog, why are you waiting... Start one at blogspot.com. So easy, so much fun.

3. Leave a comment to this post with a link back to your blog post.

Winner will be selected from random.org for those that complete all steps. Hurry, start the ball rolling.

Blog Award from Janis

Janis has given me a wonderful award with one of the prettiest blog award images everrrr. Her daughter did this wonderful work of art of her EYE, of all things, with some added art work. Isn't it lovely?
There are soooooo many blogs that I love to visit, and so much talent from the friends it is really hard to narrow down to a few. I love all of the blogs I visit. Here are some that I visit often and drink in the creations. Visit Janis here.
Sandi
Enfys
Carla
Margie
Kris
Here are the rules of this Award:

By accepting this award you recognize that the giver 'LIKES YOUR STYLE'.
You agree to display this award proudly on your site, and include a post linking back to the giver.
And because there are so many blogs out there which you like their style, you will share this award with them... however many that may be.

Star Card/Holiday Theme

Generally when I do a Star Card, I make them 3 layers with 9 sections but this one has only two layers with 7 sections. I cut seven red 6x9, and seven red 6x7. Fold each in half. On three of the 6x7 cuts, I used my Nestabilities by laying only half of the Nestie on the fold of the card. Here is a sample, and you can see that there is a round opening on the smaller cut. I precut some Christmas dies from Christmas Cheer and Christmas/Noel, and Sizzix.

On those with center openings, be sure to lay your decorations/dies on the 6x9 cut before you attach the two cuts for each section. I place the smaller cut with opening over the larger cut and make sure that whatever diecut or sentiment I put will show. The cuts that have no center opening are easier to embellish and these will be embellished on the 6x7 cut. . I added sentiment rubber stamps, Cricut sentiments and titles, holiday die cuts from both Cricut and Sizzix.

Now that all seven sections (consisting of the 6x9 and 6x7 cuts) are embellished, you will now begin to attach the two cuts for each section. Glue the outside edge of the 6x7 sheet to the edge of the 6x9.. Now you will glue the other edge and pull the smaller cut to the edge. This creates the obvious layers and/or windowbox. Here are samples.

This page is actually the last of the 7 sections. It has a small pocket and a tiny card slips inside. This is where you will add your message and holiday greeting.

When each section is completed, you will now begin attaching them by glueing the back of right page to the back of the left page on the second section.. If there is a sequence, line up your sections before attaching. Big NOTE here...make sure when you are gluing one backside to the next backside, the sections are right side up. As many of these as I have made, today of all things I glued the back section upside down. Fortunately I caught it quickly and was able to pull the sections apart.... And if that wasn't bad enough, I decorated the back cover upside down and had to do a second round of embellishments and titles. Here is a picture of the sections being attached.

For the front and back cover, I cut a square 6-1/4x6-1/4 from chipboard . . I cut two strips of ribbon and glue each one of the edges about 2 inches in from the edge of the cover that will open the card...and then I cover the front of each with paper. I glue the back page of the first section to the inside of the front cover, and I glue the right backside of the last section to the inside of the back cover. When you are doing this, make sure that the two edges don't "collide" with each other when the Star Card is flared open to make the Star.. Again, make sure your pages are right side up before this final step.

One of the inside sheets.

Here is a photo of the folded Star Card, ribbon tied
This is a shot of the flared card.
A picture of the "star" when the front and back cover are pulled together. If you make a card with 9 sections and 3 layers, this card will be very impressive.
TFL,...I always have fun making Star Cards.

A Non Red Apple

Margie (BellaBug) had a turn at selecting a challenge for the Hallmark Messageboard ...she told us we could do something using an apple from any cartridge, but it could not be red. Here is my take on that challenge. TFL. We are having a great fun at Hallmark Messageboard so please, stop by and join in on the challenges.

A Tucson Delight

Here are a few of the 82 cards I made last weekend in Tucson. I love love love the cards with the darling flamingos from Life Is A Beach cartridge.

Are these bright enough????
I was waiting to post a few of the photos from my wonderful Tucson visit to Deb's house. The photos I took just didn't do it all justice so I am borrowing some from Kris. What a wonderful weekend. Deb had a fantastic set up for Kris, Sandy, Deb and myself... tables full of Cricuts and Cuttlebugs, all the bells and whistles for same, tubs of papers and embellishments to share.

Deb's husband did all of the cooking and we had some fantastic meals. I was in my glory with a Pomegranate Cocktail! And I fell in love with Deb and Don's absolutely darling dog, Zoey. She would lure me outside to watch her guard the house against lizards. Here are two of the great photos Kris shared with me, and if you visit her wonderful blog, there are even more. See Kris here...

BBTB/WC/House

Here is Regina's challenge to us. Use the House Cut on the Wild Card cartridge. I saw in my mind's eye a townhouse row so here it is. I used a Sizzix tree and fence and cloud. Thanks for looking and please visit here to see the designer's wonderful cards. TFL and have a wonderful week.

BBTB/GS/Freedom/BlogHop

A WINNER... Janis, you have won the blog draw. Please email me with your address and I will mail the tote out. Thanks to all for playing along and visiting my blog, and leaving a sweet comment. I appreciate all of you.

This week Regina asked us to design with Graphically Speaking.. Here is my design. I sorta love this card although I looked at the scrambled word about 40 times before I could envision any sort of design that made sense.

Onto the BLOG HOP. How I love participating in these fun hops. This time I am offering up a sweet little handmade quilted tote that I did using left over fabric pieces from a small wall hanging. This is a smaller tote by tote standards, and the ribbons have some beads on them. Please leave your name and I will put you in the draw. I will draw the winner on July 6th. Please check back and if your name shows, then please email me then with the mailing details. Thanks for looking...
Now for the blog hop real fun! We are all linked...and hopping around gives you the chance to sign up for blog candy here, blog candy there. Please go visit Penny...oh my you are in for a treat if you haven't seen Penny's talent. Hop here, http://penniannies-penniannie.blogspot.com/sign up for her blog candy too...and enjoy your trip.

I'll be baaaaaaack!

I am doing the Hoppy Dance. I leave tomorrow for Tucson, Az to spend 2-1/2 days with Kris Lancaster, Deb Emrick and friend Sandy for a fun fun fun card-making event. The girls came to my house last January and we decided this was so much fun, we would do it twice a year. Now it's my turn to visit Tucson. I haven't been there since 1987 when I took my son down to U of A for college. I am excited.

Now...as for Heidi Sweetface...


She looks sad. All down and out...! But actually this is a photo taken by Carol Sheetz' girls during their visit. Heidi is doing her usual lay-down-and-wait nap. She knows that my neighbor will stay at the house to serve her demands and needs. Heidi loves my neighbors and they love her too. She'll be fine. So, I will be back on Sunday afternoon and look for a wonderful Blog Hop for the BBTB team. I will have some blog candy and a link to another design team blog hop. It'll be fun. Please check back ...

BBTB/GW/Flower Pot

This week's challenge from Regina was to use the cut from Garden of Words, the flower pot. Well, you should see the ideas that popped into designer heads and the creations that appeared.. Wonderful things. Here is my card. For a full preview of all the wonderful cards, go see http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/

TCC/FathersDay and July 4th

This is a cut from Regina's Cutting Cafe from the Father's Day printables. So many to select from. If you've seen Regina's printables, you know that each "theme" has so many choices. This card features the shirt and tie, with a hanky in the pocket. Now, go to Regina's Cutting Cafe at http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/ and see her offerings. You'll love them all. Shown also is a cut from the July 4th printables I used Wild Card cut from Cricut on the card, and the sentiment inside is Cutting Cafe sentiment.

Best of the Show

We all know how I lovez m' Heidi Sweetface. .... I love to visit Carol Sheetz' blog and see her girls and her sweet Princess-dog and it was such a delight to have the girls meet Heidi. They so doted on her and she so loved every second of it, staring up, woeful eyes. Isn't this the cutest?

Fun Fun Fun

Well today was one special day indeed. My friend Carol Sheetz and her two darling daughters were in Arizona visiting. Carol, Jessica, Emily and Vicky, her mother in law, came to meet me in person. I was so excited...and we had fun sharing our love for making cards and scrapbooking. If you visit Carol at http://crazyforcrafting.blogspot.com/ you will see her wonderful talents and those darling daughters. Here you see Carol and Carole.

This is the lovely family photograph. Aren't they wonderful smiling peeps.

BBTB/PDDU/Car Accessories

Regina asked us to design using the Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge and to use the car accessories.  I had an awful time with this challenge.  I  made 3 cards that I all but trashed and then finally I took my mind off the car and grabbed up a focus.  The Planet Earth!  I used one of Regina's circle shaped printable images, drew in some lands, colored the circle with Prisma pencils and OMS and now I finally had a card with a purpose.  I hope you like it...and do do do go to http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/ to see the awesome creations from the designers.  Stop by http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/to look at the absolutely wonderful printables with an endless selection. 

Cutting Cafe and More

This round scalloped card is designed to show  Regina's Cutting Cafe "Baby" printables sentiment. http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/ I added some punch hearts on the inside scallop.  The diaper pin and sweet baby dress and heart are from New Arrivals.  Of course I ran the base card through my Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Swiss Dots).  A sweet pink and white polka dot ribbon ties two scallops together and on the inside it says "congratulation on your baby girl". 

I LOVE this cupcake.  It is from the Home Decor cartridge.  My dear friend Sandi (Celtic Woman at http://wwwpapertrail-celticwoman.blogspot.com/) sent me scads of these cupcake dies because I so admired them and I didn't have the cartridge (yet.)  The circle sentiment is Cutting Cafe "All occassion" printables.  The papers are new...I got them at the Creative Memories Crop on Saturday.  This paper pack threw me into another pink pink pink card adventure.  I've added some gems, a ribbon, and a polka dot sticker which accompanied the papers.  I've Cuttled again...!!!
I may have posted this pink card from a few days back.  It is for a Hallmark Messageboard challenge.  I like the way it turned out...
Another darling cupcake.  The sentiment is from the Celebrations Cricut cartridge.  The scalloped tag is from Celebrations
Now this card and the inside is a Shortcuts card.  I used one of the wonderful Shortcuts frosted sheets, some of the pink Creative Memories paper, a ribbon, Cuttlebuged the paper, and the inside sentiment circle is Cutting Cafe (of course).  The party hat is Celebrations cartridge.You can see the Shortcuts gallery at http://sheetloadshortcuts.blogspot.com/

Minnie the Mouse

I had mentioned I was sewing 8 Disney Totes to accompany the 8 journals for Open Arms Orphanage in Africa.  Here is one...my fav.... sweet Minnie Mouse. 

BBTB/George/Shortcuts Design

Regina's challenge for BBTB this week is to use the flower on George cart, and to use the products from Shortcuts....wonderful wonderful clear or frosted sheets.  We had a specific layout to use. The designers did some most wonderful cards.  Please visit http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/ 

This is my card.  I LOVE the way the paper just sort of sits mid-air, and to enhance that I put little pieces of paper in each corner.  The flower and sentiment are George, I used the Cuttlebug embossing folder, and the butterfly is a MS punch.  Paper was scrapbin grabs.  You must stop by Shortcuts and see the wonderful designs using their clear sheets.  You can view this at http://sheetloadshortcuts.blogspot.com/

Sewing and Journals

I've  been doing this n' that for about a week.  I was asked to make 8 little journals for sweet children in an Orphanage in Africa.  These were fun to make and I used the smaller pads, double-sided papers, a few of the Cricut carts and the bee and ladybug are from Sizzix Original dies. I added a little jewel on the front, and the inside pocket holds 4 envelopes with die cuts added.  I think the children will enjoy using these to write in.

My good friend Jane is going to be a grandmother for the first time.  I wanted to make something special so I did a baby blue flannel quilt.  The room decor is Noah's Ark.  I used an Anita Goodesign Applique/Embroidery Design CD to create this quilt.  Here is a close up of the elephant design.  so cute....doncha think?

Thanks for looking.  

I Love Your Blog Cards..

Regina  has the best ideas when she is designing her printable images. You simply must go see her 23-Printable Images because these gives us the sentiments to make cards that we can mail to our blogging friends...to tell them their blogs bring us joy and inspiration.  Here is her link. 

http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/the_cutting_cafe/2009/05/blog-set-of-23-printable-stamps.html

Here are two cards I made for just that purpose. 

BBTB/TB/Mushroom/BlogHop

UPDATE JUNE 6. I figured it was June 6th and why not just do the drawing now. So congratulations to DRAGONFLYDREAMER. Random.org pulled up your name in the #1 slot. Please email me so I can make arrangements to mail you the appliqued shirt. Thanks to all for playing along. I appreciated all of your sweet comments.
Wow, what a title!~ It's Monday and time for the BBTB challenge from Regina. We were to design from Tinkerbelle cart and use the mushroom. . I simply cut the mushroom off on two different pattern papers and used those to make the design. The flower is a punch, the scallops are MS and the wide cotton ribbon is a neat summer flower print.

We are also having that fun fun blog hop. I am offering up the black tee shirt, size SM, which has a fabric applique of a flower. On the flower and a leaf I have added crystals. I will draw names on June 6th. If I do not hear from the selected name by June 10th I will do a second drawing. Please check back on June 7th to see the draw results. Now..for more fun, please blog hop to the wonderfully talented Teri. You will see her fantastic projects and sign up for her blog candy as well. Hop here to Teri's blog: http:/teriberi2.blogspot.com Thanks for looking...and thanks for playing along.

Cutting Cafe Precious Stuff

Regina has created some new designs for the printable image on The Cutting Cafe.  Oh  how I love these.  Here are a few: Thank Ewe, Little Lady and Sweet.  I had a lot of fun designing these cards using the images.   

New Zealand at its best..

I took hundreds of photos of Bruce and Jill when they came to America from Dunedin, New Zealand...  And although I love them all, this one I think is my fav.  This is our first meeting after 15 years of emailing, right under the Clock Tower at Farmer's Market in Los Angeles.  We were 3 excited folks. 

BBTB/AK/Bookmark

For the current BBTB challenge, Regina asked us to design with the Animal Kingdom cart and to use the bookmark.  I captured the zebra along with the bookmark ...  stop by www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com and take a look at the absolutely darling projects.  For the record, I hated mine. I had one of those mind blanks on what to do, and as is typical, once she posted the other designer bookmarks, I smacked myself upside the noggin and said "DUH, why didn't I think of THAT"?

Trays and Trays

For the past two days, I have been working on replenishing the die cut trays that I haul to the several scrapbook clubs I belong to.  I sell a lot of these dies and it's a full out concentrated effort to keep the trays up to date.  I haven't worked on the trays in a while so there are many empty bags, and I am adding a lot of new things from the Cricut Carts.  is a picture of the trays. Waiting to be "fed".

Cards, etc., etc.

Here is a card using the wonderful frosted card panels from SHORTCUTS. The BBTB team will do a challenge shortly  using these sheets, and my card for that challenge will be shown then and I will give you the link for their shoppe. . I love the way the design just sort of hangs in midair...




I made a pact. I was going to spend a whole week making cards that were comprised on ONLY scrapbin papers and trays of sitting-around embellished die cuts.  I made about 80 cards, some very very simple, others a little more design-worthy ...  Now, I must admit though...the papers are scrapbin contributions, but on the these cards I  had to seek final designs from the Indie Art and Home Decor carts for sentiments and die cuts. 

BBTB/Storybook/The Cutting Cafe..BLOG STUFF...

UPDATE: I am happy to announce the winner of the draw.  Our winner is: JENNRO. Please email me soon so that we can make arrangements for the win to arrive in your email box. 

Well, this is one exciting BBTB post because there is some fantastic blog candy for you to win.  Our BBTB challenge is to use one of Regina's printable stamps from The Cutting Cafe, and so we have the Cricut in the mix, we are to use the frame cut on Storybook.  This is the card I made. 

 You will see a cupcake on the card.  The Cupcake printable stamp is being offered by Regina as blog candy.  Here is the Cupcake Gallery so you can take a peek at the awesome cards made by the designers. http://thecuttingcafe.typepad.com/photos/me/index.html

Now, ...we will draw a winner for the Cupcake Printable Stamps on May 23rd. All you have to do is leave a comment here on my blog.  All comments left will be considered for the draw unless you state that you do not wish to be in the drawing.  And if you leave your name, be sure to check back ...in case you are the winner, I will need some information. The winner will  need to contact me no later than May 29th or I will do another draw.  If you want to see more wonderful cards, follow my lead to DeeDee's site, and once there you can sign up for more blog candy. Isn't this wonderful? Now...hurry to DeeDee's blog and drink in her fantastic cards and sign up for her blog candy.  http://deedeecampbell.blogspot.com/,