Gifties...

I love getting Gifties...those little gifts that someone hands you that you can use and always remember who gave you the gift. I love GIVING gifties too. My grade school/high school friend is coming to visit tomorrow and she is bringing her friend. Here are their gifties.

This is a folded card pack and I give a hearty shout out to my talented and cherished friend, Sandi Kelly, who inspired this set. She sent me a lovely set of cards and although these are not exact, the inspiration came from Sandi. These are the folded card packs. I ran the front of the folded pack through my Cuttlebug Embossing folder...and I've added initials from the Calligraphy Cricut cart, and I've also added some MS punches for the sweet little flowers and leaves. Oh, and some jewels. There is a 4 inch tab that folds to the back and slips under a wide tab, just to keep the pack closed.

When the folded card pack opens, there are two flaps to hold the cards in place. One is a square flap on the bottom, and the side flap is cut into a cute little boomerang shape and although the flap doesn't show in this photo, it has the Swiss Dots embossing.... The cards were punched on the center edge with MS loop punch, the embossing comes from the small strips of Cuttlebug embossing folders and the really neat long initials are from Cricuts STAMPED cart.
I've slipped a folded white linen paper inside for personalized notes. I really like how these turned out and I hope my friends will as well. TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Valentine Long Phrases

Regina has done it again... her Valentine printables are just so......well......so Valentine-ish wonderful. Here are some quickie cards I did using her long phrases. They print off all on one sheet and you can use the whole page for background, or cut them into strips like I have done here. The cards are cut from my Cricut Sweethearts cartridge... By using the "card feature" I selected 5-1/2 for the size, selected the cut and here are the results. The heart and the word "LOVE" are actually cut right out on the front of the card, and I've slipped a white cardstock beneath to get that depth. I put the card fronts through my Cuttlebug embossing folders, added the Valentine long phrase strips, added a few punch hearts that were embossed, and tied a ribbon on the side.

I had some folded red cardstock...it had been shoved in my scrapbin of solid cardstock pieces. I am really pleased how this quick little card created itself. I used MS loop punch just above the Valentine long phrase from Cutting Cafe... I've added a wonderful ribbon that I received from Sandi Kelly. And a punch heart. That cute little "tab" holds the pockets inside closed. Please take a peek at the printables here.
Here is the inside. There are two pockets and I've done some inserts. MS punch captures the rubber stamp sentiment, and the "Hugs & Kisses" are from Sweethearts cart.

Cutting Cafe/Flowers

I've been a busy girl trying to clean up some stacks of unfinished projects. And then comes something wonderful from Regina so I have to drop everything and try it out. These flowers are from Cutting Cafe's Flower printables.... I love cutting the layers out and stacking them, using pop dots for full dimension results. I am going to try another paper, only this time using pattern papers. Take a peek here for the set.

Published RSC Layout

This is the cover of the Dec 09/Jan 10 Ready Set Create Ezine.... My layout is shown below this cover page.

I was pleased to have my scrapbook layout published in the December 09/January 10 Ready Set Create mag. This photo is one of my faves of my son and daughter in law and their sweet dog Daisy. Please notice that darling tag with the gold star. This was done by my talented friend Sandi (Celtic Woman)..and she's got some for sale on her Etsy shop. I've got some cards coming up in the RSC mag for Feb/March and I'll be back at the end of January to show you those. TFL.... and oh...Have a safe and happy New Year and may 2010 be a blessed healthy year for you and yours.

Cutting Cafe/ValentineSet

FEBRUARY IS NOT THAT FAR AWAY...

Regina's release in Cutting Cafe of the big Valentine set is just awesome. Giant sentiments that pack a whallop on a card, or even on a scrapbook page. I selected just 4 of the many sentiments and I made a card set. And I think I will offer this up on my Etsy shop. These first photos show the envelope that was created to hold the 4 lovelies. And the photo of the group captures some inserts that could be slipped inside the card. I've left the inside blank for personal sentiments. TFL, and I hope you like my Valentine cards...

Altered Coasters

I found these colorful coasters in the dollar bin at Michaels and they yelled out for me to grab them up and making a little something. This "birthday card" is unique, donchathink? I simply used my Crop A Dial to make some holes, added some lavendar flower shaped eyelets, strung the 3 coasters on a metal ring and added a load of colorful ribbons. On the coasters I made three punched leaves and flowers with a button center, and I've added sentiment strips for a friendly birthday greeting. Two strips are rubber stamp sentiments and the Blessing sentiment is from Regina's Cutting Cafe. TFL.... and stop by that dollar bin. There were some really cute coasters to alter.

Tutorial/Sweet little gift

I just love it when I can make a lot of cute little do-dahs for many of my friends, just as a little added giftie. Everyone I know uses Post It Notes, especially the gals at the offices I visit. This is a little Post It Note Cover, so cute, so easy to make. When the Post It Note pack is finished, you can glue another in. Here are the quick instructions:

I use chipboard for the sturdiness of the cover.

Chipboard: Cut two 3x3 squares. Cut one 3x1/2 strip which will be your "spine".

Pattern Papers: Cut one 5 x 8, cut one 3 x 6-1/2.

On inside of the pattern paper, lay out your chipboard pieces as shown. There is just a wee space between the front and back cover and the spine.
Glue down the chipboard pieces. Fold in the excess on all four edges. Trim the inside lining to about 3 x 6-1/2. I fold the cover so that the spine folds are set. I then glue the lining pattern paper to the spine strip. Then I glue to top, and fold it down and smooth so there are no wrinkles. Then I glue the bottom half, fold it up and smooth out any wrinkles.
Here is the finished cover, and a Post It Note pack that I will glue on the inside bottom portion.
For the top of the cover, I have cut out the word NOTES from the Stamped Cricut cartridge, and I've added a MS punched leaf and flower stack. I added some cute little gems as well. In this next photo you will notice a green box with one Post It Note Cover to match. This is made to fit 4 Post It Note Covers inside.

A lovely gift, doncha think?

cutting Cafe Stuff

I love the Merry Christmas set from Cutting Cafe. Here are two cards featuring some of the sentiments. The Happy New Year Card for 2010 is shaped from my Labels 8 Nestabilities which I ran through a Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. Two shapes are joined together with a folded label on the inside. The lettering and flowers are cut from my gold cardstock, and then I slightly shaded it with ink and poured some gold embossing powder on the numbers before using my embossing gun. The little flower has microbeads on it. The numbers are from Don Juan cart. TFL...and check out Cutting Cafe for some wonderful ideas and images.

This card uses the circle sentiment from Christmas Set at Cutting Cafe. I love that big round space to fill up with pretty Christmas images. I ran the circle sentiment through my Cuttlebug for embossing. The trees are from Don Juan cart as well, and I cut them in 3 sizes. The tree is cut with dark green cardstock and I loved the dark blue shadow cut. I've added a red ribbon and a blue jewel at the top of the biggest tree.

BBTB/JOTS/RbnFrm

I've drawn a name for the blog candy tote...and it is KRISTA... Thanks to all for leaving your comments. Krista, email me your addie ...

Enfys is the host of BBTB this week... she is an absolutely awesome designer and I always visit her wonderful blog to see her creations. She chose for us designers to work with Joys Of The Season cartridge, and to use the Ribbon Frame. I had never even noticed this cut. It's fun to imagine the many ways this die can be used...On cards or scrapbooking, to just frame a special photograph. I elected to use it as a hanging do-dah...and since the pear is part of the die options, I hung a cute little pear in the open framework. The pear hangs from some ribbon strings and I've even added another red and green ribbon. Please visit BBTB and see the wonderful creations by the designers.... TFL....and oh...I have some little totes laying around so I thought I'd toss in a blog candy tote. It's sort of fushia pink, and has a cute little flower embroidery. Might make a cute little gift bag. So... leave a comment and I will put you in the draw on December 10th. If you see your name as winner, please email me right away with your addie and I will mail the little tote right to you.

Cutting Cafe/Calendar Set...

More calendars from Regina's Cutting Cafe. The calendar sheets are a bit larger and I mounted them on a layer of pattern papers and then on a layers of scallop squares. Those are from Plantin Schoolbook. I used bits n' pieces of some beachy type papers left over from a project I just finished for a friend. I've added some die cuts to a few of the months, and all were threaded onto a metal ring and loads of bright ribbons added.

TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Calendar Set...

OMG, Regina released the cutest calendar set. I am going to do all three sizes but for now here is the first one I made and I am very happy with the end results. Please visit here and take a gander at this really cute printable from Cutting Cafe. The 4 layers are from my Round Scalloped Nesties, the sweet little leaf and precious pink flowers are from Martha Stewart punch, and the ribbons were in my stash...I gathered up all 12 rounds and thread them onto a round metal ring. TFL...

BBTB/FMK/Telephone

A winner is drawn (early). I couldn't wait so I did the draw and VELTA, you are the winner. Congratulations... email me with your addie, put your name in the subject line and I will get this blog candy mailed out to you poste haste... Thanks to all who left sweet comments, I appreciated your visits.

It's Monday It's Monday...and not only that, it's month end and it is blog hop time. (Can you believe this is the last day of November?)You perhaps are arriving here from Michele K's wonderful blog ... and I am happy you are here to visit. As you know we designers are taking turns at being the host of the BBTB site, however Regina will do the blog hops at the end of each month. This month she asked us to design from From My Kitchen and to use the die cut for the telephone. I love my little card...it just sort of fell together and I was happy with the end result. Big thanks and shout out to Sandi K. (Celtic Woman) for sending me the tele cuts. At the moment, I don't own the FMK...and I think that will have to change soon.

I am offering up a wee bit of blog candy. This is a gift bag tote adorned with a pretty embroidery of a blue rose. I did this on my trusty sewing machines...
Now.... leave a comment and I will put your name in the draw for the blog candy. Please check back on December 4 after 4:00PM Az time, and if your name appears as the winner of the draw, please email me with your addie so I can mail the gift bag to you. To complete this blog hop, please visit Regina's blog to say hello and see her wonders!!!

Cards for darlings...!

My wonderful son and darling daughter in law were here for Thanksgiving and as is the tradition I made their Christmas cards. I designed all of these using Regina's Cutting Cafe printables. The "kids" were thrilled, and I loved each card as well. TFL...and I hope your Thanksgiving holiday was all that you wanted it to be.

BBTB/PPDU/Cornucopia

The winner for the Christmas Stocking is: Carol, ScrapMomof2... Congrats, Carol, I have your addie and I will mail this today. Thanks to all who played along.... I appreciated each of you stopping by to play and say hello.

It is time for another wonderful project from my design team sisters. This week, that oh so talented Donna is the hostess and she selected Paper Dolls Dress Up for the cartridge. We were to design with the Cornucopia die cut. Hmmm, well.... ! Luckily the cut has the neat little veggies and fruits as part of the Cornucopia cut so I was able to put together a little card featuring this vessel of plenty. Please visit the BBTB blog and see the wonderful projects everyone presented. Here is my Give Thanks card.

Also, just cuz.....I have a little bit of blog candy for you. It's one of my quick-sew-it-up Christmas stockings. It is about 12 inches long and 8 inches wide at the foot. It is unlined and two red ribbons here n' there.....

If you'd like to be in the draw, please leave a comment on my blog...and I would love it if you signed up to be one of my followers. I will draw the winner on November 27 so check back late in the afternoon. If your name appears as the winner, please email me with your addie and I will mail the stocking.

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at the challenge, ... and have a splendid Thanksgiving week. My son and daughter in law will be here and I am soooooo excited.

Cutting Cafe Giveaway

Oh boy, you MUST visit Cutting Cafe... Regina has a free set of 83 images called Christmas Daily which will run for 3 days from Monday the 16th through Thursday November 19th. After that time period, the set will be $12.99 a set.... Here is the link to take a look see. It's a wonderful set.

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.