Heidi Sweetface's 13th birthday

Yesterday was Heidi's 13th birthday. She allowed me to plop a ribbon on her noggin while patiently waiting for her birthday treat which happened to be a handful of special treats from Kris and Deb on their visit.

Sewing Sewing...

I've been sort of absent from the card-making scene except for some special projects. I was determined to finish my Frog Quilt and I finally accomplished it... plus I took some left over blocks and made a crazy Crazy Quilt purse. Both were fun, but the Frog Quilt is an example of why I don't like to get into detailed, big quilts. Takes too long and while I am working on them, I am being pulled by card making, scrapbooking, beading.... Anyway, here's the quilt with several darling frog panels, and here is a picture of front and back of the purse. TFL.

Some Sticker Cards

When Kris and Deb came to visit a weekend ago, they brought me a bag full of goodies. What treasures...some sticky dots, strips of darling pop up stickers, two giant tag paks, a rubber stamp with a frog and a Sizzlits die cut package with a frog, a ladybug and a bee. I had a box of pre-folded 4-1/4x6-1/2 cards that I did up for the 3 of us to use, I ran some of the giant tags through my Cuttlebug, I did some Nestabilities with Cuttlebug Embossing, added the pop up stickers and within a blink of an eye I had about 30 cards made. I used my Xyron Design Runner for some of the sentiments, and there are spatterings of Cricut words. I love these cards. They came together in a flash, and they will some nice bundles of gift cards. Here are just a few...

BBTB/IndieArt/Rose

Regina asked us to create something with the Indie Art Cricut cart, and to use the Rose cut. I don't have that cart (yet!) and DeeDee sent me not only the rose cut but she tossed in some red hearts from her new MS punch, and she added the punch cuts from the inside of her bill envelopes. I used 'em all.... Thanks, DeeDee. Here is my take on the challenge.
Cricut: Indie Art (Rose) This was a white paper cut and I used my chalk pads to color the green leaves and stem, and my red chalk pad for the roses. I used my Mac to half circle "a rose is a rose is a rose", cut out the shape with my scalloped circle Nestabilities and I ran that thru the Cuttlebug Embossing folder. I added two ribbons to the roses.I sorta love this card!!!
TFL, and please do visit Bitten By the Bug site to see all of the wonderful cards the designers did. You can access the site under my "Places I visit".

A Wonderful Award

I am so pleased to see that Michelle gave me the Marie Antoinette Award. It's pretty wonderful when someone whose work you so admire gives an Award to you. So, thanks Michelle. I truly appreciate this Award...and I now share it with:
Nikki (most fantastic designer....)
Carol (makes awesome cards and shares her wonderful daughters with we visitors. I always love to read about the girls and their lovely adventures.
Shelly ...ah Shelly, she makes wonderful cards.
I can't make direct links to the blogs for these three gals, but you can access their blogs under my "places I visit"...
Someday a computer guru for Macs will wander by and be able to tell me why I can't direct link.

Cards, Challenges and Cricut

I was behind on my card-making responsibilities.... so today I made all that I needed to make and here they are. They are posted on Cricut Messageboard, Cricut Gallery, and Hallmark Scrapbook Messageboard for their challenges. I had fun today and I hope you like what I accomplished.

BBTB/Wedding/Heart

Regina asked us to design something with the Wedding Cricut Cart and to use the Heart Die cut. This is how I saw it. Please do go see the BBTB site and check out those wonderful cards from the designers. Sigh....

A Fun Fun Weekend

I can tell you that my weekend was fantastic. Kris Lancaster, my friend from the Cricut Messageboard, and her BFF, Deb, came up to spend the weekend from Tucson.... we made cards and visited and laughed and of course managed to wedge in some lovely dinners. Kris and Deb made wonderful cards, and we all learned some new techniques. Kris helped me get the Cricut Design Software Trial version loaded on my PC, and I showed her how I shaded and distressed using the Chalk Pads.... What fun we had...And naturally Heidi Sweetface Beath had the time of her life being adored by Kris and Deb who have wonderful dogs of their own. Heidi had more than her share of cookies....and she had to get in the photo with Kris. Here are some great photos.

BBTB/WIMG/Snail

Here is my take on Regina's challenge to us....use the Walk In My Garden Cricut cart, use the snail. I love this little snail and I've used the cut many times on cards and projects. For this project, I used:
Cricut: WIMG (Snail Zoo Balloo (Grass)
Sizzix: Grass, Sun
Martha Stewart Punch (Butterfly)
TFL.... And be sure to check out the Butten By The Bug site. Awesome stuff!! Eye Candy, as DeeDee calls it. so true...

An Award From Sharon

Wonderfully talented and sweet Sharon gave me an Award that I sooooo appreciate. See Sharon's blog...it is simply marvelous. http://grammashouseofcards.blogspot.com/ I love getting these awards and it is very hard to narrow down the five to pass it on to... I checked out so many of the sites and they already have this award. So let me say this. If you are reading this, I share the award with you.

My Heidi Dawg

There is a draft that sneaks under my front door, so I made a quick little fabric snake filled with rice. As soon as I put it down by the door, Heidi grabbed it up and took off. I took it back from her, explained why I needed it and put it back. She did this three more times. I managed to get this picture of Miss Guilty but I missed out on the photo with this draped from her mouth.
and I might add....we still have the draft!!

Baby Clothespin

I received a wonderful RAK a while back from Nancy Turnbaugh and I kept the wooden clothespin and the raw clipboard in a spot where I could be reminded. I wanted to do something a little special with this gifts.... The clipboard is being published and I can load it after the mag is out and 30 days are past, but here is a picture of the altered clothespin for baby. I ran the papers through the Cuttlebug Embossing folder for Baby, added charms and a rubber stamp message. TFL.

A Wonderful Award

Oh my that wonderfully talented Nikki gave me an award and I am so proud to accept it. Please see Nikki's work. http://monatyza.blogspot.com/ She does the most awesome creations...and didja know that one of her cards was shown on the Cricut TV Ad for the Expression? I got so excited when I heard them mention Nikki's name as they held up her fantastic card.
But there are rules to this award, you have to list 5 addictions and 5 of your favorite bloggers. This is very painstaking as I have way too many friends with awesome blogs and fantastic cards and projects. It is very hard to narrow down to 5. But these gals come to mind.
I now give this award to:
Scossie Jane www.scossiejane.blogspot.com
Kathy http://calowaycreations.blogspot.com
Lillie http://d-swat.blogspot.com/
All of you.... each and everyone of you....

And my 5 addictions...
1. Paper, Embellishments, Rubber Stamps, buttons
2. Coca Cola. With calories
3. Quilting, fabrics...
4. Michaels, Joanns, ETC.
5. Knitting, Crocheting!!!

How To: Card Sack

Here are the instructions and some photos for the Card Sack.
You will need: 12x12 Patterned Paper, Glue, Pronged Brads, ribbons, font cartridge. MAIN SIDES: Cut paper at 6x12. Scallop each end with MS or other decorative punches. Score in 5" from each end. This leaves the sack bottom and is approximately 1-3/4 inches wide. Bring both outside edges together (do not fold) and place hole punches down about 1 inch from scalloped edge, and about 1-3/4 in from the outside edge. SIDE PANELS: CUT 2 @ 3-1/4" wide. Score in about 1/2 inch on each outside long edge. It is best to actually place your side panel and center it on the sack bottom and make your score line marks. The sack and panels have to match up when gluing together to make the sack. On each panel, score in about 1/2 inch on the narrow edge. On each panel cut the outside score line into the inside long score line. Glue the small flap, bring up the bottom flap and glue. This will make a "box corner". Both panels now are glued to match the sack bottom.(See the photo of the side panels standing up).
Place glue on the panel outside flaps, bring the sack sides up and glue. Make your edges meet. HANDLES: You can make adjustments on the handles. I cut two strips about 1" wide, and I use left over papers. If there is not enough paper left to make a decent size handle, I cut four and glue two strips together for each handle. Line up all 4 and put a hole punch in the center edge on all 4 ends. Place your pronged brad in the handle edge, place them into the sack and close. Pronged brads are best to allow those handles to fold down to access the cards. Your bag is finished except for embellishments.

Cards Cards Cards

I tidied up my studio and found a lot of new stuff for the scrapbin...but some of the stuff I kept out to fiddle around with. Here are some black, red and white cards...I used my frilly flower rubber stamp on red checkered paper and then added black prints. I used some MS punches, my Nestabilities and had fun. Also...I bought a wonderful package of thick double sided papers from Tuesday Morning...and with these papers I made two Card Sacks and 4 cards to put in them. I used my Cricut Beyond Birthdays cart for the various sentiments, ...and because the paper was double sided, I wanted to card to show both sides on the front of the card. Hence the paper hinges which attach to white cardstock for the inside.. The sack was fun to make and although I made 3 sets, each sack was done a bit different than the one before it. The handles I found had to have a brad to allow it to fold down to access the cards. I added ribbons and buttons and a title from Base Camp.

BBTB/New Arrival/Gifts

Here is my take on Regina's BBTB challenge to use the New Arrival Cricut cartridge, and to create something with the gift boxes. The boxes on the die are actually welded into one unit, however I cut them apart and made 3 gift boxes. They have been run thru the Cuttlebug Embossing Folders, and I've added some gems to the bows. TFL....and be sure to take a look at the designer's creations on the BBTB site. And I must mention SweetArts Paperie. They have the most awesome kits available...just perfect for whatever you need to create. You will find their link under my Places I Visit.
Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

Wedding Toast

My dear friends are celebrating their 50th Wedding anniversary... This card was designed to meet a challenge on the Hallmark Scrapbook Messageboard, and the challenge came just in time for what I needed. I used the Wedding cartridge, and the paper is from the Joann's Metallic Pak. I ran the gold paper thru the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, and when I cut the Toasting Glasses from the cartridge, I cut the wedding couple as well. I had a hard time with the glasses, and finally I cut the shadow in a linen color and the glasses in a white cardstock. Although it doesn't show, I used transparency sheet for the top layer of the glasses. The bride has three layers of dress, and I added a white bow for the dress back and the glasses.

BBTB/PaperPups

For our BBTB challenge, Regina asked us to use Paper Pups Cricut cartridge and the Spot die cut. You should see the darling cards the designers came up with. Here is my take. I used the Cuttlebug Embossing folders, my Nestabilities circle scalloped cut, a rubber stamp sentiment, some ribbons for Spot's ear. Oh, and the MS punches.

Hallmark Challenge/Ice Skates

The challenge on the Hallmark Scrapbook Messageboard this week was to use the Joys of the Season cartridge/Cricut, and use the ice skates. Being an Arizona gal, my mind doesn't go there! I was an avid roller skater and my one attempt at ice skating was a complete flop. Anyway I was able to come up with a little card nonetheless. The paper was run thru the Cuttlebug Snowflake embossing folder, and while I was cutting on the JOS cart, I also cut the mittens, the sled and the far away trees. I used silver pigment ink on the sled runners and the skate blades and then sprinkled silver embossing powder to heat emboss. The tiny tiny snowflake is a $1 punch from Michaels. Gotta love those buck bins...

BBTB/Birthday Girl Challenge

Regina asked us to design something using the Storybook cart and the Birthday Girl die cut. This is my take on that challenge. It is sort of a book card, with a scalloped paper spine, anchored and enhanced with a zutter wire with a lot of pretty ribbons.
The front and inside of the card were Cuttlebugged, and the ice cream cones and hearts were grabbed out of a die cut scrapbin have laying around. It's a girly-girl card, donchathink??? Stop by and visit the BBTB site, you will see some wonderful awesome creativity. http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com/

Celebrate 71~!!!

My grade school high school dear friend is having his 71st birthday celebration this month and here is the Star Card I made for him. Each year I try to outdo the card from the year before. One of these days I am going to hit the proverbial block wall on my ideas! This is just a view of the front cover, an overall view and one of the inside pages If you want to know how to make this wonderful creation, here is the link: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_cds/article/0,2045,DIY_15079_3092450,00.html

More cards from here n' there...

I have been skipping around on the various Cricut carts ...so many darling things to use!! Here are a few cards from my skipping!!!
For the baby cards: Giraffe is from New Arrival and the baby carriage is from Wild Card. The Snowman card was to meet the Hallmark Scrapbook Messageboard challenge, and he is from Joys Of The Season as is the tree. The Christmas cards are from JOS as well. Loved making these, hope you like them.

That wonderful Michelle shared her award with me.... http://bcr8iv.blogspot.com/. I so appreciated it....I had problems getting it to my blog but here it is and I am so proud of it. Please do go see Michelle's blog as she has the most beautiful cards. I share this now with all of my blogging friends. I have never been able to direct link the sites and it becomes frustrating to me. Please please, I share this with you my friends. And thanks, Michelle.

SimpleChristmas Cards

I didn't join in on the current BBTB challenge to use the tree box on the TB&M cart. I had most of it done, but I simply couldn't fight getting that box together so I opted out of the challenge. BAH on me....do go look at the fantastic designs the team did. Awesome stuff. So....since I won't be posting the current BBTB challenge, here are some simple Christmas cards I did for my son and DIL. I used the Cuttlebug to emboss, I used rubber stamps, and ribbons. Sizzlits for some of the JOY words, Nestabilities for the scallop circles, and the JOS Cricut Cart for the darling snowman....

Hallmark Challenge/Snowflake

Our Hallmark messageboard challenge was to use a snowflake and we could use a Sizzix or the Cricut. The dancing girl and the snowflake are from my Sizzix die system while the circle wreath is from the JOS Cricut. The tiny little snowflake punch is from the $1 bin at Michaels, and the border on the card is a MS doily punch. And my papers were run thru the Cuttlebug Embossing folders. Envelope is handmade because the card is 5-1/2x5-1/2.

BBTB/SYI/Turkey

Here is my take on Regina's challenge to use the SYI cartridge, and to design something with the turkey cut. We could use the turkey anyway we wanted...so of course it came to mind how worried turkeys (and pumpkins) must be at this time of the year.
TFL and do stop by and see the other designs. They are wonderful, as always.