Journaling

I am so pleased to say that I have been asked to do some journals for children whose parents have been diagnosed with cancer. These journals were so much fun to make and I have different series...some are for children, some even for adults, some have many pages for those who will find journaling soothing and necessary to spill out feelings and thoughts, some have just a few pages. I had some brightly colored wire notebooks that I decorated, large and small, and I made some from cardstock and embellishments. On the inside I have placed lined sheets in most cases, tacked down with additional die cuts.I also got into a big basket that held many journals I made for classes and I donated those as well. Here are a few. Many years ago I did some of my jewelry and cards for the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Support, and I did baskets for auctions at the Golf Tourney supporting the Susan G. Komen Race For The cure. I am so proud to be able to donate my time to this worthy cause.

BBTB/GS/Life is Good

Indeed! ... Life is good! Regina had us create something using the Life Is Good cut from Graphically Speaking card. DeeDee bailed me out by sending me the cuts so a big thank you to her. I must admit I had a total mind blank on what to do but I managed to get something on paper ... The butterfly is attached to a small folded card on the front. Double messages, see? And I added one of those darling circles that say HOPE all around...from ScrapnFonts DB Circles.
Cricut: Graphically Speaking (Life Is Good..Butterfly)
Paper: Scrapbin

Some Sewing Stuff

I have so much fabric and I can't throw away the smallest tidbit of it. Here are a few sewing things...totes with some frogs (left over from the Frog Quilt), totes with dark fabrics and when I was down to a small pile of this, I sew it all together and did one of my fav little teddy bear creations.

Spun-Glass

Sandi (Celtic Woman) shared with me some of her spun-glass artifacts. This card was done in a flash. I ran the front of the card through the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, grabbed up a small strip of stripped paper, added some punch red lips, applied liquid laquer, put them on a circle from Scrapnfonts that says love love love all around, and after I had added a small white ribbon, I set upon the card the sweet red heart of spun-glass (really, it's glue gun gone creative, with alcohol inks to color). Thanks Sandi, I love this heart.

Heidi's new Bakki

I am doing Rag Quilts...so easy to make using my new Accu-Quilt GO machine that cuts the blocks and fringes it. I always do a trial run of anything I do, so here is Heidi sporting her Rag Quilt. And Heidi always apologizes in her photos for having those blazing eyes because her Mom's red eye stuff doesn't work. Oh, and here's a little shot of a baby Rag Quilt.

HMC/WC/FlowerFrame

Hallmark Scrapbook messageboard has a new challenge...to use the Wild Card Cricut cart, and to make a card using the Flower Frame. Here is that take ... I like my pink striped paper above all.

BBTB/Alphalicious/B

Here is my take on Regina's task to us to use Alphalicious cart, and to make something with the letter B. Wow, the girls did an awesome job on cards for Birthdays, Babies,.... fantastic creations from the designers. I am always always so proud to be a designer for BBTB... Please...go see the BBTB site and drink in the wonderful projects. Here is mine.
Cricut: Alphalicious (B)...I do not have this cartridge so a big thank you goes to DeeDee for sharing.
Sizzlits: Ladybug Cuttlekids: Caterpillar, Bee. ...and the letters to add to the B to make the title.

BBTB/HomeAccents/LOVE

This is my take on Regina's BBTB challenge to use Home Accents (one of my favs) and to use the LOVE word. I love this word!!! I bought Hello Miss Kitty (Bee) Sizzix die and the one heart is a MS punch. I love Miss Kitty....

Hallmark Challenge/Paper Pups/Happy

 

Sharon gave us a Hallmark Challenge and I couldn't wait to get to it. She wanted us to use Paper Pups, and the wagging tail cut on page 106. Wow... I love this cut. Here is my take.

Hallmark Scrapbook Challenge/ZooBalloo/Fox

BellaBug gave us her challenge and oh what fun. I love the ZooBalloo cart and I don't use it enough. Someday I will do the whole cartridge up in cards. Meantime, here is my take on the challenge from Margie to use the fox which is shown under the X. ...and do stop by to see the other entries on Hallmark Scrapbook messageboard.
Cricut: Zooballoo (Fox, and letters FOXY)
MS Punch flowers
The letters for GIRL were from my Ransom alphabet Sizzix dies.
And I always love adding little dots with my stylus and white acrylic paint. The striped arc is one of the chipboard dies that Kris and Deb gave me.

An Award, A Lovely Award

My friend Lillie has given me an Award. What a nice award to come in from such an inspiring and nice gal. Please see her blog because you will be inspired with her lovely cards...and I could hang out just to listen to her music. You may access Lillie's blog by visiting my "Places I Visit"... I now share this award with Scossie Jane, Nikki, Roree and Carla. I visit these blogs and love to look at their wonderful creations. Carla is new to our BBTB team and she does awesome creations. You may access their blogs under my "Places I Visit". I always have to add an apology here because I never have been able to do a direct link in my posts... BAH...

BBTB/Doodlecharms/Heart

Regina asked us to design something using the Cricut Doodlecharms cart and to use the Heart die cut. Here is my take on that challenge. Love has so many layers.

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.