Every Day is a Gift Card

Click HERE to see this week's Fantabulous Cricut project.  

It's time for "Manly Man" projects at My Craft Spot this week.

I decided to make a card using the antique car from Wrap it Up, and cut it from a variety of metallic cardstocks.  The car is popped for some added dimension.  The frame under the car is from Elegant Edges and I embossed the top layer with the Clockworks Cuttlebug folder.  I also used my crimper on the bottom mat.  I did lots of inking and added some brads on the wheels.

I finished things off with a wonderful sentiment from My Craft Spot's Happy Fall set.

If you've got a "man" project you need to make, now's the perfect opportunity to get to work!  You can enter it in this week's My Craft Spot challenge and be eligible to win a fantastic prize while you're at it!

My Heart Belongs to You - Lion Card

This week's theme at Fantabulous Cricut is "In like a lion".  We're challenging you to use any sort of cat on your project (i.e., a lion, tiger, feline domesticus, etc.).

I chose to use a lion and used Zooballoo to make my shape card.  Even the grass is from Zooballoo - although I did add an extra layer of grass underneath which was hand cut using my Martha Stewart "grass" scissors.  The lion's mane was run through the Cuttlebug using D'Vine Swirls.  I did some inking and doodling, added Glossy Accents to the nose and attached some googly eyes.  I also punched a little heart for my lion.

Inside, I stamped a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Always and Forever set.  The little heart next to my signature is from the same set and was strategically placed to cover a little ink mishap I had!  I decided to sign my card so that the heart didn't look out of place but will write more in the card later.  I will give this to my husband on Thursday - to celebrate 23 years since the day we first met.  I'm so thankful that our paths crossed back on March 15, 1989!!

Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the rest of the design team has created.  There's a lot of new talent this term and there are some great projects to see this week!  Don't forget to link up your own "In like a lion" craft too!

Coming Soon! My Craft Spot Spring Stamp Release Party!

In just two weeks, Kimberly and the rest of the My Craft Spot Design Team will be showing off the new My Craft Spot stamp sets!

Starting on March 26, we will be showcasing one new stamp set per day and daily prizes will be offered at My Craft Spot.  On Saturday, we'll wrap things up with a blog hop - and a chance to win at EACH blog along the way! 

For additional chances to win, add the My Craft Spot stamp release button to your blog... and don't forget to return on March 26!

<a href="http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/2012/03/youre-invited.html" target="_blank"><img alt="My Craft Spot" src="http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac297/sentimentalscrapper/pinkcupcakepartybutton10.jpg" /></a>

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I'd also like to take a moment to offer a HUGE thanks to Sherrie of Sherrie Scraps with Passion, Jayne of Jayne Designs and Kristan of BabyCakes who presented me with the Green Blend Award.  (This award is for any co-blogging friend who has helped your blog in any and all ways, who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career and/or who always stops by and is kind to you.  You can count on them to always leave one of the great comments at the end of your posts.)  

The award requirements stipulate that I am to pass this along to 3-5 other bloggers, but as those of you who are long-time followers know, this is an impossible task for me.  For example, when I was teaching years ago, I volunteered as the junior mixed soccer coach.  When it came time to make cuts, I just couldn't do it.  My principal told me that 20 players was far too many for a team.  I smiled and told him that I was obviously the wrong person for the job.  He got me a bus for 20 in order to attend the tournament. :)  All that said, I simply cannot choose between the many, many blogging friends that I've got - especially when you are so faithful with your comments to me during these ridiculously busy days of mine in which my commenting is not what I'd like it to be.  For these reasons, with a grateful heart, I pass this award to anybody who considers me a friend.

Rubber Duckie, You're The One!

View my Fantabulous Cricut post HERE

This week at My Craft Spot, we want you to make us laugh!

For ages now, I've wanted to make a card for my husband using Ernie's "Rubber Duckie" song (from Sesame Street) as inspiration - so that's just what I did.  Our anniversary isn't until July so I'm well ahead of the game.  I suppose that the bath time part of the song is a bit, um, suggestive (albeit true!) - but as I really am awfully fond of my husband, the sentiment fits that he's the one for me.  He is my very best friend, my joy of joys and I'm beyond blessed and so very lucky that he's mine.

I created my window card using Plantin SchoolBook for the base and Elegant Edges for the window and scalloped frame.  The tub is from New Arrival and the sweet little rubber duck (which is popped on my card) is from Kate's ABCs.  I punched out little hearts for the corners and did some inking and doodling. I finished off the outside with some Caribbean baker's twine from My Craft Spot.

For the inside of the card, I used stamps from My Craft Spot's Always & Forever set (Happy Anniversary and the little heart).  I also got creative with mixing and matching stamps from My Craft Spot's Friends & Neighbours and Inside & Out Set #2 in order to make the "You're the one" sentiment. I cut a second rubber duck and created a little border using a punch from Stampin' Up to add some more interest to the inside as well. 

I am very much looking forward to seeing what you create for the My Craft Spot challenge this week.  I've got a full week ahead of me and will need some humour to keep me going.  I'll leave you with the Rubber Duckie song to listen to as you get creating!

I Love Crafting - FCCB Challenge #100

We're celebrating the 100th challenge at Fantabulous Cricut and using the colours associated with FCCB (purple, green and turquoise) on our projects. I used the opportunity to make some cards for two very special blog friends.  In fact, I had the chance to hand-deliver one of them!  Yesterday, I was delighted to meet Kristan from BabyCakes. It turns out we live in the same city.  It was such a joy to meet Kristan - and she's as sweet (if not sweeter!) in real life than in blogland.

I used Car Decals for the little Cricut head and sentiment, adding some faux stitching to the letters.  I ran the little purple hair bow and green heart through my Cuttlebug with a little butterfly 3x3 folder.  The turquoise background was embossed with a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  I punched a border using a Stampin' Up hearts punch and also added an extra heart (from a Martha Stewart punch) behind the green one.  I finished off the card with corners from an EK Success punch, layered with little flowers from a Stampin' Up Itty Bitty punch and green gems.

Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to link up your own purple, green and turquoise project.  I can't wait to see what you create!

Girly Girl Birthday Card

Click HERE to see today's

Fantabulous Challenge project post.

My niece will be 14 on Sunday and I made this card for her.  Sophie is all girl so the timing is perfect for this week's My Craft Spot "Girly Girl" project challenge.

I used Elegant Edges and Plantin SchoolBook for the card base.  The pink mat is cut from a metallic paper and embossed with my Cuttlebug.

The snail is from Paisley and cut with scraps left over from my Valentine's Day projects.  I enlarged the flower on the shell in order to cut a circle big enough for the little treats cup from Stampin' Up.  I filled the cup with pink Smarties (candy coated milk chocolate).  The fun googly eyes were a gift from my sweet friend Carri at DoubleClick Connections.  I've looked all over for them and have never been able to find them around here - so Carri very kindly sent me a pack.  They're always a hit on my critter cards!

The sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Friends & Neighbours Inside & Out stamp set.  I punched it out with a Stampin' Up punch and layered it over the negative cut from the flower on the snail.  I did lots and lots of doodling on my card, using both a white gel pen and black marker.  I also dressed up my snail with some snow white crinkle ribbon and Divine Valentine baker's twine - both from My Craft Spot.

The inside of my card was stamped with a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Candy Corn Kisses stamp set.  Although the stamps are from a Halloween line, I thought the sentiment was perfect with the candy card I had made. 

Please head over to My Craft Spot to check out the rest of the Girly Girl projects made by the design team - and then be sure to create your own and link up to be eligible for this week's fabulous prize!

*I will also be linking up this card for this week's Exploring Cricut Challenge: It's So Sweet. 

You're a Cut Above Card

I've always enjoyed plays on words and so was delighted to learn of this week's Fantabulous Cricut challenge: Fun with Puns.  I had a few different ideas in mind but when my daughter asked me to make a thank you card for our hair stylist, my decision was made.  (Thanks to all of you who voted for Erin's Valentine photo on our stylist's Facebook page.  Erin and Kyle came first so won the big prize of a dinner for two, flowers, chocolates and a hair do!  As such, a thank you card for the stylist was in order.)

I used Elegant Edges and Plantin SchoolBook to make the card base and the whimsical red mat.  The scissors and swirl are from Wall Décor and More and cut from a metallic cardstock. I added a brad from my stash.  I used a paper trimmer to cut the 3 layers of mats and embossed the top layer with my Cuttlebug, using a folder from the Give a Hoot companion set.   I inked the edges with Chocolate Chip ink from Stampin' Up.  The sentiment is from Scrappy Moms Stamps Quirky Quotes stamp set.  I finished things off with three red pearls and some chocolate crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot. 

There are some great pun projects at Fantabulous Cricut this week so be sure to head over and see what the rest of the design team has come up with - and to link up your own card!

How Do I Love Thee?

It seems that love is certainly in the air with Valentine's Day right around the corner.  It's not my week to design at either My Craft Spot or Fantabulous Cricut - but I spent some time this weekend making a card for my husband and it fits both those challenges so I decided to play along anyway!

I purchased Love Struck two years ago when it first came out - and it's been sitting in my cupboard - still in plastic - since then!!  I finally decided that it was time to open it up and I'm glad I did.  The image that I used for my card is from Love Struck.  I coated it with Crackle Accents to give it an antique look.  The border on the card was created using a Cuttlebug folder as well as two different border punches and some inking.  I stitched around the card and along the border.  The hearts that I added are from various punches.

The sentiments are from My Craft Spot's Always and Forever set.  As soon as I saw the stamps I knew that I'd be using them to make a card for my favourite man!

To finish things off, I added a bow made with cranberry crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.  I also added three red oversized pearls.

I used the same border folder on the inside of my card and included a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Build a Valentine set.

If you still have Valentine's Day cards to make, you can play along at My Craft Spot and Fantabulous Cricut!  (Just be sure to include a heart on your card if playing at Fantabulous Cricut.)

~ W I N N E R ~

Thanks so much to all of you who played along (and left such encouraging comments) in last week's My Craft Spot Valentine's Day Stamp Release Party.  I went to random.org and the winner for a stamp set of choice is Bex from Kawaii Krafts.  Congratulations Bex!!  Please email me at smallbitsofpaper @ hotmail.com [remove spaces] with your contact information and which stamp set you would like from My Craft Spot.

My Craft Spot Valentine Stamp Release & Giveaway

I am so excited to be showing you some of the projects that I've made with the new My Craft Spot Valentine stamp sets:  Build a Valentine and Always and Forever.  These sets are just perfect for creating all sorts of Valentine and love projects.  There's even an anniversary stamp!

My first project is a set of cello bags filled with red and pink Smarties (candy coated milk chocolate, similar to - but much better than - MandMs).

For the toppers, I made rosettes from patterned paper and then added hearts from Gypsy Wanderings.  The white hearts are embossed using the inside of a 3x3 Cuttlebug butterfly folder.  I finished things off with a little "Be mine" tag from the Always and Forever set.  These treats are currently displayed on our dining room table and make for a lovely way to decorate for Valentine's Day - with a treat to enjoy at the end!

The base of this card was made with Elegant Edges and Plantin' SchoolBook.  I embossed the top portion of the white mat with a tiny hearts folder from the Cuttlebug Love Language set and scored some lines with my Martha Stewart score board.  The cat image is from Meow and I stamped the cats' eyes with stamps from Peachy Keen.  The noses are covered with Glossy Accents and I drew the little mouths by hand.

The sentiment is from the new Build a Valentine set and I finished things off with some fun Divine Valentine twine from My Craft Spot and lots of faux stitching.

These candy tents were cut by hand, with the topper punched with a Stampin' Up border punch.  The bases of the tents were run through the Cuttlebug using the Heart Blocks embossing folder.

I stamped the tops with a Sweetheart sentiment from Always and Forever.  I added some baker's twine from My Craft Spot and a button to each - as well as a little baggie of Hershey's Kisses - to complete my project.

When I saw these treat bags at our local Bulk Barn, I couldn't believe my eyes!  It looks as though they were made to go with the Build a Valentine set from My Craft Spot!  Of course, I had to buy some and filled them with some heart-shaped jujubes. Both tags were cut using Wrap It Up and tied with some twine from my stash.  The tags were quick and easy to put together - but make for such a fun way to dress up the bags.

For the frog bag, I cut a little frog from Paisley and then stamped the "Looking for a prince?" sentiment from Build a Valentine.

The base of the ladybird is from Walk In My Garden and I created the custom wings (to coordinate better with the ladybirds on the bag) using hearts from Create a Critter, cutting the larger heart in half.  The "Love Bug" sentiment is also from Build a Valentine.

My final project is a little card made with conversation heart stamps from Build a Valentine.  I stamped the hearts on little hearts cut from Create a Critter.  The flowers were also cut from Create a Critter.  The stems are stamped and the mat embossed with a Hallmark embossing folder.  The grass was cut using Martha Stewart fringe scissors.  I did some doodling and also went over the sentiment and pink "stitching" and grass with a Stardust gel pen - so there's a nice glimmer in real life.  I finished everything off with some Divine Valentine twine from My Craft Spot.

Here are the full sets of the stamps I've used for my projects above.  For many more project ideas and inspiration, head to My Craft Spot to see what Kimberly and the rest of the design team have been making!  I always love to see the different ideas and creations.

~ G I V E A W A Y ~

How would you like to win a My Craft Spot stamp set of your choice?  Kimberly has very generously donated a set to be given away on my blog.  All you need to do is:

1. make sure you are a follower here at Small Bits of Paper
2. leave a comment on this post.  

Don't forget to tell me which My Craft Spot stamp set is your favourite, in case you are the winner!  I will draw a name at random and announce the winner on Monday, so you have until Sunday at noon (EST) to enter.

~ W I N N E R S ~

Thanks to all of you who left such lovely comments last week's blog hops!  The winner of the $10 My Craft Spot gift certificate for the Cards for Kids Valentine's Day Blog Hop is Larelyn of Handmade from My Heart and the winner of the $10 My Craft Spot gift certificate for the Cricut Craftin' Grammy's Cricut Friends Blog Hop is Bobby of Bits & Pieces.  Congratulations Larelyn and Bobby!!  Please email me at smallbitsofpaper @ hotmail.com [remove spaces] so I can arrange to have your gift certificates sent to you.

*I am going to link up my Smarties tubes and Sweetheart tents at Decorate to Celebrate, where this week's theme is Valentine's Day Party.

Valen-tiny Cards

Thank you all so much for the comments you left for me last week during the two blog hops in which I participated.  I did read them all - despite a very busy week!  Earlier this month, I applied for a temporary learning facilitator position at a college in a nearby city.  I figured it was a long shot, but the job is exactly the sort of thing I'd like to do - and one of the reasons I am pursuing my M.Ed.  Well, not only did I get an interview - but I was offered the job last Monday!!  Orientation was Tuesday and I started working on Thursday so life has been a bit of a whirlwind!  The other staff are very supportive, friendly and helpful which is wonderful as I'm jumping in with two feet mid-semester.  It's such a great team and I'm thrilled and feel truly blessed to be included.  The only thing I don't like about the position is the commute - and it seems that Mother Nature is not being at all kind to me with all the snow and freezing rain we've been having...  Anyway, the position goes until the end of April so I will be very busy until then.  I will certainly comment as I can - but there may be delays in my blog visits.

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, the theme is "Valen-tiny" - make a 3x3 card for Valentine's Day.  The challenge at My Craft Spot is "Anything Goes" so I was able to combine the two challenges.  I made a set of four cards to add to my favourite people's lunch boxes on Valentine's Day.

The little hearts were cut using Doodlecharms.  I stamped the white heart with a sentiment from the new My Craft Spot Always and Forever set.  The top pink heart is covered with Crackle Accents.  The white mat was embossed with tiny hearts from the Cuttlebug Love Language set.  The white border was punched with little hearts from a Stampin' Up border punch.  I added some blossom baker's twine from My Craft Spot and a button on each card to finish things off. 

This Thursday, it's my turn to showcase projects made with the NEW My Craft Spot Valentine stamp sets - and one lucky winner will win a set of stamps!  I will also announce the winners of my other two My Craft Spot giveaways so you still have time to enter those if you haven't already:  HERE and HERE.