Happy B-day!

Hello fellow crafting friends! I'm glad it's Friday! I returned to work on Monday and we've had a busy week with orientation for our new students. It's been super fun too! This weekend will be a busy one as we'll be celebrating my youngest son's birthday on Saturday and then driving to the Ottawa area to adopt a rescue pup on Sunday. We're all quite excited about it!

Today, I am sharing this project over at My Craft Spot and am sharing it here on my blog too.

My middle guy turned 17 a couple of weeks ago and I made this card for him.  I used a video buttons cut file for my background and then layered a fun little guy from Car Decals on top. (I used my Silhouette to cut the Cricut file. Click HERE to see the video if you missed it when I first posted.) As I used my Silhouette, I was able to use the text feature to choose a font to make the "17" for the front of the t-shirt.

I then dressed things up a bit more using some wonderful products from My Craft Spot. I cut two layers from the Ribbon Banners - Wavy metal dies set and stamped the white layer with a fun sentiment from the Robots stamp set. It seemed appropriate for a teenage boy. I finished things off with a blue enamel dot which, quite honestly, was added due to my inability to center my stamp!! That said, I quite like the addition.

Thanks so much for popping by today! Have a great weekend!!

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Feel Better Soon

This week's challenge at FCCB is Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  We are challenging you to create a project with some sort of transportation on it.  I actually did not think that I would have a project for this week as we had a rather traumatic start to the school year... but the theme fit my need for a card so to the craft room I went!

On Wednesday evening, my middle guy was at a youth event which included some go karting.  When it was my son's turn, he was given some pointers on how to operate the go kart, including the instruction to turn off the ignition if necessary as the brakes didn't always work.  (I'm beyond baffled that this activity was even permitted and that none of the adults there realized how reckless it was...)  Anyway, long story short, the brakes did not work.  My son was unable to turn off the ignition in time and was unable to turn so ended up ramming into a truck.  He now has a fractured ankle and some pretty nasty gashes down his leg.  No fun at all!  I made this card for him.  (The character on the card is smiling as my son has remained his happy self through all this.  In fact, he is handling things much better than I am!!)

I used the golf cart on Car Decals and George and Basic Shapes to create the go kart, cutting the top part off by hand.  The little guy is also from Car Decals and the crutches are from Everyday Paper Dolls.  I hand cut the little cast.  The sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Tiny Tags set and the frames around the sentiment were cut using the NEW My Craft Spot Tiny Doilies metal dies and punches.  The crooked frame is also from George and Basic Shapes.

You have a week to enter this week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut.  Check out the rest of the design team's creations - and then link up your own project!

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Thanks to all who left such lovely comments for me last week during the My Craft Spot Fall Stamp Release Party and Blog Hop.  I appreciate them all!  The winner of the NEW My Craft Spot Best Witches stamp set is #5: Snappy Scrappy (Lee-Ann from Snappy Scraps).  Congratulations Lee-Ann!!!  Please email your information to smallbitsofpaper @ hotmail.com [remove spaces] so I can arrange to have your new stamps shipped out to you!

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Fantabulous Cricut "Back to School" Cricut Crawl

Welcome to the 8TH Fantabulous Cricut Crawl... Fantabulous Cricut's version of a Blog Hop! 

Summer is coming to an end and we are all getting ready for BACK TO SCHOOL... Each design team member on this crawl will be featuring an original BACK TO SCHOOL project that includes a SCHOOL RELATED item, such as crayons, rulers, pencils, book, school bus, etc. along with at least ONE Cricut cut. 

If you've come from visiting Karen at Simply Frenzied, you're in the right place! If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along with our Fantabulous Cricut Crawl, start HERE. Make sure to check out each DT member's blog for some awesome inspiration! There will be PRIZES along the way at our DT members' blogs AND there will be a grand prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Back to School" project! 

Subway wall art

For my project, I initially created some subway art for my daughter's dorm.  Erin leaves for university this weekend and had I thought it would be fun to create something personal for her dorm room.  I purchased a 12x16 canvas, painted it purple (Erin's favourite colour) and then cut the name of her school, program, residence and classes using Cricut vinyl.  I used a variety of fonts (Ashlyn's Alphabet, Car Decals, Cuttin' Up, Jubilee, Kate's ABCs, Mickey Font and Opposites Attract) to create this art and thought it would be perfect for the crawl... but then realized that the project does not quite fit the challenge requirements as I did not include a school-related item!!!  Argh!!!  The good news is that Erin LOVES the subway art!!  That's the main thing.

Card

I then decided that I would create a card for Erin too.  I’ll leave this 5.5x6 card for her when we drop her off at uni on Sunday.  I searched the internet for an inspirational quote and found many I liked – but when I saw this one from Bon Jovi, I knew that I had found THE one.  I love that it even uses the word pencil too!  I used Opposites Attract to cut the letters from Cricut vinyl and adhered them to some We R Memory Keepers paper.  The little pencil is actually from a piece of Forever in Time patterned paper and I cut it out by hand.  I cut a black mat for the card and then adhered it to an orange cardstock base.  Now I’ve got a great card for Erin – AND I meet the FCCB challenge requirements!!  

To thank you for stopping by, I am giving away a $15US gift certificate for My Craft Spot.  I'll announce the winner next Monday - which is perfect timing for the My Craft Spot Fall Stamp Release Party that happens next week!  Click HERE for all the stamp release party details!!  To be eligible for my giveaway, you need to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post.  

Now it's your turn! Let's see your BACK TO SCHOOL projects! Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project!

Your next stop is Kathie’s blog, Let's Get Scrappy Together.  Go and see what Kathie has in store for you today.  When you're done, make sure to link up your project to FCCB's Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the contest!

Happy Crawling!

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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!

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Apple Addict

To mark the beginning of Rosh Hashana, there's an "apple and honey" challenge going on at Cooking with Cricut.  My youngest is the BIGGEST fan of apples that ever there was so I couldn't let this challenge pass me by.  My son eats several apples a day (sometimes up to 6) and recently did an entire English assignment using only apples as his examples!  It was quite creative! 

My son helped me design the shirts on my Gypsy and took part in the production as well - although I did all the ironing.  The first shirt uses the apple from Wrap It Up and the letters are from Mickey Font.  The red and green vinyl are flocked and have a lovely texture to them.

The second shirt was created using a little character from Car Decals and the same apple, although my son said that the leaf should be off if the little character was eating it - so no leaf on the apple for this one!

I figured that "my honey" in his apple shirts suited the Cooking With Cricut challenge perfectly!!  L'shanah tovah to all who celebrate Rosh Hashanah!

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Watch for Falling Leaves!

As I went to make my card for this week's Fantabulous Cricut "Leaves are Falling" challenge, I realized that I don't have any paper packs specific to fall.  I've got a few loose bits of patterned paper but the pieces didn't really go well with each other.  I decided that the dull tones in my DCWV Bella Cafe stack seemed to fit the job and used them.  I'm glad I did!  The little trim at the bottom is actually part of the paper and I think it looks like a leaf-covered road.

I cut the tree from Create a Critter.  I hid the contours of all the little leaves and then cut them separately from a piece of coordinating paper.  The foliage portion of the tree is popped and I also popped each of the little leaves.  (I had to layer the tree a bit differently than it is "supposed" to be, in order to do the popping I wanted to do.)  The mat and shadow are from George and Basic Shapes.  The little squirrel is from Car Decals, cut once as a brown silhouette and then again with all but the outer contour hidden. I put the patterned image behind the silhouette.  I finished things off with a wonderful sentiment from My Craft Spot's Happy Fall set. 

I know that a lot of you have been busy making your own fall projects - so this is a perfect time to link up at FCCB.  Be sure to check out the creations made by the rest of the design team, too!  I'm always delighted to see the projects each week!

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A Splash of Colour

It's time for another challenge at Fantabulous Cricut, and this week, we are challenging you to add a splash of the colour YELLOW  to your projects!  I made a fun birthday card and included a yellow shirt, yo-yo and sun.  (The colour looks a bit orange in the photo, but it really is YELLOW!)

I used Car Decals for the little boy.  I really LOVE this cartridge!  I used George and Basic Shapes for the eyes (I don't care much for the mis-matched eye sizes that come with the cartridge) and for the black frame.  The sun is an image from Create a Critter and the nine is from Mickey Font.  The cute little boy and the number 9 are popped for a bit of dimension.  I embossed the blue background with a Cuttlebug Spots and Dots folder and also created a border on the green grass with an EK Success border punch.  I finished everything off with a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Sweet Sentiments Set #1.

If you have not seen the new My Craft Spot Fall Stamp Release, you can check it out HERE.  In fact, there is still time (but not much!) to join the Stamp Release Blog Hop, where you can WIN a new stamp set at each blog along the way!  Winners will be announced tomorrow - so join the fun now!

Head on over to Fantabulous Cricut to check out the rest of the design team projects - and then link up your own YELLOW creation! 

I'm also entering this in the Cricut Circle's weekly challenge: ABC 1-2-3 (A pop of Bright Colour - yellow, one yo-yo, two eyes and three layers to the sun). 

I've just discovered Paper Playtime - thanks to Janis - so will enter my card there as well.  It's a fun site with lots of creativity.  Check it out!

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Car Decal

The challenge this week at Decorate to Celebrate is 4th of July but we have been invited to add our decorations for any celebration.  I created a car decal to decorate our vehicles for Canada Day (July 1).  I created this decal with my Gypsy using Car Decals (for the "Proud to be"), Pooh Font Set (for "Canadian") and Create a Critter (for the leaves).  I also added little leaves in the middle of the As.  Once I created the cut file, this was easy to cut out multiple times for the vehicles.

And here's a close up.  (The second, darker image is actually a shadow.)  I cut the decal with Cricut vinyl.

Don't forget about the Canada Day Blog Hop this Friday!  Everybody is invited - Canadians and friends of Canadians!  Tara and Jacqueline have found a number of sponsors and there are lots of great prizes up for grabs!

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Father's Day Gift Bag

If you are looking for my Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #64 post, please click HERE.

The unthinkable occurred last weekend.  I was trying to get some crafting done but neither my Gypsy nor my Design Studio would recognize my Cricut!  I spent far too long trying to get things to work, with no success.  First thing Monday morning, I called ProvoCraft and am so impressed with the service I received.  By Friday, I had a new-to-me (refurbished) Cricut at my door.  It's not as pretty as my Pink Journey Cricut but it is on speaking terms with my Gypsy and Design Studio so I am happy once more!

This week at My Craft Spot, the challenge is "We Love You, Dad".  I don't have a father so I created something for my husband.  Even though it's fairly simple, it was a challenge for me as I've never created a project without my Gypsy or Design Studio.  (I made this earlier in the week, prior to the arrival of a fully functional Cricut.)  Once I figured out how to set the paper sizes, it was a piece of cake!

I used Car Decals for the image.  (I hand punched the eyes.  Although I love the adorable images on Car Decals, I'm not overly fond of the mismatched eyes.)  My husband is quite an athlete and participates in triathlons, plays on a soccer team and basketball team, and plays weekly games of squash.  I purchased him an odometer for his biking and running so wanted a bag to match the gift - and him!  I created a border with an EK Success punch to go behind the image.  I used Makin' the Grade for the font.  Makin' the Grade was one of the first handful of cartridges I owned when I had my first little Cricut and I used it ALL the time.  I really do like the font.  Plus, I thought it was such a good match with the My Craft Spot (Sweet Sentiments Set #2) "To" and "From" stamps I used for the tag.  I created the tag with a Creative Memories circle cutting system.  I finished things off with some tulle and ribbon.

Please head over to My Craft Spot to join this week's challenge!  There is a fabulous giveaway and some wonderful inspiration by the rest of the design team too!

*I am also going to enter this in the first challenge at Decorate to Celebrate.  It's a Father's Day theme, so my bag fits the bill.  My wonderful blogging friends, Rhonda and Amy, have started the new challenge blog, Decorate to Celebrate.  I encourage you to check it out if you haven't done so already!

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Fantabulous Cricut - Try This Angle

(If you are looking for this week's My Craft Spot Monday Challenge post, please click HERE.)

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to "Try this angle"!  Use a rectangle and a triangle in your project - and be sure to have at least one Cricut cut as well.

I decided to make a thank you card.  The main image is from Car Decals and I used Design Studio to hide contours on various layers to create the dog in his house.  I used Distressed Stripes to the house as well.  The dog's face was stamped with a Peachy Keen stamp.  The sentiment was cut with the second layer of Cuttin' Up on real size.  I embossed the brown mat with Seeing Spots and also used a Recollections border punch on the bottom.  (I FINALLY went back to Michaels after having given it up for lent.  The punch was on clearance.  Woo hoo!)  I used a Fiskars corner punch to create all the triangles.  I did lots of inking and a bit of doodling, added some Glossy Accents to the nose, and finished things off with some twine and button from my stash.

Now it's your turn!  Head on over to Fantabulous Cricut to check out the projects created by the rest of the design team and then "try this angle" yourself!

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Baby Boy Card and Winners

I am having SUCH a good day!  My course ended last night and I have the rest of the month off before classes begin again.  The weather is gorgeous and was just above freezing when I walked my son to school this morning.  I decided to take a very long route home and enjoyed the fresh air and exercise.  I think I wore out the dog as he's been sleeping since we got back!  I decided to take the day off work so also met my sister for lunch and had a wonderful Thai dish.  Plus, this afternoon, I had a bit of time to craft!

I made this card for the pastel challenge at Serenity Scrappers.  I just realized that it's supposed to be bright and springlike - so I don't think it actually qualifies!  Oops!  I did get the cheerful part right though!  Anyway, I used Car Decals for the little guy in the pram and Mini Monograms for BOY.  I also punched a little border with a Fiskars punch.  I did some Cuttlebugging, added some gems and a ribbon - and finished in time to post before getting my littlest one from school. 

And now for the winners of the Autism Awareness Blog Hop!!  Thank you again for all your support and kind words.  There were a lot of comments - and I read each and every one.  Thank you again to my sponsors, Kimberly of My Craft Spot and Cricut for Beginners. 

The lucky winner of 5 spools of baker's twine and a package of Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot is Marcy H - My Angel.  Debbie of Hawk's Nest Hobbies and Betsy of Betsy's Bits have each won a Cricut for Beginners DVD.  Congratulations to you all!!  Please email me at smallbitsofpaper(@)hotmail(.)com with your address so I can arrange for you to get your prizes!! You have one week to claim your prize.

On Monday, I will have another giveaway with the Fantabulous Cricut Spring Crawl - and I am also delighted that my wonderful friend Rhonda at Scrap Happens has invited my to be part of her blog hop on April 15-16.  Please be sure to drop by again!

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