Some of my Best Friends are Flakes!

Hello friends!  I can hardly believe that there is only one week until Christmas!!  I still have some more baking to do but won't do that until next Sunday and Monday as there are some things that I prefer to have fresh for Christmas - and my freezer space is limited.  I tend to go overboard with my Christmas baking but nobody seems to complain!!

It's my turn to post a project at My Craft Spot today and I'm showcasing a card that I created for one of my best friends.  She LOVES snow.  A few months ago, I found some snowman tea towels with "Some of my best friends are flakes" written across them.  I picked them up for her - and then when Kimberly came out with the same fun sentiment on her new "Think Snow" stamp set, I knew that I'd be using it to make a coordinating card!!

I used Winter Frolic for the snowman and Elegant Edges for the frame.  I used a Peachy Keen stamp for the eyes.  The snowman's scarf is tied with some wonderful Caribbean crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.  I added a coordinating border made with a Martha Stewart punch.  I also did some embossing using the Cuttlebug Snowdots folder.

As I noted above, the fun sentiment is from My Craft Spot's "Think Snow" stamp set.  It's just perfect to use to spread a smile!  The little snowflakes are from the same set too!  The bottom corners of my card were rounded using a Creative Memories punch.

Have a fabulous day! Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Blessings

This week's challenge at My Craft Spot is "Merry Christmas" and we are encouraging you to work on your Christmas cards.  I can't believe that December is here already and I'm not anywhere near as organized as I usually am at this point!  This challenge is just what I needed to get another card made.

I used Winter Frolic for the darling little shepherd and lamb.  I ran the tunic through my Cuttlebug using the herringbone folder.  I also gave the lamb some curly wool using the D'Vine Swirls folder.  I used natural jute string from My Craft Spot for the shepherd's belt and headdress.  I stamped a sweet face using Peachy Keen's Wide Eyed Kids set.  The card mat is from Elegant Edges and the star is from George and Basic Shapes.

The shepherd and lamb are adhered with PopDots for some added dimension.  

I used a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Mistletoe set and stamped it on a tag cut using My Craft Spot's Tiny Tags metal dies.  I added some navy jute string from My Craft Spot to the tag and to the button on the star.  

The inside of my card has a border punched with a Martha Stewart star border punch.  I finished things off with a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Merry Christmas! set. 

Be sure to check out today's challenge at My Craft Spot for some more inspiration - and then link up your own Christmas card for your chance to win this week's prize!

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E.A.D DESIGNS Project

Check out the Cards for Kids Valentine's Day Blog Hop HERE.

Last week, E.A.D DESIGNS was the generous sponsor at Fantabulous Cricut.  I had been sent a package of goodies to try out, but unfortunately, they did not arrive on time for me to be able to use them on my project.  However, when the package did arrive, I was excited to give them a go!

I used a Bitty Bag from My Craft Spot as my base.  I used Elegant Edges to make a frame for my sweet little girl sticker from E.A.D DESIGNS and created some word art using Winter Frolic.  I used a Fiskars border punch on the top of the bag and then also punched a strip of cardstock.  I added some brads to the front layer (but punched through all four layers) and tied some baker's twine from My Craft Spot at the top.

Click HERE to check out the rest of the Fantabulous Cricut projects using products from E.A.D DESIGNS.

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Christmas Tags (and a Bag)

This week at My Craft Spot AND Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to create tags.  With lots of gifts to be given, this challenge is the perfect way to create a little something extra to adorn your packages.

Some of the design team members at FCCB were provided with cardstock packages from Core'dinations.  I received two packs: Black Magic and Vintage.  I've heard lots about Core'dinations but have never owned any myself.  I was so excited to use the cardstock that I made two projects to try things out. 

My first project is a gift bag with tag.  The bag itself is prefabricated.  I cut a panel from the Core'dinations Black Magic cardstock pack and distressed it by using sandpaper and scrunching it.  The colour behind the black is yellow.  The wisemen image, cut from Inspired Heart, has a background colour of light purple.  I used sandpaper on the image and then covered it with a thin coat of Crackle Accents (which I just discovered thanks to Kimberly at My Craft Spot).  Using the yellow-backed cardstock, I cut a border, punched it with a Stampin' Up punch, and then distressed it with sandpaper.  I also used some sand seam binding from My Craft Spot and then added some light purple gems (which were a gift from my fellow Canadian blogging friend, Heather from Princess' Paper Projects).

The tag was cut from Inspired Heart.  I wanted the star to stand out a bit more so cut a larger one from Winter Frolic and popped it on the original.  There are actually four layers to the tag - a yellow-based frame, a purple-based frame and then the top star-frame in yellow with another yellow-based star on top.  Each layer was distressed and the star also received a thin coat of Crackle Accents.  I attached the tag to the bag with the same sand seam binding from My Craft Spot that I had used as a border on the bag itself.  I stamped the back of the tag with sentiments from My Craft Spot's Merry Christmas set.

My second tag was created using the Core'dinations Vintage Collection cardstock pack (although the white and black are regular cardstock).

This fun tag is a big one, measuring almost 7 inches high!  (It's to go on a rather large gift for my son.)  The green base is cut from Wrap It Up and I then covered the bottom portion with blue Core'dinations cardstock which I had torn.  I love the look!  Santa was cut from Christmas Cheer.  I embossed his beard with a D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder and added Glossy Accents to his boots and the pompom on his hat.  The little snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart corner punch and I just used the negative pieces.  Each snowflake has a little gem on top.  I used a fun sentiment from My Craft Spot's 'Tis the Season set and then doodled all around the tag.  Santa has a bit of doodling too.  I finished everything off with a fabulous button from my sweet blogging friend, Audrey from Cute and Some, and some great Caribbean crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot.

Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the rest of the design team inspiration - and to see what else can be done with Core'dinations ColorCore Cardstock!  And don't forget to go to My Craft Spot to see all the wonderful projects there as well.  Kimberly just released some new twine - with colours perfect for Christmas and Valentine's Day!  It's not too late to add to your Christmas wish list!!  Plus, link up your projects at both blogs for your chance to win some fabulous prizes!

I wish you all a safe, happy and joyous Christmas!

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Snow Angel Card

This week's challenge at My Craft Spot is "Emboss It".  I have a wonderful relationship with my Cuttlebug and LOVE to add embossing to my projects, so this was a fun one for me!

I created my card using Inspired Heart as a base.  The snow angel girl is from Winter Frolic.  I embossed the background mat of the card and also the girl's snow jacket.  I punched a border using a Martha Stewart punch and then added the negative cuts around the card.  (I punched some in white as well.)  I stamped the face with a Peachy Keen stamp.  I also used a My Craft Spot stamp (from Inside and Out #2) for the card.  The outside reads: Each and every year you grow.  I heat embossed this as well.  Inside reads:  You just become more fun to know! 

I created this card for one of my best friends.  We've known each other since our younger school days.  Michelle LOVES snow.  Her house is decorated with snow-related items - and whenever it does snow, she is outside building snowmen and making snow angels!  She is one of the funniest people I know and I knew she'd get a kick out of this card, despite her birthday being in June!

When I lost my photos at the beginning of the month, the picture of this card was one of the few that I could not retrieve.  (I had worked ahead on my design projects, knowing how intense this month would be with my courses.)  I actually had to ask my friend for the card back to take another photo!!  

Please head over to My Craft Spot and link your embossed project.  I can't wait to see what you make!

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Baby Card - Guest Designer for Getting Cricky

I am so delighted and excited to be this week's guest designer at Getting Cricky. I only discovered Kristal a few weeks ago and have been loving her posts! She's so inspirational and seems to always write just the words I need to read/hear. I love the analogies that she makes between her projects and real life. It's a joy and a privilege to be designing for her blog for the Simply Sunday Challenge.

I've just received Kate's ABCs - which I've wanted for its name more than anything!! The cartridge is not available here in Canada so I've been keeping my eye out for it on eBay but wasn't able to find it for a price I was willing to pay. However, I was absolutely thrilled to learn that my Easter Bag was spotlighted in the April 19 edition of the Cricut Chirp. With that came a credit at Cricut which I used to purchase Kate's ABCs.  It arrived this week already!!

The theme for Getting Cricky's Simply Sunday Challenge is "Sew Fabulous" - which can be interpreted any way you like (thread, faux stitching, stamps, fabric, etc.!) to create anything you like!  I decided to pull out the sewing machine and added some stitches to my card.  I used George and Basic Shapes for the card and pink mat.  The top mat was actually created with a tag from Winter Frolic, turned 90 degrees with the contour of the hole hidden.  The little bunny scene (with dragonfly) was cut with Kate's ABCs.  I actually cut another set of images and inked them but really didn't like the look at all so cut again and drew around everything with a Stardust Gel pen.  I also added some dots (with the same pen) all around the pink mat and coloured in the dragonfly's body with it too.  I added some pink pearls and a bit of ribbon to the outside of the card and stamped the inside to finish things off.  I like card this so much better than the inked version!

Please head over to Getting Cricky to check out the "Sew Fabulous" Simply Sunday Challenge for this week - and to be inspired and motivated by Kristal!

I will also enter this card at My Craft Spot - where this week we've been challenged to create a project to welcome a precious baby into our world.   And speaking of My Craft Spot, I did not hear from one of the winners of the "It's a Basket Case Blog Hop" so returned to Random.org to find a new winner.  This time, Amy from Love to Crop is the lucky winner.  I laughed when I matched up the number to the name - as I recently won a jelly bean counting competition at Amy's blog!!  Amy, head over to My Craft Spot to pick out your choice of Crinkle ribbon or baker's twine, to a maximum value of $9.99.  Please send me your information and choice within the next week so I can place the order for you.  Congratulations! 

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Fan Card

I made this birthday card using ColorBok paper to create the large fan. I cut the paper at 12x3 and then used a Stampin' Up border punch along one of the long edges. I then scored the paper at every 1/4 inch and folded to create a fan. The brown mat was cut using the same paper and the pink mat is paper from DCWV's luxury stack. I inked the edges of the pink mat.  I cut the little tag from Winter Frolic, stretching it in Design Studio first, and then stamping it with a sentiment from Stampin' Up and inking the edges. I added some Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot and a button from my stash. To finish things off, I added some pearl strings. The fan took a bit of time to create, but once that was finished, the rest of the card came along quite smoothly.  The finished card is 8.5x4.5.

I am actually going to enter this card at My Craft Spot, where the challenge is to create a birthday card (or other project) using a tag. The prize for this challenge is one of Kimberly's new stamp sets.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the "It's a Basket Case Blog Hop". I'll be giving away some My Craft Spot baker's twine - courtesy of Kimberly from My Craft Spot!

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Birthday Card - and an award times three

I made this card for my husband, who recently celebrated his birthday.  When he opened it, he and the boys thought the image was a potato!!  Fortunately, my daughter recognized it as a dog.

I got the idea to use this dog with a cowboy hat from a card on the Cricut message board, created by Shelly at Shelly's Card Blog.  (I'm sorry I don't have a direct link to the card, but I couldn't find it there.)  I used Doodlecharms for the dog and Paper Doll Dress Up for the hat.  I simply cut the frame and rounded the corners with a Creative Memories corner rounder.  I positioned the frame on an angle which was a bit difficult for me as I'm all about balance and symmetry, but I really do like the look. The background paper and top layer of the mat were embossed with a Spots and Dots Cuttlebug folder.  The little frame for the sentiment was cut from Winter Frolic and the little border was punched with an EK Success border punch.  The circle was cut with George and Basic Shapes and the sentiment is one I picked up in a Michaels' $1.50 bin.  I added some twine and beads, as well as a little dog brad from my stash.  I did a lot of inking on this card - and tried to make the pup look like he was scruffy and in need of a shave.  I also added some metallic gold pen dots.  (They almost look white in the photo.) 

I'm also thrilled to have been awarded the Stylish Blogger Award from three wonderful blogging friends!  I feel so honoured and blessed to have been chosen by so many!  It's been a crazy couple of weeks as I finish up the school term with papers and presentations - so I'm especially delighted to have had a bright spot in the midst of my stress!!  (The good news is that I've just one presentation left to go this semester.  Woo hoo!!)  The Stylish Blogger Award was passed to me from:  Tara at Homemade Happiness, Sharon at Ladybug Designs, and Carol at Carol's Sweet Creations.  Part of the requirements of this blog award are to pass along 8 bits of information about myself:
1. I do not like snow (and my part of the world is currently covered in the white stuff!!)
2. I used to be very, very shy and still am a bit
3. I am quite patient and self-controlled - except when it comes to chocolate!!
4. When I was growing up, I always said that I would marry a man named Raoul.  My husband's name is an English derivative of Raoul. 
5. I always said I wanted two boys and a girl - and that's just what I've got.  I feel blessed with the "perfect" family
6. When I was a child, I made up a special name for my mother and still call her that name to this day.  I never call her "mum"!
7. My favourite flower is the daffodil
8.  I am a creature of habit and thrive on routine

I am now to pass this along to new blogging friends.  I am going to pass this along to all the members of the Fantabulous Design Team where there are a number of new members who are quickly becoming blog friends.

Also - don't miss the Fantabulous Cricut Blog Crawl coming up on December 13.  There will be lots of great projects to see and prizes to be won!

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Fantabulous Cricut Ribbon Challenge

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to use ribbon on your project.  I decided that I would make a set of Christmas tags as a thank you gift for a special friend of mine - and package them in a box tied with ribbon!  I made three sets of tags - with each set cut from Very Merry Tags.  The first set was cut from metallic gold and green cardstocks.  I used these same cardstocks for the box (a "crayon box") which was cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I cut some mats and rounded the corners with a Creative Memories corner rounder punch.  The "For You" was cut from Winter Frolic and the little snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  I also embossed the top mat with the Divine Swirl Cuttlebug folder.  Before adhering the mats, I attached a gold ribbon to tie at the top of the box.

This photo is the back of the box.  The mats are slightly larger, but I did the same thing - this time using a reindeer that was left over from cutting out the tags.  (The little light bulbs are my favourite of all the tags.)

I also made some snowflake tags from pale blue and metallic white cardstock.  Each snowflake has either a white pearl or a clear gem in the centre. 

Another set was made using metallic shiny red cardstock with either metallic white (for the snowman and Santa) or glittery green (for the trees).  I added some gems to the trees as well.  (Sorry for the shadows and glare.  Those trees really are a magnificent green!)

The tags will all go inside the box for gift-giving!  Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the rest of the design team has come up with - and to enter your own project with ribbon!  I'd love to see what you create!

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Vintage Christmas ATCs

I just finished creating 6 groups of 12 ATCs for a swap on the Cricut message board.  For each group, we were given the song titles to two Christmas songs and were then to create an ATC based on either the title, line, word, or thought from one of the songs.

For group 1, I chose the line "When the clock is striking 12" from Jolly Old St. Nicholas.  I cut the grandfather clock from Nursery Rhymes and then cut off the little mouse.  The background image is computer generated, as is the clock face, which I then cut with a scallop punch and covered with UTEE.  There a border cut with an MS punch, a photo corner made with and EK Success punch and everything is inked.  The clock is also popped.  I added some gold "pearls" to finish things off.  I think that this one is my favourite.

Group 2 represents the song Winter Wonderland.  The image is random.  I used a MS snowflake border punch and the little branches were cut using a MS punch as well.  The Merry Christmas sentiment was stamped with a Carleton Cards stamp and the tag and border were cut out with Stampin' Up punches.  I embossed the background with a Sizzix embossing folder, and used my MS score board as well. Everything is inked and the sentiment is popped.  This card looks NOTHING like my original plan (which started as stamped trees and glitter), but I am pleased with the final result.

I was inspired by the line "Let earth receive her king" from Joy to the World for the third group.  I cut the baby in the manger from Christmas Village (without the cut for the stand).  Both the Joy to the World and star cuts are from Winter Frolic.  I also embossed the background with a Cuttlebug folder and inked some portions of this card.  The baby in the manger is popped.

Group 4 is Sleigh Ride!  I used a Stampin' Up ticket corner punch on the patterned paper (from DCWV's Holiday Stack) and attached some ribbon.  The sleigh is cut from metallic gold cardstock, using Christmas Cheer and attached with Pop Dots.  I attached a coordinating flower to finish things off.  My daughter likes this one best of all.

I chose the line "They who travelled far" from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S for group 5.  I used Versamark to stamp an Inkadinkado stamp on black cardstock and then used gold embossing powder over the image.  I then layered two window frames which I cut using George and Basic Shapes and Accent Essentials.  I embossed the top layer using a Cuttlebug folder and added three gold gems to the bottom.  I love the Victorian look of this card.

Group 6 is Let it Snow.  The pink frame was cut from Ashlyn's Alphabet, the circle frame from George and Basic Shapes, and the snowflake from Joys of the Season (using a metallic white cardstock).  I embossed the circle frame with a Sizzix folder and the background cardstock with a Cuttlebug folder.  The corners were punched with an EK Success punch.  I also added a gemstone to the centre of the snowflake, which is popped. 

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Fantabulous Cricut Challenge: Bird Bonanza

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, the theme is Bird Bonanza.  We've had a crazy couple of weeks at our house and I feel like I've been running like a chicken with her head cut off.  However, I was able to get away with some friends for the weekend and feel like I've got a bit of energy to make it through the week ahead!  I decided to make a Christmas card as I am already looking forward to the time off and time to spend with the family.

I cut the frame of my card using Ashlyn's Alphabet.  The bird in the decorated tree is from Winter Frolic.  The papers are either from DCWV's Holiday Stack, or they are just regular cardstock (with metallic cardstock used for the shadow of the tree).  I had meant to add some embossing, but by the time I realized I had forgotten, it was too late!  I did use a Fiskar's border punch and also punched the labels with Stampin' Up punches.  The sentiment is from a Carleton Cards set that I picked up on clearance after Christmas last year.  I inked everything and added some ruby coloured half-pearls.
(I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to visit as many blogs as usual.  My youngest was home for a week and a half with chicken pox - and returned to school last week only to develop an ear infection.  He's been feeling better since Thursday, but I'm far behind in my work and am now playing catch-up with my studies and reviews.)

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Fantabulous Cricut - Harvest Time

Happy Monday!  First of all, I'd like to welcome all my new followers.  I had such a delightful time with our Fantabulous Cricut Blog Crawl and enjoyed reading each of the comments that was left for me.  I DO have a winner for the blog hop, but I learned over the weekend that we are to announce winners on Wednesday.  My apologies regarding that (as I had noted in my post last week that I would announce them today.)

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, the theme is Harvest Time.  I'm not sure about your area, but it is certainly harvest time here in Ontario, Canada.  The days are getting shorter and much cooler, and the world is becoming a vibrant array of reds, oranges, yellows and browns.  It truly is spectacular.

In Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday of October, so I decided to make a Thanksgiving card for the harvest theme.  At our family gatherings, we always sing the chorus of "All Good Gifts" as a blessing before eating.  (We sing the old-fashioned hymn version.  I did find an upbeat version, but it just doesn't sound "right"!)  I decided to use this chorus as the sentiment for my card.

I computer-generated the sentiment with WordArt.  I then used a Fiskars corner punch and inked the paper.  The frame and shadow were cut from Winter Frolic.  They are actually tags, but I removed the holes in Design Studio.  I ran the top layer through my Cuttlebug Diamond Plate folder. The cornucopia and much of its contents were cut from Speaking of Fall, but I used Doodlecharms to cut some more apples.  Everything is inked and layered.  I felt the card needed a bit more, so I added some leaves punched with a Martha Stewart punch and added some half-beads as well.

Thanks so much for popping by!  Please join us this week at Fantabulous Cricut with your own take on our Harvest Time theme!

(I'm also entering this card at Paper Sundaes, where the theme this week is to use Fall or Hallowe'en colours.)

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Make It Stop (Headless Snowman) Card

This week is WOW week at Serenity Scrappers.  WOW stands for "Week of Weather".  We have been challenged to create a project reflecting our favourite weather.  I actually did the opposite!

I HATE snow, but one of my dearest friends just loves it.  She has snowflake everything - snowflake towels, snowflake dishes, snowflake utensils, snowflake socks that she wears year-round, etc., etc.!  Whenever it snows, we blame her - and she's always swamped with "angry" calls during the first snowfall of the year.  I decided to make her a "threatening" card to drop at her house when the snow starts to fall this year.  I know she'll get a huge kick out of this. 

I used Winter Frolic for the snowman and all his accessories, which I glittered.  I used Design Studio to turn his smile into a frown.  The snowy mountains were cut with Zooballoo and run through the Cuttlebug, using a snow folder and a little butterfly folder (using only the little dots for the peaks).  The tree was cut from Christmas Cheer and I computer generated the sentiment.  I also added some little beads.

And now for the inside...

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