Christmas Tags (and a Bag)

Monday, December 19, 2011
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!
28

May the Beauty of the Season Card

Monday, December 12, 2011
Welcome to another Fantabulous Cricut challenge!  I am especially excited about this week's challenge as My Craft Spot is the sponsor - a meeting of my two favourite challenge blogs!  Our theme is "Rolling in Ribbon" and we are challenging you to add ribbon to your project.  Please remember to use a Cricut cut as well.


I had very limited time for my project this week so kept things simple.  (Things HAVE eased up and I am slowly working my way through to pay some blog visits - but life is still very busy.  'Tis the season!)  I followed the same colour scheme I used last week too.  I cut the frame and shadow from Elegant Edges and embossed the cream cardstock with a Tim Holtz music folder.  The reindeer is from Gypsy Wanderings and I used Pop Dots to adhere it to the frame.  The top portion of the mat is embossed with a Sizzix snowflakes folder.  I also added two score lines to separate the embossed portion from the sentiment area.  The sentiment is a stamp from My Craft Spot's "Merry Christmas" set.  There are such lovely stamps and sentiments in that pack.  I also used some rich Scarlet Red crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot and added a button from my stash.  To complement the button, I added some stardust Gelly Roll dots all around the reindeer.  I am happy with the way my card turned out and it's already been mailed off to wish a special couple a very Merry Christmas!


I'm sure you all have a stash of wonderful ribbon and now's the time to use it!  Head over to Fantabulous Cricut to link your project - and perhaps you'll be the lucky winner of some ribbon from My Craft Spot!

(I haven't entered a challenge in ages so am also going to link this up at Scrappy Moms Stamps where the challenge is Christmas.)
35

Sweet Treats Gift Bag

Monday, December 5, 2011
First of all, I'd like to let you know that I have not been avoiding you!  I've got a lot on my plate right now as the semester wraps up and have been burning the candle at both ends.  I have a final paper due next week (which I am hoping to finish up within the next day or two) and am REALLY looking forward to some "me" time - which will include visits to some of my favourite blogs!  I'm so sorry that I've been missing your projects.  I always enjoy seeing your creations.


I actually created my bag for this week's project at My Craft Spot but noticed that it also fits the requirements for the challenge at Fantabulous Cricut so decided to add it to the Design Team line-up there as well.  At My Craft Spot, the challenge is to make a Christmas treats package - and at Fantabulous Cricut, the challenge is to create a gift package (or a gift, or even a project with a gift image).  I go CRAZY each year with my Christmas baking and love to make sweet treats to give away - and eat!  (So crazy that we are usually still eating Christmas treats in March!) For a good number of years now, a dear friend and I get together each year and spend a full day preparing dozens and dozens of fancy shortbread cookies.  I had our fancy shortbread cookies in mind when I created my bag.

I used Wrap It Up to create the bag and tag.  They are from the bride image, but I deleted the contours of the bride to have a solid bag and tag.  The ornament is from Jolly Holidays and I used rather a lot of Glossy Accents to make my ornament look more authentic.  The snowflake is from a Martha Stewart punch.  To create the sentiment, I used "sweet" from My Craft Spot's Friends and Neighbours set and "treats" from My Craft Spot's Candy Corn Kisses.  I also added a gold eyelet to the tag.  The ribbon is scarlet red crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot and the gold string is from my stash.  I finished things off with a gold gem on the snowflake and a button on the bow.  This would have been a fairly simply bag to put together had it not been for my indecisiveness on the tag.  I think I made about 5 or 6 different tags before I finally settled on this one!!  I'm blaming my insanity on my sleepless nights...  The good news is, however, that I now have an elegant bag in which to present some of my elegant fancy shortbread.


Now it's your turn!  Please head to My Craft Spot AND Fantabulous Cricut for some wonderful inspiration - and then link up your own projects.  By the end of this week, I'm hoping to have some free time and would LOVE to spend some of it being inspired by your work.
25

Peace on Earth

Monday, November 28, 2011
It's time for another Challenge Me Monday at Fantabulous Cricut!  This week, it's all about holiday cards.  As I celebrate Christmas, I decided to make a Christmas card.


I used Celebrate with Flourish for the poinsettia image, but then built on it using petals from Wrap It Up.  I inked each petal using Stampin' Up ink as well as some gold Stampology ink - and added tiny gold brads to the centre of each flower.  The card base and frame are both from Elegant Edges.  (The card base was created by welding two images together and by removing the half circles on either side of the card in order for the border to fit across.)  The Cherry Cobbler border was punched with a Stampin' Up border punch.  I stamped my card with a sentiment from My Craft Spot's Merry Christmas set and also used some My Craft Spot pine green seam binding.  I inked the card base with both Cherry Cobbler and gold-coloured inks.  I finished things off with a couple of wine-coloured pearls.

With Christmas - and other celebrations - just around the corner, please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to link up your own holiday card!
30

Flower Shoppe Birthday Card - and a winner!

Monday, November 21, 2011
Welcome to another My Craft Spot challenge!  This week, it's all about Handmade Flower Power!  This provided me with just the right opportunity to use my Flower Shoppe cartridge again.


I had such a fun time creating this 5x5 card!  It came together so easily with the Flower Shoppe cuts.  I can understand why this cartridge gets such rave reviews - and I'm joining in the accolades too!  I used kraft cardstock, a blue/grey shimmer paper from DCWV's Luxury Stack and some green patterned paper from my scrap file.


The larger flower was cut using Heart2 and Scallop4.  (I cut off one of the petals on the very top layer.)  After inking the edges with a pale blue ink, I used a petal tool to distress and curl the petals and then added a touch of Glossy Accents and crystal glitter.  The double pearl center is actually from a necklace I purchased at the dollar store - with crafting in mind!!  The leaves are Ruffle5.  I scored down the middle of each and shaped a bit with the rounded end of my petal roller.  I created the small flowers in the corner by punching little flowers using various paper punches that I have and layering the cuts.  I inked the edges of those and added little pearls to the middle of each.


The frames (white and green) are both from Elegant Edges.  I also did a double border using a lace punch from Martha Stewart, sewing them together and then adding some My Craft Spot Sky Blue Crinkle Ribbon above.  The sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Inside & Out Set #2.  As it's a clear polymer stamp, I was able to round it on my acrylic block in order to fit the shape of the frame.  Once I had stamped it, I went over the sentiment with my StarDust Gelly Roll pen.  I stitched the borders of this card and added more pearls to finish everything off.  I'm so happy with how this turned out.  It was created for the woman I most love, admire and respect in this world, my wonderful mum.

Now it's your turn to create a project with a handmade flower for the My Craft Spot Handmade Flower Power challenge!  If you have a Cricut, there are all sorts of cartridges that can help you.  You can also create flowers with paper punches - or simply by cutting paper, cardstock, tissue, etc.!  I can't wait to see what you make!

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Thanks to all of you who played along in last week's Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl.  I appreciate all your lovely comments on my rosette pumpkin.  I went to Random.org, and the lucky winner of the $15 My Craft Spot gift certificate is #60 - Tanya of Nonna's Craft Corner.  Congratulations Tanya!!  Please email me your contact information at smallbitsofpaper @ hotmail.com [remove spaces].  You have two weeks to claim your prize.
23

Cricut Cake Mini Giveaway!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Cricut Couple (Bobby designs with me for My Craft Spot) is giving away a Cricut Cake Mini - along with all sorts of other crafting treats!  In addition, Bobby is showcasing fabulous Christmas cards created with his Cricut.  Be sure to check out the fun at Cricut Couple!!


CricutCouple
3

Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl

Monday, November 14, 2011
Welcome to Small Bits of Paper and the Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl...Fantabulous Cricut's version of a blog hop! 


It's Fall and everyone at Fantabulous Cricut has decided to create projects to give thanks for our Harvest Blessings!   Each Design Team member will be featuring an original Fall project that includes Brown, Orange and Red – along with at least one Cricut cut.

If you've come from visiting Jewels at My Beautiful, Crazy...Scrappy Life, 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 some of our DT members' blogs AND there is a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant who submits a "Harvest Blessings" project!


A few weeks ago, I came across a rosette pumpkin created by Audrey Pettit at The Kraft Journal.  (If you are interested in making one of these pumpkins, you will also find the instructions on Audrey's blog HERE.)  As soon as I saw it, I knew that I wanted to make one as well.  I was also fortunate enough to purchase the cardstock on sale - it takes 8 pieces of 12x12 orange for the base of the pumpkin alone - so was able to make this for under $3!!  That price, however, does not take into account the value of my time!  If found this project to be rather time-consuming, but did enjoy putting it together.

To adorn my pumpkin, I used Speaking of Fall for the leaves and Mini Monograms for the little scalloped circles between the layers and at the top of my pumpkin (although you can't see those).  I hand cut a little banner and stamped it with "Give Thanks", a sentiment from the Happy Fall set from My Craft Spot.  I added a button, as well as some baker's twine and chocolate crinkle ribbon, also from My Craft Spot.  I finished things off with some very thin strips of red cardstock which I curled and adhered behind the other embellishments.  
I will be giving away a $15 gift certificate for
My Craft Spot


All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.  If you are a follower, you may leave a second comment for an extra entry into my giveaway.  I will draw a number using Random.org and announce the lucky winner next Monday, November 21.

_____________________________________

Now it's your turn! Let's see your Harvest Blessings projects!  Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project and be sure to use the colours Brown, Orange and Red as well!

Next stop… the talented Larelyn at Handmade From My Heart.  Go and see what she has in store for you today!  And when you're done, make sure to link up your project to FCCB's Harvest Blessings Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the contest!
Happy Crawling!
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Here is a list of all participants:
93

My Craft Spot "Jingle All the Way" Stamp Set Winner

Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thank you so much for the lovely comments you left for me last week.  It was so fun to create my projects with the new My Craft Spot Winter and Christmas stamp sets, ribbons and twine!  EACH blog along the way had a stamp set up for grabs - so if you took part in the hop, be sure to check out the rest of the team to see who won at each blog!

And now for the winner of the Jingle All the Way stamp set here on my blog:
#49 - Wendy (aka Roo)!  
Congratulations Wendy!  I will be emailing you to request your information.  You have one week to claim your prize.
4

It's Turkey Time!

Monday, November 7, 2011
It's not too late to join the My Craft Spot Christmas and Winter Stamp Release Party Blog Hop!  Click HERE to see my post.  Leave a comment by tonight in order to be eligible to win a newly released 'Tis the Season stamp set from My Craft Spot.  I'll announce the winner tomorrow!

Please click HERE to go to my Fantabulous Cricut post for today.

It's time to Gobble 'Til You Wobble at My Craft Spot, where this week's challenge is all about Thanksgiving décor.  I decided to make these fun turkey place settings for my family.  We've already celebrated Thanksgiving here in Canada, but everybody is so delighted with my turkeys that we've been using them at the dinner table all week!  I'll put them away soon, though, and save them until next year.


The fun little turkeys are from Create a Critter.  I did lots of inking, adding some embossing with my Herringbone and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folders and did some doodling too.  The eyes are from a Peachy Keen Critter stamp set.  I even added a little baker's twine bowtie, using some wonderful vintage twine from My Craft Spot.  The "Turkey Time" sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Happy Fall set, and I punched it out with a Stampin' Up window punch.  (I've got to say that my youngest LOVES this stamp.  He thinks it's so funny and calls out "Turkey Time!" whenever he sees the place settings!)


The bottoms of my place holders are bits of branches with part cut off in order to make a solid base.  There is also a slit in the top in order for the turkeys to have a spot to sit.  They do have legs tucked away!   I used Cuttin' Up for the font for our names, and added some ink and doodling to those as well.

Please head over to My Craft Spot to see what the rest of the Design Team has made to decorate for Thanksgiving!  And don't forget to check out the fabulous new Winter and Christmas stamp sets while you're there!
32

Book Lover Book Bag

Click HERE to join the My Craft Spot blog hop.  You have the rest of the day to enter.  Winners will be announced tomorrow.

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is for all the book lovers out there!  We are challenging you to create anything to do with a book.  You can make a book, add an image of a book to your project, make a bookmark, etc.  There are so many possibilities!


I decided to decorate a book bag for my sister.  I purchased a plain burlap bag and then used Wall Decor and More for both the image and the font.  ("Mes Livres" is French for "My Books".)  I used a brown heat vinyl and then adhered it to the burlap bag with a hot iron.  


My sister is a speech-language pathologist for the French-speaking school community in downtown Toronto.  I thought this bag would be a fun way for her to carry around some of her materials.  I added her initials to the back of the bag using Gypsy Font.

My project was fairly simple to put together but I think it's such a great way to make a personalized gift.  I'm headed to Toronto next weekend and plan on purchasing more heat vinyl to make more of these bags for others!

Don't forget to head to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the rest of the Design Team has created!
26

My Craft Spot Christmas and Winter Stamp Release Party Blog Hop

Saturday, November 5, 2011
Welcome to the My Craft Spot Christmas and Winter Stamp Release Party Blog Hop!!  I've had so much fun sharing my projects with you this week - and even more fun seeing the AMAZING creations of the rest of the design team.  Today, we are finishing things off with a blog hop, showcasing more of the new My Craft Spot stamps (and ribbon and twine)!  There will be prizes at EACH stop along the way, all very generously donated by Kimberly at My Craft Spot - so be sure to leave a comment at each of the My Craft Spot Design Team blogs to increase your chances of winning!  How fun!

Also, the full stamp set reveal is ready for view and ALL five stamp sets are available for sale TODAY at My Craft Spot!  Be sure to check things out and place your order!  These stamps are so fun and there's such variety.  Plus, they are made of high quality photo polymer.
For my project, I created a fun Santa card.  As soon as I saw the Jingle All the Way stamp set, I knew exactly which cut I wanted to use... but didn't have the cartridge so ended up "needing" to order Jolly Holidays!  Fortunately, I got it for a great price on eBay and it arrived in time for me to make my card.  After cutting the Santa and sleigh from Jolly Holidays, I inked everything and embossed Santa's beard with the Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls folder.  I added not one, not two, but THREE coats of Glossy Accents to the sleigh.  I love the way it looks!  I also added some larger glitter to Santa's cuff and the pompom at the end of his hat.
The patterned paper is from a Recollections Christmas stack and I scored at 1/4 inch on each side and then did a bit of doodling.  I added some gorgeous Cranberry Crinkle Ribbon (from My Craft Spot) as well as two little bells that actually jingle!
I finished things off by stamping "Jingle All the Way", a stamp from the newly released Jingle All the Way stamp set from My Craft Spot.  The little snowflakes are from the new White Christmas set and I added tiny little green gems to the middle of each.

And now for the fun news for all of you!  One lucky person who leaves a comment here will win the new Jingle All the Way stamp set!  To see what others have made with this new set, see HERE.  All you need to do is leave a comment!  So easy!
Now, please continue on your way, hopping to each of the My Craft Spot Design Team blogs.  If you started at My Craft Spot, your next stop is a visit to Jayne of Jayne Designs.

Here is the blog hop order for your convenience:
Kate (*you are here!)
And back to My Craft Spot to order your new stamps!
86

My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Five

Friday, November 4, 2011
Welcome to the final day of the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party sneak peeks!!  We'll wrap things up tomorrow with a fun blog hop - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!! But for today, the projects created by the My Craft Spot Design Team are available for view at My Craft Spot - with additional details provided on each member's blog.

Today's stamp set release is called "Winter Wonderland".  I made a quilted card using the "Frosty nights, quilted nights" sentiment.   
My square card measures 5x5 and each little square inside is 1.5x1.5.  The circles and squares were cut from George and Basic Shapes.   The little scalloped squares for the sentiment were cut from Mini Monograms.  I coloured each word individually in order to stamp the phrase separately to fit the squares.  I also added some sweet little snowflake stamps, also from "Winter Wonderland" in the same squares.  Today's stamp set contains three little snowflake stamps which are just perfect for creating backgrounds or adding additional detail to your projects!
Most of the images that I used for my card are from Christmas Cheer.  However, the little snowman is actually a circle from George and Basic Shapes with a hat from Gypsy Wanderings.  The snowman's face was stamped with a Peachy Keen stamp.  I added a mat which I embossed with a Cuttlebug Oriental Weave folder and also did some faux stitching around the edges.  I inked everything!  I finished things off by adding some vintage brown Baker's Twine from My Craft Spot to the middle of each of the snowflakes.
Don't forget to head to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the Design Team inspiration - and to enter there for your chance to win today's prize: Vintage Christmas Crinkle Ribbon!  And be sure to come back tomorrow for the blog hop.  EACH design team member will have one of this week's NEW My Craft Spot stamp sets to win!!

If you are interested in purchasing the new "Winter Wonderland" stamp set, ALL FIVE sets will be available for purchase at My Craft Spot TOMORROW!
19

My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Four

Thursday, November 3, 2011
Welcome to Day Four of the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party!!  I hope you've been enjoying the sneak peeks of the new stamp sets as much as I have enjoyed creating projects to share with you!  Each day this week, EVERY design team member will be sharing a project made with one of Kimberly's five new stamp sets.  My Craft Spot will also be showing photos of the projects and offering prizes just for commenting!  And on Saturday, we have a fun blog hop planned - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!! 

Today's stamp set release is called "Merry Christmas".  I made an elegant card to reflect on the first Christmas.
This card is a bit larger than my usual - measuring 5x6.5.  I cut the frames for my image and sentiment using Elegant Edges. The little baby Jesus and manger image is from Christmas Village.  I embossed the background of the card using a Cuttlebug Oriental Weave folder.  I also embossed the frame under the manger with a Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirl folder.  The photo corners were punched with an EK Success punch.  I finished things off by adding some half pearls by the sentiment and some luxurious Wine Seam Binding from My Craft Spot.
Don't forget to head to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the Design Team inspiration - and to enter there for your chance to win today's prize: Mistletoe Seam Binding!

If you are interested in purchasing the new "Merry Christmas" stamp set, ALL FIVE sets will be available for purchase at My Craft Spot on Saturday.
14

My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Three

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Welcome to Day Three of the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party!!  Each day this week, EVERY design team member will be sharing a project made with one of Kimberly's five new stamp sets.  My Craft Spot will also be showing photos of the projects and offering prizes just for commenting!  And on Saturday, we have a fun blog hop planned - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!! 

Today's stamp set release is called "'Tis the Season".  I made a little gift box filled with matching gift cards.
These cards are cut to measure 2.75x2.75 inches.  I stamped each one using the "Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas" sentiment.  I added some score lines and then embossed the top portion with my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  The little scalloped circle was cut with Mini Monograms and I added a sweet little Christmas tree from the 'Tis the Season stamp set in the middle, colouring the stars with a yellow gel pen.  I used PopDots to attach the scalloped circles to the cards. I punched a small hole in the top left corner of each card and attached some traditional cherry red baker's twine from My Craft Spot.
I created the box to coordinate with the little gift cards.  The bottom was stamped with the same tree stamp used on the cards.  For the top of the box, I made an extra "card front", but this time used a punch for the scalloped circle so that it would be slightly larger in order to create a more balance look.  I used a Stampin' Up punch around the edges and I finished things off with some faux stitching with my white gel pen.
Don't forget to head to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the Design Team inspiration - and to enter there for your chance to win today's prize: Holiday Baker's Twine!

If you are interested in purchasing the new "'Tis the Season" stamp set, ALL FIVE sets will be available for purchase at My Craft Spot on Saturday.
27

My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Two

Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Welcome to Day Two of the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party!!  Each day this week, EVERY design team member will be sharing a project made with one of Kimberly's five new stamp sets.  My Craft Spot will also be showing photos of the projects and offering prizes just for commenting!  And on Saturday, we have a fun blog hop planned - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!! 

Today's stamp set release is called "White Christmas".  I made a card using the "Wanted: Magic hat!" stamp.
I used Doodlecharms for my snowman and Mini Monograms for the little frame in which he stands.  I embossed the top layer of the frame with a Cuttlebug snowflake folder.  The sign is from Walk in My Garden and it is embossed with Distressed Stripes.  I also added a border using a Martha Stewart snowflake punch.  Glossy Accents were added to the carrot nose and coal buttons, and I used gems for the eyes as well as part of a Peachy Keen stamp (which is actually a frown - but I turned it upside down!) for the mouth.  To finish things off, I used some My Craft Spot Cranberry Crinkle Ribbon for the snowman's scarf.
Don't forget to head to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the Design Team inspiration - and to enter there for your chance to win today's prize: Christmas Eve Crinkle Ribbon (which contains some of the Cranberry ribbon that I used for my snowman's scarf - as well as Olive Green and Gingerbread Cookies ribbon).  How fun!

If you are interested in purchasing the new "White Christmas" stamp set, ALL FIVE sets will be available for purchase at My Craft Spot on Saturday.
25

My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day One

Monday, October 31, 2011
Welcome to Day One of the My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party!!  Each day this week, EVERY design team member will be sharing a project made with one of Kimberly's five new stamp sets.  My Craft Spot will also be showing photos of the projects and offering prizes just for commenting!  And on Saturday, we have a fun blog hop planned - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!! 

The first set of stamps is called "Jingle All the Way".  Here is the card I made with one of the fun stamps on this set:
This card was made using the Christmas Solutions cartridge for all cuts.  I welded two doors together (flipping one) to create a shaped card.  I embossed the main image with my Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder and inked everything!  I added some transparency for the window at the top of the door and embossed it with a snowflake folder for a frosted look.  I also heat embossed the sentiment and added Glossy Accents to my little berries (which were made from a small paper punch).  I finished everything off with some gorgeous Cranberry Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot.
Please head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the projects made with the NEW "Jingle All the Way" stamp set.  And don't forget to leave a comment at My Craft Spot to be eligible for today's prize of a Friends and Neighbors stamp set!

If you are interested in purchasing the new "Jingle All the Way" stamp set, ALL FIVE sets will be available for purchase at My Craft Spot on Saturday.
Don't forget to come back tomorrow to see my next My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party project!
30

Lunchbox Ghost Cards

Monday, October 24, 2011
It's time to get spooky at Fantabulous Cricut!  We are challenging you to create a project with a ghost on it.  My ghosts look more cute than scary - but that's okay as they are to be tucked inside my favourite people's lunch boxes next Monday.
These cards were super quick and easy to put together.  I cut the ghost twice from Paper Doll Dress Up - and made a bit of a shadow using my Gypsy.  The ghost is popped - and I added some fun googly eyes.  I stamped the sentiment and little star using stamps from My Craft Spot - and punched them out with Stampin' Up punches.  The fun orange licorice baker's twine is also from My Craft Spot.  The finished cards are 3x3 - perfect to tuck inside a lunch box.
My Craft Spot
If you haven't heard, you'll want to know that My Craft Spot is having a stamp release party next week!!  There will be prizes each day (from Monday to Friday) at My Craft Spot and a blog hop on Saturday - with prizes at EACH stop along the way!  The design team is hard at work creating some wonderful projects to share with you all.  You won't want to miss the fun!  And if you add the release party button to your blog, you will double your chances of winning a prize!

I'm sorry I'm behind in visiting your blogs!  On Thursday, I had a 2-hour seminar to present... worth 50% of my final grade - so was busy preparing for that.  I survived and feel pretty good about things.  Then we spent the weekend at an Autism Family Respite Outdoor Centre as my son won a family spot at the camp.  It was just the rest and relaxation we all needed - and heaps of fun too!  I'm on reading break this week - and despite all the reading I have to do, I am hoping to get caught up on my blog visits.

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I am entering my lunchbox ghost cards at Little Scrap Pieces, where Karen is having a "Copy Cat" challenge giveaway.   Hop on over to link up your own Halloween (or fall) project)!
32

Open If You Dare!

Monday, October 17, 2011
It's time for some 3-D Halloween fun at My Craft Spot, where this week's challenge is to create a 3-dimensional project with a Halloween theme.  I decided to make a "grown up" treat bag.  Initially, I was thinking of making something fun for the kids but I received Flower Shoppe a few weeks ago and have been itching to play with it since.  I decided to combine the My Craft Spot challenge with my insatiable urge, and this is what I came up with...
I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the bag itself, and then cut a panel for the front from the same purple cardstock that I had used for the bag.  Both were inked with black ink, and I also used my Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls folder to emboss the extra panel.  I cut a web frame from black cardstock using Happy Hauntings and then created my flower by cutting different sizes of Ruffle4 and Sunflwr2 from Flower Shoppe.  The majority of the cuts are black, with a few purple thrown in there too.  I assembled the flower with an oversized black brad to hold each layer together.  Once the panel, web and flower were on the bag, I spritzed it with some Stampin' Up Smooch Spritz.  I cut a thin "Drippy Goo" border and covered it with Glossy Accents.  This was attached to the top of the bag.  I stamped a My Craft Spot sentiment (from the Happy Haunting set) on purple cardstock and heat embossed it, adding two little black brads to the tag.
I made my own grass to to in the bag (by running some paper through a crimper, cutting it into thin strips and then squishing it in my hands). To finish things off, I cut a small bat from Happy Hauntings, attached it to a bit of black wire which I had coiled, and added it to the bag.

Please head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the design team inspiration.  We've got some new members on our team - and each one of them has incredible talent and creativity to share!  Also, in two weeks' time, Kimberly will be releasing more stamp sets.  I've had a sneak peek and LOVE each set.  I know you will too!!  She's also just released seam binding (her wonderful crinkle ribbon - only smooth!) so you will want to check that out as well.  Head to My Craft Spot to be part of all the excitement!
25

Subway Art

Monday, October 10, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!!
(In Canada, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the second Monday of October.)

It's all about wall décor this week at Fantabulous Cricut. I've been wanting to try some subway art for some time now, so decided that this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a go!

I first purchased a white canvas and painted it with a light brown acrylic paint.  (It's got a lovely distressed look in person, but it doesn't show up in the photo.)  I then used my Gypsy to design the art. To do this, I added a rectangle to my Gypsy design which was an inch smaller than my canvas. (My canvas is 12x16, so I created a rectangle to be 11x15.) Then I designed the phrases using a variety of fonts, extending each expression to 11 inches in order to have both sides justified. I cut the art from a piece of brown Cricut vinyl. I learned the hard way that one should never cut vinyl on a new mat. It was quite a pain to get the white backing off the mat once I'd removed the vinyl!  I had to remind myself to give thanks in all things and to choose to be happy!!

(The "Choose to be happy" portion is a scaled down version of wall art in my office which I posted about HERE.)

There are some wonderful creations for view at Fantabulous Cricut.  Head over to see what the rest of the design team has been working on - and to link up your own wall décor project.

Cartridges used:
Cuttin' Up
Jubilee
Gypsy Font
Nursery Rhymes
Kate's ABCs
Opposites Attract
Printing 101
Plantin SchoolBook
37

Too Cute to Spook!

Monday, October 3, 2011
It's challenge time again at My Craft Spot, and this one is such a fun one:  Too cute to spook!  Last month, I found a great deal on "Happy Hauntings".  I was so excited to see the adorable little mouse and decided that he would be perfect for the challenge!  He's just SO cute!
I did make a few small changes to the image by making the mouse's arm a bit longer and by changing the face on the little pumpkin basket.  (I did this with my Gypsy.)  I used a bat/web frame from Happy Hauntings as well.  The patterned papers are from K&Company's Spooktacular stack and the solid papers are from my stash.  I used a metallic silver cardstock for the mouse.  The sentiment and tiny little star stamps are from My Craft Spot's Candy Corn Kisses set, stamped on a banner from Happy Hauntings.  I LOVE the tiny little star!  It's so versatile and could easily be used as a snowflake or flower too.  It worked perfectly to fill in the empty spaces on my banner.  I also stamped the little star on each of the corners, punched with an EK Success corner punch.  I finished things off with some brads and fun Orange Licorice Baker's Twine from My Craft Spot.

Head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the Design Team inspiration - and to link up your own "Too Cute to Spook" project!  And don't forget that My Craft Spot is looking for FOUR new design team members.  You can read all the details HERE
23

Apple Addict

Sunday, October 2, 2011
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!
15
Former Design Team Member at My Craft Spot (2011-2015)
My Craft Spot


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