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! 

28

Mother's Day Bag

I hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend!  We have today off as well and are loving the long weekend!  It seems that the crafting world is quickly switching gears to Mother's Day and "Mom's the Word" at Fantabulous Cricut!

I've seen a few people creating with the bag from Life's a Party and love the look of it. Unfortunately, I don't have that cartridge - but I do have a Gypsy and Design Studio so I got to work creating the bag myself, using George and Basic Shapes. The flap on my bag is a bit more narrow than the one of Life's a Party, but otherwise I managed to reproduce it quite well.

I created the medallion with Home Decor, and ran the white center through my Cuttlebug. The little tulip is from Create a Critter and I glittered the bloom. I used Pooh Font for "Mum". I also faux stitched all around the front of the bag. To finish things off, I added an eyelet and ribbon.

I will also enter this bag at Creative Cutter Room (where the theme is a Mother's Day gift with pink, ribbon, faux stitching and two different flowers) and at My Sheri Crafts, where we have been challenged to create a 3-D gift item. 

Now it's your turn!  Head over to Fantabulous Cricut and link up your Mother's Day project.  Just make sure it contains a Cricut cut as well as Mum, Mom, Mother, etc.

26

Super Grover aka Super Uncle

Today's card isn't my usual type but I had such a fun time making it!  A few weeks ago, I saw a Super Grover card (I'm afraid I can't remember where) and was delighted to know that I had the cut on my Sesame Street Friends cartridge.  With my brother's birthday coming up, I knew I wanted to use the cut for his card.

I'm four years older than my brother and have such fond memories of him running around the house with a cape and helmet, letting us all know that he was Super Grover!!   He has since completed his graduate studies in biomedical engineering, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to remind him of yesteryear!!

Super Grover was cut with Sesame Street Friends - as was the sign above his head.  I hid the contours of "Sesame Street" and added "Super Uncle" with Jubilee.  (I don't have the Sesame Street font.)  I also created larger shadows for the sign using George and Basic Shapes.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment was cut with Zooballoo.  On the smaller mat, I used a QuicKutz embossing folder and I used my score board to score lines on the larger mat.  I used an EK Success punch for the red border at the bottom of the card.

I actually saw my brother this morning (his birthday!) as he is in town for Easter weekend so was able to hand deliver the card.  It was such a delight to see his reaction.  He loved it and claims that Super Grover is still his favourite!

I will enter this card at Celebrate the Occasion, where we were to follow a sketch to create a birthday card, and at Birthday Sundaes, where anything goes this week.

Celebrate the Occasion sketch

34

Here Comes Peter Cottontail

I made this card for the Hippity Hop challenge at Creative Cutter Room and the Easter challenge at Cooking With Cricut. I will also enter it at More than Favors' Easter challenge. 

I cut the little rabbit from Holiday Cakes.  (I stumbled across this rabbit, not realizing that he was on the cartridge and thought he was so cute!  I actually used the shadow feature as I liked the rounded nose a bit better.)  The grass is from Create a Critter and the eggs are from Doodlecharms.  I speckled the mauve egg with white spots and the pink egg with silvery glitter spots - although it is difficult to tell in the photo.  The scalloped and circle mats are cut from Mini Monograms, with the white circle embossed with my Swiss Dots folder.  The corners are punched with an EK Success punch.  I also did some inking and doodling prior to assembly.  I finished things off with a tiny gem for the rabbit's eye, some chalk for his cheeks and a little ribbon around his neck.  Inside, I stamped "Here comes Peter Cottontail" with a My Creative Time stamp, and added another little speckled egg.

I wish you all a very blessed Easter!

16

Basket Case Winners and Quick Little Baskets

First of all, I'd like to offer a huge thank you to all the lovely comments left for me during the "It's a Basket Case" Blog Hop, hosted by Rhonda of Scrap Happens with Rhonda.  I had such a wonderful time creating my projects and sampling the chocolates to ensure freshness and tastiness.

I used Random.org to select the winners.  For Day 1, the winner of the Baker's Twine from My Craft Spot is Deb Palmer (no blog address available).  For Day 2, the winner of their choice of Crinkle Ribbon or Baker's Twine (to a value of $9.99) is Jacqueline of Made by Jacqueline.  Congratulations, ladies!!  Please contact me at smallbitsofpaper(@)hotmail.com with your information so I can arrange to have your items sent!  You have one week to claim your prize.

I made these little baskets using Easter 2010.  I used Accent Essentials for the label and Paisley for the little flower on top.  (This flower cut matches the shape of the flower on the handle perfectly.)  The sentiment is a stamp from My Creative Time's Color Me Happy set.  The baskets are quite small, having been cut at 5" and then assembled.  I also made my own Easter grass to go inside.  (Instructions can be found at Fantabulous Cricut's Quick Tip Tuesday post.)  These are very simple and took next to no time to create.  I thought they'd be a nice treat at each place setting for Easter lunch.

One last thing... My friend, Natasha of Crafting with Natasha, is giving away a wonderful DCWV "Green Tea" paper pack when she reaches 200 followers.  Natasha has such a positive and upbeat outlook on life and it's been a delight for me to get to know her through our blogging.  Go and check out her blog!!

15

Blessed are the Cracked

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is "Do the Bunny Hop" - create any project with a bunny or a chick on it. I had created a few projects with bunnies last week so decided to go with a chick. Plus, I'd already had an idea in mind and thought it would fit in perfectly with this challenge!

I created my card with Create a Critter for the chick and egg and Mini Monograms for the oval frame. (The only reason I used Mini Monograms was that I was designing another card at the same time and had Mini Monograms open. I started with a circle shape and manipulated it to be oval.) I embossed the mat with Swiss Dots and the little chest piece with a folder that came with a die/emboss butterfly combo set. The little dots are perfect for smaller pieces. I FINALLY used Peachy Keen stamps for the face. (This was my first time using stamps to create a face.) I actually just used the eyes by using a marker instead of an ink pad. That way, I could avoid stamping the entire face. I did some doodling and added Glossy Accents to the little beak and StarDust gel pen to the eyelashes. I also used some Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot and attached a little flower brad and gem. The sentiment is computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up Ticket Corner Punch. The patterned paper is from a set of Easter papers sent to me by Evanna of Evanna's Paper Palace. (Thanks again, Evanna! I'm loving all my new goodies!)

The little eggs inside the card are from Easter 2010. I'd actually cut out rather a lot of little eggs last week and these were just two of the many left over.

I plan on giving this card to my sister.  We always spend Easter at her house.  She's a psychologist so I think she'll get a kick out of it.  We're all a little cracked in my family anyway!!

And now for some winners!!  I will announce the winners of the "It's a Basket Case" Blog Hop tomorrow but I have three winners from last week's Fantabulous Cricut Spring Fling Crawl.  The winners of the Crinkle Ribbon are JamieCrafts of Cute Cards and Crafts by Jamie and Jayne of Jayne Designs.  The winner of the Creative Time "Color Me Happy" stamp set is Jennifer of Musings of a Crafty Mom.  Also, one winner of the Cricut for Beginners DVD (from the Autism Awareness Blog Hop) has not contacted me so I went back to Random.org - and this time the lucky winner is Scrapbooking Beginner (how perfect is that to win this DVD?!) of An'Jenic Scrapbooking.  Congratulations, ladies!! I will be making contact with you later today.  Please email me at smallbitsofpaper(@)hotmail.com with your addresses so I can post your prizes!  You have one week to contact me.

Thank you all so very much for all the wonderful comments you've been leaving me.  I really do take great delight in reading each and every one.  I always feel so blessed and uplifted with the messages left for me!

Please remember to "Do the Bunny Hop" this week and create a project with a bunny or chick - and link up to Fantabulous Cricut!  I always love looking at the projects that are submitted each week.  I get such good ideas from you!

28

It's a Basket Case Blog Hop - Day 2

If you are looking for the Fantabulous Cricut Spring Fling (Blog Hop), you will find it HERE.

If you are looking for the "It's a Basket Case" Blog Hop (Day 1), you will find it HERE.

Welcome back to the "It's a Basket Case Blog Hop - Day 2! This hop is hosted by my dear friend Rhonda of Scrap Happens.  If you'd like to join in on this blog hop, you should start at Scrap Happens.  Perhaps you'll be the lucky winner of one of Rhonda's famous mini albums!

This hop is all about Easter baskets, bags and boxes - anything to hold those yummy Easter sweets!  If you've just arrived from Judy at Living Life and Loving It Every Day, you are in the right place!

For today's project, I created some little matchbox chocolate holders.  The boxes were created with Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I used some wonderful pattern paper sent to me by my Fantabulous Cricut design team sister, Evanna of Evanna's Paper Palace.  (She sent me a huge stash of fantastic goodies!!  Thanks so much, Evanna!)  I'd also like to give a shout out to Pam of Simply Pam - for I could not figure out how to create the matchboxes, but here post HERE explained it all for me!!  (Google is my best friend!)  

I used Design Studio to create a little window in my boxes by using a circle from George and Basic Shapes.  I then covered the back of them with transparency.  The scalloped frames were created with Mini Monograms and George and Basic Shapes.  The little bunnies were cut from Doodlecharms and their ears were cut with George and Basic Shapes.  I also used little hearts from an EK Success Border punch.  The little border itself was cut using the same punch.  I finished off the box by adding little brads as handles on the matchbox drawers.

Inside the boxes are miniature chocolate bars, wrapped with paper from DCWV's Springtime stack.  My youngest will take these to school to give to his teachers.

For today's giveaway, one lucky winner will be getting their choice of Crinkle Ribbon or baker's twine (value $9.99) from My Craft Spot - courtesy of me!  My Craft Spot also sells clear stamp sets - and remember, shipping to anywhere in Canada or the US is FREE!!  

For your chance to win, just add a comment to this post.  You do not need to be a follower to enter.  However, if you are a follower, please feel free to add a second comment!  I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 19. 

Your next step is a visit to Audrey at Cute and Some.   Audrey is full of creativity and always has wonderful projects to share.  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

**I am also going to enter these matchboxes at My Sheri Crafts, where this week's theme is bunnies, and at Crazy 4 Challenges, where the theme is to create an Easter gift.**

Here is the list of all participants in the It's a Basket Case Blog Hop:

• SCRAP HAPPENS
• You Had Me at Scrap
• Jean's Crafty Corner
• My Fantabulous Life
• C.C.'s Cards and Crafts
• Carolee's Scrappin' Spot
• Tamminnie's Designs
• Touched by a Butterfly
• Homemade Happiness
• Unique Monique
• Living Life and Loving It Every Day
• Small Bits of Paper
• Cute and Some
• Michele's Scrappy Creations
• 4 Goofballs
• Serenity Scrappers
• Love To Crop!
• Tryin' 2 Craft
• Minta's Creations
• Country Bumpkins Scrapper

Linked at:

50

"For You" - An Easter Card

If you are looking for the Fantabulous Cricut Spring Fling (Blog Hop), you will find it HERE.

If you are looking for the "It's a Basket Case" Blog Hop (Day 1), you will find it HERE.

On Sunday, I read a wonderfully inspiring post that touched the core of me and moved me deeply.  The post was written by K Andrew of Getting Cricky and you can read the post HERE.   (I left her blog feeling like a million dollars!)  She also posted about a challenge to create a project that portrays what inspires our hearts.  I really didn't think I would have time to complete this challenge by tomorrow's deadline, but I simply could not get the challenge out of my mind.  All week, I've been thinking deeply about what really inspires me.  I thought of my husband, and how he is my rock, my world, the air that I breathe.  I thought of my children and how I am incomplete without them and how they fill my heart so much that I think it's going to explode. I thought of my mum, for she has had an amazing influence on me and is somebody who loves and supports me through thick and thin.  I thought of the world of academia, and how my life holds a constant yearning to learn as much as I can.  I thought of various people in my life who have had and continue to have a significant impact on the person that I am.  With each thought I would have, I felt a tugging inside that I needed to keep digging to discover what it really is that truly inspires me.  And then I knew.  It came to me last night and although I didn't have time to make a project, the idea for a card came to mind and I knew exactly what to do.  I was up far too late, but I am so glad that I followed this through to completion.

I have a very personal and quiet faith, but it's very real all the same and it makes me who I am.  I would not be the person I am today if it was not for the joy granted to me through knowing that there is a God who loves me and who has his hand on me.  In the busyness of this Easter season, I made this card to remember the cross, what it means and the life-changing impact it has had on my life.

As a very young child, one of my favourite songs was:

Jesus is the shepherd

Guess who I am

Such a lovely secret

I'm his little lamb.

It was the words of this song that led me to choose the lamb for my card.  I suppose the lamb still represents me, looking to the cross and remembering the depth of its meaning.  And the "For You" is a reminder that Easter was and is for me - and for you.

When making this card, I was thrilled with the middle section but felt the top and bottom portions were lacking.  I knew I'd seen a card with a very pretty border and after a bit of a search, I remembered that it was Kimberly's Easter card at My Craft Spot.  Not only did I add a nice border to my card, but Kimberly's post also reminded me of the challenge at Celebrate the Occasion, which is to use a punch somewhere on the card.  The punched corners were just what I needed to finish things off!

Recipe:

Lamb - Paper Doll Dress Up, Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder

Cross - Pooh Font, Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder

Grass - Zooballoo

Little hill - Wrap it Up

White border - Holiday Cakes

Corners - EK Success

Flowers - Michaels $1.50 bin punch

Butterfly embossing - Crafts Too

Sentiment - Stampin' Up

Linked at:

28

It's a Basket Case Blog Hop (with a giveaway!)

If you are looking for the Fantabulous Cricut Spring Fling Crawl (Blog Hop), please go HERE.

Welcome to the Basket Case Blog Hop, hosted by my dear friend Rhonda of Scrap Happens.  Rhonda is one of the kindest, most generous people I know.  She makes amazing mini albums - and regularly gives them away!  If you'd like to join in on this blog hop, you should start at Scrap Happens.  Perhaps you'll be the lucky winner of one of Rhonda's famous mini albums!

This hop is all about Easter baskets, bags and boxes - anything to hold those yummy Easter sweets!  If you've just arrived from Judy at Living Life and Loving It Every Day, you are in the right place!

 I decided that I would create a few different treat holders. 

I got the idea for these adorable little carrots from Scrappin and Happy.  I stumbled across her video tutorial and fell in love with the little boxes.  They're so easy to make!  They are cut using Tags, Bags, Boxes and More, with transparency behind the "window" and tissue grass used for the leaves.  I embossed two of the boxes with my Cuttlebug, but the embossing was splitting the paper as I assembled the boxes so I just left the next two.  I filled them with candy coated chocolates (called Smarties in Canada and the UK).

These little pillow boxes were cut from Easter 2010 and I added a bit of transparency behind the bunny.  I added a bit of trim, created by welding a zig-zag image from Easter 2010.  The little egg is from the same cartridge, inked and then speckled with a white Gelly Roll pen.  These boxes were SO quick and easy to make and I almost feel guilty posting them!  The pillow boxes are filled with Easter Kisses.  Fortunately, I purchased far too many Kisses as I was enjoying them more than I should have as I worked!

I LOVE the way these little boxes turned out.  I used a window box from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More, cutting the top layer slightly larger than the bottom.  Again, I used transparency behind the opening.  I made a slider band to secure the box and then added the darling little rabbit from Paper Doll Dress Up.  (I had actually forgotten about this rabbit and then saw Shelly's adorable creation at Shelly's Card Blog, so I must give her credit as I've modelled my band after seeing her fabulous little pouches!  In fact, these boxes were an afterthought to my blog hop creations because I wanted to make something with the little PDDU rabbit!!)  I used George and Basic Shapes for the pink nose and ears.  I filled these boxes with the most disgusting marshmallow bunnies!!  They looked good in the shop but they taste horrible - and close up, they look quite frightening too!!  Hopefully, the box makes up for them!!

And now for my giveaway!  Once again, Kimberly from My Craft Spot has generously donated a prize.  This time, it's some of her fabulous baker's twine.  One lucky winner will receive 10 yards each of five different colours!!  That's 50 yards (over 45 meters) total!!  You can find Kimberly's hand-dyed Crinkle Ribbon, baker's twine and clear stamps at My Craft Spot - all with FREE shipping to anywhere in Canada and the US.  (At the bottom of this post, you can see some of Kimberly's wonderful creations, made with her Crinkle Ribbon and baker's twine.)  

For your chance to win this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post.  You do not need to be a follower of my blog.  However, if you are a follower, please leave a second comment telling me as such for an extra entry!   I will announce the winner on Tuesday, April 19.

Your next step is a visit to Audrey at Cute and Some.   Audrey is full of creativity and always has wonderful projects to share.  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Here is the list of all participants in the It's a Basket Case Blog Hop:

• SCRAP HAPPENS
• You Had Me at Scrap
• Jean's Crafty Corner
• My Fantabulous Life
• C.C.'s Cards and Crafts
• Carolee's Scrappin' Spot
• Tamminnie's Designs
• Touched by a Butterfly
• Homemade Happiness
• Unique Monique
• Living Life and Loving It Every Day
• Small Bits of Paper
• Cute and Some
• Michele's Scrappy Creations
• 4 Goofballs
• Serenity Scrappers
• Love To Crop!
• Tryin' 2 Craft
• Minta's Creations
• Country Bumpkins Scrapper

Projects created by Kimberly of My Craft Spot:

Linked at:

67

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!

9

FCCB Spring Fling and Giveaway

Welcome to Small Bits of Paper and the fifth Fantabulous Cricut Crawl...Fantabulous Cricut's version of a blog hop! 

It's Spring Time and everyone at Fantabulous Cricut has decided to have a Spring Fling!   Each design team member will be featuring an original Spring project that includes Pink, Green and Yellow on it, along with at least one Cricut cut.

If you've come from visiting Jennie at Earthy Scrap, 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 will be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Spring Fling" project at FCCB!

For my project, I created a little Easter egg gift box.  I used Wrap It Up for the box and tag, and stamped them with pink flowers and green leaves, using Stampin' Up stamps.  Before cutting the box, I replaced the image of a bride with an egg from Easter 2010.  I adhered a transparency behind the window prior to assembling the box.  The little nest and branch were cut from Zooballoo.  I inked all the little bits and also embossed the nest.  For the tag, I used a sentiment from My Creative Time's "Color Me Happy" set.  I added some gems to the tag and finished off the box with some Raspberry Truffle Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot.  

I am so excited to have prizes for THREE lucky blog hoppers!! 

Kimberly at My Craft Spot has generously donated TWO packages of Crinkle Ribbon.  My Craft Spot sells hand-dyed Crinkle Ribbon and baker's twine - and Kimberly has just come out with her own line of clear stamps, too!!  Don't forget, My Craft Time offers FREE shipping anywhere in Canada and the US.  (At the bottom of this post, I've added a slide show featuring some of Kimberly's fabulous projects, created with her quality Crinkle Ribbon and baker's twine.  They are SUCH fantastic products!!)  

Emma, from My Creative Time,  has generously donated a "Color Me Happy" stamp set for me to give to another lucky blog hopper!  I have a number of Emma's stamp sets and I LOVE them!  They are so fun - and super quality too!  There are lots of stamp sets to choose from at the My Creative Time shop.

For your chance to win, all you need to do is leave a comment.  You do not need to be a follower of my blog.  However, if you are a follower, please leave a second comment telling me as such for an extra entry! 

Now it's your turn! Let's see your Spring Fling projects!  Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project and Pink, Green and Yellow!

Next stop...Larelyn's blog, Handmade From My Heart. Go see what she has in store for you today... And 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!

Here's a list of all FCCB members in the Spring Fling Crawl:

1. Amy: http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com/

2. Audrey: http://www.paperartbyaudrey.com/

3. Barb: http://bugbites411.blogspot.com/

4. Dana: http://iwycd.blogspot.com/

5. Evanna: http://evannas-paper-palace.blogspot.com/

6. Helen: http://www.craftingcricutmom.com/

7. Jenae: http://justjenae.blogspot.com/

8. Jennie: http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

9. Kate: http://smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/

10. Larelyn: http://handmadefromtheheart-designsbylarelyn.blogspot.com/

11. Lisa C: http://lisa-craft-blog.blogspot.com/

12. Lisa N: http://prettypaperprettyribbons.blogspot.com/

13. Maquel: http://papermaineiac.blogspot.com/
14. Marlene: http://scrappincookie.blogspot.com/

15. Rae: http://wahoocrafts.blogspot.com/

16. Robin: http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/
17.Sandee: http://sandeeallen.blogspot.com/

18. Sarah: http://sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/

19. Saundra: http://luvscrappingtogether.blogspot.com/

20.Tamara: http://happylifecraftywife.typepad.com/blog/

 21.Tanya: http://nonnascraftcorner.blogspot.com/

I am going to enter my Easter egg box at Cricut Cardz Challenge where this week the challenge is to create a project for Easter, at Bitten By the Bug 2 where we are challenged to use the egg from Easter 2010 (or any egg), and at Cooking with Cricut, where the challenge is also all about Easter.

Slide show showcasing projects created by Kimberly at My Craft Spot.

142

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!

13

I Was Made For Lovin' Ewe, Baby!

If you are looking for the

Autism Awareness Blog Hop and Giveaway,

you will find it HERE.

First of all, I would like to say a HUGE thank you for all the wonderful comments and support that I have been receiving through the Autism Awareness Blog Hop.  I have felt so uplifted and encouraged this weekend and appreciate the kindness, compassion and love that have been demonstrated toward me and my family.  It has been overwhelming and so very, very appreciated.

I made a card this evening for Chloe and her Clip on Koalas' 100 Followers Challenge.  (I just love that blog name!)  Chloe has challenged us to create a project with a smile on it (or at least a project that will make someone smile).  Chloe has a fantastic sense of humour and I always get a few good laughs when visiting her blog.  She strikes me as one who must have a permanent smile on her face.

I decided to make a card for my husband, using the song "I Was Made For Lovin' You" as my inspiration.  I cut the little lamb from Easter 2010 and gave him a Paul Stanley look by adding a star from George and Basic Shapes to his right eye.  He had to have a smile, so I cut that from the little lamb on Create-a-Critter.  I also cut a mat from Accent Essentials to put behind the lamb.  I did some embossing with my Cuttlebug and added some googly eyes, gems and baker's twine was well.  For the inside of the card, I computer generated a sentiment which reads: I was made for lovin' ewe, Baby!

I've got another couple of blog hops coming up this month - with more prizes from My Craft Spot to give away!  I'm looking forward to sharing my projects with you soon!

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Autism Awareness Blog Hop

Welcome to the Autism Awareness Blog Hop!
We are so glad you are joining us!!

The cause of this Blog Hop is very near and dear to all of us, and we all need to be aware that Autism is rapidly increasing in numbers in our children. Current statistics indicate that 1 in every 100 children is diagnosed with autism.  Autism is a neurological disorder that typically presents during the first three years of life, affecting one's ability to communicate and interact with others.

Today, on the 4th Annual World Autism Awareness Day, we are joining  prominent buildings across North America and the world — including the Empire State Building in New York City and the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada — who will turn their lights blue to raise awareness for autism and to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day.  Light it up Blue is aiming to light the world blue all throughout April — city by city, town by town — by taking action to raise autism awareness in our communities.  Help us LIGHT it up BLUE this month!

If you have already started the blog hop, you should have arrived here from Marianne's blog - Paper or Fabric Crafter. If not, please feel free to start at the beginning of the hop at Pink Cricut.

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As my regular followers know, my son has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.  Fortunately, as my husband and I are both teachers, we knew the signs of autism and were able to get him the support and help he needs.  This has not come without its challenges though, and the journey has been painful at times, especially with respect to  rejection from others.  However, with a change in schools two years ago, our son has come a long way and we are so thankful for the support given to him and to us as parents.  Our son is a treasure with many, many gifts.  There is something big in store for him in this life and there is a special purpose just for him.  I am blessed to be his mother and cannot imagine life without my precious little guy.  Although I wish I could take away his struggles, I would never want to change who he is. 

Today we will attend our local Autism Association's World Autism Awareness Celebration.  For this celebration, I made a candy jar using My Community, Mickey Font, Alphalicious and my Cuttlebug.   

I am DELIGHTED to have TWO sponsors for this blog hop! 

Kimberly from My Craft Spot has very generously donated 5 spools of Bakers Twine and a set of Crinkle ribbon for me to pass along to one lucky blog hopper.  I have made a few projects using Crinkle Ribbon which you can view here, here and here.  It is wonderful to work with!  It's so easy to order from My Craft Spot and Kimberly is quick to ship.  You can choose from a variety of baker's twine and hand-dyed Crinkle Ribbon.  Plus, shipping to anywhere in Canada and the US is FREE!! Here are a few of Kimberly's projects:

I'm also thrilled to be giving away TWO Cricut for Beginners DVDs, generously donated by Cricut for Beginners.  The DVD lessons are geared to a variety of learning styles and contain information on every feature of your Cricut machine, with each lesson clearly laid out and functions applied multiple times to help you master skills.  Whether you are just starting out or skilled at using your Cricut, there is information in these lessons for you!  In addition to the Cricut tutorials, Cricut for Beginners contains numerous bonus features - including over 50 project "cheat sheets" - complete with .cut and .gypsy files!!

Here's the Cricut for Beginners trailer to give you just a taste of what's available:





To be entered in my blog hop giveaway, just leave a comment on this post!  Also, if you are a follower, feel free to leave a SECOND comment letting me know to get a SECOND entry!!  I will announce the winners on Friday, April 8. 

Thanks so much for hopping along with us on Autism Awareness Day!

Here is the full line up for the blog hop:

Sarah at Pink Cricut  

Joy at Obsessed with Scrapbooking

Elizabeth at 217 Creations

Paula at More Than Favors 

Michelle at Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker

Alma at Alma's Pink Life

Marianne at Paper or Fabric Crafter

Kate at Small Bits of Paper

Looking for some fun Autism Awareness Gear?  Check out CircusBaby!

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