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!

21

You Knock My Socks Off

Some of the Fantabulous Cricut Design Team members were sent the Quirky Quotes stamp set from Scrappy Moms Stamps. The set includes some really fun expressions.  You can check out the Fantabulous Cricut Spotlight page HERE to see some of the other stamps in the set put to good use.  As soon as I received my set, I looked at the stamps and knew exactly what I wanted to make first!!

I created this card using the Meow Lite cartridge.  I also used Create a Critter for the cloud and a Stampin' Up border punch.  I did lots of doodling and also popped the cat and socks for a bit of dimension.

Scrappy Moms Stamps are sponsoring the challenge at Fantabulous Cricut this week.  Head on over and submit your project to win your own set of Quirky Quotes!

29

Birthday Banner for a 9 Year Old

I am so excited to be a guest designer for My Sheri Crafts!  This week's challenge is "Party Favours" - and it's actually a two week challenge which means that you have 14 days to get your submissions in.  The theme is perfect for me as all my children have August birthdays - so our month will be filled with parties, cakes and lots and lots of fun!

I decided to make a banner for my youngest, who is turning 9 years old.  I chose some bright, fun colours for the banner.  The main scalloped squares were cut with Celebrations and the letters for "NINE" were cut with Mickey Font.  I embossed the top layers of the letters with two different Cuttlebug folders.  The party snakes are from Create a Critter.  I assembled the banner with some ribbon and added some tulle to finish things off.

I actually took some time this week to make this banner and also created a card which I will post tomorrow.  (My other projects for this month were all completed before my July class started.  I have next to no free time - but it was such a delight to turn on my Cricut again and take a mental rest.  I have just one week left of classes.  I am enjoying them and learning so much but am certainly looking forward to a break too!

Please head over to My Sheri Crafts and link up your own "party favour" projects - and see the rest of the fabulous design team inspiration.  Thank you, Sheri, for allowing me to guest design for you!  

*I've also added this project at Decorate to Celebrate for their child's birthday challenge.

20

Sweet 17 Card

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is "I Scream for Ice Cream".  My daughter is a HUGE fan of ice cream and I decided to take advantage of this week's theme to create a card for her birthday next month.

I used lots of Pop Dots on this card:

Recipe:
George and Basic Shapes - card base and little circle and shadow
Mini Monograms - scalloped circle mat and shadow
Indie Art - ice cream cone
Wall Decor and More - "sweet"
Kate's ABCs - 17
Cuttlebug - Happy birthday folder and 2x2 flower folder (on little circle)
Glossy Accents
Gems
PopDots


Sorry this is such a short and sweet post.  I am drowning in assignments!  However, I would like to give a huge thanks to Rhonda of Scrap Happens with Rhonda and Kristan of Baby Cakes for the wonderful awards they passed along my way.  I certainly don't feel I deserve any awards with my lack of posting on blogs these days...  I really do miss you all! 

35

Elephant Crossing Guard

It's time for another Monday challenge at My Craft Spot.  For those of you who have been followers for awhile, you know that each summer and Christmas, I make a card for my youngest son's crossing guard and always include a stop sign.  Lynn tells me that she keeps and displays them all!  This is the card I made for this end-of-year celebration.

The challenge this week at My Craft Spot is "Ink it Up" - so I did lots of inking around the edges.  Most of the card was made with scraps, with the exception of the kraft card base.  I created the card by welding together two of the flower image from Plantin' SchoolBook using my Gypsy.  (One was flipped.)  The blue mat is part of the same image and I embossed it using the Polka Dots folder through my Cuttlebug.  The elephant is from Paisley and the STOP sign is from Going Places.  I welded a handle to the sign using George and Basic Shapes and added a gem for the flashing red light.  I did some doodling and added Glossy Accents to the sunglasses.  I also added a "Hip Hip Hooray" sentiment from My Craft Spot's Sweet Sentiments #2.  The sentiment is perfect for end of school (and start of summer holidays)!  To finish things off, I added some sky blue crinkle ribbon and red baker's twine - both from My Craft Spot.

Please head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the design team inspiration - and to link up your own "Ink it Up" project!


(I'm still up to my eyeballs in readings, research, papers and presentations.  This month will continue to be incredibly busy and I look forward to visiting your blogs as I am able.)

21

My Graduate - and Canada Day Blog Hop Winners

My middle guy graduated from grade eight last week.  I had downloaded all the photos from that special night to my computer and it crashed a few days later.  (That makes the third time I've needed the hard drive replaced since I bought it new in the fall!  Avoid Dell at all costs!!)  Although I do back up important photos and documents, I had not yet backed up the photos and was absolutely devastated to think that I'd lost them.  Fortunately, though, I was able to perform a photo recovery with my camera and retrieve the majority.  Phew!  Anyway here's a photo of my handsome man receiving his diploma.

Also, thanks so much to all who played along in the Canada Day Blog Hop.  It was a delight to celebrate with you!  I went to Random.org and the lucky winners are #6 - Shen of My Curious Crafts and #25 - Melissa of Created by Sunshine Honeybee.  Congratulations!!  You have each won a $15 gift certificate from My Craft Spot.  Please send me an email with your full name and email address so I can get your gift certificates off to you!  (You have one week to claim your prize.)

16

Pool Time!

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is Pool Time:  create a water-themed project.  I knew right away that I wanted to use the sweet little "water dog" from Paper Pups for this one.

I cut the card base using Wrap It Up (welded with my Gypsy) and the blue mat from George and Basic Shapes.  I embossed the mat with D'Vine Swirls too.  I did a fair bit of inking and used a Peachy Keen stamp for the eyes.  I added some doodling all over and Glossy Accents to the pup's nose and duck's beak.  I also gave the duck some little black gem eyes.  The sentiment is from My Craft Spot's Sweet Sentiment Set #1 and cut out with a Stampin' Up punch.  I also added a little bit of My Craft Spot baker's twine to the button by the sentiment and finished everything off with some wonderful crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot. 

If your weather is anything like ours, Pool Time is a perfect theme for this time of year!  Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the wonderful projects created by the rest of the design team - and link up your own water-themed project!

If you have not yet entered my Canada Day Blog Hop giveaway, there is still time! 

(Click HERE to go to the blog hop post.)

EVERYBODY is invited to participate.  You have until Tuesday at midnight to submit your comment to be eligible to win one of two $15 gift certificates from My Craft Spot. 

Finally, I am back to class today for full-time studies through the month of July.  While I certainly hope to be able to make blog visits, my time will be especially limited this month and I might not be able to make my regular rounds.  I'll be by whenever I can though!  I love to see your creations!

22

Canada Day Blog Hop

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Welcome to the CANADA DAY BLOG HOP hosted by Tara & Jacqueline!  If you have arrived here from Tara's blog, Homemade Happiness, then you are in the right spot. If you just happened upon my blog and would like to start at the beginning of the hop, please click HERE. In honour of Canada Day, we are all making projects with a Canadian theme to celebrate our nation's birthday! 

I chose to make two types of treat bags and a set of little cards.  

The wind was perfect for this shot!!

I found some red and white jelly beans at our local bulk food store and made little bags for them using Wrap It Up.  I hid the contours of the tie (which was originally on the bag) and replaced it with a leaf from Create a Critter.  I then added some transparency behind each leaf shape in order to keep the jelly beans inside.  I also added some extra score lines at the top of each side in order to have the bag close at the top.  I tied and curled some ribbon to each bag to finish things off. 

I also found some chocolate covered jujubes at the bulk food store and put them inside small, clear baggies.  I cut bag toppers, rounded the corners, punched bottom borders and ran the toppers through my crimper.  I then computer generated small tags with a patriotic, flag waving beaver and the words "Fresh Canadian Beaver Droppings".  To finish off the toppers, I attached Create a Critter leaves which I had embossed with my Cuttlebug.  Oddly enough, despite the caption on the bags, my children and nieces are quite excited to get their baggies!

The leaves are stamped with "Love you!" - a My Craft Spot stamp

I also made these cute little cards for my husband and children.  I used George and Basic Shapes to cut the red rectangles for either side of the flag and the little leaves were cut with Create a Critter.  I then used a "Love you!" stamp from My Craft Spot's Inside and Out Set #2 to stamp the flags with VersaMark.  I added some My Craft Spot baker's twine and had a quick set of cards already to go!

MY PRIZES

Here on my blog, I am giving away a $15.00 gift certificate to My Craft Spot.  In addition, Kimberly from My Craft Spot is donating a $15.00 gift certificate to her shop.  That means there will be TWO lucky winners here just at Small Bits of Paper!!  You can see Kimberly's fabulous stamp sets HERE.  While you are there, check out her great selection of hand-dyed crinkle ribbon and baker's twine as well.  Kimberly offers FREE SHIPPING to Canada (and the US), and as all Canadians know, this is a big deal!!  For your chance to win one of these two gift certificates, simply leave a comment on this post.  You do not need to be a follower to win.  However, if you are a follower of my blog, you are welcome to leave a second comment indicating as such for an extra entry into the random draw.  You have until midnight on Tuesday, July 5 to enter and I will announce the winners on Wednesday, July 6.

 BLOG HOP PRIZES

The following are the prizes being offered by the sponsors of the blog hop.  In order to win one of these prizes, please comment on the Canada Day Blog Hop stops and then link your project at Homemade Happiness.

The Scrapbooking Cafe - 3 X $10.00 GC

************

 Bugaboo Digital Stamps --- 7 Digital Stamps

************

Pink By Design --- Canadian Stamp Set

************

My Stamping Studio - Lime Twist Products pack from My Mind's Eye

************

Digis With Attitude! --- $10.00 gift card

************

Graphic Cat Creations --- Freebie + $15.00 gift card

************

One Crazy Stamper --- $25.00 gift card

Please be sure to drop by our sponsors to show some appreciation for their support. 

Your next stop is a visit with Heather at Princess Paper Projects.

I hope you enjoy our Canada Day Blog Hop.
Thanks for joining us and hopping along!

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Here is the hop list in case you get lost:
Tara - http://creativeprincess-homemadehappiness.blogspot.com/

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

Heather - http://princesspaperprojects.blogspot.com/

Kimberly - http://www.justwordz.ca/

Michelle - http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/

Tracy - http://thecroppingcanuck.blogspot.com/

Kerry - http://mommakcrafts.blogspot.com/

Avril - http://totallyscrapaddicted.blogspot.com/

Nicole - http://canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/
Cheri - http://graphicatdesigns.blogspot.com/

Courtney - http://craftingwithcourtney.blogspot.com/

Jacqueline - http://madebyjacqueline.blogspot.com/

*My wonderful friend, Angi, from Angi & Cokie Designs, is hosting a gift bag challenge at Do More With Less.  I will enter my treat bags there!

50