Peace on Earth

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!

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Flower Shoppe Birthday Card - and a winner!

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.

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Cricut Cake Mini Giveaway!

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!!

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Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl

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

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.

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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:

Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/

Cathie – http://www.creativecutter.org/

Charlotte - http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/

Crystal - http://www.littlecreationsblog.blogspot.com/

Faith Abigail - http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/

Glenda - http://glendascards.blogspot.com/

Jamie A - http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/

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

Jessica - http://cricutafterdark.blogspot.com/

Jewels – http://beautifulcrazyscrappylife.blogspot.com/

Kate – http://www.smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/

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

Lisa F - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/

Marlene – http://www.scrappincookie.blogspot.com/

Melanie – http://melaniemakes.blogspot.com/

Melissa – http://cricutkateer.blogspot.com/

Peggy – http://dailygracecreations.blogspot.com/

Robin - http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/

Sabrina – http://www.scrappinwithsabrina.blogspot.com/

Sarah - http://www.sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/

Sherrie – http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com/

Suzanne - http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

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

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.

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It's Turkey Time!

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!

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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!

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My Craft Spot Christmas and Winter Stamp Release Party Blog Hop

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:

Kimberly 

Kate (*you are here!)

Jayne

Aymee

Bobby

Amber

Marlene

Ally

Candy

And back to My Craft Spot to order your new stamps!

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Five

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!

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Four

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.

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Three

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.

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Day Two

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.

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