Penguin at the Beach

Hello from Niagara Falls!  I feel like I've hardly been home at all this summer - but I'm not complaining one bit!  I am so incredibly blessed to have such wonderful holidays and am enjoying every minute.  I'll be home again next week though... to stay - and will have almost two weeks off before I head back to work.  I have accepted a new position at a local college which means no more commute!!  I'm so excited!  I do have lots to pack into those two weeks but am really hoping to pay more visits to my blogging friends.

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is "Jump In and Cool Off" which is perfect for the hot and humid weather we've been having!  We are challenging you to create a project with a water theme (i.e., pool, beach, waterpark, etc.).  I decided to make an island beach card for my youngest who LOVES penguins. 

Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut and see what the rest of the design team has made for this week's challenge!  There are some great projects posted!

Recipe:

Penguin - Christmas Cheer

Duck ring and beach ball - Everyday Paper Dolls

Waves - Plantin SchoolBook and Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder

Palm tree - Create a Critter and Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder

Sun - Celebrate with Flourish

Island - Just Because Cards

Sentiment - My Craft Spot Tiny Tags 2

Cloud background - Peachy Keen Stamps

Glossy Accents

Heart Gem

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Christmas Tags (and a Bag)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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Fantabulous Cricut "Deck The Halls" Crawl

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

In honour of the approaching Christmas holiday, we're having a "Deck The Halls" Crawl. Each Design Team member will be featuring an original Christmas/Holiday-themed project that could be used to decorate and spruce up their homes for the holiday season!

If you've come from visiting Joyce at Passion for Paper, 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 our DT members' blogs, AND there will be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Deck The Halls" project at FCCB! How fun is that?

For my project, I created an advent tree. I purchased a small tree and pot at a craft store. I used gold spray paint to spray the pot and also added a bit over the tree for gold shimmer. I added a bow on the pot as well. I then created 24 “sour cream containers” using designer paper from K&Company’s Secret Santa pad, cutting each sheet into four 6x6 squares. Inside each pouch, I added a sentence from the First Christmas Story and some treats (mini candy canes, kisses, jubes, etc.). I cut the numbers using Cuttin’ Up. The scallop and circle frame are from Mini Monograms. I then punched a small hole in each pouch and hung them from the tree.

I also made the star tree topper from George and Basic Shapes. I actually used the sun, but hid the middle contours. I then cut some smaller “stars” the same way. I embossed the largest star using a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and added some word art from Christmas Cheer, cutting the top layer in green and the shadow in red. The little stars are attached with some gold jewellery wire. Each of the stars (large and small) was cut twice and adhered to each other in order to hide the tape and glue and to look finished from all angles.

Each night after supper, we open a pouch and enjoy the treats. The sentence from the story gets read and then added to our "advent wall". Every few days, we read all the sentences so far. The number tag is then removed from the pouch and added to the tree with the ribbon so the tree doesn't look bare.

The prize I’m offering contains journaling tag stamps, messy dates stamps and a make-your-own card set. To enter, simply leave a comment on this blog post. If you are a follower, you are welcome to leave a second post for an extra entry. The winner will be announced on December 22.

Now it's your turn! Let's see your Christmas/Holiday-Themed Decor projects! Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project!

Next stop is Leigh's blog, My Scrappy Journey. Go and see what she has in store for you today. 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!

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Rudolph the Carolling Reindeer

I feel as though I am in heaven.  I had no commitments this evening.  No class, no running around with kids, no homework... As my husband left for basketball, he asked what I would do with the extra time.  I looked at him in mock shock and answered, "Craft!"  He laughed and replied that he should have known!  I did finish reading the novel Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my youngest too.  What a great evening!

Earlier, I was visiting Stampwilly Designs and was smitten by the adorable reindeer card that April had made.  I thought it was such a clever idea that I just had to make one myself!  You can see April's card HERE.

The card is 5.25 x 5.25 inches.  I used a Creative Memories corner rounder punch on the card base and the white mat.  I embossed the white mat with a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  This week, the theme at Serenity Scrappers is "roll with the punches".  I have a few punch around the page sets, and have only once used a set to create a full border - so was inspired by my friends at Serenity Scrappers to give it a go!  I used a Martha Stewart snowflake set to create the red mat.

Rudolph's face, mouth, teeth and nose were cut with George and Basic Shapes and the hoofs and antlers were cut with Christmas Cheer.  I manipulated the images in Design Studio to find the sizes I was happy with.  I printed off a bit of music (Away in a Manger - I wanted Rudolph to really be carolling!)  and attached a ribbon bow tie (my ribbon just didn't look right as a scarf) and I had my take on the card.

I am entering this card at:
Anything Goes Challenge Blog (embossing)
Made by Momo (use some sort of embossing on your project)
Crazy 4 Challenges (square card)
Cards for Men (animals)

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Vintage Christmas ATCs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Make It Stop (Headless Snowman) Card

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

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

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

And now for the inside...

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Candy Store Card

If you have not yet had the opportunity to enter my Canada Day Blog Hop giveaway,

you may do so here (giveaway open until Sunday, July 4).

If you have not yet had the opportunity to enter my CSN Stores giveaway,

you may do so here (giveaway open until Wednesday, July 7).

I was so excited to find a wonderful tutorial at Jeannie Phillips' A Place for My Cards blog.  Jeannie used her Cri-Kits pens to create a lovely café card, with the majority of the contours being penned instead of cut with a blade.  I was so excited when I saw her card and tutorial (which is in two parts, the first of which can be found here) and could not wait to give this a go with the new gel pens and gel pen holder I just received from Amy Chomas at Chomas Creations.  I had won the set in a challenge at Fantabulous Cricut.  (I have just been accepted to join the design team at Fantabulous Cricut!!  I am so excited and humbled that they would choose me to join their talented group of crafters.  Head to Fantabulous Cricket on Monday to see the first of my design team creations!!)

I had been especially struck with the look of Jeannie's card and would have liked to have simply recreated the one she had made.  It's quite striking with its black and white contrast.  However, I decided to try something to make my card my very own.  I decided to use the candy store from My Community and put lollipop trees in front.  The lollipops are cut from Doodlecharms and I used glitter for the top portion.  I also cut a little sweet from Christmas Cheer which I put inside the card.  All layers are popped for a bit of dimension.  Although Jeannie's instructions are for creating a card with a Gypsy, I was easily able to transfer her ideas and created my card with Design Studio.

This card was such a simple one to make.  I love its simplicity.  Thanks, Jeannie, for sharing such a great idea!!

Also, Amy (of Chomas Creations) has a wonderful video tutorial which provides instructions on the use of the gel pen holder with the Cricut.  Click here to access the link.

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