My Craft Spot Spring Stamp Release Party - Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the My Craft Spot Spring Stamp Release Party! Today, we are showcasing projects created with the NEW Stampin' Around Spring stamp set. This set coordinates perfectly with the My Craft Spot Tiny Doilies metal dies.

I made a little gift purse for my project, using a cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  The pretty cardstock is from a Recollections pack.  I took a strip of 12 x 1.5 purple cardstock and punched the edges with a Martha Stewart border punch before folding it to make my rosette.  I then layered some cuts created with My Craft Spot Tiny Doilies metal dies, the top one stamped with a sentiment from the NEW Stampin' Around Spring stamp set.  I finished things off with a couple of layered gems and added a purple handle for my purse.

Don't forget to check out all the WONDERFUL Stampin' Around Spring creations over at My Craft Spot today - and leave a comment there for your chance to win today's prize, a Tiny Doilies metal dies set!!  Woo hoo!!  I'll be back tomorrow with a new project - created using another wonderful NEW My Craft Spot stamp set!    

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My Craft Spot Stamp Release Party - Day Four

I can hardly believe that it is Thursday already!!  This week is flying by as I try to fit in all my tasks.  Thank you so much to all of you who have left such uplifting and encouraging comments for me this week.  I do appreciate them.

Today is the fourth day of the My Craft Spot Christmas/Winter Stamp Release Party.  Today, we are showing sneak peeks of the NEW Think Snow stamp set.  This set is a fun one!

No, I don't live in an institution.  Today's pictures were taken at my office.  Due to my crazy-busy life right now - and the fact that it's too dark to take photos when I'm at home - I took my project and camera to work to take these photos!!

When I think of snow, I think of snowmen!  I decided to create some little snowmen treat boxes.  (I got the idea for these boxes from Jayne of Jayne's Designs.  Last year, she made similar boxes using Santa and a reindeer.  I was so smitten with Jayne's boxes that I decided to make some myself - but with snowmen!)

The boxes were made using Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I used Doodlecharms for the snowmen's heads, noses and arms.  I added eyes and buttons using Glossy Enamel.  Each snowman has a little red bow tied with the NEW red jute string from My Craft Spot.  The boxes are hung with Cranberry crinkle ribbon, also from My Craft Spot.

The fun little sentiment is from the NEW Think Snow stamp set.  The sweet teensy snowflakes are from the same set!  I used circles from the My Craft Spot Tiny Doilies metal dies to create the little tags.  For a splash of extra colour, I punched some green leaves.

Be sure to head over to My Craft Spot to see the rest of the fabulous projects created by Kimberly and the design team.  Plus, leave a comment for Kimberly while you are there for a chance to win today's prize - a My Craft Spot New Arrival stamp set.

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Cake Box

Happy New Year!  I've been on holidays (and enjoying a break from reality!) so haven't posted for a few weeks.  I do hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and holiday celebrations.  Today, we all head back to work and school.  Last semester, I finished up the course requirements of my M.Ed. and so begin my thesis project this semester.  I'm excited and scared at the same time!

I've always wanted to make a little cake-shaped box, and this week's "It's Delicious" challenge at My Craft Spot has provided me with the perfect opportunity to do so.  I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the box and used a Martha Stewart lace punch for the trim.  I added cream seam binding from My Craft Spot around the trim.  The large paper flower and leaves were cut with Flower Shoppe and I used little punches to make the smaller flowers on the top and back of the box.  Glass beads were added to the centre of all the flowers too.  

I finished things off with some Vintage Vanilla crinkle ribbon from My Craft Spot and a My Craft Spot sentiment from the Friends and Neighbours stamp set.  Papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Double Deck stack and the tag was hand cut from a piece of scrap cardstock. 

Please head over to My Craft Spot for some more It's Delicious inspiration, and to add your own delectable paper treat to this week's challenge for your chance to win a super prize.  Be sure to check out the new baker's twine, stamp sets and Bitty Bags too - all perfect for your Valentine's creations!

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Open If You Dare!

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!

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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:

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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:

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Fantabulous Cricut Ribbon Challenge

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to use ribbon on your project.  I decided that I would make a set of Christmas tags as a thank you gift for a special friend of mine - and package them in a box tied with ribbon!  I made three sets of tags - with each set cut from Very Merry Tags.  The first set was cut from metallic gold and green cardstocks.  I used these same cardstocks for the box (a "crayon box") which was cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I cut some mats and rounded the corners with a Creative Memories corner rounder punch.  The "For You" was cut from Winter Frolic and the little snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  I also embossed the top mat with the Divine Swirl Cuttlebug folder.  Before adhering the mats, I attached a gold ribbon to tie at the top of the box.

This photo is the back of the box.  The mats are slightly larger, but I did the same thing - this time using a reindeer that was left over from cutting out the tags.  (The little light bulbs are my favourite of all the tags.)

I also made some snowflake tags from pale blue and metallic white cardstock.  Each snowflake has either a white pearl or a clear gem in the centre. 

Another set was made using metallic shiny red cardstock with either metallic white (for the snowman and Santa) or glittery green (for the trees).  I added some gems to the trees as well.  (Sorry for the shadows and glare.  Those trees really are a magnificent green!)

The tags will all go inside the box for gift-giving!  Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the rest of the design team has come up with - and to enter your own project with ribbon!  I'd love to see what you create!

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Fantabulous Cricut Crawl: Button Up for School

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

If you've come from visiting Leigh at My Scrappy Journey, 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.

In honour of Back To School time, we're calling our second Fantabulous Cricut Crawl "Button Up For School".  Each design team member will be featuring a button somewhere on her project.

Each design team member will be showcasing an original project which will feature a button AND a Cricut cut somewhere on the project. 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 too, AND there will be a grand prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a project meeting the the "Button Up For School" challenge criteria!  How fun is that?

I love to hide little treats in the lunchboxes of my loved ones (kids and husband alike)!  Last Tuesday was the first day of school for my crew, so I did a bit of baking for them, and decided to make things extra special by creating small "back to school" bags in which to place the treats.  For this project, I used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More to cut little bags using paper from DCWV's Spring Stack (even though back to school symbolizes the end of summer/beginning of fall).  The books and apple are an image that I cut from Hello Kitty Greetings using different colours of cardstock.  I then handcut an initial for each family member using scraps from the creation of the bag.  I placed a coordinating button above the initial and added some ribbon to the bag.  Everybody was thrilled to find their surprises at lunch!

I'll be offering a prize here on my blog.  All you have to do is leave a comment for this post!  If you are a follower, please leave a SECOND comment for an extra entry.  You have until Saturday evening at midnight (Eastern) to enter.  I will post the winner's name on next week's Fantabulous Cricut challenge post (Monday).

What am I offering?  I am offering an It's the Thought stamp set from Stampin' Up, which I received from my wonderful demonstrator, Mandy.  If you are in Canada, Mandy can help you with all your Stampin' Up needs (and believe me, she's fantastic).  Check out her blog at Kids' Collage. 

Now it's your turn! See if you can incorporate a button on your own "Button Up For School" project. Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project!

Next stop... Joyce's blog, Passion for Paper. 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 Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the contest!

Happy Crawling!

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Lunchbox Treats

Each Monday is "lunchbox loveletter lundi" (lundi is French for Monday) at our house, the day I tuck a handmade card into the lunchboxes of my most favourite people in this world.  Tomorrow marks the last Monday of the school year, so I decided to add an extra treat to the tradition.

I made these sour cream containers using papers from DCWV.  The containers are filled with candy-coated chocolates, which we call Smarties.  I'm stingy with the treats around here, so I'm sure the containers will be quite well received!  I cut a sun and popsicle (with shadows) using Doodlecharms.  I ran the sun through my Cuttlebug little hearts folder.  I also added some ink dots and Tim Holtz stickles to the popsicle.  I made a little tag with Tags, Bags, Boxes & More and resized it in Design Studio.  I then cut little one inch letters from paper in my DCWV Spring Stack and glued them to the tags.  (Each letter used is the first initial of somebody's name.) The string used with the tags is from my cross-stitch supply bag of yonder year!

Years ago, I heard some wonderful advice from a friend.  When she was growing up, instead of her mother saying "no" all the time, she would respond to requests for treats and junk food with, "When we go camping."  I do the same thing.  We buy things like Frosted Flakes, bags of potato chips, candies and other treats when we go camping.  We camp every year, and trips to the beach are always part of this.  No trip to the beach is complete without a visit to the concession stand!!  We always enjoy a popsicle or ice cream as we spend time together next to the water.  I can't wait until August - our camping time together!!

Remember to come back on Canada Day (July 1) for our Canada Day Blog Hop.  You are ALL invited!

Challenges entered with my "lunchbox loveletter lundi" treats:
Fantabulous Cricut ~ Summertime at the beach challenge
My Creative Time ~ Throwback Thursday:  Doodlecharms

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Card with Matching Tag and Bag

My daughter will be attending a party for her friend who is turning 16.  I made this card with matching bag and tag for her to give.

All of the papers used were from my scrap file - and many of them were left-over from the HIGH low layout I did earlier in the week.

For the card, most of the papers were simply cut to size with my paper cutters.  The background paper was embossed with Swiss Dots and the edges were inked with Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up) ink.  I ran the turquoise cardstock through my Cuttlebug birthday folder.  The orange cardstock was run through my Cuttlebug numbers folder.  I used a Creative Memories cutting system for the green circle around the number 16.  I also added some white pen dots to highlight the number.  (I have used the numbers folder a few times to make cards for Erin's friends turning 16 this year.  There are other number combinations that this would work for as well.)  The flowered paper was punched with an EK Success border punch.  The little yellow circle was embossed with a Cuttlebug round flower folder, and I then punched out the circle with a little paper punch that I have.  The orange flower was also cut out with a paper punch.  I added a turquoise gem and then arranged the card as planned.

The bag was cut using Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I used Design Studio to get the largest bag I could (cutting at 12" across).  I hid the contour of the slot.  After cutting, I embossed the bag with Swiss Dots and then assembled.

(Sorry for the shadows...)

I also used Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the tag, which was cut at 3".  I embossed the green flower and attached it to the turquoise shadow which I had also cut.  The flowered circle was cut using a round tag with the hole/slot contour hidden and inked the edge with Pumpkin Pie (from Stampin' Up) ink.  I made the center flower as I had done for the card.  I attached the tag to the bag with some waxed jewelry cord.

Challenges entered:

Frosted Designs - Use the colours turquoise, green, orange and yellow

The Cuttlebug Spot - Embossed tag challenge

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