Simple stuff....

These were just a few quick, simple items I made for a swap I was in. The swap was actually for a mini quilt, but these were the extras that were sent along with the gift. The quilt was a fall quilt--the reason for using a fall card... The card was done with my Cricut using Stretch Your Imagination cartridge... The refrigerator lister was made using a Whipper Snapper set made by Anna Wight...

Check out the new Cuttlebug style!

OMG!! What will they think of next??? I can just see this one exploding into tons of new ideas!

Cricut and Cake Decorators Unite!

I found this on Creative Critter's Cricut and had to share!!! Good thing I'm not a cake decorator because I think I would be flat broke! Especially since I just got the Expression for Christmas!

Christmas Countdown - Christmas Layouts

Win a Gypsy!

Head on over to the Gypsy Spot! They are giving away a brand new Gypsy... Click on the picture below: The winner will be selected Dec 1st!

Merci!!

I made this card a few days ago for a friend of mine. Making this card was kind of interesting! I found this argyle-type paper and thought it would be cute with the little french birdie.... At first I cut the brown paper out with my Nestabilities and added the image. I just didn't like it! It needed some sparkle! I looked everywhere--no brown glitter!! ACK! So I found my old copper embossing powder from Stampin Up... Well... I was trying to figure out how to apply it only to the edges to make a frame for the piece... Then I got the bright idea!!! I put the brown die cut into my Xyron machine and added the adhesive. I added the image to the top and then added the copper EP. After dumping the excess off and embossing over the adhesive, this is what it looked like! It was not at all what I anticipated but it turned out so cool!! It reminds me of a metal belt buckle. It just turned out different! And I think I like it!

For Cricut Lovers...

I found some really cool links for different ways to use the Cricut!

Cricut Tips: Includes cutting fabric, cutting chipboard, and many others...

Making Embossing Folders

Sure Cuts Alot Tutorial : Multi Layer Cuts

SVG Cuts for SCAL

I also found this useful little tip sheet.... If you click on it it will take you to the thread on Cricut.com that has the larger version

Halloween Treat Boxes

It's been a LONG TIME since have stamped!! I wish I had 4 of me so I could have one working on my paper crafts, one working on my quilts, one doing housework, and the other spending good quality time with all the people in my life... oh yeah, and another one to go out and work!!! So make that 5! Anyway, here are a couple of treat boxes I made with a Bigz die that I bought...

The eyes on this one were sprinkled with Glow In The Dark glitter by Martha Stewart! I tried to take a picture in the dark but it didn't turn out... bummer! But they really do glow in the dark!!! Very cool stuff!The skull is also sprinkled with Glow In The Dark glitter by Martha Stewart... The stamp I used on this one came from Gina K Designs

I love these gummy eyeballs!! They are so fun! I happened to find them in a little candy shop about a week ago...

Fun Halloween ideas

I was surfing around today and found some fun sites!!
Here are a few on caramel apples:

Tricked Out Caramel Apples

Adam's Scary Apples

Creepy Halloween Fun Food This one has tons of fun halloween edibles including Mummy Rolls, Eyeball Cupcakes, Bloody Brain Cupcakes and they even have (so disgusting!) a link to buy a REAL oven baked tarantula!!!! NASTY!!! Aside from that last one, they all look so fun!

Happy Halloween!

This is a little bread cloth I cross-stitched several years back. I haven 't stitched in years! I quit cross stitching when I was introduced to stamping... I switched because I got instant gratification with stamping. Cross stitching took wayyyy too long! Although I still love it, finding the time to actually do it just doesn't happen... I've been working on a few quilts too... You can see them on my other quilting blog Lovin My Quilts...

Wipe off calendar..

I found the goods to make this sweet framed calendar at one of my local craft shops. The supplies included a plexiglass calendar insert, bistro pen, scrapbook paper, metal sheet and black frame. I love this! I just changed it for the 2nd time and I can put any scrapbook paper behind the plexiglass and I made magnets to use on it. It's so fun! With some circular magnets, shankless buttons, prima flowers and glue you can come up with some pretty fun themes!

Origami Lotus

Newest project

Although this is still in the sewing arena, I thought I would post the link here because my project could easily be adapted to scrapbooking or paper piecing. I am working on a quilt with zoo animal in it and created my own design for the animals. You can view it here. Here is a one of the sketches of the animals I created:

Busy, Busy

Well summer is always busy for everyone. I have been spending alot of time with my quilting lately. Although it is not quilted yet, the top is done. You can see it here: Lovin My Quilts

A Little Inspiration....

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Nick Vujicec today. If you have never heard of Nick, he is an inspiration to all!! He has no arms and no legs and speaks internationally to millions. I first saw Nick on YouTube ( I posted the links on the right side bar). When I got to work (my daughter's middle school) today I opened my email only to find an attached letter about Nick and his presentation at the school today. I couldn't believe it!

Here is a little message from Nick:
"If I fail, I try again, and again, and again..."
"If YOU fail, are YOU going to try again?"

It Matters how you're going to FINISH
Are you going to finish STRONG?

We are put in situations to build our character.. not destroy us

The tensions in our life are there to strengthen our convictions... not to run over us...

Think you've got it bad?
Need some encouragement?
Fallen Down?
Can't find the STRENGTH to get back up?
Watch this video and then share it with others....

Happy Mother's Day!!

Watch CBS Videos Online

Quick card

This was just a really quick card I made using the Embrace Life set from stampin up. I haven't done much in the way of stamping lately. I used prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I shaded the background in several different colors and lightly blended them. I masked the flowers to make 3. I used Lasting Impressions pearl brads and sheer white swiss dot ribbon. The lighter shade of blue CS and purple CS are made by Bazzill. I also used Ballet Blue CS from SU.

Tonight we went out to the movie theater and saw 17 Again. If you get a chance go see it!! We loved it! Zac Effron is awesome! And Matt Perry is getting old! :) I guess I shouldn't speak... I'm almost the same age!

Tragedy Strikes Close to Home

Our town is mourning the death of two teens killed last night. The accident happened less than 1/4 mile from my home on the train tracks. You can see the news story HERE and HERE. My son was friends with these kids. Our town is a very small town so all the kids here are pretty tight. Last night I heard the sounds of the train blaring--quite a bit more than usual, and even louder than normal. The kids were standing on the double-line railroad tracks on the northbound track. Apparently (according to the local kids) they were waiting for the freight train heading south on the southbound tracks to go by and were watching the end of the train while waiting for it to go by.. They think they didn't hear the oncoming Amtrak train (going northbound) because the freight train was so loud. The Amtrak train blared his horns for a long time, and the teens did not move. It has just been a hard hit on this community. There are piles of flowers and balloons around their memorial. Tragedies like this never make sense.... My condolences go out to these families and friends.

Hatchling

Here is the card I made for the baby shower. It took me a while to post--been busy with spring break! Anyway, this cute little guy is from Whipper Snapper. It was perfect since she is having a boy! The CS colors include Baja Breeze, C Celery, Handsome Hunter, W White. Image is colored in with prismacolor. The sentiment is from Paper Trey.

Baby Shower Gift

I had THE MOST FUN creating this! I made it for my niece who is due to have her baby soon. It's a boy and she is naming him Dash. I thought this turned out so cute! I have to mail it to her so I'm hoping that it doesn't get ruined en route!! I used my Cricut for the letters from the Storybook cartridge. I love this cartridge! I ran the letters through my xyron and then dipped them in glitter. It took a little bit of time but the end result is just fab!

The little jungle animals came in a package that had the palm tree attached to the lid. I thought it was perfect for the top of the cake! There are onesies at the base of the tree and washcloths underneath the leaves. The vines and the alligator were cut with the Cricut using Zoobaloo. The decorative paper I found was just awesome and totally fit the theme!