MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Here's my daughter holding the Snowlady Gift Card/Money Holder I made for her...think she likes it?!!!! (I know she likes the gift that was hiding in the secret pocket :-) !!!

Best wishes to all for a safe and very Merry Christmas!!!

Come check out the new...ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE BLOGSPOT

Come help celebrate the launch of a new challenge blog at: http://helenscrafthaven.blogspot.com/2009/12/abc-christmas-challenge-blog-hop.html
They are having a fun blog hop with candy along the way...so come join in the fun!! The Idea for the new blog is to have fun and create 25 cards or projects in time for Christmas 2010. Your projects will be based on a theme or technique using the letters of the alphabet in turn.

SNOW LADY GIFT CARD HOLDER DT PROJECT FOR CUSTOM CROPS

This is my latest DT project for Custom Crops. I created this 11 1/2" Tall Snow Lady Gift Card Holder/Decoration to hold a money present for my daughter for Christmas; and for her to use afterwards as a decoration. To see where the gift card/money holder is hidden, along with all the instructions, pictures and free .cut files just click here . This project uses only one cartridge (Snow Friends) and CDS. Please leave a comment at Custom Crops and here...your kind words are always appreciated.

MY PINK STAMPER LIVE DEMO CHALLENGE hosted by CREATIONS WITH CHRISTINA

The My Pink Stamper Live Demo Challenge hosted by Creations With Christina is to use a Christmas image from any Cricut cartridge and use the cut in a non-traditional way. I chose to use the swan from 7 swans a-swimming on page 38 on the Joys of the Season cartridge to make a Valentine's Day Card. I used my Gypsy to weld two swans facing each other. I cut the heart from the Doodletype cart. The card is 6x6 and the dp is from K&Company Seasonal stack. The swans were adhered with Zip Dry Paper Glue to the heart and popped up slightly with Scotch foam tape. I used a MS punch for the lace-like border and ribbon from my stash. I created the flower embellishment that is attached above the heart. (To see directions, pictures and other tips, please go to my article at Custom Crops by clicking here ). The 'water' was colored with Stickles as are the swans beaks. I used a Zig color brush in khaki and a blender pen to add some color to the swans. The blender pen was used with a Shock Pink Copic for the edge of the flower and heart. Dots are added on the heart with an Inkssential opaque white pen. Your kind comments are welcome and very much appreciated.

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE # 22

This week's Paper Cutz Challenge (the last challenge of 2009) is to make a card, layout or craft project with a New Year's theme.  I used my CDS with Designer's Calendar and My Community cartridges. The Bazzill cs used for the card is a very dark green that I ran through my Cuttlebug with the new Tartan embossing folder from HSN. I used my Dew Drop Versa Magic chalk ink in Pixie Dust to lightly go over the embossing to bring out the design.  The clock is lined with light green cs and a small piece of the dark green to highlight the 12 o'clock.  I used a small brad and added a metal arrow to point at the time.  I attached the clock to the card with pop-dots and the New Year's Day with Zip Dry Paper Glue and then attached 4 little pink designer half pearls from Basic Grey. The pink ribbon is from my stash.  Come join me and the very talented DT at Paper Cutz Challenge for this week's fun.  All kind comments are very much appreciated.

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #6

The challenge for this week is to make a New Year's card using any cartridge(s) and colors you like.  I used my Gypsy and the Designer's Calendar cartridge to cut the 2010 and cheers. I used Best Occasions Prismatic Paper Pack from Walmart and DCWV Holiday Collection Glitter mat stack along with the MS loopy punch. I added a little Ranger Stickles in Green for the olives in the martini glass. Come join in the fun with the rest of the talented ladies on the DT at Cricut Cardz Challenge . Your kind comments are always welcome and appreciated.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHARK CARD FOR MEN

I created this card with a special person in mind (can't say just in case he peeks LOL!). I used the LIAB and ACY cartridges and all the instructions, additional pics and free .cut files can be found at Custom Crops by clicking here . I'd love to hear what you think, so please leave a comment here and one at CC. They are always appreciated.

CHRISTMAS IN THE DESERT LAYOUT FOR CUSTOM CROPS

The inspiration for this layout came from the unusual winter weather we just experienced in the Southwest. The cartridges used were PDDU, CC and EDPD. I created it for Custom Crops, so you can find all the instructions, additional pics and free .cut files by clicking here . I plan to make another page to go with this so I can add the photos I took for my scrapbook. Please let me know what you think by leaving a comment here and at Custom Crops. Your kind words are always appreciated.

CHRISTMAS MONKEY LAYOUT FOR CUSTOM CROPS

I just love this paper from the Peppermint Forest stack I got at Joann's.  I decided to be different and created a "Christmas Monkey". (After all, I don't think a snowman would be sitting in the tree!!! LOL). The Cricut carts used are Paisley, PDDU, JOS and Very Merry Tags. All the instructions, additional pics and .cut files can be found at Custom Crops by clicking here . I'd love to know what you think, so please leave me a comment here and at Custom Crops.

OMG...MY 'MERRY CRICUT-MAS' CARD WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN THE CHIRP!!!

I was soooo excited to find out that my 'Merry Cricut-mas' card was featured in the Cricut CHIRP for 12/09/2009!!! As exciting was the amount of 'hits' it received..last count was over 10,000!!!! Thanks to everyone who took the time to look and an extra thanks to those who left me a comment...I have enjoyed reading them all!!! 

MERRY CRICUT-MAS TO ALL!!!

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #21

For Paper Cutz Challenge #21 you are to make a card, layout or craft project using a snowman or snowflake.  I decided to combine both because I had these great chipboard letters from K&Co (they are actually from the Wedding collection and I got them for a great price while shopping with my friend, Louise, back East). I used my CDS and Designer's Calendar cartridge to cut the snowflake (white glitter paper for the snowflake and a turquoise blue for the shadow) and the Christmas Cheer cartridge to cut the snowman head and hat. The snowman face is stamped with one of my Peachy Keen stamps (I colored his nose with an orange Copic and added Ranger Stickles in Black Diamond to his hat and eyes); a little snowflake ribbon bow was added to dress him up. He was attached to the card with pop dots. Come join the fun with us at PCC by clicking here . Your kind comments are always welcome and very much appreciated.

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #5

This week at Cricut Cardz Challenge #5 you need to make a Christmas card using one or more of the following things that start with the letter "S"...Santa, Stocking, Sleigh, Snowman or Snowflake. Use the cartridge(s) and colors of your choice.

I chose to make a Christmas Stocking using CDS and the Joys of the Season cartridge.  Page 54 Stocking1, Blackout setting, cut once and cut layer once; page 57 Bell Blackout setting cut (5) five; page 77 Joy, removed the blade from my Cricut Expression and replaced it with the mini gel pen holder and pen (from Custom Crops). I love how it 'drew' the word instead of cutting it out; I trimmed the word Joy using my Purple Cows paper trimmer with decorative blade. The cardstock was embossed with my Cuttlebug using the Quickutz Polka Dots embossing folder. I highlighted the dots with my VersaMagic chalk ink in Tea Leaves and along the edges of the trimmed word, Joy. After layering the stocking, attaching it with pop-dots and adding the jingle bells, I used my Silver Stickles on the bells and ribbon. I used a plastic disk I colored with Ranger alcohol ink to the ribbon. Have fun and join myself and the rest of the DT by clicking here .  I'd love to see what you create and your kind comments are always appreciated.

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #20

Paper Cutz Challenge #20 is to make a card, layout or craft project using a digital or hand stamped Christmas image. I chose to make a card using a snowman stamp I had in my stash (a favorite from several years ago).  I stamped the image on watercolor paper and then used my Nestabilities large scalloped circle to cut him out. I used Copics to color his hat and scarf, the little bird and nest but then decided I needed to add bling so I went over some of it with my Ranger Stickles in Christmas Red and Diamond. I used a very small circle punch to punch a hole in each of the scallops and then used Memento dye ink around the edges. I attached it to the card using pop dots. The paper for the card comes from My Mind's Eye Glittered Holiday Papers. The solid glitter paper is from DCWV Holiday Collection. I used my MS snowflake punch to punch five snowflakes onto the white glitter paper and then attached that to solid red. I added red dew drops into the center of each snowflake. Your comments are always appreciated. Please join me and the rest of the DT for this week's challenge by clicking here .

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #4

Cricut Cardz Challenge #4 was to make a stair step Christmas card using any colors or cartridge you'd like. This was the first time I made a stair step card and I have to say what fun it was!  I used three Cricut carts for this: My Community for the Gingerbread House; From My Kitchen for the Gingerbread people and apron; ZooBalloo for the Mountain with Snow. The stamped sentiment is from a rubber stamp from my stash.

I 'dressed' my gingerbread lady in a green glitter dress by using the apron and trimming it to fit. Her hair is a snowflake using the MS punch and Inkssentials pen; small brads for eyes and a couple of rhinestones. The gingerbread man has a top hat and tie that I cut freehand and decorated with Stickles and a rhinestone. The gingerbread house has Stickles and rhinestone accents (doorknob). I ran the mountains with snow through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots folder and added some glitter glue (I much prefer Stickles and would use that instead). I finished it with a few rhinestones for some glitter on the 'sky' snowflake cs background. Please go to CCC by clicking here to see the great cards my fellow DT members created for this challenge...and please do join us!!