PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #26

This week's challenge is to make a card, layout or project for a masculine birthday using pink with any other colors you'd like.  I decided to make a card for a little boy with a circus theme. I used CDS with the following cartridges: Alphalicious (balloons), Don Juan (letters) and EDPD (elephant); 'happy' is stamped using a clear stamp from Simply Stated by fancy pants designs; balloons were embossed with Cuttlebug Argyle folder, inked with Dew Drops in Spring Pansy; dp is from K&Co Super K stack by Brenda Walton; cs from DCWV; trimmed with Purple Cow trimmer using short wave blade; all embellishments are from my stash. I cut the elephant twice and inked around the edges with my Zig marker before layering. I cut an 'ear' to pop up and then drew on all the features. The balloons and elephant are raised up for some dimension with Scotch foam tape. Come join me and the rest of the DT at PCC ...we'd love to see your creations!!

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #10

Cricut Cardz Challenge #10 is to make a Valentine's card using any cartridge(s) you'd like but using the colors green, lavender, black and white only.  I used CDS and Designer's Calendar for the heart and Opposite's Attract for the word love. The heart can be found on Page 29 Boxes Shift key. The word love can be found on Page 125 Shadow key. After cutting the heart in white cs I ran it through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. I turned it over and using my Scotch packing tape, covered the openings. I flipped it over and sprinkled MS peridot glitter onto the sticky tape that was showing (saw this done by Joy from Holidays With The Cricut). The word love was cut using lavender cardstock and glued to the heart. The black cs was run through the Cuttlebug using the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder. I attached the heart onto the black cs, added a lavender ribbon and then attached this to a lavender piece of cs. Before attaching these layers to the green card front, I used my EK Success scalloped scallop punch along the edge. Then I took my tiny round hole punch and punched a hole in each of the scallops. I layered another piece of lavender cs on the inside of the card so it would set off the scalloped edge. Come join me and the rest of the DT at CCC by clicking here. We'd love to see what you create!

ZION NATIONAL PARK

My dh and I decided to take a ride to Zion National Park today to see if there were any waterfalls since it recently had rained and snowed there.  We got to see several waterfalls but I happened to catch two small 'avalanches' including the one in this picture..(almost in the middle of the shot). If you click on the picture you can see it falling.  It was a beautiful day and I love that we can go there anytime since we are close by.  I hope you enjoy the pic.

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #25

This week at Paper Cutz Challenge was to make a card, layout or project using a digital or hand stamped image of a farm animal...cow, chicken, duck, rooster, pig, sheep, etc. and any theme or colors you like.  I found this adorable freebie "shell phone pig" digital image at hambostamps.com . I decided it would make a cute play on the cell phone commercials.  I colored this with my very small collection of Copic markers hoping that it would appear that the pig was somewhat 'sunburned' (blotchy pink with a little red on the tips of his ears and nose). My atyou Spica clear was used for a little 'sweat'. I used light blue and sand color DCWV glitter cs to give the appearance of beach and ocean and added some real seashells that I collected on Clearwater Beach, Florida where my oldest son and daughter-in-law were married last Mother's Day (a beautiful wedding I must add!). I printed the sentiment for the front and inside using the CK Summer font and used my EK Success label punch for the front and my Purple Cow with the short wave blade for the inside. Inked the edges with Versa Magic chalk ink in Sahara Sand. I used Scotch mounting tape to give some dimension to the shells, pig and sentiment on the front of the card. Come join me and all the talented ladies on the DT by clicking here . We'd love to see your creations!

HAPPY AWARD FROM MARY!

What a pleasant surprise today when I came to check on my blog....I received this wonderful award from my blogging friend, Mary, of Cardz TV, Cardz For U, Cricut Cardz Challenge and Paper Cutz Challenge!!! Thank you so much Mary...you have been such an inspiration to me from the first time I met you at PCC last August!! You have encouraged me with your sweet comments and honored me by inviting me to join you and the talented DT members at Paper Cutz Challenge and again at Cricut Cardz Challenge!!  Mary creates wonderful cards and shares her talent with video tutorials that are fun to watch and easy to follow...be sure to take the time to visit her at Cardz TV...you will be so happy you did!!!

I'm now supposed to list 10 things that make me happy...

1.  My terrific husband who supports my crafting 100%!!

2.  My three fantastic children and their new spouses!!

3.  Great friends both old and new.

4.  Early retirement....it is wonderful!!!!

5.  Travel...both on and off-road.

6.  My new mb friends who have been so kind and welcoming.

7.  My craft room.

8.  Having the time to be creative.

9.  My hair stylist, Scott, for all the good hair days he has made possible!!!!

10. Chocolate.

It is my pleasure to pass this award on to the following three ladies who I am honored to be on Design Teams with, they are an inspiration to me with their talent and encouraging words:

1.  Margie
2.  Shelly
3.  Sari

Please visit their blogs to see what fantastic projects they create by clicking on their names. Hugs, Terry

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #9

Cricut Cardz Challenge #9 is to make a Thinking of You "S Fold" card using any cartridge(s) and colors you'd like. I used CDS and George and Basic Shapes for the oval cuts (I really wanted to use this teddy bear stamp from my stash and for it to be the main focus of my card). I stamped "Thinking of You" with yet another stamp in my stash and cut it out with a paper shaper punch. I used a very small round punch to make the holes in the scallops. After coloring the teddy bear and around the oval with  Zig Color Brush Twin markers, I sprayed it with Glimmer Mist in Marshmallow for a little sparkle (hard to see in the photo). Please come join me and the rest of the DT at CCC by clicking here.

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #24

This week for Paper Cutz Challenge #24 you are to make a card, layout or project with a summer or beach theme (to help remind us that the cold and snow won't last forever) and use any colors you like. I decided to make a card using rubber stamps from my stash. One is a lighthouse and the other is seashells. After stamping the lighthouse I used my Classic Scalloped Circles Large Nestie to cut it out. I decided to use chalks, Copics, Zig Color Brushes and Ranger Stickles to color it and add some sparkle. The blue paper was stamped with clear embossing ink using the seashells stamp and sprinkled with Ranger Turquoise embossing glitter (didn't work quite the way I was hoping...but I like the glittery effect). I then ran it through the Cuttlebug with the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, trimmed the corners with my Fiskars corner rounder and added a knotted piece of rope twine from Stampin' Up. The lighthouse was adhered with Scotch Mounting Tape for a little dimension. Come join us this week at PCC...we'd love to see your creations!

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #8

Cricut Cardz Challenge #8 is to make a masculine birthday card using any cartridge(s) and colors you'd like.  I chose to make a card with a fireman and fire truck using CDS along with  Everyday Paper Dolls and Old West cartridges. The fireman and fire truck can be found on Page 58. The hat, coat and fire hose are also on this page. For the body I used the blackout feature on page 28 since I was going to draw his features on (it's so small I didn't think the cuts would work right for the eyes, nose & mouth.) I cut the fire truck in red and then again in black (for the black cut I used the Hide Selected Contour feature so the windows wouldn't cut out). The fireman is attached to the black layer and I used a piece of recycled acetate for the 'window' on the red cut. They are attached together and then attached with pop dots to the front of the card. I drew the ladder on the truck and hub caps with a silver Sharpie, the other two lines and tires with a black Sharpie. I trimmed the hose to fit (before gluing on I colored the nozzle with the silver Sharpie). Added some red Stickles to the 'light' on top, red gel pen for the tail light and opaque white to the front light. For the wording I used the Rope font on the Old West cartridge. I changed the cutting blade to the mini gel pen holder with a black gel pen. After removing from the mat, I colored in the words with a lipstick red Copic marker. Please join the DT for this fun challenge by clicking here.

LUV BUGS - I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU

Before I even received my Store Front cart I knew I had to make this card. It was bound to happen with Valentine's Day coming up...the 'bug' has found a special someone (and isn't she a cutie!!!)  All the details, pictures and .cut files can be found at Custom Crops by clicking here . Please leave a comment here and at CC...your kind words are always appreciated!!!

BEGINNER PROJECT - SIMPLE CARDS AND TAGS

I wanted to create a project that could be done by anyone that owns a Cricut machine (doesn't matter which model) and the Wedding Solutions cartridge.  You don't need CDS for this fun and easy-to-do project. Simply follow the directions I give at Custom Crops by clicking here . I'd love to see your take on this project. Please leave me a comment here and at CC...your kind words are always appreciated.

CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE #65

The Cuttlebug Challenge this week is to create something with a basic white theme....Asian if you have it! I used a premade 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 embossed card from DCWV. With my Nestabilities Labels One I cut the two-sided dp from NRN Designs and ran it through my Cuttlebug with the Forest Branches embossing folder. I originally was going to use the other side of the paper (with the printed design), however, I really liked the metallic debossed side better. The Asian touches are the small black 'button' I attached to the flower and the playing card with the lady (both items my dd gave to me some time ago). I then wrapped some white fiber around the top of the card to add a little sparkle.

OUR LATEST OFF-ROADING ADVENTURE

My dh and I took an off-road adventure today about 15-20 miles from our house and I wanted to share a picture I took.  It took us four hours, 23 miles was off-roading, some parts were easy to manuver and others were very muddy and slick from the snow melt on the mountain. Quite frightening, considering I am afraid of heights and there are no guard rails to stop you when you start to slide. It might be hard to see, but the dirt road can be seen curving on the left side of the mountain about half way down the picture. The scenery is spectacular, and now that we're home safe and sound, I can say it was worth the trip LOL!!!

PAPER CUTZ CHALLENGE #23

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and are now ready for a new year of fun challenges!!  Paper Cutz Challenge #23 is to make a card, layout or craft project using red, green, black and white only. I decided to make a Valentine's card. I used black cs for the card base (A2 size card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" ). I cut a layer of red cc and used a Fiskars border punch I've had for a very long time along one edge. I attached this to the front of the card. I then used my Nestabilities Classic heart dies and white cs to cut out one large heart and three small hearts. I ran the large heart through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder (along with the word Love that was cut using black cs, CDS and the Opposites Attract cartridge Page 125). I brushed green chalk from Pebbles Inc over the large heart and attached a green ribbon bow. The large heart was attached using Scotch foam tape and the small hearts and word were attached with Zig 2-Way Glue. A green dyed plastic disc was attached to each of the small hearts with glue dots.  Please come and join me and the rest of the DT by clicking here. We'd love to see what you create!

ALL SCRAPBOOK STEALS JANUARY GIVEAWAY

Be sure to visit All Scrapbook Steals for their January giveaway! This month, the prize is an American Craft Sweet giveaway worth over $150.00! To find out all the details and to enter just click here . The deadline to enter the contest is January 8th.

CRICUT CARDZ CHALLENGE #7

This week's Cricut Cardz Challenge is to make a Thank You card using any cartridge(s) and colors you'd like.  I used CDS and the Alphalicious cartridge for my card. I made the card with specialty cardstock from Me & My Big Ideas 12 x 12 stack (64 sheets)  that I got at Michael's for....ready..$.01 ..woo hoo!!! After making the cut I lined the back with cardstock from Best Occasions Prismatic Paper Pack from Walmart. I added some pink and gold rhinestones to the corners of the cut. Come join me and the very talented ladies of the DT at Cricut Cardz Challenge for this week's fun. Your kind comments are always appreciated.

ABC CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE - A FOR ANGELS

A for Angels is the first challenge for 2010 at ABC Christmas Challenge. You must also use either a charm/charms or beads on your project. I used a free digi from Wendy's Digital Doodling, Tilly Bauble No. 1 of 3 (Thank you Wendy!).  Her digis are so cute and I hope everyone who reads this will go visit her blog. I decided to use this to make a tent topper card (the finished size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2, a basic A2 size). I colored this in with Zig Color Brush Twin markers, used Stickles for the bauble, scallops, her crown, wings, hearts, shoes and the heart charm (I do love my Stickles!!!).  After cutting her out I sprayed Glimmer Mist in Marshmallow to add even more sparkle and then layered her with a circle and scalloped circle using my Nesties. The sentiment was printed using the Vivaldi font and layered onto a red piece of cs that I trimmed with my Fiskars corner rounder. I wired the heart charm and blue bead together and attached it to the sentiment with Scor-tape. I used Scotch mounting tape to adhere to the card. The final touches were a few red pearls and a piece of gold cord tied in a bow.

HAPPY BIRD-DAY CARD FOR CHALLENGES & BLOG HOP

This is the first Joy Fold card I've ever done and I have to say it was a lot of fun. I used a new little bird stamp from Imaginisce for this bird-day card!! A tutorial for the Joy Fold card is available at DUTCH DARE CHALLENGES for their challenge this week. I'm also entering this card into the following other challenges:

STAMP SOMETHING- New Somethings

CHARISMA CARDZ CHALLENGES - Celebrations which you can make anything so long as it celebrates an occasion. They are having a fun Birthday Blog Hop to celebrate their First Birthday so come and join in the fun!!

FUSSY AND FANCY CHALLENGE - New

The cs is Bazzill; dp is K&Company which I fussy cut; Ranger Stickles for the bird's eye; rhinestones from my stash; Memento Rich Cocoa dye ink; (I didn't add a sentiment because I'm not sure who is going to receive this card yet). The flower embellishment I made myself (for a how-to please go to my DT article at Custom Crops by clicking here where you will see how I create some of my own embellishments). I'd love to get your feedback so please leave your kind comments here.