You are sun-sational!!

Happy Saturday, everyone!! I was hoping to get out today and enjoy the outdoors but thunderstorms are rolling through the area...and it seems they have settled in for the day. Looks like I'll have to head down to my craft room instead ;) I have been having so much fun using Spellbinders for projects, my poor Cricut was getting lonely :( So I decided to use him for this project.

I made this thank you for my parents for the family vacation last week...they paid for everything for all of us :)

The paper is from K & Company Happy Trails stack...love it!! I cut the lighthouse from the same stack, inked the edges with Shabby Shutters Distress ink, and popped it up with foam tape for dimension. The lounging couple are from the Fun in the Sun cartridge, and while that totally could be my Mom wearing a hat and reading a book, I don't think my Dad will truly appreciate the bald man with a little padding around the middle ;) But they are so cute and I love the fun summery images on this cart :) I wanted the sand to stand out a bit, so it's embossed with Swiss Dots and inked with Walnut Distress Ink. The lounging couple are popped up with foam tape as well. I added a green crystal to the top of the lighthouse.

So I obviously couldn't go without using a Spellbinders!! I used a Nestabilities Label 10, and inked the edges with Shabby Shutters. The twine is from The Twinery, and the button from my stash. "Thanks" is from K Andrew Designs Winter Wishes stamp set, and "you are sun-sational" is from Splashtastic Summer:

Click HERE to purchase your own stamps, and right now, Kristal is having a huge sale on her stamps -- 20% off store wide!! Use the code "letshavefun" for the discount, and let her know I sent you!! Plus, for the next few days, we will be featuring the new Design Team and each member has chosen one stamp set to showcase. There will be an additional ONE DAY ONLY sale on the stamps featured that day!! So it's a perfect time to stock up on all your favorite K Andrew Designs stamps!!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

1. DL.ART Thankful Thursday - Any Thank You
2. FCCB Challenge Me Monday #106 - Buttons and Bows

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend :)

Happy Easter!!

Just a few hours left to enter my

Blogaversary Giveaway!!

Click HERE to enter!!

Happy Easter, everyone!! I hope you are having a blessed and happy day with your families!!

I'm home from my trip, albeit a bit injured. I was playing in the ocean with my niece and holding her hand while we jumped the waves (all day...I couldn't get her to leave!!). I didn't realize it at the time, but all that yanking on my arm tore something in my shoulder. It's incredibly painful and I can't even begin to lift it above my head. So, I'm one handed until it heals (hopefully without surgery). I hoped to catch up with all I've missed since I've been gone but that will be delayed a few days...I will stop by when I can. I wanted to get this posted so I wouldn't miss deadlines, but I will be short with the descriptions.

The bunny is from Noah's ABC Animals and I used paper from First Edition Spring Feast and cotton for the tail.

I used a plastic egg and covered it with all different flowers from Flower Shoppe, cut at 2".

The card base is a Spellbinders Label 4, embossed with the Plum Blossoms folder. The strip along the middle is a Spellbinders Lotus Borderabilities Petite, inked with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. The lacy deign is a Spellbinders Lace Doily Accents. The top label is a Spellbinders 23, embossed with Plum Blossoms and inked with Spun Sugar. The quote is from K Andrew Designs Scripture Sayings stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set!!

I am entering these in the following challenges:

1. DL.ART - Thankful Thursday
2. Cooking With Cricut #80 - Easter
3. Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog #105 - Egg-ceptional Easter
4. Creative Cutter Room - Easter or a Bunny
5. Krafty Girls #4 - For Peeps Sake
6. My Craft Spot #50 - Easter

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and for visiting while I was gone!! I hope to stop by your blogs in the next few days, and I will announce my blogaversary winner soon!! :)

Woof You!!

Happy Thursday, everyone!! I hope you are having a great week!! I have a puppy bag to enter into a few challenges today. I made this for my niece, who adores dogs. She's 10 and volunteers at a rescue shelter...a future vet we hope :) This puppy looks a little like her dog, Lady.

I used Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Labels 23 for the foundation of the bag. The solid paper is from Core'dinations, the brown checked paper is from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 2 Rosy Stack, and the tan polka dot paper is from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found 2 Blush stack. To make the box in the middle, I used a piece of 10 1/2" x 6 1/2" paper, and scored the 10 1/2" side at 4 1/2" and 6"; and the 6 1/2" side at 1 1/2" and 5".

I wanted it to look like the puppy was inside a picture frame, so I used Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles. Once the rectangle cut, I used the paper the rectangle was cut from and trimmed the edges and then popped it up with foam tape for a little dimension. I lightly inked the outside of the frame with Tim Holtz Walnut Distress ink and then darker on the deckled rectangle. the adorable puppy is from Four-Legged Friends (the cart I am giving away...click HERE to enter!!) cut at 4". I attached all of his layers with foam tape and added googly eyes.

The tag is a Spellbinders Nestabilities Label 10, inked with Walnut Distress Ink. The heart is a charm I picked up at Hobby Lobby. "Woof you" is from K Andrew Designs All About Animals stamp set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set or to see her entire fabulous line of stamps!!

I'm entering the bag in the following challenges:

1. Cooking With Cricut Challenge #79 - Make Me Laugh (funny quote, poem or saying)
2. Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Challenge # - Out Like a Lamb (gentle animal)
3. Made Especially For You - Distress Ink

Thanks so much for stopping by!! I will have another post on Saturday so I can thank some friends for blog awards before I leave for a week-long vacation at the ocean. I have a few posts scheduled while I am gone, but I won't be able to stop by and see all of your amazing projects. I promise to catch up when I get back :)

Happy Bird-Day!!

FOR MY BLOGAVERSARY GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!!

Happy Tuesday and First Day of Spring everyone!! Winter is officially over...though it has pretty much been over here since December :) I love Spring and all it represents...newness, rebirth, flowers blooming, birds chirping...that was the inspiration for my card today!! Nothing says Spring like the hummingbirds returning :)

I used my Art Nouveau cart for the first time. I've had it since Black Friday so it's about time :) My Mom's birthday is in May, so I got a head start making this card for her. She loves hummingbirds and flowers :)

The green background paper is from First Edition Spring Feast Paper. The mauve background paper with khaki swirls is from K&Company. The rest of the solid papers are DCWV Textured Stack.

How beautiful is this hummingbird?? We have a charm of hummingbirds that arrive in early spring and stay throughout the summer. It grows to over two dozen and I'm making hummer food every other day for like six feeders, but they are so beautiful and worth it...they look just like this!! There are times I can't go out on the deck...there are so many, it's like a swarm of bees :()

I cut him at 2.5"...a little smaller than the recommended 3" and I had to cut him a few times to get it to cut without tearing the paper. I attached all his wing layers with foam tape for dimension.

I thought this vase was just gorgeous...I love the beautiful flower design. I embossed the base with Swiss Dots and offset some of the layers for depth. I also attached the flowers and vines with foam tape for dimension, and added crystals.

The gorgeous crinkle ribbon is from my friend Karen of Little Scrap Pieces. I added a flower from Flower Shoppe and a little butterfly charm from my stash.

The labels are Spellbinders Labels 3 and I embossed the bottom black label with the Swirls embossing folder. Happy bird-day is from K Andrew Designs Owly Hoo stamp set, one of my favorites:

Click HERE to purchase your own set or to see the entire line!!

I am entering the card in the following challenges:

1. FCCB #103 - Celebrate Spring: include at least 3 flowers (carts used: Art Nouveau; Flower Shoppe)
2. Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge - Things With Wings
3. Birthday Sundaes Challenge #48 - Animal Birthday Card
4. Sentimental Sundays Challenge #94 - Metal (butterfly charm)
5. 2 Sisters Challenge Blog Challenge #83 - Spots and Dots (on the vase)

Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Tomorrow is another super-fun challenge at Decorate to Celebrate so be sure to stop back by :)

Paws-itively Purrfect!!

FOR MY BLOGAVERSARY GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE!

Happy Ides of March, everyone!! I hope you are having a great week!! Wow, I can't believe Friday is almost here already :)  I have a card to enter into the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Challenge #102 - In Like A Lion, and the Krafty Girls Get Growing Challenge #3 - Use a Handmde Flower.

The solid papers are from Core'dinations and My Paper Studio. The striped paper is from My Mind's Eye Love Nest stack. I distressed the edges and inked them with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.

The cute cat is from Four Legged Friends, which is the cart I am giving away (click HERE to enter). Isn't she sweet?? There are so many adorable animals on this cart!! I added a diamond collar, a flower from Flower Shoppe and used foam tape and popped her up over Spellbinders Labels 10. I embossed the label with the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots folder and inked it with Victorian Velvet Distress Ink.

"Paws-itively Purrfect" is from K Andrew Designs All About Animals stack:

Click HERE to purchase this set or to see her entire line!!

I added some rhinestones and an organza ribbon bow to finish it off.

Mark your calendar for tomorrow night!! It's the Getting Cricky In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb Blog Hop!!

You will see some fabulous projects and maybe even have a chance to win blog candy!! The fun starts at 9:00 pm EST!! I hope you can join us!! :)

FCCB Challenge #97 - Love is in the Air!

Hi everyone!! I hope you had a great weekend!! It's Monday so that means it's time for another super-fun Fantabulous Cricut Challenge!! The theme this week is "Love is in the Air", and use a heart (and at least one Cricut cut!) on your project!!

Our sponsor this week is the fabulous K Andrew Designs!! Kristal has generously donated some of her amazing stamps for the design team to work with as well!! Each of Kristal's stamp sets benefit charity. At least $1 per stamp set goes to benefit the charity noted on the stamp set package. Kristal is donating to the following charities: Cancer Angels, Storefront Shelter for Homeless Children, Intrepid & Fallen Heroes, E. Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Doorways Shelter for Women & Children (Domestic Violence), Wayside House for Women, Camp Good Days & Special Times, Adopt a Classroom, and Autism Research Institute. Kristal will donate $1 for every stamp set sold, retail or wholesale to the charity noted; and over time believes this will add up to some wonderful miracles for these special people. So you can feel good that each time you purchase a K Andrew Designs art stamp set, someone around the country is receiving some good help! Great stamps, great cause!!

For my first card, I used paper from the DCWV Be Mine stack. Isn't it pretty? It's really sparkly in person. The heart medallion is from Home Accents, and I attached the layers with foam tape for dimension and added pearls. The lace is from Hobby Lobby.

For the 3D heart, I cut nine hearts from George and Basic Shapes, and inked the edges with Tim Holtz Worn Lipstick Distress Ink. I folded all the hearts and stitched them together, and then fanned them out.

"You hold the key to my heart" is from K Andrew Designs Key to my Heart mini-stamp set! Click HERE to purchase your own set!!

I am linking this project  up at:

1. Paper Playtime Challenge #67 - Hearts or Love Theme
2. My Sheri Crafts Challenge #78 - Love is in the Air
3. More Than Favors Wacky Wednesday #64 - Love
4. Cardz TV Cricut Cardz Challenge #101 - Be My Valentine

For my second project, I used my Gypsy to weld a heart from Formal Occasion. I inked the edges with Tattered Rose Distress Ink and used the Polka Dots embossing folder. I cut the silhouette of the couple from Sweethearts.  I punched holes in the top with my crop-a-dile and added ribbon.

"Love is the key that opens the heart" is from the same  K Andrew Designs Key to my Heart mini-stamp set. The key and heart are from the set as well. I stamped them on Shrinky Dink plastic, colored them and then heated it. Aren't they cute?!

Thanks again to Kristal of K Andrew Designs for sponsoring us this week!! Make sure to stop by FCCB and see all the fabulous creations by the amazing Design Team!! And don't forget to link up your "Love is in the Air"  project as well!! I can't wait to see what you create :)

FCCB Challenge Me Monday #95 - Label It!

TO ENTER MY BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY, CLICK HERE

Hi everyone and happy Monday!! I hope you had a great weekend!! The challenge this week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is "Label It" - create a project using a scalloped shape or other label shape (not a plain circle).

For my project, I created a Valentine card. The base is from Elegant Edges and used my Gypsy to weld it into a card. I ran it through the Polka Dots embossing folder. The paper is from Fancy Pants. I cut two hearts in three different sizes from Gypsy Wanderings and embossed them with Swiss Dots. I attached them together with foam tape for dimension. "Happy Valentine's Day" is from Phrases and I embossed the white shadow with Swiss Dots. I popped the phrase up with foam dots and added Glossy Accents to the red heart. The flower is from Flower Shoppe and I added a handmade stickpin. The scalloped label is from Straight From The Nest. I used Fired Brick Distress Ink to stamp "Be mine" from K Andrew Designs Winged Things stamp set. To purchase your own set of these fabulous stamps, click HERE!

I am also entering this card in the following challenges:

• Little Scrap Pieces Copy Cat Friday Challenge - Use Blue (it is hard to tell in the pic, but the letters are a pretty light blue!)
• Sentimental Sundays Challenge #86 - Die Cuts Plus Sentiment
• 2 Sisters Challenge Blog #95 - Embossing

I currently have three giveaways going on:

1. To enter to win a Cricut cart, click HERE!!
2. To enter to win a K Andrew Designs stamp set, click HERE!!
3. To enter the Blends Join Hands Blog Hop paper and flower set giveaway, click HERE!!

And be sure to stop back tomorrow for the Cards for Kids Valentine's Day Blog Hop!! There will be lots of fabulous projects and prizes as well!!

FCCB #91 - Trimming It With A Tag

Happy Monday, everyone!! I hope you had a great weekend!! The challenge this week at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is: "Trimming It With A Tag"...use a tag somewhere on your project. I was so excited for this challenge since I avidly followed the 12 Tags of Christmas by Tim Holtz! I am always so inspired when I see the incredible techniques he uses, and I want to recreate them but don't have the materials he has at my disposal ;) For my project, I used techniques from his 2010 12 Tags of Christmas.

I cut a tag at 6" from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More from Core'dinatons canvas paper. I ran the tag through the Tim Holtz Sizzez Tall Pines embossing folder and I using the technique of stamping swirls directly on the folder before I embossed (I LOVE this technique!!). I then used distress ink in Broken China and Weathered Wood for the background. For the trees, I used Forest Moss and Vintage Photo distress inks. I distressed the edges and then inked with Walnut distress Ink. I cut the deer from the Christmas Solutions cart and inked the edges with Walnut ink. I cut floral leaves from the Tim Holtz Regal Crest Bigz Dies to wrap around the neck and then tied it off with a red bow. I used Tim Holtz music tape to create the banner along the bottom. "Believe" are chipboard letters I had in my stash. I inked them first with Fired Brick distress ink and then when the ink dried, I stamped with a Tim Holtz letters stamp in black Archival Ink. The ribbon is from Michaels and I added a crystal Tim Holtz ornament.

The tag is a Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Rectangles Die and I cut it from a Tim Holtz journal tag. I inked the edges with Fired Brick Distress ink and used stamps from K Andrew Designs' Winter Wishes Set:

Click HERE to purchase your own set of these stamps! All of the techniques I used for this tag can be found on the Tim Holtz website. If you have never visited his website, I strongly encourage you to do so...his projects are simply fabulous and you will be amazed!! Here is the Tim tag from 2010 that I used for my main inspiration:

Don't forget to enter into my K Andrew Designs Sympathic Saying stamp set giveaway HERE! I will pick a winner on Thursday! Thanks so much for stopping by today!! I hope you have a wonderful week!! :)