June SOTM Blog Hop

Hello Again!

We are hopping thru the June Stamp of the Month - see what over 70 ladies have created with this same stamp set - see how creative we can get!

You should have come from Jen Patrick's Blog, if you are starting here first, that is ok too - keep hopping and you will come full circle!

I did a card for my Father for Father's Day. I wanted to use several stamps from this set - I really liked this one!

I stamped the argyle print on a piece of white cardstock and then cut it out, sponged the edge. I stamped the pocket watch onto the white card, but I didn't like the messy spot so I stamped the My Hero, My Friend and cut it out and put it over the smugged area. I used Rustic Alphabet Stamp set to stamp the word DAD. I cut them out and glued them on.

I used foam squares to raise the circle so that it stood out

For the inside this setup was by accident - I was priming the stamp when I stamped these words over a pocket watch that was on scratch paper and like it!

Now, continue hopping by clicking here to go to Kristie Herdener's Blog!

Purse Gift

Here's something I did last month but haven't gotten around to posting - the days are just flying by. We spent all weekend out working on the lawn and I'm crispy and bright red!

My niece Tiffany turned 30 this last month and I made this paper purse for her. Sorry I didn't hide the office mess in the background. I rushed to get it done and then barely remembered to take photos of it when it was done. I scraplifted this from Renee R. and I don't know where she got it from. I'm testing a new camera (cheap thing I got the day after Thanksgiving that I just barely took out of the packaging) - looks like focusing is an issue - I can't find a way to auto focus. I used Veranda Paper Pack for this purse.
Filigree Charms were used for the button on the front of the purse. There is some weight to the brad and being metal it will keep the front flap from jumping open.


2 scores create the bottom of the purse. The finished size is 3.5 x 8.5 inches. I decided to leave off the handle and make it a clutch style. Base is 8.5" x 12" and it's scored at the 3.5", 4.5", 9" and 9.5" inches .

I cut triangles and glued them down for photo corners and they hold the $20 into the top of the card. I bottom I added another piece of Colonial White Cardstock and type the message of Happy Birthday. Her Mom took her to a Casino so the money was a little something extra for her to have fun with.

Thanks for looking.

Where O Where Have I Been?

I've been knee deep into other things that have been keeping me away from my scrapbooking and stamping, let alone finding time to blog!

First, we sold the lake house - no more scrapbooking retreats at the lake - (sob!) but also, no more mortgages - (Yeah!) It's a bittersweet thing. We moved across the street to a bigger house and I have a room for my scrapbooking! Yes, litterly across the street - we used the lawn mower and a trailer to move the boxes! Now to get 2 houses of stuff under control under one roof - I'm choking on furniture!

2 of our neighbors have come over to tell us that we can use their pier to park a boat or go swimming anytime. My daughter loves the lake and swims like a fish! So, it's not so bad. I'll miss my sunroom - three walls of ceiling to floor glass facing the lake, but I'm setting up my foyer to be the next best thing. I have an actual room you walk in when you enter my house that I call the foyer! I can put a small table and 2 wicker chairs in and still have room for a foot stool.

I'll survive.

I've decided to limit Cricut Classes and start doing more of my stuff. I have dozens of layouts (more than 100) that are pictureless and made for classes that I hope to start filling. Jeanie has turned 4 and I don't have one scrapbook finished for her.

I'll be doing another weekend retreat in January! Watch for more details - people are already signing up!

Enough chatter, I'll post stuff soon. Thanks for reading!

Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

I can't believe it's another month!

We are hopping again with the Stamp of the Month! You should be coming from Traci's blog.

May has a great one for journaling called Cherish the Moment and I've tried to use it for a card.

I added My Creations A-Door-Ables to the front to make a moving piece! I had to add a few other stamps to make my card - It's a Zoo for the animals and "Wild & Crazy" and It's Your Day for the "Party" stamp.

I turned the Animal Cookies paper over to show the outline of the animals in green - I really like the shadow over the colored version. The front of the Door I sponged on it and it was darker than I hoped for. I stamped the Wild & Crazy and then stamped it again for a shadow effect, but the sponging is hiding the effect.

A hidden Monkey under the Door! These doors come in lots of different sizes and shapes - but don't look for them on the website until May 1st - they are new in the Catalog!

Here's a stamp from the set - I'll put the child's birthday age on the No. line and a little more sponging on the white area.

Inside on the right I have the Invitation stamp from the set with a little elephant.

Now jump over to Georgia's blog for more great examples of this stamp set.

Thanks for looking and feel free to leave a comment!

CTMH Product Blog Hop - April 2010

You should have come from Danielle's Blog - if you didn't you can keep hopping and you will do a complete circle.

This month we did Paper Kits. I did You Rock Level 2 Paper Kit. I cut up the whole kit to create these layouts. The majority of the kit was used up and I still have a few good size pieces to use as mats for my photos.

This first layout I did I incorporated a 9 x 9 layout protector into the layout as a moving element. You lift up the flap to show off more photos underneath! This a great way to add a few more photos without having to add a whole page or 2. You attach it to the page prior to slipping the base into the 12 x 12 sheet protector.

This layout above I love because the design goes thru both pages.

It really ties the two pages together.


When I was doing the layout above, I didn't want so many colors from the striped paper so I flipped the pieces over and used the backside - there is a solid color on the back with the same pattern as on the front! No paper goes unused!


This is the same layout on both sides but one page is turned 180 degrees. One large photo will go on one side and 4 little photos will fill the other white box!

Hope you liked my layouts. If you would like the directions for these - you need to purchase the Cherish and the Reflections Books - All of cutting guides are in these books!

Hop on over to Melissa's blog for more great ideas with paper kits!

Thanks for looking!

First LARGE Banner ! ! ! Cricut Style

I did it!

We were really afraid of how this would all go together, but with the help of my wonderful Hubby, we were able to put together a 14 FOOT banner!!!!

My friends are opening a new place and they have extra rooms to rent for their building (business). They loved it and I couldn't believe it was so easy (I did a lot of watching the Hubby draw lines as to where to put everything - I may have to put him on the payroll! hee hee)

I cut all of it using my Cricut machine!

Organizer / Basket - you decide

At our Unit Meeting we made these adorable baskets. I thought it would be great for an organizer for pens and tools, but it’s too darn cute to load up with things like that! The idea was for an Easter basket, but I’d have to add handles and I didn’t want to.

I finished it at home, we ran out of time at the meeting, so I wasn’t sure how the ribbon on the ring was suppose to look and I don’t think mine is working for me. I’m going to have to rethink the ribbon. So I’m back to my organizer theory for its use.
It takes 3 sheets of cardstock and 2 B&T paper to create it so it’s very sturdy and heavy! The metal ring in the middle came from a hardware store and does a great job of holding it all together.

The paper kit is Good Times Level 2. I'm looking to do this as a project in the future too!

SOTM Blog Hop - April 2010

Hello again! We are Blog Hopping again for the stamp of the month. This month the stamp set is Flower Pot - you can get if free with an order!

If you are hopping you should have come from Misty's blog. If not, just keep hopping and you will come full circle.

I started this card and then relized that I forgot one of my best friend's birthday - by one day! What a stinker I am! So I decided to do this as a birthday card for one of my best friends Patti!

Sorry if the pictures are dark. I stamped the flower pots and window in Chocolate Ink on Colonial Cream cardstock. I used Moon Doggie paper with the wood beams to make it look like the side of a house. I stamped the window on the wood beam B&T and on the back side of the wood beam B&T (it's red on the back and I cut out the shutters) and cut out all the different parts. I cut out the window all the way thru the front of the card and put a piece of clear acetate for the glass.

I was playing with my blending brush - it gave a texture (that was by accident - over use of the brush) and it blended the shadow on the pots. Maybe next time I'll use Stazon Ink for the image so that the edges don't get lost.

The inside - and yes, that's my daughter's signature! She's 4!

I used a piece of left over material from another project (soon to be posted) for the window shade, can you see the shine of the "glass" from the window??!! No way could I cut out really close around those flowers! I used Sunflower Marker, Citrus Leaf Marker and Bamboo Marker for coloring in all the images.

The material was fringed already - it looks like a shade (in my mind) :)

Ok, now hop on over to Shannon's blog to see more great work using this stamp set!

Thanks for Looking!

CTMH Product Highlight Blog Hop - March

You should have hopped over from Kimberly's site. If not, keep hopping and you will do a complete circle!

This month we are featuring Liquid Glass! You can use it like glue or the way I did - to add a shine to everything it touches!

I did the rain drops in Heavenly Blue ink and then went back over them with Liquid Glass so that they were shiny and they stand up off the page. The umbrells comes with prints or just the outline. I stamped the outline onto our Daydream Paper and cut out the top of the umbrella. I stamped the handle right onto the white cardstock.

I love this stamp set a lot because it has the umbrella and the BOOTS - so for the inside on the left I stamped a boot in black, colored it in with Sunny Yellow Marker and then coated it with Liquid Glass.

I cut it out and glued it on the card. I then put another chicky on the botton right and I'll be using this like a note card to send to a friend. This stamp set is called Springtime D1415.

Hope you like it!

Now jump over to Carol's site to see what she created with the Liquid Glass!

Child's Playroom Quote

My friend Kayla FINALLY (hee hee) got me a photo of the vinyl I cut out for her little girl's playroom! She's been busy so I figured worst case I'd bring my camera over to her house next Oak Creek Club Meeting and take it myself.

I love the saying: You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation (Plato). I used the Brady Bunch fonts and cut it using my Cricut! (I think I need to name my machine. When I do classes I refer to it as She.) So 2 months ago at our last Oak Creek Club I actually got to put it on the wall for her!

You can click on the photo to see it larger - in case you can't read it.

Thanks for looking - I'll have more vinyl shortly - next a beer logo!

Window Cling & Vinyl!

I recently had a friend's daughter call me regarding window clings for a University. Since I only have been playing with vinyl for cars, I was intrigued by the idea of working with window cling material. I emailed my distributor and long story/short - I received a roll of window cling last week and have been playing with it!

Side Note: My hubby likes to buy and sell cars so I can't put vinyl on my car to advertise because as soon as I put it on, it'll have to come off - so window cling just opened a flood gate for me - my head is spinning with ideas!

Here is the first attempt at it with vinyl: I teach Cricut Classes at 4 Hobby Lobby Stores in Southeastern Wisconsin (just added the Racine store!) I created these for the glass entrance doors - peel and stick without the mess. I layered the vinyl - you can stick it to the front of the door, or to the back with the vinyl touching the glass - works both sides.

I cut the cling while it is still on the white paper backing. By leaving it on the backing it transports easily and stays stiff. The area that looks white around the black is actually clear - the white is the backing showing thru the clear cling. This cling is 4 x 6. My distributor was afraid the vinyl would be too heavy and prevent the cling from sticking, but as we were talking about it, we realized that the cling material was 2 to 3 times thicker than the vinyl - I stuck one on my front door for 2 days and it still hasn't moved! I made six of these and so far all the stores I showed them to loved them! (P.S. the white circles are from my camera flash. I even turned off the flash and it is just too shiny!)

SOTM Blog Hop - March 2010

Hopping around this month we are showing off the March Stamp called A Little Everything!

You should have come from Kim O'Rear's blog, if not, just keep hopping and you will go all the way around and see all the ideas for this stamp set.

The great thing about this stamp set is the many different occasions it covers - Father's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Hanukkah, Halloween, New Year's, Valentine's, Thanksgiving, Passover, Thanks, Birthday - plus other words, like kindness, day, week, year, for all you do and more!!!

This month I did a card and focused on birthday. Using our Wishes Card Confidence Program (Book) I picked page 118 - Sentiment Wave - This hardcover book comes with a CD filled with templates that you can print out and create tons of unique cards!

With a Unit Meeting Swap coming up this month, I decided to made 6 of these to share.

The daisy stamp worked great centered on the Dimensional Element. I thought the Vanilla Cream was lacking so I stamped the leaves behind and up the side of the card to keep your eye moving. The card measures 8 x 3.5.

Supplies:

Cardstock: White, Vanilla Cream, Key Lime, Textured Dutch Blue, (the light blue is the back side of the Dutch Blue)

Bling: Dimensional Elements - Perennials; Craft Button - Winter; Brad - Spring Harmony;

Additional Stamp: Endless Friendship D1354

Ink: Key Lime, Dutch Blue,

Sponge on edge of Dimensional Element, Vanilla Cream & White cardstock

Now you need to head over to Judy Burger's blog to enjoy more great ideas for this stamp set!

Crafty Clean Up Tip #1

I'm all for getting my work area organized and finding new ways to make the most of my supplies. Now this idea isn't an original idea, but when I saw this I had to come up with a way to make it my own.

So, does your sponges look like this? 5 colors on each sponge?

Mine did up to today!

I hate opening up my drawer with all the dozen or so sponge pieces in it and trying to find a few sponges with a clean spot on them so I can still recycle them. I keep thinking I can still hold on to them because this one looks red, and that one could be blue - but no more! Another crafty lady took a Round Tab Punch (contraband item - another company's punch) and punched out tabs for her sponges (zoom down to last photos to understand that last sentence). So I searched "their" site to see prices of punches and shipping costs, all the while trying to justify spending money on another punch - then it hit me - MAKE IT MYSELF!

So I opened up one of my software programs for my Cricut and hand drew the shape above. (actual screen shot above) As you can see that little piece on the far left will be added to the rest to create the correct shape as shown below:

Looks just like "their" punch - but I didn't have to wait or pay for it!!!
Now, when I imported it into the program for cutting - it looked like this:

I assumed it wasn't going to cut right because of where the "green" is - that's suppose to be the end shape - the green is what it should look like when it's done cutting, (after trying to adjust the image a dozen times via software) I thought I'd try it anyways .

AND IT WORKED!!!
And when you fold it in half - a perfect Round Tab!

(Why yes, those are my real finger nails!)

Then staple it to the sponge, write the color of the ink on the tab and I'll never have to search for a clean spot on a sponge again!!

Now, we have 60 different colors for CTMH, I don't usually sponge every color, mainly browns & black, so I'll add as I need to. I don't plan on making 60 of them right away. I'll order a cardstock swatch sample pack (our company has 3x3 swatches on a metal ring we can purchase for around $2) and cut each tab out of the coordinating cardstock so that it's easy to see in the drawer.
Hope you liked this idea - I figured I just saved myself $15+ and 10 days of waiting!

Do you want to know the best part about this?? I can stretch the image on the screen and I can make these any size!! I don't have to buy one in all the different sizes!! I think that's priceless!!!

The Nugget Box Stands Alone

My title sounds like a kids song - "the cheese stands alone" does anyone know that one - It's in my head now. Anyway, my daughter was circling my table all day when I was creating the 4 Drawer Box that I posted a few days ago and she kept saying "is that for me?" I told her if she let me finish without circling like a hungry shark, I'd make her one and fill it with a surprise! I used a Pewter Decorative Brad for the handle, and she does have a hard time opening it by pulling the brad, can't grip it under the brad. The heart is another chipboard one I cut out using my Cricut. In fact, this whole box was done on my Cricut. I designed it so I didn't have to pick up a cutter. In the picture below you can see just right of the heart, on the fold is a cut line. I put that in so that it will fold without having to score it! So my little peanut disappeared into the living room long enough for me to make one for her and even decorate it and as promised, I filled it with candy - just in time for Valentine's Day!