'Tis the season...

Well, the handpicked, live tree is dying (I am vacuuming EVERYDAY!).  I am eating my own body weight in cookies, catered lunches and chocolate.  I'm staying up past my bed time putting all the last minute touches on Christmas, until my eyes go cross.

'Tis the season!

I have been such a bah-humbug this year.  I have barely taken any Christmas photos.  I had to force myself to make Christmas cards to post and also to give to family members (the ones who got gift cards or scratch offs).  And the gifts were bought by Hubby, and I just slapped as much wrapping paper on them as I could stomach.

And now for the card... :)

Next Year's Tree

This little girl's got the right idea.  There's less needles to vacuum up.

This is a digi stamp from... well, I don't know.  Someone was handing out the kit at a crop.  But the best parts of this card are the jacket and the lights on the tree.  Print the Digi Stamp first on plain paper.  Then either print it again on patterned paper or trace the jacket part using the original stamp.  Stick it over the jacket on the original Digi Stamp.  It gives some nice texture.  Add glitter glue to the tree for lights.

Only a few days left until Christmas.  Can't wait until it is over!

(Just kidding!)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year...

Second time is a charm...

OK, so THIS is the card I was trying to put together when I went up into my scrapbooking room last week:

LIGHTS

The string of lights is from the "3 Birds on Parade" Cricut Cartridge.  The front background is embossing and the back (back)ground is sparkle paper.

My other favorite Christmas memory is of Christmas Eve.  It is a tradition for our family to go to church for the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service.  All the lights go out, everyone lights one candle, and we sing "Silent Night" softly.  Then my family piles in the van and heads to Dunkin Donuts for donuts and hot cocoa.  The rest of the night is spent driving around Central Jersey, looking for the best Christmas Light displays.  One family turns their garage into Sesame Street, and right across the street is a Disney wonderland.

I hope your holidays are magical and full of amazing memories.

O Christmas Tree...

Winter Wonderland...

Isn't it funny how you can go up to your scrapping room with the intention of making a very specific card, and you come down an hour later having made two cards that were nothing like the one you originally had in your head?

WINTER WONDERLAND

This card was made using a technique I learned at my last Saturday Morning Club.  I love the effect it gives the background of the card.

You take a white piece of matte card stock (this is very important, since you get a different effect with glossy paper).  Versamark the design you want on the background - I used two different types of snowflake stamps - and then emboss with white, or iridescent ice or whatever color tickles your fancy.  I used both white and iridescent ice for a duel effect.  Then you take a sponge and the ink colors of your choice, and stamp all around the page.  The ink will not stick to the embossed surfaces, leaving them white or clear.  Rub the excess ink of the embossed parts with a paper towel and you have a beautiful textural effect.

I plan on using this technique many a time in the future.  Thanks Julie!

I will save the card for another post.  I also hope to finish the card I originally went upstairs to complete.  When it is done, I will post it.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland....

Sparkling Memories.....

Ok, NOW it is time for Christmas... And winter/Christmas memories are my favorite ones!

Hubby and I are heading out to get our Christmas Tree today.

When I was a little girl, there were two Christmas traditions that I remember enjoying, and that I want to continue with my husband and and future offspring we may produce.  The first was going to a tree farm and picking out the perfect tree to put in our living room.

It couldn't be too tall (we had a low ceiling and Dad had to be able to reach the top) and it had to have a good width.  The branches had to be sturdy enough to hold my grandmother's homemade clay ornaments - which are now mine, by the way!  We would have the workers cut it down for us, then we would strap it to the roof of the car and bring it home.  Dad would set it up on the tree stand, Mom would vacuum up the fallen needles and the cat would try to get in the way as much as possible.  Then we would put on a Christmas CD, make a snack, and decorate!

THE SPARKLE OF SNOW
This card is simple (which, at this point, should be my middle name - no wait, I like "Joy", I think I will keep it) and inspiring at the same time.  It instantly invokes memories of bundling up and building snowmen, watching the snow fall out your window and grabbing your sleigh.

This card is so simple, I want to make 100 of them and send them out as my Christmas cards next year!  Take a rubber roller (called a brayer) and cover it in Versamark.  Then cover the paper with "iridescent ice" (StampinUp) and heat until you get a nice shine.  Add cute wintery creature and sentiment.  Tada!

What is your favorite Christmas memory?  Share it with the group!

Happy Holidays!

Autumn harvest...

Today I am thankful for:
Having somewhere to go when you find yourself alone.

Thanksgiving day is right around the corner.  And my Hubby is on his way to Texas.

In a moment of insanity, I made a promise to my husband that, for his 30th birthday, he could got to a Miami Dolphins football game.  The game that occurred closest to his birthday.

The next time I make him another promise - if ever! - I will be a little more restrictive.

It happened that the Dolphins were playing on Thanksgiving, in Dallas TX.

I didn't have enough time to take off of work, so I am sitting home alone.  Luckily, for the rest of the week, family and friends have stepped in to house me in my time of loneliness.

AUTUMN HARVEST
I am going to plug Creative Memories for a minute...

The scarecrow is from one of their new 2011 Cricut Cartridges and the fence is a double shot of a new paper cutter tool they are showcasing. I made this as part of a make&take at the last crop I attending.

And now it is a card!

Oh, and one more thing...

!!!!!HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Be thankful!

Today I am thankful for:
My husband.

If you have followed my blog from the beginning, you are aware that my husband is anything but romantic.  Which is fine with me.  The sappy stuff, getting roses at work, shouting his love from the mountain tops, all that makes me a little uncomfortable and, frankly, embarrassed.  The sweetest thing my Husband has ever said to me was "There is a tiny small red spot on my black heart, just for you."

Well, today he said the second sweetest thing he has ever said to me.  We were cleaning the basement (thanks to Hurricane Irene, the mold got a little out of hand).  I wasn't wearing my mask, like I should have been.  Hubby asks me why I wasn't wearing it, to which I replied that I didn't like how it felt.  He says, "Put it on.  I don't want anything to happen to you."

I almost fainted! :)  Isn't that so sweet????

BE THANKFUL
I am always looking for something that isn't a traditional card.  Thanks to Deneen, a new scrapbooking friend I met at a crop, I have a new idea to use in future projects.  I know tags are not anything new, but I haven't worked with them before.  I was never very interested, until she did this project with us.

I could make these tags all day.  They are simple (my motto!) and colorful.  They trasport me instantly to a field of trees, where the leaves are turning such beautiful colors and falling slowly to the ground.

These tags are big enough that you could have a pretty design on the front and have plenty of room to write a nice note on the back.  Think place cards for your Thanksgiving feast, tied around the napkin or a peice of silverware.

You are the sweetest thing...

Thankful thoughts....

Today, I am thankful for:
Family and friends who are there when I need them.



The Motivation Fairy has struck again.  When I felt down and out, she was there to pick me up, shake me down, and say "Get crafting!"

BUCKLE CARD
In the instructions (found here), they put their buckle on the outside and tucked it in.  I think it looks cuter under, sticking out.  But that's just me, you do whatever floats your boat!

It's hard to see in the picture, but the yellow paper is actually stamped with a slightly darker yellow ink.  The tone-on-tone gives it another layer of dimension.

Short and sweet, that is how this blog goes...

Please excuse me while I take a moment to rant...

It is November.

October has Halloween, December has Christmas.  So what does November have?

If you answered "fall", stop reading, turn off your computer and TV, and go study your calendar.

Thanksgiving seems to be a forgotten holiday.  I don't mean that we forget to celebrate it - no, no, fine readers.  We celebrate Thanksgiving until we unbutton our pants and fall asleep on the couch in front of the televised football game.  Plates and plates of mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and (of course) turkey dance in our dreams for days and days. 

What I mean is that Thanksgiving does not get the attention it deserves.  Sure, you pay attention to it a few days before, as you are buying and preparing food, making arrangements for whose home at which you will be gluttening, checking the TV schedule to make sure the Parade is on at the same time it is every year.  But come Black Friday, when the dishes are done and you are burning off all the extra calories playing elbow wars with the people at the mall, Thanksgiving becomes a distant memory.  Christmas trees are being bought, Christmas music is being played on the radio, and Christmas cards are being tossed in the mailbox.

Now, it wouldn't be so bad if we took the BEGINNING of November to celebrate Thanksgiving.  But we can't even seem to manage that!  The beginning of November is spent planning out your Christmas list, writing out Christmas cards, and thinking about the tinsel and the lights.

On my Blog, Thanksgiving is going to get the attention it deserves.  While everyone is working on Christmas projects, or their generic "fall" themed projects, I will be dedicating the whole month - even after Black Friday - to Thanksgiving.  Be prepared for turkey, thankful thoughts, and more orange and brown than you will ever need to see for the rest of your life.

End rant.... 

Butterfly Award!

I am the honored recipient of a Butterfly Award!  Thank you, Lynne!

Here are the rules of the award:
1) Post a link to the person who awarded you.
2) Answer 12 questions about myself.
3) Pass the award along to 10 bloggers.

Some fun facts about Erin:
1. Favorite Color: Red
2. Favorite Song: Love is a Battlefield by Pat Benatar
3. Favorite dessert: Red Velvet Cake
4. Biggest pet peeve: stupidity
5. Favorite Pet: bunny!
6. Black or white: white
7. Biggest fear: losing the people I love
8. Best feature: my imagination
9. Everyday attitude: stock up on some good karma
10. Your idea of perfection: a warm meal, a comfy bed and someone to share them with
11. Guilty pleasure: anything chocolate
12. When I am upset, I: cry

Now to pass on the love!
1. Michelle @ http://peanutbutterandjellydesigns.blogspot.com/
2. Elaine @ http://www.expressionsbyelaine.blogspot.com/
3. Vicki @ http://mawmawsthoughts.blogspot.com/
4. Eva @ http://evasscrapsncards.blogspot.com/
5. Heather @ http://blessed2cre8.blogspot.com/
6. Susan @ http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/
7. Ellen @ http://thepaperjungle.blogspot.com/
8. Linda @ http://lindaplusthree.blogspot.com/
9. Gaylynn @ http://blog.neatthings-boutique.com/
10. Christy @ http://christybladehandmade.blogspot.com/

Love is a battlefield...

Tag, you are it!

I have been tagged!

Sue from Susana's Scrapping Corner is passing her tag on to me!  Here is the criteria for the recipient of said tag:

1. Post the button.
2. Tell 10 things about yourself.
3. Tag 5 bloggers.

Since #1 is out of the way, let's get on with the show!

1. My favorite color is red.
2. My favorite holiday is Christmas, followed closely by Halloween.
3. My lucky number is 7.
4. My star sign is Taurus...
5. ...and I don't care what the new charts say.  My (future) kids will have star signs according to the old charts.
6. If I could be anywhere in the world right now, I would be in Disney about a month from now. (I am polishing my time machine as we speak).
7. My favorite show is CSI.
8. I secretly love country music.
9. Dogs love me but I don't like them.
10. I have a severe sweet tooth!

Now to tag 5 people.  I picked these lucky ladies out of my followers list, for no particular reason.  If I tagged you, please repeat the process on your own blog - button, tell and tag!  If you have already been tagged by someone else, then you are not expected to do it again.

1. Michelle @ http://peanutbutterandjellydesigns.blogspot.com/
2. Elaine @ http://www.expressionsbyelaine.blogspot.com/
3. Vicki @ http://mawmawsthoughts.blogspot.com/
4. Eva @ http://evasscrapsncards.blogspot.com/
5. Heather @ http://blessed2cre8.blogspot.com/

Tag, you're it!

Tim Burton Blog Hop!!!!!!

"Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?"

If you're a Tim Burton fan, you will recognize that line from "This is Halloween" -- a well-known song from the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas". With Halloween just around the corner, this is the perfect time to celebrate all things Tim Burton! We have a talented group of ladies on this weekend blog hop. Join us as we each share a project inspired by one of Tim's quirky characters!


If you've just come from Krista's blog, you are right where you should be! If you haven't but would like to start from the beginning, go to Dena's blog: http://missdjones.blogspot.com/.

We would like to thank Karber Digital Images for sponsoring this blog hop. Karber is giving away two digital stamps to one lucky person who comments during the blog hop.
** To be eligible to win, you must comment on each blog in the hop.
*** You must become a follower of each blog.
**** The winner will be announced no later than Wednesday, October 26th.

Now, on to the project I would like to share with you:
THE PUMPKIN KING

The "side step" card may look complicated, but after going step by step through a short tutorial (found here), I could pop out a dozen of these babies!

I love the 3d effect of this card.  Now it looks like they are having a real Halloween party!

I used paper shared by a friend, from her StoryTeller's Club October pack.  The moon I cut with a 1 3/4 inch punch using scraps, then cut to fit the square edge of the card.  The felt pumpkins came in a pack that I bought for $1 at Target (their dollar bins are awesome!)  I drew the faces on with a black marker, under the advise of Sue (susanna's scrapping corner).  And the characters were from a sticker set I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo back in May.

My husband is a HUGE Tim Burton fan.  In fact, The Nightmare Before Christmas is his #2 favorite movie of all time.  (SAW is #1, and Lilo&Stitch is #3 - there will be a quiz later!)  I made this card with his 30th birthday in mind.  It will accompany a very special suprise, shhhhhh!  Mums the word!

Please be sure to hop on over to Canadian Nickel's blog next for more Tim Burton fun! If you get lost along the way, the complete blog hop lineup is below. Thanks for stopping by!


Dena : http://missdjones.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://tamboscreations.blogspot.com/
Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
Berenice: http://karbersweetescape.blogspot.com/
Joy: http://justjoycrafts.blogspot.com/
Lisa: http://handmadewithlove-lisa.blogspot.com/
Jessica: http://www.scrappyluvs.blogspot.com/
Susan: http://susanascorner.blogspot.com/
Jennifer: http://craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/
Krista: http://www.KristasPaperCafe.com/
Erin G: http://comfyonmycloud.blogspot.com/ ~~ YOU ARE HERE!
Canadian Nickel: http://www.canadiannickelscrapn.blogspot.com/ ~~ NEXT STOP!
Jearise: http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/

(Oh, I want it, Oh, I want it, Oh, I want it for my own... What! Is! This!)

Wicked fun!

If you have never been to an All Day Crop, I HIGHLY recommend going to one!

It is an all day event - usually 9am or 10am to 5pm or 6pm.  You get snacks, lunch, drinks, table space, raffles, vendors, make&takes, contests, and plenty of headspace to make some really wonderful scrapbook pages and cards.  Oh, and did I mention you are surrounded by people who are just as passionate about scrapbooking and just as creative as you are?

WICKED
I got the idea for this card from the Hero Arts blog.  Cut out an image (in this case, I chose a scary tree for my Halloween card) in a dark or bold color.  Layer it under a piece of vellum, then layer that under a window cut out.  (To cut out the window, I used my 12" papercutter.  But you can fussy cut, or use an exacto knife.) Add dark or bold accent pieces to the front of the card.  In the case of a Halloween card, it gives a nice foggy, shadowy look.  Just the touch of creepiness you need.

This technique can be used on any kind of card.  Making Christmas cards?  Layer a cutout of holly leaves and berries.  This gives it a snowy look.  Making a summer card?  Put a cutout of a sun under the vellum.  It gives the appearance of a hazy summer sky.

I spent a day or two planning out all my pages and cards I was going to put together during the Croptoberfest Crop that Susan and I went to this past weekend.  Organization is the key to having a successful crop day, in my opinion.  I cut out all my images, pulled out all the embellishments I wants to use, sorted my pictures into piles, and paired everything up with my paper.  Add a paperclip or shove it all into a plastic bag.  Then, when you hall your heavy bag of supplies over to the crop table, you simply have to sit and pull out that bag.  All the pieces will be in front of you, ready to go.

Looking forward to my next crop in a few weeks.  I have a LOT of catching up to do.  Life is always busy, so I fell behind on my scrapbooking.

Dreaming of the next crop...

An old friend...

I just realized I forgot to post this card.  I was so proud of it, and then promptly shoved it aside like an old shoe. 

:(  <~ sad Erin

I usually shy away from large, colorful prints.  It's just not who I am.  My OCD makes me a person who likes simple, plain, organized, quiet.

But I had to find something to do with the paper.  It was part of a Scrappy Jak monthly challenge kit and the project deadline was looming.  This print screams "HEEEELLLLLOOOOO!"  So, I paired it with the item that I reach for every time I am not sure which direction to take a design.

I never met a button I didn't like.

HELLO CARD
So I put buttons on it, and literally made it say "hello".

The flower rhinestones are slowly becoming my #2 favorite item to use as an embellishment.

So many wonderful people said they wanted me to make a card for them.  I just wish I knew where she got the paper that she put in the kit!  I also won that month's prize.  I wasn't based on design, it was a random picking, but still - it made me feel extra special.

If you would like to find out more about Scrappy Jak, search her on facebook.  It is awesome.  PS)  I don't have facebook, thank you very much.  And I somehow still find a way to elbow my way into all the fun.  :::wink:::

Off to the Crop Tower...

Tommy Turkey steps it up....

I have been completely unmotivated since I returned from the sun and sand of the Carribean.  Unmotivated to go to work, unmotivated to cook, unmotivated to be creative.  But it helps to find motivation when someone is holding you hostage.

Sue wouldn't let me leave her house until I finished a card.  So we worked on a Side Step Card.  I was excited because it was different then just throwing together a regular, linear card.

I decided on a Fall Theme.  Perhaps that contributes to my lack of motivation - while I was on the cruise, the seasons changed.  It went from summer to fall.  The weather got cooler and wet, the trees are changing colors, and next weekend we will be going pumpkin and apple picking.  Yep, fall is here. 

Don't get me wrong, I love fall.  But I just got off the cruise.  I didn't want fall to come just yet.  I wanted to hold on to the bathing suit weather just a little longer....

TOMMY TURKEY
Say hello to my lil' friend...

The picture doesn't give it justice.  The instructions to make your own side step card can be found here: Split Coast Stampers, posted by Beate Jones

It was amazingly simple.  As usual, I looked at the picture of THEIR card and said to myself "looks to complicated, I probably couldn't figure it out."  But Sue - as is her way - dives headlong into the challange as if she was Super Woman.  And I dove right after her, saying "what the heck, why not".

It wasnt't really a challenge.  The only suggestion I will make is this:  when you are scoring the longer side (3inches), turn the paper the other way.  It's actually easier to do it opposite the directions.  Just takes a little extra math...

See you soon...

Paradise found!

Hubby and I are getting on a cruise ship tomorrow afternoon and we can't wait!  I have been dreaming of a tropical paradise for weeks.

The cruise is actually a destination wedding.  Hubby's cousins are getting married on the island of St. Thomas on the 4th day of the trip.  We are so happy for them!

PARADISE FOUND
A wedding card for a destination wedding.  I saw a neat technique while doing a make-&-take at the Scrapbook Expo back in May.  Use the vellum quotes and ink the edges so they stand out on the page.  I loved this technique so much, I used it on the card I made next (see further down this post).

The paper, vellum quotes and rhinestone flowers I had lying around.  But I used StampinUp! stamps and embossing powder for the embossed flowers on the right.

SUMMERTIME
This card is going into a Card Box I am sending my pen pal, Mara, for her birthday.  The surf boards are a StampinUp! stamp.

Hope you are all having wonderful visions of summer!  See you when we get back!

Miss you!

We have a winner!

My apologies for this post being late.  But Hubby and I were honored to be with Susan and her family yesterday, celebrating her birthday!

Thanks to random.org for it's help in picking a winner.  Drum roll please......







Winner is......








......LYNNE!
Congrats, Lynne!  Be on the lookout for an email from me!

She was commentor #8.  Also, you may recognize her name, since she was the lovely lady who kicked off the Anything Goes Birthday Blog Hop!

If anyone wants to check out her blog, go here.


ON ANOTHER NOTE:
For those of you that are curious about what was on the back of the recipe card, it was a recipe for Crockpot Turkey Chili.  Susan has asked me to make this for her on several occasions.  It was accompanied by a box full of the ingredients so she could make her own batch.

Vicki inspired me with her comment (see last post, comment #4 - "Tell me, please..is the recipe for food or is it a scrap recipe, recipe for a happy birthday???").  I had a food recipe in mind when I made the project, but you could absolutely put anything you wanted on the back.  A "recipe" for a happy birthday or a happy marriage, a "recipe" for a kit or card, a "recipe" for a rainy day activity, etc etc.  You have opened up a new world of possibilities, Vicki, so thank you for inspiring me!

Also, I am going to be a guest designer on Sue's blog, sometime in October.  Be on the lookout for my project!
Can't wait until the next blog hop!

Susan's Anything Goes Festive Birthday Bash Blog Hop!!!

Hello!

A very happy birthday to Susan!  And welcome to her Anything Goes Festive Birthday Bash Blog Hop!  In case you would like to know where you are coming from and where you should go from here, the revised order is as follows:

Day 1:
1. Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
2. Amber: http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/
3. Angie: http://atuttletime.blogspot.com/
4. Becky: http://squirlygirlcreations.blogspot.com/
5. Berenice: http://karbersweetescape.blogspot.com/
6. Brenda: http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com/
7. Christel: http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/
8. Cindy: http://www.cindys-greencricut.blogspot.com/
9. Deborah: http://www.scrappingmamma.net/
10. Erin: http://comfyonmycloud.blogspot.com/ ~ YOU ARE HERE!
11. Gina: http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/
12. Kari: http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/
13. Staci: http://preciousmem.blogspot.com/

I hope you are finding lots of creativity and inspiration in everyone's projects.  Don't forget that there is a second day of projects taking place tomorrow, Sept 4th.  Go to Susan's blog for more details.

It's time to think outside the box.  Gifts do not always have to be accompanied by a traditional card.  And not every occasion must be celebrated with one.  There are plenty of other paper-crafts that will make the occasion more memorable.  And your friends and family will want to keep them, long after a traditional card would have been put aside or thrown away.

A RECIPE FOR YOU
My birthday card is actually a recipe card.  On the front, a small note.  On the back, a very special recipe for my friend.  I won't show the back, since I do not want to ruin the surprise.

I used paper from a Creative Memories paper pack.  The yellow flowers are from Oriental Trading - I got a larger batch than I thought, and now I have tons!

My favorite part of this project was experimenting with embossing powder.  I came across another blog recently, with a video on how to emboss buttons.  I applied the same technique to my own buttons and flowers.

It's very simple - just Versamark the stamp you wish to use, then stamp the object you wish to emboss.  Sprinkle on the powder (I used black) and heat with the embossing gun.

Pay close attention to what materials you are working with.  I tried this technique on ribbon, and the heat melted some of the fibers.  Also, the flowers absorbed the embossing powder after heating, giving it the effect of an ink, rather than the glossiness usually produced by embossing powder.

The effect, however, is simply divine when applied to buttons! :)

Speaking of buttons...
Since this is my first blog hop, I have decided to REALLY get into the spirit of things.  What I mean is, I will be giving away BLOG CANDY!

The beautiful bag of beautiful buttons found below can be yours if you follow two simple steps:
1) follow this blog
2) post a comment, include your email address (to contact you if you win)
The winner will be chosen at random on Monday.  Good luck!



PS) Did I mention I LOVE buttons?????

Happy Labor Day!

Good news, everybody!

Before we get to the good news tho, I would like to point out a new feature I have added to my posts.  Down at the bottom of every post, there is now 3 reaction check boxes.  Don't have time to leave a comment?  Just check a box!  Look for this new feature down below the "comments" button.

OK now on to the news....
I will be participating in my first blog hop this weekend, Sept 3rd and 4th.  It's for Sue's birthday, and it's called "Susan's Anything Goes Festive Birthday Bash Blog Hop".  I will be showing off my project on the first day (Sept 3rd) and I will post the line-up below.  There will be plenty of blog candy and awesome projects, so don't miss it!

I am so excited about showing off a great project for Sue's birthday.  Off to the Scrapping Table!

Day 1: September 3, 20111. Lynne: http://slasewcraftiness.blogspot.com/
2. Amber: http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/
3. Angie: http://atuttletime.blogspot.com/
4. Becky: http://squirlygirlcreations.blogspot.com/
5. Berenice: http://karbersweetescape.blogspot.com/
6. Brenda: http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com/
7. Christel: http://onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/
8. Cindy: http://www.cindys-greencricut.blogspot.com/
9. Deborah: http://www.scrappingmamma.net/
10. Erin: http://comfyonmycloud.blogspot.com/ - MEEEEEE!!!!!
11. Faith: http://faithfulecreations.com/
12. Gina: http://californiascrappin-gcinderella21.blogspot.com/
13. Kari: http://purplefuntastickcreations.blogspot.com/
14. Staci: http://preciousmem.blogspot.com/





Happy September!

Tropical Dream

Tomorrow is the last day of August, and this marks the beginning of the end of summer - at least to me.  The temp is getting cooler and Labor Day is nigh.  Soon it will be fall and winter - my FAVORITE times of year! :)

But this year, I discovered a way to prolong summer just a tad.  In 12 days, Hubby and I will be heading for the Bahamas!  Warm sunny weather (hopefully), a wedding on the beach, plenty of bathing suits and suntan lotion.  Oh, and since all the food on the cruise is all-you-can-eat, there will be ... well, more food than we can eat!

The following card is a reflection of my mindset - I am already on the beach of CocoCay, sprawled out of a lounge chair, sipping a colorful drink.  I call it: TROPICAL DREAM.

I love this stamp set from StampinUp! - it is called Aviary.  The bird is stamped in regular ink, but the cage is embossed in black, so it gives the illusion of the cage being in front of the bird.  The background paper, ribbon and tiny flower jewels are things I just had lying around.  Gotta love the leftovers!

I hope this card has you thinking of a tropical paradise.

Happy Scrapping!

Three business days....

The man that hired me three years ago at my current job, Werner, will be retiring on Wednesday, August 31st.

Though he is a stickler for the rules, he is kind-hearted and has a wonderful sense of humor.  My colleagues and I will miss him!

RETIREMENT CARD:
I made this with much creative help from Sue.  The scissors and the tie were both cut from the "Simply Charmed" Cricut cartridge.  The tie was embossed and the swirls were colored in with a silver pen.

Happy Retirement, Werner!  Go and relax!

De ja vu!

I know I have featured this project in another post, but I believe it bears repeating.

Inspired creativity is all about thinking outside the box, in my opinion.  My box happens to be rounded at the edges (get it?  cloud, round edges, hehe... ok, enough fooling around, back to the post...)

Problem:  Ever find yourself with embellishments or a cartridge of images you think you are never going to use?  Ever have an embellishment or image you really love but have no idea what other colors or patterns would work with it?  Ever need a small gift for someone who isn't crafty or may not appreciate a handmade card?

Solution: Magnets!

This idea came from a project that I worked on with partner-in-crime Sue and a coworker, Sandra, who was having a 1st birthday/baptism for her daughter.  Sue made the invitations for Sandra, and we all took an afternoon down in the Craft Cave assembling them.  The last piece of the project was putting magnets on the back of each card.  I thought this was ingenious, because it transformed an invitation that might sit on someone's counter, or get lost with the junk mail, into something that people could display, that was easily visible on the fridge.

It is as simple as taking an embellishment or cutting an image on your Cricut (or Pazzles or etc etc) and gluing a magnet on the back.  Instant gift!

Below are the two magnets I made using Disney and Pixar cartridges (borrowed from friends).  Wall-E is my second favorite Disney film of all time, and my Hubby adores the green aliens from Toy Story.  And now we can both smile every time we walk past the fridge and see them up there.

EVE:

As you can see, the cut-out if not very big.  (Yes, that is my hand.)  You can make the image as big or as small as you want.  As long as you use sturdy paper and good glue, anything will work.

ALIEN:

I put two magnets on this one, but it is up to you...

These are small and thin enough (depending on the magnet you use) to fit inside a card, an envelope, or, as you can see here, slipped inside a 6 pack.

And the scrapping continues...

July Come Lately....

I - on the advice of my bestest friend Sue, found here - am participating in a Facebook card club.  I don't have a Facebook account, but my Hubby has been kind enough to contact the ringleader of this card club on my behalf.  Check out Scrappy Jak on Facebook - you won't regret it!

These cards were posted a few days after the designated date, but I still got some nice comments on them anyway.  The theme for July's card challenges was "4th of July".  Here is my tribute to the good ol' red, white, and blue...

A lot going on, but reminds me of a sky full of fireworks...

The stickers and embellishments were left overs from a Creative Memories project.  The paper and ribbons were in the kit from Scrappy Jak.

Looking forward to next challenge... And the scrapping continues...

Holy Heatwave, Batman!

It is HOOOOOOOOOOOT over here in NJ!  There has been a heatwave warning for the better part of the week.  It is 10:22pm and the temp is currently 102degrees.  In my house - 90degrees!  We, unfortunately, do not have central air.  I have the wall unit on at it's highest setting and I am still wiping sweat off my brow.

Anyway, the point of my rant is this: no scrapbooking and very little card-making will be done during the hot summer months.  Not only will the adhesive not hold up (our magnetic notepad on the fridge fell off the other day, for this same reason) but I will not survive very long upstairs, in the hottest, smallest room in the house.  Did I mention there is no wall or window AC unit upstairs?  Yeah, I think I will stick to the ground floor.

This is another card made at the fun "Christmas in July" card night my Mom and I shared last week.  It was an idea from the demonstrator and my friend, Julie.  As soon as she put it together, I thought instantly of my penpal across the pond, Mara.  She is a very wise woman who currently lives over in the UK, but used to live in stinky, crowded NJ.

She looooves crafts, and quilting especially.  I actually have a bag of material to send her, and this card will go with it.  She has agreed to make me a Harry Potter quilt! :)

It's a quilt! :)  And it's adorable.  The paper was actually double-sided StampinUp! paper - which, to my dismay, has been discontinued - and the knot in the middle gives it just the right 3D effect.

I will try this card again, but next time with the squares on a smaller scale.  Then I will use my SewEasy on the "seams".  That way, the whole card looks like a big, hand-sewn quilt!

ComfyCloud, over and out!

Show and Tell...

My mother and I had a very fun night last night at my friend Julie's house.  She is a StampinUp! Demonstrator, and she hosted a "Christmas in July" meeting.  I missed my usual buddies - Hi Sue and Jean! - but it was still fun.

We went a little crazy with paper that wasn't exactly Christmas colors, but still worked.  We made a gift card holder, using green and pink paper.  I love this idea, and I plan on making an army of them, so I can be ready for the upcoming holiday season.

Pink and green work oddly well together.  The little pinch of brown adds some depth.  If you lift the front flap, I glue the middle and last flaps together, to get a pocket.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, only 6 months left til Christmas!

Life is a bumpy road...

My, we have been busy little bees lately!

The electronics in our house seem to be staging a mutiny against my Hubby!  First our tv died, then the laptop went.  I am holding my breath for what goes next.

I found out my cousin is pregnant and due in March.  Congrats Ryan and Holly!

Hubby and I are celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary!  Love you, Babe!

We spent the last two weekends in CT visiting Hubby's family and friends.  It was good to see them.

But I am sitting on my couch right now, yawning, at 6:30pm.  I am tired!

Ok, enough ranting.  Time for a card!

I made this one for a monthly Card Club challenge for my StampinUp! buddies.  The stamp set is called "Aviary".  I like it because you can use each stamp on it's own, or you can layer them.  For example, the cage to the right is actually 3 stamps: bird, cage and stand.

Happy Scrapping!

FINALLY!

We come to the end of PSNSD challenges - challenge # 12: "kid's theme".

This card was for my cousin Jake's 6th birthday.

I love the "treat cups" that StampinUp! has.  They are little plastic window cups that fit perfectly in holes made by their punches.  I filled this one with M&M's - but you can used ANYTHING.  Sprinkles, jelly beans, beads, sand, glitter, etc etc.

Happy June!  See you in July!

Holy watermelon, Batman!

This was, hands down, my favorite challenge of all the PSNSD challenges.

#11 was "green, pink and black".  I started this project by picking up sheets of green and pink paper that I had bought at a Creative Memories all day crop.  Oddly enough, these were the ONLY two colors I bought.  Not for any particular reason, except that they were the two colors that caught my eye while I was rummaging through the loose cardstock bin.

I put the two colors next to each other, and the first thing that flashed in my mind was "WATERMELON".

The seeds were made by using a mini heart-shaped punch.  I cut them in half to look like seeds.  The black and white patterend paper was left over from another project.

Again, I say to you - don't be afraid of your leftovers!

To be continued... One more to go!

PS) Over this past weekend, I got a picutre with Adam West.  He is awesome.  The title of this post is dedicated to him.

Here Birdie, Birdie, Birdie!

Congrats to my baby sister on her graduation from college!

(I feel so old...)

This little guy is from my second favorite Cricut Cartridge - 3 Birds On Parade.  The background is paper I found at AC Moore.  The flower design is raised and feels kind if like felt, when you run your finger over it.

PSNSBD challenge #10: "card with a pet on it."  My sister prefers pets that are furrier, but our feathered friend will have to do.

Only two more challenges to go... To be continued...

My monster has a first name...

...it's S-P-A-R-K.

As in "sparkle"!  Glitz, glitter and glam was PSNSD (Pink Stamper Nat'l Scrapbook Day) challenge #9.

These cards were made from the Mini Monsters Cricut Cartridge.  The glitter was glitter glass from StampinUp!, in bahama blue (I think).  They were for two little boys, with birthdays in May.

To be continued...

I'm having leftovers...

Challenge #8 was "summer theme".  This entire card was made with leftovers.

What I mean is - I had leftover pieces from other projects that were just sitting around collecting dust.  They worked very well together.

Don't be afraid of your leftovers!  Don't just toss them away, never to be used.  Make them work for you!

To be continued...

Visit from the ghost of Expos past....

This post is brought to you by the Scrapbook Expo 2010.

I picked up this scrapbook page kit from one of the booths at the Expo that year.  (I can't remember exactly which booth, but my gut tells me Shoestring Productions.)  They have been there every year I've gone.  The first year I went (2009) I picked up a super cute "baking" kit, with a huge cut-out of a chocolate chip, wooden spoon and other cute embellishments.

Last years kit was "Family".  This also counts as my Pink Stamper National Scrapbook Day challenge #7.  I JUST got around to opening the kit and putting it together!

Don't be afraid to use kits.  Remember that you don't always have to follow the picture they give you - you can customize it.  This kits was shown with two techniques I didn't use.  They brushed the edges of everything with a brown ink.  They also crinkled the flower, to give it a 3D look.  I didn't like the way these techniques looked.  I like the classic look of a nice, clear line.

Can't wait to add some spring pictures to this page!  Go get scrapping!

To be continued...

Welcome to the world, sweet baby!

My husband's family is all about... well, family.  Everytime I turn around, someone is having a baby.  And they are all so cute!

This card is for one of Hubby's cousins that I am good friends with.  Her and her husband had a beautiful baby girl, Annaveigh.

You may recognize the paper.  Pink mulberry and patterned pink carkstock.  I love this combination!

The turtle stamp is something I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo at "Stamps by Judith".  Just like all the babies, he is so cute!

To be continued...

It's time for the beach...

Grab your flipflops!  Mine have pictures in them!

As I have mentioned before, the Scrapbook Expo was a blast.  And thanks to Quick Quotes, I have something very special to remember it by.

One of the make and takes my cousin and I partook in that day was the flipflop album.  They provided an accordian flipflop-shaped chipboard album, flipflop-shaped cardstock in fun summer colors, and some chalking ink to liven up the party.

Oh, and I am also counting this as my "3d object", which was challenge #5 on Pink Stamper's National Scrapbook Day list.

This project was so much fun!  And I really enjoyed using the chalking ink.  It is literally a cross between chalk and ink, so you get the benefits of both worlds. The sharp color of an ink, but the ability to brush it on like a chalk.  Next time, I am definately going to have to pick some up.

To be continued...

Happy (belated) Mother's Day!

The next Pink Stamper challenge was "Mother's Day Theme".

This is what Mothers are made of.

I used the same cute pink paper as the breast cancer card - and it will appear again in a later project - and some of the pink Mulberry paper.  Pink, flower-shaped buttons, clear word stickers, and some baby pink ribbon, give just the right amount of girly to this card.

To be continued...

This one is for Aunt Cissy...

The third of twelve challenges for National Scrapbook Day was a Breast Cancer theme.  This is a subject that is close to my heart, as my "second mother" is a 6 year survivor.

Aunt Cissy was my friend's mother, who then because my real Aunt, when I married my friend's cousin.  When I first moved to CT, she took me in like I was her own child and we because very close.

This card is for her.  I used a pink ribbon pin I had for the center.

I used pink cardstock I had on hand, some Mulberry paper (LOVE that stuff!) and I cute all the pink with a little green for a pop.

It was also my first use of my new Sew Easy stitching tool.

To be continued...

Get well soon!

National Scrapbook Day challenge #2 was "Kraft cardstock".  I don't think I own any, so I am substituting it for "make something with cardstock".

I made this care package for a dear friend of mine who had surgery this past Friday.  She is working on recovering, but she missed out on the Somerset NJ Scrapbooking Expo that day.  It was GREAT!  I went and have a fabulous time.  I missed not having her there, since we went together last year and we are scrapbooking sisters!

I took a regular plain brown paper gift bag and filled it with all kinds of goodies I picked up for her at the Expo.  Her favorite color is purple, so there was a lot of purple things in there.

I stuck the "get well wishes" note on the front, using cardstock and stamps I had on hand.  Pink ribbon gives it that extra touch to say "I am thinking about you!"

 The following two items I made for her while at the expo.  One is a pin and the other is a necklace.  The supplies come from Craft Fantastic.  They sell glass and hardware to make your own jewelry.  They also sell fabulous Japanese washi paper, with beautiful images you can use to make said jewelry.  You can also print your own image or picture, or use cardstock you have on hand.

I had purchased the "starter kit" last year at the expo, which comes with medium size square glass, glue, necklaces and the grommets.  This year, I purchased the mini and large squares, shown above.  They also sell oval and circle shapes in varying sizes.

What I love about this kit is that it can be used in so many ways.  Since you use ANY image or paper you want for the background under the glass, the posibilities are endless.  You could make a necklace, or pin, or earrings, or a ring, or a bracelet.  You could glue the glass to the front of a card or on a scrapbook page.  I have also seen projects where people glue the glass on top of small photos and then glue the photos to wood.  Instant art piece!

To be continued....

Johnny come lately...

Ok, the next 12 posts will be my projects for National Scrapbook Day: Pink Stamper Style.  I know, I know, National Scrapbook Day was over 2 weeks ago.  But, as Susana over at Susana's Scrappin' Corner would say, "I would be late to my own funeral.

So.... here we go!

Project #1 was "Cupcake".  I made this card for my sister-in-law.  The red and white polka dot background is a pre-cut card I had leftover from a kit.  I cut the cupcake on my Cricut, using my new Doodlecharms cartridge, and the words are a Creative Memories phrase sticker.

I think this is the cutest little cupcake!  Normally, I like simple and clean, but this card screams "fun, celebration, excitement".  And that is exactly what a birthday should be!

Happy birthday to all the May babies!  And happy half-birthday to all the November babies (my Hubby happens to be one of them)!

To be continued.....

I got my first award!

I am now the proud recipient of a "Your Blog is Cricut-tastic" Award!

Thank you so much to Sue over at Susana's Corner for passing it on!

Here are the 5 Cricut-related things about me:
1) My Cricut only cost me $25.
2) My favorite Cricut cartridge is Create-a-Critter.
3) I really, really want the discontinued Snow Friends cartridge.
4) I give my Cricut a good cleaning every once in a while.
5) I think the Cricut bug is super cute!

Woohoo! :)