Cute As a Button (with the Cricut!)

What a weekend!!  It's been a fun one for sure.  Friday night went out to eat and just vegged a little. Saturday, I slept in until 11:30 AM!  Then rushed around and went to a crop until after midnight....best part...I got 1 two-page (I know don't faint!) layout done, 1 one-page layout done and a couple of cards...plus some talking!

I decided to challenge myself and do a layout entirely with my Cricut and some Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker Summer paper collection.  It took some trial and error figuring out sizes etc, but I am really happy with the results!!!

OUT FOR PUBLICATION

Supplies: Pattern Paper-Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker (Summer and Max and Mollie collections);

Cardstock-American Crafts; Buttons- Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker; Ink-Distress and Colorbox;

Adhesives-Scotch, Fabri-Tac, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Tools-Cricut Expression with Cindy Loo, Kate's ABC's and Straight from the Nest cartridges

A couple of close ups

And LOVE the mushrooms!!!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend....and hopefully this week will go quick!!!  

Thanks for stopping by and I will have news of a giveaway from Crafter's Companion coming up this week....PLUS, I think I need to clear out some paper....so there's a good chance there may be a goodie box giveaway from me in the works!!!! 

A Layout AND a Cricut Card for FWF!!!!

Hi there!!!  Has it been beautiful where you are??  It has been here and I am thinking "spring cold" is coming on....I have been fighting it all week, hoping it's on it's way out!

I have TWO projects today....since I didn't update during the week....seems time got away from me.  I "might" have been busy scrapping!  LOL

Don't forget to look for the blinkie...you could win 25 Random Unity Stamps if you comment!! 
 

First up a card that I made TOTALLY with my Cricut and Unity Stamps!  I love the edge on this card.  And I made this in 45 minutes!! (and remember, I am still learning my Cricut!!) Trust me, it's a record and I was even checking Facebook!  I was racing with my Sketch Support DT buddy, Melissa Elsner.  She got done first!!  LOL  But I wasn't far behind!  Be sure to check out her blog too....very cute stuff!!!!

 Supplies:  Stamps-Unity Stamps (Feb KOTM 2011 and Everyday Adorable), 

Pattern Paper-Echo Park For the Record, Cardstock-American Crafts, Ribbon-Offray, 

Flower-Maya Road, Adhesive-Scotch ATG and Fabri-tac

Cricut Expression with Just Because Cards Cartridge 

Pretty cute and it was pretty easy!!!  Next up I have a layout that was up over on the Sketch Support site this week.  It was one page week, so you know I will most likely have something for it!!!

 Supplies - Cardstock: American Crafts; Pattern Paper: American Crafts (City Park collection);  

Letters: American Crafts; Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (December and January KOTM);  

Twine: The Twinery Bakers Twine; Die Cutting: Making Memories Slice; 

 Adhesive: Scotch ATG, Fabri Tac, and Scotch Adhesives; Ink: Memento Ink

And I got my KOTM today....can't wait to play with it!!!!!  It's pictured below!

Well, that's it for me....I am off to watch Star Trek....yeah....I know right??!!  I have become a trekkie during the week at 11 PM!  

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Cricut Fun and Love the Looks

I created a card entirely with my Cricut!!!!  I had so much fun with it, trying to figure out how to layer, etc. The fun part for me is figuring out what paper to use for each layer!!  I don't know if I can show it...so I am going to wait on putting it on here.  But, I think I am going to go play again, once I get done with this post!

And I really think I need a Gypsy.  I have some ideas in my head for welding things, but there is not a Gypsy that I can just go buy locally.  Plus, I need to save my pennies, especially with CKC St. Louis coming up in a couple of weeks and then CHA in July.  I am so excited about both too!  So, I am going to have to wait. 

Jetson has looks, lots of looks.  I would love to capture all of them.  The one below is one of my favorite looks of his.  He tilts his head to the side and just seems to smile from big ear to big ear!  The picture on the layout was captured in my Element one day when we were going for a drive.  I really think we had stopped at Sonic!  LOL

Supplies: Entire layout done with Echo Park For the Record collection;

Punch-Martha Stewart;  Adhesive-Scotch ATG and Scrapbook Adhesives;

Photo Editing-Lo-Fi app and PSE

And if the picture looks familiar, yes I scrap pictures more than once.  I scrap whatever picture grabs my mood at the time I am getting ready to create.  I really don't think there is anything wrong with scrapping the same picture over!!  I need to learn to scrap the "not so great" pictures....that is what i have trouble with.  

Everyone have a wonderful Monday....hee hee kind of an oxymoron, don't you think?!  

 

My Fun Photo Editing App

I thought this would be a fun post for a Sunday.  I was on Facebook and in my news feed, someone had liked a "Lo-Fi" page.  Well, it had a funky looking little retro camera, so I headed over to take a look.  

Lo-Fi: Retro Photography Made Easy....well, heck that caught my attention....so I dug a little deeper and watched the videos. And what you see on that page is what you get!!!!  

I am not much on downloading software to the computer....I have no problem doing it...I just don't want to clutter up the computer if there is no reason to.  But this...well, I love the camera apps for smart phones, this takes it one step further and allows you to do it to any picture you want!!!!

Here are some examples of the different pictures that I have altered just for fun. There are three options you can control....and you can turn them off and on....so don't want a frame, turn it off...want a mood effect and a frame, turn them both on.....

Original

With effects Inflamed, Cheap Lens, Crumpled

With effects Velvet, Crisp, Vignette

Original

With effects Emerald, Light Leak, Film Strip

 

And no, Lo-Fi is not sponsoring this....I am just telling about it because it is SUPER FUN!!!  And you do not need photoshop or elements.....just this program, super simple and easy, if you are editing challenged.  

So, I am off to edit some pics with Lo-Fi and then print and scrap them!  I just think fun stuff on your photos gives your scrapbook pages a little extra something!!!

Have a wonderful springy Sunday....it's beautiful out there!

A Saturday Layout

Well, if you want to be technical...it's actually a Friday layout that I am posting on Saturday!!!  

This is for Crate Paper's March Sketch Challenge.  Really, I just wanted an excuse to use the Emma's Shoppe collection!!  My layout takes up more of the page than the original sketch...but I have a problem with "too much" white space on my layouts...yeah...I am weird like that!  

Supplies:  Pattern Paper-Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe collection; 

All Embellishments-Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe Collection;

Stapler/Staples-Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; Punches-EK Success 

and Martha Stewart; Twine-The Twinery Baker's Twine; 

Adhesives-Scotch ATG, Fabri-Tac, and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

Close up of the banner

And those picture edits, I am going to do a post on that.  It's this fun software that I found!!!!  I love the fun pictures you can take with all the apps out there...well, this software goes on your computer, so that you can have GREAT pictures with the fun stuff!!!!

I am off of here for today...I think I am going to play with the Cricut and see what I can do!  I am thinking I really need the Gypsy, but that will have to wait....I want to weld some stuff together and I have it in my mind what I want to do!!!!

Crate Paper and FWF

Glad it's Friday, raise your hand!  (waving madly in the air!!!!)  That means it is time for Friends with Flair aka Unity Stamp Co. goodness in a hop!  Look for the blinkie...if you comment you can win 25 random stamps from Unity!!!  

I got the new Crate Paper Portrait collection....I wasn't going to get it..but then things happened and I did!  And I am super glad!  I have made a layout and a card with it already.  And the layout is my most favorite layout I have ever done.  It is killing me not to show it!  (April...Sketch Support...you will see it!)  I love the orange in this collection...of course I am an orange sometimes girl...depending on the hair color! On to the card!

Supplies:  Pattern Paper-Crate Paper Portrait collection; Cardstock-American Crafts;

Twine-The Twinery Baker's Twine in Carribean and Charcoal; 

Stamp-Unity Stamp Co. Kit of the Month Feb 2011Punch-Martha Stewart;

Ink-Memento; Adhesive-Scotch, Fabri-Tac and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L

And I am "scheduling" this post, but I am hoping that maybe by Friday my Unity Kit of the Month will be here!!!!  It's pictured below....I am loving the ice cream cones!!!

 

That's it for me today!!  I am hoping to get some good kind of crafty this weekend, so that I can show you some stuff!!  Seems like all the stuff I have done lately I haven't been able to show...boo!  

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Some Crafty Chicks!!!

I am hoping that EVERYONE has tried The Twinery baker's twine or if you just found out about us are planning on getting some soon.  I have to say this is THE BEST twine I have ever worked with.  I find myself grabbing it for practically everything I am making. 

So, on to the layout!  This is layout about Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker day at my local LSS, Scrapbook Generation.  They always debut two of Nikki's new lines that come out at CHA in January and in the summer.  It's a party kind of day, with cupcakes, mini classes taught by us local girls and just a whole lot of fun!   

Supplies:  Twine-The Twinery, Pattern Paper-Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker It's Your Day collection, 

Cardstock-American Crafts, Mist-Shimmerz Colorings, Ink-Colorbox Cat's Eye, Spools-Maya Road,

Adhesive-Scotch, Fabri-tac, Helmar and Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L, 
Die cuts-Cricut Expression with Cindy Loo and Kate's ABC's cartridges

I used the Pink Sorbet twine and the Cappuccino twine to make the bows for the banner.  I double them up, just to give them a fun look. 

Then I took the Lemondrop twine and made a little yarn skein by the doll.  I cut the doll with my Cricut Expression...she is just adorable!!!!

Then last, but not least, the spools.  I ordered these and didn't realize how tiny they were!  So, when I got them I was trying to figure out what to do with them.  I decided that they would be PERFECT for this layout! I just sprayed adhesive on the spools and then wound the twine around quickly, while the adhesive was still wet.  They turned out pretty cute!

I used the Pink Sorbet, Cappucino, Lemondrop and the Peapod colors on these. 

If you are new to twine and want to get in on the fun, Nicole has some wonderful sampler packs that you can purchase to try the twine!  But...I hate to tell you...once you try it...well, you are going to be ordering the spools before you know it!!!!

That's it for me today!!!!  Hope you have a fun day!!  

A Butterfly Blog Linky Party!!!

What is the Butterfly Blog linky party?? Well, it's just a bunch of us artsy people that love butterflies!!!  And Ms. Eva Dobilas is the one that came up with the idea and invited us all to "linky" up on her blog to play along!!!  There are some prizes over there...so make sure you go over to Eva's Blog to start and look at all the butterfly fun that is linked up on her post!!!!

Here's my layout...sorry the picture is not to my usual....it was almost 11pm and I had to get the picture taken!  The kitchen is the best place, but the lighting is REALLY yellow in there!  A little photoshop elements fixed most of it though!!!

Supplies:  Echo Park Springtime collection kit, American Crafts cardstock,

Scotch, Fabri-tac and Scrapbook Adhesives, Ribbon-Hobby Lobby

Here are a couple of close-ups

 

That's all my butterfly fun today!!!  Make sure and visit all the other wonderful butterfly blogs and their creations!!!!

A "heartwarming" card for Friends with Flair Friday

Wowzza....glad the day is over...think I am ready for the WEEK to be over.  It has seem to take forever to get to Friday!

This card I created for PaperCrafts Card sketch call...after I did it, I decided not to submit it.  Then today when I pulled it out to photograph it...well, I fell in love with it!  What's not to love...Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker, Unity Stamps, ribbon and border punch!  LOL  And it also fits for the Unity Challenge!!!

Supplies:  Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker We are Family and Cute as a Button buttons; 

Unity Stamp Co. February Kit of the Month, American Crafts cardstock, May Arts ribbon, 

Scrapbook Adhesives pop dots, Scotch ATG and Fabri Tac, Martha Stewart border punch, 

Making Memories Slice, Memento Ink. 

I haven't had much time to stamp lately and I have found out that I am missing it!  So, I am hoping to get some stamping time in this weekend!  And I can't wait for this little goodie to come, the next Kit of the Month!!!

 That's it for me today!!!!  Thanks for stopping by.....hugs!

Some Photography Class pics and Crafter's Companion Contest!

I got my DT stuff for Crafter's Companion on Wednesday and haven't gotten a chance to play yet...but they have a contest going on over on the blog!!!  I can't wait to see what comes out of the contest!!!  Go HERE to read about it and enter!!!! 

And I will be having a giveway on here of some Crafter's Companion goodies...so, be watching for that.

I found a new photo editing program that I love!!!  It's call Lo-Fi.  It's basically like those apps on your smart phones where you can add frames, effects, etc.  You can get a free trial, but after I downloaded it, I immediately went and bought it because I knew I was going to love it!  Here is a pic of Higgins that I played with!

And here are a couple of pics I took of my roomie when I made her play model....yeah...kinda had to make her, and we had to hurry, because the rain was coming in......But I had photo class assignments to get done!!!  I edited these some...and ran an action or two!

Well, that's my quick update!  I am off here for the night!!!! 

Caught on Film

Whew, I have been busy creating things I can't show and I thought I wasn't going to be able to update, but then I ran across this layout that I hadn't posted!  

Yes, a TWO PAGE....I know, right??  I really wish that I was more comfortable doing two pages, but they make me nervous...the palms get all sweaty, the hands start shaking.  LOL  Not really, but they are definitely NOT in my comfort zone of creating.  

Allison Davis, sketch maker extraordinaire and owner of Sketch Support, asked me to do a layout for an article about her in ScrapStreet magazine.  There were several of us that participated to show different ways to use the sketch.  

 Supplies:  Pattern Paper-Studio Calico, Cardstock-American Crafts,

Letters-American Crafts, Stamp-Unity Stamp Co., 

Punches-Martha Stewart, Adhesive-Scotch and Fabri Tac

Twine-Unknown

In other news, I have been playing with my new Cricut Expression!!!!  I can't really show anything...but I will give you a sneak of two things I have done.....

That's all your are getting on the sneak front!!!  But I am having fun, and have already had to change the blade!  I practice cut a lot, because I am not sure of the sizing yet and I don't want to waste my pattern paper. 

There might be some new paper in the house...Crate Paper, Jillibean Soup, Echo Park, Bo Bunny, and My Mind's Eye!  woo hooo...now if I could just FIND time to play with it!!!

I think the Angry Birds are calling now...boy...I am in trouble when they come to Facebook!!!!

A little stinker......

Let me give you some words of advice....Angry Birds...just don't even start playing if you haven't!  TIME SUCK...major...but fun!!!  I had a massage after work and I had "angry birds" thumb!  LOL  But boy, I should sleep good tonight!!!

Paper....the new stuff from CHA is coming and arriving.....there might be some Jillibean, Crate, and Echo Park appearing on the blog hopefully soon....I gotta get caught up on some stuff so I can just "play"!  

Here is a Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker layout with Max and Mollie.  I love this collection...heck, it's pink! But I love the fun retro flowers too!  But the skunks are super cute too!!!

 

Supplies: Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker Max and Mollie Collection,

The Twinery baker's twine, Scotch ATG 

Wow...I think that is the shortest supply list I have ever typed!  LOL

And with this...I am off of here to go catch up on some blog reading!!!  hugs!

A girlfriend card and a secret!!!!

Ok, if this post sounds a little strange...I am trying to do it after my migraine went away!  I am still a little fuzzy, but I wanted to get a post up.

Here's a card that was up over at Sketch Support this week.  The sketch really had me stumped (card sketch #4)...but then, you know me...let us flip it and see what we can do!  So, I did....

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts;  Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket (Togetherness);

Ribbon: BoBunny; Punch: Martha Stewart; 

Stamp: Unity (Stamp Kit of the Month); Adhesive: Scotch and Fabri-Tac

I really liked how it turned out!  And I was just looking for a reason to use that stamp from Unity.  

There has been some chirping going on in the house since Thursday.....here is what is making all that noise:

 Photo Credit

Yep...you see that right!  It's a Cricut Expression....I have had some fun this weekend working on a Nikki Sivils project.  It's perfect timing too, since Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker has teamed up with ProvoCraft this year!! Hopefully you will be seeing some fun projects soon with it!

And last, but certainly not least....my announcement...I have been asked to be a part of the Crafter's Companion design team.  The company is located in the UK, but has a base here in the US also.  I am excited that I get to be on a team with my pal Lynda Lindley again.  We were on Kiki Art together and became fast friends!   You can read the announcement HERE and see the rest of the team!!!!

Ok, off to maybe take some pictures...play with the Cricut...and definitely get something to eat!!  Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!!!!

A "GLEE" ful layout and my winner

Hey guys, I picked my winner on Monday morning and waited to see if she got back with me and she did...so CONGRATS to Christi S.  I will be getting your book and twine out to you this week!!!

I want to thank EVERYONE that left comments...omg...you are all so sweet and kind!  I just wanted to hug you all!!!  And to my new followers...I am humbled.  I just share my stuff hoping to inspire people to create  what makes them HAPPY!!!  I rarely create for contests, etc...I create for FUN.  If you EVER have a question about something I did, please email me and ask...I would be more than happy to share!!

A lot of you mentioned the upper left hand element.  I just recently started doing this some.....I just love the way it looks....and it's not always the left side....sometimes it's the right! Those hexagons were out of  Unity KOTM stamp kit.

On to the layout....I mentioned that I LOVE Glee...well, this was done for one of our Jillibean Soup challenges over at Sketch Support.  If you want to read the full write up, you can find that over at the Sketch Support site here. 

 Supplies: American Crafts cardstock, Jillibean Soup Pasta Fagoli collection, 

 Jillibean Soup corrugated shapes, sprouts and  twine; 

Martha Stewart and EK Success Punches; 

Smooch Spritz mists; Ranger Paint Dauber;

Scotch, Ranger and Fabri Tac Adhesives; Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher; 

A closer picture of the CD Covers

AND on the Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker front....well, Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker is one of the sponsors of Provocraft's Cricut Circle Design Team!!!!!  And the design team will be doing a cross promotion with Provocraft!!  Now...what does that mean for you???

Head over to Nikki's blog on this POST.

You will find a giveway of a CUTTLEBUG and lots of stuff to go with it...plus the It's Your Day complete collection from Nikki Sivils, Scrapbooker!!!!  And that is not all.....sign up for her newsletter (do it quick guys and gals!) because she is giving away a Cricut Expression and a couple of cartridges!!!!  OMG....go quick!!  The newsletter is going out in the next 10 days...and that giveaway is ONLY for newsletter subscribers! 

That's it from me...I have some news...but I don't know that I can share yet...so for now....I am just going to go scrap!!!!!