Paper Secrets May Sketch Challenge

I wanted to do another challenge and realized after my Pink Stamper Challenge post, that today is the last day to enter Paper Secrets May challenges. So, two posts today!
I made this page with a sketch from Page Maps, paper from Me and My big Ideas, Martha Stewarts Iron Gate Punch around the page set, Hobby Lobby ribbon and butterfly, and Graphically Speaking Cricut Cartridge. Thanks for looking!

Pink Stamper Father's Day Challenge

Most of us need to make a Father's Day card or gift, so entering this next challenge was fun and could win a prize! This challenge is going on at The Pink Stamper, and the prize is an Expression! Here I made a card using my Cricut and the following cartridges: George, A Childs Year, Beyond Birthdays, Mini Monograms and Wild Card. I love using motifs inside the circle outline from George and here I used a silhoutte from a Child's Year. I loaded my gel pens into the Cricut for the sentiment, "You're Simply the Best...Dad". and then swapped the pens for the blade to cut the rest. This is so easy with the Gypsy! You just write first, don't unload the paper, and swap to the blade, then cut and when finished unload the paper. If need be you can go back to the design to add to it. I added "Dad" because it did not occur to me immediately. The paper and ribbon are Close to My Heart. The rub ons are Bazzill Collection, FireHearts/Kisses by Imaginisce.

Etsy Inspired Challenge: A Card

I found a new challenge blog I wanted to try: EstyInspired Challenge. They post a challenge, with a shop from Etsy and challenge participants visit the shop and create an item inspired by an item in the shop. This challenge featured an Etsy store called Sunshyne Silverware. Above you will see a photo of the pendant from Sunshyne Silverware, made from a recycled spoon. I loved the colors and the flower motif!
In my card, I used my CTMH black cardstock, with my Cuttlebug Swiss dot folder and sanded it to give the polka dot look from the pendant. I chose a cut file from Accent Essentials to mimic the flower motif, and placed a 3 Dimensional stick from Jolee in the center. I punched around the flower motif with my hole punch and placed some bling in the holes. I also added some Martha Stewart ribbon.

My Minds Eye Cricut Cake Cover

Did you know that some of the best known scrap booking paper companies now have fabric lines? Here is one line of fabric by My Mind's Eye, for Riley Blake. The line is called Summer Song. I made this to match Kitchen Aides Tangerine Mixer.
What other paper lines would you like to see in fabric? I have seen Basic Grey Fabric by Moda and snapped up some for my covers. I would love Little Yellow Bicycle, October Afternoon, Cosmo Cricket and Close to My Heart!

Loving Lolly Chops! A Perfectly Timed Inspiration

The same day I made my last post, I got a notice from a new blog I follow of a new post. The blog is called Lolly Chops and I found it through another blogger, whose blog I follow Christine Middlecamp. Anyway, Lollychops did a video tutorial on how to crochet the edge of a paper embellishment. You can find her video here. Now, if you know me, I will use any old excuse to sit down and use the Cricut and why buy the Bazzill template when the cut file I just made could be used. I mean, can you believe it?! My Lego frame, would make the perfect cut for the crochet technique! What timing Lolly Chops! Thanks!
So, I removed the inner row of circles on the cut file and did the blanket stitch with yarn I had around the house. Don't you love it with just the blanket stitch? I hope to have time to crochet a bit on this tomorrow. I am sharing the cut file with the single row of circles, in case you want to try Lolly Chops technique. You will need George and Here is the file.
Be sure to check out her site for great inspiration! I so love the felt flowers that I bought a new Sizzix die. Gasp! I didn't think my Cricut would cut the felt!

A Circular Frame for the Lego Lover Page!

In this economy it is hard to keep up with the Jones'. And I feel the pressure when birthday parties are held. So, my strategy has been to have a big party for my children when they are one, five, ten, and sixteen. On other birthdays they may have as many friends to their birthday parties as Mom can fit in her car and we do an activity out of the house.
On my son's fifth birthday, he wanted a Lego party. So, I made a cake with cupcakes on the top to look like a Lego brick. Boy, I could of used that Cricut Cake! I am a bit challenged with frosting! And gave the boys a Lego set instead of goodie bags. It was the middle of January, so we watched the Bionicle movie and had a Lego scavenger hunt. I made a list of pieced they had to find. For example, a Star Wars Lego piece, a 2 x 2 white brick, a Lego with writing on it, a red Lego any size ,etc. We spread out a sheet and dumped all our Legos. They had 15 minutes and had to find all the pieces. When they were done, we just picked up the corners of the sheet and dumped it. It was not a big party, by some standards, but it was the party my son wanted and big in his eyes. He even liked his cake, bless his heart!
So, I have scrapped this page, and I wanted a Lego look, but not necessarily a Lego brick. So, I made this cut file and am sharing it. Here is my cut file in the Gypsy format.You will need George, Basic Shapes. The cut file has only the red frame. To get the white mat, behind the frame, you will need the Easter Cartridge and the motif is cut at 6". I also, used actual Legos instead of bling on the white mat. Title is Black Letter. I wonder how long it will be before my boys notice that the tail lights are missing from all of their Lego cars?

My second page I am sharing for inspiration. I cut the scalloped border and letters all using Mini Monograms, but did not save the cut file. All the paper is Close to My Heart. I thought the circle border and scallops all repeated the Lego theme.

Mad for Martha Stewart: The Wilton Tent Sale!

I love Martha Stewarts craft products. I am terribly fond of her ribbon, and punches! In fact there are very few punches I buy now that I am such a Cricut addict, but MS punches are addictive and sometimes quicker than designing a cut file! Today, I used Martha Stewart ribbon to finish a Pazzles Inspiration Cover. I love the teal ribbon with the crisp white plaid against this classic paisley fabric!
Speaking of Martha Stewart, do you know about where to shop for MS on the cheap!? The Wilton Tent sale. You have to check out this sale if you live in IL, WI or IN, it is worth the trip. Sale runs June 4-22, 2010 in Woodridge, IL. The tent is just off of 355.They will have Martha Stewart, K & Company and EK Success for at least %50 off retail. And there are plenty of kitchen and baking tools supplies for those of you who bake! Be sure to bring your own tote as the shopping carts are hard to come by! Carpool if you can, because parking can be difficult!! Don't worry if you cannot make the sale in the first few days, they bring in items by the pallets daily. In fact, if you can it is worth visiting more than once a year as the items can vary daily. Good thing I don't live too close or the mad money would be gone by the end of June!

Two for Tuesday: A Pazzle and Cuttlebug Cover

Just finished up these custom orders and had to share them! They are a perfect two for Tuesday! I used Moda fabric this time, and my customer requested piping. Isn't it cute! I will so have to make up a new sample of the Cuttlebug cover for the shop! And a new PI cover as I am out of Pazzle's inspiration covers. My good friend Lynn saw the question about the PI cover on the yahoo group and sent them to my Etsy shop! Thanks so much Lynn!

A Few Cards to Share

I have been slow to post lately. Just realized that my boys will soon be out of school, so I am taking a few Wednesdays off to scrapbook. Last Wednesday I made these two cards. I used Reminisce's Graduation Formal Swirl (Black glittered paper), Sizzix's Dress & Accessories Die, and Cuttlebugs Swiss dot Folder. This Sizzix die is one of the few I saved when I bought my Cricut. I love anything with a dress form!

The second card is made with Jill D-Zines Digi-Cuts Simple shapes, George Basic Shapes and Lyrical Letters, Basic Grey Boxer paper and stickers. It is so hard to find male themed paper and cuts, and I find myself making cut files whenever I have to make a male birthday card. Find Jill D-Zine's cut files for sale here. I love the picot edges to her shapes!
Along with taking a few days off, I am busy working to promote my stores on Etsy. Sales have been slow and the craft money budget is cut every year by my hubby. I find that to make sales, I must spend as much time promoting as I do creating items for the shop.

My 1st Blog Carnival with Etsy Bloggers: Memories of Mom

The Etsy Bloggers have a Blog Carnival every two weeks. I think it is a bit like the scrappers blog hop. A theme is picked and everyone on the team is encouraged to participate. I joined the Etsy Bloggers in January, and am just getting to my first blog carnival. I have been busy or ill when other carnivals were running.
This month, we are asked to share a special memory of our Mother. I was reminded of one of my favorite memories of my Mom this weekend by a status post on Facebook. You know, one of those status posts that is a bit like a chain letter, that you are supposed to copy and put in your own status. Here it is, "those that have Mother's in Heaven: If Lilies of the Valley grow in Heaven Lord pick a Bunch for me, Place them in my Mother's arm's & tell her, they're from Me, Tell her that I Love her, & Miss her, & when she turns to wink... place a kiss upon her cheek & hold her for a while. Because remembering her is easy I do it everyday, There's an ache within my Heart that will never go away. Happy Mother's Day Mom RIP." The original quote said, "roses," and "when she turns to smile..." I changed my quote, because several sisters had just posted, asking for roses, and well she loved Lilies of the Valley. Now the wink, well my Mother would wink at us. It was her way of saying across a crowded room that she loved us, or was proud of us. She somehow figured out little things like this, to tell all of her 11 children she loved them even though she could not reach across the crowded room, or be heard above the crowd. And all of us knew how special this wink was, and have fond memories of her winking at us. So, thanks for reading through my memories of my Mom, and next Mother's day, for those of you who like me have Mom's in heaven, go ahead, ask God to send her flowers for you!
The picture is of a page from my planner, the May page. It is made with Close to My Heart "My Mom" stamps. I love the layered stamps and wish they had more!

Etsy Blogger's May Featured Blogger

The May Featured Blogger for Etsy's Bloggers is The T-Shirt Lady. Sandi, has an Etsy store called HandMadebySandi and she is currently running a birthday bash sale with everything in the store %50 off! Happy Birthday Sandi. She is a crocheter and loves felted bowls.

My First Design Job: With Jill-D-Zines!

I am so excited to say, I have my first design job in the paper crafting world! Some of my job titles in the past have been Assistant Fashion Director, and Technical Designer. Both of these jobs were in the fashion design industry. Now that I have discovered my paper crafting passion, I have been wanted to add some designer experience in paper crafting. Well, I have been asked to be a designer for Jill-D-Zines! Jill-D-Zines is a digital scrapbooking designer, who is now offering cut files! I am so excited! Jill's work can be found at www.scrapdish.com here.
I have used her Fancy Shapes set to make my Mother's Day Card, and I cut it the SVG version, but she offers AI, SVG, GSD, DXF, JPG, and PNG. Don't you just love the picot detail?! These cut files are perfect for the card maker and for the scrap booker for journaling details, or highlighting a photo! The fancy shapes would also be great to use as the flap on a little handbag cut file when cut in half! Oh, I wish I had more time to play!
I used Basic Grey's Urban Couture paper, Basic Grey Two Scoops Swirly Stamps, and Basic Grey Sweet Sentiments, Want2Scrap pearls, Close to My Heart Blush ink, Pink Stickles, more salad packaging and the Cricut Plantin Schoolbook flower with glitter.

How Do You Photography Your Work Well?

Just finished this Cricut Cake Cover. A custom order to match a pink Kitchen Aide Mixer. I am struggling to get the color right in this photo. Do you see how the pink has a violet cast to it in the whole cover picture? Yet on the flower close up, you see the true pink? Perhaps it is time for that photography class! I never feel the pictures do justice to the real thing, whether I am photographing a cover or a page. I would also like to get more ideas about staging and location. Will have to add these to the to do list! Any tips you have are appreciated!
I am still getting ready for Mother's Day and have lots of cooking and cleaning. So, I will keep this short and hope to share something over the weekend.

My Tree Peony is Blooming!

I love my tree peonies! This one is my favorite! The variety is called Shimadajin Purple. Sorry for the bad picture, but I remembered to photograph this late in the day and it is so windy, I don't know how long the blooms will last. I have cut one for myself to enjoy.
These Tree Peonies should get to 4 to 5 feet! Yes, you heard me right. It is not the perennial peonies I grew up with. These will be more the size of a lilac bush. I am looking forward to seeing how this will look as a full grown bush! Oh, and I kill all my house plants, yet this is doing well. Look into these tree peonies! I got a yellow tree peony for my Mother in Law for Mother's Day one year from Song Sparrow in Wisconsin. They are more readily available now, if your zone can tolerate them, call your favorite nursery or garden store.
Notice the small fencing behind the tree peony? That is a flowering quince I have had for 10 years. I have never seen more than a few flowers. I am not laughing, but the rabbits are enjoying it!

Another Glitter Acryllic Flower: From my Salad packaging

Obsessing today over the packaging flowers, I found I can use my salad packaging and I needed a better glue than the one I started with. This time I tried the Zig 2 Way glue with the wide tip. Perfection, much less messy, and quick dry! Will use it again!
I made this card for my Step-Mother-In-Law. She has just lost her Mother, and I thought she would need an extra special card. Who am I kidding, I just wanted to get out the glitter. But seriously, I could give it to other Mother's in my life. The patterned paper is DCWV, pearls are Want2Scrap, punch is Martha Stewart.
Thanks for looking.

Cricut Expression Drawing at Everyday Cricut!-

I am quite fond of entering drawings for scrap booking items and have even won a few. So, when I run across a drawing, I like I share where you can find the drawing. Here is one you may like, at Everyday Cricut they are giving away a Cricut Expression on May 9, 2010.
Wondering what I have won? I have won a pin cushion (from The Finicky Frog at Etsy), a Scrap-Ma-Bob (from Christmas with the Cricut, now Everyday Cricut), and some SVG files from SVG Cuts.