Crop Out Diabetes Day 5

On to another challenge in the Crop Out Diabetes Blog Hop. This one is at SweetSassy Diva's blog! The challenge is movies. I can't choose just one, so I went with the award for the movies and created an Oscar statue using my George Cartridge and my Cricut DS. This is my sons first play and he stole the show. Now don't forget the rest of the stops along the hop and be sure to scroll down for all of the links in the Crop Out Diabetes hop! Or use my link to my post here.

Crop Out Diabetes Day 4 Update

Welcome to day four of Crop Out Diabetes! Thanks for joining us in raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Below I will share the specific how to's on joining a challenge along the hop. If you haven't tried an online challenge, you will find it easy and fun and this is for a great cause! And if your like me, snow is headed your way so why not join me in creating something, and avoiding the housework!?
Update on me: surgery went well! Can't wait to have full use of my stairs and craft room again! Thanks for your prayers and well wishes!
So, onto the challenge how to's:
1) Visit all the blogs and decide which one or one's to participate in. I like to choose a challenge that helps me achieve a scraping goal or inspires me. And sometimes, I pick one just because I love the prize! So, I needed to finish the back of my planner for 2011. And I chose the challenge at P.S. I Love You Scrapbooking to with red and grey. I created a fancy frame with some swirls in Cindy Loo and put the frame from Storybook underneath. The paper is Cosmo Cricket. Do you see the grey in the back ground mat?
2) Take a photo of your finished item and upload it to your computer. Save it in a file format for the web.
3) Visit the site with the challenge you wish to enter and follow the instructions on participating. If you have a blog, you may be asked to create a blog post and copy the link for that post and add it to the challenge hosting blog. No blog? Just leave a comment, or email the host blog with a photo!
Prize drawings are random so you just need to enter to qualify! Last year, I won 3 prizes!
Supplies used in the COD and Celebrating Milestone Hop (below)
My Minds Eye Lost & Found Paper
Mrs Grossmans border sticker (around edge of rosette)
Tim Holtz Rosette Die (cream rosette under red flower)
Sizzix Circle Die (used to cut cirlces in flower)
K & Company Glittered letters
Cricut Cartridges Storybook
Clear Art Stamps Sew Special (Scissors)
And don't forget my blog candy drawing in the last post remains open until the February 5, 2011 and you ONLY need to leave a comment to be entered to win the flowers!

COD & Celebrating Our Milestones Blog Hops!

Welcome to the Crop out Diabetes Blog Hop (COD)! This is a fund raiser event hosted by Sara Fink at the Crop Out Diabetes Blog to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. And welcome to the Celebrating our Milestones Hop. This year I am participating In the COD hop by hosting a challenge with a prize for a $25.00 gift certificate for either one of my Etsy stores: www.scrapguild.etsy.com or www.scrapincovers.etsy.com. To be eligible for a prize, a small donation of $5.00; using the gadget to the right, for Crop Out diabetes is required. As you are making a donation, shipping on the prize is free.
So, here is my challenge: Scrap something about a health issue you care about, maybe it is diabetes, or high blood pressure, eating right, exercise or autism. Since this is sometimes an emotional topic for some of us, you can hide your journaling. You don't have to show it for this challenge. Leave me a comment with a link to your blog with the post on your entry. If you don't have a blog, email me a photo of your entry at: cjdempsey9@msn.com
Entries are due by February, 5, 2011, and you will be entered into the grand prize drawing that Sara is hosting at her blog Crop Out Diabetes when you participate in my challenge or the other challenges! So, you have 10 chances to win, if you make a donation and enter the challenges!
Here are the other blogs participating in the hop. Check out their challenges and prizes!

Crop out Diabetes – www.cropoutdiabetes.blogspot.com

Snug as A Bug Designs – www.snugasabugdesigns.blogspot.com

Ink Stains & Cat Hair http://thinkingwithink.blogspot.com/

P.S. I Love You Scrapbooking News

SweetSassyDiva http://sweetsassydiva-gspot.blogspot.com/

The Cozy Craft Closet http://thecozycraftcloset.blogspot.com/

Cricutcraftyclare You Are Here!

Through My "I"s

Amy Chomas-Chomas Creations

Paper Pretties

Crop Out Diabetes Back to the beginning!
For my page I am sharing a page about me and my passions. I meant to scrapbook about a recent health choice I made to have surgery. It was difficult for me to be inspired and I never have pictures of myself as I am the family picture taker! As, I write this post I have surgery scheduled for tomorrow and a huge to do list! So, I am sharing a page about me and celebrating my milestones for the Celebrating Your Milestone Hop (Below)! My creativity has led me to over three hundred followers! What a milestone!
I am also participating in the Celebration Your Milestones Hop with Yolie from Just Yolie. The stops along this hop are:
My Happy Place
Pretty Paper Things
Cricut Crafty Clare: You are here!
Love My Paper
Gaby Creates
365 Days of Cricut
Designs by Robin
Treasured Memories
Just Yolie
For a blog candy drawing for the second hop (Milestone hop) you can leave a comment and I will draw a prize on February 5, 2011 for a dozen flowers like the one's pictured below, in assorted colors (red, black, yellow, cream and maybe more). Sorry for the late drawing, but Dr. says NO stairs, therefore no computer! And you have more time to leave a comment!
Please check my next post for how to's and supplies on the pages above. This is just such a long post!

Metallic Challenge for Color Week

Yes, I am obsessed with Moxie Fab World! I love their challenges, the artists who enter their challenges and their challenge projects! The color challenges they have up for the Color Inspiration Week looked fun and so I thought I might give it a try. So, here is my entry for the Metallic Challenge.
I love the over the top trend in custom jewelry right now, and clipped this necklace out of my Chicago Tribune this past year.
The description says it is a Miriam Haskell necklace for $2000.00! I knew I wanted to try and make the flower in the lower right hand corner with paper! Here's my paper version with simple circles punched then run through my Cuttlebug, using Swiss Dot folder. I then used a vintage button from my stash and some Queen and Co. pearls.
The label shape is from the Mother's Day Cricut Cartridge, and the Stamp is Close to My Heart: Soul Mates. The ink is Tsukineko. I used a wire ribbon and pleated the ends, I added a stick pin by Jennie Bowlin Studios. Don't you just love these?! The glittered vellum is K & Company, Somerset Swirls. All the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.

Creative U: S.C.R.A.P. Guild Crop in Dekalb IL March 12, &13

My S.C.R.A.P. Guild friends are holding their yearly crop in March in DeKalb IL on March 12 and 13th, 2011. The crop is held at University Plaza and has shopping! I will have a booth with my covers and scrapbags. Croppers can register for one or two days, or just drop into shop. Vendors include Creative Memories, Close to My Heart, Stampin' Up, The Angel Company and more.

Here is the link to the flyer and registration form.
The S.C.R.A.P. Guild is a non-profit paper crafting guild that meets in Sycamore, IL on the 3rd Thursday of every month except July and December. There is no meeting in July and December's meeting is on the 2nd Thursday, to avoid the holiday crush. The have open crop at every meeting from 6:00pm to 8:45pm. The have make and takes once a quarter, several all day crops a year, speakers, and field trips.

Creating Rhinestone Templates with your Design Studio & Gypsy

I love rhinestones almost as much as I love scallops! And I would love for Provocraft to add the rhinestone tool to my Gypsy! Wouldn't you?! In fact I posted on the messge board, that I would like to start a petition for one! Maybe, you want to add your name? Here is the link.
Doxieluv's comment that I could do so by just adding my own circles got me thinking. Is there an easier way? And how can I get them spaced evenly? My answer; while I wait for the tool on my Gypsy, is use an image that already has scallops! Here are the steps:
1) I took a scalloped swirl from my Cindy Loo cartridge and placed it in Design Studio.
2) I selected my swirl and right clicked, I chose Hide Select Contour in Design Studio. For the Gypsy, I put the image on another layer and place the rhinestones with ease. Don't use the same page or layer as you will have difficulty picking up just your rhinestones and you don't actually want the orginal image to print or cut!

3) I created a circle a little bit smaller than the size of my rhinestone. I went smaller, because I wanted to use my pen and then cover the circle with the rhinestone. If you are cutting a template to use multiple times, then make your circle bigger than your rhinestone.

4) I copied and pasted the circle all along the image, manually placing it so that the center of my circle met the lowest point on my scallop. I place some more circles around the rest of the image too!
5) I loaded my pen in the blad housing clamp
6) Hit my Cut and the pen made circles where I needed my bling
7) Unload your marker before you unload your paper, to prevent more drag lines and then blinged it up!
Here are some fun things to try when applying your bling,
*graduate your bling size along the image. See how I used more than one size of rhinestone?
*cover up your dragging marker with more bling. My machine is old and well loved and sometimes drags when I use the marker. So, why not use this line as a design element?
*run out of bling? Use your Stickles! Can you see where I used stickles? Love this for those late night crafting sessions when I can't run out to shop for more! And what a great look for less!
On a side note, I have not figured out how to make my pictures bigger on Blogger. I would love to make them bigger and if you can tell me how, I would be so grateful!

Another use for your Rhinestone tool: Stitching templates!

So, while visiting Archivers the other day, I kept looking at the stitching templates they had with longing. But there is always so much I want there, that I am always asking myself, "How can I make that?" And here is my idea, use the SCAL2 Rhinestone tool with very small rhinestone, spaced further apart. Draw the rhinestones with your markers on the back of your project with your markers and punch the holes with a needle or paper piercer.
Then just stitch! Here is a picture of my paper from the right side after I have pierced it, and before stitching.
And a close up of the stitching. Sweet!
I am making this card to submit for the Bug Card Challenge, at Enfys' blog, Going Buggy!
Supplies used: Close to My Heart Cranberry Ink, and February Word Puzzle Stamp Set, Red Bandanna paper (maker unknown), ribbon, Recollections rhinestones. The sentiment says, "I followed my heart...and it led me to you!"
And if you are a Cricut Gypsy or DS user, I have an idea of how you can use those for rhinestones and a stitching template too! Just stop back for my next post, coming soon!

Work the Stash Wednesday: A Simon Says Stamp Challenge!

Today I am sharing a thank you card I made to submit for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog. And since it's Work the Stash Wednesday, I tried to use items that have been in my stash for a while. The goal today was to use up some fabric scraps. Because I do a bit of quilting, I have a hard time parting with even small pieces of fabric. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! So, I have been looking for an opportunity to use this blue and white Toile, and blue crushed velvet. Thanks Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog for providing the inspiration sketch below!

Other products used are the Inkadinkado Bold Damask stamp. I took a single motif and stamped it in a square. I used a Close to My Heart Friendship Blessings (Thank you) and Close to my Heart Ink. I also used my blending pen and more of the ink to add dimension to the damask stamp. I needed to fit the sentiment inside my stamped square and had to turn it and stamp corner to corner. I hope Simon Says Stamp will allow my square on the diagonal in the challenge! The flowers are Heartfelt Creations Posy Patch Flower PreCut Set. The white border I designed and cut with my SCAL2. The blue pearls are from Queen and Co.

And the Winner for the Valentine's Day Hop is...

Good Morning! Thanks to all who participated in the hop and for those of you who participated in my blog candy drawing! I would also like to thanks Kathryn for hosting the hop and putting all this together.
Now, I used Random.org to choose a winner. There were 66 entries and Random.org generated a winner number 22! That would be Stephanie! Stephanie said...
Very pretty, especially the "Love" part. Stephanie, look for an email from me regarding claiming your prize. And if you did not win, and would like another chance, please stop back again January 28, for an opportunity to win!

Stylish Blogger Award Nominations

I was nominated for a Stylish Blogger Award by Kim over at Creative Bling! Thanks Kim!

As part of this award, I have been asked to follow the following guidelines:

1.Thank and link back to the person who awarded you. Thanks again Kim!!

2.Share 8 things about yourself.

3.Pay forward to 8 bloggers you've discovered.

4.Contact the 8 bloggers to tell them about the award.

8 Things about myself, in case you don't know these already:
I am so thankful for my faith and family!
I love my Cricut and use it almost daily!
I am obsessed with putting scallops on everything.
I would like to be published in a scrap booking magazine this year.
I would like to win a Moxie Fab World challenge.
I am so thankful for the on line community of paper artist and all the inspiration and comments they give me!
I have a fashion design degree and love to sew and make patterns too!
I love spending my summers on Lake Michigan and wish I could afford to spend more than a week there every year!

Now, I know that some of us are very busy, and this may feel a bit like a chain letter. But some of us, are flattered and honored to be nominated! So, if you don't want to forward on the award don't worry. Just know that I liked your blog and work enough to nominate you! Also, I like to choose new blogs each time I participate in one of these, but I also have a very short term memory and can't always remember who I have nominated and for which award! So, if I have or have not re-nominated someone please except my apology! It's my creative mind, moving too quickly for my long term memory!

So my nominees are:
1) Michelle's Adventures I love her SVG's! They are great for scrappers and card makers!
2) Craft Place by Janice A! Jan is actually in my scrap booking guild and I love her work! I was so excited when she started a blog because we can't always make the same meetings and I want to see what she is working on. You will too!
3) Cricutlover. I love this blog and use the Google translate to read it. I love that I can visit blogs a world away and get inspiration!
4) Debbies Scrappin Corner. I love looking at Debbies layouts!
5) Designs by Robin Love, Love her layouts and think she has an eye for the the perfect page!
6) Grace's Scrap Attic I love Grace's 3 D projects too!
7) Hey There Rosie Girl! What beautiful simplicity! Timeless!
8) Hip and Humble Paperworks. I love her three dimension projects and that she uses lot of different tools.
Be sure to check out yesterday post below, you still have one day to comment and enter my drawing!

Valentines Blog Hop: A Banner Page CLOSED

Today I am participating in the Valentine's Day Blog Hop sponsored by Kathryn at Wamfamily Creations Blog. This is a big blog hop 23 participants. We found each other on the Cricut Message board, so if you are a Cricut user you will want to check this hop out!
My project for the hop is a layout inspired by my own blog header. I am not a digi scrapper and often visit the free blog background sites for my blog design. This one is designed by Shabby blogs.com. I love the banner, the colors and the sewing trim details. Banners are so big now and last week I saw one made with little scalloped half circles. You know the banner does not have to be made of triangles! So that got me thinking and my page ideas was born. The heart is by Close to My Heart: Soul Mates. I used my SCAL2 to convert the stamped heart to the scalloped cut then I stamped the hearts on. See the post below to see how quick and easy this is for SCAL2 users. I left a lot of white space in the scallops so I could use my stickles and repeat the dots in the BoBunny paper: Heart Attack. The mat for the photo has a bit of embossing using Sizzix SU Flourish. "Love" is from my Cricut Love Struck 2010 cartridge and the journaling marquee from Storybook.
So, get out your stamps, punches and cartridges and have fun making a banner made with a non-triangle shape! I am just loving these hearts!
I am offering a chance at blog candy today, a $15.00 gift certificate for one of my Etsy stores, plus free shipping to US and Canada. For blog visitors outside the US and Canada I will cover cost to US and you can make up the difference if you wish to enter. To enter, just leave me a comment with a way to contact you in a safe format. Be sure to type out at and dot. I will pick a winner Monday morning, January 10th using Random.org. Find my shops here: Scrapguild.etsy.com and Scrapincover.etsy.com
Here are the stops along the hop:
1) Wamfamily Creations With Kathryn http://wamfamily.blogspot.com
2) Craftyscentiments Crafty Scentiments http://www.craftyscentiments.com
3) Lechristina3 All Things Crafty http://allthingscrafty3.blogspot.com
4) TinaB Tina Time http://ollieanddextersmommy.blogspot.com
5) Buggin Out Paper Crafting Chic http://papercraftingchic.com
6) SamaraGugler Hybrid Artist-Samara Gugler http://samaragugler.blogspot.com
7) NicoletteSimpson Beyond Scrapin http://.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com
8) Lissa So Many Crafts, So Little Time http://somanycrafts.wordpress.com
9) CraftyCreations The Crafty Creation Spot http://thecraftycreationspot.blogspot.com
10) JenniferHawkins2 Confessions of a Scrapaholic http://scrapaholicjen.blogspot.com
11) LisaKnight Cricuting with Lisa http://www.cricutingwithlisa.blogspot.com
12) Scrapincovers Cricut Crafty Clare http://cricutcraftyclare.blogspot.com YOU ARE HERE!
14) CroppinMomma Croppin Momma Designs http://croppinmommadesigns.blogspot.com
15) ScrapHappyDeb Deb's Electic Thoughts http://debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com
16) ScrappyJess Scrappy Jess http://scrappyjess.blogspot.com
17) Iluvscrpn Ink and Paper Creations http://lezlyes.blogspot.com
18) Txscrappermom Tx Scrapper Mom http://txscrappermom.blogspot.com
19) Scrappin Nanapuddin Scrappin Nanapuddin http://scrappin-nanapuddin.blogspot.com
20) Octoberbeauty Macy Bella Designs http://macybella.blogspot.com
21) JavaJen Java Jen Creations http://javajencreations.blogspot.com 22) Oni's Wife Crafty Baskets http://craftybaskets.blogspot.com
23) Scrappin'Place Scrappin' Place

Have you heard of CricutSearch.com?

I love the CricutSearch.com site! It is so much more powerful than the search tool in either my Gypsy or my Cricut Design Studio Software! Here is an example of how powerful it is.
I did a search for "love" in my DS, result: One instance in MS All Occasion Cart.
If you click on the cartridge in DS it takes you to the cartridge, but NOT the image in the search.
I did a search for "love" in my Gypsy, result: Total number unknown and I got instances of any word with "love" in it. For example, clover and glove. Don't want these! No images are shown at the immediate query result, just words, so I have to scroll through their results and click on the words for the images I wish to see. I found it time consuming to go through the images to determine which carts I own.
I did a search for "love" at CricutSearch.com, result: 116 instances. And I can see the handbook page for each result. That means I can see the word and and black out image that matches my result! And, I can scroll and chose only the images for cartridges I own.
Some other things I love about CricutSearch.com is that I get the word I am searching for in other language and it is a wonderful way to pre-shop your cartridges. For example, "love" came up in Spanish and French! If you have an upcoming project, for example an 25th anniversary album, you can do a search or searches on all of the images and titles you wish to use in your project. Since you can see the images in the CricutSeach.com site, it is a wonderful way to determine what want before you buy! So, if you have not checked out the CricutSearch.com site, you will should!

Creating Scallops in SCAL2 with the Rhinestone Feature

I was just working on a project for the upcoming Valentines Day Blog Hop and had a realization that I could use my SCAL2 Rhinestone feature to put scallops on everything! I am so excited I had to share this! In the past, I only knew how to do this in Inkscape and every time I wanted to scallop a shape, I would have to visit Cutting Time blog and get a refresher on the how to's. The Inkscape tutorials from Penny Duncan and Carolyn were to complicated to stick in my brain! Sometimes, I have to understand why I am taking steps in order for me to remember the steps. Since, I don't understand the Inkscape process, I could not remember the how to's. So, while thinking on it today I wondered, can't I just create a rhinestone pattern and union that with my object in SCAL2? Yes, I can!
Caution, do not read this tutorial if you have work to do, because you will be putting scallops on everything today!


So here are the instructions:
1) Create the shape you wish to scallop
2) Select the shape and copy it

3) Paste your shape onto the mat (you will need something to union your rhinestones with)
4) Select the original object and
5) Select the Object Menu, Rhinestone
6) Chose the Rhinestone size and spacing, I used a size of 9.00mm and .5mm spacing. You may have to adjust this to fit your preferences.

7) Break apart the image if needed to adjust the rhinestone placement. Copy individual tiny circles and paste in as needed. Be sure to overlap your circles just a tiny bit.

8) Select all of the circle that make up your scallops and union them

9) Move them over the original object and select all

10) Union the shapes and you have a scalloped object!

And the Winner is...

Thanks to everyone who participated in the News Years Day Blog Hop and to Yolanda for setting it all up! It was a lot of fun!

I used Random.org to pick my winner. The number was 41, so that comment was by Kathy Billings. She said, "Love your planner, wish I had an Archivers near me." Kathy, watch for an email from me on how to claim your prize! And not to enable you but Archivers has an online store now! Look for the Online store link on the left.
And if you are not a winner, please visit my blog again for more prize opportunities on January 8, 2011 and January 28th! I will be doing a Valentine's Day Blog hop and hosting a challenge for the Crop Out Diabetes fundraiser.

Happy New Year Blog Hop: Drawing Closed

Happy New Year! Welcome to the Happy New Year Blog Hop! To celebrate 2011 I am participating in a blog hop with Yolanda at Crafty Sentiments! You can see all the participants below and start the hop from Yolanda's blog. She is giving away a Paper Lace Cricut Cartridge!

Blog hop participants:
1. Crafty Scentiments http://craftyscentiments.blogspot.com/
2. scrapincovers http://www.cricutcraftyclare.blogspot.com/ You are HERE!
3. TinaB http://ollieanddextersmommy.blogspot.com/
4. cricutkris http://www.tatteredprimitives.com/
5. SoonerMT http://www.paperrenee.com/
6. gonecampn http://www.scrapcavecreations.com/
7. buggin_out http://www.papercraftingchic.com/
8. MissyMel http://papertreats.blogspot.com/
9. Lissa http://somanycrafts.wordpress.com/
10.Kreimers http://fantabulouslypink.blogspot.com/
11.txscrappermom http://txscrappermom.blogspot.com/ 12.Scrappin' Palace http://scrappinpalace.blogspot.com/ 13.DeannaMulder http://deannaspapercrafts.blogspot.com/
14.WamFamily http://www.wamfamily.blogspot.com/ 15.Ms_Dee http://www.dees-specialthings.blogspot.com/
16.YvonneBalmer http://ink-spirations.blogspot.com/
17.TiffysMom http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/
18.Heart2hand http://heart2handshighlights.blogspot.com/

I can't wait to check out their projects! Now for my project...a planner cover I made with my Cindy Loo Cartridge. I got this one for Christmas and love it. I couldn't think of a way to work this cute little dear into any of my pages, so why not feature it on my planner? I used some Cosmo Cricut paper I have had in my stash forever. Love all the little picot detail around this circle!
I get my planner every year from Archivers. It's called my Eye Book and has a page protector for every month. I scrapped pages three years ago for this planner and just move my month pages in January of the new year. I scrap a new cover for each year. Here is a picture of the planner as it comes from the store.

I am also offering some blog candy along the hop: a gift certificate for one of my Etsy stores in the amount of $15.00 with free shipping to US, and Canada only. If you live outside US or Canada, I will cover a portion of shipping equal to US and Canada and if you win, you can cover the rest. You can find my Etsy stores here: www.scrapincovers.etsy.com or www.scrapguild.etsy.com To qualify for the blog candy drawing, please leave me a comment on this post with a way to contact you. Be sure to type out "at" and "dot" for safety! I will draw a winner tomorrow, January 2, 2011.
Now for your next stop on the hop: Tina's blog