You're the man-Scrapbookpal.com

Happy morning to you! I cannot BELIEVE that APRIL is almost OVER! YIKES! Where is this year going? Today I have a masculine layout to share with you! I was so happy that Scrapbookpal.com sent me Pink By Design Just 4 Men. I have hardly anything masculine/manly since I mainly scrap our daughter so I had LOTS of fun using these super nice stamps! Oh and did I mention that Scrapbookpal.com rocks in customer service AND offers FREE SHIPPING for all orders over 25.00? In this economy that is PHENOMENAL! Let's get started.

Ingredients:
Pink by Design Just 4 Men stamps
Cricut Expression and mat
Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Cart
12X12 Kraft card stock, blue striped card stock
Corduroy buttons
Glossy Accents
ATG
Chestnut Roan Ink
Blue ink( tombow stamping marker)


Directions:
1. Using Martha Stewart All Occasion Cake cartridge, Cricut Expression and 12X12 mat cut stars on page 58 at 2 inches AUTOFILL. This will yield you 25 stars and a great negative cut out.

2. Adhere NEGATIVE cut out to Kraft card stock using ATG, make sure all edges are securely stuck down.

3. Flip over 6 stars to the white backing and stamp the following sayings using Pink by Design Just 4 men: You're the man; Duct Tape fixes everything, do you have tickets to the gun show; Grill Master; Mr. Fix-it; and That's how I roll. I found that the easiest way for me to use these was with the Tombow stamping markers since I had to alter some sayings to fit within my stars.

5. Ink all edges of stars with Chestnut roan ink; ink all edges of 12X12 paper.

6. Adhere stars; alternating with buttons with glossy accents.

7. Mat and frame photos; use one patterned star to top your hidden journal block.

SoCal Scrapbooks-First Design!!!

Good morning! I am here today to share my FIRST EVER design for an awesome new online store, SoCal Scrapbooks! You will love it there, Sandy is just getting started but has a great selection already! Go take a look!!

This month Sandy sent me the Epiphany Button Maker Heart 20. I love this little machine! I want all the shapes now since we all know how much I LOVE my buttons! So the first thing I made was a canvas sign for a girl that works at Michaels and always hooks me up. She is more punk/goth than girly so this is what I came up with. What do you think?

I colored this clear bling with Bic Mark its to make it red/black like I needed. Just a little tip!

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There will be a contest with prizes soon!

Counterfeit Kit First ever Master Forgers Blog hop!

Sheri

Good morning. Welcome to the first ever Master Forger Counterfeit Kit Blog Hop. The challenge this month was to find something from a fellow DT member and make it your own. I chose to copy Sheri. I just loved this card that she made! I am into clouds, houses and suns so this was perfect. I also LOVED all the border pieces she did so using this wonderful piece I made the second image. It is a hanging sign for our new house (hopefully) when we find it. Do you see Hank the Plank? Yep that is him. I love that this sign was made by hubby and altered by me, pretty personal.



I used Don Juan Cricut cart for the house and everything except the twine was in my original kit. If you altered a Hank the Plank I would love to see it.

Your next stop on this inspiration filled blog hop is JESSICA Make sure to leave everyone some love, and remember the next kit reveal is May 5th, I promise you don't want to miss it!

Four days of Easter swap-the homemade portion

I hosted a four days of Easter swap on the CMB (cricut messageboard). For day one you do one item, day two two etc etc. The spending limit is low to force you to create something! Here are the things I sent, yes I went a little nutty. The can is a pop top and held small items she wished for so I hope she opened it LOL! I really hope she liked it all. Let me know if you have any questions.

Flower Power Blog Hop

Hey there! Welcome to the totally awesome FLOWER POWER blog hop sponsored by Scrapbookpal.com, the place of great customer service and FREE SHIPPING on orders over 25.00! WOOHOOO! You should have arrived from super creative Jamie ; if you just happened upon my blog today I encourage you to start at the beginning since Scrapbookpal.com is giving away a FREE CARTRIDGE. This time around we were asked to use ANY cricut cartridge that Scrapbookpal.com carries that has FLOWERS on it! You would think FLOWERS would be easy for me since I mainly scrap a little girl, nope no way. BUT I do believe I came up with something pretty! I hope you like it!
For this layout I used Forever Young, and Elegant Cakes. The sketch originally came from Sketch Support but it looks nothing like the sketch now LOL! I cut the flowers out at 1.75 inches, all layers from Forever young page 68. Then to get the various looks I offset the left one, inked the middle one, and assembled the right one as intended. Using a script background stamp I stamped the middles and inked everything with OF COURSE Chestnut Roan ink. Spun Sugar Distress ink was used to tone down the white background card stock. Budding is at 1.25 inches from Elegant Cakes and run through the cuttle bug using Swiss Dots, and inked with chestnut roan ink. Computer written journaling, inked edges of strips, added thickers, bling swirl, and Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type letters and you are done! I like it!

Now you are off to visit the artistic TAMMY WHITE. Make sure to leave comments all along the way. If you get lost below is a list of the order! Happy hopping! Flower Power!

ScrapbookPal Blog (http://scrapbookpal.blogspot.com/)

Amy Crockett (http://www.scrappingmommy.com/)
Tomi Ann Hill (http://tomiannie.blogspot.com/)
Cheryl Walker (http://sweeetdesignsbycheryl.blogspot.com/)
Leah Cornelius(http://paperblossoms.blogspot.com/)
Jamie Cripps (http://jamielanedesigns.blogspot.com/)
Crystal Butler (http://crystalscraftycreations.blogspot.com/)
Tammy White (http://theeventqueen.blogspot.com/)
ScrapbookPal Blog (http://www.scrapbookpal.blogspot.com/)

Roller Babes-Layout 9 for Counterfeit Kit

Hey there. I am prescheduling this post but here you go. Sorry for the glare on the bottom left picture, it is too wet to go out and get a great picture today. These pictures are from our time at Tot Rock, one of our favorite things to do when it is cold/rainy/wet out. Kiddos under 6 I think can bring anything with wheels and have free reign on the skating rink floor. These are pictures of the three amigas. Everything is from my kit, I colored the background piece partially using my Bic Mark its to make the pink pop off. What do you think?

Just Horsin' Around

Here is layout 7 and 8 from my Counterfeit Kit Challenge April kit. I am so happy to report that I have almost DOUBLED my original goal! Thank you Sketch Support LOL! All the embellishments for this one I pulled from my stash. I won them all on FB through Samantha Walker (Thanks Jamie C!) I did not think I would EVER use them but these pictures of C on her first "horse/pony" ride were perfect for them. I stamped each of the 3by3 squares with various background stamps to give it a little more texture. I am so proud to report that I stretched ONE 12X12 scallop border sticker (the one on the bottom) for BOTH pages! Ha! How is that for using up your stash wisely? LOL! Ok so maybe I am cheap but I only had one border sticker and I wanted to use it! How are you doing this month on your Counterfeit layouts? I would love to see some more!

Fun at Clark-Elioak Farm

Good morning. Here are layouts 5 and 6 for Counterfeit Kit challenge! I am actually pretty pleased with them. I got ELEVEN pictures on this one! WOOHOOO! I could have squeezed in two more but I wanted to use up some borders and needed a bigger place than the original Sketch Support Sketch allowed for the title. Everything is from my kit for this month!I also was able to use my new Elegant Edges that hubby blessed me with for the die cut on the left hand page. I think it all went well together. How are you doing this month?

Fairy Winner!

Good Monday morning! I wanted to jump on here and post the winner from this weekend and thank you ALL for stopping by! I know there are a LOT of blog hops and life is busy right now so thank you for taking the time to hop through and leave us all some love. Oh and welcome to my new followers! I hope you stay around a while, this week will be slow in posting but next week I have lots lined up for you!

Without further ado, the winner that random.org picked out of the 26 comments is :

So CONGRATS to RACHELLE! Please send me your mailing address to the fairy email.

Cricut Card Fairies TURN THREE! BLOG HOP!

Happy Friday! Today we are celebrating the Cricut Card Fairies!! We turned THREE YEARS OLD yesterday! YAY! What are Cricut Card Fairies you may be asking? Well I am here to tell you! We are a group of crafting volunteers who LOVE to send cards to those that need it. To date we have sent over 750 missions all over the globe. That is over 750 smiles and hugs via cards. Isn't that amazing?

I started the fairies back April 14, 2008. I honestly did not think it would go as long as it has but I knew how much cards made me smile so I figured it was a good way to spread some smiles and sunshine. WOW! Did the ladies on the cricut messageboard STUN me! I started with just working out of my personal email but quickly realized I needed a different one just for this, then the amazing Marine Mom wore Admin Becky down and we were blessed with our FORUM on the messageboard. It has been a wonderful adventure and I hope to continue it for as long as we are needed! If you are interested in becoming a fairy you can email me at cricutcardfairyarmy@gmail.com with your cricut messageboard name and the email for which you wish to receive missions.

Today I would like to share the layout I did for my Book Of Me that I am SLOWLY working on. There is a lot of journaling and I tried to show the relationship between the "commander" (me) and the AWESOME fairies that I love to pieces! What do you think?

Now I do have some blog candy to offer but I did not get a picture. Here is what you have to do to win leave me a comment here, hop along, leave love for all my wonderful fairies, then come back here and tell me YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE HOP! Easy peasy right? I would love to have new followers but ONLY if ya like my creations. Please come back on Monday to find out who won! Happy Hopping!

Hop along to the wonderful Larelyn now!

So here is the list for the blog hop:

Crystal aka Caitlynsmommy http://crystalscraftycreations.blogspot.com/
Larelyn http://www.handmadefromtheheart-designsbylarelyn.blogspot.com/

Rachelle http://www.rachelle-rachellesplace.blogspot.com/
Shawnee http://quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
RachelM http://trickut-rachelscrafts.blogspot.com/
Sheryl http://sherylscraftingcorner.blogspot.com/
Tami http://sunsetami.wordpress.com/
Jenn http://craftingwithjenn.blogspot.com/
Brenda http://www.beejaysstudio.blogspot.com/
Gina http://ginathorntonstamping.blogspot.com/
Karel http://www.kareljcreations.com/

PLEASE help me win a New Cricut Expression and EP Paper!!!!

Please please please help me win a new Expression and some awesome yummy Echo Park Paper! If you are on facebook please "Like" this page https://www.facebook.com/EchoParkPaper and tell them that I sent you (Crystal Edsell Butler)! I would love you forever! Come back and tell me that you posted and I will draw a winner for something I don't know what yet! Oh please please please! And please pass the word around! Thank you thank you thank you!

Mini Challenge ONE Counterfeit Kit

Good morning! Today I am here to share with you my first ever MINI challenge with Counterfeit Kit challenge. Here is where you will find the actual challenge and a lot of cool links! I don't know about you but I collect little things when we go out or on vacation. Hubby is well trained now to know that we HAVE to have SOMETHING to represent our time somewhere if it is the first time, LOL! So for this challenge I choose to do a front title page for the section of layouts I will do about our time at the Enchanted Forest/Petting Zoo/Maze. It was extra special this time since it was our first time AND my Mom (Nane') got to come. I scrapped the only two items we have from there, two vintage type postcards from the ORIGINAL forest. I hardly EVER scrap on anything besides Kraft cardstock so the black is a huge difference for me personally! So here you go I hope you enjoy!

Cricut Card Fairies TURNED THREE!!! Blog hop!!!!!

Oh my gosh! I cannot believe it! We turn THREE years old tomorrow! WOW! Come back this Friday-Sunday for fun birthday and/or fairy themed creations from some of the CCFA! Cool creations, celebration, and blog candy! Can't wait to see you here!!!!

Have a Scraptacular Birthday (Scrapbookpal.com)

It is hump day! How are you all doing? I hope well. Today I am here to share with you a new to me product that Scrapbookpal.com graced me with this month. (Did I mention that Scrapbookpal.com has free shipping on all orders over 25.00 in the contiguous United States? Yep that is right!). I have admired Pink By Design stamps from afar before but never used them, until this month. I have to say they are HIGH quality, stable, sturdy, and stamp very well. Plus they have super cute sayings so that is the icing on the cake.

Last month I had a good scrappy friend have a birthday and this is the card that I made for her using Crop Till You Drop, white signo pen, Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Silver star pen and Liquid Pearls in White Opal. I hope you like it!

This is a 5X7 card based in Kraft Card stock (shocked? LOL). I adhered the pattern paper with the ATG tape, added some ribbon and stamped the following sayings in white ink on brown card stock: Paper Diva, Scrapbooking Queen, and Scrap Chick. Using the Stardust pen I traced the top and bottom sentiments to make them pop a tiny bit more. I dabbed Liquid Pearls on the bigger polka dotted paper and added three smaller dots to either side of the Scrapbooking Queen sentiment. I must say that the Liquid Pearls dried faster than I thought they would. I hand wrote my greeting inside using the "Scraptacular" sentiment to finish it off. I hope she loves it.

Love-Recycled

Good morning. I have something so out of my comfort/style zone to share with you today. The template for this ribbon card is from the wonderful Regina at Cutting Cafe HERE. I recycled some 7 gypsies packaging from a stamp set, ran it through my cuttle bug with a Tim Holtz folder. I then inked it to within an inch of its life LOL! Added some ribbon, a flower I received in a swap, and two distressed tickets and a memo pin! I actually LIKE how this one came out and this is NOT my normal style. Almost everything I used was from my April Counterfeit kit, I am trying to make it work for me!

Layouts 1-4 Counterfeit Kit challenge

Happy Saturday. I hope your weather is nicer than ours is right now. It is gloomy, cloudy and wet here. We have had a very lazy Saturday (I even got TWO naps in!) and you know what? It has been so needed and wanted! I love lazy Saturdays!

Here are my first four (2 two page layouts) for Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog this month. I am not in love with any of them but they are done. I did use my new Elegant Edges on the Halloween one (thanks honey!), and Caitlyn got a hold of the chalk in around the title of the Pizza one (love her help LOL). What do you think?

If you really knew me...........

I love reading this blog. I love her style and outlook on life! She cracks me up! She follows this blog and I wanted to do the prompt for this week. So here we go. Won't you join too?

If you really knew me you would know that my personal views on the current government are less than stellar but I still serve them, as that is my job.

If you really knew me you would know that I want to volunteer at the USO as soon as little C is ready; and that I thank every single Soldier/military personnel that I see.

If you really knew me you would know I am the stereotypical first/oldest child.

If you really knew me you would know that when I was growing up I told my parents I would NEVER get married or have children before I had $50,000 in my bank account, owned my own home, and was established in my career; then I met Jonathan and we all know what they say about best laid plans.

If you really knew me you would know that I do not think highly of myself, that I am super critical and hard on myself. I am trying to work on that.

If you really knew me you would know that I do not adjust to change well.

If you really knew me you would see that I am fiercely loyal and protective of those in my "inner" circle. I have always been a "mama bear" hence my nickname in high school on the JROTC Girls Drill team "Mama Crystal". I even have a shirt they made me!

If you really knew me you would know that I do not feel I am a great mother, but I try my very best everyday and at the end of the day I am exhausted; but I love my little girl more than the world and would even disown my "inner" circle for her.

If you really knew me you would know that I am still learning how to be friends with women. I know this sounds strange but growing up I was a tomboy, and then in the Army I was surrounded by mostly males so befriending females is not a strong suit of mine, but I am trying.

If you really knew me you would know that I journal everyday, have a slight addiction to journals, notebooks etc and my thoughts are rather scattered within several journals these days.

If you really knew me you would know that I have an addiction to Coke Zero and buying/organizing scrap booking supplies, ledgers, journals, and sweat pants (the wide leg kind!).

If you really knew me you would know that putting this out there is a little scary.

If you really knew me you would understand why I hate malls or other big crowds since returning from duty in Iraq in 2005. You would understand my need to be hyper alert, cautious, and anxious. You would understand why I am so pissed that MD does not allow (or rather makes it extremely difficult) to get a concealed weapon permit. You would know that I carry pepper spray everywhere and have had to use it only once. You would know why I am fail to meet mental expectations that the Army has set and you would understand how ironic that is since my "mental state" (anxiety) was caused by serving for the Army.

If you really knew me would you still like me? Even after all these secrets?

Hank the plank and handmade paper

Good morning! So with the Front Porch Kit we are counterfeiting this month there was a piece of 10ish by 5ish (words of the owner!) named Hank the plank. Well I loved it! Hubby has lots of scraps in the garage so he was able to make me two of these! I can't wait to alter them! He even put their name on them LOL! Silly supportive man!
I feel in love with this paper by Fancy Pants, Headed South. I knew I could make it my own and I did YAY! I used stamps that have never even been inked before (don't look at me like that I KNOW you have things you have never used before) and that is the point of these kits right? Right? LOL! So here is the Fancy pants paper followed by my take, I hope you enjoy!

What is behind the curtain? REVEAL DAY!!!!!!!

Good morning! It is the FIFTH! Do you KNOW what that MEANS???? Yes you are right, come on down, it is the REVEAL for April, my first month at Counterfeit Kit Challenge blog. WOOHOOO! Let me tell you I have seen all the kits and you are in for some INSPIRATION!!!!! Please make sure to check out and leave some love for all my DT girls!

This month our inspiration kit was a first time kit club called Front Porch Kits. We counterfeited the A Little Birdie told me kit. I will admit this is NOT my usual style, but I tried my best (and I think I did OK) to match the papers (at least) piece for piece. I made one piece, which I had a BLAST doing and will showcase later on.

As always I reserve the right to add to this kit FROM MY STASH all month long. My goal is low this month since like I stated it is not my normal style. I hope to get five layouts and at least three altered projects (for swaps I am in) out of this kit. I will still be working from my March kit too so you can check that out this month if you wish.




So hop on over to Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog for more inspiration and to start linking up your kits, projects and more. Let's use that stash ladies and gents!

Sprinkle Shower Baby Items

I am hosting a diaper sprinkling shower tomorrow for a good friend from the MOMS club. I have been working on the book, and you know what it was HARD! I wanted to keep it super simple and leave room for lots of paper but I have never scrapped 8.5X11 before! It was strange! I think I did OK though, what do you think? I had a hard time coming up with ideas since I never did all that for Caitlyn. I hope she likes it. The other thing I whipped together today (with my space in chaos still) is the banner. I used Nates Abcs for all the cuts and used my I rock for the first time today (LOVE!). What do you think? Pretty simple and quick but good for me since I could not find half of what I needed.