31 March 2011

Homemade goodies for swap






I am in the process of hosting several swaps on the Cricut Messageboard but the one that I finished and can now post is the Homemade swap. I was so excited about this one. I sure hope KathyJo liked the items like she said she did, several you have already seen here is everything. The only item I apparently did not get pictures of is the one I liked the most. It is a mini wooden altered clipboard in red/white/black with post it notes on it.

30 March 2011

RUN!!! To Purple Pumpkin


This name has popped up all over the place, OK well in my blog-iverse it has! I love her style and creations! Check out what she is giving away now!!!! Super sweet!

29 March 2011

AWESOME DEAL!!!!!

Hey there! Sign up for groupon (online daily deal/gift card site) using first link, then click second link for a GREAT ebay gift card deal, 7.00 for 15.00 worth! WOOHOO! HURRY! Leave me a comment if you do please!
http://www.groupon.com/r/uu12636128
Sign up under me and buy the awesome EBAY deal, 7 for 15.00 in Ebay gift card:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/ebay

Scrapbookpal.com Altered for Bella


Who loves FREE shipping like I do? Well Scrapbookpal.com not only has super low prices, great customer service, a wide array of products to choose from including all your staples, but has FREE SHIPPING for purchases over 25.00! WOOHOOO! This month they graciously sent me Nate's ABCs to work with. I love it!

If you remember I made a similar mini notebook for one of C's friends named Calliana, well her older sister Bella wanted a notebook so I made this one for her. She loves red, yellow and blue (I got two of her favorite colors in there!). I hope she loves it!

Ingredients:
Nate's ABCs
Expression
12X12 mats
Chestnut Roan Ink
Tim Holtz Scissors
ATG
Zig glue pen
Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Cuttlebug
French Blue ink
Brown Zig pen
Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher
Signo White Pen
Martha Stewart Fringe Scissors
Scrap of ribbon
Enamel Accents in Black
Various card stock and pattern paper scraps
1.75 1.5 and 1 inch circle punches

Directions:

1. Using appropriate card stock make the following cuts:
  • Clouds- Font 2 page 50 Cut at 1.5, 1.25 and .75 inches
  • Banner-Font 2 page 67 Cut at .75 inches (five times)
  • Bella-Font 1 cut at .5 inches
  • Snail page 42 cut at 1.25 inches all layers
2. Using the swiss dots and cuttlebug emboss your clouds. Ink edges with French Blue ink. Randomly adhere to blue painted background.

3. Ink all edges of five banner pieces using Chestnut roan ink. Adhere one letter per banner piece to spell BELLA using Zig chisel point pen. Adhere to scrap of ribbon using the Tim Holtz tiny attacher. Place on page where desired securing with Zig glue or sticky red tape.

4. Piece together the snail using Zig glue and snipping the grass from the main body of the snail. Using black enamel accents made an eye and draw a red smile. Adhere to book on right side above grass.

5. Using scrap of green cardstock, ink in chestnut roan ink, cut with Martha Stewart fringe scissors, adhere to bottom of book.

6. Using circle punches punch two circles and hand cut tree trunks to fashion two trees. Using Zig brown pen and Signo White pen create faux stitching around circles. Piece together and adhere to page with adhesive of choice.

7. Make sun from yellow scraps, using 1.75 inch circle punch for main body of sun and scraps for rays. Make sure to ink all edges with chestnut roan.

8. Enjoy!

27 March 2011

We love Fall-Counterfeit Layout 13

Happy Sunday night. Did you get any crafting done this weekend? I did but most of it I cannot show you until later this coming month so here is what I can share! I must say I am pretty proud of myself for using ORANGE and YELLOW so much! YAY me! LOL! Yep, the little things make me smile!


The only things I added to this are the WE and Heart wood shape (Thanks Sheri!). Wrapped around the corrugated letters and inked within an inch of their lives is twine. After all that inking I felt like the letters blended too much so I whipped out my trusty Signo White Pen and outlined them as best I could around the twine. What do you think?

24 March 2011

D is for Determination (Counterfeit Layout 12)




Here is layout 12. Everything is from the kit, and I think I only have two sheets left uncut YAY! If you saw my original kit you know this is HUGE since I pulled a HUGE kit, I still have tons of photos to scrap so I hope you are not sick of seeing layouts! I am pretty proud of the circle highlighting the second photo. It is originally a green glitter chipboard circle that I wrapped in the ONLY orange ribbon I own (I had just enough!) and then again in random hemp twine. I love the pop it gives it and the texture. For added texture I inked up the corrugated "d" and backed it with a scrap of paper. Those orange pearls on the flower, yep, they are almost all gone! I NEVER thought I would use them so WOOOOHOOOO! Who thinks I can hit 20 layouts with this kit this month? Hmmm let's see!!!

Blog Candy Winner!

Thanks to Random.org which picked number SEVEN which is Gabrielle from http://nomorelittlemonkeys.blogspot.com.

Congrats sweetie, email me your mailing address and your favorite color and I will get this out later on next week!

Daddy's Little Miss Fix-It (Counterfeit layout 11)

Good morning. This layout was supposed to be QUICK but it did not turn out that way. I used the One page sketch at Sketch Support this week for my base foundation. Instead of four 3X3 photos I choose three and a journal block. This is also my entry into the Counterfeit FRAME challenge, I used a chipboard frame, sanded it, and stamped the tools all around it in Stazon Ink. Everything with the exception of the arrow which I covered in burlap and inked, and the gears was in the kit I put together this month for Counterfeit Kit Challenge. Have you played yet? Well WHY NOT? It is FREE and so inspiring and you get stuff done! YAY!




22 March 2011

Happy Birthday Rhonda! altered cookie sheet

Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Rhonda!!!!! Happy birthday to you! I hope your day is fantastic. Here is what I made you, since you already knew WHAT it was you may as well know HOW it looks. I hope you like it!



20 March 2011

For the Birds (Couterfeit LO 9/10)

WOOHOO! I completed my goal for this month. I still have lots of fall pictures to go with this kit but I wanted to get at LEAST ten out of it and I did! YAY! OK here is the layout. Let me know what you think. The only thing I pulled was the BIG leaf stamp on the left page, but it was a clearance find at Jo-Anns for .50 so YAY me!

Don't forget the blog candy, I will announce a winner sometime this week (yes I am that vague thanks to my 3 year old that is all of a sudden a werewolf!)



19 March 2011

Gymnastics Star (Counterfeit Layout 8)

I am so excited that I am getting so many layouts done thanks to Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog, and several sketch sites I am using up my kit like a good girl! I have other projects to get to but can't quit using my kit! YAY! I think I have cut each piece of paper YAY!

These pictures are from an open play session at the local gymnastics place while Uncle Mac was here. They had a blast, she loves gymnastics but NOT with coaches LOL! The only thing not in my initial kit were the two chipboard stars that I made into woodgrain ones using my stamp! YAY! I tried to stamp on the cork strip I cut but it is really faint. I choose that stitch stamp for the look it, I thought it looked like bouncing up and down (is it just me?).


18 March 2011

Everything starts and ends with Family (Counterfeit Layout 6/7)


Happy Friday evening y'all. I have been working on this two page layout for two days now and I still do not like it that well but it is done. The pictures are of my daughter and my Battle Buddy from Iraq, we call him Uncle Mac. This man came into our lives right before deployment in 2004/2005 and has been such a fantastic friend even with thousands of miles between our families. He is one of those friends that you can pick up where you left off, he adores Caitlyn, and is a rock. We consider him family. He came to visit before taking his next assignment in Germany and Caitlyn took right to him (they had not seen one another since she was barely walking) due to deployments, moving and us getting out of the Army (besides in pictures). In the envelope that Ang (THANK YOU!) sent me I will print off the thoughts he has that he emails me. There is TONS of stamping, coloring and inking on this one. Not too bad, half way through the month and 7 layouts done YAY!

17 March 2011

I wanna talk about me! I spy for Counterfeit Challenge

"I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I Wanna talk about number one Oh my me my What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see I like talking about you you you you, usually, but occasionally I wanna talk about meeeeee I wanna talk about me"

OK fess up who knows that song? Please tell me you do! It is the wonderfully patriotic and rocking singer Toby Keith. I could not help but think these lyrics when Counterfeit Challenge asked us to create an I spy with a special word describing us. Here is what I submitted and an explanation of sorts!

A little about me: I am an Army Veteran turned stay at home mom to one very sassy fun 3 year old little girl. My best friend, Jonathan, and I have been married for going on seven years this year. We were both in the Army, both Veterans and now we are living our civilian life. I often say I am a transplanted southern but growing up an Army brat I am not so sure that is true. My Elementary Education degree is coming in handy these days as we embark on the journey of learning through play and crafts daily. I love to walk and chair a walking committee in my local MOMS club. Coke zero and chocolate (milk or white please) are my vices and I am grumpy if I do not have my Coke Zero first thing in the morning.
I have been crafting in some sort since before I can remember and became addicted to scrapping in 2007, right before our daughter was born. When it comes to scrapping I almost always use a sketch to start and the color Kraft somewhere. I am a sucker for shopping for scrapping supplies and have WAY too much (shhh don't tell DH that!) so being on this amazing design team along with the others(Cutting Cafe, Frosted Designs and Scrapbookpal.com) that I currently design for will really help whittle down the stash (making room for more supplies!).

  • S-Sketches
  • C-Corrugated or circles
  • R-Road- Maya that is!
  • A-Altering or alphabet stamps
  • P-POLKA DOTS!!!!!
  • B-Bo Bunny
  • O-Organizing
  • O- Odds and ends
  • K-Kits
  • I-Inks (chalk!)
  • N- Notebooks
  • G- Georgia Pacific Card stock/Graph Paper




15 March 2011

I am a Master of Forgery!

Yep DH may have to turn me into the authorities! LOL! I am so honored to announce that I was selected to join the first ever Master Forger Design team over at Counterfeit Challenge! As those that have been following me know, I have been playing for two months and LOVE it. It makes me productive and USES MY STASH (DH is super excited about that part!). I also love Bethany and can't wait to get to know Meridy and the other designers better as we embark on this super fun and productive journey together! So hop on over to Counterfeit Challenge for a list of all ELEVEN of the first ever designers!!! We are so excited!!!!
In honor of this amazing announcement I have some blog candy (to be pictured later) to give to one lucky follower!

Here is what you have to do:
1. Follow my blog.
2. Leave some love on ALL of the new designers blogs.
3. Follow Counterfeit challenge.

I will find a name through random.org and check that you completed all three steps and announce the winner sometime next week.

14 March 2011

Read me! (Cutting Cafe)

I do not know about you but I love to read. So much so that when I start a new book, the house goes to pot, Caitlyn gets to watch lots of T.V/DVDs and dinner is not made consistently. Therefore it is rare these days that I do read as I have no control and have to finish it once I start, and preferably in as few sittings as possible. I have a dear friend that has the same affliction that I do so I made up this little set of bookmarks, library card notebook, and more for her. I really hope she likes it. I used several Cutting Cafe sets. The following sets were used in the making of this project (don't I sound official? LOL) Book Box Holder; Library Card and Holder; Letters Background and Numbers Background. I used book box holder for the bookmark base, the background piece that states I love books (it lines the inside of the library card book I just forgot to get a picture sorry!) and the paper clip book mark toppers. The Library Card and holder set using several of the brown mini library cards printed on cream card stock and the covers backed with chipboard. I included several white and cream card stock sheets after the library cards to allow for more room to write. The book also closes with stretchy cord. The card utilized the fantastic letters background with a simple sentiment. I also printed off some of the number background on Kraft (aren't you shocked!? LOL) to line a clear pillow box to hold some goodies to be made later on. I hope she enjoys it!

Always be Unique

Happy Monday. I hope you got some crafting done. I did a little bit. I started out using my Counterfeit Kit but quickly had to dive into my stash since I wanted to do an all yellow/orange page (colors I almost NEVER use). There are a few things from my kit to include some of the buttons, the yellow crinkle paper, the orange scallop border that I made with a punch, and the Kraft card stock base. The rest is from my stash. I followed the sketch HERE at Sketch support pretty closely. I have figured out that it takes me WAY longer to do a sketch by her since I want it exact and sometimes that does not happen. I think it turned out well though. The UNIQUE bar code was inspired by THIS Etsy photo and happens to go along with the Counterfeit Mini Challenge one for this month. I purchased the bar code sentiments from TLC HERE.



Instead of stars I used one inch punched circles topped with various buttons from my stash, shaped, polka dot etc. In place of the third strip I used some yellow trim that I received from a swap. I like the texture it gives to the layout. I also added several punched circles run through my paper trimmer and topped with buttons to the right hand layout. Lots of ink. What do you think?

13 March 2011

Counterfeit Mini Challenge-Etsy

I LOVE this quilt! I love the shapes, the patterns, the colors and well just everything. I did NOT do it justice but using the kit I put together I tried to replicate it on a 12X12 Kraft card stock base. I am not sure if I will frame this, add some quotes, or pictures or what but I wanted to try it and see how it came out. Again NO JUSTICE to the amazing quilt but I tried.

You all know that I have a girl that is the star of my layouts. Well this month I was given the amazing choice of Cartridges to work with from Scrapbookpal.com and I choose Nates ABC's. No gasping! This is a very versatile cart for toddlers-boys and girls. Caitlyn is NOT a girly girl, she is not very into princesses, dolls etc (stereotypical girly things) She is more into dirt, dump trucks, tools, and pirates, but in her own way. So I knew this cartridge would serve me well! Here is the layout that I created, now does it look boyish at all???

Let's get started!
Ingredients you will need:
Expression
12X12 mat
Nates ABC's
Tombow brown marker
various cardstock and pattern paper
mini glue dots
zig glue pen
ATG
chestnut roan ink
Tim Holtz scissors
buttons
brads
ribbon
chipboard flowers
band aids

1. Using the Expression (or baby bug) the appropriate mat, Nate's ABC's cut the OUCH (page 66 phrase and phrase shift) out of pink and tan paper at 1 inch. Adhere together. Dot band aid with Tombow brown marker and color in middle with wide tip.

2. Using same pink paper and white card stock cut SCOOTER STREET at 2 inches, page 68 font2 and font2 shadow. Adhere together with zig chisel pen, outline letters in green, ink edges.
3. Cut various pattern papers to fit this sketch. Adhere with ATG tape.

4. Select and adhere green dotted ribbon, hand cut leaves, and chipboard flowers to layout as shown.

5. To make the band aid flower, select four various band aids (mine were super cute printed ones) and form shape, making sure the middles always overlap. Now you can either leave backing on and hold together with a brad OR remove the band aid backings, arrange and adhere to white card stock, and cut out (gives it more stability). I then adhere a flower brad through the holes of a polka dotted yellow button, and using mini glue dots placed that onto of a clear button to make my center.




Up close of the band aid flower. I bought my band aids in Joann's dollar aisleThe dimension it has, when the petals are rolled up.
Close up of my title even with the mistake!


I had fun with this layout so I hope you now see how Nate's ABC's can be for any gender!

11 March 2011

Trash 2 Treasure (Counterfeit Layout 3)

Please SCROLL DOWN FOR MY FROSTED DESIGNS COLOR CHALLENGE!!!!

These pictures are from last year. C has changed SO MUCH in this small amount of time! She does not even look like the same child! J made her a house out of the office chair box complete with three windows, a door with a handle, a chandelier (homemade LED frosted holder), a light box that showed all the colors when she pressed buttons, and of course a blank canvas to alter! This house is still standing and is covered in various paint, stickers, foam pieces, crayons, markers, pencils, and more stickers! It is a masterpiece of course! LOL! Everything came from my kit YAY!

Um yeah the purple piece is Caitlyns addition! OOPS! LOL!
Close up of the faux pleated border I attempted using burlap scraps!
Close up of the flower. I just randomly cut some circles, and pop dotted them up for some dimension. Everything has ink on it of course. I hope you like it!

Frosted Designs COLOR CHALLENGE


KATHYJO DO NOT LOOK!



Good Friday morning! I hope this finds you doing well! This week at Frosted Designs the challenge was to use a picture and a specific color theme. I was so frustrated when I saw it, simply because I don't own or use much purple EVER. I only owned THREE sheets of cardstock/paper in purple and TWO of those were scraps given to me. I am so sad LOL! BUT I think I pulled it off. I sure hope you like it. I took a 3 inch embroidery hoop that my awesome friend Jamie sent me and did it up for a swap I am in right now.


Can you tell I am having fun with my props? I used Lacy Labels to cut the circles every quarter inch from 3 inches to 1.5 inches. I used foam dots to puff everything up and it is so dimensional in real life. I just realized that one of the purple pearls fell off next to the K, I have replaced it I promise! I also designed my own watermark earlier this week and I am so proud of me LOL! I hope to see you over at FROSTED DESIGNS!

Now who is up for this challenge? Head on over to Frosted Designs to find out more and to play along for a great prize from Amercian Crafts!

08 March 2011

Sowing Seeds of Silliness (Counterfeit page two)

I am so excited to share this one with you! I am NOT the kind of scrapper that can cut ANYTHING straight even with a paper trimmer! Really I stink at it so I challenged myself to use this sketch from Allison Davis that utilized tons of straight lines, tiny cuts, and alignment. I think I did OK! Almost ALL of what I used came from my counterfeit kit except the red letters in the title, the scrap of green card stock that I used to back the apple lace paper and the hemp that I used to tie in the buttons. Yes they are all now in my kit! I did lots of faux stitching since I cannot sew, inking, coloring, and even some stamping and embossing! I also used three sheets of my FAVORITE paper (I cut it there are you happy? LOL!) So don't mind me while I toot my own horn GO ME! LOL! Tell me what you think!

The whole layout, based in my precious and hard to find locally Bo Bunny double dot paper!
The apple lace card stock that I made into a border, backed with DCWV green card stock, inked up, added glazed seeds, faux stitching and green glitter leaves.
The awesome title that my hubby came up with! GO JON! Also the backing is from the stamps that I used, the back of those, then I made it into a ticket shape (love them!) with my corner chomper.
A sharpened image of the journal block and the embossed stamped apples I did for the visual triangle. I had a lot of fun with this one. What do you think?