Sunday, October 31, 2010

Halloween Mini Album

Happy Halloween!! It is a grey and rainy day here in Nova Scotia - not exactly ideal for my Bat Man and Princess to go trick or treating in... hopefully the weather will improve. Today at Cricut Mini Albums the challenge was to make a Halloween mini album. Here is what I came up with:



I decided on an accordian style mini. You can find a tutorial by Mary from CardzTV right HERE.





Most of the cuts are from Mini Monsters. I just love that cartridge :)



I used Zoobaloo to cut out all the words, I thought it was a font that looked a little spooky.



The tags in the album are all cut from Sweet Treats cartridge - I need to explore my cartridges a bit more, I had forgotten about all the cute tags on that cartridge till I watched Mary's videos.



The little boxes are from George and Basic Shapes. They are probably too small for pictures. I was thinking I would use the tags for pictures and the little boxes for journaling or quotes.



Isn't it cute? The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye and Karen Foster. The cardstock is a bunch of different stuff - Stampin Up, Creative Memories and Walmart stuff. The ribbon is all from Michaels. I am really happy with how it all turned out.

Some challenges:
My Time to Craft - pick a pocket
Crafty Creations - halloween
Little Red Wagon - halloween
Pixie Dust - happy halloween
S2G - trick or treat
Sarah Hurley - halloween
Treehouse - things that go bump in the night
Totally Gorjuss - spooky
Crafty Catz - halloween
Card of the Week - mini book
The Crafty Pad - stitching

Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween!! Come back tomorrow to see my submission for Paper Playtime this week.

A la prochaine...

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Falling behind...

I have had the loveliest 24 hours - well, other than some wicked temper tantrums by a certain 4 year old... I am feeling much better, and have gotten a ton of crafting done. With all the design teams I'm on, I have noticed that I am really far behind on my Christmas cards. Usually by now I would be well on my way, this year, not so much... So I decided to make a trial run of a card today. Here is what I came up with - sorry about the picture:



The stamp of the holy family is from stampendous - it is hard to see, but it is in gold embossing. The sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farms - also embossed. The paper is all Stampin Up and the gold ribbon is from my stash. It was pretty easy to make, and one I might think about making 20 or so of. That is always good, as we send out at least 100 cards each year.

Some challenges:
Papertake Weekly - sparkly and bright (i think gold embossing counts)
Fab'n'Funky - clean and simple
ABC Challenge Blog - glitter
Speedy the Cat Challenge - holiday
Wee Memories - anything goes
2 Sisters - no designer paper
Our Daily Bread - sparkle
No Time to Stamp - CAS christmas
Stampavie and more - christmas

I'll be back tomorrow with my new album for Cricut Mini Albums - see you all then!

A la prochaine...

Michelle

Friday, October 29, 2010

Just Beecause...

Morning all! I am finally almost over my virus and am feeling better. I am trying to get caught up with my crafting and on things around the house. Today's card is one I made to send to some family. My in-laws had their 50th wedding anniversary a few months ago, and my husband and I arranged for some family pictures to be taken. I have finally gotten copies made, and am sending the copies to his siblings. Here are the cards I made to do that:





Cute eh? I used the bee from Create a Critter, who I think is just adorable!! I also used my favorite new stamps from Simply Sweet. The paper is mostly Close to my Heart. I used a sketch from OWH Stars and Stamps. I love the clean and simple look of this sketch.

I have no kids home today, my daughter's sitter is having a Halloween party, so I sent her even though I'm not at work. I must do some house cleaning, which I have been neglecting, but I do hope to get into my craft room today and have some fun!
A la prochaine...

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

A First For Me... And a Challenge

So today marks a first for me - I actually used a Digi Stamp - first time! Today over at Cooking with Cricut the challenge is Halloween - but cute Halloween, not spooky halloween. We have a sponsor this week The Cutting Cafe and when I went to take a peek at her digi stamps, I fell in LOVE with the cute little witch feet! I knew I had to try my hand at digital stamps - here is what I came up with:







I designed this card on my Gypsy, using the font from Robotz to weld "BOO" to the side of my card. The paper is all from SU, and the patterned paper is from My Minds Eye. I used my SU markers to color in my digi. I have to say, I wasn't thrilled with how the coloring went. The color bled a little bit, and the marker didn't cover very well. I don't know if it's because I needed to use different ink in my printer, or because I used the wrong markers. Like I said, I am new at all the digi stuff :)

On the flip side, I LOVE how this turned out. I love her in the pretty bright colors. I think she looks so cute and friendly... like Glenda the Good Witch. I am excited to try digis again. Maybe next time I will use my color pencils...

Some challneges:
Fantabulous Cricut - frighten me or not
Ooh-La-La Challenge - spooky
Crafty Purple Frog - anything goes
Top Tip Tueday - anything goes
One Stitch at a Time - celebrations

A la prochaine...

Monday, October 25, 2010

Halloween Treats

It is almost Halloween, one of my children's favorite times of the year. Today at Paper Playtime the challenge is to make a Halloween treat. My daughter goes to a sitter while I am at work, and every year they have a Halloween party, and we make up little treat bags. This year, I decided to use my Cricut. Here is what I came up with:









Cute eh? There is not a ton of candy inside the treat bags, but enough for a 4 year old :) I used this tutorial HERE to make the treat bad cover. It was really easy. The paper is all Bazzil. I used a punch from EK Success to punch the edge of the treat bag. The little ghost on the back in from Mini Monsters - he was I was originally planning to use for the front of the bag, but changed my mind. The cute little stamps are from Stampin Up, as is the scallop circle punch I used and the circle punch.

My daughter loved them and so did my son. He is trying to convince me that I need to make another 26 for his class. I haven't decided yet...

I hope you all head over to Paper Playtime and show us your Halloween treats! I can't wait to see what you all come up with :)

Some challenges:
Made by Momo - anything but a card
Other Lovelies - "H" - halloween
Crazy 4 Challenges - halloween
My Sheri Crafts - halloween
Sweet Stampin - anything but a card
Corrosive Challenge Blog - halloween/ orange and black

A la prochaine...

Saturday, October 23, 2010

You're the Cherry on Top

I am fighting the flu, and the flu seems to be winning. I am so happy to be home after a very long day at work. Some days are like that I guess... Today's card was made for a challenge over at More Than Favors. She challenged us to make a card focusing on fruits or veggies. Here's what I came up with:



The cherry is from Preserves, the circle from George and Basic Shapes, and the scalloped circle is from Winter Wonderland, I welded the scallop circle together on my Gypsy. The cute little saying is from my favorite new stamp set Simply Sweet Stamps. I was pretty happy with it. I think it's pretty cute.

Challenges I am entering this in to:
More Than Favors - fruit or veggies
Stampin Royalty - ribbon
2 Sisters Challenge - anything goes
Card of the Week - card using a die cut/ die cutting machine
Tuesday Throwdown - anything goes
Paper Romance - circle card

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend - I am off to bed - hoping for a healthier day tomorrow :)

A la prochaine...

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Pile on the Challenges

Good morning everyone. I have a cute new card for you today, using my cute new stamps. Each week at Pile It On challenges they come up with a theme, and the challenge is to make a craft that fits in with that challenge and as many other challenges as possible. Fun, eh? Especially for someone like me, who does love challenges :) Here is what I came up with:



I used the bat from Mini Monsters - isn't he cute? The stamps are from my newest set Simply Sweet isn't it just perfect with that bat?? The embossing folder is Seeing Spots (I think) and the paper is a mix of SU and stuff from my scrapbox. I got the ribbon at Michaels. On the whole, I am really happy with this card.

So, the many challenges I am entering this in to:
Pile It On - kids halloween
Aly's Sunday Challenge - halloween
Easy Craft Projects - halloween
If the Shoe Fits - holiday
Paper Cutz Challenge - anything goes
Polka Doodles - spooky
2 Sisters - halloween
One Stop Craft Challenge - halloween
Stampin for the Weekend - Halloween
S2G - spots and spooky
The Cuttlebug Spot - totally frightful
My Time to Craft - ghosties, goulies and long legged beasties
Creative Inspirations - spooky
The Creative Cottage - halloween
Crafts and Me Challenge - spooky
Creative Craft Challenges - trick or treat
Double Dutch - boo to you
Fussy and Fancy - halloween
Stamp Something - halloween
C.R.A.F.T. - spooky
Stamp with Fun - halloween
The Crazy Challenge - halloween


A la prochaine...

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Finally Time...

If you're looking for my Breast Cancer card for CCC click HERE
If you are looking for my pumpkin card for CWC click HERE

Look at me with three posts on the same day!! I am fighting off the flu, but have found time to cut out a few cards today, between the nose blowing and the sinus headaches. I will be posting them over the next couple of days. I bought myself a new stamp set on pre-order about a month ago from a Canadian girl called Simply Sweet Stamps. They arrived last week and this is the first chance I've had to play with them. They are so cute!!

Today I used my new stamps to participate in Emma's Throwback Thursday challenge. Emma's challenges are among the first I participated in on the web, but lately, with my 12 hour shifts, I just haven't had the time to participate. Today I found the time :) The challenge was to make an animal project, using an older cartridge. I chose Paisley, which although it isn't that old, I do tend to neglect it, and I really, really wanted it... so i figured it fit the parameters. Here is what I came up with:



The turtle is from Paisley, and the stamp is from Simply Sweet Stamps. The paper is mostly SU as is the pink ribbon. It is a bit of a simple card, but I love how it turned out! Be sure to check back in tomorrow to see another card I made with my new stamps.

A la prochaine...

Everything looks better in Pink

Click here for my CWC challenege

Today is challenge day on Cricut Cardz Challenge. This weeks challenge is wonderful. October is Breast Cancer awareness month, and Mary asked us to make a card with that in mind. Any color, any cartridge. Here is what I came up with:



I used Forever Young to create this cratridge. The girls were each cut at 3 inches. The Think Pink stamp is from My Pink Stamper. The paper is a mix of things, SU, creative memories and stuff from my scrap box. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out.

I am extremely fortunate as I do not currently know any one personally who is fighting breast cancer, although my husband has lost family to the disease. I have decided that I would like this card to go to women who are currently battling breast cancer, so I am sending this card to The Scrapbooking Queen. She is doing a month long blog challenge. All cards that are sent to her, will be forwarded to women at a health centre who are living with breast cancer. I just hope it reaches her on time. Canada Post isn't always too quick...

I hope you all come play with us over at Cricut Cardz Challenge, I can't wait to see everyone's wonderful creations :)

A la prochaine...

Pumpkin Patch

Today on Cooking with Cricut we have a new challenge for everyone. Today`s challenge is Pumpkin Patch. Perfect for the season, isn't it? Here is what I came up with:





I created this card on my Gypsy, welding some pumpkins from Mini Monsters to a rectangle from George and Basic Shapes. Didn't it turn out cute? I stole the idea for this card from the wonderful Cristi, click HERE to see her wonderful card. The paper is mostly SU, though the patterned paper is old Creative Memories. I got the Happy Halloween stamp in the $1 bin at a LSS. On the whole, I was pretty pleased.

I will be back later today with my Design Team submission for Cricut Cardz Challenge, the challenge is a good one. Wednesday are a busy day for me in the blogging world :)

A la prochaine...

Monday, October 18, 2010

Fall Mini Album

This week at Cricut Mini Albums the theme was fall. I decided to make a book on my Gypsy. I have to say that this book was a real struggle to make. For some reason, my expression has been REALLY unhappy cutting cereal box weight cardboard. I even bought a Thick Cut blade, hoping that would help. It did not. I have no idea what the problem is, but it was extremely frustrating. Here is what I came up with:

















The cartridges I used for this book are George and Basic Shapes, Mickey Font - for the "FALL", Sweethearts for the tree and leaves, Streach Your Imagination for the 1st leaf and Mickey and Friends for the second leaf. The cardstock was all Stampin Up and the patterned paper is from My Big Ideas.

You may recognize the front page of this little book. I made an almost identical card a few weeks ago. I liked it so much that I decided to use it for my album. Despite the challenges making this album I think it turned out pretty cute. I hope you all head over to Cricut Mini Albums, and try your hand at a fall album.

Other challeneges:
Baby Bud Design - fall
Marks Finest Paper/ Speedy's Friends - stitching
Inktegrity - fall
Craftalicious - anything goes
Little Red Wagon - something old (George and Basic Shapes Cartridge and SU paper) something new (My Big Ideas paper and Sweethearts cartridge)
Crazy 4 Challenges - fall
Pear Tree - free for all
Totally Paper Crafts - autumn
The Stamp Man Challenge - fall

A la prochaine...

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Cooking with Cricut Challenge

Melin over at Cooking with Cricut is starting some weekly challenges on her blog, and I was chosen to be part of her first design team. Isn't that exciting? She included designers who use cut files with their electronic die cutting machines, digital stamp users, and traditional cricut users. I would fall under the final category.

Her first challenge is Love-Sweetest Day. Here is what I came up with.





For this challenge, I cracked open my Sweethearts Cartridge. I bought it about a month ago, and have only used it once... don't tell my husband :) Isn't that little nest and birds adorable?? The shape that the birds are on, is also from Sweethearts, I manipulated the dimensions on my Gypsy so that it would fit on the top of my easel card. The "I love you" is from my Pink Stamper stamps. I have been a bit obsessed with easel cards lately, they are so fun, and easy to make, but I think they look lovely. I promise to make something else soon. The border punch i used is from EK Success and the flower rhinestones were tucked in my stash. The paper and ribbon are from my scraps box.

I hope you all take time to head over to Cooking with Cricut, I would love to see what you all come up with for Sweetest Day, this coming Saturday. Hope everyone is having a wonderful week.

A la prochaine...

Monday, October 11, 2010

Orange...

Let me start by saying that orange is one of my least favorite colors. I don't know why, it is bright, and cheerful, and warm... it just doesn't do it for me somehow. Needless to say, when I saw that today's challnege over at Paper Playtime was to use orange as your main color, I thought, well, this is going to be a challenge! I then thought about everything I love that is orange. Leaves in the fall, embers in a fire place, popsicles, pumpkins, oranges, carrot...you get the idea. I knew this was a challenge that would suit me just fine :)

I decided to make another easel card. I am just loving them these days! I pulled out my Mini Monsters, and here is what I came up with:






I thought this turned out pretty cute! I really liked the little candies - they are from Mini Monsters too, and are what I decided to use to hold open the card. The paper is pretty much all Stampin Up, and the stamp is from my LSS. It came from a $1 bin, so I have no idea who made it. Sorry...

I hope you all come along and play with us at Paper Playtime Have a wonderful day.


A la prochaine...

Sunday, October 10, 2010

We are Grateful...

It is Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada. For the past 7 years, we have spent Thanksgiving at White Point Beach with my mum and dad, the kids and the dogs. For those of you who have never been to Nova Scotia, our falls are just spectacular, and Thanksgiving tends to be particularly gorgeous.

We are so grateful for our family and friends, and for everything we have been blessed with. It is always lovely to take this little break from our lives, to enjoy some special family time, and participate in some family traditions. Here are a couple of pics from the last 2 days, so you can see the slice of heaven we are enjoying :)









That last picture is my children in the Atlantic Ocean - it is all of about 7 degrees celcius today (45 farenheit). Crazy, aren't they??

I have been a bad blogger this week. I had a few design team obligations, and worked 5 - 12 hour shifts in 6 days, and then came here to White Point, so I had no time to craft. I will try to be better next week. Tomorrow I will be bck with my Paper Playtime card for the week, so be sure to check in, the challnege is a good one :)

We are going for our Thanksgiving dinner in about 90 minutes, so to each of you, who take time out of your busy lives to visit my spot in the blogging world, thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.


A la prochaine...