Another Christmas card - jingle belles

Making Christmas cards in February is kind of fun.  Not being under pressure to get them done is nice!  :D

The jingle belles prompt for this week is "text me."  That means use some paper or have a text on your card somewhere.  I chose to use paper with a text... Merry Christmas!  Appropriate for a Christmas card, don't you think?  

I will probably make more like this using Coke paper that I have.  My hubby collects Coke memorabilia and I am addicted to really like diet Coke, so it would be cool.  I think the Coke ads with the bear are so cute! 

What I used:

~Tan cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" for card

~black linen texture cardstock

~'Merry Christmas' paper from DCWV Christmas holiday stack

~polar bear from Joys of the Season cut at 2 1/2" and shadowed - *Edit-  I obviously forgot to add the shadow!! Grr!

~scarf cut from DCWV glitter mat stack

~glitter glue to add some sparkle to the stars

~ribbon from my stash

Thanks for looking!!!

"Some bunny loves you" Easter card

I just finished and posted my one St Patrick's Day card for this year, so now it's on to Easter!  I do know that Easter is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and it is not about candy, and eggs, and new dresses!  

But looking at some clipart a couple of weeks ago, I decided that I could make my own little bunny in Make the Cut.  This is the result.  If you are a member of MTC_Tuts or on the MTC forum, you can find the file if you are interested.  This is based on the sketch from Stamping 411 for today.  Shhh!  Don't tell anyone that it doesn't have any stamping on it!  Oops!

Not much to the 'recipe' - paper, brads, and ribbon that I've had for ages all put on a pre-made 5x7 card.  Computer generated sentiments inside and out.  Inside shape cut with my Nestabilities.  Highlighted with a white gel pen.   Except for her shirt, the bunny is all Bazzill cardstock.

Thanks for looking!!!

Best friend St Patrick's Day card

I'm not Irish and we don't usually 'do' St. Patrick's Day, so when this week's Cricut Cardz challenge was to make a card without using a shamrock, I had no clue what to do.  But I like a challenge... pun intended!! ...so I found this quote and made this card for my best friend.  She is not Irish either... she was born in Dominica! :-)   She'll get a good laugh out of it even though it has a nice sentiment!

What I used:

~pre-made A2 green card
~Colorbok green and yellow paper
~friends cut from ACY at 2 1/2" and shadowed  
      (for the first time in forever, I cut without DS because the shadow 
          didn't fit when I cut in DS for some reason) *I figured it out... I had real size checked!)
~hat from ACY
~computer printed sentiment
~DCWV Summer stack 'rainbow' paper
~American Crafts ribbon
~Studio 18 rhinestones

Thanks for looking!!!

Masculine note card

Masculine cards tend to be a challenge for a lot of us, so when I found a blog dedicated to cards for men called... you'll never guess... Cards for men, I was happy to check it out.  This week I have made my first entry to one of their challenges.  

The challenge asked for- 

1 image 

2 design papers 

3 embellishments

This could be a blank note card or a card of encouragement for someone in the ministry or even a special occasion card depending on what I decide to put on the inside (or not).  

What I used:
Me and My Big Ideas paper
cardstock from my stash
ivory grosgrain ribbon
stamp - not sure who made it
buttons

Thanks for looking!!!

"Fishing was good" hanging plaque

I had a busy weekend so hadn't planned to get much made, but I messed up some of the plans when I totaled our van! :(  My daughter was with me, and PTL we are both ok!!  Sore sternum from the seat belt doing its job, but we have sooooooo much to be thankful for!!!!  

I've taken it easy, but today, I needed to get back in my craft room, so this is my third and final post of the day.  Then I'm going to bed!

Ever since I found this slate at my MIL's, I have been wanting to use it.  The BBTB2 challenge was to use the little fishing boy from ACY.  I did a search for fishing quotes and found this one!  My husband's office is decorated with fishing paraphernalia so this will be his....

What I used:

~slate that had a wire already on it! :D

~boy from A Child's Year cut in black outdoor outdoor vinyl - he's cut at about 5" but I stretched him in DS a little to fit my tile

~words from Lyrical letters & Stamped cut at about 1"

~'sign' behind words - shape from Stamped shortened in DS and cut wood grain contact paper

Hope you like it!  Thanks for looking!!

Embossed Wedding Card

More challenges, more fun, and more cards!!  (Actually only one more, but 'more card' isn't very proper!)   The sketch at Stamping 411 this week is simple but beautiful, and a wedding card came to mind right away.  Fantabulous Cricut is asking for embossing this week, so I combined again for these challenges with this card.

What I used:

~Cricut pastel cardstock

~Colorbok Love/Amour patterned paper

~MS ribbon

~Cuttlebug 'formal circles' embossing folder around the rings and sentiment

~Fiskars 'best wishes' stamp

~MS gold stamp distressing and highlights

Thanks for stopping by!!

"Official Teenager" birthday card - Mojo & CTO

Our second daughter will be a teenager next month.  Since her older sister became the dreaded 'teenager' a couple of years ago, she has teased her mercilessly!!  So now that it is her turn, we cannot just celebrate her birthday when it comes, we will have to really remind her that she is a teenager, too!!

This card will be submitted to:

~Mojo Monday 179 ~ follow the sketch

~Celebrate the Occasion ~ anything goes birthday 

What I used:

~Bazzill Bling cardstock

~Colorbok blue flowered paper

~DCWV Blossoms and Butterflies paper

~Waterfalls font -'teenager' was cut out in MTC and 'Happy 13th' was printed

~American Crafts ribbon

~tiny flowers cut off some ribbon that I've had forever!

Thanks for looking!!!!

"Classic" masculine birthday card

Another card for a challenge.  I discovered a great blog... Celebrate the Occasion.   It has challenges to celebrate the occasions throughout the year.  This week, challenge #2 it to make a masculine birthday card.  This is my submission. 

I have not put any sentiment on the inside yet.  With this front, I will probably write something about the recipient being 'old enough to be a classic'! :D

What I used:

~Basic Grey Granola paper (colors are perfect for 'manly' stuff!)

~distressed the edge

~crimped the GBS shape behind the car

~car from Heritage cart 'decorated' with silver gel pen

~stamp -I have no idea where I got it

~ribbon

Thanks for stopping by!!

More January LO's - skating fun

One of our favorite things to do in winter is skating!  Whether in a rink indoors or in the great outdoors, it is fun!!   some friends have a pond that they care for and turn into a rink when it's cold enough.  This winter sure has been cold enough but we got so much snow that it was only usable for a couple of weeks, so we went when we could!

Woohoo!  Two more LO's done for the year!  :D

I used DCWV paper and Make the Cut for the words and skate

Thanks for looking!!

Christmas cards in Feb??? Yep!

Sketchy Thursdays has a Second Chance challenge with Jingle Belles.  The idea is to make one card each week, so when Christmas comes, we're ready!!  Sounded fun to me!!

This first one is for the challenge....

It includes MS cardstock, DCWV Christmas premium paper, a border cut made in MTC, scallop and circles cut in MTC, a little stamp I found in a Crafts 2000 discount bin, and some ribbon.

 ~~~~~~~~~

 Then I just kept messing around and tried some other paper.  The colors of this really do match, but my lighting obviously was not the best! 

Thanks for looking!!!

A scrapbook LO for a change! :D

I have not scrapped for several months but am determined to scrap this year as it happens.  I'm a little behind since it is Feb and I only have 3 pgs done, but that's better than nothing, isn't it?!? :D

This LO was inspired by Sketchy Thursday.

What I used:
*Basic Grey granola paper
*DCWV cardstock
*Shape and photo corners cut in MTC
*Musicals font cut in MTC
*pre-made label and ribbon from my stash

Thanks for looking!!!

"Get Well Soon" -Cricut Cardz challenge #62

This week's Cricut Cardz challenge #62 is to make a card using a cup image from any cartridge.  To check it out click here.

Mine came from A Child's Year.  I'm happy with this because it could be used for a man as well.  Most 'get well' cards tend to be frilly. 

What I used:

~Me & My Big Ideas patterned paper

~Bazzill cardstock 

~cup from ACY cut at 3 3/4 and 4 since there is no shadow feature

~'get well soon' from Beyond Birthdays cut at 1 1/2" and blackout shadowed

~grossgrain ribbon

Thanks for looking!!!

'Sweet Baby' card

I've been trying to get some cards done ahead to have when I need, so I'm having fun finding inspiration in challenges.  This is for BBTB2... use MS Season Art Cake cart or any with a heart border and a decorative heart.  I don't have the MS cart, so I used the hearts from Doodlecharms.

What I used:

• DCWV patterned paper --swiss dots Cuttlebug folder
• 'baby girl' pink paper --shape from Sentimentals
• Bazzill and DCWV cardstock
• "Sweet baby" from New Arrival - cut 2x and shadowed for dimension
• Heart border and heart (does some bling on it count as decorative??) from Doodlecharms  on pop dots
• Ribbon

Thanks for looking!!

Sympathy card

It's easy to make birthday cards, valentine cards, Christmas cards, note cards, etc... all the fun cards.  I find it more difficult to pull together designs for sympathy cards, but when I saw the Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch 190, I knew it would work for that.  

What I used:

~Basic Grey Granola paper

~Perfect Paisley Cuttlebug folder  (just got it... I LOVE it!!)

~black chalking on edges

~little flower stamp under the sentiment

~Fiskars Cameo Ovations clear stamp

~grossgrain ribbon**

** to make a bow like this:  cut a short length of ribbon, cut a long length that will go across your card.  Tie the long piece in a very loose knot, slip the short length through the knot, tighten the knot and you have this nice, flat, simple bow.  I saw this on Youtube awhile back but cannot find it now to give credit... sorry!

Summer card!

I'm not tired of winter yet... in fact, I still want more snow so we can ski!  But many are tired of it, so when I saw Fantabulous Cricut's Challenge Me Monday #47 to make a seasonal project, I decided to put some warmth in it.  (And because I don't have the pics printed yet for the winter LO I'd really rather do!)  The sketch is from Mojo Monday 178, so this card will go for both of those challenges.

What I used:

• Bazzill Bling cardstock in yellow and orange  (I cleaned my M's out of these - 40 8x8 sheets for $2.99!!!)
• PP from DCWV Summer Stack
• George for rectangles and circles
• Old West for sun
• Stamp from ??? 
• corner rounder
• grossgrain ribbon
• pop dots
• CM metallic pen

Thanks for looking!!!

OT for crafts - free music arrangement

This has absolutely nothing to do with crafts, but it has to do with one of my other loves... the piano.  Greg Howlett is a Christian pianist with great CD's and he also makes instructional DVD's.  He sometimes offers free downloads of CD's and/or piano arrangements.  If you like hymns and and play the piano, you might want to check this out...

http://www.greghowlett.com/blog/news/021511.aspx

Thanks for stopping by!

Cowgirl birthday invitations

My daughter LOVES horses so everything for her birthday party later this month has to be about horse.  We're planning a horse themed tea party.  We'll see how that goes!  Horses and tea parties are not usually in the same sentence! :D

We started with a cowgirl invitation.  The info is written on another body shape underneath.

What I used:

• PDDU body cut at 5"
• clothes from PDDU cowgirl... skirt, shirt, vest
• clothes from PDDU cowboy... boots and hat (like it better than the girl's!)
• hair from PDDU Indian boy... all her friends have long hair!
• Bazzill cardstock for clothes
• scraps for the rest
• white gel pen
• faces made after seeing this on YouTube (I need lots more practice!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fh_ScVfk24

A couple of weeks ago, I saw this tip on a blog and I can't remember where...

For avoiding that flat spot where you fold a shaped card, make a second shape, score the second shape then glue together at the top...  For my girl, the hair would have hidden it, but this is really great for rounded shapes!!

'Envelope' card - birthday

Tri-fold cards, S fold cards, stair-step cards, gate-fold cards... I like all kinds!  I'm probably not the first to make an envelope card though I don't remember seeing one like this before.  It was designed in Make-the-Cut to make a finished A2 size card.  The paper, sentiment, and embellishments can be changed to make it suitable for any occasion, but birthdays are on my mind right now.

What I used:

• g.c.d Studios "Spring All Over" 2 sided paper
• coordinating Bazzill cardstock
• Dyspepsia font
• White gel pen

 How to make one like this even without a cutting machine....

~Cut cardstock 5.5" x 10.5".... two-sided is nice but not necessary 

~Cut one end to look like an envelope flap anyway you'd like... using decorative scissors, corner rounders, etc.  

~Score it at 3 1/2" and 7 1/4" measuring from the non-flap end 

~Stamp, embellish, and decorate to your hearts delight!

~the inside~

The file is available in 'Debbie's Designs' in the Shared MTC Files at the MTC-Tuts Yahoo group.  I need to sign up for a file sharing site soon!

Thanks for stopping by!!

2-4-6-8 treat boxes

These are so fun and easy!  I saw a couple of youtube videos on them and really you can make one in less time than it takes to watch the video!  I made 12 for my Jr church kids and 4 for my kids.  I forgot to take a pic of the 12 all done! :(  I put small scalloped circles and just a heart on them. 

These were for our kids:

How to: 

Cut a piece of paper 6" x 8 1/2" 

(You can make it 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 if you are using 8 1/2x11 paper

-it will just be 1/2" shorter)

Score at 2", 4", 6", 8", and 8"

 (I'm not a lefty... I just have to use the camera with my right hand!)

Turn and score at 2" (on the bottom if your paper has a pattern that matters)

 On the 2", 4", 6', 8" score lines, cut from the bottom up to the 2" score line

Cut off the  2" x 1/2" bit

Fold on all score lines

Put adhesive on the 1/2" strip and 3 of the 4 bottom flaps

I find it easier to put the side together so that the top and bottom line up well, then fold in the bottom flaps one at a time to make a box like this.   I kept forgetting to put the adhesive on the bottom until after I had put the sides together... no worries... just do them one at a time and finish the bottom.

Press 2 sides in like this

 Fill about to half with goodies! :D

Make 2 holes near the top for your ribbon

Bring your ribbon through the holes and tie a bow

 Embellish as desired

Thanks for looking and I hope this gives you an idea for a fun and easy favor

 for your next special occasion. 

"Love at first sight!" valentine

My last valentine for this year!  When our oldest daughter was born, it truly was love at first sight!    This idea came to mind when I saw the Fantabulous Cricut challenge from this week... "Share the Love"!    They are having a blog crawl.  Go check it out!  The creations are awesome and some are offering blog candy if you are interested in that. 

What I did:

• Welded heart from Lyrical Letters to rectangle for the card -Cloud 9 paper
• cut just the heart in contrast - boysenberry linen textured CS from J's
• mother and baby from A Child's Year shadowed -I think it is really a girl and her doll, but it worked! :D
• LOVE from Jubilee welded
• white gel pen for trim and "It was...at first sight"
• the inside says... "and we've loved you ever since!!"

Happy Valentine's Day to you! 

Blue, green, and white valentine - CricutCardz #61

Don't you think of red and/or pink for valentine cards?  I know I do!   Cricut Cardz challenge #61 is for a valentine made only with blue, green and white.  Who'd have thought!  But I like how it turned out!!  This is for my almost teenage daughter.  She is not a girly girl, but is past cutesy 'kid' stuff.  I hope she likes it!

What I used:

white cardstock cut for an A2 card

blue Bazzill CS

green paper from my stash

hearts are from New Arrival

words are Street Sign

Cuttlebug 'distress stripes' folder

inked with SU Old Olive

gingham ribbon

white gel pen

Thanks for looking!!

Happy Birthday card

This card is for my daughter's 11th birthday later this month.  It is also my submission to Mojo Monday 177.

What I used:

Colorbok paper

MS ribbon & pink grossgrain ribbon

all cuts done in MTC 

letter stamps

I found this stamp at J's awhile back and now put it on the back of all my cards and add my initials and the year.  Not sure if any recipients ever notice, but I like it. :D

Thanks for stopping by!!

"Pink tie" birthday card

Today was the birthday of our youth leader who HATES pink!  We have threatened to buy him a pink tie, but don't want to waste money on something we know he wouldn't wear, so we gave him this kind of pink tie.  

What I used:

card designed in MTC (tie and collar clipart found online)

words welded in MTC

stamped the words and little 'button'

cardstock from my stash

Thanks for looking!!

Blog Award!

I received the "Stylish Blog Award" from Jega over at http://jegaspassion.blogspot.com/   and before I could follow through with that, I got one from Donna at  http://donnasdreamworks.blogspot.com  Thank you to both of you!!  So now I get to pass it on!   I am to tell you 8 things about myself and then award 8 blogs I recently found and enjoy...

About me...

1. I am a Christian trying to serve my Lord daily

2. I am happily married (for over 22 yrs) and have 4 children ages 9-14

3. I was born and raised in Moncton, NB, and since have lived in FL, IA, VA, ON, and NY

4. I love cats

5. I love chocolate

6. I love snow

7. I play the piano and sing

8. I'm going on a trip Scotland in April!!  :D

These are 8 of the blogs I enjoy.  Check them out!!

Alli-  http://alliscraftycreations.blogspot.com/

Melissa-  http://countrycabincards.blogspot.com/

Shirley-  http://wwwyooperscraps.blogspot.com/

Lisa-  http://lisafhebert.blogspot.com/

Debra-  http://outofmyhead-debra.blogspot.com/

The Happy Scrapper-  http://myscraphappyhome.blogspot.com/

Anne-  http://anne-madebyanne.blogspot.com/

oseashmom- http://kustomtreasures.blogspot.com/

For you winners, here are the instructions I was given for receiving this reward...

Save the image to your desktop (to put on your blog and to use when you award your picks)
and then pass this award to 8 other people. On your blog you are to also tell 8 things about yourself. 

Everyone of you deserves this!!

My hubby's Valentine card

Cricut Cardz challenge #60 is to make a valentine for a man.  The most important man in my world is my husband, so this one is for him.  I wanted it to mean something for us and this does.  He often teases and asks, "Will you marry me?" or says, "I'd marry you quick if you weren't already taken."  I thank the Lord for him every day!!!  (but I hope he doesn't check my blog again 'til after the 14th!!)  I know it is quite pink for a guy, but he's a romantic and man enough to handle it.  LOL!

What I used:

• cardstock base made to fit in some nice envies I found in my craft room that I did not know I had!  :D
• background shapes are shapelies from Penny Duncan Creations
• kneeling couple from SWH cut at 3 1/2" and shadowed
• sentiment inside and out was printed on vellum
• ribbon, brads from my stash
• tiny hearts are from a Fiskars corner punch

 pop-dots for some dimension

 

Here's the inside...

Can you figure out our wedding date? :D

Thanks for looking!!!

Pretty flowers!

This post has nothing to do with crafts, but I had to share our beautiful Amaryllis.  A friend usually give us one in November.  This year we were away for 2 1/2 wks after we got it (and my niece never watered it), so it was a bit slow in blooming, but once it got started... Wow!  (And I must admit that my thumbs are not very green!!)

It had 3 stalks.  The first one had 2 blooms.  This was Jan 15 (I missed them at their peak!)

The second stalk had 3 blooms on Jan 27...

Today, the third stalk bloomed... 6 blooms!!!  It is beautiful!!

I am going to try to keep this one to bloom again next year.  Efforts have been less than successful in that previously.  (Remember... no green thumbs!)

Have a good day!!