A blog award? for me? It's an honor just being nominated!

Viviana has given me a blog award! I'm pretty excited because she has a pretty stylish blog herself! You can see it HERE. Thank you Viviana!

In order to accept this award, I need to follow some rules:

1. Thank and link the person who awarded you.

2. Share 8 things about yourself

3. Pay forward to 8 bloggers you discovered

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

So, 8 things about myself.

1. I am a Christian.

2. I feel very blessed to live in a country where all have the freedom to speak and worship as they please and everyone has the opportunity to educate themselves.

3. I am married to a wonderful man and have 2 beautiful children, a son and daughter.

4. I love to read, but don't get to do it as much as I used to.

5. I love animals, particularly cats. We have 2 cats, a Brittany Spaniel, and 2 goldfish.

6. I was born in Texas, grew up in South Carolina, and have adopted my current state of Kansas as heaven on earth!

7. I majored in Marine Biology in college.

8. I don't enjoy cooking, except at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

8 bloggers I nominate to get this award:

1. Chris-- Chris' Corner

2. Jen--Fstop Memories

3. Banu--Stamping with Passion

4. Sara--Sara's Creative Adventures

5. Rebecca--There Is A Stamp For That!

6. Angela--Just Monkeying Around....

7. Susan--Mad Sky Designs

8. greenbean's crafterole

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Warm Winter Wishes

I have been having so much fun creating little scenes with my Cricut. This skater girl is from Winter Frolic, isn't she just the cutest? The BG paper is ancient SU, but I thought it made a great snowy backdrop. I cut an oval from Bashful Blue with my SCAL software, smeared glue on it and added Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The flourish I used for her skate tracks is from Wild Card. It was VERY hard to get it to stick to the glittered pond! I popped the girl up on foam tape. I used Liquid Applique for the trim on her outfit, and I colored her cheeks and lips with markers rather than cut a whole bunch of pieces that I didn't need out of those colors.

Cardstock colors are Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Blush Blossom, and So Saffron. Card Base and embossed hill are PTI white. I stamped Warm Winter Wishes from PTI's Merry and Bright set inside. Thanks for looking!

From the Ridiculous to the Sublime...

The ridiculous being the card in the previous post! I made this card for 2 different challenges: 1) Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #38--to use ribbon on a card--easy, since I almost never make a card without ribbon LOL! 2) Cricut Cardz Challenge #52--to make a card using only words on the front--no images.

I couldn't find an all-ready-to-go cut that I wanted to use, though there are tons of cute ones, so I used the font from Winter Woodland to cut the word "rejoice". This is a gorgeous font, but it really doesn't cut well at less than 1.25", which is the size I used. Even so, the O and C are a little raggedy--it's really better at 1.5", but I didn't want to make a bigger card than 3 x 6, so that's what I did. Card base is Always Artichoke, DP is Deck the Halls, and letters are brushed gold on Cherry Cobbler (all SU). Punch and ribbon are SU as well.

The inside is heat embossed in gold with a Scripture from ODBD. I am so pleased with the way this card turned out--hope you like it too!

Sometimes I Just Crack Myself Up!

That doesn't sound too hard, right? I got a new Cricut cartridge (well, several in fact, but they were all on sale! Really!) called Winter Frolic, and it has some darling images on it! Expect to see a lot of this over the next few weeks, or maybe even months, since it's not strictly Christmas. Well, Ems and I both liked the little beaver image on this cart, and I've been turning it over in my mind, and finally came up with this:

Too cute right? So now you KNOW what's coming next, don't you?

Sorry, I just couldn't resist! I already know who's getting this card. Card base is PTI white, all other CS is SU, except glitter paper which is Doodlebug Designs. "Wishing you" is from Snowflake Serenade by PTI, and the inside I did with my Karen Foster Snap a Stamps. Thought balloon on front is cut from Graphically Speaking. Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The kids wanted to help cook this year, so I had them chopping celery for the stuffing! Then Matt went back to Mythbusters (some families watch the Macy's parade and football. What do we watch? Mythbusters.) while Emily sauteed the onions and celery in butter and helped me finish the stuffing.You'd think Matt was cutting up the onion by the expression on his face! My friend Chris made this really cool Thanksgiving mini album of last year's TG day. You can see it HERE. She inspired me to do the same, hence the pix of the kids cooking.

I FINALLY got my Thanksgiving Cricut Cartridge--just in time. I made these lovely place cards using it, Stone Script, and a leaf punch I have had for years. I LOVE how these turned out.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with their family and friends!

Thanksgiving Decor

Lauren over at MTME came out with several beautiful cut files during her last release, including poinsettias, holly, and these lovely autumn leaves. I imported the leaf files into SCAL and used my Cricut to cut them out of various patterned paper, mostly PTI, but the colorful leaf pattern is from last year's SU. I distressed the leaves with Soft Suede ink. Emily helped me, so some of them were a little more "distressed" than I might have made them, but I think it turned out pretty cool anyway. The brown leaves I sponged with Champagne Shimmer paint from SU. I liked the effect so much I sponged all the leaves with it! I hot glued the leaves to a grapevine wreath from Mike's. I cut out the "Happy Thanksgiving" from the Wild Card Cartridge at 10.5 " (fit to length), after first using a Cricut marker to outline to words, then sponged it with the shimmer paint--love that stuff! I had planned to add a bow, but after I got it finished, I wasn't so sure it needed one. Emily thinks it does though, and so in a bit we'll go to Mike's and see what they have in the way of autumn wired ribbon. If I add one I'll probably remove the cluster of leaves above and to the left of the sentiment and put the bow there.

Here is a detail shot of the leaves. Hopefully you can see a bit of the shimmer. I really had fun making this, and it was nice to have Ems helping me. I hope you have enjoyed this project! Have a great day!

Hello Thursday! New Cricut Lite Cartridges

Hi, everyone, Joy over at Obsessed with Scrapbooking is having a contest to celebrate this month's Hello Thursday Cricut Cartridge release! You can read all about it HERE. She has some awesome giveaways, so don't forget to leave a comment.

Cupcake Card

Good morning! I made this card last night for a co-worker's birthday. Emily helped me, as you can tell if you look closely LOL! She enjoys playing with the Cricut. There is no stamping on this card. I used the Wild Card Cartridge and mostly SU CS (Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose) except for the white glitter CS. I cut the card and envelope at 5". Emily and I added Doodlebug Designs glitter to the cupcake wrapper and candle flame.

I cut the sent. at 4.5 " so it wouldn't show when the card was closed. I want to make this card again using the cricut markers because I think that would add a lot. I think using the swirls embossing folder on the icing would be cute too, instead of glitter paper.

This is a cool cartridge because you can make matching envelopes too--they really thought of everything with this cart. I used CS for the envie too, which makes it really stiff. Double sided DP would probably be a better choice. I colored the candle flames on the envie with a marker.

Turns out, Tuesday Morning Sketches is having a cupcake challenge today, I found out from my friend Angela. You can see the challenge HERE. Thanks for stopping by!

Inspired Crafters PTI Christmas Card Blog Hop!

HI, everyone, this is my entry for the IC PTI Blog Hop! You should have come here from the sensational SANDYE'S Blog! For my card I used Chris' Challenge # 8 from the IC blog. I cut snowflakes using my Winter Woodland Cricut cartridge and Aqua Mist and Ocean Tides CS. I sponged the edges with white pigment ink and sprinkled on a mixture of white and hologram highlights embossing powder for some frosty sparkle. I used SU's Shimmery White for the base and main image. I stamped the snowman from Made of Snow in Ocean Tides ink and stamped his hat and scarf in white on OT CS, followed by the same mix of EP as above. Then I cut them out and adhered them to my snowman. Sentiment is from Merry and Bright. Punches used are SU. Hope you enjoyed my card--the next stop on the hop is the brilliant BANU! Have a great day!

Prayer Journal

Good morning! I bought a whole bunch of these little book/mini pen sets at Mike's for $1 apiece a while back. It is so much fun to alter them. For this one I used Peach Parfait Designer Paper and CS by SU. I covered the book with the DP, added a piece of Early Espresso embossed with the Square Lattice folder, and stamped the wheat and sent. on the peach in EE ink. The stamp set is Our Daily Bread by ODBD. I tore the CS and sponged the edges. Quick, simple and pretty (I think so anyway!). I made 4 of these, 2 like this and two different ones, but my DD and her friend confiscated the other two. It's nice to be appreciated LOL! Thanks for stopping by today!

Warning! Extremely Cutesy Card Ahead!

I happen to like this card, but some people may find it nauseatingly cute (I think we all know who I'm talking to here, Chris LOL!) It's actually for a friend's daughter who's been going through some rough times recently. Things are actually looking up for her now and I should have gotten this made and sent a month ago! I'm such a loser. The sent. is a Kid Quotes stamp by Inkadinkado, which was actually the inspiration for this card. On the inside it says "not your thunderstorms" and the little girl's name who said it. I used the Create-a-Critter cartridge for the cloud and rainbow. Colors are Cool Caribbean, Daffodil Delight, and Regal Rose. I used a Tempting Turquoise marker for the sent, which is all on one stamp.

Fabulous ProMarker Giveaway

The blog Going Buggy is having a giveaway--the entire line of 148 ProMarkers. These are alcohol markers similar to Copics, and they are made by Letraset. If you would like to enter to win, you may do so HERE.

Our Daily Bread Designs Card

Hello, I was going to post a Christmas Card today, but decided to save it for the PTI blog hop that is happening THIS Saturday--you can read all about it HERE! So instead I'm posting this card. I just got my SU Square Lattice embossing folder; it is so beautiful--I love it! I did the double embossing technique--HERE is a great tutorial for that--using oval Nesties. I stamped, cut out and popped up the flower and butterfly from ODBD's Don't Worry stamp set, and the scripture is from Scripture Collection 1. I stamped on Very Vanilla in Palette Burnt Umber and colored with a blender pen and Baja Breeze ink pad. CS is VV, BB, and Early Espresso. I didn't use any embellies on this card because I didn't think it needed any! I love how this turned out. Hope you do too!

ICC Sketch Challenge # 11 for November

Hello, today I have a card I made for the latest ICC sketch challenge; you can see it HERE. I decided to put my image in the circle instead of the sentiment, so I feel like my card looks a little bare in the lower right hand corner. I may add a sentiment later. This is some old designer DP that SU made--I loved it so much that I bought two packs; now I wish I hadn't LOL! But it IS really pretty, and honestly I haven't seen much Christmas paper that I'm wild about so far this year...which is good, since I'm on an austerity kick! Image is from PTI's Vintage Picnic set. I cut the scallop border and scallop circle with my Cricut. CS and ink colors are River Rock, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, and Real Red. I colored the image with blender pens and ink pads. I added red rhinestones for the berries, and some Crystal Effects to the star.

This card was fun to make. Hope you get some crafting time today!

Cardinal Christmas Card--Bird Bonanza

Hi! This card is for this week's Fantabulous Cricut challenge--Bird Bonanza! I used the Winter Wonderland cartridge. Card base is SU Real Red, DP is retired SU. Image is mounted on Very Vanilla. All CS, ink, and ribbon is SU; greeting is from PTI's Merry and Bright set. I added white Liquid Applique and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter for snow (I love to do that on winter cards!).

This card was so fun to make--thanks for stopping by!

Inspired Crafter Sketch #10

I made this card for Inspired Crafter's Sketch # 10. You can see the sketch HERE. I used the lovely new Christmas DP from the SU Holiday mini catalog called Deck the Halls, and my new-to-me PTI set, Stocking Prints. I decided to go for the paper piecing look on the stocking. Cardstock is Gina K Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight Ivory for the base, SU Always Artichoke, Cherry Cobbler, and Soft Suede. Ink is Palette Noir and Encore Gold. I used Nesties for the focal image and SU punches for the sentiment, which I embossed in gold. I really love how this card turned out--just as I envisioned it! Thanks for looking!

Two more get-well cards

Here are two more GW cards for my church lady friend. The first uses PTI's airplane set and Simple Alphabet to spell the sentiment on the banner. The inside has a computer-generated "Hope you're flying high again soon"--hope no one misinterprets that LOL! Clouds are die cut from felt using the MFT cloud die. CS is PTI white and SU Bashful Blue. Ink is PTI Pure Poppy and Palette Noir.

This second card uses PTI's Pond Life and Pond Life Sentiments. I embossed the Wild Wasabi layer with a Cuttlebug folder and cut the window with Nesties. Ink is Wild Wasabi, Garden Green, and Tempting Turquoise. I used markers to separate the sentiment, which is all one stamp. The inside says "& get well soon". That's the word window punch and a couple of brads on the front. Thanks for looking!

Two Get Well Cards

My church lady friend, who won my "Year of Cards" in the scholarship fund silent auction last year, wanted some get well cards. For the first one I used an old, old, but very cute, set by SU. It's called Rainy Days. I used a sketch from SCS and the Sunny Garden DP. I watercolored the little girl and popped her up. I added Crystal Effects to the raindrops. Sent is computer generated and the inside says "Better get better". I also stamped the sun (from old, old set Beach Babies) coming out from behind a cloud and a cute little frog on the inside. CS is Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, and Poppy Parade, plus PTI white for the card base.

This second card is a little plain. I was trying to give her some masculine options. Colors are Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss. Truck is popped up, "speed" lines and "road" are drawn with a marker. On the inside is computer-generated "Wishing you a speedy recovery" in a license plate font. This card really needs something else, but I had zip for ideas. It's still pretty cute IRL though.

Hope you're a little inspired by these cards today--Happy Stamping! And don't forget to vote! Today is also my dad's birthday. I made him a card but didn't get a pic.

6 x 6 Scrapbook Page

This was for the CHRISTmas swap I was in. This category was a 6 x 6 page highlighting a sacred Christmas carol. The idea was that you would be able to make a song book, to go caroling with. I have always loved all the old Christmas hymns--it's so hard to pick a fave! But when I realized none of the other swappers had picked Silent Night, the choice was obvious. I used the new Christmas DP by Stampin' Up! Base is Soft Suede, layer is Cherry Cobbler (LOVE that color!) Fancy tag was cut with a Spellbinders die out of Always Artichoke and embossed in gold with an ODBD stamp. I printed the words to the hymn on Very Vanilla with brown ink that was a pretty good match for the Soft Suede and added some Prima poinsettias and a gold brad. I absolutely LOVE how this turned out, and I hope the other swappers do too. I hope you've enjoyed this project--have a great day!