Rockin' Cupcake - Valentine's Day Card for a Cause

Hello again!  Yup, it really is me again!  When I saw the call for cards during the Cards for Kids Valentine's Day blog hop hosted by Faith Abigail Designs, I knew I had to make a card for a hospitalized sick child.  My little one spent a week in the hospital following a life-threatening allergy attack a couple of years ago.  He loved getting cards from friends and family, so I thought it was only fitting to spread the joy.  :-)

I used this week's sketch at Card Patterns and the cupcake from the Rock Princess Cricut cartridge (thanks Claire!!).  I replaced the eye patch with a heart-shaped one and added a bit of bling, the glittered heart, to it.  The sentiment was computer-generated and the label and the scalloped card shape were both cut from the Birthday Bash cartridge.  The face is from the Peachy Keen 'Wide Eyed Kids' set - one of my faves.  A bit of twine and some embossing and it's good to go!  Thanks for looking!



Recipe

Scalloped card, label - Cricut Birthday Bash

Cupcake, heart - Cricut Rock Princess

Layered circle mats - Cricut George and Basic Shapes

Patterned paper - Momenta 'All Through the Year' stack

All other cardstock - Recollections

Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder

Glittered heart - Recollections

Peachy Keen 'Wide Eyed Kids' stamp

Twine from The Twinery

Colorbox chalk ink

Recollections dimensionals

I'm entering this card into 6 challenges:

Card Patterns Sketch #149 - Use the sketch provided to make a card.

Die Cuttin Divas: Challenge #49 - Buttons, Bows and/or Bling - Use buttons, bows and/or bling on your project.

Faith Abigail Designs' Cards for Kids Valentine's Day blog hop - Create a card for a sick child.  Cards will be collected and distributed to hospitalized children for Valentine's Day.

Fantabulous Cricut's Challenge Me Monday #95 - Label It - Add a label, other than a circle, to your project.
My Creative Time's Throwback Thursday - Make a Valentine's Day card using a Cricut cartridge of your choice.

Scrappy Moms Stamps Terrific Tuesday Challenge - Rock Princess - Make a project using the Cricut Rock Princess cartridge.



Have a great weekend!

~Sharon C.

Campin' Critters Father's Day card

Happy Friday!  And a BIG thank you to Mother Nature for letting the sun shine here today.  What a difference a little sun can make!  Before my weekend begins (it usually starts when my kids come running off of the school bus...and I bet you can guess when it ends!!), I wanted to get this post up.  It's a Father's Day card I made for my Dad.  I've already made him a frame (see here) and wanted to make him a matching card.  I used Campin' Critters, one of my new cartridges.  It has some of the most perfect images to scrap pictures I've taken of my family both camping and hanging at my parents' camp in Maine.  And since my dad is an avid outdoorsman...in fact, he'll be fishing in Maine this weekend...I thought this image from Campin' Critters would be most appropriate.  My dad might be happier though if the fish were BIGGER!  Oh well!  LOL

Recipe

Fishing Deer from Cricut Campin' Critters cartridge

Card shape from Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge

Patterned paper - Cosmo Cricket, DCWV

Cardstock - Bazzill, Recollections

Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder

Cat's Eye chalk ink

Creative Memories brown marker, white Gelly Roll pen for doodling

Puffy letter stickers from Target's dollar bin

American Crafts ribbon

Silver brads

EK Success dimensionals to pop up die cut

I'm entering this card into four challenges:
Cricut Cartridge Chaos Challenge #17: Give A Hoot - Create a project using the Give a Hoot Cricut cartridge.  If you don't have this cartridge, use something similar.  I don't have Give a Hoot, so I used Campin' Critters.
Die Cuttin Diva's Challenge #15: Masculine Cuts - Create a card using a masculine cut and colors.
Getting Cricky with K. Andrew: Simply Sunday Challenge - Retro Daddy! - Create any project with a father or retro theme.
Peachy Keen Stamps: Sketch Challenge #52 - Create a card based on the sketch provided.

Have a great weekend everyone!  I've been lucky enough to receive a few blogs awards...I'll be posting them soon...yay!!  :-)

~Sharon C.

It's a Party! - Birthday LO for 2 Challenges

Hi there!  Just another quick post tonight.  I do have some fun stuff to share, but that'll have to wait for later this week.  I'm getting this layout in just under the gun...nothing like waiting 'til the last minute!  :-)  Good thing I can withstand a bit of pressure!

I have piles of birthday photos that I intend to scrap (wish me luck!), so when I saw that the newest challenge at Whimsical Wednesday is to create a birthday layout which includes some type of embossing, I jumped at the chance to reduce my photo inventory.  :-)   And since this girl can do nothing without direction, I based my layout on Diane's take-out box challenge at Capadia Designs.  If you haven't been to Diane's blog, you ought to click right over....her blog is like a treasure chest, just full of goodies!  Go check out what she found on her take-out box...so clever!  :-)

The photos I scrapped are from my middle son's 9th birthday parties last September.  I chose the predominant colors based on his favorite color (orange), his shirt (royal blue) and the football-shaped cake (brown).  The "It's a Party" word art is from Birthday Bash as is the birthday cake, which I stamped with a cute Peachy Keen face.  I added the number 9 (also from Birthday Bash) to the hat, a bit of glitter to the flame on the candle, and a few birthday-themed metal brads for texture.  The Swiss Dots folder was used for embossing the cake, the hat and the gift.  The die cuts are popped up for some dimension.  What do you think? 

Recipe

"It's a Party" word art, cake and number "9" cut from Birthday Bash

Circle cut from George & Basic Shapes

Patterned paper - My Mind's Eye everyday tango

All cardstock - Recollections

Peachy Keen 'Wide Eyed Kids' face stamp

Cuttlebug 'swiss dots' embossing folder

metal brads from stash, source unknown

EK Success dimensionals

White Gelly Roll pen, Creative Memories marker for stitching/doodling

Orange peel Stickles



I'm entering this scrapbook page into 2 challenges:

Capadia Designs: "Take Out Box" Inspiration Challenge - Use the pattern found on Diane's take out box as design inspiration for a project.

Whimsical Wednesday: Happy Birthday Challenge - Create a birthday layout and include some type of embossing.

Enjoy the day!

~Sharon C.

Mother's Day Card #2...More Flowers!

It's Wednesday and it sure does feel like hump day, doesn't it?  It was warm and humid (yes, really!!) here in southeastern Massachusetts today.  And by warm I mean mid-70's!!  Yea!  My kids were all excited to wear shorts to school...just last week they wore their winter coats to a baseball game!  Love weather in New England!  But today I saw a sign that spring is here to stay...a hummingbird flew past me and sat up in our beech tree.  I immediately made some nectar for it and put up our feeders.  Hope it doesn't get too cool for the little guy tonight!

Tonight I'm posting a card I made for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day.  The card shape is from A Child's Year and the tag for the sentiment is from Birthday Bash...that cartridge is really wonderful...I find something new each time I look at the handbook.  :-)  The flowers cut in yellow, the stems and the grass are from Create A Critter, but the pink tulip is from a different Create A Critter cut.  I just trimmed the head off of the middle flower and replaced it with the pink tulip for a bit of variety.  The 3 flower heads were actually cut twice with the top layer popped up for a bit of dimension.  Don't they look cute with their Peachy Keen faces??  The yellow oval layer is popped up too.  The patterned paper is from a 6x6 BasicGrey stack called LilyKate...it's another of my favorites...the mini prints are just perfect for cards.  I'm pleased with the way the card turned out....I think my mom-in-law will be too.  :-)

Recipe
Shaped card from Cricut A Child's Year cartridge

Tag for sentiment from Birthday Bash

Flowers from Create A Critter (2 separate flower images...see above)

Ovals from George & Basic Shapes

Peachy Keen Wide-Eyed Kids stamps

Patterned paper - BasicGrey LilyKate

Cardstock - Bazzill, Recollections

Computer generated sentiment

Chestnut roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

Brown Creative Memories marker/White Gelly Roll pen for stitching

Ribbon from Jo-Ann's

I'm entering this card into eight challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #11: Mother's Day - Create a project for Mother's Day.
Cooking With Cricut: Spring Flowers - Create a project with a spring flowers theme.

Creative Cutter Room: Design Time Thursday - Mother's Day Gift Ideas - Create a Mother's Day project using the following elements:  the color pink, ribbon, stitching and 2 different flowers.
Cricut Cardz Challenge #72 - Use the card feature from a Cricut cartridge to create a Mother's Day card...and include a flower.
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #12: Mother's Day is on the Way! - Create a project for Mother's Day.
FCCB Challenge Me Monday #57: Mom's the Word - Create a project for a mother and include the word 'mom' (or mother, mommy, mum, etc.) on it.
Peachy Keen Stamps LFIF #13: Mother's Day - Create a project for Mother's Day using Peachy Keen stamp faces.

Scrapbookaholic by Abby: Challenge #4 - Anything Mother's Day and Use Faux Stitching - Create a Mother's Day themed project and include faux stitching.

Enjoy the week!
~Sharon C.



Mother's Day Card for Two Challenges

Hi everyone!  Once again, it's been a while since I posted...that's what happens when the kids are on school vacation!!  :-)  Anyway, I hope you've all been enjoying the weekend....and I know it's a bit early but Happy Easter! 

Today I have a Mother's Day card to share with you.  I made it for my mom who loves flowers and grows beautiful gardens...her thumb is forest green!  The shaped card is from the Birthday Bash cartridge, the flowers are from Pooh and Friends and the sentiment (inside the card) is from Holiday Cakes.  I loved this bouquet of flowers when I came upon it while looking for an image to use on a child's birthday card and knew it would be pretty for Mother's Day.  I cut all layers and cut the flowers twice - once in blue, once in lavendar - to try to duplicate the color of my own hydrangea bushes.  They're a favorite of my mom...unfortunately, they don't grow well in her area but they thrive in my sandy soil.  The flowers are popped up, so is the green oval layer.  I added flat-backed pearls to the flower centers, embossed the card layer with the Swiss Dots folder and added a few white gel pen accents.  Oh, I can't forget all the inking with my favorite chestnut roan chalk ink...it's addictive! 

Recipe

Shaped card from Birthday Bash cartridge

Flowers from Disney Pooh and Friends

Ovals from George & Basic Shapes

'Happy Mother's Day' from Holiday Cakes

Patterned paper - BasicGrey Lily Kate

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics, Recollections

Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder

Recollections flat-backed pearls

White Gelly Roll pen

EK Success dimensionals

Chestnut roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

I'm entering this card into 2 challenges:

Cardz TV: Mother's Day Color Challenge - Use the colors blue, green, purple and white to make a Mother's Day card, layout or craft project.

Cricut Cardz Challenge #71 - Make a card for Mother's Day, using any colors or cartridges you'd like.

Have a lovely Easter!

~Sharon C.



Gardening Birthday Card for my Mom...see the flowers!!

Hi everyone!  I hope you're all enjoying the weekend!!  This week was a blur....I can't believe that I haven't posted a thing since last Sunday.  But don't think I've been sitting around eating bon bons...well, maybe I've snuck a piece or two of my kids Easter candy!!  :-)  I had a very busy week at my kids' elementary school this week....a science fair, distribution of the school's literary magazine, coordinating an egg hunt and a spring breakfast in pajamas, helping sell pajama day tickets and stuffing lots of Easter goodie bags.  It's funny how everything seems to come at once, isn't it?  :-)

Speaking of many things happening at the same time, we are celebrating 4 family birthdays this month.  So I took some time this week to make a birthday card for my mom.  And I'm SO EXCITED about it because I used some paper flowers that Stephanie from Always Crafting and Whimsical Wednesday made for me!!  I won an i-Rock in a giveaway on Stephanie's blog a few months ago and she was SO kind to also send a package of her beautiful handmade paper flowers and stick pins....aren't the flowers pretty??  I've been saving them for a special project and none could be more perfect than a card for my mom.  She LOVES flowers and gardening and she'll appreciate Stephanie's paper ones more than anyone I know!  :-)  I can't wait to give her this card!!

The card base is from Birthday Bash and the girl pushing the wheelbarrow is from A Child's Year.  I cut 3 circles and popped up the top 2 circle layers for some depth.  The patterned paper is from the DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies stack, which I've haven't used in quite a while, but the colors were just right for coordinating with the paper flowers.  A bit of glitter on the girl's hair ribbon and a glittery green ribbon for the top of the card...and that just about does it!  :-)  Oops, almost forgot, I stamped Happy Birthday on a tag I made from an image on A Child's Year and attached it to the inside of the card.  What do you think?

Recipe

Girl with wheelbarrow; tag for sentiment (inside card) - Cricut A Child's Year

Scalloped circle card base - Cricut Birthday Bash

Circles - Cricut George & Basic Shapes

Glittered floral patterned paper - DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies stack

Pink, green textured cardstock - Bazzill

All other cardstock - Recollections

Paper flowers with pearls - a gift from a friend   :-)

Green Stickles on girl's hair ribbon

Green ribbon from JoAnn's

"Happy Birthday" clear stamp from Clearly Wordsworth

EK Success dimensionals

Chestnut roan Cat's Eye chalk ink for inking/doodling

I'm entering this card into seven challenges:
Cooking With Cricut: Challenge #25 - Cash in Your Stash - Create a project using something that's been in your stash for at least a year.  I've had the DCWV Blossoms & Butterflies stack for 2 years and I think I may have used it once. 
Creative Cutter Room: Design Time Thursday - Hippity Hop - Create a project using 4 elements - glitter, a circle, the color yellow and some ribbon.
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #10 - Time to Mix It Up! - Make a card using 2 different cuts from 2 different cartridges/dies.
FCCB: Spring Fling Cricut Crawl - Make a Cricut project that is springy and uses the colors pink, green and yellow.
My Craft Spot: Monday Challenge #3 - Happy Birthday with a Twist - Make a birthday project and include a tag.
The Paper Variety: Flowers - Add a flower or a bunch to your paper project.
Whimsical Wednesday: Challenge #2 - April Showers Bring May Flowers - Create a spring project which includes an umbrella, rain boots, flowers and/or rain drops.

Enjoy the weekend!
~Sharon C.

Springy Tulip Card for an April Birthday

Good afternoon!  Spring is here...both outside and on my craft table.  :-)  Whoo hoo!  My crocuses are in full bloom and my tulips and daffodils are getting taller by the day.  It makes me happy to see the sun shining in the yard and to feel it warming the house. 

This mood translated over to my craft area where I made a card this morning for my sister's birthday.  She enjoys flowers, so I'm hoping she'll like my tulip card.  The tulip is from Simply Charmed.  I cut all the layers but hid the face cuts so I could use my Peachy Keen stamps to give her a wide-eyed, happy face.  I added some peapod twine, Glossy accents on the yellow pieces and a fluttering felt butterfly.  I'm putting away my winter coat and scarf...SPRING IS HERE! 

Recipe

Tulip from Cricut Simply Charmed; cut all layers; hid face cuts

Shaped card from Cricut Birthday Bash

Circles from Cricut George & Basic Shapes 

Floral paper from KI Memories 'Enchanting' stack

Textured cardstock from Bazzill

All other cardstock from Recollections

Peachy Keen 'Wide Eyed Kids' face stamp

Sentiment from Inkadinkadoo

Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots' folder for embossing on stem & leaves

Twine in peapod from The Twinery

Felt butterfly from Michael's

Glossy Accents

Black Creative Memories marker for stitching

White Gelly Roll pen for eyes

I'm entering this card into six challenges:

Birthday Sundaes #3: Anything Goes Birthday - Create any birthday card with a birthday sentiment on the front.

Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #8: Anything Birthday with a Flower - Create any birthday-themed project and include a flower.
Crazy About Cricut's Thankful Thursday: Birthday Theme - In honor of Jenny's birthday, create a project with a birthday theme. 

My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #2: Cute as a Bug - Make a crafty project with a cute bug somewhere on it.
These Are a Few of My Favorite Things "National No Housework Day Blog Hop & Challenge" - Create a project using your favorite color.  I used my favorite color combination....pink & green...so pretty!

Wacky Wednesday #33: Birthday Theme - Create any birthday-themed project.

Enjoy the day! 

~Sharon C.



Bunny Shaped Card - Happy Easter!

Happy Saturday!  It's such a beautiful day here...the sun is shining and the temperatures are in the 50's.  My little ones are at a neighbor's birthday party and my older two are out 'shooting hoops'.  So I snuck down to my craft area to make a quick Easter card.  This one is for my sister-in-law and niece who gave me a wonderful assortment of scrapbooking and card-making items for Christmas.  :-)  I was surprised and thrilled with all the goodies they gave me.  My favorite was the Cricut spatula...who knew that little gem was so useful?  They'll be happy to see that I've put the gifts to good use!

The bunny is from the Birthday Bash cartridge.  I welded her into a simple shaped card (yup, I'm still hooked on these!!) with my Gypsy.  I added a cute Peachy Keen face, a bit of pink sorbet twine for the bow on her ear and a felt flower and rhinestone for her tail.  The sentiment is from the Holiday Cakes cartridge...I'm finding some fun things on this cart!  The sentiment's shadow is brown, but the picture makes it look green...not sure why!  I think she looks pretty festive...you?

Recipe

Bunny from Birthday Bash, cut 2x, flipped and welded with my Gypsy; cut a second time in pp for top layer

'Happy Easter' from Holiday Cakes, base and shadow layers

Patterned paper from ki Memories 'Enchanting' line

Cardstock from Recollections

Peachy Keen 'Critter Faces' stamp

Felt flower from Target's dollar bin

Rhinestone from Joanne's

Pink sorbet twine from The Twinery

Chestnut roan chalk ink for inking edges and stamping face

EK Success dimensionals for popping up sentiment

I'm entering this card into five challenges:
Die Cuttin' Diva's Challenge #8: Hippity Hoppity - Create an Easter card.
FCCB #53: Looks Like Spring - Create a project using a springtime theme.
My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #1: Tie A Bow! - Make any crafty project with a bow tied on it.
Scrapaholic by Abby Challenge #2: Anything Spring - Create any project with a springtime element.
The Paper Variety: 1-2-3 Recipe Challenge - Create a project using a 1-2-3 recipe of your choice.  I chose 1 patterned paper, 2 die cuts (the bunny and the sentiment) and 3 colors (pink, brown and white).

Enjoy the weekend!
~Sharon C.

On the Hunt - Easter Layout

Hi everyone!  Where did the weekend go?  We lost an hour with Daylight Savings...but I'm not sure where the other 47 hours went!  I hope you all spent it doing something fun.  :-)  I finished a scrapbook page this weekend...a little here and a little there.  It felt a bit like spring here (yippee!), so I was in the mood to scrap springtime pics.  These are from Easter 2006...my daughter was 2 1/2 years old.  And with her hat, she looks like Marlo Thomas in the intro to "That Girl".  LOL  Remember that? 

I kept the colors soft, like those in the pictures.  And I had fun finding a tree to use...there must be dozens of trees on Cricut cartridges!  I finally decided on one from Serenade...and I think the polka dot paper gives it a springy feel too.  I used two different Cuttlebug folders on the tulips, added a bit of bling around the scalloped circle and some lime green stickles on the butterfly.  What do you think?

Recipe

Tree from Cricut Serenade; sized to fit with my Gypsy; cut twice

Tulips from Cricut Simply Charmed

Butterfly from Cricut Create a Critter; cut wings twice and popped up one

Title 'on the' from Cricut Gypsy Font; welded with my Gypsy

Title 'hunt' from Cricut Birthday Bash; welded with my Gypsy

Scalloped circle from Cricut Mini Monograms

Patterned papers - My Mind's Eye 'Bloom & Grow'; Basic Grey 'LilyKate'; SEI 'Chick-a-dee'

Cardstock - Bazzill textured; Recollections

Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls, Herringbone embossing folders

Brown Creative Memories marker, white Gelly Roll pen for stitching/doodling

Stickles

EK Success dimensionals to pop up tree, tulips, butterfly

I'm entering this scrapbook page into four challenges:

Creative Sisters Monday Challenge #3: Think Spring! - Create any spring-themed project.

CropStop Challenge Blog: Challenge #10 - Spring is in the Air! - To celebrate the arrival of spring, show your spring art...lots of butterflies and flowers.

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #50: Tree Time - Create a project using any type of tree.

Scrappy Moms Terrific Tuesday Challenge - B is for Boy/Sugar & Spice - Create any project using the Cricut Lite cartridges B is for Boy or Sugar & Spice, or a similar cut if you don't own either of these.  I don't own any Lite cartridges, so I used Simply Charmed for the tulips which look similar to the tulips on Sugar & Spice.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

~Sharon C.

Let Them Eat Cake! Birthday Scrapbook Page

Yup, it's me again!  Surprised?  Me too!  I wanted to share a scrapbook page I made yesterday.  Yea!  I finished another one!  These pictures were taken on my twins' 1st birthday.  What an occasion!  It had been such a busy year....busier than I could have ever imagined!...but those two little ones just stole my heart!  Awwww!  :-)  I love these pictures...they really show the different personalities of my babies.  My daughter, on the left, loved eating her birthday cake (chocolate, of course!) and really got into it.  See her smile!  My son, on the other hand, looks a bit perplexed because his hands are covered in cake and frosting!  He never enjoyed being messy and to this day needs to be clean.  He's a frequent hand washer and when he was four, he proudly told me, "Mom, I'm very neat and tidy."  Yup, then and now! 

Recipe

Patterned paper - DCWV Stack 6

Cardstock - Bazzill textured; Recollections

Scalloped circle from Cricut Mini Monograms

Birthday Cake from Cricut Birthday Bash

Peachy Keen 'Wide-eyed Kids' stamp

Title from Cricut Birthday Bash and Gypsy Font; welded and created shadows

EK Success 'scallop diamond' border punch

Cat's Eye chalk ink

Black Creative Memories marker for stitching/doodling

Stickles on sprinkles, candle

EK Success dimensionals for popping up title, birthday cake

I'm entering this page into five challenges:

Getting Cricky with K. Andrew: Simply Sunday Challenge - Sugar and Spice - Create any project that's a little sweet and spicy.  :-)

Get Your Sketch On #10 - Create a layout using the following sketch:

Peachy Keen Stamps LFIF #11: Sew Super Cute - Use faux or real stitching and a Peachy Keen face stamp on your project.

Scrappy Saturdays with the Bug #3: Birthday Celebration - Create a birthday-themed layout and include a Cricut or SVG cut.

Serenity Scrappers: QuickQuote Inks Challenge - Create a 12x12 layout using inks and a punch somewhere on the page.

Enjoy the day!
~Sharon C.

Reading + Basketball = Bookmark

Happy Sunday!  Just a quick post today.  We're still recovering from 6 basketball games this weekend...and another one later today.  I'm glad my kids are active...they keep me active too! 

Today I'm posting a bookmark I made for my oldest son.  He's 11 and he has been an avid reader since kindergarten.  I'm so happy about that.  I LOVED to read when I was young...and I still do, I just wish I had more time (don't we all?) to sit down with a book.  Lately, he's been reading even more.  He reads while he's brushing his teeth at night, while he's walking to the dinner table, when he's supposed to be changing for a practice.  I can't get upset about it though...there are much worse things he could be doing!  He also made the travel basketball team this year and loves every minute of it.  So I decided to make his a basketball-themed bookmark.  What do you think?

The 'M' is for our town name...and the name of the team he plays for.  The team's colors are green & white.  I figured he'd appreciate the saying 'basketball rocks' ...he's 11 after all!...and I put his name and jersey number on the other side.  When he found it, he immediately put it with his books... :-) ...but his brother saw it and put an order in for himself.  I should have made an extra!

Recipe

 Shadow 'M' from Birthday Bash welded together with rounded rectangle from George & Basic shapes; duplicated, flipped and welded together to make the front and back of bookmark

'RockS!' from Birthday Bash welded onto one half (placed white cardstock behind the cut)

Basketball from Sports Mania

Two 'M's' from Birthday Bash cut in white and layered over shadowed 'M's'

'AJ' and '#21' also from Birthday Bash

Patterned paper - DCWV Holiday stack

Cardstock - Recollections

Green Creative Memories marker, white Gelly Roll pen for stitching

I'm entering this bookmark into 3 challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #3 - Make a project for any occasion using green, white and one optional color.

The Paper Variety: Let's See Your Green - Create a project using mostly (at least 50%) green.

Cricut Cardz Challenge #64 - Create a bookmark using any Cricut cartridge and any colors.

Enjoy the weekend!

~Sharon C.

handsome boy - scrapbook page

There's a fun challenge going on right now at These Are a Few of My Favorite Things called "These Are a Few of My Favorite Features".  They'd like to see a project showing your favorite features...could be one of your own, some of your children's, that of your pet...any take on the theme.  The DT's creations are just fantastic...take a look if you have a minute.  I combined this challenge with the sketch challenge at Get Your Sketch On  and the "double take" challenge at Cooking With Cricut to create my scrapbook page.  Another one for my books...yea!! 

These pictures of my middle son were taken in March, 2004 when he was 2 1/2 years old.  It was late in the month and we had a few nice, warm days.  My older two boys couldn't wait to play on the swingset, so out we went.  (I think we'll still have 6 inches of snow on the ground later this March....just sayin'!!)  My little guy was (and still is) very rough and tumble, curious, gregarious, sweet, generous and loving.  And, I can say this because I'm his mom and COMPLETELY biased, very handsome.  My opinion...just sayin'!  :-)  So my favorite features that I'm highlighting on this page are his eyes (big, ol' brown m&m's), eyelashes (today they're so long that they push up against his glasses) and his curly hair (which gets way out of control if it's not cut every 2 weeks!).  I won't say anything about those chunky cheeks!!  OK, I'm done.  I wouldn't dare say any of this to him today...talk about embarrassment...I'd be in trouble!! 

Recipe

Patterned paper - My Mind's Eye everyday tango paper stack

Kraft, white cardstock - Recollections

Chipboard frame, journaling spot - My Mind's Eye Home collection

'handsome' from Cricut Birthday Bash; welded with my Gypsy; cut from cereal box, inked and popped up

Cuttlebug herringbone embossing folder

Martha Stewart border punch & corner rounder

Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

Brown Creative Memories marker for stitching, journaling

EK Success dimensionals

I'm entering this page into 3 challenges:

Cooking With Cricut: Double Take - Create a new project using these elements (at a minimum):  2 pieces of cardstock, 2 pieces of patterned paper, 2 embellishments and a Cricut die-cut.

Get Your Sketch On: Challenge #9 - Use this sketch:

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: These Are a Few of My Favorite Features - Create a project which shows some of your favorite features.

Enjoy the day!  TGIF!

~Sharon C.

Happy Birthday to Ewe! - Shaped Card for a 7th Birthday

Hello!  Drip, drip, drip...what's that sound??  It's heaven!  Well, not really, but close enough!  It's the sound of snow on our roof melting and dripping to the ground....yea!  I can't tell you how good it feels to see the sun...it's so bright right now...even though it's only 38 degrees outside.  My mood is much brighter too!  :-)  Hope everyone is enjoying their day!

Today I'm sharing a shaped (yes, another!!) birthday card I made for a classmate of my twins.  I thought I'd use my Birthday Bash cartridge for the occasion...imagine that!  :-)  I got a kick out of this sheep...blowing a noisemaker...how funny!  And it's really a perfect match since the birthday girl is a really funny child too....I think she'll like this.  The image in the handbook has the number '2', but I hid that cut with my Gypsy and pop dotted up the '7' instead.  I thought the striped paper and googly eyes would liven her up a bit...what do you think?...good choice?

Recipe

Sheep from Cricut Birthday Bash; welded into a shaped card with my Gypsy; cut all layers

'7' and shadow from Birthday Bash font

Striped paper - Basic Grey Gypsy paper pad

Textured cardstock - DCWV Brights stack

All other cardstock - Recollections

EK Success dimensionals to pop up the '7'

Cat's Eye chalk ink

Black Creative Memories marker for stitching

White Gelly Roll pen for doodling

Googly eyes



I'm entering this card into three challenges:

Crazy for Cricut - It's Dina's 1st challenge...check it out....make any kind of card as long as it includes a Cricut cut.

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #49 - Shaped Card - Create a shaped card; something other than a square or rectangle.

More Than Favors: Wacky Wednesday #27 - Farm Theme - Make anything farm-themed.

Have a great day!

~Sharon C.

Four at Christmas - Holiday Layout

Good Monday morning!  Did you all survive the weekend?  We had a busy, but fun one.  Aren't they all?  :-)  Just a quick post today...the kids are on winter vacation and our schedule is booked.  Need to keep them busy!

I'm posting a layout I put together over the weekend for this week's challenge at The Paper Variety.   Here's the sketch...it's really a card sketch, but the rules allowed us to use it to create a layout if we'd like.  Well, it wasn't easy, but you know me....I'm determined to make more pages for my scrapbooks.

This picture I scrapped was taken in December, 2003...a few weeks before Christmas.  My twins had come home from the hospital at Thanksgiving and were about 6 weeks old here.  Their older brothers were 4 and 2.  It was a super busy time...we had no idea how crazy life would become!  :-)  This is the first holiday photo we have of our four kids together.  And it wasn't that difficult to stage...as you can see, the babies slept right through it all.  :-)

Recipe

Striped paper; light green cardstock - 3 bugs in a rug

Patterned paper on tree - DCWV Holiday stack

Other cardstock - Recollections

"four", "at" - from Cricut Birthday Bash font; with shadow layer

"Christmas" - from Cricut Gypsy Font; welded and sized with my Gypsy

Christmas Tree, mouse - from Cricut Winter Frolic

"Present" journaling box - from Cricut Mini Monograms

Bow - from Cricut Birthday Bash

Wired ribbon, paper flowers and button from stash

Cat's Eye chalk ink

White Gelly Roll pen for stitching

Black Creative Memories marker for journaling

EK Success dimensionals for popping up mouse, journaling box

I'm entering this scrapbook page into 2 challenges:

The Paper Variety: TPV Card Sketch Challenge - Use the sketch provided to create a card, layout or other paper project.

Scrappy Saturdays with the Bug: Challenge #2 - Something Lovey - Create a layout using something lovey...the word "love", a lovey sentiment/title, hearts, cupids, lips, pictures of someone you love, etc.  I chose to scrap a picture of my 4 little chicks...couldn't love them more!  :-)

Have a terrific Monday!

~Sharon C.



Yummy Goodies in the Mail and a Happy Birthday Card for a Cool Chick!

Good morning!  And there are quite a few reasons why it is good:  my family is healthy, the sun is shining, the temperature is in the double digits, snow is not falling, dinner is in the slow cooker, a Paul Simon CD is playing, the house is clean (but a tad messy!), three loads of laundry are done and, last but not least, my husband returned home safely from his business trip last night.  Lots to be happy about today! 

I must also mention that I received an incredible package full of yummy, yummy goodies from the lovely and kind Stephanie from Always Crafting.  I was lucky enough to win an i-rock giveaway on her blog and not only did Stephanie send me an i-rock, but she included some i-rock jewels, some pretty handmade stick pins, an adorable card and a bag (beautifully packaged, I must say!) full of paper flowers she made herself.  They're so fabulous and the colors are just gorgeous!  She posted similar flowers on her blog not too long ago here.  Hey, I just realized that the stick pins she posted are the same ones she sent to me!!  Sneaky, sneaky, Stephanie!  I had no idea!  You'll be seeing these goodies on future creations...if I can bear to part with them!!  Thanks Stephanie, I LOVE everything!!

Today I'm posting a shaped card that I made for one of my niece's birthdays.  The chick and the birthday hat are from Simply Charmed (such a fun cartridge!) and the computer-generated sentiment is printed on two tags from Birthday Bash that I welded together.  I had quite a bit of fun making this card.  I embossed the chick with the D'vine Swirls folder (a personal favorite!) and tried to really do up the hat.  I made the fringe from textured green cardstock and added Martha Stewart micro beads to the band.  A circle of matching green felt made a fun topper.  A bit of black stitching and I have a hat worthy of a cool chick!  



Recipe

Chick from Simply Charmed; welded to make a shaped card; cut all layers and shadow

Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder

Birthday hat from Simply Charmed

Birthday banner from Birthday Bash; welded two tags together & hid holes to form the banner

Patterned paper from Basic Grey Gypsy 6x6 paper pad

Green textured cardstock - DCWV

All other cardstock - Recollections

Martha Stewart micro beads

Green felt from stash

Googly eyes

Computer-generated sentiment

Black Creative Memories marker for stitching/doodling

EK Success dimensionals to pop up banner

I'm entering this card into three challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #1- Kid's Birthday - Create a card, layout or project with a kid's birthday theme.

Scrappy Moms Stamps: Terrific Tuesday Challenge - Simply Charmed - Create a project using the Cricut Simply Charmed cartridge.

Two Scraptastic Gals: Cricut Cartridge Chaos Challenge #5 - Country Life - Make a project using the Cricut Country Life cartridge, the cartridge chosen this week by the blog's followers.  If you don't have Country Life, use a similar cut from a different cartridge.  I don't have Country Life, but I did notice that it has a chicken and the word art 'Cool Chick'.  I used the chick from Simply Charmed and incorporated 'Cool Chick' into the sentiment on my card.  :-)

Enjoy the day!

~Sharon C.

My Princess Bike - Layout using 3 Birds, Birthday Bash

Hi again...yup, it's really me...2 days in a row...can you believe it??  :-)  I finished this layout this morning while snow was falling AGAIN.  Just another inch or two, but we're expecting another 5-10 inches tomorrow.  Looks like the kids might have another snow day real soon.  And the college kid who plows our driveway will be taking a nice long vacation on us this year!

The pictures on this page are of my daughter at her 4th birthday party.  My parents gave her the perfect gift - a pink and purple Disney princess bike complete with training wheels.  It doesn't get much better than that!  Oh, I guess the matching helmet does make it a bit better!  :-) 

I've been trying to make more 'girly' layouts.  The 'princess' word art with the crown came from the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge...I was so excited when I found it!  The stickles on the crown are actually pink but they look orange in the photo.  The white and purple felt flowers were from the Michael's dollar bin...I couldn't resist them...just love the texture and dimension they add. 



Recipe

'Princess' word art - 3 Birds on Parade

'my' and 'bike' - Birthday Bash

Scalloped circles - Mini Monograms

Patterned paper - American Girls stack (borrowed from my daughter!)

Cardstock - DCWV Brights stack; Recollections

White & purple felt flowers; purple rhinestones; purple ink - Michael's dollar bin

Pink & green Ranger stickles

Black Creative Memories marker for doodling, journaling

EK Success dimensionals

I'm entering my scrapbook page into three challenges:

CropStop: Challenge #3 - Squares and Die Cuts - Create a square card or layout and use at least one die cut shape on it.

Made by Momo: Tuesday Challenge - Princess Themed - Make any princess-themed project.

The Paper Variety: Week 17 - TPV Sketch Challenge - Use their sketch to create a layout, card or other paper project.  Here's the sketch:

Have a great day...I'm going to put on another pair of socks!

~Sharon C.



I *heart* U - Bunny Shape Card

Hi everyone!  Are any of you procrastinators??  I fit quite nicely into that category.  :-)  But I'm going to try my best to make some Valentine's Day cards before the actual day arrives.  I have a month to prepare....should be plenty of time.  Right??

Here's my first card.  I made it for my 7 year-old daughter who loves anything cute, soft, cuddly, pink and sparkly.  I guess that describes most 7 yr-old girls!!  I loved this bunny from Birthday Bash, but I thought it needed to hold something in it's outstretched arms.  I had fun making a banner for my last project here, so I decided to make one for the bunny too.  And, since my daughter often scrawls 'I *heart* U' on little notes she leaves for me and her dad, I thought she'd really like the one I made.  I just hope I can hold off giving it to her until Valentine's Day!!  :-)



 



Recipe

Bunny - from Birthday Bash, welded into a shaped card with my Gypsy

Banner (triangle shapes) - from Birthday Bash

Heart shapes for banner - George and Basic Shapes

Heart paper - printed from this website

Pink patterned paper - DCWV Holiday stack

Recollections cardstock

EK Success letter stickers

Ranger Stickles in Cotton Candy on heart and nose

Glitter ribbon from Michael's

Black Creative Memories marker & white Gelly Roll pen for doodling/stitching

EK Success dimensionals

Glue dots

"Happy Valentine's Day" stamp (sentiment inside card) from Michael's dollar bins

I'm entering this card into a few challenges:

Chatterscene.com - create a Valentine's Day card or layout and post it on their board.  Great prize!

Cooking With Cricut: Challenge #12 - Glittermania! - "We want to see you GLITZ IT UP!  Don't hold back on the bling...bling it on!"  I think my glittered ribbon and the stickled pink nose and heart qualifies!

CropStop: Challenge #2 - Add Some Stickles - Use Ranger Stickles or other glitter glue on your project.  I love me some Stickles!!  :-)

The Paper Variety: TPV is Going Pink! - Create a project with pink, black and/or white in honor of their sponsor this week, Robyn, aka My Pink Stamper.  This is such a terrific color combo!

Scrappy Moms Stamps: 1st Ever Terrific Tuesday Challenge - Birthday Bash - use a cut from the Birthday Bash Cricut cartridge.  I guess birthday cartridges aren't only for birthdays!  :-)

Enjoy the weekend!
~Sharon C.

You Always Make Me Smile

Good afternoon!  Is it snowing where you are?  We have a new 10 inches on the ground...and more coming!  It started late last night and school was canceled for today.  My kids are thrilled!!  But it's too windy for them to go out to play at the moment...wind gusts are at 45-50 mph here on the coast.  It should be a bit calmer later...and there's a HUGE pile of snow at the end of our driveway...just waiting to be made into a snowfort!

I finished another scrapbook page this morning.  I scrapped the same picture I used to make the ornament-shaped card HERE.  I LOVE this picture of my twins...and since I gave the ornament with their picture on it to my mom, I had to do something else with it for ME!  :-)  The two of them ALWAYS make me smile...we call them our 'smiley guys'...and their semi-toothless grins in this photo just make me laugh!

Recipe

Background paper - My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow stack

Green floral paper - My Mind's Eye everyday tango stack

Red textured paper - DCWV textured neutrals

White cardstock - Recollections

Pink paper (used for hearts) - DCWV Holiday stack

Banner, 'smile' - from Birthday Bash

Title shape - from Winter Frolic

Journaling shape - from Gypsy Font

Hearts - from George and Basic Shapes, A Child's Year

Red nailhead stickers from a RAK

Glittered heart-shaped brads - Recollections

Martha Stewart glitter marker (on heart)

Martha Stewart border punch

Creative Memories brown marker for journalling

Chestnut roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

EK Success dimensionals

I'm entering this page into a couple of challenges:

CropStop Challenge Blog: Challenge #1 - Sketch - the new blog's first challenge is to follow a sketch.  Check them out...they'll have a new challenge every Thursday.  :-)

Emma at My Creative Time's Throwback Thursday:  Viewer's Choice - any project using any older cartridge, as long as the project has a heart on it.

Scrapbookaholic By Abby: SEI Challenge with Abby #1 - Laughter/Smile - "anything with a smile or even a phrase that contains the words".

Enjoy the day!

~Sharon



Happy Birthday to Moo! ...A Card for My Husband

Oh, it feels SOOOO GOOD to be back to crafting!!  I hope you all had happy holidays...I'm ready for whatever 2011 might bring....and you?  Our 2010 had a messy end...a snowboarding head injury to my daughter, 5 cases of the stomach bug, a choking incident (I actually performed the Heimlich maneuver on my oldest son who was choking on the membrane of a Clementine...I think my heart's still POUNDING!!) and a 10 year-old vehicle that finally bit the dust.  The last one was a blessing....we're now the proud owners of a brand spanking new Honda Pilot...which brings reliability and therefore, peace!  That, PEACE, I mean, is one of my goals for 2011.  I'm going to do whatever it might take to bring a bit more peace to this crazy household!!  Wish me luck!!  So, out with the old, and in with the new!!  :-)

My husband will soon be ushering in his 45th year.  I've known him for 23 years...which seems absolutely crazy to me, but I just did the math on my fingers again and it's true!!  I made a card for him for the occasion and I felt obliged to use one of the cow (or bull?) images from Birthday Bash.  23 years later and my husband still jokes that I'm from "Cow Hampshire" ...New Hampshire...so I thought he'd enjoy the humor of this leaping cow.  :-)  I'm loving the Birthday Bash cartridge...lots of fun stuff on there!!  Enjoy the day!



Recipe

Cow and sentiment cut from Birthday Bash

Balloons cut from Create A Critter

Cardstock - Recollections

Patterned paper - from my stash

Glossy Accents on balloons

Stickles on sentiment

Googly eyes

Dimensionals

Creative Memories marker in black for doodling

Chestnut Roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

Used scraps to dress up the inside of the card (see pic)

I'm entering this birthday card into Paper Playtime's Challenge #32 - Faces - make a paper project with a face...can be a stamped face, a Cricut cut with a face or a drawn on face.