Swoosh! Basketball Birthday Card

Hi all!  Didn't think you'd be hearing from me again so soon, did you??  Just keeping you all on your toes!  Well, I have a husband and three boys, so when I saw a few boy/masculine challenges this week, I had to jump right in with a card.  I made this one using the Cricut Sports Mania cartridge, which is a favorite of mine because of the above-mentioned husband and boys!  :-) I kept the card very simple...just one cut and a bit of doodling and stitching.  Basketball is the sport of choice at the moment here.  In fact, my kids are playing in 8 (yes, 8!!) different basketball games this weekend.  Oh my!  But football will be all the rage next weekend when our Patriots (Tom Brady anyone??) play in the Super Bowl.  Yay!

Recipe

SWOOSH/basketball word art - Cricut Sports Mania cartridge

All cardstock - Recollections

Black Creative Memories marker for doodling

White Gelly Roll pen for stitching

I'm entering this card into 4 challenges:

Cardz TV Challenge #4: It's a Guy Thing - Make a masculine card for any occasion using any colors you'd like.
Celebrate the Occasion #47: Masculine Birthday - Make a birthday card for a man, young or old.

My Craft Spot's Monday Challenge #42: Let's Hear it for the Boys! - Make a card for a boy/man.

Scrappy-Go-Lucky's Strut Your Cuts Week #4 - Use one or more of the Featured Five Cricut cartridges to make a project.

Enjoy the weekend!

~Sharon C.



Welcome Baby! Shaped Card using Baby Steps cartridge

Happy Tuesday!  If it's sunny and warm where you are, please send a bit of the sunshine and warmth to the East...we're on day 3 of cloudy, drizzly and cool.  Spring arrived here...briefly...and decided to retreat back into hibernation, I think.  But it could be much worse, right?  At least I have a good reason to stay indoors and be crafty.  :-)  I keep telling myself that.  You agree, don't you?  LOL

So I was on a mission last week to find the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge.  I thought I would be able to price match Jo-Ann's $29.99 sale price at A.C. Moore or Michael's if Jo-Ann's was out of stock.  Well, all 5 retail outlets near me had none.  Boo hoo!  But don't go feeling too badly for me yet...I consoled myself by picking up both Baby Steps and Campin' Critters....whoo hoo!  My scrapping budget will remain at zilch for a bit, but I have some fun new cartridges to play with!  :-)   

On to today's card....a shaped baby card from...you guessed it...Baby Steps!  Oh, I'm going to have fun scrapping my baby pics with this cartridge.  It has some very, very cute images.  I used one of the baby boy images to create this card with my Gypsy.  I will be sending it to my middle son's 2nd grade teacher...she just had a baby boy last week...I'm so excited for her and her family.  :-)   I thought the face on the die cut was so sweet...but when I stamped it with my Peachy Keen face stamp, I thought he looked even cuter.  What do you all think?

Recipe

Baby boy cut from Cricut Baby Steps cartridge, welded into a shaped card with my Gypsy

Polka dot paper from my stash

Cardstock - Bazzill, Recollections

Peachy Keen 'Wide Eyed Kids' face stamp

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

Blue Stickles on hat

Stampin' Up! watercolor pencils to color face

I'm entering this card into two challenges:

Cricut Cardz Challenge #74 - Create a card for a brand new baby, using any colors and any Cricut cartridge.

My Craft Spot: Monday Challenge #8 - Congratulations! - Make a paper project to say "congratulations!" to someone special.

Have a great 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.



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.

You Can Run...But You Can't Hide!! Funny Card!

Hi everyone!  Funny card challenges abound at the moment because of April Fool's Day, so I jumped in with a birthday card I made for my brother-in-law.  He finds it amusing to tease my kids (in a nice way!) and they think he's a really funny guy.  He wins extra uncle points for bringing yummy fruit salads to all of our family events...what a guy!

This bird in disguise is from the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge.  I thought the sentiment, "You can run ... but you can't hide!" was fitting, don't you?  The inside of the card reads, "It's Your Birthday!"  The bird is hanging on an Action Wobble...I think he'll make my brother-in-law smile!  hee hee hee

Recipe

Bird in disguise from Cricut 3 Birds on Parade; cut all layers

Blurb and shadow from Cricut George & Basic Shapes

Striped paper from DCWV Stack 6

Olive textured cardstock from Bazzill

All other cardstock from Recollections

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Herringbone embossing folders

EK Success Scallop Diamond border punch

White Gelly Roll pen

Black Creative Memories marker

Chestnut roan Cat's Eye chalk ink

Action Wobble

Sentiment printed on my computer

I'm entering this card into four challenges:

Cooking With Cricut #23: Funny Quote, Saying or Pun - Create something funny, cute or punny!!

Die Cuttin' Diva's Challenge #9: Sketch Challenge - Follow this sketch:

Flaunt It Fridays #17:  3 Birds on Parade - Use the disguise bird from the Cricut 3 Birds on Parade cartridge to create a project.

More Than Favors: Wacky Wednesday #32 - Something Funny! - Make something funny in honor of April Fool's Day.



Have a great day!

~Sharon C.



Sweet Girls - A Spring Layout

Good morning!  I hope the sun is shining wherever you are...it just popped out here!  My kids were so excited Friday...the temps were near 70 degrees (in Massachusetts, in March!!)...and they pulled out shorts to wear while playing basketball in the driveway.  Then, on Saturday morning, the reality of March in New England struck them full on.  It was a mere 36 degrees as we headed out to their final basketball games of the season.  Gotta love the unpredictability!

Today I'm posting a layout of photos from last Easter, in early April.  Looking at my daughter and her little cousin in their sleeveless dresses gives me hope that spring will be here shortly!  If you look closely at the first photo, you'll see that my niece is making such a funny face!!  She had discovered the wonders of peanut butter cups...and was frustrated that she couldn't open up her egg to get at one.  She handed it to my daughter who was apparently taking much too long to open it up...just too funny!  That face is priceless!!

I had fun with this layout...I think the colors are sooo pretty.  I made each flower with two layers cut from Create A Critter.  I punched a circle from the polka dot paper for the center of the first flower and used Glossy Accents to give it some shine.  The center of the second flower was stamped with a Peachy Keen Wide Eyed Kids stamp.  Isn't she cute?  Just about everything, including the bunny border (welded bunnies from Holiday Cakes cartridge) is inked with Cat's Eye chestnut roan chalk ink.  I just love that stuff - I think I'm sensing an addiction!

Recipe

All papers - SEI 'Aunt Gerti's Garden'

White cardstock - Recollections

Flowers from Create A Critter

Bunnies from Holiday Cakes; welded together to form a border with my Gypsy

Title 'Sweet' from Gypsy Wanderings

Circle from George and Basic Shapes

Stickers, file folder tab from SEI 'Aunt Gerti's Garden'

White Gelly Roll pen

Green, brown Creative Memories markers

Cat's Eye chalk ink

Glossy Accents

EK Success dimensionals to pop up flowers, title. bunny border

I'm entering this layout into four challenges:

Cardz TV - Bunny Week Challenge - Make a project with a bunny.

The Paper Variety: Week #25 - Jana Eubank sketch - Create a project following this sketch:

Peachy Keen Stamps: Challenge #12 - Flower Power - Create a project using a handmade flower and a Peachy Keen face stamp.

Scrappy Saturdays with the Bug: Challenge #4 - Spring with a Twist of Green - Create a layout with a spring theme and use the color green.



Enjoy the day!

~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.

Winter Bunny Shaped Card - "Pure and Simple"

This week's challenge at the CropStop Challenge Blog is called "Pure and Simple".  The challenge is to use only white or off-white with either black or brown only for stamping.  Yikes!  I love color and I've never made a card using just white.  So I pondered this for a day or so and finally came up with an idea (it came to me in the shower...ideas often do...this is strange, isn't it?).  Since winter and snow have been on my mind lately (my house is buried in white stuff!), I thought a winter white bunny might be appropriate...so here he is.

The bunny is from the Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge, a real gem.  So many pretty images on this one.  I welded two of the bunny's shadows together with my Gypsy to form the shaped card.  Another shadow layer cut in gemstone cardstock (can you see the sheen?) was placed on top.  Then the head/ears and leg layers were cut, embossed and popped up on top of that.  It was certainly simple....I spent much more time thinking about this card than I did making it!  "Warm Wishes" is stamped inside....I could use many of these!!

Recipe

Bunny from Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge

Top layers embossed with Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls folder

Recollections off-white gemstone cardstock

White Recollections cardstock

"Warm Wishes" stamp from Inkadinkadoo

Brad from my stash

EK Success dimensionals to pop up layers

I'm also entering this card into this week's  Challenge Me Monday #47 at Fantabulous Cricut: Weather Forecast - make a project featuring your favorite seasonal weather.  I've been complaining incessantly about the weather lately because this winter has been unusually difficult.  I acually love the winter...watching the snow fall (in small doses!), ice skating, sledding, building snowmen with my kids, watching them get rosy cheeks, drinking hot cocoa and snuggling together under a warm blanket...just can't beat it!  :-)

Enjoy the day!

~Sharon C.

 

Life is So Sweet - Baby Girl Layout

Hi there!  Today I'm posting a scrapbook page of my daughter at 8 months old (she's now 7 years!).  I'm always amazed when I look back at her (and her twin brother's) baby pictures.  They were just over 4 pounds each at birth, but within months they really put on some weight!  And that's a good thing!  This picture was taken outside during the early summer when she couldn't do much more than sit and reach...check out those chunky arms and cheeks...you'd never guess she was a preemie!  :-)

I have soooo many pictures to scrap, so I'm trying to focus on making layouts....with a few cards thrown in here and there!  This page was a fun one to make...I love the colors and the felt flowers and ribbon.  I'm getting better at using pretty embellishments, but with 3 boys at home too, it can be difficult!



Recipe

Patterned papers "borrowed" from my daughter's American Girl paper pad

Cardstock - Recollections

Stamp - Close to My Heart 'Kid Power' set; lilac ink from Michael's; black Marvy marker on bee

Tag cut from A Child's Year Cricut cartridge, p. 50; added a shadow; inked

Felt flowers - Target

Faux pearls - Recollections

Ribbon - Making Memories

EK Success dimensionals to pop up photo & tag/sentiment

White Gelly Roll pen for journaling

I'm entering this page into four challenges:

Abby's Scrappy Mom's Challenge: Anything Goes - Create any project, just be sure to use a stamp.

CropStop Challenge Blog: #5 Sketch! - Follow the sketch provided HERE to create a project of your choice...a card, layout or altered item.
Amanda's Crafts & More: Scrappy Saturday with the Bug - Challenge #1: Anything Goes! - Make a new layout using a Cricut or SVG cut...anything goes!

The Paper Variety: Yummy Hearts Challenge - Photo inspiration - Use the picture provided HERE to create a layout, card or other paper project.  As you can probably tell, I was inspired by the colors of those yummy candies!

A VERY Quick, VERY Simple Birthday Card...Alien Sighting!

Wow...it's late!  Almost my bedtime, but I'm trying to get this one in before the day is over.  My 7 yr-old son needed a card for a birthday party for a classmate, so I thought I'd make a card and incorporate a couple of challenges too.  Double...or triple, really...duty!  So I decided to make a shaped card...a spaceship with an alien...fun stuff for that age group.  Lots of sparkle too.  I just LOVE the alien's face...too funny, isn't it?  It's the face from the star in the Nikkity Knack Cat Gang stamp set...I had to get real creative for this one!!  I used an Action Wobble on the alien too...first time using one...now that's fun!  The sentiment inside reads, "Hope your birthday is out of this world!"  Quick and easy, but mission accomplished!  :-)

Recipe

Spaceship from Everyday Paper Dolls

Alien from Paper Doll Dress Up (trimmed to fit)

Green and silver glitter cardstock - DCWV Christmas and Winter Combo Glitter Mat Stack (thanks Michelle @ Scrappin with my Bug!)

Blue cardstock - Recollection gemstone cardstock

Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder on alien

Peachy Keen stamp from PK-630 Nikkity Knack Cat Gang (used only the face of the star)

Black and green Bic Mark-ups, black Creative Memories marker and white Gelly Roll pen for stitching/doodling

Action Wobble

I'm entering this card into two challenges:

Cooking With Cricut: Peachy Keen Sponsor - Create a project to celebrate a birthday, using your Cricut and a Peachy Keen stamp, if possible.

My Creative Time with Emma's Throwback Thursday - Make a project using Paper Doll Dress Up or Everyday Paper Dolls and include either dry or heat embossing.

Have a good night!

~Sharon C.



Becoming Friends Scrapbook Page

Happy Monday!  It is a happy one here.  We survived a hectic but fun weekend with 7 basketball events, the kids are all healthy and in school, and there's no snow falling today.  It's a good day.  Come back tomorrow and Wednesday...two days, two snow storms.  I may not be too happy then!  :-)

Today I'd like to share with you a page I made this morning.  I'm so pleased with it....even more so because it didn't take me DAYS to put together.  This one just sort of fell into place...and it makes me smile when I look at it.  The picture is of my daughter and her cousin at her 1st birthday party.  My daughter is so happy to have a little girl cousin...one who wears dresses, likes to play in her pretend kitchen and loves Elmo.  When my sister announced she was pregnant, my daughter declared to all that this would be her SISTER.  Hmmm...not quite, but she insisted that if her own mommy wouldn't give her a sister (she has 3 brothers), her aunt would.  It took a while (months), but she finally understood that the baby would not be coming to live with us.  Thank goodness!  The girls have lots of fun together...my daughter loves to spend time with her younger cousin.

Recipe

Patterned papers from Crate Paper 'Lillian' collection

Bazzill cardstock

Recollections white gemstones cardstock

Crate Paper glitter die cuts (birds and birdhouse)

American Crafts Patchwork Thickers

Branch cut from Cricut Create A Critter cartridge, embossed with Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder

Photo mat embossed with Cuttlebug Spots and Dots folder

'becoming' cut from Gypsy Font Cricut cartridge

EK Success dimensionals

skittle a gift from and dyed by a friend   :-)

I'm entering this scrapbook page into two challenges:

CropStop: Challenge #4 - Make a Good Impression - Use more than one embossing folder or stylus embossing design on your project.

The Paper Variety: Friendship Challenge - Use the given quote about friendship as the theme of your project. 

Have a great Monday!  Guess I should start doing my 'no snow' dance now!

~Sharon C.

Chomping Critter-Shaped Valentine's Day Card

Another Valentine's Day card for one of my children...only one more to go!!  This one is for my 9 yr-old middle son Stephen, who we affectionately call Stephen Beaven or Beav.  (His football teammates call him "Stevie Nightmare", but that's a story for another day!)  What better to make for the Beav than a beaver-shaped card from Create A Critter!

With my Gypsy, I welded the log from Create A Critter to the bottom of the beaver so it appears that the little guy is sitting on it. I then duplicated that shape, flipped it and welded those two pieces together at the top of the head to make the shaped card. I also welded 'I *heart* U' to the top layer of the log...hoping to make it look like the toothy animal had cut the phrase himself. Oh, and I popped up a felt heart in his paws...need a pink heart on there somewhere for Valentine's Day!

Recipe

Beaver & log - welded and cut with my Gypsy to make a shaped card; cut all layers

Cardstock - Recollections; Recollections Kraft

Patterned paper - scrap from my stash

Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes folder on belly

Brown Creative Memories marker for stitching/doodling

White Gelly Roll pen for stitching/doodling

Pink felt heart from local dollar store

EK Success dimensionals

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

I'm sure Stephen will enjoy my card.  He's very crafty and creative.  Just today, he asked me if he could start his own scrapbook to keep his sports pictures.  I'm very excited to have a new scrapping buddy!  :-)



I'm entering this card into two challenges:

More Than Favors: Wacky Wednesday #23: Color Challenge - Create any project using the colors brown, green and pink.

Two Scraptastic Gals: Cricut Cartridge Chaos Challenge #3 - Create A Critter - Make a project with Create A Critter, the cartridge chosen for this week by the blog's followers.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

~Sharon C.

Big Love - Elephant Valentine's Day Card with Holiday Cakes Cartridge

Happy Monday!  Today I'm sharing a card I made for Stephanie's Whimsical Wednesday challenge at Always Crafting to create a project using a Cricut elephant.  I was very pleased to find an elephant on the Holiday Cakes cartridge which I was lucky enough to receive as a Christmas gift.  I began making this card for my 9 yr-old son, but after I got into it, I thought the colors would be appropriate for my husband.  And it looks like these elephants are in love, doesn't it??  I usually have a difficult time making cards for him...this one just sort of fell into place...phew!  The faux green "ribbon" at the bottom and the "love" word art came from the bottom edge of the My Mind's Eye "be loved" paper...you know, the piece with the company and pattern name that you usually chop off?  Well, it's now part of my card...I just inked the edges...whoo hoo for reusing!  :-)

I must add that I seem to have unintentionally scrap-lifted a bit of Stephanie's elephant card.  I hadn't looked at her posting for a few days...her card must have stayed with me!!  Sorry Stephanie!!  Hope you don't mind!

Recipe

Elephants - Holiday Cakes cartridge, embossed with 'Spots & Dots'

Hearts, X's and O's - George & Basic Shapes

Patterned paper - My Mind's Eye "be loved" 

Cardstock - Recollections; Bazzill Basics

EK Success letter stickers

Cat's Eye chalk ink in Warm Red

EK Success dimensionals

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



Winter Fun Layout using Winter Woodland and 3 Birds on Parade

Hello...and happy Saturday!  I'm so happy to be posting a scrapbook page today!!  I share a resolution with many of you - to get more pages done - and this is my first of the year.  Whoo hoo!  I hope to have another one completed by Tuesday.  The pictures I scrapped are from last February during my kids' school vacation.  We spent a few days at my parents' house in New Hampshire sledding and snowboarding in their yard.  They have a hill behind their house that's perfect for the kids.  It was a beautiful day and the kids all had a blast in the yard.  They made the cutest snowman too.  Do your kids love playing in the snow?  Mine would stay out all day if I let them! 

I used 3 Birds on Parade for the snowball-throwing bird...isn't he a cutie? The snowflakes are favorites of mine from Winter Woodland. I used a fine glitter on them...and added some blue rhinestones...I love the look. :-) The layout came from the January 2010 PageMaps. I often use their layouts...I find them to be a great starting point for me. Getting started is usually the most difficult part!

Recipe

Birdie and title 'Snow Day' - 3 Birds on Parade

Snowflakes - Winter Woodland

Scalloped circles - Mini Monograms

Patterned paper - My Mind's Eye everyday tango 

Cardstock - Bazzill Textured, Recollections

Fine glitter
Jo-Ann's Rhinestones

EK Success Dimensionals

Creative Memories markers in black and blue for stitching, doodling

I'm entering my page into a few challenges:

Cooking With Cricut: Challenge #11 - Snow Fun - any type of project with snow or winter time activities.
Fantabulous Cricut's Challenge Me Monday #41: Snowy Delights - create a project and incorporate snow or snowflakes.
Made by Momo's Tuesday Challenge - make something with snow or a snow theme.
The Paper Variety's Weekly Challenge - include snowflakes on your paper project.

Have a great weekend!

~Sharon C.

2 in 1: A Gift Tag and An Ornament

I made these skates for my sister-in-law who loves handmade, crafty goodies.  She is extremely generous and thoughtful and always gives the most original gifts.  She skated quite a bit as a girl, so I thought these would be perfect for her.  I plan on using these as a gift tag on my gift for her, then she can hang them on her tree if she chooses.  I wrote 'To:' and 'From:' on the back in white gel pen.  I love the look of the glitter on the blades and the bow/laces. 



Recipe

Skates - cut from Winter Woodland; the base image was cut multiple times and layered to create a sturdy die cut

Patterned paper - scraps from my stash

Cardstock - DCWV Textured Neutrals; Recollections

Extra fine glitter

Black Creative Memories marker for stitching

White Gelly Roll pen (not shown; on flip side)

Cording from Michael's

I'm entering this project into a few challenges:

Cooking With Cricut: Challenge #8 - No Red and Green Together - Create a holiday project using red or green but not together...or use neither.

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #39 - Gifts Galore - Create a handmade gift or gift package.

Gaby Abby Challenge with SEI Week #9: Glitter It Up! - "Create anything, just make sure you GLITTER IT UP!!"

Serenity Scrappers: Christmas Secret Prize Challenge - Create a holiday-themed layout, tag or card.  This FUN challenge is open until 12/17 - the winner will receive a wrapped gift to place under their tree...not to be opened until Christmas!!  :-)  Get your projects in!



An Ornament Shaped Card with a bonus...or two!

Yup, the two little bonuses are my 7 year-old twins.  This picture was taken on Thanksgiving Day...they were very (extremely, really!) happy to spend the day at their grandparents' house.  Nothing like a bit (a LOT, really!) of spoiling!  It didn't matter to them that dinner came with a boat load of vegetables...they were hanging out with their Nana...and nothing beats that! :-)  We're going to send this ornament card to Nana and Papa to thank them for a wonderful Thanksgiving and for inviting the twins to stay over for a few days by themselves to help decorate for Christmas.  I hear there was lots (tons, really! he he he) of chocolate involved!  ;-)

Recipe

Ornaments - from A Child's Year, welded to make the card

Circles - from George & Basic shapes

Patterned paper - DCWV Holiday stack

Cardstock - DCWV Textured Brights

Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder

Ribbon, button - from stash

Silver cord for hanging - Michael's

Pop dots

I'm entering this ornament card into a few challenges:
Always Crafting: Whimsical Wednesday Challenge with Jess - anything goes!
Cooking With Cricut: Challenge #7 - any project that has to do with decking your halls or commemorating the look of the season.
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #38 - Ribbon Challenge - use ribbon somewhere on your Cricut project.
Getting Cricky with K. Andrew: Simply Charming Cricut Challenge -  anything goes as long as it's charming and cute.
More Than Favors: Wacky Wednesday #17 - anything Christmas-themed, include some embossing.

Have a great weekend!
~Sharon

Fa La La La La! Caroling Birdie from 3 Birds on Parade

I can't believe that it's been over a week since I posted my Thanksgiving card.  Where has the time gone??  I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving and found great bargains on Black Friday!!  And I don't want to say it...but...it's DECEMBER!!  Time to post another holiday card.  This one was inspired by this week's challenge at Paper Playtime - make any paper project that is 'Christmas Carol Inspired'. 



Well, that cute little bird from 3 Birds on Parade came to mind again.  So I cut the bird carrying the stack of gifts on page 45 of the handbook (all layers).  But I replaced the gifts with a book cut from Every Day Paper Dolls (page 67 of the handbook) and popped up the musical notes from 3 Birds (page 67 of the handbook).  Then I used one of the negative cuts from the musical notes to turn Miss Birdie's book into a songbook.  Ta da!  My dressed-for-the-weather birdie is now a singing sensation!  :-)  I can almost hear her tweeting, "Fa la la la la, la la la la"!

Recipe

Scalloped circle shaped card - from Mini Monograms, welded with my Gypsy

Circle layer - from George and Basic Shapes

Bird - from 3 Birds on Parade (p. 45), replaced stack of gifts with book from Every Day Paper Dolls (p. 67)

Musical notes - from 3 Birds on Parade (p. 67)

Patterned paper - DCWV Holiday Stack

Cardstock - Recollections

Glittered earmuffs

White Gelly Roll pen for doodling, stitching

Black Creative Memories marker for doodling, stitching

Pop dots to pop up bird and musical notes

I'm entering my card into two challenges:

Gaby Abby Challenge #8 with SEI: Anything Christmas - make any Christmas-themed project.
Paper Playtime Challenge #27:  Christmas Carol Inspired - make any paper project that is "Christmas Carol inspired".

3 Birds on Parade - Pilgrim Shape Card!

My 3 Birds on Parade cartridge arrived Wednesday from cricutmachine.com.  Whoo hoo!!  I bought my Gypsy there last November - a great deal - and I couldn't resist their super prices on Cricut carts last week and I caved.  Bet I'm not the only one!!  :-)  I had time to play this morning and couldn't help but cut this cute little pilgrim and turn him into a shaped card.  I'm really lovin' those right now! 

I think this card will be making it's way to our CCD coordinator for Thanksgiving.  She's such a lovely woman...with an incredible spirit and endless energy.  I need to let her know how grateful my kids and I are for her!  Then I may just make a few more of these...one for my mom, one for my mother-in-law...you know what I'll be doing this weekend!  Enjoy!

I'm entering my birdie into Paula's Wacky Wednesday challenge #16 at More Than Favors.  This challenge is to make any fall- or Thanksgiving-related project...check it out!

Recipe

Pilgrim birdie cut from 3 Birds on Parade cartridge, shaped card welded with my Gypsy

Patterned paper - Basic Grey 'Recess' 6x6 stack

Cardstock - Recollections

Distressed stripes folder for embossing

Skittles - handmade by a friend (thanks Nancy!)

Cat's Eye chalk ink

Brown & black Creative Memories markers for stitching, doodling and eyes

Gingerbread Girl Shaped Card - My 1st for the Holidays!

Doesn't she look good enough to eat?  I've been dying to make my little gingerbread girl since I saw Momo's adorable card here made using the cute little gingerbread man from Smiley Cards.  But I wanted to make mine pink and girly, which is strange since I have such a tough time making ANYTHING pink and girly.  Having 3 boys (I do have one daughter too) will do that to you!!  I'm sending this to my sister and her 2 1/2 year-old daughter for the holidays...my sister loves pink and brown and her daughter is often likely to be dressed in those colors!

I'm entering my card into the Holiday Project Challenge at Cooking With Cricut.  Did you hop with them over the weekend?  It was their first holiday blog hop and it was loaded with inspiration!!  The challenge is to make a holiday project using a Cricut or other die cut.  I think my gingerbread gal fits the bill!  :-)

Recipe

Gingerbread girl layer - cut from Smiley Cards in tan cardstock

Gingerbread girl shaped card layer - welded two together with my Gypsy, cut once in patterned paper, once again in tan cardstock for the inside of the card and to give extra support

Bow - enlarged the bow tie and made a shadow layer using my Gypsy

D'vine Swirls folder for embossing

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

Cardstock - Recollections

Brown Creative Memories marker for faux stitching

Making Memories trim for pink pom poms (thanks Paula!)

Glitter

Enjoy the day!

~Sharon