Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Christmas Mini Album

This week at Cricut Mini Albums, the challenge is to make a Christmas mini album. I was wanting to make something I could use as a stocking stuffer for my sister, so I decided to make a toilet paper roll album. It came together really quickly:



All the paper is from a DCWV stack. It is gorgeous paper, but I discovered that the thicker paper is a little tricky to glue around the rolls.



Almost all the cuts are from Joys of the Season. One of the best things about the design teams I am on, is that I am re-discovering some of my older cartridges.



I cut all the toilet paper rolls down to 4 inches in length. One of the rolls is slightly wider than the others, but I used it as the cover, and you can't even tell.



To hold the whole thing together, I punched holes at one end, and used my Cropodile to put eyelets. Then I used 2 binder rings to attach it all. Easy Peasy!



The tags are cut from Sweet Treats at 4 inches, and I bought the gold ribbon at my LSS.



The "believe" cut is the only one not from Joys of the Season, I cut it from Gypsy Wanderings.



I am going to put some pictures of the kids on the tags. My sister lives far away, and doesn't often get to see them. I thought this way, she could have a few pictures close by.

Some challenges:

All Sorts - last minute christmas
Charisma Cardz - christmas gift
One Stitch at a Time - anything goes

I will post the winner from the Paper Playtime Blog Hop later today.

A la prochaine...

Monday, December 13, 2010

It's Playtime!

It's challenege day over at Paper Playtime. Todays challenge is to use a snowman on your projects. We have a great sponsor today - DIGITAL DELIGHTS BY LOUBY LOO. The Queens got some images to play with, and I decided to try my hand at digital stamps again - something I don`t do often - my coloring skills aren't the best... Here is what I came up with:



Isn't he the cutest snowman? I colored him with my Prismacolor pencils and used the baby oil technique. I was pretty pleased with how he turned out. The sketch is one from Split Coast Stamper, sorry I didn't write down the number. The paper is all Stampin Up.

You should all pop over to Paper Playtime and see what the rest of The Queens came up with. There are so many talented ladies over there :) The winner of this week's challenge gets a $10 gift certificate to use at DIGITAL DELIGHTS BY LOUBY LOO! Can't wait to see what you all come up with.

A quick reminder: there is still time to win my blog candy from the hop this weekend, for your chance to win, go HERE.

Some other challenges:
Daring Card Makers - snow much fun
Paper Cutz Challenge - snowman
Stamp Challenge - use a digi
Totally Gorjuss - snow
City Crafter - let it snow
Aly's Sunday Challenge - christmas movie (frosty the snowman)

A la prochaine...

Friday, December 10, 2010

Stocking Stuffer Blog Hop

Welcome to the Stocking Stuffer blog hop featuing the Queens from Paper Playtime! If you have arrived here from my talented friend Sharon's blog, then you are in the right spot! If you just stumbled across us, then be sure to start back at Paper Playtime and be inspired by all we have created for you.

I came up with 2 different projects. One of them is geared for adults and the other for kids. I will show you guys the adult one first - and fair warning, there are a TON of pictures in this post...



A few weeks ago, I came up with the above card. The stamp is Sacred Silhouette from Stampendous, and the sentiment is from Cornish Heritage Farm stamps Christmas Expression, they are stamped in Versa Mark and embossed in gold. It uses very vanilla, old olive, mellow moss and brushed gold fom Stampin Up. I loved how this card came out, and started thinking that it would make a great gift, it I put it in a set with some other cards. So, that is what I did :)



Isn't this stamp stunning? It is from The Stamp Barn and the Noel stamp is from Stampin Ups Many Merry Messages. The paper used is very vanilla, mellow moss, and always artichoke (I apparently ran out of old olive), along with brushed gold, those are the colors I used for all of the cards.



These stamps are from a Stampin Up set. It is called Madonna and Child. I think the gold embossing highlights the beautiful simplicity of this stamp.



The image on this stamp is from another Stampin Up set called Heavenly Peace. It was the first Christmas stamp I ever bought. I think it is gorgeous. The sentiment is also from Cornish Farm Stamps Christmas Expressions.



Yet another stunning stamp set from Stampin Up. This one is Solemn Stillness. I wanted it for a couple of years, and finally bought it when it was discontinued. I have never regretted that purchase. You will notice that this is the only "non-religious" card in the group, but I think it fits beautifully with this set of cards, especially with the sentiment "the world in solemn stillness lay..."



The final card uses the Stampin Up set City of David. I have never quite figured out the right way to use this stamp set, but I think I like what I came up with here. the sentiment is from Christmas Expressions by Cornish Farm Stamps - what a useful purchase that turned out to be :)



I made a little box to hold my card set. I got the instructions from the ever brilliant Momo. You can find those instructions HERE.



Here is a pic of the box closed with the belly band. It beautifully fits all 6 cards and envelopes to go along with them. I think it makes a great gift, and I bought NOTHING for this project. I used only what I had on hand at home.

My second project, is a gift for my son. I made him a little coupon book, with some "prizes" that are meaningful to him. Here it is:



The green paper is cut at 3.75" x 4.5" using George and Basic Shapes. the white backgroun is 1/4 inch smaller than the green cover. The title is cut out of Cuttin' Up at 1".




The burger and fries are from Every Day Paper Dolls, cut at 1", with the real dial size on. The "coupon" is cut at 3.5" x 4.25" from George and Basic Shapes.



The animals are from Animal Kingdom, using the "head" feature cut at 1". The coupon stamp is from a Stampin Up set called Create a Coupon. Love it!!



The dice is from Indie Art, also at 1". Gotta love the freebie download for Gypsy owners, or I would never have had this cartridge. Thanks Provo Craft :)



The hockey skates are from EDPD, cut at 1" with the real dial size on.



The books are also from EDPD (I think), also at 1" and also with the real dial size on.



The cute ticket is from Mickey and Friends, cut at 1" - shocking, I know...



The bike is cut at 1" from Going Places, a cartirdge I have never used before - terrible, I know...



The final page has more little heads from Animal Kingdom, once agin cut at 1".



I used a perforating blade for my Creative Memories trimmer to cut a little edge on the coupon - that way Andrew can eaily tear off the coupon when he want to use it. I then used my Cropodile to punch holes in it and secured it all with 2 brads. Cute eh? Now I just have to make one for my daughter...

This is another project that cost me nothing to make, I just used the scraps that were in my craft room, cartridges I already had, and a stamp set I have rarely used. I love projects like that `:)

Well, if you're still with me after all those pictures, you deserve a little blog candy, so here it is:



How do you win this wonderful Blog Candy?? It's easy :) Just follow these 2 steps...
a) become a follower if you aren't already
b) leave me a comment on this post

I will pick my winner on Tuesday, so you have until Monday night at midnight EST to leave a comment. There is also some blog candy available at other stops along the hop, and we have some great sponsors who can be found back at Paper Playtime.

So now you are on to the talented Corri's blog. I can't wait to see what she has come up with to inspire us. Just in case you get lost along the way, here is a complete list of all the Queens participating today:

1. Paper Playtime - http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com
2. Janis - http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
3. Sheree - http://cravinscrappin.blogspot.com/
4. Carley - http://www.the-real-icarley.blogspot.com/
5. Pam - http://simply-pam.blogspot.com/
6. Mary - http://cardztv.blogspot.com/
7. Maria - http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
8. Sharon - http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com/
9. Michelle - http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/ THAT'S ME!!
10. Corri - http://www.buglvr.blogspot.com/
11. Lisa - http://www.crop-and-create.blogspot.com/
12. Kathi - http://www.blogbykathi.blogspot.com/
13. Alex - http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/
14. Sandra - http://www.365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/
15. Melissa - http://www.apaperjourney.blogspot.com/
16. Abby - http://www.scrapbookaholicbyabby.com/
17. Theresa - http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/
18. Heather - http://www.freshbreweddesigns.blogspot.com/

Thanks for coming to visit today! Hope you come back again soon, and Merry Christmas to everyone :)

A la prochaine...

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Another Blog Hop!!

This weekend will mark my final blog hop of the season. I have been blessed to be asked to participate in some wonderful hops with some extremely talented women. This hop is no exception! It will feature the Queens from Paper Playtime and a few special guests. We will all be featuring some inexpensive Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers and there might even be a little bit of blog candy to be had :)



I have just finished my projects - yes I said projects - plural. I made two things, one for grownups and one for kids. I am really pleased with them, and I picked out my blag candy :) I hope you can all join us for this weekends hop, be sure to invite your friends - as Barney from How I Met Your Mother says, "It will be... LEGENDARY... "

I hope to be back tomorrow with a new project, I have to get cracking on my Christmas cards. I only have about 20 made, and need to make about 80 more - oh my, how daunting!! Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

A la prochaine...

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Cooking with Cricut # 9

There is a new challenge today over at Cooking With Cricut - to make a holiday creation with no red OR no green. You can use one color or the other, just not both. Fun, eh? Here is what I came up with:



Isn't it cute? I cut the card base out of Smiley Cards. I love their card feature. I cut the white circle out of George and Basic Shapes - sized to fit the card on my Gypsy. The stocking is from Doodlecharms - I have been loving using this cartridge. It is so easy to use with the hide contour function of my Gypsy! I can't remember where the stamp came from, but it is an acrylic stamp and came in a set with a number of other holiday sentiments. the paper is Stampin up and the ribbon is from Michael's.

This was a really easy card to make, and I think I could mass produce it pretty easily. I need to get cracking on my Christmas cards! It is getting so late!!

Some Other Challenges:
Pear Tree Designs - christmas cards
Dutch Dare Designs - christmas cards
Corrosive Challenge Blog - red and white for christmas
Tuesday Throwdown - clean and simple
Easy Craft Projects - christmas

A la prochaine...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Christmas Gift Tags

Today is challenge day over at Cricut Cardz Challenge. The challenge today was to make a set of two or more gift cards (3x3) or gift tags. I decided to make a set of 5 3x3 cards. I am really happy with how cute they turned out. Here they are:





This cutie snowman is from Doodlecharms, and the paper is from K & Co. The Noel stamp is from Close to my Heart.



I love this little gingerbread man! He is from Smiley Cards, cut at 2.2 inches. The paper is from Stampin Up.



Santa is from Doodlecharms. I am really enjoying this old cartridge these days, especially now that I can easily cut out my layers using hide contour on my Gypsy! The paper in from K and Co.



My new favorite Christmas cartridge is Winter Frolic. It has so many cute cuts! This little tree is cut from it at 2.5 inches. The paper is Stampin Up.



The little reindeer is from Create a Critter, on of my all time favorite carts. I think I cut him a bit too small, but other than that he is adorable!

3x3 cards make the cutest little gift cards. This whole set took me about 90 minutes to put together, and I think would make a great gift for a teacher, and used things from my scrap box. I hope you all go over to Cricut Cardz Challenge, get inspired by the design team, and make a set of cards or tags yourself!

A la prochaine...

Trim the Tree

It is challenge day over at Cooking With Cricut . Today's challenge? It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!! Trim the tree, deck the halls... you get the idea :) Here is what I came up with:



The tree is from Winter Frolic - one of my new favorites - the paper is almost all from Stampin Up and the stamp is from Cornish Farm. I bought the little pearls ages ago when a LSS was closing, but I have no idea who made them. Be sure to head on over to Cooking With Cricut, get inspired by the Design Team, and play along with us!

Some Challenges:
Stamps R Us - holiday card
Scrappy Frogs Challenge - christmas
Crafty Sentiments - christmas
Fresh Brewed Blog - christmas

I'll be back later with my submission for Cricut Cardz Challenge, hope to see you all then :)

A la prochaine...