Peachy Keen Core'Dinations Challenge

If you have been following my blog for a bit you have probably realized my favorite card stock is Core!  I get sad when other card stock doesn't do what core does!  Now if only we could get local retailers to carry more of it!!!

This card is for their color challenge this month.  They are using pinterest photos for inspiration.  I am a new Pinterest users, and also an addict!  I would love to follow you, you are welcome to follow me even though there isn't much there yet :).  You can find me here.  You can find Core'Dinations here.  Where can I find you?!  Send me a link in the comments!

I didn't have a blue flower, so I took a white one and inked it blue to match!  I sanded the words that are preembossed on the cardstock, this made them stand out more. I tore and sanded the peach piece on the left.  This card was super easy to make but with Core it just looks nice!

The blue flower is a Prima flower like the ones in my upcoming 300 follower give away!

The papers are from the Stacy Julian collection.  You can check that out here.  Want to see my favorite project I have made from the Stacy Julian collection?  Let me take you back a few posts:

Tuesday Teasers?!

Can you believe I have missed 3 weeks of Tuesday Teasers?! (Well, if you count this week!)

I am soooooooooooooooooooooooo sorry!  My 300 follower give away will be held August 25th if we reach enough followers by then! I am confident that we can do it!

Here is week one of missed teasers!

From this set you get the stamp and set- Inkadinkado's Tickets and Tags set (shown below).
Do you like the embossing and inking?  The embossing plate is also a part of the give away!


To recap everything in the give away so far click here.  More things are being added weekly so stay tuned!

Challenges:
Birthday Sundaes- inspiration picture
Allsorts Challenge- free and easy
Papercutz Challenge- anything goes

Stamp set in give away!

Cooking with Cricut Guest Designer!

Ok, I am a blog snob.  Yep, I am.  I have some blogs that I am totally loyal and faithful too.  Instead of making myself crazy applying for every DT thing that pops up I have decided to be a faithful follower to the blogs I most like.  Then, when something comes up, I can feel good about applying and saying how much I enjoy that blog.  That is how I started with my DT spot at Getting Cricky. 

Just about every week I have tried to link up to the challenge at Cooking with Cricut.  The challenges are fun over there and the DT does wonderful work.  It helps that that challenge drives some good traffic to my blog too ;).  You know, I am one of those stats stalkers.  I love numbers and frankly I love attention so reading my stat info gives me a funny little high.  CWC feeds that ;)

Here is my post over at their page:
I want to start my post by saying- Thank you so much to the team at Cooking with Cricut for asking me to do this.  I was SO EXCITED when I was contacted by you!  I have been watching the challenges on this blog for months and participate often because I love them!  It is great to be a part of this and I feel very honored that you asked me to do this!  Your DT is incredible and I am given so much inspiration from their work!

Celebrations was one of my first cartridges!  My mother bought me my first Cricut for Christmas and gave me two cartridges Celebrations and Stretch Your Imagination.  Sometimes I get so bogged down in what is new that I forget my oldies but goodies.  So when CWC contacted me about doing this I thought I would explore a forgotten cartridge on my Gypsy.  I got my first Cricut for Christmas 2009 and for Christmas 2010 hubby bought me the Expression.  I had wanted a Cricut for a couple of years before getting one so I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!  Then I couldn't live without having a Gypsy for Christmas 2010 mom got me that. My mother is great at gift giving! My life hasn't been the same ;). Crafting has quickly become my passion. I am a Kindergarten teacher and mother of 2 so my machines get plenty of use!  I joined the blogging world in January of 2011 and have found that to be an addiction that I love to feed.  I look forward to reading comments from my followers and find I need to check those as often as I check Facebook (which is A LOT).  In the summer I spend most of my time enjoying my 2 kids and husband.  We try to go to the ocean at least once a week and we camp as often as we can.  Camping is an acquired taste that I am still working on but this summer it is far better than last.  As a kid I loved it, but now I love real beds and AC.  The only bad thing about camping is my Cricut doesn't come... yet.

For my project I created some gift bags with matching tags and a card.

CTO Blue and White any occasion

**** 300 follower give away here.

 

Today's challenge is to create something for any occasion using blue and white.   My photos want to tint this a bit more blue then it really is but I can't seem to figure a way to stop that.

I used Gypsy Wanderings for the shape on the left and Wild Card for the sentiment.  This is NOT the way I envisioned this card at all.  This was a total crafting misfit project.  Let me put it this way, 2 of my teeth are now blue from an unfortunate gel pen experience before using my actual Cricut inks in the Cricut.  I thought this would be quick and simple but it ended up taking more time then anything I have done in recent history.

My Mind's Eye has come out with a pack of all their paisley papers! I love it this background paper is from that.  I am loving that paper stack!

I originally just inked the stuff on but the white was shocking and basically horrid.  So I chalked the white paper some.  In person it isn't so blue but it works :)

I would love to see what you come up with!  Join us at Celebrate the Occasion and show us what you come up with!

Lollipop, lollipop oh lolly lolly pop

This is a huge gift back that I decorated for the Cooking With Cricut challenge this week.  I cut the lollipops and the swirls from the Paisley cartridge.  I really think that cartridge is my most versatile one!  Who would have known?  I picked it up for $10 at Michaels in a clearance sale and have gotten PLENTY of use out of it!

For the inside swirls, which are far from perfect I took my ATG gun, my new absolute favorite toy, and applied adhesive and then I put the glitter on it.

Unfortunately my photos are battling 2 issues.  1.  My camera is broken and I am using a back up :(  2. It is dark out!  I need to figure out how to take god pics at night.

Thanks for looking!  Check back tomorrow for my guest design spot with CWC and my first CTO DT project!

Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge: For the Troops

Welcome to another Simply Sunday challenge at Getting Cricky!

For this project I used a stamp from the Amazing You stamp set available here.  This stamp set is so awesome it is SOLD OUT!  So, make sure you go over and pre-order it for when the new ones are available.

The stars were cut from Graphically Speaking.

Thanks for visiting! 

Thank You Blog Hop for Kristal at Getting Cricky!

Being a part of Kristal's design team at Getting Cricky has been a lot of fun!  She has her design team call open and is going to have a new team starting in August.  So, the outgoing team wanted to do a thank you hop for her.  She has been a pleasure to work with and we have LOVED showing off her stamps!

Kristal LOVES owls, so we called our secret plan "Operation Owl."

We all created thank you cards for her.  If she has inspired you we invite you to join us by linking up your project too!  Make sure to visit EVERY stop because there is a lot of blog candy being offered along the way!

The stamps in this set are from Kristal's Amazing You set.

I have some blog candy for one lucky follower/commenter too!!!

Here is the "grand prize."
We have some Blog Hop CANDY for one lucky WINNER!!!
Amy Chomas has graciously donated a mini gel pen set and holder

as our grand prize and some of the ladies have also added to the pot (surprise package).

You must go to each blog and leave a comment (following would be nice also) to qualify for the grand prize.

Brenda will be picking one lucky winner on Wednesday, July 27th. So make sure to go back here and see if you won.So, make sure to hop around and see what is out there!

Brenda                 http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com

Amy Chomas      http://amychomas.blogspot.com/

Jess                       http://myscrapdiary-jess.blogspot.com/

Kathy T               http://scrappingfelkatz.blogspot.com

Lisa                      http://indymermaid.blogspot.com

Becka                  http://www.creationswithbecka.blogspot.com

Kathy P               http://the3esblog.blogspot.com

Ro                        http://rodonner.blogspot.com

Amy                     http://www.lovetocrop.com

Becky                  http://www.squirlygirlcreations.blogspot.com

Charlotte             http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com

Julie                     http://jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com

Rebecca (You are here!) http://craftingmisfit.blogspot.com/

Erika                http://www.craftysprouts.com/

Brenda                 http://createbyburffrau.blogspot.com

Splashtastic Summer Stamp Focus

Aren't those sentiments perfect for these cards?  You can check them out at Getting Cricky!  They are awesome stamps with so many possibilities.

I hijacked Kristal's blog today at Getting Cricky.  These cards are there and a longer post.  I would love it if you went over to the blog there and told Kristal I sent you over!  Check it out!

Card 1:

Recipe:
K Andrew stamps for sentiment
Recollections bling for bubbles
Core'Dinations card stock for the water embossed on Fiskars texture plate then sanded
The fist are cut from Life is a Beach and then the details are penned using Amy Chomas gel pens for the Cricut

Challenges:
Cooking with Cricut- use pens in your Cricut

Card 2

Seriously... how fun is that paper?  You should feel it is so cool!!!

Recipe:
K Andrew Stamps for sentiment
Peachy Keen stamps for the faces
Life is a Beach Cartridge
Sand rain drops paper by Paper Collection

Challenges:
All Sorts Challenge- Free and Easy

Some Great News

Do you follow the Celebrate the Occasion blog?

It is one of my favorite challenge blogs.  If you have been following my blog you know I love a challenge!

I have been selected for their new Design Team!  I am VERY excited about this opportunity.  I am really looking forward to the chance to create for them.  Leave me a comment and tell me if you are a current follower of the blog or if you are going to become one now!

For the Design Team call we were asked to create something with a birthday theme.  I wanted to do something different than a card so I created a gift bag to put a birthday gift in.  Actually, I created a few but stay tuned for more in the next couple of weeks!

I used the Celebrations cartridge to cut the party hat and tag.

I cut several "pom poms" for the top of various sizes to layer them.

The tag is cut using the tag feature on the cartridge.

I embossed using a texture plate and then lightly sanded for added texture.

I added this border to the side because the bag was white and plain.

The sentiment is from Stampin Up. 

Make sure to check out my 300 follower give away- I am only about 50 people short of the goal!!!

Getting Cricky Blog Hop- For our Fallen Heroes

Welcome to Our Monthly Blog Hop at 

Getting Cricky!

We are honoring our fallen heroes this month.

Each Design Team member has created a card to give to a family that has lost someone during their service.

This is VERY personal to me because I have many family and friends that serve.  However, my extended family just lost a young man, only 22 years old, in combat in Afghanistan.  I had asked the DT if anyone wanted to send cards to the family.  Then Kristal, in all her generosity, suggested we do an entire hop for families in this situation.

I am so excited to see the outpouring of love from my DT sisters.  This really is a great bunch of girls to work with.  My term with the design team is just about over and Kristal is actually doing design team call right now.  If you are interested take a hop over there and check it out.

Do you want to contribute a card to the cause?  In August I am going to an event for Fallen Heroes.  At this event I will hand deliver cards that people have made in honor of their lost loved ones.  The fact that my bloggy friends are pouring  out love for this cause makes my blogging time so worth it. Make sure to go to Getting Cricky for more information!

About the card:
Sadly, I think this looks MUCH better in person!  UGH!  I hate it when that happens.
I used Wild Card for the cuts.
Then I crumpled up the paper and distressed it with gold ink.
The sentiment is from "Amazing You" by K Andrew

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Blog Hop this weekend

It's a "Let's Get Cricky" Blog Hop 

and

YOU are invited!!

When: This Friday, July 15th beginning at 9pm EST (6pm PST) and continuing through Sunday...

Why: To support our fallen HEROES...  We will each be featuring special "Thank You" cards to be delivered during the "Run for the Fallen" in Maine...

"Run for the Fallen Maine is an organization dedicated to keeping alive the memory of our military heroes that gave their lives to protect our freedom since September 11, 2001.

On Sunday August 21, 2011 the 4th run to honor our heroes will be held. This is a 65 kilometer event with each kilometer being dedicated to the memory of one of our heroes that lived in Maine, had family from Maine or had some ties to our home State."

I will be hand-delivering these cards during this very special event...  If you would like to help support this cause, there will be an opportunity for you to also make a card for the event (stop back on Friday for all the details)...  The organization is also accepting donations for the event.  You can find more information about donating by clicking HERE...

Where: Begins at Getting Cricky with K Andrew and includes the Design Team and a Special Guest...

What to bring: YOU!!  Of course, sharing this special occasion with others is welcome and appreciated!!

Where do you get your vinyl?

I am in need of some bronze vinyl to create some wall art in our new church building.  I am curious where everyone gets their vinyl.  Please leave a comment and let me know :)

Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge: Fashionista

Here is my Simply Sunday challenge for Getting Cricky this week.  I loved this challenge!!!


The Fashionable Friends stamp set by K Andrew is perfect for this set.  I found a lot of great image choices on Forever Young for this.  There are also some great choices on Paisley, be watching for that this week!  The paper is from Recollections Signature collection.  It is super thick and was great to work with.  I love all of the stamp sets I have from Kristal, but I am thinking this is going to be one of my favorites ;)

* Don't forget to check out my 300 follower give away!  Click here.

Challenges:
Ginger Loft Challenge- make it sparkle
Stampin' Sisters in Christ- favorite stamp product- that is easy... K Andrew stamps!
Cooking WIth Cricut- anything Cricut
 

Have you been waiting to see the finished craft room?  I loved hearing from people that they struggle with order in their craft spaces too.  Sometimes it feels great to know I am not alone!

Blog Awards! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

***ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MY SHOW AND TELL- WHERE YOU CAN LINK UP YOUR PROJECT OF CHOICE?  CLICK HERE.
***ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MY 300 FOLLOWER GIVE AWAY?  CLICK HERE.

Over the past couple of weeks a few awesome followers have sent me blog awards! Thank you so much ladies!

This award came from 2 wonderful crafters!  Cathie at Cat Naps Jewelry and Sarah at Sarah's Crafts and Stuff.

First, a quick word of thanks to Cathie!  Cathie has some wonderful mini albums on her page with awesome attention to details!!!  Thanks for the award Cathie.

Another word of thanks to Sarah!  Sarah has a variety of types of cards on her blog.  I love her creation style, with simple yet beautiful cuts and wonderful colors!

This award asks you to post 7 things about yourself and pass it on to 8 other blogs.

  The seven things is hard for me... I feel like I may over reveal myself in my posts as is LOL.
        1. I hate sleeping, it is a waste of time and frustrates me that I have to do it.
        2. I love numbers, spreadsheets, charts etc
        3. I am overly sensitive and I hate that about myself.
        4. I really don't like cooking (unless I am planning a fun party) but I love serving and setting the table all pretty.
        5. I am now addicted to the Alex Cross book series.
        6. I am petrified of fire, which is ironic considering my husband is a volunteer fire fighter.
        7. I love my bloggie friends!  I look forward to hearing from you all the time!

Now to pass this award on.  This is SO HARD!  I know I am going to leave out a ton of wonderful blogs that I follow.  However, I can't list all the blogs I follow here so please know if I follow you I love your work!

PLEASE take a second and see what these ladies create!!!

1. MistyRose at Sweet Magnolia Rose
2. Sugar Baby Boutique
3. Laurie at Scraps by Sissy
4. Amy at Red Headed Crafter

5. Pink Lady Crafter
6. Linda at Paper Cutting Kind of Day
7. Karen at Little Scrap Pieces
8. Kimberly at Hello Cutie Crafts

This one came from the super talented Kelly at Kelly's Crafty Life.  Kelly is a talented crafter  but she is also an awesome follower.  She leaves the kindest comments!
This award, I think, just asks me to pass it on to other talented bloggers.  Here are some other wonderful bloggers... PLEASE check them out!

Some of these ladies I have given awards to before... but their work continues to impress and inspire me :)

Lisa at lindy mermaid
Cards by CG
Deannes Creative Juice
Crads, Crafts, and Kid's projects
Create me Pink

Spider card

Are you looking for my 300 follower give away?
The spider web embossing plate is part of the give away!

I cut the spider from Everyday Paper Dolls and the sentiment is from K Andrew's Amazing You set.  I used Core'Dinations paper and sanded it after embossing to reveal the web.

Here is another reveal into my craftroom.  Check back on Sunday for the complete picture!

How cute are the flower pots?!  They were on clearance at Michael's and they were too cute not to buy!

Challenge:
All Sorts Challenge- Free and Easy
Aud Sentiments- sentiment with at least two words
Lexi's Creations- A bug's life

Birthday Card

***ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MY SHOW AND TELL- WHERE YOU CAN LINK UP YOUR PROJECT OF CHOICE?  CLICK HERE.
***ARE YOU LOOKING FOR MY 300 FOLLOWER GIVE AWAY?  CLICK HERE.

This is the swirls Fiskars template.

Again with the photos this week! YIKES!  Anyway, the purple background is the party template from Fiskars.

The sprinkles are done with microbeads, this was the first time I have ever used them and the jury is still out on how I feel about them.  The cupcake border is cut from Celebrations.

These Fiskars templates are a part of my 300 follower give away.  Make sure to check it out and help me reach the goal if you like what you see on my blog.

The sentiment is from K Andrew's Food for Thought stamp set.

More of craft room reveal:

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
Polly Craft Challenge- celebrations
Birthday Sundaes- Anything Goes
Penny's Challenges- Birthday
All Sorts Challenge- Free and Easy