Birthday Party for my mom!

I've been working on the plans for a big 50th birthday bash for my mom for months, and last night was the big night! I was so happy with how everything turned out (even though she wasn't really surprised after all...).

It all started with this adorable free digi-kit by Ronna Penner, which I downloaded from www.shabbyprincess.com. I used the flowers and paper from the kit to create this invitation. I drew the dress, balloons, and body parts on white paper with a thick marker, then scanned them in so I could work with them in my graphics program. I LOVED the result -- so much in fact, that I decided to base all the decorations for the party on the colors and feel of the kit!

I made these centerpieces for all the tables using Bazzill cardstock that coordinated with the kit. I cut all the hats from the Cricut Celebrations cartridge. This was the first time I used this cartridge! I never thought I wanted it, but I couldn't resist when I found it for $25. I'm SO glad I gave in! I bought these little tin pails at WalMart and put floral foam in the bottom. I painted bamboo skewers white and added the hats to the top, then filled the pails with curled ribbon. Each centerpiece was sitting on an oversized flower that I printed from the digi-kit.



Here are a few more examples of the various centerpieces:


Here's one of my favorite parts of the decorations! I printed this 2' x 5' banner on my dad's large format printer using elements from the kit. Then I made use of my parents' huge windows and the darkness for a fun and meaningful idea -- I got one of those markers they use for writing on car windows and asked all the guests to write one word they thought described my mom. She totally loved it!



I used the base design of the invitation to make this guest book/album, bound with the Bind-it-all. All the guests signed it, and there is plenty of room for pictures. I printed the inside pages with a border and some of the flowers from the kit, so they are all ready to adhere the pics and do some journalling, and the album will be done!



After the party was over, I grabbed my favorite out of all the party hats to make a card! I created the circle card with the window using Cricut Design Studio by making two 5" circles, welding them together, then adding a 3" circle to the middle of one of the big circles. I then cut the yellow scallop (which is the edge of the card -- the brown in the background is just so you can see the yellow better) with Mini Monograms and adhered the circle card to it. I added a 4" white circle to the inside for writing. I adhered the hat to the front, added the doodle outlines with a white gel pen, and wrote "happy birthday" on the band. I love it!



Phew! I have to admit I'm exhausted, but I love how it all turned out! And the best part of all is that it made my mom feel so happy and loved, and that was the whole point!

So excited about Cricut Design Studio!

I have some fun projects I want to show you all in a bit, but while I'm finishing those up I just had to say how excited I am about the new Cricut Design studio software! So far I've just downloaded the free trial version, but my little mind is just brimming with ideas about the possibilities. You can do so much with this software -- it makes the Cricut more flexible and creative than ever before. You can bet you'll see a lot of use of this software in my future projects. So far lots of people (including me) have had some technical difficulties, but I still think the potential far outweighs it. Hopefully PC will back up the software as well as they have the bug itself. Here's a very cool link -- a blog where you can download some really amazing cutting files!

http://cricutsoftcuts.blogspot.com/

Back soon!

I'm back with Disney albums!

Boy, life has been crazy lately! If anyone out there is still checking my blog, thanks for hanging in! I have some fun projects planned for December, so I should be on a little more than I have been.

But now I'd love to show you my Disney albums! This first one is the autograph book/album that Sammy and I made together. We had so much fun! I made it 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" just because that was easiest, and it was a great size for having room to add the character die-cuts, room for autographs, and room for a 4x6 pic and journalling. The less work the better! I was able to finish this quickly after we got home, and Sammy has been proudly showing it off to everyone who comes in our door.






I made this little album as a Christmas gift for my SIL who instigated our trip to Disneyland. She's not a real "cutesy" person, and her tastes run to the funky, so I thought I'd do something grown up for her. This is a 4x6 chipboard album from We R Memory Keepers, so I just slid the photos into the pages on the inside. The outside I decorated using Scenic Route paper and chipboard "J", Autumn Leaves swirl stamps, American Crafts rub-on letters, and "Disney" cut from Mickey Font at 2 1/2". Oh, and the little Mickey head is cut at 1 1/4".




Hope everyone is having a really wonderful Christmas season!

Thankful Hearts

I've been AWOL for a bit because we went to California and DISNEYLAND! It was really fun, and I've got a cool autograph book/album in the works that I'll post when I get the pictures printed and put in. It was a blast, and I'm so glad I took the time to make the book before we went so now I can just slap the pictures in, journal, and be done!

In the meantime, here is my project for Regina Easter's "Bitten by the Bug" blog this week. She sent me some fantastic Cornish Heritage Farms stamps to use on this bag from the TTBM Cricut cartridge -- you've gotta check out all the amazing designs on her blog this week, plus there's a link to Cornish Heritage and a cool contest they're sponsoring. It's http://www.regina-bittenbythebug.com.

I've been busy!

I've been working on several different projects at once over the past couple weeks (translated, that means: my office is a complete disaster area). But at least I've got some fun things to show for it!

This project was a new one for me -- a local store was having a charity auction of decorated paper lanterns, and I made this one to contribute. It started out black, but I just wasn't feeling it, so I decided to go with a Thanksgiving-type theme. I painted it green, painted on the flourishes, and added flowers (cut with my Cricut) and ribbon. I then made these thank you cards to go with it -- I thought they'd make a nice card for Thanksgiving.





These next few layouts are my most recent forays into digi-scrapping. They're for the books I make for my mom and MIL (I'm supposed to do a layout every month, but I keep getting behind!).





This one is my November layout for my weight-loss album. I love this 6x6 album -- I get to use all my fun digi-kits and they're quick to put together! This totally fab free kit is from Shabby Princess -- see link at left!



Next, here are a bunch of cards I made experimenting with my new Cricut Colors pens. They are pens that fit into the Cricut instead the blade, so you can draw the images instead of cutting them out:







And last but not least (thanks if you've hung in this long!), here are a couple of layouts I finally did! I've been working on cards and gifts so much I haven't had a chanch to do any layouts for quite a while.

This one is my cute boys playing together -- I LOVE this pic!

OUT FOR PUBLICATION

And here is me and my cute hubby, out on the town in Seattle! This one was for a BBTB challenge, to use the & from George. See the other really cool projects at http://regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com.






TFL!

I gave in!

Well, I gave in to the 40% off entire purchase coupon, but I was so good. I only bought basic supplies that I needed, and not one piece of patterned paper followed me home! My favorite thing that I bought was a set of the new Cricut pens, so I had to come home and try them out! I made this card from scraps just so I could try it -- I can see a lot of potential with these!

What can you do with a couple sheets of patterned paper?

I first pulled out this paper to make this accordian album for my Grandpa, commemoration the big get-together we had for his 76th birthday. I had 2 sheets of each pattern (stripes and polka dots), and I had so much left over I decided to use it for cards as well! Even still, I have enough left over for an 8x8 layout, at least. You can really make a little go a long way when you're scrapping! This pp is from Wild Asparagus, and the pre-made album is from DCWV.






This fun Donald card is for the little son of a friend of my aunt's who is undergoing major surgery tomorrow. He LOVES Donald Duck. I was happy to have an opportunity to use my Disney cartridge again, and Sammy had a blast putting this card together with me. I'm definitely going to let him help me put together an autograph book for our trip to Disneyland in a few weeks!



I really don't like this last card much, but I thought I'd include it since I'm talking about how many projects you can get out of just a few supplies. This is a super quick card for a guy.

Ack, the temptation!

I am doing so well with my spending ban, but the WORST temptation just landed right in my mailbox! My favorite LSS just sent me a 40% off ENTIRE PURCHASE coupon, good only on -- you guessed it -- October 31st. The last day of my absolute ban! Do I give in? It's only one day! And there are a few things I really need, so wouldn't it be more responsible to get them when I have such a great deal in hand?! Or shall I be strong for the sake of principle?! I'm dying here!

PS -- if any of you Utah folks want a 40% entire purchase coupon for Roberts, just holler at me!

Smile!

I've been nominated by my lovely friend Carol for a You Make Me Smile award!



This really makes me smile, because Carol makes me happy and I'm glad to know I can do the same for her! The best thing about being online is that you get to make friends with people you'd never otherwise meet. Thanks, Carol!

I know most of these people have probably already been nominated for this award, but here are my blogging friends who really make me smile (links to all these blogs can be found at left):

TeriBeri
Regina Easter
Carol (back at ya!)
Sonia
Patsy J
Ang


Thanks!

A cute album of my cute little nephew!

I made this album for my SIL for her birthday. The pictures are really the star of this book -- aren't they amazing? My brother took them -- if you're in Utah, you should totally check out his photography website www.capturethem.com. He's awesome! He's taken some totally precious pics of my two boys you'll see in an album soon!

Anyway, back to facts... I used a handy-dandy swatch book from Daisy D's for the pages. These books are SO great -- 24 double-sided pages, already pinked, in 12 different designs. I just painted around the edges of the photos and slapped 'em on! I also added some buttons, Quickutz rub-ons, and Making Memories quote strips. I put the whole thing together with my bind-it-all. On the inside cover I cut a daisy from the Walk in My Garden cartridge at 2 1/2" and a Making Memories pocket. The stamp is from Autumn Leaves. And by the way, my spending ban is still in full swing -- who knew I had such great stuff in my stash?! TFL!

Tagged!

My very lovely and talented friend Carol has tagged me, so now I get to share with you all seven facts about myself!

1. I am the oldest of ten kids -- 6 girls and 4 boys! We are a tight family and love spending time together, which means I will never, ever run out of things to scrap! (Or reasons to make cards and gifts, since there are always birthdays coming up!)
2. I lived in Denmark for a year and a half as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons). I've been home for almost 6 years now, but I try really hard to keep up my Danish and keep in touch with people there.
3. I am allergic to cats, dogs, birds, and pollen. I've considered telling people I'm allergic to seafood because I REALLY hate it, but so far I've always chickened out! :)
4. I LOVE to sing. I took voice lessons during high school and the first part of college, and I used to sing with a huge choir called the Mormon Youth Chorus (if you've heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, this was the young-adult version of it back in the day).
5. I have lost 52 lbs so far this year!
6. I hate doing housework. There are SO many things I would rather be doing (and no, not ALL of them are scrap-related...) I can nearly always find something that definitely needs to be done first. This is something I'm working on overcoming.
7. We're going to Disneyland with our kids for the first time in November! We're very excited, and I'd love any great tips you Disney-maniacs have (I know you're out there!)

Okay, I'd like to tag Ang (http://angscrappinspace.blogspot.com/), Patsy Jackson (http://patsy-j.blogspot.com), Sonia (http://skscrap.blogspot.com), Teri (http://teriberi2.blogspot.com) and Tammy (http://ncscrapaddict.blogspot.com)(even though she's been tagged before)!

Fun new projects -- spending ban in full swing!

Well, I'm halfway through the month of October and I haven't spent a penny on supplies. Whew! It gets easier as I get out of the habit of checking all the ads and surfing the great shopping sites.

The best part about it is that I've still been having lots of fun creating stuff! Here is a layout I made for my album about my hubby and me. I just took this picture off the wall and decided it needed to be scrapped ASAP so I didn't forget about it, because it's such a fun memory. I haven't been a huge fan of this paper, but it worked just perfectly with the crazy striped shirt I'm wearing. This PP is from DCWV, and the circles and paperclip were cut with the Cricut (George and Fab Fins carts). The big eyelet is from We R Memory Keepers, and the definition strip is from Memory Works.



Part of my "use what you have" quest is to really use up all I have, so after I finished the layout I made some quick cards with the scraps. I was able to get 3 cards AND that layout out of this single piece of PP and a couple sheets of cardstock. Not bad! This "u" stamp is from Pebbles, Inc.



Here are a few of the cards I've worked on over the past couple of weeks. As you can see, I'm still obsessed with scallops! I've created nearly all these scallops with the Coluzzle circle template -- I LOVE doing that!



This one uses an adorable Stampin' Up stamp and some great paper from CTMH. The little flowers are cut with the George cartridge. After I scanned it, I thought it was missing something and I went back and sprayed the whole card with glimmer mist -- very cute touch.



This one is for one of our employees whose cancer has returned. I did these scallops with my corner rounder. The paper is Crate Paper, and the letter stamps and cuts are from the Quickutz Sophisticate set, which I got for $30 at the Scrapbook Expo (score!).



This is another one I made at the expo -- I love this Treehouse Designs paper. The flower is an Autumn Leaves stamp. I used my Cutterbee stitchng piercer to make the holes for the stitching -- just love those things! The rub-ons are from Making Memories.



This is one I made for Regina's BBTB blog (http://regina-bittenbythebug.blogspot.com) -- the challenge this week was using the scallop shapes on the Mini-Monograms cartridge. Right up my alley! I just love this totally fab paper from Sassafrass Lass, too. I also used a Sassafrass Lass stamp to do the dots inside b, and a dymo labeler for "is for birthday."



I made this one at the expo, too -- I just totally fell in love with this Crate Paper doing a make-and-take with it at the expo, so I had to buy some to play with. More scallops, of course, and a flower and oval from the Cricut George cartridge. This rub-on is by Pebbles, Inc., and the giant brad is from We R Memory Keepers.

And last but not least!




If you'd like instuctions on how to make this cool folding card, check out this link:
http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=1154158

Thanks for looking!

My goal for self-control...

Well, I've heard it said that a goal is just a wish if you don't write it down, so I'm going to go public with my goal in the hopes it will motivate me to DO IT. I have been spending WAY too much on craft supplies, and even though I really do use it, I am still bringing stuff in way faster than I'm using it. I think I probably have a year's supply of scrapbook stuff, just waiting to be turned into something wonderful.

I do not, however, think I have the willpower to go a whole year without making a scrapbook purchase. But I'd like to see how long I can do it! My concrete goal is to make it through October without making a single purchase. One week down, and so far I've been good. I haven't even looked at the ads or browsed online. I even had to go to the craft store last week (just for picture frames!) and I did not even stray in the direction of the scrapbook section. The fact that even that is so hard is just evidence to me that I need to work on this goal.

After I make it all the way through October, I will reevaluate. I may need to make some small purchases for necessaries (adhesives and inks are the things I go through fastest), but I am committed that I will not buy any more paper until I have made a significant dent in what I already have. It's pretty sad when I honestly cannot fit a single additional piece of paper into my vertical storage shelves. I am going to get creative and use all the beautiful things I've been collecting! It is my quest to see how long I can go, though it may be hard with all you enablers out there.

I'm trying to decide right now if I should build in an exception for a couple of the new Cricut cartridges coming out between now and Christmas. I wouldn't do it except I had a great Christmas present for my boys and nephews all planned out, and I really need Paper Dolls to make it happen. I think I'll go through my plan and see how much I REALLY need it -- maybe I can do it with what I already have, or even wait until next year. One of my nephews is currently 7 months old and the other is being born today (yippee!), so I don't know that they really NEED an alphabet book right this second. Argh. I'm so excited to make it, though! I think I'll just see how well I can do it without, and if I can't do it without, I'll just use it as a reward if I can make it all the way to the Dec. 1st release date without buying anything.

Wow, that was a lot of rambling. Thanks for hanging in there if you made it this far! Anyone want to join me on this quest?

Thanksgiving card and envelope for BBTB Challenge

Our challenge this week was to use the card and envelope from the Christmas Cheer cartridge, but it didn't have to be for a Christmas card. I decided to go for Thanksgiving instead, and I found this lovely Wild Asparagus paper to fit that theme. The flower is a Quickutz die I just picked up at the Scrapbook Expo, and the stitching embossing around the sentiment is a Cuttlebug embossing folder, which I sanded to make white. On the envelope I made the little tie things by setting a couple of extra large eyelets and wrapping string around them, along with a little tage from Christmas Cheer.

Thank you!

Blogging is a funny thing -- you post comments and projects, but you're never really sure if people see them. But over the past week or so, I've had several unrelated people say, "Oh, I saw that on your blog!" It means so much to me to know that people are actually reading and enjoying my blog, so I just wanted to say thank you to you all! I really appreciate all the warm fuzzies you send me, too. Hope you're having a lovely day!

CD Date Book -- bound with Bind-it-all

This is the project I worked on during the SWARM his past weekend. I made it for a couple different reasons. I'm a consultant for Memory Works, and I've been meaning to make a bunch of products using just the contents of one of the kits (to show in case I ever do get around to having parties and such!). I use my Cricut so much in my paper crafting, I wanted to do this one without. I did use it to cut the circles, but that's all. The pattern papers and chipboard are all from We R Memory Keepers. I bound the book with the bind-it-all -- a little tricky with the cds, so I think I need more practice on that. But I sure like the finished result! And I definitely need a date book -- for being such a dedicated card maker, I sure miss a lot of birthdays and such!

My first Bind-it-all project!

Yay for the Bind-it-all! I can tell I will really love it. I made this little guest book to go on a shelf in our guest room. I thought it would be so fun to have a little mini-book of all the people who come and stay with us. The book itself is about 6" x 4 3/4". The paper is from Wild Asparagus and the die cuts are all made with the Cricut. "Friends" is from Jasmine, cut at 2 1/2" (for 'friend') and 2" (for the 's'), with shadow. The tulip bunch is from Walk in My Garden, cut at 2 1/2" on border mode. The tag is from George, cut at 2" with shadow.


This is a view of the inside cover. I used the same cut from Walk in My Garden, plus a scallop circle tag from Alphalicious. "Welcome" is from Zooballoo, cut on silhouette mode at 1 or 1 1/4".



This is what the rest of the pages look like -- the left-hand side is for the guests' entry, then the right is a mat where we can put a little picture of them from their visit.



Thanks for looking!

Yay, More Christmas!

As promised, here is a card made with some of the goodies from my little spending spree this week! I just could NOT resist these Hero Arts stamps -- I have a serious weakness for the cute little birdie trend happening right now. Then for the stitching I used the new cutterbee piercing bugs. They work great! They don't pierce deep enough to go through 3 layers of heavy cardstock, so I had to do a little repoking, but they go through 2 just great and one like butter. I'm so excited, because I love doing hand stitching, but piercing all those little holes gets really tedious.

I colored the stamp with watercolor pencils and embossed the background with the Cuttlebug, then sanded it to bring out the design. I made the scallop with the Coluzzle circle template -- big thanks to Keligirl from the Cricut MB who suggested that! Fun, fun stuff!

Stay tuned til Monday, when I'll be able to post a project I just finished for Regina's design team using my new Bind-it-all!

Shopping ban? What shopping ban? :)

Oh, I was so bad today! I was stuck at the mall with my boys while my van was being fixed and the playground was out of commission -- nooooo! But Archivers was tantalizingly close and it just so happened I had brought along my coupons on the off chance they had a bind-it-all in stock. And they did -- yippee! But I didn't stop there! I came home with:

The Bind-it-all and a couple of wires
Super cute clear Christmas stamps from Hero Arts -- I can't resist little birdies
A cute "SMILE" Heidi Swapp stamp
Cutter Bee paper piercing bugs, the ones that poke stitching holes
Paper Pups (a Cricut cartridge) -- it was on clearance for $22, how could I resist?!
Cardstock
& an adorable fall paper pack that I got for FREE because I spent over $50. Aren't I resourceful?!

So be ready for some fun new projects from me, coming soon!

Scrap Decor!

I am working on decorating the house in preparation for houseguests coming in a couple weeks and I decided to create my own artwork for the bathroom! Now see, I knew I just HAD to have this paper when I went to the lss last week even though I had no idea what I'd use it for at the time. And look! It was just perfect to go along with the colors for that bathroom. I think that justifies more unjustifiable spending! :) I just love these pics of my boys in the tub. The details of how I made this one can be found here:

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=1079170