H2H Challenge and Midnight

Day 7 of FRIGHTFULLY Creative Halloween FUN!

Today's post was inspired by the theme "Midnight" for this week's H2H Challenge. The word  Midnight does conjure up images of dark, scary nights.... but I knew right away what I wanted to do when I saw this bottle of wine sitting on my Target shelf!

One of my FAV-orite wines ...

I wanted to make some wine charms but not the traditional ones with a wire but a paper version.  I found these as I was 'googling' wine charms.  Have you noticed how that word has turned into a verb rather than an noun?  OK- you didn't pay attention in English class!

So I created this quick and easy Cricut Design Space file you can find here.  The circle in the middle is .5" and you may have to change it to fit your wine glass stem.

It is a simple 3.5 circle with a 3.0 circle center. The center circle varies from .5 to .65 to accommodate the width of the stem. Easy!

Did you notice that the one charm has a decorative edge to it?  I created that wine charm in the Pazzles Inspiration Pro 2014 software using the Decorative Tools option - the lesson today with the amazing Klo!

I love the 'notes' function in this new software - I can add my own comments or add where I found the file.

You can find the files here..

Wine Charms wpc file here

Wine Charms pvg file here

Wine Charms svg file here

Since I never sell a Halloween stamp set, I have two retired stamp sets featured here- sorry!

Supplies:

Black and White Daisy cardstock

Scaredy Cat B & T paper

Lola B & T paper

Ink colors - Slate, Black, Gypsy,Honey

Stamp sets:

B1281 Hallow-Scream (retired)

C1512 Moonlight Scrapbooking Workshop (retired)

D1605 Halloween Greetings

B1453 Frightfully Fun

B1429 Eek & Shriek

Why don't you play along with us this week and use the theme- "midnight".  I would love to see what you come up with!

Here is the linky so you can link up your artwork.

H2H Challenge Blog Color Inspiration

This weeks challenge is a color challenge using Goldrush, Lagoon, Cranberry and Desert Sand.

Sometimes these color challenges are very difficult for me to do because I can not visualize the color combo.  But this one had tons of possibilities and I selected a card design from the CTMH Artfully Sent cartridge to work with.  I used the color palette from Design Space ( I wish they had RGB codes ) to what I thought would be the closest color match.

If you would like the Design Space file it can be found here.

The front was rather naked so I added some stamping to a colonial white mat. I stamped the "hello" from the included stamp set and the flower is from D1550 Happy Autumn.  I also used one of my favorite techniques of tissue inking to combine the Goldrush and Cranberry inks in the flower. The leaves are using another technique called Rock and Roll. 

Here is a video from CTMH featuring the Rock and Roll technique.

Card Front -  cut at 3.5 x 5.0"

This card is sized 3 .75 x 5.25.  I am still trying to find the correct sizing in DS.

 I hope you will participate this month and add your design to the linky found here.

H2H Challenge for this week is Up, Up and Away!

Well I have had a hard time NOT singing the song by the 5th Dimension,  so I thought I would share it for all of you out there!


                 

So I know I am dating myself but that's half the fun!  During the winter months there are many mornings when the ' Big Red Balloon' drifts over my house.  Some mornings i wave at them while I am drinking my coffee!  As soon as I hear them I run out with my camera and start shooting my pictures.

This weeks challenge is to create a design focusing on a something in the air!  So I had to create a one page layout with my February pics of the Big Red Balloon!

My colors are pretty basic - Cranberry, White Daisy, Black and Sky...good-bye Sky - I really liked you :(

The Design Space layout is adapted from Make It From Your Heart - Volume 2 Pattern 18.  I love to design my layouts in DS and then cut out only the pieces I can't cut easily without my cutter.  Here is my design idea.

As you can see it looks exactly the same but with a few minor additions, such as chalking the clouds and some black Bakers Twine for the basket. I decided I had better add a month and day, so I would remember when I took the picture!  You can find the Design Space file here.

As always if you have any problems just email and I will see what I can do to help you out.

Enjoy and come joins us for this week's  challenge!

H2H Red and White July Challenge

Welcome to the July Scrapbook challenge with H2H.  This month's challenge is to use the colors of Red and White Daisy.  Here is a picture for inspiration...

For my first post as a member of the H2H Design Team, I created this one page layout.

I love using the Cricut Design Space to design my layouts. I play around with the elements until I get the look I want.  You can find the Cricut Explore file here

I used Z1906 CTMH Artbooking Collection to create the layout.  I added the sparkle with the Z1848 Red Shimmer Trim behind a few stars. I actually used my expensive Bernina 830 machine to stitch on the cardstock (we won't tell Gregor!).  I was trying to create the look of the stitching on his jersey.  The colors I used are Ruby and White Daisy with Pacifica and Whisper.

Please consider joining us this month in the July challenge. Here  are the guidelines for your design.

So remember, show your CTMH pride, scrapbook-style, with

*Any red and White Daisy

*sparkle

*sewing

*optional blue and/or neutrals

You will find the linky for the challenge here

July Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the heat and humidity of summer!  At least that is what July brings to Tampa, FL.  This month we have over 40 consultants participating and you can find the list on Melinda's blog here.

If you have been hopping with us, then you have arrived from Sarah's blog here . This month's stamp set is S1407 Circus Alphabet. It contains a combination of 68 capital letters, lower case letter and punctuation.  Perfect for your whimsical layouts, 3D projects and cards.

Here is a video where Monica features this month's stamp set!

The beginning of summer also brings the end of the school year.  I always looked forward to the summer months because there are plenty of opportunities for taking pictures.  I created this layout to celebrate the end of the school year for my great niece Cambria.  When I was a child I loved Midway Park in WNY but I now realize as an adult, that it wasn't that great of an amusement park!  Here is a vintage picture of the park as it once was..

Here is the layout I created from Make It from Your Heart Volume 2 - Pattern 12.

Supplies:

Make It From Your Heart 2 - pattern 12

X7181B Jubilee paper pack

S1407 Circus Alphabet

C1580 Big Top

Colors: Honey, Cranberry, Pacifica, Outdoor Denim

You can find the Cricut Design Space file here.. As with all artists you may change or adapt the layout to suit your needs.

Now it is off to Sheila's blog here to see her terrific card.

Cricut Design Space Files for the "Two-fer" Workshop

Many of you are 'fans' of my blog and I thank you for following me!  
Many of you know that I am a retired teacher who spent almost 40 years in public education.  

My passion is to teach not to make money.. so with that said, here is the first of two FREE files using the Cricut Design Space and the Explore for my workshop tonight.

Balloon Ride layout

You can find the link here...
https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/project/17890029

Here is the finished layout...

Enjoy!

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Well once again it is the 1st of another month, but this time it is June 1st! When I lived in WNY, June was my FAV-o-rite month because it meant the start of summer (after unusually looong winters), the end of school and the month of celebrations! This year is no exception!

If you are celebrating another Stamp of the Month Blog Hop and seriously who wouldn't?, then you have arrived from Pam Jarrett's blog here..

This month's stamp set is S1406 Kaboom and it features all the stamps you need to celebrate the 4th of July or Canada Day!

If you get lost along the way, you can always check out Melinda's post here for a list of the blog hop members.

I recently held my ArtBooking class in which the ladies actually bring their Cricuts and cut out all of the designs,  It is a whole lot easier for me because it saves ME time cutting but we all work until the last minute!  Since my mini-book class or Artbooking class is always at the end of the month, we celebrate by stamping with the next SOTM. This month was no exception.  This month's layout we used designs from both pages - pg. 64 and 65 - all cut at 11"...

We also embossed the stars- I love embossing!  Take a closer look...

The best part of this layout is that we used all of the "schmutz" from the cutting mat!  

The Urban Dictionary has defined "Schmutz" as ...

Used by Jewish mothers to identify that you've got some kind of crap on your face

Mommy: You've got som Schmutz on your face, Oy! 
You: blech!

My (and my friend Ginny) NEW definition is....

....All of the negative pieces left on your cutting mat after you have pulled your cut shape away!

What is YOUR name for those pieces????  Leave me a comment and let me know...

For my CTMH 'sistas' who have purchased the Explore and I struggling with finding the designs in the Artbooking cartridge, check out my previous post here..

Just in case, I also created a cut file for the Cricut Design Space here... for all of your to use and enjoy!

Thanks for hanging in with me all the way to the end of this post!  I do hope you have been inspired!  Now it is off to Melinda's blog here...

CTMH Artbooking Cheat Sheet

 Thank you Narelle!  You have made my life so much easier!
                   

                                             This lady is awesome!!

                      
                     Remember, you must type the # and the M for each code.

She has added all of the search numbers and created a pdf file so all you have to do is search for the number i.e. #M4078D for the cut word - Cherish

                  

Run over to her website here.....

Thank you again! Narelle ... you have accomplished what Provo Craft/Cricut hasn't or wouldn't...

May Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Welcome to the May SOTM Blog Hop! 

I think this month's stamp set will be a very popular one, especially paired with the Close to My Heart National Scrapbooking Month paper pack "Free to Be Me"!  If you have been hopping with us, then you have arrived from Jamie's blog here.

There are 54 consultants participating in this month's hop, but not to worry, if you get lost along the way, you can always hop over to Melinda's blog here and find all of the links for the SOTM participants.

The stamp set S1405 You've Got a Friend includes 5 fun images that are ideal for a card or a scrapbook page!

I try to feature the next month's stamp set in my workshop - "Mini Book Magic", which is always the last Friday of the month!  That is the reason you see so many of my mini books using the stamp set.  This month is no exception!  This month's paper pack is X 7179B Ariana and we again used a previous project from CTMH as a springboard!

This is the second album that I cut with my new Cricut Explore.  I am getting the hang of the software and I have included the file for the cuts at the end of this post.  Check it out!

Here is the cover to the book...

Included in this workshop was the X7179C Ariana My Complements.  A little faux stitching adding some punch to the Outdoor Denim paper cut.

On the inside of the cover, I used the SOTM set to accent the two photo mats. I used the pen feature on the Explore to outline the shape.  Here is a close-up!

I was able to create the tag shape using the Contour feature of the shape and eliminate the inside of the cut.  Look for a post coming soon in how to do this! The stamp set I used is A1158 Doodle Signs and can be purchased here along with the NEW Z1961 White Marquee Enamel Shapes.

"Front of the Chat Bubble"

"Back of the Chat Bubble"

"Postage Stamp Page"

This is the file that I used in the tag - I just shrunk it down and took out the photo opening!

Inside of the Postage Stamp Page

This is my favorite page!

Next page...

Back Cover...

Lots of pages and embellishments BUT my ladies finished it in 1 1/2  hours!  They are getting good at this!

Here is a picture of the Explore file...

Here is the link for the file...

Thanks for hanging in with me through this LONG post but I think you now have a clear picture of how versatile this stamp set is!

Now it is time to hop on over to Melinda's blog here! and check out her fabulous artwork.