H2H NO-vember Scrapbook Challenge

Oh NO, it's NO- vember and this month is full of No-Nos!  The first NO Challenge for NO-vember is NO B & T paper.  Many times for me, this is not a crisis and this week proved to be no exception.

I have been eyeing the one page layout on page 108 of the Annual Inspirations and I thought this would be a perfect week to create my own layout.  I have many pages to finish of my son's wedding album and I thought this page would give me the motivation to start working on it again.

I designed the layout in Design Space and then adjusted the colors to match the color scheme of the wedding.  I can see this layout used for anniversary, birthday and other meaningful events.

The Cricut Design Space file is here

Supplies:

page 108 of the Annual Inspirations - Pattern 10 from Make It From Your Heart Volume 2

Cardstock includes White Daisy, Slate, Whisper, Sweet Leaf and Outdoor Denim

Inks include Sweet Leaf, Whisper and Slate

Z1932 Silver Geometric Washi Tape

Stamp set - D1539 The Happy Couple

CTMH cartridges- Art Philosophy, Artbooking and Artfully sent

Here is my finished layout...

Pleas join us in NO-vember for any of the challenges.  You can find the linky here for this one.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post - the second page to this layout!

October Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hello October!!  Hello Fall!  Hello cooler temps???  Ok - where are you?  Today's high - 89 degrees....urg!  I have to go into the stores to get the 'cooler' temps- Target is always freezing cold!!  But regardless, the Holiday season has arrived and this month Close to My Heart's stamp of the Month is S1310 Scandinavian Wishes!

If you have been hopping with us then you have arrived from Kim's blog here and checked out her card and tags!

If you get lost along the way you can always go back to Kathleen's blog for the complete list here.

When I think of Scandinavia I think of my dear mother-in-law who was Swedish. She was born in the U.S. to Swedish  immigrants and grew up in Western New York on a dairy farm.  At Christmas she always had plenty of Dala Horses.  The Dala horse or Dalahast in Swedish is originally from the province of Dalarna in Sweden.   It's a piece of wood carved in the shape of a horse and traditionally painted different provincial patterns.  My oldest son inherited his grandmother's collection.  I also think of different colors then the ones featured in the design post by CTMH here....

To me the colors should be red, white and straw.  Similar to what you see on this Christmas tree.  If you need additional visuals to keep up with me, just visit Ikea in the next couple of months! 

So I decided to create some authentic (?) Scandinavian ornaments!  My color choices are Ruby,White Daisy and Cashmere.  The Cricut cuts are from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.

The trivets are from my mother-in-law's home and I kept them as a legacy to this sweet, dear lady...

Now it is on to Maureen's blog here  where you can view her unbelieveable  winter layout! 


Adeline

It's A DREAM POP Blog Hop!!

Welcome to the National Scrapbooking Month celebration!  Today 35 Close to My Heart consultants in the US and Canada  are  celebrating the release of the NEW Dream Pop collection.  I absolutely LOVE it!!  So bright and current to today's trends.

If you have been hopping with everyone else, then you have arrived from Heather's blog and checked out her awesome design!  This paper pack is surely going to be a hit.

The colors are so vibrant and bring out the best in all of the new spring and summer fashions and home decor.  In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, you can get a special paper packet for only $10 when you spend $35 in May (valued at $19.95 retail). 

This paper packet includes 12 cardstock sheets as well as 12 B & T Duos® papers that were specifically designed for this promotion.  Start National Scrapbooking Month off right with a unique paper packet at a bargain price and get your creative juices flowing!  

I dug out my cruise photos because I knew there were a few pictures that I thought would coordinate with this packet pack.  Even though, this is not a red and white paper theme - it went perfectly with my Valentine Cruise Formal dinner photos!  Here is my layout...

 ( click on the photo above for a larger view)

Supplies:

Dream Pop paper pack

C1534 Sightseer stamp set

C1441 - Affection stamp set

Art Philosophy cartridge - frame

Artiste cartridge - title

Z1839 Glitter Paper

Z1764 floret Paper Flowers

Z1787 Mini-Medley Accents - Slate

CTMH Embroidery floss - retired

Inks- Cotton Candy, Lagoon, Honey and Slate

Remember this special does not start until May 1st and supplies are limited!!  If you are interested in hosting a gathering - online or in your home - hostesses receive one paper packet free with qualifying May Gathering sales totals of $400 or more.

Now it is off to Wendy's blog where I know you find are going to find tons of cuteness and inspiration!

Cricut Basics Class 101 and Today's Special Value!

What an interesting class we had!  I actually learned so much and I ended up buying a Cricut Expressions 2 because it is actually much better than the Cricut Expression and I knew I had to learn it if I was going to teach the class!

The first card project had so much learning going on  - how to create nested images (without a shadow button), using the Flip button, the Settings, Fit to Length, Portrait and Repeat Last buttons.

Here are the sample cards...

This card we used the Cricut pens along with the Center Point button

This card we used the Mix 'n Match button to create several shapes in one cutting...

This is a very cute idea for spring (although summer has arrived in Tampa!) and you can find the directions here for both designs on the  CTMH site here

                    
Create a festive banner to complement the OWL party bags....

                                              

Today's Special Value!  

Purchase the Z1790 Cricut Artiste Collection or the Z1686 Cricut Art Philosophy and receive the directions for the class FREE!!  You will also receive a April SOTM for $5.00!  (P.S. I love this set!!)

You can shop for your cartridges here....  if you are interested in checking out the Artiste Assembly handbook, there is a pdf file in the side bar- check it out!  If you have trouble downloading it - please email me!

Here are the pdf files for the two cartridges.....

Cricut Artiste Handbook

Cricut Art Philosophy Handbook

Here are some more designs are from the Artiste cartridge...aren't they cute?!!  Any questions, just call or email me!!

Enjoy!

SOTM Fall Favorites Meets the Artiste in August Blog Hop

Day 28 of the Artiste in August Blog Hop!  Ok - I am a few days behind.  But I did tell my blog followers that I was a little behind this week!  So here is my pumpkin box with a cute little tag from the September Stamp of the Month Fall Favorites!  I am "beefing" up my stamp of the month samples for my September events!  There is more to come, so stay tuned!!

Supplies:

Cricut Artiste - pg 78- follow the size in the handbook

Cricut AP - tag - follow size on stamp set

Goldrush, Colonial White and Saddle cardstock
Hemp
NEW Alcohol markers - Autumn Terracotta and Olive
Blending pen and Chocolate stamp pad

Day 19 of the Artiste in August Blog Hop

If you have been hopping with us, then you have arrived from Becca's blog.  Thanks for hanging in there and checking out all of our designs this weekend.   woohoo!!  Today is my Howdy Partner Open House!  I am all ready, I think.....  Here is the Western scene for the photo shoot

Today's photo is the banner that I created and hung from the food table.  The banner was cut with the Art Philosophy cartridge and the rest was cut with the Artiste cartridge.

  The mustache file looks like this....

You can download the CCR file for all three cuts here.

Now it is off to Kathy's blog  to check out her artwork!

Here is a list of the bloggers below so you can follow along without getting lost!

Gloria Rogers - http://www.scraptabulousstudio.com/
Rebecca Kings - http://heartfeltcreationsbybecca.blogspot.com
Adeline Brill - www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com   YOU ARE HERE!
Kathy Johnson - http://kathyscreativecorner.com/
Amy Edwards - www.paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com
Jen Patrick - http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com/
Pamela O’Connor - http://reflectionsofmyartandsoul.com
Melinda Everitt -  http://ifyoublingit.blogspot.com/
Tina Gale Husong - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Denise Hobbs -  http://oklahomainker.blogspot.com/


Enjoy!

Day 8 MORE Snow!

This morning was another cold morning in Tampa - brrrr......43 degrees!  I know, I know BUT that temperature is cold for us!  So today I bring you more SNOW - snowflakes, that is!

3D Cricuit Snowflakes

 

These snowflakes are actually rather easy to make! 

Step #1 - Cut 6 snowflakes - I used Snowflake 3 (last design on the top row- top right) shift at 3.5" for the snowflake on the right and Snowflake 2 at 4" (7th design top row) both shift and layer.

 

Step #2 - For Snowflake 2 - glue the layers onto the snowflake base.

Step #3 - Then score all of the snowflakes in half and glue two halves together.  I glue a ribbon hanger in the middle before I added the last unit.

Step #4 - Optional - I added Stardust glitz to the edge of the white snowflake. 

Enjoy!

 

 ( the prize includes the D1480 Snowflakes stamp set, the tube of Heavenly Blue ribbon and the decorated jar of white Christmas ribbon!)

How about some snowflakes of your own??  I will be giving away this prize on the last day of my Christmas event!  BUT you must leave a comment and so far the odds are pretty good! 1 in 7... :( 

I would love to read any comments you may have ( and I am wondering if I should do this again...)

Forecast for Tampa, FL tomorrow... Sunny and high of 73 degrees...  hmmm - will there be any more snow???

Lisa Stenz is having a AP blog linky party Such fun! - check out all of the holiday designs below...

Day 7 It's snowing again!

 Are any of you getting nervous yet?  I am!!  I have purchased only 2 gifts!  YIKES!!!  The problem is 'what to buy?' for my family.  Anyone else have the same problem?

Today's post is a 'quick' gift for a crafting friend.  I L-O-V-E ribbon and I can never have too much.  These quick little gift was a table prize for the Kids Krop in October.  So quick and easy to complete.  Each jar had a theme color - Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day - you get the idea!   Do you have anyone who would love this small gift?

 

Supplies:

Small canning jars

Assorted ribbon - all white

White daisy and Heavenly blue cardstock

Cricut design - Circle 1 - 2.5", Tag 1 2.5" , Decorative Layer of Tag 1, 2.5" (both the positive and negative pieces)

Z1327 - Sparkles - blue and green assortment

Ribbon - Heavenly blue (retired)

Day 6 ... Christmas Treats

"Back in the day" I used to start December 1st and make a batch of Christmas cookies every night until Christmas.  Now I make only 2 different kinds of cookies!  I bet you are asking yourself- WHY???

Well..... #1 - My husband and I have 'issues' with fats AND sugars in our diet - Bah, Humbug!...#2 - We both need to watch our weight- Bah, Humbug!  and #3  I do not have any grandchildren (yet) to eat up all of the goodies!!

My gifts of food have changed since the 1970's!  Here is a gift that I share with family and friends.  It is a very quick and easy recipe to prepare AND decorate with the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.  Don't forget you can purchase the Cricut cartridge at www.ctmh.com/SweetAline

Cranberry Chutney

1 cup golden raisins

1 8 oz.pkg. of chopped dates

1 16 oz. pkg. cranberries

1 cup sugar ( I used 1/2 cup baking Splenda)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. allspice

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

3/4 cup cider vinegar

1/4 cup orange juice

1 T. lemon rind

1 1/4 C. water

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan over medium heat.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes.  Fill sterilized canning jars with 1 cup of chutney each.  Chutney must be refrigerated.  Yields: 4 cups

Day 5 12 days of Cricut Christmas

Ho, Ho, Ho!  Santas are everywhere!  The sounds of Christmas music and people shopping today really put me into the Christmas spirit...  It is finally time to start wrapping the Christmas gifts!  So here is the first tag that I made for my gift giving....

With a little help from my friends... the Cricut and Cuttlebug, I was able to create this "oh so cute" Santa tag.  The first step today was to create the tag using the Cricut Craft Room - have you joined yet???? WHY NOT?  It is FREE and it makes it so easy to design and create projects.

Here is Layer #1 - notice I changed the RGB colors to create the CTMH cranberry color for the tag and Santa hat.

 

 

Here I cut out the pieces of the cardstock to coordinate with the colors on the mat.

 I cut out the separate pieces of the tag....and then embossed them with my Cuttlebug folders and added some bling to create the Santa gift tag and used a black marker to add the eyes and mouth. 

I hope I have inspired you to create your own tag using the Cricut Craft Room.  All of the shapes can be found on the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge from Close to My Heart here.

Day 4 - 12 days of Cricut Christmas

In this busy holiday season,  it is nice to give as well as receive- don't you think??  I like to send individualized Christmas cards so I make a variety of each plus I do not get bored when making them. (my attention span is the same as a 2 year-old!)

This is a card I made for a Christmas swap and and it was quick and easy to make with the Believe paper pack since it is 2 sided.  I also made the little gift bag from a tutorial that was posted here.

 

 Notice from the  above image that all I did for the card embellishment was use the cut-out from the card.  I created my own zip strip with a 1/2"strip of white paper and the words from the stamp set of the G1030 Believe Workshop to Go.  You can purchase this on my web site -www.ctmh.com/SweetAline

Supplies:

G1030 Believe Workshop to Go

Pair-A- Phrase stamp set (gift bag)

Silver Gel pen

Misc. ribbon

DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT!  Harley is picking a winner on Monday for a surprise Close to My Heart gift!!!!

Enjoy!

Day 3.... 12 days of Cricut Christmas

Dear Santa,

When I was a little girl I had a dream ( but I really thought it was real!) that Santa was placing my gifts under our tree! ( did I tell you I had a vivid imagination as a child???)  So I  really believed that Santa does exist - maybe in a different form than when I was a child but 'he' is there for everyone...
So today's post is one of my firsts "Dear Santa posts!

I do not have any grandchildren :( - just a D-O-G!  but his name is Harley and he is the love (at the moment) of our lives....!  So last month we took him to have his picture taken... AND here is the layout....

 

This layout is from the Reflections Scrapbook layouts book by Jeanette Lynton  pg 43. called Sidebars- layers...

Supplies:

X7145 Believe paper pack

X7145 Believe My Stickease

AP - 'Jolly" letters

S1110 - Holiday Magic  SOTM  for October

AP - pg 45  Font strip and Spray pen with Topiary re-inkers

AP - pg 47 Stocking cut apart and then stamped...

G1030 - Workshop To Go - Believe  stamp set - Santa

Cranberry brad  and ink -  blending pen - see pg 51 0f the Autumn 2011 Idea Book

Enjoy!

Day 2 Let It Snow, Again!

Brrrrr............ it was 45 degrees here in Tampa this morning and to all of us ( even this former Buffalo, NY gal), it was COLD!  But trust me I was not complaining....  It does inspire me though to create  a cold and sorta snowy project.

My gift for today is a decorated glass block.  It was very quick and easy, especially the vinyl lettering.  BUT it is important to follow the few tips that I share with you!

Step #1 - Design the lettering for your block.  I find it easier to apply a welded phrase to the block so I do not have so many 'sticky' parts!  I found a great set of tutorials from Joy on Obsessed with Scrapbooking here. 

My previous post gives you the link for the Cricut Craft Room  here - it is a very useful tool for creating your own designs!

Step #2 - Cut out the vinyl following these few hints.

Settings for your Cricut....

Speed - 3 or medium

Pressure - 3 or medium

Blade Depth- 4-5 .... the blade should NOT cut through to the bottom layer of paper backing - only the vinyl layer.

Here is the vinyl I used for the block.  I purchase it on Amazon.com here and it is sticker than wall vinyl ( the type Cricut sells...).  I used the silver vinyl hoping for a glitzy look... and the pic tool to remove the small pieces after I CAREFULLY removed the outside layer.

Step #3 - Carefully remove the lettering using transfer tape.. (I only had Frogger tape from my recent house painting project...)

DO NOT be in a hurry or your letters will end up in a messy ball of vinyl (ask me how I know this! :) )

Step #4 - Adhere your lettering to your clean and smooth surface....

Unfortunately the white snowflake did not show up in my photo but I did cut it out after the silver lettering....

I added the bow, tinsel and twinkling lights - it looks very festive in my foyer....

Don't forget to leave a comment or two... you may be a winner of my random 'gifts'....enjoy!

Welcome to the 12 Days of Cricut Christmas blog party!

In the spirit of gift giving, I would like to share with everyone some creative ways to use the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge.  I am absolutely addicted to Pinterest and it has inspired me to tackle many items that have been hanging around on my "To Do" list! (some of us call it our "Bucket List"!)
 

One of the items on my list was to learn how to do some basic wood working.  When I was teaching in NYS, we had wood shop and I never had the time to learn how to use all of those noisy tools!  So here are a few pics of me operating the circular saw ( I was really nervous...)

Step #1 - Cutting the wood......

But I felt a real sense of accomplishment in cutting these blocks from an old 2 x 4"!

Step #2 - Sanding and filling in the holes....

 

Step #3 - Painting the blocks 

Step #4 Decorating the blocks

Supplies:

X7146 Wonderland paper pack - cut paper  3" x 3.5", 3" x 5" and 3 x 6.5" (2x)

Z1468 Topcoats Icing Overlays

AP cartridge - ... all 1 3/4" 

CTMH Glitterstack - retired ( I finally opened it and used it!)

M.S. Glittering Glue

Plastic snowflake buttons

Vinyl Lettering - check back tomorrow for a 'how-to' cut vinyl with the Cricut

Here is the Cricut Craft Room file- you can download the free site here.

Don't forget you can always shop with me at http://ctmh.com/SweetAline   Purchase the Z1686 Cricut Cartridge for $99.00 and receive the  December SOTM - S1112"Mad About You" for only $5.00 - you can see the LOVE blocks here.

Enjoy!!