Out with the Old...

It is time to say goodbye to another year.  And what a year it has been!  So much has happened, good and bad in 2010.  But now it is time to say hello to a new year.  I wonder what it has in store for us.

Well now, on to the card.  I made this one with my Gypsy.  I got the Gypsy in October for my birthday but really did not do much with it, other than loading my cartridges on it.  There was just too much going on in every aspect of my life to take on something new.  Being a public school teacher, I have been on Christmas vacation for two weeks.  YEA!!!  Just what I needed to enjoy the holidays and spend time with the Gypsy!  I LOVE IT!!!

This New Years card was made with two specific looks in mind, old and new.   I used the NIFTY FIFTIES cartridge for the front of the card, along with "retro" looking paper from the DCWV Nana's Kitchen stack.  The inside of the card was made with the ROCK PRINCESS cartridge and the DCWV All Dressed Up stack.  The sentiments I did on the computer using the fonts Holiday Home and Girls Are Weird.

Challenges
Paper Playtime  New Years
4 Crafty Chicks  A New Beginning
Paper Pretties  Ring in a New Year

Happy Holidays Snowman

Happy Holidays everyone!  It is so hard to believe that Christmas is less than a week away.  This is one of my last Christmas cards this year.  The snowman is cut from GYSPY WANDERINGS.  The noel banner is from the new JOLLY HOLIDAYS cartridge.  And the candy canes are from the CHRISTMAS CHEER cartridge.  The blue paper dotted paper is from DCWV, as is the green paper used for the snowman's scarf.  All other paper is from Recollections.  

The blue paper was embossed with a snowflake folder in the cuttlebug.  "The white papers for the snow were also embossed using the cuttlebug.  And to finish the card off, I added stickles to the snow.

Challenges

Cricut Cardz Challenge   Banner

Paper Playtime   Anything Christmas

Freshly Brewed Challenges  Merry Christmas

Christmas Joy

I just really love the CELEBRATE WITH FLOURISH cart, which is where this ornament is from.  The green paper is from My Mind's Eye.  I think is is such a great paper for this ornament because the darker green has such a nice shine to it.  However the photo does not do it justice.  The red glitter paper is from The Paper Studio.  And the gold glittered paper is from AC Specialty Paper.  The little stamp is from Inkadinkado, that I purchased at Michael's.  I got the ribbon at Michael's from the $1.00 bin.  The inside of the card has the sentiment,

"Let music fill the air,

Let joy be everywhere!

     Happy Holidays

I liked making this card so much, I just made it in bulk.  So I have two dozen of these going out in the mail this week!  Next year I will start making Christmas cards earlier.  This is my first year to make cards so I am not going to beat myself up over making cards at such a late date.  I only started making cards in July.  But I will not have an excuse next year.

Challenges

Stampin Royality  Winter Holidays

Santa Jolly Holiday

The new Cricut Lite JOLLY HOLLY cartridge is so cute.  That is where I got this little Santa.  He is cut at 3.5".  The background paper is embossed with the Cuttlebug.  The paper is from My Mind's Eye.  I love the look you get using wired ribbon.  The ribbon is from Michael's.  The little green tree is from Hobby Lobby.  It came in a bag of Christmas embellishments.  I am not really sure where I got the Merry Christmas stamp.  

Challenges

Bitten By the Bug 2  Santa

Trim the Tree

The card is made with the cartridge TRIM THE TREE cut at 4'.  The paper is from My Minds Eye.  The ribbon is from the dollar bin at Michael's.   I wish the colors were true in the photograph.  The background of the tree is actually a bright pink.  But it looks orange in the photo.  The tree on this card is one of my new favorite cuts.  I have really enjoyed the the TRIM THE TREE cartridge.  

Winter Frolic Tree

This card is made with the WINTER FROLIC cartridge.  The tree is cut from page 48 at 3 & 3/4" and embosses with the swiss dots folder in the Cuttlebug.  The tree ornaments were given a little coordinating color glitter glue.  The tag is cut from page 50 at 4 & 1/2'.  The background paper and the tag paper are from the Wonderful Winter glittered papers by My Minds Eye.  The ivory ribbon with gold snowflakes is from Hobby Lobby.  

Ho Ho Ho! Santa

I am frantically trying to get all of my Christmas cards made.  Too much to do...Too little time.  

This card is a 5x6.5 card. The little Santa and trees are cut from the CHRISTMAS CHEER cartridge.  The red patterned paper is from Martha Stewart and the edges are punched with a  Martha Stewart punch.  The black and white patterned paper is from The Cutting Cafe'.  The words are the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  The ribbon I used is from the $1.00 bin at Michael's.  

The inside of the card has a HO HO HO cut from CHRISTMAS CHEER on the red patterned paper.  And it is stamped "Happy Holidays", the perfect sentiment.  Because it is such a happy card.

Challenges

Paper Cutz  Use 2 different kinds of patterned paper.

Cooking With the Cricut  Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, Deck the Halls

Pretty in Pink Christmas

Oh,  how I would love to have had a pair of pretty pink ice skates when I was a little girl.  That would have been the ultimate!  I just love the dainty look about it.  The skate  was cut from the TRIM THE TREE cartridge at 4".  The label is cut from the LACEY LABELS cartridge at 2.75". 

The blue background paper was embossed using the cuttlebug, with the snowflake folder. The snowflake border is a punch from EK.  The stamp is from Michaels.  Blue and brown paper are from DCWV. Pink paper is from Walmart.  The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby and the little charm, I found in a button box.  

The stamp is a little difficult to read.  I should have taken the picture with better lighting.  The stamp says "May peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through."  I really love this sentiment.

The more I look at this card, the more I like it.  

Challenges

More Than Favors  Christmas theme

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge  ribbon

Peace on Earth

This card is made with the TRIM THE TREE cartridge. Stickles were added to the tree for a little more shine.  The background paper is from My Minds Eye Signature Christmas by Jen Wilson.  The ribbon is from the $1.00 bin at Michael's. And the stamp is from Oriental Trading.  The white paper was embossed using the Cuttlebug and the Swirls folder.   

The sentiment on the inside of the card says, "May you have peace, love, and joy this holiday season.  I am so happy with the finished product.  It is simple, sweet, and yet elegant at the same time.   

Challenges

Paper Cutz   Anything Goes

Pixie Dust Paperie  Oh Christmas Tree

Totally Papercrafts Challenge  Non traditional Christmas Colors

Cfarty Catz Challenge  Christmas

Stylish Blogger Award

I first would like to begin by thanking Brigitte over at Bricolage de Brigitte for this award.     

Here are the rules to this award
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award
2. Share 8 things about yourself
3. Pay it forward to 8 blogs you have recently discovered
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award

So eight things about me

1.  I have taught school for 34 years.  32 of those in kindergarten, which could explain why my blonde hair is wanting to turn white.  

2.  I am so lucky to still have my parents.  They are in their 80's and yet going strong.

3.  I have two sweet little dogs, Jack, a Malchi, and Magnolia, a long haired Chihuahua.

4. I love to read, cook, and travel.

5. I love to sew, especially heirloom sewing, and crazy quilting in the style of  Barbara Randle.   

6.  Country French is my favorite style of decorating.

7.  I am a lifelong learner and nerd.  I just love to listen to NPR and watch APT

8.  I am an avid Alabama football fan.  ROLL TIDE!

Below are some blogs that I have discovered and enjoy.

Nana Donna

Cricut Couple

Stamping With Sweet "E"

Chomas Creations

4 Crafty Angels

Scrapin With My Bug

Organized Chaos

Glenda's Cards

     

Christmas With Lots of Bling

I began this card by using the main cut on page 72 of the FOREVER YOUNG cartridge.  Then I cut what seemed to be millions of circles from the same page using the layer cut.  From all of those little pieces I created this wreath.  The paper is from  K&Company.  The bow is made with ribbon from Offray.  I finished the Wreath off with oodles of Stickles glitter.  The border punch is from EK.  And the stamp is from Recollections.   I just love the look of this card.  But I must admit I got tickled thinking about how much it would cost to mail.  No problem, this card will be hand delivered with a smile.  It has so many layers of little circles and glitter.  But that is what makes it such a happy card!!

Challenges
Paper Cutz  Christmas with lots of bling.
MAG  FOREVER YOUNG cartridge page 72
Really Reasonable Ribbon  Christmas theme with ribbon

A Birthday Greeting

This is a little birthday greeting using paper from K&Company.  The flowers and the little bird were just hand cut from the paper.  The buttons and ribbon are from Hobby Lobby.  The ribbon is Offray.  I am not sure where I got the happy birthday stamp.  I used Stickles on the little bird and flowers and the bling  came from Michaels.  It was interesting doing a card without using the Cricut.  It shows me how addicted I am to it.  

Challenges

Party Time Tuesdays  Easel Cards

My Creative Time  Cricut-less

Stamping Royalty  Pattern Paper focus

Lets Give Thanks

The card is made with paper from The Paper Studio and DCWV.  The solid colors were embossed using the Cuttlebug.  The pie was cut from the THANKSGIVING cartridge. And the stamp is from Scrappy Moms Stamps.  The ribbon is Offray from Michael's.

Challenges
Jitterbuggin Thank you card using the sketch, Cricut, and something embossed.
Paper Playtime Something or someone you love.
My Sheri Crafts Harvest/Thanksgiving

Hello Thursday, 7 New Cartridges!

I always love Hello Thursday.  And when I saw Joy's post on her blog, I got so excited.  WOW, 7 new cartridges will be the hit of the week next Friday.  Thanks Joy, for showing us all the new goodies.  I just can't wait to get my hands on that new CRICUT LITE FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS!!

Time to Give Thanks

This is the time of year when families gather together to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for.  We eat too much, shop too much , and watch too much football.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  There is no stress to buy special clothes or gifts. Thank goodness it is not yet over commercialized.  It is just a time to get together with those we love most and thank God for our many blessings.  

This card has a simple but great message.  GIVE THANKS.  Just a card to remind us of the important things in our lives.  the papers used are from My Minds Eye. They were run through the Cuttlebug with various folders. The border punch is from Martha Stewart. The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby and the turkey as well as the words are from the THANKSGIVING cartridge.   I just love that cartridge.   

Challenges

Cricut Cardz Challenge Thanksgiving card of thanks using blue  yellow orange brown and white only.

More Than Favors Fall/Thanksgiving

Bitten By the Bug 2 Give Thanks

Sisterhood of Crafters  Things to be thankful for

A Flu Season Card

It is that season.  the season of the flu and colds.  So here is a little card to hopefully cheer someone and wish them to feel better.  The patterned paper is from K&Company.  The fuchsia paper was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  It was also punched with and EK punch.  The leaves were cut with the HOUSE ACCENTS Cartridge. And the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  

Challenges
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge

Thanksgiving with Buttons

The paper is from DCWV Amber Autumn stack.  The turkey is cut with the THANKSGIVING cartridge.  The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  The sentiment stamp is from Scrappy Moms Stamps.  The leaf brad is from Oriental Trading and the buttons are from my collection of vintage and antique buttons.  I gave the turkey some glitter feathers with Martha Stewart glitter glue.  I have been wanting to use these papers since I got this stack.  I just knew the opportunity would come for the perfect project.  I think this card is it.  I really like the way the card turned out.

Challenges

Paper Cutz Thanksgiving with buttons and bows

Jitterbuggin Sketch with a turkey, and buttons

Made by Momo  Anything with a Turkey

Feel Better Soon

One of our PE teachers at school had back surgery today.  I wanted to make a special card for her.  So I chose the LIVE SIMPLY cartridge to create the card.

The paper, buttons and jewels are the Affinity line from Paper Studio.  I got it Saturday at Hobby Lobby and was excited to use it.  

Challenges

Paper Cutz  Get well card with something that flies

My Creative Time  Buttons

Fantabulous Cricut Green and a circle

Crafty Creations  Buttons

Baby Boy Comes Home

A little boy came into the world several weeks early.  He was having difficulty breathing so he was put on a ventilator.  He remained in NICU for many days.  For a while the doctors were puzzled as to what was going on.  The family was told the baby might get to go home  after Thanksgiving.  But he suddenly started getting stronger and stronger.  GOOD NEWS,  the sweet little one went home last week.  His grandmother is a friend of mine.  I thought I would send her a card.  The inside says, Congratulations on your new grandson, a gift from above.
 The charm and teddy bear were cut from the HERITAGE cartridge.  Paper is My Minds Eye and DCWV.  Ribbon is from Michael's $1.00 bin.

Double Fold Birthday Card

     This double fold card is one of my favorites.  The paper used to make the card is from K and Company.  To make the card, it is best to use a double sided print paper.  The cupcake on the front of the card is from SWEET TREATS.  The cupcake was run through the cuttlebug with the swirls folder for dimension, and then glittered for some style.  Double foam tape was used to adhere it to the card.  The sentiment was cut from the BEYOND BIRTHDAYS cartridge.  The little leaf brad is from Oriental Trading.  

     

     The pockets of the card house these two tags.  Personal birthday greetings are written on the back of the tags.  Paper used for the tags is from DCVW, My Minds Eyes, and K and Company.

     The word art and small flowers are from BEYOND BIRTHDAYS. The little leaves are from PAPER DOLL DRESS UP.  The leaf brad is from Oriental Trading.  The leaves have been given glitter veins and a little green button is added for dimension. Ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  

     This little tag is cut from BEYOND BIRTHDAYS.  The paper is from DCDV.  The brad on the package is from Recollections.  The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  I was a little hesitant while making the card.  But now I just love it!  I should have trusted myself.  

Challenges

    Paper Playtime  use a clock, ticket or tag

    Party Time Tuesdays   a birthday card,  anything goes

    Made By MoMo  make a card with some form of embossing

    My Creative Time use food

      

    

  

Thanks With a Tree

This is a thank you card to a good friend for a great birthday gift.  I used the GIVE A HOOT Cartridge for the tree and the BEYOND BIRTHDAYS cartridge for the sentiment.  The paper is from My Minds Eye. And the leaf stickers are made by Imaginmisce. I just received the sitckers today from Emma at My Creative Time for being a lucky winner in a recent challenge.  Thanks Emma!!  The stickers are fun and great for my thank you card.  The colors and style of the stickers are a perfect companion to the paper. 

Challenges

    Jitterbuggin

     

A Wise Old Owl

A birthday card for a friend.  The inside of the card says  "The Older, the Wiser".  The owl is made with the SENTIMENTALS cartridge and given a little glitter on his chest, wings and eyes.  The squares with the leaves and the corner designs are cut from the STORYBOOK cartridge.  Two small brown buttons, with shanks are added to the corners.  The shanks help to give more dimension to the buttons.  The pale yellow base paper is from Colorbok.  The rest of the paper is from K&Company.

Challenges

    Jitterbuggin Wise Guys challenge

    Fantabulous Cricut

    Crafty Creations

Colors of Carrot Cake

The card is made with paper from DCWV The Natural Stack.  The labels were cut with the LACEY LABELS cartridge.  And the shoes were cut with the FOREVER YOUNG cartridge.  The stamp is from Scrappy Moms.  The rhinestones and ribbon are from Michaels.  

The challenge for this week is to make a card with carrot cake colors, orange, brown, and white/ivory.

Challenges

     Party Time Tuesdays

     Stamping Royality

Celebrate with Polka Dots

This card is 6x6.  The cartridge is CELEBRATE and the reversible ribbon is from Michaels.  I have no idea about the paper.  I think this is such a happy card!  

Challenges

  My Creative Time   Emma's Polka Dot Challenge

  M.A.G. Challenge by the Page  A Brand New Challenge Blog with a new twist.  Check it out.  You will love it.

Halloween Style

This little witch looks as if she is standing on "the red carpet".  She has such style.  The paper is from K&Company.  The punch used is a Martha Stewart paper punch, and the cartridge is PUMPKIN CARVING.  

Challenges

   Fantabulous Cricut Challenge

   Paper Playtime

   Paper Cutz

   A Crafty Little Place

   

The Race of Our Lives

We are all in the race of our live to find the cure for cancer.  I do believe this terrible disease had touched everyone in some way.
  My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 72.  It was discovered after her first  mammogram.  She had refused to have one for years.  When she visited her doctor for the last time, (he was retiring) she gave in.  She told him she was having the mammogram only because he was retiring.  Now she tells everyone his retirement saved her life.  She is now an advocate for cancer screening.  My mother is now 84 years old, going strong, and cancer free!!
  This past week a friend at work was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She had surgery Friday and all tests have come back clear!  This card is for her.  The inside of the card says "We are ALL in the race of our lives.

Challenges
   Cricut Cardz Challenge
    My Pink Stamper
    My Creative Time
    Paper Cutz Challenge #65

Fall And Its Beautiful Colors

I just love all the warm colors of fall.  And add the bright blue of an autumn sky, nothing is prettier.  Fall is such a special season of color.  It is the most travel season just to look at the foliage.  I just loved making this card with all those beautiful colors.  I used the SPEAKING OF FALL cartridge and the STORYBOOK cartridge for the letters.  The ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  And the paper is K&Company.

Challenges

     Jitterbuggin sketch 21

     Cuttlebug Spot Challenge

    Cricut Card Challenge

Ribbons Ribbons Ribbons

Yes, Ribbons Ribbons Ribbons is the challenge topic at Stampin Royalty.  I love the look of the ribbon on this autumn card.  I have always been a fan of "color on color".  When I saw this ribbon a few weeks ago at Hobby Lobby, I just knew it would be just so good looking on cards.  It is such a lovely shade of brown.  The width is perfect and the dots are so cute.

I made this card earlier in the week. I found the paper with the leaves on it in the bottom of a stack and just thought I had to use it that night.  There was no plan for the outcome of the card.  I just started "cutting and pasting".  Then I remembered the ribbon, and it all came together as if it was planned.

The green paper was embossed using the paisley folder in the cuttlebug.  The label was cut with the LACEY LABELS cartridge.  I have no idea where I got the leaf paper, but I really like it.  Border was punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.  And to finish it off, little gems were added to the bottom right corner.  AUTUMN GREETINGS!

Fall Leaf Happy Birthday

The card was cut with the A CHILD'S YEAR cartridge.  The blue border was constructed with a Martha Stewart border punch and the leaves were done with an EK border punch.  The ribbon is from the $1.00 bin at Michaels.  The paper is from DCWV.  And my favorite part of the card is the little leaf brad from The Oriental Trading Company.  The card is being entered in the following challenges.

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge 

Party Time Tuesdays

A Big Pumpkin Card

This week th challenge at Paper Playtime is to make something with a pumpkin or spider web.  My card is made with the MINI MONSTERS cartridge.  I used orange and green flowers with a fall leaf brad to jazz it up.  And I finished it off with a sheer brown ribbon bow.

A Pumpkin of a Different Color

Paper Playtime is having a challenge with main color being orange.  The image is cut from the CRICUT LITE CELEBRATE WITH FLOURISH.  The paper is from DCWV.

The Beautiful Colors of Fall

Fall is my favorite season and it has finally arrived!  So I thought I would make a card with some of my favorite fall colors. The trees were cut from the SIMPLY CHARMED cartridge.  And the label is from CRICUT LITE LACEY LABELS.  The stamp i used is from INKADINKADO, purchased at Michaels.  The ribbon and center tree are the same color.  I do't know why the tree looks pink in the picture.  It is actually purple like the ribbon.  And the paper was embossed with the Cuttlebug and SWiss Dots.  And the glitter gives the trees another level of dimension. 

Entered in the following challenges.
    Cricut Cardz Challenge
     My Pink Stamper
     Paper Cutz
     Criut Couple

FR Creacions Has Great Candy

There is great candy over at FR Creacions.  It is fabulous and you should check it out.  A great giveaway!! Tanks Farida for being so generous.

National Baking and Decorating Month

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is celebrating October and National Baking and Decorating Month with a challenge.  The challenge is to make something using the cricut that is about baking.  Well, the challenge is wide open and there are so many things to do.  After thinking about this for several days, and having a difficult time making a decision, I now have it.  There are so many of my friends and family members with October birthdays.  So it would only make sense to make a birthday cake card.  I have been wanting to make a card using the CRICUT LITE CELEBRATE WITH FLOURISH birthday cake and this was the perfect challenge for it.  The label on the top of the card is made with CRICUT LITE LACEY LABELS.  Lacey Labels has become one of my favorite cartridges.  There are so many ways to use it.  The word HORRAY, is cut from the SWEET TREATS cartridge.  The ribbon is a wired ribbon from Michaels, (the $1.00) bin!!  Does't get better than that.

The SWEET TREATS cartridge is again used to do the sentiment on the inside of the card.  I am not sure where the solid colored paper is from, but the patterned paper is from K&Company.

Cake and Shoes...Yum Yum!

This week Paper Cutz Challenge is asking that we make a card, LO or project using the colors red, black, and white.  Well, the very first thing that came to mind was Christian Louboutin Shoes.  They are some of the most magnificent shoes ever, with their signature red sole.  They can be viewed at Christian Louboutin Official Site   So I started thinking, well there is no better way to celebrate than with cake and fabulous shoes.

Party Time Tuesdays is also having a challenge.  Their challenge is to make a birthday card with a sentiment.  So I thought this would be a great card for the challenge.

To make the card I used the SWEET TREATS cartridge for the cupcake and the FOREVER YOUNG  cartridge for the shoes.  The top of the cupcake was run through the cuttlebug to give it some swirls.  Of course Stickles were needed. And to finish off the card, I added the satin red ribbon, and the sentiment "Celebrate In Style".

Throwback Thursday Challenge #104

Emma's Throwback Thursday over at My Creative Time is to make a Shaped card and include the color orange.  The card is made with the SWEET TREATS cartridge.  The little tag is from CRICUT LITE LACEY LABELS.  The paper is from MY Minds Eye.

Paper Playtime Challenge #19

Over at Paper Playtime there is a new challenge.  The challenge is to make a paper craft project using Ribbon, Buttons, or Rhinestones,  It is all about the embellishment.  My card is made using the CRICUT LITE BLOOM cartridge.  The card has a shabby chic look to it.  I used a lot of foam tape to give the flowers dimension. I added pink and blue rhinestones along with the pretty pink bow to embellish the card. I am so pleased with the way it turned out

Thinking of You

There are a couple of people where I work who are in need of our thoughts and prayers.  I had just a little extra time tonight to make a card for them.  I just wanted them to know that we really are keeping them in our prayers.

I chose  the DCWV Amber Autumn Stack to use for these cards.  They are both very simple with the message Thinking of You.  I hope they help to bring comfort to my friends.  The label is made with the CRICUT LITE LACEY LABELS cartridge.

And here is the inside of the card.

Challenge #8

Challenge #8 is to make a card with a pumpkin from any cricut cartridge. The card was made using the card image from the MINI MONSTERS cartridge  It was made with paper from K&Company.  The greeting label was made with the Cricut Lite Lacey Labels cartridge.  And the ribbon is from Michaels.

These challenges have been so much fun! It has been interesting to see what others have created for the challenges.  There have been so many beautiful cards made for these challenges.  Thanks for a great time, Christina and Teri.    

Challenge #7

This card is made with the MINI MONSTERS cartridge.  I just love these little lollipops!  They can be used in so many ways.The patterned paper on the bottom of the card is from My Minds Eye. The little bows were made from scrap paper. The sheer dotted ribbon came from Michaels.   It is such a happy card!

Challenge #6 For World Card Day

The challenge is to make a card using a fall image or fall stamp.  I first ran the card through the cuttlebug using the pumpkin vine folder.  I then inked the edges of the card with a bronze stamp.  The pumpkin was cot with the FRESHLY PICKED cartridge.  I cut two extra leaves and vines for the pumpkin.  The Leaves were cut with the Martha Stewart HOLIDAY CAKES cartridge.  And then to finish the card, I used the Cricut Lite LACEY LABELS for the sentiment.