I Did It!

What did I do?  I took the leap and became a Close to My Heart Consultant!  I am so excited to share this news.  I will be easing my way into the business so that I can learn everything I can about stamping and using their products first.  My welcome package came on Thursday, and by last night I had created my very first layout based on the one that graces the cover of our Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book.  Here it is:

 This is my favorite stamp set in the new book...Just For You.

 Added some buttons and gems, as well as a wooden shape.

I had so much fun getting to know the new products!  More to come as I learn some other tricks and tips.  Next for this layout I need to come up with a sentiment.  Thinking about using the Urban Alphabet stamps, we will see!  :)

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge Entry--Wall Decor

Seems I just don't get back here to post anything after I am finished anymore.  I have a backlog of projects and cards to post, but no worries, I will get them here eventually.  I have a double-entry project to share first.  I made it for the new Circle Monthly challenge, and I used the supplies that came in my mystery box from Megan Elizabeth at Above Rubies Studio so I can enter it in her contest as well.  Whew!  I needed to use at least three colors to design some type of wall art and knew just what to do!  I have had some old pictures of me my sisters and myself as kids that I wanted to display. 

  Here we go!

First off, this is a picture of all the great supplies from the mystery box that I had to work with.  I already had an oval shadowbox frame to use as well.

Here is the finished product!  I love the colors almost as much as the subjects of the photo!  ;)  Forgive my  photo skills--the frame is black with a bronzed distress.

 These flowers from the art philosophy cartridge are just the perfect accent for shadowbox frames.  I added a heart shaped brad to the center of the burgundy colored one.  I also curled the edges of it to give it another look.

 This slider is from the art philosophy cart as well.   Gave it a bit of black ink around the edges for contrast.

 Guess which cricut cart this beautiful butterfly is from???  Yep--art philosophy!  So is the oval boarder which I inked up around the edges.  I used my glitter pen to add some sparkle to her wings...as well as inked her up a teenie bit.

 I decided to use these little clothespins to hold the ribbon in place to add another dimension...

 Corner cuts...all from the same cartridge!

I absolutely do adore how this frame came out.  Here is the list of supplies that I used:

~Cricut E2
~CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge, Licorice Adhesive gem, Crochet Flower in white daisy, and Liquid Glass
~American Crafts Premium Ribbon
~Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star Pen
~Making Memories puffy alpha letters in brown, 12 x 12 pink brocade flutter paper, 12 x 12 map findings paper
~Paper Layerz by Megan Elizabeth in Freshly Flourished
~brown textured cardstock
~Kaisercraft tiny alpha stickers in cream
~K & Company Cut and Paste Tag Pad
~Recollections brads and clothespins
~Therm-o-web Zots
~Creative Memories tape runner and corner rounder
~Pink Stampin' Up ink pad
~Black ink pad
~Basic Grey chipboard sticker heart
~Marvy flower shape punch

What day is it???

This week has literally gone by in the blink of an eye!  Craziness!  I meant to get on and post this project I made for a friendly little contest on the Use Your Stash thread, but never did get around to it.  Why is that, you ask?  Hmmmmm...not sure, but maybe has something to do with the fact that the new Circle Cartridge arrived!!!!  YEP!  I received the Letter Envy Cricut Circle Exclusive Cartridge yesterday, so I was a bit preoccupied.  That is my excuse, and I am sticking to it!  ;)  So, back to the project--I recycled an old, clear, magnet-backed frame for the fridge.
Here it is before, during, and after!

 I love the Cricut Craft Room for designing...

 I decided to cut out another frame with a smaller opening as well and ink the inside edge as a sort of double-mat.  You would laugh if you saw my scrapbooks, because I love double matting!  LOL!

 In times like this I always reach for my CM double sided adhesive splits.  You can easily place them on one side of the project, position the next layer EXACTLY where you want it, and then lift a bit at a time to adhere the splits--no guessing and gluing in the wrong place!

 I adhered it to the frame with the same method.

 Finally, I added my bling. 

I spent nothing, and got some big payoff in a new decor item!

Now, back to the Letter Envy cart!!!  I made these initials while I was playing around and getting a feel for the layers on this one.

 The D is my fave out of these!

 Check out the fish hook on the J!

 LOVE this K as well...the little holes cut out really nicely for the most part--was unsure if they would...

 Then I helped P make this tag for a birthday gift...all of the letters are on Letter Envy.  We did it in CCR and welded the letters in Shea.  Big Fun!

I can't wait to use this one more!

Quick Qraft!

Hiya!  I almost have my voice back.   Woo hoo!

In the meantime, I have been trying to leave the talking to everyone else and retreated to my craft room, design studio, chic cave--whichever you like.  A while back on pintrest, I found this AWESOME sign for a bathroom, so I just HAD to make one of my own.  Here is the original link to my inspiration:  http://www.etsy.com/listing/79964687/wash-your-hands-and-say-your-prayers?ref=v1_other_1
Now, here is my creation!

I plan on making them for the girlies' school to place in their bathrooms as well.  The kiddos will love it!  This was the first time I ever used the Cricut markers in my E2.  It might be a little shaky.  I will have to try the cutfile in my Imagine and see how that one fares.  I also discovered that I just HAVE to get the Lyrical Letters Cart.  I have seen several beautiful titles created with one of the fonts on it that is fabulouso!  There are seven fonts on the cartridge in all!

Ok, ENABLER warning!!!!  I believe that I got the deal of the century today on Amazon.  I was browsing around for low cricut cart pricing when I stumbled on Country Carnival and Better together for what I considered decent pricing.  At checkout, I noticed that if I applied for the Amazon Visa, I would receive an instant $50 gift card credit to my account!!!  I could use it on that very purchase...but wait, there's more.  Remember that cricut.com is running a little deal on the Imagine carts--buy 2, get 2 ink carts and a pattern cartridge for 9.99 SH.  Sooooooo....for the grand total of $23, I will own all of the above!!!!  Isn't that a steal?!?!  If you are credit-sturdy, this is definitely a grand offer to take advantage of!  Let me know if you do!

I WON!!!!

I did, I actually won a challenge, lol!  My hubby's Valentine's Day card was randomly chosen to be the Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge winner on Friday!  It was a wonderful surprise and actually my 16th wedding anniversary as well!  I took a pic to show you, of course:

 Now, the name of the city got completely mangled for some reason, so I just had to laugh!

 These are the cutie pie little bumble bee valentines that I put in my girlie's lunches on Tuesday...

 I used the Create a Critter cart and Megan Elizabeth's fabulous Paper Layerz!  Next time I will weld another bee shape to it to make a little card.  It is funny how inspiring going back over your creations can be--I always come up with more ideas when posting this stuff on my blog!

Next, I made a card for my sister's anniversary as well...

 Nothing terribly fancy, just wanted to play more with my Imagine.  I had my first troubles with it though too, so that was hugely disappointing.  I was unable to get the sentiment printed and cut from the digital Martha Stewart All Occasions cart.  It kept freezing everything up in CCR and I finally ended up scrapping it.  Had to do it free form instead.

SO, it was a pretty eventful week that ended with me loosing my voice on Friday!  Told my hubby that was the best anniversary present he will ever get!  ;)

Happy Day before Valentine's Day! Ready?

Or not...here it comes!  I took my kiddos class treat bags in today so they are all set for tomorrow's parties.  Here is the finished product!

This first pic is the little sucker guy that I found on Pinterest.  Here is the origination of that pin: http://zakkalife.blogspot.com/2011/02/its-bird-its-plane-its-super-valentine.html  I love it!  I made my own cut file on CCR for his cape and mask.  I put one these in each bag along with various treats and such.

 Here are the bag toppers.  I used papers from CTMH Sweetheart collection:

 A shot of them from behind so you can see the hearts on the trim.

 Used the CTMH stamp of the month set for November for these tags.

 And WALLA!  The finished product!

More later!

Really? February?

Yes, it is really February.  Can any one else feel my pain?  Oh well.  At least it isn't June yet, lol!  OK, so I have not been terribly regular at posting here, but baby steps are what I intended, so I should just chill and post what I have.  It is definitely cold season here.  Four of us down with one this week, so I retreated to my room to have a go at some cards.

First up, a get well card for my niece.  I wanted to work around the whole "bug" theme, but found nothing much I liked on any cricut carts until I saw the bear catching butterflies on my Imagine cart, Enjoy the Season.  Fell in love with this little guy.  I kept it very simple, but intend to emboss a background cut for the scene next time I do it.  Clouds would be great too.

 Used my stickles and gelly roll glitter pen to dazzle up the butterflies...

 This next card is for my hubby for our 16th wedding anniversary this week Friday.  Got this adorable idea for a sentiment on the cricut craftroom messageboards, but for the life of me could not find it to give that person credit.  If it was yours, give me a holler!  The inside of the card says, "Nice package."  ;)  Cannot wait to see the look on his face!  He already gave me my gift--an official NFL Broncos Tim Tebow jersey!!!  He is usually not the gifting type--so now I have a problem!  Eeeek!

 My husband gets super lucky this week because he also gets a Valentine's Day card from me.   This one will also be entered into the Cricut Circle weekly challenge.  We were required to use ribbon and gems on a Valentine's card.  I know which ribbon I wanted to use immediately because I had ordered this CTMH spool a while ago and not opened it yet.  I kept it color neutral except for the heart to give it some emphasis.  All the papers are Reflections from M's.  My bling is from CTMH and Studio 18.  All three Cricut cuts are from Sophie.  Next time I would like to emboss the silver background cut.  Hindsight is 20/20. 

Are YOU ready for Valentine's Day?