Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Winner Wednesday!

Well I just have to say that I was blown away and SO appreciative of all the kind words and new followers I gained from our Cooking With The Cricut Holiday Blog Hop!  I was/am speechless and want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart!!!

Now the winner of the cut file or digi stamp is....Helena!!!

Helena said...
So darn cute.. TFS

Helena thank you so much and I'll be contacting you shortly!

Again I just want you all to know that I LOVE you and THANK YOU so much!!!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

CWC Holiday Blog Hop day 2!

Welcome back for day two of Cooking With the Cricut's Holiday Blog hop!  Wasn't yesterday just so inspiring?!  All the ladies had such GREAT projects to share!  Now don't forget that to start the hop you must begin back at Cooking With the Cricut!  If you just arrived here from Jenna's blog My Favorite Things than you're on the right track!

So for today's project I made a holiday card for all of you crazy ladies out there that make cards for your entire Christmas card list like I do!  Every year, as I am up to my elbows in paper & glue, trying to assemble enough handmade Christmas cards for all 100 people on my card list I tell myself "NEVER AGAIN!"  And yet here I am, a year later! 

Anyway, onto my card! 



















For the colored cardstock I just used scraps from my supply.  As for the snowflake paper that I used for the background that's from The Paper Variety.  The sentiment I just typed up and printed out from Microsoft Word and the best part...that ADORABLE little gingerbread house is of course from Scrapbook Eden!  I just LOVE getting to use all the different cutting files & digi stamps from there for our design team projects everyweek!  They are truely the cutest!!!

Now it's your turn!  Let us see your Holiday projects!  Link them up over at Cooking With the Cricut and you have a chance to win some GREAT prizes!!! 

I'm also giving away a cut file or digi stamp from Scrapbook Eden as well!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post!  For a second chance to win head on over to my facebook page (the badge is on the upper left hand side of my blog) and become a fan.  Then come back here and leave another comment letting me know that you "fanned" me :)  For a THIRD chance to win, become a follower of my blog and then leave another comment letting me know that you did.

Okay, now onto the next crafty girl!  Head on over to Dalis' blog Stamper Girl to see what she's cooked up for you!

Thanks for hopping by!
Val

Saturday, November 13, 2010

CWC Blog Hop Day 1!

Good Morning Crafters and welcome to day 1 of the Cooking With The Cricut Holiday Blog Hop!  If you've just come from visiting Jenna at My Favorite Things you're in the right place! If you've just happened across my blog and would like to participate in the hop then head on over to Cooking With The Cricut to start from the beginning!

With the holidays fast approaching we are sharing some wonderful ideas and inspiration for your viewing and crafting pleasure!
Each Design Team member will be featuring an original project made especially for this hop. Make sure to check out each DT member's blog, there will be prizes all along the way as well as a great grand prize offered back at Cooking With the Cricut!

For my first project I decided to stick with the oh so popular lighted glass block.  I am constantly getting orders from these and with Christmas fast approaching I've been getting even more!  The best part about these are that you can do ANYTHING!  I'd done them as night lights for a child's room, a Mr.&Mrs. So & So as a wedding gift, even a pumpkin last month for Halloween.  This particular block is a Christmas gift for a my cousin & her husband who have just moved into their first home.




















I got a mini 5x5in glass block from Hobby Lobby and used etching cream to etch both sides, that way the string of lights isn't as visible.  From there I used my Sure Cuts A Lot software to design the saying & heart shape.  I cut it out using my Cricut and placed it with transfer tape to make sure it was lined up just right.  It was very simple and makes for a very popular gift!

Now onto the fun part!  I will be giving away a free cut file or digi stamp from Scrapbook Eden and if you haven't already you MUST check out her files!  They are SO adorable!!!  We have so much fun featuring them in all our DT projects!  Now in order to win my cut file or digi stamp all you have to do is leave a comment on this post!  If you'd like a second entry into the drawing then go on over to my Facebook page (the badge is shown above on the left side of my blog) and become a fan, then come back here and leave me a second comment letting me know that you've done that!

Now it's your turn! Let’s see your wonderful holiday projects. Be sure to include a Cricut or other die cut machine cut on your project and link it up at Cooking With the Cricut!  There are some GREAT prizes going out to the winner so be sure to check that out!!!

Next stop...head on over and see Dalis at Stamper Girl  to see what she has in store for you today!  And don't forget to come back and do the hop again tomorrow for more great holiday projects!!!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Hopping!!!
Val*

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

CWC project!

Hey everyone!  I know it's been forever since I posted anything but it has been CRAZY around here!  But I'm back today with another Cooking With the Cricut challenge!  Today's theme is "Baking"!  I made this cute little box thinking it'd be great for Christmas time! 

I picked up the box from Michaels, and all the paper is from The Paper Variety.  I decided to go with Christmas themed paper that way I could fill the box with homemade Christmas cookies and give them away as a gift.  This was SUPER easy and quick to make, not to mention it makes a GREAT gift and you could make it fit any occasion!

The cut file I used is "Baking Bear" and is he not just the cutest thing EVER?!?!




















So what do you think?

Don't forget to head over to Cooking With the Cricut to see all the other great projects from the rest of the design team!  And head on back over here this weekend for a fabulous blog hop full of Christmas gift/craft ideas from all of us on the Cooking With Cricut Design Team!!!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Halloween project for CWCDT!

Good Wednesday morning everyone!  We are back with another Cooking With the Cricut design team challenge!  This week, with Halloween looming just a short week away, we are doing a "sweets & treats of Halloween" challenge.  The most exciting part???  Regina from over at The Cutting Cafe is sponsoring us!!!

I made a card using this adorable little "Chick in a Pumpkin Suit" cut file.



















Isn't he SO cute?!  Then on the inside I used one of the stamps from Regina's Halloween All Around Digi Stamp set!  I love all of her digi stamps, they're sooo cute & so inspirational!  In the middle of her circle stamp I used a rubber stamp for the Happy Halloween sentiment.


















Well that's it for my project but make sure you head on over to Cooking With the Cricut to see all the other  awesome design team projects and to participate in the challenge!!!


Craft Junkie Too DT project!

Well this weeks CJToo design team theme was "Halloween is in the air"!  And boy oh boy is it!  Head on over to the CJToo website to see what my fellow DT memeber have come up with!  Everyone has done an AWESOME job!!!

I created this cute little hanging sign.























It was really easy & quick & turned out great, I think I'll hang it on the front door! 

So I like to use things around the house when I can in order to save some money so everytime we empty a cereal box or any other kind of box I save it to use for projects instead of buying chipboard or something like that.  So I used a cereal box and cut three 5x5 inch squares.  I covered the back of each square with a plain black piece of paper and the front with this great Best Creations Inc. Halloween paper.

For the letters I used the "Double Feature" font from dafont.com (I LOVE this website) and cut them with the Cricut using my SCAL program.  The green stripped paper was something from my scraps.

I then used Mini Monsters to cut the ghost, spider & pumpkin and attatched them to each square.  Last but not least I used plain black ribbon to string each square together and create a loop at the top so that it's able to hang up.























Well there ya have it!  What do you think???
Don't forget to head on over to Craft Junkie Too to check out all the other great DT projects!!!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Look what I won!

So about a week or two ago I was the lucky winner over on Cute Cards & Crafts by Jamie's blog.  I won some AMAZING new Bic Mark It markers!  There are 36 in a pack & every color you can possibly imagine!!!  Now initially I thought that I'd one just one pack of them, but when they came in the mail there were TWO!!!  So not only do I have a set of fine tip makers but I also have a set of ultra fine tip as well!  Needless to say I was floored and OH so excited!  I am soooo excited to use these for coloring & journaling I can hardly contain myself!!!  Check 'em out!!!


















So again I just want to say THANK YOU Jamie for such an amazing give away!!!

Also I just recently got a Bind It All and have been dying to use it!  I have so many things I'd like to try out with it but when I get down to it, I can never remember what my ideas are...I guess I should start writing them down.  Anyway, the other day I finally got to try this awesome little machine out and made these adorable post it note holders.  I actually got the idea from a video I saw on You Tube done by Angie Kennedy Juda, you can check her out ChicnScratch.  So anyway, I made one for my husband & one of the girls at her work since they use A LOT of post it notes.




















I just love how they turned out!  I'm going to have to make something like this for myself!  Maybe a grocery list holder!  LOL!

Have a great Sunday evening ladies & I'll be back in the morning with another Design Team project for Cooking With the Cricut!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

My first project for the CWC DT!!!

I am SO excited!  This morning I get to share my first CWC DT project with you all!  To see all the amazing design team projects head on over to Cooking With the Cricut!  These ladies are just SO talented!

The theme this week was Pumpkin Carving/Pumpkin Patch so I used the "Bear In Pumpkin Patch" cut file from Page-Kits.com.  You have GOT to check out all their files, they are SO adorable!!!  Okay without further adeu, here's my project!



















I did a picture frame & put a picture of my nephew Ethan & the pumpkin that he carved last Halloween.  I just LOVE how it turned out & is that cut file not too cute?!  I got the wooden picture frame from Michaels & just mod podged that piece of Best Creations Inc. paper right onto the frame.  After it had some time to dry I used my craft knife to cut the rest of the paper off around the edges & the inside hole where the picture goes.  After that I just used cardstock scraps and the SCAL program to cut the little bear & pumpkins file & glued them on using my zig 2 way pen.

It was easy as pie & turned out great I think!  I gave it to my nephew & he was sooo happy with it!  So don't forget to head on over to Cooking With The Cricut to participate in our challenge & get some great inspiration! 

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!!  :)

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Apron

One of my mom's friends asked me to make this for her.  Her family does a big chili cook off every fall & this year she wanted something that they could give as the prize.  I was so nervous since I haven't really done much with the heat transfer vinyl but she loved it so I must have done okay!


Friday, October 15, 2010

CJToo Design Team project!

Good Friday morning everyone!  I'm SUPER excited because today I get to post my first project as a part of Craft Junkie Too's Fall design team!!!  Head on over to her blog to check out all of Team 1's amazing projects and then check back next Friday when Team 2 shows us what they can do! 

Okay, on to my project!  I knew I wanted to do this months ago I just had to wait until it was actually Halloween time!  I got a glass block and a string of orange Halloween lights.  I first etched the entire back & front surface of the block to give it that frosted look, and that way you don't see the string of lights as much.   I then used SCAL to cut a pumpkin face with my cricut out of vinyl & wrapped a super cute orange ribbon around the block, tying a cute bow at the top.  I just love how he turned out!

I did a lit & unlit photo so you could see the detail in the light. 



















Well let me know what you think!  I'm dying to know!  And don't forget to head over to CJToo to see all the other ladies FAB projects!

Have a great Friday!!!

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Design Teams!

Well today is the day!  I was accepted as a part of two new AWESOME design teams!!!  The first one is over at Cooking With The Cricut.  There will be a challenge posted every Wednesday & the design team will post their projects to help get your creativity flowing!  Just link up your project & you could have a chance to win, so head on over there & check it out!

The other design team is over at Craft Junkie Too!  All the DT members are being introduced today so go over & meet everyone!  Get to know the ladies that will be bringing you the best in Fall themed projects for the next few weeks!

I'm soooo beyond excited about being a part of both of these teams & being surrounded with some of the most creative, talented ladies out there in the blogging world!  I can't wait to get started & share my projects with all of you! 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

coffee mugs

My sister in law is the owner of a Nursery School & just bought a mini keurig for her employees.  She asked me if I could make them all some personalized coffee mugs.  I think they turned out really cute, what do you think?



Thursday, September 30, 2010

Car decal & Comp book

So I have two different projects today but I'm going to combine them into one post.  First off, my niece asked me (over a week ago...ooops!) to make her a notebook for school.  Well I finally got to it and I LOVE it!  I hope she does too!





































And the second project is a car decal I made for our car.  My husband & I are HUUUUUUUUGE Glee fans, so I had to make something to show that off!  Sorry about the glare & crappy pictures...I took these in the pouring rain :)



















Thanks for looking & let me know what you think!  Have a great day!

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Anniversary Glasses

I just had an order for some "anniversary" wine glasses.  I hadn't ever done anything like this before so figuring out a design was a bit challenging, but I'm always up for a challenge!  So I decided to do their monogram & the lady that ordered them wanted it to say 20 years. 

I'm very happy with how they turned out!  I hope they are too!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Easy as ABC challenge

I just completed a scrapbook page using The Paper Variety's  ABC recipe challenge for this week.  We had to use Autumn colors, Borders and our title or journaling had to be inspired by a movie title, aka Cinema.  I did another page for my grandparents scrapbook & for the title I used Now & Then which is one of my all time FAVORITE movies!  It also fits perfectly since that movie is set in the same time period as the picture of my mom & her brothers & sister when they were little. 

I used one of my Fiskers border punches on the top strip of paper & all the papers are from the My Minds Eye, Where The Heart Is paper stack.  I love all the warm fall colors in this stack!

I wanted to keep it simple so as not to distract from the pictures...especially that crazy old school one!  Check out those hair dos & the stylin' outfits!!!  ; )
















Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Tri-fold Card

I just finished this card & I LOVE how it came out!  I got the DS cut file here at Okie Lady's blog.  It's super easy to use & she has directions right there on how & where to scor & fold, etc.  From there I used DCWV Linen Closet paper stack to decorate & all my flourishes & the tag came from the Home Accents cart. 































Thanks so much for looking!

Monday, September 20, 2010

Glass block

I just finished up this order so I thought I'd share it with all of you.  What do you think?

The Paper Variety sketch challenge

So I just started working on a scrapbook for my grandma & grandpa showcasing their life together, when I came across this challenge over at The Paper Variety.  I thought it'd be the perfect oppurtunity to kill two birds with one stone & created this layout for the scrapbook, that I'm also submitting into their challenge.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Hubby Challenge

Well he did it!  I convinced my husband to try the Made By Momo huband challenge.  At first he moaned & groaned, but then he got really into it!  And being the perfectionist that he is he had to make sure it was just right!  Of course he picked one of the more challenging cards, as he put it "I'm in this to win this!"  LOL!!!  Here he is, working hard!











































And here's the completed project...from every possible angle...per my husbands request.  :)  Yes...he's kind of a dork :)











































And here he is with his pride & joy :)















He is VERY proud of himself!  He put the card on top of the TV and he keeps staring at it and saying "My card is sooo good isn't it?!"  LOL 

What do you guys think??

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Name Frame

Hey everyone!  I know it's been awhile since I last posted, things this week have been a little crazy!  I'll be working on some project today though so I'll share those as they are completed.  For now I wanted to share something with you that I actually made awhile ago but it seems to be a pretty popular item! 

I made this for a friend of my parents.  They just had their very first grandchild & this was for their daughter.  I just adore how it turned out!  The colors match their nursery colors.  So what do you think?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Blog Candy!

Hey there everyone & Happy Hump Day!  So have I got some exciting news for you!  Take a look at this blog candy!




















Looks pretty awesome huh??  Well head on over to Getting Cricky to find out what you need to do to get in on the action!

Monday, September 13, 2010

Flutterby Wednesdays Challenge

Well I just finished up a card for the Flutterby Wednesdays challenge!  All the paper is from The Paper Studio, the ribbon is from my stash & the stamp is Flutter Anya from The Greeting Farm stamps.  ADORABLE!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Fire Dept hand sanitizers

So I've been working all weekend on the items my husband asked me to make to include in their basket for the local fire department.  I just finished these hand sanitizers, there are two of each design.  I created the "flame" image and the words for the SCAL software & then the fire truck came from the Everyday Paper Dolls cart.  What do you think?















Saturday, September 11, 2010

Altered Composition Book

I'm a part of a swap over on the Cricut messegeboards, and we're all supposed to alter a composition notebook for out partner, according to the things they like or requested.  I hadn't done this before so I wanted to practice on one for myself first.  I'm so happy with how it came out & I am so in love with the paper!  I found it yesterday at my LSS & it's called Autumn Splendor by Best Creation Inc.  It's so colorful & glittery, I just love it! 

Here's the front cover.






















Here's the inside front cover.






















What do ya think?