Thursday, November 30, 2017

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2017 Day Four

Keep reading to learn more about the giveaway.

I am cranking out these tags and having so much fun! Day Four...I pulled out the trustworthy Cricut again and cut these ornament shapes. Sadly, I admit these are not my favorite. I wanted to use a different color scheme (lavender and periwinkle) but after cutting and putting them together, I feel like those snowflakes look more like flowers and they feel very "Springy".

I added the holiday ribbons to make them look like they belong during this time of the year. I still need to add string to them. It's hard to tell, but I swiped some Sparkle Color Silk in the center of each snowflake to give them sparkle.

If you haven't heard or used the Sparkle Color Silk from Fun Stampers Journey, you must get yourself some! I recently signed up to be a consultant (click HERE to get to my page) and I love their artsy products. I have ordered stamps & paper from them before so I already know how awesome those are...but I'm having fun experimenting with other products.

In case you forgot...leave a comment for an entry into my GIVEAWAY. At the end of the 12 days, I will randomly pick a name to win a set of 12 tags (one of each of them). Be sure to become a follower of my blog then go back and leave a comment for the first three days and be sure to follow along & leave comments for the remaining days.

Cricut Cartridge Used:
Family Memories 

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2017 Day Three & WOYWW #443

Happy Wednesday and happy WOYWW! Click on over to the Stamping Ground to visit the other deskers and join the linkage.

I've been busy making Christmas gift tags for my 12 Days of Christmas Tags giveaway. Yes, I said giveaway! Enter to win one of each 12 tags at the end of this series. To enter, you must be a follower of my blog and comment on any or all of my 12 posts of tags. Each comment will earn an entry in the drawing.

Although this is not a photo of my desk, it is a photo of my floor covered with my Christmas stamps. I have a drawer full and I don't even remember what's in there. So...I dumped it! I tried to organize by type, snowman, holly, etc. Then I chose my stamps from there. I was so excited to see the postage stamp Santa set that I honestly never used before. In fact, I think the reason I bought them was only for the postage cancellation from the North Pole.

I used those stamp stamps (hee hee) to create my background. I randomly stamped them in white and tan on kraft paper. Once I was done, I cut the sheet into 2x4 tags and then used my MISTI to stamp Santa. Santa stamps are from CTMH. Then added 1/2" circles to the top before I punched using a 1/4" punch.



I love how these turned out!

Don't forget to leave a comment to earn an entry into my drawing. Go back to Days 1 & 2 posts to comment on those and be sure to follow along the next nine days for the rest.

Happy WOYWW!

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2017 Day Two

Day Two:
I use the Cricut for these tags. The trees came from the Family Memories scrapbook layout cartridge that was the freebie last week. I didn't use the layouts, but loved the tree!


I splattered some Sparkle Color Silk from Fun Stampers Journey on the base tree before adding the top layer. Added a 1" circle for the "to & from".

Quick and easy today!

It really doesn't take much time or supplies to make your own gift tags. I did use two full sheets of cardstock for these tags because I wanted to make a lot of them but you can easily use scrap papers for these. I cut them at 3 1/2".

GIVEAWAY: A set of all twelve tags will be given away at the end of the 12 days. First sign on to be a follower of my blog and then I will include one entry for every comment made. If you leave a comment each day, your chances of winning the 12 tag set will increase. Good luck!

Monday, November 27, 2017

12 Days of Christmas Tags 2017 Day One

Giveaway. Did someone say giveaway? Read at the end for more info...

It's a new holiday season and time for tag making! This is Day One of the 2017 Twelve Days of Christmas Tags! Are you ready? Here we go...

This tag was made by using a sketch on Sketches in Thyme Project Life. Even though this is not a project life card, I still used the sketch to help get started.

The stamp is an old Stampin' Up stamp that came with a line up of reindeers, snowmen and elves. So cute! I may end up making a similar tag with the other two.



I was going to color in the reindeers, but then decided not to. I like how they look with the patterned paper, glitter washi tape and little embellishments on the corner. Except for the washi tape, all embellishments were made from scraps. I stapled the smaller circle cluster to the tag as another embellishment (it wasn't really necessary since I glued them on first).

GIVEAWAY: A set of the twelve tags will be given away at the end of the 12 days. I will include one entry for every person who becomes a follower of my blog and leaves a comment. If you leave a comment each day, your chances of winning the 12 tag set will increase. Good luck!


FCCB #315 Winter

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge on the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog!



Challenge #315-Winter
Make a project about the winter (sports, snow, etc)!

This Weeks Sponsor



Dreaming Tree SVG's

The winner will receive a $20 Gift Certificate!

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used. If you use a Cricut Explore machine, at least one cut must be from the Cricut catalog of images.

If it isn't a card, you will get two entries into the drawing!

Here is my project-



I made these candy/money holders and decorated with ice skates cut from the Family Album cartridge free cuts on Cricut Access this week. I cut the circles using the George & Basic Shapes cartridge. Fun!

Be sure to link your project to the FCCB website to qualify for the prize.
 

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Project Life Challenge #90

I created  another PL card using the Sketches in Thyme PL sketch. I come back to this site often for great sketches for my pocket layout cards. I don't always link because I always seem to miss the due dates, but hey...no excuses! LOL

I did another Disney themed card using the current sketch. This one matches the first one I made for DD's Disneyworld trip. These sketches make it easy to use up scraps too and you KNOW I have a ton of those!

My card:

And both:

Be sure to click on over there to join the fun!


Saturday, November 25, 2017

Sketches in Thyme Project Life Style #89

I'm so glad I found this site because even though the canvas is small, sometimes it's hard to get creative with the small pockets for pocket scrapbooking (or Project Life).

Click HERE to get to the Sketches in Thyme Project Life site to find their latest sketches, inspiration and linkage.

Here's my journaling card for Sketch #89:

I am making these for my DD's trip to Disneyworld next month.  This will be her fourth trip there within three years!

Don't forget to click on over to Sketches in Thyme in order to participate in their challenges.

Friday, November 24, 2017

TGIF; Thankful Friday #19

Happy Black Friday! I hope you are all out there shopping away. Me, I never do the Black Friday thing. There are too many people and it's way too early for me to head out to the mall jungles. I have however started my Christmas shopping and that always feels good.
This week I'm thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday - family gatherings, football, cool weather, lots of leftovers, and elastic waist pants!

I hope you had a good one and was able to spend time with your friends and family.  Please share in the comment section what you are thankful for this week.

Our 31st wedding anniversary is the 29th and it's also the first anniversary of my mother-in-law's passing. It'll be a difficult one this year.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Black Friday

Black Friday has lost all meaning when it starts before the Friday after Thanksgiving. I guess we just can't wait for big sales.

Well, I'm joining the rebels by promoting VIDA's Black Friday sale that is going on now.

Shop my collection by clicking HERE.

Use this code:
This is a GREAT deal and you can purchase one of a kind gifts for yourself or your family. Some of my favorites are:




These are all my original designs.  Take a peek at my collection and you'll find something cool & unique.  Happy Shopping!


Friday, November 17, 2017

TGIF; Thankful Friday #18

TGIF! Another Friday has rolled up and I'm so happy. This weekend we have another party to attend and I plan on doing a lot of dancing!

This week I'm thankful for rain. We had a few rainy days - not too heavy, but enough to water the plants & lawn AND to clean some of the bird poop on my car.
Who am I kidding? There's no housework being done!

Now it's your turn...what are you thankful for this week?  Please share in the comments.
This week hubby and I caught up on our shows and then I spend lots of time in the Command Center. I have an upcoming holiday boutique on December 2nd. What was I thinking? It is right around the corner and I don't have any Christmas items done. This year I'm going to try advertising on FB and Instagram to (hopefully) generate more sales. Carly & I decided we didn't want to do too many boutiques and give social media a try. I'll post photos of items here as well.  

Have a great weekend!!


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

WOYWW #441

Happy WOYWW! Click on over to the Stamping Ground to read more about this weekly linkage and check out other desks from all over.

Here's my desk this morning:
I'm back to working on DS3's wedding album. I'm almost done! I can't wait to give it to them.

Have a great rest of the week!

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Stuck?! Not Me!

I'm almost done with DS3's wedding album. There are so many photos! And I love it. To make the album easier to assemble, I've been using a lot of sketches.

I used the November sketch from Stuck?! sketches:
Here's my layout:
I can't believe no one took a photo of my son when he was "dancing" while removing the garter belt. But I did get a photo of my other son who caught it.  The photo of the single ladies is awesome.

Now it's your turn...click on over to Stuck Sketches and join the link. 

Monday, November 13, 2017

Fall in Love Engagement Party Highlights

The party finally came and went and it was a huge success. I was so busy with the party that I didn't take many photos. I can't believe I didn't take one photo in front of the photo backdrop! Even my son and future DIL didn't. Crazy! But it was a lot of fun!




Lights made it so pretty!

Good Friends


My daughter
Sorry they are so blurry. It was dark when the party started and they just didn't turn out well. I didn't even think to take some before the party. DUH!

Friday, November 10, 2017

TGIF; Thankful Friday #17

This week I'm thankful for the end of  day light savings time. We got to "fall back" an hour on Sunday and every day this week feels like I got an extra hour of sleep! Now I know my internal clock will be back to normal by the weekend, but for now, I'm thankful for the extra one hour in the morning.
Now it's your turn.  What are you thankful for this week?  Leave a comment and share!

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Superheroes Everywhere! BBTB2 Challenge

It is both a blessing and a curse to be creative. LOL I thought I was done with all the projects for the engagement party this Saturday but DS1 asked me last night if I could put vinyl decals on mugs for his groomsmen & her bridesmaids.

Of course I said yes. They brought over eight beer mugs & eight wine goblets. He wants different superheroes on the mugs so I downloaded some images into Cricut Design Space - have I told you how awesome Design Space is? At first I was completely against it - I'm on the computer all day, I don't need to be on it at night, etc., etc. It didn't take long for me to realize how amazing it is!

I am entering this project on Bitten By The Bug II challenge site. Not only will you be inspired by the DT projects and other crafters' submissions, they have great challenges to participate in to get your creative juices flowing. Click on over there to check it out!

Here's one complete mug:
I used Cricut Design Space and their shapes feature to create Captain AmUIKEYINPUTDOWNARROWerica's shield. I made it easy on myself and only used black vinyl instead of multiple colors.
More photos:




Click BBTB2 to get to the site.

UPDATE:  I WAS PICKED AS PROJECT OF THE WEEK ON THE BBTB2 SITE! Check it out HERE.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Paper Mache Fun

WOYWW? My work area has expanded to my kitchen table & our guest room. This is the last project for the engagement party this Saturday. Since the theme is "Fall in Love", I needed some fall items. I bought a package of leaves from the dollar store and white washed them with paint. I went out to buy foam pumpkins, but they were super expensive even when 60% off.  So...if you can't find an affordable option for what you need, you make it yourself! The answer...Paper Mache!

I grabbed a bag of shredded paper from my work shredder and stuffed some plastic grocery bags until I got the size pumpkin that I wanted. Once I did that, I wrapped string around them until it looked pumpkin shaped. I used some masking tape to help with that as well.

Then I mixed flour & water to create my paste. Talk about "Back to Elementary School"! Cut strips of newspaper and had at it! Ooey Gooey fun!

Here are three of them. The smaller one is actually a Styrofoam pumpkin that I purchased from The Dollar Tree. I bought six of these. I made four larger ones - two tall and two round pumpkins.
Normally I would add at least two layers of the paper strips, but I was in a little of a time crunch! So after the first layer dried, I painted them white and then decorated.

Here are some of them:
and some close ups:

Others have been completely covered in glitter, decopauged in French script paper or painted in teal w/silver highlights.

I'm so happy how they turned out!

Click on over to the Stamping Ground blog to join the WOYWW linkage or check out other desks.  It's a lot of fun!

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Stick It Down Card

The card sketch on the Stick It Down site this month is a pretty easy one. Or at least to me it is. Check out the sketch:

I used a gelli print background and I stamped the leave stem from Bloom Art Stamps. The sentiment is an old Stampin' Up one. I added a piece of crochet lace, two purple/brown ribbons and a threaded button.

Ribbons, lace and button are from my stash
Twine is from Fun Stampers Journey
Cardstock & Ink is from Fun Stampers Journey

Now it's your turn.  Click on over to the Stick It Down blog and check out this month's sketches. They have a sketch for everyone - 2-page, 1-page and card.

Friday, November 3, 2017

TGIF; Thankful Friday #16

November! Can you believe it's already November?!? This has been a busy week. I had to get fitted for a new crown, Halloween, doctor appointments and lots of shopping. This week I am thankful that I am HAPPY.
I changed my insurance carrier so I met my doctor for the first time this week. We sat and talked and she asked me all kinds of questions on my health history. Then she asked if I was feeling depressed, down or threatened, etc. I shook my head and said "I am truly happy." And that is a great feeling!

Believe me, my life is far from perfect. I mourn my loved ones that are no longer here; my hubby gets on my nerves a lot sometimes; and I have my daily aches & pains; heck, there have even been plenty of times when I don't know if we're going to have food on the table, but I can still honestly say I am happy!
Now it's your turn, what are you thankful for this week? Share in the comments.

Here's a photo of some of my coworkers in our Halloween costume. We were the game, Word Connect.