TGIF; Thankful Friday #119

Oops...I think I skipped a week. We're changing the cubicle arrangement at work and it has me all unsettled.

This week I am thankful to local organizations. We purchased chicken dinner tickets from our local Lion's Club and it was delicious! There was so much food, I didn't have to cook for a couple of days!

All this for only $15! That's half of a whole chicken, salad, baked potato, roll and two cookies.

Yum! Now it's  your turn, let me know what you're thankful for this week by leaving a comment below.

WOYWW #560

Happy WOYWW! What’s this all about?  Click on over to Stamping Ground and read all about it!

Here’s my desk:

I’ve been going through my scrapbook album and finishing up layouts that aren’t complete. Some were missing pictures, some embellishments, journaling and/or titles.

Be sure to click on over and check out the other desks and add a link to your work area!

Cricut Gifts - Wearables

If you don’t own a Cricut machine or something similar, I hope my projects encourage you to at least think about it.

I made these two sweatshirt hoodies for my DIL’s brother. We love Parks & Rec and The Office tv shows and so does he. I made the SVGs myself in Design Space. I used red and white HTV for the projects.

Great, right!?!

IG and YT; Are You Following Me?

Did you know I have a YouTube channel?  Do you know I have an IG account? If you’re not following me, I gotta ask...why not?

I post most things here but sometimes it’s easier to just post a photo on IG.

My user names:
IG @3sons_and_astar
YT https://m.youtube.com/channel/UChAySRm49g2BP1ky4PpON2w

I really need to record more videos to get better but hey, I’m having fun!

I posted this Junk Journal piece the other day on IG:

Isn’t it great! I bought the sentiment at Tuesday Morning and the floral stamps are from Altenew. Free but you pay s/h. The base is from another Junk Journal page that I scanned & copied. I love to do that with prints. Most times I make stickers out of my own artwork.

Be sure to check out my other social media accounts and leave a comment.

Junk Journal Spread

Do you have favorite YouTubers that you watch? I have quite a few, but one of my favs is Inkie Quill. She has two channels, one called Inky Quill and the other Let's Get Inky. I don't know which one I like more.

She did a junk journal spread on Let's Get Inky and I drew inspiration from it. What really caught my eye, was the heart shaped page - well let's say, half a heart shaped page.

I cut out the shape on the right side and then flipped it to the left and drew the same shape. Next, I applied black acrylic paint to mask out the other half of the heart.

Both pages already had some random paint, marks, etc. The page on the left is actually a gel plate piece.

I added black acrylic paint around the cut heart border and back sheet as well.

Between the two heart halves, is a small envelope which I embellished with the left over piece from the cut out shape.

Now to find a stencil to decorate the heart. I went through my stash and found this:

Which was a throwaway piece I rescued from a friend who was going to toss it. It’s made of cardstock and worked perfectly to decorate the heart. I used red acrylic paint and a cosmetic sponge.

And the tuck in tag for the pocket between them, I used black paint.

I used a circle stencil for the left side black area & white paint

A cute quote I collect on Pinterest, some hearts & random scrap pieces and I’m done:

Close Ups of the pocket and tag:

Click on the Junk Journal label to the right for more inspiration.

BBTB2; For the Men In Our Lives

Bitten by Bug’s (BBTB) challenge theme is For The Men In Our Lives.

This came on perfect timing since I needed to make a card for a male first communion.  This was a new subject for me but I did good.

My card:

I made it a shaker card too so the recipient, a 7 year old, will love it!

I used the cross and sash/ribbon from the New Testament cartridge. By subscribing to Cricut Access, I have all these cuts to choose from. It sure does make things easy. I stamped “blessings” by using the MISTI for placement. The “G” slipped a little, but it’s all good!

Your turn...link your project to the BBTB site and be sure to let us know how you used your Cricut.

I want to show off my new little mascot! I won this from an IG contest:

Isn't he adorable! I need to name him...any suggestions?

TGIF; Thankful Friday #118

Yeah it's Friday and the beginning of a THREE DAY weekend!

This week I'm thankful for those internet, FB and IG friends that we'll probably never meet. You fill my heart and soul with joy since we have so much in common. We are linked together because we have the same interests and the same things make us squeal.

I answered a simple question on IG and won this cutie

I 

I need to find him a permanent home and also name him.

Isn't it fun to get stuff in the mail!?!

Enjoy your week

V-Day Card Collaboration

Happy Valentine's Day!

Are you someone who sends out Valentine's Day cards? I don't normally, but since my goal this year is to send out cards, I decided to make some. I posted my cards on IG (@3sons_and_astar) and many people contacted me to buy some. Although that was not my intent, it was a nice surprise so I made many more.

My granddaughter, LeAnna joined me in my latest YouTube video. She loved a shaker card that I made & wanted to make one too so we decided to film it.

Here's the inspiration card:

The video:

The completed cards:

Mine is on the left and LeAnna's is on the right. Her shaker card shakes much better than mine but when standing up, the "pretties" go to the bottom of the jar (which is what it is supposed to do).

Since I made the inspiration card, we followed the same steps to create two more. They turned out super cute and she was fantastic while we were filming. I should have just let her talk, because she was a pro!

If you'd like to see/hear more collaborations with LeAnna, let me know in the comments.

Supplies Used:
Mason Jar stamp set -

Conversation Hearts stamps - SU!
Candy Hearts sentiment - Gifted from Rubber Paws
Inks - Cotton Candy by CTMH; Black Licorice by FSJ; and all the rest by SU!
Cardstock - SU!
Pattern Paper - xx
Bubble Gum Pink Color Silk - FSJ
Other embellishments - my stash
Stamp Platform - MISTI
Stamp Shammy - Lawn Fawn



CTMH = Close To My Heart
FSJ = Fun Stampers Journey (now with Spellbinders)
SU! = Stampin Up!

WOYWW #558

Happy WOYWW! This will be short & sweet. My desk:

Click over to Stamping Ground to read more about WOYWW and to take a peek into others’ craft rooms/areas/desk!

Enjoy!

2020 Goal Update

2020 New Year Goal Update:

Do you remember the goal? My personal goal is to send at least one handmade card out a week. I know it's only been five weeks, but I'm still doing it and it feels great.

Week #1: Joey's 7th B-day

Week #2: Robert & Juan Just Because (sent them photos that I've been holding on to)

Week #3: Lynne's B-day

Week #4: Jori's 15th B-day

Week #5: Miramontes Sympathy
Week #6: Multiple Valentine's Day

You know I didn't take any photos of the cards I sent but I'm going to try to be better in the following updates.

It's been fun going through my card box. I don't always do that and I forget the cute cards that I've created and some that I cringed over. LOL

The first thing I did was put in all the birthdays and anniversary, etc., on the NOTES section of my planner each week.

There are a lot of weeks that I don't have an occasion to send a card, so that's when I'll send a "thinking of you" card to my list of family and friends or anyone who comments that they would love a handmade card from me.

If that's you...contact me via email (check the contact me tab) and send me your mailing address.

TGIF; Thankful Friday #117

TGIF!

This week I'm thankful for my daily phone calls with my sister. We've always done this...call everyday.  Usually for no reason, but just the phone call.

So, thanks sis for remembering to call me every day. I miss you when you don't.

WOYWW #557

Well it's that time again...WOYWW. Today I (along with many other people) share my desktop. I'm a little embarrassed of mine this week because it is messy!

I decided to make Valentine's Day cards to send and that provoked some sales as well. So here I am pulling out all my LOVE stuff!

Warning! It is not pretty!

How I find room to create is beyond me.

To learn more about WOYWW and Julia from Stamping Ground, go to the blog. Take a peek into other's craft rooms/areas and be inspired!

Happy Wednesday - Happy Hump Day - and - Happy WOYWW!

BBTB; Valentine's Day Challenge

Hello and welcome to another challenge at the Bitten By The Bug site. The current challenge is a Valentine's project using your Cricut.

If you're a regular to my blog, you know that I have challenged myself to send at least one card every week for 2020. Well, I have many nieces & nephews so I want to send out as many Valentine's Day cards as possible this year. That leads into my project...a Valentine's Day card.

I used one of my favorite cartridges, Create-A-Critter II for the hearts and the cute bee.

I used a lot of cardstock scraps by cutting strips in various widths to create a colorful & unique background for the images. I kept the cards pretty simple since I had to make a lot of them, but they are still adorable and I know the recipient will love it!

The main cuts were placed on the card using 3D foam adhesive.

Here’s a shot of my scrap containers:

Now it's your turn. Pull out your Cricut and create a Valentine's Day project. Be sure to link it to the BBTB2 site. Be sure to let us know how your Cricut was used for your project.

Wishing you nothing but LOVE this Valentine's Day!

Creative With Stamps; February #47

This month's challenge at Creative With Stamps is...

I didn't make a New Years resolution, but I did challenge myself to send at least one card every week for 2020. I have so many handmade cards and I rarely send them out.

This challenge inspired me to make a Valentine's card. I’ll make a few more to send out to my nephews.

Check out the video:

Finished photos:

I made my own background by using a solid rectangle stamp and Real Red ink from SU! I just eyeballed the background. Then I dry embossed a cloud background over it; stamped some “x’s and o’s” to a couple of the solid stamps and splattered some Whip Cream Color Silk (FSJ).

The fox and sentiment is from an older set from CTMH and washi tapes are from my stash.

Be sure to click on over to the Creative With Stamps challenge site and link up your card for a chance to win a prize.

Love to Scrap Challenge Blog; February

It's a new month which means a new challenge at the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog (LTSCB). This month's challenge is...Red and/or Pink = Love. Great challenge for February don't you think?

I had fun making this card. First I used watercolor paints to create a rainbow background. While that was drying, I stamped the sentiment and balloon bouquet on white cardstock. I used alcohol markers to color in the balloons and a white gel pen to add some highlights.

The balloons are adhered with 3D foam adhesive. I also added some Sparkle Silk in a diagonal on the card.

In case you don’t know, the middle/higher balloon is the “I Love You” symbol in ASL. Isn’t that fun!?!

Be sure to link your project to the LTSCB before the end of the month and check out the DT inspiration!

I made another similar card since I really liked how it turned out too!