Easter Treat Bags

Well I finally had some time to put together the treat bags for my son's Easter Party at preschool.  I used Bazzill Bling Cardstock for the blue background and the grass.  The grass cut was done using the Martha Stewart Seasonal Cake Art cricut cartridge.  I used brown cardstock to cut the Chocolate Bunny (Easter 2010 cricut cartridge) and pink cardstock covered in stickles to cut the bow (also Easter 2010).  The sentiment is from My Pink Stamper and is from her Happiest Moments stamp set.  Thanks for looking.

Spring Bling Class

A few weeks ago I took a Spring Bling Class at my LSS Memory Mania.  I really love Deneen's classes but they sure are a lot of work.  The layouts turned out wonderfully.

The first layout, Spring Fever, uses glitter paper and stickles to create a sparkly look.  We also used flowers, gems, and brads to add embellishment.

Spring Fever Layout - Spring Bling Class

The second layout, Hanging with the Peeps, features We R Memory Keepers Peep Collection.  This layout was really cool because we learned how to take a stamped image and add stickles to add color and bling.  Then we cut out the stamped image and used pop dots to create the embellishments.

Hanging with the Peeps Layout - Spring Bling Class

Hoppy Easter

I made this Easter Layout for my son's upcoming Easter Party at preschool.  I used We R Memory Keepers Peep Collection for the paper. 

Christmas Gift Tags

I have been so busy getting ready for Christmas that I haven't even had time to post the few projects that I have gotten done.  I decided to make gift tags this year for all the gifts under the tree (usually I just write everyone's name in sharpie right on the paper).  The tags are cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes & More Cartridge at 4 3/4".  The green tags are inked with Deep Green Cat's Eye Chalk Ink and the red tags are inked with Maroon Cat's Eye Chalk Ink.  The Gingerbread House was cut from Gingerbread Cartridge at 1 3/4".  The Stockings, Christmas Tree & Candy Cane were cut from Christmas Cheer Cartridge at 1 3/4".  The Snowflake was cut from Winter Lace Cartridge.  The Cardstock is all Bazzill in Herbal Garden Dark and Crabapple Dark.  I then used stickles to embellish.

Give Thanks

I also made a Thanksgiving card today.

Give Thanks Card

The turkey is from the Create A Critter cartridge.  I used Copper Stickles and of course Bazzill cardstock.  Once again the ribbon is from my Hobby Lobby stash. 

I think I have almost convinced myself to invest in the My Pink Stamper Stamps.  I've been putting it off because I have already spent soooo much money on this hobby, but I really enjoy making these cards and the stamps would really make them better.

Happy Halloween Card

Last night when I got home from scrapbooking class I saw that I have followers.  I am SOOOOO excited because now I feel like I am actually talking to someone (or typing I suppose).  Anyway, welcome to my blog and I will try to keep you entertained.  I'm a new blogger so please keep in mind that I have no idea what I am doing, lol.

For today's Pink Stamper challenge we had to make a Halloween or Thanksgiving something so I made a halloween card.

Happy Halloween Card

I used the Designer's Calendar cartridge for the pumpkin and my Peachy Keen stamp for the face.  The cardstock is Bazzill and the ribbon is just some cheap ribbon I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  And of course I stickled the stem with my lime green stickles.

Once again welcome to my blog and thanks for looking =).

Thank You Notes

Today I was busy trying to come up with a design for Kayla's birthday party invitations.  In the process of doing so I came up with a cute Thank You note instead.  I used the Create A Critter cartridge for the Cricut to cut the poodle image and I wrapped a piece of ribbon around the bottom for added texture.  I stamped the "Thank You" with white ink and Stickled the poodle hair for a little "bling."  For the bottom border I used the Fleur de Lis border punch from EK Success.  I am so happy how it came out.

Bling Bling Class

Last night was my Bling Bling Class at Memory Mania.  I gotta say that those evening classes kick my butt.  Maybe it's because I'm so tired or maybe it's because there is no extra time since the store is closed but I just can't seem to finish my layouts in the two hours allowed.  I did have a great time and I finished my layouts this morning so all is well.  We learned some new techiniques with Stickles, Jewels and Ribbon.  We also got to use glitter paper which I absolutely love.

Scrapbooking Kits

Well I have a new discovery.  My local scrapbook store sells Page Layout Kits.  Now, I have been against kits in the past because I felt like it was "cheating".  However, now that I am on a complete scrapping mission, I have decided that these kits are a great learning tool, not to mention a quick way to get pictures into an album.  Since the store is offering a "Buy 4 Get 1 Free" sale I decided this was a great time to try some kits.  After completing three kits I am completely addicted.  I am so happy with how they turned out and I can't wait to have some free time and try to recreate them with my own supplies.  Here are the photos of my completed layouts.  Thanks to Christy & Terri for the designs.



Pregnancy - Memory Mania Kit



Second Grade - Memory Mania Kit

Soccer - Memory Mania Kit

My Favorite Products

This is a list of my favorite products in the world of Scrapbooking.

• Cricut - this machine does it all.  You can cut paper, fabric, vinyl, stencils, stamps, cork, chipboard, etc.  The possibilities seem endless.  With the numerous cartridges and now software like Make the Cut and Sure Cuts A Lot, you can cut anything you can imagine.  My favorite thing about the Cricut is that you can print your own letters for scrapbooking or even school projects and you never run out of the letter "e".  There is nothing more frustrating than having to by multiple packages of letters at $4.99 a pkg just because you need more e's than the 3 that come in one package.
• Scotch ATG Gun - this is the best adhesive product I own.  The original models were way to expensive for adhesive, but the introduction of the Pink ATG Gun with a price of $29.99 most places made it a must have, and it comes with two rolls of tape (a great item for the 40% coupon at Michaels).  Once you get the hand of it you can attach almost anything very easily and the roll of tape seems to go a long way.  Also the permanent adhesive holds very well.  Plus it is Pink which is always a plus in my book.
• Cuttlebug - not only does it do an awesome job embossing cardstock but it cuts as well.  This machine has allowed me to give new life to all my old Sizzix and Sizzlits dies and well as try out some of the other die cutters out there.  It is so much easier to use these old dies on the Cuttlebug that to lug out the old machines.  Plus it takes up less space on my work table.  I was never a huge fan of embossing until I got this tool.  Now I will be embossing anything that I can roll through the machine.
• Stickles - okay I admit that I bought my first Stickles because they were on sale "buy 3 get 1 free" and I figured that was a good time to stock up.  OMG, I am totally addicted now.  This simple little bottle of glitter glue can really add some Wow to an ordinary layout.
• Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby Paper - probably my favorite paper stack out there right now.  Of course I am working on baby albums and the colors are pinks and blues.  But I just love the look of this paper and my layout looks amazing.  This is another great item for that 40% coupon at Michaels.

This list is a work in progress.  As I try out new products I will add my favs on here.

Scrapbook Supplies on the Web

Moving to Louisiana has made me realize how much I miss the scrapbook mega stores back in Houston.  We have two scrapbook stores here in Baton Rouge along with Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart, but it is just not the same.  So I have been actively web-shopping and thought I would compile a list of my favorites for easy access.

1. Amazon.com - I shop here for almost everything.  Their prices are usually low, but you have to be careful because sometimes they are higher than Michael's.
2. Scrapbook.com - This is the closest thing I have found to the scrapbook megastores.  They tend to have good sales and they are the cheapest place I have found to buy Stickles.
3. Custom Crops - They have pretty good prices on Cricut Cartridges.  I also have ordered the Mini Marker Holder and Mini Gel Pen Holder for my Cricut from them.  Another thing they carry are the My Pink Stamper products.
4. Scrapbooking Warehouse - this site seems to have the lowest prices on most things.  My latest interest is the I-Rock by Imaginisce and their price is almost half of what Michael's is asking (especially if you consider the 9% sales tax in Baton Rouge).  So far everything seems cheaper here (except Cricut or Stickles) like Cuttlebug Dies, Sizzix, Paper Punches, etc.

I will add more to the list as I think of them.

Paper Roses

Today I made 3D roses using paper, my Cricut and MTC (Make the Cut Software).  I found this technique on Penny Duncan's website, she has a video tutorial for making these awesome roses.  I am going to give you a quick view of how I did it.

Supplies Needed:

1. Paper (card stock or patterned paper)
2. Hot Glue Gun
3. Cricut
4. PDC Rose SVG file
5. Craft Tweezers
6. Paper Piercing Mat
7. Embossing Stylus
8. Stickles (optional)

Step 1 - Cut out the rose pattern on your Cricut using MTC and SVG file.



Step 2 - Emboss the back sides of each petal set just like we did in in the Paper Punch Flowers in my last post.  Be sure to flip each set over to the right side and emboss the centers to make the petals pop up.

Step 3 - Take one of the petal sets that has the slit cut in it place it underside up and hold it by the the first petal with your tweezers.  Tightly twist this petal around itself.



Step 4 - Place this twisted petal in the center of the second petal and wrap the second petal around the first.  Repeat with all remaining petals.



Step 5 - Use your hot glue gun to lightly glue the bottom of what is going to be the rose's center.



Step 6 - Take the other petal set with the slit cut into it.  Place it underside up.  Place a small drop of glue on the bottom center of the first petal.  Place the rose center we just created on this petal, making sure that the bottom extends about halfway into the hole in the center of the cutout.



Step 7 - Wrap the first petal around the rose center.  Place in the center of the second petal and wrap this petal around the rose center.  Repeat with all petals.



Step 8 - Hot glue the bottom of the completed center with hot glue.



Step 9 - Take the cutout with the large center, place it top side up, and place hot glue around the center hole.  Insert the rose center into the hole and shape petals around.



Step 10 - Take the cutout with the smaller center, place it top side up, and place hot glue around the center hole.  Insert your rose into the hole and shape petals around again maing sure to stagger the petals from the previous row so it looks more realistic.



Step 11 - Take the final cutout, place it top side up, and place a drop of hot glue in the center and insert your rose again making sure you stagger the petals.  Shape petals until the desired look is achieved.



Step 12 - Optional.  I used my Diamond Stickles around the edge of each rose petal to add a little sparkle to the flower.

Here are the flowers I've made.

Paper Punch Flowers

My new technique that I am working on is Paper Punch Flowers.

Supplies needed:

1. Paper (pattern or solid - I am using Tim Holtz Vintage Shabby)
2. Retro Flower Punch - Medium by EK Success
3. Embossing Stylus - Fiskers
4. Paper Piercing Pad - (I use In Stitch'z Jr. by Bazzill)
5. Stickles (I am using Pink and Silver)

Step 1 - Punch your flowers out of the paper (Ink or chalk edges now if desired)
Step 2 - Place flower upside-down on your Piercing Pad

Step 3 - Using the Embossing Stylus carefully shap each petal by rubbing around the edges of the petal and in the center of the petal until desired petal is acheived (careful not to tear the paper). Repeat for each petal.



Step 4 - Flip flower over to the right side and use the stylus to indent the center which will cause your petals to pop up.



Step 5 - Using your Stickles add a center to each flower.

That's it. It is pretty easy and a lot cheaper than buying paper flowers. Below is a flower I made with my Cricut and a file I found online for Make the Cut. I cut multiple size flowers and inked the edges and joined them with a brad and covered the brad with pink Stickles .