Waterslide Revisited

Ever have one of those projects that you think is finished but just can't get out of your head?  I went to bed last night thinking I wasn't crazy about my LO of the waterslide.  Something just wasn't right.  Fast forward to this morning, and there I was at the Cricut when I should have been making lunches.  I just had to cut the frames from a matching blue paper.  It's a small change, but it makes a big difference.   

"My Favorite" Challenge

I did a layout for this week's Gypsy challenge.  We were to use 3 elements from our favorite cartridge, one from our least favorite and weld something.  I have a difficult time picking a favorite, and since I've done so much with Create a Critter lately, I decided to try another.  My elements(sun, frames, curvy lines that are welded to the frames) came from the Wild Card cart.  This is another cart that has TONS of elements that can be used on cards as well as layouts.  I still claim that Plantin Schoolbook is my least favorite, but the more I force myself to use it, the more I realize how versatile it is.  I welded two waves together to make the border at the bottom of the page, and also used it to create the "mosaic" tiles.  I'm going to add some crystal laquer to the sun to make them more tile like, but I couldn't find it today.  The word art was created by welding the letters from Mickey Font.

 

Now, a little background about the layout.  This was a family trip to Six Flags back in 2000.  My son was just under 3 years old, and seeing the waterslide insisted on going.  Now, mind you, this is the "kiddie" slide that he's standing in front of.  I got in line with him and at the top was told I couldn't go down with him.  I tried to convince him not to go but he had his heart set on it.  As soon as he started down the slide, he fell back and was quickly flipped onto his belly by a curve.  He rolled back and forth all the way down.  I was horrified that I couldn't help him, and ran to the bottom to comfort him as soon as I could.  He got out of the water and was covered in scratches.  Poor thing...hasn't been on another waterslide since (and he's 12 1/2 now).

He came in while I was putting this layout together and told me he remembered the whole thing.  He swears the guy at the top PUSHED him down the slide, and can't get over the fact that he would do that, lol.

Last Minute Grad Card

So we were invited to a graduation party a week ago.  Like a dummy, I assumed that since I wasn't asked to make a card, Kev must have already bought one to give her.  WRONG!!!  As we were getting ready to walk out the door, he turns to me and says, "Can you make a card really quick?"  UGH...MEN!  Lucky for him, I can make a card really quickly.  Not my best, but it works.  Kristin was graduating from nursing school, so I pulled out my Gypsy knowing that Everyday Paper Dolls had just what I needed.  I designed it to fit my "card template" (just a rectangle that I place on the page and set the size to my card size), then separated it by colors and let the Cricut go to work.  When all was said and done, it took about 10 minutes from start to finish.

More Recipe Cards

I just found pics of the recipe cards I did for my first swap. I'm going to add a chicken or maybe a casserole pan to the enchilada card, it seems to be missing something. The Enchilada card uses Stampin' Up papers and ribbon. The "title" was cut from vinyl using SCAL.

The Cherry Coco Bars was assembled on top of some FREE digital paper that I printed off at home.  I cut the cherries from the Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge.  It's another cart that has lots of fun to use images that aren't necessarily "Hello Kitty"...suns, clouds, flowers, rainbows, etc.  Worth looking into if you like making cutesy cards and layouts.

We have a WINNER!

I want to thank everyone that took the time to check out my blog.  I'm thrilled that so many of you liked it enough to follow, and hope to not disappoint you.  I've also really enjoyed visiting your blogs as well, and am now following a few.   I've used random.org to pick a winner from all the comments listed on the giveaway post.  Congratulations.......
nikk said...
New follower here! I love the look of your blog. Very cute :) I love finding new blogs. Please come check me out @ http://weremakinmemorieshere.blogspot.com/

Please email me your address at misha_113@yahoo.com  and I'll get the sleeve out to you.

Round and Round We Go Challenge

Here's my latest challenge entry.  If you're a Gypsy owner, you should check out the message boards at Cricut.com.  In the G forum you'll find a weekly challenge designed to help us learn about and use all the fabulous features built into your Gypsy.  This week's challenge was to weld something around a shape.  The watermelon shape came from the Doodlecharms cartridge (great for year round shapes), and the font used is Plantin Schoolbook. 

I'm in the process of figuring out how to share my gyypsy files.  I THINK you can download the file for this card HERE.

Gypsy Sleeve Giveaway!

I'm giving away a brand new Pink Bling Gypsy sleeve to one lucky person.  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post...I wouldn't hate it if you commented on others as well, lol. 

You have until midnight (ET) on May 23rd to enter.  The winner will be announced on Monday, May 24th.  Good Luck!

Recipe Card Swap

Just finished up some recipe cards for a swap over at the Cricut message boards.  The first one is a recipe that my fiance's Grandmother makes, called Frog Eye Salad.  It's like ambrosia with a twist...itty, bitty round noodles.  Sounds weird, I know, but YUM! 

I used my Gypsy to weld together the letters and words, and cut the frog/lily pad using Create a Critter (my new "go to" cartridge).  Even if you're not a critter kind of person, this cartridge has so many other elements it's worth looking into. 

For the second card I used CAC (again) for the barn, and Everyday Paper Dolls for the chicken.  Not my favorite chicken, but the only one I have for now.  I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the barn (but I can't remeber the name of the folder...distressed lines maybe).  I was going to originally put the chicken on the "ground" in front of the barn but while I was inking the edges, one fell on top and I liked the way it looked more.  It no longer looked like a barn to me, but more of a chicken coop.  Anyway, with the chicken up there I had to make some changes for the recipe card as well.  That's when it hit me.  I could make the barn into a pocket and weld that chicken to a tag that slips behind it.  So, when you pull the chicken off the chicken coop, you find this...

Boxed In

Happy Mother's Day!  If you're familiar with the Cricut, then chances are you've heard about the Gypsy.  I'm happy to say that I've just become a "member of the club".  I got my G for Mother's Day from the kids (o.k., I admit I had to order it, but what better reason, right?) 

Here's a box that I designed using my new toy.  I'm doing some challenges over on the Cricut message board as a way to learn about the gypsy, and this week's challenge was to create a box.  I also tried my hand at making paper roses inspired by Tim Holtz.  I will definitely be trying more of these.  I think they'd look great in a shadow box with a scrapbook page.  I have added the link to download these files to the Gypsy page. 

Personalized Dry Erase Board

Did this project for a challenge on National Scrapbook Day.  The challenge was to make something with or for a child.  I made this for my daughter to hang on her bedroom door.  This way I have a place to write or hang notes that she needs to see, and can't tell me she didn't because she has to go past it to go to bed.  The circles and letters were cut from vinyl using SCAL2.  I love being able to cut any font I want with my Cricut.

A Bow Holder for Allison

My favorite two year old niece has beautiful locks of hair that can be a bit unruly if not pulled back.  She's got hair bows in every color imaginable, to match every outfit she owns.  I thought it would be helpful if she had a place to store them, so I set about to make her that place. 

I started with a plain wooden plaque that I painted white.  While the paint dried, I did some cutting with my Cricut.  All the images came from the new Create a Critter cartridge (it's my new favorite).  The images are cut from paper and adhered with Mod Podge.  Then I added her name in vinyl, and stapled some ribbon to the back.  She will be able to attach her hair bows to the ribbons and always know where they are.  I know it's kind of cheating since most of it is paper, but it doesn't really fit at my stampin' and scrappin' blog...

National Scrapbook Day Entries

I've just finished uploading the pictures of the projects I completed for the NSD challenges over at My Pink Stamper.  They are pretty straight forward, and I've included some instructions.  If there's anything you would like explained, leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer. 

MPS Challenge #12: Critter-licious

This challenge was screaming for the Create a Critter cartridge (I think these critters are too cute!).  Since it was still on my table from the earlier challenges, I chose to use the DCWV Latte paper stack once again to make this card.  The purple layer is punched with a Martha Stewart border punch (lattice, I think). 

Because I used such a dark color as the card base, I added a lighter shade inside in order to write a message later.  The liner was punched to match, and includes a small acorn embellishment (also cut from the CAC cartridge).

MPS Challenge #11: Colors of the Rainbow

For this challenge we were told to use 1 or all colors of the rainbow.  I used my Cricut to cut the "ric-rac" using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  Then using SCAL, and the font bellbottom, I welded and cut the word "smile" from black paper and again as a shadow from purple. 

MPS Challenge #10: May Day

The challenge was to make a card with flowers or a "Springy" feel.  I've had these beautiful butterfly stickers forever (yes, I'm a craft supply hoarder), and decided today was the day to use them.  No Cricut cut were used for this card. 

The card base is almost amethyst (SU!), and the layers are part of the DCWV Sparkly Sweet stack.  I used stamps from the $1 spot at Michaels.

MPS Challenge #9: Take Shape

This challenge was to make a shaped project.  Once again, I took out my CDS and Create a Critter cartridge.  In Design Studio I welded together two dinosaur shadows for the card base.  Then I cut the different layers and assembled the card.  Easy Peasy!

The paper is again from DCWV (maybe the Latte pack), and is shiny and glittery.  Here is a closer view of the sparkle.  The pictures really don't do this card justice.

MPS Challenge#8: Love my color

For this challenge we were to use a monochromatic color scheme and a flower.  I was going to use some orange flowers that I had, but couldn't find the right shade of paper.  While looking, I noticed some scraps of blue big enough to be punched into squares, and decided to use them instead.

The paper is bashful blue from SU!.  I layered 3 small squares onto one large one and then layered that on the card stock.  If you look closely in the corner of each small square I've stamped (also in bashful blue) the word live, laugh, love.  The stamps are from Clear Dollar Stamps.  The area at the bottom is left blank so that I can stamp it later to fit the occasion. 

MPS Challenge #7: Hey Dad!

This challenge was to make something for Dad or with a masculine feel to it.  I used some paper from DCWV's Latte stack, the Top Note die from SU!, SCAL (for the word), and my Cuttlebug (with the traffic jam embossing folder). 

I think it needs something, I'm just not sure what.

MPS Challenge #6: Kids Craft, Too

This challenge was to make something with or for a  child.  I decided to cut some more vinyl (using SCAL) and personalize a magnetic dry erase board for my daughter's bedroom door.  This way we have a place to jot down quick notes or hang an important message.  I got the board at Staples for $1 at the beginning of the school year.  It's one of those "can't pass up" deals that are filling my crafting area.  You know the ones.   

Sorry about the pic.  I had a better one that I must have deleted.  I took this one after putting it on her bedroom door and the lighting in the hall is terrible. 

MPS Challenge #5: Teacher Appreciation Days

Sorry about the picture here...not sure why it's squished like that.  Anyway, this challenge was to make something for Teacher Appreciation Day (which is tomorrow!!!)  I had some hand sanitizer lying around, and since teachers go through this stuff like no one's business, I thought I'd personalize a bottle.

I used my Cricut Design Studio (because my Gypsy won't be here until Wednesday...kids got it for me for Mother's Day...YAY!!!), and welded the word teacher using the font on Wild Card.  The apples were cut from Create a Critter (have I mentioned I love this cart?).  Instead of cutting paper, I cut this from vinyl.  I love using my Cricut to cut vinyl...in fact, if you head over to my vinyl blog you can see some other things my Cricut has done for me.

MPS Challenge#4: I like you the least

The 4th challenge for NSD was to make something using your least favorite cartridge.  Because I own SCAL and can cut any font on my computer, I NEVER use Plantin Schoolbook or George and Basic Shaped.  I decided it would have to be one of those cartridges...UGH!

Using the tag button, I cut some bookmarks for some of my students.  You can't see the details in the pic, but the paper is really glittery.  This challenge was great, because it forced me to really look through the handbook and see what the cartridge offered.  I'm still not crazy about it, lol. 

MPS Challenge #3: Thinking Outside the Box

This challenge was to do something I don't normally do.  I actually did a combination of 3 things...used a metal embellishment, made a square card, and followed a template.

The papers used are from a designer paper pack from SU!.  I can't remember the name, but will try to find it and let you know which pack it is.  I know that the card stock is tempting turquoise (SU!), as is the ink used to stamp the sentiment.  The template was an old one from Pagemaps.

MPS Challenge#2: Getting Scrappy

The challenge this time was to use our scraps.  I recently made a "bow holder" for my niece, and had bits of green and pink patterned paper and ribbon bits left over.  Pigs are pink, so I pulled out my new fave, Create a Critter.  The flag was stamped with a stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps.  They have a couple set that work great with "critters".  This one says, "You're one of a swine'd!".

MPS Challenge #1: Mother Dear, I Love You

Like I mentioned in my previous post, Saturday was National Scrapbook Day.  I wasn't able to play along then with the challenges over at My Pink Stamper, so I decided to do them between laundry loads on Sunday.  Here's the first card I did.  The challenge was to make a card inspired by Mom or someone dear.

I used my Cricut to cut the argyle card from the Wild Card cartridge, and 2 tags from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I think the ink is lovely lilac from SU!, and the stamps are from the $1 bin at Michaels.

Cricut Giveaway!!!

It's National Scrapbook Day, and the girls at Everyday Cricut are giving away a Cricut Expression.  Head over for a chance to win.

I'm just getting started (late) with my projects for the challenges over at The Pink Stamper.  I'll have them posted here as soon as posssible.