One Day Out West . . .

Hi everyone and Happy Thursday! One day closer to the weekend, yay! :) I am SO excited to share my project with you today so I'll keep my chit chat super short and get right on to my project (warning, this post is picture heavy).

I decided to create a two-page 8x8 layout spread for one of my scrapbooks. When I was growing up, I was fortunate and blessed enough to have wonderful parents who took me on fabulous vacations every year. I got to see so many parts of the country and the world and I am SO grateful for that. One of my favorite trips was a trip we took out west to New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. We of course saw the Grand Canyon as well as so many other wonderful things. We have tons of photo albums full of pictures from these trips. I lost my mom six years ago and I still find it difficult to open those photo albums. I decided that I would honor her and those wonderful memories by picking out some of my favorite photos from each trip and scrapping them. This is the first layout spread in this journey of mine and I hope you like it :)



Here is the two page spread (I know the picture isn't great, it's hard to get both pages together in one picture). I haven't added my photos/photo mats or my title yet because I'm not sure yet which pictures I'm going to pick. The absolutely adorable cut out images were made using my Silhouette. I downloaded all the images from Treasure Box Designs. All the images I cut out were from the Southwest Collection. You get all the images I cut out plus a couple more, plus diagrams on how to put all the pieces together all for just $2.99! How cool is that?!?! I cut all my pieces out and then inked around the edges with various chalks and inks. I still need to work on this technique, but I'm getting there :) I put all my pieces together and then did some doodling with my white and black gel pens. Then I put my scrapbook pages together using SU cardstock and Debbie Mumm DP.

Here are some detail shots of the first page:





And the second page:







What do you think? Well, phew, if you made it this far, thanks for sticking with me :) I had so much fun working on this project. I just love my Silhouette and I love being able to access all these adorable SVG files. I'm having SO much FUN! :) Well, that's it from me today. Thanks again as always for stopping by. Have a wonderful day and I'll see you back here tomorrow with a cricut project (don't want my cricut to feel neglected) :)

Very First Silhouette Project

Hi everyone and Happy Wednesday! It's the middle of the week already, can you believe it?!?! I'm so excited the weekend is almost here. My Silhouette arrived yesterday and I got to play with it some when I got home from work!!! I decided that for my first project, I wanted to cut out an adorable image from an SVG file (there are so many SVG files available online, they are so cheap, and some are even free . . . this is why I wanted to get a Silhouette in the first place, I wanted to be able to access these adorable images; to cut these images out with the Silhouette, you will need either SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) or MTC (Make the Cut) software. I have SCAL 3.0). I first downloaded my image from Treasure Box Designs (it's from the Girly Girls set). Isn't she super sweet? I just love the artwork over at Treasure Box Designs, she has the cutest stuff! After I got everything all cut out, I inked around all my pieces with chalk and then began putting my image together. It's very different from putting together a cricut cut. On the cricut cuts, you have a base and you work your way up. For these sort of paper-piecing SVG files, you sort of weave the pieces in and out, some are attached behind a piece, others are attached on top of the piece. It's just different. As you can see, my image did not come out perfect at all, I still have a lot of practicing to do, but it's a good start :)

After I finally put my pieces together, I did some doodling with my white gel pen and then added some rhinestones to the flowers in her hair and a pearl button to her jumper. Next I created my card base. My DP is from K&Co. I added a bow and some roses from Wild Orchid Crafts. The sentiment is from an old Studio G set. What do you think?

As for my initial thoughts on the Silhouette, I LOVE it! It cuts like butter, it really does. For instance, the eyes on the image are not drawn (the white part is drawn, but the black eyes are not, they were cut out with the Silhouette, as was the nose). These pieces are tiny, but they cut like a dream. I truly love this machine, I'm so glad I took the plunge :) Don't worry Cricut lovers, I'm not abandoning my Cricut. I just wanted to be able to expand on the different types of art I'm able to utilize and that's why I purchased the Silhouette. I'll be sharing lots more Silhouette/SVG projects with you over the coming days.

Well, that's it from me today. Thanks so much as always for stopping by. Have a wonderful day and I'll see you back here tomorrow :)

Fun in the Sun!

Hi everyone and Happy Tuesday! Hope your week is off to a great start. I'm going to keep my chit chat super short today and get right to my card (I think my Silhouette should be here today so I'm hoping to play with that tonight after work . . . if all goes well, I should have some Silhouette projects to share with you tomorrow :) ).





For my card, I decided to cut another super cute image out of the Pack Your Bags Cartridge (this cart is SO much fun, I definitely recommend it). I cut out the fun image, put all my pieces together, and then did some doodling with my white gel pen. Next I created my card base out of SU cardstock. My DP is from K&Co. I adhered my image to my card base using dimensionals. Next, for some added touches, I added dew drops, a bow, and roses from Wild Orchid Crafts. The cute sentiment is from an old $1 Studio G set from Michael's. Just a super fun, summery card. What do you think?

Well, that's it from me today. Thanks so much as always for stopping by. Have a wonderful day and I'll see you back here tomorrow :)

It's a Kitten Kind of Day

Hi everyone and Happy Monday! :) Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Ours was crazy busy on Saturday, we had a lot of errands to run but hubby did take me to TGI Fridays (I love that place :)) for a nice lunch. Yesterday we did chores around the house and I was able to get some work done in the craft room. Unfortunately I didn't get a layout done, but I did manage to get a few cards done and I have a couple kitten themed cards to share with you today.




For my first card, I created this adorable shaped cat card using my Gypsy and my Create a Critter cartridge. I first welded the cat to the fluffy pillow. Then I copied that image, then flipped it upside down, then welded it to the first cat at the ears so as to create a card base. I then cut out the other layers and put everything together. Next I did lots of doodling with my white gel pen (I love using this, I really think it adds some dimension to the cuts). I then added some chalk for "blush" to her cheeks, a small bow to her hair, and a pearl to the center of her collar bow. The sentiment is from an old Studio G set. What do you think?





For my second card, I cut out this adorable image using my Meow cricut lite cartridge (this is a super cute cartridge and is on sale right now at Wal-Mart if you are looking for it). I cut the image out and used the "hide contour" feature to hide the face on the girl and the face on the cat. I then used my Peachy Keen face stamps for the face for the girl (the Wide-Eyed Kids collection) and the kitten (Princess face assortment collection). I then put all the pieces together and did some doodling with my white gel pen. Next I created the frame behind the image using the Twinkle Toes lite cartridge. I next created my card base and then adhered my DP (from MME). I added a double looped bow (tied with my Bow Easy), rhinestones in the corner, dew drops, and a rose from Wild Orchid Crafts. I then adhered my image to the frame with dimensionals and then adhered the frame to the card base with dimensionals. The sentiment is from a new Studio G $1 stamp at Michael's. What do you think?

Last but not least, here's a picture of our fur babies:



The striped kitty is Henry and the black kitty is Charlie. They are spoiled rotten, but we love them so much :) They inspired my cards today so I thought I'd share a picture of them with you.

Well, that's it from me today. Thanks so much as always for stopping by. Have a wonderful Monday.

Good Books and Good Friends

Hi Everyone and Happy Saturday! I hope you are having a fabulous weekend! I have some exciting crafty news to share . . . I have a Silhouette on the way!!! I'm SO excited! I LOVE my Cricut and will continue to use my Cricut but I am seeing so many awesome SVG files online as well that can't be cut with the Cricut anymore so I decided to take the plunge and get a Silhouette. I got a huge deal on it and I just can't wait :) I'm already playing with some SVG files online so I'll be all ready to cut when the machine gets here :) Anyway, onto my card for the day.





Isn't this cut adorable? When the Kate's ABCs Cricut Cartridge came out a while back, I just knew I had to have it. There are so many wonderful cuts on this cartridge, I LOVE it! I designed the card in my Gypsy. I cut the image and all the pieces out using SU cardstock. I put everything together, and then did some doodling with my white and black gel pens. Next I created my card base out of SU cardstock. My DP is from Basic Grey (Urban Prairie Collection . . . I just recently found this paper stack at Michael's really cheap on clearance so if you are looking for it, try your local Michael's, the papers are beautiful). I then adhered my image to my card base using dimensionals (I should buy stock in the company that makes these things, I think I use at least ten of them for each card I make :) ). I thought this sentiment was just perfect for this image; it's from an older MFT (My Favorite Things) stamp set. For some finishing touches, I added a bow, tied with my bow easy, pearls, dew drops, and roses from Wild Orchid Crafts. What do you think?

Well, that's it from me today. I hope you enjoyed my card. Thanks so much as always for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday!

Summer Fun

Hi everyone and Happy Friday! I'm so happy the weekend is here! Any exciting plans for the weekend? Hubby and I have some work to do around the house, some errands to run, and then hopefully, we'll be able to relax some and I'll get some time in the craftroom. I really want to find some time to get back into scrapbooking. I have tons of vacation photos from Charleston to scrap as well as just tons of everyday photos from birthdays, get-togethers, holidays, etc. I'm so far behind! I'm hoping to get at least one two-page spread done this weekend so hopefully I'll have that to share next week. Anyway, enough chit chat, on to my card for today :)




For my card today, I decided to create a fun, summery, bright, cheerful card that reminded me of the beach/vacation. I love this image from the Pack Your Bags cricut cartridge and couldn't wait to cut her out. I designed the card in my Gypsy and cut the image and all the layers out. I did some doodling with my white gel pen and then put all the pieces together. Next, I created the frame using the Once Upon a Princess cartridge and cut it out of my DP which is from DCWV. I next created my card base out of SU cardstock. My patterned paper is a mixture of SU and DCWV. For some extra touches, I added roses from Wild Orchid Crafts, a bow (tied with my awesome Bow Easy), and pearls. My sentiment is from an old Studio G set. Just a cute, summery card perfect for a friend as a thinking of you card or even a birthday during the summer months. What do you think?

Well, that's it from me today. Thanks so much as always for stopping by and thank you all SO much for the warm welcome back to blog land. I have missed you all. I promise to get back into my routine of commenting on all your lovely creations. I've missed you all so much. Tons of hugs! Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm Back! Two New Cricut Cards to Share!!!

Hi everyone and Happy Thursday! After a few months off from crafting, I am back and boy does it feel good to be back in the craft room again! :) So much has happened since I last posted here. My husband has started his own law firm which is so exciting (I'm so proud of him!). We took a week long vacation to Charleston, SC (some of you may remember, we visited there last year as well). Going to Charleston feels like going home to me. I love it SO much! We stayed on the Isle of Palms, went for walks on the beach every morning and every night, and spent our days in Charleston sightseeing, walking, sitting at the park at the Battery, admiring the beautiful houses, eating the best food ever . . . you name it, we did it! :) I even managed to get autographed copies of books from my two favorite authors (Karen White and Dorothea Benton Frank). I promised myself when we left that we will move down to Charleston some day, hopefully sooner rather than later. I'll share some pictures of our trip soon. Work is still crazy. I'm still an assistant prosecutor and I love it but it sure does keep me busy :) I wouldn't have it any other way though. So, things have been crazy busy around here, thus the need for a crafting break. Things are still crazy busy, but I'm finding time again to make it to the craft room and I'm realizing just how much I missed it.

Okay, onto the real reason you are here! :) I have two cards to share with you today. Both were made using my Cricut (and yes, I still plan on sharing stamping/copic creations with you on my blog as well, but right now, I'm on a Cricut craze so bear with me :) I think there's room in the crafting world (and in my heart and on my blog) for all sorts of projects and I hope I provide a little something for everyone :)).





For my first card, I created this fun, summery birthday card. The sweet bird and flags were cut from the Birthday Bash Cricut Cartridge (I LOVE this cartridge, it is definitely one of my favorites . . . the little critters are SO cute). The card measures 4 1/4" by 5 1/2". All cardstock is by SU and my DP is from MME (doesn't that cut paper match the image perfectly?) I used my white gel pen (mine is just a Sakura gelly roll pen from Michael's, I'm looking for a better one so leave me a comment if you have any suggestions) to add some dimension to the cuts. I also added a little pink rhinestone (from Michael's) to the top of the bird's party hat. I added a ribbon (tied with my awesome Bow Easy (how did I tie bows before I bought this little tool?!?!)), a rose from Wild Orchid Crafts, and pearls. I'm not sure who made the sentiment, it's from an old set I had laying around. I adhered the main image and the sentiment to the card base with dimensionals. What do you think?





For my second card, I decided to use one of my most favorite carts, the Playtime Lite Cartridge (I've had this one for a while, I was lucky enough to find a wonderful seller off of Ebay who sold it to me). I cut the cute little girl image out and used the "hide contour" feature on my Gypsy to hide her face. I then used my Princess Face stamps from Peachy Keen stamps for the face. Again I used my white gel pen for some doodling around the image for added dimension. The card base was created using my Gypsy as well. I used a square "stamp" image from the Pack Your Bags cartridge, duplicated it in my Gypsy, and then welded the two images together to create the card base. I then created a smaller "stamp" for my DP (which is from DCWV Playtime stack). Next, I cut the clouds out from the Once Upon a Princess cartridge. I adhered the clouds and the little girl to the card base using dimensionals. I added a bow (again tied with my Bow Easy) and a rose from Wild Orchid Crafts. Finally, I added the sentiment (again, not sure who makes this one either, I've had it for years). What do you think?

Well, I hope you enjoyed my cards today! It is SO good to be back. I have so missed creating, posting, and visiting all your wonderful blogs. Thanks so much for visiting and I'll see you back here soon!