Announcing

So, I've been really busy yesterday and today working on scrapbooking my wedding photos and artifacts and such. This first double layout (they are all double layouts) is our engagement announcement and our wedding invitation. I can't take credit for the invitation, that is all my mother-in-law's genius. You can see her other creations here. I wanted to keep it simple, so I just added a quick title using Sure Cuts Alot2.


The invitation was so wonderful, I wanted you to see the inside (particularly the velum with RSVP info). I think the bride might have come from SVG Cuts, but don't quote me on that.

The next is a book that was compiled of people that attended my bridal shower, the gifts they gave, games played, etc. The hearts are from the Stamping Cartridge.
A peek at the inside:
Challenges:
Do You Stack Up-patterned papers (background)
Digi Doodle Shop- Swirls (both the invitation and the hearts have swirls)
MamiDoodles-the magic of love

Online Crop

I've never taken part in an online crop before, but this weekend I am! Want to join me?! Click here to go to the site. Oh, and if you end up participating, leave a comment saying I sent you. Thanks!

Reminder

Just a reminder that you have one week left to get in on my giveaway. See details here!

I also found another bunch of stickers as I was finishing up organizing, so there are more than I mentioned in my initial post.

Joyfold Butterfly Pop out

This is a new type of card for me:joy~fold. I wasn't sure I would like it, but it turned out kinda cool, not what I was expecting, but sometimes my art surprises me like that!
I'm ready for spring, can you tell? No snow here :) See pop-up below.Both the front file cut and the pop-up are Penny Duncan's. The Brown paper is Color Bok and the pink/green/blue is Basic Grey. Ribbon from my stash-although if I remember correctly, it was a Target dollar bin.
Challenges:
Glitterbabe-anything goes with sparkle
Creative Scrapbooking Divas- joy-fold card
Creative Scrapbooking Divas- what's inside
Digi Doodle Shop-anything goes
Do You Stack Up-Pink
For Fun- Glitter
PollyCraft Monday-pastel colors
Stamp something-anything goes (I used a sponge to apply ink-does that count?)
Stampin Royalty-anything with wings
Flutterby-open just include butterfly or fairy

Giveaway!

***Giveaway now closed, see winners here.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to better organize my craft stuff. I'm working on it little by little. One of the first steps was to go through my stuff and decide if there was anything I never use/never will use and get rid of it. So I began the process and was surprised by how many things I have that I will probably never use. But I decided just because I won't use it doesn't mean someone else won't~so I am putting pictures up and if you are interested leave a comment.

*Note: I will only ship to the United States of America* I am going to do one giveaway for each picture. When you comment, please indicate which picture you want or both. I will draw the winners on February 1st (that gives you 2 weeks to decide if you want in on this). Either post your email with the comment (so I can contact you) or check back on the 1st to see if you won!

Since this is because I am organizing, part of the deal with this giveaway is if you receive something you won't use, you have to pass it on to someone who will or donate it~don't hold onto it if you never foresee yourself using it!

Picture #1-these came in a scrap the whole year set. These papers are 4 1/2 by 6 1/2 and represent different holidays/special occasions. Included are: celebrate your pregnancy (all three trimesters), Cinco De Mayo, Hanukkah, horoscopes, Halloween, day on the farm, happy birthday, golf outing, Happy New Years, baby, Mardi Gras, St Patrick's Day, Nursery Rhymes, Day at the Spa, cat/dog pages, big city, sports, 4th of July, green/blue/brown snowy sheets, abstract animals & Merry Christmas. There are also a couple of 12x12 transparency overlays and some green 12x12 that match the green in the blue/green/brown snow sheet (on top). There are a couple of matching sheets for each occasion.

Picture#2-Stickers. I realize I very seldom use them and when I do they are very particular types of stickers (I did keep those). You deserve fair warning that a couple of sheets are missing a couple of stickers. I thought there were still enough there worth saving, though :) Stickers include (1 sheet unless noted): dictionary entries for several words, Valentine sweet hears w/ sayings, going to prom accessories-3D, 4 random words pastel, circle pastel alphabet, 6 3D Thanksgiving, various size hearts, 2 bright colored alphabet, beach rub ons, 2 winter alphabets, 4 winter themed, bohemian chick rub ons, flower tags, 1 garden themed, 5 friends/family sentiments-bright colors, 2 bright letters, a couple sheets of 8x11 vellum. To be honest many of these were bought on clearance by my grandmother who really loves sales, bless her heart.

Cow Notebook

I made this notebook for my sister's birthday. She raises and shows cows. The cow file is a coloring book page from Super Coloring that I traced to make cutable on my cricut. The words I made in SCAL 2 and cut out.

Challenges:
Do You Stack Up?-distress, I also used a file from this week.
Mami Doodles-mostly blue

Got a Blog? Get free Glitter!!!

The link and stuff to do is here.

Flower Power

So I've been busy making flowers, of all sorts and kinds. They are fun and I have even experimented with some colors I would probably never use. But, I'm being creative, as these flowers aren't for me (and the people they are for could be more adventurous than I). Who are they for, do you ask (you didn't have to, I was going to tell you anyways), the winner of the January Diva of the month Challenge over at Creative Scrapbooking Divas. The challenge can be found here (feel free to join in, the more, the merrier). I will undoubtedly make more, as I seem to be yes... addicted~I'll join a support group next week :)

The Roses and Cala Lilies are Penny Duncan's files, and are surprisingly easy to assemble (she has tutorials on her site). The others are borders wound into flowers with cricut cut-outs on top. There is glitter on several, but it is difficult to see in this picture, so much prettier up close. Interested in these particular ones? Check out the challenge. It is open until January 30th.

I'm not sure if this counts, but 2 Sister's Challenge blog's theme is flowers, so I'm entering my hand made flowers.

Valentine Tree 2

I did two cards with these cut files, because I couldn't decide how I wanted the cards to look. Although I am not fond of green, two challenges this week called for olive green and purple, so I gave it a whirl! Both (you will see the other in today's other post) cards are for a Valentine Card Swap over at Creative Scrapbooking Divas-come join the fun (there are 2 days left for sign-up)!The Heart Tree cut file is by Beth over at My Cricut Scrapbooking. She has lots of free SVG files! The Love Tag is by Penny at Penny Duncan Creations-she has like a bazillion files-be sure to check her beautiful art out!

I used some purple and brown ink, mesh from my stash and stickles.

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations-use something new-new cut files
Going Buggy- Party Week, include a bug -lots of giveaways this week!
Glitterbabe- anything goes
Polycraft Monday- something new- SVG file
Stampin' Royalty-color challenge
2 Sisters Challenge- girly

Valentine Tree

I did two cards with these cut files, because I couldn't decide how I wanted the cards to look. Although I am not fond of green, two challenges this week called for olive green and purple, so I gave it a whirl! Both (you will see the other in today's other post) cards are for a Valentine Card Swap over at Creative Scrapbooking Divas-come join the fun!
The Heart Tree cut file is by Beth over at My Cricut Scrapbooking. She has lots of free SVG files! The Love Tag is by Penny at Penny Duncan Creations-she has like a bazillion files-be sure to check her beautiful art out!

I used the swirly embossing folder on the tag, some purple ink and ribbon from my stash and stickles.

Challenges:
Creative Inspirations-use something new-new cut files
For Fun Challenge-black, olive green, purple
Glitterbabe- anything goes
Polycraft Monday- something new- SVG file
Stampin' Royalty-color challenge
2 Sisters Challenge- girly

Creative Scrapbooking Divas

For all you Divas out there that love to scrap, have you seen the Creative Scrapbooking Divas site? We are a group of crafters that get together for lots of fun online! Click the right sidebar to go there.

Reminder for Divas (if your not one, join quickly!): Two more days to sign up for our Valentine Card Swap-make 2, get 2.
Coming Up: Blog hop Jan 16th and 17th (Sunday/Monday)-sorry the photo is a bit blurry. Click link above.

So Tweet

I guess I'm in a pink and brown mood of late. This is a thank-you card for my grandmother. This year she gave money for Christmas and wanted to see what I spent it on. What did I spend it on? A Sizzix texture boutique and a couple of Cuttlebug embossing folders. (showcased on the bird and the white background).

The bird file was free. If you like it grab it here. The swirl came out of the bird's tummy :) The intricate circles are a digital stamp by Stef aka Glitterbabe that she allowed me to cut with my cricut~so sweet of her! The sentiment I created with SCAL2, not sure what font is was~sorry!
The brown/gold paper is a wallpaper sample and the brown and pink is left over from another card-not sure the brand. The embossing folder is Stylized Flower by Provocraft. The glitter is generic stickles I picked up at Michael's for a dollar! Ribbon and lace, from the stash. Button from the local store Scrapbook Friend'z (they let you pick a scoop of randoms for $.50!

Ok, now for the challenges-brace yourself, there are lots:
Glitterbabe's Challenge- Sketch and glitter (the button is also glittery!)
2 Sisters Challenge Blog- girly
Do You Stack Up?-BRAND NEW CHALLENGE BLOG-buttons (since I used Glitterbabe's image, do I get 2 entries?!)
Digi Doodle Shop's Best- buttons
Creative Inspirations Challenge-something new (stickles knock offs, embossing folder, SCAL2)
PolyCraft Monday-something new (stickles knock offs, embossing folder, SCAL2)
Sentimental Sundays- something with wings (bird)
Papertake Weekly- anything goes
Stamp Something-use a digi (Glitterbabe allowed me to cut her digi out w/ my cricut-does that count?)
Stamp Fairy Challenge- buttons and layers

A little somethin'

This is just a little something I worked up for my husband. Today was his first day at a new University and (although he wouldn't say so, I know he was a little nervous).
Just one challenge-Digi's With Attitude!- New Year's Resolution (one of mine was to uplift my husband on a regular basis)

Thanks a' Latte

This card style is something I would never have tried without first seeing examples. Judianne of Creative Scrapbooking Divas kept showing me beautiful examples and made me want to try one of my own. So if you hate it, keep in mind, this is my first and they typically get better :) I also probably never would have tried this without the aid of my Cricut and Penny Duncan's SVG cut file. I could have tried to replicate the template, but it would have been difficult for me and I likely would have given up. Both the ladies above are extremely talented artists, if you have not seen their work, you should follow the links I provided.

On to my card. The first picture is the outside (ignore my fingers, it didn't want to stay shut).

And the view when opened.

My materials:
Cricut and Penny's file it includes the card template (score marks, too!), and the squares/rectangles for each slot (I left out the ones where I put the sentiments).
Patterned paper-Amanda Blu
Ink-Staz On Timber Brown (I got it for Christmas!)
Flower stamp-Stampin' Up
Sentiment- I created it in SCAL using Brody font (my first time!)
Latte cup-Stamping Cricut Cart
Swirls-Stamping Cricut Cart
Buttons-random from Scrapbook Friend'z
Rhinestone-RAK
Flowers by buttons-RAK whew!

On to Challenges:
Creative Inspiration-something new (ink, SCAL, this type of card)
Do You Stack Up-buttons BRAND NEW CHALLENGE BLOG!
Digi Doodle Shop's best- Buttons
For Fun Challenge- 3 papers (flowers, white and patterned-the sentiment and cup were white that I chalked), 2 buttons/brads (buttons), 1 image (latte cup)
Papertake Weekly-anything goes
Two Sisters Challenge Blog-girly
All Sorts Challenge Blog- Fancy Folds

Alright, that's it. Have a wonderful day!

I've been waiting. . .

I've been waiting to share with all my blogger friends something exciting for me. I've been chosen over at Creative Scrapbooking Divas to be the January Diva of the month! I wanted so much to tell you all, but decided it would be best to wait until is was posted-which it now is here!

Creative Scrapbooking Divas is a wonderful group that does much more than just scrapbook. We have groups for altered art, cards, art journals, challenges and more. If you would like to join us in our creative fun, we would love to have you! Just click on the above link or my sidebar link and request to join.

As part of my privileges as Diva of the Month, I got to host a challenge! My challenge is to create a card, layout, or other creative piece with at least one digi stamp and incorporate at least one flower somehow (could be embossed, a digi stamp of a flower, flowered paper, whatever). Want to join in the fun?! Join Creative Scrapbooking Divas and my challenge (it will be open until January 31st). There are prizes for two winners (chosen by me).

Here is my sample card:
The tiger stamp is from Digi's With Attitude! And I'm not sure where the love background digi is from. I used my new Texture Boutique to emboss the background! The flowers are cut files from Penny Duncan, her hibiscus, I believe.

Challenges:
Stamp Something-Glitter
Papertake Weekly-anything goes
Lots to Do-use something new
Creative Inspirations-use something new
and of course- Creative Scrap booking Divas- digital stamp+flower

And one more thing:
Creative Scrapbooking Divas is having a blog hop January 16th and 17th, with challenges and prizes!

Roses and a Butterfly

This is one of the thank you cards I have been busy at work with lately. This one will be given to a friend.

The file is from MTC SCAL-he has such wonderful cut files (I have downloaded many of them this past week). I added the glitter and used my new corner rounder to make the edges match the cut!

Challenges:
Papertake Weekly-glitter
Stamp Fairy-Celebrate (friendship with a thank you)
Lots to Do-something new
Sentimental Sundays- friendship
Stamp Something-glitter
Flutterby Wednesday-thanks+butterfly
AllSorts Challenge-thanks