Here Comes Santa!

Hi my crafty friends!  Hope your "hump" day was a great one!  Our router went out and I can't even tell you how lost I was without the internet.  Crazy huh?!  Well I went out after hubby told me the router was done and got another one.  DS and hubby got it hooked up and now I'm good to go once again.lol  I made a card and guess what?  I didn't use any Cricut on it! I know, wild huh? lol  I stamped a santa image and color him in with my Spectrum Noir Markers. The glitter paper is from Martha Steward, one of her Christmas stacks, the pattern paper is from Close to My Heart, and my base cardstock is from Paper Trey Ink. I used some glossy accents on my santa's eyes trying to capture santa's little twinkle. lol  My sentiment is from My Pink Stamper. My card style is an "S" fold card.  Now take it easy on me, I'm just learning how to color with alcohol markers and I'm not very good at it yet.  But I thought it I did a half decent job.  Plenty of room for improvement especially with shading but good enough that I can send the card out to someone. lol  I plan on entering this over at Stamping For Pleasure.  My friend Mary of Carolina Cards (please go check out her blog, she makes some amazing cards and while you are there maybe you could follow her!) told me about Stamping For Pleasure.  It's a cute blog and I love the antics of her chickens. Yes, I said chickens!  You have to go check it out! I am also entering this card at Penny Black and More.  Go check them out as well!!    Happy crafting everyone!

Flat Back Treat Box

Hi my crafty friends, Brenda here with our newest challenge at Sweet Sassy Diva.   For this week we are show casing projects that have to do with Autumn.  I have a cute little box that can be used for many things.  One being on the Thanksgiving table as name boxes.  My box is called a "Flat Back Treat Box" and it is adorable! You can find a video link here.  Here is how you are going to make it:

You want to start out with a 7 x 9 piece cardstock, color of your choice.

Then you are going to score on the 9" side at 1", 2", 3", 4" and 5".  Turn and score on the 7" side at 1/2", 3/4", 1 1/2", 5 1/2", 6 1/4", and 6 1/2".  Here what yours should look like:

Now that you have all your score marks, you will need to cut off everywhere there is black marker:

Your cardstock base should like just like mine now:

Are you with me so far??  Now you are ready to assemble and decorate in whatever way you wish.  I do have one thing that I'm not sure of though, so maybe you will be able to figure it out cause I can't seem to.  This little 1/4" score line, I have no clue why that is there-it is on both sides of the 7" side.  I haven't found any use for it in any way. I know it is going to be a reason so simple that I'm going to go "Duh Brenda!". lol  So if you figure it out would you please let me know.  It's really bugging me! lol

Here is what my finished project looks like and boy did I have a hard time photographing these papers!  Just put in whatever kind of treat you would like, it has to be something small though, like kisses or nuggets, etc.  Wouldn't these look so cute with Pilgrims on them and then the person's name on the box part sitting on your dinner plates at Thanksgiving?!!

I hope the design team of Sweet Sassy Diva has inspired you to get a little crafty!  Happy Crafting my friends!!!

Little Boy Blue-BBTB2 Challenge

Hi my crafty friends, it's Monday and that mean a new BBTB2 challenge!!!  My wonderful sweet friend, Suzanne picked todays challenge.  Her daughter is expecting the first grandson into the family any day now.  She may have already had Micah as this is posting because she has been having contractions off and on last week.  So we are celebrating the arrival of Suzanne's first grandson by making anything you want, using any Cricut cart you want but just make sure you use the color blue.  That's it folks, just use the color blue.  How easy is that?!  Well I was looking at an email about a stamping convention coming to another town by me and I saw a card on there that was adorable, so of course I had to make one.  So this is totally NOT my idea!  I made a side step card using the Imagine carts Baby Boutique and Nursery Tails.  I love both these carts!  For my papers I printed them using Baby Boutique and my die cut images I printed from Nursery Tails.

So now it is your turn, go create something using the color blue and your Cricut machine.  Link up with BBTB2 and have fun!  Don't forget our simple rules and don't forget to check with my design team sisters for their have lots of inspiration for you this week.  We love to leave you bloggy love but when you have the word verification on it makes it hard for us to do so, so please consider turning that off.  Don't forget we love bloggy love too!

Congrats Suzanne on your soon to be grandson!!!  Those girls are going to love him!!  I am praying that Dani hung in there until this week, but I guess Micah is in charge of that one. I'm telling you guys rule the roost or at least in my house they do! And Micah is starting early! lol

A Hodge Podge Mix of Cards

Hello my crafty friends, I hope that you are having a fabulous Sunday!  It is sunny, semi warm, and just plain beautiful here in PA today!  The corn is drying down, and the soybeans leaves are turning yellow-harvest will be upon us before we know it.  I have a few cards that I made, but never shared so I thought I might as well take the time to share them now.  The first card I made 2 of.  It is the house and envie from Wild Card2.  Our one son and girlfriend moved to Iowa after college graduation because that is where they found teaching jobs.  No teaching jobs here, they are letting go of teachers because of budget cuts!  So one of these went to them for a housewarming along with a gift card.  The other house card went to our son who just bought a newer house and this one will have a gift card in it too.  Wanted to get them some chairs for their deck, but missed out on those since it is late in the season.   Isn't this card cute?!

Next is a card I made for a friends birthday using Lori's Garden Imagine cart.  Love this cart!!!  So many beautiful images on this one. 

My next card is simple adorable.  I made it using a My Creative Time die and stamp set.  It is a tri fold 3x3 card.  I used Create A Critter for my little squirrel and some crinkle ribbon that I dyed with distress ink and left to "crinkle".   This stamp and die set is so cute and can be used in so many ways.  What a perfect size card to have premade to tuck in a gift, a lunchbox/brief case or even tool box.  So many placed to tuck it. I love to recycle gift bags from the stores so what better gift tag card to use on them!  So I plan on making a few of these to have on hand.

I hope that you have enjoyed this little mix of cards.  Happy Crafting everyone!

Flour, Sugar....

Hello my crafty friends, Brenda here.  At Sweet Sassy Diva we were given the challenge of organizing with our Cricuts.  Well I'm not sure if you would call this organizing, but I did label some things. When all my guys were home I baked everynight almost so I kept old 5 gallon tubs that had mayonnaise in them for my flour and sugar because I went through so much of it.  I would buy 25 lbs of flour and of sugar constantly.  Well recently I was able to down size and only buy 10 lbs of each at a time.  Finally I could get rid of those huge tubs in my pantry.  So I went to Wal-Mart and got me some of the big glass jars and set off labeling with my Cricut.  I used From My Kitchen Cricut and Street Signs cart and my trusty Gypsy girl to do just that.  There was already a "flour" on there but not a "sugar" label.  So I had to make my own on that one.  I took two ovals and nestled into each other then I took my letters from Street Signs and placed into my center oval.  Welded my letters together once I had them the way I wanted them.

Then after I had it all the way I thought I wanted it I checked it out with the "eye" feature on my Gypsy to see how it would cut out. Looking good so far.

Here is what the flour and the beverages one look like that was already on the FMK cart and I only had to size them and cut them out. 

Here is what the flour and sugar look like on my glass containers.  I didn't cut the "beverages" one because I wasn't sure if I wanted that one or not and I still haven't decided. lol

This is much better than the big 5 gallon buckets don't you think? lol  But when you are cooking and baking for 8 people you need big containers like that.  I still bake a few times a week, but can manage with smaller jars of flour and sugar. lol  I hope you can find something to label or organize with your Cricut.  Until next time my crafty friends...Happy Crafting!

Grasshopper Girl!

Hi my crafty friends!  Another weekend has flown by and it is once again Monday.  Where does the time go?!!  We had a jam packed filled weekend and I'm bushed. lol  So I'm moving very slow today.  Well as you know if it is Monday then it is time for another BBTB2 challenge!!!  Our sweet and talented design team sister Sandi has chosen "Things that fly".  So we can make anything we like using any Cricut cart we like.  I knew immediately what I wanted to do.  Our sweet grand daughter was playing in her Papaw's corn in the grain bin when Papaw found a grasshopper and put it on the back of her hand.  She was so cute with this grasshopper, so I just had to scrap these pics for this challenge.  I used Gypsy font for my title welded in my Gypsy and Stretch Your Imagination Cricut cart for my little grasshoppers.  Please consider joining us this week with this challenge, just make sure to follow our simple rules and use your Cricut since this is a Cricut challenge.  Have fun checking out the rest of my design team sisters, they have some fabulous projects and great inspiration for you!!  And please don't forget to leave them some bloggy love. 

In Honor of 9/11, Our Soldiers & Emergency Workers

Hello my crafty friends, it is Monday and that means it is time for a new BBTB2 challenge.  I am hosting the challenge this week and I chose to honor those of 9/11.  You could do any project using any Cricut cart as long as it has to do with honoring our Soldiers, Emergency workers and 9/11.  Since my oldest son is a full time soldier in the Army this challenge was near and dear to my heart.  My son had done 5 tours of duty in Iraq and getting ready to leave for his 6th tour only this one will be in Afghan.  He went to war at only 19 years of age when the war started.  Of course he called to tell us he would be leaving to go somewhere and we wouldn't be able to talk to him for a while and that he couldn't tell us where he was going.  We knew of course and after that conversation with my son, we kept the tv on waiting for the news that the war started.  The evening came, hubby was in the shower and I came running in yelling the war has started.  We kept the bedroom tv on all night half sleeping and listening to the news of what was going on as we knew our son was there. It was so surreal, so you can see why this is so near and dear to my heart.  We have since had another son sign up in the Army Reserves and he did one tour of duty in Afghan. I am very proud of my sons but really don't want my youngest to sign up for the military.  Yes, I know we need soldiers and I know it is his life but as a mom I just don't want anymore soldiers in the family. lol  I am being selfish, but I've seen what war can do to a person and folks it is not pretty.  So enough of my chatter about my military guys, on with my card.

I saw this card on Pinterest here and I fell in love with it, so I felt I needed to make this card.  I put my own spin on it by adding the buttons, some inking with Tim Holtz Walnut distressing ink and the 3D start and twine bow.  I like the clean lines and the simplicity of this card.  I hope that you like it too.  I used George and Basic Shapes Cricut cart for this card.  For the star I just used a punch and my little buttons come from JoAnn's.  My sentiment is from My Creative Time, I stamped it in black first and then in white to give the look of a shadow.  Thanks for checking out the BBTB2 design team, they have more fabulous projects for you to see.  Please leave them some bloggy love if you would.  I hope that you will also take part in this challenge and please remember you must use your Cricut on your project, make sure to link back to BBTB2 on your blog and you have one week to link up with BBTB2.  Happy crafting my friends!!

Hello my crafty friends, Brenda here and today my challenge for Sweet Sassy Diva was the theme "Grandparents".  For my project I made a layout of our sweet grandkids.  We have 6 in all but don't get to see 2 of them but I was able to get a picture of the other 4 together.  We love having our grankids here but it doesn't happen very often to have them all together because of some living in different states.  But this evening we happened to have everyone at the house at the same time for a few minutes so we all grabbed our camera, put the kids on the sofa and started snapping away.  Those poor kids didn't know what was going on. lol  For my layout I started with a sketch as I really didn't have ayn mojo on how I was going to scrap this picture.  I use sketches as a jumping point when I really don't have a clue as to what I want to do-they are so great for that!!  Here's my inspiration sketch:

I got out my trusty Gypsy girl and layout it all in in her.  Here is how it looks on my Gypsy:

After designing my layout on my Gypsy, I choose my base paper from DCWV's Natural Stack.  I stayed with a neutral background to go with my picture.

My heart came from George and Basic Shapes and my banners came from Art Philosophy.  My circles I just used punches for.  I am using my Scrap N Easel to place my papers/picture on, it lets me dry fit everything and stand back to look at it.  Then when I have everything tweeked I can glue down. I inked all my die cuts with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain distress ink. Here what my layout looks like starting out:

The tiny heart are from an old punch. And here is my layout all done:

Some close ups:

I hope that you have been inspired to get your craft on and make something today.  Crafty hugs, Brenda

A Licensed Driver-What?!!!! - BBTB2

OMGosh can you believe today is the last day of summer officially?!!  I don't know where the summer went but I want it back. lol  I'm ready for fall because of the heat, but can't we just skip old man winter?!  I hate when we start losing daylight and then have to turn our clocks back.  The night just last forever.  Wishing you all a fun and safe holiday today and we just aren't going to think about old man winter, just glorious fall! lol  Well today is also time for another BBTB2 challenge and our sweet design team sister Stephanie (please go give her some bloggy love!) came up with our challenge for today and what a fun challenge it is.  She chose for us to make a shaped card, any shape, any Cricut cart-fun right?!!  Well this challenge came at the perfect time for me although my shaped card doesn't have much shape to it. lol  I hope Stephanie will not be disappointed in me with this card for her challenge.  I would have made another card for this challenge, but my Lupus has been kicking my butt for a week along with my guys having me run all over the place last week and this weekend.  I have just been exhausted!  So we are just going with this card, so sorry Stephanie, I hope to make it up to you on your next challenge my friend.  Our youngest son is taking his license test tomorrow at school.  He has been driving all weekend with his school driving instructor getting ready for it.  Of course his instructor said he can tell kids that grew up on a farm and started driving farm equipment as soon as their feet could touch the petals.  Yep, he is right, Bret has been driving the farm equipment since he was a young lad and he can drive everything including the monster combine as well as his dad!  So I know he will have no problem getting his license tomorrow and that brings me to my card.  I made a license shaped card for him to celebrate his victory.  Not much of a shape to it and for that I'm sorry, license tend to be a bit boring and my "copy" is too.  I used Locker Talk for my license and I added info on it with a black marker.  I also printed a pic of Bret in passport mode so I'd have a pic to put on his "license".  I think it is cute, but not very creative. lol  Not really much you can do with a license, but I think he will enjoy it and I will then put it in the scrap album with pics of him driving with his instructor.  Ok are you ready for this card?!  Here it is.( I covered up our address with a piece of scrap ribbon).  Not very exciting is it?! 

Here is the inside of the card of course I had to add some humor to this card-

I hope that you check out BBTB2 to see what my design team sisters has in store for you.  I promise you that their projects will be more exciting than mine. lol  I hope that you will join us in this challenge, just remember that this is a Cricut challenge so you must use a Cricut cut somewhere on your project and just have fun!!  Have a great week my crafty friends-until next time.  Crafty hugs, Brenda