New Challeng Blog Starting Feb 3rd

Just a few more days til the first challenge at Craft Us Crazy. Challenges will run Thursday to Wednesday giving you two weeks to create fabulous projects for the challenges. Each challenge will have it's own theme but participants can use any type of craft medium they want. You can enter the challenges with scrapbook layouts, cards, stamping (both digital and rubber) projects, altered items, 3D projects, and the list could go on and on. I can't wait to show you my first project as a design team member. I'll give you a little hint though...I used my Cricut for my project.

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #44 Swirls

The challenge this week for Digi Doodle Shop's Best is to use swirls. I just couldn't resist adding a little humor for my DT project. I chose to use the image "Stinky" from the Digi Doodle Shop for a fun Valentine. I ran the vellum swirl through my xyron in order to attach it to the page.

Inside of card:

Card Details:

Image: Stinky from the Digi Doodle Shop

Copics G21, G85, G99, C1, C3, C5, C7, Y21, YR31, E04, E40

Antique Linen Distress Ink

Banner: Carousel Cricut cart cut at 1.5 inches

Small heart: George Cricut cart cut at .25 inches

LOVE U: Base Camp Cricut cart cut at .5 inches

Swirls: Joys of the Season Cricut cart cut at 2.25 inches

Larger heart: paper punch

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #43 ANYTHING GOES

Whoohoo! Time for another ANYTHING GOES challenge at Digi Doodle Shop's Best! Can't wait to see what everyone makes for this challenge. For my project, I decided to make a Crisscross Card. You can find directions for making this time of card at Splitcoast Stampers. The image I used for this card is Cone Flowers from the Digi Doodle Shop. This time of year I am always longing for summer when the wildflowers are in full bloom. We have wildflowers planted alongside our field crops and they are always beautiful.

Card insert: I printed out the Cone flower image larger and then colored and cut out one of the flowers to use as an accent on the tab for the card insert.

Bouquet of wild flowers my daycare kids arranged last summer. The kids love to go and pick the flowers and make bouquets to give their parents. You can see one of the purple cone flowers in this arrangement.

If you want to join this challenge, simple create a project and link it up over at Digi Doodle Shop's Best for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Digi Doodle Shop.

Card Details:

Image: Cone Flowers from Digi Doodle Shop

Copics: Vooo, V12, V15, G21, E43, R59, BG10, W1

Marquee shapes: Storybook Cricut cartridge

Aud Sentiments Challenge #20 LOVE

Time for another fun challenge at Aud Sentiments. This week we are being sponsored by Squigglefly. They sent me this beautiful rose image to use. I colored the image with Copics and then used a clear Spica pen on the butterfly. I added crystal ice stickles to the large flower for a little added bling. We would love for you to join us in this week's challenge. The theme is LOVE. You must use the word LOVE somewhere on your project. After creating your project link it up at Aud Sentiments for your chance to win a prize from Squigglefly.

Card Details:
Image: Roses from Squigglefly
Spellbinders Eyelet Squares die
Copics: G21, G85, YR23, Y21, R000, R00, R11, Clear Spica pen
Love: Home Decor Cricut cartridge cut at 1 inch
Corner branch: Storybook Cricut cartridge
Crystal Ice Stickles

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #59 Embossing

Time just seems to be flying by. Seems so strange that we are now half way through May. The challenge this week at Digi Doodle Shop's Best is to use embossing on your project. For my card, I tried a new to me technique. I embossed the yellow ribbon using my cuttlebug. It was very easy to do. I first attached the ribbon to a strip of cardstock and then ran it through the cuttlebug using one of the borders from the With Love Cuttlebug set. I am sure that I will be using this technique lots in the future. It's a great way to give your ribbon a new look. I also dug out my Nellie Snellen flower punches. This set of punches is great because after to punch the flowers out, you can leave them as is or then use the other tool that comes with the punch and emboss the flowers. I am not sure how well the embossing on the flowers shows up in the pictures but they look great in real life.

We would love to have you join us in this challenge. Simply create a project using some type of embossing and link it up to the Digi Doodle Shop's Best challenge blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Digi Doodle Shop.

Card Details:
Image: Daisy Girl from Digi Doodle Shop
Copics: E00, E21, E40, E50, E51, E53, G21, G85, B21, B41, Y21, R20
Cuttlebug With Love embossing folder
Nellie Snellen floral punches
Martha Stewart border punch

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #61 Weddings

June is the month for weddings so this week at Digi Doodle Shop's Best we are celebrating in style. For my DT project I decided to use the Church image from the Digi Doodle Shop. This church looks just like the little country church I was married in almost 20 years ago.

We would love for you to join us in this challenge. Simple create a project with a Wedding theme and link it up to the challenge blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Digi Doodle Shop.

Card Details:
Image: Church from the Digi Doodle Shop
Copics: E31, E33, E43, E40, E41, C1, C3, G21, G85, G99
Spellbinders lacy circle die
Martha Stewart border punch
Prima flower

Sassy Studio January Release Party...I Wanna Hold Your Hand

I am super excited today. This is my very first blog post as a design team member for Sassy Studio!!!! Today we are having a party featuring January's new releases. The collection is called Blast From The Past. It is filled with some amazing images from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. I made this card using the new image Gogo Girl. Don't you just love the boots? I used to wear a pair of similar boots in marching band.

For the party, each designer will have a different song title in their blog post. You need to visit each of the designer's blogs and figure out the artists for each of the songs. Once you have your list complete, go back to Sassy Studios challenge blog and email Amanda with the list. My song is: I Wanna Hold Your Hand. Next of the list is Rebecca

Card details:
Image: Gogo Girl from Sassy Studio Designs
Flowers: Home Decor Cricut cartridge cut at 1 and 1.25 inches
Copics: E00, E21, E33, E35, E37, E53, B00, E41, R85, B02
I paper pieced her dress and headband

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #41 Pink and Green

It's Thursday so that means another fabulous challenge at Digi Doodle Shop's Best. This week the challenge is to use Pink and Green as the main colors on your project. I chose Teapot Birdie from Digi Doodle Shop for this card. I collect tea cups and tea pots so this digi stamp is one of my favorites from the Digi Doodle Shop. We would love for you to join us in this challenge. Simply create a project using the colors Pink and Green and then link it up to the Digi Doodle Shop's Best challenge blog for your chance to win a gift certificate from the Digi Doodle Shop.

Card Details:
Image: Teapot Birdie from Digi Doodle Shop
Pink Doily: Easter Cricut cartridge cut at 2.5 inches
Copics: e40, E41, E43, E33, E35, E37, YR23, B23, B32, G02, G05, RV10, RV21, RV13, R20, Y00
Martha Stewart border punch

Cricut Cartridge Storage

I just spent some time cleaning and reorganizing my craft room. My Cricut cartridges, overlays and binders were beginning to outgrow the containers I had them in. I was using the snapware ribbon containers. You can find directions on how to store your cartridges that way HERE. I was using 5 of the containers and decided against purchasing more. Instead, I used the directions for cutting the plastic canvas and just moved all my cartridges into the drawer directly beneath my Cricut. I have base kitchen cabinets from Lowes in my craft room so I do have lots of drawers. I do not travel to crops with my cartridges so I don't need to have them in containers that are easy to transport. If I do want to use my Cricut at a crop or a friend's house, all I need to do is bring my gypsy along. So far this has worked great since I am more apt to put them away now. All of the overlays and binders are stored in 3 photo storage boxes. About 25 overlays and binders will fit into each of the photo boxes. I picked them up on sale at Michaels. I do have a fourth box for all my new cartridges that I am sure will be purchased this year. My snapware ribbon holders now hold all my RIBBON! LOL!

Bird Cage Card

Here is my second card made using the sketch from Your Next Stamp. I decided to challenge myself to use pattern paper. all the stitching is done by hand which is a great way to keep from snacking while watching tv.

Card Details:
Birdcage and flowers: Bloom Cricut cartridge cut at 2.75 inches
Butterfly: Bloom Cricut cartridge cut at 2 inches
Martha Stewart punch around the page paper punch
Sketch: Your Next Stamp challenge blog

Yippee Fhiona!

I made this card for the challenge over at Your Next Stamp. The challenge was to follow the sketch provided. I just love this sketch and I am already working on another card using this sketch.

Card Details:

Image: Yippe Fhiona from Your Next Stamp
Flower: Walk In My Garden Cricut cartridge cut at 2.75 real dial size

Copics: E00, E21, E31, E33, E35, E37, E53, Y21, YR31, B93, R32, R22

Martha Stewart punch around the page paper punch

Ribbon: from my stash

Snowman Card

Jitterbuggin Sketch:

This card is for the challenge over at Jitterbuggin. The challenge was to follow the above sketch, use blue and use something snow related. I used tinsel glitter on the large snowflake and diamond dust on the snowman.

Card Details:

Large Snowflake: When It's Cold Outside Cricut cartridge cut at 4 inches

Snowman: Doodlecharms Cricut cartridge cut at 2.5 inches

Face stamp: Peachy Keen Stamps winter face assortment

Copics: YR04, YR23, BG10

Small snowflakes: Paper punch

Sketch: Jitterbuggin challenge blog

Digi Doodle Shop's Best Challenge #41 Buttons

It's Thursday so that means it is time for another fun challenge at Digi Doodle Shop's Best. This week our challenge is to use buttons on your project. I know you all have lots of buttons stashed away so pull them out and use them!!

For my card I decided to make a baby boy card. I used the image Baby Giraffe from the Digi Doodle Shop. Such a sweet and darling image!! I used real buttons on the front of my card and stitched them on. For my sentiment, I replaced the O with a button. I didn't want to add extra bulk to the card so the buttons on the inside of the card were made using the Martha Stewart button punch.

Card Details:

Image: Baby Giraffe from the Digi Doodle Shop

copics: B93, B95, B97, E31, E33, E35, E37, YR23, YR31, R20

Martha Stewart punch around the page, Cherish

Oh Boy: Boys Will Be Boys Cricut cartridge cut at 1.75 inches

We would love it if you joined us in this challenge. Simple make a project using buttons and then link it up to the Digi Doodle Shop's Best challenge blog for your chance to win a gift certificate to the Digi Doodle Shop.

Aud Sentiments Challenge #19 Two Word Sentiment

Happy New Year to all of my fabulous blog followers. We are trying to narrow down the choices for the new DT members. We had lots of very talented people apply. Check out the Aud Sentiments Challenge blog on Friday to see the fabulously talented people who will be joining our team. I am really excited and can't wait to see the projects they start designing and showcasing for Aud Sentiments.

Today marks challenge #19 for Aud Sentiments and the first challenge of 2011. For this challenge we are being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish. The only guidelines for this challenge is that you must use a sentiment that only has 2 words! That is pretty easy so I hope that you all join in the challenge for your chance to win a fabulous prize from Robyn's Fetish.

For my project I used an image from Robin's Fetish called Christie Angel. Isn't she cute? For my 2 word sentiment, I chose "Thank You" since this time of year I have lots of thank you cards to send out. The flowers are all Prima and the butterflies are simply cut from the pattern paper.

Project Details:

Image: Christie Angel from Robin's Fetish

Copics: E00, E21, E33, E35, E37, RV000, RV10, B93, B95

Blossom and Pink Spica pens

Martha Stewart Heart Border Punch

Prima Flowers

Ink: CTMH

Card Sketch: The Sweet Stop (i forget which number but it is not the current sketch)

Fairy Dust Tilda

I found a new challenge blog (well new to me anyway) and I love their sketches. If you are like me and love a fun challenge, then head on over to The Sweet Stop and check out their sketches. For this card, I decided to use Fairy Dust Tilda from Magnolia Stamps. I did not use the entire stamp image for this card. I cut my circle at 2.25 inches and then simple stamped Tilda inside.

Card Details:

Stamp: Fairy Dust Tilda from Magnolia Stamps

Butterfly: Bloom Cricut cartridge cut at 1.75 inches

Birdcage: Bloom Cricut cartridge cut at 1.75 inches

Copics: E00, E21, E53, e33, E35, E37, G000, G00, G02, R00, R11

Martha Stewart heart border punch

Exciting News!!

I am so excited! I am now on the design team for a brand new challenge blog, Craft Us Crazy! The first challenge begins Feb 3rd. The reason I am so excited is because all types of crafts/crafters are elligible to participate in the challenges. We would love to see projects made with decoupage, stamping (Rubber or Digital), altered, 3D, LOs, Die cut projects, anything as long as its made by your talented hands and it follows the Challenge theme!!! I am off to pick my first design team project...see you on Feb 3rd!