Garden rescue..... Call 911!!

Seemed innocent enough. I sent my son out to play in the backyard. You see, it's the first Monday of our two-week long Spring Break. He was quietly playing with his dumptruck in the back yard. I guess that should have been my first clue that there was a small problem. But no. I was busy blog hopping and reading emails and such, looking for inspiration for my next DS project. I have fans waiting, don't you know? :)


Hubby went out to see what he was up to. Come on hun, I thought, have a little faith that our son can entertain himself outside. I mean, he's really good about playing by himself here in the house but once he gets in the back yard he wants us out there with him. I was so proud of him. Here I was thinking, "Wow! Finally! He's figured it out!"

Hmmmm......



The conversation went something like this...
"Uh, Jen?" came hubby's voice through the screen door.
"What?" I replied.
"He's been digging in the garden."
"You're kidding right?"
"Nope"

Hubby wasn't kidding. We lost a tomato plant and our onion plants. (*sniff sniff*)

Oh well. We have 3 other tomato plants and we can buy onions I guess. It won't be the first time. This is our first garden so we sort of expected casualties. Just not quite in this way.

Happy Monday! Have a great day everyone. Time to go entertain the three year old so we don't lose any more plants. :)

Hugs!

A new bag: Tuck Closure

The Fabulous Fayrai brought me another new idea!! She found a picture of this bag at an online store and wanted to see if I could create it in DS. I really surprised myself... 'Cuz it worked!!



Please make sure you have the most recent update (Dec 2008) of the software otherwise the bag will not cut properly. As you can see by the picture below, Miss Faye finally found the motivation needed to update her DS. :o)




Thanks again Faye for keeping me on my toes! :) and for helping me challenge and expand my skills with DS.




Details:

• DS and carts: George and Plantin Schoolbook (yes, you need both to cut this one)
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Requires Expression due to size
• Requires December 2008 DS update 

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 

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Donna posted her cute Easter bags on the message board. Click here to see how fun they are! Thanks for sharing Donna.

Blog candy.... RUN!!

Just found this blog and WOW what a great time to find it. Jen of PhoenixCrafts is having her Blog-iversary and is offering up a fab-u-lous blog candy prize!

Run over and take a look at her blog and join in the fun! Who knows. Maybe you could be the winner of this amazing gift of goodies. :o)

I'm gonna teach...

Some of you may be wondering why I haven't been posting much lately. Truthfully, I've been a bit busy. Life has gotten silly-busy lately and I really would be happy if it would slow back down to its normal speed for a bit. But... that may not happen for a while. You see.... Not too long ago I was shopping at my local JoAnns and the cashier asked what I was going to do with all the paper stacks I'd purchased. I said I like to make cards and stuff with my Cricut.

She said, "Oh? aAre you really good?"

I said, "I can hold my own." (*wink*) "I use the Design Studio software and create my own designs."

She said, "You should come here and teach!!"

"HUH?" (*insert baffled look here*)

She said, "Yeah, they need someone to come teach that program here."

Now, I had checked with sevral of the local scrapbook stores but nobody wanted DS classes. So I figured it was a done deal. No interest. No classes. Well, guess what? I spoke with the education person for my local store and she told me that every time she does a demo for the machine she has people asking her about when they will provide classes for DS. Apparently she's been waiting for me and I didn't even know it.

We'll see how it goes. My first class isn't until mid-April. So I have a bit of work to do before then. Bear with me folks. I'm not abandoning my blog but I have some class prep to get ready before my first class. I'll be posting a few times a week still, but probably not every day. (*sniff sniff*) I'll still send the files out as quick as I can.

That's all for tonight. Take care! More creations soon.

Happy birthday to....

... Me! Well, not yet, but it's coming up fast! I can't believe it's nearly April. Wowweee! this year is flying by.


Enfys created a really neat birthday card using a blank card she found at a store. I was asked if I could create something similar in DS. (Imagine that!)





I'd love to see what you all create with this.
Have a great night!

Details:

• Card base and candle top layer: all George
• CUT FILE: **  Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file  you want when you purchase.
• Letters pictured are from Alphalicious but you can use what ever letters you want.

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files.
 

Hello...

More playing today. No DS here. Just some fun.
I wanted to play with my new stamps, paper and Opals again. This is what I came up with...




Opals are so cool. They are an embossing powder that have a metalic sheen to them. I was able to get the golden glimmer to appear when I took the picture from this angle....



Thanks to my Australian friend Zoe who sent me the opallettes from Down Under. They are lots of fun! I love them!

(*yawn*) Time for me to get some rest. Hope you all had a great day.
Good night!

Details:
No DS
Cardstock: Rasberry Fizz, New Leaf (PaperTreyInk), White (Georgia Pacific)
Striped paper (DCWV)
Stamp: Beyond Basic Borders (PaperTreyInk)
Ink: New Leaf (PaperTreyInk), Versamark
Opals: Daintree and Wild Hibiscus (PipeDreamInk)
Ribbon: Michael's
Scorepal (score lines around center piece)

Leprechaun trap

Remember the witch's shoe? My sister called me yesterday afternoon asking for the shoe pattern because her daughter needed to make a Leprechaun Trap for a class assignment.

Here is a picture and description of the trap the way it was set up at home (not sure exactly how the 5 yr old set it up at school. LOL)...

"A golden box with rainbow images... and a pile of gold (rocks cloaked in golden paint) with a beeeeeeauuuuuutiful shoe for those sneaky cobbler-leprechauns...
and you can see the bag of lucky charms ready for snacking... and when the leprechaun lifts that last golden rock the string will release and drop the lantern "trap" over the leprechaun and capture her."

(Emma insists her leprechaun is a girl so it had to be a pink shoe.) :o)

Have a happy St. Patrick's day!!

Inspired by jewelry

BBTB (Bitten By The Bug) is having a contest. They asked that participants submit a project that is inspired by this piece of jewelry.



Well, a friend has recently given me Indie Art and I thought the butterfly on that cart was the perfect place to start.
After cutting it out I pushed it face down onto my glue stamp pad and then sprinkled it with clear glitter (Oooooo sparkly!)



Then, because the inspiration piece was a piece of jewelry I strung a few beads and a heart charm from my stash onto some headpins and wire and made a tassel handle.

Next, I incorporated the word "believe" into the design by handwriting the word using a silver marker. I used my glue that has a fine tip applicator on it and went over the lettering and then sprinkled on more glitter. I love how the word is one long ribbon of glitter which becomes the butterfly's trail. :)

I added some clear gems on the bottom for feet.

And a silver ribbon as the handle and a magnetic closure.

The idea for the bag came from Kirsten Kennedy. She shared the pattern at a Stampin Up Group Meeting back in February with Patty Bennett (See it there in the 2nd set of pics in green?). And Patty was kind enough to share it with me. (Thank you ladies!!) The pattern was originally 4 pieces but I streamlined it when I put it into DS and now it's 2 pieces. :)

Lots of fun. Hardest part was waiting for the glue to dry for the glitter. LOL

Oh, and I found a wonderful recipe today for homemade french baguette using a bread machine. Mmmmm...my home smells like a bakery! Love that fresh bread smell!

Hope you all had a wonderful day. Time to get my little boy into the bathtub and into bed.... Toodles!

Details: (Box/Purse)

• Cricut, DS and cartridges: George (box) and Indie Art (butterfly)
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Requires Expression
• Paper: Luxury Stack, Wedding Mat Stack (DCWV)
• Glitter: Ice (Martha Stewart)
• Glue Stamp pad and Glitter Glue: (Martha Stewart)
• Stamp: Damask Designs (PaperTreyInk)
• Beads: Pink, large frosted clear (Blue Moon)
• Wire: Western
• Ribbon: Michael's
• The recipe for the French Baguettes is found at All Recipes.com

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 

Sending Well Wishes

Yesterday, I was inspired to make a card. No reason that I could think of but just to pull out some fun new supplies and do it. Then, I received an email from a friend....

My friend Sheila from the message board has been dealing with some health issues for nearly a year. Problems have ranged from incompetent doctors to misdiagnosis. I'm telling you, it's like an episode of House. Sheesh!! The good news: She was telling me recently that they may be getting it figured out. {Thank heavens!!}

In addition to all of that, she had dealt with the loss of several family members over the past few years and now is facing another ... She has a sister and best friend Linda who is suffering from a rare sarcoma of the bronchial tube and heart. Basically, she has cancerous tumors on her lungs and heart. The doctors had originally given her 6 months to live but has survived it by 4 1/2 yrs. Sadly, things are changing... Sheila says that Linda's health is deteriorating quickly and she is experiencing fewer and fewer moments of clarity any more. On top of all of that, due to Medicare restrictions and lack of personal funds, they have had to move Linda from nursing home to hospice to hospital... shuttling her off to whomever will take her... sometimes just for a couple days each. That too is taking its toll on Linda's well being.

Sheila would love to do something for her to help lift her spirits. She told me that Linda used to be a scrapbooker and card maker. She is hoping that there may be some charitable crafters out there that would be willing to send Linda a card. Wishing her well. Sharing a happy thought. Anything, really.

Let me know if you are willing to help out. Send me a message. I'll send you Sheila's address. You can send the card to Linda in her care. She will take the cards to Linda where ever she is currently "housed."

Thank you so much for considering my request. If you're not able to send a card, might you consider a prayerful thought of peace and comfort sent in their direction? It would be greatly appreciated.

Have a wonderfully blessed Sunday!

Details:

• No DS
• Stamp: Damask Designs (PaperTrey Ink). Created the background, paper ribbon, feature design and the sentiment all with the same stamp set.
• Cardstock: Plum Pudding, Melon Berry (PaperTrey Ink), white (Georgia Pacific)
• Ink: Cream (Colorbox), Melon Berry (PaperTrey Ink), Versamark
• Embossing powder: Mango, Lily Pily (Opalettes)
• Ribbon (Michael's)

Help Inkhearts hit 1,000.... err.... 1,250!

And enter to win a fabulous stash of blog candy too!!

Here's the link: Inkhearts and more pics of what is in the giveaway (Wow!) are on her blog.



Thanks to Shirley for letting me know about the blog candy.... Goodluck girl!

Celebrate ... a birthday card

Sorry y'all, no DS file here.... Just a quick birthday card I made after I returned from getting my son from school today.

Details:

• Decorative papers: Anna Griffin, DCWV, Imagine That
• Kraft cardstock (PaperTrey Ink)
• "Celebrate" from Damask stamp set (PaperTrey Ink)
• Chestnut Ink (Colorbox)
• Ribbon (Michael's)
• Star brad ( K&Co)
• Red jewels (Target)

Momma's got a new bag...

I was sent the link for Mel's new purse template and asked if I could make a DS version. I created the file late last night and knew I would be out most of today so Fayrai offered to test it for me. (Fayrai also confirmed that a similar template was on the SU Demo site too.)

Is Fayrai a GEM or what??!!! Love her!! Here is her super cute creation:

You can jump over to her blog to see more pics.

Thanks a million Faye! You are the best friend this designer could hope for.

Details:

• All George
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Requires Expression due to size

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 

What's better than one cupcake???

TWO, of course! :o)



Trisha wanted a box that would hold two cupcakes. So, I fiddled and stretched and cut and fiddled some more.... Voila! A double cupcake box!

Plenty of room if your cupcakes have mile-high frosting. (Mmmm...) but again, meant to hold standard (small) cupcakes.





Sorry, no time to decorate the box. My son wanted the contents immediately! He is the cupcake quality control expert in the house, ya know. As you can see from the picture, cupcakes make even a sick 3yr old smile.







Hope your Saturday is going well.

Details:

• All George and Basic Shapes and Mini Monograms
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Requires Expression due to size
• Paper: DCWV decorative paper and cardstock, Georgia Pacific white cardstock
• Acetate: PennywiseArts.com

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files.
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!*!*!*!*!*! Enabler Alert !*!*!*!*!*!*!

Special thanks to my friend Lois who introduced me to The Tape Depot. Let me explain.... Are you familiar with ATG guns? Ok, well, I wasn't quite ready to plunk down $42 plus shipping and tape costs to try one out. Lois told me that Tape Depot has a similar one and it is only $25. Coooool! A bit more budget friendly for me. So I checked it out! Oh my goodness, if you are still using glue or those small tape runner things you need to upgrade! The Tape Depot's prices are great and their customer service is awesome! I received the dispenser 2 days after I ordered it.


The picture on their website shows the dispenser with tape.

Please note: The dispenser does NOT come with tape. You need to order it also or you'll have a brand new gadget and won't be able to do anything with it.

(Yes, it's true. I'm speaking from experience.)
Another plus: The tape is Acid Free and you don't have to pay extra for that feature! {Yeah baby!}


Also, it's very user friendly. The instructions to load the dispenser with tape (remember, it comes to you empty) were super easy to understand and follow. I was afraid it would be big and bulky and I would hate it. Nope! It's very light weight and easy to operate. It was an easy transition. I still have a several bottles of my favorite Scotch Quick Dry glue (bought some when they were on sale for $3) but I fear they may be collecting dust for awhile now that I have my new ATG gun. :o)
Ok, I've given my 2cents worth on the subject. Do with it what you will.

Patience please....

Today was a bit wacky. I'm answering emails as fast as my little fingers can type. Please be patient with me as I'm dealing with a sick little boy and he needs his mommy. :(

Hugs!
Happy crafting!

Cupcake box

Fayrai to my rescue again! I have been messing with this box for the last few days. Fixing this, adjusting that. I was pretty much done with it. Wasn't even sure I was going to post it. Then I thought, "Let's see what Fayrai can do with it. She will be a fresh set of eyes."

Yeah baby! That was the RIGHT move! Look how cute she made this box:

My confidence was renewed. And I went back and finished my box:

(The lid tucks inside the bottom)

Thanks Fayrai!! For a bit there I wasn't sure it was gonna come together. {Phew!}

I made cupcakes with my son today... And had to make a couple small adjustments to the size of the box so that a standard cupcake would fit in the box without a problem. Check it out...

Details:

• Cricut DS, George (box) and Mini Monograms (insert)
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Requires Expression due to size
• Will fit a single standard size cupcake.
• Papers: DCWV decorative paper and blue cardstock, Georgia Pacific white cardstock
• Acetate: PennywiseArts.com
• Ribbon: JoAnns
• colored Skittles

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 

Hey Chickie!

Thank you Diane/Capadia. Diane helped me get a project done today. You see, she made a super cute bunny candy holder a couple days ago. Have you seen it? It's darling. I had thought about making one last week, just had too many things going on and wasn't able to get it completed. In fact, I have several projects in the pipeline but still working out the kinks. That's where Diane helped me. By posting her cute bunny, she helped me realize that Easter is coming up quick and I needed to get organized!

I decided I needed to put all the projects to the side and focus on a single project! (I think I might have a bit ADD 'cuz I jump from unfinished project to unfinished project a LOT. I feel so scatterbrained sometimes!) Anyway, I finished one! Yay me! It could be called my first Easter themed project of 2009. But then again, it's generic enough that it could be Spring, Baby or just Good Ol' Country Fun. :)

It's my chick'n box. (not to be confused with chicken pox. Eeeew!)





Thanks Diane for helping me get something finished today :)

Details:

• Cricut, DS and George
• CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
• Finished size: 4 3/4" tall 3" wide (not including wingspan). 5 1/4" wide including wings :o)
• Requires Expression due to size
• Papers: Yellow plaid (DCWV), white (Georgia Pacific), Yellow (Paper Co)
• Paper flowers (Prima)
• Gem flowers & pearls and Ribbon (Target)
• Glitter glue (Stickles)

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 


Here are some more pictures so you can better see the pocket....


For those of you that are new to how I use my Cricut to score, please refer to the last paragraph in the Birdhouse post. I think it clearly explains how you can use your bug to score. For future reference you can also click on "Scoring" in the Labels list on the right side of my blog.
Note: Yes, I know the angle of the wings on the back of the box don't match the front of the box. It's not a HUGE difference but it's noticeable. If it bothers you that much I'll fix it but it doesn't bother me so I left it.
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Click here to see the boxes that Linda, Susan, Sherry and Lois created today during their Thursday craft day! Thanks so much ladies for sharing your creations with us. Love'em!!
Kasey used the tabs with the toplayer chick and toplayer egg and created a single chick to apply to a TBBM box. (Her son wanted a box that would hold more treats!) Supe cute idea! And a great way to use th e top layers. :) Thanks for sharing Kasey!!
Jen (another Jen, not me) posted some adorable chickie boxes on the message board and also on her blog. Don't you just love the decorated eggshells.... and the pink chick?!! Kinda reminds me of when I was young and they used to dye the fluff on baby chicks. You could actually buy a blue or pink or purple chick to give as an Easter gift. LOL Great job Jen. Thanks for sharing :)
Here's a link showing all the different boxes Bobbi made. I love how several of us were thinking... Hmmm... I need an Easter box and we all came up with something completely different. Thanks for sharing Bobbi!
Sara posted her cute Chickie boxes on her blog. They're darling. Thanks for sharing Sara!!
Don't miss all of Eunice's super cute Easte treats. She really went all out in the creativity department! She even managed to make a few Chickie boxes. Thanks for sharing Eunice.

Mmmmmoooooo!

Ok, so by now you've probably figured out that I don't post EVERYTHING I've ever created on my blog. (Is that so wrong?) I guess I just think that the request is so specific to the requester that no one else will be interested in it. I'magine always truely surprised when I'm wrong about that.

Such is the case with the cute little cow I created for Robin (aka Owassia) on the Cricut message board. She has this adorable little cow as her avatar and wanted a cut file to match it. Happy to oblige....





Here's a screenshot:




You can click here to see the cow cut outs.



Details:

1. Both files are all George.
2. CUT FILE: ** Donate button is at the top right. Please specify which file you want when you purchase.
3. Both files are baby bug compatible.
4. There are TWO sizes. Large (5 1/2"tall x 7 1/2" wide) and small (3" tall x 4 1/2" wide) Please specify when requesting.

** Refer to Cut File link to see how to get my files. 

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Thanks for sharing Robin!!
Check out what Jade did with her cow! Is this not the funniest ??!! I love it! Thanks for sharing Jade!
Monique in the Netherlands created a darling Thank You card using the small cow. Click here to see it. So cute paired with the tulips from WIMG. Thanks for sharing Monique.