Is it Spring Yet?!?

On Monday I did some yardwork- picked up sticks, worked on the flower bed, checked out the garden area.  

On Tuesday, it snowed (2 inches!) in the morning and was so cold that I had to wear a winter jacket all day.

Today, Wednesday, it was 65* and the sun was shining so bright that I had to wear sunglasses while I was driving and turn on the air conditioner in the car!  (I live in central Iowa)

 Tomorrow will be...... Who knows!  I'm setting out a pair shorts and flip flops and some ear muffs (just to be safe).  LOL!

I am so ready for Spring to be here once and for all!

I am ready for green grass, and blooming trees and flowers.  My allergies aren't ready- but I am!

I used K & Company paper for the background and Prima flowers with some blingy brads.

The stamp is Studio G.

Here a few challenges that this card fits right into!

Ambers Crafts and Stuff- Challenge #3 April Flowers

Fantabulous Cricut- #53 Looks Like Spring

Crafting with Cristina- #20 Cricutless/Stamping
Creative Cutter Room- Looks Like Spring

Thanks for stopping by!

Forever Young

I love making cards of all shapes and themes- but I really love doing projects that are 3-dimensional.  

I absolutely LOVE the Forever Young cartridge!  It has such girlie images- dresses, hats, high heels, lipstick, flowers, and purses- to name a few.  

This is by far my favorite cartridge and I am quickly making my way through it!

I used my Expression and used the "Fit to Page" for the purse.

The heels were cut at 2 inches.

I blinged it up with the I-Rock and Gelly Roll glitter pens.

I made the little notebook (to put inside the purse) by trimming regular copy paper for the inside, and using DCWV cardstock for the cover.

I cut the hat at 1.5 inches. 

I used my YourStory to bind it.

I plan to do a step-by-step photo or video on how to make your own books with the YourStory-

so watch for that!

I am entering this into a couple challenges:

CCCC # 11- Forever Young

DYSU Challenge #12- Shine On

My Craft Spot Monday Challenge #2- Bow

Thanks for stopping by!

A Weekend of Firsts and Awards!

 

This has been a weekend of firsts and milesones.  My first blog hop (that I was a stop in), reaching 125 followers friends, and several blog awards.   Three of the awards, I will address at a later date- but I want to thank Tami at Scrapping Rabbits Creations, Tiffany at Sparkled Memories, Amy at Love to Crop, and Jessica at Chick-n-Scrap for thinking of me!  I really appreciate it!

The award that I want to talk about on this post is from Diana at DL.ART 

The rules of this award are:

1. Post about it on your blog with a link to the sender.

2. Pass it on to  those who visit your blog and leave comments regularly.

I would like to thank these fellow crafters for visiting, commenting and inspiring me! There are so many more- that I had to stop somewhere.  They are in no particular order:

Amber- My 3 E Scrapbooking
Karen- Empty Nest Boutique
Jen- Jen's Craft Corner
Amy- Love To Crop
Tiffany- Sparkled Memories
Carri (abusybee)- Double Click Connections
Jessica- Chick-n-Scrap
Amber- Amber's Crafts and Stuff

Thank you so much Diana

It is very easy to be a regular follower of hers.  Her site is wonderful and she has some amazing projects!  Diana was my very first blog friend, and I will always remember her for that!

Stop by and give her some love!

And if you haven't met any of the other ladies, stop by their blogs and tell them I sent you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Winner of my Blog Candy!

Thanks to everyone who participated and hopped in the blog hop this past weekend. It was so fun watching you all come by and reading your wonderful comments! Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly appreciate them.  And a huge Thank You to everyone who became a new follower!
The winner of my blog candy is...

#18 Amanda at My Cricut Crafts

Amanda, I will be contacting you for your mailing address!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome to the Spring Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Spring Blog Hop, hosted by the very talented Jen from Jen's Craft Corner. If you came here from Linda's stop you are in the right place, if not, make sure you start back at Jen's blog, you won't want to miss a SINGLE stop.

I am very honored to be in the same company with these wonderful and talented ladies, and I appreciate you stopping by.  This is my very first time participating in a Blog Hop, so needless to say, I am very excited!  

I made two projects that I 'd like to share, because I am sooo happy that Spring is here (even though it just snowed where I live!)

I made a simple shaped flower card using the Forever Young Cricut cartridge and my Gypsy.  

I used Prima flowers and my I-Rock to bling up the card.  The pink flower is stamped with the Pink by Design, Daisy background stamp.  I just got this and am having so much fun with it!

My second project is a Pin-Wheel Flower in a sweet little pot.

I put the pin-wheel together with K&Company paper and used a Prima flower and a brad to attach it to a pencil that I covered in two different green ribbons.  Since the paper was not printed on both sides, I again used the Pink by Design, Daisy background stamp- but this time I colored it in! 

I have some blog candy too!  A little bit of bling-- of course!

All you have to do is become a follower, if you aren't already, and leave a comment telling me what your favorite "bling" is. 
(A winner will be chosen on Monday.)

Next on your stop is Patti.

Here is today's line up (in case you get lost).  Have Fun!

www.jenscraftcorner.com 

www.madebymomo.blogspot.com

www.lilsweetpeasplace.blogspot.com

www.raechelscards.blogspot.com

www.stampindaisies.com

www.lindascreativity.blogspot.com

www.jk-littlebitofbling.blogspot.com

www.pattilynncreations.blogspot.com

www.laurenscreative.blogspot.com

www.purplescrapbooker.com

www.stayingcrafty.blogspot.com

www.crop-and-create.blogspot.com

www.beachcreationsforyou.blogspot.com

www.scramp-it.blogspot.com

www.amberscraftsandstuff.com

Birthday Cards and Gifts

Ten years ago today my sweet baby girls were born.  Avery was born at 10:15am and 13 minutes later (the longest 13 minutes EVER) Mackenzie came into my life.
We had a great day today!  The girlies took their treats (cake pops) to school and when I tried to help them carry them into the school, I was asked to return to the car before we entered the building (because I embarrass them).  They did however ask if I would come back to the school and eat lunch with them.  ( I may be an embarrassment, but they still love me- I guess.)  I re-arranged my work schedule and surprised them at lunch time.  I'm guessing this may be my last year to have a school birthday lunch with my daughters (before it becomes "lame") so I wasn't going to pass it up.  After school, and work, we all went out to dinner and then came home and had cake while the girls opened gifts.

They were expecting me to make them something special, so I could not disappoint.

I made them each a necklace holder to hang on their wall.

I used a chipboard album cover (the front for one, and the back for the other) and covered them with some pretty paper (DCWV) and blinged them up with the I-Rock.  I punched the bottom with my Bind It All and attached 3/4" OWires (without crimping) with hot glue.  The holes were already punched in the top so I added some ribbon so they could hang them on their walls.

I also had to make birthday cards- which were so fun to make!  Still can't believe they are Ten!

I used the Sweet Treat cartridge to cut all of the images and sparkled it up with some pearls and shinies from Recollections.

I am submitting my projects into a few challenges.

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #1- Anything Goes Birthday Card

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #52-  Happy Birthday Card

Amber's Crafts and Stuff- A Die Cut

Die Cuttin Diva- A Spring/Garden Die Cut (Spring always makes me think of my girls!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Made by Momo- "Got Followers?"

Made By Momo is having a blog link for bloggers with less than 200 followers.  It is a great way to make new blog friends and get new inspiration.  If you are visiting me from Momo's site, let me know and I'll be sure to visit you.

Birthday Treats- Cake Pops

Today I made "Cake Pops" for my daughters Birthday treats at school this week.

I was inspired by Starbucks-- too bad I didn't have my Grande Mocha while I was making them.  :(

If you do not know what Cake Pops are, you are missing out!  They are little gooey balls of deliciousness, covered in candy coating!  Yum!

How to make:

First, make a cake.  Any cake mix will work- just pick your favorite flavor (I used a Betty Crocker White).

After the cake is baked and cooled, take the cake and crumble it in a bowl.  Add one can of prepared frosting (again, Betty Crocker White with Candy Pieces).

Mix this all up.   You can use an electric mixer, or mix by hand.  (It looks yucky, but tastes delish!)

Next, you must place it in the refrigerator for about an hour to firm up the mixture.

After it has chilled, make small balls and place onto waxed paper.

Next step is to freeze them-- if you don't, you will have (I had) a mess!  If you are making cake "pops", it is important to place the stick in each ball before freezing.  If you are making cake "balls", no stick is needed.  :)  Freeze for at least one hour.

Now you are ready for the candy coating.  Almond bark, chocolate chips, white chocolate.... whatever makes you happy-- melt it and get ready for the fun!  When making "pops", you will need some styrofoam or something to hold them so they don't have a flat "top"  (unless you want a flat top).

Let them harden up and then hurry and put them away before you your family eats them all!

Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!

Winner of the Cricut Sampler Cartridge

Hi Everyone!! 

First of all, Thank you to everyone who voted for my Husband in the Whip It 180 Fitness Challenge.  Unfortunately, he received the call today that he did not make it to the finals.  We appreciate all of the support and encouragement.  Josh will continue with his quest for fitness- and I will be right beside him the whole way!!

And now for the winner of the Cricut Sampler Cartridge.............

 

Amber- from www.amberscraftsandstuff.com 

Amber, please email me at littlebitofbling at gmail.com by Monday and I can get it in the mail to you!!

Thanks again to everyone!

Last Day to Cast your Vote

Hi Everyone!!  Today is the last day to cast your vote for my husband Joshua at the Whip it 180 Challenge.

You can vote here.  

Or--

You can go Here and vote through the link and then leave a comment for your chance to win a Cricut Sampler Cartridge.  (Please only leave a comment on the original post to be entered for a chance to win.)

Voting (and your chance to win) ends today!  Random.org will choose a winner (for the cartridge) on Saturday.

We'll know about the outcome of Whip it 180 on Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank You

I made a Thank You card to send along to the winner of my giveaway going on through Friday March 18. 

(Check it out Here.) 

Thank you to everyone who has voted so far.  My husband and I really appreciate all of the help and kind words.  (He's a follower of my blog and gets excited everytime there's a new comment!  He can't believe how much encouragement he's received from people he's never even met!)

--Anyway--

When I was done with my card, I took a break and saw that it fit in nicely to a few challenges.

Cricut Cardz Challenge #66- a Thank You Card with a Cricut cut border, in Yellow, Blue, and White

Digi Doodles Challenge #51- Anything Goes

and

Amber's Crafts and Stuff (love the name of her blog!) Challenge #1- Anything Goes

This is an A2 sized card
The background paper is from GCD Studios
The image is a clear stamp from The Paper Company, Whimsy Greetings- stamped on to white cardstock and cut out with George and Basic Shapes.  I shaded the image with Le Plume markers.
The "ribbon" is a piece of scrap paper, cut to size and stamped with a flower border.

Thanks for letting me play along!

and 

Thanks for stopping by!

Win a Cricut Cartridge and help my Husband!!

I am posting a Giveaway in return for all of your help.

My husband Joshua has been selected to the Semi-Finals of a weight loss and fitness challenge and needs your votes.  Please check out the link below to read about the contest and cast your vote.

Whip it 180 Fitness Challenge

Whip it 180 Fitness Challenge

Now it’s time to vote! Voting will close March 18, 2011.

Now-- How to win the giveaway......

The Cricut Sampler cartridge

You do not need to become a follower of my blog to participate- but I would love it if you did!  :)

1.  Vote for Joshua and then leave a comment once you do.
2.  Please post this on your blog to help spread the word (and leave another comment telling me that you did!).
3.  Come back everyday through Friday, March 18 to vote and let me know that you did!

That's 5 chances to win!!
And it's a chance to help jumpstart my husband into a healthy lifestyle.

A winner will be chosen by Random.org on Saturday March 19, 2011.

Thanks for stopping by!

Giveaway Winner Announced

First, I would like to thank everyone who has become a follower of my blog.  I can't believe that 5 weeks ago, I had no idea how to even think about doing a blog, and Wow- look at me now!  :)   I am truly humbled.  It is wonderful to be able to share my ideas with everyone-- but more importantly, it is wonderful to see others ideas come to life!  I am even been asked to take part in my first blog hop, on March 26th, hosted by Jen at Jen's Crafting Corner. It has been incredible "getting to know" everyone so far.  I look forward to "meeting"  so many more creative and inspiring people!

Now for the winner of the Imaginisce I-Rock.....

Amy from Love to Crop.

Amy, please e-mail me, at littlebitofbling@gmail.com, with your address by Friday, March 18th and I'll get it out in the mail to you!!

Thanks for stopping by! 

I was inspired today!

I was inspired today- and since I have 2 birthdays coming up in my family,
I was inspired to make a birthday card!

The butterflies are cut from Kate's ABC's and the rainbow background are scraps of paper, cut and glued together.

I am entering this into a couple of challenges!
Jitterbuggin' Rainbow and Butterfly Challenge
Cricut Cardz Challenge #65 Make a Tall Card
K Andrew's Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky- All a Flutter
Patti-Lynn Creations #3 Think Spring

Thanks for stopping by!

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

MPS Blog Hop

I love the 2nd Friday of the month- because it means My Pink Stamper has her blog hop!  Always so much fun to see everyone's wonderful, creative projects.  This month it was all about Spring so I decided to play along.  I am so ready for Spring!!  The sun has been shining here in Iowa for the last few days, but it has still been cold!  I'll get excited when the temps get into the 50*'s at least.

Also- there is a challenge at K Andrew's Simply Sunday Challenge at Getting Cricky- All a Flutter, that fits right in with the spring theme!  Kristal was a guest designer this month at the MPS blog hop and had an awsome project!!

Looking forward to green grass and butterflies.  Soon enough.....

Thanks for stopping by!

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

Hawaiian Day

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

One of my (twin) daughters came home from school today and informed me that tomorrow is "Hawaiian" day at school and she needs a shirt and "one of those flower things to wear around my neck".  I told her that she doesn't own a Hawaiian shirt or a lei, so it would just have to be Iowan day for her.  After the yelling stopped- I told her that I could try to make her a lei.... she agreed- and even helped.  I asked the other daughter if she would like one too.  She (cheerfully) said, "No thanks, I'm good".

At bedtime (an hour past bedtime), the other daughter says to me, "I'd really like one of those flower things".

 

Thank you to my awesome husband for helping me with the second one at 10:00pm.

You ROCK Honey!!

I'll have happy girlies in the morning!

Stylish Blogger Award

YAY!!! Jen at Jen's Crafting Corner and Valerie at The Best is Yet to Be have awarded me with the Stylish Blog Award! I am so excited about this and very honored that Jen and Valerie both thought my blog deserved this awesome award. Thank you to Jen and Valerie!!  Please stop by each of their blogs and show them some love!

I am to share 8 things about myself with you...

1.  I have twin daughters who amaze me everyday.
2.  I have the best Husband ever! (Yes- he reads my blog)  :)
3. I am borderline obsessed with papercrafting.
4.  My dream job would be something in the craft industry.
5.  My "real job" (which I do love doing) is a Food Safety Specialist (Health Inspector) for the state of Iowa.
6.  I make awesome chocolate chip cookies, which stinks because...
7.  My husband and I are making huge lifestyle changes to become healthy and fit.
8.  Blogging is one of the most exciting, and scary, things I have done for myself in a long time!

I am passing this award on to:

Jan @ A Day in the Life

Karen @ Empty Nest Boutique 

KatieO @ KatieO's 

Go visit these awesome ladies and check out all of their fantastic projects.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ooh La La

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

I made this card for a fabulous lady for her birthday! 

I am entering it in the DYSU Challenge #9:  Just GREEN it!

I used Forever Young (my favorite cartridge at the moment) for the images and the saying.

Thanks for checking in!

I'm a Winner!

Yesterday in the mail, I received, from Julie at Cricut Chick, a Purple Xyron sticker maker that I won from the Guest Deigner post on The Purple Scrapbooker's Blog.

And then this morning I see that I just won some awesome blog candy from Lisa at Honeybearz Designs.

Please go say "Hi" to these 3 very talented ladies when you have a chance.

I feel lucky enough that I may just go out and buy a lottery ticket today!

BookMark

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

This project was done in about 15 minutes one night when my daughter needed a bookmark.  The whole thing was done with Plantain School book.  To make it sturdier (to hold up to the abuse of a 9 year old), I laminated it with the Xyron 510.  She liked it so much that we had to make one for each of her friends too!

Cricut Cardz Challenge #64 is all about bookmarks- check it out!

Thanks for checking in!

My Feathered Friend

Check out my Giveaway on my March 1, 2011 post!!

I went shopping yesterday and found some awesome deals at Tuesday Morning!  One of the paperstacks, by Heidi Grace, and one of the stamps, by Making Memories, were the inspiration for my Spring Time card (along with the nice Iowa weather we've been having the last few days!).  I just adore this bird from the Lovely Floral cartridge- puts a smile on my face every time I see it.

There are a couple of challenges that I am entering this into:

My Pink Stamper Challenge, any project using a feathered friend

**Cooking With Cricut** Challenge #19 Double Take

Celebrate the Occasion, Challenge #3, using the colors Green and White with another color of your choice.

Hope you enjoy!  Thanks for checking in!

Giveaway!

I'd like to do a Giveaway once I reach 50 Followers (half-way there!).  I want to give someone (at random) my favorite crafting tool.  It's actually how I came up with the name of my blog.  Everything IS a better with a little bit of bling- so...... I want to give away an Imaginisce I-Rock and Gems.  Please become a follower and leave a comment below.  (For those of you that commented on my post from 2/27/11, comment here too and it will double your chances of winning!)  Thank you to everyone who has hung out with me from the beginning of my journey into "bloggerdom" (I like to make up words!).  Your sweet comments, support, and advice have been awesome!  You Rock!

 So please, tell all your friends.  This is going to be fun!!