Monday Birthday Card

Hi Everyone!

I love Mondays! 

Mondays are the one day of the week that are mine.  I have the house to myself, I can do what I want (within reason), and I usually have plenty of time to get my craft on!  :)

Today I had a chance to check out everyone's blogs and get caught up on what everyone's been up to.

I was inspired by a few challenges to make a Birthday card.  It's pretty simple, but not something I would have thought of without the inspiration of:

My Craft Spot- Sew much Fun

Fantabulous Cricut- Yellow

Birthday Sundaes- Inspiration photo

Looky what I made!

I used Kraft card stock for the base of the card.

The second layer is from the DCWV Lemon Flower stack.

The third layer started out as a cream colored scrap of cardstock that I used Distress Ink on (Mustard Yellow and Haystack Straw).

The banner was cut freehand from some DCWV scraps.

The Sweet Treats cupcake was cut at 2.75".  I attached a K & Co. brad to the top and covered the "frosting" with Glossy Accents and sprinkled beads on top.

There is faux stitching (which I am not very good at!) around the banners, cupcake, and 3rd layer.

The sentiment is from a cheapy set that I've had forever!

Wow!  That's a lot of writing for a card that took me all of 20 minutes to make!

Hope you all had a great day!

Thanks for stopping by!

FLOWERS

Hi Everyone!

Saturday morning I went to a flower making class at my Local Scrapbooking Store.  I always enjoy learning something new- and I LOVE my LSS- so it was a pretty good day!

Friday, on the other hand was not a good day.  I have horrible allergies to all things outdoors.  These are allergies that I have developed as an adult (which kind of stinks!)- and this week has been rough in the sinus department!  Friday I took enough medication to knock out a small village but the only thing that helped was sleep (about 75% of the day).

Which brings me back to the flower class on Saturday.  I love paper flowers.  I love everything about them.  I especially love that they do not make my head explode when I get near them!  :)

My girls and I agree that the ribbon flower (tag #2) is by far the cutest, so once I get some ribbon to make some more of them, I'll post a little tutorial.  I can't believe I didn't buy ribbon when I was at the store! (I'm guessing it's because my head nearly exploded Friday and I'm not fully recovered!)  LOL!

Check out the challenge at 

The Sisterhood of Crafters

Hope you all have a great Sunday!

Thanks for stopping by!

Vacation Day: Part 2

Hi Everyone!

On Monday, I took a Vacation Day (from normal life) and got to spend some good quality time with my self.

If you are able to do it- I highly recommend it.  :)

I had time to make (and finish) a couple projects.

Here is one that I am particularly proud of.

I started out with a 12"x24" piece of 1/4" (thick) Birch that I "stained" with Black Soot Distress Ink.

I then used my Gypsy to arrange the words and cut out white vinyl with my Cricut Expression.

It's hanging in my living room right now.  :)

I also got to work on something exciting that I'll be sharing in the near future--

so be watching for that news! 

Some link up parties going on right now:

Thanks for stopping by!

I Took a Vacation Day!

Hi Everyone!

I took a vacation day today! 

I normally don't work on Mondays, and since my kids are back in school- today is the first day since the end of May that I have been home (not working), and had the house all to myself.

So--

I decided I needed to do what ever I wanted to do- and only what I WANTED to do.

Today NO dishes, laundry, cooking, or cleaning was done by me.

A much needed vacation day!

Since I was in the holiday mood, I made a card for myself.  I thought about writing a note in it and leaving it on my husbands desk, but I didn't want him to get the wrong idea.  :)

A couple challenges :

Frosted Designs- Clocks/Time

Scrabookaholic by Abby- Anything (and her last challenge post)
More Than Favors-Travel
The Paper Variety- Travel

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Little Gift Box

Hi Everyone!

Last weekend I made a trip to Archivers and stocked up on a bunch of things I didn't really need.

I Love Archivers!!

I found this cute paper pack from K&Company that I had to try.

It is so fun!!

Here's what I made:

I added some crinkle ribbon and some quilled roses to make it super cute!

A couple challenges:

My Craft Spot
Getting Cricky with K Andrew (Love and miss my old DT!)
Paper Playtime
Scrapalicious
The Kraft Journal
The Paper Variety

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to School Time!

Hi Everyone!

I was so excited to be able to do some crafting today!

My daughters start school on Thursday (Yay!!) so I thought I'd make a couple cards for them to take to their new Teachers.   They are so excited to start 5th grade!!  

I'm so glad they still love school.  I hope they never stop loving it!

These cards were so quick and easy to make!

I bought a page kit from Big Lots (for $1.00) the other day and just pieced everything together!

I LOVE quick and easy!!

A few Back to School challenges to enter:

Creative Cutter Room

Whimsical Wednesday
Cards by Jovan
Die Cuttin Divas 

Thanks for stopping by!

Finally- I get to craft again!

Hi Everyone!

I'm so excited that I am done working at the Sate Fair for another year!!  

I have barely been on the computer for the last 5 days- and I have not had time to even step foot in my craft room!  (Sad face)

I did however have a chance to stop by Menards (a home improvement store) on Saturday to catch an awesome deal on Cricut cartridges!!  The deal was- cartridges were on sale for $24.99 and there was a $20.00 mail in rebate- so the total $/cartridge was $4.99!

Granted they were all older cartridges, but I only had a couple of the ones they had for sale.

Here are the four that I bought:

I'm excited to do something with them- now that I have time to craft again!

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'll be doing All Week!

Hi Everyone!

Yet again, my job is taking over my life this week.

This week, I will be spending my time at the 2011 Iowa State Fair.

(No crafting in the time budget this week- which makes me sad.)

This is the week that I dread all year.

I don't like it, I'm not going to like it, and nobody can make me like it.

I can't exactly explain why I don't like the fair, but if I had my choice of working at the fair (inspecting the 200+ food stands everyday) or setting my hair on fire and putting it out with a sledge hammer--

I'd pick the hammer to the head.

:)

Here's some nice pictures of the Fair...

That's about right!

So this week- when you're cutting, glueing, glittering, and smiling- please think of me and send crafty thoughts my way.

I'll be the one in the Midway with my thermometer stuck in a corn dog!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thank you Grandma!

Hi Everyone!

My daughters just got back from vacation at Grandma's house!  (Vacation for everyone!)

Mackenzie wanted to make Grandma a Thank You card for all of the fun things they got do to last week!

I showed her how to make a quick and simple card just by layering paper (DCWV Snack Stack and scraps), adding ribbon (hand-dyed crinkle ribbon), and stamping a sentiment (K Andrew Designs: Food for Thoughts).

It's all about paper and color choices young Grasshopper.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cricut Flower Shoppe

Hi Everyone!

I had to show you all my newest purchase!

This is such an awesome cartridge!  It's pretty simple to use and makes several 3-D flowers.

Here's how I made my flower!

A couple pages of the manual.  You can mix and match the layers from each page to make your own variety of flower.          Be Creative!

I cut the flowers petal at 4" (not real dial size)

Here's what they look like on the (dirty) mat.

I inked the edges of each layer before I assembled them.

Attach the first 2 layers. (I used glue dots)

Roll the center layer.  Attach a few glue dots throughout the rolling process to keep the layer from unraveling.

Attach the center and the leaves.

Roll the edges of the petals and leaves to give your flower a more realistic appearance.

Beautiful!!

FYI- Joann's has Cricut cartridges on sale for $29.99. 

The Project Cartridges (such as this one) are $19.99.  

**A tip about Joann's.**

If you go to the store and they do not have the cartridge in stock that you are looking for-

You can do a "special order".   

Go on-line first to get the item number and print it out (or write it down) and take it with you to the store.  The cashier can order it for you right then and there!

(It's free shipping too when you ship it to the store and pick it up!)

I have done so many special orders at my Joanns- they know me by name!  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!

Have you heard of a "Tent" card?

Hi Everyone!

I was able to do a little crafting today- and it made me very happy!

I even tried a new kind of card- a Tent card.

My friend Erika at Crafty Sprouts has a tutorial and a challenge going on at her blog right now.  You should definitely check it out!

I used the Hoot n Holler Cricut Lite cartridge for the owl and the house (which is kind of hard to see in the background).

Rebecca at Crafting Misfit is having a Show and Tell Link Up party.  Make sure you share your newest project!

Kassidy over at Inking It Up Crazy has an Old School Cartridge Blog Hop and Challenge on her blog right now.  You need to check this one out too!

All that crafting made me hungry.  I need to go eat a cookie.

Thanks for stopping by!

Who wants a cookie?

I know you want one.....

The kids are at Grandmas for the week, I don't have to work tomorrow, my husband started talking about Monster Cookies- so what do I do at 10:00pm?

That's right- I made cookies!

And they're Delicious!!

I didn't have a recipe for Monster Cookies, so I made one up.  (I made a variation of my chocolate chip cookies- that are awesome!)

Here's what I came up with:

Mix:

1/2 c Butter

1/2 c Peanut Butter

1 c Crisco

1/2 c White Sugar

1 & 1/2 c Brown Sugar

4 eggs
2 tsp Vanilla

2 packages of Instant Vanilla Pudding mix

Mix together until very fluffy

Add:

3 & 3/4 c Flour

2 c Oats

2 Teaspoons Baking Soda

Mix until well combined

Add 1/2 bag Chocolate Chips, 1/2 bag Plain M&Ms, and 1/2c chopped peanuts.  Gently mix in to batter.

Drop batter on to baking sheet (with an ice cream scoop) and bake at 335* for around 15 minutes or until done.  

These are Big cookies and because of the pudding mix they should stay soft and chewy.  (My chocolate chip cookies will stay soft and chewy for a week when kept closed in a ziplock bag).

Happy eating!

Thanks for stopping by!

Smiles!

Hi Everyone!

Today is my friend Tonia's birthday! 

Happy Birthday Girl!! 

I met Tonia about 8 months ago when she started dating my Brother in Law-- and instantly liked her.  

She likes all things Fabulous and LOVES a good massage!!

Tonight my Husband and I are going on a double date with Eric and Tonia.

Good Friends +  Good Food = Good Times!

A few challenges:

Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday- Circles

Fantabulous Cricut #71- Let's be Friends

My Craft Spot #19- You make me Smile

The Paper Variety #45- Circles

Card recipe:

5.5" square card

Background scallop/circles cut from Elegant Edges at 5.25"

Owls Cut from Hoot n Holler at 3.25"

Background paper- Cocoa and Blossoms

Sentiments from K Andrew Designs Positive Thoughts 

Thanks for stopping by!