Bella Blvd. = Baby Bliss!

It's a fun week week for us designers at Core'dinations Cardstock because we've had the chance to team up with the fabulous designers at Bella Blvd., to share some over the top creations and inspiration on both the Core and Bella blogs!  I'll just say, it's insane how wonderfully these two companies compliment one another, and I'm sure you'll all agree! 

That's right, be sure to check out all the posts at both blogs this week (and go back to check out Monday and today's as well).  There are opportunities to win some great Core and Bella Blvd. products so don't miss out!

For today I designed this baby card featuring Core Essentials and Whitewash paired with the adorable Baby Boy collection from Bella Blvd.  

This baby collection also has fun chipboard and sticker elements to match (take note of that sweet baby giraffe!).  And did you know Bella Blvd. now has their own Washi tape?  They do!! Swoon!! For this card I used some of the cool yellow chevron designer paper tape and I created some super cool alphas by applying some of the tape to a scrap of Core cardstock and then cutting them out using my Cricut. 

I used the Lyrical Letters Cricut cart - Jack Sprat font and cut my letters out at 3/4"... on the Core blog post I had said they were 1/2" letters, but they are 3/4"... sorry! 

Anyway, I only used one row of tape, but you could also line several strips together on top of one another and cut out larger alphas as well!

For this card I also folded some of the paper tape into tabs and used them on the neck of the giraffe diecut which was cut from some yellow WhiteWash Core. I embossed my giraffe die cut (Cricut New Arrival cart - cut at 6") with a Sissix animal print folder, sanded the spots and then went in and added some extra brown tones with a Ranger ink pad and the Ranger blending tool.   This really adds visual interest and texture to the die cut! 

Other product used here:

Core Essentials in green from the Nostalgia pack.

Bella Blvd. Simply Simona Orange Sophisticates Ciao Chipboard alphas.

Bella Blvd. Baby Boy Chipboard and stickers.

Bella Blvd. Baby Boy, Wild About You paper.

Martha Stewart Fringe scissors.

Bakers Twine from The Twinery.

Black pearls by Kaiser.

 

That's all I've got for now, but please remember to come back and visit the Core and Bella Blvd. blogs each day this week... you won't want to miss a thing!  Enjoy! 

Playing Catch-Up!

Wow... so sorry for my lack of blogging these days!  I have not made a post in over 2 weeks and I haven't really been reading or commenting on others blogs either these days, which makes for a pretty sad Andrea!  I just don't know how the time has been getting away from me.  Granted I have been working 40 hour weeks for the first time in nearly 5 years, so this in itself maybe reason enough!  I dearly miss my extra leisure time for crafting that's for sure! 

But anyway... I've also let my little giveaway from the SOUS blog hop get away from me.  I'm really sorry that I haven't posted a winner on here before now, but I won't make any excuses.  Shame on me! 

Okay, without any further wait... the winner is...

Please email me your addy at amuoct21 at aol dot com, Mickey's Craft World, and I would love to send you a package which will include this...

As for other stuff, today I had the pleasure of having a project featured on the Crafts Unleashed blog for Consumer Crafts.  Ya'll remember that Mother's Day is coming up shortly next month?  Well, I created an easy but elegant card for mom that is short on time and supplies.  I used my Cricut Sophisticated cart, some scraps of Core Essentials and DCWV Linen Collection patterned paper, the Martha Stewart Garden Gate edge punch and a Fleur De Lis emboss folder from Darice!

You can check out the blog post on Crafts Unleashed for more step-out shots and instructions of how I created the card!

Now, how would you like to win $700.00 worth of wonderful Core'dinations Cardstock and other fabulous scrappy stuff?  I mean who wouldn't want that kind of prize, right? 

You can enter to win right HERE!!  Good luck!  :)

Advent Calendar Day #19 At The Nook!

Today is the 19th... and that means it's the 19th Advent Calendar day at The Nook and I am happy to be the calendar host for the day!  If you haven't already heard about it, now is your chance to join in and help us count down the days til Christmas in a very exciting way and with some fabulous giveaways to boot! 

Everyday from December 1st up to December 25th, one Nook friend is hosting a giveaway on her blog as part of the Advent Calendar festivities!  I urge you to go back and take a look if you've missed out on any of the previous days because there is always fabulous inspiration!  If you check out the Nook blog you can find a link posted for the day's host, which today is me.  If you are coming here from the Nook's blog post, then I simply say, "Welcome"! 

Here is a list of all the participating blogs for the Advent Calendar... please visit!

1	Hilde	http://www.scoobieslilleblog.blogspot.com/
2	Antenucci	http://antenucci.blogspot.com/
3	Danielle	http://picsandcheesecake.blogspot.com/
4	Lisa J	http://cutcreateandcare.blogspot.com/
5	Pam	http://happytobecreating.blogspot.com/
6	Meg Aaron	http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com/
7	Mag	http://magandscrap.blogspot.com/
8	Monique	http://moniquesscrapbook.blogspot.com/
9 10	Kate Vickers Sherri	http://www.scrapsation.com/ http://faithandscraphappiness.blogspot.com/
11	Lilith Eeckels	http://lilithandscrap.blogspot.com/
12	~jan	http://jantatomir.blogspot.com/
13	Carol	http://carolmonson.blogspot.com/
14	Arty Carty	http://blog.artycarty.com/
15	Tanya	http://little-scrapper.blogspot.com/
16	Annelie Maddoc	http://swewi.wordpress.com/
17	Nenne	http://www.creativenenne.blogspot.com/
18	Nicole	http://justnicks.blogspot.com/
19	Andrea Amu	http://imlivinonscraps.blogspot.com/
20	Marinette	http://www.scraptherapie.com/
21	Pysselpetra	http://mittkreativakaos.blogspot.com/

22 Samantha http://samawright.blogspot.com/
23 Anna Sigga http://annasigga.typepad.com/scrappalicious/
24 Jennie http://pappersverk.blogspot.com/
25 Leah http://www.leahkillian.com/

Now onto some holiday sharing and giving from me!  Today I was busy creating some holiday cards and I got to thinking that it would be perfect for me to make up a little card kit with the products I've used on my cards and offer it up as a giveaway for today's Advent Calendar!  Here is the card I created using one of my favorite new embossing folders... the Tim Holtz Alterations woodgrain texture fade! 

And even better, the woodgrain is perfect embossed on some fabulous Tim Holtz Distress Collection Core'dinations cardstock. I also used the Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge to cut out the cardinal from some Tim Holtz Nostalgic Kraft-Core. Isn't the green pine needles border a really neat detail?  That is my new Martha Stewart Deep-Edge punch that I just got on sale at Michael's for 50% off! I also got the wood buttons in the Dollar bin at M's and spritzed them with some Burnt Red Glimmer Mist. 

Okay, here's what's up for grabs... and yes, the Tim Holtz Texture Fade set with the woodgrain is included in my card kit giveaway!

 

There's enough to complete 2 cards!  If you'd like a chance to have this kit, just leave me a comment here in this post by 12 PM EST, Wed. Dec. 21st.  I will randomly draw a winner by December 22nd. 

Also, You don't want to forget to hop on over to Leah Killian's blog and get entered for the grand prize sometime between now and Christmas Morning. You could win a free subscription to the always inspiring Nook kits!

Starting Those Christmas Greetings!

With it being the last day of November, I got to thinking... I had better get cracking on the Christmas cards.  I did come up with a few ideas, but I still don't have anything definite on what I'm going to create to send out this year.  But, I guess I better make up my mind quick.  Of course I will put my trusted Cricut and Core'dinations brand cardstock to good use for whatever it is that I decide to make.  Those two items are a must ;)

So while I narrow down the various ideas floating about my mind, thought I'd at least share some festive cards that I have already created and that will surely be sent out to some special people on my list! 

Here's one that I created with some non-traditional Christmas colors... gray paired with some burgandy!  I really love the combination! 

I also used some vintage looking Jenni Bowlin Design Core cardstock with the stars and cut the santa hat out with the Joys of the Season Cricut cart.  The hat was decorated with some fabulous Diamond Dust glass glitter to enhance the texture and give that extra festive look! 

Next I made a semi hybrid card with a digi "chipboard" Believe element from the talented Chris Hertel, who passed away this past year.  I've always enjoyed using Chris's digi elements in my crafting and I do so miss her and her designs! 

Here I also did some stitching near the bottom using the We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy stitching tool and I used the cool tartan plaid Cuttlebug emboss folder to emboss some kraft colored Black Magic Core cardstock.  For the flower I layered together various Making Memories and Recollections flowers secured with a Pink Paislee glitter brad.  There is also some Basic Grey Jovial patterned paper in the mix here as well! 

I guess that's about all for this time a round!  Hopefully by the weekend the rest of my holiday card making will be in full swing.  I'll be sure to post about them in the days ahead... enjoy :)

An August Core Colour Challenge and More!

Are you all ready to play along with another colorful challenge with Core? 

Here is the inspiration piece for this month from Pinterest that Debbie Standard pinned for us from the shepaperie.blogspot.com.

Isn’t it beautiful?

SIX gorgeous colours to play with…..

For the Colour Lover’s Challenge you must use a noticeable amount of Core’dinations Cardstock

on your project. And since we are technique junkies here…we wanna see some technique, too! Sanding…embossing…sky is the limit!

Link your submission to THIS post or post on our Facebook account by August 30th for a chance to win some fabulous Core’dinations Cardstock!!!

And here is what I did with the combination of all these delightful colors...

For my card I used several colors of Core Essentials and some fabulous WhiteWash which I fringe cut for added texture.  The stamps used are from the BasicGrey Marjolaine collection and I also created that super plaid edging with my favorite plaid EK Success border punch! And thank you, Ellen... for letting me use your favorite American Crafts Charcoal Pigment ink-pad for my stamping!  It really is a wonderful gray ink ;)

Next up, Core is also pleased to be partnering with Paper Trunk this month!  This is the first time I had the pleasure of creating with their pretty paper designs, and I must say that they are beautifully textured! 

Core'dinations is so excited to bring you some fun Paper Trunk projects over the next few weeks.

Make sure you head over to their blog today for some awesome inspiration, too!

Keep commenting on both the Core and Paper Trunk blogs and you just may win some cool prizes for yourselves! Just sayin'!  ;)

And here is a card that I made with Paper Trunk patterned paper and alpha stickers and some BasicGrey Core Impressions and Core Essential cardstock...

The chandelier embossing is from a Sissix folder... definitely a cool one to add to the ever growing collection of folders! 

In other goings-on here at home, must say it's been a very productive week since the hubs has been home on vacation!  We decided to stay home and get some projects done around the house so now the garage doors, the porch banisters/railings, the window shutters and both the front and side doors have all been re-painted now.  It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do!  But we still have plenty of rooms to paint inside and I don't even want to think about starting them now, lol!  Think we will wait till the weather cools down a bit.  After two days of sprucing up around the home we took the day and went to one of our favorite local amusement parks, Knoebel's!  We had a beautiful day of bright blue skies and we took my mom along too.  She hadn't been to the park in at least 15 years, so I was glad to see her enjoying the day there as well! Now tomorrow we may escape to Lancaster for the day... the QVC outlet is calling my name, lol!  Have another wonderful weekend, everyone!

Already August!

The months sure are flying by... especially these Summer months!  Can't believe it is already the beginning of August, but I'm not complaining of course because that only means my favorite time and season of the year is almost in sight!  I'm already starting to enjoy the Fall scents in the house... I can't resist, lol.  Over the weekend I was in Wal-Mart and ended up in the candle aisle (no surprise there).  They had a new item from their Better Homes collection, Scented Wax Cubes... their version of the Scentsy warmer bars! I guess they had them in the stores last Christmas season, but I missed them some how, and other Wal-Mart stores have carried them for months now, but it's the first I've seen them here at our closest WM. Let me just say they smell just as great and are much cheaper at $2.00 each! I got the Vanilla Caramel Spice to try and I'm in scent heaven because it makes the house smell just like Cinnabon!  Seriously, I keep getting cravings for sticky buns now :)  Yep, I will be stocking up on these, and they (Wal-Mart) better not go and discontinue these anytime soon like they did when I was in love with buying their wall plug-in scents they used to have that were like the Bath and Body Wall Flowers!

Since it is August now, I thought today I would show some of my past publications that were in the June/July issue of Cricut magazine.

 You know I love my Cricut and I love to share what I do with it... and I also can not say enough about the Cricut magazine!  It is my favorite publication and I can happily relay that I've had and will have some of my work featured in every single issue (regular and special issues) since the magazine has been in publication up to and through the January 2012 issue.  That's very exciting for me! 

Anyway, here's a look at what all I had featured in this particular issue (their final bimonthly, because starting with the August issue they are now MONTHLY)...

My "Lazy Days" card featured the Life is a Beach Cricut cart and the Echo Park's Sweet Summertime collection.

This next layout, I used BoBunny papers and cardstock along with a combination of the Don Juan,Stand and Salute and Wild Card cartridges to create the layered title words and stars...

(Don't forget you may click on the images to view them larger!)

And here's a layout where I got creative with embossing the diecuts... aren't those cute crabbies?

The Life is a Beach and From My Kitchen carts were used for this along with Kaiser papers.  The bottom border was created by using the negative cuts of the crab border to mask and mist with Glimmer Mist spray.

I do also have 2 more cards and another 1 page layout that were published in this issue as well, but I have seemed to lost my images on the computer, so I can't share those, but maybe later. 

For now though, I am about to go get busy in the kitchen.  I have been wanting to try to make those super yummy looking cake ball truffles that are all the rage now in the world of sugary confections!  Have you seen them?  If not, this is what I am talkin' about...

And, here's a recipe! They are really dense and truffle-like because you actually fold the frosting into the already baked cake pieces, making it both dense and moist.  You really can use your imagination and do any flavors or combination of flavors you'd like!  I just went and bought some candy melts today and I'm going to first try making some lemon cake truffles with cream cheese frosting, because that's all I have here at home right now.  I'm going to coat them with both white and dark chocolate though.  Ohh, you all... I just can't wait anymore, so I'm off... but I'll be sure to let you all know how they look and taste! :)   Good day everyone!

Time Keeps On Slippin'!

How can this be?  It's already well into December... and this is my first post of the month?!! Geeesh!  Time is slippin' away!

So much more yet to get done before next weekend and sooo little time.  I hope everyone has been having a terrific holiday season, even if it is going fast for ya!

Anyway,  last time I blogged a post, I did say that I was going to share with you all a lot more of the projects that I had done for LCOM using the new Bella BLVD. lines that the DT was givin to work with.  I can still share a bit, but I have to tell ya... several of my Bella projects have been picked up for publication!   Yeah!!  Last week was totally a great week of requests for me... I had a total of 6 project, requests!  First, I had 3 layouts and 1 card picked up for the April/May 2011 issue of the new Cricut magazine from Northridge Publishing.  Very exciting because as most of you all probably know,I love, love, love using my Cricut... how cool it would be to have something published in every Cricut issue (fingers crossed)... so far so good because I'm 2 for 2! Then, I also had a card picked up for the May 2011 issue of CARDS, which is one of my Bella BLVD. creations.  Last, I had 2 more layouts requested for the other new Cricut inspired magazine, The Bug Magazine.  They requested 2 pages for the Spring theme, however I could only send them one because the other was already sent in for the Cricut magazine request!  So looking forward to seeing all these things in print in the coming year! 

So yes... here are some things that I can share with you... all using Bella BLVD.  I had never really played with Bella BLVD. before getting these collections in my hand, but they are seriously CUTE lines!  I love how there are 12x12 pages full of coordinating sticker embellies AND alphas... perfect! 

This first card uses the Hello Beautiful line.  Aren't the bold colors fun?  Lovin' the teal paired with the red.  See the embossing in the cupcake to make it look wavy on the blue icing top?  I used the Zebra animal-print texture plate from Sissix! 

I used the Distressed Stripes folder from Cuttlebug to add the texture to the cupcake liner.  The cupcake is actually one of the cut-outs from the 12x12 sheet of Hello Beautiful paper. 

And, here's a layout that I made... this using mostly the Lovey dovey line!  Sorry about the quality of these photos though... for some reason I was having a tough time photographing this page well... the colors just didn't show up well for me at all.  They really don't appear as washed out IRL, as they do here! 

This page has been a long time coming. I've been wanting to scrap this photo for awhile and the Lovey dovey line from Bella BLVD. just seemed to really fit the "feel" that I wanted for this layout! The flower part I cut using my Cricut and then I embossed it with the Meadow Lark Cuttlebug folder. I cut the heart portion from a sheet of the 12x12 pp from the Lovey dovey line and used it for the center of the flower!

Well, as always, thanks for stopping by to visit!  I hope to come back to make another post before Christmas arrives... time willing!  It's been one whirl-wind of a month for sure, but I'd still like to share pix of our Christmas decorations for this year so I hope to do that.  Enjoy your weekend ahead and have fun getting all the last minute stuff together... one more week equals last minute IMO! 

 

Let's Capture Our Memories DT Projects!

My first month of dt projects are finally up for reveal at LCOM!  For this month we were supplied with a fun box of vintage inspired goodies which included papers from the Tim Holtz collections.  Honestly, I was a bit unsure about how to begin... how to approach working with these papers.  I had the idea-ology Lost and Found collection, definitely more vintage in style, and not normally something I would use, but I believe I did a pretty good job of creating some well rounded projects in the end!  Sooo, here's a look at all my creations, and if you'd like to see more supply info..etc... you can check them all out over on the DT projects board at LCOM, HERE! 

This was my Anniversary card to DH for our 10th last month!  :)

 

 

 

Ohhh, and for the above card design, I must give credit to Calia Yang for her beautiful stamp embossed tags above!  I only attached them onto my card, but Calia created those beauties... thanks, Calia!  They sure did make for a fabulous looking card if I must say so myself!  :)