Welcome... It's A Hard Core Crop!

So welcome to the very FIRST Hard Core Crop, and all the fun begins today! We are so excited that you have joined us. All of the Core Design Team members, plus a few guest designers, will be hosting fantastic challenges on their blogs and giving away collections of Core’dinations Cardstock as prizes. For full Crop details please see the Core Blog HERE!  Interested in a Guest Designer spot?! Learn how you could design for Core for the next three months HERE!

All entries must be linked using Mr. Linky to this blog post by July 22nd, 2012 at midnight EST. Cards and layouts are both welcome just make sure you follow the guidelines below.

So, are you interested yet in my challenge for you?  If anyone has frequented my blog previously, you no doubt know my passion for using the Cricut on my projects!  If you just happen to be popping in here for the first visit, then you do know now!  Anyway, die cuts are pretty happening these days, and whether you may use a Cricut machine, a Silhouette machine, a Cuttlebug, a Slice... or if you happen to hand cut your own die cuts, it doesn't matter... die cuts are totally fun for adding that lil' something extra to your card or layout.  So yes, my challenge involves  die cuts!  I challenge you to create at least one fabulous die cut embellishment to enhance a project of your choice.  The only stipulations are that your die cut MUST be created out of Core'dinations cardstock (NO other Patterned Paper or other Cardstock brand) and I'd also like to see the use of dimensional adhesive to create a "layered" die cut!  I have created a card for you all as an example to show you how the use of cardstock and dimensional adhesive can really bring a die cut to life!

Did you happen to know that one of Core'dinations latest releases include their very own collection of "punchable" die cut cardstock accents with frames and borders?  They are super cool and if you look closely to the orange embossed flourish accents behind  my bee die cut, you can see how great they are for layering too!   Here are some details...

They simply punch right out of the collection pad, and they are pre-embossed and ready for sanding too!

So, would you be interested in trying these new Core Cuts out for yourself?  Well then, hurry and take up my die cut challenge because I will be giving this NEW Core Cuts collection pack away to one lucky challenge participant! 

Here's just a few more details of my cardstock die cut ...

Isn't it wonderful what a bit of dimensional adhesive can add to the look of a diecut?  Also take notice to the subtle sanding of the Tim Holtz and Ranger Distress Collection Core in Walnut Stain paired with the yellow Vintage Core cardstock from the Retro Mod Squad collection! 

I also used some fabulous Color Magic Resist Paper by Heidi Swapp (The hexagon graph print)which I received in a super card swap from Patricia Roebuck at the Nook.  I simply swiped a Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad (Vintage Photo) over the surface and used a soft cloth to buff it dry.  I then sprayed on some Glimmer Mist in Antique Gold. 

Don't forget to get check out the chatter over on Facebook at our Crop Event HERE! And for a Master schedule of the event challenges be sure to check in HERE! 

Happy Hard Core cropping, everyone! 

A Winter Wonderland and a Winner!

Hello, and good Friday before the big Christmas Day!  I'm sure everyone is frantic getting all those last minute preparations done right about now... I know I am!  I sure am looking forward to all the good food and family time to be had though!  I am also anxious for more time to relax after all the holiday festivities come to a close as well! ;) 

However, today I wanted to first announce the winner of my giveaway that was up for grabs for the Advent Calendar day I hosted at The Nook! Thanks to everyone who left their wonderful comments... I really appreciated them!  And the winner is...

Sherri said...

oh wow, that looks just like real wood. how cool is that!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 5:50:00 PM

Yay, Sherri!  You won my card kit with the Tim Holtz Alterations Brick and Woodgrain Texture Fades!  Please pm me your address and I will get them off to you real soon!

Now who's ready for a Winter Wonderland?  I'm not really wanting any significant amount of snow right now, but I wouldn't mind a few flurries for Christmas Day.  Right this minute though, I will stay warm and enjoy the beauty of a previous snowfall from earlier in the year on my latest SOUS sketch layout.  Here's this week's sketch from SOUS designer, Sandi Clarkson...

And here's my interpretation, which I rotated...

(Please click on pictures to view larger)

I still used 3 photos, only I adjusted the placement and of course used larger pictures.  All cardstock used here is Core'dinations... even that vibrant glittered blue which is Core's line of "Glitter Silk" cardstock... perfect for Wintery pages and projects like this.  I have to say that it cuts wonderfully in the Cricut Expression too! The beautiful and intricate snowflake imagery here is cut using Cricut's Damask Decor cartridge.  I know I always seem to have a new favorite Cricut cart, lol... but this one totally IS a favorite! I also used the Martha Stewart pine needles deep edge punch again and I love the look of the design punched from white cardstock.  It really pops off that blue Glitter Silk!  The BG Nordic Holiday line was a pefect fit for a Winter page paired off with some really cool gray plaid May Arts ribbon.  Yes... I really love to look at the beauty of a Wintery scene like this! If only snow wasn't so cold!

I want to wish all my friends and followers a very Merry Christmas, and wonderful wishes for a very blessed and healthy New Year in 2012!  Love to ALL! 

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!

This Card Shark Needs YOUR vote!

That's right my friends!  In order for me to swim and stay alive in the pool of big sharks, I do need the kindness of my friends!  For this third round of challenges they have opened up voting, and for me to continue to stay afloat, I do ask for and will appreciate your votes if you do believe that I deserve to survive and make it into the 4th and final round!

Here is the link to the Nook's blog where the voting is taking place. . . 
http://myscrapbooknookkits.blogspot.com/2011/12/card-shark-round-3-voting.html

And here is a refresher of my two cards that can be voted on in this round! 

Card Sharks Week 3 - Challenge #2

Card Sharks Week 3 - Challenge # 1

So, if you want to vote for my cards, simply add your vote with my name in the comments section of  both of the blog posts for these cards, HERE  and  HERE !  Thanks sooo very much!  ;)

Week 3 of Card Sharks!

Hello there, friends!

As the last few hours of the weekend wind to a close, I wanted to post about my card creations that I've done for this, the third week of Card Sharks challenges at The Nook!  Gotta tell ya that even though I'm not in the lead, I've still been having so much fun pushing myself with these creative challenges.  Plus, I've also had my first card that I made for Card Sharks requested for publication with Cricut magazine, so I can not be anything but happy about that!

So onto the latest challenges...

The first is "POKER FLUSH", which involves any 5 cards of the same suit... so we are to create a card using 5 embellishments of the same kind.  A variation of color or shape is allowed, but it should be easy to identify 5 embellies of the same suit!   I went with 5 trees to design a Christmas card. 

I used a tin Christmas tree ornament (in the center) that I bought after Christmas last year and I sanded it a bit and repainted with some Suade It Krylon spray and then spritzed on some Glimmer Mist.  Then I cut the two bird topped trees using the Give A Hoot Cricut cart and the other two trees using the Designer's Calendar cart.  Cardstock is Core'dinations Essentials, TH Kraft Core and BG Ornate collection (Chocolate Box).  The patterned paper is all from the BG Nordic Holiday collection.  I also embellished the tree cuts with Diamond Dust glass glitter, Sugar Coating glitter and glass micro-beads. And I almost forgot... I cut a strip of green Tim Holtz Kraft Core and punched it through my Dymo label maker for the "Oh Christmas Tree" banner.

 

I also happened to see that there is a diecut challenge going on over at Stuck On U Sketches right now using Christmas trees!  How perfect!

The second challenge is the game of "Crazy 8's".  Simple enough we had to use various elements to total a formula of 8 items and no more than 8. 

I used (1) Authentic patterned paper, (1) Authentic Diecut, (1) Webster's Pages Stickpin, (2) Velvet Maya Road ribbon flowers, and (3) Prima leaves.

And for the BONUS challenge, we needed to create a Love themed/Valentine's card. 

Here I used all Core cardstock and My Mind's Eye Lime Twist collection (with a bit more of the Stella and Rose wood-grain and speckled blue pattern from the Pretty Please line). Isn't that the cutest little nest of love birds?  Found this on the Sweethearts Cricut cart!  To create the  nest filler I cut up some jute string and glued the fibers to the top inside of the nest.  The stamp edge frame was cut using the Elegant Edges cart.

 

That's it!  Hopefully I'll be able to continue on and won't be eliminated from week 4!  Have a great week, friends! 

More Cards For Week 2 of Card Sharks!

Good day!  Just finished up my last of the challenges for the week at the Nook, so I have two more cards to show you all for now! 

Here we go... Challenge #1 for week 2... BRIDGE!  This one will takes focus on the word "bridge" and the challenge is to create a card using an element that is wood theme or nails (items used to build a bridge).   

(Please click on item to view larger)

I knew right a way what I wanted to do for this, lol!  "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel has long been a favorite song of mine and I have been wanting to use the song lyrics somehow on a card or scrap page, so with BRIDGE being a focus here I thought it to be perfect timing! Of course I also added a piece of woodgrain patterned paper from MME (Stella Rose) into the mix for the boat diecut!  Some older "The Merry Days of Christmas" in Pajama Plaid, was used for the card base here and I cut out cloud shapes from some MME Lime Twist pp.  All these sweet Cricut cuts on the card came from the Give A Hoot cart! I also used a mix of Core Essentials, Vintage Core and some Jillian Spotted Core cardstock.

Next up is my card for the BINGO challenge! 

Easy peasy... just had to use some form of a grid on the card design! So I designed a grid by scoring the backside of a piece of Tim Holtz Kraft Core cardstock and sanding the front to reveal the embossing.  I also used some kraft colored Core from the Graphic 45 Signature Series and some Core Essentials in a light red.  I cut the "I" the heart and the "U" with the Designer's Calendar cart and the heart border from a scrap of "vintage" Tres Jolie MME pp using the TC Sophisticated cart.  Added some wood buttons from M's dollar spot with some Papertrey Ink twine to complete the look!

And one more item before I wrap this post up for the night...

not sure if ya'll have come across this huge giveaway or not on Birgit Koopsen's blog, but you may like to have a chance, and celebrate with Birgit for her upcoming Birthday in the process! ;)

Good Night and enjoy the rest of the holiday week festivities!  Happy Thanksgiving blessings to all!

Card Sharks Continued (Week One)...

Told you I'd be back!  Just checkin' back in here quick on this Wednesday night to share my other card challenge for the week with the Nook's Card Sharks competition.

This challenge is called "Solataire"!  For this one we are to create a special card to "cheer up the lonely"! This can lend itself to a wide range of themes really... a miss you card, a thinking of you greeting, or an encouragement type of sentiment, which is just the direction I went with my, "Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining" card. 

(Remember to click on the photo to view it larger)!

And did you know that Core'dinations now has some awesome... and I do mean AWEsome new embossed Modern Prints cardstock designs to match back up to the Pink Paislee Nantucket collection? 

I used a bit of both right here on this card and if you want to see some more awesome projects with these papers and cardstock AND if you'd also like the chance to WIN some of your very own, then head straight to both of the Core and Pink Paislee blogs all this week long for some fabulous product swapping!  I will also have a layout posted to the Core blog later in the week with these super cool lines. 

Here's some more upclose detail of this card...

check out the silvery shimmer that the clouds have been outlined with!  I used a Liquid Silver DecoColor opaque paint marker along with some Tattered Angels Glimmer Glaze in "Sassy Silver"!  I LOVE this stuff... so fun to use, just like finger nail polish for card making and scrapbooking! I also used the Liquid silver and Glimmer Glaze on the small Studio Calico chipboard clouds.  My larger clouds were cut out using the Cricut Serenade cartridge.

Thanks for stopping by! ;)

Playing With Card Sharks!

There's a fun card contest happening over at the Nook right now, and I've been busy playing around with some of this weeks challenges today.  The Card Sharks contest is an elimination rounds style of competition, so I do hope that I can continue swimming on with the card sharks after this week!  ;)
Here are the first challenges that I've finished up so far...

The introduction challenge is Challenge ZERO - POKER FACE.  We had to create a card with the envelope taking center stage and the sentiment on the inside card hidden from view.  The card also was required to contain a stamp image, a ribbon and the color black. 

I used Core'dinations cardstock (Tim Holtz Kraft), Glitz Designs pp, Technique Tuesday script stamp, May Arts ribbon and trim, SEI pearl brad and MME decorative brad, Kaiser black gems, Cuttlebug emboss folders, Glimmer Mist, Papertrey Ink twine, paper lace doily and the Damask Decor and Lacey Labels Cricut carts.  Here are details of the front and back inside pull out tag-card ...


Next up is the Week One - Challege One (Phase 10). 
For this one we were given 3 different phases to complete. 
First phase was to create the BASE of the card using these 4 elements:
-1 patterned background
-1 block of patterned paper or cardstock
-1 strip of paper or trim
-1 decorative edge

I used BoBunny double-dot patterned cardstock for my background, a block of MME patterned paper, American Crafts ribbon rose trim, and a MME decorative edge punch-out.

The second phase was to then EMBELLISH the card from phase 1, using any embellies I have to create the best handby the end of the game.  Then onto the 3rd and final phase we are to UPLOAD the picture of our card to the appropriate thread and Nook blog post.   My final phase looks like this...

I embellished with a MME transparent flourish and 3-D sticker, a Prima chipboard journal tag, a K&Co. journal tag, plastic rosettes from Making Memories and a handwritten sentiment.

I have not yet completed the 2nd challenge of the week which is SOLATAIRE, but I will finish and post it later. 

The 3rd challenge for the first week is the UNO Challenge.  For this one we needed to create a card where the #1 is somehow incorporated into the card's design!

I dug out some BoBunny Blast Off collection for this one...

To create the #1 on the Canvas Corp. star, I used some Thickers as a mask and sprayed the canvas star with Sapphire Glimmer Mist!  Love the result!

So there ya have it so far!  I'll be back later in the week with other challenges I've been working on.  It's been so much fun swimming with the sharks this weekend!

My Mind's Eye Blog Card and Layout Challenges #26!

I had to finally get in on one of the awesome challenges happening over on the My Mind's Eye blog! It's been awhile for me, and I really loved the sketch for the card this month because it uses tags, which I think is a super way of embellishing a card front! So here it is...

  Style, Beauty... You've Got It, Friend!

By the way, here's the sketch from Anam Stubbington...

Card Challenge #26-

And, some more details of the card...

I used a few different paper lines from MME, including Stella Rose, "vintage" Wild Asparagus and Life Stories.  The flocked brown alpha chipboard letters and decorative brads are from the MME Lush collection. Those awesome butterfly and flourish design tags were cut using the Cricut Picturesque cartridge,  and the dressform accent was from the Summer in Paris cartridge.  Aside from the sketch, I was also inspired to create this card from a challenge at the Nook to incorporate things that are typically considered "masculine" onto a feminine card, or vice-versa.  I chose to use masculine elements for a girly card, so I incorporated some conventional masculine patterns and colors such as plaid, woodgrain and brown tones.  I also punched a notebook paper edge and distressed it because to me, distressing feels more rugged and masculine. 

I also had a special photo and some MME  "the Spider's Web" papers set aside for quite awhile, so I finally took the opportunity and used the MME layout sketch #26 challenge to help me get this page scrapped.  Here's the layout sketch, again by Anam...

And this is what I did with the sketch...

 Our Wee Punkins

Again, I also used some fabulous Life Stories on here and then a bit of the So Sophie and Lush lines.  I loved the detail of the embroidered lace patterned paper from the Witch's Lace paper and fussy cut some of that design as well as some of the folksie pumpkins from the Pumpkin Patch paper (all from the Spider's Web collection).  All this fussy cutting was perfect for challenge # 12 at the Nook's weekend virtual crop! 

Well, that's all folks, but thanks so much for stopping in... hope you've enjoyed my projects as much as I've enjoyed creating them!

My Scrapbook Nook's A Midsummer Night's Virtual Crop!

Are you looking to get some scrapping in this weekend?  Cuz that's what I'm doing!

And the Nook's virtual online crop, "A Midsummer Night's Crop" is happening right now!

All the Nook designers have been busy putting up some wonderful and creative challenges to help get the creative juices flowing.  Here's the deets...

Drop in this weekend and enjoy some great challenges, straight from the Bard of Stratford on Avon!

The winner will be crowned with roses, lilies, hydrangeas, daisies, pussy willows and all manner of delightful blooms from Petaloo - to the tune of a $100 gift box!

Join us here: http://myscrapbooknook.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?26-Virtual-Crop-This-Weekend!

I feel like I've been scrappin' up a storm all day, but in all actuality, I feel like a storm has come through and caused a path of destruction... seriously my scrap spaces are a sight for sore eyes.  I've been making more messes today then getting anything else done.  I opened a cupboard to get out my stand of embossing powders and in the process knocked over a container of glitter which was partly opened.  ALL. OVER. THE. FLOOR!  Then I went to grab something off the counter and SLAM went the tilt bin of buttons (seperated by colors).  ALL. OVER. THE. FLOOR! Urghh... you get the picture?! Anyway, I've got one page finished so far to show for the day.  I really had hoped to have much more done, but tomorrow is always another day :)

So before I scoot off here to get back to the croppin' here is my page, which I am thrilled to have finished because I've been wanting to do this layout about my gram for awhile now. 

This is for the Challenge #1 which is basically to create a page using the provided sketch and to use photo/s of someone who inspires!   I used lots of My Mind's Eye products here and Core'dinations!  The flower, leaves and flourish are cut using the Cricut Picturesque cart... love that so much!

Thanks for stopping by and if by chance you do venture over to the Nook this weekend, you could even mention that you were cordially invited by ME ... and I could get some extra sweet points!  All you need to do my friends is confirm in the following crop thread that I invited you, and complete and upload at least one challenge for the crop...

http://myscrapbooknook.org/forum/showthread.php?5347-Breathe-life-into-a-stone-bring-a-friend-VC-points-involved 

Hope to see alot of my friends in attendance!  :)  Have a great scrappy weekend!

Just Call me Lazy!

Yep, that's why I haven't been updating my blog these past days.  I am just plain lazy.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it, lol! That, and I'm tired and right now I'm sticky hot on this Memorial Day Weekend.  Today I went to a family picnic and now I'm at home catching up on laundry and prepping my 2 rocking chairs on my front porch to be repainted.  That's what I love about these extended holiday weekends... gives me the opportunity to do extra household chores and home projects that have been on hold for so long!  Ohh, and of course, being lazy and chowing down ice cream AND all the other favorite picnic foods ! ;)

So  this week I had a very heavy box delivered to my front door.  We are talking about 35 lbs. of heaviness... 35 lbs. of pure LOVE!  My first Core'dinations dt box arrived and it was overflowing with  cardstock.  I just couldn't believe my eyes, and tearing into that box, I felt just like a little kid on Christmas Day!  I've started creating some things with it too this week, mostly card designs. 

Most of them I can't really show just yet, but I'll share one card that I made using the Vintage Core collection, which is one of my favorite lines. 

This card also uses some yummy Sassafras papers and one of their chipboard flower accents.  And to you see the denim strip on there?  I rubbed some cute Studio Calico button rub-ons over it and added them to an old Creative Cafe diecut frame as well!  The sentiment is a Papertrey Ink stamp.

I also participated in a fun card kit swap this week at the Nook and here's a card that I put together to send along to my swap partner...

For this card I used up the remains of my Pink Paislee (House of Three) Daily Junque paper scraps, and the darling flower I created using the Cricut Give a Hoot cartridge.

So that's all I have for this time, but I hope everyone is having a great weekend!  We don't have much at all planned for tomorrow but we'll probably hang out with some friends at their camp-site... and maybe I'll even have some more ice cream!  ;)  Perfect plan!