No Foolin'... I'm Guest Designin'!

Happy April 1st!  No jokes today though, lol! But, rather just some cool scrappy news for me for the day!

Last month I mentioned that I had some scrappy news to share real soon, and now I can finally tell you about my guest designing spot for Couture Cardstock!  Head on over to their blog posting today and you can see the 3 card projects that I did for them using their wonderful Silk Road Monochromatic family of cardstock.  Beautiful yellows... perfect for Spring!  Here's a peek at one of the 3 cards I made for CC...

Today being the 1st, also means that Serendipity's new kits will be up.  Be sure to check them out because this month's certainly do not disappoint! 

Well, today looks like it's going to be one gorgeous day here in PA!  Looking forward to spending sometime outside for sure!  Have a great one! :)

Seems I've Forgotten About My Blog!

Yes, I've slacked off yet again!  Life has gotten CRAZY here within the past 2 weeks and my mind has not been where it should be, thus there has been lack of time dedicated to the blogging thing.  I've really missed it though, and I've missed visiting everyone else's blogs too, so I really hope to be able to catch up with everyone... I feel so lost and outta the loop!

Anyway, this past weekend Serendipity hosted yet another fabulous and delicious on-line crop!  I say delicious because the theme was "The Sweet Taste of Serendipity"  and many of the challenges were centered around the fun Food Network shows!  I happened to be pretty productive too and completed 5 of the challenges, which surprised me!  Here's one of the pages that I finished...

It was for a "Brownie Challenge" and we had to follow the following "Brownie Recipe":
Brownie Recipe:

Mainly Brown Page (85% of the LO must be Brown)
Chocolate Chips- at least 5 buttons
Hershey Syrup (smooth texture)- Ribbon
M&Ms- sprinkle on some bling
Soft and Moist- Felt

Sooo, tomorrow is April 1st, and that's NO FOOLIN"!  Lol!  April 1st also means that the new kits will be up over at Serendipity along with our dt projects, so I thought I'd give a little sneak for the IDIA (I Deserve It All) kit that I got to work with!  It was fabulous... I know that I always use that word to describe the kits, but it is so true!  I loved this one and the colors, brimming full of Sassafras and Cosmo Cricket yumminess!
And here are some peeks...

Be sure to check back here later in the week to see all my projects in full, and get on over to Serendipity to order your own IDIA April kit! 

March is here... Yippee!!

So please... let there be no more snow!  I mean really!   I am so sick of being cold and bundled up... I'm ready to shed the layers of clothing, AND the extra dollars added to the monthly electric bills!

Also I am so very glad that March is here so that I can finally share DT projects that I created with my first Serendipity kit!  Man, was this kit ever filled to the brim with colorful goodness, and the good news and bad news all in one, is that the Full kit for March is already SOLD OUT!  Whoever got their hands on this one will be quite pleased whenever they rip open their box! This kit featured some new EXCLUSIVE  Serendipity Scrapbooks patterned papers created by the owner, Kristen, as well as goodies from the BG Origins collection.  Here are 2 of my favorite pages that I did with the kit...

Kit supplies used-

Coredinations Color-Core cardstock (Chocolate Mocha, Buttercup and Pea Pod)

Serendipity Scrapbooks Rooftop Greenhouse patterned paper (Sunlit Floral)

Basic Grey Origins laser-cut doily paper

Basic Grey Origins canvas tag

Basic Grey Origins Micro-Mono yellow alpha stickers

Shimmerz paint (Sunny)

BoBunny Chunky Chips chocolate alphas

Kaiser rubons (Enchanted)

Raffia bird nest

Touch of Nature bird eggs

Not in kit-

Black Staz-On ink

EK Success border punch

Pounce wheel tool (Faux-stitching)

Creative Memories corner rounder punch

Foam tape

Sanding file

Kit supplies used-

Coredinations Color-Core cardstock (Pea Pod)

Serendipity Scrapbooks Rooftop Greenhouse patterned paper (Thru the Greenhouse Window and New Growth)

Basic Grey Origins patterned paper (Sugar Pea)

Basic Grey Origins Micro-Mono yellow alpha stickers

Basic Grey Origins canvas tag

Basic Grey Origins felt woolies stickers

BoBunny Chunky Chips chocolate alphas

Not in kit-

White Bazzill cardstock

Black Staz-on ink

Pounce wheel tool (faux-stitching)

Foam tape

Sanding file

Cricut machine and cartridge (Mother's Day- cut scallop circle)

And, here's a card set that I made using the Origins...

Look at all that green and yellow!  Doesn't it all just scream that Spring is coming!  I can't wait! And I also can not wait to share my scrappy secret later on this month, but I'll give you a little hint... it has to do with card making!  Yay!!! :)  More later! 
 
Also before I finish up this post, I wanted to share that my hubby and I went to an awesome concert together on Sunday night.  Although we almost did not make it there, it truly was an upbeat and lifting event for us!   We went to see 2 our favorite Contemporary Christian bands perform, Kutless and Casting Crowns, and they were rockin' fabulous!   Ohh, the reason we almost didn't make it was because while we were doing some shopping beforehand at the Hershey Outlets, our car battery died while the hubs was shoppin' and I was sitting in the car listening to a "Casting Crowns"cd!  He wasn't even in the store 10 minutes, but I guess in the cold, that's enough to do it, lol!  Luckily a sweet sales person from the Van Heusen store was gracious enough to come out and give us a jump-start, but his cables were crappy and it almost turned over for us but it didn't.  Then another girl from another store happened to have cables so we tried hers and it finally worked!  What a time!  I'm just so glad we made it to the arena on time!  If you like either of these bands though I really recommend trying to catch them in concert because you won't be disappointed!  And  oh yeah, if you don't have jumper cables in your car and you keep forgetting to buy them like we do, make yourselves a note and go get you some!  They are on my shopping list, lol!
 
Hope you all have a super week, and one that is snow-free!  Take it easy :)

Scrapping Can Make You Tired!

Yes, I have been doing a ton of scrapping this past week it seems, and it's making me tired, lol! But I have been enjoying myself... especially since I got my first dt kit to create with from Serendipity earlier in the week :)  I just love this kit to pieces and I can't wait to share some sneaks here sometime soon, so be on the look out!  I've also got an announcement to make real soon... a cool scrappy toot of sorts that's also got me quite excited, but I do need to wait a little bit to share!! Pretty soon though :D


Have you checked out the Caardvarks blog recently?  If you haven't you still have time to get crafty and enter their new exciting challenge!

The Details

You are challenged to create your very best


wedding card
The winning entry will be published in CARDS Magazine's July 2010 issue. Please make sure your card is new and photographed well. If your card is chosen, you will be asked to remove it from your blog/gallery until 1 month after the July issue hits the stands. You may enter the challenge as many times as you like. Link us to your entry via Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post. This challenge will close on Monday, February 15th at Midnight, PST.
 
Exciting, right?  I always enjoy submitting to CARDS magazine, so I definitely did not hesitate throwing in my chance to be published in there!  Here's what I came up with for my card...
 

For this card I used patterned papers from GCD Studios (Rose Colored Glasses collection-pinks, and Chianti collection-silver).  I then cut my accents using the Cricut... the tulip from Story Book, the oval decorative frame from Wild Card, and the Happily Ever After phrase from the Stamping Solutions cartridge.  Behind the phrase I did emboss with one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders from the Romance bundle, but it can't really be seen too well because of the phrase covering most of it :(  It is a really pretty pattern though!  I embellished the rest of the card with some black and clear Kaiser rhinestones and some pretty heart edged white sheer ribbon! 
 

And...did you know that GCD Studios is having a design team call?  In fact, a ton of manufacturers are having calls right now, but GCD really sparks my interest.  I tried for it last year and was selected as a Spot-Light girl, but I'd really like to have a chance at it again this year.  I've been scrapping a bit for this during the week but it is kind of frustrating because I love the GCD products, esp. their papers, but they are all really limited around here with the newer lines.  I have managed to create a few pages though as well as the card that I shared above for the Caardvark's Wedding card challenge!  Here's another page I did this week using GCD's Rockets Red Glare collection.  I used a Becky Fleck sketch for this page which was posted over on the SOUS challenge blog...

I love using sketches... I don't use them a lot, but sometimes it's just fun to use one and see what all you can do with it, ya know!!  Well, thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all are enjoying the weekend... tomorrow is Valentine's Day!  I don't think we have any particular plans set as he has to work, but who knows!!  Enjoy yours!  :)

A SOUS sketch... and Guess What?

First off all, I need to let out a big ol' toot because it's a pretty big deal of excitement for this chick that I made it onto the Design Team for Serendipity Scrapbooks! Wooo-Hooo!  I am glad to be on the team with a group of very talented girlies, and I just can't hardly wait to get started with my first kit... I am just super stoked! And this means that I'll have even more fun crafty stuff to share here on my blog too ;) Yay!!

Last weekend I got a lot of scrapping accomplished because of Serendipity's on-line crop and this entire week I've been in the biggest scrappy mood so I've just kept going with the flow... and absolutely disregarding the big mess I have going on in my scrap-room.  It really is horrid!  I MUST get in and clean it all up, but I've just been having too much fun ;)  So anyway, there is a neat lil' sketch challenge blog that I came across awhile back while over on the Cricut forum called, Stuck On U Sketches. I've admired everybody's work for quite some time but I haven't ventured to play along with any of the sketches yet myself, so Friday night they put up the new sketch on their blog and I gave it a go today after church.  I love using sketches... makes scrapping fun I think... seeing how everyone has a different spin and interpretation.  Here's the sketch for the week...

I decided to turn the sketch upside down, so that's why my page looks a bit different...and here's my page...

The big circle doily was an image cut from the new Cricut Mother's Day cartridge... and I love that doily cut!  I thinks me will be using that one quite often :) 

Have a terrific week... and try to stay warm!  ;)

What a Weekend!

For all those of you who got to go to CHA, all I have to say is... hope you had a great time!  Wish I had been there too.  Perhaps one of these years! But nevertheless, I had a very fast and productive weekend here in PA too... even with all the rain that had our sump-pump workin' over-time in the basement!

I had a great time scrappin' up a storm for Serendipity's on-line Project Runway Crop throughout the weekend!  There were so may awesome challenges and I had every intention of doing them all but I just couldn't in time.  But, I did manage to get 7 done and I was thrilled with all of them!  Here's one of my favorites that I did for the fun 80's Flashback Fashion challenge...

Yes, that is me, circa 1986!  I loved the 80's... those were some fun times!
I was also very busy finishing up my entry for Serendipity's DT call!  I took the plunge, and now it's that time to wait, but I know I'm not alone... I saw many fabulous entries in the submissions gallery.  Here's one of my submissions for that... an all about me page...

That cloud paper is some of my very favorite from Fancy Pants!  Love  that cloud print!

I  also finished up a sweet lil' seasonal home decor piece for this month's CX assignment and I hope to be sharing that with you all really soon!  I got to use the new Easter Cricut cart for that :)
Before I sign off for tonight, just want to mention that there is an awesome giveaway over at BlueMoon Scrapbooking and it involves something very cool and new from Tim Holtz!  Have you seen his new line of Sissix Alterations Dies?  They look amazing... can't wait to get my hands on them! It looks like he also has his own machine coming out too in July... lookie ----->HERE!

Gearing up for the Weekend!

I'm gettin' ready to get my scrap on this coming weekend!  Tomorrow the Project Runway Crop begins at Serendipity... you can join in if you are wanting to scrap too and want some company as you do so!  I'm planning on scrapping most of the day on Friday and most all of Friday night as well.  Then Saturday I'm packing up the car and heading to Ellen's to scrap the day away with her as we continue cyper-cropping at Serendipity!  I'm sure I'll get sooo much done (snicker,snicker)! 

So there are 2 pre-crop challenges that have been listed already this week and one of them is to make a cool little mini book for personal info, and it's to be made totally from scratch with recycled type items (no pre-made albums).  This is Ellen's pre-crop challenge and I really liked her idea because I have been needing a place to jot down all my info, login-passwords, and such for all of my favorite on-line sites and scrappy places... and blog info, so I really dug into this challenge.  I'm so happy to have such a cheerful spot for my on-line data now!

To create the cover for my book, I first took a piece of plain white felt, and then I covered both the front and back with sections of decorative packaging tapes that I found at Michael's!   Here's what the tapes look like...

Aren't they pretty?  I love them!  There were several color and pattern choices but I only bought these two red damask and green scroll vine rolls, but I believe I'll be headed back to get me some others!  Now, they didn't indicate on the packaging whether or not they are acid-free, but I'm not too picky about that (although I know some scrappers are, so that's why I am mentioning this)!  And on the topic of decorative tapes... did you all catch the new line of "Artisan Tapes" that Pink Paislee is debuting at CHA this coming week?  I just saw them post about these yummies on their blog today, and if you go comment, you have a chance of being selected to win some!  Be sure to check out the Pink Paislee blog and don't miss your chance!  Pink Paislee is totally crankin' out the scrap candy for me this time around!

Back to my data book... I also made the flower on the cover using the green patterned tape and then I popped  a Making Memories Vintage Findings button in the center...

To make the inside dividers for my sections I used a package of square notecards and envies from the Michael's $1 spot.  I then punched out the tabs for the dividers using paint chips.

 

 I didn't put too much in the inside yet... didn't want the world to see my personal info of course, lol!  I'll add all that later!  Just wanted to share... hope you liked it!  I thought it turned out pretty cute for a recycled  item!  

One more scrap related note... just wanted to pass along that there is a DT call for the Creative Cookbooking blog, if anyone is interested in cooking and scrapping about it!  It's a great community of creative ideas for scrapping recipes and such, so please don't hesitate to join in over there if that's something you enjoy! 

Enjoy your weekend everyone, and have fun!  :)

Maryland Blue Crabs!

Today I wanted to share my layout that I created for the CX blog and store.  This one was so fun to do... had a blast working on the cute crabby embellishments for this! 

(Don't forget to click on picture to see it larger!)

For this assignment, I concentrated on using the, "From My Kitchen" Cricut cartridge to create my embellishments, and of course I also went to town with my Cuttlebug to add textures!  The papers I used for this layout are from Kaiser Craft's "Off-Shore" assortment and I used shades of blue cardstock from Bazzill's "Artic Trio" collection.  Here are some close-up details of my embellishments...

Also, if you are interested in some more step by step instructions on how I made these sweet blue crabs, I also posted a tutorial on "Bringing Diecuts to Life" at the CX blog and you can see it all -->HERE! 

And you can read more deets on this layout on this CX blog post --> HERE, as well if you'd like to know more!   

Well, it's Friday!  Not much planned here... maybe I'll have some time to get my scrap on!  I have  alot of stuff I'd like to get to, so I hope I can!  Serendipity is having a "Project Runway" on-line crop next weekend and they already have some fun pre-crop challenges posted that I'd like to play along with.  I'd also like to go to the movies sometime this weekend to see "The Lovely Bones"!  I haven't read the book, as I can't seem to finish one once I start it ( baddd me!), but it looks like a good movie from the trailer!  Hope you all have a chance to do something fun this weekend... ENJOY! 

Finding a new Home and a contest...

So yes, I design for the blog and store at CreativeXpress, and the forums there used to be what I called my scrappy-cyber home... that it until the demise of the forums at CX last April ( I believe it was around April )!!  Even though I still really enjoy designing projects every month for the CX store  I still really miss hanging out with all of the CX peeps. It sure took quite awhile for me to get used to the fact that I could never again hop onto the chats over there at CX when I was looking for some one to "hang out" with to keep me company for 30 minutes or so, or to peruse the gallery for some major mojo lifting!   I also became quite attached to another site, Create My Keepsake (CMK), and unfortunately that site was shut down a few months ago as well :(  Since then I have been trying to find another happy place on the net to plant my feet.  I have found a few places that I really like, but last week I started to really frequent one in particular and I believe their "neighbors" are all really friendly!  It's, Serendipity and the place really is as sweet as the name sounds!  I love the navigation of Serendipity's forums and galleries... very similar to what I was used to at  CX!   Ellen is one of their fantabulous designers there and she had mentioned to me a few times about me coming over there to check things out, so I finally decided to head on over, and I'm really happy that I have!  Now if I could only have some more of my old CX and CMK pals to come over and join the neighborhood, I'd really, really be content, lol!  Which brings me to a wonderfully awesome contest that Serendipity has going on right now...

Want $20, $30, $40 or even $50 of goodies off your wishlist for FREE???? This contest could be just the thing for you.


January through Feb. 28th we will be having the Wishes come true Contest, where there will be drawings for goods off your wishlist.


See how to particpate in this contest:
1. Register in the store and start making your wishlist


2. Register in the forum - Post in the New Members checkin thread and then post a minimum of 9 other times on our message board.


3. If you were invited Please make note in your New Members checkin thread who invited you. Then start inviting others.


4. For each person you invite and they complete these requirements you will be added to the drawings again.


-The first drawing for the $20 wishlist give away will happen when 25 new Registered members complete the above requirements
-The Second drawing for the $30 wishlist give away will happen when 30 more new members complete the requirements
-The third drawing for the $40 wishlist give away will happen when 40 more new members complete the requirements
-The Fourth drawing for the $50 wishlist give away will happen when 50 more new members complete the requirements


When we reach 1000 new members in the forum there will be another $50 drawing and ALL registered memebers in the forum will receive a FABULOUS digital/printable downloadable kit for FREE!!
PLUS when we reach the first 50 new members (827 total members) All registered forum members will get a bonus downloadable/printable item. Then when we reach 902 new members ANOTHER downloadable gift.
Lets get busy and start inviting new members: Tweet it, Facebook it, Blog about it and just start sharing about our forum


**Your name stays in for ALL drawings and you be able to continue having your name added for all new members that mention you invited them and complete the requirements.


**Wishlist giveaway items will be picked by store owner from your Wishlist and sent within a week of each drawing.

You can read this all over at Serendipity, > here
 
Sooo, maybe this will entice some of you to come on over after all!  I sure hope so :)  And don't forget, if you all register up at Serendipity, please remember to tell them all that "I", Andrea  (Andrea A) sent you!!


I am beginning to have scrap withdrawls because with the recent holidays, I just haven't been doing too much of it and now it's really starting to bug me.  Last night I sat down and wanted to do something scrappy but it was so cold down in my scrap-cave... I worked on an altered project ( a wreath actually) for awhile and then came back upstairs to thaw out, lol!  So, I don't really have much of anything new to share with you but here's a layout that I did recently for the Creative Cookbooking blog for  Appetizer recipe pages...
 

I used all Fancy Pants papers here with some Cricut cut-outs (the frame cut in half is from Story Book and the "Appetizer" word cut using "From My Kitchen). 

 
That's all I have for now... hope everyone has a great week and for those of you who are scrappers... enjoy all those CHA sneak peeks that are floating about!  This time of year is always exciting and buzzing for the scrap world.  I'm looking forward to all the new releases from Fancy Pants, Pink Paislee, Basic Grey and of course... CRICUT!!  And don't forget... come join me over at Serendipity! 

Playin' around with my first photos of 2010!

Let's just hope that the year 2010 isn't as warped as these pictures...

Lol!!

Cheers to much love, happiness and health in 2010!