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 :)

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!

A New Card... New Week of Challenges!

Today I thought about going out to do a bit of shopping, but then I thought twice and decided it would be much better to just stay home in the comfort of my pj's and do a little crafting.  And I am so glad I did.  Yesterday I had big plans to scrap and make cards but none of that happened because I was stricken with a ridiculous sinus headache that lasted ALL DAY LONG!  So today I am feeling much better and I seem to be back on track because I finished one of the three cards for the 2nd week's Card Sharks contest challenges at the Nook... Yay! 

So this challenge is called KINGS IN THE CORNER!  The challenge part is to create a card fit for royality!  I decided to make mine a Mother's Day themed version and went with the sentiment, "Mom, You Are My Queen Bee, Always".

I used the bee cut from the Sentimentals Cricut cart along with the Queen Bee phrase from Kate's ABCs.  I also added a lil' crown to the bee which I cut using the Teresa Collin's Sophisticated cart... a new favorite for sure! And the hexagon embossed cardstock is from the Core'dinations Pink Paislee Modern Prints collection... good stuff!  I also had fun using a mix of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and Glimmer Glaze within the hexagon shapes.  The beautiful papers and brad accents are all from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 collection and I also added a few tiny golden Kaiser pearl accents to the crown with Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type stickers to complete the sentiment. 

As always, thanks for stopping by and do enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening!  I'm off to start another challenge as I wait for the hubs to get home with our take-out pizza for dinner!  That's what I'm talkin' about!! ;)

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!

Saturdays are Great Days!

Yes, Saturdays are wonderful days for lots of reasons, but NOT for snow and especially not snow in October!  How disappointing!  I thoroughly love my Fall wheather every year and I enjoy October in all it's wonderful Autumn splendor, but snow does not belong in the category of "Autumn  splendor"... at least not for me!  But, it is what it is, and I guess we just have to deal, lol!

However, like I said, Saturdays are great days, and today, well... today is a great one to stay home inside all curled up cozy on the couch enjoying one of the last days of October... watching AMC's Fear Fest on the telly!  It's also a wonderful day to bake some Chocolate Chip Pumpkin muffins and to finish up some crafty assignments with my Core'dinations cardstock and Cricut! And it's also a great time to finally catch up my blog posting with some previous magazine publications I've had!  So, for today I'll share with you various cards that I had showcased in the Cricut magazine's "Cards" issue...

 

My first card uses the fun martini Cricut cut on "From My Kitchen" and some of my favorite Summer Soiree papers from Fancy Pants. 

Second card is a heart shaped card from "Wild Card" and I used Basic Grey's Green at Heart collection... I love the turtle stickers that I Cuttlebug embossed!

Then I had one of my favorite cards featured!  I love this one because I used different cuts to make and form a totally new image.  For this one I combined a birdcage cut from the "Straight From the Nest" cart along with a flower pot cut to create a hot air balloon! 

This card uses the "Dad's Day" phrase from the "Designer's Calendar" cart.  I love the textures displayed on this one from the Green Vintage Core base and the shape cut from Prima screen-printed canvas! The Basic Grey Marjolaine collection was also used.

Next up is a card using some fun Core Amour Collection in Onyx (Darling print).  Other patterned papers are by BoBunny and Cricut cuts from "Lyrical Letters" and "Straight From the Nest".

And last, a wedding card featuring cuts from "Stamping Solutions", "StoryBook" and "Wild Card", along with papers by GCD Studios. 

And that's a wrap!  Okay, it's back to enjoying the rest of my wonderful, but snowy Saturday!  I hope everyone else enjoys their day as well!  

A Not So Witchy Hat!

Yes, not all witch hats are drab and ugly... definitely not this hat that I created using some Core'dinations Black Magic cardstock.

I believe it turned out rather pretty if I do say so myself!  Anyway, this Halloween project of mine was featured today on the Core'dinations blog.  We've been having a week long partnering with two other inspiring companies... May Arts and Petaloo!  Check us all out...

THREE awesome companies have come together to inspire you. And our teams have been working hard to create some festive projects for you, too. It’s all about the Holidays. From Halloween to Thanksgiving and even Christmas…you will see festive projects to get those creative juices flowing and hopefully give you some ideas for this time of year.

And of course…there are give-a-ways!!! All three companies will giving away tons and tons of goodies this week so make sure you head over to the Petaloo Blog and May Arts Blog for details and inspirational projects. Don’t forget about Facebook! Join us on our Facebook page here, the May Arts and Petaloo pages, too, for additional chances to win. Make sure you tell them we sent you!

Now getting back to my monogram witch hat, here's a few close-up shots of the details...

Again, I used the Core Black Magic in Warlock, and I tore various strips as to show the texturing of the color core.  I then formed the strips around a paper mache hat that I purchased at Michaels, where I also got the black resin frame used to showcase some orange Tillie dotted Core and a Cricut cut initial monogram.   For the floss-like fibers used in the button ties, I pulled apart the May Arts cording... discarded the white fiber-fill from the inside and just used the flossy threads.

The Petaloo flowers used include Citrus Orange and Nightfall.

 Other supplies include:

Cricut (A Child's Year cartridge - monogram).

Buttons by BoBunny.

Glimmer Mist by Tattered Angels.

Script patterned paper by The Girls' Paperie.

Adhesives by Glue Arts.

World Card-Making Day Contest and Cricut!

Yes, today is October 1st, and it's World Card-Making Day! I love October AND card-making so it's a perfect fit!  And I happened to see that one of my favorite blogs, The Cricut blog, is offering up a super cool contest for the occasion.  :)  All you need to do is submit a card creation for an opportunity in winning one of 3 Cuttlebug machines that they are giving away!  Awesome, because although I have a Cuttlebug, I've been wanting to upgrade to the new and improved machine, so here's my chance!

Here's my card creation... perfect for October as well...

I used the Cricut Happy Hauntings cartridge for this card... and I LOVE this holiday cartridge!  To make the spider's body and Dracula's hair more textured here, I used some green pom-poms that I cut off of a section of  American Craft's Dear Lizzy trim.  I took the pom-poms and smooshed them and pulled them apart slightly then inked them with some black Staz-On ink.  After adhering the inked fibers to his head I took a white gel pen and used it to draw some emphasis to his hair part, as well as details to his eyes and fangs.  The web background was created with the Cuttlebug Spider-Web folder.  Hope you enjoyed my Halloween inspired, Cricut and Cuttlebug created card and thanks for stopping by!

Core and Spellbinders!

Welcome to the Core'dinations and Spellbinders Blog swap!!! Are you ready for a week long blog swap filled with loads of inspiration? Well, you came to the right place. Spellbinders and Core'dinations have teamed up and created gorgeous projects just for you. But...a blog swap wouldn't be the same without give-a-ways, right?

Core’dinations will be giving away FOUR paper packs in total!!!

Here is how you can win:
1. Visit the Core’dinations blog and leave a comment every day, Monday the 26th through Friday the 30th. We will give away two packs to TWO lucky winners.
2. Like us on Facebook and comment to win a paper pack.
3. Visit the Core’dinations Designer’s blogs and leave a comment. We will be linking them up on the Core’dinations blog throughout the week and will choose one random designer’s blog to pick a winner.

Make sure you visit the Spellbinders blog for more details on how to win some of their awesome dies.

Sounds perfect, right?  Before you head to check out all the fun projects being posted, I wanted to share a card I created with a fun Spellbinders Impressabilities plate and of course a mix of some Core Essentials cardstock in the Brights range.

This background was embossed with the Spellbinders Impressabilities Pebbles template. I loved this pebbled texture for the background here because it reminded me of the look of icecubes... perfect to go with the lemonade theme!  Using the Cricut Just Because Cards cartridge, I cut the lemonade cup with a layer of acrylic to make it appear more like a drinking glass and adhered it to the cardstock with some glossy accents. And, I also used an actual drinking straw too!

I hope you enjoy the blog swap  and please be sure to check out the following Spellbinders links for more ideas and information:

Website: http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/Home.aspx
Blog: http://www.spellbinderspaperarts.com/Community/Blog.aspx
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Spellbinders

On the BasicGrey Blog Today!

Gosh I am busy today!  I had to put in a day at work and now that I'm home I'm flittering all around the house trying to be an over-achieving mutli-tasker, lol!  I'm trying to vacuum the floors and do some dusting so I can finally start putting out all the Fall decorations.  This could all be put off til the weekend, but truth be told, I just can't wait! Then I'm also working fast and furious on a Cricut project that I started earlier in the week.  I'd like to finish it up tonight to submit it to the latest Cricut magazine call which of course ends tonight.  And on top of that I need to start dinner and of course I HAD to come make a blog post too... not sure how well I'm pulling it all off! 

But onto the purpose of the blog post!  Today there are two neat things being shared over on the BasicGrey blog!  First of all, if you didn't already know, Core'dinations has partnered up with BasicGrey to bring some beautifully embossed cardstock designs, and if you go over to the BG blog, check them out and comment, you could be one of the two lucky winners to receive one of their 2 collection packs (Whimsy and Ornate) being sponsered by Core!   AND second, while you are there you can check out my layout which is featured  to show you how these two collections coordinate so well with one another and the BG collections!  And I'm just going to share my page here too because I also have some detail pix!  Now hurry, and get over to comment because there's not much time... deadline is midnight tonight, Sept. 14th!  Good luck!

SUPPLIES : [OUT OF PRINT] OUT-3327 Odds ‘n Ends, OUT-3315 Reprint, OUT-3316 Etchings, [BITTERSWEET] MET-1554 Glazed Brads, [MARJOLAINE] MRJ-2929 Sticker Alphabet.

BasicGrey Ornate Collection Core Impressions in both Antique Vanity and Aegan Cornbread, BasicGrey Whimsy collection Core Impressions with Simon Black Magic, Core’dinations Core Essentials, Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge.