CardPatterns Sketch 61 & Jacksonbelle Tuesday

I saw this sweet sketch from CardPatterns and knew I wanted to use their sketch to make a card. I like a good simple sketch :) Jacksonbelle Embellishments has a challenge to use kraft as the base!

Do you recall the anniversary card I made here using this 2 step bird punch from SU? I have kept the punch out on my work table because I want to keep using it. For this card I used Spellbinders Blossom Nestibilities for the two floral layers under the bird, but other than that all papers and punches for this card are SU. I used a SU dimensional under her wing, and Rhinestone sticker for her eye.

Happy Thursday!

Be Inspired #81- PURSEonality

I created my very first template! Never say "never." I truly never thought I could figure out how to create a template. No doubt it could be tweaked and improved, but I relish this small success. (My template and mini tutorial is here at Cuttlebug Challenge blog.) I used my Provo Craft Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder.

My little purse holds three cards and envelopes. Wanna see?

The cards are so quick and easy to make. I think I may use this as a teacher appreciation gift next week. I apologize if you have Lloyd Price or Johnny Mercer singing in your head for the rest of the day...

I hope you like my little project! There are many more really great purse ideas here at Cuttlebug Challenge blog. Trust me, you will be glad you took the time to look!

Be Inspired #80- Shadow Boxes

My project was made with donated items from Provo Craft: Cuttlebug embossing folders Moroccan Screen and Spots & Dots and Cuttlebug dies Flower and Hearts. Thank you, Provo Craft!

Our weekly Be Inspired challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge blog is Shadow Boxes. Make a card or project, and use Provo Craft items to create it. I have to admit that I had some anxiety over this challenge, but I am so glad I participated. I purchased the 7 Gypsies photo tray last week from ACMoore. The papers are all BasicGrey Granola. I also used Bazzill primas, a Sizzix die (braces), some SU dies (top note and fancy label), SU ovals & word window punches, Making Memories rub-on sentiments and jelly sticker, and it takes two name stickers.

The guy in the top left pic is my f-i-l. His birthday is May 1st, and I never know what to give him, other than pictures of his favorite girls. I can't wait to give this to him this year.

I love the picture in the bottom left corner of Kathryn. She looks so grown up! She already looks like an 8yo *sigh*. Speaking of growing up, Kathryn has her front adult teeth. A year ago, she had a big gap there. This past weekend Julia lost one of her top front baby teeth. Some people at school call her "Little Julia." She is a little shorter than Kathyrn, but she is average height for her age. I think it is because she is one of the few second graders with baby teeth. Now she is going to look like a big girl too :(

I hope you will make a shadow box card or project. They are really fun to make. Choose your photos and papers, then just add bits & bobs from your stash. Fun!

Mother's Day Card - 2S4Y Laura's Sketch # 50

I made a quick card from some K&Co. frame and die cuts. I added some red Bazzill card stock, scrap ribbon, green polka dot paper (Cosmo Cricket Early Bird), SU sentiment stamped in black, and some hand doodles. I used Laura's Sketch #50 from the fabulous 2 Sketches 4 You blog.

Happy Tuesday!

Card Patterns Sketch # 59- BasicGrey Origins

I made this card yesterday morning. I want to use up these bits of BasicGrey Origins die cut and chipboard flowers I have on my workspace. I have a room full of bits like these, and I want to use them more often so I can make room for more ;)

While perusing my favorite challenge blogs, I saw last week's Card Patterns sketch #59. I rotated the sketch and flipped the bits, but I think it is still recognizable.

Supplies:
BasicGrey: Origins paper die cuts and chipboard flowers; "MOM" rub-on
DCWV: base card
Bazzill: dark green card stock
Spellbinders: Ovals
Other: brads from my stash, SU dimensionals, and a paper piercer.

Happy Monday!

April is Autism Awareness Month

I enjoyed making Julia's t-shirt so much, that I made one for Kathryn yesterday morning. Here is Kathryn in her new shirt. Her shirt reads:

I have:

• a great imagination
• a quirky sense of humor
• a sweet personality
• Autism

I debated on some other ideas I have seen, like:
Got Autism?
Autism is my superpower.
My sister and I have autism. Please be nice to our mom.
Autistic Princess

If you know someone with autism, I hope you will leave a comment. I would love to hear your story. Maggie, owner of Cuttlebug Challenge blog, graciously asked me to write up Julia & Kathryn's story for Cuttlebug Challenge blog in honor of Autism Awareness month. I hope you will leave a comment there too!

Cardabilities Sketch #1- BasicGrey Origins

Cardabilities first sketch challenge is live! I have a few pieces of BasicGrey Origins chipboard pieces and die cuts, so I started with this chipboard flower. The rub-ons are also by BasicGrey.
My non-BG items are the SU border punch, base card (from Michael's), and the brown card stock (from XPEDX). I love simple and clean sketches like this one. Click over to Cardabilities to check out their beautiful cards :)

Be Inspired #79 - T-shirts

Our challenge for you this week at Cuttlebug Challenge blog is to use your Provo Craft products and spruce up a t-shirt. I used my Provo Craft Cuttlebug flower dies. This is my daughter, Julia, trying out her new shirt.
April is Autism Awareness month, so I decided to make a shirt for my twin daughters, Julia & Kathryn. I purchased the shirt at Michael's (on sale for $1.99 this week), and then I went to JoAnn's and purchased a yellow stripe remnant (50% off...only 70 cents). I used Heat n Bond on a small piece of the remnant, than ran it through my Cuttlebug to cut the daisies. The text is computer-generated. Then I dusted off my iron for it's biannual use :) I used the daisy centers as my bullets.

This was so easy! Now that I know what to do (and what not to do...make sure your color cartridge has ink and don't forget that special paper to cover when ironing), I want to make another shirt. I think I will head to Michael's and buy another shirt, but first I will go to Cuttlebug Challenge blog to see what my talented design team sisters made! Be sure to leave a comment when you get there. We are having big giveaways! For details, see my previous post.

Cricut Cake Giveaway

Cuttlebug Challenge blog has the biggest giveaway EVER.

How to win? easy!
1. Comment on this post telling us what would you do with the Cricut Cake if you were to be our LUCKY WINNER!!
2. For more chances to win:

• Comments on all the posts from April 7 - April 30th.

• Create a post on your blog or in any forum where allowed,

• Update your Facebook Wall, Twitter about this Giveaway.

3. Become a follower of this blog to be eligible.

Now things to remember.....

Don't forget to leave a link of places you have posted about this contest and become a follower!


I think Provo Craft should just give the machine to me. Everyone knows that red is my favorite color...and of course I NEED a Cricut. Here is Betty drooling on my machine:
Sweet!

20 Years Ago Today...

...my Sweetie proposed to me :) We met at the ripe old age of 19. The years pass so quickly; why do they go so fast? It still feels like we are on our honeymoon. I've got a hot date for lunch with dhDH (dear husband Doug Houck), so I'll get on with my card details:

• BasicGrey Wisteria paper

• SU 2-step bird punch

• sentiment stamp (unknown)

• Rhinestone stickers ( $1.99/package from Michael's)
  

• card base 4" x 5.5" from Michael's (they are on sale this week 3 for $5. The packages contain 25 cards and envelopes. Go get some!)
  

Here's wishing you many years of happiness with your special someone!

Round Robin Inspiration

Last year when I saw the DCWV Garden Party pad, I had to have it. I showed it to my mother, who did not immediately love it. The first card I made with these papers is here. When my mother saw that card, she had to buy her own Garden Party pad :)

Last autumn, my mother made this card (below) with her Garden Party papers. I was so inspired, I made the card (above). Round Robin inspiration!
I found the dew drops on the flower centers to be genius inspiration. Thanks, Mom!

Be Inspired #78 - Baby Shower

Our current challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge blog is to create a baby theme card or project. I immediately thought of my Provo Craft Cuttlebug Frills embossing border. I think "baby" every time I see them. Have you used them for something other than a baby card?

I also knew I wanted to use this sweet Cuddle Bunnies image by MFT stamps. I chose the stripe paper (DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Girl glittered paper) and colored the image with copic markers. I embossed pink Bazzill card stock with the tiny buttons frills embossing folder, then spritzed them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Pearl. Other supplies: EK Success border punch, paper piercer, white gel pen, white DMC floss, and Paper Studio Bag 'O Buttons pastel.

Link your baby card or project here.

BasicGrey Wisteria & SU Easter Card

Happy Easter! I have had a fun and fabulous Spring break with my family. I left for NC last Sunday with J&K (my daughters) and spent time with my Supreme girlfriends. I miss them all so much! I recognized what a magical group we were from the time we named ourselves "The Supremes" in September 2002. It was difficult to leave them when we moved to VA almost 6 years ago. I am the youngest in our group (age 43) and Martha the oldest (age 78). Martha passed away peacefully March 17. If anyone could have beaten lung cancer, it would have been her :) I missed her funeral the previous week, but Sharon, Kaye, and Dianne filled me in. We laughed and had such a great time together last Monday & Tuesday. We stamped & packaged over 500 cards for the troops, ate out together, and took field trips to Hobby Lobby & a local scrapbook store, and we shared our favorite Martha stories...we laughed so much, it was just as if she were with us.

Wednesday I drove home, did laundry & re-packed.

Early Thursday a.m. Doug & I went to my parents' house in MD to see my nephew. He is such a sweetie, and he has a special bond with our girls. We left the girls off at my parents' house in MD then went to Gettysburg, PA for a mini getaway. Doug brought his bike & I rented one. We rode our bikes around part of the battlefield and into town too.
Then we took a Segway tour of Gettysburg. This was our first time riding a Segway. It was so much fun! The tour is ~3 hours. We might just plan our next vacation around a Segway tour. We picked up the girls at my parents' house yesterday and had our Easter dinner a day early. We (mostly) unpacked last night. Today we ate breakfast @ Wegmans then did major grocery shopping; we needed eggs to dye! They are cooking now, and I am working on loads of laundry. It is a really relaxing Easter Sunday. Perfect.

I hope your Easter/Spring Break has been equally lovely :)