Michael's Holiday Craft Contest - Week Five

I am sorry that I have been missing this week.  I didn't feel well early in the week due to three nights in a row of "party food/rich restaurant food".  After recovering from my tummy woes, I had yet another evening out with hubby and his business associate and I had to go into my office for a day.  But... In the midst of my busy week, I have been working a couple of projects.  The larger of the projects is this wall collage in my entry way for this week's Holiday Crafting Contest at Michaels.

For those who haven't been keeping up, this is week five of a seven week contest sponsored by Michaels on Facebook - Michael's Craft Some Holiday Magic Contest.  I have entered four of the five weeks and actually won week two.  Each of the seven weekly finalist will be in a final run off to win a Cruise.  I may be calling on all of you in a couple of weeks for help and support me in my attempts to win the cruise!

Each Monday morning Michael's releases three new mystery items that must be used in that week's project.  This week the three mystery items are WIRE, PHOTO FRAME(S), and WRAPPING PAPER. 

I took ten photo frames and framed seven family Christmas photos from throughout the years.  The oldest photo is my husband and his little brother with Santa in 1966; the newest is from last Christmas.  Two of the photos are family Christmas photos and two of them are my children with Santa - 18 years ago and 7 years ago (when the older two were in high school).  I used wrapping paper as matting behind the older photo of my children with Santa, and trimmed it out with peel offs (see above).

For the remaining three frames, I used wrapping paper, cardstock stickers or Cricut cuts to create Christmas scenes to add a whimsical touch to the collage (again see above).

I embellished nine of the frames with artificial greenery, curled wire, mini-ornaments, and HO-HO-HO red ribbon.  The embellishments not only added to the overall holiday feel of the project, but they also gave me a way to incorporate the final mystery element - wire.

The final addition to the entry way wall was three vinyl words cut with the Cricut, JOY, CHRISTMAS, and PEACE.  While I truly do not expect to win the contest this week (there are some cut projects posted), I was happy that both my husband and my daughter really liked our holiday collage.

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Michael's Holiday Craft Contest - Week Five

I am sorry that I have been missing this week.  I didn't feel well early in the week due to three nights in a row of "party food/rich restaurant food".  After recovering from my tummy woes, I had yet another evening out with hubby and his business associate and I had to go into my office for a day.  But... In the midst of my busy week, I have been working a couple of projects.  The larger of the projects is this wall collage in my entry way for this week's Holiday Crafting Contest at Michaels.

For those who haven't been keeping up, this is week five of a seven week contest sponsored by Michaels on Facebook - Michael's Craft Some Holiday Magic Contest.  I have entered four of the five weeks and actually won week two.  Each of the seven weekly finalist will be in a final run off to win a Cruise.  I may be calling on all of you in a couple of weeks for help and support me in my attempts to win the cruise!

Each Monday morning Michael's releases three new mystery items that must be used in that week's project.  This week the three mystery items are WIRE, PHOTO FRAME(S), and WRAPPING PAPER. 

I took ten photo frames and framed seven family Christmas photos from throughout the years.  The oldest photo is my husband and his little brother with Santa in 1966; the newest is from last Christmas.  Two of the photos are family Christmas photos and two of them are my children with Santa - 18 years ago and 7 years ago (when the older two were in high school).  I used wrapping paper as matting behind the older photo of my children with Santa, and trimmed it out with peel offs (see above).

For the remaining three frames, I used wrapping paper, cardstock stickers or Cricut cuts to create Christmas scenes to add a whimsical touch to the collage (again see above).

I embellished nine of the frames with artificial greenery, curled wire, mini-ornaments, and HO-HO-HO red ribbon.  The embellishments not only added to the overall holiday feel of the project, but they also gave me a way to incorporate the final mystery element - wire.

The final addition to the entry way wall was three vinyl words cut with the Cricut, JOY, CHRISTMAS, and PEACE.  While I truly do not expect to win the contest this week (there are some cut projects posted), I was happy that both my husband and my daughter really liked our holiday collage.

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!!!!!

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Let It Snow Layout

February 2010 was a milestone month in Aiken, South Carolina.  We had snow.  Not just flurries or a dusting, but real accumulative snow!  We had enough snow on which to ride a sled, build a snowman (or five snow people like the kids across the street), and have a great snowball fight.  In the nineteen years that I have lived in Aiken, we had never had snow like this.  There was only one word to describe the experience:  magical!

I created the left page of this layout some time ago using the Gypsy for the Gypsy spot.  I had never created a matching right page.  At the Pre-birthday scrap bash on Saturday I made a matching page and added photos of our home in the snow storm.  At the time I was quite worried about the palm tree (see how sad and cold it looks?) but it weathered the storm nicely.

I love the dancing snow people from the Snow Friends cartridge.  I think they expressed our snow-happy joy quite well. I used Accent Essentials to create the large snowflakes and Winter Woodlands to cut the small snowflakes.  I used my snowflake nesties to create the date tag below. 

The LET IT SNOW phrase was cut from Winter Woodlands using Bazzill bling cardstock.  I added blue gems to the centers of the snowflakes and pearls to the snow people. 

The snowfall was so fun and I know we will be referring to it for years to come, in much the same way that hurricanes are "fondly" recalled.  Each time snow threatens for the next few years we will all recall the snow fall of 2010 and we will wonder aloud about the possibility of receiving that much snow ever again!

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Let It Snow Layout

February 2010 was a milestone month in Aiken, South Carolina.  We had snow.  Not just flurries or a dusting, but real accumulative snow!  We had enough snow on which to ride a sled, build a snowman (or five snow people like the kids across the street), and have a great snowball fight.  In the nineteen years that I have lived in Aiken, we had never had snow like this.  There was only one word to describe the experience:  magical!

I created the left page of this layout some time ago using the Gypsy for the Gypsy spot.  I had never created a matching right page.  At the Pre-birthday scrap bash on Saturday I made a matching page and added photos of our home in the snow storm.  At the time I was quite worried about the palm tree (see how sad and cold it looks?) but it weathered the storm nicely.

I love the dancing snow people from the Snow Friends cartridge.  I think they expressed our snow-happy joy quite well. I used Accent Essentials to create the large snowflakes and Winter Woodlands to cut the small snowflakes.  I used my snowflake nesties to create the date tag below. 

The LET IT SNOW phrase was cut from Winter Woodlands using Bazzill bling cardstock.  I added blue gems to the centers of the snowflakes and pearls to the snow people. 

The snowfall was so fun and I know we will be referring to it for years to come, in much the same way that hurricanes are "fondly" recalled.  Each time snow threatens for the next few years we will all recall the snow fall of 2010 and we will wonder aloud about the possibility of receiving that much snow ever again!

Read more »

It's Snow Fun Layout

For some readers this winter has been filled with harsh, blustery weather. There has been an abundance of snow and ice, wintery winds and snow days for school children. And though most adults find the wintery weather tedious, children have ideas of their own on what to do with the white stuff.  In that spirit I designed this layout, It's Snow Fun, for Custom Crops.

The cut file uses only two Cricut cartridges, Winter Woodlands and Everyday Paper Dolls, and is available for download at Custom Crops at THIS link.  Full instructions for cutting and assembling the layout are available.  

You should note that this layout uses the mini gel pen holder and mini gel pens to create the blue outline snowflakes.  For those who have not used the mini gel pen holder, you remove the blade housing from your Cricut and replace it with the gel pen holder.  Your Cricut will then draw any image that you would normally cut.

Read more »

It's Snow Fun Layout

For some readers this winter has been filled with harsh, blustery weather. There has been an abundance of snow and ice, wintery winds and snow days for school children. And though most adults find the wintery weather tedious, children have ideas of their own on what to do with the white stuff.  In that spirit I designed this layout, It's Snow Fun, for Custom Crops.

The cut file uses only two Cricut cartridges, Winter Woodlands and Everyday Paper Dolls, and is available for download at Custom Crops at THIS link.  Full instructions for cutting and assembling the layout are available.  

You should note that this layout uses the mini gel pen holder and mini gel pens to create the blue outline snowflakes.  For those who have not used the mini gel pen holder, you remove the blade housing from your Cricut and replace it with the gel pen holder.  Your Cricut will then draw any image that you would normally cut.

Read more »

Gypsy Spot Challenge - 3M Adhesive Backed Paper

Hello bloggers, happy Tuesday.  This week at the Gypsy Spot we were challenged to use 3M's Post It brand paper, which has adhesive on the back with a peel off cover.   I received three 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of the 3M paper - red, pink and white.  So of course I immediately thought VALENTINE'S project. 

I used my Gypsy and five cricut cartridges to design and cut this card:  Sweethearts, Tie the Knot, George, Graphically Speaking and Winter Woodlands.  Since so much of the nation is experiencing winter weather this Valentine's day, I chose the heart snowflake cut on Tie the Knot as a primary accent cut. The tiny red hearts in the middle of the heart snowflakes were cut from George.  I added small snowflakes from Winter Woodlands to accent the three larger snowflakes.

The layered scalloped hearts are from the Sweethearts cartridge as is the word LOVE in the middle of the top heart.  The word YOU is from Graphically Speaking.  I wanted a plain font so as to not draw attention away from the word LOVE. 

The base card was cut from Sweethearts and the rectangle on the top of the card was cut from George.  I used a new Valentine Cuttlebug embossing folder on the background rectangle to add texture.

The flower is a Prima product and can be purchased at Custom Crops. The ribbon was from my stash.  The brads are Stampin' Up brand. I hope that you and you Valentine snuggle up warmly this Valentine's Day!!

Note: The cut file has been added to the list of cut files at the right - 3M Love Valentine Card.

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Gypsy Spot Challenge - 3M Adhesive Backed Paper

Hello bloggers, happy Tuesday.  This week at the Gypsy Spot we were challenged to use 3M's Post It brand paper, which has adhesive on the back with a peel off cover.   I received three 8.5 x 11 inch sheets of the 3M paper - red, pink and white.  So of course I immediately thought VALENTINE'S project. 

I used my Gypsy and five cricut cartridges to design and cut this card:  Sweethearts, Tie the Knot, George, Graphically Speaking and Winter Woodlands.  Since so much of the nation is experiencing winter weather this Valentine's day, I chose the heart snowflake cut on Tie the Knot as a primary accent cut. The tiny red hearts in the middle of the heart snowflakes were cut from George.  I added small snowflakes from Winter Woodlands to accent the three larger snowflakes.

The layered scalloped hearts are from the Sweethearts cartridge as is the word LOVE in the middle of the top heart.  The word YOU is from Graphically Speaking.  I wanted a plain font so as to not draw attention away from the word LOVE. 

The base card was cut from Sweethearts and the rectangle on the top of the card was cut from George.  I used a new Valentine Cuttlebug embossing folder on the background rectangle to add texture.

The flower is a Prima product and can be purchased at Custom Crops. The ribbon was from my stash.  The brads are Stampin' Up brand. I hope that you and you Valentine snuggle up warmly this Valentine's Day!!

Note: The cut file has been added to the list of cut files at the right - 3M Love Valentine Card.

Read more »

Little Winter Woodlands Rabbit Happy Easter

Happy Bitten by the Bug 2 Monday blog hoppers. This week's challenge cut at BBTB2 is the Rabbit from Winter Woodlands. I had not used this rabbit cut before and I must say she is just adorable! I love the layered pieces and the potential for this cute little bunny. I used cat’s eye chalk to add depth to the edge of the top layer leg and head pieces.

I know that I have jumped the season a bit, but I combined the rabbit cut with the new Easter 2010. I used the Easter basket and eggs from the Easter cartridge, as well as the scalloped circle cut. I used my Copic markers to color the edge of the scalloped circle and to color the flowers and leaf cut out areas on the eggs and basket. I added pearl embellishments, including the black pearl for the Rabbit's eye. I used my usual black and white pens to add dotted embellies.

Do I even need to tell you that the Happy Easter cut came from the Easter cartridge???  Probably not.  I used the same chocolate brown paper for the word shadow as I used for the Rabbit, basket and bow shadows. And again I used a Copic marker on the top layer of cardstock to to match the color on the scallops.
 

 
I love the close up of the rabbit in the basket; she looks so sweet and so happy. 
 

The inside of the card is stamped with a curved Happy Easter stamp.  I have a confession:  I dropped the stamp as I was completing the stamp.  You will note the little smudge on the word Happy.  And finally, below is one last look at the card front.

Note:  The cut file has been added to the list of available cut files in the left column - WW & Easter Rabbit Card.

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Little Winter Woodlands Rabbit Happy Easter

Happy Bitten by the Bug 2 Monday blog hoppers. This week's challenge cut at BBTB2 is the Rabbit from Winter Woodlands. I had not used this rabbit cut before and I must say she is just adorable! I love the layered pieces and the potential for this cute little bunny. I used cat’s eye chalk to add depth to the edge of the top layer leg and head pieces.

I know that I have jumped the season a bit, but I combined the rabbit cut with the new Easter 2010. I used the Easter basket and eggs from the Easter cartridge, as well as the scalloped circle cut. I used my Copic markers to color the edge of the scalloped circle and to color the flowers and leaf cut out areas on the eggs and basket. I added pearl embellishments, including the black pearl for the Rabbit's eye. I used my usual black and white pens to add dotted embellies.

Do I even need to tell you that the Happy Easter cut came from the Easter cartridge???  Probably not.  I used the same chocolate brown paper for the word shadow as I used for the Rabbit, basket and bow shadows. And again I used a Copic marker on the top layer of cardstock to to match the color on the scallops.
 

 
I love the close up of the rabbit in the basket; she looks so sweet and so happy. 
 

The inside of the card is stamped with a curved Happy Easter stamp.  I have a confession:  I dropped the stamp as I was completing the stamp.  You will note the little smudge on the word Happy.  And finally, below is one last look at the card front.

Note:  The cut file has been added to the list of available cut files in the left column - WW & Easter Rabbit Card.

Read more »