Pre-Cricut

I was going through my Christmas crafting box and found some old cards I made "pre-Cricut" (two years ago).  We were living in Florida at the time that I sent these, thus the beach themes.  All materials used are Stampin' Up.

Hubbie's Christmas Cards

Here is this year's installment of Hubbie's Christmas cards for work:

He is now over the food section so I thought the Chef's hat and oven mitts would be cute.  Can you guess where he works???

My Cricut Circle Secret Sister's Stocking

Here is the stocking I altered for my Cricut Circle secret sister:

I used Cricut cartridges Art Philosophy for the toe and heel pieces and Stretch Your Imagination for the sunflower.  I cut the top band from hand.

Here is Trinity's crafting blog if you would like to look at some of her nifty creations.  Her mini advent calendar is such a cool idea!

http://trinityscraftingcreation.blogspot.com/

Cricut Circle Secret Sister Stocking Opening

It's time!  I can't believe a year has passed! To continue the tradition, we once again swapped stockings on the Cricut Circle message board.  I received a FABULOUS package with a super cute tiny stocking from Fumiyo (PenquinLover).  Thank you so much Fumiyo for your generosity.  I LOVE EVERYTHING (especially the purple paisley paper)!

Nice to SNOW Ya!

Here is a Christmas card I made for a card swap I was in:

Materials Used:

• Cricut cartridge Snow Friends
• My Pink Stamper Winter Treats & Sayings stamp set
• Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler cardstock
• Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and Tempting Turquoise classic ink
• Stampin' Up Rose Red stampin' writer
• Stampin' Up Basic Pearls
• My Mind's Eye Lime Twist designer paper
• Brads from my stash
• Hand dyed seam binding
• Ranger Stickles
• Ranger Forest Moss distress ink

Toys..."Under Construction" and a quick ribbon tying tutorial.

For today's post, I used the Imagine Cartridge "Santa's Village" and My Pink Stamper's "Boy Crazy" stamp set to create a fun holiday card:

I pop dotted all of the images to create a 3-D effect.  I also used DecoArt's Snow Writer to fill in (or should I say out?) all the snow.

Ever wonder how to tie a ribbon bow like this?  It's easy!

These are the tools you will need, but any hole puncher will do.

Evenly measure out the center of your card.  My Tim Holtz idea-ology ruler makes it simple!

Mark the spots where you will punch your holes.

Punch your holes.

Run your ribbon through the holes from the front to the back.

Turn your cardstock over and run the ends of the ribbon to and through the opposite side.  You will now be pulling the ribbon through from the back to the front.

Turn your cardstock back over and pull your ribbon tight.  It should now look like this.

Trim your ribbon edges to the desired length and look.  That's it!

Blitsy - A new craft website with some PHENOMENAL prices!

I followed a link from a fellow crafter.



http://blitsy.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/12916/

The prices are really great!  This week, there are specials on

Stickles: $1.49

Liquid Pearls: $1.69

ATG tape (2-pk): $3.99!!!
ATG gun: $19.99

Ranger Winter distress ink bundle:  $9.95

And much more.

In addition, you can save an additional 10% by using the coupon code FACEBOOK during your checkout!

Also, you can sign up and share the link with all of your crafty friends.  For each referral you give (and that person actually buys something), YOU get $10!  You don't even have to buy anything to get the $10.  Here is my sharing link, take a look:

BLITZY

Thanks in advance for looking and perhaps signing up!

Another Stocking...

Here is another stocking I made using the Cricut cartridge Art Philosophy.  The cuts from the cartridge include the stocking itself, the butterfly, bird and the tag.  I changed up the stocking a bit by cinching one side to make it more feminine looking.  I used the My Pink Stamper stamp set Winter Punnies on the tag.

This month's challenge on the Cricut Circle Blog is:
DECEMBER MONTHLY CHALLENGE: Holiday Gift Wrapping Challenge!



“Brown paper packages tied up with string . . . these are a few of my favorite things!”

 The presentation of a gift can be just as special as the gift itself. Don’t you just love to receive a gift that is beautifully wrapped?! Why not give that feeling to someone on your gift list this year? It’s such a small thing, but makes a gift feel that much more special when someone takes the time to add a few unique or personalized details. It makes opening a gift an experience. That’s what our challenge is all about this month . . . How do you use your Cricut to add details or personalization to your gift-wrapping for those special people in your life? Show us! We can’t wait to see your ideas!

I am using this stocking and tag to house my Nina's present.  I think she will like it!  =)

Anna Griffin All Occasion Card Making Kit

I won the Anna Griffin All Occasion Card Making Kit earlier this year off HSN.  I haven't used the kit yet, but thought I should break it out.  Here is a super fast card I made.  All the cardstock is from the kit.  I embossed the second layer using my Cuttlebug, inked the edges using ranger Forsest Moss distress ink, added stickles to the berries, Stampin' Up ribbon, and two mini pearls using Ranger liquid pearls to complete the card and give it a more polished homemade look.  It took all of 5 minutes!

Linked in at Cute Card Thursday

Art Philosophy Shabby Chic Christmas Stocking

I decided to break out my Art Philosophy cartridge and put it to good use to create a shabby chic Christmas stocking:

Materials Used:

• Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge:  Stocking p.67 @ 11.11" W x 17.63" H, Stocking Layer @ 9.19" W x 17.63" H, pg. 69 Rose Font @ 8.30"  W x 7.99" H, pg.59 Petal2 @2.05" W x 3.77" H
• Mailing Paper
• Fabric 1/2 yard
• Misc. Felt
• Thread
• Stampin' Up Kraft corderoy buttons
• Stampin' Up rose Red stampin' writer
• Ranger Petal Pink liquid pearls
• Hot glue



I used the mailing paper for my patterns.

I then cut two stockings out of the paper, pinned it to the cloth, and cut out the image leaving a 1/2" border.  I did this to the stocking layers as well.

I sewed on the heel and toe portion of the sock in a coordinating fabric (in this case, it was the opposite side).

Next, I added the top portion of the stocking that I already lined.

This is the completed stocking from the inside.  I also added a hook.

Last, I turned it inside out and added my flower embellishment.

I added two corderoy buttons and Ranger liquid pearls in Petal Pink for  added embellishment.



This is the first time I used liquid pearls.  I must say, I am in love!

I cut the flower and petal out of felt and highlighted it with a stampin' writer in Rose Red.

Now , for all you sewing divas out there, please forgive me of my method. I am a COMPLETE novice and just decided to give it a go and use my sewing machine for something other then my cards and scrapbook pages. I am in NO WAY an expert seamstress! =) The project was actually quite simple. It only took a few hours and that was with me not having any plan, just an idea in my head. Give it a try!
Sorry about the strikethrough on the directions.  I tried everything and couldn't get rid of it.  =(

Linked up at:
Paper Playtime
My Sheri Crafts - Decorate for Christmas

"Brrrr"...A Sweater Weather Layout

Still playing with my Cricut Sweater Weather cartridge.  This cartridge is a great buy.  It has a lot of images, borders, cards, an envelope AND a font at the price of a seasonal cartridge!  I think it's a must buy.

All of the images are cut from Sweater Weather.  I pop dotted the larger snowflakes and sewed a border for the the ground and for the photo base.  The smaller snowflakes are the negative images from the border glued together.  I wanted to keep the embellishments and colors simple to maintain the "sweater" feel.

A Season of Hope

I decided to play with my acrylic sheets.  Here is a card I came up with:

Materials Used:

• Cricut cartridge Sweater Weather
• My Pink Stamper stamp set Winter Treats & Sayings
• Impact Clear View Binder Covers
• Jim Holtz Seasonal paper stack
• Core'dinations cardstock
• Misc cardstock from stash
• Ranger Vintage Photo distress ink
• Stampin' Up Night of Navy stampin' writer
• brown Thread
• Therm O Web Vellum Adhesive runner

It's a little challenging when creating with acrylic sheets since both sides are visible.  For this card, I mirrored the bottom rectangle for addressing.

Thanksgiving 2011 2 Page Layout

WOW!  Was that ever a lot of food!!!  I had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday with my family.  I hope you did too!  I am on the ball, and have already created the scrapbook pages for this year's photos.  Now...to just get them developed!  ;)

Carts Used:  Autumn Celebrations, Elegant Edges, Gypsy Font

Gypsy File:

http://www.box.com/s/7dduj6342zxlyrxlxs68