CAUTION: CRAFTING IS CONTAGIOUS!!!

Cricut Craft Room Video

2012-01-24T16:23:00.001-04:00

Someone had posted in the cricutcutter yahoo group I am a member of and was having trouble figuring out exactly how to layer a bee image from the Best Images of 2006 cartridge. I decided after a bunch of us in the group explained how to do it on the cricut itself that I'd do a little CCR video showing the benefit of using it instead. I

Although this video shows her bee cut it shows some basics for CCR and how to use the layers, hidden contour and cut what YOU want! :)

The file I made if you want it is here http://www.4shared.com/file/eTnH9ccF/bee_-_Best_of_2006.html
I think I have a password set just to protect my files. I simply ask whenever you download files from my site that you you then for PERSONAL USE ONLY and that if someone else asks for the file that you send them to me to get it. The password is iagreetotou

Hope you enjoy the video and find it helpful.

Art Philosophy artwork ideas and inspiration sharing group

2012-01-18T00:09:00.001-04:00

Hi. Just wanted to let you know I have created a non selling yahoo group to share ideas and inspiration using the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge.
You can find it here if you're interested http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CTMHArtPhilosophy/join

Customers and consultants both are welcome!!!
I enjoy a group like this one on Facebook but not everyone enjoys Facebook do thought I would create one on yahoo too for those who would rather this format. :)

If you are thinking of buying this cartridge and want to see more of what you can go with it or own it and want to see and share artwork created with it please come join us.

Birthday Rosettes card from Art Philosophy cartridge

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

LINK FIXED... I hope!Here's a video I made on how to make the card featured in the Art Philosophy handboook on page 9. This video also includes a look at one of my cheat sheets and how to make one of the rolled roses.

Enjoy!!

Freebie quick page

2012-01-03T01:15:00.001-04:00

Here's a freebie page from My Memories Suite for you
If clicking on "Here's" doesn't work for you just copy/paste this into your address bar:http://rakscraps.com/ftp/events/STMFreebie2JanExtra.zip

Use code STMMMS60098 at checkout to save $10 on the My Memories Suite software. It also always comes with another $10 coupon to use towards more digital content for use with their software as well although you can use ANY images at all and don't need to use the ones from MMS at all if you don't want to.

Make sure you check out all their FREE kits here too. they are always adding more as well as one on their facebook page that changes every week.

Use code STMMMS60098 at checkout to save $10

I will post free quick pages occasionally and other things related to this software here.

Retiring products

2012-01-02T16:09:00.001-04:00

Just a quick post to share which products will be gone February 1.
Order them HERE before they're gone! I have listed them by item type and included the page # item # and price. I dont have this done for the stamp sets yet... but will soon and will update this post as I go. For now here's at least the names of everything.

Level 2 Paper Packs:
Believe p.52 #X7145B
Dreamin’ p.34 #X7142B
Fanfare p.63 #X7138B
Lucky p.63 #X7137B
Mayberry p.62 #X7136B
Mischief p.46 #X7144C
Sophia p.62 #X7131B
Wonderland p.58 #X7146B

Workshops-on-the-Go:
Believe p.55 #G1030
Dreamin' p.37 #G1027
Elemental p.31 #G1026
Mischief p.49 #G1029
Roxie p.25 #G1025
Sonoma p.43 #G1028
Typeset p.19 #G1024
Wonderland p.61 #G1031

MyStickease:
Believe p.52 #X7145C
Dreamin' p.34 #X7142C
Fanfare p.63 #X7138C
Lucky p.63 #X7137C
Mayberry p.62 #X7136C
Mischief (Rub-ons) p.46 #X7144B
Sophia p.62 #X7131C
Wonderland p.58 #X7146C

Mini-Medley Accents: p.127
Antiqued Copper #Z1275 $4.95
Colonial White #Z1276 $4.95

Brads & Eyelets: p.126 & 127
Colonial White Brads #Z1274 $3.95
Pewter Decorative Brads #Z1146 $3.95
Black and White Daisy Soft Set Eyelets #Z1228 $3.95
Chocolate and Colonial White Soft Set Eyelets #Z1229 $3.95

Dimensionals: p.130
Flurry #Z1225 $4.95
On Target #Z1226 $5.95
Hearts #Z1278 $3.25
Ornaments #Z1337 $4.95

Ribbon & Floss: p.124
Colonial White Ribbon Collection #Z1126
3/8" Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon #Z1103 $4.95
3/8" Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon #Z1100 $6.95
3/8" Colonial White Grosgrain Ribbon #Z1102 $6.95
3/8" White Daisy Grosgrain Ribbon #Z270 $6.95
Wings Level 2 Assortment #Z1398 $4.95

Embroidery Floss: p.125
Blue/Purple #Z1093 $3.25
Green #Z1094 $3.25
Red/Pink #Z1092 $3.25

Waxy Flax: p.125
Cranberry #Z1086 $3.95
Crystal Blue #Z1247 $3.95
Juniper #Z1248 $3.95
Sorbet #Z1249 $3.95

Various Accessories: p.128 (unless otherwise noted)
Bliss Level 2 Assortment #Z1355 $5.95
Fanfare Level 2 Assortment #Z1400 $4.95
Harvest Charms #Z1633 $4.95
Holiday Pockets Z1486 $4.95
Just Blooms Spring Blossom Paper Flowers #Z1266 $7.95
Just Blooms White Daisy Variety Pack #Z1300 $5.95
Lucky Level 2 Assortment #Z1356 $4.95
Lucky Level 2 Journaling Spots #Z1359 $3.95
Midnight Felt Shapes #Z1462 $5.95
Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment #Z1386 $4.95
Foundry Metal - Bookplates p.127 #Z1147 $3.50

Color-Ready Alphabets: p.129
Hodge Podge #X1406 $3.95
Oxford #X5749 $3.95

My Creations: p.131
Board Book #Z1310 $6.95
Journal #Z1268 $7.95
9x9 Memory Showcase #Z1198 $5.95

Top Coats: p.128
Top Coats Icing Overlays #Z1468 $4.85

Supplies/Tools: p.132 & 133
Rubber Brayer #Z616 $12.95
Soft Set Eyelet Tool #Z1208 $14.95
Eyelet Tool Replacement Punches #Z1245 $2.95

8 1/2 x 11 Cardstock: p.129
Black #X1412 $5.50
Colonial White #X1411 $6.75
White Daisy #1320 $6.75

Stamps:

A Game - A1113 $6.95
A Hop - A1112 $6.95
A Little Buzz - B1353 $9.95
A Little Everything - D1408 $17.95
A Love - A1103 $6.95
A Paisley - A1105 $6.95
A Posey - A1102 $6.95
Adoption - A1098 $6.95
Adorning Corners - D1322 $17.95
Always In My Heart - A1101 $6.95
Ambiance - C1349 $13.95
Around The Block - D1377 $17.95

Baby Love - B1368 $9.95
Backgrounds & Borders - D1463 $17.95
Beary Best - C1363 $13.95
Beary Busy - C1409 $13.95
Beautiful Butterflies - B1373 $9.95
Beautiful Things - D1298 $17.95
Believe In Your Dreams - B1322 $9.95
Beloved - B1343 $9.95
Birthday Blast - C1436 $13.95
Birthday Boy - C1411 413.95
Bless This Nest - C1445 $13.95
Blooming Layers - C1449 $13.95
Bon Appetit - D1367 $17.95
Boom! - B1354 $9.95
Bunny Love - B1324 $9.95

Campin' Fever
Carefree
Catching Waves
Charmed
Cherished Flourishes
Ciao
Circle Around
Circle of Love
Circle Together
Connections
Cruisin'
Cupcake Sprinkles

Daydream
Down By The Sea
Dream Big
Dreams Come True #D1470 $17.95

Enjoy Every Moment
Extreme Happiness

Family
Family Ties - Adult
Family Ties - Children
Family Ties - Pet
Fill In The Blank
Flower Pot
For Every Occasion
Friendship Blessings
From My Heart
Fun Times

Happy Holidays
Happy Moments
Hero
His and Hers
Horizon
Hot Diggity
Howdy

In The Month Of April
In The Month Of February
In The Month Of July
In The Month Of June
In The Month Of March
In The Month Of May
It's A Zoo

Just For Boys
Just For Girls
Just The Ticket

Kanji Phrases

Let's Go Camping
Little Princess
Love Always
Love Birds
Love Ya

Magic Tabs
Makin' Waves
Ms. Chillin'
Ms. Scrapbook

Notice The Details

One Of A Kind
On The Edge
On This Day
Over The Rainbow

Paisley Praise
Piece of Cake
Play Day
Post Card - Travel Series
Precious Love
Priceless Love

Recipe Box
Retro Tech
Royal Birth

Salutation Seals
Shining Star
Smiles
So Lucky
Soul Mates
Springtime
Star Power
Summer Breeze
Summer Days
Sweet Baby

Take Luck
Tasty Treats
Tea Time
Thank You
Thrill Ride
T.L.C.
Togetherness
Treetops
Trellis #D1451 $17.95
Two-Step Backgrounds

Unity

X-Treme

You Did It
You Rock
You're Great
You're Sweet

Here's the visual (thanks to the PAPER HeARTIST for doing this!!)
http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h235/tamythaj/Retiring%20CTMH%20Products/?albumview=slideshow

New CTMH promotions and news!!

2012-01-02T15:55:00.001-04:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm still busy trying to clean up and re-organize from a very busy Christmas and prepare for my sons 3rd birthday later this week plus a full day cricut class I'll be doing in Truro January 14 so please excuse my absence. :)

I didn't want my absence to cause you to miss out on any of the great deals though so....

Check out the while supplies last section of the store great stuff at LOW prices.

Remember that as of yesterday morning our prices now match the US pricing which may not seem like much but a dollar here and there makes a BIG difference by the time you add tax and shipping (for example the cricut cartridge used to be $109.95 and is now $99.00 which means after tax and shipping here in NS that it's now $126 instead of $139 that's an extra stamp set at full price or a few ink pads or some liquid glass and a Starbucks latte). :)

Next up are the new Stamp Of The Month which is also cheaper now because of the US pricing now so instead of $5.50 with a qualifying order of $55 it's now $5 with order of $50!! Yay!!!

There is also A campaign on for a product that will be released with the NEW spring/summer idea book which you can order from as if February 1. The product is a set of 9 cubes (or blocks) in a tray with a huge stamp set!! Think photo puzzles for your coffee table (or kids) GREAT homemade gift! You can take it out of the tray and make the blocks spell words decorated up for your shelf/mantle etc.... These products are available for $15 with any $25 purchase! This is an awesome savings of over $40. The fine print: *Offer valid December 19, 2011–January 31, 2012. While supplies last. Tax and shipping/handling apply. Only items available in the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book count toward your qualifying purchase total.

If you use or were looking to use Studio J for your digital or hybrid scrapbooking there is also a promotion January is free layout month for Studio J^® members! For every 9 custom-printed Studio J layouts you buy, you’ll receive the 10th layout free. To receive the discount, just add 10 or more layouts to your cart. You’ll see a discount reflected in your order total. And you can totally take advantage of this promotion by ordering in multiples of 10. Buy 9, get 1 free. Buy 18, get 2 free. Buy 27, get 3 free. And so on! If you’re not a member yet, now’s a great time to join!

Also there IS a new idea book coming and with that lots of products are being retired as of February 1 so if you were looking for anything you'll want to get your order in before the new book comes out which you won't want to miss out on as it's awesome!!!
Lots more to coordinate with the Art Philosophy cartridge for those that have it and if not well you can still cut by hand too! ;)

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-22T21:29:00.001-04:00

Just a note to all of you that you probably won't see any posts from me until the new year (although I'll still be checking my email and answering that just not posting) as I have lots of company staying with me over the holidays and also my children to spend lots of time with, enjoy and join in the excitement of the holidays with!! My sons birthday is in the first week of January so will be busy taking down all the Christmas right after and decorating for birthday. :)

Thank you for understanding and I look forward to sharing more fun crafty stuff with you all in the new year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!! Hope you have a joyous and safe holiday season.

Holiday Tags Assortment: Project Inspiration Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book

2011-12-11T13:15:00.001-04:00

Since most of you don't procrastinate as much as I do you probably have your cards all made but here's a little inspiration for some tags! :)

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdaXCZjVpRQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Darla Haverstock
http://stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/

Rock the Block Promotion

2011-12-11T13:11:00.001-04:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcmF3kaR0VE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Darla Haverstock
http://stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/

Buttoned Up Card Set: Project Inspiration Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book

2011-12-11T13:10:00.001-04:00

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AXL-ZxXDDo&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Wow!! HUGE GIVEAWAY!

2011-12-07T22:14:00.001-04:00

You really should check out this giveaway http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-annual-end-of-year-christmas.html
There's a $150 Michaels gift card, copic marker set and more up for grabs.
Make sure you look around while you're there too as you can find some great inspiration.

Check out this video I made on assembling the spiral flowers from the Art Philosophy cartridge

2011-12-01T14:39:00.001-04:00

I made a video on how to make the flowers from the CTMH cricut cartridge

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10151014779735249

Hope that helps!

If you still don't own this cartridge you can order it through my website https://darlah.myctmh.com or by contacting me. :)

Don't forget about the cheat sheets that I make exclusively for my customers as well.

Kathy's Double K Krafts: Give Away For December

2011-11-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

You have to go check out this amazing giveaway over on Kathy's blog!! This is the same place I won a copy of the My Memories Suite software for my MIL so I'm hoping I can be that lucky again but if not I'm hoping that one of my blog land friends can win it!!

Kathy's Double K Krafts: Give Away For December:

Make sure to look around the rest of her blog too she's got some great stuff there. :)

The different cricut design programs pros and cons

2011-11-27T21:26:00.001-04:00

Okay so with the release of cricut craft room there have been a lot of people on the various groups and message boards I participate in asking about the benefits of a program if you can still only use the cartridge images and what the differences are between Design Studio (DS), Cricut Craft Room (CCR), and the handheld Gypsy

Here's a quick compilation I made... If you have anything to add please comment and I'll add it on! :)

You can do all sorts of things with any of the 3:
-Weld letters together so they cut as a word instead of individual letters

-change the height and/or width by ANY increment (instead of only the height and width proportionately by 1/4" increments only)

-see exactly where you cut will be in the mat which is great for many reasons: able to use small scraps and know exactly where to put it on the mat, you can put cuts on top of each other so you can cut a square with a circle inside it for instance, I use it to cut the backing from sticker paper and then all the way through just the outside then I peel off one section of backing at a time and apply glitter or flocking and can create a flocked Elmo for instance or a glittered circle in white to stamp my image on with a red scallop around it with something else with a different colour around that all on one layer (probably not explaining that very well lol), I also use it to line cuts up on one side of a card shape and then cut the whole thing out of cereal box... Apply glue to the pieces that would fall out of the cut... Fold the other side of the card over and let it dry to the glued pieces then when its dry remove from cutting mat and voila your very own embossing folder!

-in CCR you can also view your cuts filled with colour so you can design your card completely on the program and see EXACTLY what it's going to look like before even taking out your paper great for deciding what colours to cut from (you can do this in DS as well just not while designing only in a preview screen)

-you can rotate things around getting optimal use of your paper (ie if you have ever cut large circles out of your paper and your machine thinks you can only fit 4 on the page when you know if it moved them to the corners you could fit another one in the middle you can do that on the screen)

-can hide fold lines or any other pieces of a cut that you don't necessarily want (some of the layers on the Disney carts for instance really are supposed to be from 2 different colours so you can hide one of the shapes on the layer for cutting from one colour and tge other for the other colour)

Now for each one individually...

Design Studio:
-view on big screen with all these capabilities (except viewing in colour while designing however can preview it in
-fairly slow to use and really slow to load
-sometimes hard to select the shapes on your mat to move around
-design with any cartridges out there so you can see if you might like to get one or if you order one online you can play with it before it arrives
-not Mac compatible
-not compatible with net books as you need a certain resolution screen which the tiny laptops just don't have
-don't need the layouts but still need the actual cartridge(s) every time you go to cut
-can use different cartridge images together (it will ask you to put one in the cricut and then the others until you've put all of them in that are used in the project you are cutting and then it will cut)

Gypsy
-easy to use
-fairly fast
-stores all your cartridges so you don't have to have the actual cartridge or keypad with you when you go to cut
-has all the benefits of DS except the large screen
-portable (no computer needed), about the same size as a cartridge box and you can design on it whenever wherever and save your project and cut to your cricut whenever you want to using your gypsy in place of your cartridge

CCR:
-all the benefits of DS except you MUST have Internet connection in order to use it
-fast
-can view images in colour
-can link cartridges that you own so you don't have to have them with you when you want to cut once they're linked
-Mac compatible
-no limit on what screen size you need so can use on a NetBook
-FREE
-can save in gypsy format to your computer for use in DS or gypsy when Internet is not available
-can see your projects anywhere you have a computer with Internet and design so you don't need a flash drive with your projects saved on it or anything at all ... Just go to cricut website log in and go for it (all your projects are stored on the Internet remotely so you have them wherever you go)
-can only install cut ability from the program for 2 computers for each cricut account

I am certain others can come up with more but this is just what I can come up with off the top of my head. :)

Sorry for my lack of blogging

2011-11-26T22:46:00.001-04:00

I have been absolutely crazy with teaching classes and had a big order of CTMH cartridge bundles that I needed to make the cheat sheets for. Also been helping a cousin with her Christmas cards and her little girls birthday decorations (you'd think I'd make my own Christmas cards and at least decide on my sons party theme first since his birthday is the first week of January.., but I didn't). LOL oh or make birth announcements for our little girl who will be 4 months old soon... Maybe I can get away with just sticking those in the Christmas cards????

It will all get done in time right?!?

Anyways between all if that and just spending time enjoying my wonderful family. Taking the kids to Santa Claus parades and Christmas shopping I honestly haven't gotten to making anything new for you... I have made more of the cards I've already posted but nothing new... Thinking I had a few things I never did post though and might need to take a look for you.

I did start a Facebook page and you can join it if you want to over there on the top right sidebar on my blog... See it?!?! It will be the same pictures I post here and some extra updates and stuff as I find it easier to do a quick post to Facebook than my blog.

I am pretty excited though, as I got my new rolling bag for my cricut and found a digital projector so those in my classes can see better what I'm doing! Yay!!!!

So much to do... So little time!

On a side note though DH and I went out on a date night last night (first night out without a child since before our son was born almost 3 years ago). He bought us tickets to go see my favourite band (Big Sugar) play. It was a blast!!!!!! I warned my parents (the babysitters) that I had too much fun and we would be doing it again before our 4 month old turned 3 for sure!! LOL

We have another Santa Claus parade to take the kids to tomorrow (since watching the 3 year olds reaction was so much fun at the one we took him to last weekend)!!
Here's a picture of him patiently waiting for the parade to start and one of our daughter that I'll be getting her first Christmas ornament made from (I ordered from Sassy Possum these beautiful carved wood ornaments for our sons first Christmas and loved them so much I ordered them for hers too). Correction (that picture isn't on my iPod) so here's one of her I took last week.

Cricut craft room now available to public!!!

2011-11-12T19:22:00.001-04:00

Directly from the cricut website:

The only limit: your imagination.

Welcome to a whole new way to create. Cricut Craft Room™ is a fun, easy-to-use, and timesaving online design tool that lets you experiment, explore, and design in ways never before possible. And it’s free. Plus, just for starting your account, you’ll automatically receive Cricut Craft Room™ Basics, a collection of digital fonts and shapes.

The Cricut Craft Room has officially launched and is available for FREE!

What is the Cricut Craft Room?

It is a design tool that lets you design with images from the Cricut cartridges (including Imagine ones) and images on the Craft Room itself. Currently, there is a free font and shape set of images, called Cricut Craft Room Basics and that's available for everyone. You will still need to own the cartridges to cut out your design, though. There is a linking feature so you can cut more easily. You need an internet connection to use the Craft Room. But there is an application that downloads to your computer and once that happens, you will always want to launch using your application on your computer, rather than the website.

Features of the Cricut Craft Room:

Free to Use
Access online from anywhere, any time
Easy to Use Program
Design on a Big Screen
View and Design with all Cricut Cartridges
Search easily to find the right images
Digitally stores all your cartridges and projects
Windows and Mac compatible
Explore exclusive online content
Cuts with any Cricut Machine

Go to http://www.cricut.com/craftroom/default.html#introduction and try it out yourself now!! :)
I've been playing and LOVE it!

Customer service stories to share

2011-11-10T14:17:00.001-04:00

This is a copy of a message I sent out to all my cutting groups on yahoo as well as to the sellers.

I just wanted to post this about my recent experience with cricutmachine.com for those looking to buy anything from them. This ended with a good outcome please read on....
I also have a bad outcome story about an eBay purchase from proudparents2005 to share.

Just a little update to add to this.. I cc'd both of these companies emails on this message and got the following reply from cricutmachine.com:
Thank you for contacting CricutMachine.

We appreciate the great review you gave us. We have forwarded this on to our managment team.

Please let us know if you have any further questions.

Have a great day!

CricutMachine.com Customer Support
151 East 3450 North
Spanish Fork Utah 84660
Toll Free: 1-877-343-2881
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm MST
sales@cricutmachine.com

I had ordered a deal from them On October 19, 2011 (reconditioned cricut expression with 4 cartridge bundle for $59.99) with tax and shipping came to $109.08 to be shipped to Canada. actually had it shipped to my mother in law not me as it was going to be an early Christmas gift for her.

I teach cricut classes as well and had posted to lots of groups and my classes about this deal. A few others ordered it too. When I had heard they all got theirs I called my mother in law only to discover she still didn't have hers. I gave it an extra 2 weeks since she lives in a remote location and often takes much longer. Still had not arrived....
Checked the tracking number provided only to discover that FedEx had no record of picking up that tracking number. I called the cricutmachine.com customer service and was told that it appeared as though they never actually shipped it. She was very apologetic and offered to refund my money. I insisted I really didn't want the money just the product. I was told that there were only 3 left in stock and they may or may not be already promised to other customers... They would have to contact their shipping department and get back to me. If they were however they would refund my money plus issue a $20 credit to be used on a future order. I told them not to bother as if I did not receive my product that I ordered and was given a shipping confirmation for weeks ago I would not order from them again and would make sure I told everyone I could think of of the bad service, since they still have machines for sale that the correct thing to do for me would be to ship an equivalent. They said they'd check first and send me an email within the new few days.
I never did get an email however yesterday afternoon FedEx showed up at my address with the product I had ordered directly from provocraft instead of cricutmachine.com. I still now need to ship it to my mother in law on the other side of the country (I didn't bother to call and see if they'd fix this since this is not a problem for me as we are going to visit her Anyway and I can just bring it with us) but I received a replacement shipment.
I am quite happy with this outcome, and knowing that they will have some great black Friday sales coming up I wanted to share that they definitely have good customer service and I wouldn't hesitate to order from them again (and when their sale start at midnight this Friday I will be checking it out for sure!!)

My proud parents story is not so good. I ordered a rolling tote bag, a cartridge tote bag and a gypsy bundled with all the accessories and the destination cartridge. It took them a week to send me my combined invoice which I paid immediately, another 4 days to ship it. It was September 14 when I received a USPS tracking number from them as shipping confirmation. I still haven't received the product!! I have written them 7 or more emails through eBay and directly to them asking them for info on it (I never assume its the sellers fault, often customs delays shipments for crazy amounts of time) USPS can't track their shipments to the US border with the label number as it is just something the shipper prints off, they still have to take it to the drop box and pay for it. They need the shipper to provide the confirmation number they were given at the drop box to track it. In order to get this I'd need them to respond to me!!! I opened a dispute through PayPal and sent 3 more messages requesting info on my shipment through PayPal.... No response! I upgraded the dispute to a claim. PayPal contacted them and received no response so I got my money back from PayPal yesterday.
I have heard lots if good stories about this eBay seller but also lots of bad. I would say if you order anything from them make sure you keep an eye on your PayPal timeframes for opening a dispute so you can get a refund if it never shows!

Oh and YES I am copying this message to both of these sellers as well as posting it on my blog, Facebook and telling my classes!

Okay, that's my rant for today!! LOL

Need your help

2011-11-04T08:07:00.001-03:00

Okay so I entered to win a gypsy at http://scrappercreations.blogspot.com and I'm in 3rd place. If my wonderful readers could go click like by my name on her sidebar I'd really appreciate it. I'm planning to use the gypsy as a prize for my wonderful customers!

November 13 Christmas cards on the cricut class at Carousel

2011-11-03T05:32:00.001-03:00

Come join me at Carousel Rubber Stamps "http://www.carouselrubberstamps.com" for a card class (cost $20) on November 13, 2011.
All 3 cards use the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart which you can order here "https://darlah.myctmh.com/Retail/Product.aspx?ItemID=6168&CatalogID=1740" and read lots more about in my previous posts.

The Santa card is an easel card and the whole "layer" is completely glitter with a stamped image of Santa.. and yes with the exception of the red card base it's all 1 piece!!! The pictures don't do it justice.

All the pieces in all the cards were cut with the cartridge (except the plain card base of the poinsettia card).

Here are the cards we'll be making...

Double winner!!

2011-11-02T23:31:00.001-03:00

Oh my goodness I am SO excited!!!!!
If you follow my blog at all you know that I REALLY wanted the mymemories suite software "http://mymemories.com" (use code STMMMS60098 to save $10 on it if you want it too). Well, I asked DH for it for Christmas and luckily he didn't buy it for me yet since I was also entering contests EVERYWHERE to win it too! Anyways, I was lucky enough to win not 1 but 2 of those contests. I told the second one (Kathy) that I won that I had already won it (from Sharon) but knew my wonderful mother in law who is always making us handmade cards, printing pictures off of my kids and her other grandchildren would love to have it too. She was gracious enough to let me give my prize to her. Thank you so much Kathy "http://www.kathysdouble-k-krafts.blogspot.com/" !!!!

Please take a moment to check out both Kathy's "http://www.kathysdouble-k-krafts.blogspot.com/" and Sharon's "http://rsmobleysdesigns.blogspot.com/"blogs!

Kathy also told me that she also shares free pages on her blog each week so make sure you go check that out too if you're a digiscrapper or just looking for some inspiration! :)

Want to win a YUDU card shop?

2011-10-31T12:32:00.001-03:00

I know I do!! If I don't though I'd love it to be one of my blog readers!!!
Check out http://christyssliceolife.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-first-give-way-yudu-cardshop.html
And join in on her first blog giveaway!
Who knows you might just be chosen as the winner.

Christmas stamps for $5???? Yup!!

2011-10-28T00:03:00.001-03:00

So who loves Christmas stamps??? Who loves being able to cut out the shapes on their cricut first and save their hands from hand cutting?? Me me!!! I am so excited to tell you about Novembers deal with CTMH. It's a beautiful Christmas stamp set that coordinates with the cricut cartridge!!

Starting TODAY, October 27th 2011, until November 30, 2011.
When you place a minimum order of $25 in my Acrylix Stamp sets, you can add a new D-size Holiday Wishes stamp set (CC1015) for only $5.
Half the images coordinate with the Cricut® Art Philosophy collection, so you will be all set to create quick and easy handmade gifts and cards for the holidays.

This is in addition to the usual Stamp of The Month that is available for $5.50 with a $55 order. I'm including a picture of Octobers Stamp of the month too since you still have a few days left to get this one.

2011-10-27T00:00:00.001-03:00

Who doesn't love giveaways right?!?!
Go check out
http://craftyfoxcards.blogspot.com/2011/10/candy.html
For some yummy candy!!!

Also if you want to please go to
http://scrappercreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/win-gypsy.html
Click "like" by my name! If I win it, I already own one and plan to give it to one of my customers or class attendees in a drawing, so if you go to any of my classes or have ordered anything from me (or plan to) than you want me to win this for you!!!

My Memories Suite software... Need your input?!

2011-10-25T08:57:00.001-03:00

Could I be a scrapbooker after all???

Well since I now have my 2 year old and 2 month old now I'm finding myself more and more wishing I enjoyed scrapbooking. I don't want to just put the kids photos in a book, and I cannot imagine paying someone else to do it for me when I have all the supplies necessary already.....
I've looked into Digi scrapping before since I know how to use Photoshop a bit but the idea of scouring the net for embellishments and masks to use or spending endless hours making my own just does NOT appeal to me! Is much rather spend the time with my family or making other papercrafts in my "spare time" (whatever that is lol).

I've seen tons of scrapbooking software out there but they all seem to not quite get me excited enough to try them. Either they are limited to their own pages and elements or you can add your own in but you have to track them all down or create them first (at which point I may as well just stick with Photoshop right?).
Anyways long story short (like I know how to really do that... Yeah right!!) I came across this software and am actually thinking "have they met me? How did they know I needed this??"

It has layouts in the software and even pre designed albums (themed of course), lots of embellishments to choose from and you can customize all the pre done stuff too so you're not stuck with their exact layout or choice of embellishment. I know I know theres other software out there that has this ... But it also has a whole store full of new layouts, masks, embellishments, themed kits and often freebie ones there too. That's not why I think it's for me though... This is: it has the ability to open one of their pre designed albums and then just click on the lazy button (just kidding it's not called that) seriously though it has a quick fill or auto fill (not sure of the exact wording) feature so you pick the file on your computer with the pictures you want in that album (Christmas pictures or summer pictures etc etc etc) and it will fill the album in for you placing horizontal and vertical pictures in appropriate openings. You can either just leave it like that and be done a whole album in minutes OR you can then play around with it and mice stuff around, delete things, change the embellishments etc etc. You can even add audio!!! So a baby album with audio of baby laughing or babbling or Christmas album narrated with some favourite moments. You can leave it digital or print it. You can use it to print cards, calendars etc. You can then add traditional elements to them too if you want. Oh did I mention their website also has tutorials? I joined their Facebook page too and they have lots of great stuff posted there all the time too!

I think I will ask for it for Christmas from DH and the kids. Before I do though I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!!! Have any of you used this software before? Do you like/love/hate it? Tell me all the nitty gritty!!!

I signed up for newsletter and some other stuff and I have a discount code to share if you dint have it already and decide to get it too (yup a few people commented and messaged me and I am convinced now I think). Here's the code for you to use :
STMMMS60098

Use code STMMMS60098 at checkout to save $10

This will give you $10 off. There is also a $10 coupon in the software for more layouts or whatever from their site. So ends up being $29.99 for the program plus $10 worth of extra stuff. Yay!! Now I just have to convince DH that I need it early!!

More to come!!!

2011-10-23T14:52:00.001-03:00

This was a card class I did. The white card with the swirls is a complete scraplift from http://www.ustream.tv/channel/anns-crafts
Please check out Anns post for that one!! Thank you Ann for letting me use this idea!!

The rest are my own designs!
Everything on these cards (with the exception of the ribbon on the white card from Ann) is cut out on the cricut from the Art Philosophy cartridge!!

Can you see why I love this cartridge so much???

I will do a separate post for my designs.

Another shaped card!

2011-10-23T14:16:00.001-03:00

Okay so this is yet another card entirely made from the Art Philosophy cartridge!

I haven't added a sentiment yet because it is such a versatile card that you could make a bunch of these and just have them on hand then simply stamp an appropriate sentiment when you need a quick card! It's also versatile enough that you could give this to an adult or a kid. You can change up the colours and make it more whimsical too.

You can order this cartridge through me at https://darlah.myctmh.com

Right from the idea book.. With a little twist

2011-10-23T14:10:00.001-03:00

You can actually see this exact design in the idea book so why did I make it and am posting it right??
Well.... The big difference between mine and the one in the idea book is that mine is entirely done with the cricut cartridge whereas the one in the idea book uses the bought shaped cards.

I like that you can duplicate this without having to spend money on costly shaped cards! Heck you could even use a different shaped card if you wanted I just wanted to see if I could duplicate the one from the idea book and... You can!!
You can order this cartridge and lots of other coordinating stamps (like that holly leaf and the label stamp) here: https://darlah.myctmh.com

Look at my post http://stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/2011/10/art-philosophy-coordinating-stamps.html from yesterday to learn all about the cheat sheets that I make just for my customers!!

Flowers flowers everywhere!!

2011-10-23T01:08:00.001-03:00

Just thought I'd show a little assortment of the 3D flowers from the new Art Philosophy cartridge (of course). These are spiral flowers meaning they cut out as a spiral (like the ones shown around the flowers) then you simply roll them up and glue them down on the little circle in the center.

SUPER easy!!
Oh and the brown and ivory speckled ones?? Yup, they're cut from MATERIAL!! I simply stiffened my fabric (an old curtain that was kicking around from one of my DHs uncles or his Dads room as a kid it has antique cars pictured on it but I just cut in between them for the mist part) with "Stiffy" fabric stiffener. You just paint it on. I let it dry overnight and then cut it out.
I use painters tape to tape anything other than cardstock down to my may around the edges to make sure it doesn't shift.
Only had to do a multicut of 2, and I just used a regular blade. Didn't even bother to slow the speed down either. :)

Don't forget you can order this cartridge from me here: https://darlah.myctmh.com

Gift bag from Art Philosophy cartridge

2011-10-22T23:19:00.001-03:00

Okay so sure there's some boxes and a regular gift bag ON the cartridge but how about one made from one of the label shapes???

I cut one of the many label shapes from the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge and measured 3/4 inches from center on the long side each way and scored a line. Then I measured the same distance in from each edge on the short side and scored. Fold up and you get a cute little gift bag!!
I have done this before with my Spellbinders grand label dies but this is so much easier!!!
To get the white edge like you would with a spellbinder die simple cut the same shape a little smaller and then use the negative over your bigger cutout and sponge ink onto it through the opening. (hope this makes sense).

I finished it off with a strip of red and a 3D flower (there are 6 different ones on the cartridge and they take less than a minute to assemble!).

I made this at the demonstration day for Carousel Rubber Stamps for something to do in between people watching the actual demonstration of the cricut itself.

Oh and I couldn't help but add the picture of that cute little girl I cut from the once upon a princess cartridge out of magnet forever ago! I have been making these cuties up to package up as gifts for all the little girls I know. They are cut from magnetic sheets from the dollar store (they have adhesive on top meant to stick a photo onto so you can just stick your cardstock down on it!). I plan to cut the clothes to fit the dolls to go in the package too and the girls can "dress" them up. :)

Art Philosophy coordinating stamps

2011-10-22T23:03:00.001-03:00

Okay so if you've talked to me at all lately you know I am in LOVE with the new Close To My Heart Art Philosophy cricut cartridge... So much so that I signed up as a consultant!
I can honestly say that since I've gotten this cartridge I have not touched my other ones, and not because I was trying to only use this one but because every time I thought "now what cartridge has that shape" id realize that it was on this cartridge too!!
It has circles, ovals, squares, rectangles, scalloped versions of all of them, tags, label shapes (normally I would have to dig my Spellbinders out for these), assorted leaves, branches, birds, shaped cards, frames, stockings/socks, poinsettias, holly, ornaments, cards with images cut out of the front, flowers (both flat and 3D spiral ones.... Which I'm in love with!!), boxes, envelopes and lots more!!!

Anyways as much as I love this cartridge and the fact that it has stamps that coordinate to fit perfectly with some of the shapes (well that just puts it over the top!!! ) I was a little disappointed. Let me explain....
The stamp sets have the size each image needs to be cut at right on the sheet they are stuck to (however it is written REALLY tiny) but it doesn't tell you which shape in the handbook it is. This becomes time consuming a bit when youre using it constantly since there are 700 shapes in the cartridge to look through to find it! Soooooo... I thought well I am just going to make a cheat sheet for myself. I was so pleased with how it turned out and I thought well... I already took the time to find them all so I'm certainly not going to let anyone that orders from me spend all that time again.

Long story short I am sending already made up cheat sheets to anyone that orders through me for the stamp sets that come with the cartridge. If it's another stamp set that coordinates and I have it or you're local and have it shipped to my address than I will do one for those sets too. (I make them line up perfect with the actual stamp set so I actually need the set in order to do this).

I have all the shapes cut out of white (and stamped in black if it's a set I own) then they have repositionable adhesive on them so you can take them off the cheat sheet and place on your project to see if you like that image/shape there or not and gave an idea of how it will look. When you pull the shape off it reveals a cheat sheet underneath (see the maple leaf)... It will tell you what row and column on the keypad the button is for the shape and also if you need to press shift and/or any feature keys; it will also say what size to cut it at! Yay!!! I also stamp the non coordinating things in the stamp sets (like sentiments and such) on the black part in white ink. This whole thing slides right into your stamp envelope with your stamps so that it's all together or you can take it out and store elsewhere for quick reference if you prefer. Since the whole set is stamped you can still see the whole set through the packaging on the cheat sheet.

More of a visual person like me... How about some pictures of what I'm talking about???

Here are the pictures of the stamps that come with the cartridge (3 stamp sets plus 3 packages of chipboard shapes that coordinate with cuts from the cartridge come with it).

You can order from me here:
https://darlah.myctmh.com

The reason for a lack of posts

2011-10-21T21:55:00.001-03:00

I just thought I'd share a couple pictures of why you haven't seen any recent posts from me. We also lost my dear father in law after his 4 1/2 year battle with cancer on August 27.
The picture with both kids is my 2 1/2 year old angel with his little sister the day she was born (August 2) and the other of just her is one I took just a couple hours ago. The 2nd 3rd and 4th pictures are what I am so proud of my DH for making lately. He created this carving out of acrylic to use as a temporary headstone for his Dad. I think he would be proud don't you?? The darker one is holding it up to a light source (in this case the sun outside)

I've still been doing cricut classes and creating things and was even honoured to be able to participate in Carousel Rubber Stamps 17th birthday demo day last weekend. It was a blast!!!
Unfortunately for my blog friends though something had to give and so I haven't been blogging.

New stamp of the month

2011-10-03T23:28:00.001-03:00

Each month you can enjoy a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5.50—that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $55 CAN or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Oh and even though this stamp doesn't have the lines around it it actually DOES coordinate with the Art Philosophy cricut cartridge!! My customers will get my usual cutout cheat sheet template with this set if ordered through me, with all stamp shapes cut out in same layout as the stamp set to slide right into the envelope with the stamp set. Images stamped on white cut outs in black ink (for high contrast to see it better) on removable adhesive in the curious of the layout and image location on keypad with size written behind it. :) I promise to show pics of this on my blog soon... Have to find the camera or steal DHs iPhone.

If you have a Cricut you need to get your hands on our new Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge! If you aren't convinced then you need to check out Jeanette Lynton's blog everyday this month where she will be sharing a new art project featuring a different Cricut shape every day. That’s right: thirty-one days, thirty-one pieces of artwork, each highlighting a different fabulous shape from the Art Philosophy collection! Here is the first shape - and don't forget to check Jeanette's blog http://www.jeanettelynton.com/ for the next 30 shapes!

Also, if you were thinking of signing up as a consultant... Now's the time!! This month you get a FREE add-on kit of your choice! Yay!!

Up a creek without a paddle???

2011-09-20T17:51:00.001-03:00

Sorry couldn't resist about the title. ;)
I got a call last night asking if I could cut some letters to go on a canoe paddle as a goodbye gift for a good friend of mines boss.
Usually easy peasy but of course he wanted to put it on a sanded paddle and then varnish over it a few coats so it would stand up to regular use... Oh and needed it totally finished to give to his boss on Wednesday which meant he dropped it off on his way to work and needed to pick it up on the way home. I also was already committed with a meeting with my CTMH upline from 930-11am and did I mention I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 7 week old as well. Lol
Still not really a problem until I realized the logistics of putting paper letters on it (since I already knew I was out of vinyl). I do this all the time but normally I just cut it "flipped" weed out what I don't want leaving my words backwards on the cutting mat, apply glue and lay my project over it and press it on.
Well... Can't really do that with a canoe paddle because I wanted absolute perfect letter placement and you can't "trim" a paddle to square it up again. Lol

Luck for me I found some left over chalkboard vinyl from a previous project. EXACTLY enough to do it.... No pressure but only one chance to cut it right!!! Lol
Good thing this friend of mine is awesome!!! He has done so much for me, especially when my DH was away on trips (he's in the navy). Him and his wife have become our closest friends over the last few years.
Anyways, in the end it turned out fantastic!!! The company logo is a sticker he had that he gave me a couple of when he dropped off the paddle. It cut just the right size the very first time and picked up and laid down perfect... Phew!!!! It's now sitting by the front door awaiting him for when he gets off work. :)
I will post more pictures after he varnishes it too. :)
What do you think?

Birthday card for my mom

2011-09-19T23:17:00.001-03:00

So my moms birthday was in March... So I'm really late posting this and honestly hadn't realized I didn't yet until a coworker of mine who I had shown the pictures of it went looking for it here to see it again, couldn't find it and asked me to see it again. Oops.
I promise to get better at this whole posting thing... Really!!! Lol
I bought this cut file but I won't tell you where as I wasn't impressed... This end result is only after countless hours tweaking the file!!! The round part was jagged at first and the doors didn't match up perfectly and the part that goes between the front and back to give it dimension well... After cutting 5 or 6 then manually cutting them amd gluing sections of them and UGH now I remember why I didn't post this... By the time I finished it I just had no desire to look at it any more to write the post!

Well, in the end after all my fixing I was very happy with the result!!

Best cricut cartridge ever!!!!!

2011-09-19T23:01:00.001-03:00

I just wanted to let you all know about the new Art Philosophy cartridge bundle by Close To My Heart for the cricut.
I am in love!!! So much so that I was sure that others would be too and signed up as a consultant so that when people ask in my "how to use the cricut" classes where they could get it my answer could be really simple... "from me!!"

This cartridge has it all!! 2 fonts, tons of shapes (including label shapes similar to the spellbinder ones we all love), tags, cards (beautiful shaped ones as well as ones with great cut outs in them great for revealing your stamped sentiment on the inside of the card), boxes, borders, paper lace and my favourite..... Rolled roses!!!!
Included with the cartridge are 3 yup 3!!! Stamp sets that coordinate with the shapes (there are more coordinating stamp sets available but these 3 come with it).
It also comes with some chipboard shapes that also coordinate so you can dimensionalize your project.

What?? You want to SEE the images??? I knew you would... So I'm putting the pictures at the end of this post!!

To order this great bundle you can order it directly from my site https://darlah.myctmh.com (just click shop online and then cricut collection) or send me an email!

Want to order more than just the bundle (like some of the other coordinating stamps)? Don't order online!!! Contact me about your order and let me place it for you as you will most likely qualify for some more free product!!! You can even host a gathering (and it can be online only if you want or we can have a real get together and have some crafty fun in person) and send invites to your crafty friends and if they order anything then you'll qualify for even more great stuff.... If they order enough then you might even be able to get you cricut bundle 50% off!!!
Just figured I'd throw it out there so you'd know as I wouldn't want anyone to miss that opportunity if it was available.

I also make cheat sheets that are just awesome if I do say so myself for the coordinating stamps just for my customer!!!! See my other post here > http://stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/2011/10/art-philosophy-coordinating-stamps.html

Anyways, enough babble and onto what you've been waiting for... The pictures!!!!

SewDelish: How To Tutorial - Printing and Organising My Cricut Cartridge Handbooks

2011-05-26T16:24:00.000-03:00

SewDelish: How To Tutorial - Printing and Organising My Cricut Cartridge Handbooks

I love this for organising cricut handbooks!! Go check it out. :)

Legoman placecards

2011-05-19T17:08:00.001-03:00

These are the placecards I made for the wedding I'm standing in for my friend in Friday. The wedding is Lego and concert themed. The tables instead of numbers are bands and she did scrapbook pages of concerts they've been to so instead of sitting at table 9 you sit at table metallica and it's a scrapbook page with pictures of them at the concert and a little write up about it.

I made 88 in total and there are 7 different Legoman pictures. The top of the block is embossed with an embossing folder I made from a piece of cereal box. She's putting a couple little Lego block candies in each box as well.

Very happy with how they turned out!!

I have the file in WPC, DXF, KNK and .STUDIO so far...

Please do NOT share this file without my permission, however feel free to send anyone here to my blog to download it for themselves. For personal use ONLY!!!!!!

I may be able to convert to another format if you want it... just ask and I'll try.

Please do NOT share this file without my permission, however feel free to send anyone here to my blog to download it for themselves. For personal use ONLY!!!!!!

Next class scheduled

2011-05-06T15:47:00.000-03:00

Just an update on the cricut classes.
The next class is scheduled for May 28 @ 1pm at Carousel Rubber Stamps in Dartmouth. This will be the absolute beginner one again for those that missed it.

Also for the extra advanced people out there I have received a copy of Fairycuts software to teach those who might be interested. I Wouldve taught MTC or SCAL but MTC is no longer available for the cricut and SCAL is probably not around much longer for it. I currently use another program for my other cutters called Funtime and it is an almost identical program to fairycuts and I LOVE it!! Very user friendly, lots of features, tutorials, etc etc etc. If you were looking to get a 3rd party software I would suggest doing it sooner rather than layer as provocraft I'm sure will be suing fairycuts before we know it as well. A warning for it though, it is not sanctioned by provocraft which means if they win their lawsuits and those 3rd party softwares are taken off the market you will probably run into problems if you update your cricut firmware downthe road (which you need to do if you use Design Studio of the soon to be released cricut craft room as new cartridges come out and you want to use them withthe cricut programs or they wont show up in the programs). If you're not concerned about the ability to use new cartridges as they get released with the cricut software (you will still be able to use them in the machine alone) then you won't have any issues.

How to use your Cricut class

2011-04-17T16:35:00.000-03:00

Do you live in Halifax/Dartmouth area? Do you own a cricut machine but either don't know how to use it or are looking for more ways to use it? Have something specific you want to learn, etc???
I am teaching cricut classes now at Carousel Rubber Stamps in Dartmouth and would love to help getting you to use your machine more!!!

Please email myself darlamcc@eastlink.ca or contact Carousel 902-464-9474 for more info or to let them know you're interested and exactly what you're looking to learn at a class. We need this info as I am trying to tailor the classes to those who want them.

There has already been 2 classes for the absolute beginner who has a machine but is not sure where to start. This class covers basics like keeping your mat useable for a long time, changing blades, how to use a cartridge and which buttons to press to get it to cut everything you can from the cartridges, what orientation to expect the images to cut, how to adjust the size for what you want... It also covers how to cut your layered images so the fit together properly. Lots more is covered in the class but it truly is a "basic" class and is not intended for more experienced users. This class will be offered again if there is enough people interested. You will see how to create a simple card with a layer during this class as well.

I am in the process of developing the second class in this series for the next step.... So far I will be including topics such as your extra function buttons and when/why to use them (these are the fit to page,fit to length, auto fill, quantity, etc buttons as well as the multicut feature, center point, etc. Basically all of those buttons between the display and the keyboard overlay.

Looking to develop more advanced classes as well... Perhaps a class on using Design Studio?? Maybe you know how to use the machine but are looking for ideas we could do a class on making embossing folders from cereal boxes? Maybe you want to see other materials cut such as magnet, vinyl, chipboard, stencil plastic, acetate, etc with some tips and tricks??

The classes will be made to suit those interested so speak up!!!!! :)

Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop

2011-04-09T07:00:00.025-03:00

Welcome to my Blog and the Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop! If you've come from visiting Kacee - http://youhadmeatscrap.blogspot.com/ , you're in the right place. If you were just looking at my blog and want to play along with our blog hopping fun, you can start at the beginning at http://nadiasbeautifulmess.blogspot.com/. This blog hop is all about creating something sweet for your Easter celebrations. We hope you find inspirations and plenty of ideas to spice up your holiday :)

Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a baker or cook of any sort for that matter so..... a paper cupcake it is. I kept the colours very Easter like (there was supposed to be more Easter themed stuff for this post but well... more on that later), although with this sentiment it could really be used for all sorts of things. Most was done with my craft robo cutter (exceptions of the sentiment - Gina K. Designs, and the punched border - Fiskars oh and the image was coloured in with my memento markers although the image itself was drawn with my craft robo sketch pen). The designs are not my originals but are from the Silhouette online store silhouetteonlinestore.com .

I have to tell you though that I did TRY to bake real cupcakes with my 2 year old this week for the hop.... but they didn't "puff" up properly (probably because he kept eating the batter so they weren't as full as they should've been to begin with LOL) and then we tried a batch of cookies.... but we had a potty emergency and they got just a little too close to burnt for me to want to take a picture and post. The cupcakes were going to be those really cute ones with the little nests on top made of aero bar pieces and mini eggs.

We also decorated some real eggs that I was going to place around the project as decoration however.... well... lets just say I didn't think smashed egg shells in different colours would have the same effect! Also, my DH had a nail bounce through the side of the pieces of wood he was nailing together for our new linen closet he's making and through 1 finger into the bone of the next so after a full day in emerg having xrays taken and then having them yank it out and what have you I just didn't have time to make new ones to replace the smashed egg shells with. He is just fine by the way although his pride is very hurt and he's mad at himself more than anything. He was determined to finish the project this weekend and now will not be using his hand at all this weekend.

Well.. that's enough babble from me.... here's my project: (make sure you check out ALL the stops on the hop... you might find some candy along the way )

Here's one of the cupcake out of the wrapper.

I hope you enjoyed my project. Thank you for visiting my blog. Your next stop is Amber - http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/ . Below is a list of all blog participants in case you get lost:

Nadia - http://nadiasbeautifulmess.blogspot.com/

Giselle - http://crossmyheartpapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Donna - http://donnasdreamworks.blogspot.com/

Yolonda - http://www.craftyscentiments.blogspot.com/

Jennifer - http://www.craftycardgallery.blogspot.com/

Kim - http://rickettscricuts.blogspot.com/

Damaris - http://www.latinnydoll.blogspot.com/

Melanie - http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com/

Jazmin - http://JazzysCards.blogspot.com/

Monica (Stampin Daisies) - http://www.stampindaisies.com/

Gabriela - http://www.sheinksalot.blogspot.com/

Kacee - http://youhadmeatscrap.blogspot.com/

Darla - http://www.stampingunderdoctorsorders.blogspot.com/ <-----YOU ARE HERE!!

Amber - http://pixiperfectcreations.blogspot.com/

Sylvia - http://www.bellascrapbookdesigns.blogspot.com/

Monica F- http://simplycricutting.blogspot.com/

Rebecca - http://www.creationswithbecka.blogspot.com/

Carrie - http://paperglitterstamps.blogspot.com/

Patricia - http://creativediva98.blogspot.com/

Go check out the lily pad blog hop and chance at some prizes!!

2011-03-28T21:48:00.000-03:00

There’s a new challenge blog in town with articles, swaps, interviews, videos, challenges, great prizes and MORE! Check out Lily Pad Cards! [Link: http://www.lilypad.inlinkz.com/]

baby shower creations

2011-02-14T19:45:00.001-04:00

These are pictures of the favours I made for a friend of mine to give out to all her guests (to save on having to write out thank you notes with a newborn to look after). I cut them on my craftrobo digital cutter, sprayed them with glimmer mist. The inside is stamped with a little "Thank you for your kindness" in a circle with a little flower in the senter in coordinating ink, and there is a tea light in each one. I made 40 and there were only 6 left, we were very pleased that everyone actually took one.

The other pictures are for the watermelon stroller fruit salad I made for her... very similar to the one I made a couple years ago for another friend.

The little one that this shower was for was born December 16 (12 days early) and my son calls her his "girlfriend". He's VERY taken with her!!

Birthday card for Dejah

2011-02-14T19:41:00.001-04:00

So you all know how much I love carousel rubber stamps.. anyways this was the birthday card I made for Dejah (the owner). She has been so inspiring to me with all her little demos, tricks, tips and classes. I love how all the staff are so knowledgeable and you can go in there ask a question and get an answer and often even a demonstration on how to do it.. or they will pull some product to try it out for you if they're not really sure. LOVE IT!!

Anyways, this card was made kissing two large stamps together in different shades. The butterflies are actually cornflowers with the stem and the center of the flower cut off stamped on acetate and then stuck on using some viva decor... I had to prop the butterfly wings up until it dried but was happy with how it turned out.

Valentines Card for my little guy!

2011-02-14T19:20:00.000-04:00

I made this card for my 2 year old for Valentines day!! He liked it so much he didn't want to open his present (well at least for a few seconds haha). :)
The stamps are Gina K (Train is from Life is Good set by Theresa Momber and the label is from Lovely Labels set by Nina Bracket) and the sentiment is hand-written (in case that wasn't totally obvious lol).
I used some watercolour crayons to colour the train and some distress inks for the sky and ground (stormy sky and vintage photo).

glitter ribbons valentines card

2011-02-14T19:17:00.000-04:00

This is the valentines card I sent to my in laws. It's coloured with copics (the only colours I own). The strip on the left is using the glitter ribbon technique and since it is completely glitter is very sparkly but doesn't show up on camera at all!!!

Oh... did you know you can stamp on glitter after the fact?!?!?! You can also watercolour on it after the fact too... FYI a very fun and addicting technique!

Stamps are Gina K.

Father in laws birthday card

2011-02-14T19:14:00.001-04:00

I decided to use these images and sentiment together for my father-in-laws birthday card since he lives in Saskatchewan (a very flat land-locked province) and is from here in Nova Scotia a very hilly/mountainous province that is almost completely surrounded by ocean. There is a very small section of land keeping us from being an island.

I was happy with how this card came together.

A QUICK sympathy card

2011-02-14T19:10:00.001-04:00

This is a sympathy card I literally threw together since we weren't aware the person had passed away until half way through the visitation and it was my husbands great aunt and my MIL's aunt and godmother so I rushed this together and then ran it over to the funeral home as fast as I could. I actually didn't make it in time for the visitation but at least made it before the funeral home closed its doors for the day so it did make it in with the other cards.

May all your dreams come true

2011-02-14T19:07:00.001-04:00

This is actually a combo of pictures of 2 different cards I made.. the first one just says Happy Birthday on the inside and was for a friend of ours 7 year olds birthday... then a few days later I was making a birthday card for my nieces first birthday and thought I like that card so much I'd make it again, except I had also been playing with some of Melanie's stamps and realized how perfect the rose from pressed flowers watermarked over this verse from Say it with flowers for the inside instead of just Happy Birthday. :)

I was REALLY happy with how this turned out and I think I will be making this card again soon for a cousins 2 year old birhday soon.

The fairy is actually very sparkly as her dress and wings are watercoloured with sakura stardust pens. I love how images look when done this way!!

She is popped up on foam dots over this gorgeous meshy ribbon I had laying around that I HAD to buy forever ago because I liked it so much, All the writing plus the fairy image itself is done with copper embossing powder and the upside-down flower she's sitting on was stamped with a coloured ink (I think it might have been memento but I'm not sure how I managed to spread the colour fast enough if it was memento) and then brushed with a waterbrush to spread the ink into the image for a watercolour effect.

Fathers Day (last year)

2011-02-14T18:59:00.000-04:00

Wow... I am SO behind in posting.. I just actually decided not to post a whole pile of cards... along with any other cards that I did in classes (in other words not my original designs) which means right off the bat there are probable 20 or more cards in the last couple months... and they are stunning! Perhaps if I lack in blog posts at a later date I'll come back and post them. haha

Anyways.. these were made for Fathers day last year. I made 3 of them. One each for DH, FIL and my step-father. The bottle is totally Melanie Muenchingers idea and she had posted how to do it. I used a starbucks frappucino bottle for one and a couple of bath salt bottles from the dollar store that I took the bath salts out of and re-purposed the bottle for this. It is the coolest thing!!!!! I must say though that if you spill baby oil all over your laminate floor it is NOT fun to clean up!! haha

Multiple step stamping

2011-02-14T18:54:00.001-04:00

I ordered some stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps which are multi step stamping to achieve the look seen on the flowers... it's a bunch of stamps that you layer on top of each other in various shades of colour.

I'm please with how they look but not sure how much these will get used.

My craft cabinet!!

2011-02-14T18:52:00.001-04:00

So this is still a work in progress. My wonderful darling talented husband made this for me after I showed him a picture of one from a very popular scrap organizer cabinet company.

It needs sanding on all the edges still and paint. It will be painted with magnetic primer and then chocolate brown chalkboard paint on the back for my son and a neutral colour on the rest.Thinking of putting whiteboard paint on the inside sides of the door which only show if the cabinet is open so I can write notes or sketch and erase or whatever.... maybe I'll do that in chalkboard paint too.. we'll see. :)

May your birthday be magical

2011-02-14T18:36:00.001-04:00

This is a card I made for a friend of mine. It is coloured with just about every different colouring medium I had at the time.

There is lots of sparkle on this card too but the picture doesn't show.

Lots of new stuff being posted

2011-02-14T18:21:00.005-04:00

These first 3 are from a twinkling H20 class I took at Carousel Rubber Stamps.. the same place that Faye works from the video of the mini cuttlebug roses I posted.

This last card is last years Christmas card (I know REALLY old!!) It was originally a make and take from Carousel... can you tell I really like it there?? The top version is the one we made there and the 2nd one is the one I mass produced for my Christmas cards.

So I realized how many cards I have now that aren't posted so I am on a posting frenzy to get myself caught up since I intend to make ALOT more cards this year (and so far it's going alright). I'm going to keep my details short and to the point so if you have questions just ask.

Gorgeous mini roses!!!!

2011-01-30T23:31:00.000-04:00

This video is made by one of my all time favourite crafters. She works at "Carousel Rubber Stamps" in Dartmouth, NS Canada and just always comes up with some of the most amazing things. She has been demoing this locally since the store got their "demo" product. Needless to say provocraft was stunned at their first few orders and how many of the daisy quilling kits they wanted to order!!! Faye finally got someone to video it so she could share it with others outside of in-store clients.

Anyways check it out!! The video doesn't do them near the justice they deserve. These are gorgeous!!!

Oh the stores website is carouselrubberstamps.com

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5u0jfPaMo8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Darla Haverstock
Sent from my iPod

You make my heart sing!!

2011-01-25T15:27:00.002-04:00

Just got my stamps and couldn't resist inking these two sets up together!!

Ink is sweet plum.

The hands are coloured with EOO and E51 (the only 2 skin tones I could find when I went to buy some copics to use with this set) and the pink heart is R20.

Paper is pure luxury white layering weight, the purple colour from the sent with love kit (I think it's wine with everything but without going to my paper stash right now to double check that's my guess) and some patterned paper from the kit too.

Love how this turned out and how quick it came together!! :)

Oh the stamp sets I used are Nina's new gleefully yours set and melanie's new where your heart is set both from ginakdesigns.

Go check it out... Video of my fave technique!!

2011-01-18T21:51:00.005-04:00

Okay so if you've received a birthday card or thank you card from me this past year you've seen one of Melanie M's stamps that I am absolutely in love with. Anyways a technique made with this set "arranged with love" made it on PBS tv (your card may have even used this technique since it's one of my fave techs).
To see all the details and a second video as well go check out Melanies post about it here http://melaniemuenchinger.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-tv-not-stv-this-time-tee-vee.html

Then come back and tell me what you think, just cause I'm curious if anyone else loves this as much as I do!! If you do make sure you post/blog about it too and you could win one of Melanies new sets not even released yet!!!

Crafting in Croatia: New Year Blog Candy Yay!! I won!!!

2011-01-04T22:16:00.001-04:00

I posted about this blog candy awhile back and guess what!?!?!? .... I won!!! Woohoo!! I am so excited to get to see some of Ninas hand dyed binding not to mention the other goodies and new stamp set. Thanks Nina!!!

Go check out Crafting in Croatia: New Year Blog Candy Nina is fabulous and always shares such wonderful inspiration on her blog!!

Forgotten Mother's Day card

2010-06-21T16:14:00.003-03:00

.Well.. I forgot to post this when I posted the box I made but this was the
mothers day card that went with it. I used the Smooch direct technique from
a Technique Junkies newsletter. It is very shimmery and lovely and you can sort of see it (but not really) in the close up of the corner!! :)

Stamp is Arranged with Love by Melanie Muenchinger and available at Gina K Designs.
The papers are papertemptress.

Thank you!!

2010-06-17T22:39:00.002-03:00

Wow! I have a lot of thank you's to write since I haven't posted in FOREVER!!

I have to thank Asela Hopkins for the wonderful stamp set and card from her blog candy... I haven't inked it up yet as I've been very busy with other things lately and haven't had the chance but it is calling my name as it is GORGEOUS!!

you can find the stamp set at Gina K Designs. I will try to get a picture of the card and post it too but it's just awesome!!

I have to thank Heather Lee Reppen for a beautiful thank you card and some flower embellies and a little stamp from donating to the CF foundation. Also for a wonderful stamp set and card that she sent for winning a blog candy she had.

A thanks to Trudy www.truesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com for her blog candy of 3 digi stamps and a set of digi papers from Cuddly Buddly designs and thanks to Kim from Cuddly Buddly for offering it.

I will thank Melanie Muenchinger in advance for the card she's sending for knowing how many times she was featured in CardMaker magazine (although I still missed one) as a blog candy.

I think I might be missing someone.... if I am my sincerest apologies. :)

Gina K. Designs Customer Blog Hop

2010-06-17T22:27:00.002-03:00

This card was inspired by a favourite memory of mine one summer when I was around 8 years old or so. My brother and I used to fight CONSTANTLY and one weekend my parents took us out with some friends of theirs on their boat.
It was lovely until about an hour or so in when the seas got really really rough and my parents sent us below deck where it was safe. The side I sat on had a wonderful view out the window of ocean life... my poor brother however had the view of sky one second and ocean the next he was SO sick!!! Me being the younger child who usually was the one to be picked on could not let this opportunity go to waste and reminded my brother of him being sea sick while his little sister handled it no problem many many many times. :)
Of course I would never tease him about it now that we are all grown up (or would I?? lol)!!

Details:
stamps: Enjoy the sunshine Stamp TV kit.
paper: PL White for card base and stamp part, PL chocolate brown and some shimmery blue stuff I had in my stash
ink: memento
other: raffia
The image is layered on pop dots

Mother's day box

2010-05-21T10:42:00.004-03:00

I made this box to put my mom's mother's day gift in. It was very easy using a template from My Time Made Easy. I did have to cut 2 more pieces to increase the height and stuck it inside and then used the ribbon to cover up the seam. I could have just changed the cut file before hand but since I didn't I decided waste not want not and used what I already had cut and added to it. The top was much easier to assemble than it looks. I was very nervous about it but it went together so easy!!!!

The rose on top is made from the rambling rose cut file from MTME as well. Lauren has a video on her blog on how to assembe the rose too hers turned ouit much better than mine but since this was my first attempt I was happy with it. Very easy and was a big hit with mom! Looks great!! The leaves are a MS punch, and 1 came unglued in transport and was lost so there are only 2 on it now instead of the 3 I originally put there. haha oh well.

I also gave the whole top rose and all a little spritz with some glimmer mist for some extra sparkle.

2010-02-23T22:22:00.003-04:00

Okay 3rd time is a charm I hope!!! I tried posting this twice already.. the first time internet explorer crashed and the 2nd my battery died before I could get to the cord.

I made this card today for my best friend while the kids were napping. When they got up we also made cards from them ( one is my 1 year old and the other is her 1 year old) where I brayered acrylic paint onto their hand and pressed onto the card front and since her little guy just would NOT open his hand back up once I put the paint on and I couldnt get a good hand print I did his foot print too. Then they coloured the inside and I wrote their names in crayon in each of their cards. She loved them.

Anyways, onto the card I'm actually posting haha.
The stamps are all from "Wishes and Dreams" by Alicia K. from Gina K. Designs.
The image is coloured with memento ink pads, Crayola IQ markers, elmers paintastic markers, and Touch marker (these are similar to copics). I muted all of th colours though by putting the colour onto an acrylic block and either watering it down for the ink pads, crayola and paintastic markers or using my colorless blender for the touch markers. I also couldn't resist adding a little glitter with my sakura pens too!!
Paper is Neenah white from papertemptress, pink from Michaels done with "metallic pop" technique from technique junkies, red is from a package of paper from the dollarstore that I've had for a long time.
The ribbon is either michaels or walmart... not sure as I've had it for so long.
Oh.. not sure if you can tell from the pic but the fairy's hair and a bit of her wing is sticking out beyond the circle as well... love this "outside the box" technique!!
Hope you like it!

A winnie the pooh dresser

2009-10-30T21:22:00.002-03:00

I had done this about 6 or 7 years ago and had it in my own room since I LOVE winnie the pooh!! Everytime someone came in my moms house and saw my room they always questioned my mom as to how they thought her kids were grown up... haha guess it made the room look like it belonged to a small child.. which is why it was very fitting that when I decided to move in with my now husband that the dresser go to one of my dear friends little girls who adores pooh!! She loved it so much that she used to sit in front of it and lean in and give the characters kisses.. very cute!!

She just turned 4 and is ready to move onto a princess themed room soon so may paint a new scene for her on a new dresser and trade for it as my sons room is done in winnie the pooh now and his toddler furniture which we already purchased since we got such a good deal is pooh too so it will be fitting for him until he insists on something else.

I actually had lost these photos but god love my dad for keeping record of EVERYTHING I ever made for him or gave him a picture of... he had this picture on his computer so I stole it from him to post here.

It took about a month to complete working on it here and there after work every day... it was a colouring book picture that I found that I hand drew by eye from the picture onto the dresser and then painted. I was very pleased with how it turned out.

3 x 3

2009-10-30T21:18:00.002-03:00

A cute little note card. I had just gotten this new stamp set and HAD to try it out right away but didn't really have a particular project in mind.. I also had a roller stamp background that I had bought for 50 cents at a flea market that I hadn't used either so I was goofing with it on a small piece of scrap card which ended up being the background behind my image! :) I like how this turned out. I added a bit of crystal laquer to the flower centers.

2 cards same stamp

2009-10-30T21:16:00.002-03:00

well... here's a couple really quick bday cards I made. Self explanatory I think.

Glitter card fix??

2009-10-30T21:12:00.002-03:00

So I wasn't totally happy with my glitter card since the I didn't stick the diecut down very good so some glitter got under the left edge and lifted the diecut so I stamped this snowman and layered it on top.... still not sure I like it but oh well!!

Glitter card

2009-10-30T21:10:00.004-03:00

This was done for a challenge on the PCP website for back to basics with stampendous. It is all glitter for the background and it was supposed to be stickers but I used a die cut I made with my craft robo a few years ago that I had laying around.

A baby card

2009-10-27T22:55:00.007-03:00

Okay so I was SO disappointed with the pictures and I haven't seen my friend yet to give her this card so I actually spent lots of time attempting to get the sparkle on this card.... well this is as close as it gets in a picture I'm sure now.... still doesn't quite show it but at least you can see SOME of it now!! Original pictures are deleted and new ones up so if you read this post before and are thinking these are different pictures than the ones you saw you're not going crazy they are different!! haha oh... in order to see what I'm talking about though you do have to click on the pictures to see a more close up view!!

I have to say I LOVE how this card turned out!! The pictures do NOT do it justice at all. It actually has lots of subtle sparkle on all the layers that I added with my gel pens and the paper is papertemptress sparkly paper which I ADORE!!! I wish I could get the sparkle to show up in the pictures as you'd all be blown away by this paper!!

The sentiment is mounted in some hardware I found at the dollar store and then coated with crystal laquer to make it look like it has a little glass over it.
This card is very 3-dimensional!!
The image is a print and cut file I got from http://www.mywishcraft.blogspot.com/ and done on my craftrobo.

Luanne has some wonderful print and cuts!!

Birthday card for Dejah

2009-10-27T22:49:00.002-03:00

So I totally CASEd this card from Melanie Muenchinger (the designer of this stamp sold at Gina K. Designs). I did change a few things though (of course). I didn't use any ribbon, instead I used paper inked with some ancient page grey (same as the back layer). I also highlighted my leafy branches from my cuttlebug with some oyster twinkling H2O's as well as coating the rose with it. I LOVE sparkle!!! :)

I loved how this card turned out so much that I felt it worthy to give to my favourite craft shop owner (and friend) Dejah for a double celebration of her 40th birthday and the stores (Carousel Rubber Stamps in Dartmouth, NS) 15th birthday. She had a demo day for this celebration which was FANTASTIC btw!! :) I love her demo days!!

Some note cards. KISS style!! :)

2009-10-27T22:45:00.003-03:00

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Copper EP on ivory with some copper ink sponged around the edges of the layer and the card.

I did a bunch of these up to have on hand for all-occasions that you just need a card for last minute.

Juice crystal holder

2009-10-27T22:33:00.003-03:00

I made this for my father-in-law. He is not very good at drinking enough water and has run into some problems because of it so I figured if he had something to put on his waterbottle to flavour it up a bit it might encourage him to drink a little more. :)

This is only a section of the stamp. I had bought this while DH and I were honeymooning in Baddeck, NS. It is SO pretty there!! I was definately made fun of for having to buy a stamp as a souvenir on our honeymoon but it was worth it since it's such a gorgeous stamp and very easy to colour!!

Birthday card for DH

2009-09-01T14:26:00.006-03:00

DH has been collecting beat up trucks the last year or two, and I keep teasing him about it. His plan is to combine them to make one that functions well, except he hasn't had time to touch it what with sailing most of last summer, and then having our son born this winter past. When I saw this stamp I knew it would make for some great cards and paper to use for him for a while!! :)

The background is a combo of alcohol inks and colour spray. The picture doesn;t do it justice as it has a bit of sparkle to it from the silver AI.

B-day card for Grumpy

2009-09-01T11:35:00.004-03:00

This is a card I made for my step-father's birthday. Yes, you''re reading it right!! We call him grumpy! :)

The image is coloured with my watercolour pencils and then I added some stickles to the hat streamers and his horn. Also, since I had a little finger smudge on the background I decided to add some stickle streamer/confetti randomly around as well.

Had to play with my Alota stamps

2009-08-31T17:01:00.003-03:00

I had to play with my new alota stamps, and a last second birthday card was the perfect opportunity to use this wonderful image.

This ended up with a piece of ribbon and some brads but of course I forgot to take another picture.... so you're stuck with this one! :)

Arranged with love

2009-08-31T16:42:00.004-03:00

I wanted to make a card for a good friend of mine that I used to work with who is battling breast cancer and has such an AMAZING outlook on life!! She has always managed to pick me up when I am down and make me laugh. She also used to make a b-day cake for everyone in our department on their birthday and if she knew your favourite kind of cake it would be that kind too!! She has two gorgeous daughters who made me the most adorable card for my baby shower last year... maybe I'll take a picture of it and post it later. Anyway.. now I'm rambling of course.....

I had gotten this set and hadn't inked it up yet... let me just say "I LOVE this stamp!!!!!!!" This is a stamp by Melanie Muenchinger called Arranged With Love that is sold at Gina K Designs. I embossed the image with black EP, coloured it with chalks, then cut a piece of card to layer with the sentiment (great sentiments in this set that fit perfect in the opening) embossed it with my gold EP and took my gold paint pen to the edges of the sentiment piece and attached with foam tape to pop it off a bit. This is layered on some super shiny gold paper I found at the dollar store and have had forever and then onto some white card.

Well.. that's it for this post. I have a bunch more things to post.. if not today maybe tomorrow.

Another twinkling H2O card

2009-08-31T16:35:00.003-03:00

So this was my first attempt at the "direct to rubber" technique I had learned at the class I took on my own. One catch of course since I can't do it like I'm told was that I wanted to use one of my clear stamps!

After many failed attempts at this with beading twinks all over my stamp but no solid image, I was going to give up when I was in "The Cutting Garden" down the street from me where they sell mostly clear stamps and hardly any rubber at all and mentioned it to her. The solution she came up with is so simple and genius!! All I had to do was ink my image with versamark first and then apply the twinks over the versa onto the stamp!! :)

Not sure I'm in love with this card as a matter of fact I was actually a little disappointed with my end layout... by the time I got to that stage I just wanted to be done with this. Either way, now I can actually do this without losing my mind!! :)

Non-paper craft!!

2009-08-31T15:34:00.005-03:00

I made this last year for a good friend of mine's baby shower. I had forgotten all about it until someone on one of the forums I'm on was asking about ideas for baby showers. It reminded me and I figure I should post it on my blog for you all to see too!! :)

First I cut away 1/4 of the melon leaving a stroller like shape and cut a slice off the bottom so it would sit without rolling away and drain any excess juice off
Cut a handle out of the piecec I cut away (which was later attached with toothpicks).
Cut away all the melon inside and saved any pieces that didn't get mangled in the process to go back in the fruit salad.
Attach handle.
Cut orange slices and cut some grapes in half attached the orange as wheels with toothpicks and used the grape halves to cover the toothpicks and make hubcaps.
You can stop here and just add the fruit salad... or... add some pineapple flowers!!

For the flowers you can either do what I did which was cut them freehand from some pineapple slices (I do NOT recommend doing this as it is VERY difficult!!) OR you can use a flower shaped cookie cutter to cut them from the slices. Let me tell you that the cost of the cookie cutter would be well worth it!!!
Then I used some melon ball halves (from the waterlmelon I removed) for centers and put them on skewers and stuck them in wherever looked good. You could also use some baby spinach leaves if you had them for leaves... I of course didn't think of that until about 1am the night before and did not have time in the morning to go get them and put them on.

Birthday card.. or other

2009-07-20T22:23:00.006-03:00

I made this card for a cutter file challenge over at Visual Designs By Chris. Dad's birthday is on Thursday and I thought it would be a nice card for him.

The inside reads "and relax on your birthday."

Quite pleased with how this turned out

1 colour card

2009-07-20T22:18:00.004-03:00

I made this card for a 1 colour challenge on Stampin'out alzheimers.I really liked how it turned out and thought maybe this would be my Christmas cards this year... then I realized how hard it was to make it without getting fingerprints all over the shiny silver paper... hmm..... have to rethink this one... still like how it turned out though!

NOOOO!!!!! Anything but a scrapbook page!!!!!

2009-07-01T23:43:00.003-03:00

First off let me say I LOVE paper crafts!! Anything paper craft...EXCEPT scrapbooking!!! I cannot get my head around scrapbooking! I have NO patience and cannot see it as a big accomplishment to finish a page... instead I see it as 1 little tiny bit of a book and get very frustrated at how long it takes to FINISH the project (ie the entire scrapbook) it is because of this that I really don't scrapbook.. EVER!!!

This said, last month I took part in Stampinoutalzheimers and one of the challenges was a memory box. I have a niece who is 5 who lives out west so I don't get to see her very often, she is absolutely adorable!! Anyways, she was one of my flower girls for my wedding 2 years ago and she was dancing in the kitchen at my moms between the ceremony and the reception and our photographers got this pic which I just love!! I had some cutting files from a challenge over at Visual Designs By Chris , which believe it or not I had used to create a scrapbook page for.. HAHA anyways I changed my title and which dancers I used and a little bit of the background and then stuck it to the inside of a plastic tube I had left from some paintbrushes I had. Now I have somewhere to put any drawings she sends me. (she usually draws all over giftwrap since my brother usually wraps using white computer paper and duct tape.. what can i say.. he's a guy!!) LOL.

Twinkling H2O cards

2009-07-01T23:19:00.007-03:00

Alright, so I started this blog to share some fun projects with everyone. I really enjoy making all of my projects and hope you do too.

A couple months ago I attended an H2O class at one of my favourite places to shop for craft supplies Carousel Rubber Stamps (sorry they don't have an online store just walk in customers but if you live in NS, Canada they are DEFINATELY worth a visit!!!) The staff at this store are phenomenal!! They are very helpful and constantly sharing their knowledge with their customers!! They have "demo day" once a month usually where each staff demonstrates a product/technique, these are fabulous. Often the companies of certain products will have someone from their staff attend and do a demo as well. The first demo day I attended is when I got hooked on peel-offs and gel pens... but that's a whole other post.. lol.

Anyways.... enough rambling... at the wonderful class I attended Deja (the owner) was the instructor and she showed us 3 different techniques for H2O's, and we created 3 different cards using these techniques.

Here are my 3 cards...

colouring

Direct to rubber technique

watercolour

I absolutely was thrilled with these and so I had to share them although as I said I can't take credit for them as the actual layout was from the class by Deja.

If anyone is wondering which stamps we used just ask... I don't have them right in front of me so I can't put them in the post but I own all but the rose leaf stamp (I have a different rose leaf stamp so I didn't get that one).