Pay It Forward "RAK"

Good Morning Bloggers,

As I was making my morning rounds across the blogiverse, I came across a post on LadyLuvBug's blog about "Paying it Forward". I tried this a few months ago on Facebook, but didn't have much luck. I don't think my Facebook friends are as crafty as would hope they could be...LOL.

"Pay It Forward" is the idea of blessing someone with a random act of kindness without expecting anything in return. It’s passing on a kindness, hoping that your recipients will do the same, and forming a never-ending chain of goodwill. But it isn’t only kindness, it is also a means to connect and share instead of just keeping it to ourselves.


So here is the pledge:

"I promise to send an original creation to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They must, in turn, post this on their blog, and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their status."

Here's what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment on this post. I will send a handmade gift to the first 5 people to comment.
2. Create a post on your blog offering the same.
3. Send a handmade item to your first 5 people to comment.
4. It must be sent to your 5 people sometime in 2011.


**Email me with "Pay it Forward" in the subject line - natashacrafts [at] gmail [dot] com**

Please do not sign up unless you are fully committed to making your 5 items!


That's it. That's all you have to do. I want to thank each of you that stop by and show me support in this crafting adventure. I've grown so much in the past few months and I couldn't have do it without you. 

Stay Crafty

Challenge #11 - Vintage

Oh my stars!! I can't believe it's already been almost 3 months since Amber graciously let me join her design team over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. It's time for another weekly challenge. This week's challenge it to create something "Vintage". You can make anything you want using something vintage or vintage photographs.

It's Team B's turn for design projects, so I didn't create anything this week. Head on over to Amber's blog and check out what the talented ladies of Team B have done. Can't wait to see what projects you are inspired to create. Yes, YOU....whip out those distress inks and have a go at it!!

The winner of this challenge will be entered in the May grand prize drawing and will get to be a guest designer for Challenge #13.

Stay Crafty

Meet Me on Monday

Good Morning Bloggers,
It's time for another edition of "Meet Me on Monday". Come play along, I really enjoy getting to know each of you a little more each week. So without further delay...



Questions:

1.  What is your favorite bagel flavor?
Favorite favor....does bagel count? Just kidding...ok only slightly kidding. I have a thing for carbs and whether it's bread, pasta, cookie dough...you name it, I love it. If I had to choose, I would say it's a close tie between a cinnamon raisin or Panera's cinnamon crunch (just don't look at the calories in that thing!!)

2.  If you had an extra $100 right now, what would you spend it on?
Oh there's tons of things I could think of, but right now I would really like to get my little "garden" patch landscaped. I think I'm the only house on the block that hasn't done anything with it and I don't want my neighbors to think that I'm "that" neighbor. LOL. Although we did manage to rip out all the ugly, ugly Ivy that was growing there. That was almost 2 years ago when we first bought the house ;0(  


I think this picture is hilarious. The man-friend was almost ready to start boxing with it.

3.  What is the last thing that you felt guilty about doing?
I feel guilty all the time. The last time would be this past Saturday when a coworker/friend and I went to the Outlet mall. There was a Long John Silver's there (we don't have any in Philly and I usually save it for my trips to WV) and I just had to have some. So I brought some home and totally pigged out. Yeah, I didn't feel very well on Sunday, but it was so worth it. 

4.  Soft serve ice cream or hand dipped?
Hand-dipped, hands down. I'm a sucker for old-fashion hand-dipped ice cream. Mmm, now I want some ice cream.

5.  Are you allergic to anything?
Mostly just dust and pollen. I'm waiting for the grass pollen counts to go up. Right now, it's not so bad because the tree pollen doesn't bother me. Oh and cats....there is something about their dander that does me in. As long as I don't touch them with my hands, I'm usually ok. 

Stationery Box Set

Good Evening Bloggers,

Checking in from the scrap cave. It's another Friday night where the bf is sleep on the couch and Miss A is doing who knows what up in her room. I started the evening working on the guest book for a friend's wedding, but while the paint was drying I got sidetracked by another project. A while ago, I came across this tutorial on Split Coast Stampers. I decided to give it a try. I'm not completely finished, but I wanted to share it with you since I will be out all day tomorrow.

Closed Box

Opened Up

Close-up of Notepad & Pen

A2 Cards in back, 3x3 Notecards in front

Notepad, Pen, and Postage holder

I used the Mediterranean Cafe DCWV stack for all the papers. The key is to use a really heavy two-sided cardstock for the main box. I wanted to use the striped paper, but it wasn't two-sided. I am really surprised how quickly this came together. I am going to make the following to put inside (and I'll post them when I get them done): 6 A2-sized cards, 6 3x3 notecards, and 6 gift tags.

I'll be showcasing this over at Alex's Blog: You Had Me at Craft: I Made it Myself Moday

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay Crafty

Needs Organizational Help

Good Afternoon Bloggers,

I'm seeking a little help from the blogiverse. Every Sunday I start a list of challenges that I want to enter and add to it each day when another challenge comes along that I want to enter. Well as you can imagine, my list is getting a little out of control. So I wanted to ask you wonderful ladies, how in the world do you keep up? Is there a one-size-fits-all approach?

Any suggestions are welcomed. Maybe you have a stellar spreadsheet, a handy dandy notebook, or 1 million sticky notes. I'm open to anything.

Stay Crafty (& organized)

Cats & Dogs - Challenge #10 Amber's Crafts and Stuff

Good Morning Bloggers,

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff is an adorable challenge!! This week the challenge is all about cats and dogs. You are to create a project about your cat or dog, for you cat or dog, or with an image of a cat or dog on it. Now personally, I'm a dog person. I like cats, but my allergies don't get along with them very well. My first dog was a purebred German Shepard named Chi-Chi. (My mother named her, and I will never live it down) The only dog I know that was scared of water! We had to give her away when we moved to Europe the last time because we didn't know what are living arrangements would be. She got to go live on a farm in SE Georgia and I know she just loves it there.

My mom and sister currently have a Maltese named Bienchen. She's just the cutest little thing. My sister has had the dog since she was 2 and that poor dog has been tormented by that girl for almost 12 years....LOL. Anyway on to my project.

I created this card for Miss A's birthday. She wants to be a vet when she grows up. And if you haven't noticed, her favorite color is pink.

Details:
Standard A2-sized card (4.25 x 5.5)
Yellow mat is cut at 2 inches and punched with a Martha Stewart punch
I cut the kitty from Create-A-Critter at 2.5 inches on all layers

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to head over to Amber's blog and enter your own project for a chance to be entered in the monthly grand prize drawing

Stay Crafty

Big News!

So this post is totally random and has absolutely nothing to do with scrapbooking, card making, cricut talk, etc.

For those who have been following along for a while, you might remember my little rant about my car being stolen for the second time and being totaled. I wasn't completely crushed, it was having a little bit of a temper tantrum, but I was sad to part with my friend. I've had that car since 2002 and it has been the best car EVER!!

Luckily, I live and work in the city of Philadelphia and don't particularly need a vehicle. I live a block off the main bus route and from there I take the El into downtown. One of the perks of my company is that they pay for my public transportation!! For everything else, I've been driving my boyfriend's Durango and let's just say....$3.97 gas doesn't go well with a big truck.

So for the last few weeks I've been searching, what seems to be every where from NY to DE for something new-to-me. I don't want to add a car payment onto my monthly bill list at the moment, so I wanted to be able to buy something outright. I started out wanting a Mazda 3, it's a little sporty but still family & friend friendly. I even considered another Honda, but I don't want to tempt fate. Today I found the perfect car, and I was able to work out a deal with the dealership.

Say hello to my new car: 2005 Nissan Altima 2005 VW Jetta

::UPDATE::
So I ended up getting a different car. There's a really long story behind it, but to keep it short let's just say there was something fishy about the whole deal. So this past Friday night, I did some more researching and came across this beauty. Test drove Saturday morning, walked out with it. I'm in LOVE!!

Now with all of that being said. I am going to have to work with all the supplies I currently own in my scrap cave. No new cartridges for at least a month or two....guess I will have to challenge myself to finally use some of the new ones that I bought. :0)

Stay Crafty

Link Up Love Party with K. Andrew

Good Evening Bloggers,

K. Andrew is hosting her monthly Link Up Love Party over on her blog Getting Cricky. For those haven't ever been to her blog, you have to check out this crafty goddess! Her blog is totally awesome. She has such a big heart and is always spreading the love. The purpose of the monthly link up party is to get to know each other, find new blog inspiration, and new blogger buddies. There are a few rules to the party, so please read all the details here before linking up.

For this month we are suppose to share our favorite project with you. It was kinda hard to decide which project would be considered my absolute favorite, but I narrowed it down and this is the one I chose:

This layout is from one of the first times I met my boyfriend's daughter. It was in October and we went down the riverfront in St. Albans, WV. It was such a simple afternoon, but Miss A had to do everything that her dad did. She is still like that, and it's still cute even almost 6 years later. This is one of the first layouts that I did using circle mats. As I recall, I had the hardest time with that darn circle cutter from Fiskars. I don't think I've used it since. LOL.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my project. Hang out a while and check out some of my other projects too. Tomorrow is a new challenge for Amber's Crafts and Stuff, so come back and check out my project for the week.

Stay Crafty

Meet Me on Monday

So I've been following a couple of blogs that regularly do a series called "Meet Me on Monday" and I think it's a fabulous idea. Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you  questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!! Once you've answered your questions, head over to Never Growing Old and link up your post. Can't wait to know more about you all.


Here are this week's questions:
1.  Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Crunchy. Extra crunchy if you've got it. However, recently I found out that I shouldn't eat crunchy peanut butter because of the Ulcerative Colitis. ::SIGH:: Guess I'll have to convert to smooth and creamy.
2.  What is your favorite color Rose?
Funny thing, I'm not a fan of roses. I don't see what their overwhelming romantic significance is. If I had to choose, I would say white. 
3.  Do you remove your shoes when you walk into your home?
Most definitely. You are not allowed to walk past the foyer in our home with your shoes on. Do you know what you are bringing into your home? I mean there are the obvious dust, pollen, etc. But there are many other things that stick to the bottom of your shoes. YUCK!!
4.  What is your favorite season?
Spring & Fall. They are a tie for me. I can't stand to be hot, so summer with all of it's humidity can take a hike. I love spring (I'm a spring baby) because everything is new, clean, and fresh. I wait all winter to open my windows so just I can smell the freshness. I love fall for almost the exact opposite. Fall makes me feel homie. The crispness in the air is a welcome after the summer heat, it's the best time to be outdoors. Hiking, fishing, etc. 5.  Approximately how many hours a day do you spend blogging?
Actually working on my blog...not much. Maybe an hour here and there. Reading other blogs...well let's just say if I got paid for it, I'd be rich!! 

More old layouts

Good Saturday morning,

Well the family let me sleep until 8:45, which was great. I've started the laundry and have plans to visit Ikea and A.C. Moore today.

I wanted to share a few more of my very first layouts with you. I'm challenging myself to get back to my layouts and catch up on some scrapbooks. Enjoy.










- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sample Baby Shower Invites

Good Evening everyone,

Did anyone else have slight withdrawal symptoms from blogger yesterday? Boy am I glad they got that fixed. So as any other typical Friday night would happen around here, the man-friend has been asleep on the couch since 8pm. Miss A is watching cartoons. So I decided to make some samples to list on my Etsy shop.

I wanted to make simple baby shower invites. I think these just turned out way too cute.










I did both a portrait and a landscape card. Both the stamps are from a set I bought at Michaels. It's great for all types of invites. I'll post a picture of it next time I'm in the cave.

Details:
Standard A2 sized card
White mat is 5.25 x 4, embossed with Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder
Colored scallop circle and square are from Mini Monograms cut at 3.25. Circle and square are cut at 3.
Feet are from New Arrivals, cut at 2.25

I think I will go back and add some stitching around the scallops for a little more detail. What do you guys think?

Stay crafty

Another Layout for Miss A's book

Good Evening bloggers,

I was able to spend some time down in the scrap cave tonight while Miss A was out getting her hair done. I'm challenging myself to get her album up to date before the end of the summer.

This layout is from our outing to a place called Bamboo Gardens. The company I work for sponsored the picnic and let me tell you, it was great. (Okay, maybe I'm a bit partial because I helped to plan the event)

I didn't get many pictures but I did snap one of Miss A and the gorgeous bamboo.










Thanks for stopping by.

Stay Crafty

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Amber's Craft and Stuff Challenge #9 - Recycle, Reduce, Reuse

This week's challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff is to Recycle, Reduce, Reuse. My family drinks a lot of Crystal Light. I refuse to buy soda or sugary juices and since they won't drink water this is our happy medium. I buy the tubs that contain the 2 quart mixes. These little containers are great and I can't believe I haven't kept them to use in crafts before. Here are my starting products:

I have a thing for tea, can't you tell?

Pink, pink, and more pink (There's a sneak peek of another recycling project, can you see it?)

I figured I could fill the tub with candy and use it as a gift for someone.

Details:

• I cut the tag from Cricut Classic Font (Italic and Italic Shadow feature). It's on page 72. I really REALLY need to start going through my booklets again. I'm missing so many great cuts!
• I trimmed the striped paper down to 6.5 inches and wrapped it around the container
• I also cut a white strip (2.5 inches) and a pink strip (3 inches) and punched both edges to add a little detail
• I used some ribbon from Oriental Trading and then tied a little bow, again just for some added detail
• I fastened brads to the label to help it pop
• I stamped both the diploma and the sentiment with StayzOn Jet Black ink. (Did I mention I bought a new ink pad) I love how rich and clean the images are with this new ink.

I have to tell you, the diploma stamp is from when I made my graduation announcements back in 2004. I think those announcements were probably my first real paper project. I was really proud of those invitations, here's a couple photos of them.











Head on over to Amber's blog to check out what the rest of the design team has come up with, Then enter your own project for the challenge.

Stay crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm Under Attack!!

Ok, so I'm not really under attack, but what do you do when you can't concentrate on things that need to be concentrated on? You play, of course.

I mean who can resist these cute little guys?

Scrap N Easel Giveaway - Getting Cricky

Good Evening Bloggers,

Just wanted to pop in and let you know that K. Andrew over at Getting Cricky is giving away a Scrap N Easel. Head on over and enter yourself into the drawing!!

Stay Crafty

A New Blog Award

I'm so overwhelmed by the love and support that is shown throughout the blogiverse. I've received another award from Tina over at Two Chicks and A Cricut. Thank you so much for thinking of me and my little blog.

So here are the rules:

 Wear this badge proudly on your blog and share it with friends. Share this award with 10 people that you think have Cricut-tastic blogs. You also have to tell 5 cricut related things about yourself.

5 Things about myself:

1) I owned the baby bug for almost 8 months before I actually used it

2) The mantis (my green expression) has been putting in so much work these last couple of weeks, I think he's put in for PTO time

3) I don't consider many of the projects that I do to be worthy of all the kind words you all have passed my way. Thank you, thank you for inspiring me to challenge myself and be creative

4) If money was not an option, I would buy every Cricut cartridge just so I wouldn't have die cut envy

5) I just bought 3 cartridges from Custom Crops as a belated birthday gift to myself. ;0)

I'm passing this award on to:

Katieo - http://katieoscreations.blogspot.com/

Valerie - http://bestisyet2be.blogspot.com

JuelMarie - http://jandjsyummycreations.blogspot.com

Jackie - http://purplepizzazz2.blogspot.com

Kimberly - http://hellocutiecrafts.blogspot.com

The Crafting Misfit - http://craftingmisfit.blogspot.com/

Crazy4Christ - http://sierrababy08.blogspot.com

Amber - http://www.amberscraftsandstuff.com/

Linda - http://lindysmaidwidluv.blogspot.com/

Have a wonderful evening everyone

Winner Announced

Well Good Evening Bloggers,

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother's Day. I spent the day with my boyfriend's mom. We went out to eat at Longhorn and had a really good time. It's always nice to spend time with her and chat it up. She's really a wonderful lady and always has something interesting to talk about.

I'm still 9 followers away from reaching 200, but I promised that I would hold the drawing for the Green Tea stack. I used random.org and choose a winner from the 36 comments that were left...and the winner is:

katieo said...

I am already a follower. I love DCWV stacks. Good luck

Congratulations katieo. I will be sending you an email for you mailing address

NSD - Scrapbook Layout

Good Evening Bloggers,

Wrapping up my National Scrapbooking Day projects. Today has been very, very productive. As my final project today, I decided to finally get the layout done for my family's trip to a local farm where we picked fruit.

One of the best parts about living so close to New Jersey, is being able to go visit local farmers and get fresh fruits and veggies. There is one in Morrisville, PA called Snipes Family Farm. They are the sweetest people ever and we visit there two or three times a year. Last year, we went and picked blackberries for the first time. Can I say there is nothing sweeter than eating a ripe blackberry fresh from the vine, warmed by the sun.

I did a two-page layout for our trip.








I still need to put the photos on, but I wanted the layouts to be clean and simple since there is so much going on in the photos.

Have you been getting caught up today? I'm going to spend the rest of the night reading blogs an checking out your projects. Thanks for stopping by.

Stay Crafty


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NSD Project #2

Well this project is about 7 months behind, but better late than never, right? A friend from college welcomed her first baby, Daniel Zane, about 7 months ago. Since she is in West Virginia an I wasn't able to make it to the shower, I wanted to give her something for the baby's room.

I took the colors from her baby shower and incorporated it into this project. This will fit into a 11 x 17 frame. I'm going to let her choose that herself.






On to the next project...

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Happy National Scrapbooking Day

Well, I decided to break briefly to update you on the progress from the scrap cave. All things have been going well so far. I'd like to announce that the Scott Wedding Album is COMPLETE!!

Here are some of the finished details:



















I'll post the complete album later, when I an get to my computer and make a pretty layout for it.

Off to the next project.

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Teacher's Appreciation Gift

So I'm totally behind and forgot that this was teacher's appreciation week. Miss A asked if we could still make a card for her teacher. That kid, I tell you. So I rummaged through my post-Christmas Bath & Body Works Haul (seriously, outlet + end of year blowout = Major Deals) and decided to give her teacher a nice smelly hand wash.






I knew I wanted to wrap this somehow, so I got a little creative and used a new function on my Cricut. I don't have any circle punches, so I used the Center-Point feature. Figured out where I wanted my hole, moved the blade to it's center and hit cut. Easy Peesy.






To make the enclosure I took a 12 by 12 sheet and cut it down to 4 by 12. Then cut another piece that was 4 by 5 for the back. After cutting the circle in the larger piece, I fitted and folded to meet my needs. Then I used my ATG to adhere the back piece to the front.






Nothing like a sweet apple for your teacher. I cut the apple and it's layers at 3 inches. The gingham mat is cut at 3 3/4 by 5. The green mat is 3 3/4 by 3 and punched with the Threading waters punch. I inked around the edges of the apple (before I put it together, a first), but forgot to ink my other edges. The stamp is from a set I bought through Oriental Trading. I've decided, I need better ink. :-(

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay crafty

Entering this in the M.A.G Challenge - Create-A-Critter pg 25

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My Very First Layout Ever

While cleaning I decided to go through my personal albums. I've shared many other projects with you all but never any of my personal layouts. So over the next few days, I'm going to post some of my personal layouts. Now remember, I started out as a layout only paper crafter.

Here's my original, very first layout EVER:

Palacious Beach House, Sandbridge, VA

This is a photo of the beach house my uncle and his softball team friends would rent in Virginia Beach. Growing up, I spent many summers playing in the waters off Sandbridge. Just me, my cousins, and the softball family. This was a few years after I graduated from high school, but before I graduated from college. We had so much fun!!

I hope you enjoy the layout.

Stay Crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Preparing for National Scrapbooking Day

Good Evening bloggers,

Checking in from the scrap cave, over! Lol, sorry. Everyone's been a little loopy over here. I decided I would clean and organize my scrap cave in preparation for Saturday. For those who don't know (I mean seriously, how could you not), this Saturday is National Scrapbooking Day. I've decided to lock myself in the cave and actually get some layouts done.

I am planning a few posts for that day. Please feel free to join in if you're surfing the web that day. Here's my potential line-up:

Completed Coral and Black Wedding Album
Baby Boy 6 x 6 album
Family trip to You Pick farm and summer picnic

That's at least 5 pages, if I don't start the Baby Boy album. Ambitious? Maybe. However, I'm really really behind.

I hope you stop back on Saturday. If I haven't reached 200 followers by the end of that day, I will hold the drawing for the winner of my giveaway on Sunday.

Stay crafty

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Amber's Crafts and Stuff - Special Lady

Hello bloggers,

Firstly let me apologize for my lack of projects lately. In December, I was diagnosed with an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) called Ulcerative Colitis. In short, I go through periods of extreme fatigue and discomfort. It drains me to the point where just going to work is a hurdle. I'm much better than I was a year ago, but I still have a long way to go. Too bad it has to take my desire to craft when it's at it's worse.

This week's project is in honor of the special women in our lives. Seems like time is just flying by! Before you know it, Christmas will be here. Geez! My mom and I have always had our differences, but I love and respect her more than words can say. She's taught me countless lessons in love, life, and cultural differences. Without her, I don't know who I'd be.

Here's my project:




I really need to invest in some color pencils, chalks, crayons or something!!

Details:
A2 sized card
I used a punch that I won from a giveaway over at cricutology.blogspot.com, Thanks Janice!! I thought the little hearts would provide a subtle accent
All the paper is from an old stash.

Head on over to Amber's Crafts and Stuff to enter for a chance to win this week.

Here's a photo of my mom from the cruise we took last year. She'll kill me for posting it, but I just wanted to share it with you.

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Giveaway

All,

My Paper Love is giving away the Simply Sweet cartridge for reaching 150 followers. Stop by and check out the details here.

Also don't forget I'm having a 200 followers giveaway. I'm only 10 followers away. Check out the details here.

Come back tomorrow to see my weekly project for Amber's Design Team.

Stay Crafty