Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #23 - Dollar Store Finds

Happy Wednesday Everyone,

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff, the challenge is to utilize something that you found at the dollar or pound (for all you UK folks) store, or even the dollar bins at Target!!  It's Design Team B's week for inspiration. Head on over to Amber's blog to check out their projects and enter you own.

This will be the second to last challenge for Amber. She has found the task of hosting challenges to be more daunting than fun. I'm going to miss the challenges and my fellow design team members. This was my first design team EVER. It challenged me to think outside of the box sometimes and helped me realize that I just might be a little better at all of this than I originally realized. So I want to say, "Thank you" to Amber for the opportunity to be a part of her team.

This week's challenge is being sponsored by Limited Runs Digital Stamps

Amber's Crafts and Stuff #22 - Back to School

Good Wednesday Morning,

It's time for another weekly challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. This week, that challenge is Back to School. Although school doesn't start here in Philadelphia until September 6th, I know there are many kids who have already started back. (My sister for instance, started August 4th) This week's challenge is sponsored by Di's Digi Downloads. This week's winner will receive five (5) free digi's from Di.

I wanted to do a layout for Miss A's book, since I've been feeling a bit better and need to take advantage of that. This layout is for her school picture from the grade she just completed, but it is school related...(ok, so I'm stretching just a little bit) I still need to add a few things to the layout. I goofed and forgot about the sponsor this week!








Details:
DCWV Guys Stack for the background paper and journal card (I loved the primary colors and the stars, because she finished the year on A-honor roll)
Locker Talk - for the title (4 inches) and the notebook paper (6 inches) which I will use to journal more about her first year in school here in Philly. I think I am going to cut out either the books or scissors and glue for the bottom right. It's missing something.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to head over to Amber's blog to see what the other design team members came up with and to enter your own project.

I'm entering this into this week's Celebrate The Occasion challenge which is also Back to School. Also in My Creative Time: Throwback Thursday Challenge.

Stay Crafty

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Challenge #21- Sparkle and Shine

GOOD AFTERNOON BLOGGERS (In my Ty Pennington voice)!!!

It Wednesday, and you know that means it's time for another challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff.

This week's challenge is all about the B.L.I.N.G. That's right, all you have to do is having something shiny or sparkly on your project. There is a sponsor this week too. Glitterbabe Digis.

There's a bonus this week too. If you use a Glitterbabe digi on your project, you will be entered for an extra chance to win!!! The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to the Glitterbabe Digi Shop. 

It's my week off, but head over to Amber's blog to check out what the other members came up with. 

Stay Crafty

Challenge - Pattern Paper

Good Morning Bloggy friends,

How are ya? I know this year has already been going by fast, but I can't wait for fall. This heat and humidity is why I don't live in the Southeast. It's not so much the heat anyway. I dislike humidity, nothing about it agrees with me.

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff, the challenge is to use patterned paper. That's it!! Let your mind go free. As a side note, this would be a great challenge to use up some of your scraps.

My project this week showcases the pampered princess in my mother's house. Bienchen (pronounced bean-chin), is actually my sister's Maltese. She's been in our family for about 12 years now. These photos were taken at Christmas one year. Normally she is a very calm dog, but give her that squirrel toy (which we had to take the squeaker out) and she goes wild!!







The main photo is matted MySpace style. I don't remember where the patterned paper is from or who it is by. The letters are from a huge alpha stack I bought at A.C. Moore many moons ago. They are just cardstock without adhesive. The paw prints are stickers from Sandy Lion.

Thanks for stopping by and remember to jump over to Amber's blog to check out the rest of the design team inspiration and enter your own project.

Stay Crafty

p.s. I'm going to enter this into Alex's weekly Link Up.






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Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #19 - Circles and Swirls

Good Morning Bloggy Friends,

The weekly challenge has been put up over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. The challenge this week is to use circles and swirls. That's it! This week's challenge is sponsored by Limited Runs Digital Stamps and the winner will receive 3 free digis. So head on over to Amber's blog and put your entry in, you have until 11:59 pm (CST) on July 26th.

Stay Crafty

Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #18 - Embossing

Goooood Morning Bloggers (in my Ty Pennington voice),

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff the challenge is to use some type of embossing. You can do either wet or dry embossing. You can emboss by hand or use a machine like the Cuttlebug or Sizzix. My project this week is a previous project that I completed. I'm in the middle of a flare-up and am pretty darn miserable right now. Thus I haven't been spending any time down in the scrap cave. Here's a look at the invitations that I made:

Details:
All paper is from my stash, can't remember what brand
4.25 x 5 Base
4 x 4.75 Mat embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder
Foot is cut from New Arrivals Cricut Cartridge
Circle and Scallop are cut from Mini Monograms

Thanks for stopping by. Head on over to Amber's blog to check out the other DT entries and to enter your own project.

Stay Crafty

Amber's Craft and Stuff Challenge #15

Good Morning Bloggers,

I can't believe I forgot about this!!!

This week at Amber's Crafts and Stuff the challenge is "The Dog Days of Summer". The challenge is to make anything you want (card, scrapbook layout, altered item, doesn't matter) as long as it's about SUMMER TIME. This week is Design Team B's turn to inspire you. So head on over to Amber's blog and check out the DT's projects and enter your own!!

Stay Crafty

Amber's Craft and Stuff Challenge #14 - Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Good Morning Bloggers,

Today is the start of another challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. This week's theme is Vacation, All I Ever Wanted. We are to make something regarding going on vacation. It's that time of year when the kids are getting out of school (although here in Philly, they have until the 21st due to missed days this past winter), hitting the pools, and going to the beach.

Here in Philly everyone always talks about going down to the shore or "Down the Shore". Everyone packs up and heads across the Delaware River into New Jersey to take in the wonderful beaches. My family isn't actually the beach-going type. They would rather hang out on the boardwalk and be active. We actually go beach camping every year down in Wildwood. So in honor of NJ Beaches, here's my layout:

I plan on using the space above the title for journaling. Here are the details:
12x12 sheet is from DCVW Tahiti Beach Stack (which I scored for 6.99 at Ms on clearance)
Photo Mats are from the same stack, except the 4.5 x 6.5 stack (which I got for 4.99)
No Swimming cut is from H20 solutions cartridge
Title is cut using Don Juan

Thanks for dropping in and checking out my project. Head on over to Amber's blog to check out what projects the rest of the design team has done. Don't forget to enter your project while you are there.

Stay Crafty

Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #13 - Special Man

Morning!!

It's slated to be a H.O.T. day here in Philadelphia. Ugh, have I mentioned how much I hate the heat? Anyway, with Father's Day only 11 days away it's time to start getting those projects together that are all about that special man in your life. Since we've split up the design team into two, it's Team B's turn to inspire you. Head over to Amber's blog and check out all the great projects. Then enter your own!! 

Winners will be picked on June 15th randomly from all entries. The winner will also be invited back to be a guest designer. 

In case you missed it, here's a card that I did for the special guy in my life. Ohhh, and I almost forget...I wanted to say a HUGE "Thank You" to Tina over at Two Chicks and A Cricut for featuring my blog on her blog today. If you've never visited her blog, head on over and show some bloggy love!

Stay Crafty (and cool)

Amber's Craft and Stuff Challenge #12 - Teen Celebration

Good Morning Bloggers,

So, I feel like I've been M.I.A. I thought I posted an entry over the weekend about my wonderful time visiting the extended family down in WV, but I guess I must have dreamed that part. I'll post that this evening when I have more time.

This week's challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff is all about Teens. To honor and celebrate the teens in our lives. Well, as you know, I don't actually have any children. My younger cousins are both in the twenties and Miss A is only 10. So as I thought about what I could possibly do (ok, I have to admit, I actually did a project for another week so this was a pre-made layout), I ended up choosing to showcase a layout I did for my little sister. There is actually a HUGE age difference between my younger sister and myself. I was just shy of my 16th birthday when she was born and she's basically grown up as an only child. She was actually born the day after I returned to WV from visiting my mother for Christmas break. I knew it...and I was woken up by a phone call from my super proud stepfather announcing the birth of his clone. (LOL) Here's the layout that I did with the letter and one of the pictures that they sent to me afterwards.

Some days I still can't believe that she's already 14 years old. It seems like only yesterday she was learning to stand and walk. I still call her my "munchkin" and against my wishes she still calls me her "sissy", but I wouldn't have it any other way. Here's a more recent picture of my sister.

To join in on this challenge, head over to Amber's blog and enter your project about your favorite teen!

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

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

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

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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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Challenge #6 - Ribbons & Bows

Good Morning Everyone,

Today's is Wednesday and it's time for another weekly challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. This week, the challenge is to use ribbon and/or bows on your project. Here is my project for the week:

Details:

• The card base is from a pack of Martha Stewart cards that I got on clearance at Wal-Mart last year. It's a pastel green/blue color and measures 5 x 7.
• The yellow mat is cut at 4 7/8 x 6 7/8, then punched along the bottom edge
• The polka dot mat is from the DCWV mat stack called Mango Frost and measures 4 1/2 x 6 1/2
• I added the ribbon and bow about a week ago but couldn't figure out what type of card I wanted to make. I should have waited, because it needs to be moved over a bit. 
• The rattle is cut from New Arrivals Cricut cartridge @ 3 inches on all layers. I added Stickles to the cutouts on the top part.
• "New Addition" is actually cut from Graphically Speaking (this cartridge has such great word art on it) @ 3 3/4

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my project. To enter your own project, click here.

Stay Crafty

A Few of My Favorite Things

Good Morning Bloggers,

This week's challenge over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff is "Your Favorite Things". As I've mentioned before, my favorite color is green. I'm guessing you figured that out from the design of my blog. To me it represents nature and calmness. I'm a very earthy, natural person. My sun sign is also an earth sign.

My other favorite thing is green tea. I love, LOVE, love green tea. My favorite is made by Turkey Hill. Mmmmm.

While shopping at Michael's recently, I stumbled upon a DCWV stack called The Green Tea Stack. I had to buy it!! It just had me written all over it. I'm giving one away when I reach 200 followers, click here for details to enter the drawing.

Here's my project:






Details:
- Card is 4 by 5 inches
- The green polka dot paper is from the stack and is cut at 3 7/8 by 4 and 7/8.
- The blue mat is 3 7/8 by 3 and has been embossed using the Divine Swirls cuttlebug folder
- The yellow mat is 3 7/8 by 2 1/2 and both edges have been punched using my Fiskar's punch
- I cut the flower at 2 1/2 using my new April Showers cartridge

I will be entering this card into the FCCB weekly challenge. Thanks for stopping by.

Stay Crafty

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Amber's Crafts and Stuff Weekly Challenge #4

Good morning bloggers,

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff, the challenge is to use a technique that is new to you. I decided to try and make a shutter fold card. Oh, in case you haven't caught on yet...my favorite colors are green and brown. :0)





Details:
I started with a 5.5 by 12 inch piece of paper. I scored the paper at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 inches. I then turned the paper 90 degrees and scored the paper at 1 and 3/8 inch. Then rotated 180 degrees and scored again at 1 and 3/8 inch. Here's a photo showing the score lines:






Now using either your paper trimmer or a craft knife, cut along the 1 3/8 inch line from the 2 inch score mark to the 10 inch score mark. Repeat on other 1 3/8 inch line.

Now the complicated part. Please look at this picture first.






With the top and bottom section, starting at the 2 inch mark, fold back. At the 4 inch mark, fold forward. At the 6 inch mark, fold back. At the 8 inch mark, fold forward. With the middle section, fold back at 4 inches and forward at 8 inches.

Next, select your pattern paper. With the "T" section, trace the section onto the paper and trim 1/16th from all edges. You will also need 4 pieces cut at 1 3/8 by 1 7/8, 2 pieces at 1 3/8 by 3 7/8, 1 piece at 2 3/8 by 3 3/8. Confused yet?

Dry fit all your pieces before adhering down. I cut the Kanji Tag, which means mother, from Pagoda at 3 1/4 inch. The shadow circle is cut from George. The filigrees are cut from Graphically Speaking at 1 1/4. The flowers are cut from Designer's Calendar at 1 inch.

I don't own a stamp that says "Happy mother's day" so I just hand wrote it. I plan on putting a poem on the back part before sending it to my mother. If you haven't tried this type of card, give it a whirl and come back and let me know so I can check it out!

Stay Crafty

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Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #3 - April Flowers

Good Evening bloggers,

This week over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff the challenge is April Flowers. I don't know about you, but I'm so ready for winter to LEAVE and bring some warmer weather. It's suppose to snow Friday night here in Philadelphia. Brrrr.

I didn't start my project this week with a particular idea in mind. So I did some searching for ideas on Google and found this really cute pocket card.

Card with Insert inside

With Insert Pulled Out

Don't let looks deceive you, the only thing cut with the Cricut are the flowers and stems. The flowers are cut from George & Basic Shapes at 1 3/4 inch. The stems are cut from Pagoda at 2 inches. I found the directions for th flower pot and insert here. Another word of caution, this card is REALLY small. It's only 3.5 inches wide at it's widest part.

Head on over to Amber's blog and enter you own creation in this week's Challenge.

Stay Crafty

Amber's Crafts and Stuff Challenge #2 - Die Cuts

Hello bloggers,

So it's my debut as a Crafty Pal over at Amber's Crafts and Stuff. This week's challenge is to use a die cut, either from a sizzix (or similar machine), a cricut (or similar), or a die cut you purchased then make anything you want with it.

I recently purchased Graphically Speaking from Oh My Crafts and couldn't wait to try it out. There are so many great images on this cartridge!! Here's my card:

Card Details:
A2 sized card (4.25 x 5.5 inches)
Butterfly (Icon and Icon Blackout) cut at 3 inches, Diamond stickles added to the top layer. I added some Recollections bling to the antenna. I used 3D-Dots to pop the butterfly up.
Swirl is also cut at 3 inches and blinged up with stickles.
The tan mat is cut at 4 x 5.25 inches, then I inked the edges with brown ink.
The floral mat is from an 8x8 scrapbook kit made by Making Memories. I trimmed the mat down to 3.75 x 5 inches and inked the edges in the same brown ink.
The sentiment is a sticker from the same kit.
To finish it off, I add a piece of satin white ribbon to mimic the movement of the butterfly and a few pearls from the same Recollections pack as the rhinestones.

I love how this card turned out. Head over to Amber's blog to check out what the other design team members created and to enter the challenge.

Stay Crafty

Newest Member of a Design Team

Well first of all let me say that I am uber excited that Amber over at http://www.amberscraftsandstuff.com/ has kindly given me the chance to participate on her design team. When I started this journey, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with it. Over the past couple of months I've met some of the most talented people in scrapping world. Everyone has been more than welcoming and inspiring all the same. I'm super excited to get started.

Amber's first challenge is a Stashbuster/Anything Goes. Head on over and check it out!!

Stay Crafty