Exciting News

Hi all my blogger buddies.  It has been such a hot (but wonderful) Summer in New Brunswick but the leaves are starting to change slightly and you can feel Fall in the air!  My FAVORITE time of year.  We have been busy getting ready for our baby who should make her appearance any day and I have been decluttering my house like a mad woman.  Needless to say, the garbage man LOVES me!
I have very exciting news to share with you all today. I am honored to have been chosen to be part of the new Design Team for a brand new challenge blog called Cut it Up Challenges!

Cut it up Challenges will start on September 7th and will run for two weeks.  Each challenge will have a prize but is only open to US and Canadian residents.  Each challenge will have a theme and you must follow that theme and include a Die Cut.  Die cut can be manual or electronic such as a

Cricut

Silhouette

Big Shot

Cuttlebug

Any other electronic & standard die cutting machines.

I hope you will all join us for our challenges, spread the word about this new and exciting challenge site, and of course check out the incredibly talented Design Team gals that hopefully will provide you with some inspiration and I am honored to be crafting with...

Wedding Invitations

Wow, it has been over 20 days since I posted anything....and it hasn't been because of a lack of inspiration!
My sister had asked me in October to make her wedding invitations for her wedding next August and how could I refuse.
She flew in on the 18th from Vancouver and we spent the week working on her invitations.  It is going to be such an intimate, rustic ceremony (very much her style)
The paper is all recycled, and we used raffia plus real pressed Lavender.  I just keep smelling my invitation!
Here's the finished product!  I admit, I was really scared of this "project" as I've never done anything like this before, but am thrilled at how it came out...

1 year Blogoversary GIVEAWAY!!!

T minus 60 days until my 1 year Blogoversary and for it I will be giving away a lovely bunch of blog candy.  I want to take this opportunity to thank my avid followers and especially those who helped me out along the way such as Georgiana from Carson's Creations, Debbie from Debbie's Dash of This and That, and Candy from Candy's Craft Corner.
So here is the stash of blog candy that I've been collecting for a few months now!

It includes the following:
-30 mini Fabric Flowers
-Baby Girl Journal stickers by Colorbok
-large pack of bling
-Hullabaloo Shimmer Alphabet Stickers
-Stickopotamus Vellum Roses Stickers
-Laura Ashley Adhesive envelopes (2 packs)
-Chipboard embellishments by EK Success
-Chipboard album (blank)
-Baby Girl and Baby Boy Bragbook kit by Deja Views
-Winter Card Making Kit
-K & Company Sweet Nectar Designer mat pad
-Studio 18 Paper Pack
-Studio 18 Paperflowers with bling
-Paula Deen paper pack
-Metal Alphabets with brads
-Paula Deen tag pad
-Tag Maker rims
-Glitter Pens
-Paper Bliss Accent tags
-Ribbon Pack
-Studio G Glitter Glue
-2 Way Glue Pen
-Stampology Border Love Each Day set
-Studio G rubber stamp

And here's how to win...
1.  Become or be a follower of my blog
2.  Leave a comment on this post

For extra chances to win...
3. Post my giveaway on your blog and leave me a comment with the link saying you did so.
4.  Tell me what your favorite creation or post of mine was.

I will draw 1 winner on October 14th, the day after my 1 year Blogoversary!
Good Luck!!!

Happy Birthday Elephant

Hi my blogger buddies.  Last month I bought the Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge.  I don't know why I haven't used this cartridge a lot as there are a lot of really cute cuts on it.
This week's challenge at BBTB is to use an elephant cut.
I wanted to also add a little present to this elephant and of course, I put him on an Action Wobble.

Materials used:
Cricut Birthday Bash Cartridge (p. 38) for card base cut at 5 1/4", elephant cut at 3 1/2" and presents (p.43) cut at 1 1/2"
Patterned paper by K & Co Best of paperstack
Bling
Sentiment from Hero Arts
Stickles
Action Wobbles

Challenges Entered:
BBTB:  Elephant Cut
Go Fish Challenge #22:  Shape card
Paperplay Challenge #32:  Shape Card

Happy Bee-lated Birthday...

I was on a card making frenzy today.  I wanted to make a few Bee-lated cards, one as a shape card and the other as a scene card.

Materials Used:
Shape Card (welded using Cricut Craft Room at 5.5)
Bee cut at 3 1/2" (hidden contour using CCR)
Cricut: Create a Critter (Bee hive, bee, tree)
Cricut: Everyday Paper Dolls (Grass cut at 1 1/2")
White Card A2 size
Paper from my scraps
Stickles
Peachy Keen Stamps PK-754 Critter Faces, Medium
My Pink Stamper (sentiment)
Action Wobbles & Dimensionals for tree
Button with Baker's Twine (from My Craft Spot)

Challenges Entered:
Action Wobble #22:  Something that starts with "B"
Paperplay Challenge #32:  Shape Card
Go Fish Challenges #22:  Shape Card
Peachy Keen #30: Popped Up

Soccer Coach Thank you card

Hard to believe that Summer is coming to a close soon.  Being 36 weeks pregnant, believe me this heat and I are not very good friends and I secretly can't wait for Fall!
My son finishes soccer this week.  His team has soccer practice twice a week and on Saturday they are having a huge tournament against the other Under 4 teams.
I wanted to make his coach a card and include a Tim Horton's gift card in it as well.

Here's the finished product...
Thank you Erin!!!!

Materials Used:
A2 size card
Scrap paper
Cricut: Everyday Paper Dolls (p. 52, hair p. 37)
Peachy Keen Stamps PK-754 Critter Faces, Medium

Little Features layout

I'm back again.  Seems today I'm getting some crafting done mostly in the layout world.  I wanted to share a layout I made shortly after my daughter (who is now 2) was born.  I wanted to capture all her "little" features as I knew they would not be little for long.  I had found this layout in one of my scrapbooking magazines and loved the idea and LO.

Keys to a Happy Family

I just finished this layout this morning using left over stickers, letters, patterned paper and chipboard that I had lying around.  I am in a mad decluttering phase of my scrapbooking space and am trying to use up some things before I buy more.  It's been hard, especially soon the beautiful Fall, Halloween and Christmas papers will be coming out!
I love the title "Key's to a Happy Family".  I used 2 chipboard keys and tied one with Raffia.
This is our family pictures from last October (our children, the first cousins and my husbands sisters) and I finally had a chance to display them in the kids scrapbooks.  I used 2 brown Bazzil cardstock for the base pages and the mats are left over patterned paper from my Autumn stash.  The stickers are also left over from this stash

Life on the Inside

Before baby number 3 comes I wanted to show a layout I did using simple colors of black and white and a neat way of showing off those ultrasound pictures.

I had made the pages using 2 12 x 12 sheets of white cardstock and 1 page of black.  The black I cut into 1 " strips and equally spaced them apart.  I attached all ultrasound pics using white and black mats.  The journal entry I could not do until baby was born.  The "jail" number was the day she was born (month, date, year).
I love this layout and will recreate it for my new addition in a few weeks.

Layout keeping child's birthday cards

I hate throwing out my children's birthday cards.  I won't do this for every year of their lives, just the milestone years.  For my son's first birthday, I make some zigzag pockets using some left over stickers, small photos that i haven't used and also his invitation to his party.  I also used some left over border edges in primary colors and paper that I had not used up.  This held ALL of his birthday cards for his first year and when he is older, he can go back and see who came and read all the beautiful messages left in these cards for him.  I also document on the back of each card what he received as gifts.
Note: depending on how many cards, you will need to use sturdy cardstock such as Coordinations or Bazzil, otherwise it will rip with the weight. It also does make a bulky page.

Fall Scrapbook LO

Hi all.  I have had this picture on my camera for months now.  I am slowly getting both of my kids scrapbooks done.  It seems like it is a never ending mountain that I cannot get caught up on.
Every year we visit this Pumpkin Patch on PEI called Toad Hill.  I absolutely LOVE this pumpkin patch for many reasons.  Mostly because she has an amazing variety of veggies in season but she creates so many different scenes that are EXCELLENT for the photographer (and scrapbooker) in all of us.  Every year she creates some new scenes and keeps a few of the ones from the previous year.

CAS Card- Warm Holiday Wishes

I seen a design similar to this one in a crafting magazine and thought I'd make my version.  I love the simplicity of it.  In one photo I used my own homemade glimmer mist and the other I left it plain.  This card took me less than 6 minutes to make!

Materials Used:
A2 size card (long way)
Inkadinkadoo Snowflakes a Plenty (Snowflake) Warm Holiday Wishes (outside sentiment)
Inside sentiment by Craft Smart ($1 bin at Michaels)
Ink Ice Blue by Colorbox inkpads
Bling from stash
Corner Punch

Challenges Entered:
Fab n' Funky #133:  Pearls or Rhinestones

Baby it's cold outside...

During this heat all I can think about is how much I am welcoming Fall or Winter.  I am not a Winter liker but love the possibilities of cards that you can make.  I got my new Peachy Keen Stamp Set called Critter Faces and really wanted to try it out with this cute penguin from the Create a Critter cartridge.
Isn't he adorable...

Materials Used:
A2 size card cut from Recollections Jewel Collections (burgundy)
Snow 5 1/2 x 2 1/4 (paper torn)
Create a Critter Cartridge penguin cut at 2 1/2" from Cricut Craft Room to hide contours
Igloo also at 2 1/2"
Peachy Keen Stamp Set PK-754 Critter Faces Medium
My Pink Stamper Winter Punnies stamp set
Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch
Bling

Challenges Entered:
Crafty Hazelnuts #84:  Favorite Colors on a Christmas Card
Getting Cricky Simple Sunday:  Fun with Puns
Christmas Card Challenge #36:  Use something new

Back to School Action Wobbles Card

Almost Back to School Time for Canada.  Usually, I am getting ready now but I will be on Mat leave for most of this year.
Here is an action wobble card I made using "2" action wobbles & the Simply Charmed Cartridge.  I LOVE how it turned out!

Materials Used:
Long Card (9 x 8 scored at 4) to give a 9 x 4
Patterned paper by DCWV called Hopscotch
Simply Charmed Cricut Cartridge by Provocraft
     *p. 52 -Crayon Box cut at 2 3/4"
     *p. 53- Pencil cut at 3" and paper cut at 2 3/4"
     *p. 54- glue & scissors both cut at 2 3/4"
Sentiment on p. 52 cut at 2 1/4"
Action Wobbles (2)
All cardstock from Recollections (various shades)

Challenges Entered:
Action Wobble Wednesday #21:  Back to School Project
Cardz TV Cricut Challenge #113:  School's Out!
Celebrate the Occasion #74:  Back to School
Tuesday Throwdown #110:  Add moving part

New Challenge Site

Hi Blogger Buddies.  I have had no ambition to craft lately (can you tell) because it has been so EXTREMELY hot in New Brunswick, Canada.  We have been getting mid to high 30's and extreme humidity.  Needless to say, this pregnant gal is not very easy to live with right now!!!

I wanted to let you know about a new challenge site that is going to be starting on September 7th and held on every other Friday.  It is called Cut It Up! and they are giving away a great giveaway as a welcome!  The Friday Challenges will require you to use a die-cut along with that week's theme!  It will be hosted by Stacey from Stacey's Creative Corner & Kimberly from Kimberly's Crafty Spot!
So go to their new site at Cut it Up & check out how to be entered for their draw!!!