Recipe Swap Page Raspberry Cake Bars

I participated in a Recipe Page Swap last month. Sadly the organizer had a family emergency so I don't have the whole book completed but thought I'd share a page here. There were 4 groups (6x6s and 8x8s) and I participated in all of them! I made 81 pages in 2 months which kind of shocked myself but I was motivated. I was going to give 2 of these away as gifts but that will have to wait till next year, oh well. I already shared 2 on the Cricut circle messageboards but thought I'd share 1 more today.

I used the Christmas, and From My Kitchen cartridges which I totally bought just for this swap.
Papers are from my stash and Die Cuts with a View Luxury collection.
Bling, ribbon are from my stash and I made the recipe card using digital files from Cosmo Cricket which I bought from Jessica Sprague. The title font is called Buttercream which I purchased from Lettering delights.

Creative Summit Event

If you know me you know I love online classes/events. However there is something I love more...FREE online classes/events. Just heard about this one through Heidi Swapp's blog (she's participating). Sounds great with tons of fabulous teachers and I've already signed up!
Creative Jump Start Summit


Christmas Around the House

Are you getting in the Christmas Spirit yet?

Tim Holtz 12 tags Day 2

Here is my version of Day 2. I love the deer and woodsy feeling.
Carts used
Christmas solutions for deer and wreath
paper tape from 7 gypsies
frost spray
wooden buttons, star bling, crinkle ribbon from stash
gear from TH collection


In the light, to show shimmer

Tim Holtz 12 tags Day 1

I decided to take part (partially) in Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas blog event. It is where he creates 1 tag a day and shares it with everyone on his blog. I actually had never heard of it until a friend of mine mentioned it a couple of months ago. I like it because even if you don't have his products you can still adapt it to make your own version. For example I basically only have his inks, no stamps or dies. Instead I will be using my Cricut machine.
This is my version of Day 1 which I absolutely loved!
carts used:
Blackletter font from my Gypsy device
Christmas solutions cartridge for the holly leaves and greenery.
Art Philosophy  for the "pinecones"
Tags, Bags Boxes for the actual tag using TH distress cardstock
pearls, white paint, acrylic drops, glitter, white crinkle ribbon from my stash
Snowflake cuttlebug embossing folder

Love the sparkle!

Christmas planner

At the GiversLog.com they have a fantastic printable Christmas organizer that is broken down week by week and starts all the way back in October. If I followed it like I did last year it would have helped me to not be so frazzled and running around this year. Oh well better late than never. It is adorable, helpful and you can cut it out and carry it around with you in your purse. Luv!

You can find it here:Christmas Organizer printable

Chase Charity Giveaway

Chase Bank is giving away $3 Million (picture me doing my Dr. Evil impersonation here) to 100 charities this weekend. You can vote through Facebook. It says you can vote 10 times for 10 different charities but I am asking that you send 1 of your votes to Scrapbook Royalty. It is a group that raises money through scrapbooking and craft related activites and then gives it away to charities. They put on alot of events throughout the year and like many charities are in need.
You can find their page here: Facebook Giveaway

Thanks!

Big Picture Classes SALE!

Big Picture Classes is having a fantastic 50% off sale of all their self paced classes to celebrate their 6th birthday. For those who don't know they are a site that hosts online craft/scrapbooking classes where you have permanent access to the class. This is why I keep taking them, I never have to worry about getting busy and not finishing a class because I will have it forever. I have loved all the classes I've taken.

Not into scrapbooking? How dare you! Just kidding, they also have a number of photography, DIY and even a meditation class available in their self paced section. The self paced section basically means you will not have 1 on 1 communication with the teacher like the workshop section. The self paced classes are pre planned and recorded so when you buy it you have all the contents of the class instantly. In the workshop section classes feature live interaction with the teacher and other students and material is released week by week.
Click me to go to the website to get the code

Sale ends on the 20th of this month!!!

Blog Contest Tracker Form

Here's another form I thought I'd share. There are so many contests out there on blogs that I get confused as to which I entered. I made this simple list in 2 versions for Microsoft Works Spreadsheet or Excel. There is no preview for the Works version but it's the same as Excel. You can print off as many sheets as you need, each fits 15 entries. Once again I'd appreciate you referring anyone back here instead of just giving them the file. Thanks and good luck in those contests! Here's the link for the Works version

52 Weeks of Mail

52 Weeks of Mail, brought to you by Etsy Greetings Team, is designed to encourage people to be more intentional about relationships and keeping in touch with friends and family by sending out a card or letter each week, for the next year. I don't know about you, but I LOVE getting a personal, hand-written card or letter in the mail.

Throughout 52 Weeks of Mail, we are asking everyone to commit ...to sending just ONE card or letter each week. You can send more than one, of course! 52 Weeks of Mail BEGINS on October 9th, 2011, and ends on October 7th, 2012. Please feel free to blog about this event, or share it on your Facebook page. Share it on Twitter, or any other social networking site too!

We are hoping to get 1000 LIKES by the end of September. Please help out by sharing this with all of your Facebook friends! Let's make this viral!

If you are looking for some GREAT handmade cards to send out to your friends and family, please visit http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit&q=etsygreetingsteam&view_type=list&ship_to=US

Here's a great idea: When you send your card to Grandma (or whomever), send a brand new card with an envelope that already has a stamp on it, so that she can send a card to someone else! Be sure to explain in your card what you are doing, so she will know why you sent her a brand new card. :-)
 

Found this I think through another blog, very cool.

Halloween Mobile

If you remember I had a couple of styrofoam circles that were just waiting for me to make something with them. I have been trying to add on a couple of Halloween decorations to the house and thought a cute mobile would be a fun addition. It is hanging from our chandelier over our dining table. The simple instructions are:
1. Paint circle (I used orange)
2. cover with black tulle (I liked the messier look)
3. hot glue gun strips of ribbon so that they hang over the side
4. glue various shapes onto ribbon, make sure you do 2 sides that will fit together with the ribbon in the middle like a sandwich and make sure they will be spread evenly around
5. use long piece of black tulle as the hanger and tie onto wherever you'd like

Carts used: Gypsy wanderings, Chic and Scary
Embossing folders: straight lines, tiny dots, typewriter
Orange and Green cardstock from stash
Distress Ink: Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Ripe Persimmon (limited fall collection)
various ribbon from stash
styrofoam circle
Martha Stewart orange paint
black tulle
glossy accents
crystals

Purple Halloween Banner

Here is another project for the Cricut Circle contest, this time a monochromatic color scheme had to be used in the project. I have loved doing all these banners so thought I would make another one but this time in ALL purple!
Carts used: Birthday Bash, Scary and Chic
Cuttlebug folder used: Swirly one (not sure of the name, sorry)
Papers used: purple cardstock in various tones, purple glitter paper
Purple glitter rick rack ribbon
Close to my Heart Halloween stamp set (it came with the kit)

Winter Journaling Card

Here is my interpretation of a sketch posted in the Cricut Circle blog for a contest they are having. I was going to make a card but then as I started thinking of ideas I cut the paper a little larger than I wanted but since it had lines on both sides I figured it would be perfect as a journaling card, I can slip it into a pocket on one of my winter pages. I also loved that I was able to use this snowman from last years Christmas cards I mailed out.
Carts used:Jolly Holidays, Forever Young
Paper: Cricut Pad, cardstock, vellum (accordian folded)
Stamp: Christmas set from Stamps of Life
Brads from stash
Red stickles Ivory
Crinkled ribbon

Unity Stamp Special- Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Unity Stamp Co. One Time October Kit of the Month I have been looking for just the right stamp set for a while to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness. I have made cards in the past for this cause and always wish I had something "special" to create with. All of the stamp sets I've seen are nice but today I saw this and knew I had to buy it. It is part of their stamp of the month kit but they are making it available to purchase for everyone and donating $5 for each set purchased. I realize it is a bit pricey for stamps but I really love it.

I won a contest!

Check out her blog for fantastic and adorable ideas!

She recently had a 2nd chance contest for people who entered the HSN Cricut banner contest and I won!http://icameisawicreated.blogspot.com/2011/10/second-chance-banner-contest-winner.html Here's a reminder about the "winning" banner:

Halloween/Autumn Pin Swap

So I went on a wonderful weekend of crafting with some of my Cricut Circle friends last week and we did a pin swap. I did mine entirely from paper but it was pretty stable since it's about 4 layers thick plus I coated it with Tattered Angels glimmer glaze which is like a sealer. I used the chandelier glaze color which is a fabulous clear coat with rainbow glittery goodness. I highly reccommend it!
I gave people the choice of either Halloween or Autumn themes since not everyone celebrates Hallween. The pumpkins are from the digital cart Smiley Cards I got from buying my Gypsy last year. I also used the leaf from Gypsy Wanderings and flower and scalloped circle from Forever Young.
The main difference between the 2 are the colors and I added on some teeth and stickles to the Halloween one. I also used a cuttlebug striped folder to emboss the pumpkins and of course inked everything.
Oh and I also had to share the hotel I stayed at, the SouthPoint Hotel in Las Vegas. It was great, just south of the strip, and with plenty to do for all ages. They had a theater, bowling alley, spa and multiple places to grab some food. The best part of the place was that everything was super easy to find and layed out in a central pattern around the casino area. My room was also great with plenty of space, although I was facing a wall!

A-Z with me

I have seen variations of this elsewhere but was reminded when reading Amy Tangerine's blog (luv her) so here's my version based on hers. I told myself that I wouldn't share tooo much personal info on here since this is public and  I don't want any ex boyfriends stalking me. So here's to living dangerously and excuse my evasive answers!

A. Age: Not answering but I'm older than i look
B. Bed size: Twin, no really. I got used to it in college
C. Chore that you hate: pulling weeds and doing dishes
D. Dogs: none
E. Essential start to your day: Opening all of the window blinds
F. Favorite color: Blue
G. Gold or Silver: Silver
H. Height: 5’5"
I. Instruments you play: none
J. Job title: office worker/part time crafter
K. Kids: none, just a cat
L. Live: California.
M. Mother’s name: A very nice one
N. Nicknames: funny ones or annoying ones depending on the alcohol consumption
O. Overnight hospital stays: one but not as a patient
P. Pet peeves: People who don't put their shopping carts back in the stalls, especially when it is like 2 feet away from them!
Q. Quote from a movie: I have tons so really can't pick one.
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: 1
U. Underwear: What kind of question is this? This list is sexist.
V. Vegetable you hate: Onions
W. What makes you run late: staying up till 2
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Dental, knee, head
Y. Yummy food that you make: Jalapeno Chicken Salad, Pasta with pancetta
Z. Zoo animal: I'd love a pet panda bear or lion if it stayed small.

HSN Banner Contest Entry #2

Here is my 2nd entry into the banner contest for the Cricut Anniversary. I'm not 100% crazy about it but it has slightly grown on me. I like the boldness of it! I used the cuttlebug, black tulle, red stickles, red bling, die cuts with a view paper from All Dressed Up, Gypsy Wanderings cart and the Art Philosophy cartridge available only through a Close to my Heart consultant. I am more hopeful about my 1st entry but I'm glad to have finished this one.

Etsy Find-Immortal Shakespeare

I have long been intrigued by this shop on Etsy as I have long been a Shakespeare fan. I love the moodiness of the pieces they create. They are called Immortal Longings and are based in England!
Etsy Shop Here

Cricut Circle Crop Checklist

I'm on a roll! Here is a cuter checklist made specifically for Cricut Circle Crops but could be adapted to any crop you attend. Once again please direct people back here instead of sharing the file directly. Thanks!

Scrapbook Crop Checklist

I looked EVERYWHERE  for a cute printable checklist for me. I couldn't find anything, maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. I went ahead and made one in Word. I used a font from Lettering delights but it wouldn't upload right on box.net so I went ahead and used a basic font in Word. I'd love it if you directed people back here instead of just giving them the file. Thanks and I'll be working on a cuter one.Of course I don't take all these things but thought I'd add them all in anyway for others who like to take all these things. You can just cross out those items. I also included a couple of extra boxes to check off for your specific items. I love checklists, they make me feel like I'm accomplishing something!

Updated DCWV stack list

If you are a list junkie like me and want to keep updated with all of DCWV stacks then check this out.
Ulitimate Stack List It is the Scribd download link that they posted on their blog.
Here is the post which discusses it : http://dcwvinc.blogspot.com/2011/08/updated-stack-list-preppy-princess-page.html

Halloween Banner with Cricut

Provo Craft is having a banner contest for their HSN day at the end of the month. You can enter 2 different banners which is what I wanted to do and I had the idea of making a small one. I thought about it and figured that a Halloween one would be cute since I just received my Teresa Collins Scary and Chic cartridge. It's adorable by the way! I think my favorite thing about the banner is the size and the fact that I used only cardstock.
Here is my 1st submission using Scary and Chic and the Wild Card cartridges. I also used stickles, Martha Stewart glitter, cuttlebug swirls embossing folder, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink, twine, and a few silver pearl accents.

I love to listen to music while scrapbooking

Here is a listen of a song that Jennifer Hudson has done with a dance club beat. I know it won't be everyone's cup o tea but I love high energy songs!

Scrapbook Royalty Charity

I just wanted to send  a shoutout to a group that needs help promoting. Scrapbook Royalty is a group that specializes in raising money for charity groups through crafty endeavours. This year they have undertaken running crops at various Scrapbook Expos and putting on several other retreats and events. They have giveaways and are currently having auctions with donated items they acquired through CHA vendors meaning that some of these items are not available for purchase yet or brand spanking new!
Find them here:
Ebay Auctions for Charity
They also had an online event that I participated in and I actually won something! I will be getting a prize from Heartfelt Creations which is a stamping company so I'm very excited as I've been on a roll with winning things. I need to buy a lottery ticket.

Oh So Lovely: Anyone Up For a Challenge?

August Photo Challenge
I'm participating after just finishing up Ali Edward's A Week in the Life project.
Check it out for something fun and quick to do and get familiar with your camera and everyday moments.
For details Oh So Lovely: Anyone Up For a Challenge?

Christmas in July challenge #3 3D scene

For our next challenge we were to make something outside our comfort zone. I went ahead and made a 3D scene. I'm going to put either a photo, stamped image or quote inside the door. Oh yeah the door opens! I was thinking that because of it's circular shape it would look good with a battery operated tealight behind the door.
Recipe:
Christmas cart, door dark brown paper,
christmas cart, door blackout kraft paper, covered in green, top cut off
christmas door, door shift kraft paper, inked with distress ink walnut
all door pieces at 5.65"
christmas wreath green cardstock, 1.52", inked with walnut, added red ribbon, red & clear bling
snowflake paper die cuts with a view cut out with MS circle cutter, cut in half
base is styrofoam circle, I painted and distressed it, added glitter, flock, flakes (doesn't really show up in the pic)
I also added a backing to the door to make it stand up, I basically just cut a strip of paper and made a stand

Christmas In July Scrapbook Layout

I'm involved in an online challenge where we have to create various projects. Here is a LO for the Christmas holiday. I can't believe that people are already talking about it!

I used the Jolly Holidays cricut cartridge for the mittens and bird and the gypsy wanderings cart for the small border of presents. My paper was Die Cuts with a View Christmas stack from last year and also a sheet of provocraft christmas paper pad. The rest was cardstock and bling from stash. I embossed the bird and mittens with my polka dot cuttlebug folder. I also added white flock on the mittens. They are free hanging from a button with some red bakers twine. I attached the other bakers twine with my tiny attacher (love that thing).

Stores to know

I've discovered a new venue for my scrap shopping. I had heard the name before but when I visited the shop it is adorable and I looove that they have digital offerings.
Check out Pretty Little Studio and all their vintage, colorful goodies! They have a couple of free goodies to download like the image below.

Swatch books and Crafting

I don't know how many of you have heard of swatchbooks but certain paper companies make small books with samples of their paper so that when you are crafting you can match up the paper to your project and buy the exact right hue that you want. I just bought the Bazill swatchbook for their Burlap line and it is awesome, it even includes the RGB code so you can enter on your Imagine machine if you have one or in Photoshop if you want to match exactly to your cardstock. How awesome is that?

California Cricut Circle Pennant Contest

So the Cricut Circle is having a Pennant contest for everyone to celebrate their CHA event. They will string up all of the entries together and yes I sent mine today Priority mail. I'm nervous it will get jacked up in the mailing process though and sad that I didn't take more pictures than these. It's alot cuter in person as there is sparkle everywhere. I was in a hurry to mail it off though and  the light was not working out. Oh well.

I really worked alot on this thing. I of course used my cricut bug (carts used gypsy wanderings, smiley cards, pop neighborhood, gypsy font, George, Old West) The Birthday bash cart was used as the base for the pennant which a girl named Heidi was so kind to cut for me!

I used alot of stickles, glimmermist on the background, along with rock candy crackle finish on the water. I cut a border from gypsy wanderings in half and flocked it with white as the waves. I have a limited amount of carts so I had to improvise on my design like the sailboat is part of a border that I cut out and embossed. I chalked the cheeks on my sun and hand drew the windows on the skyscrapers, then added glossy accents on them. I also added glossy accents on my crab after hand drawing his face.

I used a plank from the Old West cart but then cut them in half an added lines with my white pen (an idea inspired by Monique Griffith's adorable Stampede page kit).
I glimmer glazed the car with chandelier and used a transparent sheet for the window. I embossed the trees with my cuttlebug and used rock candy stickles on the mountain tops. Lastly I used a product called mud puddles on my beach part for my sand. It is a fabulous if messy, 3D product that similulates various tones of sand.

I was inspired by my state of California since it has everything you could think of from snowy mountains to sunny beaches. Where I live though it's lots of country land so I wanted to express that with alot of green (paper from Die cuts with a View)

Thanks for reading this long post!

Charity Wings Live @ CHA event

So I did this last year and it was soo much fun plus it helps charity. You will be mailed a box full of goodies that you will use in online make n takes. My favorite part was interacting with everyone through a live chat, event the hosts! You will get to see live on air samples of the newest products like you were there, which we all know is not happening for the average shopper at CHA anymore. There are some amazing talented ladies that came on last time and this time there will be a progressive make n take that looks adorable. Check it out @ Charity Wings!

On an off topic Back up your stuff!

About 6 weeks ago my laptop computer died on me. I was devastated as I loooove my computer. I had to do without it for about 2 weeks but now I have it back and am back to surfing the sites from the comfort of anywhere I want. The moral of this story though is if you don't want to lose your things like pictures and bookmarked websites like me then back up your data. Anyone can buy a flash drive, sd card, or external hard drive for under $100 or even under $20 so there is no excuse. There is even a device called a Picture Keeper that is a flash drive that will back up all your pics automatically in like 2 minutes, however I always have 2 backup sources. I only lost like 10 pictures as I try my best to back up everything but this time I got lazy and those pics won't ever come back so today when you finish reading this BACK UP YOUR STUFF!

Did you know?...

GCD Studios has a free downloadable pdf newsletter every month? I love their vintagey papers as their textures are amazing. When I first felt them I thought it felt like some sort of fabric and it had a luxurious shimmer to it. Check out the pdf here:http://www.gcdstudios.com/ under the In the Studios section. The pdf is 7 pages long and filled with techniques, inspiration and news from them.

Cricut circle calling card album

Yeah I'm finally uploading a project I did recently. For the cricut circle when you go to events you make these calling cards and I decided to put mine in an album. I can keep track of what I've done already and what carts I used. I used the Yourstory photo to bind the album and the French manor, four legged friends, and cricut everyday (a club exclusive) to decorate.

Graphic 45 Wizard of Oz line

I just noticed on the G45 blog that they have their entire new Wizard of Oz on their website.
http://www.g45papers.com/products/the-magic-of-oz-category
I am so excited as I loved their Alice in Wonderland collection last year.

Taken from their blog

Etsy Find

Today I'm spotlighting Stephanie Fizer. She has adorable and whimsical designs that feature beautiful watercolor work. She even has collections like "Alice in Wonderland", "Garden Fairies", and "Japanese Kokeshi Dolls".  I love their colors and she offers a wide variety of products like listpads, prints, calendars and stickers. My favorite items though are her collections of small notebooks (5 in a pack). I carry these everywhere with me as they are perfect for throwing in your purse. I like to write down what I need for craft projects so I'll always have my list with me when I'm at the store.

Her Etsy Shop

Image taken from her store

Back from Hiatus Rolled Paper Roses

Work was soo busy these past months. Now I'm ready for some crafting!

Here's a video from Die Cuts With A View about making rolled paper roses. They have a template on their blog too.

Calling Cards

Part of being in the Provo Craft Cricut Circle is having regional meetings or "swarms" where we can gather and do some crafting while having fun. I was supposed to go to one this weekend but work messed it up. I made 36 of these babies so I thought I'd share. One of the girls on the messageboard reminded me that I can turn them into cards instead.
I glimmermisted the background, used a heart punch on glitter paper from DCWV, stamped and cut out a tiny heart flower then stickled, stamped out a bottom border, inked the edges with TH distressing ink in Broken China, cut out the hills and sun with Country Life cartridge and embossed part of the hill with my cuttlebug.

Signups for JS and H. Swap class ending soon!

Signups for Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swapp's hybrid scrapping class are ending as of February 2nd because they need time to send you the kit. I admit the class is not exactly cheap but it comes with a physical kit worth $30 so it is worth it. I also feel that what we'll learn will be such a timesaver and filled with techniques for hybrid creating. How many of us can say we had a class taught by these 2?Signups Here!  JS Class Mouse, Paper, Scissors
 image taken from Jessicasprague.com

If you can't get to CHA

Online Classes

So I've been taking alot of online classes recently and thought it was time to highlight a couple of things I have learned. I will post again about paid classes.

Where to take free classes?
Big Picture Classes has a variety of free classes in their Self Paced class section. These are classes that come with pdfs and sometimes audio but no live class interaction with teachers.
They are also going to be having a free workshop which features live interaction with a teacher and other students, basically you all follow the lesson plans together. This is the 1st one I've seen that is free so it would be a great oppurtunity to get a feel for a workshop. It is called Embrace Perfection and starts February 10th.

My Creative Classroom has 1 free class that changes monthly. It is called Everyday Moodlings. It's purpose is to get you aqquainted with how their classes work. They also feature a student gallery and forums. This class has rotating subjects and a wide variety of lesson plans. You will not have a specific live teacher but if you post a message on the forum they do get back to you, however the paid classes are more 1 on 1. http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com/course/category.php?id=27

Prima Marketing has a variety of classes available on their u-stream channel. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/primaflower You can learn alot of different techniques using their products by searching through their different videos. You do not get pdfs or forum ability with these though.

There are 2 quick intro lessons on Photoshop on Jessica Sprague's website. They are mini classes but feature free digital elements that she has designed. You just need Photoshop. Intro to Photoshop and Hybrid Scrapping

Two Peas in a Bucket's website is having free classes all year long. They will feature a different subjects with 4 different teachers every week. These classes feature pdfs and video. They will be focusing on 4 themes like stamping, using your supplies up, using 4x6 photos and using sketches. http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/classes_and_events/classes/

Have fun learning!