Gifts From Bella!

I had to share these fabulous gifts with you that I received from my Swap Sister on UStamp.  Bella is the kind person who organized the swap between lots of women from all over the world.  Since I didn't have any Stamp'in Up products (which I found out is one of the requirements) she was gracious enough to swap with me so that I could participate.

I received this great package full of these fabulous cards and this adorable calendar.  They all look so professional and I love the variety.  Thank you Bella!

Here is a closer look at the cards laying down.

Not to forget this adorable calendar which I love love love!  This calendar is so my taste.  I like things a little worn that have muted colors and this is perfect!

I haven't been able to make hardly any of the projects but they have all of the details on .pdf files that I download and save for when I can make them.  I am so glad my sister lured me to that event.  Be sure to check out Bella's blog on the link in the title.  Thanks Bella!

UStamp 09 Swap

As part of the UStamp with Dawn and Friends 09 we have the opportunity to participate in a swap with crafters across the world.  When I joined UStamp I didn't realize that it was a Stamp'n Up event so everyone was using SU products.  Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging but I didn't know if I could be a part of the swap since I didn't have any SU products.

The person who organized the swap, Mirabella, decided that I should swap with her so that I didn't need to use SU products.  Today was the day that we had to mail off our swap item.  We were supposed to make one stamped item, one stamped card and one candy from our country.  Even though I haven't felt very good I made something and barely made the deadline.  I'm still pretty shaky so stamping and gluing are pretty funny to watch. 

I went on Mirabella's blog and found out that she loved being a SU Demonstrator and seems to love helping people.  Her blog is soft purple with butterflies (of course I don't have any butterfly stamps). 

I thought of the words Dream, Create and Inspire so that's what I put on the box that I made for her to store her scrapping supplies in.  Almost everything I did on this container and the card were not really what I planned.  I had to cover up so many places where I messed up or smeared ink  but I think it turned out pretty good considering my shakiness and lack of energy.  I also included an Idaho Truffle for my candy item.  I hope Mirabella likes her items from S. Utah.

Front of the container.  I used floral marbles with permanent marker underneath for the flower centers.

I thought of "Create" because of all the beautiful things she creates.

I thought of "Inspire" because of the teaching that she does.

Top of the container.  I tried to stamp right on the lid but it was concave and the stamp wouldn't go down solid so I had to stamp on paper and glue it over the bad stamping.

I thought of "Dream" because a person can't create or inspire unless they first dream of an idea.  Thanks Mirabella for making me feel so welcome.  In a few days I will receive a gift from Mirabella - how exciting.

I can't wait to see what Jerri Ann sent her swap sister.

Halloween card variations

I have finally finished some thank you cards I needed to send. Since it's October, I went with a Halloween theme. Each card is a little different, whether it be the paper, brads, ribbon, or picture (or lack thereof). The black "Thank You" and the black tree are embossed with a black sparkle embossing powder. Also, the paper the tree is stamped on is white, but the lighting when I took the picture makes it look pink. I will try to add the instructions soon.

Spring or Easter Card

I am contributing to a Free Digital Card exchange at Digi-Scrap Princess and have spent so much time creating and changing it that I can't really see it any more. The challenge is to make a Card and bookmark for Spring or Easter.

When I think of Spring one of my fondest memories is my children bringing me one of the first flowers of the season. They knew how much I loved flowers so they were excited and would usually bring me a dandelion (roots still covered in dirt). This wild flower (OK, weed) was the most precious gift to me. I also have memories of picking dandelions, when they had gone to seed, making a wish and blowing the seeds into the breeze. There always seemed something magical about the way the seeds would catch on the breeze and scatter into the sky. So I made this card based on those memories.

My question is this "Am I wierd for basing a card on a Dandelion?" Will anyone else want to use it? It is hard when you spend time on something and then stop to look at it and can't quite see it clearly anymore. So be honest. Would you use this card or bookmark to send to someone you like? In the Give-a-way I will include the "Welcome Spring" card as well as a blank card. I have to submit this by the end of the month so I need to figure out whether to change it or not!

House Warming Card

On New Year's Eve we were invited to my neices new apartment for breakfast.  She made crepes complete with all kinds of wonderful toppings - it was decadent!  Her apartment is a studio that is so adorable and seems to work great for her.  I wanted to send her a Thank You and decided to use the house from Wild Card.  As I was looking at the picture I realized that there were several colors and that it might be a pain to change out colors.  I was up last night browsing my favorite blogs and found the perfect solution!  Of course I found the answer from Diane at Capadia.  She was cutting out some princesses and showing how to make all those layers with one mat cut.  It was the answer I didn't know I needed!  Thanks Diane.

Here is my mat after I made the cuts.  I forgot to take a picture before but I think you get the picture.

Here is a close-up of the cute house from Wild Card.  Xarissa's apartment building is blue so of course this one had to be the same.

There is also a cute envelope that goes along with card.  I embossed the door knob (not pictured) to give it a little dimension.  I also chalked everything to give it that old world feel.  I hope Xarissa likes it.

Caught A Bug?

Here is my contribution for the "Stretch Your Imagination" challenge and also for Card Group.  I was going to use the sunflower but Jerri Ann beat me to it.  Drat!   Oh well I decided that I liked the jar full of bugs, hmmm....what to do with it?  How about a "Get Well Card!"

Here is the card with the envelope.

A close-up of the jar of bugs.  I embossed the Fireflies.  I should have used googily bugs or something.

What's inside?  The ink job is a happy accident.  My printer wasn't working right, I couldn't get the black ink cartridge to work so when I saw what came out I thought Darn!  But then realized that it worked so I printed out the rest of them.  I couldn't duplicate the coloring again if I tried.

Wild Card Exploration

Today was another Cricut Club Class and Jesse guided us through a Wild Card Exploration. I was excited because this cartridge looked really cool but I hadn't had a chance to play with it. Jesse showed us the Argyle button Pg. 33) - so many options! I made two argyle cards but didn't get a chance to make the envelopes which are very cool. Jerri, these cards reminded me on St. Andrews and the plaids that the golfers and Highlanders wear. Ofcourse I would use different colors. Maybe you could use this cartridge to send a card to one of your friends in Scotland.

This card was made with the argyle and lattace option. I also had to put a liner under everthing because of the color choices I made.

This Argyle card was made with the window option.

Jesse made the most elegant Autumn card but of course that paper was gone so my friend April and I went searching for something else. As usual April found this paper and I copied her. Thanks April!

Here is the Leaf card and envelope (pg. 43). The pictures don't do it justice. Just be sure to use double sided paper for each.

Matching Envelope

Valentine Cards

Today I went to Cricut Club (taught by Jesse Leavitt) and she showed us how to make a cute card, so as usual some of us put our own spin on it and I loved mine (humility is hard with the amazing things the cricut can do)! The rest of the class made adorable cards as well. The directions for this card are on http://www.crafts2die4.com/ in the free section.

Anyway, instead of a butterfly I used lips and an embossed heart. I used George and Indy Art Cartridges. I'm sending these to our Card Group for Valentines. I hope you like them. I LOVE them! I need to learn how to take better pictures of my projects (I still have some humility).