New Year's Ladybug Card

Hope you all are having a great New Year so far!

I've been wanting to get back into making cards lately and found the perfect excuse/opportunity to make one  when I came across the latest challenge posted at Die-Cuttin' Diva's!

This challenge is Challenge #96: A Sketch for 2013 and here is the card map:

The challenge did not call specifically for a New Year's Day card, but I've never made a card for New Year's and the timing is right, so I went with it!

I just recently purchased the "Lori's Garden" Imagine Cricut Cartridge and noticed that it had a cute ladybug diecut on it. 

I had somehow remembered (back in the dark recesses of my old mind somewhere...) that ladybugs were considered "Good Luck" in some cultures, so I thought it would be appropriate for a card ringing in the New Year!

I used the Cricut "Create a Critter" cartridge to cut the leaf and the "Enjoy the Seasons" Imagine Cartridge for the pattern on the leaf.

The "Happy New Year" sentiment was cut using "The Good Old Days" digital cartridge from the Cricut Craft Room.

I heat embossed all of the die-cuts using clear embossing powder and embellished the ladybug with some little green gems to give him some bling!

For the final touch, I added some brown satin ribbon and pretty sheer ribbon roses to dress the card up a bit.

I added a short sentiment on the inside also.

I wanted to be sure and make this card a standard size, so it would fit in a purchased envelope, so I made it 4" x 9-1/4" which fits perfectly into a standard business size envelope (4-1/8" x  9-1/2").

Here is a photo of all the tools and supplies that I used to make this card (list following):

Supplies/Tools:

Carson's Creation Sketch Map #13

Cricut Imagine Machine

Cricut Cartridge - Lori's Garden (Imagine)

Cricut Cartridge - Create a Critter

Cricut Cartridge - Enjoy the Seasons (Imagine)

Cricut Cartridge (Digital) - The Good Old Days (Not Shown in Photo)

Paper/Cardstock, Lt. Weight, Brown - Best Occasions

Paper/Cardstock, Lt. Weight, Beige - Best Occasions

Gold Glitter Cardstock, DCWV, (The Mariposa Cardstock Matstack #MS-003-00054)

Fiskars Paper Cutter

Architect Tri-Ruler

Cricut Tool Kit

Cricut Spatula

Medium Steel Scissors (Compton)

Tweezer Bee Tweezer's

Steel Spatula Dental Tool

Tweezers

Spouncer Sponge Dauber Tool, Plaid

Marvy/Uchida Embossing Heat Tool

Recollections Craft Collector Tray

Makeup Blush Brush (For embossing powder clean-up)

Ranger Inkssentials Emboss-It Pad, Clear

Tsukineko Versamarker Watermark Pen

Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder, Clear

Stampendous Embossing Powder, Kaleidoscope, Transparent (#EP030)

Sharpie Paint Marker, Metallic, Copper Rose, Ex. Fine Point

Ribbon, Satin, 1/4", Milk Chocolate, Really Reasonable Ribbon

Ribbon Roses, Sheer, Dk. Red, JoAnn's (#1201-7125)

Darice Self-Stick Gems, Green

Terrifically Tacky Tape, 1/4", Provo Craft

Zots Singles, Medium Clear Adhesive Dots, 3/8", Therm-o-Web

Zots, Clear Adhesive Dots, 3-D, 1/2", Ultra Strength, Therm-o-Web

Glue Dots, Mini, 3/16"

Aleene's Original Tacky Glue

Xyron Mega Runner Tape Gun

PSA Essential's Custom Name Stamp

Hope you enjoyed my post and if you get a chance, stop by and see all the great cards from this challenge at the Die-Cuttin' Diva's!

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Cricut Wild Card Christmas Card

I know this is a bit late...since it's a "Christmas" themed post...but I was so darn busy during the Holidays, I found it almost impossible to get the photo editing and post ready to go before now...so here it is...a little bit of Christmas in January!

Recently a bloggie friend, Rhonda Greene ( mrsgreene.info ) posted a very heartfelt plea for cards that really touched my heart.

Her Grandmother has cancer and is not expected to see another Christmas, so she asked for cards to be sent to her this Christmas.

If you would like to read her story, click here.

I really wanted to make a "homemade" card for her, but wasn't sure if I could get it done in time to get it mailed off and to her by Christmas, so I said I would most certainly send a card, but wasn't sure if it would be homemade or not.

I pulled out my Cricut Expression, (which I haven't used in quite a long time) and went to work!

I knew that I had tons of Christmas stuff on various cartridges, so I figured that would be a great place to start.

Here is the card that I came up with...in somewhat of a hurry I might add:

It is not as neat as I would have liked it to be, but overall, I was pleased with how it turned out.

I liked that it was a "shape" card and the patterned paper added a nice touch to set-off the ornament!

The ornament shape and sentiment were cut from the Cricut "Wild Card" Cartridge using my Cricut Expression.

The ornament and "Merry Christmas" sentiment are found on page 74 of the Wild Card booklet.

I inked the edges of the ornament shape and the sentiment to make them stand out a bit.

I used a little sprite/sparkle stamp to make the decorations on the ornament, though they are very light and  a bit hard to see in the photo.

I also added a touch of glitter just to make the card "pop" a bit without being too gaudy.

For the inside of the card, I found a sentiment/poem from an old Christmas Card and typed it into Microsoft Word and then printed it out on light weight cardstock and trimmed it to fit inside the card.

For the finishing touch, I added my name to the back of the card using my customized Peel & Stick Stamp made by PSA Essentials.

I finished the card just in time to get it mailed off via Priority Mail to arrive in time for Christmas!

(UPDATE: I just checked Rhonda's blog and she has posted an update on the results of the Christmas Card Request...see it here.)

Here is a photo and a list of the tools and supplies used to create this card:

Supplies/Tools:

Cricut Expression
Cricut Wild Card Cartridge
Stampin' Up Patterns Pack II (#114325) 6x6
Red Cardstock
Green Cardstock
White Cardstock
Buff Cardstock (Lt. Wt.) - Best Occasions
Elmer's Classic Glitter Glue - Gold
Clear Acrylic Stamp - Sprite/Sparkle, (Purchased from Walmart, Unknown Brand)
Green Ink Pad - Memories Direct, Forest Green
Green Ink Pad - Oriental Trading
Gold Ink Pad - Oriental Trading
Black Ink Pad - Oriental Trading
Tsukineko Fantastix Coloring Tool
Scotch ATG Tape Gun
Xyron Mega Runner
Zig 2-way Glue Pen, Jumbo Tip
Zig 2-way Glue Pen, Squeeze & Roll, Fine Ball Pt.
Fiskars Mini Trimmer
Cricut Spatula & Pick Tool
PSA Essentials Peel & Stick Custom Stamp

Hope to be back soon with another post...my New Year's Resolution is...POST more to my blog this year!

Thank-you to all my loyal followers for sticking with me, even when I go awhile without posting.

You are AWESOME and I LOVE YOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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My Memories - 7 Days of Software Giveaways - Day 3

Today I want to send out a special welcome to those of you joining us for the "7 Days of Software Giveaways - My Memories" Blog Hop, hosted by Melinda over at 28 Peppermint Grove!

It is Day 3 and my turn to introduce you to some AWESOME scrapbooking software...My Memories Suite v.4, by Story Rock.

Now, if you've never heard of it or tried it, this is your chance to join in the fun and checkout all the cool things you can do with this software, and possibly win a free copy for yourself!

There are so many projects you can do using this software, the possibilities are almost limitless!

You are not limited to just "scrapbooking"...You can make all of the following (and MORE!) using this software:

• Greeting Cards 
• Calendars
• Photobooks
• Party Invitations (see the one's I made here and also here)
• iPhone & Laptop Skins
• Photo Apparel
• Tags & Stickers
• Ornaments
• Magnets

This is just a sampling of what you can do!

Today, I am going to share with you two different Holiday Greeting Cards that I made using the newest version of the My Memories Software Suite,version 4, which was just released in the last couple of weeks.

The first card I created was a typical 4x8 photo greeting card that you might normally see at one of the online photo finishing retailers.

The great thing is, you no longer are limited to their designs, you can create your own using the My Memories Suite and your card will be unique and one of a kind!

I used elements from the "Holly Jolly Christmas" kit  from Shmooangel Designs to create this card.

You can get this "add-on" kit right now for 40% off...only $2.99 (reg. $4.99)!

(But you gotta hurry! The sale ends today!)

The second card I made is a 5x5 square card, which is becoming more popular for greeting cards these days.

For this card, I used some basic elements that came with the software in addition to some purchased kits.

The software comes with many elements included like: background papers, embellishments, word art and  frames and much more!

On their website they offer a TON of  free kits  in addition to the beautiful designer kits you can purchase (for a VERY reasonable price I might add!).

They have specials and sales running all the time and right now they have a 12 days of Christmas promotion going on. 

Every day until the 12th there is a special promo code on their home page with a discount for you!

Check out their facebook page also, where there is always a lot of fun going on and additional freebies.

Okay, now for the good news!

My Memories has authorized me and the awesome ladies below to give away one free copy of the software to one of our lovely followers/readers!

(That is 7 copies to be given away!!)

To enter, just use the rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Below is a list of all of the blogs who are participating in this hop and you can enter to win at any or all of them!

Sunday 12/9 - Melinda (Host) at 28 Peppermint Grove
Monday 12/10 - Theresa at Dear Creatives
Tuesday 12/11 - Lisa (That's ME!) at Stuff-n-Such by Lisa
Wednesday 12/12 - Melissa at Missy's Scrap Space
Thursday 12/13 - Leah at Digital Scrapbooking
Friday 12/14 - Sew Cal Gal
Saturday 12/15 - Cheryl at 2 Girls at Play

If you are just too darn excited to wait...and want to purchase this awesome software now, be sure to use my link and discount code below to save $10.00 on the best scrapbooking software EVER!

CODE: STMMMS91285

Thank-you for visiting!

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My Memories Suite v4 and Christmas Layout

I have some exciting news!

Story Rock Inc. has just released a new version of their Scrapbooking Software: My Memories Suite v.4!

I made a 6-page Christmas layout using the new version and can't believe how quick it was!

I used a pre-made Designer Template called: "A Gift for You", that came with the software and just dropped in my photos and added my text.

It was so simple and turned out so nice!

I am forever behind on my "traditional" hard book scrapbooking, so having this software helps fill in the blanks and keeps me motivated to document my life and the lives of those that I love so dearly!

Hope you'll enjoy the layout and stay-tuned, because I will be reviewing more of this great software and showing you some additional fun things you can do with it soon!

In the meantime, if you would like to find out more or are interested in purchasing this awesome Scrapbooking Software, just click on the link below.

My Memories has authorized me to offer a $10.00 off discount, by using the code below!

What a great opportunity to get something GREAT for a GREAT price!

CODE: STMMMS91285

Thank-you for visiting me and if you like what you see, please leave me a comment below and/or become a follower!

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Paper Medallion Ornaments

Today I'm happy to introduce my first ever Guest Poster! 

Please welcome Erin, from My Very Educated Mother. 
She has an easy yet elegant ornament tutorial for you today. Enjoy! - Lisa 

Hi, I’m Erin and I blog over at My Very Educated Mother.  The number one question I always get is, what’s with the name?  Well, it’s actually part of a mnemonic device used to memorize the planets in order from the sun.  When I started my blog, I was a stay-at-home mom still making payments on my student loans and therefore feeling like a ‘very educated mother,’ so the name stuck. 

This month a number of crafty bloggers, like Lisa, have been sharing ornament tutorials as a part of my No Ugly Ornament Series.  You’ll have to stop by to see how we came up with that name, but in the meantime I’d love to share with you one of the most basic yet versatile ornaments you can make at home without spending a dime!

Paper Medallions

Supplies

• any cupcake liners, we used the silver ones 
• book pages (cut into 1.5 to 3 inch squares, 4 square per medallion)
• glue
• thread or thin ribbon , we used elastic thread

Directions

Start off by flattening out two cupcake liners and then fringe their edges. Cut a piece of thread about 6 inches long, this will be your string to hang the ornament.  Sandwich the two cut ends of the thread between the liners before you glue them together.


While that dries get busy with some accordion folding!  Seriously, I’m not one big on tools but Martha has a folding one that makes this step really easy and much faster.  I’m using it in the picture below.


The number of accordion folded sheets you need depends on how you want your medallion to look, I used four sheets that were glued together with a hot glue gun.  If you use Elmer’s on these you’ll end up with more folds sticking together than you might have intended.  Trust me.


And there you have it, paper medallions…or whatever you want to call them! :)



I want to thank Lisa for letting me visit with you guys and I’d love for you to stop by and visit my blog, or you can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Happy Holidays!

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