Celebrate Freedom!

I made this card to give to my Mother-in-Law for inviting us to celebrate July 4th with her at her timeshare on the beach. Every year a group of people go to see her and everyone brings food and drinks and we all enjoy ourselves immensely, but it seems that no one ever gives her a card. Last year I started a scrapbook which I will continue this year, but I wanted to give her a card also (and, of course, it can go into the scrapbook too). I made the card using the Stand & Salute cartridge, cutting the star and bursts and the liberty bell. The bell is popped off of the card using the cut out section. I cut the card and liberty bell at once using the card feature, then added the red paper with the star and bursts cutouts and then popped the bell on top, chalked and put Stickles everything and then put red, white and blue paper on the inside with Thank You. I like how it turned out. It is much prettier in person ... the scanner just cannot capture the sparkle or colors well for some reason. Thanks for looking!

A New Award!

Lynn at Beautiful Delights gave my blog an award. Please click on the link in her name to visit her beautiful blog. Thank you!

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I searched the blogging world and found these 15 (mostly new to me) and I am pasing on the award to:

Rose
Carolyn
Lillie
Melissa
Jeannie
Sue
Valerie
Raquel
Jennifer
Nanne
Monique
Wanda
Sheryl
Sherri
Deborah

Enjoy! If you happen to receive it more than once it just shows how much we enjoy your blog!

New Cards!

I've learned a new technique, thanks to Cricut Messageboard and Splitcoast Stampers website! I just love making these cards. I've made five so far and as fast as I make them someone says ... "Hey, that's great! Can I have it?" Of course, I keep saying yes ... so I don't have any for myself! These are called tri-shutter cards. What great fun! Thanks for looking!

I love the sentiment stamp ... I picked it up at Michael's using a 40% off coupon so it wasn't too bad ... originally $8.99, I think ... If you are looking for a sentiment for a friendship card, this is a good one!

Your Blog Makes Us Smile Award!

I am so honored to have received this award! With the past few weeks being as hard as they have been, this just really made them all seem not so bad after all. Thank you so much Mary for the wonderful award! Please check out Mary's wonderful blog by clicking on her name.



I would like to pass this award along to:

Linda
Jeannie
Jennie
Diane

Okies Challenge - 060209

This week's challenge was two cards and a color challenge. Talk about making you think!!!

Here is what the challenge looked like:

Here are my versions of the sketches:

Sketch #1

I purchased a deep blade housing and blade for my Cricut Expression and wanted to give it a whirl so I used Accent Essentials and cut out the scalloped frame and the square inside from chipboard and then covered them in paper, chalked and stickled and viola!

Here is the close up detail ...

Sketch #2

I used all Creative Memories for this one (except for chalking and the skittle on the tag and the stamp on the tag - CTMH). The paper is fromt he Hanna Montana power palette addition, the tag was punched using a Creative Memories punch and the flowers are the delights paper flowers.

Sketch #3 (color challenge) ... the colors were blue, green and orange

I used the three colors of cardstock, cut the cart from Walk in My Garden and the sun from Accent Essentials (the center of one of the cuts), the "believe" and dragonfly are buttons from Michael's that I cut the shanks off of and glued down (using CTMH's Liquid Glass ... makes a great clear glue), the flowers are from a small bunch of flowers in Michael's wedding section that I cut apart from the bunch and then put on the paper and the butterflies are EZ See Through Rub On Transfers that I got at Michael's. I of course chalked and stickled (do I ever not chalk and stickle?).

Here is a close up detail of the flowers ...

It's Tuesday and our next challenge will come out tonight or early tomorrow morning. Can't wait to see how they challenge us this week. You really should check out the challenge thread on the Cricut message board ... there are so many talented people there and their work is so inspiring! It makes me try harder and harder all the time.

Last Card for the 5-27 Challenge (Okie's)

Ok, I know, I'm late, but better late than never! Here is my card for Sketch #2 on Okie's challenge for last week:

I used Creative Memories papers, a Bella stamped image and some Creative Memories embellishments and some handmade embellishments (the photo corners) and drew on my stitching since I made this card on my lunch hour at work. Thanks for looking!

Another Award!!! Wow!

I received a new award and I am so honored and excited! Thanks to Jennie (http://jennieslilpieceoflife.blogspot.com/) for the award. I hope to do it justice! The award was designed to award bloggers for showing great attitude and gratitude. I am passing this award on to these ladies who all have a great attitude and gratitude:

Rose - http://www.roseshappyplace.blogspot.com/

Shelly - http://www.cardsbyshelly.blogspot.com/

Jeannie - http://www.aplaceformycards.blogspot.com/

LilGreenBugville - http://www.lilgreenbugville.blogspot.com/

As I find more, I will pass it along more, but these ladies really stand out to me!

One more ...

Lisa - Scrappin in NJ

Happy June 1st!!!!

Summer is quickly approaching which means graduations, honor rolls, birthdays, barbeques, etc. Here are a few cards I've been working on for various occassions and things. This first card is for my grand niece, Samantha, who made honor roll, perfect attendance and perfect conduct! Way to go Samantha!

This card is called a joy fold card and I made it to send to the Father-in-Law of one of my Cricut messageboard friends. Here is the front of the card ...

and this is the inside ...

This is a birthday card that I might use for my grand niece, Samantha, for her birthday later this month ...

Thanks for looking and allowing me to share my creative endeavors with you!