Diggers & Dumpers Construction Birthday Party

I did so many projects during December and January, but just couldn't find time between holidays and traveling to share on my blog.  While I attempt to reorganize my craft area over the next few weeks, I'm going to share some of these "forgotten" projects.  First up --  decorations I made for my son's third birthday party.

My little guy loves construction equipment, so the party theme was Diggers & Dumpers.  I combined some decor from a local party store -- the construction tape and signs -- with my own Cricut creations. 

I made this banner to hang in the dining room over the food table:

Here's a better view of the patterned paper, ribbon, and embossing:

My guy's birthday is in early December, so I try not to decorate for Christmas until after his party is over.  This year I incorporated our Christmas tree into the party decorations, and my son loved it.  He talked about his "construction tree" for weeks -- even after I flipped it to a normal Christmas theme after the party!

I decorated the tree with paper dump trucks and with toy dump trucks filled with candy (another party store find).  The "garland" is construction tape, and I used a plastic tablecloth for the tree skirt.  The toy dump trucks were the favors, and my son's friends enjoyed choosing a dump truck from the tree.  How often does a toddler get to undecorate a tree by December 10?  (Unfortunately, I didn't snap a picture of the tree until a few guests had left -- so it's a little bare, but you get the idea.)

Here's a close-up of a paper dump truck with lots of embossing:

In a moment of non-papercrafting inspiration, I also put together a discovery table/box for the kiddos to dig and dump with pinto beans.  It was a big hit and now a permanent toy in our house!

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns from American Crafts - Play; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - dump truck from Boys Will Be Boys, page 28; letters with "Arrow Font" function from Boys Will Be Boys; banner from Birthday Bash, page 58
• Embossing - Cuttlebug's Distressed Stripes, Spots & Dots, Traffic Jam; The Paper Studio's Mesh Texture
• Other - ribbon by Ribbon Boutique

I'm entering this project into the following challenge(s):

Decorate to Celebrate: Challenge #19 - All About Boys (Must Use Blue) -- there's a little blue, right? :)

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #99 - Fancy Trims

Hooray for Monday and the start of another challenge at Fantabulous Cricut!  This week is all about using fancy trims on our projects -- fabric, lace, or any other type of trim.  Yes, friends, it's the perfect reason to get frilly!

I love ribbon, but as a new crafter, I don't have an extensive assortment of colors and styles.  I was super excited to learn about our sponsor, Really Reasonable Ribbon, and how they supply assortments of ribbon at...well, really reasonable...prices!  I received some great free product from them and made this fun card with three types of ribbon they supplied:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Recollections (A7)
• Papers - patterns from Recollections' Charming paper pack; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - owl from Create a Critter, page 25
• Embossing - wings with Cuttlebug's D'vine Swirls
• Other - trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon

The wide, ruffled turquoise ribbon that Really Reasonable Ribbon sent me was a perfect match to this paper pack I'd been neglecting for awhile.  I added a lace trim on top of the turquoise and also used white ric-rac around the owl's frame to add interest.  I'm really pleased at the result!

I also got to use some of my new K Andrew Designs Art Stamps, too!  The inside sentiment is from the Crafty Friends set I won from Paper Playtime awhile back.

Do you like trims?  If so, go show off all your best ribbons at Fantabulous Cricut this week for our Fancy Trims challenge!

Birthday Train Card

It's because of my son that I have a social life -- seriously.  I feel like I'm always making birthday cards for the toddler crowd, but I really do love it.  One of his best buddies had his third birthday party today, so here's the card I made for him:

Card Details:

• Card Base - 8x4 inches
• Papers - Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - train from B Is for Boy
• Embossing - yellow train layer with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - sentiment stamp from Michaels $1 bin; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; red and blue curling ribbon from stash; train on pop dots

The birthday boy is a huge train fanatic -- just like my son -- so choosing an inspiration piece wasn't difficult at all.  Although it is times like these that I wish for a Thomas & Friends Cricut cartridge.

I'm entering this card into the following challenge(s):

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #49 - Anything Goes Birthday

Valentine Hearts Treat Boxes

My son's first preschool Valentine's Day party was today, and it was so cute!  I'd intended to make two treat bags for his teachers, but couldn't find my cello bags anywhere.  But sometimes misplaced craft supplies lead to something even better -- a reason to make my first 2-5-7-10 box!  Check out this tutorial from Split Coast Stampers.

 Project Details:

• Box Base - 2-5-7-10 Box
• Papers - Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - heart from Doodlecharms, page 26; heart border from Elegant Edges, page 26; tag from Lovely Floral
• Embossing - heart with Cuttlebug's Arygle
• Other - ribbon from stash; brad and flower petals by Recollections; inking with black Stampabilities ink pad

I filled each treat box with Hershey's chocolate hearts.  And I think both my son's teachers liked their gift, because here's their reactions:

 HUGS!

I'm entering this project into the following challenge(s):

BBTB2: Challenge - Sweethearts Tags
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #72 - Grown-Up Valentine
Scrappy Moms Stamps: Challenge - Hearts Galore

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #97 - Love Is in the Air

Today I get to share with you a very special card -- my hubby's valentine!  He promised not to check my blog so I can post it before Valentine's Day and for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #97 - Love Is in the Air.  (So, hubby, you better not be reading!)

Our sponsor this week is K Andrew Designs Art Stamps, and she shared with the design team some awesome stamps to complete our "love" projects.  I received this Mini Heart set with both sentiments and images:

And here's what I created:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Paisley, page 28 (Card Function) @ 4.5 inches
• Papers - pattern by K&Company; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - hearts from Doodlecharms, page 26; tag, frame, and "heart" sentiment from Lovely Floral
• Embossing - frame with Cuttlebug's Kassie's Brocade
• Other - stamped sentiment by K Andrew Designs; key by Recollections; inking with red Colorbox ink pad, and brown and pink Stampabilities ink pads; ribbon and glitter from stash; tag and hearts on pop dots

I'm so proud of this card -- it's my first shaker card!  The photo doesn't capture it well, but the heart has a piece of recessed plastic that encloses both the key and lots of red glitter.  My inspiration -- and tutorial -- for making a shaker card with the Paisley cartridge came from a video at Above Rubies Studios.

Would you like a chance to win some K Andrew stamps?  Join us at Fantabulous Cricut with your "love" projects this week for a chance to win!

I'm also submitting this project to the following challenge(s):

CardzTV: Cricut Cardz Challenge #101 - Valentine's Day
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts: Challenge #78 - Love Is in the Air
Paper Playtime: Challenge #67 - Hearts or Love Theme

24 Tiny Valentines

You might remember how I had big ambitions to make two dozen of these dump truck valentines for my son's preschool class.  Well, they were really involved, so I scrapped that idea in favor of a simpler (and faster!) tiny valentine:

Card Details:

• Card Base - 3x3"
• Papers - all by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - sentiment from Create a Critter, page 49
• Embossing - heart background with The Paper Studio's Doodle Borders
• Other - ribbon from stash

I'm sad I had to abandon the dump truck cards, but this mama just didn't have 20 minutes per card before next Friday.  And the three I'd completed went to a good cause -- that definitely makes me feel better!

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #71 - Child's Valentine
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #96 - Valentiny Cards
Paper Playtime: Challenge #66 - Anything Goes Blog Hop