Game Day Football Layout

My husband loves football and the Houston Texans -- and "loves" may not even be a strong enough word!  His love for football is so great, he leaves church in an absolute rush on Sundays to get to the car and turn the radio to the Texans game.  He then jumps out of the car before we pull into the garage to get to the TV as quickly as possible.  Yes, my husband has issues for the sixteen weeks of football season.

For the past three years, hubby has also been working to instill his love of football in the next generation.  Our little guy is finally old enough to understand more about the game this year.  He knows a few key words/phrases like football, touchdown, and Go, Texans -- which is about as much as his mommy knows too!

I made this game day layout this week to show what a typical Sunday afternoon looks like at our house.  The photos are from last season when the little man first began paying attention to Daddy's obsession:

Here's a closer look at the embossed football and handmade "field" I made with numbers from the Cricut Classic Font cartridge:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns from DCWV - All About Boys; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - football from Boys Will Be Boys, page 31; banner and "GAMEDAY" font from Birthday Bash; yard line numbers from Cricut Classic Font
• Embossing - football with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - ribbon by American Crafts; inking with brown Stampabilities ink pad; football on pop dots

I'm submitting this project to the following challenge:

BBTB2:  My Pink Stamper Challenge - Boy Crazy
My Sheri Crafts:  Challenge #72 - All About Sports

Curious George Baby Shower (Guest Designer for Decorate to Celebrate)

I'm so honored to be featured as a guest designer on Decorate to Celebrate today!  I love this craft blog and all the fabulous party ideas shared by the designers and challenge participants.  I just wish I had more events to try all those great ideas!  (Wait, did I just ask to get busier...?!  Uh oh.)

I did help host a baby shower last weekend, which fits -- with a little stretching -- into Decorate to Celebrate's theme for Challenge #8 - Baby Birthday.  We celebrated the impending birthday of Baby Sophia with a Curious George themed shower.

For the shower, I made a monkey decorations, monkey favors, Curious George invitations, and a banner:

Invitation:

• Card Base - 5x5"
• Paper - Recollections
• Other - Curious George image edited with Adobe Photoshop to be a dark-haired baby wrapped in pink blanket; invitation text arranged with MS Publisher; ribbon by The Ribbon Boutique

Monkey Decorations:

• Cricut Cut - monkey from Create a Critter, page 46, several monkeys cut at various sizes (7-9 inches)
• Paper - Recollections
• Hung the monkeys on vines draped from the ceiling around the room.

Banana Favors:

• Cricut Cut - monkey from Create a Critter, page 46, cut at 2.5 inches.
• Paper - Recollections
• Sentiment - "Thanks for going BANANAS for Sophia" text arranged with MS Publisher; printed on 1" strips of red cardstock
• Wrapped the sentiment strips around the bananas and secured with a staple; double-stick tape then secured the monkeys over the staple.

Banner:

• Paper - Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - banner from Birthday Bash, page 64; font also from Birthday Bash; monkey from Create a Critter, page 46
• Other - ribbon by The Ribbon Boutique

The mom-to-be and guests really seemed to love all the Curious George decorations, and I had a blast using my Cricut for party purposes.

If you have a baby birthday (or any event) to plan, be sure to share your creations at Decorate to Celebrate now through October 5.  And many thanks to Rhonda and Amy at DTC for featuring me as a Guest Designer today!  Now, get to crafting! :)

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #31 - Birthday with Balloons

I'm so excited to show you my project for Celebrate the Occasion this week!  Challenge #31 is Birthday with Balloons, and we were tasked with creating a birthday project featuring at least one balloon.

I made my first tent card for this challenge, and it was so much fun!  (You can see a tent card tutorial at Split Coast Stampers.)  I don't have any Spellbinders dies, so I used my Ciruct to cut the circle for my card.  Just think of the possibilities when you can cut any shape as the window to a tent card!

 

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - polka dots and clouds by American Crafts: Play; textured cardstock by Bazzil Bling; all other cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - balloons from Birthday Bash, page 54; trapezoid tags from Opposites Attract, page 62
• Embossing - balloons with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots and Spots & Dots; The Paper Studio's Doodle Borders and Mesh Texture
• Other - trapezoids and balloons on pop dots; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen

Now it's your turn to make a birthday project with balloons!  Float on over to Celebrate the Occasion to link up your creation.  I can't wait to see what you create!

Two Baby Shower Cards

Hi, crafty friends -- I miss you!

I've been swamped since mid-August with substitute teaching at my son's preschool, three baby showers, and preparing for our first MOPS meeting of the year.  I'm finally seeing light at the end of this busy tunnel -- and it's a craft light!  Hubby is treating me to a scrapbooking retreat next weekend at Rivendell Ranch.  If I can just make it through the next five days of craziness, I get to relax with my Cricut, Cuttlebug, and absolutely no responsibilities.

I have made a few projects over the past few weeks, one of which you'll be seeing as a guest spot on Decorate to Celebrate while I'm away in crafting paradise.  But for now, I can show you two cards I made to accompany baby shower gifts:

 

Card Details:

• Card Base - two <onesie> cuts from Wrap It Up, cut at 6.5 inches, adhered together above sleeves
• Papers - cardstock by Bazzil Basics
• Cricut Cuts - onesie from Wrap It Up, page 53; "P" from Birthday Bash (font and font shadow)
• Embossing - "P" with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• Other - brads by 7 Gypsies - Angelo; "P" on pop dots

I adhered this card to the top of the gift instead of making a bow.  I really like making these types of tags for packages, especially when they're personalized with initials.  I love how the brads mimic the snaps on a onesie, too.

Card Details:

• Card Base - Recollections (A6)
• Papers - patterns and cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - monkey from Create a Critter, page 46; scalloped background from Elegant Edges, page 23; "baby" from Simply Sweet, page 75
• Embossing - scalloped background with Intricate Swirls by The Paper Studio; rectangle background with Mesh Texture by The Paper Studio
• Other - ribbon by The Ribbon Boutique; monkey, scalloped background, and "baby" on pop dots; flower and gemstone embellishment by Recollections

My mom told me about embossing folders by the Paper Studio now in stock at Hobby Lobby.  I bought a few (okay...five!) and am really liking them.  I used two on the monkey card above and am pleased with the result.  The folder is made identically to a Cuttlebug embossing folder and fits into the Cuttlebug without any special "sandwiching" techniques.

I'm entering the monkey card into the following challenge:
Die Cuttin' Divas:  Challenge #32 - Zoo Crazy

Hope you liked my few projects.  I promise more to come -- and more frequently -- in the coming days!

Tell me what you've been creating and what's been happening in our Cricut world... :)

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #76 - Back to School

I'm excited for back-to-school time.  My toddler isn't back in MDO yet, and I'm practically counting the minutes until his first day back.  Mommy is ready for some crafting time!  So this week's theme at Fantabulous Cricut is perfect for my current state of mind -- Challenge Me Monday #76 is Back to School!  You're encouraged to use your "ABCs" and "123s" on your project, too.

My project is a wall-hanging for my son's teachers.  He's in the Peaceful Pandas class this year:

Project Details:

• Papers - textured cardstock by Bazzil Basics; blue and orange patterns by Recollections; green stripes by American Crafts - Play.
• Cricut Cuts - panda from Create a Critter, page 58; crayons and glue from Simply Charmed, pages 52 and 54; banner from Birthday Bash, page 63; font for PANDAS from Birthday Bash.
• Other - googly eyes and white crochet thread from my mom's stash

This panda is a really big critter; I made him fit-to-page, which equaled 11 inches tall.  My son also helped by gluing on the googly eyes.

Join us over at Fantabulous Cricut by adding your back-to-school project.  Happy crafting!

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #74 - Birthday Bash

Happy Monday!  It's time for another great challenge at Fantabulous Cricut.  This week's theme is Birthday Bash -- so join along with your birthday cards, scrapbook pages, and party items!

I'm always needing birthday cards -- especially for my friends' children -- so I made a robot card for a little guy who turns 4 next month:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Recollections (A6)
• Papers - robot paper from Pressed Petals - Boys Will Be Boys; red cardstock by Bazzil Basics; all other cardstock by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - robot from Boys Will Be Boys, page 64; balloon from Birthday Bash, page 23 (Layer 2); font for "4" from Birthday Bash
• Cuttlebug Embossing - "4" with Swiss Dots; balloon with Traffic Jam; circle background with Spots & Dots
• Other - google eyes from Target $1 spot; string from stash; robot and balloon on pop-dots

I love making projects with bold colors, and this card definitely is bright and cheerful!  It's even kid-approved; my son saw the card the next morning and thought the google eyes were silly and fun.

Now it's your turn to link up your Birthday Bash projects at Fantabulous Cricut -- can't wait to see what you create!

Texans Football Treat Box

Is crafting as therapeutic for you as it is for me?  I've been super-busy preparing for our upcoming MOPS semester and for a friend's baby shower, so my Cricut has had to take a siesta for the past week or so.  And -- you know what? -- I've been a very cranky, unhappy person!  Maybe it's just withdrawal, but I tend to believe this obsession hobby makes me a better person.  (Or, at least, a more fun person to be around -- and hubby agrees.)

I did find time on Saturday to make a little something for hubby.  I've been wanting to do a 3D item, and this football box was an easy, fun project to celebrate the start of the NFL pre-season.  Hubby is a die-hard Houston Texans fan, of course!

Project Details:

• Papers - brown cardstock by Me & My Big Ideas; all other cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - football box from Wrap It Up, page 70; font from Birthday Bash
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen

This little box was super easy; the entire project took just an hour, start-to-finish.  The blue and red papers are an addition to the box pattern, and I doodled line marks and yard numbers to make it look like a football field.  (If I were to make another, I'd make the band green, though.)  I filled the box with blue and red Jolly Ranchers.

Hope you enjoy this little project; I think hubby did.  Now onto figure out a challenge or two to get my creative juices flowing again!

Happy Birthday Sherbert Sundae Card

I'm so happy to be back!  I had a great visit with my friend and her son, but I was eager to unpack and reassemble my craft area this morning.  I think I was suffering from papercrafting withdrawal!  My guys slept in, so I had time to make this clean and simple birthday card:

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - green stripe from American Crafts Play paperpack; textured papers from Bazzil Bling; all others from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - sundae from Birthday bash, page 57
• Cuttlebug Embossing - whipped cream with D'vine Swirls; orange fruit with Spots & Dots
• Other - ribbon by CelebrateIt Basic Narrows; sentiment stamp by Hampton Ink; inking with Colorbox orange and green petal point ink pads; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen

I love these colors -- I can almost taste the orange sherbert and smell the mint leaf!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Amber's Crafts and Stuff:  Challenge #18 - Embossing
Birthday Sundaes:  Challenge #17 -  Orange, Green & White
CAS-ual Fridays:  Challenge #11 - Sweets & Treats
Cricut Cardz Challenge #83 - Birthday Card for Grandparent

God Bless Texas Card

Fourth of July is nearing, but today I wanted to celebrate a place that's just like its own country -- TEXAS!

I moved to Texas after college graduation, a common story in Houston.  It's a running joke in our city that it's hard to find a native Houstonian -- and it's true!  But as soon as I got here, I knew Texas was different.  I remember walking around Walmart soon after I arrived and finding an entire Texas-themed bathroom set -- shower curtain, rugs, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser!  You'd never find that sort of thing in my native Louisiana.  (I mean, seriously...pelican decor?  It just wouldn't happen.)  Texans have a unique pride in their state that's strongly rooted in individual freedom and personal responsibility.  I love Texas!

Here's my patriotic *Texas* card -- simple but fun!

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - textured cardstock by The Paper Studio; non-textured cardstock from scraps; glittery star paper from The Paper Studio - Birthday Extravaganza stack
• Cricut Cuts - star from Simply Charmed, page 68; font for "TEXAS" from Birthday Bash (Font/Font Shadow)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - red, white, and blue flag sections with Distressed Stripes
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; "God Bless" sentiment printed with computer

My design originally began as a Texas flag with the white lone star, but I had to move the star upward to accommodate the text.  Then I switched the white star for one with a little sparkle -- such a simple card needed a little pizzazz.  I used the Distressed Stripes embossing folder to make the flag look like it was made with old, wooden boards.  That rustic feel is totally Texas!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Amber's Crafts and Stuff:  Challenge #16 - Red, White, & Blue
Celebrate the Occasion:  Challenge #20 - 4th of July (Red, White, & Blue)
Fantabulous Cricut:  Challenge #66 - Happy 4th (Use Red, White, & Blue)
My Sheri Crafts:  Challenge #63 - Independence Day

Hubby's Shirt Fathers Day Card

Also stashed away in hubby's luggage is his Fathers Day card from me.  Since watching Mary's shirt origami tutorial at Cardz TV, I knew I wanted to make him a card with one of those super cute shirts!

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - striped paper from My Mind's Eye: Magnolia; aqua paper from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; orange and white cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - both layers of <tag1> from Lovely Floral; "HUBBY" sentiment font from Birthday Bash
• Other - stamp by Hampton Ink; brads from 7 Gypsies - Angelo; inside sentiment created/printed from my computer; edges inked with Colorbox orange and cyan ink pads; "HUBBY" sentiment and shirt on pop dots

My favorite thing about this card -- well, besides from successfully making an origami shirt! -- is the tag hanging from the "button" like you actually get when buying a collared shirt.  It flips and flutters in the breeze as you move the card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:

Paper Cutz Challenge #96 - Fathers Day (with a tag)

Bus Survival Kit

My hubby is leaving tonight for a week-long mission trip to Tennessee.  It's his first time going with our church youth group, and he'll be on a bus full of teens for 15+ hours.  Overnight.  Without electronic devices.  And did I mention they're teens...?  :)

So I made him a "bus survival kit" filled with some of his favorite goodies.  There's beef jerky, M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, gum, and mints.  I included a book light so he can do some late-night reading as well as wipes, hand sanitizer, and aspirin.  I packed everything in a cellophane treat bag and made a cute topper for it:

Project Details:

• Papers - striped paper from My Mind's Eye: Magnolia; all cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - topper from Birthday Bash, page 28 (card/tag); bus from Stretch Your Imagination, page 51; letters from Block font on Boys Will Be Boys
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; bus on pop dots

This treat bag was lots of fun to make.  Now I'm eager for another occasion to make these cute little bags!

Pink & Orange Birthday Card

Pink and orange are my two favorite colors, so I loved working with these papers for a card requested by my cousin.  I also was itching to use the CPS #222 sketch this week -- here's the result:

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights Collection (A2)
• Papers - all patterned papers from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; flat cardstock by The Paper Studio; textured cardstock by Bazzil Bling
• Cricut Cuts - presents from Birthday Bash, pages 59 and 61 (card/tag)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - D'vine Swirls on pink present; Kassie's Brocade on orange present
• Other - lots of inking with brown Stampabilities ink pad; "happy birthday" sentiment stamp from The Paper Studio; gems from Michaels dollar bin; ribbon from stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Birthday Sundaes:  Challenge #13 - Wet or Dry Embossing
Card Positioning Systems:  CPS #222 Sketch

Before I close, I *must* share an awesome tip from the Cricut messageboards.  Did you know you can clean your cutting mat with baby wipes...?!  I was about to trash my current mat because even the thinnest papers wouldn't stick anymore.  Then I tried cleaning it with a baby wipe, and the sticky works again!  You do need to rub quite hard to pick up all the residue, but it's a super easy solution to extend the life of your mat.

Bookworm Birthday Card

I have another special card to show you today -- and this one had to be kept hidden, too!  It's my hubby's birthday card, and since he reads my blog, it had to be top secret until he received it yesterday.

This card is also my first try at a sidestep card.  Its two recessed rows were perfect for making a bookshelf.  Hubby is an avid reader, so I decided to make it a bookworm-themed card.  Here's the result:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Sidestep Card (A2)
• Papers - patterned brown paper from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; patterned blue paper from Recollections: All Seasons; all cardstock by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - worm from Create a Critter, page 65; books (one set flipped) from Wrap It Up, page 57; presents from Stretch Your Imagination, page 59; banner from Birthday Bash, page 69 (font, both layers); "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Birthday Bash, page 68 (card/tag)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - Kassie's Brocade on presents; Dots & Spots on light green layer of bookworm
• Other - ribbon by American Crafts (double-sided -- how cool!); lots of inking with brown ink pad by Stampabilities 

Hubby loved his card!  He's so supportive of my papercrafting addiction, and I was glad to try a new card fold especially for him.

Elegant Cake Birthday Card

I combined several challenge requirements today and came up with a shaped birthday cake card featuring the colors tangerine and yellow.  Wouldn't you know -- after creating this card, I have a sudden craving for orange cake!

Card Details:

• Card Base - shaped (8 inch) card from Birthday Bash, page 25, on orange cardstock from scraps
• Papers - patterns from Recollections All Seasons paperpack; orange paper for cake from Simply Delightful: My Mind's Eye; solids from Bazzil Bling Textured Cardstock
• Cricut Cuts - birthday cake from Birthday Bash, page 25; sentiment from Birthday Bash, page 67 (card/tag); tag created from "swirl1_s" on Elegant Edges, page 25
• Cuttlebug Embossing - Kassie's Brocade on cake layers
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; tag elevated with pop dot

I think the result is really elegant and perfect for a summer birthday.  All that bright pink, tangerine, and yellow makes me of how hot it will be in August.  (Or even now, since we're hovering around 95ºF these days!)

I'm submitting this project in the following challenges:

BBTB2: Challenge - Celebrations/Birthday Cake
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #32 - Color Challenge
Cricut Cardz Challenge: Challenge #77 - Use Card Feature

Flying Bird Birthday Card

I played with my newest cartridge today -- Florals Embellished.  Hubby gave me this cartridge last weekend as an end-of-school-year reward.  I can't imagine any better reward than Cricut goodies, can you?

And he had great timing, too -- BBTB2 is featuring one of the Florals Embellished birds for its challenge this week.  So, here's my resulting card:

I made the sentiment "Happy Birthday" since June is a big month for birthdays in our family.  My mom, dad, and hubby have birthdays.  But who's the recipient?  They'll just have to wait and see...

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5"x5")
• Papers - Simply Delightful: My Mind's Eye for all blue patterns; plain white cardstock and textured navy cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - bird from Florals Embellished, page 61, all six layers; clouds are the "joy" background from Playtime; "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Birthday Bash, page 44 (card/tag)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - Kassie's Brocade for top layer of bird's body; D'vine Swirls for clouds
• Other - inking on top layers of bird with white gel pen and Le Plume II sky blue marker; pop-dots elevate bird above clouds

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

BBTB2:  Challenge - Florals Embellished Flying Bird
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #61 - Blue Skies

Gingerbread Joy Page

Have I mentioned lately how much I like Sassy Lil' Sketches?  Their layouts really inspire me to complete pages on my son's scrapbook -- and I need that push!

I'm progressing sequentially in his scrapbook (for now), so the page I worked on these past two nights is Christmas-themed.  It's hubby, son, and me at our church's annual gingerbread decorating party for Christmas 2009.  We started decorating gingerbread houses as a newlywed couple, and this year was Jonathan's first time decorating with us.

Here's the sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches - May 14th Reveal:

And here's my resulting page:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Playtime
Stretch Your Imagination
Wrap It Up

I did LOTS of doodling with a white gel pen and some with red and green pens.  Inking with a brown pad on the gingerbread men give them that "baked" look.  Or -- if coming from my kitchen -- that "almost-burned-to-a-crisp" look! :)

Working on a Christmas page sure made the hot Texas temperatures seem a little less oppressive -- hope you enjoy this latest project!

Bear 1st Birthday Card

I got to play with my Cricut again today -- finally!  It's been a loooong eight days since my last project, but I'll definitely have more time to create now that school's out.

Another friend's special little girl turns 1 in a few weeks, so I made her a card tonight:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash

I really like the outcome with all the embossing and the fun colors.  It looks so happy -- just like the little girl who'll be receiving it.

For this project, I really "piled it on" and am entering the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut: Cele"bear"ation Blog Hop Challenge
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #30 - Balloons
Creative Sisters: Monday Challenge #8 - Birthday
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #60 - Try This Angle (Use a Rectangle and Triangle)
Queen of My Craftroom: Animal Card Challenge
Scrappy Frogs: Challenge - Happy Birthday

Sweet Strawberry Card

My mom (also a newbie to the Cricut) is visiting this week, and we've planned lots of crafting and shopping.  In fact, my entire front room is filled with our cardmaking and scrapbooking goodies.  It's CRAZY -- and crazy-tempting to my toddler -- but I'm loving it.

She was too tired from the trip to make anything tonight, but I cranked out the following project:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Create a Critter
Simply Charmed

The patterned papers are from my mom's stash, as is use of the Martha Stewart punch.  Isn't it great to share...well, uh, get to use...new tools?  I really need a few punches.  And this awesome stack of paper.  I'm making a list for our Hobby Lobby/Michaels/JoAnn expedition tomorrow.

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

BBTB2:  Simply Charmed Strawberry Challenge
Cardz TV: National Scrapbooking Day Challenge - Fruit
Sassy Lil' Card Sketches:  May 7th Sketch
The Pink Stamper:  NSD Challenge #8 - Summer

Apple Teacher Appreciation Card

With the school year coming to a close, I made two cards (both alike) for my son's preschool teachers.  He goes to Mothers Day Out three days a week and just loves his teachers.  I also worked at his MDO this year, so I often saw these two fabulous ladies in action with my son's class.  I love these women for loving on my son, so I hope they'll like their cards.

Inspiration was from CPS Card Sketch #216:

My resulting card adds a ribbon and keeps the main image round:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Opposites Attract
Wrap It Up

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Bitten By the Bug 2:  Apple Core
CPS Card Sketch #216

Celebrate 1st Birthday Page

So I finally used my Cricut for its intended purpose -- completing pages for my son's scrapbook!

I used a sketch from Sassy Lil' Sketches to make the first page in his Year Two album -- Jonathan eating cake on the evening of his first birthday.  Here's the sketch and my take on it:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Stretch Your Imagination

I really liked the "Celebrate" phrase on the Birthday Bash cartridge, but its background included a huge anteater.  I removed the anteater by clipping manually with scissors, and -- presto! -- you can't tell it was even supposed to be there!

Another result I like on this project is the Cuddlebug embossing folders I used on the birds' wings and on the banner.  It adds some much-needed dimension, as I try to use pop dots sparingly in albums.  Don't get me wrong -- I love pop dots, but I end up using so many, it makes the pages too thick to fit in anything but the largest albums.

I'm really proud of my first Cricut-produced scrapbooking page.  Now I'm ready to dive into more!

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

Sassy Lil' Sketches - April 28th Reveal