Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #105 - EGG-ceptional Easter

Easter is right around the corner, so it's time to bring out those eggs and celebrate with Fantabulous Cricut!  This week's challenge is to make a project featuring Easter eggs.  I have a super special project for you today -- an Easter layout I recently made for my son's scrapbook:

I had so much fun adding lots of Easter details.  Here's some close-ups:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterned paper by The Paper Studio; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - "Hoppy Easter" from Celebrate with Flourish; eggs and basket from Doodlecharms, page 30; bunny from Create a Critter, page 26
• Embossing - eggs with Cuttlebug's Perfectly Paisley and Swiss Dots and The Paper Studio's Doodleborders; basket with The Paper Studio's Mesh Texture
• Other - all cuts on pop dots

I love this layout because it's the last time Jonathan agreed to sit with the Easter bunny -- even though it only lasted about three seconds until he burst into tears.  It was stressful at the time, but hilarious now!  He still has an intense fear of "EB" and avoided him like the plague at this year's egg hunt.

Are you ready to show off your egg projects?  Head over to Fantabulous Cricut for Challenge #105 - EGG-ceptional Easter!

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Amanda's Crafts and More: Getting Scrappy Challenge - Easter Egg-citement
Carson's Creations: Embossing Blog Hop
Getting Cricky with K Andrew: Simply Sunday Challenge - Easter Blessings
Krafty Girls: Challenge #4 - For Peeps Sake
My Craft Spot: Challenge #50 - Easter

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

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #80 - Pumpkin Time

I'm finally recovering from a flu bug -- or something miserably enough like it -- long enough to show you one of the projects I did on my scrapbooking getaway at Rivendell Ranch.  This two-page layout is also my project for Fantabulous Cricut's Challenge Me Monday #80 - Pumpkin Time.

This time of year, pumpkins make me think...Halloween!  These scrapbook pages feature my son trick-or-treating last October:

 

Here's a few close-ups of my favorite Cricut cuts on the pages:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterned papers by ATD - Spookytown Collection; cardstocks by Recollections and The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - pumpkin from Simply Charmed, page 60; bat from Simply Charmed, page 59; candy from Doodlecharms, page 63; spider from Doodlecharms, page 62; background shield from Elegant Edges, page 25
• Other - inking with Colorbox purple, lime, and orange ink pads; "trick or treat" sticker and "candy please" tag from ATD - Spookytown Collection; Cricut cuts elevated on pop dots

I've been holding onto these ATD Spookytown papers for almost six months -- and I love, love, love them!  They are just perfect for a toddler/kid Halloween layout and match so well with the Simply Charmed cartridge's styling.  I'm really pleased with how these pages turned out, and I hope they'll inspired you to have some "pumpkin time" too!

Remember to check out the other pumpkin creations over at FCCB.  My fellow design team gals have some AMAZING projects this week.  I can't wait to see what you create!

I'm also entering this project in the following challenge:

Paper Playtime: Challenge #57 - Black, Orange, & Purple

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #25 - Back to School

The record-setting temperatures may say it's summer, but the calendar shows school is just around the corner!

To welcome the new academic year, Celebrate the Occasion is featuring back-to-school projects this week.  So open that new box of crayons and join our design team for some great school projects!

My project is a double-page scrapbook layout of my son's Beautiful Butterflies class from last year.  It was his first year at preschool, and he absolutely LOVED it.  His teachers were the best, and he made lots of little friends that he's eager to see again when his school begins after Labor Day.

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns by American Crafts: Everyday; cardstocks by C'ordinations and The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - butterflies from Create a Critter, page 64; crayons from Simply Charmed, page 52; scissors and glue from Simply Charmed, page 54; bear from Doodlecharms, page 105; backpack from Doodlecharms, page 119; car from Boys Will Be Boys, page 61; "beautiful" from Paisley, page 53; font for "BUTTERFLIES" is Opposite from Opposites Attract
• Other - lots of inking with Colorbox petal point ink pads and Le Plume II markers

I can't believe I used seven cartridges on this project!  Maybe I was having a little too much fun making die cuts of preschool objects...

You can link up your own back-to-school project at Celebrate the Occasion now through Sunday, August 14, for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate from PaperTrey Ink.  I can't wait to see your school-themed projects!

I'm also submitting this project to My Sheri Crafts:  Challenge #66 - Back to School.

Lemonade Pitcher Tag

The ladies of "Team Chillin'" at BugBites' Grillin' & Chillin' Blog Hop are showcasing super-cute summertime projects today.  Their theme is anything you do to chill out in the summer.  My family has been chillin' by drinking lemonade this week, so I was inspired to "pretty up" our lemonade pitcher with a cute tag:

Project Details:

• Pitcher - purchased from Wal-Mart approximately three years ago -- I loved the colors!
• Lemonade - made earlier this week and "chillin'" in my fridge!
• Papers - cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - tag from "princess" cut on Playtime; lemon from Simply Charmed, page 48; ladybug from Doodlecharms, page 94 (blackout); letters from Opposites Attract (opposite feature)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - Spots & Dots on pink tag layer
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen and black pen; the ladybug was too tiny to cut circle details

I think this tag would be perfect for a party to identify types of drinks in similar containers.  But since it's back in my fridge now, I'll wait for my toddler son's reaction when he goes in for a snack.  He just recently learned how to open the fridge door, and he has many interesting reactions to the things he finds in there!

This project is being submitted to the following challenge:

BugBites' Grillin' & Chillin' Blog Hop Challenge: "Chillin'" Project with a Hidden Bug

Nice Buns Card

Memorial Day Weekend always feels like the start of summer to me.  This year is no exception -- especially after viewing all the summer-inspired projects on BugBites' "Grillin' & Chillin" Bug Hop.

I'm entering the hop's challenge with this card:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - plaid from KI Memories Heirloom Collection; blue and orange distressed papers and brown damask for patty from Simply Delightful: My Mind's Eye; gray textured cardstock from The Paper Studio; all others from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - hamburger from Simply Charmed, page 49; utensils from Playtime, third layer of "Jim" cut; bug from Doodlecharms, page 92; background in plaid from Elegant Edges, page 63.
• Cuttlebug Embossing - top hamburger bun with Swiss Dots; lettuce with D'vine Swirls; tomatoes with Dots & Spots; pickle with Distressed Stripes.
• Other - inking around plaid layer with brown ink pad by Stampabilities and lots of doodling with white gel pen; also highlighted sesame seeds on buns with yellow marker.

A few words about the hamburger patty -- it looks a lot browner in person.  In the photo it looks like a tasteless, gray burger you get at a school cafeteria!  Oh well. :)

I also wanted my critter to be one of the ants I saw on the blog hop, but I couldn't find an ant cut on any of my cartridges.  I settled on making the bug from Doodlecharms in black to represent the critter.

We often get together with friends for cookouts in the summer.  I thought this would be a neat -- and cheeky, haha! -- thank you card to send a host.

Easter Bunny and Egg Treat Holder

I made my first 3D, non-card creation tonight!  It's a treat holder -- big enough for a cupcake -- but holding plastic eggs for the photo.  It turned out so cute, I just might give it to my co-teacher with chocolates in the eggs.

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

I really like the flourishes from Stretch Your Imagination used as running vines on the fence.  I repeated the look on all four sides, with eggs where the corners meet.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

BBTB2 - Easter Solutions 2010 or Any Egg
Cricut Cardz Challenge #70 - Easter Cupcake Holder or Wrapper
Fantabulous Cricut - Spring Fling Project (using pink, yellow, and green)
My Sheri Crafts Challenge #53 - Bunnies

Bunny Fun

Am I the only one who finds the Cricut to be a great source of relaxation?  I've had an exhausting week (and an exhausting Saturday), but I still like finding time to do something creative.  Even if it's only 30 minutes here and there...

Cartridges Used:
Create a Critter
Doodlecharms

I've been eager to make another Easter card, and two recent challenges were great inspiration.

Sherri at Jitterbuggin' Designs provided a fun sketch for Jitterbuggin' Challenge: Spring Fling Fun.  I loosely followed her design by including a bunny and three flowers, but the card is on the smaller side (5"x5") and didn't lend itself well to multiple background layers.  I like the result -- especially since I got to play with the Create a Critter cartridge.  I see why everyone loves this fun collection!

I'm also submitting this card to Cricut Cardz Challenge #69 - Easter. 

Good night, everyone.  This bunny's going to bed.

Dragonfly Thanks

I'm so glad my son took an extra-long nap today, because I worked with my first sketch challenge!

My inspiration was this sketch by Cherie of Sassy Lil' Card Sketches, and I'm submitting it in their March 28th Reveal challenge.

And my result?  Probably my most favorite Cricut creation to date!

Cartridges Used:
Doodlecharms
Opposites Attract
Stretch Your Imagination

Simple Easter Card

Is it really April already?  Easter is only a few weeks away, so I pulled out some pastel papers and played with a bunny cut tonight.

Cartridges Used:
Cricut Classic Font
Doodlecharms

I'm entering this card in my first challenge -- Die Cuttin' Divas - Hippity Hoppity Challenge #8.

I'm no where near as talented as these ladies, but ya gotta start somewhere, right? :)  For three weeks' experience, I like the results of this simple Easter card.

And before I call it a night (gotta get to Michaels for a fabulous sale tomorrow after church!), welcome to all the gracious and supportive ladies who've found my blog through Mrs. Glenda.  I'm in awe of all your talent and so inspired by your creations!

Cupcake Birthday Card

I tried my hand at marking a birthday card this past week.  It's my first card to actually put through the mail!

Cartridges Used:
Cricut Classic Font
Doodlecharms

The papers are what really make this card look nice.  It's the "Birthday Extravaganza" stack by Paper Studio.  (I got it half-off at Hobby Lobby during their most recent cardstock sale.)  The "cupcake icing" paper is glittered and made me think of yummy sprinkles.