Emma's Throwback Thursday Challenge

Hey Everyone,

I decided to enter Emma's Throwback Thursday Challenge this week using Doodlecharms cart and the color blue.  She is giving an entire set of her next stamp release, which I would LOVE to win!  You know her stamps are awesome!  I was finally able to order a set (Mom Rocks) a couple weeks ago and I must say that they are awesome!  Also, the stamps shipped out the same day I ordered them and I got them within a couple days! Love, love, love great service...it's worth it's weight in gold!

Anyway, here is my project.  My family has been invited to a housewarming party for a friend that has just bought a new house.  I thought this card would be perfect for them.  I used my gypsy to weld the image to create the shaped card from Doodlecharms.  I then used Plantin Schoolbook to cut the blue glittered letters/numbers for the card.  I used my computer to type a simple sentiment and used the blue glitter cardstock as the background.  I think they will like the card.  Let me know what you think!

Nicole

Also entered in:
Whimsical Wednesday - Take Shape Challenge

MPS Blog Hop Challenge

Hey Everyone,

Today's project is for the challenge over at MPS.  Robyn had a blog hop last night and introduced her new design team along the way.  At each stop, the DT member introduced themselves, made a project and had a word that you had to put together to participate in the challenge!  Robyn has put together an amazing design team and I can't wait to see what all they have in store for us all over the next six months!

Today, I decided to use the Sweethearts cart and the card base is from Birthday Bash...  Hope you like.  Let me know what you think!!  Also if you have any advice on how I can get better pictures, would love it.  My pics never do my projects justice...(and I am using an Ottolite)

  Have a great weekend!! :)

Details:
PTI Cardstock - Rustic Cream, Sweet Blush
Recollections Cardstock - Brown
Birthday Bash Cart - Cardbase cut at 5.31" on Gypsy
Sweethearts Cart - Puppy cut at 3.5" twice for layering effect (although you can't see it in pic)
Cuttlebug - Textile Texture (my favorite)
Paper Studio Bling - Pink Gemstones (2 sizes around edges, lrg for top)
Metal Stickers - Black Nailheads (for eyes)
Antique Linen Distress Ink
MS Brown Flocking Powder
MS Kunzite Glitter
SU Dimensionals (THE BEST)

Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge

Hello Fellow Crafters!

Haven't been feeling well, so I have not been posting these past couple days.  I have worked on a few cards but have not put all the finishing touches on them, but I will post them as soon as I am back up and running.

However, had to post this one today as it is for the Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge and it is due today...nothing like waiting until the last minute.

The theme was:
OCTOBER MONTHLY CHALLENGE: CELEBRATING CREATIVITY
The theme for this month’s challenge is all about celebrating the reasons why you love to create! Please create a scrapbook page or home decor project CELEBRATING CREATIVITY. Project must be newly created for this challenge and should include atleast 2 cuts to qualify. You must also:

• Use the Shadow Feature
• Use Patterned Paper (purchased, printed, or created with stamps, etc.)
• Use Embellishments to Enhance One of the Cuts (pearls, buttons, gems, glitter, etc.)

This project was definitely a challenge for me as I have never done a scrapbook page or home decor project so far with my cricut (which is really crazy as scrapbooking was whole reason why I bought my Cricut).  This was great though as it has helped jumpstart my goal to begin really scrapping my pages for daughter.

So my thought behind my layout was my daughter, who was/is the motivation for me to be creative so that I can capture the memories of her childhood for her to have when she is older.  She is the reason that I Create!

I never Imagined I could Create something that would fill me with so much LOVE!

Details:
Dark/Light Purple Cardstock - Bazzill
Pink Patterned Paper -  DCWV Mariposa Stack (my Favorite)
       *Light Purple/Pink Patterned Paper cut using Imagine Best Friends cart using the Cut Only feature
imagine - Home Accents cart, Paper Studio purple cardstock cut at 4"
create - Gypsy Font cart, K&Co Jubilee Purple Burst cardstock, shadow Recollections cardstock cut at 2.75"
Tag - Tags, Bags & More, Recollections cardstock cut at 4.29" Words (Tim Holtz) printed on computer
Large Butterfly - Once Upon A Princess Cart - cut at 3.25, Purple Bazzill Cardstock, Mariposa Photo Mat Stack
Small Butterflies - Imagine Nursery Tails cart
Flower - Forever Young Cart - cut at 2.5", 2", 1.5", 1.25" with Diamond Dust
LOVE/Heart - Tim Holtz grunge board letter,  gold powder embossing powder
Photo Mats - Pink Paper printed & cut using Imagine Nursery Tail, Tan - Recollections Cardstock
Vintage & Dusty Concord Distressed Ink
Miscellaneous Purple Floss Ribbon
Stickles - Diamond, Eucalyptus & Cotton Candy
Ink Essentials Opaque Pen
iRock Bling

Gypsy/Imagine Update

Hey Everyone,

Just found out that they have a new update for the Imagine so that it can communicate with your gypsy.  I am off to check it out and do all the updates!  Wish me luck.  I did not have any problems with the first Imagine update so I am hopeful this will go off without a hitch.  I will keep you all posted!

This is exciting as I am hopeful this will create a lot more ease/options with using the Imagine.  I still prefer my Expression at this point.  I prefer the layer/paper look for my crafts.  I am hopeful that as I learn the Imagine more, I will learn to cut it better without the "outline" on my images.

Anyway, happy crafting everyone!

Nicole.

Birthday Invitation

Hi All,

Here is the final result of the invitation.  Thank you so much for your input.  I did end up using example #1for the invitation.  I also added some ribbon (just to kick it up a notch) from Michaels that happened to match perfectly!  My friend really loved the invites - so that makes me happy.  Plus the little ballerina does kind of look like her daughter, which was my goal.

Thanks for looking!

MPS Day Two Countdown Challenge!

Hi Everyone,

Robyn over at mypinkstamper.com is having day two challenge of her countdown to her BFF's (Karlee) arrival.  Today her challenge is to create something "cute".

Last night I was asked by a friend if I could make her daughter's 3rd birthday invitations.  She wanted a ballerina theme.  I am in the process of coming up with a couple ideas/samples for her to look at - so I thought I could use this as my challenge post as well since I think the ballerina's came out so darn cute!  I think I am going to like these invitations better than the one's I did for my daughter.  

Anyway, I did two different (well really 3 but I am only going to show 2) ballerinas.  One with PDU cart and the other with the Imagine.  Let me know which one you like best.  I am going to email her a pic of them this evening.  I think I know which one I like best, but I want to hear from you. :)

Deets:

Bazzill Kraft Cardstock

Recollections Pink Cardstock
Paper Studio Cute Little Argyle Pattern Paper

Paper Doll Dress Up cart for ballerina
Everyday Paper Dolls for hair

Imagine Best Friends cart for 2nd ballerina & hair bows

Cotton Candy Stickles

Paper Studio self adhesive pink bling

Thanks.

Nicole

3rd Birthday Card

Hi All,

Well, as usual, I waited until the last minute to make a birthday card for one of my daughter's classmates.  The birthday party was at 12 PM and I started the card this morning.  This should not seem like a hard task, but when you have a little 3 year old at home who likes to "help"....

Anyway, the little boy was having a firetruck at his party, so I came up with the brilliant idea to make a card with a firetruck (at the last minute).  As I am new at this stuff, everything takes me a little longer that perhaps some of the more seasoned crafters.  I did use my gypsy to prepare everything to be cut so that did help a lot!  Love my Gypsy...wish I used it more.

Here is the card that I came up with.  I actually was pretty pleased with the end result but wish I would have had more time as I would have blinged up the card a little bit more.  Perhaps used some glossy accent on the jacket, hat, tires, ladder....maybe the whole darn card! LOL!

Details: Everyday Paper Dolls, everything cut at 4"(except water hose, water drop, head & fire hydrant), Sesame Street Font for #3, MPS Simply Sweet Occasions stamps, Cuttlebug, Faded Jeans Distressed Ink, Silver Pen & Embossing Ink Pad for ladder/wheels, Peachy Keen stamps (messed up a little when stamping but no time to fix it.  I know....that's what happens when you wait until the last minute. :(

Hope you enjoy....Nicole

Card Front

Card Inside