Blog Candy!!! :-)

First, I have to tell you a li'l story:-

I bought the “Cricut Christmas Cards” cart, only to discover that the front cardboard insert showed the cart. as being the “Christmas Village” one, instead. (strange, eh?) The back insert showed the “Christmas Cards”; the cart. was “Christmas Cards” (phew!!!), as were the overlay and Cricut Rewards certs. (another phew!!)

But…..seeing as I utilize the front cardboard insert for the cover of my clear VHS tape holder, whereby I store my Solutions carts, I called ProvoCraft (PC) to see if they would send me JUST the front cover for this cart. They said “no problem”. When I received it, it wasn’t just the front cover but the entire “Christmas Cards” cartridge. I was flabbergasted! Contacted PC again, thanking them. :-)

Soooooo, what to do w/ TWO Christmas Cards cart’s??? Well, let’s see. I know!!! I’ll give one away as “blog candy” --- as a “thank you” to all my wonderful visitors. :-) The only thing is……this package will have the front cardboard insert missing.

I honestly HAVE NOT used this cart. I only snipped off the top of the package (see red arrow, pointing to the snipped area), guaranteeing that someone could tell that I wouldn’t have been able to remove the cart. So it comes completely intact w/ everything else:- cartridge, overlay, back cover, and Cricut Rewards cert. I've included a pic of the back of the cart. (taken out of "my" package, not the one you're getting.) :-)

If you click on the pic, it will enlarge!! :-)

I’m also including a few more li’l things, which will be a “surprise”. :-)

In order to win this blog candy, just leave me a comment on this post, w/ some way to contact you. I’ll draw a name on October 5, 2010, at 10:00 p.m. PST; using “Random.org”.

Good luck everyone!! :-)

Blog Award

I just received this beautiful blog award from BeeBeeBabs Gallery. (Thanks, BeeBeeBabs!!) You HAVE to check out her blog. Her creations are out of this world. :-)

In return for receiving this award, I'm passing it on to anyone who would like it. So, please feel free to "grab it"!!! :-)

Altered ATG

I’ve seen some gorgeous altered ATG’s and have always wanted to jazz mine up. But, most of them had been painted and I was a bit of a scaredy cat in doing so. Then I put on my li’l thinking cap and came up w/ another idea:- why not decorate the inside casing w/ patterned paper.

First, I had to figure out some kind of template to use. It was just a matter of drawing around the outside of the ATG and then trimming to size. I used my Grommet maker to cut out the li’l holes for the knobby thingies (I’m guessing a Crop-a-dile would’ve worked, too) and a li’l indentation for another knobby thingie. Plunked it inside the casing of the ATG, using my Glue-Glider Pro, to adhere it to the casing. Added some decorative flowers and, of course, it had to have a li’l “Ladybug” perched on top of a flower. :-)

Oh, BTW, I removed the name "Scotch ATG 714" from the mid section. Just peeled it off. It gave me a li'l bit of a hastle but managed to get the residue off, using carpet tape. Just kept sticking it on and pulling off. Goo Gone or Undo would prob. work, too, but I don't have either.

Note:- The paper didn't interfere w/ the ATG's mechanism. :-)

Just think of the endless possibilities --- using wild, different coloured patterned paper. If you decide to go this route, I would love to see what you come up with!

Another pup video

I have nooooo clue how I missed this 5 mos. ago, but here's another pup video.

Meet.....Chandi, the dancing dog!! Toooooo cute!! :-)

Before you click on "PLAY", be sure to go down this column, almost to the end, to click OFF my I-Pod. :-)

COSTO Paper Organization

If you have the COSTCO 2-sided designer cardstock that comes in a zippered container and, if you’re like me and have been totally frustrated w/ finding the right patterned paper for your project, in this satchel --- you have come to the right place.

I previously spent needless hours searching thru the portfolio for the right paper. Sure, I had my “legend” but I couldn’t find the paper that caught my eye on the legend, in the portfolio. So, I would flip thru the multitude of sheets, getting more and more frustrated, hoping I would “hit on it”.

No worries now. I finally figured out a system that really works. I had originally saved the cardboard “legend” of the various sheets of paper contained in the satchel. I cut it to size and inserted it inside the front, so it could be seen thru the see-thru cover. Even though this satchel had tabbed slots, there were no tabbies to put into these slots, so I basically made my own, using cardstock, cutting to size, adhering some alpha stickers that I had.

But then I was faced w/ the mathematical calculations that needed to be done. Well, I’m no Math whiz (who am I kiddin’ – I’m basically Math challenged! LOL; even tho I’m getting much better w/ training from my Nintendo Brain Age game.) Sorry, I digress. LOL

So, hubby came to my rescue. Didn’t take him long, at all (maybe a couple seconds) to tell me:

* 75 different patterned sheets of paper
* 30 tabbies

Here’s the scoop:
The first 3 rows (on the legend) have 3 different patterns in each slot. 15 x 3 = 45
The next 2 rows have 2 different patterns in each slot. 15 x 2 = 30
45 + 30 = 75. Eureka! All 75 patterns accounted for.

Now, w/ using my alphas:-
26 letters, but 30 slots; hence A to Z = 26; AA, BB, CC, DD = 4 --- 26 + 4 = 30

You could easily use a numbering system, but I didn’t have any numbered stickers, so I utilized what I had.

I am sooooooo loving this patterned paper portfolio now. No more needless searching. I just need to look at the legend, see what letter my choice is under, look inside the portfolio, find the corresponding letter and “Bob’s your Uncle” or. . . . . . . voila! -- choice found!!!

If you click on the pix, they will enlarge. :-)

paper legend, showing my alpha lettering system:-

inside, showing how I labelled the tabbies:-

If you’ve come up w/ a different way of organizing your paper in this portfolio, I would love to hear about it.

Anniversary Card

It’s our 32nd anniversary today. It's been 32 lonnnnnnng years. Just kiddin'. :-) My sweet hubby (next to my daughter) is the best thing/person that has ever come into my life. This is what my Sweetheart gave me:-

Can you spot the two li'l ladybugs on the flowerpot? Cute, eh? :-)

Here’s the card I made for him:-

You can click on the pix to see larger images. :-)


RECIPE:-

Tools/Items:-
Cricut Expression
Cricut Design Studio
Cricut Cartridges (see below)
Martha Stewart punch – Quilted border; Ladybug
Glue (regular, Glue Glider Pro & Zig Two-Way for small items)
Corner Rounder
Patterned Paper
Cardstock
Stickles – Candy Cane, Gold
Popdots
Googly eyes
Seed beads

Cricut Cartridges used:-
Paisley – frog prince; shadow; eyes; belly; crown
Sweethearts – Happy Anniversary; Sweetheart; You & Me; xoxo’s

Because my hubby is my “Prince”, it only seemed natural to choose the “Frog Prince” from the "Paisley" cartridge, for his card. Because I’m his “Ladybug”, I’m sitting on top of him. Hence, “You & Me”. :-) I stickled both the crown and myself (Ladybug). :-)

Used the MS “Quilted” border punch for the inside of the card. The card base is 6” x 9”. I’ve included a cut file, for anyone who is interested.

http://www.mediafire.com/?l20smoqnz8h3zol

Meet another........Bailey:-

If this isn't the cutest li'l thing, ever. He's absolutely adorable. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. (thanks to Cheryl --- for helping me input this video!!!)

Before you click on "PLAY", be sure to go down this column, almost to the end, to click OFF my I-Pod. :-)

Momma --- I’m crafty, too!!

Look what li’l Bailey left in his dish. . . . . .

Every morn, after li'l Bailey has his brecky, he leaves a li’l bit for his lunch. He then gets my attention and brings me to his bowl to show me what he’s left. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw what it was.

Can you see it?? --- it’s a flower, w/ even a…. stem. No LIE!! I didn’t touch it. I didn’t add to it. Nothing. Honest. That’s exactly how he left it. Tooooooo cute, eh? :-) Soooooo, he's not the only "crafty one" in the family. I always knew he was "crafty"!!! (sly!!) :-) Now he's both!! :-)