Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop

Welcome to the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop ! 

We are so glad to have you hop along with all the participants and enjoy all the inspiration we have for you from the counterfeit kits we made this past month. 

You should have arrived here from Susanne's Blog .  If you missed the beginning of the hop, please go back to Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog to start so you don't miss any of the projects.

This Blog Hop is specifically to showcase the ROLL THE DIE Mini Challenge offered at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.  What is the ROLL The DIE CHALLENGE? Well, the host on the blog have some hand made dice they use to give us inspiration to create a project for the challenge from the kit we put together from our stash at the beginning of the month. It is a genius idea! 

This month the Roll of the Die Challenge was ...

 C= Card, Inspiration=Fashion, Embellishment= Bling

And now for my interpretation of the Roll the Die Challenge. Drum roll please....

My "CARD" is made from die cut paper from Hello Sunshine by Cosmo Cricket as the base and layerd over a white blank card. I cut off the right side front of the card about 1 inch so that the lace border I added shows up really well.

My "FASHION" Inspiration was bold prints and lace.  It will be all the rage this upcoming Spring according to the 2011 fashion websites I checked.  Loved the look of adding a lace border made from Martha Stewart Laced Doily border punch to the bold printed pattern paper on the card.

My "BLING" Embellishment is shown on the hand made flower I created by layering a felt flower and crochet flower and then placing a black GLITTER Dome as the center of the flower and the shiny pearl pin.

The sentiment "Be Happy" is a Scenic Route Chipboard piece. This card was so easy to put together since all I had to do was "shop" from  MY January Counterfeit Kit   and follow the Roll of the Die Mini Challenge ingredients.

Thanks for stopping by. Leave me a little comment so I know you stopped by. Hope my intrepretation of of the Roll the Die Mini Challenge encourages you to try to make your own card using the challenge ! Happy Blog Hopping !!

Next stop on the hop is Gabrielle's Blog.  Just click on the link and it will take you right there.

You Are My Sunshine !

My adorable granddaughter, Bianca, celebrated her 8th Birthday in December.  She was so excited to turn the big 8.  Funny, how all of a sudden little girls start to look more like young ladies.  She looks so grown up in her birthday picture.

This adorable layout was made using the items from my kit I put together for the January Counterfeit Kit Challenge hosted at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.  You need to check out this Blog if you have not done so already and play along with us each month.  The February challenge should be out soon!

Bianca is one of those little girls that is happy no matter where she is...at home, at school, visiting friends, going on a trip, in the car, sitting on the couch...she is our little ray of sunshine all the time!  When I saw the "Little Miss Sunshine" tag from Cosmo Cricut in my January Kit, I knew it was perfect for her birthday layout.

Love you lots to our very own " Little Miss Sunshine"...you brighten all of our lives.  Hugs from Nonny !

Yipee....It's CHA Sneak Peak Time

I love to find out what each of my favorite manufacturers have in store for us with their new releases. 
Since I am not going to the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) trade show this time, the best I can do is keep up with their sneak peaks they post the days before the big show. 

For the next few days I will post the products that I find and think are MUST HAVES ...well atleast for me !  Leave me a comment of the things you like too.

Today, I found some really great products from one of my all time favorites Maya Road .

 Kraft Doilies...my head is spinning will all the ways I can alter these!

Kraft Scroll Frame Journaling Spots ...so fun !   Hmmm...I see a Krafty theme here.

And these wooden buttons are so awesome !

WOW...I'm the Guest Reporter on Craft Critique today !

I am so honored to be the Guest Reporter on Craft Critique today!  I submitted a report on Martha Stewarts Scoring Board a while back and was excited to learn it was selected to be posted today.

For those of you unfamiliar with Craft Critique it is a crafters blog with craft product reports made by real crafters. It has their opinions of the products along with pictures of them actually using the product. It is a great place to check out a product if you are thinking of purchasing something crafty.

Check out my article here Debbie's Craft Critique Article

Happy Crafting everyone !

My Contest Entry

Jinger Adams, Provo Craft spokeswoman, is having a Card Contest for her HSN January 20th show. 
I had the supplies you needed to use...Anna Griffin papers, etc plus two the cricut carts, Don Juan and Wall Decor and More so I thought what the heck.....I will enter.

Below is the card I made.

Front of card

Inside of card

Back of card

trying to show you the mylar overlay that is on top

Side view of card to show dimension of card

 I wish you could see the textures on the card better. The Leopard print is flocked, the dark pink is glossy and then there is the transparency overlay that is black flowers and clear.  The Enjoy is cut on cardstock and then has Glimmer mist on it to sparkle.  And the Anna Griffin flower is velvety and puffy and oh so gorgeous.

Well, I had fun making it anyway whether I win or not.  Have a wonderful day everyone !

New Product By PC...Yudu Cardshop

Have you heard about the new Provo Craft Product yet?

Bascially it's a mini Yudu with pre-made screens to make cards with Yudu ink or pigment ink. Kinda cool !

It says the retail value is $59.99. And includes the YuduCardShop base, 1 pre-printed Thank You screen,
1 bottle of ink, 1 dauber and 1 pigment ink pad and an adhesive mat.

Heads Up if you are interested.....there is going to be a special on HSN on January 20th for this Yudu CardShop but I haven't seen the bundle yet or pricing.

There are also other pre-printed screens available for purchase.  Here are few images I could find of these.

Cupcake

Fillagree

Check out demo if you want to learn more at http://www.cricut.com/yuducardshop/Home.aspx

What do you all think of this?  I am kind of liking it and interested in seeing one up close and personal.

And the Blog Candy winner is....

First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who stopped by during the Valentines Blog Hop. I really enjoyed reading your comments about my Valentine cards. If I had to pick a favorite it would be the Poodle card...probably because of the crown :)  LOL

Drum roll please.. the Random Generator picked # 28 as the winner of the Stickles Blog Candy
{I'd post the Random Generator but I couldn't get it to copy for some weird reason, sorry}  

CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO ..........

CHERYLANN aka Prinkles 

 Cherylann's "Outta-My-Mind " said...

Cards are so cute, love the poodle, too cute.

Cherylann (prinkles)

prinkles@woh.rr.com

January 8, 2011 11:19 AM

I will be sending Cherylann an email to get her address to send her blog candy.  I hope she enjoys the stickles...they are so fun !  Now get making those Valentines everyone !

Be My Valentine Blog Hop with Blog Candy too !

Now that we are well into January, our thoughts will soon turn to how to honor those we LOVE on Valentines Day.  To help inspire you, some talented crafters listed below are hosting a Be My Valentine Blog Hop on Saturday, January 8th.  Come hop along from blog to blog and get inspired to start working on your own Valentines projects.

1) Wamfamily Creations With Kathryn http://wamfamily.blogspot.com/ Start of Blog Hop

2) Craftyscentiments Crafty Scentiments http://www.craftyscentiments.com/

3) Lechristina3 All Things Crafty http://allthingscrafty3.blogspot.com/

4) TinaB Tina Time http://ollieanddextersmommy.blogspot.com/

5) Buggin Out Paper Crafting Chic http://papercraftingchic.com/

6) SamaraGugler Hybrid Artist-Samara Gugler http://samaragugler.blogspot.com/

7) NicoletteSimpson Beyond Scrapin http://.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/

8) Lissa So Many Crafts, So Little Time http://somanycrafts.wordpress.com/

9) CraftyCreations The Crafty Creation Spot http://thecraftycreationspot.blogspot.com/

10) JenniferHawkins2 Confessions of a Scrapaholic http://scrapaholicjen.blogspot.com/

11) LisaKnight Cricuting with Lisa http://www.cricutingwithlisa.blogspot.com/

12) Scrapincovers Cricut Crafty Clare http://cricutcraftyclare.blogspot.com/

13) Scrapsbygracie Scraps By Gracie http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/

14) CroppinMomma Croppin Momma Designs http://croppinmommadesigns.blogspot.com/

15) ScrapHappyDeb Deb's Electic Thoughts http://debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE

16) ScrappyJess Scrappy Jess http://scrappyjess.blogspot.com/

17) Iluvscrpn Ink and Paper Creations http://lezlyes.blogspot.com/

18) Txscrappermom Tx Scrapper Mom http://txscrappermom.blogspot.com/

19) Scrappin Nanapuddin Scrappin Nanapuddin http://scrappin-nanapuddin.blogspot.com/

20) Octoberbeauty Macy Bella Designs http://macybella.blogspot.com/

21) JavaJen Java Jen Creations http://javajencreations.blogspot.com/

22) Oni's Wife Crafty Baskets http://craftybaskets.blogspot.com/

23) Scrappin'Place Scrappin' Place http://scrappinplace.blogspot.com/ - End of Blog Hop

MY BLOG HOP CARDS:  Valentines Day always has me smiling and wanting to make cards for those that I LOVE.  I made the following three cards  for some special people in my life.

 I used the gorgeous new BE MINE Collection Kit from Echo Park...I really like all their paper lines :)  And of course, I couldn't resist using my Cricut to cut out the adorable animal shapes from Create A Critter cart. It is a little hard to tell in the pics but some of the elements are popped up and make the cards more dimensional.  I also plan on adding a little stickles to jazz them up before I pop these in the mail the first of February.

Thanks for stopping by...if you will please follow my blog AND leave me a comment about my Valentines cards by Sunday, January 9th at MIDNIGHT, I will pick one winner to receive the following Blog Candy prize.  Winner will be announced on Monday, 1/10.  {I extended the deadline because some people told me they do their blog hopping on Sunday afternoon and I didn't want anyone to miss out}.

Yes, you could be the proud owner of the limited edition 3 pack of Stickles in

 lovely Crystal, Silver and Black to add some shine to your valentines projects.  Isn't that yummy ?

Be sure and check back throughout the month for more VALENTINES inspired projects.

AND DON'T FORGET TO HOP OVER TO THE NEXT BLOG IN THE LIST

Don't you just love a Challenge?

I sure do love a challenge !  Some very clever crafty girls named Beth and Meridy have started hosting a Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog. They locate one of the wonderful monthly kit clubs offered by various companies, and select a kit for us to "lift". The premise is that we use the selected kit as inspiration to "shop" our own scrap supplies and get creative in creating our own kit to use.  I LOVE this idea !!!

Here is a link to the January Counterfeit Kit Challenge if you want to play along.  The first kit we are "lifting" is the December Jenni Bowling Kit below.

Below is my attempt to "lift" the Jenni Bowlin kit.

Digging through my stash was fun and when I ran across Cosmo Crickets' Hello Sunshine paper, I knew I had found the base for my kit. I just love the happy colors of red, yellow and green with black accents. And I loved adding my own spin to it with some Heidi Swapp Green Bling and some Jenni Bowlin Bingo Alphas.

Unfortunately there were a few elements I didn't own from the Jenni Bowlin kit, so I decided to "repurpose" a few things I did have for my kit.  First, I layered some Prima yellow flowers and added a black glittered dome buttons in place of the Sassafras flowers.

I also didn't have any of the Maya Road black doily transparencies but I did have some fun Martha Steward doily tags. Here is how I changed them up to use in my kit. It was so easy to do too!

And while I did have some of the Maya Road pins, they weren't green so I changed those too by using a Green Copic marker.

There were also some wonderful pinwheels from Studio Calico that I needed to replicate too...In my stash I found a great tissue paper with green print on it to use and I had the yellow twine already.  They were so easy to make.

And I want to thank Erin Carpas for sharing her file so I could make the wonderful Month Bingo Cards that were a replica of the Jenni Bowlin one's used in the kit.

There was also an Add On Kit of other embellishments in the challenge that I needed to replicate.

Now here is the Add On Kit I put together....I love all the pieces I gathered from my stash.

I didn't have any of those gorgeous silk flowers in the Jenni Bowlin kit but I decided to build my own flowers.
I used some large black felt flowers from Queen & Co. I layered them and then added a red crocheted flower and a domed glitter piece to the center.  I love how they turned out.

 The other pieces of embellishments are either from Jenni Bowlin, Scenic Route, 7 Gypsies and Luxe Designs.  And of course, I did have a wonderful sticker set from Sassafras to use just like in the Jenni Bowlin Add On Kit. 

Now, I am ready to start using my newly created kit.   I have just the Mini Album project in mind too.  Check back later this month to see what I made.



Be honest, over the years many of us have collected so much stuff we could never use it all ourselves.  I challenge you all to join us in the monthly challenge. Let me know if you like this idea.  Hope to see you posting your kit soon on the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog.

My 2011 Wish ...

May we all have a happy, healthy and properous New Year in 2011 !

Ahhh...Holiday Traditions are Alive

It just wouldn't be Christmas at our house without the traditional gingerbread men cookies.  I used to make these with my two daugthers when they were young.  They are grown now and make cookies on their own. Luckily, my 8 year granddaughter Bianca loves to come over and make the gingerbread men cookies with me now.

Yesterday we had a wonderful time singing Christmas Carols and baking and decorating these yummy treats!

ahhh....holiday traditions are alive and well at our house !

Merry Christmas everyone.

Brrrrr.....time for hot chocolate and a Christmas movie too !

The air seems a little chilly tonight.  DH and I decided that some hot chocolate would help warm us as we watch one of our favorite Christmas movies, A Bishops Wife.  It has Cary Grant as an Angel sent to help David Niven who is a Bishop trying to build a new catherdral. It is a truly charming movie.

Hope you are taking time this busy holiday season to stop and enjoy your favorites too.

Yummy Cocoa with Cinnamon Graham Crackers too !

Let the Cookie Baking Begin !

It's just not the holidays without the smell of holiday cookies wafting through the house. I got in the mood to begin my holiday baking today and made four kinds of cookies to kick things off.

 GINGERBREAD SPICE....OH SO NICE !

SNOW TOP MINT COOKIES...YUM!

HOLIDAY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP...ALWAYS GOOD!

SNICKERDOODLES...MY ALL TIME FAVORITE !

Have you started your holiday baking yet?  It's getting to be time for holiday guest to arrive.  Have fun.



It's Shopping and Wrapping Time !

My Christmas shopping is well in hand and now it is time to start the wrapping !  I love the wrapping part....I know that sounds crazy since most people don't enjoy that part.  This year I decided that each family member will receive a gift in a handmade gift bag.  I spent last night making about 18 bags.  It was so easy since I used my Cricut to cut out embellishments with Gingerbread seasonal cart and Lacy Labels and Winter Frolics for the tags.  I used wonderful Christmas patterned paper from Provo Craft which is Holiday Slab 5.

I won't bore you with all 18 bags but here are a few of my favorites I made. Hope it inspires you to take a moment to make your gift giving a little extra special for those you love.

  Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas to all !

And now she is 8 !

Busy busy weekend at our house.  We celebrated Bianca's 8th Birthday!  We can hardly believe she is getting so grown up.  8 is a fun age...she is really into girlie fun stuff...stuffed animals, clothes, jewelry, flavored lip gloss, bath stuff, purses, boots, etc.  You know...all the fun stuff to shop for ! Her favorite colors right now (this changes every few weeks) are Teal and Pink.  What lovely colors they are on her too.

But her absolute OBSESSIVE PASSION right now is PANDAS.  She loves anything with a Panda on it.  So of course she received a Panda calendar, a Panda shirt, and a Panda DS game, a Panda Pillow Pet,  among a bunch of other things fun things too.  But she went absolutely crazy over this...

The homemade Panda cake I made for her.  It took baking three cakes and a ton of icing and about 3 hours to do this but it was so worth the look of joy on her face when she saw it at her birthday party.

Happy 8th Birthday Sweet Bianca...We love you and hope this is the best year ever for you !

And the Holiday Wishes Blog Hop Winner is...

Thanks for all the kind comments about my blog hop project!  Glad everyone could find some holiday  inspiration  for your own projects.

The Winner of the Gingerbread Seasonal Cricut Cartridge is by Comment 20 from ....

Jan said...

Love the bag and candle decorations. I really like that ribbon you used. Its really fun.


Thanks for the inspiration and the chance to win. I do not have the Gingerbread cartridge.
Jan      jan.schmeckpeper@yahoo.com

Congrats Jan !  I will be sending you an email to ask you for your mailing address so I can get your Gingerbread cartridge to you soon.

Happy Holidays to each of you !  Please come back to my blog soon for more inspiration another day.

Welcome to Holiday Wishes Blog Hop

                                                       

Kathryn aka Wamfamily over on the Cricut Circle Message board had a wonderful idea to host a Christmas inspired Blog Hop. So 13 of us will be posting pictures of holiday projects today that we have made to share and hopefully inspire you.

If you haven't done a blog hop before, no worries.  Just start at the top blog listed and jump to the next one on the list until you have visited all 13 blogs.  Some of the hop hostesses are even offering blog candy (giveaway) so be sure and follow any directions they have provided to submit your entry.

Here is a list to help you on your Holiday Wishes Blog Hopping today:
1) Wamfamily - http://wamfamily.blogspot.com/  - HOSTESS and START of BLOG HOP
2) Scrappin Nanapuddin - http://scrappin-nanapuddin.blogspot.com/
3) Mandy - http://mandys-scrap.blogspot.com/
4) JenniferHawkins2 - http://scrapaholicjen.blogspot.com/
5) CraftyScentiments - http://www.craftyscentiments.com/
6) TheScrapbookGirl - http://www.cricutconfessions.com/
7) Lechristina3 - http://allthingscrafty3.blogspot.com/
8) ABrooks86 - http://almabrooksblog.blogspot.com/
9) LisaKnight - http://www.cricutingwithlisa.blogspot.com/
10) Makeupgirl217 - http://217creations.blogspot.com/
11) Greengirl - http://greengirlscraps.blogspot.com/
12) ScrapHappyDeb - http://debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE
13) Bling Queen - http://lvscrappin.blogspot.com/

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Gift Set

I made a holiday wrapper to go around a delicious smelling Christmas jar candle and a cute matching gift bag to give as gifts this year to friends.   Who doesn't love the sweet smell of Christmas throughout the holiday? This is my entry in the monthly Cricut Circle challenge.  We were supposed to make a gift project using a  tag, use 2 cricut cuts or more, a sentiment, the color red and some ribbon. 

GIFT BAG CLOSE UP

TAG CLOSE UP

CANDLE CLOSE UP

Products Used: Medium Kraft Gift Bag, Provo Craft Holiday Slab 5 for pattern paper, Bazzill Card Stock and American Crafts Foil Cardstock, Martha Stewart SNOW glitter and glue. Cricut Carts used: Gingerbread Seasonal for the Snowman, Christmas Cheer for the snowflakes and Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for the Tag and Lacy Labels for the for the candle label, Winter Frolic for the Happy Holidays saying.


MY BLOG CANDY GIVEAWAY

I just love the Gingerbread Seasonal Cartridge I used to make the Snowman so I am giving one away to a lucky winner. 

To win my blog candy do the following: 1) Become a follower of my blog if you are not already AND 
2) leave me a comment about my Blog Hop Projectby 5 pm CST on Sunday, December 12th.   Be sure and leave how to contact you on your comment.  Winner will be announced by 9 pm on December 12th.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Holidays to you all....You should be hopping over to the last but not least wonderful blog of Bling Queen - http://lvscrappin.blogspot.com/. 

Christmas Cards are on their way !

This year I decided to hand make all my Christmas cards...all 60 of them !  What was I thinking?  It took me several days to get them all made but I am happy with how they turned out.  They are in the mail and heading to their intended destinations so I hope the recipients like them.

I made 4 different cards using some Tim Holtz holiday stamps.  This is the first time I have ever hand colored stamped images before using my Copic markers and Ranger distress inks.  It was a lot of work doing this many but I think I have it mastered now :)
 
For background papers I used some lovely My Minds Eye holiday papers and Bazzill cardstock.  Not sure if in the pictures if you can see all the pretty glitter and embossed texture of the patterned papers but they helped make the cards festive.  I also added Stickles to Santas beards and on some snowflakes with the Reindeer card.

 I used a cute custom made stamp on the back of each card too to personalize it.

Hope everyone likes the cards.  I just might start working on my cards for next year in July ! 

Ho Ho Ho

Well Decorate-A-Palooza at the O'Neal house has finally been completed...Thank Goodness ! After three days of decorating every room in the house, and putting up the lights outside, it is finally looking like Christmas at our house.  And with well over 500 Santas ... yes, I said 500...about 300 on the tree and a couple hundred around the house in every room it is quite the endeavor as I NEVER put things in the same place each year to change things up.

Now don't get me wrong...there are still a few holiday projects to finish and presents to wrap to put under the tree but all in all...we are looking pretty festive around here.

Here is the evidence of my handy work thus far....

Well, you get the picture...Santas everywhere!  I just love them !! 

I will post some pics of our ALL Santa Tree in a separate post later. It is a definite must see too with all the santa ornaments I have collected from our travels and been given by friends and family.  So special !