February 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 Denise'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 Scraps of Darkness Sketch Challenge using our Counterfeit Challenge Kit we put together based on Scraps of Darkenss February Kit.

Here is my Sketch Challenge Layout

My February Kit was focused on Pink, Red, Gray, Cream and Black colors and

was inspired by Echo Parks new Be Mine paper line.

I cut out part of the Be Mine journal sheet for the heart just like in the Sketch Challenge since I happened to have the same pieces. I added various color of beautiful sparkly Prima flowers and a jeweled Jenni Bowlin Stick pen to finish off the cluster of embellishments on the bottom left of layout.  At the top left of the layout is a mirrored Bird from Heidi Swapp and Making Memories glittered chipboard swirls.

In the top right of my layout, I added the Faux Teresa Collins Blingage that I made for my kit.

And again,  cut out some of the Echo Park journal cards and layered together

 for this cluster of embellishments.

In the bottom right of my layout you will see a piece of Echo Park journaling strip that I stamped in red,

 then used one of the Faux Frames that I made for my kit.  Then I layered a small strip of Maya Roads gorgeous pink rose trim to complete the look.  I couldn't resist cutting from the bottom of the

Echo Park Be Mine paper strip the paper line emblem that normally would have been tossed

except it matched my layout theme too much to toss!   

 

I'd love it if you left a comment so I know you stopped by. Now head on over to Missues Wookie's Blog for more inspiration !

Welcome to Angela's 50th Birthday Blog Hop

A friend and fellow Cricut crafter, Angela, is celebrating her 50th Birthday this weekend.  She asked some of us to join her "My Fabulous 50 Blog Hop" by creating a Birthday themed project to help make her big day even more special.  Stop by the blogs listed below and see the fun Birthday themed projects everyone created.  There is even some Blog Candy along the way, including here. 

If you jumped into the middle of the blog hop, be sure and go back to the start at Angela's blog http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ so you don't miss any birthday project inspirations. 

Happy Blog Hopping !!!

Angela - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/   start of blog hop
Dawn - http://scrappyrn-scrappyrn.blogspot.com/
Janice - http://www.cricutconfessions.com/
Normea - http://mmdezigns.blogspot.com/
Nancy - http://lanancyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Michelle - http://paperaffair.blogspot.com/
Barb - http://craftinginparadise.blogspot.com/
Debbie - http://www.debseclecticthoughts.blogspot.com/  YOU ARE HERE
Marcia - http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/
Veronica - http://www.iteachscraps.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Monique - http://mixonthememories.blogspot.com/  end of blog hop

There is one thing I am always needing when a birthday rolls around and that is a gift bag for the honoree.  I decided to make an extra special Birthday Gift Bag and Tag since it is Angela's 50th Birthday. 

All the designs for this project were created using the Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge.  The big birthday cake on the bag was cut at 7 inches, the yellow cake base cardstock was embossed with the Cuttlebug, and I added some yummy frosting using Martha Stewart chunky white glitter. I even used foam dots to pop-up the birthday word.

I made a matching mini birthday card as a tag using the cake card shape on the Birthday Bash cartridge cut at 5 inches.  I added some "paper sprinkles" to the icing and highlighted them with stickles. 

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY DEAR ANGELA !  Hope you enjoy all the birthday projects posted in your honor.

LEAVE ME A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A CUTE MINI BIRTHDAY STAMP PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY GREETING.  Then hop on over to the next stop on the Blog Hop to see what Marcia has created at http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/ .

BTW - I am participating in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog Hop on Monday, February 28th so be sure and stop back in to check out all the cool projects we are making for that Blog Hop too!

We HEART Our BIG Dawg!

I have a granddog...yes, you read that right. I gladly claim this adorable big 200 lb Mastiff named Winston as my granddog.  My daughter Crystal is his doggy momma.  He really is a gentle giant and loves to be petted and give kisses back.  He even looks hurt when you tell him he is not allowed to sit in your lap. I truly believe he only thinks he is as big as his head so he doesn't understand when you don't enjoy him laying on you :)

We took these pictures last year when he was visiting.  He is such a happy dog that I just had to show him off in a layout.

 I used my Cricut to cut out the title, the hearts, circles and paw prints.  The scallop trim was made with a Fiskars punch.  I am going to enter this in the Cricut Circle Blog Weekly contest that is about pet projects with your Cricut.

Add On Kit Yumminess !

Hi All - Sorry for the delay in posting my Add On Kit for the February Counterfeit Kit Challenege. It's been a rough week at our house.  To make a long story short...dad in hospital with collapsed lung (he's okay now, thank goodness), my car had to go to the auto repair shop unexpectedly (it's back finally) and then our refrigerator decided to up and die too (shopped for 2 days, got new one delivered today so back in business).  To say the least, with everything going on, I just plum forgot to do the Add On Kit Post.

So without further delay....
The Scraps Of Darkness Add On Kit

While their Add On Kit was lovely....it just didn't seem to have enough goodies in it for me !  LOL  So,
as I dug through my stash I just kept finding more and more perfect goodies for my Add On Kit.

 As you can see, I added a few more yummy Valentines themed items to my kit...more bling,Jenni Bowlin  buttons and chipboard pieces, vintage style Valentine Stickers, a few more luscious sets of Prima Flowers, adorable Maya Road Wood Bingo pieces plus some fabulous Maya Road flower trims in creme, pink and red and some lace.  For my paints in my kit I added the Tattered Angels Bubble Gum Glimmer Mist and Luminaire Magenta paint. 

Now in the original Add On Kit, there were some Teresa Collins Blingage Frames in silver...unfortunately I didn't have any of those yet :(   So I had to find a way to make some of my own frames to use.
Here is how I got sort of the same affect....

First, I unearthed some Tim Holtz Grungeboard element shapes that had frames on them and selected a few to use.

I then layered them on a paper towel and misted them with water slightly just to soften them up a little.

Then I placed the grungeboard pieces in a Tim Holtz Damask embossing folder and embossed with my Cuttlebug. The slight misting of them helps make the embossing show up in it better.  Tip I learned from Tim!

Once again I used some of my Ranger Dabber paint in Silver and covered both the front and back sides of the now embossed grungeboard.  And now I have some decorative frames to use in my February Counterfeit Challenge Kit.  I will probably use some rhinestone brads when I attach to my project.

Stay tuned for a few projects I am making with my February Counterfeit Kit Challenge.

February Challenge Time !

I am so thrilled to be participating in the Counterfeit Kit Challenge for February.  The ladies over at Counterfeit Kit Challenge Blog have picked out an inspiring kit from Scraps Of Darkness Kit Club for us to "lift" for February challenge.

Here is Scraps of Darkness Kit Main Kit

And here is my Main Kit pulled together from my stash

As you can see, I went with a less dark look...I like a brighter happier look in my scrappy projects generally. I used pale pink, red, white, black and grey in my kit.

Many of the papers are from Echo Park's Be Mine Collection and papers from both Jenni Bowlin and Teresa Collins.  

Now I came pretty close to having many similar items to the main kit with the exception of Teresa Collins Blingage.  Not because I don't want them...I just haven't been able to get my hands on them yet :)  And also some mirrored pieces that were in the inspiration kit.

As part of the challenge, we are encouraged to re-purpose, re-create or just plain make up a similar embellishment from our existing stash without buying the exact same item.  I love a good challenge and really wanted some Blingage so here is how I created my own.

I started out by finding a Fleur de Les chipboard piece in the a pack of 7Gypsies CB.  This pack has so many great shapes in it but the image I needed was the perfect size for the project.  I then covered the front and the back of the chipboard with Ranger's Black Paint Dabber.  So easy to do.

Then I punched a tiny hole in bottom of the chipoard, attached a black jewel with a jump ring.

Then to give it that final touch of Blingage...I added Black Distress Stickles on top of the chipboard.

And waaaalaaaaah........My very own "Faux" Teresa Collins Blingage !

I then needed to add some mirrored pieces to my kit but didn't have any in my stash. So I again made some "faux" embellies.

I had these Tim Holtz glass fragment pieces so I decided to see if those could be changed to look like mirrors.

I then covered the backs of glass fragments with a Ranger Silver Paint Dauber. I did two coats and dried with my heat gun. Then I covered the silver paint with a lite coating of Glossy Accents just to make sure the paint didn't flake off.

And the results....really cute, inexpensive mirror pieces that I made myself !   I am showing them here next to an actual Heidi Swapp mirrored bird that I am adding to my kit too so you can see how great they look.

Check back tomorrow to see the Add On Kit I pulled together to go with the main kit and the fun  embellishments I made out of items in my stash.   This is so stinkin' fun making up these Counterfeit Kits !!

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 !