It's a Flutter Basket

Isn't this a cute way to package up a little treat for someone special. This is an SVG file for use with a Cricut and SCAL software. I got it at My Time Made Easy a new digital shop offering stamps, cut files for packaging and embllishments, and digital papers. There are some great items here including the one in the picture above called All a Flutter. I just think this is great how it looks like a butterfly but it's a basket. I've got cookies in there. Even the "parts" of the butterfly are a cut file. It's just so easy to load my Cricut and let it do all the work for me. I'm definitely going to be using this quite a bit!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Apricot Appeal, DCWV Whimsy Stack

Tools: Cricut, SCAL software, My Time Made Easy All a Flutter file, scor-tape, scor-pal

Tea For Two and Two for Tea

My craft room is all clean and organized! I used some gift cards I got for Christmas and bought a file cabinet and a chest of drawers but I still needed to clean out and toss. I tend to look at packaging and think "What can I do to 'jazz' that up and use it for something else?" Now, that's a great way to go green and save some green, but it doesn't take long to hoard quite a stash of boxes, cartons, crates, jars, and baskets. I determined that I must start actually using and creating with this "stuff"! So with that in mind, I reached in a drawer and pulled out a sturdy plastic box that once upon a time held some smaller plastic boxes. I decided that this would make the perfect container for gifting some delicious teas.

I filled this with some of my favorite teas, but I won't really give these away as these are too hard to come by around here and I like them too much to part with them, but there's plenty of room in this box to fill with an assortment of teas. Now, for the best part...the outside packaging...

Closed and tied shut, this gift is now ready to deliver to a cherished friend or helpful neighbor. I used the card sketch from the Tuesday Morning Sketch Challenge. LSS is sponsoring this week's challenge so be sure to check it out and enter for a chance to win a prize from LSS.
The cute coffee cup (think tea cup here) is from the Lindsay's Stamp Stuff Coffee Talk digital stamp set. I love how easy and fun this cup is to color in with copics. Grab this set for only $5 and earn a free stamp from the store. Speaking of freebies, be sure to click on over to Lindsay's blog. She has a habit of offering free stuff on Thursdays! Then, grab a cup of coffee or tea and hop around to see what the rest of the design team has been up to this week. You're sure to be inspired. Oh, and don't forget to try the challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches. Have a zippy week, all!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU More Mustard CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, My Mind's Eye PP

Stamps: LSS Coffee Talk digital stamp set

Tools: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities dies, EK Success corner rounder, copic markers, Prisma pencils

Embellishments: Prima flowers, PTI Ocean Tides grosgrain ribbon, SU Love & Happiness rub-ons (sentiment), Paper Studio Spare Parts brown brad assortment

Air Mail

Aww! How tweet! This little birdie is another cutie from the LSS Love Grows Here digital stamp set. He's all set to deliver a little Valentine's love to someone special. I colored him in with my copics and prisma pencils. Then, I grabbed some scraps from the scrap drawer. The scalloped heart is a new EK Success punch that I just love, paired with a Paper Shapers (also by EK Success) medium heart punch. I took a large yellow button and ran some ribbon through the buttonholes which I then tied in a simple knot. A little more ribbon for a pretty bow and some tiny buttons and this sweet card was done! I love when a project comes together this easy.
Good thing it was a quick, easy project because I've started my master's classes and I've got lots of reading and writing to do on top of my regular work and my hobby (passion). I'm not sure how often I'll get to hang out in the craft room over the next few months but I'm gonna grab whatever time I can. But for now, I'm off to do some required reading (good thing it's good reading!).
Project Recipe

Paper: Scraps (?), SU Razzleberry Lemonade, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here

Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Rectangle Nestabilities, EK Success Scalloped Heart punch, medium heart punch, bow easy, copic markers, prisma pencils

Embellishments: PTI Lemon Tart Satin ribbon, PTI Scarlet Jewel Extra Fine Polka Dot Satin ribbon, buttons

Bingo

Panic set in today when I really LOOKed at a calendar and saw how close Valentine's is getting. I'm determined to have a treat for each of my one hundred students for this holiday. I didn't do it for Christmas and consoled myself with the thought that I most definitely would do a Valentine's Day project for them and our 40 plus faculty/staff. Now, I'm wondering when this miracle is going to occur! But I'm definitely in the mood for Valentine's. As a warm up I created a couple of great cards that I can send to friends, anyway!
I used the same digital stamp for both cards but went in a couple of different directions with color.

My first one shows the Love Grows Bingo digital stamp from the LSS Love Grows Here digital stamp set. I print the image out on pink cardstock, added a little extra color and shimmer with a Spica pink glitter pen, and then added the cute red punched hearts. The pink patterned paper in the background is some old SU paper that I've been hoarding! The bow is a strip of fabric I had in a jar for no telling how long...I think it's left over from an old scrapbook project. Do you love the scalloped heart under the sentiment? It's a new punch...LOVE IT!

For the next card, I went for the more dramatic red and black. It's my favorite of the two.

I printed out the same Love Grows Bingo digital stamp but this time on white cardstock. I, then, colored "love" in with a Spica lipstick glitter pen and added more of the punched red hearts for a winning card! I matted the image with both red and black and gave each mat a lattice border.The background paper is some Scenic Route Sonoma paper. I used a red felt heart that I won in a drawing at a scrapbook store a long time ago. See, it does pay to hold on to stuff!

Now, I did have a third card to show you using a different image from the LSS Love Grows Here digital stamp set, BUT my memory card reader went kapoot (sp?) on me and that' a trip to Walmart to replace it...maybe later this week I can get that one up. I am so loving this stamp set. If you haven't bought it yet, be sure to visit Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and check it out...really cute images there! Lot's of other goodies in the store to help you get ready for Valentine's or any other occasion you find yourself needing a card!

Also, be sure to go over to the side bar and visit Lindsay's design team for more inspiration and don't skip Lindsay's blog because there's always a great project and freebie!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Black CS, SU Berry Bliss DSP (retired), Scenic Route Sonoma PP, PTI White CS, DCWV glitter pack

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here digital stamp set, PTI Heart Prints (sentiment)

Tools: EK Success Scalloped heart punch, Paper Shapers medium heart punch, Martha Stewart Lattice border punch, small heart punch (unknown), Spica Atyou Glitter pens, ink/sponge

Embellishments: red felt heart, scrap faabric, Ribbon FX black checked ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Old-Fashion Charm

Wanted to use my favorite cardstock color, SU's Sage Shadow, and create a card with little old-fashioned appeal. I took some GinaK Tan Leather Pure Luxury cardstock and did a little heat embossing to create the flourished background. I had some Cosmo Cricket Wanted chipboard pieces that incorporated these colors, so I added the chipboard photo corners to the corners and put my sentiment on top of an oval chipboard piece from the set. The sentiment is from the Verve set Fairy Tales. I stamped it with brown craft ink and then heat embossed it. I wrapped SU's wide striped ribbon in chocolate chip around the base and tied a bow. I love that this looks like an old photo.
I had a very productive weekend. I got my craft room semi organized. I so need to add on to this room! I did complete several cards and a few other projects which I'll show you later in the week. The weather was also great this weekend which helps my mojo...I do love some sunshine! Have a great week!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Sage Shadow cs, GinaK Tan Leather Pure Luxury cs

Stamps: SU Baroque Motif, Verve Fairy Tales

Tools: heat embossing powder, heat gun, SU Large Oval punch, SU Scalloped Oval Punch

Embellishments: SU Chocolate Chip Striped Grosgrain ribbon, Cosmo Cricket Wanted chipboard

Peacock Proud

Turquoise is such a rich color! I especially love turquoise jewelry. And, how cool to be a peacock and get to be "dressed" in turquoise all the time. One of the Verve release week challenges was a color challenge: turquoise, grey and black. So I grabbed this gorgeous image from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff called Flourished Peacock. I used some blue green copics and Aqua Stickles to give the peacock hints of color and loads of shimmer. I didn't have a black flower so I created one with a copic marker and an airbrush kit. Then, I spritzed some glimmer mist on it to give it a slight sparkle, too.
Lindsay's got a couple of new sets in the shop. Be sure to pop in and check these out. If you're looking for a good sale, head over to My Grafico where everything, including Lindsay's great designs, are 25% off today and tomorrow.
Need more inspiration? Be sure to check Lindsay's blog and all the ladies of the fabulous design team! The cold weather is keeping us all indoors heating up the craft rooms with creative energy!
Have a zippy kind of day!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Taken With Teal, Basic Grey, Black CS, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, DCWV Winter Glitter Stack

Stamps: LSS Flourished Peacock, Verve Birthday Surprise (sentiment)

Tools: Cuttlebug, Embossing Folder (Morrocan Screen), SU Modern Label die, SU Modern Label punch, Cuttlebug  Ornamental die, Martha Stewart Arch Lattice border punch, copic markers, copic air adapter, air compressor

Embellishments: Prima wildflower, PTI Dotted Satin ribbon, black and aqua Ranger Stickles, Paper Studio Spare Parts brad assortment

From the Heart

I have really depleted my stash of birthday cards, so when I decided to participate in the Viva La Verve Sketch Challenge last week, I knew I had to make a birthday card. I know it looks like it should be a Valentine's card or something but the card reads "From the heart (cover)...a very happy birthday (inside)". I love this little cherry image from a new set at LSS called Love is in the Air. I colored it with my copics. The sentiment stamps are from Verve. I added a little embossed piece to this and created a "ribbon" with my Martha Stewart Lattice border punch. My absolute favorite aspect of this card is the great gingham paper in the background. I designed the whole card around that paper. This is from the DCWV Farmer's Market Recycled Paper Pack. I hope I can part with this when the time comes...
Project Recipe

Paper: DCWV Farmer's Market PP, SU Real Red and Always Artichoke CS, SU Rockabilly DSP, Ginak White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: LSS Love Is In the Air, Verve Thankful Hearts

Tools: cuttlebug, embossing folder, Spellbinders Deckled Nestabilities dies, EK Success Medium Heart Punch, Martha Stewart Lattice border punch, copic markers

Cuttin Up with Shutt-erfly

My Cricut is a smokin'! And I've fallen in love with it again. Yes, Provo Craft is finally releasing cartridges more frequently and are even offering more affordable options, but that's not what's rekindled the romance with my Cricut. No, there has just been a rash of designers offering better and better SVG files for cutting with the Cricut and SCAL (or the new Make the Cut). You can see some great projects I've made with SVG cut files from LSS  here, here, and here. But the project I created today is from another 3D template designer--Lauren Meader of My Time Made Easy. Lauren's started a new company offering mainly digital products and featuring templates for creating great and easy 3D projects.

This template is called Shutt-erfly because of its unique closure. I chose not to feature the top closure, but instead focused in on the daisy which I also created using another SVG file called Flutters and Flowers from My Time Made Easy. I have unlimited cuts from the files, and they can be resized to fit whatever project I'm working on.
I just think these SVG files are a much better investment than cartridges which I never seem to use. Of course, in case you can't tell, I'm very partial to gift packaging and love the ease of cutting these with a machine instead of a pair of scissors!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Orchid Opulence, SU Old Olive, SU Cottage Wall DSP

Stamps: My Time Made Easy All A Flutter

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, My Time Made Easy Shutt-erfly and Flutters and Flowers SVG cut files, SU Tag punches (large and small), Martha Stewart lattice border punch

Embellishments: Recollections brad (Michaels)

Love Notes

Sweet N Sassy Stamps were sponsoring a challenge over on SNR Card Universe. I didn't feel like making a card, but I have been wanting to color up this little Be Mine Cocoa image. So, I repurposed a Mason jar filled with little love notes. This would also be sweet full of pink m&m's or Hershey's kisses. I reached for some Basic Grey Pink Lemonade papers and took a plain jar to the heights of cuteness!
Keeping it short tonight. It's cold, I'm tired, and my Texas Longhorns are getting beat. Think I'll slide into my jammies and curl up with a good book!
Project Recipe

Paper: Basic Grey Pink Lemonade, Gina K White Pure Luxury CS, pink printer paper

Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Be Mine Cocoa digital stamp

Tools: Martha Stewart Arch Lattice punch, cuttlebug, Spellbinder Label One and Scalloped Circles dies, copic markers

Embellishments: pink string, pink flower (unknown), Recollections Gemstone brads (Michaels)

Its in the Mail

When I was in high school, my favorite color, bar none, was pink! I even had a pink stone put in my school ring just because it would match my clothes. I don't have a favorite color any more. I'm always stumped when someone asks me that because I like them all (maybe not so much orange) depending on their shade and intensity. But I've definitely been in a pink mood these last few crafting days. Cupid's shot me with the pink arrow of love, I guess. Here's a project that's certainly strong on the pink end, and it's absolutely adorable!!!

Do you not just love these little mailboxes for Valentine's gift giving? I know lots of people head to Target's dollar bin this time of year to pick up metal mailboxes. Well, I never get there in time, nor do I feel inclined to drive 40 miles to the nearest Target. This little cutie was made using my Cricut, SCAL software, and Lindsay's Stamp Stuff SVG file. Yes, LSS is selling cut files! I did scale this 3D Mailbox Template so that I could use one sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 inch cardstock (go here to see a bigger one that I created).  You can make them larger to utilize a 12X12 sheet and you can break the file apart in SCAL and enlarge each piece to make them even bigger. But this small one is really the perfect size. (By the way, the 3D Mailbox Template also comes with a PDF version you can print out on your cardstock and cut by hand)
The little heart shaped card is made with a new digital stamp set from LSS called Love Grows Here. Super cute set even if you don't make Valentine's projects/cards. I used my Classic Hearts Spellbinders die to create a heart shaped card. I colored the little birdie with my copics, of course.
I pulled out some unused SU Raspberry Tart DSP on this, added a little bit of polka dotted ribbon which came from one of my Christmas presents and knew I had to save, made a felt flower which I teamed up with a couple of other flowers from my stash, and this little mail box is ready to send to my favorite somebody! Speaking of recycling from Christmas, be sure to participate in the Recycled Challenge: make a card with a digital stamp and a recycled item then post a link to your card on Lindsay's blog or in the What’s digital Stamping yahoogroup. A random winner will get a stamp set of her choice from Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff!
Seen/heard enough? If not, I've got one more project to share with you today. Check out this card I created with the new LSS Love Grows Here Digital Stamp set.

Once again I used some ribbon I grabbed off a Christmas present my dear friend Wyndi gave me. You can see a bit of it behind the flowers and image and behind the sentiment. Don't ya just love that heart shaped cherry on the cupcake with all the little heart sprinkles? The cute paper is from a pack that I won from Mel at Tuesday Morning Sketches a couple of months ago. I love how fun and yummy it looks paired with the cupcake. 
The LSS design team is back after a two week holiday. Go see what everyone got for Christmas and how they are using it to be even more creative. Click on the links on my sidebar or head over to Lindsay's blog for a first stop.
Project Recipe

(Mailbox)

Paper: SU Pretty in Pink CS,SU Rose Red CS, SU Raspberry Tart DSP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here Digital Stamp set

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, LSS 3D Mailbox template, Fiskars Effervence Border Punch, small heart punch,  (unknown), cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Hearts Nestabilities die, Cuttlebug flower die, copic markers

Embellishments: SU red brad, pink buttons (unknown), Making Memories Blossoms and Button Lemonade flower, Paper Studio flower, recycled ribbon

(cupcake card)

Paper: PTI Spring Moss and Raspberry Fizz CS, Gina K White Pure Luxury CS, K&Company Cut 'N Paste Mat Pad

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here Digital stamp set, PTI Handwritten Notes (sentiment)

Tools: cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic and Scalloped Circle dies, EK Success Circle punches, copic markers. Fiskars border punch

Embellishments: Prima flowers, PTI Holiday Mix Vintage buttons, recycled ribbon

LSS Recipe Folio and SCAL

What a cute little box! It's supposed to be a recipe folio, but I'm thinking this would hold some neat little goodies. I'm thinking even a couple of cookies could go in here as a special treat for Valentines or some other special occasion. I am really loving these SVG files from LSS. A Cricut, SCAL software and an inexpensive cut file and in a few minutes, I've got a great little project finished up. I used Velcro dots to keep the box closed.
The special thing about these SVG files is that they can be resized very easily. I love giving gift cards but am always looking for a gift box to hold them. This little box could so easily be made smaller and then filled with a gift card and a little filler. Then, it looks like I really put a lot of effort into a simple gift! You can find this recipe folio set here. And be sure to check out my post from yesterday for another project using an SVG file from LSS.
I have so much paper it borders on a sin! So, I'm trying super duper hard to refrain from buying any more and just using up my stash, but, oh, what a challenge! I did use some CTMH papers that I've had for a while. I really like using the CTMH cardstock that comes in these sets because the cardstock is a little thinner than that I get from SU or PTI. That makes it a little easier to cut with my Cricut and a little easier to work with, but it still provides enough structure to keep the project stiff.
Project Recipe

Paper: CTMH That's Amore

Stamps: PTI Handwritten Notes

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, LSS Recipe Cards and Folio SVG

Embellishments: Paper Studio Spare Parts Designer Silk Flower brads, PTI Dark Chocolate Grosgrain ribbon, SU Tag punches, Prima flower, SU red brad

Blog Vacation is Officially Over

After the Christmas rush and craziness, I had a relaxing holiday. I enjoyed spending some time with my sons. The younger two came and stayed a whole week with us, but I must say the football and the hunting were starting to wear on my nerves. Still, as always, it was hard to watch them drive off that final day. I spent the week after Christmas cleaning up and putting away all the goodies. By the way, I got a new camera for Christmas. I'm still trying to learn what all it can do, but "auto" is working just fine for me right now (wink)!
I've been reading where many bloggers are cleaning up and reorganizing their craft rooms, and I did some of that too, but I spent a great deal of time organizing my digital craft room. I cleaned out computer folders, updated some software, created new folders, organized my digital photos, and added an external hard drive for digital storage. My physical craft room is still something of a mess, but I'm feeling better about my virtual craft space.
I didn't do a whole lot of crafting over the two week Christmas break. I mostly read and watched tv, things I rarely get to do during a normal week. But I did color a little and checked out everyone else's stuff to see what non-Christmas projects were being started. Lindsay of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff has been creating svg files which can be used with the Cricut machine and SCAL software (there's a new program now for cutting with the Cricut called Make the Cut and it will also cut the svg files). If you check out her blog, she often has freebies for you, but she has put together a couple of really cute templates and is selling them in her store. Now, I LOVE 3D templates and the little mailbox she created is loads of fun. Look what I created with her file.

It just takes a few minutes to cut, score and adhere. Then, you can spend your time and energy embellishing it! If you don't have a Cricut or the SCAL software, you can use the printable file included in the set. The heart-shaped cherries are also part of a new LSS stamp set called Love Grows Here. I colored the cherries with Clearsnap Smooch and my copics and cut out the image with a heart shaped nestabilities die. I may end up putting this little mailbox treat box in my real mail box for my mail couple (we have rural delivery with a husband and wife doing the delivering) as a thank you for all the picking up they have to do at my house since I'm always sending out handmade cards and Netflix movies.
The really neat thing about svg files is that they can be resized. I made another one of these at about half the size so I could use a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock. I'll share that one with you later this week when I'm through embellishing it. Who else can I give these to? These are so fun, I want to make more, but I don't have the room to have them sitting all over my house, lol!
Project Recipe

Paper: CTMH Perfect Day and That's Amore, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, LSS 3D Mailbox Template, cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Hearts dies, Martha Stewart Lattice border punch, Clearsnap Smooch, copics

Embellishments: Paper Studio Spare Parts Designer Silk Flower brads, PTI Pure Poppy twill ribbon