School box

First of all, let me say that this is NOT a Halloween project! This is a back-to-school project, but guess who's school colors are orange and black! Yep, I have so many orange and black clothes, it's almost not fun! So, when I decided to use the new LSS Teacher's Helper for a gift project for some student helpers, I had to use the ole school colors. By the way, this set is awesome for teacher gifts or student rewards and IT-IS-ON-SALE! You can shop Lindsay's Stamp Stuff for the next three days and grab a bag of bargains. Everything, and I mean everything, in the LSS MyGrafico shop is 30% off through August 28, so be sure to stop by and see for yourself all the great goodies.
Both the great little pencil topper and the pencil box are SVG files I cut with my Cricut and Sure Cuts Alot software. If you don't have these, the set also comes with a PDF file so you can print these out and hand cut them, too. There are also some bonus digital stamps that make this set extra special!
You will want to see all the great projects created with Lindsay's sale items, so be sure to go through all the design team blogs including our newest team member Laurel. Leave some special love on her blog to welcome her to the creative team. Also, Lindsay has a freebie for you today, so don't forget to stop there and grab that little goodie.
And whatever you do, don't miss out on the sale!

Cheers!

Easter's On It's Way

I found a pack of Jiffy Pots for around $2 for 22 pots. These are the peat pots for starting seedlings. I used some acrylic paints to cover them. And then with just a little bit of ribbon and a couple of products from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and I had an inexpensive but cute Easter basket for holding little treats.

I used the Egg Basket Template to cut some bunnies with my Cricut and SCAL. I used this SVG set to cut the Easter egg in the center of the flower above and for the tag on the top Easter basket. The top Easter basket also uses a digital stamp from the LSS Cute Easter set.

It's getting much closer to Easter. Do you have your Easter projects all finished? Be sure to check out LSS for some great cut files and digital stamps which will make your Easter projects shine! Also, stop by Lindsay's blog to see more project ideas and to see if she's got a freebie for you today...she usually does!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Mellow Moss CS, PTI Raspberry Fizz CS, Gina K White Pure Luxury CS. DCWV PP, scrap tissue paper
Stamps:LSS Cute Easter set
Tools: cuttlebug, Provocraft Swiss Dots Embossing folder, Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities, copic markers, Cricut, SCAL, Egg Basket Template, SU Scallop Circle Punch
Embellishments: Ribbon (Walmart and Hobby Lobby), SU Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Paper Studio Flower brad, Folk Art Acrylic paints

Poppin By With a Treat

When I saw the new Poppin By set at Sweet n Sassy, I knew exactly what I wanted to create. This little fellow just had to go on a popcorn box, of course. I created this box with my Cricut.

Doesn't this make an adorable treat to give someone? I love the little popcorn man all drippin with butter. Well, as luck would have it, while I was coloring him in with my copics, I got a little hungry. So, guess what happened with the first bag of popcorn I made? Yep, devoured it before the ink on the stamp was even dry! I had to make a second bag before I could finish up my project. (Nope, didn't eat any of that one. My tummy was kinda hurting by then!)
This project took just a few minutes to make because the image was so super easy to color in and the Cricut did all the work for me on the box. If I hadn't taken time out for a snack, I literally could have been finished in about 10-15 minutes! Can't ask for more than that when you need a quick, little something to give. Throw in a movie and this becomes a full-fledged gift package!
Lots of new stuff coming out of the SNS shop this week. Be sure to stop by and check out all the cuteness. Bring popcorn because there is a slideshow to watch on the home page featuring all the new stuff!

Look, Ma! No Stamps!

Kinda weird to claim "no stamps" on a post about Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, but it's true. I didn't use any stamps for these two projects. I did use one of Lindsay's fantastic SVG Cut Files for the Cricut and Sure Cuts Alot. This one is called Egg Basket Template. It has this great egg basket cut file but there is so much more!

The egg-shaped basket alone is worth the price of the ticket, but see that cute little bunny. That is also included in the file. I used it to create a simple Easter card.

Isn't he adorable here with some embossing? I just grabbed some scraps from the scrap drawer ( I so need to use them up!), a piece of ribbon and the bunny. Simple, Easy, and Cute! You can grab this set today over at MyGrafico and it's on SALE! All items in the LSS shop at My Grafico are on sale for 30% off until midnight tonight!
Project Recipe

Paper: SU Pink Passion CS, PTI White and Dark Chocolate CS, My Mind's Eye Home PP, various scraps 

Stamps: NONE

Tools: LSS Egg Basket Template, Cricut, SCAL, cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Embossing folder, EK Success Corner Rounder

Embellishments: PTI Berry Sorbet Dotted Satin Ribbon, Paper Studios Pearl, Felt heart (unknown)

A Bowl of Birthday Fun

This was the easiest and funnest card to make! I'm still giggling with pleasure over this one! The ice cream bowl is an SVG cut file called Frozen Treats SVG Cutting Template which can be found at MyGrafico. There are lots of other cute frozen treats included with this purchase. I used my Cricut and SCAL software to create the bowl card. I welded two of the bowls together in the SCAL program to create a card base. Then, I cut out the three scoops and the spoon. I used my cuttlebug and embossing folders to create texture on each of the scoops. Super cute design and very fast and easy. If you have a Cricut and SCAL, you definitely need this one!
Then, to top off my birthday card, I grabbed one of my favorite sets from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff called Sweet Stuff. I used the cherry image inside a word art circle that reads "Happy Birthday with a Cherry on Top!" I colored the cherries with my copics and then added some glossy accents. I really loved how this turned out and I especially love it when a project comes together this quickly because, honestly, it usually takes me FOREVER to design a project!

You really need the Sweet Stuff digital stamp set and as luck would have it, it's on sale right now along with all the other sets in LSS. Today through March 14th, Lindsay's got everything in the store on sale at 30% off! And if that doesn't make you feel lucky enough, run on over to her blog where you can get really lucky with a digital freebie! Oh, and don't forget to check out what the LSS design team has created this week or the great SVG cut files over at MyGrafico!
Top o' the morn' to you all!
Project Recipe
Paper: (all papers by SU) Bermuda Bay Textured CS, Pretty in Pink CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Very Vanilla CS, Real Red CS  (white paper for the digi stamp is PTI)

Stamps: LSS Sweet Stuff

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, cuttlebug, embossing folders (Swiss Dots, Swirls, Tiny Bubbles), SU 1 3/8 circle punch, EK Success 1 1/4 circle punch, Glossy Accents, copic markers

Gone to the Birds

Hope you are in the mood for lots of eye candy and little chatter today. My little fingers are sore from all the typing I've had to do lately for my classes that I'm taking. (Actually, my fingers are fine. It's my brain that has shut down.) If I don't explain something very well or thoroughly, please leave a question in the comment section and I'll try to get back to answer any questions you may have. I'm too tired to think right now!
Lindsay has released a new set that is absolutely perfect for spring. And after three days of sunshine, I'm starting to think Spring may arrive one of these days! All the images for my three projects are from the LSS Birds and Branches digital stamp set.
First up is a card I created using small versions of three separate stamps which I then colored with copics and prisma pencils and then punched with a 1" square punch offsetting the image so that only a glimpse, not the whole image, is showing.

I tried to keep this clean and sunny!
Next I created a little wall hanging with the chick image in the set. I created two sizes of the same image so that there is a big chick with three "baby" chicks following behind. I used some SU paper that has clouds and then use my Cricut to create a scalloped circle mat. The cloud paper was originally going to be part of a different project but I really liked the "sunny" feel it gave the whole project.

Again I used my copics and prisma pencils to color in the image. Then, I found the sentiment in a PTI stamp set that was just too cute not to use. The buttons are a sweet extra touch.
Finally, have you seen all the birdhouses being made with SU's new Milk Carton Sizzix die? I have that die and will definitely be using it for an upcoming project, but I wanted to make a much larger birdhouse, so I used my Cricut, SCAL software and a Box Font to create my milk carton. Look at the size comparison.

Of course, with my Cricut I can resize the project and make it as small as the Stampin' Up milk carton. The advantage of the Sizzix die over the Cricut/SCAL cut is the scoring. The Sizzix die scores everything for you. The cut file gives you little marks but you have to do the scoring yourself, not hard, just more time-consuming. But I do love the ability to resize as needed! Look at what I created with my "milk carton".

I added a roof with some yellow cardstock that I embossed in with a cuttlebug folder. I punched the edges of the roof with my SU scalloped edge border punch. I attached the roof to the top of the closed milk carton and then punched out the birds nest from the Birds and Branches stamp set.
I hope these projects make you feel Spring's imminent approach. Be sure to check out what the rest of the LSS design team has been up to this week. I think we are all ready for warmer, sunnier days, so you are likely to see much more of the Birds and Branches stamp set!

Almost Valentine's

I've been busy as Cupid trying to get all my Valentine's gifts ready for Friday. Here's a peek at what I'm taking to the school for all our staff members. I decided to go a little non-traditional on the colors focusing in on a soft melon color rather than pink or red.

LSS has a great cut file for these little bags.The set of four different bags is called Pretty Favor SVG. I used my Cricut and SCAL software to cut these out. A couple of the bags have a decorative edge, but I decided to use the plain one and punch the top edge out with my Fiskars border punch. I resized the bags and was able to get four bags out of one 12X12 piece of cardstock.
These are pretty small but I needed forty and didn't want to go broke filling them, so I purposely kept them small. However, my principal has a sweet tooth and always gives me a hard time if the treats I hand out don't have enough candy in them. So, I made a special bag for him that I could really fill with sugary treats!

I used a different bag from the same set. I didn't want it too frilly so I added a stamp from the LSS Love Grows Here stamp set and a little bit of ribbon. Simple but filled with delicious calories!
There's still time to get your Valentine a card made. Head on over to Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. She's running a great special right now. I even know of some folks who are already working on their Christmas cards for next year. Wish I could do it, but the mood is long gone! Check out all the design team blogs. You're sure to find some great eye candy!

Project Recipe

Paper: DCWV The Whimsy Stack and Garden Party Stack

Stamps: LSS Love Grows Here

Tools: Cricut, SCAL, Pretty Favors SVG, Fiskars Apron Lace border punch, copic markers

Embellishments: various ribbons (PTI and Hobby Lobby)

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

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)

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

Verve Blog Party Challenge 3

And onto Verve Challenge Number Three! This Blog Party challenge included using embellishments that begin with the letters in V*E*R*V*E. I used two E's, an epoxy sticker and embossing and an R, ribbon. I also dragged out the Cricut for this one. Now I've spent a fortune on my Cricut, the software and cartridges, but I don't use it near as much as I should. Still, I thought I could create a great band for my recycled glass jar. This is a used candle jar which my mother completely cleaned out for me. I filled it with some delicious candies and then went to work on the band.
I used the Mini Monograms cartridge and my Design Studio software to weld the oval shape and the square into a band. Then, I created a coordinating mat for it. I used the Verve Believe stamp set for the flower which I stamped and then heat embossed and filled in with copic markers. I put an epoxy sticker in the center of the flower and added a cute red bow.
I missed one of my coworkers birthdays last week and feel just horrible, but I had had a crazy week and just couldn't get my little cookie box finished before school let out for the holiday. So, to make it up to her, I'm giving her the jar of candies and my usual "cookie box" which is just a mini pizza box filled with a couple of homemade cookies. Since, I was giving her both, I made them a coordinated set. On the top of the box, I stamped the sentiment from the Verve Birthday Surprise stamp set and heat embossed it. Then, I added another of the red bows. Hope she'll forgive the tardiness of the gift!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Ridinghood Red CS, DCWV Nana's Kitchen Stack PP
Stamps: Verve Birthday Surprise and Believe
Accessories: Cricut, Mini Monograms cartridge, Design Studio software, cuttlebug, Spellbinders Classic Oval and Scalloped Oval dies, embossing powder, SU Large Oval Punch, PTI Pure Poppy Satin Ribbon, ColorBok epoxy stickers

Fun And Funky Sunrise

I don't generally do "funky" since I don't know how to do it very well, but Lindsay's Stamp Stuff is releasing a new set today called Funky Forest and I thought I would do something in honor of the new set.
The digital tree stamp I used here is my favorite of the trees. You can purchase the tree as an individual stamp, but now it has a whole set of friends to go with it. Be sure to check it out. There's a whole page full of images and sentiments for only $5.
After WCMD, I got kinda tired of making cards. On top of all my WCMD cards, I had to make a couple of male birthday cards, and, well, I just got a little burnt out. So, I decided to make a birthday cookie box for one of my co-workers. I cut the sun out with my Cricut (Accent Essentials) and freehand cut some hills which I embossed with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder just for added "funkiness". I printed out the same tree image three times in three different sizes and colored with my copics before cutting them out and popping them up on the hills with foam adhesive. Simple, fun and a little funky!

If you didn't come here from Lindsay's blog, be sure to go over there and see what she's done with the new set....AND.....as always, she has a freebie for you! Also, be sure to check out what the whole design team has been doing. I'm always inspired by what they come up with. I wish they all lived next door so we could get together and work on projects! They are amazingly creative. Lindsay must be rubbing off on us!

Project Recipe
Paper: SU Tempting Turquoise, SU Apricot Appeal, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, Coredinations Flower Power CS
Stamps: LSS Funky Forest
Accessories: Cricut, Accent Essentials, Cuttlebug, Swirls embossing folder, copic markers, ScorPal

Rainy Day Projects

It's been raining here on and off all day which considering that we've been in a drought for the past year is absolutely FANTASTIC! I'm watching it lightning across the lake right now and it is a beautiful sight. What a great day it's been for working on projects.
The Pixie Cottage, a new stamp company with some ultra cute stamps coming out soon, is sponsoring a design team call. I spent the day working on projects to enter in the call, but then I went and checked out the competition and "Wow!" am I ever blown away! You need to check out the store when it opens just to see the work from their new design team because there is some great talent in the running for it.
Pink Daisy May

This project is for the Cute Daisy May challenge this week to use pink and ??? We could pick whatever color we wanted to go along with pink. So I decided to go with pink and pinker and then I threw in a little green, too, just to keep it interesting! This is just the sweetest image EVER! And do you love the flower? I took an inexpensive flower from a "silk" flower stem and inked it up with coordinating inks. The smaller flower in the middle also got a coat of Versamark ink and iridescent embossing powder. See it sparkle. I love taking plain (inexpensive) flowers and making them coordinate with my projects.
Christmas Treats

On this next project I was playing around with some ideas for Christmas (yes, I realize it's only September, but gotta start sometime!) Stampin' Up has these little treat cups and a coordinating stamp set. You punch a hole in the cardstock and slip the treat cups in from behind. Then, you just fill them up with some small goodies and cover the hole in the back. I wanted something a little non-traditional in terms of color, so I pulled out some of the new Bermuda Bay which I think makes quite a statement paired with black and white.

Too Cute to Spook

I also managed to get another Halloween card done. I'm not sure what I  will do with this one but it was a lot of fun to make. The little witch is from Lindsay's Stamp Stuff. I thought this little trick-or-treater would work perfectly for the Digital Tuesday challenge which was to include a digital image of a teen or child.
There's a lot going on with this one. The sketch is this week's sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches. I dusted off my cricut and with the help of Design Studio and SCAL I cut out the swirly oval  and the drippy goo border. The drippy goo is an SVG that I got from the talented Tamara Bennett. I cut it out in black and some DCWV glitter paper. The "Boo" sentiment is a dingbat I got from scrapNfonts for a $1 (the $1 sale continues through Tuesday). I used my copics to color in the little witch and then used my deckle Spellbinders die to cut out and emboss the image. I sponged around the edges before I took the die off. Since I didn't have any Halloween patterned paper, the patterned paper in the background was created using some PTI Black and White Basics patterned paper colored in with an orange copic marker.
Well, that's today's fun! Tomorrow I need to work on some projects for my students and I've got to start planning out the project my papercrafting class is going to do in a couple of weeks. Maybe it'll rain some more--I seem to be very productive when it does!
Project Recipe
(Pink Daisy May)
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush CS, PTI Berry Sorbet CS, Shimmery Green paper (source unknown), PP from Chatterbox Page Kit, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Cute Daisy May Sheet 59, PTI Spring Tags (sentiment)
Accessories: copic markers, cuttlebug, cuttlebug Victorian embossing folder, Spellbinders Label 4 dies, SU slot punch, SU eyelet border punch, PTI Berry Sorbet Ribbon, PTI linen thread, button (unknown source), flowers (Walmart), Versamark ink, Ranger Holographic embossing powder, heat gun

(Christmas Treats)

Paper: SU Whisper White CS, SU Black CS, SU Bermuda Bay textured CS, SU Night and Day DSP
Stamps: SU Sweet Centers, SU Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment)
Accessories: SU Sweet Treat Cups, Kaiser Kraft pearls (colored black with copics), PTI True Black Twill ribbon, SU Large Oval Punch, SU Scalloped Oval Punch, EK Success 1 3/4 circle punch, Tic Tacs candy

(Too Cute to Spook)

Paper: SU More Mustard CS, CTMH Black CS, PTI White CS, DCWV Spring Glitter Mat Stack, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS, PTI Black and White Basics PP (colored with copic marker E07), SU Tangerine Tango DSP (retired)
Stamps: LSS Cute Witch
Accessories: DB Fright Night and LD Classy Charm font (ScrapNFonts), copic markers, cuttlebug, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label die, Spellbinders Large Deckles dies, Cricut Expression, Storybook and George and Basic Shapes cartridges, SCAL and Design Studio software, SU Modern Label punch

Punchy Pumpkins

I'd love to say I'm feeling "fall-ish" but it's waaay too hot here for that. However, everyone else seems to be getting ready for the fall holidays, so I guess I'll fake it till I make it!
I was just playing around some more in my craft room and decided to squeak in at the last minute Mel's sketch challenge number 9 over at Tuesday Morning Sketches.
I did very little stamping on this one. Everything was punched out or cut out. I did use a CTMH Playful Flourishes set for some "vines". I used SU's large oval punch to make the cute little pumpkin. The leaves I cut out with SCAL and my Cricut. And that's one of my newest Spellbinders dies--Peony nestabilities. I colored some adhesive pearls with my copics and set them on top of some retired SU Autumn Vines papers I punched out with the SU modern label punch.
Great sketch, Mel. I'll try to get the next one done in a timelier manner!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Really Rust CS, SU Old Olive CS, SU More Mustard CS, SU Autumn Vine DSP (retired), SU More Mustard DSP (retired), PTI Green Tea Leaves PP
Stamps: CTMH Playful Flourishes
Accessories: SU Large Oval Punch, SU Modern Label Punch, SU Movers and Shapers Modern Label Die, Cuttlebug, Cricut, SCAL, Spellbinders Peony Nestabilities Dies, Paper Studio Pearls, Copic marker

Owl Always Be Your Friend

My dear friend, Jana, had a birthday a couple of weeks ago and this is the cutie patootie I made for her. I totally cased a card made by the very talented Angela Martinez at Scrapbook Gadgets. To cut out my little owl I used my Cricut and the Happily Ever After cartridge. She's embossed with two different Cuttlebug embossing folders--the Herringbone folder on the dark brown part and the Swiss dots on the lighter brown. I used a heart punch to create the "belly".
I was able to use almost the very last of my Stampin Up Bella Rose dsp (retired). Just tiny scraps are left of this beautiful paper. I used my computer to print out the sentiment.
The birthday present that went along with this card was a trip to the big city (Houston) to visit several scrapbook stores including Archivers. We had such a good time! If ya gotta get older, may as well have fun doing it! I hope she enjoyed her birthday as much as I enjoyed it for her.
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Ridinghood Red CS (retired), SU Bella Rose DSP (retired), PTI Very Vanilla CS
Accessories: SU 5-Petal punch, SU Spiral punch, Paper Studio Spare Parts Gemstone flower brads

Back to School

Yep, it's that time of year again. Back to school in Texas. This is my 19th year to do this "back to school thing" as a teacher (not counting those years I was on the other side of the chalk board). I teach junior high, so that means instead of having just 20 to 25 kids in a class all day, I have over a hundred students during the day. I really like papercrafting gifts to give people, but it's hard to make something for a hundred plus people and not spend my entire pay check. So, I don't have anything but a smile for students on the first day. However, to lift the spirits of my fellow staff members, I decorated these little pencil boxes that I found on sale last spring at Walmart for a quarter. I was able to get 40 of these in the four different colors you see above. A little paper, a little cutting with my Cricut, a few embellishments and some embossing with the cuttlebug and a day later, I had 40 of these ready to go.
I filled each one with a pencil, a binder clip and some assorted candies. I used Papertrey Ink's Handwritten Notes stamp set to create a little note for the inside that reads "Have a great day!" and I signed each one. Hopefully, everyone (teachers, staff, and students) will have a great day today and another great year!
Project Recipe (some of the stuff, anyway):
Papers: SU Ridinghood Red CS (retired, CTMH Perfect Day PP, SU Orchid Opulence CS, SU Cottage Wall DSP, SU Not Quite Navy CS, SU Baja Breeze DSP (retired), SU Pumpkin Pie CS, SU Tangerine Tango DSP (retired), PTI White CS
Stamps: SU Sincere Salutations (good luck sentiment), Rubber Stampede Paw Print, PTI Handwritten notes (not shown)
Accessories: Cricut, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU 5-Petal Flower Punch, SU Eylet border punch, Making Memories Blossoms and Buttons flowers, K&Company flowers with brads

2 More Cherries

I love this stuff! I've tried just plain cherry mix, but it just doesn't work for me. Has to be Cherry Pomeganate by Crystal Light. I drink a lot of this and a long time ago, I decided that the empty boxes would be good for something. I didn't know what, but I knew I could "make" something out of them. Now I have a HUGE collection of these empty boxes. My husband just looks at these boxes in the cabinet and shakes his head puzzled. (He's long since learned not to ask!)
I must be on cherry kick these days (is all that juice mix seeping into my brain?) because this is like the THIRD project I've done with these cherries!!!! Seriously, if you haven't gone to Lindsay's Stamp Stuff and picked up these 2 Cherries for a $1, you are really missing out. Feel silly only spending a buck, then be sure to shop around because Lindsay is running a special this whole month: spend $5 and get a free stamp! She's added some great new images--beautiful flowers. One day, when I get over my "cherry kick", I'm going to print those flowers out and have a ball coloring them with my copics, or my water colors, or maybe my pencils....
The hardest part of this whole project was getting the measurements right. And to be honest, that wasn't particularly hard. I covered the box with cardstock and gingham print paper. After printing out the cherries, I covered them with my red Liquid Applique and let them dry. You can heat set them, but I found out it turns a pinkish color when you do and I really wanted a nice bright, shiny red for this. The topper is a tag cut with my Cricut and Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. I cut out some flowers with my cuttlebug and SU Floral Fusion Sizzlits die. Behind the flowers, I used Velcro to keep the top closed but allow for easy opening and closing. Then, I just added some ribbon to the top for a handle. This would be cute for a lot of purposes, but I thought about filling it with some crayons and a little memo pad and a few candies to give some bored child this summer. Remember, I have A LOT of these boxes, so it's likely you'll be seeing more of them!!!
Now, head over to Lindsay's blog and check out what the rest of the Design Team has done. And somebody, I'm not saying who, but somebody's got a FREEBIE for you!
Project Recipe
Paper: SU Barely Banana CS, SU Green Galore CS, SU Real Red CS, Paper Studio The Basics Paper Pad PP, GinaK White Pure Luxury CS
Stamps: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff 2 Cherries digital stamp
Ribbon: PTI Pure Poppy Satin Dots
Accessories: Cuttlebug, SU Floral Fusion Sizzlit die, Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Cricut, Design Studio, Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, Scor-PalPaper Studio red brad, Marvy Uchida red Liquid Applique, copic markers