Another Challenge Card

I made this card for day three of the card positioning systems challenge.  I love the layout on this card!  The digi stamp I found for free on Google images.  The "Love In Bloom" stamp is from Mary at CardzTv http://cardztv.blogspot.com/  The heart stamp is from Studio G and I found it at Joanns in the dollar bin.  They have all of their Valentine's items on sale for 50% off and their paper packs for less than $2 for 8 1/2 x 11 cardstocks!  I stocked up on quite a few packs at that price, so I should be good on a number of colors of paper for quite awhile. 

I love love love my new white pen by Pen-touch.  It works SO much better than my Sakura white gel pen that kept clogging up on me and not marking when I wanted it to.  This Pen-touch marker is so much more vibrant and dependable when I need it to work.  I HIGHLY reccomend it.  Ironicly, it's also made by Sakura, but it works a LOT better.  Go figure!

I also entered this card into the Cooking With Cricut challenge that just came out.  They are doing a Valentine challenge this week.  Hopefully I will be able to use this card for something other than a Valentine because I am overflowing with Valentines at the moment.  If not, I will stash it away for next year as it is SUPER CUTE!  http://cookingwithcricut.blogspot.com/

I also entered this card into the Scrapbooking Queen challenge for this month.

http://www.thescrapbookingqueen-challenge.blogspot.com/

I also entered this card into this weeks DieCuttinDivas challenge. They are doing an "anything goes" challenge. http://diecuttindivas.blogspot.com/

Impromptu visit with Sis in law Jenn, and nieces Renae and Clara and Jackson park. We had a lot of fun. Can you believe this is January 31st in Ohio!?!

The First 2012 Family Craft Night

We had so much fun doing our First monthly family craft night for 2012.  I'm really looking forward to doing these once a month with my daughter and husband.  My daughter is 2 1/2 now and it's great to watch her get creative with her projects and tell me what SHE wants to do with her art work.  I love how excited she gets just about coloring or painting and how she gets that cute look super concentrated look on her face when she is painting. 

I cut out large hearts on my Cricut for us to make hand prints on.  We used glitter and stickers to decorate our hearts as well.  Meggie had fun putting hand prints on the heart.  I just used red Crayola fingerpaint so we had very easy clean up.  I used the same paint on the birdhouse that we made, but made sure to spray it with clear glaze so it would not come off over time.  We also painted red glitter glue on the roof of the birdhouse and studio G clear glitter on the edges of the roof.  I used ATG to glue on the ribbon around the base and ZOTS to put on the flower.  LOVE MY BIRDHOUSE!!!

Another Challenge

http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/

My Craft Spot is also doing an "anything goes" challenge this week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbwBIVOChj4&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Challenge Card

Card Positioning Systems Challenge

http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/

Paper Playtime Anything Goes Challenge
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/

Exploring Cricut 1,2,3 Challenge

http://exploringcricut.blogspot.com/

So I combined a few challenges together for this Valentine card.  I love the layout of this card, thanks to CPS.  I definitely wouldn't have thought of a layout like this on my own.  It's different and I think that's good.  The 1,2,3 challenge worked out great on this card as well.  One ribbon, two Cricut cuts and 3 gems.  This card is super cute, but I'm not sure who I'll give it to.  :o)  The paper playtime challenge made it easy on me since it's an "anything goes" challenge this time.  More cards will come though this week as I still have a big list of challenges to go through.

My random crafts of kindness project for February is to make decorations for my daughter's daycare class. The white hearts with the red borders are for them to do as a craft project. I am looking forward to seeing what they make. Then I cut Valentines Day and glued the letters to smaller hearts. I embossed these with the swiss dots Cuttlebug folder.

$1 birdhouse from Joanns turned out cute. One family craft night project.

Family Craft Night

All Kinds Of Challenges

Well, I found a number of challenges that I will be participating in this week.  I love the motivation to make projects and ad to my card stash for 2012. 

There's my Grounhog Card Challenge of course.  http://scraphappypapercrafter.blogspot.com/p/random-crafts-of-kindness-contests.html


Card Positioning Systems is celebrating their 5-year anniversary and will be doing card challenges every day for 15 days.  I'm pretty excited about this because I love their challenges.  I actually feel challenged to follow along and do a card a day the whole time.  I think that this will be SO much fun.  I'm looking forward to it.
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/


Paper Playtime is doing an "anything goes" challenge and blog hop, which is always a lot of fun. 
http://paperplaytime.blogspot.com/


Jelly Park Challenges has a fun digi Winter Wonderland themed challenge.

http://jellyparkchallenges.blogspot.com/

The Scrapbooking Queen has her monthly challenge and it is also a Valentine digi theme.

http://www.thescrapbookingqueen-challenge.blogspot.com/

Fantabulous Cricut is doing a 3x3 Valentine card challenge.  The sizing is a nice change up from other challenges this month. http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com/


Exploring Cricut has a fun 1,2,3 challenge this week that I'm looking forward to doing.  You do 1 ribbon, 2 Cricut cuts, and 3 jewels, brads, or buttons on your project.  This is a cute and fun challenge to stick to.

http://exploringcricut.blogspot.com/

The Great Groundhog Card Contest

Don't forget to post your groundhog day card pictures by February 4th. Groundhog's Day is coming up and it's definitely time to dust off the copy of that Bill Murray classic.  Man, I LOVE THAT MOVIE! 

Click on this link to go to the contest page.

http://scraphappypapercrafter.blogspot.com/p/random-crafts-of-kindness-contests.html

Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge

Check out the Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge

The theme this week is "Fantasy."  I used the Once Upon A Princess Cricut cartridge for the unicorn.  I am really enjoying my new Martha Stewart lace border punch!  I love it!  It's definitely one of my new favorite tools.  I may have to get some more of them sometime if I can find more designs that I love as much as this one.

http://www.gettingcricky.com/2012/01/simply-sunday-challenge-fantasy-land.html

CPS Challenge

I made this card for the
Card Positioning Systems Challenge
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/2012/01/cps-5th-anniversary-day-1-with-tami.html

I love these challenges and I actually just recently found this page.  It's so much fun to have a challenge where they tell you an actual design consept to stick with.  This also gives me the chace to broaden my card designs instead of just keeping with the same consept over and over and over and over....  I hope that you get a chance to stop by and take part in some of their challenges because it really can be a lot of fun!

I used Gypsy Wanderings for the butterfly cut.  The stamp is from the CardzTV bug stamp set that I JUST got this week.  I really am loving Mary's stamps so far.  I'm very happy with the service she provided.  The communication was great and the product got here SO FAST.  Check her out at http://cardztv.blogspot.com/

Craft Area Reorganization

Ok, believe it or not this is actually a VAST improvement over what my craft area looked like a month ago.  You can't see all of it in this picture.  I also have another card table to the right that has my sewing machine and a Sterilite chest of drawers on top and bottom of it with STUFF stored in them.  I also have a TON of stuff under my craft table that I ultimately need to sort through and reorganize as well.  One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to clean, organize and decorate my craft area so I might have some motivation to keep it looking nice the whole year.  My artistic side tends to take over when the paper starts to fly and I forget to keep everything looking great like it should. 

So far, I made the two pieces of art work on the walls, which were featured in my blog earlier.  I also put the shelf up this evening and added the items to it.  The frogs really look great with my light green and pink theme.  I found the wooden tea pot shelf at Goodwill, which turned out to be a great find for my craft area.  I love how the ribbon looks in it and the fact that my lamp fits perfectly on top of it!

I made the ribbon board this year as well to feature different cards on that will be sent out this year....or that will be saved because I love them THAT much.  Let me know if you have any suggestions for storage, organization, or decoration for my craft area.  Thanks for looking!

CardzTV Masculine Card Challenge

I'm Buggy For You - CardzTV masculine card challenge.

I was excited to get my first two stamp sets from Mary at CardzTV this week.  She had a masculine card challenge, so I decided to use the Buggy stamp set that I got from her on this card for my husband.  I used my Dinosaur Tracks Cricut cartridge for the cuts and inked the edges of everything to give the card more of an aged look.  My husband is really into dinosaurs and fossils, so I knew that he would appreciate this bug from this cartridge. 

I embossed the leaf with my Cuttlebug grass folder and inked over the embossing with some green ink.  I like the effect that this gave to the paper.  I also embossed the bug with my Cuttlebug folder that looks like scales, sorry I can't remember the exact name of it....something about mosaic tile. 

The "I'm Buggy For You" stamp was really perfect for this card.  I'm very happy with her stamps so far.  They have GREAT sticking power, so I know that they will last me a long time.  I'll definitely ad them to my favorite stash of craft items to use!

Up For Another Challenge

http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/craft-challenge-139-recipe.html

The Trimmies Craft Challenge for this week is to make a card with

* A digital image

* Ribbon

* Buttons

The stamp that I used is one of the My Pink Stamper punilicious stamps.  The image I just found for free through Google images.  I colored it with my gel pens.  I used Stickles on the bottom and some Glossy Accents on the bear's nose.

The Great Groundhog Card Challenge

Click on this link http://scraphappypapercrafter.blogspot.com/p/random-crafts-of-kindness-contests.html
to go to the Great Groundhog Card Challenge page and link a picture of your groundhog card.  Cards need to be linked by February 4th. 

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_aG4xVEEXc

I used the Create A Critter Cricut cartridge to do the groundhog for this card.  I used my first ever Action Wobble as I just got my sample in the mail.  It works great!  I love using it with googly eyes on the groundhog!!!  It's SO cute!  I used Stickles to ad some bling and some Glossy Accents on the nose.  The white Sakura gel pen ads a cute touch.  I used some embroidery floss for the string and attached the flower and button with large Zots glue dots.  I don't LOVE my handwriting, but I'm trying to use more of it on my cards as I know it ads a good personal touch.

This card is for the Cute Card Thursday GEM challege  http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

My first ever Action Wobble

Watch "Groundhogs Day Cricut card challenge" on YouTube

Worldofwobble.com

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The Great Groundhog Contest!!!

Don't forget to submit your groundhog card picture at the link below.

http://scraphappypapercrafter.blogspot.com/p/random-crafts-of-kindness-contests.html

The Create a Critter cartridge is a great one to use for this!  Have fun.

Pink Stamper "You're My Favorite Peep" Valentine Card

I used one of the My Pink Stamper punilicious stamp sets to make this "you're my favorite peep" Valentine card.  I love how it turned out with the cute little googly eyes.

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge. Http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com

The Super Awesome Great Groundhog Challenge!!!

http://scraphappypapercrafter.blogspot.com/p/random-crafts-of-kindness-contests.html

Click the above link to go to my challenge page for the SUPER AWESOME GREAT GROUNDHOG CHALLENGE!!!!

Submit your link to your groundhog card by February 4th to be included in the chance to win a prize pack.

You must have a US shipping address to win.

Winner will be randomly chosen.

My top 3 favorite submissions will be highlighted on my site.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!

Don't forget the groundhog!

Card Positioning Systems Challenge

Card positioning systems challenge
http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/2012/01/cps-252-part-1.html

Groundhog Day

One of my favorite holidays is coming up soon. Start thinking of some fun groundhog cards. I see a challenge in the future.

Paper Craft Planet

Come on over and join Paper Craft Planet.  This is a great place to be for people that love paper crafts!!!

http://www.papercraftplanet.com/main/invitation/new?xg_source=msg_wel_network

Pink Bling Crafter Giveaway

Check out Pink Bling Crafter's great giveaway!!!

http://pinkblingcrafter.blogspot.com/2012/01/big-giveaway.html

CardzTv challenge June in January

http://cardztv.blogspot.com/

Cute Card Thursday Challenge

I made this card for my 2 year old, so it is meant to be a little crude as I know she will probably tear it apart as she plays with it...don't worry...I won't let her eat the button.

I made this card for the Cute Card Thursday challenge.

http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/

Trimmies Craft Challenge

Http://trimmiescraftchallenge.blogspot.com

cooking with cricut challenge

Winter dreamin

Die Cuttin Divas challenge

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On this paper pieced quilt block I used a cardboard box top that came with a pack of scrapbook paper I bought. I plan to use the other part of the box for another one. The wall is going to look awesome when I get a bunch of these done.

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Got motivation from Craft Test Dummies to get out my polymer clay and make thid fun jewelry set for Valentines Day.

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Mmmm chocolate mini Cakes with caramel hershey kisses inside.

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Challenge for www.gettingcricky.com

Watch "Make Your Own Stamp Saying on Computer For Cricut Cards" on YouTube

Hoppy Birthday card that I designed with my Gypsy.

Watch "Hoppy Birthday Cricut card mini monsters" on YouTube

Watch "Card calendar cricut" on YouTube

Another attempt at getting my craft area organized and decorated this year. I used two shipping boxes glued together...covered the top with quilt batting and fabric...secured fabric to the back with staples. Secured ribbon to the back with staples and flowers with Zots.

January RCK Project Contest Reposted

**Please Visit My Sister Blog at http://www.randomcraftsofkindness.com/ **

This month I am diligently working on a fundraiser for my parent's church. I am selling Valentine cards for $2 each and all of the money will go to the pastor to help save their home. He has been living on half salary for the past year and his wife will be having a hysterectomy on the 25th to remove a cancerous polyp in her uterous. The pastor and his wife are my parents and their situation inspired me to try to help others this year. I have other projects planned for later on in 2012, but for right now I am pretty excited about this Valentine drive.


If you would like to contribute any Valentines you can mail them to

Julie McElhinney Attn: RCK
1109 Wexford Ct.,

Akron, Ohio 44312

Please mail all contributions by February 1st.

If you have questions about the project email me at julie@randomcraftsofkindness.com


If you can't contribute to this RCK Drive then I challenge you to create Valentines that will brighten the day of someone that you don't know very well.


Everyone that particpates in the challenge can let me know by responding to this post. One lucky winner will randomly be chosen to win a pack of Cloud9 Design Specialty 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper.  The winner will be announced before February 14th 2012.

Here is a larger view pf the front cover.

My Pink Stamper - Pink-A-Licious Blog Hop Project 2

Ok, this is the second project that I did for the My Pink Stamper Pink-A-Licious blog hop for January.  This one is for me.  I'd been planning on making a card file book for Birthday and Anniversary cards.  I used large envelopes cut in half for the card holders in the book.  I found out for a project like this I actually do like to use the Scotts Quick Dry Adheasive.  Normally that adheasive just annoys me, but I suppose that's just personal preferance. 

I used 8 1/2 x 11 brown paper folded in half and glued together to each sheet to get 12 pages for each month of the year.  I don't think I will decorate the pages inside any more than I did since they will just be filled with cards.  I got the idea for this kind of book from a My Craft Channel video.

I used the swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder for the brown strip on the outside of the book.  I used the Country Life cartridge for the vase of flowers.  I inked the vase with pink ink first and then my broze metallic ink.  I think this effect turned out really cool.  I love the sentiment that I stamped, "Dream, Remember, Inspire" because first I dream up the cards, then I remember to send them out, then the cards inspire the people that I send them too.  I'm pretty happy with this project. Now I just have to go through and fill in all of the dates for the events I want to make cards for.

My Pink Stamper Blog Hop Project

Check out www.mypinkstamper.com for this months Pink-A-Licious blog hop.  The theme for this challenge was "A Fresh Clean Start."  This card I made for my friend that just had a stroke.  I am trying to encourage her with a get well card and that she too can have "A Fresh Clean Start."  She loves to sew, so I created this sewing theme Get Well layout on my Gypsy.  I used the Wild Card cartridge for the card and envelope.  I used the Wall Decor And More cartridge for the dress stand.  I used the Country Life cartridge for the quilted pillow and thread.  I used silver stickles for the swirl glitter on the front and glossy accents over the needle to give it a little dimension.  I added stitching around the quilted pillow top and glitter pen on the thread.  I inked the edges of the card with a silver metallic ink.  Love Love Love this card!

Getting crafty at Fridays. My mom did this when I was little.

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I used the Wild Card cartridge and designed this card layout on my Gypsy. I know so many seriously ill people all of a sudden, so I've had a lot of Get Well cards to make.

Finallt putting the "bee mine" cards together.

How cute are these Hershey kiss Valentine cards!!! I got the idea while I was looking through YouTube videos at about 4am. Got about an hour of sleep since every time I lay down I have a hard time breathing. Gotta hate being sick. Anyway, I designed this card on my Gypsy for my daughter's daycare class. There is a little hershey kiss poking out the circle if you can't tell.

Watch "Cricut mini baby scrapbook album" on YouTube

Watch "Raccoon Cricut Card" on YouTube

Watch "Gypsy Cricut Tea Pot Card and Valentine" on YouTube

Another Valentine for my Random Crafts of Kindness project.

I am so psyched abiut this teapot card that I designed on my Gypsy. This was the first cut that I did with my Gypsy and my first attempt at welding images together to make a card, which was why I wanted the Gypsy in the first place.

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Layouts

Well I have two different Valentine layouts set up on my Gypsy. I will cut them later today. I am sooo sleepy!

I have all of my cartridges loaded. Time to play!

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Gypsy Is Finally Updated

No idea how long it took to do that final update on my new Gypsy. I gave up and went to bed. When I got up this morning I finished it. Wow! I hope I don't have to update it again any time soon.

Still Frustrated

My Gypsy still hasn't finished updating. It really doesn't want to finish the last Imagine update. Grrrrr. I was really looking forward to destressing and playing with my new Gypsy. I don't know if that will happen any time soon. I may give up for tonight.

I did manage to get 24 birds cut out to do, "you're my favorite peep" Valentine cards. I will have plenty of glue time this week while I'm off sick from work.

Frustrated

Wow.....updating the Gypsy should NOT be this difficult. When I got my Gypsy today I couldn't load any cartridges onto it because it needed to be updated. I followed the instructions to update, but the stupid CricutSync program keeps locking up. The last time I tried to update it just quit responding right before it wadld almost at the end....so I got part of the requiref update. Trying it again now. Will gave to keep my fingers crossed that it works...maybe my toes too.

Gypsy Day

Today is the day that my Gypsy should get here. Hurry up Fedex! I am super excited to play with my new toy!

I have to go to the doctor first tgough, maybe it will be here when I get back.

I altered the raccoon card a bit and added the nurse raccoon since the card is for someone who just graduated from nursing school. I cut the hat and stethoscope myself. On the inside I attached the nurse raccoon and wrote, "time to change hats."

Check out the video link on this cute robot card below.