Book of states

Ok continuing on with my crafting goal, the next cart and cut was Alabama, another "Oh gosh, what am I going to do with this" one.

Since we intend to homeschool the boys will need to learn their states, so I am going to start with a very simple 8x10 book of states, these are the cuts that were on 50States, I will be looking at other carts for the pine tree and turtle and other facts we found later (after all the boys are a bit young for this yet, thank goodness, gives me time to get all the states done).

A "Love"ly Blog hop is about to happen soon.

Many of you may know that right now life is a bit "tense" for me with some changes about (or hopefully about) to happen soon.  To help me stay focused and at the same time keep my mind from worrying too much I am hosting a blog hop.  We will start the hop on Saturday March 19th, I hope you will all join us.

Since the life changes I am having deal with the love I have for certain folks,  I wanted to do some layouts that show "WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE YOU".  I also asked some friends to help me out.  We love many people and animals in our life, for many reasons, some will be the same, some will be unique but I can not wait to see what the talented and awesome friends of mine have come up with.

Below is a list of the bloggers taking part of the hop, if at anytime you get lost along the way, just click on the blog button (which will be appearing later) to bring you back to here and you can find your way back to where you were headed :)

Me <------------------you are here
Roberta  http://somethingformee.blogspot.com/
Liza  http://www.hooscrafty.blogspot.com/
Vicky  http://sassysscrapinblogin.blogspot.com/
Kymberlee  http://papermidwife.blogspot.com/
Sue  http://www.lifesgr8whnbugged.blogspot.com/
Bobbi Jo  http://sweetsassydiva-gspot.blogspot.com/
Michelle  http://paperaffair.blogspot.com/
Sara  http://www.snugasabugdesigns.blogspot.com/
Misty  http://www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/
Kate  http://www.sassyandscrappykate.blogspot.com/
Liz  http://liz-lavendarandroses.blogspot.com/
Laura  http://lauras--piece--of--paradise.blogspot.com/
Michele  http://greengirlscraps.blogspot.com/
Shawn  http://shawnsfiresidecraftingroom.blogspot.com/
Mary  http://www.marebearscraps.blogspot.com/
Cindy  http://www.scrap-obsessed.blogspot.com/

I still need to get the address from Vicky and when I do I will change those to a link also.  I am not sure yet what it will be, but there will be some blog candy here and possibly on some of the others, although that is entirely up to each blogger, I am just so blessed that they are helping get through this rough week.

My new craft goal

I decided that I am going to go in alphabetical order and cut the first cut from every cartridge I own, once a day, this will help me do some type of crafting.  Now there may be days where I just cut the shape/font to use later, other days I may complete a project.

But I really need to get back to the craft therapy and use the stuff I have here at home.

Of course the first cartridge had to be 3 Birds on Parade.  Let me honest, I got this cart because "everyone" else did and they made some really cute things.  Once I got it though, I HATED it and soon knew it was NOT my style in any way shape or form, so it stunk that this was the first one I had to use.  Top that off by the first cut being the plainest and ugliest bird on there LOL

Another goal is to make several "me" books, this page will go in my book of songs that have had strong meaning in my life.

So I cut that dang ugly bird at 1.5 inches with layers times 3 using papers from last years DCWV Summer stack
I cut the birdbath at 5 inches (too big I see now, but well it's not a page of anyone in particular so I am ok with the sizing being off)
The house comes from Sugar and Spice Lite cart cut at 5.5 inches with layers in total random paper from DCWV
The 12x12 is from the Green Stack from DCWV

I printed the lyrics to Bob Marley's  3 Little Birds song on plain computer paper then trimmed with my Purple Cow trimmer, layered it on some of the paper I used on one of the birds and trimmed it to match with the "tear" blade on the PC trimmer.

Well at least I can say I stuck to my goal on day 1 and Crafted LOL

Oh and be watching for an announcement tomorrow afternoon here.

Awesome giveaway

No this is not from me, but from a very good friend, who also happens to have talent dripping off her at all times.

Head over and see what Liza does (and does so well) and while you are there check out the giveaway she has going on

Liza's blog giveaway

Now remember, don't just stop with the entry, check out all her work.  You can also find a link to her blog on the side of mine.

A new card for the weekly contest.

Weekly Challenge!

Each week join us for “Challenge Friday” where we will announce a new creative challenge. We want you to feel inspired to use your supplies in new ways. Have fun with it! Check back often to see the beautiful entries from your Circle Friends . . . you are sure to leave with a desire to get cutting!

Weekly Challenge #23: Guy Stuff Challenge!

The Challenge: Incorporate atleast three of the following types of materials on your project. (Hardware items, stars, raw cardboard or chipboard, twine, string, paint, buttons, staples, or distressed edges)
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. You can create any type of project you would like (layout, card, tag, altered project, mini album, etc.) but your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts (all layers of an image count as part of the cut). You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.
How to Enter: Submit your entry using the InLinkz tool found at the bottom of this post. Please post your full name along with your entry. Entries are due by 9:00 pm MST on Thursday, March 10th, 2011. **Please note the time change this week.**
Prize: This week the winner may choose to have $25 added to their Cricut.com account OR choose one of the following cartridges: All Sports, Life’s A Party, Pack Your Bags or a Set of 3 Embossing Plus Folders (Postage Alphabet, Vintage Collage, and Embossed Tags). Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.

I was able to use the hardware (washers), button and raw cardboard for this one.

The card is a 6x6 card,

printed paper is from the Weathered and Worn DCWV stack

I used some AC white paper, unknown tan paper 

yellow and black cricut vinyl and chrome shelf liner

the patterned paper on the front is distressed with a good ol kitchen knife.

The ladder is cut at 3 inches with shadow and layers from HANDYMAN

My diva chick is from FOREVER YOUNG, I don't remember the size I cut her (oops) I also took the boots from this cart and just kept shrinking them until they looked like they fit her legs and cut twice out of black vinyl to match her dress (one set was flipped to line up with her legs)

The inside text was welded and outlined using markers and the SONGBIRD cart, the label also came from SONGBIRD, I then colored in the text with a brush tip marker.  I know I could have printed the sentiment with my printer but I really really love the SB font and it welds so well.

He has the morning routine down

What's good for humans must be good for monkeys

I want to know how he got to there from here so fast

Spring IS coming, can golfing be far behind?

Winner of the Fabulous and 50 blog hop is

Riley's Custom Creations.   YAAAAAAAAAA Congrats, send me an email at clisinski@msn.com so I can send you your winnings.

On a roll with the crafting this week

I wanted to make a special card for Lance and Robin, but I wanted to play with shrinky dinks, hmmmmmmmm what to do?

Combine them both!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I used to my Gypsy as I knew I wanted to hide lots of little lines, so with the Dreams Come True cartridge I laid out Jasmine and her man at 9 inches, hide all contours and then added the circle from French Manor to his head and welded.  I cut this from the shrink material.

Next I "cut" the same image only using markers this time on white paper

Then I laid the shrink material on top of the markered image and with a fine tip black marker copied all the interior lines, then flipped it over and used markers to fill in the colors, then baked the happy couple until they were done.  Looking back now I see that I didn't quite come line to line on some, but I am still happy.

Then I used DCT again to cut the phrase, shadow and layers at 3 inches.  Paper is from the Far East DCWV stack.  The key chain is mounted with a big glue dot for easy removal.

Fabulous and 50 Blog Hop

Welcome to the Fabulous & 50 Blog hop in honor of Angela's BIG 50.

I hear that Angie is giving away a wonderful cartridge as blog candy, and to help her celebrate, I will be giving one random person 5 tubs of Sparkle Glitter Fluff (think Flower Soft with glitter ooooooooooo ahhhhhh) just make sure to leave a comment before heading to  Janice's blog

Angie - http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/
Dawn - http://scrappyrn-scrappyrn.blogspot.com/<---YOU ARE HERE
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/
Marcia - http://scrappin-times.blogspot.com/
Veronica - http://www.iteachscraps.blogspot.com/
TinaGale - http://tiggersscrapplace.blogspot.com/
Monique - http://mixonthememories.blogspot.com/


If you are here for Angie's Paper Passion's 50th Birthday Blog Hop and you have just come from visiting Angela's blog then you're in the right place! If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along with our fun hop, you can go to http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ and start at the beginning.

In honor of Angie's birthday we will be showing you a variety of party themed items.

I have a two page layout to share with you all today.

I made this for Drew's first birthday, which was in December (yep it was high time I got around to scrapping some of those pics).

I used the Cricut Expression, various DCWV stacks and the Sassafras Bungle Jungle papers.  The banner was cut at 1.5 inches from MS All Occasions Cake Cart, the highchair baby is from A Child's year at 3.5 inches, Balloons are from Simply Charmed cut from 1 in to 2.5 in., Presents are from Pooh and Friends cut at various sizes.  The journal mat was just eyeballed and cut with paper trimmer and I also used the Stampin Up ticket punch on the corners.

Misc. ribbons were used through out, lots of pop dots used on this layout.  By clicking on any of the photos you can see a larger image.

Blog hop to help a friend celebrate HER BIG 50

Next Saturday (Feb 26th ) I will be helping Angela celebrate her birthday, along with a whole host of wonderful folks, please come back to see what we do.

Happy boys

No words really needed.

Mid Michigan swarm

Home and trying to unpack, of course the boys seen their new stash and my stuff took a back seat soon LOL

I wish I had gotten more pictures but I was having too much fun.  I hope the others post soon.  Now of course it didn't go off without a hitch or two but I think it was great all in all and whenever you have a chance to meet the best people on the planet, well it's always great.
And so it begins, Janice made it to the hotel before me and I let her know Provo Mike was in the house, a few minutes later this is what I get

Me and Grannyemjay made it finally

Mike was the ultimate in customer service, just not sure who for?  Provo Craft or Ramada Lansing?

Then it was off to a nice dinner (hmmmmmmmmm birthday dinner?) with Mike and his harem

then back to the hotel to disturb all the other guests in the hallway

next onto the swarm, of course here is what happens on the morning AFTER with the Wine Lady, she had turned into the Scraf Lady

Various shots from setting up to enjoying all the folks and info Mike had to share with us

and finally all good things must come to an end.  And the Nurse must take a nap now, I will try to come back later and update with names on all the pictures.