It's Spring!?!

The weather has turned much cooler, and we're hiding inside this weekend (or at least the beginning of the weekend).  But, I've been crafty all day, making things for challenges.  I made this spring wall hanging for the Cricut Circle spring challenge.  I used the Kate's ABC's cartridge & my Cricut Expression 5th Anniversary Edition for most of the cuts.  The ribbon used to hang it, and the ribbon on the bunny are from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

Two Unity Challenges, One Card -- I'm Getting Good!

There's 2 challenges I want to enter on the Unity blog -- their window/door challenge, and the Ippity Flower challenge.  Because time is always a factor, I made one card to fit both challenges.  I used the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut out the window card, then cut a layered square to surround the window.  I used the July Unity stamp kit for the flower inside the window, and used Smooch ink (love my Smooches) to color the flower.  The button was from my stash.  The paper is Lucy -- from Close to my Heart.

A new discovery, a new challenge

I recently discovered Market Street Stamps and decided to enter their challenge this weekend.  They're based right here in Wisconsin, so they gotta be good, right?  They had some new releases this weekend, so they're celebrating with a sale all weekend.  Check it out.  They've got some cute stuff.  My favorite is this doily stamp.  It is so intricate, yet stamps so crisply.  I find myself reaching for it repeatedly. The paper is a 6x6 Studio Calico Memoir Collection pack.  I made this card for a Mother's Day card swap I'm participating in.  I hope you enjoy it.

Card for Sarah

Card for Sarah, take 1

I just finished this card for my niece, Sarah.  Her birthday is coming up the beginning of April.  We have that occasion to celebrate, plus she just placed third at the National Ski Championships for Paralympic athletes in Aspen, Colo.  She is paralyzed from the waist down and uses a mono, or sit ski, but is unstoppable!  I'm proud of you, girl!

 Now, back to the card. There's actually 2 takes of the card in this post.   I used the March Kit of the Month from Unity to stamp the banner, stamping it a few times on different patterned papers (American Crafts Confetti), cutting them out, then piecing them on the banner I stamped on the yellow paper. I blinged it up a bit with a paper flower, some glitter and pearl pens by Viva Decor.Inside the card, I simply stamped the sentiment, "Happy Birthday to you".  In take 1, I glued the yellow paper to the base, dot paper and thought I was done. But, while taking picture of it.  It seemed lacking. 

Card for Sarah, take 2

So, back to the studio I went, added a piece of paper I had used in the banner, got out one of my favorite tools -- the Corner Chomper -- and in no time flat, I had a card I liked much better. So, this is the one I'll send her.  What do you think?  Did the patterned paper behind save the card?  Leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention:  at an antique show at a mall in a town about 15 miles from us, I found a floral frog last Saturday.  If you look closely, you can see it holding up the card in these 2 pics.  I'm so excited!  I feel like a real card maker now! For $3! 

Boys & Their Toys layout

I have today off from work and found a little time to play in my happy scrappy space.  I made this layout for a challenge on the CropChocolate.com site.  This week's challenge was to scrap your man using something that is transparent, clear, or glossy.  I chose to use some liquid glass on the star shaped brads to make them glossier (I'm sure that's a word!) and the letters I used have a very glossy finish to them.  The paper is from the Echo Park Little Boy collection.  I cut the stars out on the Cricut, using the Art Philosophy cartridge.  I love the joy on Shaun's face in this picture.

Unofficial CC Blog Hop winner!

I used Random.org to pick the winner of my blog candy.  Cangratulations to #47, Jeannie, you are the winner.  Please contact me with your mailing address so I can get you prize out to you.

Chance to win blog candy extended & a wall decor piece

If you are looking for the unofficial CC blog hop, look down an entry.

I don't know what I was thinking when I said I would give away my blog candy after midnight tonight.  I wasn't thinking, I guess.  I should have known that there would be some people too busy over the weekend to blog hop.  I don't want to offend anyone, but I'm going to extend my giveaway to coincide with blog hop winnings.  I'll announce the winner Wednesday here on my blog.  Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you!

And now for my newest artwork.  I spent a little time this afternoon creating this door hanging for my father.  He recently moved to an assisted living facility in the same town I live in.  His door looks just like everyone else's to him, and, until I hung his first hanging up, he was walking into the wrong apartment.  This is the second hanging I've made it.  I've once again used my trusty cereal box as backing, cut it with Spellbinders, cut paper the same size, and then did the rest on the Cricut.  I used Echo Park Country Drive paper -- both 12x12 and 6x6.  The Cricut cuts are all from Kate's ABC'es -- even the cute font.  Does the bunny look like he needs an eye? Or a ribbon? I couldn't decide.  LMK in the comments.  Hope you enjoy this "hoppy little bunny".

My first ever Blog Hop!!!!

Welcome to Cropchocolate's 2nd unofficial blog hop, and my first ever!  If you arrived here from looking at the great creations of Steph, you are hopping right along.  If you happened on this by accident, you may want to start at:  http://stuffbybelle.blogspot.com to get in on all the fun and prizes along the way.

If you would like a chance to win the blog candy I am giving away, please follow my blog, and leave me a comment.  I will choose the winner using random.org.  You have until midnight, Sunday, March 25.  I'll choose the winner and announce it on Monday.  There are also a couple prizes being awarded along the hop, so follow directions to enter to win these.

Our theme for this hop is borders.  I've been laboring over what to make, wanting it to be just perfect for my first hop.  Of course, nothing I have made has fit that criteria, but I have 3 cards to show you with different border ideas.

This first card uses paper from Echo Park's Victorian Gardens Collection.  I used Spellbinders dies to cut the shapes, including the one I chose for a border.  The sentiment stamp is from Close To My Heart.  All the papers used in the cards for the hop were purchased online at cropchocolate.com.

For this second card, I used the same Spellbinders die set, but used the border at 180 degrees.  The papers are again from Echo Park Victorian Gardens collection.  I used white ink and a doily stamp from Market Street stamps. I love this stamp! I thought the doily was too pretty to mess with, so I skipped a sentiment on this card.

This third card uses My Mind's Eye Good Day Sunshine paper and MME So Sophie ribbon.  The "sun" shape in the upper left corner of the card is cut from the packaging the ribbon is wrapped around.  Once again, I used Spellbinders dies to cut some of the shapes.  The sentiment is bordered by a similar shape, and foam taped on it to give the card some depth.  The stamp is a Unity Stamp Company stamp.  I stamped it with black Stazon ink, then colored it with Smooch inks and markers.  The border at the bottom of the card is MME So Sophie ribbon.  I plan to stamp "Happy Mother's Day" inside.  I love how cheerful this card is!

OK, that's all I have to show you.  I hope you enjoyed my efforts.  Don't forget to leave a comment and a way I can reach you if you win the blog candy.  The next stop on the hop is the very talented Scrappy Canuck!  Visit her at:   http://scrappycanuck.wordpress.com/    Happy hopping!

Upcoming Blog hop -- with blog candy!

I'm letting all my blog friends know about some fun that will be happening this weekend.  Cropchocolate.com (a great site for finding super deals on scrapbooking supplies) is having their second unofficial blog hop.  The theme is "borders".  I have a couple things in the making that I plan to show using different border techniques.  This will be the first blog hop I've been a part of.  Because I'm so excited about it, I'm going to offer some blog candy to anyone that follows my blog and leaves a post by Sunday, evening, March 25th.  I'll give you until midnight, central time.  There is also some other blog candy being given along the hop, so come join in the hop.  I've shown a picture of my candy.  It should probably have come from Cropchocolate, since they are hosting this hop, but it is a grab bag from Scenic Route Paper Company.  There is some 12x12 paper, chipboard, journaling spots, alpha stickers, everything you need for either cute layouts or cards.

Sam I Am

I wish this was easier to read!  I did this layout for a challenge on the Studio Calico website.  I've had the idea to scrap Sammy's torn pillow as a Dr Suess layout forever, and their challenge this week gave me the impetus to "get 'er done".  The journaling says, "I don't like green eggs and ham!  I don't like it on the floor, I don't like it out the door.  I don't like it it tastes like foam.  Makes Mom mad, she won't let me roam."

I heard my first robin today!

The snow is melting, the birds are returning, and the muddy season has arrived here in Northwest Wisconsin.  Six trumpeter swans flew over today, a sure sign of spring.  It's looking like it could be a very early ice-out on the local lakes if this mild weather continues.  So, today seems like the perfect day to display my spring blocks.  The first set of blocks I made spelled out "winter".  Each block was a 2 inch by 4 inch square.  These blocks are about 4 inches by 6 inches.  Shaun is wondering how big the Summer blocks will be.  I told him he might be surprised when he comes home someday and there are huge blocks of wood in the front yard.  Embellished and blinged up, of course!  I used MM Dilly Dally paper on the front of each block, cut the letters on my Cricut, and embellished with various spring bling.  Leave a comment if you have questions.

Go green!

One of my favorite places to shop for chipboard is in the cereal isle.  It's such a bonus that I can buy chipboard and get free cereal inside!  The weight of the boxes is perfect to cut with Spellbinders.  I made this Spring banner using cereal boxes and some packaging that came with a scrapbook order. I used MME 6x6 Quite Contrary and Spellbinders to create this.

Today, I'm going to try to post a couple things so there's more stuff to look at on my just-starting-to-develop blog.  I have a layout I just finished for a challenge on the Cropchocolate.com website.  They are having weekly challenges that I'm trying to participate in.  This week's challenge was a recipe challenge.  We were to use 3 diecuts, 3 brads, and some bling. 

Rock On!

I made this card for a challenge on the Unity Stamp Co site.  Since the main reason for this blog is to enter challenges, it seems only fitting that my first photo should be for a challenge.  I used stamps from the Feb. stamp of the month kit.

My first blog post

Oh me, oh my.  I have been thinking for quite some time that I need to do this.  I plan to use my blog to enter contests and show my work.  And now, to figure out how to show a picture...