Birthday Banner

One of the smaller details…all the pieces for the birthday banner were cut out the other night.  Using multiple Cricut cartridges and Design Studio, I designed all the pieces to make a banner to span the the clubhouse entrance.  When it is all put together it will say: Welcome to Amelia’s Grotto.  I still need to tie ribbons and put it all together, but here are the pieces.

National Scrapbook Day

So this is it!  We’ve all been celebrating Nat’l Scrapbook Day over the last few weekends…some may even be doing it next weekend.  Kind of interesting that it isn’t on one specific day all around the world…instead, it’s one weekend around this time each year and each one depends on scheduling.  We, today was ours!  I had such high expectations [like usual] of getting so much done.  But, alas, it never quite works out that way.  In 8 hours, I got 5 pages completed…but I do have to say, they are all.the.way. DONE!  No bringing home pages that still need a title or journaling…DONE!

Two Page Layout – “The Pit” and nope, I was too lazy to piece them together for you to view as one this time…

Used Cricut and the Cricut markers for the title.  I even managed to use the Gypsy [without a reload feature] and make it work!  Paper was from a stack [possibly Nana’s – don’t remember].  Flower embellishment is from the CM flowers and I bummed to rhinestone brad from my neighbor [Thanks Paula] since I forgot mine at home.  Also, I used Blueprints [hands down one of my favorite go-to idea books].

 

“Gator Girl” – way outside my comfort zone.  I don’t typically do layouts with ONLY one photo…just not my normal style [I prefer to cram way too many pics into one layout…no blank space allowed].  But here you go!

Title – Using the Gypsy Wanderings Font and the Cricut marker. Letters were slanted and welded [I hate gluing down individual letters so I weld as much as possible!!!]. Random solid papers from stacks.  Alligator from the Animal Kingdom cartridge and pieced together.  I also used the CM Large Circle [and smaller circles from the CCS as well a the Circle Maker.

“Watch Out – Here I Come” – Breaking records…another 1 photo layout!  But I couldn’t pass on this pic and the rest of the pics from that day just were not good!  But this one captured her attitude at this age perfectly!

Title – wait for it….STICKERS!  OMG!  For those that know me, this will come as an absolute shock.  I HATE STICKERS!  But thanks to Cyn, I am really trying to use my stash.  And way back in the day [a whopping 6ish years ago] when I got way into this art called Scrapbooking, I didn’t have a purchasing filter…hence gobs of stuff [including the dreaded stickers] that needs to be used.  But on the upside, I haven’t bought anything [other than consumables] in a very long time!  Go me!  Again, the paper comes from a stack [The Green Stack].  The parenthesis was done by hand using a very old [no longer available – discontinued eons ago] CM bold marker [the paint pen type].  Like I said, using the stash!

“Bounce” – Last one of the day.  Look carefully…more stickers.  See those little dots!  Those are the new epoxy stickers from CM.  New you ask!  Yep…was the gift that we gave to everyone today!  Used them…no longer in my stash!

Title – by hand using the Orange CM marker [same set that the green one from above same from]…old!!!  All the doodling was also done with the orange marker.

So there you go…5 pages in 8 hours!

Cartridge Give-Away

I have not posted one of these in a very long time! But, Cricut Creations is giving away cartridges...the three new winter cartridges! I would love to win them...but you can enter for a chance too!
Hop on over there and check it out! And, the bonus is that her blog is awesome...so many ideas for those of us the chirp!

The Gypsy Debut!

I am so excited about the Gypsy...don't know why because it certainly isn't in the budget of a stay at home mom, but a girl can dream! And dream I will do because Cutting Above is hosting a contest to win one! It's a new website full of the latest industry news! Go check it out!

I can't even imagine winning such an awesome thing! I can't even imagine how much I could do with this little gem! How many times I have been at an all day event and don't want to drag my Cricut along...I tell myself that I will cut the title and embellishments when I get home! Confession: there are many unfinished pages in my albums because I never cut the darn things...even weeks and months later!

So anyway, the debut of the Gypsy is going to take place on the HSN on September 24, 2009 at 12:01 am EST [and yes I am still awake at that hour...so I will be watching]. I will be drooling actually...a girl can dream!

Here's The Answer

I had a few guesses...they were not Pick-up-Sticks. But I could see that in the picture...so thanks for trying. Are you still wondering??

Well...here's the answer!

And here's a close-up of the characters...

I am working on centerpieces for Amelia's upcoming birthday party. They were floral spikes that I painted red, orange, yellow, blue, and green to match the theme. They were that ordinary floral green color...which I suppose I could have left them that way...but no, I have to create more work for myself! So I painted them.

More pics to come of the finished product tomorrow or Thursday. My goal is to have them finished by tomorrow...but Big Bird is a bitch!

My Current Project

is my DD's 2nd Year Album. Here are the layouts I have completed so far, but was too lazy to post. The last 6 are the ones completed in the last two days...I'll point those out just to make sure.

Also, since I am trying to use my stash...I am very foggy on some of the paper. I have literally had some of them for years and years. Nothing new was purchased for this album.

Title Page:
I plan to place two pictures in the middle of the circle...one from the beginning of 1 and one from the end of 1. Circles were cut using the Curvy Cutter and letters cut with Cricut. I also added Stickles.

Graduation:
I used a sketch from the CTMH Idea book. Letters for title were cut with Cricut.




Walking - First Steps Layout
The paper is CM (can't remember the name of it). Letter for the title were cut with Cricut. The footsteps are hers...I used the MM paint and let her walk across the paper. Then I cut out each footstep.


Eating -
Have no idea wat paper this was, but I liked the pattern. I did cut around the pattern so that only what is showing was left. Word strips were from the same paper. Boy was she a mess!


Splash Pad -
Again, paper is unknown. However, the blue paper is CM. I used Grunge Board (bottom right and bottom left). To color the Grunge Board I used Cat's Eye Chalks. I also inkedthe edges of the yellow paper.




UF vs. UM -
I can't even blame this one a sketch! This one was all me...LOL! I stamped gators onto the orange paper and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. The bottom green part is from one of the Shortcuts packs...see, I am using my stash! This is pure Orange and Blue hell! Go Gators!


Scarf Diva -
One her favorite activities at the time. The more the better! Velum "Sassy" from one of the vellum packs. Diva cut with Cricut. I also used various ribbons to embellish. And just to prove I am useing my stash...check out that paper. That's purely vintage from a "stack" that I would never even consider buying today!


Ducks -
OK...you caught me in the lie. Those flowers are the new CM flowers (I had to make my order to stay active). Again, vellum from one of the vellum packs. Title cut with Cricut. All papers are CM.


Swimming Lessons -
Some of the paper is CM...not sure about the rest. Ribbon was used along the green paper. Used the Circle Maker to punch the circles..then they were cut in half. Title was cut with Cricut (I think that is Tear Drop).


St. Thomas Vacation -
I guess it warranted a DPS in her own album. Paper was from a Summer Glitter Stack by DCWV. Blue Paper is CM. Title cut with Cricut. Used Cat's Eye Chalk to ink the edges of the blue paper.




Road Trip to Orlando -
Paper and Title (stickers) is CTMH. Ribbon was used on the tags.




Tallahassee -
Patterned paper unknown. Solids are CM. Title cut with Cricut. Various ribbons used to embellish bottom circles.


Warning: The following layouts were completed this weekend. I absolutely refused to unearth the Cricut. I actually used stickers to spell out the titles...Hark! Seriously trying to use the stash! Cyn would be proud!

Hair Bow -
I don't do single photo layouts very often. This one is very simple and lots of unused space...which is very uncharacteristic of my style. CM flowers were used. Paper is Lily Kate (Wow! I remembered one). Letter for title are CM stickers. I also stamped the lines around the paper and used Glossy accents over the stamping.


Little Farm -
I bought this paper years ago just in case we ever went to a petting farm. So I finally got to use it. Title is CM stickers adhered to circle made with the CM Circle Maker.




Halloween -
No Cricut used...was absolutely determined! All the shapes along the left hand side were cut with the CM makers and the CCS. Of course...no idea on the patterned paper. Chipboard letter used for the H in Halloween.




Bubble Bath -
Solid paper is CTMH...patterned paper is from one of those "stacks" from way back! Bubbles and duck stickers used from a random and old sticker pack. I used Cat's Eye Chalks to ink to edges of the torn paper. Vellum was from a baby girl stack...don't remember which one.

So there you have it...The beginning of her 2nd year. Only November 2008 - July 2009 to do now! Lots to do!

Caribbean Baby

I have done several layouts this weekend...but here is one I finished tonight that I really like!

I used all CM papers. The flowers were created with the Life is a Beach cartridge. I also used Cat's Eye Liquid Chalks for accents. Title was created on Design Studio using Opposites Attract. Fiber used with the flowers is unknown...sorry, it came in a gift basket and I have no idea who makes it. I also used two CM makers to create the centers of the blue flowers. Adhesives were CM tape runner and Zig glue pen.

Full Layout:
Left Hand Side:
Right Hand Side:
Flower Detail:

St. Thomas Vaction Album: Part 4

Sharks - I used the Cricut to cut the title and used Sure Cuts A Lot to make the shark. The journaling was done with an old label maker.


Close-Up of Sharks Title - Shark was cut from CM paper.


Ooh! Prickly - Very basic layout. Paper is all CM.


Under the Sea - Another simple layout. I like the way the colors work with this one. In an effort to use my stash, I made an element with some stickers that I had. Those that know me know that I hate stickers...so this was stretch for me.


Under the Sea Element - CM papers and random stickers.

St. Thomas Vaction Album: Part 3

Skyride to the Top - A pretty simple layout. I used the curvy cutter to achieve the circles.


Gov't Hill - This layout was inspired by a sketch I saw. I think it is from Blueprints.


The Passages - I guess you would call this color-blocking...I call it photo-blocking since it is mostly photos. But this is how I do most of my layout that have this many pictures. Paper is CM.


Coral World - I made a mesh border with my Cricut. I am still tweaking it because I don't like the sea creatures all that much. I tried using pearls and it didn't go how I wanted it to. But it is done for now until I have time to go back and fix it.


Dry as a Bone - Title cut with Cricut. I used MM Paint to go around the pictures. I used CM shape makes to make the circle cut outs.