Huge Giveaway

This is about one the most amazing Giveaways, besides the E2.  Please go visit http://keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com/ Wish you luck, if it can't be me, hopefully someone who is willing to friend me and listen to my attempts at crafting.

Heroines of the Faith: Tamar's Tears

Heroines of the Faith: Tamar's Tears: The Desolation of Tamar After reading, 2 Samuel, Chapter 13:1-19, my heart was burning from the incident. This passage perfectly illustra...

Hair Flowers w/link to tutorials

I have been wanting to make flowers and other accessories for my daughter's hair.  She is quite ruff with the headbands and clips I have bought and I like to have an ample supply of hair accessories.  My preschooler K is not fond of having her hair combed, actually I have to chase her around the house just to spray some water on her hair and try to fluff it.  It is amazing how a headband or barrette  takes her look from, looks like she needs her hair done to an amazing curly afro. With school starting back up I finally have sat down and made some flowers that I am either attaching to a headband or barrettes.
Giving credit where it belongs, there are many tutorials on how to make the flowers but these are the blogs I went to when I sat down to make mine.

Bridget at Everyday Chaos , check her tutorial out, is admittedly 

addicted to making the tattered roses. 

I used scrap fabric from JoAnn's and it truly was a lot easier than I thought it would be. 

I don't know i f you have heard of Skip to my Lou , but you are missing out if you have

not stopped by the blog.  I got this flower from her list of 10 flower tutorials, this 

particular flower was being showcased on the blog of Emily Rose from Simply Vintage Girl.  

I hope you enjoyed my flowers and will make some for a little one around you. It is so easy and inexpensive you will not look at hair accessories the same. 

Almost Forgot

I must say, using Reader makes go through so many blogs easy, I have found a problem. I am not as well  trained as some bloggers who keep their post up daily or close to.  Because of being able to use this cheat I have not posted in almost a month although I have wanted to but kept putting off my writing one until I had to remember my blog and I could not. I did use a name close, exchanged imagination with creativity.  Well I have wasted enough time with my nonsense I should at least show something I have done this past month.

This is my beautiful Preschooler she is holding her gift to her teacher.  I was inspired by Ruthie @ septemberninth when she showcased her crayon wreath, you should go visit she is quite crafty.  I did a lot of goggling before I began, because as the blog name states I am anxious (about everything).  Anxiety is a major reason of why crafting is so hard for me.  

How I did it:

I bought a green wire wreath ring from Hobby Lobby for 2.99. 

I bought black ribbon from JoAnns for 2.00 to wrap around the ring because I did not want the ring to show between the crayons. I also picked up the yellow polka dot at the same time for 2.oo.

Crayons were bought for .40 and I used 3 1/2 boxes. I went true random or it would have driven me crazy trying to figure it out how to place them. 

The cricut was used for the glue, scissors, and the paper. I love the way the paper turned out, I used glitter pens for outlining the lines of paper . 

This is just a fun pose.  

Shoes, Bows and Football???

Here I am trying something new. My mom-in-law celebrated a birthday and she is a shoe fanatic, mostly heels, she actually went to a camping site wearing heels. She  use to love to sew (she doesn't have the time), she was a seamstress in her younger years. She really enjoyed her card. Oh and the black and yellow is perfect being that she is a Pittsburgh Steeler fan.  

I how I wish I would learn to write my cuts out. 

Cricut Cartridge- Forever Young, don't know for present

I used Inkadinkado, Mary Brush Markers and Martha Stewart Glitter for the shoes, I started of with a 4 1/2 piece on the shoe paper and kept cutting so I could get it to fit. I am a measure once, cut twice, or three, or four times, kinda a person. 

I used Gelly Roll Metallic Pen for the highlights on dress form

Birthday Boat

This is one of my favorites. It might not look a fantastic, but it was created with my 3 1/2 year old. She choose colors of papers, did the glitter, glue and added the pop-ups. It is amazing how good a time you can have with your child when you stop looking for close to perfect and accept that it is the moment that is important.

It was important for her to help with this card because it was her cousin's birthday card who just adore each other.

The boat is from Boys will Be Boys\
The waves are my first attempt at the tear look.

I am linking this to
Cricut 360-#5 Transportation

Here is a pic of the two cousins.

You Make Me Smile

Hope your July was awesome. Mine was a birthday filled month, two nephews, a niece and a mother-in-law. I am excited for school to be starting and have found some wonderful sites for getting crafty with this in mind. So, check back soon for my links to these wonderful sites.  Here is my card, hope you enjoy and please leave a comment, I like reading them and am always looking for new ways to improve on my work or learn something new.

One of my favorites. It is amazing my favorites seem to include Peachy Keen Stamps.  It is amazing what a smiling face does to a card. 

This is my first card with Everyday Paper Dolls and it has become one of my favorite carts.

I would like to send a big thanks to A Mermaid's Craft for sharing the challenges you are entering. She is such a great card maker and truly someone who I like to see the work of. 

I am entering the card into the following Challenges

Getting Cricky - Simply Sunday Challenge

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog -#71 Lets Be Friends

My Craft Spot- #19 You Make Me Smile

4th of July Tree

I have a local Ice Cream/Sandwich shop I love to go to, Eagle's Nest Sweet Retreat. It has green and white tile with a dark cherry mahogany  wood (not sure if that is what it is called), fireplace and a tree they decorate for different seasons and reasons.  This month is obviously USA, red white, and blue decorations. They have decorated it for Breast Cancer Awareness month, and Christmas. I am sure there are others I just cant think of them. I adore the idea because, well, you don't have to take the tree down, but also what a nice way to decorate.  Most of all, I love the ice cream, and the owners, employees. It is a great spot to hang out, free wi-fi, friendly service, great food, and it helps a local business.

For the Fallen Heroes

Good Monday all,
I have some cards I would like to share and some crafty news.  What a weekend, I stayed busy and was not able to get my cards finished for K Andrew's blog hop "For Fallen Heroes" until today.  I am mostly excited because I have been wanting to use K Andrew's stamps and hadn't gotten the chance until now. So I hope you will take some time and hop over to Getting Cricky with K Andrew and see what her and her DT have put together.  Before, showing my cards I want to let you know about a neat idea coming this fall a craft showing online, Craft channel is having 20 days of Cricut giveaways.  It is in week 2 of giveaways, they are giving the Cricut E2 away and not only one.  They are introducing the talents that will be showcased on the channel.  This is a way to see some new blogs and a chance to visit and see if there style is inline with what I want to do. I don't want to miss something that can help me express my self freely.  I hope you hop over and get the chance to win.  Onto my cards.

I think this card is so much nicer looking in person.  This is my first time using twine, not because I haven't tried, it is just so darn tricky if you are not naturally crafty. However, I learned by the second card that glue dots are your friend and hold the twine in place in the back.  I think I might try not to have it go all the way around but give the illusion by taping a small piece to the back so it doesn't make my paper lift. 

Recipe

Paper-DCWV scraps

Stamp-K Andrew

Cappuccino Twine from the Twinery 

Cricut Cart-Straight from the Nest

they were cut at 2 1/2

Cuttlebug emboss a2 d'vine swirl

The card is a2 size for both cards 

I originally had the idea of using dog tags with this background but it was to plain for me, and I like simple design.  I apologize that it is so dark. I have my twine staying in place here but I learned that for me I better not glue anything until I am sure I like it. I spent way to my time trying to decide what I was going to use on this card.  But I am satisfied with the end product. Gotta say I was a lot less anxious on making these cards and although it might not be "perfect" I am posting them and I hope you enjoyed your visit today. 

 Recipe 

Paper-DCWV scraps and the stars is from JO ANNs

Stamp-K Andrew

Cricut Cart-3 Birds on Parade

Getting Cricky with K Andrew, Cards for the fallen Heroes

I am very excited to share about the blog hop by K Andrew she is such a talented blogger and so much more with some very adorable stamps sets.  I have the perfect stamp for this blog hop, being that it is one of hers, Freedom Isn't free. She is having a blog hop to collect cards that will then be delivered during Main's 4th "Run for the fallen." 

This hop is important to me because me and my spouse have both served. Although, we are no longer active Marines my husband has lost a friend during this war. We have friends that are in or have been to a war zone. We are blessed that our other friends have returned safely, but there are still more who are over in war zones and their life should be acknowledge so we do not forget how much men and women sacrifice for what is to meant to protect our country. 

(Taken in pieces directly from K Andrew's blog)

When: This Friday, July 15th beginning at 9pm EST (6pm PST) and continuing through Sunday...

"Run for the Fallen Maine is an organization dedicated to keeping alive the memory of our military heroes that gave their lives to protect our freedom since September 11, 2001.

To be delivered Sunday August 21, 2011. 

Where: Begins at Getting Cricky with K Andrew and includes the Design Team and a Special Guest...

Cricut 360 Challenge #2

Hello and Thanks for looking.  I have not posted in a while, but that does not mean I have not been busy reading blogs and making some stuff.  I have the hardest time trying to decide what I want to do for a challenge, then I usually end up missing the deadline. Well I am happy to say, that I saw Cricut 360  had a  circle, thank you card challenge, and I have finished my card in plenty of time. I hope you enjoy, and go on over and check out Cricut 360 . I love to read comments and suggestions so please leave some. Have a blessed day, and Thank You.

You might notice I changed the wording to white, it made a huge difference. I used Hello Kitty Greetings and cut at 3 1/2. The circles are from New Arrival cut at, I think, 4, 4 1/4, and 4 1/2. I used DCWV paper and some glitter, glitter pens and little jewels for accents. 

My Creative Time Throwback Thursday

Here were the rules for this challenge.


***Use ANY "Cricut Lite" cartridge of YOUR choice & PLEASE incorporate some "BLING" somewhere on any project of your choice!Example, your project must have either, stickles, rhinestones, glossy accents, glitter.... etc...! 
IF YOU DO NOT OWN ANY LITE CARTRIDGES, USE ANY "OLDER" CARTRIDGE YOU OWN! 


Ok, if you did not know I am a very anxious person. I realize when ever I am given some type  of limit I almost freeze up.  I love glitter and bling but somehow being told I needed to use it in my project had me stumped. I originally thought I had missed the deadline, which made me very sad being that I just adore Emma's stamps. But luckily I was able to sit down today, for 7 hours with distractions, and make a card to enter and have a chance at winning her new stamps, set to release on Friday, June 24. Onto my card, I did not have a Lite Cart so I used New Arrival (2006). I have no ideas what I finally cut at, due to so many cuts  trying to figure out what I wanted, but it is about 3 1/2. I used a gold gel pen to outline and some Colorbox stamps to antique the tub. I used Martha Stewart Glitter for the bubbles, middle one is popped out. The towel is a scrap piece of fabric and some rhinestones to bling the towel rack. A piece of aluminum on a square brown scrap for my mirror. Actually, my friend Irma suggested the mirror and towel, or I might still be looking at the card figuring what to do next.  Regardless of all the time and extraordinary amount of cuts I made today, I stayed calm, relaxed and enjoyed making the card, the reason why I started this. So my prayer for us, is that when we make our projects we enjoy through out the whole process what we are doing.


Stop by to see what all the other scrappers have made.  http://www.creativetimeforme.com/search/label/Throwback%20Thursday

Graduation Card

I am so excited, I was able to use my new Peachy Keen Stamp. The sad news is although I just received my stamps I lost one yesterday when I took out two to figure out which size would be best. I do not know how I possibly lost it, I took them both out at the same time, sat them on the desk turned to get ink, and one was gone.  It does not surprise me, I am talented at losing things without moving.  Well here is my card. 

Sorry for the glare

Recipe

Paper- Paper Studio

Cricut Carts-Hello Kitty Greetings, Locker Talk

Peachy Keen Stamp PK-450 Wide Eyed Kids 3/8"

Glossy Accents

Sayings are from a book called Wit & Wisdom of Women

Embossing-Cuttlebug Spots and Dots

The gate fold is 8 1/2, 5 1/2 which fits an A2 envelope, I love my Martha Stewart Scoreboard from Michaels. If there is one must buy with a 40% coupon this is it. I know there are other scoreboards out there, but I didn't before plus the price is right after coupon 12.00. 

This is the second card for the person in the hospital. I made this card to be from me and my hubby.  I had been wanting a reason to use Forever Young, I just love the silhouettes.  I stole the buttons from my 3 year old who had to have them when she went shopping with me once at Jo Ann's. I really wanted the card to be bright to help lift the spirit. I did deliver them today to her, but she did not open them while we were there, so I hope she enjoys them.  It took me a lot less time to make this card.

 Recipe
Card is 5 x 7
Paper Kraft, loose from Jo Ann's and Paper Studio multi-pack
Buttons were from a bag at Jo Ann's
Gel pen (which I tried to use a ruler for straighter lines and it wasn't easy for me, lol)

I hope you will leave a comment good or useful, I want to enhance my skills and I can only do this with honesty. Also, if you want to follow great I like new friends and could hop over to your blog. 

The Pink Stamper Color Challenge

This card took so much longer than it should have. I started to pick out colors and an idea yesterday. It took 3 hours of interrupted time, 3 year old wanted mommy attention. As I look at the picture it saddens me that all the time I took to pick the colors and they look so dull. Hubby wanted me to make a card is for someone in the ICU awaiting a lung transplant, from coworkers. What do you think, how would you design a card for this situation.

I used DCWV for the orange and green cardstock. The turquoise is from Michael's.

The polka dot is KI paper pad.

I wish I had a green jel pen to edge the orange flower.

This is the first time I am writing what I am using to design,  and I am writing this without looking at the most common way to blog the recipe, or this would never make it up. So, I apologize for a not so pretty look.

Memorial Day Blog hop

I plan to join the Memorial Day Blog hop over at
Bella Scrapbook Designs.
          "These cards will be donated to Bazzill Basics Paper who has agreed to help a little boy named
              Stephen in Arizona who would like to send 180,000 cards to the troops by July 1st. If you would 
              like to send some cards to Stephen to help him reach his goal, the link on where to send them is at 
              the bottom of this post"
I pray that you take the time to look over at this blog and help Stephen to reach his goal. Even if you don't have time to make a card this weekend, but have an extra Thank You card you could donate, I am sure it would be much appreciated.  


This day will be celebrated by people traveling to see family close and far, but for those who are serving in the military they are lucky if they will talk to their loved ones.  Ok, I am really trying to get better at this writing on a place where my words can be misunderstood, I had just wrote some to explain how important I think Memorial Day is and had to erase it because I did not want it misunderstood.  So with that said, I ask that we, including me, remember and act on the importance of the day, and do something for those who are at risk of being the center of next years Memorial Day. 


Thank GOD for those who serve, served and would have served if it was not for different abilities that did not allow their service.

Baby Shower Gifts

 What a stressor this project became. I had been asking my daughter for months when her friend’s sister’s baby shower would happen.  I found out with less than 24 hours’ notice.  I love making the knot blankets, and she had twins, so I made two, with the teens help in knotting the ends.  I gave them the credit.  I had run to the local store and stocked up on some needed baby items, diapers, wipes, A&D ointment, Gripe Water, Visine (for mom), J&J lavender baby wash, J&J lavender lotion and of course the laundry basket.  


By the time I was able to finish the post, thanks to explorer locking up, my daughter had made it back from the party. The reciepent loved the Visine, she thought it was the funniest gift .

My first award

I am so excited I received this award from Deanna and Rebecca at http://thebcrafters.blogspot.com/. I then spent the next hour looking over the other 14 blogs they also gave the award, too.  I found some amazing new works by crafters.  I left messages on some and that was a huge step for me. As I left each message I worried that I spelled and expressed myself clearly, didn't want to sound weird because ANXIETY was over taking my thoughts.
There are few rules for this award (just for fun):
1. Thank and link back to the blogger that awarded you the badge.
2. Share 7 things about you.
3. Award 5 to 15 other bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers to let them know about the award.



1. Thanks again Deanna and Rebecca http://thebcrafters.blogspot.com/ for the award, they became my first follower and my first award. So, please stop by and give them some love. 


2. I am using blogging as my help of dealing with serious General Anxiety Disorder.
    For the first time ever, I spend more time on the computer than my husband.
    The movie Julie and Julia sparked the idea of blogging it just took a year for me to start and my new hobby, papercrafting.
    I do not understand most computer/blogger terms, but am learning by comprehension. And am way to anxious to ever ask what they mean. 
    I actually bought my Cricut so I could cut words for my walls, I have had the Cricut for almost a year and still haven't cut anything for my walls. 
    I have found such wonderful Christian crafting blogs, that are crafting for a cause.
   I have way to many packs of paper but I love the colors and am learning how to see a corner of the paper and make it the center of a project. I was not very creative before my Cricut. Husband even picked out colors for the house. 


3. It is getting late and every blog I wanted to give the blog to already has the award. So now I will search and find some deserving blogs.  

NSC #11

I have made this card for my neighbor's daughter. She had her tonsils removed today and she gets popsicles for the next couple of days and then ice cream.

NSC #10

This layout says it all.

NSC #4

I know this one is out of order, I couldnt find where the picture went. This is for my mom. However, it is probably my least favorite card/layout I have done. I think I will be making another one. She is used to receiving her cards late from me.

NSC #9

This card is made for my daughter to give at the end of the school year. She had three teachers she wanted to give a card to, the subjects they teach are written on the books. I realized to late that I made a mistake and glittered the leaf red.

NSC #8

The challenge was about summer, and around here the drive-in is open during the summer. My youngest daughter had her first ice cream cone at the drive-in, and I have the picture that will be perfect.

I am so excited.  This is my first scrapbook page.  I am happy how it turned out.  It only took four different backgrounds but I finished.

National Scrapbooking Challenge #5

I made this for a wedding we will be attending next weekend.  This challenge is helping me accomplish my goals early.  I realize I like to keep my cards simple.  I have seen some more extravagant paper crafts I would like to somewhat duplicate, but I don't think I am ready.

National Scrapbooking Challenge #3

This is my card for NSC #3.  It is my Breast Cancer card, done in pink and orange with an inspiring quote.

Giggles

National Scrapbooking Day

Today I am taking on a huge challenge for myself. I am entering MyPinkStamper's NSC. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish so far. I have finished 3 cards and figured out how to upload my pictures to Picassa. Now I hope I can link this all without any glitches.

Yesterday was a true example of my anxieties getting the best of me. I had a 6 year old girls party I was going to and could not decide what to make the card about. It took me over 4 hours to finish 1 card. I wasn't even sure what she liked which would seem to make it easier to decide but that is not true. I have so many carts and paper choices that while I am new at paper crafting I find it hard to decide what are the best matches.

I seem to over think this hobby. I usually have fun and want to keep it that way.

To worked up to decide what to write. So many things running through my mind. I am glad I finally fixed some headbands my 3 year old destroyed. She has a habit of breaking, tearing off, or simply unraveling her favorite ribbon flower adorned headbands.

I haven't posted because I have been having so much fun at blog hops. The scrapbooking queen had a wonderful line up for her birthday. With my 3year old believing she is a princess I need all the help preparing for her daily needs. Found some great new blogs to follow.
I started the weekend off with My Pinkstamper's 2nd Fri of the month blog hop. Loved what I saw along the way. It was a birthday theme. I could have used this last month when I finally was able to plan Amp's party.
I am having such a hard time deciding which stamps I need, ok want. PSA has some cute and quirky stamps. I really want to get some stamps with sayings, but don't know which kind of sayings. Usually, this many decisions would have me backing down from the challenge, I am still thriving tho.

Anxiety Attack

I finally finished my profile.  I still have to add the picture, I just have to find one of me.  My thoughts are racing and I can feel my nerves on end.  This is one of the most outrageous things I have done.  I am putting my self out here on the world wide web so that others may look at what I have done or said.  I almost want to delete this whole idea of the blog.  I don't know how so many are so willing to do this, blogging can't be that bad.  Most of the blogs are so positive. People leaving encouraging messages, thanking them for sharing.  My nerves are relaxing; hopefully I will continue to follow through with the blog and share what I have done.