Happy New Year!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy and Healthy New Year from my family to yours! Here is to another wonderful year of crafting and exploring new ideas!

~Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin ~

Challenge #6

I always look forward to doing the challenges for the Whimsical Scraps and Bugs blogspot that Cindy and I host, but this one I think I have enjoyed the most! Cindy LOVES snowflakes so I wasn't surprised when she picked this for our challenge. We had to create a layout using a snowflake(s) cut from a Cricut cartridge. The result is what is currently my fav layout I have probably ever done, and let me tell ya, I have more than a few favs!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this photo of our fur baby Sid so he got to be the focus of this layout. I used Home Accents to cut all of the blue snowflakes. They were actually labeled as flowers, but can easily be used as a variety of shapes. LOVE THIS CARTRIDGE! The Wishes title was cut using the Opposites Attract cartridge. The white snowflakes are from a Cut RAK I did on the Cricut MB. VJBeads cut the white snowflake borders from Stretch Your Imagination for me and they ended up being perfect for this layout. Thanks Victoria!!

All papers used were by Hobby Lobby's The Paper Studio. I can't remember the brand of stamps I used, but they were foam ones and I used some blue ink I had picked up at Target's Dollar Spot awhile back. You can't see it very well in the photo, but each snowflake also has a bit of bling on it in the form of a rhinestone. The rik rak ribbon came from Michael's I believe and the white stripe is a Sakura jelly pen. And by the way, God Bless the creator of pop dots - I wouldn't know what to do without them!

If you get a chance, hop on over to our site at www.whimsicalscrapsandbugs.blogspot.com by clicking the link at the bottom of the page. There are some really beautiful layouts the design team did for this challenge. Also, check out our next challenge and join along. We would love to see what everyone comes up with!

Happy Scrapping!

Family Layout

As you know from a previous post, my family took some fall photos on Thanksgiving Day at our new home. I was finally able to get a chance to scrap one of my favs (have so many more I need to scrap!) over the holiday weekend.

I used the Cricut solutions cartridge Home Accents for the title and for the flourishes by the journaling tag, but you can't see the flourishes very well in the photo. I also used some suede and leather metallic leaves for accents that I received in a RAK on the Cricut MB from Heart2Hand. I knew those leaves would be perfect on just the right layout! I did cut the background paper shape myself using a template from a previous page I had cut using an Accucut die cutting machine. The papers, I believe, are by Reminiscence, as well as Stampin' Up!, and the journaling tag is Basic Grey. Not sure about the ribbon - it was on a beautifully wrapped package I received for Christmas and came in very handy!

I just love how this page turned out & my hubby did too! I think this one just might go in frame instead of in my scrapbook!

Happy Scrapping!

A Little Gir's Christmas Wish

I was just visiting a friend & fellow scrapper's blog, RobynStamps, and seen a post there that I wanted share with everyone else. This is such a small thing to most of us so let's all help out and make the most of her Christmas wish! This is what the meaning of Christmas is all about!

What follows is part of Robyn's post, as well as the original post for the request. . .

Hannah's Christmas Wish

"My brother received a request from a girl that he works with and I wanted to pass it on to the
This is the true story of my 5-yr old 2nd cousin, Hannah Garman, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a rare and incurable brain tumor. She was going to be the flower girl in our wedding in May, but was diagnosed a week after we asked her to be the flower girl. This is especially sad because her mother died 2 yrs ago from breast cancer. Right now she has lost most of her motor skills. She is confined to bed and cannot really do anything or play with the gifts she is getting from people, but she LOVES getting cards - she has gotten so many from people she does not know and just loves to have grandma read about the people who send them and see their pictures and is so proud of all her cards. Her room is just filled with cards. When asked what she wants for Christmas she said she wants to see how many Christmas cards she can get. Many people have passed this wish along to their churches, prayer groups, friends and family. There are school groups where children are making her cards. People are including pictures so she can see who it is that is sending her the card. If you would like to help with her wish, you can send a card to her at:

Hannah Garman
704 Orchard Rd
Lititz, PA 17543

Merry Christmas!

Wow! I can't believe it is already Christmas Eve! We are heading to my hubby's parents this evening to celebrate Christmas and then on to my parents' house later in the week. Such a busy time of year that we often forget the really important things - like what Christmas means and how blessed we all truly are at this very moment. I just wish everyone the very merriest Christmas ever!

I also had so many plans on getting so much accomplished this holiday season. I have met so many amazing people via my addicting hobby, especially through the Cricut Web site. One of the things on my list that I did not get done in time were Christmas cards. I had the best of intentions, but they didn't go out. I got so many amazing hand-crafted cards this year from some very dear people and I just want to say, "Thank You." All of them were absolutely beautiful and made my day brighter when I opened them. Next year, I will definitely start early so that I can make sure to get cards out to those who have been so kind to me! To all of you, Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!

By the way, is that not the cutest photo of our Boxer baby, Sid?! I took it a little bit after FINALLY getting our tree up a week or so ago and he just looked so cute! Can't wait to scrapbook this one - already have the LO in my head!

Happy Scrapping!

More Christmas Cards & Tags

Here are some more Christmas cards that I am making for someone special! On both cards I used Stampin' Up! products. On the first card I used Old Olive ink, but the stamps themselves are some Studio G clear stamps. I just used stickles on them and then pop-dotted the holly leaves. I also used my fav ribbon - American Crafts. The cardstock is Cloud Nine Designs and Bazzill.

On the second card, I used a Stampin' Up! stamp, as well as their Riding Hood Red ink and again, Old Olive. Can you tell this is my fav color ink! I then cut out the stamped image and used pop dots to make it stand out. I also used brads and I believe the paper is Paper Studio. The button and ribbon are from HL.

For the tags I used a stamp from Stampin' Up!'s Heritage Holiday collection and my Cricut to cut the tags using the George cartridge. I then used some Studio G stamps to stamp the snowflakes using a glue pad and then sprinkled them with glitter. I love doing this technique - especially for snoflakes! Love the way they turn out. When I finished the tags I used some ribbon to finish them off. Pretty simple, but I really like them - especially the color combos - and I hope you do as well!

Happy Scrapping!

Challenge #5

Here is the result of Challenge #5 for Whimsical Scraps & Bugs Blogspot. The new challenge required us to use one of our Cricut cartridges Christmas Tree cuts on either a card or LO. I have to say that this challenge made me stress just slightly but I still enjoyed completing it!

Not only did I use my Cricut for this cut, but I also used some Stampin' Up! products, including a stamp from the Bella's Bloom set as well as ink in Riding Hood Red. I just really love their products and am really exploring my stamping side!

Hope everyone hops on over to the blogspot Cindy and I host - you can click the link at the bottom of the page in my fav's list! Don't be too shy to join in on our challenges!!

Happy Scrapping!

Butterfly Bling Card

So I decided I needed a card for a special someone recently and decided to go about doing it using my Indie Art cartridge. I really liked the final product even though it does vary some from my original sketch I had done!

I used the butterfly on the Indie Art cart. at 3 inch blackout and then cut it again at 3 inch shadow. I layered the butterflies using pop dots and applied bling to the wings. I used Bazill cardstock for the card base and some French script scrapbooking paper I had laying around - don't know who the manufacturer is unfortunately. I cut that paper and proceeded to tear the edges and then ink them before placing it on the front of the card. I then followed it up with ribbon and then adhered the butterfly as well. On the inside of the card I simply placed a piece of plain white paper to write the sentiment. I have to say that so far this is one of my fav cards!!

Happy Scrapping!

They Grow Up So Fast!!

Our son had a Christmas band concert the other evening and had to get all dressed up for it. When he initially told me what he had to wear, I had to admit I couldn't quite picture it. Then when he brought home his red blazer and put on everything else, Behold! A young man stood in front of me. And while he is technically 12 going on 25, he will always be two years old in my mind, telling the moon goodnight each evening before he went to bed.....

Fall Family Photos

Since we moved into our new home that we are so thankful God provided us with, we had everyone over to our house for Thanksgiving! We had an amazing time with our family and friends, as well as ate way too much yummy food!! My mom knows how much I love her bread dressing so she always makes me extra and I am still hoarding some in the fridge! YUM!!!

Anyway, we took some family photos on our property and they turned out great! Just wanted to share some with everyone!!

Happy Scrapping!

Simple Christmas Card

I am actually attempting to make some of my own Christmas cards this year for at least my closest friends and family members. I have been into card making less than a year so I am still learning so many new things.

This card is actually super easy and is the product of an old, scrap Christmas card. I simply cut up the old card the way I wanted to use it and used it to help embellish the cardstock. I also added some ribbons and stickles to jazz it up a little.

Like I said, it is pretty simple, but my hubby liked it a lot so that is good enough for me. Plan to work on a few more in the coming weeks for everyone to see as well!! I have some new Stampin' Up products to play with and some new techniques I want to try so I am super excited!!

Happy Scrapping!

Hello Tags

Since we just moved, I decided to bake the neighbors some cookies and say hello. I needed a quick and easy tag, so of course, I whipped out my Cricut!! And, some recycled take out boxes.

I used the George cartridge two rounded squares the same size. I used Stampin' Up Old Olive ink and two Studio G Stamps - the bird, which I trimmed out, and the Hello stamp. After stamping and adhering it all, I used a small rhinestone for the center of the "o" and then tied on some coordinating ribbon!

It was super easy, didn't take me 5 minutes and the neighbors really liked them -- and the cookies too! :)

Happy Scrapping!

Here are a few more views of the star up close to take a look at!!

Altered Barn Star Challenge - Christmas

I was super excited about doing this challenge with our wonderful Design Team for Whimsical Scraps and Bugs blogsite. And the challenge didn't let me down either - I had a blast while doing it and surprisingly, it was not that difficult at all!

I used a ton of products to alter the medium size star - too many to list completely! As always, I did use my Cricut for the words (except family - i used a rub on for that one) - the Opposites Attract cartridge and the Beyond Birthdays cartridge. I also used stickles, skittles, rhinestone bling, American Crafts ribbon, Prima flowers, Martha Stewart gold paint pen to outline all the edges, Stampin' Up inks, Studio G stamp (for the bird, which i then cut out and adhered onto the star) and so much more!

Hope everyone hops on over to http://www.whimsicalscrapsandbugs.blogspot.com/ to take a look at all the wonderful altered stars when they are completed. I can't wait to see what everyone came up with because everyone on the DT is so talented! I hope everyone takes on this challenge and make their own altered star!!

Happy Scrapping!