In Loving Memory…

Of my Wonderful and Loving Mother. Mom, I miss you and will always love you!

My dear friends and followers I haven’t been able to give you an update because this has been the hardest thing I’ve had to deal with. My Mom passed away on October 13th and was laid to rest on October 18th. Everything around that time is still a little hazy for me but when you think that things can’t get worse, well, they can and did. But when you hit bottom the only direction to go is up. So I’m in the process of moving up and on and I’ll be crafting again and sharing with you all again soon. Thanks for hanging in there with me – I always appreciate your visits and comments!

Thank you, my crafty friends!

Angie

This is my Mom and Grandson on our last visit together. He was meeting his Great Grandmother for the very first time! You can see how happy they both look!

2013 ~ My Grandson was born and my Mom went to Heaven ~ a very emotional year!

Very Hard News to Post

I know it’s been much too long since I last posted. I am still here and I didn’t mean to abandon you guys. But my Mom hasn’t been doing well. And living several hours away doesn’t make it any better.

Last week I flew to see her and while she didn’t seem quite the same, she was sitting up in her wheelchair, talking and laughing with us. It was the first time that she met my Grandson, her Great Grandson, since he was born in January. It was love at first site and she couldn’t get over just how much he looked liked my Son, her Grandson. We all had a wonderful visit – how I wish it could have been longer, much longer.

Within a few days of us leaving, she became extremely sick and was rushed right away to the hospital and into the ICU. Long story short, her liver and kidneys were failing, she had had a heart attack so now she’s in heart failure, has internal bleeding, and she is now unresponsive. Her doctor said it’s just a matter of days.

This has been the hardest thing in my life. My Mom went from a Mother & Daughter to very very good friends. I can’t even begin to imagine life without her.

Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Please pray that when our Heavenly Father calls her home, that her journey will be pain-free and extremely peaceful.

Thank you dear friends. I will be back soon!

Angie

FCCB Challenge ~ Cool Treats and CRI-Kits Gel Pens

Hello everyone! Are you ready for another challenge? Well this week at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog the theme is Cool Treats and if you’ve been having temperatures with 100+ degrees like we have been having here in Texas, you’ll be ready to create something cool! Our “cool” sponsor this week is CRI-Kits! They carry an awesome line of pens and markers for your Cricut so that you can draw an image instead of just cutting it out. Their pens come in 10-pack sets that include colors such as Neon, Glitter, Metallic, and more. They have a magnetic pen holder that works great and is SO easy to use! (Keep reading for a chance to win your own set of CRI-Kits!)

For my project this week, I couldn’t help but think of ice cream as a cool summer treat!

To create the background for my card, I used the CRI-Kits Glitter Gel Pens set and the Paper Lace cartridge. After choosing my paper and cardstock colors, I picked the orange glitter pen to draw the image on page 28 in the Paper Lace handbook. It’s hard to tell from the photo but it is so pretty and glittery. I sized the image with the Real Dial Size on to 4”x5.25” so it would be a perfect mat layer on my card. Then I cut it out, inked the edges, and adhered it to the card base.

Then I used the Nifty Fifties cart to cut out the image of my chocolate ice cream soda with a cherry on top! I didn’t use a couple of the layers that included the straw image and instead I adhered a paper craft straw to the back of my image and popped the rest of the image off the card with foam dots. The cherry was coated with Fruit Punch Stickles and I added a Viva Pearl Pen in Ice White to the  highlights on the glass.

For the inside of my card, I used my CRI-Kits Glitter Pens again to “write” the sentiment with my Cricut:

The word “Yum!” is from Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2! This cart is great to use with these pens and markers because one of the Creative Features on it is called Card Phrase and it was designed to be used with pens in your Cricut machine.

I hope that you like my ‘cool’ card today! I really had fun using the CRI-Kits and plan on using them again on my projects! All of the FCCB Design Team used the CRI-Kits gel pens this week on our Cool Treats projects so make sure to visit all of their blogs to see the creative ways they used them and then join in on the fun and create your own ‘cool treat’ project and upload it to the Fantabulous Blog for a chance to win a CRI-Kits 10 Pen set and Magnetic Pen Holder for yourself!!!

Please check out my Quick Tip Tuesday post over on the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog tomorrow – I will be sharing some tips using the CRI-Kits in your Cricut!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

My Last Post for Cricut Fanatics ~ A Heritage Layout

I’m so sad that our beloved Cricut Fanatics Blog has closed as of July 31st, so this was my last post as a Design Team member there. I have been very happy and honored to have had the chance to share my projects there along with the other very, very talented designers. I’d like to thank Debbie O’Neal for starting the blog and all of her hard work to keep it going. And this leads me to my layout. This layout is completely scrap lifted! I first saw this LO when I first met Debbie – at Provo Craft Demo Training back in the Spring of 2010! I had always wanted to recreate it and felt this was just the right time. (Debbie, can you believe that Cricut Fanatics Blog is a year old? And that we’ve known each other for over three years?!?! Boy does time fly!)

So here is my Heritage layout:

Since I’m a new Grandmother, I felt it was important to document my Grandson’s ancestry on both sides of his family. I had researched my family history many years ago but now I needed to find out more about my Daughter-in-law’s family. So after she gave me the names of my Grandson’s great-grand parents I created this layout for him. I am going to frame it for his bedroom wall.

I used the same cartridge, Heritage, and the same paper from DCWV (can you believe that I’ve held on to this piece of paper for over three years?). The one thing that I did change was the tree image but it still came from the Heritage cart. I typed up all of the family names in Word and placed them in the frames under the cameos and they contain my Grandson’s parent’s, all four Grandparent’s and all eight great-grand parent’s names. I know that he’ll really appreciate this when he’s older!

For all of you Cricut Fanatics, I will miss you over there but please visit me here where I will continue to post all of my crafting & Cricut projects and where I hope to continue to inspire others in their crafting pursuits!

Thanks again to all of you for visiting and to Debbie for bringing us all together!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

50’s Inspired Note Card Set ~ #4

Happy August everyone! I can’t believe August is already here! I’ll be babysitting my little Grandson for a  few hours today and I’m so super excited! He brings me so much joy!

Well, here it is, the last card in the 50’s Inspired Note Card set! I really enjoyed creating them and I hope that you enjoyed seeing them and maybe were inspired to make your own set of note cards with your cartridges. Remember that you can create a card from many of the Cricut images – you don’t have to start out with a premade card, just pick an image and go with it. As long as it has a shape that can stand on it’s own after it’s made then you shouldn’t have any problems.

This was created from the old vintage camera that’s on the Suburbia cart (not digital camera, lol). It’s also made just like the other three cards.

I added Glossy Accents and black gemstones along with ink for shading and foam dots for dimension. I love this image, in fact I have a camera that looks almost like this one!

I’m looking forward to putting different phrases onto my set of cards. I’m not sure yet what they’ll be but some of the phrases that keep swimming around my head are things like, “I Hope You Perk Up Soon!” for the percolator, “You’re Just My Type!” for the typewriter, and “Be Careful, I just might snap!” for the camera! (get it – I just may snap?!?!? Well, I thought it was cute!) Comment below if you can think of something else that would fit any of the cards in this set. I just may pick the cutest, funniest, or wittiest saying and send that person some blog candy as a thank you!

Today is also the first day that you can order the newest Cricut cartridge from Close To My Heart called Artbooking!

Hopefully, you’ll be able to see the entire handbook for this cart at Cricut.com by today. If you already have any of the other carts from CTMH then you know how wonderful they are! If not, then you are in for a huge surprise! As you can tell from the photo above, you get a lot of product with this cart and the images are outstanding! I have both CTMH carts Artiste and Art Philosophy and my order is already in for this one. Artiste and Art Philosophy are my top 2 go-to carts out of ALL of the carts that I own! So find a CTMH rep to look into getting one of these. (I am not a CTMH rep nor am I getting anything for this post ~ I just LOVE their carts and other products!)

Thanks for coming by today! Tomorrow I have a very special layout to share with you!

Until then, Happy Crafting!

50’s Inspired Note Card Set ~ Card #3

Good Wednesday morning everyone! Welcome back to my 50’s Inspired Note Card Set with card #3 ~ a vintage typewriter! (You know those things we has long, long ago before computers? lol)

I used the same patterned papers and the same techniques to weld this together in CCR.

It’s hard to tell through the photos but I added a little Glossy Accents to that small ‘opening’ at the very top. And again to add that bit of 50’s glam, I adhered a ‘string’ of pearls right above the ‘keys’.

All of my cards are popped up in some way with foam dots to give them dimension. The typewriter keys on this card are popped up

Well, tomorrow I’ll show you the last card in this set. I hope that you have enjoyed seeing them! Please comment below on what you think! Thanks again for visiting and I’ll see you tomorrow!

Until then, Happy Crafting!

50’s Inspired Note Card Set ~ Card #2

Thanks for checking back in to see the next card in the 50’s Inspired Note Card Set! The next card is created from the percolator image in the Suburbia cart. Now if you don’t know what a percolator is – please go Google it because you are still very young, lol!

I used patterned papers from the same paper stack made by Prima – love everything Prima! It’s a  6x6 stack called Almanac. I created it the same way that I created the old telephone card from yesterday – by welding two of the pots shadow images together in Cricut Craft Room to make the card base.

For the embellishments, I added Glossy Accents to the handle, the spout, and the lid’s handle to give them some texture and shine. (hard to see that clearly in the photo below, sorry!)

I also added ink for shading and another one of my flowers that I made with Artiste and some more of that seam binding that I hand dyed with Tim Holtz Distress Stains. And to give it that 50’s glam, I added some black gemstones.

Thanks for visiting! Don’t forget that there are two more cards to this set that I’ll be showing you on Wednesday and Thursday so I’ll see you tomorrow!

Until then, Happy Crafting!

50’s Inspired Set of Shaped Note Cards ~ FCCB Challenge #171

Good morning everyone!  It’s Challenge Me Monday at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and the theme this week is Shaped Cards! So after seeing my project, please go to FCCB and check out what the other Design Team members have created and then join in on the fun and make a shaped card yourself – any card as long as you have one Cricut cut on it – and upload it for a chance to win a prize from one of our sponsors!

For this week, I created a set of note cards that were inspired from the 1950’s and of course they were all made with the Suburbia cartridge!

The first card is the old telephone! I love all of these old images on this cart. I took two images from page 41, using the Shadow/Icon Shadow feature which is the phone’s shadow and flipped on of them upside down in the Cricut Craft Room. I made sure that they were even and then got the tops close enough together so that they could be welded. Then I cut out the two Icon shapes of the phone using two different patterned papers from Prima.

When I think of the 50’s I sometimes think of the “idealized version” (I know that my family didn’t live in that version but I often look at things with my rose-colored glasses on, lol, KWIM?) So I immediately thought of shows like Mad Men and I Love Lucy (I know, two VERY different shows lol) and of the stay-at-home wives doing their housework with their high heels on wearing a string of pearls! OK, back to reality! But I wanted my cards to have that same feeling so I added large and medium sized pearls to the dial, a flower cut from Artiste with Tim Holtz cardstock, and seam binding that I hand dyed myself with distressed stains from Tim Holtz.

I decided to add another layer to the inside so I could created my sentiment on lighter cardstock so I used the Icon feature again (no shift) and used the Hide Contour feature to hide the dial and cut it out using the TH cardstock.

Everyday this week I’ll show you another note card from this set so please come back tomorrow to see the 2nd card! Thank you so much for craving a little time out of your busy life to come visit me ~ I really appreciate it!

Now I hope that we have inspired you to create your own shaped card and upload it at FCCB! I know that my Design Team sisters have created some more great projects to inspire you as well!

Until next time, Happy Crafting!

Christmas in July Blog Hop ~ Anything Goes!

Welcome back to the Christmas in July Blog Hop! This weeks theme is Cricut Christmas ~ Anything Goes so you’ll see all sorts of wonderful projects created by our amazing and talented designers. There may be anything from layouts, home décor, cards, and more! Don’t forget to stop by each blog on the list and leave a comment and follow them to be entered into the drawings for a Cricut cartridge!

If you've hopped over from Cindy's blog, In Love with Paper, then you are right on track.  If you'd like to start at the beginning of the Blog Hop please visit Paulette's blog, Around the Block with Scrapalette, so you don't miss a thing.

For this week I decided to create a Christmas home décor project!

I purchased a tapered candle stick and larger candle holder from the dollar store (can’t beat those prices, lol) and adhered them together with E-6000 adhesive.

Then I cut out 2 images from Teresa Collins December 25th cart both at 2.75”. I cut the frames of each image first in scrap vinyl – you can just use small pieces of leftovers in any color at this point. I transferred the positive vinyl frame images to the candle holder and then applied etching cream on the entire thing. Usually you would put the negative vinyl piece on before applying the etching cream but I wanted to do the opposite.

After a few minutes, I rinsed the cream completely off and let the glass dry. While that was drying, I cut the other 2 images – Santa’s head and ‘Dec. 25’ – out of red glitter vinyl. I removed the scrap vinyl and then I carefully transferred the red pieces onto the candle holder inside their frames.

 

I really hope that you can see the reverse etching that I did in these photos! It’s something that’s a little different (to me at least!). I added a battery operated candle inside instead of a real one. I love this little candle because 1) it looks real and 2) it gives off a vanilla scent when it’s turned on!

  Here are two more photos with the lights turned down and the ‘candle’ glowing:

Well I hope that you enjoyed seeing my Christmas home décor project! Please leave a comment below and follow me for a chance to win some blog candy – I will pick a winner on July 31st!

Next up is the fabulous Theresa at Scraps by Gracie.

Here is the lineup just in case you lose your way. Scrapalette is awarding a Cricut Christmas Village cartridge this week and each blog you comment on will give you an entry in the prize drawings!  And, the prize drawing at the end of the month is for a brand new Christmas {Noel} cart!

1~Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com <<---Starting Point!
2~Sis at http://papercraftscissors.com 
3~Maria at http://stampcutcreate.blogspot.com
4~Laura at http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com
5~Brenda at http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com
6~ Lisa at http://addictedtothecricut.blogspot.com
7~Donna at http://carolinascreativecropper.blogspot.com
8~ Cindy at http://www.inlovewithpaper.blogspot.com
9~Angela at http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com <<—You Are Here!
10~Theresa at http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com <—Next!
11~Beth at http://seaswancreations.blogspot.com
12~Betsy at http://betsymcreates.blogspot.com
13~Loraine at http://www.lorainespaperplayhouse.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas in July and Happy Hopping!

{The winner from last weeks hop is #26 ~ Brenda! Thanks Brenda for visiting me! Please email me with your addy so I can get your blog candy in the mail!}

Christmas in July Blog Hop ~ Christmas Ornaments!

Welcome to the third part of the Christmas in July Blog Hop! This weeks theme is Christmas Ornaments and there is a great line up of Cricut crafting bloggers to visit to see their projects. If you are stopping here from Paulette’s blog, Around the Block with Scrapalette, then you are in the right place. If not, then just hop on over to her blog to start at the beginning and see her fantastic project! She has blog candy for this weeks hop – a Trim the Tree Cricut cartridge! So be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs to have more chances to win!

For my project today, I created not one but two different ornaments using the same Cricut cartridge – Artiste!

The first one is originally a three-sided 3-D box shape. I welded 3 triangle shapes from George & Basic Shapes to it to form openings on each side:

Before putting it together, I added rhinestones, ribbon, and beads to it. Then after adhering the box together, I added a Christmas pick to the inside.

The second ornament is also from the Artiste cartridge (and actually from the very same page in the handbook). I cut out 6 of the same ornament shapes, scored them and adhered them together to form a 3-D shaped ornament. I found this next tip the hard way – since this shape is not symmetrical, make sure that 3 of the shapes are flipped before you cut them out, lol!!! Here’s what it should look like on the mat in CCR:

Notice the red shapes are flipped! Again, before adhering the shapes together, I added strings of beads that I put together at the top, bottom, and on each side of the ornament. Here are some photos of the steps to create this ornament:

And there are my two Christmas ornaments for today! Hope you enjoyed them!

I also will have a drawing for blog candy today! To be entered, just leave a comment below and become a follower of my blog!

I hope you enjoyed your visit today! Next up on the blog hop is the fabulous Colleen at Col’s Creative Corner.

If you get lost while hopping today, here is the line up:

Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/
Angela at http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/ <--- You Are Here!
Colleen at http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/ <--- Next
Theresa at http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/
Beth at http://seaswancreations.blogspot.com/
Laura at http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com/
Lori at http://singingshell.blogspot.com/

I will be back on 27 July with another Cricut Christmas project for our next Christmas in July Hop so be sure to come back to visit! So until then – happy hopping and…

Merry Christmas in July!!!

Christmas in July Blog Hop Tomorrow!

Don’t forget to come blog hop tomorrow and celebrate Christmas in July with us! This weekends theme is Christmas Ornaments and everyone has some great projects that they have created ready to share with you. I’ll be here also with my own Christmas ornament creations so come visit us this weekend. I’ll also have Blog Candy to share!

See you tomorrow! Until then, Happy Crafting!