Another Project for Today

Just want to share another project with you. Again, it's not a Cricut project but that will come soon.

This is a layout of my sister-in-law's flower garden. I love her green thumb touch. Everything she plants actually grows! Not for me. So when I visited her in Houston I was in awe of the beautiful varieties and colors and I had to photograph them and create a special scrapbook layout just for her

Until next time, Happy Crafting....

Non-Cricut Projects - For Now!

Until I take photos of my Cricut projects and upload them, I thought that I would post some photos this week of my other paper crafting projects. I hope that you like some or all of them and that they will inspire you in some way.

This is a layout that I created for a kinder graduation and it was my first try at those oh so popular 'tear bears'! There are tags in the pocket at the very top right side (the one that the bear is holding) and a larger tag attached to the 'colors' in the crayon box. I loved how it came out and I think that it fits the occasion!

Until next time, Happy Crafting...

My Yudu Demo

Well I made it through my Yudu demo today! The Yudu, for those who are not demos or are not Cricut-crazy like the rest of us, is a print screening machine made by Provo Craft. It will print on just about anything. I was so nervous about it because I had never even touched the thing much less use it. So I went in early and started to play. And the more I used it, the more comfortable I got. It is a very easy machine to use once you get started. I got so comfortable that I decided to burn my own image onto a screen to be printed. Of course it had to be something to do with scrapbooking! So I made this design with my Design Studio and my Expression and used it to burn the image onto the screen. I was so surprised that it actually came out! It's amazing to see something that you created out of paper now being screen printed in ink onto t-shirts and canvas bags. Here it is on a fabric napkin:

The Cricut cartridges that I used were Storybook and Wall Decor and More. Everything is welded together using DS. (My cut image is on the right and the screen print in on the left)
Even the Michaels employees got involved today. After they saw how cool this was, they all wanted t-shirts printed too. Here is Natalie with her new t-shirt:

This is one of the preprinted designs that you can buy for the Yudu.

Cool looking tree! I just had to make one for my daughter and me. I mixed the black ink in the middle with a teal ink on each side. And here is what the Yudu looks like:

May look complicated but not at all! I could have gone on screen printing all night. That is if I hadn't had to stop to go clean up the big water puddle in the classroom that I caused! Again, another story for another time :-)! Before I left the store I got a few supplies so I could try something new this week (new to me anyway!). I'll post photos when I finish.

I have so much to share about the last couple of months from my Chicago training til now and I'll post as often as I can to catch up. Until next time, Happy cutting and crafting!

Starting up my blog again!

Well, I've decided to take the plunge. Again! Since I was hired to demo some very cool products made by Provo Craft, I want to start sharing all of the neat things that I have been working on. So I'll be posting photos of my projects and sharing little pieces of me through this blog.

I finally have my dream job! :-)  As much as I loved flying, being paid to craft (and to share that passion) is probably even better. After I was hired, I flew to Chicago for training. It was like heaven on earth to be in a room with about 200 other Cricut-loving women! You could almost feel the creativity floating through the air. They trained us for four days to use different products: the Cricut Expression, the Gypsy, Cuttlebug, Yudo (that's a whole story in itself!), and the new kid on the block, the Cricut Cake. Except for the Cake, the majority of us knew how to work all of these machines and we could probably do it in our sleep, he he! I had a blast. They even took all of us (yes, all 200+) to Gino's Pizza one night. And on another night, about 35 or so of us rented a stretch Hummer limo and we went out in style - to a scrapbook shop! We did some damage on the bank accounts at Windy City Scrapbooking!  But the best part was meeting some amazing women that I feel proud to call my friends now. (Hey Teri Lynn, Lisa, Tammy, Colleen, Michelle, Val, and the rest of my Cricut FB gals!)

So I have been demoing the Cricut Cake, Cricut Expression, and the Gypsy for the last six weeks at my local Michaels. I'm having a great time. I love the Cricut and I love to talk and that's what I do each Sunday between 1:00 and 5:00 at the Michaels in Arlington. Everyone's invited to come out and see me in my element, lol. Except for Father's Day weekend. I will be at my Michaels on Saturday instead of Sunday, same time. They are giving us Father's Day off but we had to work on Mother's Day. Go figure!

Before I go, I want to say a very special thanks to my sister-in-law, Bea, my brother, Stan, my niece, Tricie, and my nephew, Little Stan (sorry, I know you're over 30 but the name is a habit). You guys are my angels here on earth. I love you all and can't thank you enough. You are the true definition of family and I am proud to call you MY familia! {{{{{{HUGS!}}}}}}

My next post will be about my Yudo demo this Saturday. :-0
I am a little nervous about this one. I have never screen printed in my life (and didn't really pay that much attention to that part of the training in Chicago) so it will be interesting. Wish me luck!

Good morning stampers,
I hope that everyone had a wonderful & happy Thanksgiving Day! Now that everyone is stuffed, who's ready for some card making? This would make the perfect weekend to relax and start making your Christmas cards (this is, of course, after you finish your shopping early this morning!). We're putting up the decorations today while listening to Christmas songs on the radio - I know, that should be ipod not radio, but I'm old-fashioned!
Do you remember the card I posted that was stamped with the Medallion background stamp? Well this is another very versatile stamp. Here it is stamped as a Christmas wreath:

I used Old Olive and Real Red classic ink pads and cardstock, 1" Double-Stitched grosgrain ribbon in Real Red (brand new this year), and Holiday Best stamp set. Holiday Best is only one of the many hostess sets that can be earned for having a workshop with me. This one comes with a set of 4 stamps.

Check back tomorrow when I'll share the projects that I made on Thanksgiving Day. Hint: not only cards but some fun little gifts to share!

Happy Stampin'

Hello fellow stampers!
Well I know that I have been MIA for awhile but I have been very busy lately. Besides just dealing with 'life', I had to finish the scrapbook that I was working on for my brother. It was a small look into his life with photos from his childhood through adulthood. I won't reveal his age but he has just become a second time GREAT grandfather!
During this time I also got the chance to meet a group of wonderful people at Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas. I wanted to share with them the creative world of card-making. Sending a hand-made card to someone you care about says so much more than buying a generic commercial card that anyone can buy & send. In this world of hurry up and get it done, it's nice that there are some people that can still take the time to make cards and gifts with their own hands and give with their hearts. (Or at least buy hand-made!)
So I am back and ready to share some of the things that I have been working on. I do want to say that I do case things that I see sometimes and will try to give credit when I can. But sometimes I will make something that I cased way back when and just don't remember (I can't remember what I had for breakfast THIS morning!) but if I do please feel free to email me. Thanks!
Today is all about the punch - the Ornament Punch! It can be found in the Holiday Mini catalog on page 25 (item #116794).

I love punches but I had my doubts about this one since I thought it could only be used at Christmas. But oh was I wrong! First I will show you a traditional use:

These are both stamped with the Delightful Decorations stamp set (also in the Holiday Mini - item #116517) and then punched out with Ornament punch. I love stamp sets and punches that coordinate. It makes life so much easier! I stamped the first one with untraditional colors. The second one is done in very traditional colors. I also used Baroque Motifs (#113490) and All Holidays (#114916) stamp sets on the second card. Baroque Motifs is one of my favorite sets because it is so versatile.

Now here is an all occasion card that also uses the Ornament punch:

Noticed the vase? Yes, that's the same punch! See how easy it can be to use it year round? Sometimes you just have to think outside the box! Other supplies used on this card: For All You Do stamp set, Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series paper, Soft Suede, Dusty Durago & Whisper White cardstock, Old Olive, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry classic ink pads and Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker. I used a technique called stamp kissing on this card. Book a workshop and I can teach you and your friends do this easy trick on your next set of hand-made cards!

Friday I'll have some more cards to share.

Until then, have a very Happy Thanksgiving and be safe!

Happy Stampin'

It's almost midnight and I am still working on a set (a rather large set) of Thank You cards for my sister-in-law. I promised to have them ready for her when we get to Houston tomorrow and I am only half done :-( ! I knew that I should have started on them earlier but I always do my best work under pressure. Plus, I couldn't pick just one design. While making one, I would think of another design that might be good. And then another... So in the end, my SIL will get several different Thank You's to send. I will try to get a photo of them and post it when we return. I am looking forward to seeing my whole family all together again. It's been too many years. We will be celebrating my brother's 70th birthday (and, yes, there is a VERY huge age difference between the two of us - smile) and we are hoping that it's still a surprise to him. I am also working on a mini scrapbook album of his years growing up to give to him on Saturday but I'll be bringing it back home so I can add the photos of his party to it. It's going to be a long night!

I wanted to post a photo of the birthday card that I made for my brother before I left. This is a technique that my upline showed me (thanks, Ellen) last year and I am just getting around to doing it. I ordered this stamp, which is retired now, just to do this. It is called the Soot Technique and it is done with glossy paper and a candle flame! The outcome is so cool and so different.

 

I hope that you enjoy it. Have a great weekend!