Friday Try-Day Cards and Projects

Last month our Friday Try-Day project was a Card Box ensemble to hold cards for all occasions.

It is nice to have an organized place for all of the cards we create as we are learning all of the new techniques we try out, and those great designs we CASE from Pinterest!  LOL

Today I am sharing one of our Friday Try-Day cards from April, which was waiting in the box for a time, sadly, when it would be needed to cheer someone in need.

"Just a Little Prayer"

The inside sentiment says "That God will keep you in His care".

That seems appropriate for the 

I FEEL THE LOVE PROJECT for this month.

This blog, and the work they do is very precious to me. 

Madison, the teenage founder of this Non-profit organization is a talented

young woman with a giant heart.  Since she was 16 years old she has chosen a different family

 each month that could benefit

 from receiving handmade cards. 

This month's story is of a 6 month old angel named 

Baby Mason

who was born with special needs,

and then tragically died at the hands of a drunk driver. 

My card will be delivered to his grieving parents.

I hope you will take a moment to check out this website, and 

perhaps join in sending a card...

There is a new mission every month.  

The lace stamp set as well as the sentiments are available from Close To My Heart.

The lace was heat embossed in white onto pale gray cardstock,

then distressed with Sapphire Blue ink over the top.  Use a paper towel

to buff the image and bring the white back to brilliance.

The butterfly was cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, also from CTMH. 

The pearl brads are from Making Memories.

Mat with black, and mount on a blue card.

Line with another gray insert with the sentiment stamped in blue.

I hope you are inspired to do something creative today.

Happy crafting ~

Springtime in Paris

Ah, is there anything more romantic than thinking of Springtime in Paris?  I hope the flowers are blooming, and the fountains are flowing ..... well, at least they are here!

I started with an Inner Stair Step Card (4.25 x 5.5) ,

paper by Authentique, Seasons: Spring

and Hero Arts stamps

Two different Martha Stewart Punches added the layers in front.

The Deco Fan punch created the shimmery fountain

and the Tulip Garden punch added another layer of flowers 

The Boujour plates are cut from  Art Philosophy Close To My Heart Cricut Cartridge 

Add two flying butterflies on tiny strips of acetate

fly around the beautiful image of the Eiffel Tower

which has been accented with soft green and blue chalks.

Martha's branch punch is the perfect base for tiny star and circle punch flowers

along the front of the fountain and at the edges of the sentiment.

Add tiny spots of liquid pearls for flower centers.

Au revoir, mes amis!  Until we craft together again!

Happy Spring!

Are you ready to chase "Old Man Winter" out?  How about sending some cheerful, springy tulip cards with gingham or polka dot bunnies to usher in the warmth?  "Cards By The Yard" are ones that are such fun to make in multiples, and I bring you these today that will be perfect for welcoming Spring!

 I am using standard A2 size bases, Art Philosophy cartridge by Close to My Heart for the frame and tag, and Martha Stewart punches for the flowers and butterflies.  The bunny is my design from last year's Decor Bunny Project shrunk down to 1 1/2 inches.

Enjoy the video on making them!

Happy crafting, and I'll see you again soon!

Fall Fun Projects!

I feel like it has been forever since I have been here!  I hope you are getting settled into your fall routines and are ready for some new projects.

This past weekend I was privileged to participate in the LIFE CROP for the North River Pregnancy Center in Palmetto, FL, and had a wonderful time with a lot of great ladies, as they raised funds for a very worthwhile cause.  I made several fall projects with the new ARTISTE cartridge from Close to My Heart.  I will be sharing those with you on my UStream Class on Tuesday Evening at 8:00 pm Eastern Time.

I hope you will be able to join in :)

If you are interested in either of the Close to My Heart Cricut Cartridges, and you don't have a Close to My Heart consultant, I invite you to click here and order it from my website.  There are some awesome bonuses going on during the month of September!  #1 is the Cartridge itself.... they are the best I have ever used... hands down.  They have over 700 images on them!!!!!!!  Artiste is loaded with font, labels, images, and 3D projects galore.  Plus both cartridges come with three sets of coordinated stamps that fit the Cricut cuts, so you just cut out an shape, and stamp your image in any color you like.  Then they add three large packages of pre-cut chipboard shapes for layering or stamping matching designs.  Now, let's add the STAMP of the MONTH special, which is a $17.95 value for only $5.00, but since you have ordered the Cartridge, you would be eligible to get TWO of the Stamp of the Month specials ~ one for yourself, and one for a gift!

THEN MORE!!!  It is National Stamping Month, so there is ANOTHER double set of stamps, a $35. value, and you would also be qualified to get this set for only $5!!  AND I have a BIG contest going on.... if you order a cartridge from CTMH and ME during Sept. your name will go into a drawing for a MINI CRICUT!!!!!!  This comes with $20 to spend at Cricut.com, a $49.95 digital cartridge, and right now Provo Craft is offering a BIG special on SCADS of digital images, too....  SCORE!  Check it out!

I have lots on the calendar, too, if you are in my area.  Cards for Operation Write Home will be this week.  Thursday evening at 6:30.

Monday, October 1 is the BOO Book Class!!  Also available as the Little Black Book (same lay out, just in beautiful black/cream papers).   Must pre-register.  Class is $18.  Tutorial and Kit will be available after that date.  All materials supplied except adhesives.  Bring basic kit and scoring board.

"Making My Cricut Really Chirp" Class will be on Saturday, October 13th at 2:00 pm in Palmetto.  Must pre-register.  Class is $25 and includes all class materials.  Bring your basic kit.  Filling fast, so get your info in soon :)

There are lots of other things coming up, but I will add those next time.  Hope to see you in class tomorrow night.

Hug your loved ones, and
BEE creative ~

Operation Write Home

It's great to be home!  If you have ever been away from your home and loved ones for any length of time, you know how important those ties are.  We were just away for two weeks, but one week was with very limited cell and internet service, and we felt kind of isolated.  I recall what it was like when we lived in Japan during Bob's military career, and we were expecting our first child... home was very far away.  And we were together.... I also know how much EVERY letter meant to Doug when he served his mission in Argentina.  Today we sent a package to our niece who is serving in Afghanistan, and in with the goodies was a nice big stack of cards for her to use, and to share with the other troops who are serving in difficult circumstances with no Walmart or Hallmark to go to for a birthday, anniversary or thinking of you card. I am also hosting a group this week to work on cards for OPERATION WRITE HOME.org    Since 2007 this group of volunteers has sent over 1,725,000 cards for our serving heroes to send back home to their family and friends. They need our help!  So this week, I am challenging all of you to join in!!!  My  UStream Class for Tuesday night will be an informational piece about OWH, but also a great tutorial on making cards for the troops.  I will be hosting a card party here in my neighborhood on Thursday, and beginners and experienced folks will all come together to work side by side to create these precious cards, as well as notes of encouragement and gratitude for those serving so far from home.  If you are in the area, I do hope you will come by... if not, please consider participating in your location, and send your cards to OWH, or to me, and I will be sure to get them to the right place!
We CAN do this!

Here is my first card for this week's effort!  I signed up to be a CLOSE TO MY HEART consultant today, and I have used the ART PHILOSOPHY Cricut Cartridge to cut the circular elements for my card.  The card sketch was on the OWH blog, making it fun to follow.  I haven't gotten my kit, so these CTMH papers are not in the current line, but pretty all the same.  The stamp is from the Card Chatter-Sympathy set (D1476), which is loaded with great sentiments for outside and inside of your cards.

It's a funny thing how life happens :)  April is now my "upline" and I was the one who kept asking her if she knew anyone in CTMH so we could get these great products!!  Well, now YOU know where to get them!  LOL

Remember, create something to make someone smile today, especially yourself!  Hope to see you in my UStream class at 8:00 tonight.  Click on the blue icon in the upper right corner of this blog and it will take you to my channel. 

Happy crafting!

Paper Bag Cards

Bags Bags Bags!  I seem to have a lot of bags, and love coming up with something fun to do with them.  Today I have a FREE tutorial for you on how to create cards with paper bags!
**Download your tutorial here

I have also made up a limited number of kits to create this stunning presentation Birthday Card from the wonderful Close To My Heart Art Philosophy Cartridge.  There are over 35 pieces to this kit!!

I did a video to show you how this goes together, but had camera issues (you know those techie gremlins were here again!!) but, I think you will get the gist of it... We will also be doing this project in my UStream TV show tonight.... in a few different sizes!  Come check us out.... just click on the blue icon in the upper right corner and it will take you right to the channel.  8:00 pm eastern time...

 The Stunning Butterfly Birthday Card Kit is $12.95 SHIPPED (which includes 7 additional bags for your creating pleasures!!) If you want more bags, you can get 8 bags for $1.00, and up to 24 bags will fit in the original order with no additional postage. If you want more bags, please email me, and I will happily invoice you.

Additional Bags to be included with original Kit orders: 8/$1.00 (up to 2 orders) Any more than that requires additional shipping.

Enjoy the projects! Happy crafting ~