Miles Above the Rest layout plus Watching the World Go By layout

Are you recovering from the holidays?  We had a wonderful Christmas with all our family but I'll confess I'm enjoying a relaxing week with home with the kids over the rest of the holiday break from school, with no music lessons or school events.  It's bitterly cold outside, so perfect weather to for me curl up in the basement and have crafty fun!  And while I swore I was done baking after my Christmas baking marathon, the kids are begging for cookies, so I believe some cookie baking is in store today.

 I have two layouts today, both using the Echo Park We Are Family collection.  Over Thanksgiving, I attended a huge family reunion for my uncle's 90th birthday. This paper collection has been perfect for scrapping some the multigenerational family pictures I took.  Layout #1 was inspired by the hot air balloon paper and I found the perfect title on the Wild Card 2 cartridge (along with the hot air balloons), to reflect that our awesome extended family, spread all over the country, is "Miles Above the Rest".   Lots of pics of family groups hanging out and talking will go on here.

Cricut for layout #1-
Wild Card 2-title, hot air balloons, font
Paper-Echo Park We Are Family collection prints/stickers, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Layout #2 was also inspired by the paper, in this case the globe with the heart paper.  I found the title on 3 Birds on Parade-Watching the World Go By.  The journal box says "making memories".  I have lots of pics of all of us looking at the memorabilia celebrating my uncle's life that were displayed that will go on here.  The  sticker strips on the top and bottom were from the paper collection.

Cricut-
3 Birds on Parade-title
Paper-Echo Park We Are Family collection prints/stickers, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Holly Jolly Christmas layout (for BBTB2)

Merry Christmas week everyone!  The kids are out of school this week and my husband is off too, so we are going to be doing lots of baking and gift wrapping, while wearing our PJs all day!  (I already tried to bake Christmas cookies last week to freeze for Christmas day, but the kids mowed them down like a flock of locusts-not even any crumbs left!!!!)   Now I can hardly wait until Christmas Eve-we are having a huge extended family party and then all going to Christmas Eve services together to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Always so special!  And I still love watching my teens run downstairs Christmas morning to see what appeared in their stockings.  

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is anything Christmas.  My Holly Jolly layout is all from the CM Cheerful Seasons cartridge for Christmas pics (OK I'll confess they are for Christmas pics from LAST year…).  It's been rather dark and snowy here for days, so my lighting is not the best for this layout photo, but I was really happy with how it turned out (the layout, not the lighting).  I was singing Have a Holly Jolly Christmas along with my Bing Crosby Christmas CD while I made this until my hubby threatened to shoot either me or the stereo!  Perhaps he needs some Christmas cookies, lol!  Emergency Russian teacakes to the rescue.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and get to spend some time with the people you love.

Cricut:
CM Cheerful Seasons-all cuts
Paper-Echo Park Reflections collection prints, CTMH solids

Wish Christmas layout

So Die Cuttin' Divas is having a challenge this week to have a project inspired by a Christmas carol.  I have been humming We Wish You a Merry Christmas while making this layout, so I'm going to link it up.  I just got the Winter Wonderland cartridge and am having lots of fun trying it out for the first time with these cuts!  The print papers are from an old DCWV All Seasons stack that I've had forever.  The layout is VERY bright and colorful, but the pics to go on here are dark (from a school holiday music concert in the gym with dreadful lighting), so all the color won't be too distracting.

Cricut:
Winter Wonderland-all cuts
Paper-DCWV All Seasons paper stack prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Boys Will Be Boys layout

 While I have been busy working on Christmas projects, I needed a little change of pace creatively yesterday.  Since Fantabulous Cricut is having an anything goes challenge, I made a boy themed layout for some pics of my boys using some fun Echo Park paper from the stash in non-Christmas colors!  I was in a creative rut with Christmas red and pine green, so some bright primary colors made me happy!  The adorable dino and rocket are from the CM This and That cartridge and the title from one of my faces, Boys Will Be Boys.

Cricut:
CM This and That-dinosaur, stars
Boys Will Be Boys-title, rocket

Paper-Echo Park Little Boy prints, photo mats Echo Park Paper and Glue, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Ornament Christmas Card (for BBTB2)

It's getting closer to Christmas….I'm finishing up my last Christmas cards!  (I make a lot of them in October at the family Xmas card scrap with my mom and nieces, so I don't have to stress in December.) Our BBTB2 challenge this week is to make a Christmas ornament or use a cricut ornament cut.  I did two all white cards this year.  This one features one of the ornaments from the Joys of the Seasons cartridge.  For white on white cards, I like to add texture with either embossing or glitter paper.  I embossed the background here with a snowflake folder and embossed the ornament with my favorite all-purpose Swiss Dots (seriously, if you could only have one embossing folder that would be the one I'd have!).  I popped my ornament up on foam tape for some extra dimension.  It came out just like I was envisioning-which doesn't always happen, lol!  Hope you will share some of your Christmas ornament projects with us at BBTB2 this week!

Sorry my photo is so dark-when I shot it in a well lit area, all the white just washed out and you couldn't really see the embossing!

Cricut:

Joys of the Seasons-ornament/shadow cut at 4 1/2 inches

Paper-white card stock

Swiss Dots and Snowflake embossing folders

foam tape

The Stockings Were Hung layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Last week has been a very busy at my house between school holiday concerts, birthday parties for Son#2, and getting the Christmas tree!  Things are looking festive now though, with all the holiday decorations up.  Speaking of Christmas decorations, our BBTB2 challenge this week is to use a Christmas stocking on a project.  I've made a layout using the Winter Frolic cartridge for the title, border of stockings, and tag.  I fell in love with this tartan plaid background paper I found at Hobby Lobby-it looks just like my Christmas tree skirt!  Take a look at all the fabulous projects at BBTB2 and link up your Christmas stocking project with us this week.

Cricut:
Winter Frolic-all cuts
Swiss dots embossing folder
Paper-TLC studios prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Merry and Bright Christmas card (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Did you brave the shopping madness this weekend?  I did all my shopping online and skipped the crowds!!!  Definitely the way to go, in my opinion.  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is to make a card with a Christmas tree-it's time to get those holiday cards out, so this is the perfect challenge!  I always like to do at least one all white Christmas card every year, so I used the Christmas trees from Doodlecharms and my snowflake and Swiss dots embossing folders for some texture for my all-white Christmas tree card.  There are some very festive Xmas cards to see over at BBTB2 and we hope you'll link up a Christmas card with us this week.

Cricut:
Doodlecharms-trees, cut at 3 inches
Paper-white card stock
Embossing folders-snowflakes and swiss dots
Stamp-???
Diamond Stickle

Thankful card (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  It's been a rainy weekend here in KC and I've been cozied up in my basement enjoying some crafty time.  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is Giving Thankds.  I used the CM Cheerful Seasons cartridge, one of my faves, for the pumpkin and thankful sentiment on my card.  The BBTB2 team has some gorgeous projects you can look at and then link up a project of your own!

And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  I'm looking extra forward to Thanksgiving this year because I don't have to work a shift in the ICU over the Thanksgiving holiday this year for a change.  So bring on the turkey and pie!  My husband is smoking a turkey and my mom and I are making pies and our relatives are coming over to celebrate with us.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday full of delicious eats and the opportunity to reflect on the blessings of the year!  

  

Cricut:
CM Cheerful Seasons-all cuts
Paper-CTMH prints and solids
brown chalk ink
ribbon-American Crafts

Dear Santa layout (for BBTB2)

It's an anything goes challenge this week at BBTB2, so I'm sharing a Christmas layout!  Winter has arrived here in KC with cold and snow this weekend and I'm starting to make Christmas cards and scrapbook last year's Christmas pictures.  I'm not allowed by the hubs to start playing any Christmas music until after Thanksgiving though, so I have to play carols on the down low (because you've gotta have some Bing Crosby White Christmas and Mannheim Steamroller Xmas music to do Christmas projects) and make my Christmas stuff while he's not home, lol!  I used the Winter Frolic cartridge for all the cuts on this layout.  The reindeer with the Christmas lights tangled in his antlers is one of my favorite cricut cuts-it always makes me laugh for some reason.  There is a variety of cool projects to see over at BBTB2 and we hope you will link up an anything goes project of your own this week!

Cricut:
Winter Frolic-all cuts.  Title cut at 3 1/2 in, reindeer&Santa at 4 in, tree at 4 1/2 in, border at 3/4 in.
Paper-The Paper Studio prints (from Hobby Lobby), CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Thanksgiving layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is pumpkins, so I made a Thanksgiving layout with the Create A Critter cartridges (with a little help from Doodlecharms for some of the leaves).  My pumpkins are from Create A Critter, along with Mr. Turkey, the green leaves, and the acorns.  The cornucopia, ears of corn, and the word Thanksgiving are from Create A Critter 2.  The print papers are from the beautiful fall CTMH Pathfinder collection.  There are so many cricut pumpkins to choose from…so check out the fabulous pumpkin projects from the design team over at BBTB2 and link a new one up with us this week!

Cricut:
Create A Critter-pumpkins, green leaves, acorns, Gobble, turkey
Create A Critter 2-corn, Thanksgiving, cornucopia
Doodlecharms-yellow leaves
CM leaf punch-red leaves
brown chalk ink
Paper-CTMH solids, CTMH Pathfinder collection prints

Friday Night Lights layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is football-I had to mentally change gears!  We've been obsessed with baseball here in Kansas City this October, watching our Royals in the World Series last week, so I had to get back in the football groove.  Friday nights in the fall means high school football in our neck of the woods, so I have a football layout for pics of Son#2 and the marching band at our high school football game.

I used the Artbooking cartridge for the football, banner, and the word football.  The narrow font is Boys Will Be Boys and the wide chunky font is from the Robotz cartridge.  I used a green background to get the football field look, along with the school colors of purple and gold for the accents.  The funny thing is  that my high school colors were also purple and gold, just like the high school my sons attend.  It's very nostalgic being at the games surrounded by a sea of purple and gold!  Hope you will join us with a football themed project this week over at BBTB2!

Cricut:
Artbooking-football, the word football, banner
Robotz-big chunky font
Boys Will Be Boys-narrow font
Paper-CM yellow solid, Hobby Lobby purple solid, CTMH green solid
Versamark Jumbo Java brown chalk ink, Stampin Up Early Espresso ink
Stamps-My Pink Stamper

Skeleton gift box (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is a gift box.  Since Halloween is so close, I made a gift box for some haunted chocolate candy.  Death by chocolate, right?  (Note to self:  Stay OUT of the Halloween candy!!!!)  My tombstone box is from the Happy Hauntings cartridge, cut at fit to  page.  The skeleton is also from Happy Hauntings.  The print paper is from an old DCWV stack, plus some twine from the stash.  Check out the fabulous gift boxes over at BBTB2 and join up with a project!

Cricut:
Happy Hauntings-gift box, skeleton
Paper-Hobby Lobby solids, DCWV print
twine, brown chalk ink

Happy bird-day card (for Exploring Cricut)

Happy Tuesday!  I get the fun of sharing a project for Exploring Cricut's 4th birthday!  Since we are celebrating birthdays,  I used the Birthday Bash and Create A Critter 2 cartridges to make this b-day card for my niece.  It's a perfect little card when you want something "punny"!

I used the Birthday Bash cartridge to cut the shaped card base at 4 1/4 inches.  I cut two of the scallop mats (also from Birthday Bash) in two different prints and cut each in half, with some ribbon across the center to visually connect them.  The cute little party bird is from Create A Critter 2, cut at 3 inches.  I added a little bling to his party hat…because what is a birthday without some bling?  I stamped my Happy bird-day sentiment and hand cut the little banners.  I did a little more quick stamping inside to finish it all off.  Quick, easy, and cute!

Witching Hour layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday, everyone!  Hope you had a fabulous week and weekend!  It was certainly an exciting week here in KC, watching our Royals make an amazing Cinderella run 8-0 to a World Series berth!!!!   I am sure nothing will be accomplished in Kansas City this week but baseball, as everyone in town will be watching the games (although the BBQ restaurants will be doing a booming business!).  But on to more interesting crafty business… although I DID sketch my design for this layout during commercials in the ball games last week, LOL!  I had all my Halloween themed cricut handbooks spread out over the coffee table to peruse during any breaks in the action.

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is to use a witch's hat on a project.  Since the boys LOVE to go trick or treating, I've made a layout for my Halloween pictures.  It's always a big neighborhood party!  I used the Mini Monsters cartridge for the whole layout, including the title.  The print paper is from an old DCWV stack called All Seasons.  There are some "bewitching" projects over at BBTB2 to inspire you, so check them out and then link up a project with us!

Cricut:
Mini Monsters-all cuts
Paper-DCWV All Seasons pack prints, CTMH solids except purple paper, which is unknown

a melon thanks card

I was having a little fun making some thank you cards tonight and decided to link one up with the Fantabulous Cricut punny challenge.  Cards with a good pun are my favorite type to give and receive!  I used the Doodlecharms cartridge for my watermelon and the bg paper is from Doodlebug.  I've had that stamp so long that I have NO idea where it came from!

Cricut:
Doodlecharms-watermelon cut at 2 3/4 inches
Paper-Doodlebug
Stamps-????
brown chalk ink for edges, Stampin Up Early Espresso ink for sentiments

Udderly Amazing (for BBTB2)

Our challenge this week at BBTB2 is to use a cow, and boy did I have the perfect pictures waiting for this challenge!  When we were at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago a few years ago, there was a whole exhibit on milking cows that caught the boys' attention (it was actually pretty funny, as you can tell from the signs in the pics).  I used the Create A Critter cartridge for my cute little cow and the SUPER cute bottle of milk, which I've always wanted to use on something because it's so ridiculously cute!  The font is the Frogs & Snails font from the CM Stork's Delivery cartridge.  Please check out the "Udderly Amazing" projects over at BBTB2 and link one up with us this week!

Cricut:
Create A Critter-cow cut at 4 inches, milk cut at 2 1/2 inches
CM Stork's Delivery-Frogs & Snails font, cut at 1 1/2 inches
Paper-Reminisce Far Fresh bg paper, CTMH solids
brown and navy chalk ink

Delicious Autumn layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  I've had a really fun weekend watching Son#1's bluegrass band play in one of the local fall festivals Saturday and getting to spend Sunday making Christmas cards with my mom and nieces all day!  And I didn't have to work!  And we've been glued to the TV at night watching the KC Royals sweep the Angels (in extra innings!!!!), so we've all been up incredibly late.  I might need a rest day from my weekend, lol.  But on to scrappy goodness….

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is leaves and since the leaves are really starting to come down in my yard this week, I decided to incorporate fall leaves into my project.  I took a bunch of pics from the fall festival this weekend that will go on my autumn layout.  I used the CM Cheerful Seasons cartridge for all the cuts.  Love the beautiful layered cuts on this cartridge.  We'd love to see your leaf projects (fall or otherwise), so link 'em up at BBTB2!

Cricut:
CM Cheerful Seasons-title cut at 2 3/4 in, leaves cut at 5 in, acorns cut at 5 in
Paper-Colorbok Beach House stack for background paper, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink
square punch-squares cut in half for photo corners

October 31st layout (for Exploring Cricut)

I have the pleasure of sharing a Halloween project today at Exploring Cricut!  I always take lots of pictures of the kids in their Halloween costumes, so I've made a layout for those pictures.  My kids LOVE meeting up with friends to go trick or treating around our neighborhood!    My teens and preteen are more into the creepy side of Halloween now, so my layout uses the cartridge A Frightful Affair to make a scary scene for Halloween.  I used a lot of cuts and they are all from A Frightful Affair.

Cricut:
A Frightful Affair-all cuts
Paper-CTMH solids, Echo Park Apothecary Emporium prints

Nuts about U layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  Is it feeling like fall yet where you live?  We are starting to see some color in the leaves here in KC!  The squirrels have been VERY busy collecting nuts out on my deck, driving my cat crazy!  I get to host our BBTB2 challenge this week, so I selected squirrels and nuts as our challenge theme.   I used the Create A Critter cartridge and some cute fall themed paper from Doodlebug that I had left in my stash from last year for my Nuts about U layout.  I've used this general layout design before, as it's a good one for using up those last pieces of paper from a collection and adapts to any theme.  My cute little squirrel has his stack of nuts beside him!  I'm planning to put pictures of my boys from the fall festival next weekend on here.  I hope you will join us at BBTB2 with a project this week!

Cricut:
Create A Critter-all cuts
Paper-Doodlebug prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Life's Little Moments layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday everyone!  Hope you had a great weekend!  We spent ours celebrating birthdays…my oldest son turned 16 last week and my birthday was this weekend (we only did one cake for the two of us so I can say I was 16 too, LOL!)  I got to order some new scrapbook supplies for my bday, among other things, so that is ALWAYS fun!

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is butterflies.  I used the beautiful butterflies on the Graphically Speaking cartridge for my layout.  The title, swirl, and heart are also from Graphically Speaking….it has more than just words!  The sweet print papers are leftovers from the Echo Park Everyday Eclectic collection-I only have a tiny bit of it left, since I've been paper-hoarding it for just the right project.

Cricut:
Graphically Speaking-all cuts
Paper-Echo Park Everyday Eclectic collection prints, Echo Park Capture Life blue solid, CTMH other solids
brown chalk ink

Fly over to BBTB2 to see all the gorgeous butterfly projects!

Laughter and smiles layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  It's feeling a bit more like fall here in K.C., and I'm enjoying the cooler temperatures (although not so much enjoying the pollen…).  Fall means crisp Friday nights watching football and hot chocolate and fall festivals.  I've got to mentally change gears from summer!

So we have a wide-open challenge at BBTB2 this week-use ANY cricut cut on a project!  How easy is that!  I made a layout for some family pics of all the cousins playing together outside earlier this summer, using the Doodlecharms cartridge for the dragonflies and flowers and the CM Cheerful Seasons cartridge for the title.  I've kind of been on a Doodlecharms kick!  I used some bright happy Echo Park paper, since the pictures are full of happy kiddos running around having fun!

Cricut:
CM Cheerful Seasons-title, cut at 3 inches
Doodlecharms-flowers cut at 3 inches, dragonflies cut at 2 1/2 inches, heart cut at 2 1/2 inches
Paper-Echo Park Summertime Bliss collection prints/stickers, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink
white gel pen

I hope you check out all the fabulous design team projects over at BBTB2 and link up a project with us this week!

Shop til you drop layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  The BBTB2 challenge this week is "stylish purse", which made me smile because I'll confess I have a serious weakness for designer handbags!  I also like fun quirky purses, so I have quite a collection.  My layout (which has pictures of us shopping in Grand Lake on vacation this summer) uses a purse from one of my favorite cartridges-Paisley.  All the other cuts are from Paisley also.  The background paper made me think of the boardwalk in Grand Lake, which ran in front of all the shops.  We had so much fun exploring all the cute little shops and the boys got a kick out of running along the boardwalk.  Good memories!  I hope you will check out the fabulous variety of design team projects over at BBTB2 and join us with some kind of purse project of your own!

Cricut:
Paisley-all cuts
Paper-Echo Park Everyday Eclectic prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Genuine Trouble layout

I have a boy themed layout today for pics of my three fellas, using the Boys Will Be Boys cartridge for the rocket and title.  The Genuine Trouble title could not be more apt for boys!  The print paper is from the awesome Carta Bella That's My Boy collection.  I'm going to link this up to the Fantabulous Cricut Kid themed challenge this week.

Cricut:
Boys Will Be Boys-rocket, title
Paper/stickers-Carta Bella That's My Boy collection prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink
Stamp-My Pink Stamper

Fun and Sun layout (for Exploring Cricut)

It's my day for the daily project at Exploring Cricut today and I have a summer layout for you using the Artbooking cartridge!  The sun and flowers on the journal box are stickers, but everything else is from Artbooking, including the overlays for the background.  I hand cut a piece to back the word Paradise, since it didn't have a layer to put underneath.  This made for a quick layout for my pool pictures!  Hope you all have a relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Artbooking-all cuts
Paper-CTMH solids, Stickers are Echo Park

Get to know you blog hop

So there are some get to know you blog hops happening right now and I was tagged to participate.  I am a day late posting as life has gotten a bit away from me, but that's just how it goes some weeks!

Acknowledge the person who tagged you:

My bloggy friend Jaren from http://purpleparadisecreations.blogspot.com tagged me to share in this Get to Know You Blog Hop.  I have gotten to know her work through the design team at BBTB2 and love going to see what she makes every week!  Like me, she is a busy mom and I'm super impressed that she finds time to blog!!!!

What you are working on?  

I always have several projects going on at once.  My scrapping area always looks like a disaster!  In addition to weekly design team projects, I am currently working an album for all our summer vacation pictures from our trip to Estes Park, CO and Rocky Mountain National Park, as well as scrapping all the pictures from our regular summer activities.  I am also starting to plan Christmas cards.

How does your work differ from others of its genre?

I am primarily a scrapbooker and enjoy getting our family photos into albums where we can look at them.  I prefer double page layouts with multiple photos and a clean uncluttered design.  I generally work with 4x6 photos that I can easily print on my home printer.   While I occasionally print special sizes, I'm all about speed which means I usually stick with 4x6.  My preferred album size is 12x12, although I also occasionally make mini albums for gifts.  I also stamp and make some cards, but it's not my creative focus.  I am not much for making 3D items because with three active boys and a crazy cat, paper decorative items don't seem to survive around here!  Once in awhile, I'll make a calendar or wall hanging that can't get knocked over by the kids or shredded by the cat.

Why do you write/create what you do?

As I never able to go to crops anymore between work and kids, blogging has given me a chance to share my projects and get inspired by other people's amazing stuff.  My job as a critical care nurse at a large urban trauma hospital is often full of sad, depressing situations and is VERY stressful, so scrapbooking is like my happy therapy.  


How does your writing/creating process work?

I surf my favorite blogs and also use Pinterest to get ideas.  Anything can spark a layout idea, although my final product rarely looks anything like what inspired me-the project usually kind of veers off into unknown territory at some point.  I often sketch ideas while waiting in the car line at school.  I have to snatch my creative moments whenever I can!

I'm kind of a paper addict (LOL!) and love to have paper from my favorite companies like Echo Park, Bo Bunny, and Carta Bella around to work with.  I use my Cricut for almost everything and love being able to make things in whatever size and color I want.  A Cameo or Cricut Explore is on my someday wish list….but for now I'm pretty content with my Cricut.  I don't have a computer in my scrap area so I don't use the Cricut Craft Room, but I get along just fine with just me and my original Cricut Exression.   I'm very visual, so I have to have everything spread out around me where I can see it (hence the giant mess!).  

I'm going to leave you with some links to blogs I like to surf:
http://janaeubank.wordpress.com
http://nannes-creations.blogspot.com
http://www.craftindesertdivas.com

Happy Scrapping!

Happy Birthday layout (for Exploring Cricut)

We've got a birthday challenge (with glitter) over at Exploring Cricut this week.  As we are entering into what I jokingly call "the birthday season" at our house (we all have birthdays in the next four months), I am pleased to have a layout ready to go!  I used the Robotz cartridge for the big chunky font, Sweet Treats for the rocket (which has a little stickle on the tail), and Wild Card for the streamers and stars.  I'll add the name and age onto the bottom strip using the Robotz font when I add the pictures.

Cricut:
Robotz-font, cut at 2 inches
Sweet Treats-rocket
Wild Card-streamers, stars
Paper-Bo Bunny Surprise collection prints/sticker, CTMH solids

the perfect Homecoming dress layout (for BBTB2)

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is to use a cricut dress or dress form cut.  I had some photos of Son#1 and his girlfriend from  Homecoming last year to scrap.  I used the Formal Occasions cartridge for all the cuts on this layout.  I'm going to put their names in the blue sky space, but left that off for the blog photo.  I love the pretty formal dress and tux jacket cuts and I used blue for the flowers and shirt, since it will match their clothes in the pics.  I have some great pics of them all dressed up!

Cricut:

Formal Occasion-all cuts

Paper-CTMH solids

I'm looking forward to seeing the projects everyone does for this challenge-I thought of several different ways to do this, but really wanted to get these pics in the album.  The design team's ideas are all over at BBTB2 for you to see for inspiration!

Hello Summer layout (for BBTB2)

I've got another summertime layout today, for our BBTB2 challenge to use a cricut sun!  We have been enjoying lots of summer fun in the last few weeks, from swimming to cookouts to waterskiing-I have SO MANY pictures!!!!  So I've got to get going on some more summer layouts before fall arrives!  The cricut cuts on this layout are all from Doodlecharms (except the font), which was the first cartridge I ever bought and it remains one of my favorites still.  This also happens to be my favorite sun of all the cricut suns I have.  The cute font is from the CM Stork's Delivery cartridge-it is the Frogs and Snails font.  The paper is all from Echo Park.  

Cricut:
CM Stork's Delivery-title font
Doodlecharms-all other cuts
Paper-Echo Park Summer Bliss ice cream print, Echo Park Dots and Stripes other prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

The design team projects are full of sunny goodness, so check them out over at BBTB2 and link up a project with our challenge!

I love summer layout

Today is my day for the daily project at Exploring Cricut!  This tasty summer layout was inspired by the yummy watermelon background paper by Imaginescence, although I think it would look cute on a solid green or red background too.  Doesn't it look delicious?  (Just makes me crave some melon!)  I used the Simply Charmed cartridge for the title and watermelons and Elegant Edges to make the journal box.  This is for my stash of family picnic photos that need a home.

Cricut:
Elegant Edges-journal box
Simply Charmed-all other cuts
Paper-Imaginescence

Check out the projects on Exploring Cricut every day for something new to inspire you!

I have two posts today...

Happy Monday!  It's back to school this week at our house and that is what both my posts are about!  The kids start back Wednesday and then all the car-pool moms I know go out for coffee to catch up after the summer!  I'll admit to actually being kind of sorry it's time to start back, as it's been so fun having all the kids home this summer.  But I'll have a bit more free time for crafting and a chance to get a bit more sleep before my work shifts, so it's all good.  My post for the BBTB2 Back to School apple challenge uses the Artbooking cartridge, just below.  Scroll down one post for my Exploring Cricut Discover layout, using Boys Will Be Boys and Lockertalk.  Have a great week!

Ready Set Go First Day of School layout (for BBTB2)

It's a back to school challenge using a cricut apple at BBTB2 this week.  I used the Artbooking cartridge to make my back to school layout, plus some stickers and paper from the Echo Park Paper and Glue collection.  The picture frames (including the one with the ruler) are from Artbooking and so is the journal box, apple, and titles.  I take pictures of the kids every year with their backpacks before we leave for school on the first day, so I've got my layout ready to go!  Aren't the picture frames just super cool looking and fun?  For the notebook paper one, I actually just added the border cut to the top to make it look like a frame.

Cricut:
Artbooking-all cuts
Paper-Echo Park Paper and Glue collection prints/stickers, CTMH solids

The DT has lots of cute school projects featuring an apple and we'd love it if you link up a project!

Discover layout (for Exploring Cricut)

We have a back to school challenge at Exploring Cricut this week!  I used the Boys Will Be Boys cartridge for my title and the Locker Talk cartridge for the rest of the cricut cuts.  (The glasses are a sticker lying around in my stash.)  This is all ready for some pics of my youngest, who is starting middle school this week-many new things await, including lockers and changing classes every hour.  Fortunately, he's more excited than nervous since his brothers have been full of advice!

Cricut:
Boys Will Be Boys-title
Locker Talk-all other cuts
Paper-CTMH solids
white gel pen, yellow stickle

The Design Team at Exploring Cricut has some wonderful projects to share, so I hope you'll link up to our challenge this week!

nature layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  It's been a super busy week with another crazy one coming up-high school registration for Son#1 and doctor/dentist/orthodontist visits for everyone before school starts!  I know there is really lots of hot weather left, it just FEELS like summer is over when school starts.  We are gonna squeeze in some family outdoor fun in this last week and half though, with trips to the amusement park, zoo, and lake for some more waterskiing!

Our BBTB2 challenge this week is also about the outdoors, specifically camping!  I made a layout using the Campin' Critters cartridge, using several of the badge images.  My layout will actually have hiking photos on it from our Estes Park vacation recently, so I went with a more general title from Graphically Speaking instead of a more camping themed title.  I actually found this awesome background paper while shopping on vacation in the Rockies-scrapbooking treasures are truly everywhere!!!!

Cricut:
Campin' Critters-badges, each cut at 2 1/2 inches
Graphically Speaking-nature title, cut at 2 inches
Paper-Best Creations Inc print, CTMH solids

Ticket to Ride layout

Today is my day for the daily project at Exploring Cricut and it's all about roller coasters and summertime fun at the amusement park!  I used the Carousel Lite cartridge to cut the roller coaster and ticket booth.  My teen is from the Paper Doll Teen Scene cartridge and I gave him a cup of soda from Carousel.  (I could add some $$$ for all the concession money, lol-what a ripoff!)  All the tickets are also from Carousel.  I added the word RIDE to the tickets using the Mickey Font, along with the title.  My layout will have some pics on it from Disney and Universal Studios from earlier this year, since we braved all the big coasters (in spite of my better judgement…however, I survived so it's all good!).  My pictures are bright and colorful, so I wanted bright colorful papers-these Echo Park papers hit the spot.

Cricut:
Carousel-coaster cut 6 inches, tickets cut at 1 1/2 inches, ticket booth cut at 8 1/2 inches, cola cut at 1 1/2 inches
Teen Scene Paper Dolls-summer boy cut at 6 1/2 inches
Mickey Font-font
Paper-Echo Park Summer Bliss prints/stickers, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

Check out all the unique and creative daily projects at Exploring Cricut each day for a dose of inspiration!

I have two posts today...

NOT ready for Monday this week, folks!  Can I pretend it's still the weekend?  I spent 10 hours yesterday driving Son#1 to orchestra camp for a week and I'm wiped.  And today unfortunately is school registration at the middle school for the other two…long lines and many forms await!  And then there is that pesky work thing later this week...I'm bucking up with enormous amounts of diet Coke!  I have two crafty posts for you today.  Just below is my Christmas card for the Christmas in July blog hop for Exploring Cricut.  Scroll down one post for my BEE post for BBTB2 with Pooh and Friends.  Hope you have a great week!

Xmas in July (for Exploring Cricut)

It's a Christmas in July blog hop for Exploring Cricut today…so give White Christmas (the Bing Crosby version) a hum, think chilly, and look at some Christmas cards!  I know it's probably over 90 degrees outside-maybe our blog hop will make you FEEL cooler!  The blog hop list is at the bottom, so you can see all the fabulous Christmas projects from the design team.

My card uses Joys of the Seasons for my snowy trees.  I used white glitter paper for the snowy tops, but it didn't really show up in the photo very well.  I embossed the white background with the all purpose Swiss dots and stamped my Christmas sentiment at the bottom.  It feels so good to get a few Christmas cards done early!!!

Cricut:
Joys of the Season-trees
Paper-from the scrap bin….no idea!
Stamps-from an old Ali Edwards set

Blog Hop Schedule

Annette   www.mymindsdustbunnies.blogspot.com

Sharon    www.meemeescreations.blogspot.com

Faith        www.thecraftingprofessor.blogspot.com

Donna     www.wwwkindredreations.blogspot.com

Rae Ann   www.joyinart.blogspot.com

Emily       www.emilyqueenofallthingscrafty.blogspot.com

Michelle N  www.justanutterpapercrafter.blogspot.com

Christi      www.tidbitsoftexas.com

Liz             www.unikbyyes.blogspot.com

Tina          www.thescrappinrabbit.blogspot.com

Katrina    www.scrappyhorses.blogspot.com

Michelle S www.cricutcrazyscrapper.blogspot.com you are HERE 

Diane      www.happyscrapperdiane.blogspot.com 

What's the buzz? layout (for BBTB2)

We have a bee challenge at BBTB2 this week…there are so many cricut bees to choose from that it took me a while to narrow it down which one to use!  Kind of like the owls last week-so hard to pick just one.  I settled on the bees and hive from the Pooh and Friends cartridge for my layout, which will have pictures of my teenagers with various school friends goofing around.  There is always an astounding amount of "buzz"with teens-high school appears to be a hotbed of gossip and drama!  Guess not much has changed in that regard since I was in high school.  My title font is from the Robotz cartridge and the Simple Stories print papers reminded me of a honeycomb.

Cricut:
Pooh and Friends-beehive, bee
Robotz-font
Paper-Simple Stories 24/7 collection prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

So link up YOUR project at BBTB2 with us and check out all the DT bee-u-ti-ful projects!

Shedd Aquarium layout

I've got an aquarium layout for you today that I'm going to link to the Fantabulous Cricut Wet and Wild challenge this week.  We went to the Shedd aquarium in Chicago last summer and I took lots of cool fishy pictures that need a home!

The background paper is from the Colorbok Beach House collection and I layered different strips on the bottom (cut using a wave template I've had forever).  All the fish (including shark, octopus, crab) and coral are from the Life As A Beach cartridge.  I did add a teeny piece of black under the eyes of all the fish.  The title uses two different fonts- the big font is from Birthday Bash and the smaller font is the Lyrical Letters Jack Sprat.  The coral and seaweed are from Life As A Beach also.

Cricut:

Birthday Bash-big font

Lyrical Letters-small font

Life as a Beach-all fish and coral

Paper-BG print papers Colorbok Beach House, solids CTMH

brown chalk ink

I hope you guys are all having a relaxing weekend and getting some sunshine and fun!

It's a real hoot layout (for BBTB2)

Happy Monday!  I have to come back to the real world now that my vacation is over…but I had a great time!   If you haven't been to Rocky Mountain National Park and the town Estes Park, CO, put it on your bucket list-the area is unbelievably beautiful!  I did find time for some shopping, where I found an amazing little scrapbooking store tucked away in Estes Park with products for scrapping all the fun vacation activities in the area.  Let's just say I helped the local economy greatly in the scrapbooking store, LOL!  Here's a bit of what I did last week while exploring Rocky Mountain National Park:

 Me and my hubby at RMNP-it's so beautiful that it looks like a painting! 

 White water rafting on the Cache La Poudre river-wild times, I tell you!

Rocky Mountain High at almost 13,000 feet with the fam!

me and my youngest son hiking at RMNP-so much fun!

So, on to crafty pursuits:  Whooo's up for an owl challenge?   It's an owl challenge at BBTB2 this week, so I broke out my Hoot and Holler cartridge to make this layout a real hoot! (Sorry guys, couldn't resist the puns!)   I don't know about your family, but my kids take lots of random goofy pictures of us all with the iPhones when they are waiting for events.  I have a ton of wacky funny pics and this seemed like a perfect title/theme to scrap some of them.  I cut the title and all the various owls from Hoot and Holler.  The print papers are from the Echo Park Summer Bliss collection.

Cricut:
Hoot and Holler-all cuts
Paper/stickers-Echo Park Summer Bliss collection prints, CTMH solids
brown chalk ink

All the design team at BBTB2 have fabulous owl projects to share.  Go take a look-there are LOTS of cricut owls to choose from-apparently owls are very trendy!  Who knew?  Make a project and share over at BBTB2 with us! 

Tubing layout (for Exploring Cricut)

Here's my tubing layout for the daily project for Exploring Cricut, but it's a day late!  I was on vacation and forgot to set it to post while I was gone!!!!  Whoops!  So here's the details:  I used the CM Traveler cartridge for the font (it's called Road Trip) and the Fun in the Sun cartridge for the boat and tubing girl.  The awesome background paper paper is from the Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk collection.

Cricut:
Fun in the Sun:   boat and tubing girl
CM Traveler:  title font
Paper-Carta Bella Beach Boardwalk collection prints, CTMH solids
twine, brown chalk ink