A New Month . . . A Fresh Start

May was a hard month around my life.  I unfortunately had to prioritize over the last 2 weeks which meant walking away from my blog for a bit.  

My husband's father passed away last year.  He lived in very remote area of Colorado which meant we had to wait to have his memorial service until the passes were reliably open.  We took the kids out to Silverton, Colorado.  We saw some the most amazing sites I have every seen in my life.  

 The mountains looked like they were out of a storybook.  They still had quite a bit of snow in the passes.  In fact the days we were up there it snowed continuously.  After saying our goodbye to my father in law, we took the kids up to Denver.  We came home back though Nebraska, stopping at our friends house in Shelton aka "middle of nowhere". The kids got to play in the Platte River and at the lake at Fort Kearney.  

 I took so many pictures! I am going to be starting a mini in the next few weeks. So that will be fun to share with you!

Wednesday I am posting a new card for Pink By Design; Thursday I am posting at the Bug Bytes, and Friday I am at Monique Griffith Designs.  This weekend I am going to be sharing pictures and tips for organizing your crafty space.  I just got mine completed! 

I truly have a love and passion for sharing and crafting.  It means everything to me to share my passion.  I am excited to get back to posting daily.  So keep checking back each day for new inspiration.

Just passing by . . .

to share a huge giveaway and a whole of of yumminess!  In case you haven't heard, Cricut has launched a new Official Blog.  It is amazing! All sorts of information and inspiration in one spot.  As a kick off there are several giveaways to get the part started.  One is at Cindy Royal's Blog .  All you have to do is follow her and Cricut.  Then leave her a comment aka "Blog Love" and she will enter you in to win $150 Cricut.com credit. Another one is at Shantaie's Blog Inking Pink.  She is also giving away a credit and 3 Cricut cartridges!  Another giveaway is at Michele Kovack's Thoughts of a Cardmaking Scrapbooker. she is giving away a credit also!  All 3 of these ladies have amazing talent! I have been following them for awhile and I always amazed by what they can make with paper!  So follow some serious talent and WIN!!!!

Welcome Home Card

This week at Pink By Design, we all made projects in support of our troops.  So let's get started!

I apologize for the delay in my posts.  Blogger has been down for over 36 hours.

I cut a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inch piece of red cardstock. I placed my ribbon along the bottom.  The button is tied to the center of the ribbon using Twine that I bought at Pink By Design.  

 I stamped the sentiment "Welcome Home" from Pink By Design Support the Troops.

I cut the layers to the image from Independence Day Seasonal Cricut cartridge at 2.65 inches (Real Size Off).  I layered the blue layer flat and the red layer with pop dots.

I then mounted the image to the red cardstock and roughed up the edges a bit. 

I then mounted my matting with my sentiment and images to the card base.

My final step was to add the small rhinestone to the center.  Like I said Quick and Easy! Have a great Day!  Hugs!

Everytime I see the Flag Card

With Memorial Day coming soon, I have been feeling very patriotic.  I decided to make this card for my boys to send to their cousin who is in the US Navy.  Since it is from the kids, I wanted it whimsical yet patriotic. Today I am sharing this card not only here but also on She's A Sassy Lady.

 I used 3 cartridges for this card: Car Decals, Base Camp, and Independence Day.

I started by folding my A2 base and cutting a mat of patriotic paper at 4.0 inches by 5.25 inches.

Next I cut my images fromt he Gypsy File I made (This file is a free download below).  I used Gypsy so I could weld USA from Base Camp to weld to character from Car Decals.  

 The Flag and Pole are created and welded from Independence Day.  (I left the "flag" portion unattached to the pole so I could use pop dots to raise it when I was assembling). 

Next I worked on assembling the flag.  As a tip when cutting this Flag Image from Independence Day, I use Hide Selected Contour to hide the circle potion of the blue flag cut.  I only wanted to cut the rectangle with the stars.   Since there are tiny holes, I used an embroidery needle and my Bazzill In Stitchez Mat to pierce each one and make it larger. 

 Then I flipped it over and sanded off the back a bit, so now the white will show through the blue rectangle cut.

Next I attached the red stripes, completing the flag.

Using Pop Dots I raised the flag off the card.

My final step was stamp my sentiment from Pink By Designs "Our Troops": Everytime I see the Flag I think of you.

Below you will find the Gypsy file for free download.  If you download, all I ask is to leave me a comment.  but I'd love for you to leave me a comment anyways! Have a great Day!

Car Decals USA Card Gypsy File

WHOA BABY!!!!

Someone is going to have some major major ribbon play with. I have been cutting and cutting! This giveaway is awesome and since I have had such a positive response from all of you for it, I am going to do this again soon!!!! So the winner of a portion of my ribbon stash is:

Lee from Ontario, Canada!

Please email me at lzabeth@hotmail.com so I can get your mailing info and get this to you soon! Have a great day!

How to Make a Folded Teresa Collins Flower Video

 I learned how to make these flowers in Dallas from Teresa Collins.  I asked her if I could share how to make her fabulous flower and she replied graciously with a YES! So here is a cool video on how to make these flowers.  I love love love them!!!
If you are looking for Sarah's Super Special Surprise Birthday Blog Hop CLICK HERE!!!!

Here are some recent projects you have seen them on:

Fabulous Layout

Teresa Collins Timeless Album

Folded Teresa Collins Flower

(I added this link above for those who get my email subscriptions since FeedBurner does not always include the video.  If you are viewing this on my blog, there is no reason to click the link)

Now make sure you are signed up as a follower or subscriber, because I have major major BLOG CANDY I am giving away.  I crossed 1200 followers this week, so I am allowing followers and subscribers one entry on any post dated May 5, 2011- May 8, 2011 to be entered for  . . . .

1 cut of each every single one of my ribbons.  I hoard ribbon so this is huge.

I will more than likely have to mail it in a box. I started tonight and it is crazy how much I have!  Each cut will be roughly 1 yard or more.

Thanks again for all the support and comments! I will have a couple fun projects this weekend so please stop back by for more chances to enter for the ribbon giveaway!

A Fabulous Layout for Sarah's Super Special Surprise Birthday Blog Hop

SURPRISE!!!!!! Today is my good friend and ultra talented designer and owner of Pink By Design Sarah's Birthday! If you know Sarah, you know how much she loves PINK.  So I went all out on this layout!

You should have come here from Pinky's.  If you want to start at the beginning or if you get lost the complete list of bloggers can be found HERE

I started by cutting a silhouette from Forever Young at 10.99 inches.

I then took a strip of pink polka dotted tulle and cut it at approximatly 12 inches.

I then folded and pleated the the tulle.  Using the Tim Holtz Tiny Attatcher, I stapled the ends together.

I then took the stapled end and slid in though the pre-cut slit on the silhouette's dress.  I did not have to add this cut.  The Cricut cartridge image has it already built in.

I flipped the cut back over and fluffed her dress up.

I tied a sparkly ribbon above the tulle.

Next I used the I-Rock to give her a blingy necklace!

I cut "Fabulous" at 1.43 inches twice- once out of silver cardstock and one out of K & I Sheer delights.

I then used spray adhesive to mount the sheer plastic to the silver cardstock.

Using the technique I learned from Teresa Collins in Dallas, I made this fab flower from cuts from Forever Young at 2.65 inches.  I added a layer of tulle between the layers. On Friday, I will have the video on how to make these! I got permission from Teresa to show you! SO EASY!!!

 I chose to use a simple background for my layout.  This is 12x12 Glossy White Cardstock. I used Terrifically Tacky Tape to mount the ribbon to the sides.  I bought this ribbon from Michaels.  

I started mounting all my embellishments to the layout base.  The photo mats hold 3x3 photos. Beneath each photo mat, I stamped a sentiment from Pink By Design "Shopaholic". They read:

Divas are not made, they're born!

Everything is better in PINK!

Women can do everything better in heels

I added 3 of these flowers, all form Forever Young at 1.47 inches.

The diva girl is pop dotted to add dimension and compensate for the little bit of tulle on the back.

I love all the details on this layout.
If you want the FREE Gypsy File
you can click here and download: Forever Young Layout Gypsy File

I hope I have given you some inspiration to break out the tulle and the bling! Ok so let's get to the details of all the yummy prizes.  Our Hostess Paula at More Than Favors has so many giveaways I can't even remember all of them!  Remember to be eligible for the grand prizes at Paula's you should leave a comment on each blog and MOST OF ALL: Wish Sarah a Happy Birthday at Pink Cricut's blog! I am personally giving away a large cut (around a yard or more) of each and every single one of my ribbons when I cross 1200 followers. (I hoard ribbon so this is a huge giveaway!) So make sure you leave a comment and sign up as a follower or subscriber.  I will give everyone the weekend to post on this article.  I will draw the name on Monday May 9, 2011. Remember to come by tomorrow and learn how to make the Teresa Collins flower!

Your next stop is:

Papercrafts by Candace