Best Friend Blogger Award

Wow! What can I say but thank you, Pam. I'm so honored that you consider me a blogger friend. You are super sweet. By accepting this award I need to tell you one thing about myself... I love blogging and meeting new friends. I have been doing this for over a year now and have met some of the nicest people. Ever since I became pregnant a couple of years ago, my social life took a nose dive. It was very hard for me to go out with friends because I physically couldn't or taking a baby to lunch was too complicated. I found a new social outlet by blogging. I didn't think much of it at first, but have since found this crafting community of bloggers a wonderful inspirational and supportive group. I am so grateful to have met so many fabulous and talented people, it's hard to pick just 5 to pass this award on to.

Please take time to visit my wonderful new friend, Pam at craftycards4u2 who gave me this fabulous award, as well as my BFF Mary at Just Cut The Paper, Glora at Glora's Crafts, Charity at The Bookin Room, Ana at Scrappy Pink Corner, and Kimberly at Just Wordz.

Christmas in July

I know it's hard to think about Christmas cards now when it's 90 degrees outside (here in the Midwest at least), but that's what Celebrate The Occasion blog challenge wants. I thought I would incorporate First Of The Month blog challenge also, so I used the Doodlecharms cart for the card. The cardstock is from DCWV The Eco Stack and S/U's (Stampin' Up) Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla. I used my new die from My Creative Time to stamp the sentiment from S/U's Teeny Tiny Wishes on to, and the ribbon is from PTI (Papertrey Ink). Thanks for stopping by. Have a creative day:-)

Stay Cool In The Pool

Now that we're well into summer and Independence Day celebrations are past, Hobby Lobby has started filling their shelves with Christmas Decor. LOL! I can't even think past tomorrow let alone Christmas! I sure hope there's stuff left by the time I start my Christmas crafting. On that note, I'd like to share with you a summertime card that I'm entering on FCCB's Monday Challenge, Cooking with Cricut, Cricut Cardz, and Scrapalicious USA challenges. Yes, I used that Nifty Fifties cart again. Love that darn thing. Some yummy twine and brads and a fabulous sentiment from My Creative Time's Have Fun In The Sun set are also used. Thanks for stopping by. Have a creative day:-)

Starfish birthday card

Now that the big birthday party is over and clean-up is done, I am back to my craft room. Oh my! Did I leave this mess?;-) Well, I'll just leave cleaning this room for another time. For now, I need to create!

This card is for Birthday Sundaes, Bitten By The Bug 2, and Penny's Paper Crafty Challenges. I used the Life Is A Beach cart for the starfish and a background stamp from Stampin' Up. The cardstock is from DCWV Baby Boy Stack & Stampin' Up. I also used twine from The Twinery, starfish charm from Blue Moon Beads, and a sentiment from the S/U Teeny Tiny Wishes set. Thanks for stopping by. Have a creative day:-)

My Birthday Boy

I can't believe that it was 366 days ago I gave birth to my third wonderful child. He is simply my ultimate joy and the answer to my prayers. He is also very representative of his birthdate, July 4. What a happy, spirited, little firecracker:-) We had a perfect day for his first birthday celebration. Warm, sunny weather and no rain for the swim party. I think everyone had a fun time, only a little potato salad and baked beans were left (my mom made enough for 100 people I think). Ryan's favorite gifts were the FP airplane from his uncle who is a pilot and the big wagon from mom and dad.

I wanted to share the cake I made using my Cricut cake. I used the Walk In My Garden cart for the turtle, Nate's ABCs for the letters, and Holiday Cakes for the scalloped edges. I'm not sure how many of you have used the sugar sheets with the CC but I wasn't too pleased. I thought I would try them because they are thinner and don't cost as much as fondant. Well, they kept catching on the blade and ripping. The one thing about fondant is that if it does, you can stop, smoosh it together, and cut again. With the sugar sheets if it rips, you just have to pitch it. After some trial and error, I finished the cake at 2am Monday. I think it came out cute, not professional, but good enough. Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping by:-)

What a cheesy smile:-)

A Sweet Hello

Good morning crafters! Hope all of you had a fabulous Fourth:-) Let's just say I'm glad the day is done. Big birthday party for my baby who turned 1 (one). Yes, he's my little firecracker for sure. Action plus!

Ruthie asked if I would do a card for her July Tacky Tuesday Challenge showcasing a cool summer treat and using the word sweet. Since I've been in this 50's zone, (you'll soon find out what I'm talking about when I get a certain package from a certain Kathy) I used one of my favorite carts, Nifty Fifties, along with the coordinating embossing folder. I also used swiss dots and script folders. The cardstock is S/U, the twine is from The Twinery, the sentiment is from Scrappy Moms Sweet Somethings set, and of course Stickles. I sized this card to fit into a 6.5" x 5" envelope. I have quite a surplus of these purchased at a local drugstore sidewalk sale:-)

Please join us on Facebook for September Ninth's Tacky Tuesday's Challenge. It's extremely fun! Thanks for stopping by. Have a creative day:-)

All-American Happy Birthday:-)

Wow! Has it really been since Tuesday that I posted a project? Time flies when you're taking care of a sick baby and getting ready for his party while the DH is stuck in Calgary:-P So, guess what I did the second he got home? I couldn't get to my craft room fast enough! :-) Here is what I whipped up so I could get it submitted before the deadlines (I've actually stayed up all night at times making cards only to discover I missed the time cut-off).

For this Critcutless card I used a large chipboard star from Stampin' Up (S/U). The smaller faux-button star is paper punch from EK Success. I used a new die I bought from Papertrey Inc (PTI) for the red "ric-rac". The sentiment is also from PTI - Birthday Basics. I used a technique for the stamped image that I saw online awhile back -- alter the shape of a long clear acrylic stamp as you place it on the stamping block. I added some air-mail twine from The Cupcake Social and Stickles. The challenges are Birthday Sundaes, Monday Challenge, Celebrate The Occasion, Paper Playtime, Wacky Wednesday, Penny's Paper-Crafty, and Crop Stop. Check out these challenges. There may still be time to play:-) Thanks for stopping by. Have a creative day!