Happy Anniversary

I"m baaaaaack!  Did you have a good Christmas?  We sure did.  We went to a beautiful candlelight service at our church on Christmas Eve.  Two ladies at our church can sing like no body's business.  I could listen to them all day.  At the end of service the whole congregation stands, with our candles lit, and we sing Silent Night.  I doubt there was a dry eye in the place.  I get goosebumps thinking about it.  After church we went to my Mom and Dad's, ate lots of food and opened lots of presents.  Then we repeated that on Christmas Day.  Santa was very generous!

Ok, how about a card?!   

My parents wedding anniversary is in less than two weeks so I made a card for them.  I decided to use a new file from The Cutting Cafe called This Cake is All Heart (this is a BRAND NEW file and will be released soon) to make this cake-shaped card. 

It was super easy to cut out with my NEW aqua Cricut Expression (purchased on Black Friday - my sister-in-law and I pulled an ALL-NIGHTER!) and Sure Cuts A Lot.         

Sorry, I know this is a tiny picture but it gives you an idea of the wonderful color.

My Mom's birthday is January 1, yep, she's a New Years Baby.  So I'd better get to work on a birthday card ASAP!

Stamps: Stampabilities and PTI
Cut File : The Cutting Cafe's This Cake is All Heart (to be released soon)
Cardstock: SU white
Pattern Paper: PTI
Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler and Versamagic Red Magic
Misc: Cuttlebug emboss folder, SU punches, PTI dies, Martha Stewart twine

Advent boxes

I've been meaning to share this with you.  I made little Advent boxes for my boys and filled them with treats.  They love checking the boxes each day.  I used The Cutting Cafe's Nesting Boxes (small size) and Christmas Daily for the numbers. 

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe's Nesting Boxes and Christmas Daily
Cardstock: misc
Pattern Paper: SU
Ink: just my printers
Misc: buttons, various punches

Christmas card and tags

Gosh, it's been a week since I've posted.  Why does time seem to fly this time of year?  I have a couple of Cutting Cafe projects to share with you today.

First up, a card...

Next is a tag...   

Don't you LOVE the Night Before Christmas background paper?!

For both projects I used The Cutting Cafe's The Night Before Christmas background and Christmas Mini Words.  The little mitten on the card is from The Cutting Cafe's Mitten Shaped Card.  I was able to shrink the mitten using Sure Cuts A Lot with my Cricut.  I used my SU top note die to cut the background paper of the card.  And used a PTI tag die to cut out the tags. 

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe's Night Before Christmas, Mini Words, Mitten Shaped Card
Cardstock: PTI
Pattern Paper: PTI and The Paper Studio
Ink: SU for distressing
Misc: SU top note die, PTI tag die, nesties, Martha Stewart bakers twine, buttons

FALL banner

Warning this post is photo heavy! 

To make the banner triangles I used The Cutting Cafe's Halloween Banner Set.  The scallop top was made with a scallop die from PTI.  I added a little stitching around the triangle to give it a homemade feel.  My sewing isn't the best so don't look too close!  I used some CTMH papers - they screamed autumn to me.   

I colored the adorable turkey from Thanksgiving Day with Copics

I absolutely love this little saying from The Cutting Cafe's Thanksgiving Day set.  I added a pumpkin stamp from a Clear Dollar stamp (CDS) set called Harvest Hellos. 

The Harvest and FALL stamps are from Pink Paislee.  The leaves and grass stamps in the background are from CDS Harvest Hellos.  

I hope you enjoyed my fall banner.  Have a great weekend!

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe's Halloween Banner and Thanksgiving Day, CDS Harvest Hellos
Cardstock: CTMH
Pattern Paper: CTMH
Ink: SU and Versamagic, Copics and PTI tea dye duo
Misc: computer, printer, PTI dies, sewing machine, Cricut, scoring board, nesties, button, floss

It's beginning to look a lot like...

CHRISTMAS!  I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora today.  And I whipped up this little number...

The card is based on the SCS sketch # 305... 

I used three different Cutting Cafe files for my card.  I LOVE the Holiday Big Words set - the "Christmas" sentiment came from that wonderful set.  The background paper is from October Afternoon and the cardstock is Pure Poppy from Stampin Up - I was delighted to see it matched the OA paper.  The other background paper is a digital snowflake (clear) called Snowflake background from The Cutting Cafe.  And the adorable mittens are from Christmas All Around.  I LOVE that the snowflake on the mittens matches the snowflakes of the background paper.  I paper pieced the bottom of the mittens and colored the top of them with Copics.  Here's another look...

Hope you enjoyed my card and get ready... Santa Claus is coming to town! 

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe's Holiday Big Words, Snowflake background, Christmas All Around, PTI Wreath for all Seasons (merry sentiment)

Cardstock: SU Pure Poppy and Very Vanilla

Pattern Paper: October Afternoon Thriftshop

Ink: Memento Black

Misc: computer, printer, SU Old Olive Ribbon, Nestie tag and circle die, button, Copics, creamy pastels

Do you want a FREE STAMP SET?!

Then head on over to The Cutting Cafe!  The very kind and GENEROUS Regina is giving away (for a limited time) her new December Daily 2 set.  This is PERFECT for anyone that wants to make a December Daily album.  What is a December Daily album?  You can read all about them on Ali Edwards' blog. 

Don't delay, you need to download this set fast as it is only free until November 6!  ENJOY! 

Halloween treats

My boys have a short school week.  They have Thursday and Friday off for Parent-Teacher conferences.  So, I thought I would surprise them Mon - Wed with Halloween treats.  I will try to post a picture on my blog of the treats each day.

I unwrapped a piece of candy and took a pic of it to show you the candy corn kisses.  Aren't they cute?  

The little treat toppers were SO EASY!  I used The Cutting Cafe's Halloween Treats Just for You (this set comes in black and white AND colored) and the 13 piece Halloween set for the candy corn.  I used the colored Treats Just for You set which made this SUPER EASY - I simply cut out the tags added a button and I was DONE!  

Stamps: The Cutting Cafe's Halloween Treats Just for You and 13 piece Halloween set

Cardstock: white and black

Pattern Paper: none needed

Ink: computer printer!
Misc: button and scissors

Birthday Bingo

I haven't been on here much lately.  I lost my mojo.  It seemed like everything I tried to put together just looked horrible.  Anyway, I forced myself to sit down and make SOMETHING.  My sister-inlaw's birthday is Oct. 25.  I made her a card; very last minute.   

I used The Cutting Cafe's Bingo Card set.  Don't you just love the Bingo card?!  What I LOVE even more is the fact that I can get a Cutting Cafe set within 24 hours of ordering (usually quicker).  No waiting for the slow snail mail.  I also used the HB2U stamp from PTI's birthday bash set.  I thought it worked well with the Bingo card.   

Stamps: Cutting Cafe Bingo Card, PTI Just the ticket and Birthday Bash Sentiments
Cardstock: PTI Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, Aqua Mist
Pattern Paper: PTI
Ink: Memento Black, Versamagic
Misc: button, bakers twine, PTI ticket die, twill ribbon 

Halloween home decor

Warning:  This post is photo-heavy! 

To start my project, I printed out four past Halloween photos of my boys in costume on my Canon Selphy.  It has an option to add a border to the photos and I really liked the look of the border with the black and white photos.  (I converted them to B&W using PSE).    

(I took multiple photos of my photo tray.  I kept trying to find the perfect light.  Not sure if I ever found it!) 

I picked up the photo tray at Hobby Lobby for $6!  It was originally $9.99 but I had a 40% off coupon.  I thought this was a steal.  I used lots of paper scraps that I had at home.  I also used a few Cutting Cafe files.  I used The Cutting Cafe's Halloween time, Halloween mini colored set, and the 13 piece Halloween set.    

(Don't forget you can click on photos to make them larger.) 

The Bingo card is from the Cutting Cafe set Halloween time.  I used a couple of Copic markers to color in the title.  I also used some PTI tea dye ink to make it more vintage-y.  (Not sure if that is a word!  hehe!)  The black paper was embossed using Stampin Up's new web folder.

The pumpkin was cut out using the 13 piece Halloween set.  I added in some ribbon I had laying around.  

The colored witch boots are from The Cutting Cafe's Halloween mini colored set.  They are already colored in.  All I did was hit print and punched it out with a 1.5" circle punch!  I die cut some felt using one of PTI's mat stack dies.  The buttons are from my stash.  I used embroidery floss to attach them to the felt.  The doily is from the cake decor aisle at Hobby Lobby.  I used some tea dye on it also. 

Don't you just LOVE the spooky trees?  They are from the Cutting Cafe's Halloween time set.  Can you imagine having to hand cut those?  All I did was put a black piece of paper in my cricut, set up SCAL and I was done! 

The candy corn was easily cut using the 13 piece Halloween set from The Cutting Cafe.

 

I hope you enjoyed this post - sorry it was so long.  I had a fun time making this little photo tray and it is now proudly hanging in my living room.  I can't wait to make one for Christmas!

Halloween goodies

I LOVE this goodie bag from The Cutting Cafe.  It is called the pumpkin goodie bag and is part of the 13 piece Halloween set.  This was super easy to make.  I just cut the file using my Cricut.  Filled a vellum bag with candy corn.  Stamped and embossed a senitment from WaltzingMouse stamps.  Punched it out.  Used a couple of Spellbinders.  Added ribbon.  And I was DONE! 

Here's a close up of the sentiment.

    
Stamps: WMS Midnight Feast
Cardstock: SU black, very vanilla
Pattern Paper: Lasting Impressions
Ink: SU craft black
Misc: Cutting Cafe 13 Piece Halloween Set, black emboss powder, Spellbinders, SU ribbon and punch, vellum bag from Joanns

Thank you Henry Ford

Assembly line card making!  It makes mass-producing SO EASY!  These baby shower invites were so simple to create using a Cutting Cafe's file with my Cricut.  I used The Cutting Cafe's Umbrella shaped card cutting file to make the card.  As you can see, my whole card is not umbrella shaped but I did use the file to make the umbrella and flower on the front. 

Stamps: PTI Just the ticket
Cardstock: kraft, SU very vanilla
Pattern Paper: K& Co
Ink: Memento rich cocoa
Misc: Cutting Cafe Umbrella shaped card, button, needle, floss, American crafts ribbon
 
 
Quick tip:  Make sure your Cricut cutting mats are STICKY - this makes things go smoothly.  I learned the hard way.  I used an old, non-sticky mat and the paper moved while the Cricut was cutting; messing up the design - very frustating!

GUESS WHAT?!

I've been keeping a secret (which can be difficult for me when I'm excited!)  I am on a design team!  THE CUTTING CAFE's design team.  Here is a link to the announcement.  I am absolutely thrilled to have this opportunity. 

I have been busy.  First, I dusted off the my ole' baby bug aka Cricut.  

Then I decided to invest in SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot).  I am not sure why I waited so long to do this; it is definitely worth the $59.  I purchased the software here.  I am learning the software and how to use digital stamps.  I've wanted to do this for a while (the idea of not having to store stamps sounds like a dream come true).  I have been searching You Tube (as I am a visual learner) and have found some great videos.  It is surprisingly easy, once you've practiced a few times.  Next, I went to my local antique mall and scored a cart to hold my Cricut next to my computer desk.

The blue Cricut cover is something I bought a LONG time ago on Ebay.  EWW, the cords look ugly, will have to do something about that! 

 

OK, so are you ready for a card? 

I fell in love with this little ducky and had to make a card with him.  Wouldn't this be perfect for a baby shower or attaching to a gift when visiting a newborn?!  I also used the Cutting Cafe Set called All About Babies.  I've been having fun searching the site and found this set (she has a set for girls too), YOU CAN PERSONALIZE it to have your baby's name!

Stamps: Cutting Cafe All About Babies

Cardstock: PTI kraft and SU yellow 

Pattern Paper: PTI Pretty Pastels

Ink: ink from printer! and PTI tea dye duo

Misc: Duck from Cutting Cafe, buttons, Fiskars wave punch SU punches, ribbon and twine

Quick Tip:  Cutting Cafe files are in either PDF or WPC format.  SCAL "reads" SVG files.  To convert PDF's to SVG's simply download Inkscape (for free) and it will convert the files in a matter of seconds for you.  Here is a great video explaining the process.