Scrap those pictures!!!

Most of my blog buddies are primarily cardmakers, like me. Some of them are stampy, and some scrappy, but we make cards. I've been making premade pages for my Etsy shop and I wanted to post a few to remind everyone how easy they really are. A few points:

1. They do not have to be masterpieces that have one of everything in your stamp room on them.
2. Your pictures should be the focus. (See #1)
3. Next, historical details and journaling. Historical details first, and journaling if you like.
4. Your family, for the most part, does not know and surely does not care if you used last year's product. This is not a competition to use the latest and greatest. It's a lovingly compiled record of the peeps you love.
5. In all likelihood, your albums will be closed most of the time. When they do get opened, what people love are the people and the memories in them. It's shocking to hear, I know, but your loved ones are less concerned with your brilliance as a papercrafter than they are about the pictures. Acknowledge that, and get on with it!

Robin's Egg Blues Giveaway!

Seriously, will you love me forever if you win this because you found out about it here? I love Julie forever just because I found this gorgeous blog through her!

Angel Tags/Ornaments

Merry Christmas, my friends!

These sweet chipboard angels are from Creative Cuts and More. They would make beautiful ornaments or tags. I was even thinking of adding a heart to them and using them for Valentine's Day. All I did here was add Platinum Stickles, and an eyelet and silver cord from SU!

If you felt unprepared for Christmas this year, get these now and make them, then set them aside for next year. I don't know about you, but I'd sure like to be more prepared next year than I was this year!

Sweet Baby Boy

This is from one of those My Mind's Eye card kits. I found it on sale a year or two ago, and finally got it out. I added some Basic Grey and the dotted paper, plus a bit of Waterfall Stickles. The Sweet Baby Boy sticker is from Crafty Secrets. I love their beautiful stickers, and they are often the perfect finishing touch for a project. This card has no stamping, and was super fast and easy.

I have been working with some Creative Cuts and More stuff for the Valentine's Blog Hop coming up in January. I am in love with the felt hearts I get there. I can never have too many. They are sweet and soft and pretty!

I hope all of you have the very Merriest of Christmases! I have missed visiting all of your beautiful and inspiring blogs and plan to stop by and see you all in the next day or two. I hope you haven't forgotten me!

Cricut Bookmarks

I made these bookmarks using my cricut. I have been using that little thing a lot lately. These were really quick to make. After I cut them, I added some Stardust pen work, and a few hot fix crystals. I get my hot fix crystals at Creative Cuts & More. I have the Rhinestone and Pearl wheel, and it is A LOT of bling, let me tell you!!

Sleigh Ornaments

I ordered these sleighs from Creative Cuts and More. They are cut from lightweight chipboard, and could not have been easier to do. They can be used as tags or ornaments, and I feel that the combination of chipboard and glitter makes them perfect for any style of holiday decor.

I used Brushed Pewter Distress and Candy Cane Stickles, plus SU! gold eyelets and ribbon. That's it!

Creative Play Stamps Snowflakes

Creative Play Stamps has this terrific set of assorted snowflakes, which I think I have mentioned before. It's a wonderful set to have on hand for Christmas and winter cards. You get 12 snowflakes for $10.95, AND they come with cling foam! I used my cricut, some cheap paper stack paper, Chestnut Roan ink, and Waterfall Stickles on these little guys.

Just For Mew Christmas Tags

I got a whole set of tag stamps like this in a big eBay haul a few years ago. I never used them because they are a little too country for me, but I kind of think they are cute again, don't you? One thing about SU!, is that their stamps do have staying power. They stay current without, for the most part, getting so trendy they are completely out of style in five years.

I used my cricut and a MS punch for these. I think the paper is one of those impossibly cheap DCWV Christmas stacks. I got rid of ALL my thin paper stacks except this one. I mean seriously, do you really want to make gift tags with paper that costs a dollar a sheet? Everything else, yes, go with the good stuff, but lots of Christmas stuff is so here today gone tomorrow, especially tags. I am one quarter Scotch, and it does show up now and then!

Joy Tags

Yes, I have made a lot of tags lately. I just finished and mailed an Etsy order for 150 of the little guys today, as a matter of fact. I mailed her an assortment of all the simpler tags in my shop, so at least I didn't have to make 150 of the same thing.

So, yes, I'm trying Etsy. It's pretty fun. There's A LOT of work involved, and the competition is fierce, but I have to do something with all the stuff I make. I can't quit playing with paper, and I can't store it all forever, and I can't inundate my peeps with paper, even though they love my stuff, I don't think they would love it as much if I sent ALL of it to them. So, I'm on Etsy.

Right now there are 26,580 listing for tags. I realize the odds here, I understand the chances of people buying from me are slim. Still, it will amuse me for a while. I have the attention span of a gnat, so I'm sure I'll be off to the next thing eventually, but for now, wish me luck!

Make Merry Tags

I have these SU! punches, and all the coordinating stamp sets, and I think this may be the first time I've ever used them!! They sure do make festive little tags, don't they?

This ep is a mix of my own. I just added glitter to some hunter green ep. I must add glitter to everything. It's a problem, I know. But I live with it.

Sparkly Little Box

Well, since I haven't posted for over a week, I thought I'd bore you with redundant pictures of my sparkly little box. This is one of those little match boxes you can get, I think they come in packages of three. Really, this is just a pretty, useless little thing, but I had fun making it!

I got these Primas at Creative Play Stamps. It looks like they are sold out of this bottle right now, but they have lots and lots of other Primas if you are running low!


I hope you are all looking forward to the holidays! I am looking forward to Dec. 11, because that's when our oldest son will be home. This is the longest we have ever been apart, and I've pretty much hated every second of it.

Snowman Tags

I've been making a lot of little Christmas tags lately. Well, last weekend, anyway. This week I had three hour play rehearsals every night, so I didn't do much of anything but work. Tonight is the last night-closing performance! The kids did really well last night, and I look forward to it all being over!! I don't know how people work eleven hour days with any regularity. One week of it, and I'm half dead!

Anyhoo, these little tags are fun and easy to make. I let my cricut do all the cutting, then I stamp, sponge, layer and embellish. I used Creative Play Stamps' snowflake here. You can get them individually, or in a set. I have the set, and I love it. I'll use it for years and years to come, snowflakes never go out of style!

Arch Window Card-Upcycled!!

Did you notice my clever use of the hip and trendy term "upcycle"? I see this word sprinkled about by people who are ever so much cooler than I, and have been waiting for the opportunity to prove that I am quite current. The beautiful vintage scene I used for this Creative Cuts and More Arch Window card is actually cut from the cover of my Graphic 45 Christmas Past paper pad. I love how it turned out, and I'm feeling very smug about my wise use of resources.

I made this for this week's 2 Sketches 4 You challenge, but I couldn't quite get the sketch right, so I'm not sure I should even link it. Sometimes I just can't convince my card to acquiesce to the sketch. What's a girl to do? Some cards are just disobedient. Creative Cuts and More is sponsoring 2S4Y this week, if you have time, please play with us! I love Laura & Kazan's sketches, they are very talented! Sometimes I even make a card that resembles the sketch!!

More Creative Cuts and More!!!

"Hi blog hoppers! Weren't Amber's projects great? If you didn't arrive here from Amber's blog, you don't want to miss what our designers have in store for you! The CC&M Holiday Blog Hop starts at http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com

I decided to post the third page of my Apron Recipe Album for this hop. I have enjoyed working with this cute little album SO much! Did you know that these were so popular that CC&M has already sold out of them? Terry is reordering all the supplies, though-so don't panic! There's still time to get yours! I will most likely post at least one page a week until Christmas, so I hope you don't get tired of them!!

If for some reason one of the links is broken along the Hop do not worry, HOP back over to Die Cut Diva http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com where the complete list will be.


As part of our celebration, CC&M will be having a great sale. For the next six days, we will offer 15% off the entire store. But act quickly this sale will end on 11/15. Make sure you enter this code:

ccholidaybloghop1109

during checkout.

As a continuing part of the celebration CC&M will be giving away a FUN
Christmas Card Kit! After you have finished the blog hop, return to
_http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com follow these directions….

Here are the five different ways to win our newest kit:

(A) Leave a comment on this post. (This is limited to one per person
unless you meet the criteria of B, C, D and/or E below.)

(B) Leave one extra comment if you've posted a link to this blog candy
on your own blog. Make sure to include a link to your specific post in
your comment.

(C) Leave one extra comment if you become one of our blog followers. See
the right-hand navigation column to follow us.

(D) Leave one extra comment if you click over to our page on Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Parker-CO/Creative-Cuts-and-More/129268965389?ref=s>
and become a fan.

(E) Leave one extra comment if you invite your crafty Facebook friends
to become a fan of our page on Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Parker-CO/Creative-Cuts-and-More/129268965389?ref=s>.

The winner will be announced 11/15, so you have until then to play by the rules!

Now head on over to Karen Maldonado's Blog! She has some wonderful stuff lined up for you!!

Belli Challenge!!

I made this page for this week's Belli Challenge! Chris Dickinson, another Die Cut Diva, has a fun challenge blog where the challenges are embellishment related. CC&M is the sponsor this week, and the theme is Christmas. I wanted to create another page of my Creative Cuts and More Apron Album. Everything on this page except for the Making Memories stickers, the floss, and the Stickles came with the kit! You can even get Liquid Applique at Creative Cuts and More!! (It does not come with the kit, though.) This kit is only $19.99, and I honestly think it's a terrific deal! I was so thrilled when I got mine and saw all the goodies!

I hope you can play with us, I think the challenge is open for two weeks, so there's plenty of time!

PS: Sorry my pictures are out of order! I realized after I posted that I forgot the back of the recipe!

Holiday Treats Recipe Apron Kit

Welcome to Day Two of the Creative Cuts and More Recipe Album Blog Hop!! So, did you enjoy visiting the immensely talented Amber Hillman? I know you did! If you didn't come from Amber's blog, you need to start back at Die Cut Diva to be eligible to win the prize, which is one of these GREAT kits!! I hope you can stop by all 25 blogs so you can see how many incredible ways you can use this fun holiday kit!!

To day we are featuring the Apron Kit!!Isn't this the cutest thing? I was very impressed with how jam-packed this kit is! You can make a wonderful album, with LOTS of great family recipes! And did you see the Doodlebug glitter paper?! You know I was happy to see that!! There are so many fun little die cuts, buttons, and lots of paper to get crafty with in this kit!!

I added a few buttons, some Stickles, one eyelet, some floss, and five Diva Drops. You can get the Diva Drops at Creative Cuts and More.

Your next stop is CINDY LAWRENCE!! I have long been an admirer of Cindy's lovely work, and can't wait to see what magic she created with the apron kit!

PS: Don't forget to come back tomorrow for another page of my Apron Album! CC&M is sponsoring this week's Belli Challenge!!

TUESDAY

Die Cut Diva http://www.diecutdiva.com
Pam Smerker http://paperaskew.blogspot.com/
Nathalia Castelllon http://funkyphreshpapierkreations.blogspot.com/

Dawn Lusk http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/

Stephany Zerbe http://stephzerbedesign.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Hansen http://www.jenniferhansenscrapgallery.blogspot.com/

Lisa Somerville http://www.lisasomerville.com/

Lila Holgate http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com

Kazan Clark http://nunutoolies.blogspot.com/

Rachel Hope Baird http://www.hopestampseternal.blogspot.com/
Ellen Sosnoski http://closeyourears.blogspot.com/

Cecilia Stricklin http://www.thethreadgatherer.blogspot.com

Cambria Turnbow http://www.cambriaturnbow.blogspot.com/
Angie Pearl http://gemstonecreations.blogspot.com

Laura Davis http://www.adayinthelifeofthepaperpoppy.blogspot.com/

Noelle Reese http://www.noellescrapsalot.blogspot.com

Holly Brown http://www.glitterstampsandink.blogspot.com

Rachel Sztonyk http://www.gingerbreadgallery.blogspot.com

Deb Felts http://withastampandasong.blogspot.com/

Jen Johnson http://justmejenifer.blogspot.com

Amber Hillman http://www.ambersantics.blogspot.com/

Carla Mayfield http://paperpastorale.blogspot.com<<<<<<<<

Cindy Lawrence http://onehappystamper.typepad.com/ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Go Here

Chris Dickinson http://www.chrissyd723.blogspot.com/

Die Cut Diva http://www.diecutdiva.com

Dog Gone Stamps Snow Man!!

Now doesn't this sweet, smiling face just make you happy? This Snowman from Dog Gone Stamps just stole my heart, I thought he was precious and knew I wanted to add him to my collection!! I paired him up with some Basic Gray Blitzen and chipboard, and a couple of Joanne snowflake brads. Of course it just wouldn't be a Christmas card without GLITTER! I embossed the corners with Ranger Holographic and sprayed them thoroughly with Candy Apple Red Glimmer Mist. Plus, I added a little Star Dust Stickles on the snow.

Today is the first day of the Creative Cuts and More Treasured Family Recipes Blog Hop. The prize is a big one, so go check it out at Die Cut Diva!

We are all sharing recipes today, and one of my favorites is The Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls. They are divine! My niece and I made them last Christmas, and we all ate them like we were going to wear nothing but sweat pants for the next month!!! (Jeans+cinnamon rolls=OUCH!) Ree's Cinnamon Rolls ENJOY!

Wild Irises

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for CC&M's recipe blog hop! You could win this GORGEOUS Cosmo Cricket Album Kit!! I'm not participating until Tuesday, but I can point you in the direction of all the fun!


I used the very first Gina K Designs Stamp TV kit, Floral Frenzy for this. All I added was the Grungeboard flourish, the gems, the vintage button, and a tiny piece of embroidery floss.

Creative Cuts and More has ANOTHER exciting week planned for you this week! Starting tomorrow, there will be a Mega Blog Hop using CC&M's new Cosmo Cricket Treasured Family Recipes Album Kit, so please don't forget to come back! This beautiful Album Kit would make a thoughtful gift, or turn it into a family treasure of your own!

Enjoy!

This is the kit I will be using for the huge Creative Cuts and More Holiday Treasures Recipe Blog Hop on Tuesday! Don't forget to stop back by-you could win one of these wonderful, jam-packed kits for yourself!!

I won this beautiful stamp set from Verve Stamps. It's so cool because the orchid can be a butterfly as well, it's very chameleon-like! I tried my hand at Clean and Simple (CAS)here. I was toying with the idea of making gift boxes of cards for Christmas gifts, and I thought I might make better progress if I didn't spend at least an hour on every card like I usually do. Of course, I don't really like my CAS cards, so my efforts didn't last very long. Why bother making cards if it isn't fun?

Don't forget to come back here on Tuesday for the Creative Cuts and More Recipe Blog Hop! It's going to be a BIG ONE!

Holiday Table Decor

Isn't this sleigh fun? All I did here was add some Candy Cane Stickles, a two ribbon bow and some jingle bells!! You could make a dozen of these in an hour or less. How nice would a few home baked cookies or some fudge look in here? What's more, how clever will everyone think you are? You could be one of those irritating women who has everything together!!!

From here, please hop on over to check out what the talented Chrissy has been up to! I have a sneaking suspicion she's one of those irritating women who have it all together!;)

Now for more eye candy for you - you will want to HOP along to each of these blogs and end at the Caardvarks blog to tell us what you loved best about the hop for a chance to win!

Tanis: http://papercanvas.wordpress.com/

Mel: http://melstampz.blogspot.com/

Lucy: http://hedgehogsandladybirds.blogspot.com/

Heidi: http://vanlaardesigns.blogspot.com/

Kelly: http://krcreations.blogspot.com/

Steph: http://stephzerbedesign.blogspot.com/

Sue-ann: http://colourmehappy.wordpress.com/

Amy: http://www.scrappingmommy.com/

Ashley: http://ashleynewell.blogspot.com/

Catherine: http://thedancingpear.blogspot.com/

Peet: http://scrapalbum.blogspot.com/

Eva: http://evafromca.blogspot.com/

Michelle: http://twisted-chick.blogspot.com/

Nathalia: http://funkyphreshpapierkreations.blogspot.com/

Holly Brown: http://www.glitterstampsandink.blogspot.com/

Carla Mayfield: http://paperpastorale.blogspot.com/

Chris Dickinson: http://www.chrissyd723.blogspot.com/

Ellen Sosnoski: http://closeyourears.blogspot.com/

Jennifer Johnson: http://justmejenifer.blogspot.com/

Kayla Dupont: http://dream-bielieve-imagine-mustangkayla.blogspot.com/

Lila Holgate: http://lilascreativecorner.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Lindsay Weirich: http://thefrugalcrafter.wordpress.com/

Pamela Smerker: http://paperaskew.blogspot.com/

Diecut Divas Blog: http://die-cut-diva.blogspot.com/

Creative Cuts & More (sign up for Newsletter): http://www.creativecutsandmore.com/

Caardvarks (leave a comment to let us know you've finished today's hop): http://caardvarks.blogspot.com/

Have fun on the hop! Thanks for stopping by!

Caardvarks & Creative Cuts and More!

This Card Portfolio is a breeze to make and can be used over and over! It will hold three or four cards and envelopes, depending on how lumpy your cards are! Maybe even six for you CAS girls!

How do you like this sweet Scalloped Bag? A few shots of Candy Apple Glimmer Mist, some Candy Cane Stickles, a bit of leftover ribbon, a Little Yellow Bicycle snowflake, some Primas and a couple of Making memories glitter brads, that's all! Super fast!

Go see the lovely Chris for more Holiday Inspiration!

Holiday Hop Day Two

Welcome to Day Two of "A Very Merry Caardvarks Holiday Hop"!
We've partnered with:

Caardvarks

for THREE fun-filled days of holiday inspiration! We'll be sharing cards, pretty packaging, home decor, centerpieces and holiday ornaments created by the Caardvarks Crew and the Diecut Divas! So get ready for some major holiday inspiration. There's so much to see...and of course Creative Cuts & More has provided a terrific prize for each day of the hop.

{PRIZES}

Fall All Ocassion Card Kit

HaunTed House Castle Mini Album Kit

$25 Gift Certificate


{SHOPPING DISCOUNT}

Caardvarks readers also get a special 15% Shopping Discount! Enter holidayhop2009 at checkout. Discount valid on all online purchases November 1st - 4th, 2009. Have fun shopping and check out all of their holiday diecuts to create your own gifts this season!

**********************

Are you ready to hop? Then off you go -- be sure to visit and comment on each blog and sign up for Creative Cuts & More Newsletter, then return to Caardvarks to let us know you've completed the hop. Just leave a comment on this post. And...be sure to stop by tomorrow AND the next day for more hoppin'!

Master Blog Hop List:
This is the current list of blogs for you to refer to. Just right click on each name and open link in new tab!

Tanis Geisbrecht
Lucy Abrams
Heidi Van Laar
Kelly Rasmussen
Stephany Zerbe
Sue-ann Tilby
Amy Crockett
Ashley Cannon Newell
Catherine Doucette
Peet Roeven
Eva Dobilas
Michelle Giraud
Nathalia Castellon
Holly Brown
Carla Mayfield>>>>You are Here
Chris Dickinson ``````Go here now!!!<<<<<<<<
Ellen Sosnoski
Jennifer Johnson
Lila Holgate
Lindsay Weirich
Pamela Smerker
Diecut Divas Blog
Creative Cuts & More

(Sign up for Newsletter)
Caardvarks
(Leave a comment to let us know you've finished today's hop!)