FCCB Challenge #162

God Bless The USA!

It is the time of year when our deepest thanks are offered for those brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country to keep her safe and free.  We are the land of the free and the home of the brave.  We are America.

It is my pleasure to join the Fantabulous Cricut Design Team in saluting our troops, both past and present, for their dedication to protecting this country, and honoring them this Memorial Day.

Here is my project for this challenge:

I chose the words from Lee Greenwood's song, "God Bless the USA".  How appropriate and fitting.  As soon as I sat down to do this project, those words kept playing through my head and I knew they would be the inspiration for my card.

Naturally I chose red, white and blue.  I computer journaled the sentiment and cut out the USA and "God Bless America" using the Stand & Salute Cricut Cartridge.  The cardstock is from Recollections (white) and Stampin' Up! (red and blue).  I dug through my bling stash and found these awesome star jewels that added the twinkle.  Here's a close-up of the front, and the inside of the card.

I hope you are inspired to play along with the FCCB Challenge.  Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.  God Bless!

Until next time, keepin' it crafty!

Robin's Nest DT Tryouts

ROBIN'S NEST DT WANNA-BE!

Hey, crafty friends!  I found a new source for my "habit".  Actually, they aren't new.  They've been around for a while and are celebrating their 15th Anniversary.  They are new to me, though.  I came across them a short time ago and was impressed with the wonderful selection of products they have, especially their Dew Drops.  Who is this amazing group?  Why, it's The Robin's Nest!

I suggest you take some time and check out all the amazing products they have to offer.  Go ahead....I'll wait for you.

Did you do it?  Were you amazed?  

Glad you're back, cuz I need your good vibes!  They are having a Design Team call and I am R.E.A.L.L.Y "jonesing" to get on this team!  Those of you that follow me know I always like to include a little bling on my projects, and their Dew Drops could be SO addicting for me.  Well, DT or not, I'll probably still be addicted to them.  lol

If you'd like to see some great ideas and use of of their products, check out their blog: http://chatteringrobins.blogspot.com

So, I thought and I doodled and dug and designed.  And heeeeeeeeere's my card:

I really love the color combination.  Soft with a kick.  The black accents just makes the pink colors really pop.  And there's a soft little bling element too.  What do ya think?  Here's a couple more pics, including the inside of this card (which I also love!).

Ok, so here is what I used:

• Black Cardstock from Recollections - card measures 5.5" x 5"
• Designer Cardstock from DCWV's Mariposa Matstack
• Adhesive Faux Pearls from Recollections (wouldn't the Dew Drops look fabulous here?)
• Stamps from Paper Wishes' HOTP: Serendipity Flowers
• Black Ink is Staz-On
• Ribbon is from my "stash"

I first cut the card base and wrapped the ribbon on the first layer of designer paper.  I hand cut the scallop mat and top layer using a template for the design.  I cut and adhered the base for the inside of the card, as well as the mat and top layer.  I then stamped the butterfly and sentiment on the inside.

The front layers were cut and adhered, the stamping added, and then I added the black jewels.

Well, there you have it!  Keep your fingers cross and show me some love!  

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

FCCB #160

Congratulations, Miss Brit!

My very favorite niece just graduated from Austin Peay with a degree as a Radiology Technician and I couldn't be prouder of her.  And since the challenge over at Fantastic Cricut is "Congratuations Graduate", what better combination than to do a card for the challenge that I can also send to Miss Brit!

Won't you come join us for the challenge?

And here is my very x-ray inspired graduation card....

FCCB #160

And here is the inside.  The white space at the bottom is for the family to sign their names and add a personal greeting.

 I used Create A Critter and Doodletype for the diecuts of the bone and text.  The images were downloaded from the internet.  I thought they were very appropriate for someone who will be taking x-rays!

Let me know what you think of my bony card!  And then head over to FCCB and see what the other DT members have whipped up to share!  You will be inspired!

Until next time, keepin' my fingers inky and my Cricut chirpin!

FCCB #158

PAPER ROSES

That reminds me of Marie Osmond.  Except when I was younger (much, much younger), I always thought she was singing "Paper Rosy".  When I think about it, there were a lot of songs I didn't really know the right words to.  But I still sang them at the top of my lungs.  Still do.  LOL

#158 Paper Roses

After all the craziness this week of working full-time, doing home remodeling (my mom is moving in next month and we needed to make some rooms "handicap accessible" as she uses a walker), getting our seasonal site at the campground cleaned up, cleaning up the flower beds and yard at home, my granddaughter's third birthday party and trying to keep up with 7 dogs, I've been a little bird brained.  Can you understand why?  I'm so glad I HAD to spend some time in my craft room for this challenge.  More than just meeting my timeline for the Design Team, I needed the peace and quiet and craftiness that I get from spending time in my little Craft Room.  It is my therapy.  It is my zen.  I can close the door and the world disappears.  All that I have to think about is creating.  Woosah.

So with my bird-brained mentality, I naturally had to have something bird-related on my project...a card.  Shocker, I know.  I love doing cards.  They are tiny masterpieces that don't take a long time to perfect.  They're perfect for the tiny amount of time I have lately.  I can complete one project in a sitting and still get that sense of accomplishment and joy.  And the bonus is, someone else will get to enjoy it at some point when I send it away.

And this is my card.

I used white cardstock as the base and a beautiful tangerine for the layer, which was embossed with one of the new Anna Griffin's Cuttlebug Embossing Folders called Poppy.  The bird and birdcage was cut from the Bloom cartridge, and the leaves were cut from Cricut Essentials.  I actually think they are supposed to be flowers, but I rather liked them as curly leaves and they matched the curly legs on the birdcage so nicely.  

The sentiment is from a Stampin' Up! set called Happy Harmony.  I mounted it on a chipboard tag and added a couple of pearl embellishments.  The flowers I have actually had for years and have no idea who manufactured them.  I inked a little bit on the white flowers and added pearls to all the centers.  I was going to use the Cricut to cut out some flowers since there are such a wide variety of them available, but in the interest of time (not to mention I have no patience lately), I decided to use what I had on hand, and they were a perfect fit.

Here are a couple of close-ups.

That last one really shows the beautiful detail you get from the Anna Griffin embossing folders. And some of the ones she does are larger so I could easily do a 5x5 layer in them.  I love that.

As I'm writing this on an early Sunday morning, I am listening to the carpet guy slamming staples birds singing and watching the crappy rain beautiful sunrise and squirrels and bunnies playing in my yard. All is right with the world in my little corner of the house.  I'd really like to just stay here all day, but, unfortunately, I hear rakes and dishes and bathroom walls calling my name.  At least I got to enjoy a few minutes of woosah.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

FCCB #156

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

So why did I see it snowing this morning?  Ugh!  Thankfully it didn't stick and it reverted back to rain.  Things are starting to green up around mid-Michigan, but I have to say I am over all the rain.  I sure could use some sunshine!

Over at Fantabulous Cricut, the challenge is April Showers.  Here is my Design Team card.

FCCB #156

I used cuts from Create A Critter and Create A Critter 2 and the marvelous Cricut Cardstock (I LOVE this stuff!).  The rainbow was hand-drawn and the sentiment printed on Dymo tape and mounted on some washi.  Here are a couple more close-ups:

And the inside:

The font I used was LD Whatever.  I dig this font!

Check out all the cheery umbrella inspiration from the Design Team Members over at FCCB and play along!  It's better than looking at this gloomy rain, right?

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!