I'm Your Advocate

TGIF my blogger friends!  Today I am sharing with you a scrapbook page.  Yes, you read that right.  It's not a card.  It's a layout!  This is the first one I've done in quite some time, and I so enjoyed it.  This is my submission for the latest die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  Our theme is "Love."  Who can't do a card or a layout about love?  So, come on, join us!  Let's see your project!

Here's the story behind my layout.  We have a beagle named Lexi.  She was given to our youngest daughter for her 19th birthday by a boyfriend.  Six months earlier, we had lost our Yorkie of 14 years, and of course I was still grieving over her.  When our daughter brought Lexi into our house late one night, wrapped in a towel, she weighed 2 1/2 pounds.  She was the cutest little puppy ever!  But, I told my daughter that her Dad would not allow her to keep her.  She kept her in her bedroom for 3 days before he knew about her.  When she finally showed Lexi to him, he told her that she could not keep the dog.  She asked if she could keep her until she could find a home for the puppy, and my husband agreed to that.  Of course she never found a home for her -- because she never tried!  During the time that Lexi was a puppy, our daughter was never home, and she became my responsibility.  Then at age 22, our daughter got married.  Her husband is not a dog lover and would never have a dog in the house.  So, Lexi officially became my dog.  You can read my journaling below.

Details:

Card Stock:  Bazzill Dotted Swiss
Patterned Papers:  K and Company Classic K Charlotte Paper Pad
Large Heart:  Sweethearts Cricut cartridge cut at 10 1/2" with a shadow (p. 73 of the handbook)
Scalloped Border:  Martha Stewart Birthday Cake Art Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/4" (I think -- I forgot to write it down.)
"I Am Your":  Computer generated -- I used the corner of a square punch to get the banner notch on the end
Advocate:  Martha Stewart Birthday Cake Art Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/2"
Dog:  Paper Pups Cricut cartridge cut at 3 1/4" (p. 116 of the handbook)
"I Love You" Banner:  Paper Pups Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/4" with the shadow
Little hearts:  Various punches
Flowers:  Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge cut at 3 and 4"

I used the one page sketch #18 over at Sketch Support for the sketch.

Click on the photo for a better look.

Here is my journaling:

When you came to our house in 2005 as a two and a half pound puppy, I didn’t think I could love a beagle.  Boy, was I wrong.  I fell in love almost immediately.  Even though you were Whitney’s dog, I was the one that took care of you most of the time, chased you from under the bed, took shoes away from you before you chewed the toes out of them, took toilet paper from you, etc. because Whitney was always out with friends. When Rick said you were dumb, I said you were smart.  I tried to prove to him that he was wrong.  You learned tricks.  You proved that you were a good dog.  In my eyes, you are stubborn, yet very smart.  In fact, I’ve called you “Rick, Jr.” numerous times when you have stood on the steps and looked at me as if to say, “Maybe I’ll come inside; maybe I won’t!”  When others thought you were a pest, I told them you were sweet.  When others thought I was crazy for having a dog in the house, I defended you and said, “But you’re just not a dog lover like I am.”  And when something happens to you, I will be heartbroken, even more so than when Sassy died.  Why? Because I am your advocate.

I hope you like the layout.   Thanks for your kind words.  And, of course, be inspired!

P.S.  Come join us for the challenge!

Birthdays Celebrate the Gift of Time!

Good Monday morning everyone.  Is it snowy where you are, or warm, or just plain cold?  We had our first flakes of snow for the winter yesterday.  But, it only tallied up to about an inch, so I'll take that.  It is pretty when it is falling, but I don't like driving on it, so an inch is fine with me!  LOL.

Today I am sharing with you a birthday card I made last week for a co-worker.  Here are the details:

Size:  4 1/4" x 6"
Card stock:  Recollections, American Crafts and Core'dinations
Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye
Doily:  Wilton with added pearls
Red scalloped border:  Martha Stewart Birthday Cake Cricut cartridge (page 67 of handbook) using the cupcake feature and fit to length at 6".  I then ran this through my Cuttlebug for the embossing.  I added a small strip of white Bazzill "Just the Edge" behind the red border.
Gift:  I cut a square using the George Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/2" plus a shadow.  I then added a strip of paper down the middle and punched a flower for the bow and added a glitter dot.
I then grabbed two old Prima flowers from my stash, along with a miniature Recollections rose for the flower. The black/white bow came in a package from ACMoore, but I am unsure of the manufacturer.  The leaves are a Martha Stewart punch.
The inside sentiment says, "Birthdays celebrate the gift of time.  We celebrate the gift of you.  Happy Birthday."

Hope you like it.  Thanks so much for your comments.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

U & Me Valentine's Day Card

It's almost Valentine's Day, and even though I haven't given this card to my hubby yet, I thought I'd share it with you.  In fact, he is playing with his laptop right behind me, but I bet he isn't paying any attention, and I can post this card, and he will never know it was his! HA!  Here are the details of the card:

Size:  A2
Card stock:  American Crafts; Core'dinations
Embossing:  Cuttlebug hearts folder
Hearts:  Cuttlebug die.  The hearts are actually recessed.  I punched a 2" circle in the white card stock after I had embossed it.  I used pop up dots between the red layer and the white embossed layer. I cut my hearts and placed them on the red layer.  I then used the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge to cut a 2 1/2" frame (page 45 of the handbook), and it fit over the 2" circle window perfectly. I used pop up dots under the frame.
The sentiment was computer generated and punched using a Stampin' Up punch, which I layered on a McGill punched label.  I added a heart shaped brad to the edge.
I also used three punched hearts for a little added touch.
The inside says:  "We were meant to be together like peanut butter and jelly, biscuits and gravy, socks and shoes, and cake and ice cream.  Happy Valentine's Day With My Love."  (I guess I have an obsession with food.  LOL.)

I am entering this card into challenge no. 72 over at Cooking with Cricut.  We are to make a grown up Valentine using black and a brad.  Check and check!  Here is a link to the challenge.

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

Sending Birthday Wishes

Happy Friday everyone.  I am excited to share with you today a birthday card made for my mother-in-law.  I have shared in the past that she loves the color red.  This card isn't totally red, but I managed to incorporate some red into it.  The card is also part of the latest die cut challenge over at Stuck on You Sketches.  Our theme was "You've Got Mail."  That's why the card has an envelope with balloons coming out of it.  I hope you'll stop by and see what the other wonderful designers came up with, and we'd love for you to play along!  Here is a link to the challenge.  And, here are the details of the card:

Size:  A2
Envelope:  Just Because Cards Cricut cartridge cut at 2" (page 67 of handbook).  I used Bazzill Dotted Swiss card stock for the envelope.
Label behind envelope:  Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut at 4" (page 41 of handbook).  I then embossed the label and added a shadow.
Balloons:  George Cricut cartridge cut at 1" (and added shadow).  I used memory thread for the strings on the balloons.
The patterned papers are Doodlebug Designs (I think) and My Mind's Eye.
The sentiment was computer generated and punched with a 1 1/4" circle, a 1 1/2" circle, and a 2" scalloped circle punch
The rhinestones are from Kaisercraft.
I also added a yellow border using a Fiskars border punch.

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Cruisin' Into 76 Birthday Card

If you've visited my blog many times, you know how hard it is for me to do guy cards.  I mean, seriously, no flowers?  Ha!  I try really hard not to put flowers on all of my cards, and I doubt my father-in-law would love them nearly as much as I do.  Thus, he got a card with an old car on the front.  This card was made for his 76th birthday.  I bet you figured that out, didn't ya?  Here are the details:

Size:  4 1/2" x 6 1/2"
Card stock:  Core'dinations, DCWV
Patterned papers:  DCWV, Unknown
Car/Cruisin': Nifty Fifties Cricut cartridge cut at 1 3/4" (I cut the car in black and then in red so the tires would be black.)
Postage stamp background:  Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut at 5"
Star:  George Cricut cartridge cut at 1 3/4"
76:  George Cricut cartridge cut at 1"
Little stars:  Punch
"Into":  Computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up punch
I also used an EK Success border punch behind the postage stamp label, along with a strip of red and a strip of blue paper.

I hope my father-in-law likes it, and I hope you like it too!  Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Click on the picture for a better look.

With Our Sympathy

Good morning!  I am sharing with you today a sympathy card made for a family at church who lost their elderly mother recently.  The card really is pretty simple, but I didn't want to hide the wonderful embossing.  Here are the details:

Size: A2
Card Stock and Patterned Paper:  DCWV Shimmer Stack, American Crafts for the Cross
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Heritage folder set
Cross:  Spellbinders - Cross Set #1
Label behind cross:  Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge cut at 3 3/4"
Satin ribbon from my stash, and I added a button that I slid onto the ribbon.
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched using a Paper Shapers oval punch (maybe Stampin' Up)
I think that's about it!  Hope you like it.  God bless you!  Thanks for your kind words.  And of course, be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

Happy Brrrr...thday to You!

It's another TGIF for my fellow bloggers.  Today, I am excited to share with you my snowman card.  It is part of the current "snowman" die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  I hope you'll stop by there to see what the design team has come up with and then decide to play along with your own snowman creation.  Here is a link to the challenge.

This card was my son-in-law's birthday card.  He is a wonderful singer, a youth pastor, and has been helping with the praise band at his church recently.  So, I knew he would enjoy getting a singing snowman for his birthday.  I had recently seen singing reindeer cards that were made from punches, and when I saw them, I knew I wanted to give it a shot.  I decided to try a snowman instead of a reindeer, and I used my Cricut instead of all punches.  Here are the details:

Size:  4 1/4" x  6 1/4"
Patterned papers:  DCWV for the checked background.  I used the Wonderful Winter pad by My Mind's Eye for the tree paper (it's hard to see in this photo).
Card:  Campin' Critters Cricut cartridge cut at 6 1/4"; I also cut the front of the card using the shift of the "sign" feature at 6" to get a little smaller card front.   I love the cool card shapes on this cartridge that are included in the "sign" feature.
Snowman:  I cut one 2" oval, one 2" circle, and one 2 1/4" circle using the George Cricut cartridge.  The snowman's mouth is an oval Stampin' Up Paper Shapers punch.  I punched another oval in red and used a heart punch to make the shape for the tongue.  I then punched another oval in white and used the very top piece of it and drew lines to make the snowman's teeth.  Do snowmen have teeth?  I guess this one does!  LOL.  I used the snowman's arms from the Christmas Cheer cartridge cut at 3 3/4".  The snowman's nose was hand cut.  I punched a 2" circle and then punched a 1 1/2" circle from the 2" circle, as well as a small oval punch, to make the snowman's ear muffs.
Book:  Learning Curve cut at 1 3/4".  I printed the "First Baptist of Mayodan" on my computer and used a postage stamp punch to add it to the front of the book.
I used a Fiskars scalloped border punch for the border.
I printed the sentiment on my computer and used a Paper Shapers punch for the words.
I then added a piece of ribbon, a button, and baker's twine to finish the card off.

I hope you like it.  Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

Pet Sympathy Card

I made this pet sympathy card for our neighbors who had to have their beloved rat terrier put down a couple of weeks ago.  They are an elderly couple, and they adored their dog.  So, I made an apple cobbler and took it to them, along with this card to let them know how sorry my husband and I are for their loss.  Here are the details:

Size:  4 1/4" x 6 1/2"
Card stock:  Recollections, American Crafts
Clouds:  Fiskars punch
Butterflies:  Martha Stewart punch
Flowers:  Paper Shapers punch with circles punched and added for centers
Leaves:  Martha Stewart leaf punch.  I cut the top of one off and glued two together to make the taller flower.
Grass:  Fiskars border punch
Dog:  Nate's ABCs Cricut cartridge cut at 2 1/4".  This was the font 2 feature on page 60 of the handbook.  I liked that it had a shadow.  I cut two shadow layers and separated them with pop up dots.  I also cut the dog in both black and white, since their dog was black and white.  I hand cut the black pieces from the black dog and glued them in place.  I also punched a tiny circle and used it for the dog's eye.
Sentiment:  I found this on a pet sympathy website.  I printed it directly onto my patterned paper using Word.

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

God's Promises Sympathy Card

TGIF everyone!  I am sharing a sympathy card I just made for a co-worker whose mother passed away recently. Here are the details:

Size:  A2
Card Stock:  American Crafts, Bazzill, DCWV
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Heritage set
Cross:  Spellbinders die (I layered it on a Martha Stewart punched shape that I purchased at Ross for $3!) and then added a pearl
Label:  Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut at 3 3/4" using the oblong frame feature
Flowers:  Recollections
Leaves:  Martha Stewart punch
Inside verse:  "But He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."

Thanks for looking and for your comments.  As always, be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look!

Thinking Of You

Today I am sharing with you a card I made for my daughter's friend, whose husband was recently deployed to Afghanistan.  They have only been married a little over a year, and he will be gone one year.  He is in the Marines, and she has moved out of their apartment (I don't think they would let her live there while he was deployed), and has moved back home with her parents.  I wanted her to know that I was thinking of her, and praying for both of them.  She received the card and sent me a message to let me know how much it meant to her.  It makes me feel so good to know that one of my cards lifted someone's spirits!  Here are the details:

Size: A2
Card Stock:  American Crafts, Bazzill
Embossing:  Cuttlebug (Heritage set)
Flower:  Recollections
Flower Die Cut:  Martha Stewart Birthday Cake Art Cricut cartridge cut at 3" (see page 40 of the handbook) (I think).  I cut three layers to give it dimension, and love how it turned out.
Sentiment:  Computer generated and cut using a Spellbinders tag die
Pearls:  Unknown.

Thanks so much for looking.  I hope you like it.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

Let The Fun Begin!

TGIF!  And I am excited to share with you a new die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  Our challenge was to use the theme "Winter Fun" as the starting point for our project.  I have this new window die, and I envisioned a child's delight in seeing new fallen snow.  Thus, my card tries to reflect that.  I hope you'll check it out here and join us!  And we have an exciting sponsor!  Whimsical Designs is sponsoring SOUS for the remainder of the month!  You won't want to miss it!

Here are details about my card:

Size:  4 1/2" x 6 1/2"
Card Stock:  Core'dinations; Bazzill; American Crafts
Patterned papers:  DCWV; unknown for the blue/white polka dot paper for the sky -- I've had it for years!
Tree:  Paper Dolls Dress Up cut at 1 3/4" (page 52)
Snow:  I used my Creative Memories Curvy Paper Trimmer (can't remember the exact name, but I think it is retired) to cut the wavy lines for the snow.  I then chalked the edges in blue.Window:  Two of the Small Madison Window Dies put together
Boy:   A Child's Year cut at 2 3/4".  I took the boy standing at a chalkboard and cut the chalkboard lines off.
Window treatment:  A Fiskars border punch
Senetiment:  Computer generated and punched using a Stampin' Up punch

Thanks so much for looking and for any comments you leave.  Don't forget to come join us!  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look.

Happy Birthday Card for an 80 Year Old

Hello bloggers.  I am sharing with you a birthday card made for my son-in-law's grandmother.  My son-in-law's Mom sent an email out asking for birthday cards for her Mom, whose birthday was a few weeks ago.  She was turning 80, and her daughter wanted her to receive 80 birthday cards. This is the card I made for her.

Also, I am entering this card into the current challenge over at the City Crafter Challenge blog. The challenge is to use a black silhouette. Check it out here.

Patterned papers:  My Mind's Eye
Card Stock:  Recollections and American Crafts
Ribbon:  Unknown
Window:  Small Madison Window Die
Border:  Fiskars border punch
Girl with bird:  A Child's Year Cricut cartridge (I cannot remember the size -- I am SO sorry!)

Pearls:  Queen and Co.

Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched with a 1 1/2" circle punch and a 2" scalloped circle punch (with a little Stickles added)

Thanks for looking.  Be inspired!

Click on the photo for a better look!

Flowers and Birthdays

I hope everyone's year has started off to be fantastic!  I personally am ready for spring, and we haven't even had any snow.  I'm just a spring, summer and fall kind of gal.  I hate being cold!

I am sharing with you today a birthday card for a very dear friend.  I made this card a month ago, so I hope I remember the correct sizes.  I am so far behind in posting!  Here are the details.

Size:  A2
Card Stock:  Recollections, Core'dinations
Patterned Papers:  My Mind's Eye
Bird:  This was on one of my scrapbook papers and was so cute, I decided to use it as my focal point of the card.  So easy!
Frame:  Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut at 3".  I then embossed the frame using my Cuttlebug.
Flowers:  Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge.  I think these were the scalloped flowers, and they were cut at 4" and 3 1/2" (pink).
Leaves:  Spellbinders die
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched with a 1 1/2" circle and a 2" scalloped circle. I then added a little Stickles.
Ribbon:  Unknown -- from my stash.
I added pearls in the corners and used a new Fiskars corner punch to add a little extra touch at the bottom.

I hope you like it.  If you take the time to comment, thank you!!!

Be inspired!

Click on the photo to get a better look!

Christmas and Snowflakes

Who doesn't love snowflakes when thinking about Christmas?  This card is for my wonderful in-laws.  The family gave them money for Christmas (mainly because we couldn't think of anything else to give them).  They can spend it on a trip or for unexpected expenses.   There is a spot on the inside to stash the money.  Also, this card was made for the latest die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  We were to use snowflakes.  Here is how I made the card:

Size:  4" x 7"
Card stock:  Core'dinations and American Crafts
Patterned papers:  My Mind's Eye Wonderful Winter pad
Snowflakes:  I used three different punches for the snowflakes around the sentiment, including Martha Stewart and a Paper Shapers punch.  The snowflake border was cut using the Martha Stewart Seasonal Cake Cartridge.  I cut it using the "cut to length" feature at 4", which ended up cutting it at 2 1/2".  I cut the top layer twice and used pop up dots.  I also ran it through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  I then used a 3/4" circle punch for the red centers.
The verse is my own creation, using a verse I found on the internet as a starting point.  I attempted to make the words look like a Christmas tree.  Did it work?  LOL.  I used a large circle Spellbinders Nestabilities die to cut the sentiment and then added a Nestabilities Lacey Circle behind it.

Hope you like it.  Come join us in the fun and try this snowflake challenge! Check it out here.
Be inspired!

Click on the picture for a better look.

Christmas Blessings

I am sharing with you a Christmas card I made for my boss.  In fact, it is the only Christmas card I made!  I was giving him gift cards for Christmas, so I needed a way to give them to him.  I just don't think I can purchase a card in a store again, so this one was quickly done.  Here are the details:

Size:  4" x 9"
Papers:  Card stock:  Recollections and Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Wonderful Winter by My Mind's Eye from a couple of years ago.
Christmas Bell Ornament:  Jolly Holidays Cricut Lite cartridge cut at 3"
Oval Label Behind Ornament:  Nestabilities
Snowflakes:  Paper Shapers punch with added gems from my stash
Border:  Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Doily Accents
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched using a 1" circle punch and a 1 1/2" scalloped circle punch.  I then added some Stickles.

Hope you like it.  Be inspired!