Using My Cricut

I borrowed my school's cricut caRTRIDGE "Home Decor". A few cuts looked good, so I took it home to play with. I found so much more to cut for my pages and my cards. I love the bird in this card, and have cut a bunch more to use on more cards. I also found some borders to use on pages. I went through a blade and stacks of paper, but have a lot to work with in the coming weeks LOL

Overloaded craft table = inspiration

I went into my craft room to clean off my desk. I tseemed like as I touch each piece of paper or embellishment to put it in its place, I was inspired to use it. My desk is no cleaner than when I started, but I finished another set of birthday cards, and made another two cards to boot. I got a new Tilda stamp this week, I love it so. It's Tilda running, and my mind is whirring with so many ideas for it. I had an extra Z-fold card blank laying in the desk, so that was my first inspiration.
Next I found a gorgeous Sugar Nellie that screamed Spring to me. I borrowed the Home Decor cartridge for Cricut, and this beautiful circle frame turned out so well, I'm going to have to cut quite a few more before I return the cart.
Finally, I had a foursome of these images and pink came into my mind. Except for the card bases, all papers were leftover pieces from previous projects. I'm trying to use it all up, and also use different types of embellishments, like the SKittles on the last four.
I colored all my images with my Copics, of which I have added two more markers to my collection, both in the BG line.

Black & Whites

I have decided that I don't like to create with just black and white. I keep wanting to put at least a tiny piece of vibrant color on the card, or even a big splash of it. I am in a swap that requires me to make 5 black and white cards. Every time I finished a card I decided it was okay, but not exactly what I wanted. So my swap will include five totally different cards that I'm okay with, just not excited about.

No photo

Although I just finished another five pages, I haven't posted their photos, and I don't plan to. The last layout almost killed me. I lost a very good friend about two years ago. She died the night before we were supposed to get together. I didn't find out until she was about three hours late to meet me at my house. When I talked with her ex, I thought she had been in a car accident. She died a stupid death, passing out while in the bathtub. She had some serious issues, and I'll never know if it was an accident or not.
I just scrapped the few pictures I had of her and me together. I had a couple of my son and her daughter, who are the same age. We met when they were both in a park district class together. We really bonded, started working out together, had play dates with the kids, shopped together, took the kids trick or treating together. Our friendship stood up to several moves and her divorce. We saw less and less of each other, but when we did get together, we picked up where we left off, and I felt that our bond was still strong as ever.
I couldn't make it inot the room where the slideshow was playing with photos of her. Her own mom and daughters ended up consoling me at the memorial, and I left early so that they could share the day more comfortably with everybody else. Now I've lost touch with her daughters,a dn that part of my life is over and gone, but not forgotten, and there's a whole in my heart that I don't think will ever go away. I miss her.
These pages are going in the back of one of my scrapbooks. I wrote her a three page letter and asked her why, knowing I won't get an answer. But I finished the layout, and maybe that as well as this entry will help a little.

Folded Cards

A crafty friend asked for a set of friendship cards this week. I got this far with a horizontally folded card, using papers from the Green Stack by DCWV and Friendly Forest dp, and a styamped image from Sugar Nellie(?). I want to put in a sentiment, but where???


As you can see from the card, there's not much room on the front, and if I put it on the back, it will either block the background picture, or not be seen at all if I put it lower.

The card is meant to stand up as seen on top.


So anyone have somne creative ideas?? Or do I just send them out to her without a sentiment??

Happy St. Patrick's day

Ah, St. Patrick's Day, a holiday where everyone can (and does) claim a little Irish in them. Here's a quick card (actually, four of them) I made for co-workers. I also included a little limerick for each of them as well. Their rhymes are specific to their personalities and jobs, so I won't post them. I just love how Bella is ready to bestow good luck on everyone she meets. she is such a happy, upbeat, generous gal!

I used my leftover stash of dp, colored her with Copics, and embellished with felt flowers that I found at WalMart in the Christmas clearance aisle-a set of six for 50 cents!! Of course I bought what they had left LOL

Soccer Mom

My son is 24 years old. He was NOT into sports in high school. He barely finished out the year in Color Guard (and only did it for the contacts with girls).

My daughter is 14 and a Freshman in high school now. She was on a steady Fine Arts path until the Soccer bug hit her and hit her hard. She had never played team soccer before the tryouts for freshman girls two weeks ago. But she trained and conditioned with a select few who knew what the coachers expected. And she surprised me (I'm ashamed to say) by making the cut.

Her first game was today, and although I had to work, hubby and son drove an hour out to watch her play in her away game. Here she is driving the ball. She did not make any personal goals, but her team won their first match 3-1.

Her next game is at home, on Thursday. I am NOT working during that time, and I will be there come sunshine or rain, because...

I am now a Soccer Mom. And proud of it!