Been very busy

I know that I haven't posted in a few days...just wanted to give a quick update...my oldest daughter has had a progression in her disorder and we ordered a wheelchair for her on Friday. Beyond that, on of my kids was home sick on thursday and friday, and my oldest daughter was out on tuesday and friday due to the wheelchair issue. I am hoping to be back to normal at the end of next week, so please bear with me.

Stampin Up Wednesday-Cottage Wall Butterflies

I cased my first post on my blog using different papers. These papers use Old Olive, Orchid Opulence, and Rich Razzleberry.

The materials used are:

Papers: cottage wall dsp, rich razzleberry cardstock, orchid opulence cardstock, old olive cardstock, whisper white cardstock.
Sizzix: big shot, swirly strip die, beautiful butterflies die, scallop oval frame die, daisies #2 die
Other: Tag corner punch, rich razzleberry grossgrain ribbon, pretties kit, non su butterfly punch, adhesive

Technique Tuesday-using the xyron with the cricut

I find that with the more intricate cuts with the cricut, getting adhesive on the image is tricky. Using the xyron is a great way to make adhering your images easier.



Place your image in the xyron as shown.



turn the knob until you see your full image on the other side.





Tear paper off the roll and then take your image off the paper and place your image on your creation.

Cricut Mondays-school project

Sorry for not posting on Friday, we were just in the back to school rush. After supply and clothes shopping, getting forms from the doctor, getting back to school RX's and packing up everything and meeting three teachers, there was not much crafting time to be had. So this project uses CTMH papers to sort-of make-up for the no post Friday.

My son used my cricut to do his summer reading assignment project. He used keystone, animal kingdom and paper dolls carts.

my favs. Thursday-Swiss dots Cuttlebug folder

When I want texture on my paper products, I almost always reach for this embossing folder. I love the way it adds an elegant look to any project.

Stampin Up Wednesday-Always pretty in melon

I have a special invite from my friend to go to a "Demo only" card swap on Saturday. This is the card that I made for that swap. I did not get the picture of the indside where I added Pretty in Pink cardstock and used the always in bloom roller on the top and bottom in melon.

Technique Tuesday-technique blog

No pictures today, but if all you are looking for is techniques, then this is the blog to visit.

http://inspirationaltechniquesandtutorials.blogspot.com/

I have only tried a couple of the techniques on this blog, but I have a big "list" of techniques from this blog I want to do. For me, I love any 3-D elements to cards or scrapbook pages, and this blog gives a lot of ideas for making your projects 3-D.

Cricut Monday-Opposites Attract

There were a lot of requests from my friends to make them some thank you cards. So I pulled out an old standby demo card and got busy making these simple thank you cards. I love the clean lines of it nad how quick it goes together. This card could be done in 15 minutes or less, especially if you use Cricut Design Studio.

CTMH Fridays...A sneak peak at twitterpated

These papers are some of the new ones in the catalog going live on September 1. This cute little stamp of the hedgehog is exclusive to the September Workshop. In this stamp set is a couple of cute mushrooms too.

I made this card as a demo and welcome to the new catalog that I will be passing out to my kids' teachers.

My favs Thursday

At some point this would have to be done. Out of all the Cricut cartridges that I have seen this one is my favorite. Not only does it offer one of the coolest alphabets ever, but the creative feature keys are cool too. I love that there are flourises and frames (got to say that I am tickled that there is a frame a lot like the Stampin Up Top Note die). If ever there was just one cartridge to recomend, it would be this one. It really is the one that I reach for over and over again.

Stampin Up Wednesday

I found this cute picture frame at Wal-Mart today and knew the perfect thing to do with it. I had been wanting to do a wall hanging for my living room for a while now and finally got to make it. I used the Parisan breeze Specialty papers, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Whisper White Cardstock. The stamp set used is Season of Friendship. Inks used are Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, and Versamark. Other items used: Top Note Die, Heat and Stick Powder, Fine Supernova Glitter, and Clear Acrylic spray. Also used was the Cricut Storybook cartridge.

Technique Tuesday-Acrylic spray sealer

I love using glitter. The biggest problem I have with using glitter is that it falls off the chipbaord and all over my papers. I really don't like that. So I use this...



Now don't get me wrong, you have to spray this outside, and it takes a few hours for the smell to go away...but then you get these sort of results...



For me, this is a great technique for keeping the glitter on your chipbaord or papers.

Cricut Monday-Storybook Cartridge

For those of you who love the Stampin Up Top Note Die, here is a great alternative. It is the Marquee 1 on the Storybook Cartridge. I love how you can pick your own sizes when using the marquee. Also, there is the frames option that allows you to closely mimic the top not die.

Close To My Heart is offering a way cool Constant Campiagn

I got this card making set in my hot greedy little (okay not so little) hands. OM GOODNESS!! This card set is gorgeous!! The card bases are die cut with a cute flourish design. This card kit will make 16 cards. Here are the details:

TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL STAMPING MONTH
in September we are giving you 3 ways to
get a FREE Everyday Celebration card kit
for making 16 beautiful cards!
• Purchase a minimum of $60 in stamp sets**
(includes A, B, C, D, and E-size) between
August 18–September 30 (CC1006C)
• Host a Home Gathering with minimum sales
of $400 between September 1–30
• Sign up as a new Consultant between
September 1–30
You can also buy as many card kits as you’d
like for $39.95 per kit (CC1006B). And
there’s more fun! Place any order between
September 1–30 and you’ll be automatically
entered in our daily drawing for a FREE
card kit! Winners will be announced on
your Consultant’s MyCTMH website and
closetomyheart.com. Express your passion for
stamping with this pretty new card kit today!

CTMH Friday...look at our great special going on now!!

Close to My Heart is celebrating the end of summer with a special way to say "Thank you!" Customers ordering between August 3rd-17th will receive fantastic FREE products!

From August 3–17, customers who place a minimum order of $100 will be rewarded with a number of extra perks! They’ll receive the August Stamp of the Month (It's Your Day) for FREE as well as a current, hand-selected My Reflections® Level 2 paper packet (a total retail value of $39.90)!

But, that's not all! CTMH will cover tax and shipping and handling on BOTH of these free products, saving you even more! Spread the word quickly, because this Thanks-a-bration campaign only lasts for 15 days.

Below is the list of free paper packets that customers may receive as a thank you for this campaign. Customers will not be able to select the paper packets they receive for free, but all will be popular, currently-available packets.

My Reflections® Vintage Travel Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Rough ‘n Tumble Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Route 66 Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Expedition Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Floral Tapestry Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Everlasting Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Caprice Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Enchanted Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Free Spirit Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Life Delights Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Whoops-a-Daisy Level 2 Paper Packet
My Reflections® Perfect Day Level 2 Paper Packet

Contact me at valls_celeste@yahoo.com if you are interested.

My favs. Thursday

Are there times that you only have a few minutes to be on the computer and you want to check out some cool artwork or just be inspired? So you only go to a few of the different websites on your list? Well, that has happened to me before. When I am having one of those days, this is one of the blogs I visit.
http://www.sandimaciver.com/
As you can see from the pictures above, she has the most amazing projects!! One of my favorite things about her is her use of color. Her projects almost always jump out at you because of the color choices she makes. Whenever I need a wow card or project, Sandy is one of those people I go to to CASE, lol. I hope you give her a try and see for yourself how amazing her crafting is.

Stampin Up Wednesday

I found the inspiration here....
http://www.sandimaciver.com/sandi_maciver/2009/06/flower-fancy-stamp-set-smells-like-coffee-mmmmmmmmm.html

but, I wanted to change the colors...not that I don't love her color combo, but I have been in the mood to use these colors: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Melon Mambo, and Pink Pirouette. The funny thing is that Stampin Up retires their IN COLORs every year, and some of them go really well with the next year's colors. This, in my opinion, is the perfect example of the In Colors remaining trendy even into the next year. Stamps sets used are Sincere Salutations and Flower Fancy.

Technique Tuesday's paper cutting guide for the big shot XL dies

I don't remember where I found this techinque, I went looking for it a couple months after I had seen it, but couldn't find it, so I took what I remembered and pieced it together. You take 12x12 cardstock and cut it at the 7 inch mark, cutting down 7 inches. Rotate the cardstock 90 degrees clockwise and cut at the 7 inch mark, cutting down 7 inches. Repeat this for the other two sides. When you are done, you should have 4 7x5 cuts and 1 2x2 cut. These cuts should work well with some of the big shot XL dies. Even if you don't use them for the big shot, this is a great way of getting the most out of your 12x12 cardstock cuts.

Cricut Monday

I loved the Rockability paeprs from Stampin Up, but wanted more of the background to show on the scalloped square paper. So I took on of the papers and used my expression to make the scalloped square on it. The scalloped square comes from the Mini Monograms cartridge. Now I have heard from the Cricut Messageboard that the scalloped squares don't cut out right, but I seemed to have no problems with it. Also used from Cricut was the Hello Kitty Font. I am totally in love with this font, and have used it on quite a few things, including masculine layouts. It really is a very versatile font. Also used it Stampin Up's Rockability Specialty Papers, IN Color (08-09) papers, Just Jawing stamp set, A Little Something hostess set from Stampin Up, RHR ribbon from Stampin Up, black ribbon from HL, Martha Stewart Garnet glitter, Martha Stewart Carrara Marble coarse glitter, and Stampin up embossing powder and ink pads. I love the way the Carrara Marble glitter makes the skull look more like bone. As Mavis, from my fav. book series would say TTC, or too totally cool!

This uses CTMH papers called Unforgettable. The stamp sets I used were Aspiration and Kanji Phrases. I used the 3/8 white organdy ribbon that I dyed with my ink pad. I used photos of shells from the fishing scene to make my letters for my title.

I love the way that the papers suggest a since of calm and relaxation. The papers, while they have an eastren flair, go really well with water scenes.

My favs. Thursday

As my very first "My favs Thusday" post, I wanted to feature one of my favorite blogs authored by Becky Roberts. Her blog
http://www.inkingidaho.blogspot.com/
has been a great source of inspiration for me, and I constantly look out for her new tutorials. She designs these tutorials herself using the Stampin Up products that she demos. Her most recent tutorial, Traveling Trio features The Write Stuff Specialty Designer Series Paper Packet. The picture is from Becky's blog, as I have yet to complete the project because I am still awaiting supplies.


And you can get this fabulous tutorial for yourself for $3.95 here.
http://www.inkingidaho-tutorials.blogspot.com/

When I first looked at these papers, I was not impressed, but as always, Becky seems to pull the projects together in such a way that I usually end up loving the papers that she features. Becky has been instrumental in my paper crafting going into the 3-D area. Whoever thought that paper could be so much fun?

My blog gets organized

I am going to be featuring different elements on my blog every weekday.

Mondays-Cricut Day-Will feature projects using the cricut.
Tuesdays-Technique Day-Will feature different tips and techniques that I use with my crafting.
Wednesdays-Stampin Up Day-Will feature projects using my Stampin Up supplies.
Thursdays-My favs. Day-Will feature my favorite products.
Fridays-CTMH Day-Since I am a consultant, seems fair to feature the products I demo.

I hope this new format will be inspirational and fun for everyone.

A day at the beach

You know that you have to spend some time on the beach playing if you are fishing at the beach. I have some cuter pics of my kids, but I want to save those for the cool layouts that I have floating in my head.

No crafting pics to post because I am down in Corpus Christi fishing for kingfish and flounder. But I thought that this picture that my dh took while working at the Fort Stockton airport is pretty cool. That is a baby owl. I don't remember what kind of owl he said it was, but he said that the parents get much bigger. He said that while they were clearing rock to pour concrete he came across this baby owl. Luckily they were able to contact Animal Control and someone came out and took this baby to a safer location.

New technique

This layout is in anticipation of the new puppy we will be getting at the end of next month. The new technique i used is adding a photo book onto a layout. I saw the flip flaps from CTMH and thought that I could make something very similar, therefore not have to buy them. I used my clear envelopes to make it. I know that the picture that does not show the photobook, but it is under the pumpking pie flap with the brads.

I made this card for my dh's cousin for his 40th birhtday. I wanted something masculine, using some retired papers and something that I did not CASE from anywhere. I am pretty happy with the results.

Bella bleu butterflies

Well, I decided to jump on the blog bandwagon. So here it goes... I created this layout using the Bella Bleu DSP from Stampin Up. My friend had ordered it before me and paired it up with Tangerine Tango cardstock. I found that I really didn't like the color combo and was sure that the DSP was not for me. Then I found this card on SCS

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1385015?si=SUO

and fell in love with the papers. Here is the scrapbook layout I designed CASEing this card. I think that I will use it as my DD's fourth birhtday layout.