Christmas Tree

I found this darling star banner from the Cricut cartridge, Joys of the Season and used it on my Pink  Poinsettias card. I decided to use it again on this Christmas Tree card.

I started with Mojo Monday's Sketch #321. This is an extremely versatile sketch that let's you play with patterned paper.

Instead of a circle, I cut an scalloped oval and inked in olive green. The Christmas tree is stamped with a forest green and them embossed for some shine. A small red jewel is at the top of the tree.

Here's a tip: always look at the dollar bin in your craft store. You will never believe what you can find. The bow at the bottom of the card is a hair ribbon from a pack out of the dollar bin.

Other challenges entered:

Through the Purple Haze
Bitten By the Bug 2: Christmas Card.
Paper Playtime: Anything Goes.
The Crafter's Cafe Challenge: Anything Goes.

Challenge #3: Christmas without Green or Red

Challenge #3
Here are the details: if you want to enter, click: HERE. 

Christmas without Green or Red.
Want to be a guest designer, put GDT next to your name in your entry.

Sponsor:

Craffiti Direct

Remember you can create any paper craft - card, layout, tag, etc.

Codes: 2W, 3E, C5.

Review Challenge Rules for this blog.

Review Challenge Helpful Tips.

Mutiple Ways to Win: 

•   The Top 3 Picks will be listed with links to their blogs. The Winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to Craffiti Direct. 

•   If we have 15 or more entries, there will be a Random Prize winner. You will receive a $5 gift certificate to Craffiti Direct. 

To claim your prize, email scrapbookerphd@gmail.com. 

Pink Poinsettias

This is my second Christmas card using the Cricut Cartridge, Joys of the Season. I remember when this cartridge was brand new, and I barely used it. For this year's round of holiday cards, I've challenged myself to use Joys of the Season more often.

The poinsettias here were cut at 2.5, and I took Copic glitter markers to line and detail the leaves. The raspberry layer is glitter paper from DCWV so is the classic glitter patterned paper from the Linen Closet mat stack.

I don't know how I ever lived without my Cricut Craft Room. I was able to size the banner perfectly to fit the card in just seconds. I tried different colors for the banner, and decided on the yellowish gold to pick up the center of the poinsettias.

Challenges Entered:

The Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog: Sparkle and Bling.
Bitten By the Bug 2: Christmas Card.

MACH 3

When I was asked to make this MACH card to celebrate Team Nina's third MACH, I was stumped. Almost all of my MACH cards feature ribbons and banners. I came across this camera icon on the Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking, and decided to take this congratulations card in a different direction. The camera is inked in silver with a little glitter for extra pop.

The smile circle is cut from Cricut's Going Places. I was specifically asked to use this image of an agility poodle, so I mimicked the layered circles. Both circles are heavily chalked to match the paper.

Go Nina.

Challenge #3 Christmas without Green or Red.

It's time for Challenge #3, Christmas without Green and Red. But first... 

Challenge #2 Top Three for Anything That Flies:

Valerie W. 

Paper Munch.

Nadja Robbing.

Challenge #2 Winner for Anything That Flies:
(Email us at scrapbookerphd@gmail.com to claim your prize.)

Valerie W. 

Thank you to everyone who participated. This was a very successful challenge, and I am looking forward to see what you up with for the next round. 

Challenge #3

Christmas without Green or Red.
Want to be a guest designer, put GDT next to your name in your entry.

Sponsor:

Craffiti Direct

Remember you can create any paper craft - card, layout, tag, etc.

Codes: 2W, 3E, C5.

Review Challenge Rules for this blog.

Review Challenge Helpful Tips.

Mutiple Ways to Win: 

•   The Top 3 Picks will be listed with links to their blogs. The Winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to Craffiti Direct. 

•   If we have 15 or more entries, there will be a Random Prize winner. You will receive a $5 gift certificate to Craffiti Direct. 

To claim your prize, email scrapbookerphd@gmail.com. 

Check out our DT inspiration. 

Christmas Believe

Christmas Caroling

From Shawn Mosch we have two excellent examples using butterflies. Visit Shawn at Crafty Chics. Don't forget, Shawn is the mastermind behind MyCutSearch for Cricut users.

Christmas Caroling

For ScrapbookerPhD's third challenge, Christmas without Green or Red, I decided to go with white and blue, with lots of sparkle. The background of the stamp is dusted with Perfect Pearls for a shimmery look.

Christmas Believe

For ScrapbookerPhD's third challenge, Christmas without Green or Red, I knew I wanted to use various shades of brown and cream with a vintage feel. The fairy image is courtesy of our Sponsor, Craffiti Direct Stamps. It is the Flower Fairy Princess stamp set. Visit their site today!

Challenges Entered:

Vintage Stamping Challenge: Traditional Christmas.
Oldie but a Goodie: CAS Christmas.

Christmas Hen

It's time for a traditional Christmas card.

I went back to an oldie but a goodie, Cricut Joys of the Season. This French hen just jumped out at me, and it worked perfectly with Reflections, Garden Harvest, patterned paper.

The basket is embossed with a chicken wire folder, and the sentiment is tied with a variety of bright orange and brown textured fibers. Two vintage photo corners are popped up at the corners of the second layer.

Challenges Entered:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge: Animal Crackers.
Creative Moments: Anything Goes CAS.

Disney Red

Choose a color: red, pink or purple.

I went with red for the challenge over at Through the Purple Haze.

Since their sponsor is Sassy Studio Designs, I decided to use their Disney digital stamp.

For this card, I used a combination of Disney themed papers, and a Disney punch. To keep the "red" the focal point, I only inked the Mickey balloons and ears on the stamp and used a glittery red for the punches.

Such a fun card to make!

White Christmas

I am in love with my Cricut Cuttlebug especially for holidays. For this card, I used two different embossing folders to create a White Christmas CAS card. I added a touch of green and red to break up the white. Brads work as ornaments on the Christmas tree, and the silver snowflakes compliment the embossed snowflakes.

Challenges Entered:

Oldie But a Goodie: CAS Christmas.
C... is for Challenge: Winter is Coming.
Clear it Out: Snowflake.
4 Crafty Chicks: Snowflakes.

Snow

Is there snow in the air?

Not in Georgia.

This CAS card uses the Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking to make the snowflake border. It's cut with thick glitter cardstock, so I used the multi-cut function and cut 4 times. 

The patterned paper is gorgeous. It shines!

Challenges entered: 

Less is More: Designer Paper (CAS).

Creative Creations: Sparkle and Shine. 

Paper Playtime: Sparkle. 

4 Crafty Chicks: Snowflakes.

Autumn Leaves

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Soon, families will be dividing up the cooking, and taking family photos.

Family Thanksgiving dinner is always at my Aunt and Uncle's home.
I made this card to celebrate giving thanks with my family.

I was immediately inspired by this gorgeous green and brown swirl patterned paper by My Mind's Eye, Bohemia.

Now that I have the Cricut Cartridge, Small Talk Frames & Tags, I was easily able to cut the banners. The leaves were cut using my Cricut Cartridge, Artbooking. To give everything a slightly aged look, I inked all of the edges.

Here's tip.
Don't forget the envelopes.
I cut a small leaf to match the card, and placed it in the corner of the envelope.

Challenges Entered:

Sunday Stamps: Sketch.
Glitter n Sparkle: Autumn Colors.
Crafty Girls: Anything Goes.
The Pink Elephant: Photo Inspiration.
Craftin Desert Divas: Thanksgiving.

Mistletoe Kiss

First, I have to brag on my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  My stamping has come so far with the aide of these markers. I love the fine details and wide choices of color that I can use to make my stamping so vibrant. I took advantage of my markers on my Mistletoe Kisses card.

When coloring this stamp, I really wanted her hair to be glittery, so I used a silver glitter marker (not Spectrum). I chalked all of her skin in a light pink. For her coat, I used a combination of blue Spectrum colors. Jewels in the corners really added to the sparkle.

Challenges Entered:
Through the Purple Haze: Winter with Delicious Doodles Digi Stamps.
ABC Christmas: Winter Wishes.
C...is for Challenge: Winter is Coming.
Creative Creations Challenge: Winter is Coming.
Paper Playtime: Sparkle.

Thank You Butterfly

I have been wanting to use the patterned paper on this card for ages. I only had one sheet, and I have no idea what company makes it. Luckily, it was a double sided pattern, so it worked beautifully together. The base of the card came together quickly. But then, I hit a road block. I always find that putting the card aside for awhile gives me new perspective and motivation.

To offset the colors, I used the tan Thank You ribbon. To satisfy the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, I also wanted to add buttons. The two buttons on the bottom of the page have yellow jewels in them to hide the stitching holes. 

While this is a fall (Thanksgiving) Thank You card, I used the touch of blue to let the gorgeous butterfly stand out. I used my Artbooking Cricut Cartridge to cut the butterfly. 

Entered in other challenges: 

Glitter and Sparkle Challenge: Autumn Colors. 

Created with Love Challenges: Thank You.

Die Cut Divas: Buttons

Craftin Divas: Thanksgiving. 

ScrapbookerPhD Challenge #2

Challenge #2
Here are the details: if you want to enter, click HERE.

Anything That Flies And we mean anything!

Want to be a Guest Designer, put GDT next to your name in your entry.

SPONSOR:

Get Inky Stamps by

Blue Moon Crafting Station

Remember you can create any paper craft - card, layout, tag, etc.

Codes: 2W, 3E, C5.

Review Challenge Rules for this blog.

Review Challenge Helpful Tips.

Mutiple Ways to Win: 

•   The Top 3 Picks will be listed with links to their blogs. The Winner will receive the mini buzzing bee stamp set. (Picture below.)

•   If we have 15 or more entries, there will be a Random Prize winner. You will be able to choose 2 digital stamps from Blue Moon Crafting.

Flyball

Flyball is an exciting dog sport that is a type of relay race. Professional photographers are always on site taking action photos. Meet, Charlie, the subject of my layout. 

Kathy's Waffle Sketch was perfect for these Flyball photos. Since the sketch was a collage, I was able to capture Charlie's facial expressions, her stride, and even her speed. 

As you can see below, I flipped the sketch. When you are using a sketch as inspiration, remember that the orientation of your photos may not work with the sketch without flipping it. Here, Charlie's photos were all horizontal. Flipping the sketch on its side gave me more space to add photos. 

It can be difficult to find new and unique ways to scrapbook dog sport pages. Often, I focus on the dog, using die cuts or stamps of dogs. Other times, I use ribbons to showcase a team that has won the race. Sometimes these natural directions can limit the potential of the layout. Time to go a different direction. This time, I decided to capture the actual sport. Two rows of tennis balls with a sports sentiment on top finished off the layout, and those die cuts really represent the sport. I used my Sports Mania Cricut Cartridge. 

Lobster, Anyone?

My niece just started college and has been stuck eating cafeteria food. My husband and I thought we would send her a gift card for her to enjoy some seafood. She loves lobster. Of course that was an opportunity for me to make an interesting lobster card.

I found this lobster image on my Cricut Pack you Bags Cartridge.
Cricut Artbooking had this great frame with a wave at the bottom, and I also cut the border to have a contrast of color. The sun is chipboard and added a little color. The best part is the fork and knife!

Challenge #2 Anything That Flies

Challenge #1 Winner
We did not have a Top 3 this week. 
But congratulations to our winner:
(Email us at scrapbookerphd@gmail.com to claim your prize.)

Nancy Brown

Challenge #2

Anything That Flies And we mean anything!

Want to be a Guest Designer, put GDT next to your name in your entry.

SPONSOR:

Get Inky Stamps by

Blue Moon Crafting Station

Remember you can create any paper craft - card, layout, tag, etc.

Codes: 2W, 3E, C5.

Review Challenge Rules for this blog.

Review Challenge Helpful Tips.

Mutiple Ways to Win: 

•   The Top 3 Picks will be listed with links to their blogs. The Winner will receive the mini buzzing bee stamp set. (Picture below.)

•   If we have 15 or more entries, there will be a Random Prize winner. You will be able to choose 2 digital stamps from Blue Moon Crafting.

To claim your prize, email scrapbookerphd@gmail.com. 

Check out our DT samples for this challenge:

We Were Meant to Bee!

Fairy Wings

Supergirl Birthday

From Shawn Mosch we have two excellent examples using butterflies. Visit Shawn at Crafty Chics. Don't forget, Shawn is the mastermind behind MyCutSearch for Cricut users.

Supergirl Birthday

For ScrapbookerPhD's 2nd Challenge, Anything That Flies, I knew I wanted to to challenge myself to expand the theme. I've been seeing stair step cards everywhere, so my Supergirl Birthday card is a stair step card. Here's a great stair step card from Cindy at: http://www.cindyvernon.blogspot.com from The Fantabulous Cricut Blog, and another from Kreate With Me 2 from ABC Challenges.

That's how my Supergirl Birthday stair step card came to be using the Cricut Cartridge, Paper Doll Dress Up.

The stair step card may LOOK difficult, but there are a wealth of tutorials available on line. Why not try one now!

Supergirl is accompanied by a bird (as in: it's a bird, a plane, it's Superman) and a coordinating (color) sticker sentiment. I added glitter and a gem to my Supergirl to jazz her up. I couldn't resist placing a small letter "S" on her outfit.

Other Challenges:
Craft Your Passion: More than one fold.
Craftin Desert Divas: Anythng Goes.
Dynamic Duos: Color Challenge.
ABC Challenge: Case a DT.

Fairy Wings

For ScrapbookerPhD's 2nd Challenge, Anything That Flies, I knew I wanted to use a fairy. So I took the opportunity to use Craffiti Direct Stamps. This is the Flower Fairy Princess stamp set. Craffiti Direct will be our sponsor in an upcoming challenge. Visit their site today!

In this card, I wanted to show off the "pink".
The floral pink patterned paper is used in three different areas. Can you find them all?

Sunday Stamps: Sketch.
Brown Sugar: Things with Wings.

Meant to Bee!

For ScrapbookerPhD's 2nd Challenge, Anything That Flies, I knew I wanted to use "bees" to highlight our prize. Bees can represent spring or sunshine or flowers. In my card, I used the sentiment, "We were meant to Bee!" from our sponsor, Blue Moon Creation Crafting Station.

To keep the bees as the focal point, I mounted a cluster of three bees on white flower embossed cardstock. The background is a double layer of orange and polkadots (in yellow, green, and blue). Finally, the sentiment stamp was adhered with light green glitter brads.

A great sketch from Clean & Simple helped guide my design.

Challenges:
Clean & Simple: Sketch.
Brown Sugar Challenge: Anything with Wings.
Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards: Little bugs & critters.

Christmas Stair Step

Thank you so much to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. I participated in their Blog Crawl this week, and found an amazing tutorial to make a Stair Step Card at http://www.cindyvernon.blogspot.com. Cindy's tutorial is so important because she took the time to show that it is okay to make a mistake, and she gave a helpful hint about fixing a mistake. Thanks Cindy!

There are so many wonderful Stair Step Card videos out there - try one today. 

Since I'm starting to make holiday cards, I used this opportunity to make a unique Christmas card. The main feature is the elf which I made using the Cricut Cartridge, Paper Doll Dress Up. (Cut at 3.5 inches.)

I added a few little touches like glitter, the candy cane (brad), and the snowflake. 

The Fourth

I have a wonderful photo of my grandfather from the army that I have been wanting to scrapbook. Not having enough hours in the day, I decided to use that inspiration to create this card. I used Authentique Genuine Collection for the patterned papers. The embellishments are from K&Company. 

Thank you to 365 Card Challenge Blog and to The Sweetest Thing Sunday Sketch Challenge for the extra inspiration. 

MACH

Let me tell you a little bit about this card. First, I used this great sketch from Sunday night's 365 Cards Challenge. But my inspiration came from the weekend competition at a canine agility. In agility, a dog and handler run an obstacle course of varying elements such as jumps, weaves, a dog walk, and more.  When you have a good run, you Q. Meaning, you qualify. My sentiment is actually the acronym, MACH, which stands for Master Agility Champion. This is the highest title you can earn in agility. I imagine my card as a congratulations card for someone who has earned their MACH.

Christmas Dove

YES!
I made it through an entire week of daily card challenges at 365 Cards.
This is my last card for the week.
What a great theme: Scraplift from the DT.

My card was inspired by buttons and arrows used in some of the DT cards. I was especially inspired by Pam's card: http://pamcards.blogspot.com.

Since I used the bold black and white button paper, I chose a specialty green for the arrow border cut  from Cricut's Artbooking. I added pops of Christmas red in the flower and the square peace sticker. I included a couple of white buttons on the border to tie into the paper, and included a silver brad at the top of the border. Finally, my favorite element is the dove, a layered brad.

Thank you to C is for Challenge where there happened to be a button challenge at the same time.