Weekly Challenge and Don't Forget About My Giveaway!

Good morning? Have you visited the Cricut Circle Blog yet? It is only open to everyone for 9 more days! Be sure to visit today....there will be GIVEAWAYS ALL Day!!! (Only Circle members are eligible to win. But scroll down here for your chance to win a FREE Gypsy! Anyone can win here! : )

Each week join us for “Challenge Friday” where we will announce a new creative challenge. We want you to feel inspired to use your supplies in new ways. Have fun with it! Check back often to see the beautiful entries from your Circle Friends . . . you are sure to leave with a desire to get cutting!

Weekly Challenge #1: OOH, LA LA! FRENCH MANOR!

Pull out your FRENCH MANOR CARTRIDGE and create a project of your choice (card, scrapbook page, home decor project, . . . the sky’s the limit!). But here’s the catch, your project must also include JEWELS or PEARLS. Project must be newly created for this challenge and must include at least 2 cuts to qualify. This challenge is open to Cricut Circle Members only. Submit your entry using the InLinkz tool found at the bottom of the post on the Cricut Circle Blog. You must submit a project to be entered into the drawing. Entries are due by 11:59 pm MST on Thursday, October 7th, 2010. When you submit your entry, your name will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $25 Credit to your Cricut.com account!

NOTE: If you are brand NEW to the Cricut Circle and haven’t received your French Manor cartridge . . . feel free to play along using similar images from other cartridges. : )

The little pillow was created with the rounded square from the George & Basic Shapes cartridge. It was cut at 3/4" and yes.......I did actually make the tiny fringe around the pillow. Crazy right? : )

This would be a great card for someone who just bought a new home......

The inside sentiment........done on the computer.

Here were the two cards used on my Intro post yesterday on the Cricut Circle Blog. They were cut at 5" using the Country Life cartridge. I used identical cuts for both cards but totally different papers. Amazing how paper choices can totally change the feel of the card! This first one is using Graphic 45 papers, vintage buttons, and a gold ribbon.

This second one is using Melissa Frances papers, lots of glitter and pearls, and a purple satin ribbon.

I've had a few people ask how my flowers were glittered. I cut the flowers twice. The top layer gets a coat of Crystal Effects and then I bend the petals the way I want them while they are still wet. Then give it a good dose of glitter, shake off excess! Adhere to other flowers with a foam dot.

Are you still with me? Did you enter for a chance to win a FREE GYPSY???? If you didn't leave a comment be sure to go HERE and leave one today! I will pick TWO winners next Friday using Random.org!!!!

Good luck! And thank you so much for your kind words and comments! It means a lot to me!

NEWS! and a HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!

Happy Friday everyone! I have so much to share with you today!!! First off, I wanted to announce my HUGE news! I am a part of the Provo Craft, Cricut Circle DT!!! Not only for the on-line magazine, but also for their brand NEW blog!!! It launches today!!! You HAVE to check it out! It is open to the public for 7 days and then will only be available to the Cricut Circle. That's why ya gotta join the circle! : ) What is the Circle you ask?

The Cricut Circle is Provo Craft’s affinity program. Provo Craft launched the Cricut Circle on July 1, 2010. The Circle is a place to Inspire, Educate and Create. This program enables crafters to see Provo Craft products first, be involved in specialized focus groups and surveys, receive special pre-launch specials on select Provo Craft products, a private blog and message board for Circletes to foster a special crafting community. Additionally, Cricut Circle members will enjoy 4 exclusive cartridges—one each quarter, instructional webinars and double reward points for purchases on Cricut.com.

The Cricut Circle is available for annual or quarterly installments. To purchase a membership to the Cricut Circle visit cricut.com. Annual memberships are $274.99 and quarterly memberships at $79.99.

There are tons of giveaways (for circle members only) and challenges like crazy on the blog! Here is a sneak peek at my project that will be going live today at 5 PM. Until then.....you will get to "meet" the other designers and see all of their fabulous projects! They are gonna knock your socks off!!!

Would you like to win a Gypsy? If you own a Cricut this is a definite must have! You can create anything you want, anywhere you want. It's like a Nintendo for grown ups and retails for $299.99! Want more info on what this amazing little machine can do? Click HERE! What do you have to do to win? Just leave a comment here and be sure to check out Provo Craft's new blog! Promise? : ) I will pick TWO winners!!! on Friday, October 8th, using Random.org! ANYONE can win the Gypsies! You don't have to be a part of the circle to win this prize!!!! WOOHOO!

Be sure check the Cricut Circle blog over the next 7 days! : )

Have a very happy weekend!!!!! : )

JustRite 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hop #4!

Welcome to JustRite Stampers’ newest Wednesday feature, 12 Weeks of Christmas Blog Hops #4! Every Wednesday up until Thanksgiving some of your favorite designers will be joining some of the JustRite design team for a series of Christmas blog hops, showcasing JustRite’s entire Christmas Collection of stamps! This week, it’s the Spellbinders design team! So mark your calendars for Wednesdays at 9am Central for great Christmas gift, card & project ideas, starting at the JustRite Inspiration blog!

I actually have TWO projects to share with you today using the Groovy Snowman set! AND there is a 3rd posted on the JustRite blog! If you would like step by step directions, these projects are under the Featured Project at the JustRite site. You can download all of the directions there to save for future reference! So I am not going to go into too much detail here....since you can get all the info you need HERE! : )

How about a little "Snowman Soup?" Wouldn't this be a cute little gift for a teacher or bus driver? Just alter a little can, print the Snowman Soup poem, add hot chocolate, marshmallows, mint stir sticks, and a few Hershey kisses!

And how about a homemade ornament to give as a little present and as a package topper? Remember to go HERE for a complete list of products and instructions! : )

Please visit these designers’ blogs to see what fabulous JustRite Christmas inspiration they have for you on the hop today!

JustRite Inspiration Blog
Spellbinders Paper Arts
Becca Feeken
Mona Pendleton
Debbie Olson
Ashley Cannon Newell
Sharon Harnist
Eva Dobilas
Kazan Clark
Beate Johns
Kellie Fortin
Margie Higuchi
Kathy Jones
Regina Hanson
Sankari Wegman
Deborah Young
Angela Barkhouse
Michele Kovack < ----------ME!!! : )
Terre Fry
Barb Schram

Thanks for visiting!!! : )

Dahlia....

Good morning!! I have a Crafty Secret's card to share with you today! It uses the new Dahlia set which I love because it is so much fun to color! I also like the fact that you can cut the flowers and stack 'em up! I colored them in with Copics and bent the petals up a bit. I then added Crystal Effects and sprinkled glitter on top of them! The papers I used are Papertrey Ink and Wild Asparagus.......do you remember Wild Asparagus? I don't think they are even in business anymore are they? Course being the hoarder I am, I still have quite a bit of it left!

For my finishing touches, I added pearls in the corners and a couple of cross stitches.

On Friday there will be some exciting stuff happening! Can't wait to share with y'all!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!!!

Parenthood....

Noel Mignon is hosting a new challenge this week..........to use a favorite TV show title as part of your LO. My favorite show right now has to be, Parenthood. It is one of those shows that makes you laugh one minute and cry the next. It shows how families can drive you crazy and yet how much we need one another. So here is my spin on the show.......
I used Noel's Office Party kit (sold out) as well as my Cricut machine and Opposite Attract cartridge for the title and "stick pins."

The ticket was Glimmer Misted, painted in white, and inked on the edges to give it a shabby feel.

My journaling reads:

Parenthood is tough. Tiring. Difficult. Rewarding. Heart wrenching. Wonderful. Tiring. Aggravating. All of these things wrapped into one. Our little family was created 15 years ago. We could never, ever, have imagined that parenting could be so tough. We live together day after day, and there are times we can barely stand the sight of one another, and days where we laugh until our sides ache, and days where tears are shed and hearts are broken. We can drive each other crazy, or are driven into each other's arms for comfort. At the end of the day, this is where our hearts are. Just us. Our Little Family. And as a parent......I wouldn't have it any other way.

Be sure to check out the other DT gals' inspiration this week!!! Hope you can play along in this week's challenge!

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Be sure to check back later this week! Lot's of exciting things will be happening!!!!! EEK!