New Challenge and a Tutorial!

This week's challenge is all about scrapbooking style. Do you ever wonder what defines your style? I floundered with mine for a long time. I tried emulating other scrappers and sometimes failed miserably! But shabby, vintage......this was comfortable. Me. My style. Noel Mignon described me as a technique scrapper. I guess I would agree......I love to experiment, play and see what comes of it. So not only do I have a LO to share of my dear grandma....AKA: Nonnie, but I also have a tutorial down below on how to create the butterflies I used on my page. (Sweet Sue kit was used).
The pictures were taken on her 90th birthday. And yes.....that is my sister on the right.....we kind of look alike right? : )

I used my Cricut machine and the Storybook cartridge to create the title. I also added Shimmerz to make it sparkle and a bit of machine stitching.

Here is one of my lil butterflies, using the technique I will show you in a bit! : ) The flowers were created with Provo Craft's new Quilling kits. Can you say FABULOUS! Love the dimension of these flowers! And I also added Shimmerz spray to these too!

Here is my large butterfly! I love the texture this has!

So, if you are interested in making these butterflies I have a little tutorial for you. Now I happen to have these old Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders, but you could use ANY butterfly die and embossing folder.

Once you have your butterfly die and embossing folders, you will also need clear embossing powder and Versamark.

Die cut your butterfly and set aside. Stamp the inside of your embossing folder with the Versamark Ink.....on one side only! Slip your die cut butterfly into embossing folder and emboss through your Cuttlebug or Big Shot machine.

Your butterfly will pick up the Versamark on only the raised parts of the embossing folder.

Dump clear embossing powder on top of it, shake excess off, and heat emboss.

Now it should look shiny.

Grab some Glimmer Mist......

.... and spray it to desired colors!

Take a tissue and remove excess Glimmer Mist.

This is what it looks like when it is done. I inked the edges in a dark walnut ink when I was done to distress it and shabby it up a bit more.

Here is another example using a different embossing folder. I actually used this butterfly on the LO, but used a smaller Martha Stewart butterfly punch to make smaller butterflies!

If you would like to see the other DT's gals and what defines their style head on over HERE!

Hope you have a wonderful Monday!!!

I'm Gettin' Old!

OK, ok , I know 39 isn't really old......but today makes me realize how very fast time goes. How living each and every day to the fullest is so important. To take the little things in life and make 'em the big things. Relish in them. I try to do this. Everyday.

So here's a lil' card I have to share with you that uses the sentiment from the Baroque Nested Frame's set from JustRite. I stamped in in Olive on cream cardstock. I used a scalloped paper punch and distressed the edges. The butterfly was cut from a pair of Cortney's shorts, using a Spellbinder's die. (Yep.....still using up her crazy plaid shorts!LOL!) I dyed my own seam binding with Glimmer Mist and Coffee grounds (Tutorial HERE if you are interested. ) and plopped the butterfly right on top of it. I added a button, twine, and 2 pretty stick pins to finish it off!

I was complaining to my husband yesterday that there was no coffee in the house. (We are long overdue to grocery shop.....can you tell?) So this morning I woke up to a card that read:

To My Wife

You do that one thing.

You Know?

That one amazing thing?

I love the way you do that thing......

Then you open it up and it says: I call it, "putting up with me!"

HA HA! And best yet? He went to the store very early this morning and not only bought me coffee but made me a pot!

(Photo taken by Kyle!)

Thank you for the many birthday wishes! I appreciate them so much! It truly warms my heart!!

Have a great weekend! : )

So Very Thankful!

Good morning! I have a Cutting Cafe' card to share with you today! This particular sentiment is part of the, So Thankful Circle Word Printable set. I decided to use some fall inspired colors on this card. Fall is definitely in the air.....the temps are cooler, the leaves are starting to change, and my mums are planted! All papers are by Papertrey Ink and all circles/scallops were cut using Spellbinders. I did a bit of hand stitching, added a few rhinestones and adhered a felt leaf I found at Hobby Lobby. A simple card. But sometimes simple is good. : )

And on a personal note......Cortney started high school last week....but I have yet to get a good picture of my girl. I'll keep trying until I get a decent one.......hence the reason you haven't seen her cut mug on here in awhile. : ) Kyle is doing well in 8th so far.....no problems with the kids yet. (Thank goodness.....knock on wood!) He has joined several clubs.....Book Club, Drama, and Track and Field. He is already setting his sights on a private high school in the area.....so I am trying to get a date for him to "Shadow." This is a day where he follows another student throughout his day to see what it is like.

So life is busy. Life is good. Thank you for all of your sweet comments and visits!!!

JustRite Christmas Blog Hop!

Good morning and happy Wednesday to you! For the next 8 weeks JustRite will be featuring all of their new sets and maybe even a surprise or two along the way! They have some fabulous holiday sets out and believe me before you know it the holidays will sneak up on us! So this year, be prepared and get a head start on those holiday cards! (Cuz I am definitely one to talk....I am always so prepared! LOL!) For today's hop I chose the Backyard Bird's set. I colored the two cardinals and the ribbon with Copic colors, . Both were cut out and Crystal Effects was then added to them. I placed the cut out cardinal on top of the other cardinal using a foam square. The background was airbrushed with B0000 and BG01. The pine cones were colored with E31, E35, and E37 . The evergreen branches were colored with G00, G85, YG63, and YG95 . To create a matte for the image I cut out the center of a small doily and accordion folded the perimeter. I then smashed it down....gently, and added the cardinal image on top of it. The Kraft paper is from Papertrey Ink and was cut using Spellbinder's Label Ten . I hand stitched the perimeter with cream thread. Buttons were added as well.

I applied liquid applique to the branches, and while heating it up, I sprinkled glitter to it. Not sure who the paper is by....it was a scrap in my scrap pile.

Would you like FREE shipping??? : )
JustRite is offering a free shipping coupon code--
for September 8, 9th,10th-- please enter this code into the promotional code box at checkout CBHOP1 , the offer will expire at midnight PST and is only good for orders shipped within the United States and its Us Territories.


Would you love some more Christmas inspiration? Head on over to the rest of the talented DT! They are sure to get you in the holiday spirit!

JustRite Blog
Sharon Harnist
Becca Feeken
Kathy Jones
Debbie Olson
Kazan Clark
Stephanie Kraft
Angela Barkhouse
Michele Kovack < --------- ME! : ) Barb Schram
Heidi Blankenship
Sankari Wegman
Kellie Fortin

Thanks for popping on by today!!! Have a fabulous day!

Sunflower....

Good morning! I have a card to share with you today using a new Crafty Secret's stamp. Sandy (the owner of CS) has come out with some gorgeous new flower images. I love that they are large and take up most of the card! The one I used today is the Sunflower. I colored the image with my Copics.......twice. I cut out the second sunflower and added 3 different Stickles to the center. 3 shades of brown. I used a pin to mix the colors a bit, so the "rings" of color weren't so distinct. The rest of the flower was covered with Crystal Lacquer and set aside to dry. Once dry, I bent the petals up a bit and placed it on a foam circle in the center of the first flower. The frame and tag are cut using my Spellbinder's dies. Rhinestones and scrunchy seam binding were added as finishing touches.
I love the look of the Stickles! : )

Off to start my 4 day work week! (......niiiiiiiiiiiice!) I could get used to this!

Have a wonderful Tuesday! Thanks so much for visiting!!!

Having Fun With My Cricut!

Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day to you! I hope you are enjoying your day resting and being with family or friends! I am having my MIL and FIL for an impromptu birthday BBQ for me. It will be laid back and the hubby is cooking....so it's all good!

As many of you know I am working with Provo Craft and am thrilled to be on their DT! Most of my work will not be shown here, because it is part of the Cricut Circle. But I am getting so addicted to my machine that I've been creating like a mad woman with it! This card for instance is just a "Cuz I felt like it" kind of a card! The cherries were cut using the Country Life cartridge. I cut several layers, inked the edges, and of course added my trademark glitter! The circles were cut with my Spellbinders and hand stitched. I used my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and a bit of satin ribbon.
The stamp is an oldie.....by Stampendous. It was stamped in Pure Poppy by Papertrey Ink.

One of my sweet friends, Margie, sent me these photos that she had taken at CHA. Here is my hubby and I walking with the Cricut Bug. We were the bug's "Handlers!" LOL!

And a couple of pics of me working the PC booth! It was tiring but sooooo fun! I got to meet so many wonderful people and it was truly a once in a lifetime experience!

And one last pic.......Thanks Margie for sending me these! Now maybe at some point I will scrap 'em! : )

Whatever your plans are for today, I hope you have a great one!

Blog Candy Winner!

Random.org picked number 15! The winner is Creative Mish! She said:

Wow! This looks like an awesome set of goodies to win! Congrats on the blog count!
Send me your e-mail address, and I will get your goodies mailed off to ya! : )

Thanks everyone for all of your lovely comments! I appreciate each and every one of them!