Scrap idea book add on

Hello Crafters,
I totally forgot...did anyone notice the 'e' looks a little funny? That's because I used up some older stickers and didn't have an 'e' left so it is actually an unside down 'a'. How is that for recycling lol! It was just a scrap pad for me so I was not being too picky! Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to what to do with all those 'left over stickers' you get once all the commonly used letters are gone? I have sheets and sheets of them but just don't have the heart to throw them out.
Tara

Crafting with Christina Challenge Entry

I found a 'new to me' blog last night Crafting with Cristina and I was super excited to see the challenge that she has going on. Companion Challenge #2: Create a recycled project. How fun is that?! I made the notebook below for the challenge. I am forever hunting up a piece of scrap paper to write my scrapbooking/card making/challenge ideas on so I thought why not make myself a cute notebook that can set out and not only be in arms reach but also inspire me. As for the recycled parts I used boxes from the recycling bin for the covers, sheets of  paper from an old day by day calendar that I was using for scrap paper already and two end pieces of plastic binding coils that I had cut off other notebooks (I don't mind that my coil is in two pieces and honestly you really can't even tell). Thanks for looking!
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Disney Word Book

Hello Crafters,
I finally finished the Disney word book that I have been working on as a gift. It turned out better then I even imagined and now I wish I had gone to Disney so I could keep it for myself lol. Funny how all the really cool things I make I always have a plan to give them away. I am going to have to start making myself projects! haha. All the pattern papers I used are from DCWV - The Glitter Stack and Pressed Petals Printed Paper Pad (sorry there is no name brand on this pad). Sorry about the quailty of the photos, I have really bad lighting in my craft room until the evening sun comes around but I could not wait to take the photos today and post it for everyone to see!

This is the front view. You can sort of tell in the picture that I used black glitter paper for the letters and the roofs on the towers. In real life the effect is great because it really makes the book pop and gives it that magical effect that only glitter can! The glitter paper I used is from a Colorbok pad (there is only one 'o' with two little dots over it that I am unsure of how to make on the computer). Honestly I found this glitter paper to be really messy and a lot of the glitter comes off. I have another pad that has some glitter pages in it and I don't have that problem there. You should have seen my mat after cutting these letters :S

I wanted this book to be just for pictures that tell the story all on their own because it is such a small book. So I left no room for journaling and the only words in the book are the title and these on the first page. I used my fiskars threading water punch on this page (one of those investments that I have yet to regret)!

Note the Bling Mickey's. I saw these exact same blings into Walmart for $5 for a sheet of no more then 20. I went to Dollarama and purchased a pack of 100 black bling (3 sizes on the same sheet) for yep a $1 and placed them just like the ones in walmart. That makes me feel so thrifty! All the fabric ribbon through out the book is also all from Dollarama. You get 4 little rolls of all the same colour but with different designs (ie. strips, dots, etc.) for $1. You only get a very small amount on each roll but it is prefect for things like this.

On this page I used my spots and dots cuttlebug folder (you are not really going to see this once the picture gets placed but it makes it look pretty for now)! The stars and ribbon again were from Dollarama.

I found these blinged out corners at...wait for it...Dollarama. I fell in love with them but after using them my love is a bit more like. Once you peel them off their backing they get all twisted up and stick to themselves and are a real pain in the butt. You have to have a great deal of patience with them but they look pretty!

If you notice the writing on my photo mats it is because I recorded to size that the photos should be so that there will still be a bit of a border. The person I made this book for is not a scrapbooker so I thought I would help her out as much as I could.

This was my favourite page because I just loved the castle (I am a princess at heart)! No really I once was a real princess... I'll tell you all about it sometime :) I kept this last page pretty simple because I think the castle needed to be the center of attetion!

Thank you so much for looking and I am not sure how as of yet but if anyone knows how and wants to teach me I would love to share my cut file for this!

Now I am off to spend the beautiful day on the South Shore! Happy Crafting!

Tara

Yippy!

Hello Crafters,
I am soooo excited I just found out that I was chosen as the project of the week over on the BBTB2 blog  and I now get to display their blinky on my blog! Yippy! This is my first time winning anything so as you can imagine I am over the roof happy right now! Thanks Karen from BBTB2!!! Here is the link to my winning project if you missed it! Owl notebooks post
Tara

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Entry

Hello again Crafters,
I was just doing a little blog hopping and found that the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge site has a new challenge up. http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com/ For this challenge you must use an animal cricut cut. I have been working non-stop on my Cuba scrapbook for the trip we took in March and well I just finished some of the zoo section pages! If you are wondering why there are no titles on these pages it is because there is going to be a section of my scrapbook all about the zoo so it will have it's own title page. Like a mini album within the scrapbook. I just had so many wonderful zoo photos I could not pick only a few for a couple pages lol! I am so happy I can enter this in the challenge because I really like how this one turned out. Thanks for looking and leave links under my comments if you enter this challenge too as I love looking at other peoples work and especially when it is a cute theme like animals!!!
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Grampy's Birthday Card

Hello Crafters,
This was a super simple card I made for my Grampy for his birthday. I didn't even use the cricut, can you imagine that! He lives in Ontario so I thought the saying fit well as I can't actually give him a hug in person. The stamp used was from a set I picked up at Michaels recently, TPC Studio - playful expression. I love this set and can see myself getting lots of use out of the many wonderful quotes. One to check out for sure! Well, off to tackle that word book again...wish me luck!
Happy crafting!
Tara

Deep cut blade nightmare

Howdy Crafters! (I got my old west cart. in the mail yesterday...can u tell? lol)

Anyways, I thought I would write a post about my nightmare of a time I have been having the last couple of days. I decided since I now have the DS software I would try to do a word book. I figured out all the pages on the software and really it took me no time at all. I was thinking this is going to work out great! I got the chipboard and the deep cut blade ($40.00 for the housing and one blade! Much more then I was expecting) thought I was set.

As it turns out my machine does not like chipboard even a little bit! It was getting all jammed up and the noises wanted to make me cry. I followed the settings on the cricut website and did everything exactly as I was told. I even used a brand new mat because I heard the chipboard can move around a bit. Well, my moved not only a bit but so much so that it jammed up my machine three times. After three attempts, three ruined pieces of chipboard and what felt like hours of anxiety that I was breaking something I gave up on the chipboard.

I then got a couple pieces of cardboard from the back of my paper packs and cereals boxes and began cutting this. My machine was okay with this but the mat still did not want to hold on to anything. Millions of cuts and re-cuts later (lets not speak of all the waste that is now in my recycling bin) I have finally got my pages all cut out and the cardstock attached.

As for the deep house I wish I had read more reviews because it seems that on multi-cut the cricut will cut through cardboard fine and from this day forward that is the thickest material I will be putting in it! I need a break before I attempt the decorating however. I will be for sure putting a picture of this project up when it is completed! Now only to actually finish it!!!

Notebook Gift

Hello Crafters,
I made this notebook/sketchpad as a gift. Breanna once told me she wants to be a dog walker when she grows up so I decided to give her an entire clan of dogs on her booklet!
Thanks for looking!
Tara
P.S. my clear bindings arrived today so I will be getting some of my projects binded and the posting should begin again soon!

MIA

Hello fellow crafters,
I have been MIA for a few days because it was my birthday yesterday (Monday) and well the celebrations actually started over the weekend with a pool party/bbq! I got like an entire birthday weekend! lol Anyways I will try to get somethings organized around here and post some of the things I worked on last week when I get a second later tonight. Also, I am going to be busy today because for my birthday I got the Cricut Design Studio!!! So today I will be installing that on my computer and trying to figure out how to use it. I have already looked through that tiny manual that came with it and I have a feeling youtube is going to be visited today for some tutorials. If anyone knows any good ones please leave me a comment and I will check it out for sure. I have a feeling I am going to need all the help I can get! I try to be computer friendly but it is not always friendly back :( Off to get started!
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Bitten by the Bug 2 Challenge Entry

Over on the Bitten by the Bug 2 blog there is a challenge right now that asks crafters to use the Storybook Owl cut (or an owl cut from a cartridge you own , I used create a critter pg 25). I made these notebooks on Wednesday to add to my pile of gifts. I love them so much (I may end up keeping them yet)! I love that I did them all matchy-matchy using basically just shades of one colour on each. The effect really works for me. They are ringless/paperless as of yet because I am waiting for an order of clear bindings to come in the mail. I think the invisible bind is going to look great on these! Thanks for looking and I am sure I will be posting more of these in the future as they were so fun, fast and easy to whip up.

Scrapping Fun

This is my friend Holly. We have decided over the summer we are going to get together once a week and make crafty things! We have made paper flowers, started calendars (our Christmas gifts) and yesterday she made her very first card! I was super impressed and decided this occasion should be documented by a photo! After playing with my cricut the last couple weeks she is convinced that she now needs one. She has put in the request to her husband and is now awaiting Christmas with as much enthusiasm as a child! Until then she is more then happy to spend one afternoon a week giving my machine a workout! Send her some love with comments and I will pass them on to her!

I totally forgot!

Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday morning???

Yup...my new ATG 714 and a package (12 rolls) of refill. If you are in Canada and looking to purchase one the cheapest place I found online was National Hardware Sales Ltd. (http://www.nhsmedia.com/) When I ordered mine it was on sale for $10 or $12 off and the refills were also something like a $1.00 off each. The shipping was not bad at $12.00. My total invoice was for $136.50. I ordered it on Saturday July 3 and it arrived yesterday (so less then a week)! Which since I live in rural Nova Scotia is quite impressive! I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for an ATG gun or the refills. I have seen the refills cheaper but I have to remember those are often in US funds and now that I know how fast this company is I will be ordering mine from them for sure!

My Creative Time Throwback Thursday Challenge

Over on the My Creative Time Blog Emma has posted a challenge that involves an animal. She requests that you try to use Zooballoo but can use another cartridge if you don't have this one. I don't own this one so I am submitting a layout with the lizard from 'Life's a Beach' pg 56. He is so cute and I have used him often on projects. Thanks for looking everyone!

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge #32 Entry

On the Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge Blog ( http://peachykeenstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2010/07/challenge-32-summer-destinations.html ) they have a challenge posted for 'your favourite summer vacation destination' Well my entry plays with the idea vacation but it is more of a winter vacation to the summer weather! I have been working on my Cuba 2010 scrapbook and decided my title page for the book would be just right to enter in this challenge since it is my favourite destination for vacation!

A couple more cards

Hello Everyone,

I have been working on my last vacation scrapbook like crazy (Cuba March 2010) Yesterday I made 8 pages! I also made a couple of cards recently. Here are the cards and I will try to get a few of my scrapbook pages posted soon. As always, thanks for looking!

Got Too Many Books?

When Brian and I moved in together we discover that I had one of us had way too many books! I love to collect them but more often then not never read a book twice (there are way too many great books out there to re-read stories, I want to read them all)! I came up with a solution. I would only keep the books that I absolutely loved! There was just one problem...how would I remember all the books I read and what I thought about them? That is when this altered notebook came into being. I print off the cover of the book and the back blurb then I fix them into this notebook along with my thoughts/opinions about the book and give it a star rating. Photographed here is the cover of my notebook and a sampling of what is inside. Thanks for looking!

A Wedding Card

I am heading to a wedding tomorrow and wanted to make a simple card to go along with the gift that I purchased. I love how the card turned out but well taking the picture was quite the mission! I got some metallic card stock which I have discovered does not like to be photographed. Too much light and I had a terrible glare, flash not going to happen, not enough light equals blurry, side view looks white, etc. In the end I did what I could because like I said I really love it and wanted to share my creation! The pictures do nothing for it but everyone here is crafty so use your wonderful imaginations! In the last picture you can see where I got my inspiration for the colours. Thanks for looking!

Recipe:

Bulk teal and black cardstock

Metallic cardstock from the dollarstore (I know great find eh)!

A piece of white ribbon (I recycled from a past gift, I was feeling thirty today)!

Teal bling (Another dollarstore find)!

Stretch your imagination pg 73 just the silhouette cut at 3.5 in.

Cuttlebug folder - Swiss Dots

Happy Canada Day!

In honour of Canada Day I dug out an old scrapbook from a few years ago and took a picture of a Canada Day layout I made. To this day it is still one of my favourite layouts I've created. Everything on the page was hand cut (this was before my cricut days) I printed out the maple leaf traced it and then hand cut it out. I even very slowly cut around the voids to get the outline shape you see. It took forever but I love the effect. The circles of the photos were also all traced and hand cut. Even the letters are traced and hand cut! *sigh* It makes me appreciate my cricut that much more! Happy Canada Day everyone!

MPS Colour Challenge

Hello and Happy Canada Day!
This is my entry for the Pink Stamper's Colour Challenge. To check out the challenge follow the link below.
http://www.mypinkstamper.com/2010/06/color-challenge-with-my-pink-designers.html

Recipe:

Designer Paper by K&Company

Solid Card Stock source: scrap pile orginal source unknown sorry

Cut outs from Create a Critter and words cut from Plantin schoolbook