Pink....

I am apparently on a roll of using pinks and pinkish-reds.  I was reviewing my posts from the last few days, when I realized that pink has been overused.  Unlike some friends of mine, and various blogs I follow, I tend to NOT LIKE PINK.   Ok, no....dislike is too kind.....I loathe pink....I despise pink....I would rather use greens, blues, browns, etc., than PINK.  Yes folks, PINK is a four-letter word to me.  Ironically, I look good wearing pink, and I apparently like to design with it.  Soooo....I want to apologize for my over-use of pink, and hope that I get out of the PINK rut!  Wish me luck, and hoppy crafting! :o)

Baby Card Two, Hoppin' Through!

This is the second card that I made using DCWV paper, Studio G stamps, and Anna Griffin paper (rabbit).  I again used creme grosgrain ribbon around the middle, and added pop dots behind the rabbit and "welcome baby" signs.  For the buttons, I used rolled up Zots.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Whooo's Welcoming Baby?

I made two cards, using similar papers, and themes.  This is the first one.  The background papers and tag for this card are used from the DCWV Citrus Stack.  I LOVE the bright colors and patterns from this stack!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!!!!  I used a creme grosgrain ribbon across the center, and added yellow buttons, using Zots dots, to balance.   The "welcome baby" is a Studio G clear stamp, and I used SU Close to Cocoa to stamp it on patterned paper.  I used a white gel pen to dash and dot around the words, then popped it up, using foam dots.  The owl is actually cut from an animal themed paper, created by Anna Griffin.  After cutting the owl from the paper, I used foam dots to pop it off the page, as well.   ~Hoppy Crafting!

Friend Tag

This pink card was made using Close To My Heart stamps for the tag, pink cardstock, and miscellaneous flower/background stamps with VersaMark Watermark Ink. 
I stamped the background using VersaMark, then stamped two strips of darker pink cardstock, again using VersaMark, with flower stamps.  The tag was made, using the Close to my Heart set-Love Tags.  I stamped the background of the tag in light pink, the words using a dark pink, and then stamped the word "friends" across the tag, using black.  I attached the tag through the hole, using a cute coordinating paper flower and brad.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Happy Birthday-Glam Purse

I made a birthday card today, using the Cuttlebug birthday folder and the Sizzix purse die cut.  First, I embossed the pink card base with the Cuttlebug folder.  Next, I cut a light pink purse from a Sizzix die cut, and embellished it with paper flowers, eyelets, and snaps.  I folded the purse closed and added pop dots behind it, to give dimension.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Semi-Homemade....Cards, that is!

Has anyone ever watched that cooking/decor show called "Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee"?  It's on the Food Network, and I've caught it a few times.  Today's cards reminded me of that show because they are not totally made from scratch by me.  I found these cute cards on clearance and all they said was "thank you" on them.  I wanted to pretty them up and use as quick thank you cards. 
I ended up using a Cuttlebug frog, bee, and flowers, and I think they turned out pretty well!  I just die-cut the frogs from green cardstock, cut the bees from two different yellows (one solid, one dotted), and then cut the flowers from blues and yellows.  I also cut stems from yellow, and one has a small pot made from brown and green paper.  After cutting, all I did was group the flowers and glue them, then add the animals.  These took around 10 minutes to make, and were super easy.  Try it out for yourself!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Christmas...In June-uary?

With all of this outstanding June weather we've been having, I'd like to rename this month June-uary.  True, for the last couple of days, it has actually been starting to feel like summer, but how long will it last? 
Well, for as fast as June has flown by, I just hope that July drags by a bit.  I like to do some Christmas in July crafting with my peeps.  I usually have around 40 Xmas cards to make (give or take a few), and if I don't do them during the summer break, then they most likely won't get done.  When you're a teacher, October, November, and December just FLY by because they are SO BUSY!!!  
So, the tradition of trying to make as many Christmas cards in July, as possible, has me wondering how many of you out there do the same?  I'd love to hear from you and seem some of your creations as well! 

This card was made with a blue card base, which I stamped with a snowflake background in dark blue.  Then I found a piece of vellum from a Christmas set I had in my stash, that read "let it snow", and affixed it to the card with four snowflake brads.  Vellum is one of those tricky-adhesive pieces to work with (since you don't want to SEE the adhesive!), so using the brads was how I solved the visible adhesive issue.  ~Hoppy Crafting & hope to hear (and see) your ideas soon!  :o)

Baby Boy Shower

Hi, everyone!  Today, I made a quick baby shower card, using a Cuttlebug embossing folder and two different stamps.  Since I know ahead of time that she's expecting a boy, I chose a blue card base, and used a Cuttlebug embossing folder, which I chalked blue after embossing.  Then, I stamped the chic pregnant lady on cardstock, as well as the "baby" clothespins, and used chalk and watercolor pencils on those, as well.  To attach each to the card, I used blue baby button brads in the corners of each square.  On the inside, I stamped "congratulations".  Hope you like it! ~Hoppy Crafting!

Wordle Me This!

I found this cool website called  "Wordle"  (http://www.wordle.net/),  where you can upload text or even link a blog, and it will create a word jumble cloud, based on words that have been used the most. I linked this blog, and this is what Wordle produced! The larger words, are ones that are used most often. Try it out! ~Hoppy Crafting!

Go Cougs!

Ok, I promise that I won't post Halloween cards two days in a row!  :o)  Here's a card I just made for a graduate, heading off to college this fall (GO COUGS!!!).  Since Wazzu's (college) colors are crimson and gray/white, I started with a crimson card base.  I used Versamark to stamp cougar paws randomly.  Then, I cut a white strip to go across the middle of the card, so that I would have a place to put he WSU stamp cut-outs (stamped with SU Cranberry Crisp, then punched out with a 1" circle punch) and the inspirational quote I had found (also stamped in SU Cranberry Crisp).  To add dimension, I used pop dots behind each "WSU" emblem, as well as behind the stamped phrase and the yellow block.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Halloween, anyone?

Ok, ok, ok!  I know what you're saying!  "What is this girl thinking???"  "Halloween in June???"  Well, I happened to visit a craft store today and found a rockin' deal on scrapbook 12x12 paper clearance!  I was nearly to the end of rummaging through the clearance shelves, when around the corner....I...saw...Halloween. 
Now, I'm a fall-lover, but JUNE is TOOOOOOO EARLY for the Fall and Winter holidays.  That being said, (and after uttering disgust that fall items were already out), I found some cute holiday ribbon and perfect colors of paper for the October holiday. 
For this card, I used a green base and cut the bottom edge with my Fiskars rotary cutter decorative blade.  I used the purple sheer ribbon, to run around the middle.  Then, I cut and added Sizzix tags that I had stamped, inked, and embellished with brads.  Finally, I found the "spooky" rub-on, left over from last year's stash.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Hang in there!

Hi there!  I know I haven't posted any creations for a few days, just been so dang busy!  Hopefully life is calming down and I can settle into a summer routine. :o) 
Today's card is fairly simple.  I took and orange-ish/yellow cardstock, and wrapped a sheer green polka-dot ribbon around the middle.  Then, I stamped white paper with a green bacground block stamp, and added the "hang in there" sign, stamped in black.  I cut a Sizzix frame for the background, in green textured cardstock.  Then I added a cute flower embellishment wtih a star brad, to hide the top of where the sign was hanging from.   Finally, I adhered the embellished sign to the middle of the card. ~Hoppy Crafting!

Cricut Circle???

Well, just as I had surmised, the Cricut Circle is an exclusive club where you should receive certain benefits, info, etc., just for being a member.  Did I ever dream that PC would be on crack when they set a price of $275/year????  NO!!!  As far as I'm concerned, PC is getting WAAAAYYY too greedy.  They can take their circle and all the people dumb enough to pay for the "exclusive" club, and just bite me.  I don't need need an invitation to a club that excludes the majority of the people that actually have built up the company by purchasing their products.  I did find an invite in my e-mail, but seriously just laughed at it.  Does PC think we're made of $$$?  I am a Cricut addict, I'll admit it, but I'm not SO sick, that I need to be part of a club. They really don't know me as a consumer either, I'm a deal predator.  I will never pay $90 for a cart.  I will only pay $15-$35, at the most, for ANY cart.  I could buy 13+ carts, just for the price of this club membership.   Maybe I'll even try Make the Cut or Sure Cuts Alot.  All I know, is that this club has ticked off ALOT of loyal Cricuteers...and I believe PC will have tons of damage control to do because of this move. 
So for $275/year (single pay option) or around $320/year (quarterly pay option), you get: 4 exclusive carts per year (1 per quarter); advanced buying options; reward points; special invitations to exclusive chats; online magazine (Seriously??? No hard copy for that kind of dough???); special coupons/rebates; research panel access; and my personal favorite...an exclusive Cricut charm bracelet.  Good going, PC, I'll totally join for a bracelet.  Totally.  

For now, PC, I'll "surround myself" with a "Cricut Circle" of people who I don't have to buy friendship and acceptance from.  I am too cool for your club, and have too much self-esteem to lower myself to monetary acceptance. 

Shouldn't that read: "Enter the dark side now" ????

End of School Craziness!

I can't believe today is already Thursday!  This week has flown by and has been so BUSY!!!  I've gotten a little crafting done this week, but had absolutely no time to blog about it!  School just wrapped up, and I had 50 report cards to finish, two slideshows to create, 50 dvd's to burn (which is a whole story in itself!), two kindergarten graduation celebrations to orchestrate, a classroom to completely clean up, etc., etc.....you get the picture.  My week has been SUPER BUSY!!!  Now it is officially summer break, though I do still have those blasted dvd's to tend to (the slideshow that decided not to burn, due to technology, not user error). 
I'm planning on having much more time to create cards and hopefully get more caught up on my scrapping.  There are so many ideas floating around in my head, I should be jotting them down!  I don't want to get to a project and have scrapper-block!  I hope you will continue to follow me on my creative journey.  Until then, hoppy scrapping!

Serenade

Ah, Serenade, how gorgeous thy are!  Have you been worth the wait?  I hope so!  I love all the beautiful trees, bird cages, animals, flowers, etc., that you contain.  I cannot wait until I have time to use you.  Haha! 

I know it sounds kinda cheesy, but I have been wanting this cart, since I first saw it around October/November 2009.  When I saw that it was available for pre-order in February, I jumped at the chance!  Little did I know, that the anticipated release date of mid-April would be pushed back until JUNE!!!  Today (now that I have 50 report cards to finish, two slideshows & 50 dvd's to burn, a classroom to pack up, etc....you get the picture!), it FINALLY arrived!  Do I have time to play now?  NO WAY!  Just wait, Serenade....In 3 more days, your cart is mine!  Until then, Hoppy Crafting!

Happy Birthday, Dog

Here is a quick birthday card, made from the Sizzix folder die cut and two different Cuttlebug folders (Happy birthday & the dog).  I quickly embossed the card base with the Happy Birthday folder, and colored in "Happy birthday" to make it stand out.  Then I cut the file folder, attached it with Fastenater staples, applied a flower brad in the middle of the existing flower, and labeled it "birthdays".  Then I added an adorable little pup, hanging from a balloon, also decorated with a flower brad.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Relax-Bubble Queen

Sometimes we all need to take a breath, and relax a little.....I used a Sizzix frame, cut in purple patterned paper, and matted the SU Bubble Queen image below that.  For the bubble queen, I used SU watercolor pencils and a blender pen, then used white Fun Flock on the bubbles to add texture.  The card base is a lilac/light purple.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Purple Wedding Shower

I don't know about you, yes YOU (other crafters!), but in the pre-Cricut age, I acquired quite a collection of Sizzix die cuts.  It was the best invention since sliced bread!  I must admit that since buying my Cricut, my poor Sizzix dies are under-utilized...and are gathering dust, but I hate to get rid of them because they come in handy!  This wedding dress card is a perfect example! 
I dusted off the Dress & Accessories big red die, by Rob & Bob Studio, to create this gorgeous wedding dress.  I used a crisp white for the gown, then cut a glittered vellum overlay.  I also used some white ribbon to affix around the waist.   I used a metal sheet to cut the dress form top and bottom, and attached wtih Zots.  For the word "bride", I found a leftover rub-on from when I created our wedding album, then attached a metal embellishment with two silver brads over the word.  In the lower right corner, I punched white and vellum flowers, using a hand punch, and attached to the card using a 1/16 eyelet setter and white eyelets.  I stamped the same "congratulations" on the inside of the card, as I used on the envelope.  I also added a beautiful wedding cake stamp on the envelope, and used a violet water-color pencil and a SU blender pen, to highlight the flowers.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Peacock Card #2

Ok, I can hear already, the chimes of  "you've shown us this!!!".  I made a few changes to another, very similar card to my original peacock card, and here they are:  Flourish is thinner (non-shadow cut); Punched the lacy border on two different colors of paper, and painstakingly layered them; added dogs in the corners of the "cherish" plaque, etc.  Hope you like this one, as well.  Leave a comment and let me know!  BTW, I used the Straight From the Nest cart.  Thanks!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Stampin' Up-Flower Filled Card

Did someone say Cricut?  Not today...I need a Cricut intervention, and it is coming in the form of stamps!  I used the SU set Flower Filled to create this card.  I started out with a light blue card base, cut a blue patterned paper to layer on.  Before adhering, I taped a piece of white grosgrain ribbon across the middle.  Then, I stamped the images on white cardstock (SU Tempting Turquoise for the vase; SU Green Galore for the stems;  and SU More Mustard for the flowers.).  I added bling in the center of each flower with my Quickie Glue pen, then cut out the image and mounted it on a complimentary blue.  Then, I took a small piece of white grosgrain and used 2 blue-colored staples to attach the ribbon in the left corner of the image.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Gypsy Welding for Baby Card

One feature that I absolutely love using on my Gypsy, is welding!  A fellow crafter recently asked how to get those cute little words/phrases, etc., cut out on the bottom or side of a card, and I instantly said "welding"!  Tonight, I used the New Arrival cart and found the "baby" phrase in cute scalloped blocks.  I picked a blank card template from a cartridge (for the life of me, I can't remember which one now...either Wild Card or Just Because Cards), sized it, and added the scalloped baby word to the bottom of the front.  Then I hit the weld option on my Gypsy...and voila!  The card is almost A2 size (1/2" less in width).  I randomly inked all over the card with SU Pixie Pink, and the cute clothes line embellishments came from K&Company.  I really had minimal time tonight, due to some other commitments, but I hope this helps give an example of using the welding feature on the Gypsy!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Cupcake Birthday

Sometimes I seem to have a thing for glitter.  Especially around Christmas, I'm the glitter queen with all the crazy crafts my kindergartners do.  I really am not in love with the herpes of the craft world (glitter is SO everywhere and you just CAN'T get RID of it!), but a little glitter does add quite a bit to embellishing projects. 
I made this cute little cupcake card, using a silver glitter card as the background.  The "Happy Birthday" is stamped on pink with SU Pixie Pink, and double mounted on brown cardstock to coordinate with the cupcake. 
The cupcake is cut from the Home Decor cart.  I used brown as the shadow, a patterned paper for the cupcake paper, and pink for the icing.  I glittered the icing with iridescent glitter.  I also added an adorable cherry (also from HD cart), which I glittered with a deep red.  ~Hoppy Crafting!  

Baby Girl Onesie

Tonight, I got an e-mail from a co-worker, asking for a baby girl card...she has a new niece. :o)  Here's what I came up with!  I used the New Arrival cart to create a onesie on a hanger, with an adorable little butterfly on the front.  I decided to use a corner rounder for all edges, and inked all edges on the onesie and card with SU Pixie Pink, then drew dimensional lines on the onesie with Zig Pure Pink.  I used pop dots behind the butterfly and to also pop the entire onesie off the background.  The background is embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, and I added a purple grosgrain ribbon with polka dots on it.  Before adding the ribbon or attaching the background to the card, I used SU Pixie Pink to run across all the dots and give them an extra hint of color.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Peacock "Cherish" Card

I finally got to use some designs from Straight From The Nest tonight!  I have had this cart for a month or so, and all of my designs have been held captive on my Gypsy (kind of like photos on a camera, sometimes!).  I have really been excited to try this peacock card, and I think it turned out well.  For the card base, I used a light blue and then cut a darker blue about an inch shorter to layer on top.  Before layering, I embossed the darker blue with the Cuttlebug embossing folder D'Vine Swirls, then punched a border on the bottom with Martha Stewart's Scallop Dot punch.  I added yellow grosgrain ribbon just above the border, then layered the Straight From The Nest swirl (branch) on top for the bird to rest on. 
For the peacock (blue) and swirl (brown), I used Straight From The Nest, and also cut a shadow, in silver, for the peacock.  Before layering the peacock, I inked the blue with SU Brilliant Blue, and inked the silver with SU Going Gray.  I used my Zig glue pen to adhere both pieces, then added white dots with a white gel pen, and a yellow eye with bling.  Finally, I added dimensional dots behind the peacock to make it pop off the card. 
The final piece I added to this card, was a small "Cherish" tag stamped with SU Basic Black and a Stampendous stamp.  I double mounted and inked the edges of both layers, using the same colors as for the peacock.  Hope you enjoy!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

More Cricut...

Ok PC (Provo Craft), you're scaring me!  You're set to release around 100 new cartridges just in 2010...and now I see more of your evil "crafty" plan to get me to spend money...Cricut Lite carts.  They look like Solutions carts that PC is already putting out, but it seems they are changing the name, perhaps?  I just found some pictures and information on them at Scrapmaster's Paradise Blog (http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/2010/06/cricut-lite-cartridges-new.html).  Check them out and see what you think! It's rumored that they will be sold at Wal-Mart....not sure if that's the only retailer or not, will have to do some more digging.  I would love to get my hands on the Billionaire Font, Cupcake Wrappers, Handy Man, and those Lacy Labels!  Of course some of the others are cute, too!  So many of the new "Lite's" have elements similar to Create A Critter, Give A Hoot, etc., that I don't think they'll be worth it to duplicate.  Give us a little breather PC, we're not all made of $$$! 

A Little Birdie...

Like many others, I have fallen head-over-heels in love with the Create A Critter cart.  There are so many adorable animals on it, that it would take forever to do them all.  I just wanted to feature this card (which appears at the top right of my blog), because I think it turned out SO cute!  I cut the bird and shadow from Create A Critter, as well as the cloud. I used the Cuttlebug Divine Swirl and Swiss Dots embossing folders to embellish the bird and the cloud.  For the grass, I used the Martha Stewart grass scissors, and used a MS punch for the pink "lace" along the left margin.  For the eye, I used a blue snap, and had to add the finishing touch of an adorable layered paper flower with a pink brad to hold them together.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Quick Flower Cards

I love when you start a project, with the intent of only making one card....and it turns into multiple cards.  :o)  That's exactly what happened when I started stamping this flower from Stampin' Up's Dream A Little set.  I was showing someone how to use rubber stamps and one use for Fun Flock (fuzzy stuff).  I stamped the flowers onto white cardstock and then trimmed them with straight lines.  I mounted the flowers on a mat, the same color as the card base.  I used one of my favorite greens, and also some Core'dinations brown, just torn to create a white edge and give contrast to the cards.  For the top card, I also used ribbon with a little green dash sewn in.  I used the Fun Flock to make the center of each flower fuzzy and stand out more.  I hope you enjoy!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Gotta Love Basic Grey!

A few months ago, I fell in love with Basic Grey paper.  I LOVED their Origins line, and bought quite a few pieces, in hopes of finishing a few layouts (similar to those I had spied at a local scrap store).  Alas, my busy life only seems to allow enough time to make mostly cards.  I'm so glad that summer is coming and I should have more time to finish some scrapping!  Anyways, back to this card! 
I love using yellow, brown, and green together, and when I found this Basic Grey medallion, which I punched out using a 1 3/4 circle punch, I knew my color scheme was set!  First I made a green card, and layered brown (w/a border punch), and marigold on top.  Before adding the marigold, I added a single ribbon decorated with small flowers.  Next, I cut two scalloped circles from the Easter 2010 cartridge (one at 2", the next at 2 1/4").  After my pieces were cut, I used pop dots between each layer to add dimension, then used regular adhesive to adhere all three layers to the card.  At the end, I used my Quickie Glue Pen to add "bling" to the flower.   ~Hoppy Crafting!

Elegant Flower "Love" Card

I think this is one of my favorite cards of all time!  This card screams love and romance!  I made a black A2 card and layered a red romantic scripted paper on top.  Then I added a strip of silver metallic cardstock with three silver brads, evenly (kind of) spaced through the middle.  Next, I used Walk In My Garden to make the stems for the flowers, and attached three heart brads for the flowers.  Finally, I cut the vase from a Sizzix die cut, tied the sheer ribbon around the neck of the vase, and adhered it to the card, over the stems of the flowers.