Love

This "love" card was made, using a red card base.  I added red mulberry paper for the middle of the card, and cut out "Love" and the flower and tag from Sizzix Sizzlits.  The tag has a silver eyelet at the top, and red fun fiber.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Tool Time!

This card was made, using Sizzix Sizzlets die cuts.  I cut each tool out in at least two different colors, and layered them.  Once I had them layered, I added black lines to give dimension to the tools, as well as labeling them with some brands.  I arranged all the tools on a green inlay, added with brass eyelets in each corner.  The sentiment was handwritten.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

For You

I made this simple card, using bright summer colors, and the Cindy Loo cart.  I cut the middle scroll work from magenta cardstock (at 4"), and added blue pearl brads to adhere to the aqua strip of distressed cardstock behind it.  I used my Glue Glider Pro, to run adhesive behind the aqua strip and adhere it to the orange card base.  The last thing I did, was stamp "for you" from a Studio G set, in SU's Blue Bayou.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Hippo Card

Ok, this may be my new FAVORITE card!  I love how this adorable hippo, from Create-A-Critter, totally makes you smile, just by looking at it!  I used a blue card base, and added a border on blue cardstock with Martha Stewart's Doily Lace punch.  Above the border, I adhered a piece of light blue patterned ribbon.  I stamped a flourish in the upper left-hand corner with SU's Blue Bayou, as well as the sentiment "giggle", in the lower right-hand corner.
Finally, I added the grass and water for the hippo, then popped the hippo up on foam dots.  Before adhering the hippo, I added dots and dashes with a white gel pen, and gave the hippo pink cheeks and a smile, with a pink gel pen.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Ipod? Blackberry? U Decide!

I found this adorable Ipod-type shape on the Stamping cart, and immediately thought it would make an awesome shape card!  After welding the shapes together on my Gypsy, I cut the card base in purple cardstock.  Then I cut the overlay in a pink patterned cardstock, and added a white screen.  I added the stamp "live life", by Stampology, on the screen, and added silver gel pen dashes and dots in several places around the card to make it pop.  Finally, I layered and added a pink/purple flower, with a purple glitter brad.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Cricut Imagine

Ah, with the arrival of Summer CHA (Craft & Hobby Association), comes many new and awesome products for the upcoming seasons.  One of the many announcements, is the newest thing to hit the Cricut world, the Cricut Imagine! 
This new machine cuts 12x12, BUT, it also prints!   From what I've read, it will work with all existing carts, and also have new color/pattern carts to go with it and bring images to life.  Hmm....sounds intriguing, right?  I'm not sure I want to deal with replacing ink carts, along with blades, buying new papers, etc...  The MSRP?  It's right around where I guessed it would be: $599.99!  It will apparently be offered on HSN first, which will make it more affordable (since I'm assuming they'll have it on flex-pay).   Hmm....the price would have to come down ALOT.  
Here's some great information that Sarah Pink Cricut shared this morning:  http://www.pinkcricut.com/2010/07/cricut-imagine-announce/

For now, I will stick with my Expression.  After all, I love picking out the colors and layering images myself.  I must admit that I am drooling over the new machine though.   Note to self: must plant a whole orchard of money trees....~Hoppy Crafting!

Birdcage Shape Card

Have I mentioned how much I love my Gypsy, lately?  I LOOOOVE it!!!  I have been on vacation, visiting my mother, and have been designing up a storm and using my layers functions like crazy!  I decided to show my mom how easy the welding feature was, and create shape cards.  We are having a blast!  ...In fact, you could say we are crazy crafting fools!  One night, we even stayed up until almost 4am!!! 
Anyways, onto the card!  I used the much awaited Serenade cart for this card.  First, I found the birdcage base that I wanted, and cut it out in brown cardstock.  Then, I cut the bird from green/blue marbled paper (the same I used for the turtle in the previous post).  Finally, I cut the birdcage wires from silver glitter cardstock.  Doesn't that just make the whole birdcage pop? :o)  Before attaching the birdcage, I wove the bird inside some of the bars, then I used a spray adhesive (since the cage was so intricate), and attached them to the card base.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Turtle Card

Hi, everyone!  I have been playing with my Gypsy's welding feature, and have created this cute little turtle-shaped card.  I used the Cricut Lite cart, Splish, Splash for this turtle.  After welding two turtle bodies together (making sure to flip the one on the left, so that the card folds properly), I cut them on a marbled green/blue cardstock.  Then I creased the fold with my bone folder, and cut the turtle shell from a solid brown cardstock.  After adhering the shell, I added dashes and dots with a white gel pen, as well as eyes and nostrils with a black gel pen.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Sweet Lion

This card was made, using a brown card base, and layering DCVW Cafe Mediterranean patterned paper with yellow cardstock, and punched with MS's 3-dot scallop.  I tied orange grosgrain ribbon near the bottom, and added a lion, (cut from some cute cardstock) with foam dots.  The "sweet" stamp was from Stampology, and done in SU's Chocolate Chip with gold gel pen dots as a border.  I inked and mounted the yellow onto brown cardstock, then also popped it up, using foam dots.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

"Bee" Sentimental!

Okay, I'll admit, that I put off getting the Sentimentals Cricut cart because I just wasn't sure I'd use it very much.  I liked some of the cuts on it, but didn't realize how many cool ones there were, until I looked through the whole thing with my Gypsy!  Even though I've had this cart since May, I hadn't actually cut with it.  (I had designed some files with it on my Gypsy, but they never made it to the Expression!) 
Today, I was showing my mom how easy it is to use this cart, and decided to use the beehive and bee for my card. 
I used a mustard colored card base, and punched two rows of borders (in yellow & shimmer rust cardstock)with the Martha Stewart scallop dot punch.  Next, I added a piece of from the DCWV Cafe Mediterranean stack, and used yellow grosgrain ribbon to tie it all together. 
I cut the beehive and bee from the Sentimentals Cricut cart, at 2" and 1 1/2", respectively, both with shadow and layer cuts.  Next, I used spray adhesive on the black parts because they are such intricate cuts, and assembled them.  I added white gel pen dashes, dots, and eyes, on the two images, and stamped "hi" (in SU's Blue Bayou) from Stampendous' Notes for a Friend set.  Lastly, I added foam pop dots to the back of the two images, to add dimension.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Smile (in Paris!)

Smile!  How can you not, when looking at this cheerful color combo???  Who doesn't love lime and pink?  It's like pink lemonade, on a card!  I used a pink card base, and cut lime paper and embossed it with Cuttlebug's Seeing Spots embossing folder.   I used the Martha Stewart Three dot scallop border punch at the bottom, then added a pink and white grosgrain ribbon.  I also inked the lime paper with SU's Basic Black. 

Next, I cut the Eiffel Tower from the Summer In Paris cart, and sprayed it with adhesive because it has such intricate cuts, that normal adhesive would have been difficult to use.  Lastly, I stamped "smile" in Stampin' Up's Pixie Pink, on the lime paper & mounted it on pink.  I inked the pink paper in SU's Pixie Pink, and added more pink/white grosgrain with a staple.  I put pop dots on the back to give dimension.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

{Sidenote: The picture does NOT do justice to how bright the lime paper really is!  It's super-gorgeous!!!}

Chicks Rule

I love the color combo that I chose for this card!  I have a tangerine card base with lime overlay, which I embossed with Cuttlebug's "Seeing Spots" folder, and used the Martha Stewart Traditional Scallop border punch at the bottom.  I added the Halloween themed ribbon and buttons, then cut a pumpkin, web, and wizard chick from Mini Monsters.  On the pumpkin, I used brown and green Stickles for the stem and leaves, as well as googly eyes.  For the wizard chick, I used googly eyes on top of the cutout eyes, and added a cute star and purple hat. 
I actually ended up cutting the chick and all of its pieces twice, because the sizing was off.  Even though the bird was cut at 3", it meant the bird from top of hat, to bottom of toes was 3".  If I make this card again, I will have to make this cut larger, as the "chick" didn't turn out quite as I had hoped for.  Trial and error!  ...and Hoppy Crafting!  :o)

Be Yourself!

My "be yourself" card was created in the red/creme/brown color scheme.  I cut the french chair from the Summer in Paris cart, at around 4 1/2 inches.  I inked the creme front with Stampin' Up's Close to Cocoa, then glued it to the red background.  Next, I added pop dots to the back of the chair to add dimension.  The card base is red, and I cut Basic Grey's "porcelain" paper as the background, and added red grosgrain ribbon to the left side.  Finally, I stamped "be yourself" in SU's Close to Cocoa.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Ribbon, Ribbon, and More Ribbon!!!

Ribbon.  How can one word create so much anxiety?  When it's out of control, that's how!  I love ribbon (along with most anything else craft, of course!), but my stash has grown somewhat scary!  I have the traditional grosgrains, satins, ric-rac, sheers, wide, narrow, etc....you name it, I probably have something that could accommodate a crafting need!  Up to this point, I have stored ribbon on dowel rods, curtain rods, stacked, and in clear drawers.  I have been debating on the "best" system to implement for my style, and have found something that I think will be the "it" item to help with the ribbon chaos!  What is it?  It's the Ribbon Organizer and Dispenser from Best Craft Organizer (http://www.bestcraftorganizer.com/). 
I found these lovely storage dispensers at the recent Scrapbook Expo I attended.  Of course, before the expo, I had done a little homework by visiting their website, and by the time I reached the expo, I was 95% sure that I was going to purchase some! 
After much winding and rearranging (and it's still not perfect!), I have been able to... (hold onto your seats!)  ...fit 90 SPOOLS of RIBBON in two trays with 12 dispensers!!! Isn't that amazing???  These trays measure about 10" by 6", so really, for the amount of space all those spools took up, prior to winding, this is A-MA-ZING!!!  I am SO incredibly happy with this purchase!  The best part?  All the dispensers are see-through, so I know where each color and type of ribbon are, in a glance! 
How much did it all cost?  The "starter kit", which includes 2 trays and the spooler (11 storage dispensers, total), cost me $25 at the expo.  I also bought two additional trays of dispensers (12), for $20, since I knew that I had ALOT of ribbon, and because I was also skeptical when they told me that the starter kit would hold at least 60 spools of ribbon (it really does, and then some if your ribbon is skinny).  I have filled the first two trays, and am working on the third, so I'm glad my estimation is proving accurate!  If you have any questions, check out their website (above), or feel free to comment!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

<----The ribbon dispenser & spooler, with and extra spooler disc at the bottom. 

CKC-Seattle!

With the Scrapbook Expo hangover fading, I have turned my attention to the next big scrapbooking/crafting event coming to our area.  The CKC (Creating Keepsake's Convention) will be coming to Bellevue at Meydenbauer Center, November 12th & 13th!  Registration is opening in about two short weeks, on August 4th!  My goal, this time around, is to take some classes, as well as hit the show floor!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I am self-taught in crafting.  I have never relied on others to teach me.  I seek information and devour it, then practice, practice, practice.  Taking classes and going to crops have never been my style.  Maybe that will change?  :o) 
In quickly surveying the CKC info, there are almost DOUBLE the amount of vendors that were at the Scrapbook Expo!!!  EEKK!!! Good thing I know now and can start to budget for it!  :o)  A double bonus for that weekend...my work already has that Friday as a "no school" day!  Yay!  No need to use one of my coveted personal days! 
If you want more information on CKC 2010 for our area (or any area), here's the website I found info on: http://www.scrapandpapercorner.com/index.html  I went to 'Events', then 'CK Conventions' in the drop down menu to find the city closest to me.  I'd love to hear if anyone is planning on attending!  There is already a  link set up for CKC-Seattle 2010, from CK Scrapbook Convention's Facebook page.  Check it out here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=357125933578&ref=mf   As always, ~Hoppy Crafting!!!

Masculine Birthday

I made this super-quick masculine birthday card, using Stampin' Ups Artifact set for the star, and Buckaroo Blue ink.  I stamped the star and "happy birthday" (not SU) on white cardstock, then inked around all edges and mounted onto dark blue cardstock.  I added a blue brad in the center of the star.  I then adhered (w/pop dots) each onto the Basic Grey Marrakech paper, which I had distressed the edges of.   Finally, I used my Glue Gun Pro, to run adhesive on the back of the Basic Grey paper and stuck it to the dark blue card base.  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Expo Hangover

Yesterday, my friend, Kate, and I trekked out to the Scrapbook Expo at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.  We were armed and ready to attack the nearly 40 vendors available.  We each had our bags to carry precious purchases, and I brought my Crop n' Style Navigator to check into the baggage claim....you know, to carry the "extra" purchases.  Ha ha ha!  :o) 
Since we didn't buy our tickets online, we arrived at 10am, just as they opened to scrappers w/o the VIP pass.  The first booth we stopped at, was FULL of Basic Grey.  I LOVE me some BG!!!  Of course they had Oliver & Olivia, and Capella, as well as Origins and other lines and MANY coordinating embellishments!  I was in Basic Grey Heaven!!!  Kate and I scored (haha, not a paper pun...yet.) some great deals on random paper packs ($5 for over 20 sheets, plus a sticker sheet of letters), and on their 12x12 element stickers ($1.50 a page)! 
Next, we hit the Rusty Pickle booth, and again scored some great paper and some chipboard....mmmmm....chipboard...(insert: Homer Simpson drool, here).  At Scrap Happy, I found some of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders that I've been looking for, and of course we had to stop at Stampin' Up. 
The scariest impulse purchase I almost made, was at the Paper Wizard.  There was an A-MA-ZING laser-cut representation of Las Vegas.  It would have been THE element on my layout.  The price tag, you ask?  $25, excuse me, $24.95.  I drooled over that cut the entire day...and almost went back to get it, but maintained my willpower.  (After all, $25 could buy me ALOT of eyelets and brads, right?)  Speaking of eyelets and brads, my true weakness was unveiled at the Eyelet Outlet booth.  There were "deal bins" of $1-a-package brads and eyelets.  HOW DARE THEM!  They're as bad as Queen & Co.'s $1 booth!!!  Between the two booths, I dollar'd myself to death.  Ugh! Note to self: must stay away from dollar deals. 
Towards the end of expo aisles at Scrapbook 'N' Stickers, I FINALLY found my Cosmo Criket "Cinnamon" paper, that I've been looking for, since March.  YAY!!! 
By the end of the day, I had bought two things that I REALLY thought I needed, and a whole bunch of other gorgeous papers, brads, eyelets, felt borders, buttons, glitter-flock, chipboard, etc., that just fed my addiction to this horrible, awful, downright despicable hobby. (Insert: HEAVY sarcasm)   :oP 
What were the two things I thought I REALLY needed, you ask?  I found the Crafter's Companion stick away and stick & spray to refurbish my Cricut mats!  I've been longing to place an order on http://www.customcrops.com/, but they always seem to be out of the stuff.  I really hope they live up to the hype!  The other item I was excited to find?  Ribbon organizers & dispensers from Best Craft Organizer (http://www.bestcraftorganizer.com/).  I have drooled over their shelving before, but most kits are at least $200!  Since I've been struggling with how to organize my ribbon, I watched their video (prior to the Expo), and subsequently purchased some ribbon organizers.  I'll let you know how that works out for me, in a future post...and just keep my fingers crossed that I win their $250 drawing (haha).   :o) 
I can't wait to use some of my new haul (pic below)!  Until then, Hoppy Crafting!!! 

Scrapbook Expo!!!

Ok, well...it's not quite Friday, but it is SO close!!!  I am SOOO excited for tomorrow because the Scrapbook Expo will be at the Puyallup fairgrounds! Website here: http://www.scrapbookexpo.com/ .  I can't wait to see all the vendors, and though I didn't pre-register for any classes, there's a couple I'm looking at....we'll see.  I'm mostly excited to see all the vendors and drool over their wares.  Let's hope this is the best one, yet! 
Are you looking for the $2 off coupon for admission?  Click here -->
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30942332&o=all&op=1&view=all&subj=102759271113&aid=-1&id=1172915404

Hope to see many of you there!  :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

July 4th Embellishments

I'm preparing finish my Fourth of July pages, so I made a few Cricut embellishments from Independence Day.  I have others to make, but this gives me a start, and now I have the cut file on my Gypsy, so I can make more of whatever I need. Can't wait to share!  :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Vinyl "Welcome"

My front door has a new look, and I'm LOVING it!!!  I used the Cindy Loo font and the bird from Wall Decor and More, to create my door vinyl.  I used "latte" colored vinyl, which provides a nice contrast with my brown door.  All letters, and the bird were welded together on my Gypsy. I hope you like it as much as I do!  ~Hoppy Crafting!   

Belated Birthday Snails

These adorable snails were made from the Paisley cartridge!  I cut them a little over 3 inches, and did the shadow, base, shell, flower on shell w/center, and cheeks.  I also cut grass from Everyday Paper Dolls, on DCWV green glitter cardstock.
After inking (SU Blue Bayou) and layering the cute snails, I added googly eyes with some Quickie glue, and used white gel pens to add dots/dashes.  I also used a glitter metallic grey gel pen to add a smile.  The snail is popped above the grass, using pop dots.

The flower is held together by a brad, and attached using Zots.  I had a stem and leaves stamp, which was stamped in SU Wild Wasabi.  The sentiment is also stamped in SU's Wild Wasabi, and double mounted and popped up as well.  The sentiment reads: "Better late than never....", and on the inside it reads: "Happy Belated Birthday!", and is a Studio G clear stamp set.  For the sun, I used a SU snowflake punch.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Intervention

Fellow scrappers/crafters, you will understand... hopefully.  :o)  The past few days, I have been reorganizing my craft room, as well as getting supper excited that the Scrapbook Expo is coming here this Friday and Saturday.  Well, I guess the hours in my craft lair, paired with the endless sorting of paper, and the excitement of the impending expo have snuck into my dreams.  Early this morning, I was having the most wonderful dream!  I was having dinner with Tim Holtz, his crew, and several other AWESOME scrapbook gurus!  This dream came to a sudden halt, when a weenie dog paw landed on my neck, then almost in my mouth!  Grr! The dogs wanted out.  Darn them!  Didn't they know what an awesome dream I was having?  Apparently they, too, are getting jealous at all the time I'm spending organizing and working in "Cindy's Craft Cave".  :o) 

I happened to Facebook a quick snippet of this interaction today, and my brother asked me if I have ever heard of a show called "Intervention"....hmmm....Non-crafters just don't "get it".  Crafting, admittedly, IS like an addiction.  I LOVE new paper, embellishments, inks, CRICUT, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, eyelets, brads, etc.  It is seriously a 'high' when a new line comes out and my creative brain takes over.  Tsk, tsk!  Well, here's my new "intervention"...a humorous ode to my brother's suggestion: 

10 Steps to a Cricut Intervention:
1. Admit to being powerless under the influence of the Cricut (and/or Gypsy, or any other Provo-Craft product, for that matter).
2. Tell loved ones the TRUTH about how many Cricut cartridges you really own.
3. Apologize to the UPS drivers and various store employees for being a deal predator and stalking them.
4. Throw away "will work for Cricut cartridges" sign.
5. Return cartridges ripped from the grasp of fellow scrapbookers.
6. Let others play with your cartridges.
7. Get a life, not a new cartridge.
8. Resolve to restrict scrapbook store visitations to under 20 minutes, preferably less.
9. Remove bookmarked sites of all Cricut and scrap-related products, from computer, Facebook, etc.
10. ...Screw it!  Once a Cricut addict, always a Cricut addict! 

~Hoppy Scrapping! :o)

Thanksgiving 2009 Layout

Ha ha!  The title gives away how far behind I am in my scrapping, doesn't it?  I know I'm not the only one guilty of storing pictures away...in hopes of time to scrap.  Anyways, onto the layout! 

I saw a cooking layout in a scrap store that I recently visited, and loved the BoBunny Kitchen Spice line.  I got a coulple of pieces of the line and the cardstock stickers.  I also used the pink, brown, and reddish-brown cardstock from the Mariposa stack, some large pink flower eyelets, brown grosgrain ribbon, brown buttons with pink twine, felt flowers with flower brad centers, and colored staples to attach ribbon to the tag.  On the left and right margins (not in first pic), I used brown Stickles.  For the wavy-ish edges of the pink blocks, I used one of those metal rulers to tear the paper on (not Fiskars, one bought in the $ bin @ a local craft store).   Behind the word "cook", the mitten tag, and the turkey picture, I used pop dots to add dimension. Finally, I used Stampin' Up's Close to Cocoa, and inked all sides of the large pink base and of the smaller pink-patterned blocks.  Let me know what you think!  :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Paper Organization, Continued

After feeling much better about organizing all my scraps and cleaning them out, I decided that my 8 1/2 x 11" paper needed organizing, too.  I have had them on the shelf in these magazine holders from Ikea, but not sorted by color.  Again, I had my tables covered with the color piles and got my labels out.  I am much happier about having them organized and much easier to find!  ~Hoppy Scrapping!

Scrap Organization

Okay peeps, I have been working on my craft space and doing some "summer-time cleaning".  I am fortunate enough to have taken over an entire bedroom...though I have been tempted to knock the wall out to the adjoining room and have a scrap palace.  Haha!  My husband does not really share my desire in this.... 
My reorganization actually started in January, but, being a teacher and having such little time during the school year to devote to home projects, I have worked on it a little at a time.  I am beginning to enjoy my room again, and get alot of things where they will be functional.  One mess that I have been avoiding, is the paper scrap pile.  I tried drawers in a rolling cart once, but that takes up SO much space.  I finally broke down and got a box of file jackets.  They are like pockets for files, so nothing falls out the sides. (In retrospect, it would have been nice to have the "legal size" jackets, but I really don't have a spot to store that size.)
I started by labeling each jacket with a color, then using a marker to add a corresponding dot of color to each.  I put them in alphabetical order, and also added files for vellum, mulberry paper, cards, cut shapes, letters, metallic papers, patterns, and homemade paper.  Then came the FUN...sorting all the scraps! 
When I think of 'organization', it depends on my mood, but it can either be a four-letter word, or the highlight of my day.  Today, I really felt like I got something accomplished and my scrap room will be better for it.  What did I discover from sorting all my scraps by color?  I found a LOT of 'scraps,' that in reality, I will never use again...and purged them!  I tend to save, save, save...just in case.  It was good for me to see how many piece I had saved, are really worthless.  Take stock of your scraps too...if you're at all like me, you'll see what I mean.  ~Hoppy Scapping!  

Horsing Around!

My friend Kim, and her daughter Tabitha, came over, so that I could help Tabby with her 4-H fair poster.  The message of the poster had to be simple and there was a list of requirements and guidelines we had to follow, including some specific colors.  I walked through the design process with Tabby, and once she had chosen her phrase and some shapes from the Old West cartridge, as well as what type of font she wanted, we set to work!
The first order of business was a border.  We used the Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch, and yellow cardstock cut at 2".  Once they were done, Tabby and her mom mitered the corners and adhered it to the posterboard with Scotch QuickDry. 
While they worked on borders, I got out the trusty Gypsy, and sized and welded the phrase (except for "around,"  which arches over a horse and person).   All the lettering was cut from red, and finished with a white gel pen, to add dimension.  Next came the horses and other embellishments.  All horses were inked and outlined with gel pens and Stampin' Up Close to Cocoa ink.  The boots were cut and the stitching outlined with a white gel pen.  Also, the lasso, saddle, and girl, were all outlined using a white gel pen, and inked with SU Close to Cocoa and SU Vintage Violet, respectively.
Tabby and her mom really enjoyed learning some 'tricks of the trade", and creating this poster together.  Now the poster is off to be laminated....and hopefully will fare really well at the fair!  :o)  Good luck, Tabby!!!  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Butterfly Crazy!

I guess I'm butterfly crazy!  I made these using the Gypsy Wanderings cart (on the Gypsy).  I have used these adorable butterflies before, and can't help but use them again.  They have become my go-to add-on, lately.  These were cut with with a shadow & layer, & adhered in the middle only (so wings can lift).  I then added bling to the middle of each, in assorted colors.  I was able to just add them to pre-made cards that I had purchased at an awesome discount, for semi-homemade cards (again!).  ~Hoppy Crafting! 

Busy!

With the holiday, it seems that best-laid plans are hard to implement.  I tried to post on here several times during the weekend, and never made it because of all the other things calling my name.  I have been SO busy and am super-excited to (hopefully soon) show off the scrapbook layouts that I just created, as well as a mini-album I started working on, using the Little Yellow Bicycle Company papers. I have also become good friends with Pink Paislee papers and embellishments this weekend.  Stay tuned! :o)  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Happy 4th!

This is a "recycled" project.  I was adding chocolate frosting to the brownies for our 4th of July celebration, and was about to toss out the frosting container, when I had a great idea!  I thought it would be useful to make a festive utensil holder for the BBQ we were having.  So, while some other things cooked and baked, I ran upstairs, got out the Independence Day cart, and cut this Uncle Sam hat and the "4th of July" phrase.  I covered the container with red cardstock and also used the stars from the inside of the white and blue spots, to add a middle border around the container (hard to see).  It worked wonderfully and enjoyed adding a Cricut touch to our BBQ.  I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe 4th!  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Best Wishes!

This card combines Stampin' Up with some pretty paper/fabric flowers. I used a light green card base and cut a dark pink strip to run across the middle.  I then stamped "best wishes" from Stampin' Up's "Play On Words" set.  I mounted the sentiment on darker green paper, and centered it.  On either side, I added layered paper/fabric flowers, held together by a cute center brad.  I adhered the flowers with large Zots.  ~Hoppy Crafting!

Desk Organizers

Hi, fellow bloggers!  Tonight's project is...NOT...PINK!!! (LOL!)  I bought these two sets of wooden desk organizers at a local craft store, with the intention of finishing them while visiting my mom.  We each picked our colors and paper to cover each container with.  My "dot" paper is from My Mind's Eye, and the leafy print my mother used, is from a stack (not certain which one). 
The first thing we did, was paint each piece with at least two coats of acryllic paint.  We used brown, lime green, and a bright ocean blue.  While the paint dried, I made templates, from scratch paper, to see how big each paper should be cut, that I was leaving enough border, etc.  When I was certain the measurements would work, I took one piece of 12x12 paper, and methodically cut each piece, so as not to waste paper. 
Each finished project has paper on all four sides of each of the four holders, and only took ONE piece of 12x12 paper (w/some left over).  We used clear Martha Stewart permanent glue to adhere the paper.  Once that was dry, we applied two coats of Mod Podge to all piece of the project, allowing drying time between each coat.  The finished products are two cute/trendy desk organizers, that suit our personal tastes.  The mother-daughter time was a total bonus, too!  :o)  We could totally bling them out more....maybe that's to come, but for now, we both love how they look, just the way they are.   ~Hoppy Crafting!