Welcome the new CCR Design Team!

It is finally Time!!

We are so happy to announce our new Creative Cutter Room Design Team! 

We will have two teams this year Team 1 from Feb till Aug and Team 2 from Aug till Feb!  

We hope you are as excited as we are to start our challenges! Be sure to visit our new members and come back to join in as we launch our first challenge on February 9!

Design Team Coordinator:

Carri: http://www.doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com/

 Carri's Bio:

I am super excited to being staying on as Design Team Coordinator for the CCR! I am also a design team member for Docerela Creations. When I am not being crafty or blog hopping around I can be found hiking, biking, and enjoying Life with my Husband and two Daughters.

Design Team 1:

Georgiana http://carsonscricutcreations.blogspot.com/

Georgiana's Bio
My name is Georgiana and I have been married for 18 years to my high school sweetheart. We have two children, a 17 year old and a 13 year old,  and two dogs. I am a 5th grade teacher with 13 years of experience even though my degree is in Social Work. I LOVE to make cards, but have dabbled in various crafts (ceramics, chocolate, silk flowers) over the years thanks to my grandmother. I like to layer paper and use lots of different types of embellishments...buttons, brads, ribbon, florals, and gems are just a few. Being able to craft and share with others has become an extremely satisfying hobby (addiction).

I am super excited that I have been given the opportunity to serve on Creative Cutter Room's Design Team.

Georgiana's Entry

Amy: http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com/

 Amy's Bio:

My friends all call me Amy Jo.  I'm 32 years old, married to the most wonderful man and we have three dogs.  I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia about four years ago while I had two jobs and was attending school for Fashion Design.  I ended up having to drastically change my life, quit all of my jobs and school and was basically bed-ridden for most of the first year.  I knew I had to do something to make my life more meaningful and that is what led me to papercrafting.  I found I have a knack for it and my friends and family started wanting to buy my cards so I went full force and never looked back!  It has been the most fulfilling venture I have ever taken in my life.  I am so excited to be on the Design Team for CCR!  I also belong to Paper Piecings by Nikki and am the coordinator for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog (FCCB).  I look forward to creating with you!

Amy's Entry:

Elaine http://www.expressionsbyelaine.blogspot.com/

Elaine's Bio

I am married and have 2 sons ages 23 & 25. I have been crafting on and off for over 30 years. I got my Cricut & Gypsy in Nov. 2010 and before that I had never heard or seen a cricut before. I have been having so much fun with it. Then in Nov. 2011 I found the Imagine on sale from the black Friday deal that was left over and I jumped on it. (I love my Imagine!)  I enjoy making cards and want to move on to layouts which is what I had planned on doing when I first got my Cricut.

Elaine's Entry:

Jessica: http://www.craftinandstampin.blogspot.com/

Jessica's Bio:

My name is Jessica Wilson. I am a 32 year old wife to Brandon Sr and a mommy to Brandon Jr. Brandon Jr is 6 years old and the light of my life! He is so incredibly smart and so amazingly awesome (sorry, I'm a proud mommy)! He makes me laugh every day, and he is the reason I wake up in the morning! My hubby is my best friend and soul mate! If a am not crafting and working my full time job as an Assistant Bank Manager (or my part time business venture, JCC Event Planning), then I am spending every other moment with them! I also enjoy being around my extended family, reading a good love story, going to the movies to laugh hard, and now playing tennis with my hubby and brother in law!

Jessica's Entry:

Tonya: http://ittybittyladybugs.blogspot.com/

Tonya's Bio:

I'm a stay-at-home mom with two wonderful children, three and one. I have an incredibly supportive husband who has agreed to give me one day a month to craft without interruption. I do most of my crafting during nap time. I have been paper crafting in one form or another on and off for about 10 years. I started seriously scrapbooking about a year ago. I love whimsy and fantasy in my projects and creating a scene.

Tonya's Entry:

Design Team 2

Diana http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/ 

Diana's Bio:

I am married to my wonderful Husband, Who is also my best friend and greatest support.   We live on the Central Coast in CA. I am an exhibiting Artist, the mediums I use are watercolor, acrylic, and sometimes I get crazy and use mixed media.  I serve on the board of Directors of our local Art League; we are a non-profit organization, and a vital part of our art community.  I have always loved art, and as a child, this is what I wanted to do.  I'm very thankful for everyday, and I look at each day as an opportunity to create, share, and show kindness.  On Jan 1, 2011, I started my blog DL.ART and it has opened a whole new direction of art for me, my medium has included the use paper and glue a lot. We will see what 2012 has to offer. 

Diana's Entry:

Brenda http://roseblossomlegacies.blogspot.com/

Brenda's Bio:
I am a wife, mother, pet owner, and a full-time paper crafter!  I am so blessed to be doing what I love every day and sharing the things that I learn through teaching and my blog.  It is so much fun to create.  I have Cricut classes in my home once per month teaching people the ins and outs of their Cricut machine.  I have the Cricut Expressions, and I would say my specialty is creating 3-D items.  Whether it is a page, card, or home decor/gift item, I love showing how flat die-cuts can some alive!

Brenda's Entry:

Beckie http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/

Beckie's Bio:

I’m Beckie. I super love making stuff. I’m new to blogging and paper crafting. However, I have done crafty things off and on my whole life. It started with doodling up notes to friends that we passed in the hall at school, to making shirts with glue and foil paper, to sewing and cake decorating. I believe paper crafting has to be my all-time favorite.

As for me personally, I am very outgoing and talkative. I am very much a people person and have really taken to this blogging thing. Love it. I'm married to a great guy and have one lil princess.

I simply love crafting and blogging. 

Beckie's Entry:

Tracy: http://www.owlbecraftin.blogspot.com/

Tracy's Bio:

I am a 21 year old college student that has been crafting since I was little.  It is a passion for me and I would craft all day if I had the time!  I love to learn about new techniques and products and participate in challenges. I love to use my Cricut to create many different projects.  I also love to show off my creations to others to inspire them.   I also love  challenges because they allow me to think outside of the box and create something I may not have otherwise made.

Tracy's Entry:

Please help welcome these wonderfully talented ladies by stopping by their sites.  

Wait till you see all of the Crafty Fun they have in store this coming year!!

Friday Funsense: Coffee Drinkers Beware

You Know You Drink Too Much Coffee When...

1. Juan Valdez names his mule after you.
2. You chew on your roommate's fingernails. 
3. You can jump-start your car without cables. 
4. You do twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in. 
5. You can't remember your second cup. 
6. You have a picture of your coffeemug on your coffee mug. 
7. Starbucks has a mortgage on your house. 
8. Your birthday is a national holiday in Brazil. 
9. You don't sweat -- you percolate. 
10. You grind coffee beans in your mouth.

If you have some funsense you would like to share....send me a link or email using the 
contact me form above.....let's all share a smile.

Sparkle Time Winner

I almost forgot....the winner of the Sparkle Time Challenge chosen by Random.org is

Sherrie

Just linked up..,thanks for a fun challenge!
Sherrie K
http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

Use the Contact Me Form above to send me your snail mail.  I will mail your stamp set this week.

Congratulations!!!

Talk Time Tuesday: Layout of the Week

I've been thinking about starting a Layout of the Week Special and this is my first one.

I often create layouts that I will sell at my Scrapbook Retreats for ladies that want a finished look ready to just insert pictures.  So I will share these layouts with all of my blogging friends as well.

This 2 page layout was created with The Pagoda Cricut Cartridge.

I love how it turned out and think it has many uses.  I create only one or two of each layout I sell so if you are interested let me know using the Contact Me tab above.  

This one sells for $8.50

Friday Funsense: Girlie Wisdom

A friend of mine sent me an email recently that was just so funny.  Rather then forwarding it around I thought I would share it here in a new segment I am calling FUNSENSE.

I figure Fridays should be filled with Fun and what's more fun then sharing some silly nonsense.

so here it is my first installment of FUNSENSE called 

Girlie Wisdom

1-A friend of mine confused her valium with her birth control pills....she has 14 kids 
but she doesn't really care.

2-One of life's mysteries is how a 2lb box of chocolate can make a woman gain 5 lbs!!!

3-My mind not only wanders, it sometimes leaves completely!!!

4-The best way to forget your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

5-The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you are doing, someone else does!

6-The older you get, the tougher it is to loose weight, 
because by then your body and your fat are really good friends.

7-Just when I was getting use to yesterday, along came today.

8-Sometimes I think I understand everything, and then I regain consciousness.

9-I gave up jogging for my health when my thighs kept rubbing together 
and setting fire to my panties.

10- Amazing! You can hang something in your closet for awhile, and it shrinks two sizes.

11-Skinny people irrate me especially when they say things like "You know sometimes I forget to eat".  Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name, and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat...you have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat.

12-The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him......(NOT ME!)

13-I read this article that says the typical symptoms of stress are eating to much, impulse buying and driving too fast....are they kidding?  
That's my idea of a perfect day!!!

Please do not be offended anyone this is meant to make us chuckle.

Hugs~

Valentine Card....Sketch Inspiration

Sorry ladies my voice isn't back yet.....so no videos for a bit. 

I sound like Kermit and I'm sure no one needs to hear that!

Instead I have another Valentine Card idea.

This one was inspired by the beautiful card below I saw on Pinterest.

She used a Sketch and I loved her interpretation so I gave it a shot. 

I used my FAVORITE color scheme and of course, my Cricut Cartridges and here's what I came up with.

Key Ingredients:

Cricut Craft Room Font 1/4"

Art Philosophy Leaves 1.3"

Formal Occasion Hearts 1.5"

Black & Red Cardstock

Stitched Ribbon

Echo Park Yours Truly Paper from 6x6 stack

Sizzix Embossing folders

Hope you like it.  It's hard to see the embossing on the 3D hearts but I really like the effect.

Thanks for stopping by.

Talk Time Tuesday: Valentine Goodies

Sorry I've been MIA the last couple of days.

I've picked up a bug of some sort and have felt down in the dumps.

I'm finally out of bed and feeling better so I wanted to share a new project with all of you.

 

These are some Tic Tac candy holders that I created to mail to my Missionary & his companions.  They are super easy to make-so they make a great classroom or neighbor treat for Valentine.

I will post a video tomorrow(when my voice is back) to share the dimensions.

For now I thought it would be fun to have a linky party and share some of the Valentine Goodies

you are working on so we can all admire each other's creativity.

This is what the inside looks like.  I will be adding a Cricut cut on the Tic Tac box that I will share on the video.

Tinkerbell Mini Album

I created this Tinkerbell Mini Album for my little girl and hope to be able to post a video of the inside pages on this site tonight.

This one is made with Disney stickers, but I think it will be fun to re-make a larger one with my Tinkerbell & Friends cartridge.

I may have to make that a CHALLENGE to myself.

If you have created a project one way and then re-created it with your Cricut share the link so we can all check it out.  If anyone decides this is something they want to try....leave a comment and link to your project....I may just have a mystery gift for One Random participant!

Getting Organized......My Tote!

This is the Altered Tag that I mention in the video and hangs from my newly organized 

Scrapbook Tote.

I don't know how many of you believe in making New Year's Resolutions.  I typically do try to set some new goals or I will create a list of things I want to accomplish in the upcoming year.

One of my main goals this year (and pretty much every year) is to try to become more organized in 2012.

SO

I created this video to share with all of you how I have reorganized my Scrapbooking Tote.

This tote is what I put on my work surface whenever I go to a Scrapbook Retreat or Crop.  It has all of my essential tools that I need to have handy when I work.

I hope this helps some of you either think about what you pack or motivate you to organize your tote so you are all set for that next Crop.

Here's to a more ORGANIZED and CUTE 2012!

Playing with Stickers

I could also call today's post Scrap Your Stash...but since I have a 6yr old playing with stickers sounds like more fun!

In my attempts to clean and organize my craft studio, I am finding all sorts of items that I've been hoarding.  And although somewhat old and outdated, are just too cute to get rid off. 

I know some of my Scrappy friends out there can feel my pain!!!

so instead of crying about the need to purge I decided to do what else make something I could blog about.

So here they are my greeting cards created from only:

Scrap pieces of Cardstock 

Scrap pieces of Patterned Paper

Left over stickers from past projects & mini's

Scrap pieces of ribbon from the scrap ribbon jar

Leftover chipboard

and unused stamp sets.

I hope you like them.....I decided to concentrate on making these KISS..able.

(Keep It Simple Stupid!)

I wish I could say that this made a huge dent in my Leftovers.......but at least I now have something more usable that makes me SMILE!

FCCB Challenge #92:Warming Up with Hot Cocoa

                           Still time to try out for our Design Team  CLICK HERE for more info.

Welcome to another project listing for the {Fatabulous Cricut Challenge Blog}

This week's challenge is Warming Up with Hot Cocoa.

I created a card using a great Pop-Up shape.  

Key Ingredients

Everyday Pop-Up Cards Cartridge

Storybook Cartridge

Winter Woodland Cartridge

Lyrical Letters Cartridge

DCWV cardstock

Patterned Paper (Brenda Walton-I think)

Fiskars Punch

Paper doily

Stickles

Prima Flowers 

Ribbon

The Pop-Up creative feature on this cartridge can be tricky, but if you take a look at the diagrams Provo Craft put out then it helps with the assembly.  

Joy from Obsessed with Cricut converted the diagrams into a PDF and you can download them from My Cricut Tips Tab above.

Thanks so much for stopping by, be sure and leave me a comment-I love reading your feedback.  I hope you will make a Hot Cocoa or Brown Colored project and submit it over at FCCB.

~Hugs~