CTO Pool Party Blog Hop

Happy Saturday, everyone! Welcome to Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons and the Pool Party Blog Hop! This hop is hosted by Celebrate the Occasion, so be sure to start the hop there! There are so many great projects in this hop...and I don't want you to miss even one of them! Plus, there's prize up for grabs at CTO and lots of blog candy along the way. Don't miss out!

If you came here from Rayna's blog (Purple Peeps Techniques), then you're in the right place. If you just stumbled upon this post and you'd like to hop along from the beginning, visit Celebrate the Occasion.

For this hop, we're all making projects related to the Pool Party theme. Well, this is just right up my ally! If you follow my blog, you probably noticed that I'm on a bit of a party decorations/invitations kick. So, that's what I decided to make for this hop. Here are my projects:

First, I decided to make a Pool Party invitation. These are A2 sized gatefold cards. The card base is an SVG file I found online (sorry, I can't remember where I found it). The file also included the scalloped circle. There are 4 different versions of the invitation.

I got the beach ball and flipflops/sunglasses from Pack Your Bags. The sun is from Create a Critter, and the popsicle is from Doodlecharms. Then, I embossed the front flaps of the card base with my Spots and Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

The striped band just slides off the invitation to reveal the party information inside. The actual invitation was just made in Microsoft Word.

Well, I couldn't have invitations without some sort of party decorations! So, I decided to make some cupcake toppers and wrappers to match. Here they are:

I got the wrappers from Life's a Party. I think they turned out so cute! I hope you like them. :o)

Now, what would a blog hop be without some BLOG HOP CANDY????

I'm giving away this DCWV Citrus Album & Embellishment Kit to one lucky follower. YAY!! Here's what you need to do to have a chance to win:

1. Become a follower and leave a comment letting me know. Or, let me know you're already a follower. Please don't forget to include your e-mail address.

That's all you have to do to have a chance to win! But, hey, if you want some extra chances, here's what you can do:

2. For an extra entry, LIKE my Facebook page and leave a separate comment telling me you did so. You can click LIKE on my left sidebar or follow the link. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address in your comment.

3. For another entry, you can follow me on Networked Blogs, if you want. If you do, leave a separate comment telling me you did. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address in your comment.

4. For yet ANOTHER entry, you can follow me on Twitter, if you want. I'm new to Twitter, so I understand if you don't do the Twitter thing. But, if you do, you can follow me and get another entry...just leave a separate comment telling me you did. Don't forget to leave your e-mail address in your comment.

WOW! So many chances to win!!! :o) Please...only US mailing addresses. I'll leave this giveaway open all week, and then I'll randomly choose a winner on Friday, June 10.

Thanks so much for stopping by today...your next stop is Melissa at Moe Creations.

Here's the lineup, just in case you get lost along the way. :o)

CTO-http://celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/

Ivette-http://www.allaboutmeandmyscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Girlia-http://girliascards.blogspot.com/

Adrian-http://byadrian4u.blogspot.com/

Amy-http://www.lovetocrop.com/

Nicole-http://nadialax13.blogspot.com/

Amber-http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com/

Rayna-http://purplepeepstechniques.blogspot.com/

Lisa-http://prettypaperprettyribbons.blogspot.com/ *THAT'S ME*

Melissa-http://melissa-moecreations.blogspot.com/ *NEXT STOP*

Diana-http://www.dianamlarson.blogspot.com/

Kristen-http://fantabulouslypink.blogspot.com/

Katie-http://kwilliamskreations.blogspot.com/

Nicole-http://www.creativedelightsbynicole.blogspot.com/

Linda-http://www.fancyframework.com/

Maquel-http://papermaineiac.blogspot.com/

Mary-http://marebearscraps.blogspot.com/

Judy Ann-http://craftyjar.blogspot.com/

Lucianna-http://dilsaverdesigns.blogspot.com/

Laverne-http://www.acraftershaven.blogspot.com/



Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #59: Teacher Feature

CHECK OUT MY 500 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY HERE!!!

Happy Monday, everyone!  I hope you had an awesome weekend...a fun National Scrapbooking Day and a fabulous Mother's Day! I know mine was WONDERFUL!  Anyway...it's another Challenge Me Monday over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  The challenge this week is to create a project for a special teacher with the color red on it.  I made a couple of different cards...one for each of my daughters' teachers.  Here they are:

The base for this card came from Wild Card, the seal came from Birthday Bash, and the apple is from Create a Critter.  I embossed the base with the Polka Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I used the center of the star frame on the front as an area for writing on the inside of the card.  The sentiment is from Pink By Design's Our Teachers stamp set.  I added some brads and some ribbon, and my first card was all done! :o)

The apple for this card came from Doodlecharms, the Ruler is from a Cuttlebug folder...the Measure by Measure border folder. This sentment also came from the Our Teachers stamp set.  I added some silver star brads...they remind me of the foil stars teachers put on papers.  I think it turned out cute.  I liked these cards so much, I made a second set to put in my Etsy Shop. :o)

Well, I hope you like my cards!  Now it's time to head on over to FCCB to see what the rest of the Design Team members created and to enter the challenge yourself.  I can't wait to see what you create! :o)



OWH Bunny Hop

Hi!  Welcome to Operation Write Home's Bunny Hop!  Hopefully you've come here from April at Scrapping the Magic.  If not, and you'd like to start from the beginning, check out Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps Blog. 

I'm so excited to be participating in this hop, and I hope you'll enjoy my little springy project. Make sure you scroll all the way down for your chance to win some springy blog candy!   Here's my card:

I had so much fun making this card, which can double as an Easter decoration.  When folded up, this card measures 5.5" square, so it will fit in a 6" square envelope.  I used several Cricut carts in this project: bunny and butterfly--Create a Critter, tree--Simply Charmed, basket and eggs--Doodlecharms, bushes and grass--Everyday Paper Dolls.  I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the tree, eggs, and basket, and I added lots of chalk, ink, and doodling to make everything pop!  I used shapes from Birthday Bash to create the card base (I got the idea from Lettering Delights' Sweet Nothings SVG set--but the card there is rectangular, and I wanted a square card).    Here's how I made the base, in case you're interested:

I created a file on my Gypsy using the Birthday Bash circle and square shape.  I had to design it on a 12 x 24" mat because the Gypsy kept moving my shapes over on the 12 x 12" mat so it wouldn't cut out correctly.  Strange and frustrating problem, but switching to the larger mat fixed it.  :o) 

Next, I folded the two square shapes in half and the rectangular shape 2.75" from each end.

I glued the pieces together to form the basic card base, making sure I lined up the circles just right.

Next, I made another Gypsy file for the patterned paper I wanted to line the card with.  I made it so there would be a white border around each paper piece.

I cut the square piece in half.

Then I glued all of the pieces in place.

And finally my base was all ready to be filled with springy goodness!  I'd love to share this file with you.  If you'd like both files...the card base and the paper linings, just let me know in your comment and make sure to include your e-mail address.  You can feel free to use it for your own projects, just please link back to me if you post the card you make in your blog.  :o)

Okay...now how about some Bunny Hop Candy???  I'm giving away a Bloom Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and three Bazzill border strips in bright, springy colors.  If you'd like a chance to win these goodies, here's what you need to do:

1.  Become a follower and leave a comment letting me know. Or, let me know you're already a follower.  You must be a  follower to win.  Please don't forget to include your e-mail address.

2.  For an extra entry, post this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment with a link back to the post.  Also, don't forget your e-mail address.

3.  For another extra entry, LIKE my Facebook page and leave another comment telling me you did so.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address in your comment.

That's it.  Please...only US mailing addresses.  I'll randomly choose a winner on Wednesday, March 9.  Oh, and don't forget to mention in your comment if you'd like me to send you the Gypsy files.  

Okay...on with the hop.  Your next Bunny Hop stop is Cindy at Cindy's Card Co.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Remember that the deadline for sending in OWH cards for Easter is March 18, and the Mother's Day deadline is March 31.  Enjoy the rest of the hop, and have a very HOPPY weekend! 

Throwback Thursday Challenge

I just having so much fun with all of these challenges.  They really do inspire me to fire up my Expression!  Emma over at My Creative Time is having a Throwback Thursday Challenge.  I just needed to pick an older cartridge and create something with that cartridge that contains a heart.  So, I made a little ladybug card.  Here it is:

I used Doodlecharms for the ladybug and the hearts.  The sentiment is from My Pink Stamper's Buggy Punnies stamp set.  I added some ribbon, stitching lines, and brads, and she was all done.  Hope you like her!

First Card-Making Attempts

Just before Christmas, when I was still using my little baby Cricut machine, I attempted to make my first card.  I was inspired by My Pink Stamper's blog, and I couldn't wait to create something.  So, here's my first card.  I used Stretch your Imagination to make the little tree and paper and ribbon from my stash (I never really know where the paper and ribbons come from...I've had them all for a LONG time).  I'm not crazy about this card...I don't like the messy glitter glue, but it was okay for a first attempt, I think.

Over the next couple of days, I made a few more Christmas cards.  Here they are:

I used Stretch your Imagination again for this one.

 This one's from Doodlecharms.

This one's also from Doodlecharms.  Santa turned out to be a little too big, and he looks really plain, but I think he's still cute.

This snowman is also from Doodlecharms.  I tried to jazz him up a bit with some buttons and the I Rock I got for Christmas (you can barely see the rhinestones on the snowflakes in the background).

And finally, I made this little guy.  I found an SVG on the internet (sorry, I can't remember whose file it is), and I cut it using Make-the-Cut software.  He had LOTS of tiny pieces, but I think it was worth all the time it took for me to put him together.  Isn't he cute?  I think this is my favorite card of the bunch.

So, I hope you like my first card-making attempts.  Hopefully I'll get better with time.  :o)