Scrappin' with Sabrina...Creating and Sharing, One Scrap at a Time

FCCB Challenge # 99 - Fancy Trims

2012-02-20T03:00:00.009-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a great holiday weekend, and hopefully today is a holiday for you.

Today's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog challenge is # 99 - Fancy Trims...use fabric, lace, or other trims on your project.

We have another fantabulous sponsor this week and that is Really Reasonable Ribbon! They have such a wonderful assortment of ribbon, lace, trims, and so much more. They even have a monthly ribbon club you can join, so take a moment to check them out! I was fortunate enough to receive some wonderful pieces to play with, and once I saw this pretty green trim, it immediately made me think of grass, so here is the card I created.

I decided to use the green trim as grass, so I layered three rows of the trim and tucked the flower stems in. There are so many ways to use trims and ribbons. Let's see what you create with your favorite pieces.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight and Baja Breeze; CTMH Splendor paper pack; pink, brown, green, and purple cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Songbird
Trim: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Punches: Stampin' Up scallop border punch; Martha Stewart fence punch; Stampin' Up tiny tag punch
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Birds and Flowers set
Stamps: Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Bits, Tiny Tags, and So Happy For You stamp sets
Inks: Tim Holtz Weathered Wood; CTMH Elegant Eggplant
Embellishments: white swirl button from stash; CTMH Splendor brads; Stickles in Aqua; rhinestone; Stampendous tiny sticker for bird's eye; pop-dots

Make sure to stop by FCCB and see the Design Team's wonderful creations as well. This is my last FCCB post as a Design Team member. It has been a pleasure to work with such a great group of ladies, thank you all! I will definitely see you around blog land!!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge #97 - Love is in the Air

2012-02-06T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Today over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, the challenge is #97 - Love is in the Air! Valentine's Day is just around the corner and this is our last week to get our cards finished. I've made several that I still need to post on my blog, but for today, I made a hot cocoa card. I was so excited to use my Love You a Latte cartridge finally. I really love this cartridge. Not only because I love coffee and tea, but there are some really cute images on the cartridge, including some great mat shapes. I definitely want to play with it more!

Also, the DT this week was given the opportunity to use K. Andrew Design Stamps! And how lucky am I that I was given the Coffee and Tea Treats Tag-Along Sentiments! Thank you K. Andrew!!

Recipe:

Paper: DCWV Sweet Matstack; Stampin' Up Very Vanilla; brown, orange, red, peach cardstock

Cricut Cartridge: Love You a Latte

Stamps: K. Andrew Designs Coffee & Tea Treats Tag-Along Sentiments

Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; ColorBox Chalk Chestnut Roan; Tim Holtz Antique Linen

Punches: Stampin' Up Tag, Triple Heart, and half inch circle punches

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls; Stampin' Up Lattice

Embellishments: Sheer brown ribbon; Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Copper; Stickles in Cinnamon; pop-dots

Make sure to stop by the FCCB to see what the Design Team has created for the Love is in the Air challenge!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge # 40 - Valentine's Home Decor Project

2012-01-25T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I am sad to say that this is my last project as a Design Team member for Whimsical Designs. Stephanie and the entire Design Team have been AMAZING to work with and I encourage you to apply to Stephanie's Design Team call. Although I would love to continue, I just have too much going on personally to be able to meet the needs of the DT effectively. Thank you Stephanie and my fellow DT friends! You are all amazing and I have so enjoyed being on the DT with you. I look forward to seeing your future creations! xxxx

This week's challenge is to make a Valentine's Home Decor project. I don't have many Valentine's decorations, so I thought to make a frame for my entry table, as I have so enjoyed my Autumn and Winter frames I made. I didn't add the acrylic plastic overlay as there was too much glare while trying to photograph. And, you can better see the details such as the Glossy Accents and sparklies without the glass!

I recently bought the frame from JoAnn's for $1.50 and it was originally white. I bought a bottle of pearl Red Garnet acrylic paint and applied 2 coats of the paint to the frame. In person, it's a little more pink than I was thinking it would be, as I thought Garnet is usually more red, but I actually like how it turned out! It's a very dark metallic/shimmery pink.

I also have been wanting to use this adorable Lady Bug cut from Create a Critter. And Stephanie's stamps have the perfect "Love Bug" sentiment that fits this sweet little lady perfectly! One of the many things I love about Stephanie's stamps, is that so many of them fit into the Stampin' Up label punches that I use all the time.

Recipe:

Paper: black, pink, and pearl white cardstock; DCWV patterned paper from scrap stash

Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter

Stamp: Whimsical Designs With Love stamp set: "Love Bug" sentiment

Ink: CTMH Vineyard Berry; Tim Holtz Tattered Rose

Marker: Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink (used to outline the patterned paper edges as the paper has a white core and I didn't want the white edges to show through)

Embossing Folder: Sizzix Valentine's set

Punches: Stampin' Up triple heart punch and label punches; small flower punch

Embellishments: pink rhinestones; pop-dots; Stickles in Stardust; Glossy Accents

Please make sure to stop by Whimsical Designs and see the other DT's amazing projects!

Have a wonderful day! Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Cards for Kids Valentine's Day Blog Hop!

2012-01-24T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Welcome to the Cards for Kids Valentines Day Blog! If you have come from Michele @ http://chelemom.blogspot.com/, you're in the right place. If you're just joining us, please go to Faith Abigail's blog at http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/ and start at the beginning.

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to show someone how much you love them. So this year, let's send a little love to those that need it most!

Each of us has created a Valentine's Day card for a sick child and we're asking you to do the same! Simply, create a Valentine's Day card, link it to this blog entry (link-up will remain open until February 7th at 12:00 am) and mail it to:

Faith Abigail
10621 Fuller Ridge Circle
Charlotte, NC 28270

On February 10th, all of the card's will be collected and donated to a local children's hospital. Please include a small message inside your card. Envelopes are not necessary.

Now, what would a blog hop be without prizes! We have some amazing prizes donated by some very talented and generous women and lots of ways to win!

Krystal Andrew @ http://www.gettingcricky.com/ has donated one of her beautiful Valentine Stamps sets!

Nicole @ http://thetwinery.com/ has donated The Ultimate Color Sampler Pack featuring fourteen gorgeous colors of twine!

Monique @ http://monkeydoodlecricut.blogspot.com/ has generously donated FIVE of her fantastic Cricut Kits: The Simple Life, Toy Story, The Stampede, Mom and Me, and Catch a Wave.

All winners will be chosen by random.org. In order to win:

- Be a follower of Faith Abigail Designs @ http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/ (one entry)
- Like Faith Abigail Designs on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/faithabigaildesigns (one entry)
- Leave a comment on this blog post (one entry)
- Leave a comment on each of the designers blog post (one entry each)
- Post about this blog hop on your blog, website or facebook and link back to this post (one entry each)
- Create a Valentine's Day card, link it to this entry and mail it to the provided address. Please create and link as many projects as you'd like! (TWO entries for each card submitted!)

Here is the card I created for a special little Valentine!

Recipe:
Paper: white, brown, and brown/pink Core'dinations paper; Valentine's paper from scrap stash
Die: QuicKutz bear
Punches: Stampin' Up heart punch and tiny tag
Stamps: Whimsical Designs With Love stamp set for "xoxoxo" and "letter" stamps; Stampin' Up heart background stamp for seam binding
Inks: CTMH Hollyhock
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Valentine Set "Be My Valentine"
Embellishments: Stickles in Fruit Punch; pop-dots; jump ring; seam binding stamped and inked with CTMH Hollyhock ink

Thank you for checking out my Cards for Kids Valentine's Day card! Please continue along to the next blog with Suzanne @ http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/and check out all of the wonderful projects that our designers have created!

Blog Hop Order:
Amy @ http://lv2scrapandfibrofacts.blogspot.com/
Beckie @ http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Brandy @ http://craftingwithfaith.blogspot.com/
Cathie @ http://www.creativecutterroom.com/
Charlotte @ http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ http://cricutafterdark.blogspot.com/
Kate @ http://www.smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/
Larelyn @ http://handmadefromtheheart-designsbylarelyn.blogspot.com/
Lisa @ http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/
Marlene @ http://www.scrappincookie.blogspot.com/
Melissa @ http://cricutkateer.blogspot.com/
Melanie @ http://melaniemakes.blogspot.com/
Michele @ http://chelemom.blogspot.com/
Sabrina @ http://scrappinwithsabrina.blogspot.com/
Suzanne @ http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you play along and create a special Valentine for a precious child!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge #95 - Label It

2012-01-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I haven't posted a project in a while for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog as I had to skip one of my Design Team weeks to finish Tristan's scrapbook. But this week I am back with challenge # 95: create a project using a scalloped shape or other label shape (other than a plain circle.)

I have lots of Valentine's cards to make for family and friends, so I created a Valentine's Day card. This card style is one that my Stampin' Up friend Kristie, showed me last year and I just love how the card fits into the embossed pocket.

Recipe:

Paper: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White; Recollections brown cardstock; PaperTrey Ink pink cardstock; DCWV patterned paper

Cricut Cartridge: Sweet Treats (scallop image with shadow feature)

Stamps: Whimsical Designs With Love stamp set - "Hugs and Kisses" sentiment and heart

Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip and Cherry Cobbler; ColorBox chalk Chestnut Roan and Creamy Brown

Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up Elegant Bouquet

Embellishments: red sheer ribbon; pop-dots: Stickles in Candy Cane

Make sure to stop by FCCB to see the other fabulous Design Team projects this week.

I will be back tomorrow for the Cards for Kids Valentine's Blog Hop!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge # 39 - Anything Goes!

2012-01-18T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Today's Whimsical Wednesday's Whimsical Designs challenge is #39 - ANYTHING GOES!! In lieu of Valentine's day coming up next month, I have started making some Valentine's cards and here is my first one to share with you.

Before I share the photos of my card, I want to let you know that Stephanie is having a Design Team call for the upcoming term at Whimscial Designs. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Design Team member should click on the contact button at the Whimsical Designs blog, and e-mail Stephanie for more information.

Here is my card:

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; Recollections patterned paper; Melissa Frances Vintage Attic Treasures
Stamps: Whimsical Designs With Love stamp set - "Be Mine" stamp
Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Valentine's Set
Punches: Stampin' Up hearts, label punch, ticket corner, and border punch
Embellishments: clear rhinestones, Tim Holtz tiny staples; pop-dots

Here is the stamp set I used from Stephanie's With Love set. Click on this link to go directly to Stephanie's website to purchase this and her other stamp sets.

Make sure to join in the fun this week at Whimsical Designs! You will love what the Design Team has in store for you too.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge # 38 - Let's Get Sketchy!

2012-01-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I'm coming up for air now! Yesterday was my son Tristan's 13th birthday and I made a scrapbook for him from birth through his 12th year. I finished it up one hour before I needed to pick him up from school...whew!!! He had his friend birthday party Saturday night, so last night was just my husband, Tristan, and myself. Tristan picked to have Panda Express for dinner and then after dinner he opened his gift. He loved it!! We went through the scrapbook together and he really looked at each page and the pictures. We reminisced about some of the pictures and memories. It was such an emotional journey for me as I put each layout together over the past months. I felt like I was re-living each year of his life, and it was wonderful!!! I did lots of journaling throughout it and then after his 12th year layout, my husband Jason and I each wrote him a letter. I will continue to add to the scrapbook through his high school years. Children are such a blessing!!

Today's Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge # 38 at Whimsical Designs is "Let's Get Sketchy!" We need to create a project using the below sketch as a guide.

Our Sponsor this week is the Stamp Fairy and there are some really adorable images! I am not ready to stop making winter cards even though the holidays are over, and snowmen are still part of winter, so I picked an adorable snowman image to play with. The Stamp Fairy is generously giving $10 worth of digi's from their digi stamp shop!

I have to share that this is the FIRST time I have ever used a digi stamp and it was fun! I only have Stampin' Up markers so I wasn't quite able to get the shading I wanted but I think he turned out cute!

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze; dark blue American Crafts cardstock; white cardstock; snowflake paper from scrap stash
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - " All My Friends Are Flakes" stamp and snowflake stamp; Stamp Fairy digital stamp - "Joey Snow 4" digi stamp
Ink: CTMH Indian Corn Blue and Hollycock
Markers: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Soft Suade, Baja Breeze, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler
Punches: Stampin' Up label and circle punches
Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy for decorative circle
Embellishments: Stickles in Stardust, Lime Green, Aqua, and Crystal; teal rhinestones; blue snowflake ribbon from Michael's; snowflake brads

I used the Snow Much Fun stamp set from Stephanie's line of stamps. You can purchase this set along with her other three sets at Whimsical Designs on Stephanie's blog.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. Make sure to hop over to Whimsical Designs to see what the fabulous Design Team has created.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesdays Challenge # 37 - On the Edge

2012-01-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends and Happy New Year!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Here we are in January 2012, wow! Are you recouping from the holidays? I am, but I am also planning my son's 13th birthday party. Tristan's birthday is the 9th and we are having a family and friend celebration (two different events) this weekend. Fun, fun, fun!

This week's challenge at Whimsical Designs is challenge # 37, On the Edge; create a card, project or scrapbook page and include a border on it. The first Wednesday of each month is scrapbook layout week, so some of our Design Team members will create a scrapbook page/layout. That is what I created and I am happy about it because I need to catch up on my scrapbooking! I'm going a bit backwards in time...back to Halloween!

Every year, since Tristan was a baby, we have gone to the Adobe Farms Pumpkin Patch in Petaluma, CA. We know the owners and they do such a wonderful job of creating a full farm, with not only the pumpkin patch of course, but hayrides, a corn maze, jumpy houses, rock climbing, a haunted house, gift shops, food, flowers, animals, and entertainment. We love it, and we always have such a wonderful time. We make a full day of it too, so we can really enjoy being out there.

Recipe:

Graphic 45 Halloween in Wonderland - You're Late Collection; green, orange, brown, tan, copper sparkle cardstock

Punches: EK Success pumpkin border punch; Stampin' Up label punches

Dies: QuicKutz flourish dies

Stamps: Whimsical Designs Whimsical Fun Volume 1 stamp set- "I love you to the moon and back" stamp; The Stamps of Life Calendar 2 Build for "October 2011"; Making Memories for "31st"

Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown

Marker: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip for pumpkin stems

Cricut Cartridges: Create a Critter (for pumpkins and grass); Simply Sweet (for title)

Embellishments: Tim Holtz Idea-ology Adage Tickets; brown rhinestones; Stickles in Tiara

This week, we have Crop Stop as our sponsor! They are giving away an EK Success edge punch called Doily Petals. It's a new edge punch that can be used to create some gorgeous dimensional flowers. I've attached a picture:

We hope you will play along with us at Whimsical Designs this week for our "On the Edge" challenge. Whip out those border punches and see what wonderful creations you come up with. The DT and I can't wait to see!

Thanks for stopping by today! Here's to lots of happy crafty time in 2012!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesdays Happy New Year Challenge # 36

2011-12-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was very nice! I started feeling a little under the weather on Christmas Day, but thank goodness it didn't hit me until Monday, when a chest cold kicked in. I am hanging in there and staying low key and indoors. I got some medicine from the doctor today so that is good as I've been coughing a lot at night. My hubby is very happy I got some medicine too so I don't keep him up!

Today is Challenge # 36 at Whimscial Designs and we are celebrating New Year's! Since it's a busy time of year, Stephanie asked if we wanted to post our favorite project/card for 2011, or make a New Year's card/project. I decided to make something for New Year's since I have a ladies neighborhood get-together next week. I thought it would be nice to give each of the ladies a little treat. I have a couple of chocolate peppermints inside.

Recipe:
Paper: Recollections O Christmas Tree paper pad; tan sparkly paper and white paper from my scrap stash
Cricut Cartridge: Life's a Party for favor box
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Everyday Sentiments Stamp Set - "Let's Celebrate"; The Stamps of Life Calendar 2 Build for "2012"
Ink: Technique Tuesday aqua ink (sorry I do not know the name of this color. It was part of a class kit I got years ago); ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown
Punches: Stampin' Up label punches and tiny tag punch
Embellishments: Papertrey Ink twine; rhinestones; seam binding (died with TT ink)

This will be my last post for 2011. I am taking the rest of this week to focus on a very special scrapbook project that I will tell you about later!

I wish you a wonderful New Year's and a happy and healthy 2012! Thank you all so much for your support this year. It has been wonderful meeting so many bloggy friends through this wonderful papercrafting hobby. I also want to thank my family and friends that have been so supportive of my blog and projects. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me!

Many blessings to you all,

Sabrina
xx

Merry Christmas and a "Merry Christmas" Musical Reindeer Card

2011-12-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy this special holiday with family and friends. I am off to church in a moment for Christmas Eve mass, but wanted to quickly post this card and to wish you a very Merry Christmas! I used the Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set. The musical note background is a large stamp I stamped on to Very Vanilla cardstock. I embossed the reindeer onto the musical stamp.

Merry Christmas!!!

Hugs,
Sabrina :)

"Free Snowman Hugs" Frosty Card

2011-12-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Two days until Christmas! How are you all doing with your prep? I am done shopping and wrapping. Now I just have to get ready for Christmas dinner as I am hosting.

Today I am sharing a Frosty card. I just LOVE Snowmen! They are so sweet and have so much personality.

This angle shows the sparkly embossed background and his sparkly scarf.

Recipe:
Paper: White textured cardstock
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Free Snowman Hugs" stamp; Market Street Joyful Snowman stamp; Stampin' Up Confetti mini background stamp for snowflakes
Ink: CTMH Black and Indian Corn Blue; VersaMark in Dazzle
Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy for label
Punches: Stampin' Up scallop border punch; EK Success snowflake border punch
Markers: Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Not Quite Navy
Embellishments: Stampendous Winter Wonderland embossing powder; Diamond Stickles; rhinestones

Thanks so much for stopping by today and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Wednesday Christmas/Winter/New Year's Home Decor Project

2011-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

It's time for a Whimsical Wednesday Whimsical Designs challenge! This week's theme is a Christmas, Winter, or New Year's Home Decor project. I am really enjoying making Christmas home decor items and decided to make an ornament my little tree.

Nanne is our wonderful sponsor this week again, thank you Nanne! The Webster scrapbooking supplies are just amazing!

I have a little iron tree I decorate with white lights, that is in the entryway of my house. I keep it up all year round (in the family room the rest of the year) and I decorate it with the seasons. I added my snowman to this little tree.

I so love my Tim Holtz Winter Wonder snowman. He is just so adorable with such a little personality! As my sister says, "I just love his little elbow" and I so agree!!

Recipe:

Paper: Making Memories Music Note Ledger Noel; white chipboard

Dies: Stampin' Up Top Note; Tim Holtz Sizzix Winter Wonder

Punch: Stampin' Up label punch

Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Warm Winter Wishes" stamp; Inkadinkado Snowflakes A-Plenty snowflake stamp

Inks: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; VersaMark in Dazzle; Tim Holtz Tattered Rose

Embellishments: Stampendous embossing powder in Winter Wonderland; Papertrey Ink button; seam binding dyed with TH Tattered Rose; red pearls; Stampendous Diamond Dots; yarn; black Sakura Glaze pen for snowman eye

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Make sure to hop over to Whimsical Designs to see what my fellow Design Team members have created today!!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge # 91 - Trimming with a Tag

2011-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Today is Challenge Me Monday over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. This week's challenge will run for two weeks, and then we will be taking time off during the holidays. We return on January 2nd with a new challenge for the New Year!

Our challenge this week is Trimming with a Tag. I love making tags, and I am having so much fun with my Tim Holtz large tag, that I just had to use it again!

Recipe:

Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla; Core'dinations red paper; Martha Stewart Snowflake paper pad

Cricut Cartridge: Joys of the Season for snowflakes

Stamp: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Tis The Season" stamp

Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown and Olive Pastel

Die: Sizzix Stocking Bigz die and matching embossing folder (comes in package together); Sizzix Tim Holtz Large Tag

Punches: Stampin' Up label punches

Embellishments: Papertrey Ink button and red/white twine; seam binding (died with SU Cherry Cobbler and CBC Olive Pastel); silver bells; red pearls; Glimmer Mist in Dazzling Diamonds

The Sizzix Bigz Stocking die and matching embossing folder is very fun as you get the matching EF in the same package to match the die cut. It was a bit tricky though, I must admit. First, I die cut the Core'dinations paper and then ran it through the EF, but I could not get it lined up correctly with the EF as it seemed at first that it kept shifting. I did about six of them, and I even tried to glue down the cut out stocking to the EF to see if that was my problem. I determined that I was lining it up correctly, but that the paper actually spreads after it goes through the EF, so I changed my process. I first embossed the paper and then ran it through the stocking die cut. It was a bit tricky to match up the embossed paper to the die cut to make sure it would cut around the embossing, but I think I did pretty good!

The Tim Holtz tag and the stocking are actually on chipboard for more dimension and durability. The embossed piece of Core'dinations paper is glued on top of the already cut out chipboard stocking. I had fun dying the ivory colored seam binding and it's so easy to do with ink! I added the little jingle bells which is a fun little touch. I used my wonderful Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set for the "Tis The Season" sentiment which fits perfectly in my favorite Stampin' Up label punches.

Make sure to stop by FCCB to see the other Design Team members projects. Remember, this challenge will be open for two weeks and will be our last challenge for 2011. We return on January 2nd.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Reindeer Crossing Card

2011-12-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Happy Sunday! Can you believe Christmas is only ONE week away?!!! My hubby and I went Christmas shopping this weekend. We haven't shopped together in a long time and it was so much fun being together and buying gifts for family.

Today I am sharing a card I made with one of my favorite reindeer images from Stampin' Up. His name is Dasher. My dear friend Marci gave him to me as a gift last year. I am also using the Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set. I love the "Reindeer Crossing" sentiment and the font is so cute!

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin Up' Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, and Whisper White cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Joys of the Season for holly berries
Embossing Folders: Sizzix Sheet Music and Holly Swirls
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Reindeer Crossing" stamp; Stampin' Up Dasher
Ink: ColorBox ink in silver; Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler
Punches: Stampin' Up label punches
Embellishments: sparkly red ribbon (Michael's); Glimmer Mist in Dazzling Diamonds; pop-dots; rhinestones; Stickles in Candy Cane

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Sabrina

Merry Christmas Vintage Card

2011-12-14T22:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I had a wonderful visit with my family last week! I am so blessed to have such a loving, caring, and supportive family! I still have a lot to do to get ready for Christmas, so this week and weekend are super busy, but it's all good.

I do have to apologize for not being able to visit my favorite blogs and commenting very much. It's going to be very busy through the new year. Tristan's 13th birthday is January 9th, so we jump right from the holidays to his birthday! He is going to be off of school for two and a half weeks, so we will be enjoying that time together.

Today I am sharing a Christmas card I made. I haven't made too many Christmas cards yet, so I need to get moving! You know how I love vintagy things, so this card reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas!

I used the wonderful Whimsical Designs stamp set, Snow Much Fun. I love the font of this Merry Christmas stamp!

Recipe:

Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; Stampin' Up Garden Green cardstock

Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Merry Christmas" stamp; Hampton Art "Joy Collage" stamp

Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip

Die: QuicKutz holly leaves

Embellishments: Papertrey Ink twine and button; Gary M. Burlin and Co. glitter glue

I am entering this card into a couple of challenges:

More Than Favors Wacky Wednesday: challenge # 61 - Christmas

The Paper Variety: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today, and happy crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Challenge #34 - Christmas/Winter Project with Sparkle

2011-12-07T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you enjoyed last week's sneak peeks of Stephanie's new Whimsical Designs stamp release and the fun blog hop. Congratulations to all the winners! I have been out of town visiting my parents, so I will need to catch up on checking out all the inspiring projects.

Today's challenge for Whimsical Designs is challenge #34, create a project with a Christmas/Winter theme and include some type of sparkle or bling. Those are two of my favorite combinations!

We have been generously given two wonderful sponsorships this week, from two of our Whimsical Designs Design Team members, Nanne and Cindy! Nanne is sponsoring Webster Pages scrappin' supplies and Cindy is sponsoring three digital stamps. Thank you Ladies!

Here is my project for this week's challenge. These pictures are from a very special family day snow tubing back in February of this year. We had "snow much fun!" Hee, hee!!! And, I used Stephanie's Whimsical Designs "Snow Much Fun" stamp set for my layout. I left a spot that I can add my journaling to.

Recipe:

Paper: Bo Bunny patterned paper; dark blue and light sparkle blue cardstock

Cricut Cartridge: Winter Woodland for "Winter Fun" title

Dies: QuicKutz border; Stampin' Up Sizzix Decorative Strip Northern Frost

Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "Baby It's Cold Outside" sentiment

Ink: CTMH Colonial White

Embellishments: Rhinestones and winter brads (maker unknown)

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Make sure to stop by Whimsical Designs and see what my wonderful fellow DT friends have created for today's challenge. I hope you play along too!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge #89 - Present Time

2011-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you had a lovely weekend! I'm actually visiting my parents with my sister (who lives in Washington)outside of Reno, NV this weekend through Tuesday. Just Tristan and I are there, Jason is home (and working, thanks Honey!!) This is our winter trip to visit with my parents and it's always such a wonderful and special time. I wish we all lived closer, but at least we are all on the west coast. Then my sister will come back to visit with me in California and we are going to go see my Godmother who lives in San Francisco and do a Winter Wine Walk in Windsor, CA, the town I live in. They have a wonderful downtown area called the Town Greene and it's such a wonderful family oriented town. I will have a lot of catching up on visiting blogs after this week! Thanks for your patience :)

Today is Challenge Me Monday over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and the Challenge #89 is Present Time...make a gift, gift packaging, or use a gift cut. This week is my Design Team week. Make sure to check out all of the wonderful projects the DT has created to share with you!

I am just LOVING the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and I know many of you are too. It's just such a versatile cartridge with so many different images for many holidays, along with some great cuts, such as frames and packaging. One of the reasons I decided to buy this cartridge was for the pillow box cut. I just love pillow boxes and dressing them all up! So with the FCCB Present Time challenge, I thought it would be perfect to make a pillow box.

Here is an upclose view of the holly, ribbon and the sentiment which is from Stephanie's brand new line of clear stamps! Click here to go to Stephanie's Whimsical Designs blog to purchase her stamps.

This picture is a little dark, but I wanted you to see the gold embossing on the tree.

The stamp set I used is from Stephanie's new release of clear stamps, Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun set. If you hop over to her blog, you can purchase her stamps. Here is a picture of the Snow Much Fun Set. It's absolutely adorable and can be used not only for cards, but projects, and scrapbook layouts too!!

Recipe:
Paper: Best Creation Inc. Merry Christmas; Stampin' Up Whisper White and Garden Green
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set - "No Peeking"; Papertrey Ink 2009 Holiday Tags
Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suade and Cherry Cobbler; Tim Holtz Antique Linen; VersaMark
Markers: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; VersaMark markers
Dies: QuicKutz Holly Berry; Papertrey Ink Limitless Layer 1 3/4" Circle Collection
Punches: Stampin' Up labels
Embellishments: red pearls; Judikins Egyptian Gold embossing powder; red ribbon

I stamped the tree tag with Soft Suade and then used my VersaMark marker to outline the branches and star. Then I sprinkled the Egyptian Gold embossing powder over the tree and heat embossed. It added such a pretty gold glow to the tree. I added a touch of Cherry Cobbler marker to the tree ornaments. I used the same stamp but only part of it, on the holly leaves.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and make sure to stop by the FCCB to see the other Design Team members projects!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop!

2011-12-03T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

IT'S HOPPIN' TIME, WOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!! LOL!!!! I'm super excited, can you tell???!!!

Welcome to the Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop! You should be coming from Margie's blog at Bella Bug Creations. If you just happened across my blog, please go back to the beginning starting at Stephanie's blog at Whimsical Designs. If you happen to get lost along the way, just go back to Whimsical Designs for the full line-up for the Blog Hop.

Here is my project for the Blog Hop, which I had so much fun making (as I always do!) I made a winter home decor frame, full of sparkliness, and the sweetest sentiment from the Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set, that says "snowflakes are winter's butterflies." Isn't that just so true??!!

Here is an up-close view of the stamp, isn't it so pretty??!!

Here is a side view to show some of the sparkliness on the embossed snowflakes.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla cardstock; light blue and blue sparkle cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun stamp set-"snowflakes are winter's butterflies"; Inkadinkado Snowflakes A-Plenty snowflake stamp
Ink: CTMH Colonial White; Colorbox pigment ink in silver for embossed snowflake stamp
Dies: Sizzix Stampin' Up Decorative Strip Northern Frost
Embellishments: rhinestones; Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder; pop-dots

Now, onto the stamp release. Today we are showing you the full release of Stephanie's new line of fabulous clear stamps, and they will be available to buy at Stephanie's blog at her Whimsical Designs Shop.

Here they are!!

Aren't they just ADORABLE! Each set also has a few image stamps to go along with the sentiments!! And let me tell you, they stamp just wonderfully!! One lucky winner from last week's "texture" challenge will receive all four of these sets.

Now, I hope you play along in our Whimsical Designs Blog hop. And as a Thank You for playing along, I have a little blog candy for you, how fun is that?! All you need to do is:

1. Be a Follower on my blog or become a Follower;
2. Leave a comment on this post; and
3. Play along at the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop, which ends Sunday night, December 4th at midnight, EST

I will announce the winner of my blog candy on Wednesday, December 7th.

There will also be one random Grand Prize winner for the Blog Hop. One random winner will get a prize pack that will include two Stampin' Up ink pads (Black and Chocolate Chip), one medium sized acrylic stamp block from Stampin' Up and one pack of Stampin' Up White Card Stock. In order to be eligible for the grand prize, you must become a follower of the Whimsical Designs Blog and leave a comment on all the Whimsical Designers Blogs under their blog hop post.

For extra chances to win the grand prize:

1. Advertise the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop Stamp release on Facebook and go to the Whimsical Designs Blog and leave a comment that you did;

2. Blog about the Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop and leave a comment at the Whimsical Designs Blog saying that you did.
(You must include the links to the post in your comment.)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Now, your next stop is Shelly's blog at Cards by Shelly. Enjoy your hopping!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Stamp Sneak Peek Day Two!

2011-12-02T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Welcome to day two of the Whimsical Designs stamps sneak peek! I am so excited to be sharing another project today using Stephanie's wonderful new line of stamps! They are so great to work with and stamp absolutely beautifully!

Each Design Team member has been given two out of the four stamp sets to make projects with, one yesterday and one today, so make sure to visit each Design Team members' blog to see sneak peeks of all four sets! Tomorrow we will reveal the full four sets during the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop, with one more project using the new stamps. All the stamps will be available for purchase on Stephanie's blog at Whimsical Designs in her new shop!

The Blog Hop Has Been Changed to Tomorrow MorningIn order to give everyone more time to leave comments under the post for the two day stamp sneak peeks the blog hop will start tomorrow, December 3 at 7:00am EST. You have until 12:00am EST tonight to leave comments under all of the designers post for the sneak peeks from yesterday and today. All of the winners of the stamps will be announced, along with the winner of the entire stamp release, tomorrow morning on the Whimsical Designs Blog.

Here is my project for today's sneak peek. The stamp set I used today is called "Snow Much Fun" and let me tell you...it really is SNOW MUCH FUN!!!!

I decided to make a Hot Cocoa Holder for a yummy cup of Starbucks Peppermint Hot Cocoa. If you haven't tried it yet, it's absolutely delicious! I bought a box of 8 at Safeway.

Here is a close-up of all the sparkliness and the perfect sentiment to go with this yummy treat!

This sweet little Hot Cocoa stamp comes with the Snow Much Fun set and isn't it so sweet?! And perfect to go along with the sentiment!

Recipe:
Paper: Recollections O Christmas Tree Signature Special paper pad; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and white cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Gypsy Wanderings
Stamps: Whimsical Designs Snow Much Fun-"Cocoa Warms the Heart" and the Cocoa cup
Ink: Stampin' Up Soft Suade and Cherry Cobbler; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
Markers: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Peppermint Twists
Punches: Stampin' Up double tag and circles
Embellishments: Making Memories sparkly red brads; red sparkly ribbon from Michael's; Martha Stewart glitter; Stickles in Stardust; Glossy Accents

I used my Gypsy to create this holder. I used the cup/heart image, at 5.5", made a copy, flipped the second image and welded it together. I deleted the heart on the right side image as that would be the back. I removed the little cut in the heart as you wouldn't see it anyways. I added the embossed red cardstock under the heart cut out and outlined the heart and the peppermint twist embossed candies with Glossy Accents and then sprinkled MS glitter over it. The Whimsical Designs stamps go so perfectly!

Remember, there is a lot of blog candy coming up! Each of the Design Team members will be giving away one stamp set between yesterday and today. I am giving away the Whimsical Designs Everyday Sentiments stamp set! In addition, Stephanie is giving away the ENTIRE RELEASE to one lucky person who entered last week's add texture challenge. This challenge is open until today, Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. If you are reading this early Friday morning, there is still time to enter the texture challenge here, so hurry!

Please note: In order to be eligible for the prizes above, you must leave a comment on all the Design Team members' blogs and Whimsical Designs on both sneak peek days.

Do you want two extra chances to win?! All you need to do is help spread the word about the sneak peek and the stamp release on:

1. Facebook: after you post on Facebook, go back to theWhimsical Designs blog telling us that you posted on Facebook;

2. Your Blog: after you post on your own blog, go back to the Whimsical Designs blog telling us that you posted on your own blog.

You will have until Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 am EST to leave a comment on the Design Team blogs and the Whimsical Designs blog, and the same time frame for Facebook, and your own blog (if you are trying for the two extra chances to win.) Winners will be announced during the Stamp Release Blog Hop tomorrow!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Stamp Sneak Peek Day ONE!

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Welcome to day one of the Whimsical Designs stamps sneak peek! I am so excited this day has arrived so that the wonderful ladies on the Design Team and I can share Stephanie's new line of Whimsical Designs stamps with you!

Today and tomorrow, the Design Team will be giving you sneak peeks of the new stamps. We each have been given two out of the four stamp sets to make projects with, one today and one tomorrow, so make sure to visit each Design Team members' blog to see sneak peeks of all four sets! Then on Friday night, we will reveal the full four sets during the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop, with one more project using the new stamps. All the stamps will be available for purchase on Stephanie's blog at Whimsical Designs!

Here is my project for today's sneak peek. The stamp set I used is called "Whimsical Fun Volume 1." I decided to make a neutral (boy or girl) baby card. Oh, what a So Super Sweet little baby!

This side view shows more of the wonderful sparkliness!

Here's an up-close view of the So Super Sweet stamp from the Whimsical Fun Volume 1 set.

You pull the little heart tab up to reveal the inside of the card with a sweet little message inside.

Recipe:
Paper: DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy paper stack; Core'dinations Vanilla Cream cardstock for baby skin; yellow, brown, pink and white cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Baby Steps and Sweethearts Cricut Cartridges
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls and Swiss Dots
Stamp: Whimsical Designs Whimsical Fun Volume 1-"So Super Sweet"
Ink: CTMH Garden Green for So Super Sweet sentiment; Tim Holtz Antique Linen for distressing around images; Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink for baby cheeks
Punch: Stampin' Up label punch cut in half (used with So Super Sweet sentiment)
Embellishments: Pearls; Melissa Frances clear moon charm; seam binding ribbon distressed with Garden Green and Antique Linen inks; Stickles in Stardust; Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink marker for baby nose; jump ring for holding charm on ribbon; pop-dots

Now, let's talk about BLOG CANDY!! Each of the Design Team members will be giving away one stamp set between today and tomorrow. I am giving away the Whimsical Designs Everyday Sentiments stamp set! In addition, Stephanie is giving away the ENTIRE RELEASE to one lucky person who entered last week's add texture challenge. This challenge is open until Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. There is still time to enter the texture challenge here! The winner of all four stamp sets will be announced during the Blog Hop.

Please note: In order to be eligible for the prizes above, you must leave a comment on all the Design Team members' blogs and Whimsical Designs on both sneak peek days.

Do you want two extra chances to win?! All you need to do is help spread the word about the sneak peek and the stamp release on:

1. Facebook: after you post on Facebook, go back to the Whimsical Designs blog telling us that you posted on Facebook;

2. Your Blog: after you post on your own blog, go back to the Whimsical Designs blog telling us that you posted on your own blog.

You will have until Friday, December 2nd at 5:00 EST to leave a comment on the Design Team blogs and the Whimsical Designs blog, and the same time frame for Facebook, and your own blog (if you are trying for the two extra chances to win.) Winners will be announced during the Stamp Release Blog Hop which begins Friday, December 2nd at 7:00 EST. FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!

I hope you enjoy seeing my sneak peek project and the So Super Sweet stamp from Whimsical Designs Whimsical Fun Volume 1 stamp set! Now, head on over to visit Whimsical Designs and see what my wonderful team has created!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Challenge #33 - Layers

2011-11-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Today we have a new challenge for you at Whimsical Designs, and that challenge is to use layers on your project and make a Winter or Christmas themed project. Before I share my Design Team project with you, I want to remind you of a few exciting things!

This Thursday, tomorrow, December 1st and Friday, December 2nd, at 7:00 am EST each day, the Design Team will be sharing their projects and sneak peeks of the stamp sets! We will reveal the entire four stamp sets on Friday night, December 2nd at 7:00 pm EST during the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop! Remember, that last week's challenge will remain open only until Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. This is important information because the challenges are usually open for two weeks. All participants in last week's challenge will be entered to win ALL FOUR STAMPS SETS!!! For last week's challenge, click here. We will announce the winner of all four stamp sets during the stamp release blog hop Friday night.

There will also be one random Grand Prize winner for the Blog Hop. One random winner will get a prize pack that will include two Stampin' Up ink pads (Black and Chocolate Chip), one medium sized acrylic stamp block from Stampin' Up and one pack of Stampin' Up White Card Stock. In order to be eligible for the grand prize, you must become a follower of the Whimsical Designs Blog and leave a comment on all the Whimsical Designers Blogs under their blog hop post.

For extra chances to win the grand prize:

1. Advertise the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop Stamp release on Facebook and go to the Whimsical Designs Blog and leave a comment that you did;

2. Blog about the Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop and leave a comment at the Whimsical Designs Blog saying that you did.
(You must include the links to the post in your comment.)

Now, onto this week's layers challenge. The Whimsical Designs sponsor this week is our very own Design Team member, Nanne. Nanne is giving away a prize pack filled with Webster Pages scrapbooking supplies! This is so generous, thank you Nanne!

Here is my project, lots of layers!

I took this angled picture to show you how many layers of snowflakes I used.

Recipe:

Paper: Martha Stewart Snowflace paper pad ("Snowflace" is what is on the back of the paper pad, kind of a strange name? I wonder if they meant to print "Snowflake" instead?); white textured cardstock for base; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler

Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for snowflake layers

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots

Punches: Stampin' Up label punches

Stamps: Papertrey Ink 2009 Holiday Tag Collection

Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler

Embellishments: Making Memories large snowflake brad; rhinestones; sheer ribbon and red thin holiday string; pop-dots; Glossy Accents for the center of the red string

I cut 9 different layers of the snowflake. The first 3 larger layers are cut at 1/2" increments. The next 6 inner layers are cut at 1/4" increments. For the red thin holiday string, I put a few drops of Glossy Accents in the center of the bow so it would not slip apart as the string is quite shiny and slippery.

Now it's your turn to make a Christmas or Winter project with "layers" and join us at Whimsical Designs! The fabulous Design Team has some lovely inspiration for you all.

I will see you tomorrow for the first sneak peek of the Whimsical Designs stamp release! I can't wait to share with you!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Week!

2011-11-28T11:01:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving and holiday weekend!

This is a very exciting week for us at Whimsical Designs, as it's stamp release week, woo hoo!!! The Design Team has so much to share with you. This Thursday, December 1st and Friday, December 2nd, at 7:00 am EST each day, the Design Team will be sharing their projects and sneak peeks of the stamp sets. We will reveal the entire four stamp sets on Friday night, December 2nd at 7:00 pm EST during the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop! Remember, that last week's challenge will remain open only until Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. This is important information because the challenges are usually open for two weeks. All participants in last week's challenge will be entered to win ALL FOUR STAMPS SETS!!! We will announce the winner of all four stamp sets during the stamp release blog hop Friday night.

For extra chances to win the grand prize:

1. Advertise the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop Stamp release on Facebook and go to the Whimsical Designs Blog and leave a comment that you did;

2. Blog about the Whimsical Designs Stamp Release Blog Hop and leave a comment at the Whimsical Designs Blog saying that you did.
(You must include the links to the post in your comment.)

I really hope you all join us and play along and help us to spread the word about this fun filled kick-off week to the Whimsical Designs stamp release!

Make sure to come back this Wednesday for an all new Whimsical Designs challenge too!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Whimsical Designs Challenge: Add Texture and Exciting News!!

2011-11-23T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I am super excited that this week is my first Design Team project week for the wonderful Whimsical Designs challenge! Before I talk about this week's Whimsical Wednesday challenge, I want to share some very exciting news with you all!

As I mentioned in last Wednesday's post about being a new Whimsical Designs Design Team member, Stephanie is releasing a new line of clear stamps that are just so amazing! We are going to be kicking off the release of the stamp line next week with some sneak peeks from the Design Team, starting on Thursday, December 1st and Friday, December 2nd, at 7:00 am EST. We will reveal the entire four stamp sets on Friday night, December 2nd at 7:00 pm EST during the Whimsical Designs Blog Hop! This week's challenge will remain open only until Friday, December 2nd at 12:00 pm EST. This is important information because the challenges are usually open for two weeks. All participants in this week's challenge will be entered to win ALL FOUR STAMPS SETS!!! Now how cool is that?! Isn't that so amazingly generous of Stephanie? We will announce the winner of all four stamp sets during the stamp release blog hop Friday night.

Let me just say that these stamps are so fun and really versatile! There is something in the sets for every occasion! I fell in love with the stamps immediately when I first saw them and my mind began racing through all of the different cards and projects that I can make with them!! It's so great when a stamp set can bring you so many ideas for cards and/or projects, I just love that! Stephanie's heart went into these stamps, and it really shows in the end results. You are going to LOVE them! So, I am sure you are all dying to know what the stamps look like! Here is a little sneak peek for you!

Yep, aren't you lovin' the glimpse of that font??!! I sure am!!

Now, our Whimsical Designs challenge this week is "texture." Create a project that has texture to it. Well, I thought about this for a couple of days and then the perfect project came to mind, something to do with sewing. And I have the perfect Sizzix dies for this project. My new Tim Holtz Sewing Room and Tag/Bookplate dies!

I have another video for you on this project!

Recipe:

Paper: Hot Off the Press Tan Swirly Flowers (for large tag); Melissa Frances Home for the Holidays (for dress form, button, and circle tag topper) and Vintage Attic Treasures (for Art Philosophy frame and sentiment frame) 6x6 paper pads; Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; two brown textured cardstocks; green cardstock; chipboard

Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy

Sizzix Dies: Tim Holtz Sewing Room and Tag/Bookplate dies

Ink: Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Vintage Photo

Embellishments: Stampin' Up Antique Brads; Papertrey Ink twine; green sheer ribbon from Carolina and Co.; Viva Decor Pearl Pen in Iced White; Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive; Making Memories brads; Dritz pearlized head pin; sentiment is computer generated with French Script MT font; seam binding

I hope you enjoyed my project. Please make sure to hop on over to Whimsical Designs to see what Stephanie and the rest of her wonderful Design Team have created, and to play along!

I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for so much, and I want to take this opportunity to thank YOU all, my wonderful bloggy friends and viewers! I appreciate you and all of your support and friendships I have made over these past six months. Enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Harvest Cricut Crawl Blog Candy Winner!!

2011-11-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Tristan just helped me to pick a winner for my blog candy giveaway. We printed out all of your wonderful comments, that I sooooo enjoyed reading, cut them into individual strips, folded them up and put them into a container, and then Tristan shook them up A LOT and picked one. He had fun "shakin' it up!" We were singing "shake it up" as he was shaking the container, LOL! Thank you so much for all of your inspiring comments. I love reading them all, not just on this one post, but on all of my posts. Thank you so much, I really appreciate all of your support!

And now, I am so excited to announce the winner..............and the winner is...............................

Karen H.!!!!!!!!! My sweet friend Karen!!!!!!!!! Karen is always an inspiration to me and one of my first bloggy friends, as we started our blogs back in May around the same time! She is always so supportive and encouraging and she is so super talented too! You should really check out her blog, at Kaleidoscopic Sparkles. Karen is full of inspiration and she does "Sweet Saturday" where she often has a delicious goodie to share with you, recipe, photo, and all!

Karen wrote:

"My sweet friend, this is absolutely gorgeous! The metallic paint looks incredible! It instantly makes you feel all Autumn-y...as does the rest of your beautiful frame. The flowers are so dimensional and lovely, while the pearly flourishes are the perfect touch. The sentiment is wonderful. Excellent as always, my friend! :o)"

Congratulations Karen, and thank you for your wonderfully sweet comment! I will e-mail you to get your address so I can send you your goodie which is an adorable Recollections Christmas stamp set!

Stay tuned for my first Whimsical Designs project tomorrow, and some exciting news about Whimsical Designs that you WON'T want to miss!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge # 87 - Thank You

2011-11-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

It was so fun to see everyone's projects for the FCCB Harvest Cricut Crawl! Thank you for participating. I had mentioned I would have blog candy and I do! I just thought it best to wait until the challenge is over, which was last night, so stay tuned! I will announce the winner tomorrow, Tuesday.

It is time for a Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Challenge Me Monday! This week, the challenge is #87, Thank You, in honor of this being Thanksgiving week. Is it me, or does the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving fly by in the blink of an eye??!! I have a busy week as I am hosting Thanksgiving. My hubby is off of work this week and Tristan is out of school, so that is great.

I have a card to share with you and a video too, woo hoo! I haven't done a video in over six weeks and it's time! The inspiration for this card came from the September/October 2011 issue of Paper Crafts. On page 44, there is a card called Pumpkin Sentiments Card and I loved it. So I thought to do something similar. I wanted to keep the Fall feel to it, because after Thanksgiving, we kick into Christmas, so this week is kind of my last chance for Fall. Hence, did you notice my new blog background? I just love it! I love Snowmen and snowflakes so when I saw this I thought it would be perfect. And it can extend after Christmas because it's a wintery theme.

Here is my card:

Here is my video:

Recipe:

Paper: White and green cardstock; My Mind's Eye Fall in Love Glitter pack

Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter for negative pumpkin image

Stamps: CTMH Harvest Happiness for pumpkin stem; Papertrey Ink Up, Up and Away for larger "thank you" stamp; Papertrey Ink Mega Mixed Messages for "thanks so much," "merci," and "thanks" stamps; Making Memories date set for tiny leaf stamp

Ink: VersaMark in Dazzle; CTMH Vineyard Berry, Autumn Terracotta, Garden Green, and Smokey Plum; Tim Holtz Vintage Photo and Antique Linen

Punches: Stampin' Up border punch and tiny tag

Dies: QuicKutz larger tag

Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Thankful set of four, Leaf Garland used

Embellishments: Stampendous PEARLustre embossing powder in Emerald; Papertrey Ink twine and button; rhinestones, pop-dots

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Make sure to head over to FCCB to see all of the other Design Team inspiration.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

I am a Whimsical Designer!!

2011-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I have some super exciting news to share with you today...I am a new Design Team member at Whimsical Designs!!! I have played along with Stephanie's challenges for many months now and have really enjoyed her challenges and her blog. Very soon, Stephanie will be debuting her new line of stamps, so stay tuned for a fun week long stamp release party! Next week will be my first project week at Whimsical Designs so stay tuned for that too.

Thank you Stephanie for this fantastic opportunity to be a part of your team!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's Harvest Blessings Cricut Crawl!!

2011-11-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends, and welcome to my blog, Scrappin' with Sabrina, and the Fantabulous Cricut Harvest Blessings Crawl...Fantabulous Cricut's version of a blog hop!

It's Fall and what a perfect time of the year to create a special project to give thanks for our Harvest Blessings! Each FCCB Design Team member has created an original Fall project that includes Brown, Orange and Red, along with at least one Cricut cut.

If you have come from visiting Robin at Robin's Creative Cottage, you're in the right place. If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along with our Fantabulous Cricut Crawl, start with Beckie's blog at Just Be Creative Crazy.

Make sure to check out each Design Team member's blog for some awesome inspiration! There will be great prizes along the way at some of our DT members' blogs. There will also be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Harvest Blessings" project at FCCB! Make sure to link up a picture of your project over at FCCB.

As a Thank You for playing along, I have a little blog candy for you, how fun is that?! All you need to do is:

1. Be a Follower on my blog or become a Follower;
2. Leave a comment on this post; and
3. Play along at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's Cricut Crawl

I will draw a name at the end of this week's Cricut Crawl on Sunday, November 19th!

Here is the project I created for my Harvest Blessings. I love Fall, it's my absolute FAVORITE time of the year...time for warm sweaters and scarves, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and pumpkin bread, crispness in the air, nature's magical colors, and special family time!

Recipe:
Paper: Green and orange cardstock; Creative Imaginations patterned paper
Cricut Cartridge: Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge for dimensional flowers and leaves
Die Cut: QuicKutz flourishes
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls
Embellishments: Stickles in Copper; Kaiser Craft Pearls; Folk Art Metallic Antique Copper Acrylic Paint; Mod Podge Matte; wooden frame from Walmart; pop-dots; Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive

I purchased the wooden frame at Walmart a while ago for $.97. I gently sanded the open framed edges as it has a few wooden pieces that needed to be smoothed out. I used the Metallic Antique Copper Acrylic Paint on the frame and oh my...what a pretty brownish hue it is, with an ever so slight metallic shimmer to it. I love it! I used 2 coats of the paint and let the coats dry about half an hour in between. I then added one coat of Mod Podge to the frame.

I ran the QuicKutz flourishes through my Xyron machine to make sure it stuck really well to the frame. Then I added another coat of Mod Podge over the flourishes and entire frame again. It sealed the frame and cardstock really well. Then I added the flowers with Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. I adhered the leaves with pop-dots and some more Scotch Adhesive. I added some Copper Stickles to parts of the embossed leaves and tips of the flowers. I found the sweet sentiment on the internet, when I Googled "Autumn Quotes." I typed it out on my computer and printed it on the cardstock. The frame did not come with any plastic covering, so I used the acrylic packaging from an embossing folder to add a protective layer over the sentiment. I added the green pearls on top of the acrylic and also on some of the flourishes and in the center of the flowers.

Now it's your turn! I can't wait to see what you create for your Harvest Blessings! Make sure to include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project and be sure to use Brown, Orange and Red colors on your project as well.

Your next hop stop is… Sarah's blog, at Sarah's Stamping and Stuff. Hop on over to see what she has in store for you today. And when you're done, make sure to link up your project to FCCB's Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the FCCB contest!

Happy Crawling and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

=====================================

Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Cathie – http://www.creativecutter.org/
Charlotte - http://alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/
Crystal - http://www.littlecreationsblog.blogspot.com/
Faith Abigail - http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/
Glenda - http://glendascards.blogspot.com/
Jamie A - http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/
Jennie - http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/
Jessica - http://cricutafterdark.blogspot.com/
Jewels – http://beautifulcrazyscrappylife.blogspot.com/
Kate – http://www.smallbitsofpaper.blogspot.com/
Larelyn - http://www.handmadefromtheheart-designsbylarelyn.blogspot.com/
Lisa F - http://indymermaid.blogspot.com/
Marlene – http://www.scrappincookie.blogspot.com/
Melanie – http://melaniemakes.blogspot.com/
Melissa – http://cricutkateer.blogspot.com/
Peggy – http://dailygracecreations.blogspot.com/
Robin - http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/
Sabrina – http://www.scrappinwithsabrina.blogspot.com/
Sarah - http://www.sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/
Sherrie – http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com/
Suzanne - http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving Card

2011-11-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a great weekend!

I am sharing another Thanksgiving card with you that I am entering into this week's Whimsical Wednesday's Happy Turkey Day Challenge. The challenge is to create a card/project that is Thanksgiving themed. Can you believe Thanksgiving is a week and a half away?!

I love the CTMH Harvest Happiness stamp set I used! The leaves are just gorgeous with their flourish images on the pattern.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up More Mustard cardstock base and Certainly Celery cardstock; Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock
Stamps: CTMH Harvest Happiness (leaves); Papertrey Ink 2009 Autumn Tags (sentiment)
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan; CTMH Autumn Terracotta and Vineyard Berry; Stampin' Up Soft Suade and Chocolate Chip; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Branches with Leaves
Border Punch: Stampin' Up
Embellishments: Papertrey Ink Twine; Kaiser Craft rhinestones; pop-dots

Make sure to stop back by tomorrow as I have a special project to share with you for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's Harvest Cricut Crawl. The Cricut Crawl is FCCB's version of a blog hop. The Design Team has created some awesome projects for this special week, so make sure to hop on by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Cricut Crawl on November 14th

2011-11-08T19:40:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Just a very quick note...see the new blinky on the top right hand side of my blog? It's for FCCB's upcoming Cricut Crawl, which is our version of a blog hop! We will be starting on November 14th but stay tuned for more details to come so you can play along. I cannot wait to see what everyone creates!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Football Coach Thank You Cards

2011-11-07T21:32:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends!

Tristan's football season has come to an end and it's bittersweet...it would have been great if the team had made it to playoffs, but we are all enjoying more free time with practice and games having come to an end. However, Tristan made the All-Star team, so he has one more game coming up on Sunday, November 20th, and he will get to play with some of the best players from other teams in his league. We are so proud of him!

We are having an End of Season Dessert Banquet on the 16th, and we will thank the eight coaches who helped out the Windsor Knights Pee Wee team this year. My husband, Jason, was one of the coaches. These dads spent 13+ hours each week, for over three months coaching these boys. I am one of the team moms and I decided to make a thank you card for each coach. We will present the card and a bottle of wine, so kindly donated from a family who owns a winery, at the banquet. I will try to have each of the boys sign the cards.

So, being this is for the "guys," I kept it simple! I can't believe that there is a challenge out there that I can enter this card into, woo hoo! The Die Cuttin' Divas have challenge # 39, It's Football Season, that I am playing along in.

I used a sparkly gold paper for the helmet. The Knights colors are gold, blue, and white.

I embossed the "Thanks" sentiment and distressed the edges of the blue cardstock and patterned paper.

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; blue, creme, and sparkly gold cardstock; SEI I'm an Athlete-Punt patterned paper
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Diamond
Stamps: CTMH A Little Everything stamp set
Ink: VersaMark in Dazzle; Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown
Embossing Powder: Stampendous Aged Copper embossing enamel
Die: QuicKutz football helmet
Sentiment is computer generated

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

It's Time for Thanksgiving Cards!

2011-11-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a lovely weekend. Mine is just great. Fall has definitely hit northern California, and it almost feels like winter...and I love it...wearing sweaters and scarves makes me happy! The temperatures dropped significantly from the 70's during the day to about the 50's, just in a matter of a couple of days. Today was a rainy Fall day and I spent a few hours in my craft room this afternoon, listening to Christmas songs on my iPhone, sipping Gingerbread Spice tea, and making my second Thanksgiving card!

I am entering this card into a couple of challenges. Over at Celebrate the Occasion, Challenge #37 is Fall...must have a pumpkin. At Whimsical Designs, the Challenge is anything goes.

Here is a picture at a different angle so you can see all the sparkliness!

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock for base; Core'dinations orange and yellow cardstock; brown cardstock in a texture (for the label SU die) and in a sparkle (underneath the leaf border punch)
Embossing Folder: Sizzix Fall Fence
Stamp: Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
Punches: Stampin' Up label punches; EK Success Fall leaves border punch
Embellishments: brown sparkle ribbon from Michael's; Kaisercraft tiny brown rhinestones; Stickles in Copper; pop-dots

I used Core'dinations paper, so after embossing the orange cardstock, I ran sanding paper over the top to bring through the yellowish core color. I also lightly sanded the yellow cardstock that has the leaf border punched out. I added Stickles to the pumpkins and some of the leaves for more definition and sparkliness. I also added a tiny rhinestone strip between the two colored cardstocks.

Enjoy your Sunday and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge # 84 - For the Birds

2011-10-31T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Happy Halloween!! It was a busy weekend for lots of fun Halloween activities, like parties, carnivals, and pumpkin patches. I hope you enjoyed some of these fun fall festivities. I love Halloween and am looking forward to handing out candy tonight and seeing all the fun costumes. We have a very busy neighborhood, so it will be a great evening. Tristan doesn't trick-or-treat anymore, but he has fun trying to scare some of the older kids that come by!

Before I share my project with you, I am excited to announce that I will be continuing on the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog (FCCB) Design Team!!! My three month term ends today, but I will be staying on the DT from November to end of February. The FCCB is such a great blog full of Cricut inspiration. And the DT I have been working with has been so great and supportive. I hope you join us for the fun challenges we have planned!

So this week is my Design Team week on FCCB, and the challenge is "for the birds...create a project with a bird or something to do with a bird." So, with Thanksgiving coming up as our next holiday, I thought it would be appropriate to honor our great turkeys out there! I thought of the idea to make this funny card a couple of weeks ago. Every time I look at it, I just smile! I turned to my trusty Create a Critter for this cute little turkey. I had so much fun making this card!

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink kraft cardstock for base; orange, brown, yellow, and tan cardstock; My Mind's Eye Fall in Love glitter pack
Cricut Cartridges: Create a Critter (turkey) and Paper Doll Dress Up (fence)
Dies: QuicKutz sign die
Punches: Stampin' Up label punches and ticket corner punch; EK Success border punch for leaves
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug Distress Stripes
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan, Creamy Brown, and Yellow Cadmium
Embellishments: Stickles in Lime Green and Champagne; Making Memories tiny eyelets; Recollections black pearls (turkey's eyes) and brown rhinestones; brown ribbon; pop-dots; distress tool for distressing the edges of the orange and patterned paper mats, and the fence and sign cuts

Make sure to stop by the FCCB to see what all of the Design Team members and our Guest Designer have created for this fun challenge.

Enjoy your Halloween and have a fantabulous week!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Fall Treats

2011-10-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

It has been one busy week and I don't know where the time went...and here it is Friday already!

I have a quick and simple little Fall treat to share with you. On Wednesday, I made a double batch of my yummy pumpkin bread, and mailed out some tins to family and also made some for a couple of friends. I made simple tags that I attached with twine to some festive pumpkin wire ribbon that I wrapped around the bread tins. So simple, yet so cute!

I used the 2009 Autumn Tags stamp set along with the Limitless Layers 1 3/4 Circle Collection from Papertrey Ink.

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Marci's New Blog!!!

2011-10-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

This is just a quick post to share with you that I am so super excited that my dearest friend Marci has her own blog now! I helped her a bit this week to get it up and running and she did her first post, woo hoo! You go girl! LOL!

I would just love it if you could stop by her new blog and show her some bloggy love! You can find Marci's blog at Marci Kay's Kreations.

And guess what???!! Tomorrow we are heading off to Scrapbook Expo in Sacramento, woo hoo! It will be a fun-filled girl day with several of my friends and I am so excited to be surrounded by all things crafty for the whole day!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

Halloween Treat Holder

2011-10-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Yesterday, I finished up a Halloween treat holder that I am entering into a couple of challenges.

I played along in My Pink Stamper's Pinkalicious Blog Hop this past weekend. It was really fun to hop from blog to blog to see what Robyn's Design Team created for this month's blog hop. The challenge is to make a goodie bag or 3-D item that is for a holiday. I am also playing along in My Craft Spot's challenge this week which is challenge # 30, 3-D Halloween. The Design Team created some awesome Halloween projects that are also very inspiring. With Halloween around the corner, I thought to make a treat holder to give to some of the kids that live in our neighborhood. I only made this one, but I will definitely be making more!

Paper:
Recipe: Stampin' Up Garden Green; orange cardstock; DCWV Ghosts and Goblins paper stack
Cricut Cartridge: Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More Cricut Cartridge
Stamps: Papertrey Ink 2009 Halloween Tags
Ink: Tim Holtz Peeled Paint; CTMH Autumn Terracotta; Stampin' Up Black and Perfect Plum
Die Cuts: Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags dies
Embellishments: Stickles in Black Diamond; Making Memories tiny eyelet and jump rings; pumpkin ribbon

Since I cut the cake box image on my Create, it measures a bit smaller. It holds about 3 mini candies (like the Hershey's snack sizes) but I think it's a perfect size for a few little treats.

Thank you so much for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge # 82 - Purple People Eater

2011-10-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

This week is my Design Team week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and the challenge is #82, Purple People Eater...make a project with the color purple and a monster or bug on it.

Now, I am not a big fan of spiders in my house (outside in nature is just fine!) but these little spiders are so cute and are allowed in my house, LOL!

Recipe:

Paper: DCWV Ghosts and Goblins paper stack; Stampin' Up Perfect Plum

Cricut Cartridge: Smiley Cards

Embossing Folder: Darice Spider Web background

Punch: Stampin' Up border punch

Stamp: Papertrey Ink 2009 Halloween Tags

Ink: VersaMark in Dazzle; CTMH Autumn Terracotta and Perfect Plum

Embellishments: Recollections black mini pearls; silver stretch cord; Stampendous white embossing powder (used on sentiment); Sakura silver pen to outline the embossed image; Sakura white gel pen; Walmart black satin ribbon; pop-dots

I tried something new which was really fun and gave a great effect. I outlined the embossed spider web with a silver Sakura pen to give the image more depth and some subtle shimmer. I love how it turned out!

Make sure to stop by FCCB to see what the other DT members have created for this fun challenge!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

No More Braces Layout

2011-10-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a great weekend. Today was a lovely day. We went to San Francisco to have lunch with my Father-in-law and family. He finally was released from the hospital a few weeks ago after being in for over 3 months. He is slowly but steadily regaining back some strength. He is still dealing with some significant diabetes related health issues that he will live with for the rest of his life, but at least he is home and enjoying life!

I wanted to share another layout I finished of Tristan getting his braces off in August.

Recipe:

Paper: GCD Studios Whoop De Doo Hoops Collection; Stampin' Up Very Vanilla; yellow and black cardstock

Cricut Cartridge: Don Juan (font) and Baby Steps (tooth)

Embossing folder: Sizzix Retro Circles by Tim Holtz (used on title)

Embellishments: Kaisercraft brads

Have a great rest of your weekend and happy crafting!

Sabrina

My Craft Spot Design Team Call!

2011-10-09T22:20:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

We had such a fun day at the Adobe Farms Pumpkin Patch today! Stay tuned for a few pictures. The pumpkin patch is an actual farm with so much to do. There are animals, hay rides, bouncy houses, corn maze, crafts, food, music, fresh flowers to pick, a Farmer's Market, and of course, pumpkins! We spent the whole afternoon there with our dear friends, Marci and her son Steven.

I created my first Christmas ornament to enter into My Craft Spot's Design Team call. Kimberly is looking for three new Design Team members and I love her blog and her fun challenges, so I am applying! She sells some great stamps, baker's twine, and hand-dyed crinkle ribbon too, which I love! Here is my entry:

I had so much fun making this Christmas ornament! And the great thing, is I used scraps and supplies I had on hand for a while. I absolutely LOVE Christmas and the magic that comes with the holiday season!

Recipe:
Paper: Melissa Frances Home for the Holidays paper pack; brown, green and white cardstock; miscellaneous paper from my scrap stash (including the rectangle Santa scene image)
Ribbon: Braided brown and pleated creme ribbons from Carolina and Co.
Punches: Stampin' Up label punches
Stamps: Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler; Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan
Cricut Cartridge: Winter Woodland for branch and pinecone
Embellishments: Superior pearl and rhinestone stick pin; "wish" charm and brad from my scrap stash; pearls; Stickles in Lime Green; Smooch pearl topcoat; pop-dots; Papertrey Ink button; extra large bottle cap from Scrapbook Grammie at Scrapbook Expo last year

I cut out two circles from the MF patterned paper and adhered one piece to the inside of the bottle cap and one piece to the back. I then used my hot glue gun to adhere the brown braided ribbon to the inside of the bottle cap around the paper, and also on the back to form the loop to hang the ornament from. To cover up the ribbon edges on the back, I added a cute button. I then adhered the creme pleated ribbon to the outside of the bottle cap rimmed edge. I pop-dotted the rectangular Santa scene paper, hot glued the branch and pinecone, the "Merry Christmas" sentiment, the stick pin and the charm/brad. The Santa scene rectangle paper and the sentiment have some inking to add to the vintage look!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Helene's Custom Framing and Scrapbooking Store and a 4th of July Layout

2011-10-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a wonderful Fall weekend! We are having a great weekend. Yesterday, Tristan was off of school (budget cut day for our schools) so he got a 3 day weekend. Plus, there is no football game tomorrow so that is a plus too! We love our football, but it's an intense 3-4 months, so to have a break is very much welcome. Tomorrow we are heading to the pumpkin patch with our friends.

I headed down to my favorite local scrapbook store today, Helene's Custom Framing and Scrapbooking, to get a few supplies I was needing. Helene is such a sweetheart and her store is just so great! She has so many wonderful products and projects. Helene is always there with a smile on her face and a helpful hand to find what you are looking for and/or to give you ideas. She can special order items you are looking for if she doesn't carry them in the store. Her classes are great too. I picked up a kit for a beautiful heritage clock album that I will share with you when I make it. (It may be a while!) But, I will soon share with you a little mini album I made in one of her classes that I love. I put some pictures from my parents' 50th wedding anniversary in it. If you sign up to be on her e-mail list, you can receive e-mails about her classes. Even if you live far away, you can still order a kit with detailed pictures so you can create the project at home with all the supplies you need included. Helene's is the only local scrapbook/paper crafting store in Sonoma County. And she does gorgeous custom framing too, so check her out!

I mentioned a little while ago I was catching up on my 2011 scrapbook layouts, so I thought I would share another one with you. 4th of July seems so long ago, but it was only 3 months ago. I only snapped one quick picture of the three of us with my phone, and then one more of the fireworks, but the annual event of going to see the fireworks together is a tradition for our family and I love it, so I wanted to scrapbook it.

Recipe: CTMH Blue Ribbon paper pack
Cricut Cartridge: Stand and Salute
Dies: QuicKutz scallop border die
Embellishments: Stickles in Stardust; red star eyelets

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

FCCB Challenge # 80 - Pumpkin Time - Fall Pumpkin Decoration

2011-10-03T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you had a great weekend. Ours was great. Tristan's football team won both last week and this week's games, and he scored touchdowns at each of the games which was so exciting!

This week is my Design Team week at FCCB and the challenge is to make a project with a pumpkin on it. I saw this idea in last year's Stampin' Up catalogue and thought it would be fun to make something similar as a Fall decoration for our home. I have also put a LED tealight candle inside of the pumpkin at night for a little added glow.

I also made a video about the project. It's broken into two videos because it's a little lengthy!

Here are the videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Recipe:

Paper: CTMH Twitterpated paper pack

Cricut Cartridge: Stretch Your Imagination (pumpkin stem and leaf) and Gypsy

Stamps: Papertrey Ink 2009 Autumn Tags

Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; Colorbox Chalk Olive Pastel; VersaMark Dazzle; CTMH Autumn Terracotta

Marker: Stampin' Up Old Olive

Dies: Papertrey Ink (1.75" circle and sunflower shapes)

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls

Embellishments: Stickles in Champagne and Tiara; Papertrey Ink button and twine; pop-dots; brads

Have a great week and happy crafting!

Sabrina :)

"Have a Splendid Day" Fall Card

2011-10-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a great weekend! Fall is in the air here in northern California and I love it!! I made yummy Pumpkin Spice Bread tonight and the house smells soooooooo good!

I am sharing a Fall card I made using the new Harvest Happiness stamp set from Close to my Heart. I love this stamp set! Some of the stamps coordinate with new Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge which I think is just so cool!

Recipe:
Paper: CTMH Twitterpated patterned paper pack; Papertrey Ink Terracotta Tile and New Leaf cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: CTMH Art Philosophy
Stamps: CTMH Harvest Happiness
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip and Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown
Punches: Stampin' Up border punch and EK Success Fall leaf border punch
Embellishments: Stickles in Champagne; pop-dots; Papertrey Ink button and baker's twine

I hope you have a wonderful rest of your weekend. Thank you for stopping by and happy crafting!

Sabrina :)

Harvest Happiness Card

2011-09-30T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Happy Friday!

Today I am sharing another card I made using a Close to my Heart Stamp set. And this is another Fall card, because I just love Fall!

I am entering this card into three challenges. The first one is Whimsical Wednesdays Fall Color Challenge. For this challenge, you must make a Fall card or project, but the twist is to add your own handmade embellishment. For the Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #32, it's Anything Goes, but you must use ribbon. And for FCCB, it's Challenge # 79, Leaves are Falling. It's not my Design Team week, but I am playing along in the fun!

The handmade embellies I made are the maple leaves with the silver wire behind them. I wrapped one of the wire swirls around the green ribbon. The other one is above the sentiment. I punched out the leaves from an EK Success Fall Leaf border punch. I added some Stickles and let them dry. Once dry, I added Glossy Accents to the top of the leaf to give it dimension and make it shiny. For the wire, I used my needle-nose pliers to make the swirls.

Recipe:
Paper: CTMH Twitterpated patterned paper pack; Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; various cardstock colors
Cricut Cartridges: Stretch Your Imagination for the tree and leaves; Hello Kitty Greetings for the clouds
Stamps: CTMH Harvest Happiness
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; Colorbox Chalk Olive Pastel and Chestnut Roan
Circle Cutter: Creative Memories
Punch: EK Success Fall leaves border punch
Embellishments: Stickles in Lime Green and Champagne; silver wire; Glossy Accents; pop-dots; green ribbon

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a lovely first October weekend!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Vintage Card

2011-09-29T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Today I am sharing a Vintage inspired card along with a video. I have been on a roll with cards this week. Isn't it great when your ideas just fall into place with challenges?!

The patterned paper I used is from Michael's. It's the Recollections Elegance paper pack. The patterns are all black and creme...soooooooo pretty!

I just received my Close to my Heart order. I ordered their fabulous Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. There is a special for the month of September (you have another day left!) If you order, I think, $75 or more, you receive the Pair-a-Phrase stamps for free! And they are adorable! I fell in love with the little bicycle and the quote from Hans Christian Anderson!

I am entering the card into this week's Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #34, Vintage or Shabby Chic projects.

And here is the video:

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink black cardstock base; Stampin' Up Whisper White; Recollections Elegance paper pack
Stamps: Close to my Heart Pair-a-Phrase
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip; Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown
Punch: Stampin' Up Ticket Corner punch
Pens: Sakura Gel Pens
Embellishments: Rhinestones; Melissa Frances seam binding; Superior Pearl and Rhinestone stick pin; pop-dots; glue-dots

I will be back soon with a couple more cards to share, woo hoo!!!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

2011-09-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I hope you are having a good week! Since the weather here is still in the low 90's, I thought it would be appropriate to share one last water layout from this summer. I have a couple of other summer layouts I will share in the next few days.

I absolutely love this patterned paper!

Recipe:

Paper: Fancy Pants Designs, Inc. Summeer Soiree Sunkissed patterned paper; yellow, orange, green, blue cardstock

Cricut Cartridge: Life's a Beach (beach umbrella, flip flops, and lounge chair)

Stamps: CTMH Cherished Flourishes

Ink: CTMH Twilight

Embellishments: Stickles Stardust and Champagne

Thanks for stopping by today.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

My Parents' 50th Anniversary

2011-09-22T13:26:00.000-07:00

Hello again Friends!

As you can all relate to capturing precious family memories, I thought to share with you this little slideshow movie I made for my Parents' 50th Anniversary party that my sister and I gave my parents last November 2010. I also did a scrapbook for them with many of the same pictures. The party turned out so wonderful and most importantly, my parents loved it. If felt so great to honor them as they are such amazing people, and I am so blessed to have been raised by them. I still cannot watch this without tearing up. It represents such wonderful memories of our childhood and all they did to give us those precious memories. The song, Vivo Per Lei, (I Live For Her), is by Andrea Bocelli and Giorgia.

Hugs,

Sabrina :)

Butterfly Award!

2011-09-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I have to first say that I am soooooooooo late in posting this award from my crafty blog friends, Pam at Crafty Cards for You too, and Jayne over at Jayne Designs. Thank you so much Pam and Jayne, I really appreciate you passing this award on to me! And I also want to thank another crafty blog friend, Amy at Love to Scrap and Fibro Facts for also passing this same award on to me! I really appreciate you passing this award on to me Amy! Make sure to visit Jayne, Pam, and Amy's amazingly creative blogs!

The rules for the Butterfly Award are:

1. Answer the questions.

2. Award it to ten other bloggers.

3. Contact them and let them know they've received the award.

4. Put a link to the person(s) who gave you the award.

1. Favorite colour? Pink for fun girly stuff; green for house/decorating stuff.

2. Name your favorite song. The piano theme song to the movie, Legends of the Fall. (This is one of my favorite movies, I highly recommend seeing it. It stars Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn, and Julia Ormond. This movie is how we thought of my son Tristan's name.)
3. Name your favorite dessert. Pumpkin Spice Bread.
4. What wizzes you off at the moment? Dysfunctional people.

5.Your favorite pet? My sweet cat, Poppy, AKA Miss Lou.

6. Black or white? Black.

7. Your biggest fear? Something bad happening to my Son.

8. Best feature? Kindness.

9. Everyday attitude? Upbeat.
10. What is perfection? My family being safe and healthy.
11. Guilty pleasure? The few mindless TV shows I watch!
12. When you're upset you? Become quiet.

Now, for the hard part! I have to pass on this award to ten other bloggers and there are so many wonderful and talented friends out there, that I would want to give it to everyone...but to follow the rules, here goes!

1. Karen at Kaleidoscopic Sparkles

2. Amber at My 3 E Scrapbooking

3. Linda at Cards by Linda

4. Sherrie at Sherrie Scraps with Passion

5. Lisa at A Mermaid's Crafts

6. Suzanne at Cricut Craftin' Grammy

7. Leah at Beeing Creative and Feeling Cherry

8. Glenda at Glenda's Cards

9. Tanya at Nonna's Craft Corner

10. Kate at Small Bits of Paper

All of these ladies are super talented, so take a moment to hop on by their blogs.

Have a wonderful day!

Sabrina :)

FCCB Challenge # 78 - A Pirate's Life

2011-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

This week's FCCB Challenge is # 78, A Pirate's Life - Make a pirate themed project. I turned to my trust ole' Life's a Party Cricut cartridge for this challenge, as it's my Design Team week over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. This was a really fun card to work on!

Recipe:
Paper: Dark brown, brown, and gold shimmer cardstock (the dark brown paper came texturized)
Cricut Cartridge: Life's a Party (treasure chest card feature)
Stamp: Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics set; inside sentiment was computer generated
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip
Punch: Stampin' Up label punch
Embellishments: Brad rhinestones; Stampendous Diamond Dot stickers; Papertrey Ink Twine; Stickles in Champagne for treasure chest lock and handles; Glossy Accents; gold chain from costume jewelry stash

It was an interesting thought process figuring out how to make the card closure, but I finally had an idea, woo hoo! I added two brad rhinestones on each flap. Then I tied the twine to make a closed bow and added some Glossy Accents to the bow so it would not come undone. To open the flaps you simply slip the bow over the rhinestone and open the card, and then to close it, just slip the bow back over the top rhinestone.

Make sure to stop by FCCB and see what the other Design Team members have created.

Have a great week and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Birthday Sundaes Guest Designer!

2011-09-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!

I am so honored to be a Guest Designer today over at the Birthday Sundaes blog! I love playing along with the birthday card challenges at Birthday Sundaes, because you can never have enough birthday cards on hand, and the challenges are always so much fun.

This week, the challenge is #27, "Belated Birthday Card" and here is the card I made. Except for the card base which is Papertrey Ink's kraft cardstock, I used the Grace CTMH patterned paper pack. I LOVE this paper pack! The patterns are so gorgeous, and very Fall-ish (is that a word?!) LOL!

Recipe:

Paper: Papertrey Ink kraft cardstock for base; CTMH Grace paper pack

Die Cut: Tim Holtz Sizzix Tattered Florals Bigz die

Punches: Stampin' Up scallop border and label punches

Stamp: Papertrey Ink Birthday Bash Sentiments

Ink: CTMH Twilight; ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown

Embellishments: CTMH twine; rhinestones

Make sure to hop on over to the Birthday Sundaes blog and see what the Design Team members have created for this week's challenge.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Scrapbook Expo Class Projects Video

2011-09-16T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

Happy Friday to you! I hope you have a great weekend and can have some crafty time.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned I would do a little video on the two class projects I did at Scrapbook Expo. Here it is! The projects were so much fun to do.

Thanks for stopping by today and taking a look.

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina

7th Grade School Layout

2011-09-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a good week! Today I am sharing one of the many layouts I have been working on. I am entering it into the Whimsical Wednesdays Scrapping School Memories challenge. The challenge is to create a layout that is about school memories. The layout must have a chipboard element on it.

Here is my two page layout of the beginning of 7th Grade for Tristan. I just got his school pictures back, so I am glad I was able to add that picture on the layout. His picture turned out so cute!

I covered the Melissa Frances chipboard pieces (the two larger leaves) with scraps from my paper stash. I used the back side of that same paper to punch out the smaller leaves.

Recipe:
Paper: DCWV Grade School Stack (layout base papers); Creative Imaginations (brown binder type paper); green, brown, tan, red, yellow, black, metallic silver cardstock; misc. scraps from my stash (small leaves and paper covering leaf chipboard)
Cricut: Plantin Schoolbook (title) and Locker Talk (pencil)
Die Cuts: QuicKutz paper clip and photo corners
Punches: EK Success notebook paper and small leaves punches
Stamps: TPC Studio School stamps
Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan and Creamy Brown; CTMH Chocolate
Chipboard: Fall leaves by Melissa Frances
Embellishments: Queen and Co. sparkly green rhinestones; Sakura white gel pen (dots on title)

Thank you so much for stopping by today and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

A BIG Thank You to All of my Blog Followers and Some Thoughts

2011-09-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Again!

I cannot believe I have hit 100 (actually 101) followers on my blog! I started my blog four months ago to document my scrapbooking, cards, and projects. I quickly discovered so many fun challenge blogs which then led me to participating and meeting many wonderful crafty blog friends...many of whom are YOU!

I always appreciate each and every comment and I want you to know I appreciate you all. Your encouragement and support mean so much to me! I am blessed to have my close friends who I scrap with and share our day-to-day lives together. I am also blessed to have met you all in the blog world. Thank you! I take each comment to heart. Each comment always brings a smile to my face :)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. And I must say that as tomorrow is 9-11-11, my thoughts and prayers and heart go out to the thousands upon thousands of people that have been affected by 9-11. I cannot believe ten years have gone by. I can remember each detail of what I was doing when I heard the unbelievable news of the tragedy that was unfolding on the news, right before our eyes. With tears in my eyes and disbelief that something so awful could actually be happening, I stood still, watching the news, thinking...this must be a movie...this is not happening. <Sigh.....>

And on a more upbeat note, GO KNIGHTS! Tristan has his fourth football game tomorrow. So far, we won one game, lost the second, and tied the third. Let's see what tomorrow brings!

Hugs to you all, and THANK YOU again!

Sabrina

First Halloween Card!

2011-09-10T20:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a great weekend. Mine has been great! Last night was my monthly scrap night at my friend Tracy's church, Hessel Church. We get together usually the 2nd Friday night of the month from 6:00 pm to midnight. It is so much fun with such a great group of ladies!

I worked on a Halloween card and am entering it into the Die Cuttin' Divas challenge this week. The Challenge is #31 and it is to follow this sketch:

Here is my interpretation and my card. It was so much fun to make. I love that border punch!

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Plum Pudding and True Black; orange and green cardstock; dark brown patterned paper from CTMH; dot patterned paper from scrap stash
Punches: EK Success pumpkin border punch; Stampin' Up label punch
Die Cuts: QuicKutz ghosts
Stamps: Papertrey Ink 2009 Halloween Tags
Ink: Stampin' Up Purple Plum; Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap
Embellishments: My Craft Spot Baker's Twine; pop-dots

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

FCCB Challenge # 76 - Back to School

2011-09-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

This week's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Challenge Me Monday is challenge # 76 - Back to School. I absolutely LOVE the Fall season, as you know from my previous post and Fall card, and school goes right along with it!

For my Design Team project this week, I decided to do a different kind of project instead of a card. At Scrapbook Expo., I bought a very fun Sizzix Post-it Note Scoreboard Die and I was really wanting to use it on a project. I thought these would make great teacher gifts too.

This is the front of the holder, with the flap closed. I used Basic Grey magnets that are very thin and low profile.

Here is a picture of the flap up so you can see the magnet. The other part of the magnet is on the lid and looks identical.

And this is the inside with a yellow Post-it cube.

I know I will be making a lot of these for Tristan's teachers!

I first adhered the patterned paper to the mat board using Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive. I used a foam applicator to thoroughly coat the mat board to ensure that the edges remain sealed after I ran the mat board through the Sizzix die. I let it dry about 10 minutes and then placed the mat board with the patterned paper face down on the die, and then ran it through my QuicKutz Epic 6 machine. What the ScoreBoards dies do is cut out the shape, and then score only on the fold lines. It cut the patterned paper and scored the creases for a clean and crisp look.

Recipe:
Paper: Cloud 9 12x12 Paper Stack - Seasonal; creme, red, silver, yellow, green, tan, and black cardstock; mat board from Michael's
Cricut Cartridge: Locker Talk
Stamps: TPC Studio - Teacher
Ink: CTMH Garden Green
Die: Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Memo Holder
Marker: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler
Embellishments: Stickles; pearls; brad; ribbon; Basic Grey magnets; Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive

Make sure to hop on over to FCCB to see all the other Back to School projects!

Happy Labor Day and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Happy Fall Card

2011-09-02T22:52:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

It's not quite Fall yet, but since it's September, I am ready for Fall to arrive as it's my favorite season of the year! The weather here feels like summer as we always get the September Indian summers, so that is nice too.

To get in the spirit of Fall, I decided to make a Happy Fall card. It's not my design team week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, but I always play along in the fun! This week's challenge is # 75 - A Splash of Color - use the color yellow on your project. I am also playing along at Die Cuttin' Divas as the challenge is # 30 - Fall Colors. Perfect!!

I designed the card, including the card base, on my Gypsy. I used a Just Because Cards card base, and made the measurements 4.75 x 9.50 and then scored in half. I added the cutout frame to make a window card.

I placed a small spiral clip on the card for this first picture to keep it flat so I could take a picture without a shadow.

The card standing up.

The inside of the card:

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock; blue, green (light and dark), yellow, orange, brown, cardstock
Cricut Cartridges: Just Because Cards (card base and tree), Gypsy Wanderings (leaves on front of card)
Stamps: Papertrey Ink 2009 Autumn Tags
Ink: CTMH Chocolate Chip, Indian Corn Blue, Autumn Terracotta, Garden Green; ColorBox Chalk Yellow Cadmium
Embellishments: Papertrey Ink Twine; button; Stickles

You can't see the Stickles in the pictures very well, but the leaves, both on the front of the card and on the tree, have just a hint of Stickles for sparkle!

I wish you all a wonderful holiday weekend. I hope to get more crafty time in!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

Scrapbook Pages In Progress!

2011-08-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Wow, I can't believe it's been one week since my last post! Last week was a blurrrrrrrrr!!!! And unfortunately no paper crafting time for me. Between football practice, volunteering at Tristan's school, and all the homework Tristan had, the week just flew by. Oh, and I can't forget that our refrigerator died! Poor thing, it just slowly stopped working over the course of a couple of days. Both the fridge and freezer parts alike. I had just gone grocery shopping on Thursday. On Thursday night, Jason thought it wasn't feeling as cold, so he turned up the temperature. Come Friday morning, it was not very cold and by Saturday, it was done, and all my just bought food wasn't looking too good. Not that we wanted to spend all that money for a new fridge, but the great news is that we got one that I told Jason someday I would love to had when we needed a new one. It's the kind with french doors and the freezer is on the bottom. I love it!

I decided to take a bit of a break from card making and work on my scrappin'. Yesterday, I worked on several scrapbook layouts. I have yet to print out the pictures, as I need to get a new ink cartridge for my Epson Picturemate, but, I know exactly which pictures I want to print, the size of each one, and the orientation. So when I designed each layout, I left the appropriate space and/or mat for the pictures. I found that worked really well for me, as I haven't really done that before. I've done layouts without pictures where I went back and later figured out what pictures to print that would fit into my layout, but this time, knowing what pictures would go where worked great!

So the next step will be for me to get my pictures printed, put them in their appropriate spots, and then work on the titles and embellishing. I tend to have the paper do a lot of the work in my scrapbook layouts as I lean towards linear and clean layouts. I will use my Cricut for the titles as I love using the shadow features on the fonts. I also tend to try to fit a lot of pictures on my layouts. One great trick I use to do this is if I know I'm going to have a lot of pictures for a specific layout, I print them out in a smaller size. My Epson Picturemate can print out 4 x 6, 3 x 4, and small wallet sized prints. The 3 x 4 option is great because I can still print the full picture out in a smaller format, and get more photos on my layouts. I will share my layouts with you when they are finished.

But, I will definitely play along on the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog this week. The challenge is to use the color yellow on your project. Hmmmmmm...I've got a few ideas already!

My thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by Hurricane Irene.

Have a wonderful week!

Sabrina :)

FCCB Challenge #74 - Birthday Bash

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Happy Monday! Thanks so much for stopping by today. It's time for another Challenge Me Monday project over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog! Hop on over to take a look at what the Design Team has created for this week's challenge # 74, make a birthday project.

Here is what I have created for the Design Team inspiration.

Here is a video I made for this project. I go into detail on how to weld the four grass pieces together to form the grass border.

I was so anxious to use this new stamp set from Papertrey Ink! I just love hot air balloons! We see a lot of them here in Sonoma County. We also have the annual Hot Air Balloon Classic each year in Windsor. The sky is literally full of hot air balloons early in the morning. It's so beautiful! That was my inspiration for this card.

The hot air balloons are separate stamps from the baskets which makes it easy to change up the colors. I used a marker to color the edge of the grass cut out. Since the paper has a white core, I wanted to give it more definition with color. I used Glossy Accents on the eye of the bird to give it dimension and make it look more realistic. I used Stickles on the bird's wing and his little bitty beak. The cut for the beak came out so small, that it didn't really cut very well, so I decided to use Stickles and it came out even better :)

The grass and bird are from Create a Critter. I used my Gypsy to space out the images and weld four grass pieces together to make a grass border. I go into detail on how to do this on my video.

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock for base and Whisper White; CTMH Splendor paper pack; dark blue, light blue, brown, and black cardstock
Cricut Cartridge and Gypsy: Create a Critter bird and grass; grass image welded four times on Gypsy
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Up, Up and Away
Ink: CTMH Chocolate, Garden Green, Buttercup and Vineyard Berry; Stampin' Up More Mustard; ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown
Markers: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery for color around grass
Punches: Stampin' Up border punch
Embellishments: Glossy Accents (on bird's eye); Stickles in Waterfall (bird's wing) and Champagne (bird's beak and sentiment for dots on top of the two "i"s); Tsukinekeo Shimmer Spritz in Sparkle (on sentiment); pop dots

I hope you have a great week and we will see you next time!

Sabrina

Blog Candy Winner!!!!!!!

2011-08-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday Everyone!

I hope you had a great weekend. We did! Tristan's team won their football game game today. The boys played great!

We have a winner for the blog candy giveaway, woo hoo! Tristan was my helper. Our winner is Kathy Salido! Congratulations Kathy! I will e-mail you so that I can get your address to send you your goodies. Thank you all so much for your fun comments on your favorite crafty outing, it was so much fun to read each one!

Here is a little video on our drawing! It was so much fun to do the drawing!!

Hugs,

Sabrina :)

New Blog Design

2011-08-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I really should have been in bed by now, but I started playing around with my blog design and will probably do a few more tweaks here and there over the next week or so. You know how it is when you start something like this, LOL!

I wanted something a little more simple and in my favorite color combination of pink, green, and brown. I lost a few of my pages so I will need to figure that out. But for now, it will do!

Good night!

Sabrina

Blog Candy Drawing Tomorrow and a Big THANK YOU!

2011-08-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great weekend! We have our first football game tomorrow. Go Knights!

I wanted to let you know I will be doing the blog candy drawing tomorrow. I also want to thank each and everyone of my followers for your wonderful comments and crafty support. It really means the world to me :-) I love reading all of your comments. They make my heart smile!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Cupcake Birthday Card

2011-08-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Well, today was the first day of school for Tristan in 7th grade. I cannot believe he's already a 7th grader! He was excited to see all his friends again, but a little nervous. He had a great first day and likes all of his teachers, so that is all very good. It was so strange to not have him home though, I really missed him! I spent a couple of hours volunteering at his school this morning and will do that again tomorrow.

Today's card is so sweet because it's a cupcake card! I LOVE cupcakes and it's so fun to make them, both real ones to eat and ones for pretty, sparkly cards!

I am entering this card in a few challenges. First, the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. Even though it's not my week to design for this week's challenge, I always love to play along! This week's challenge is challenge #73, use a cupcake or other baked good on your project. Take a look at what the fantabulous Design Team has created for inspiration. The projects are great!

Next, is Birthday Sundaes and the challenge is # 22, incorporate at least three brads in your birthday card.

Last is Whimsical Wednesdays and the challenge is three's a charm; use at least three cuts, three colors, and three of the same embellishment.

The three brads I used are the large polka dot on the large tag, the two small sparkly pink brads, one on the sentiment and one on the small tag on the ribbon, and the last one is in the lower right hand corner with the heart. My three cuts are the two tags, the cupcake, and the small tag on the ribbon. My three colors are pink, brown, and yellow, and my three embellishments are the three different brads.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron and Very Vanilla; pink and brown cardstock and sparkly brown cardstock; DCWV Sweet stack and Mariposa
Cricut Cartridge: Sweet Treats
Stamps: Stampin' Up Short and Sweet (small cupcake) and Hero Arts Simple Greetings (Happy Birthday)
Ink and Markers: Stampin' Up and Color Box Chalk
Punches: EK Success border punch and Stampin' Up Tiny Tag
Embellishments: brads, Papertrey Ink Twines, Stickles in Pink and Frosted Lace, Sakura gel pens, ribbon

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Scrapbook Expo Haul and Blog Candy Entries

2011-08-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hi Again!

I wanted to share a few pictures from my wonderful birthday last Saturday! We all had so much fun! We were at Expo all day and then had dinner after at the Olive Garden. My friend Tracy gave me a tiara, wand, and badge to wear for my birthday, and guess what?! I wore it all day!

I need to still take a couple of pictures of the classes we did, so stay tuned for that coming soon.

Here we all are next to the Scrapbook Expo sign.

My sister, Emanuela, and I standing in front of the Melissa Frances booth...I LOVE MF products!

The girls at Olive Garden for dinner.

All my goodies!

I could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate my 40th birthday! I have such a great group of friends and am so blessed!

If you haven't already, don't forget to leave a comment on Saturday, August 13th's Scrapbook Expo post to be entered in tomorrow's blog candy drawing!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Back to School Inspiration

2011-08-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I haven't had much crafting time this week, and I'm really feeling it. After Scrapbook Expo. and bringing home all my goodies, I just want to craft, craft, craft! School starts tomorrow, so between getting Tristan ready for school, team mom football duties, and catching up at home from the busy and fun weekend with my sister and friends, it's been non-stop! But it's ALL good!

In the spirit of back to school, I want to share these absolutely adorable cards Marci made at the end of last school year for her son's teachers. They are just the cutest cards ever! She personalized each one per the subject each teacher teaches! Marci used her Sizzix dies for the images and rub-ons for the faces. I just love them!

So super cute! The little details are so fitting for each teacher!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Heading Out to Scrapbook Expo and a Little Blog Candy!

2011-08-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

We are heading out to Scrapbook Expo in Santa Clara, CA at 6:00 am this morning! There are six of us heading out and meeting another friend and then we will carpool down together. A few of us have a 9:00 am class so we have to get there on time. The first class is a beautiful shadow box class using the Ten Seconds Studio metals. I've never played with it before and am very excited to learn a new technique. The second class is at 12:30 pm and it's a Melissa Frances mini album. I LOVE the Melissa Frances collections and have taken several of her classes before.

So...I will be picking up some Blog Candy at the Expo today to share with one of my wonderful followers! I always find fun new things at the Expo's so how fun is it to share!? If you would like to be entered into the Blog Candy drawing, all you need to do is:

1. Become a follower on my blog (if you aren't already);

2. Leave a comment on this post about one of your favorite crafty outings. It could be a Scrapbook Expo you have gone to yourself, a trip to your favorite craft store, crafting with friends, etc....just your most memorable crafty outing. Make sure to leave a comment by 5:00 pm on August 18th.

I will take all of your comments, print them out, and then have Tristan (my son) draw a name. That's it and how fun!

Have a wonderful Saturday and weekend!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Hey Good Lookin' Card

2011-08-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Today's project is a fun little card that I would categorize as possibly a "thinking of you" fun kinda card!

I am entering this card at My Craft Spot challenge #20; It's Hot Out There-use hot, bright colors on your project. This was a really fun card to make!

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Perfect Plum for card base and Whisper White; red and yellow cardstock; Bo Bunny patterned paper from my scrap-stash
Stamps: Market Street Stamps Chillaxin'; Stampin' Up Confetti
Ink: Stampin' Up Perfect Plum; Ancient Page Saffron; CTMH Twilight and Garden Green
Markers: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery, Perfect Plum
Punches: Stampn' Up label, ticket corner, and border
Embossing Folder: QuicKutz Beads
Embellishments: Stickles in Candy Cane and Purple; rhinestones; pop-dots

I border punched the front edge of the card and then border punched the two red and yellow strips of paper that I adhered to the inside of the card back. So when you look at the front of the card, it looks like three border punched layers.

Tristan and I picked up my sister from the Santa Rosa, CA airport yesterday, which us locals call the "Snoopy Airport" since it's the Charles M. Schulz - Sonoma County Airport. We had a great night last night and are off to go on a nice long walk now!
Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Cute Little Apple Birthday Card

2011-08-10T23:04:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a good week. This week is even busier than last week, but it's going well. I am so excited that my sister is flying down for a visit tomorrow! She is coming to spend a few days with us as Saturday is my 40th birthday, woo hoo! And is just so happens that Saturday (and Friday too) is Scrapbook Expo. in Santa Clara, CA, which is about two hours away from where I live. We are going to go with a bunch of my friends for a fun-filled crafty day! A few of us are doing a couple of classes throughout the day and then lots of fun shopping! My sister is not a scrapper, but she just loves all the projects I do, and she is the recipient of many of my hand crafted goodies over the years. I've also made her a couple of cards for friends recently (like the pink cowboy boot card.) Anyways, I can't wait!

Today I am sharing an apple birthday card that I think is so cute! I am entering this card into two challenges:

Birthday Sundaes challenge #21; anything goes as long as it's a birthday card
Die Cuttin' Divas challenge #27; Garden Challenge-use a fruit or veggie

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up More Mustard for card base; red, pink, black, yellow, green, white, and brown cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Create a Critter; Mini Monograms
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags; Stampin' Up Confetti background stamp (on tiny white tag)
Ink: CTMH Garden Green and black, Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink (cheeks on apple)
Punches: Stampin' Up tiny tag and circle
Embellishments: Seam binding ribbon, brad, pop-dots

I took a circle cut from the Create a Critter cartridge, placed it on my Gypsy, made a duplicate, and welded them together to make the card base. I used the Mini Monograms cartridge to cut the yellow mat and threaded the green seam binding ribbon through the holes and then tied a bow. I distressed the green mat and pop-dotted it off of the card base. I also pop-dotted the apple between layers. I used the Confetti background stamp on the white tag and then added the "wish big" circle stamp onto it. To add the inking on the cheeks, I used a Q-tip, lightly rubbed it on the ink pad, and dabbed the Q-tip onto the cheeks for a little more blush affect!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

FCCB Challenge # 72 - Let's Get Buggy

2011-08-08T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

This week is my Design Team week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog and the project for this week is Challenge # 72 - Let's Get Buggy! You need to use a bug on your project and my first thought was that I wanted to make a card with a butterfly. I have the DCWV Mariposa mat stack in the smaller size and having been wanting to use it, so that is what I pulled out for this project. I LOVE that mat stack and really want to get the 12 x 12 size now. Hop on over to FCCB and see all the amazing projects the Design Team has created!

Recipe:
Paper: Papertrey Ink kraft cardstock; DCWV Mariposa mat stack
Cricut Cartridges: Mother's Day Bouquet (flower layers) and Storybook (butterfly)
Punches: EK Success border punch; Stampin' Up label punch
Stamps: Stampin' Up Whimsical Words
Ink: CTMH Twilight; Tim Holtz Antique Linen and Vintage Photo
Embellishments: Prima flower; Making Memories crystal blue brad; Glossy Accents; Sakura Glaze black pen; pop-dots

I have been inking a lot on my cards lately and I love it! It takes time to "ink it up!" but I just love how inking defines the papers and cuts. Since there is no shadow feature on the Mother's Day Bouquet cartridge, I cut the flower image twice, once at 4.50" and next at 4.25", trimmed them both and then glued them to the floral mat. I used Glossy Accents to highlight some of the flowers on the creme printed paper (sorry you can't see that too well.) For the label, I punched out two labels, cut the blue label in half, and adhered the 2 blue pieces so that it looks like a shadow on the kraft cardstock sentiment punch.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week and Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Wish Big Birthday Card

2011-08-06T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Boy, what a busy week this has been! Football is in full swing and I've been busy with team mom duties and going to practice. The first few weeks are always hectic, but then things do settle down a bit as we start playing games. Tristan and Jason are tired from practicing five days a week. Jason rushes home from work to change his clothes, and then he runs out the door with Tristan to practice. I follow shortly after!

I didn't do too much crafting during the week, but on Friday night from 6 to midnight and today from 9 to 3, I scrapped at my friend Tracy's church. Marci and I drove down together both last night and today. We get together monthly on usually the 2nd Friday of the month from 6 to midnight. During July and August, we add in Saturday too. So I got caught up on some scrappin' and finished up some cards. It's so nice to be with that wonderful group of caring and fun lovin' ladies!

Today's card is another birthday card and you just can't have enough of those! I am entering this card into three challenges this week:

Birthday Sundaes: Cakes and Cupcakes Birthday Card
Die Cuttin' Divas: Sketch Week Challenge # 26: (follow the card sketch)
My Craft Spot: Challenge # 19: You Make Me Smile

Take a hop over to the Birthday Sundaes blog and check out their new look. They had a fun blog hop this week that unfortunately I could not participate in, but it looks like it was lots of fun!

And My Craft Spot has some beautiful new twines for sale. I am loving the Halloween black and orange one!

Recipe:
Paper: Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides and Sweet Blush cardstock; brown and green cardstock; DCWV Sweets Matstack
Cricut Cartridge: Cindy Loo (frame around cupcakes)
Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots
Punches: Stampin' Up labels and border punch
Stamps: Stampin' Up Short and Sweet (sentiment and embossed cupcake)
Ink: Versamark in Dazzle; CTMH Twilight and Garden Green
Markers: Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink and Soft Suade (color in cupcakes)
Embellishments: Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder for cupcakes and Diamond Dot Stickers (on edges of green label); Stickles in Stardust and Pink; Making Memories sparkly pink brads; pop-dots

I did lots of inking on this card and I pop-dotted the Cindy Loo frame and shadow cuts. I embossed the cupcakes on the Ocean Tides paper, used markers to color in the cupcakes and topped off the cherries with Pink Stickles. I also Stickles the Swiss Dots on the frame for added sparkle. My pictures don't show the sparkle too much though.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you continue to have a wonderfully blessed weekend!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

FCCB Challenge # 71 - Friend to Friend Card

2011-08-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Today I am sharing a fun girly card I made. With national friend day just passing, the challenge this week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog (FCCB) is challenge # 71, Let's be Friends! The Design Team came up with some really great projects to share. Hop on over to take a look! I design for FCCB every other week, so you won't see my project there this week, but I will have a project for the Design Team next week. But I can still play along in the fun!

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla; pink and dark pink cardstock; DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Girl premium stack
Cricut Cartridge: Forever Young
Punches: Stampin' Up labels; EK Success flower border punch
Die Cut: QuicKutz photo corner
Stamp: Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: CTMH Garden Green; Tim Holtz Antique Linen; Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink; ColorBox Chalk Berrylicious and Rouge
Markers: Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink and Rich Razzleberry; Sakura Glaze pen in black
Embellishments: Recollections pearls; Stickles in Pink and Fruit Punch; light green seam binding ribbon; pop dots

Although very subtle, I did a lot of inking on this card. I used Antique Linen around the edge of the pink striped mat, the polka dot green mat, and the lady silhouette. I used Rouge and Berrylicious around the dress layers, the photo corners, and the pink label. Since that paper has a white core, I wanted to ink it to cover up the white. I used Garden Green for the stamp "Friend to Friend" and also around that label. I Stickled the bottom part of her dress and her shoes for extra bling! She needed to have some jewelry, so I gave her a peal bracelet and necklace. I also added pearls on the label and along the flower border punch. Finally, I carefully dotted her eye with the Sakura Glaze pen, and added Pretty in Pink for her lips and cheek. She's all dressed up and ready to go!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

"Hello" Cherry Shaped Card

2011-07-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a great weekend. Tristan and I went on a nice walk after dinner. We stopped at the park and played around a bit. I love the fact that Tristan still likes to swing on the swings! We chatted, played a couple of games on the play structure, and then walked home. He's such a sweet boy and he lights up my life....I am truly blessed! <Sigh!!!!!>

Today I am sharing a shaped cherry card I made. I'm still on a cherry kick! I've been eating them for the last couple of days again! They are soooooooo good.

I'm entering this card into two challenges:

Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #25: Sweet Treats
Papercraft Star: Challenge #55: Anything Goes

Recipe:
Paper: Bazzill Dotted Swiss Clover Leaf cardstock; Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler and other red cardstock; black cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Hello Kitty Greetings
Punch: Tiny Tags
Stamp: Tiny Tags
Ink: CTMH Basic Black, VersaMark in Dazzle
Embellishments: two red buttons, one plain red and one sparkle red; metallic red string; red ribbon; Stickles in Lime Green and Candy Cane; Sakura white gel pen; Stampendous white embossing powder, Glossy Accents; Making Memories tiny eyelet

I used my Gypsy to weld the top of the shadow cut of the cherry to make the card base. I scored the card and punched two holes to run the red ribbon through. I glued the two flat parts of the buttons together, careful to line up the holes. I threaded the red metallic string through the buttons and tied a bow. Since the red metallic string is a bit slippery, I wanted to make sure the bow would stay tied, so I used several drops of Glossy Accents over the knot of the bow. It dries clear and shiny, so you can't even tell it's on there!

I used my Stampin' Up Tiny Tags punch and matching stamp set. I white embossed the stamped dots on the tag to match the faux stitching I did around the card.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I really appreciate your sweet comments. I read and appreciate each and every one!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Makin' Biscotti Layout

2011-07-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I'm trying to work on my scrapbooking, and I just finished the journaling for this layout about Tristan makin' biscotti. My mom has made biscotti since I can remember, and she passed on her recipe to me. I love making biscotti and I usually make lots of batches during the holidays.

Tristan had a project for his 6th grade Language Arts class at the end of May. It was a show 'n tell type of project and he was supposed to "show his talent." He asked if I could help him make biscotti. I thought that was so cute of him, so of course I had to snap some pictures! We wrote the recipe down so he could share it with the class. I'm thinking I should've put the recipe on the layout, but maybe that will just have to be another different layout!

I just LOVE the paper I used on this layout! It's got a good ole' fashioned feeling.

Two Pages:

Left Side:

Right Side:

Cute Apron!

Cute Cookie Sheet & Journaling:

Recipe:
Paper: Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess Collection - Simple as Pie (this is the red plaid paper); Moxie Joy of Baking Collection - Roll 'em Out (this is the rolling pin paper which is two sided; the other side is the tan with swirls); brown and off white cardstock; silver and gray shimmer paper for cookie sheet and spatula
Cricut Cartridge: Teardrop, Mickey Font (for numbers)
Die Cuts: QuicKutz - photo corners; Sizzix - apron, oven mitt, cookie sheet, and spatula
Punches: Stampin' Up label punch; EK Success circle punch
Stamps: "Memories" and "together" misc. stamps
Ink: ColorBox Chalk Ink Creamy Brown
Embellishments: Stickles in Lime Green, Candy Cane, and Frosted Lace (for biscotti sprinkles); brads; "our" rub-ons from stash; pop dots

For the apron and oven mitt (borrowed from my dear friend Marci, along with the cookie sheet and spatula), I first glued the paper to some cardboard. I keep some of the cardboard that comes in paper packs for this purpose. Then I ran the glued paper and cardboard through my QuicKutz Epic 6 machine with the Sizzix die. It cuts the cardboard and paper beautifully. For the cookies, I simply used scissors to cut logs to look like the cookie dough and added Stickles just like the sprinkles! Too cute!

Another layout done for the 2011 book, yippee!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

More Love From my Crafty Friend!

2011-07-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

My crafty friend Karen over at Kaleidoscopic Sparkles has so sweetly passed on a few blog awards to me and I am honored to accept them. Karen and I started our blog around the same time back in May and we found each other instantly. Although I haven't met her (yet!) she is just an amazing person with the biggest heart. You will see that through each and every blog post she does. And, she is an incredibly talented crafter. So Ms. Karen, thank you so much for passing on these awards to me, for your friendship, and for your positive encouragement always!

Here are the awards!

Aren't they so pretty?! That little skunk is just so adorable!

The rules for the Best Friend Blogger award are to tell something about myself, pass it along, thank the person who gave it to you (thank you again, Karen!), and pass it along to at least 5 friends.

So something about myself is that I recently (three months ago) left my job as Human Resources Director, working for a non-profit organization. I've been in HR for 15 years and was honestly burning out. Between layoffs and terminations of employment for employees, to disciplining employees, and a big law suit, it was really getting to my spirit so to speak. I was feeling like the positive spirit in me was slowly dying. Back in January, Jason was seeing this and he suggested I leave and take some time off. At first I thought he was nuts! But then I thought about it for quite some time and made the decision. I gave the organization two months notice and helped to hire my replacement. I still do a bit of consulting for them here and there. I will need to go back to work someday, but for now I am enjoying being a stay-at-home-mom, time with my family and friends, and much more happy scrappy crafty time!

Enough serious stuff, here's more fun stuff!

The rules for the Cricut-tastic award are as follows:
* Your Blog has been deemed as Cricut-tastic!
* Wear this badge proudly on your Blog. Share it with friends! Since Cricut is 5 years old and they have an E2 out, share this award with 10 people who you think have Cricut-tastic blogs!
* Tell 5 Cricut related things about yourself.

Here is a link to the post I did when I received this award from my friend Pam (thanks again Pam!) Cricut-astic Blog Award

The rules for the Stinkin' Cute award are that there are no rules! Just pass it along.

And now to pass on these lovely awards:

1. Amy at Amy's Crafting Space

2. Pam at Crafty Cards 4 U 2

3. Linda at Cards by Linda

4. Tanya at Nonna's Craft Corner

5. Shen at My Curious Crafts

These ladies are all so extremely talented and are wonderful bloggy friends! Please take a moment to hop on over to their blogs and look at their gorgeous creations!

Have a wonderful day!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Embossed Birthday Card

2011-07-27T20:43:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Today I am sharing a birthday card with you that I am entering into three challenges this week. They are:

1. Birthday Sundaes - Inspiration photo - white, blue, and yellow
2. Celebrate the Occasion - Any occasion - white and blue
3. My Craft Spot - Emboss it! It's my first time playing along at My Craft Spot, woo hoo! Here is a link to Kimberley's Blog

I really love how this card turned out (not that I don't love my other cards, but you know...some are just really special!) I love how feminine it is with the embossed flowers and butterflies, and the border punch looks like lace. The papers are so sweet and soft. The combination of all these elements are just so pretty.

I also made a video on how I put this card together.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Whisper White; DCWV Linen Closet
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up Elegant Bouquet
Die Cuts: Stampin' Up Embosslits Cherry Blossom and Beautiful Wings
Punches: Stampin' Up labels; EK Success border punch
Stamp: Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: CTMH Twilight
Embellishments: Recollections pearls; Stickles Frosted Lace; pop-dots

Thank you for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Quick Tip Tuesday on FCCB and Football Time

2011-07-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to let you know that if you hop on over to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, you will see a post I did for this week's Quick Tip Tuesday. I just love learning about any type of crafty tips and tricks and I love passing on what I learn just as much! So head on over a take a peek :)

Yesterday was Tristan's first day of football practice. This week is all conditioning. The league requires 10 hours of conditioning before they can put pads on. Poor guy pulled a muscle in his quad already...unlike! He iced it and stretched it out last night and we continued that today. He did pretty well at practice today. I've been busy with getting all the paperwork that needs to be turned in for the players, but at least this year I have a co-team-mom so I have some help!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :)

FCCB Challenge # 70 - Melon Time!

2011-07-25T03:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Mine was great! Did some scrappin' with Marci and I posted my first Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team project, woo hoo!! Make sure to hop on over to FCCB to check out all the fantabulous projects my fellow Design Team friends have created! Click here, or click on the blinky on the right hand side of my blog.

This week's challenge is challenge # 70, Melon Time. Make a project with fruit or melon on it.

My family loves refreshing watermelon during the summer. What's better than enjoying a cool slice of watermelon on a hot summer afternoon?! I will buy a watermelon, cut it up into slices and put it in the fridge for a yummy and healthy snack. So watermelon was my inspiration for this project, as was the adorable paper I used from DCWV.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery; Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz; green, fuschia, black, and yellow cardstock; Patterned Paper: DCWV Nana's Kitchen
Cricut Cartridge: Gypsy Wanderings; "Summer" sentiment and watermelon image
Stamp: Market Street Stamps Simple Joys for "Bliss" sentiment
Ink: Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
Punches: Stampin' Up scallop and circle and scallop border punch
Embellishments: rhinestones; Stickles in Lime Green; Glossy Accents; pop-dots

I used Glossy Accents on the watermelon seeds to make them look shiny. I Stickled the flower on the "Summer" sentiment and also around the scallop border. I added rhinestones on the outside of the scallop and a larger rhinestone in the middle of the flower in the "Summer" sentiment for more bling! I used an edge distressing tool to distress the fuschia watermelon cut so that the white would come through the paper.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Hope you have a great week!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Card Made With Scraps

2011-07-24T17:37:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Hope you are having a great Sunday! We are going to barbecue here soon, some yummy teriyaki chicken, but wanted to post this card I made to play along with Whimsical Wednesdays. The challenge this week is #15, create a card or project made of only scraps. We also have to take a picture of the scraps we are going to use with our project.

As many of you know, I keep probably way too many scraps! But, sometimes, all I need is one tiny piece of paper, say for a punch or a QuicKutz cut, so they do come in handy, LOL!

So I went digging in my patterned paper stash drawer and pulled out some scraps. I also had two strips of a flower border QuicKutz die cut I had cut out last year and never used.

Here is a picture of my scraps.

So after some playing around, here is what I came up with!

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Baja Breeze; the rest is from my scrap stash so I don't know the names!
Stamp: Studio G
Ink: CTMH Chocolate Chip
Die Cut: QuicKutz flower border
Punch: Stampin' Up border punch
Embellishments: ribbon, Prima flowers, brad, pop-dots

It was fun to just pull out papers and put them together!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for all of your lovely comments! I love reading each and every one, and they inspire me to keep on creating!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Birthday Sundaes Award!

2011-07-21T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

Wow, 3 posts in one day! Well, the great news just continues! My scooter, "Cruising by for a Birthday Hi!" card was a feature card on Birthday Sundaes this week! Thank you so much Kristie and the Birthday Sundaes Design Team for selecting my card as one of the featured cards! Make sure to head over to Birthday Sundaes to check out the great creations, and hopefully you will want to join in on the fun challenges. Here is the card:

And here is the badge that I have proudly placed on my blog!

Thanks for stopping by and good night!

Sabrina :-)

Cricut-tastic Blog Award!

2011-07-21T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hello again!

I wanted to share some more great news...what a fantabulous week this has been!

First, I want to thank my crafty friend Pam at craftycards4u2 who has awarded me the Cricut-tastic Award from her blog! Thank you Pam for thinking of me! Pam has a great blog and is very talented, so hop on over to say "hi" to Pam and take a look at her wonderful work!

Here it is!!! Thanks again Pam!!

The rules for this award are as follows:

*Your Blog has been deemed Cricut-tastic!

*Wear this Badge proudly on your Blog. Share it with friends! Since Cricut is 5 years old and they have an E2 out, share this award with 10 people that you think have Cricut-tastic Blogs!

*You also have to tell 5 Cricut related things about yourself.

OK, so 5 Cricut related things about me are:

1. My wonderful sister bought me my Gypsy last year as a surprise! I could not believe it when I opened the box, that she bought me the Gypsy bundle package, I was in tears!

2. I create most projects using my Gypsy so that I can, not only save the file, but I can easily use multiple cartridges on one mat.

3. I love using small scraps of paper on my Cricut, but only on a mat that is still fairly sticky! Otherwise, it's frustrating when the paper starts moving around.

4. I love using the hide/contour feature on the Gypsy so that I can cut layers in different colors without wasting as much paper.

5. I almost ran my Cricut over backing out of my garage a couple months ago....GULP! I thought I had put my rolling tote with my Cricut in it, in my trunk but I hadn't. I was rushing to get to Marci's house. Luckily, I backed out slowly (as I usually do) and felt that I hit something. The tote had fallen over, and I couldn't get it out from under the bumper. So I slowly moved forward a few feet. Luckily, my little Cricut was A-OK!!!!!!! Poor little guy!

So now to pass on this lovely award! There are so many awesome bloggy friends out there that it is very hard to pick!

1. Jessica at Cricut After Dark

2. Suzanne at Cricut Craftin Grammy

3. Evanna at Evanna's Paper Palace

4. Glenda at Glenda's Cards

5. Carissa at Happily Ever Paper Crafter

6. Karen at Kaleidoscopic Sparkles

7. Shen at My Curious Crafts

8. Dayna Sabrina at Sabriolet Designs

9. Amy Jo at Lv 2 Scrap and Fibro Facts

10. Robin's Creative Cottage

I am so thankful to these ladies and all my bloggy friends, for being such an inspiration. You are all amazing, kind hearted, and talented ladies! Thank you for all of your positive comments and support. It really means so much to me to know you are all out there!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

FCCB Challenge # 69 - Cool Treat!

2011-07-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a great week! Mine is going well. Yesterday, I had some of my friends over to celebrate our friend Khriss' birthhday. It was nice to have some girly catch up time! Tristan had football camp (poor guy is really sore!) and this morning I did some consulting for the non-profit organization I worked for in the past. And now I'm doing laundry and getting caught up on all the wonderful blogs I love to read. I need to get started on dinner soon though! Pork chops are on the menu tonight. I recently discovered a great recipe using beer and honey of all things. It's delicious!

Today I am sharing a card for this week's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #69, I scream for ice-cream - make a project with a cool treat. I LOVE ice-cream (and frozen yogurt too) and my favorite flavors are vanilla, strawberry, and mint. So those are the three "flavors" I picked for my project...YUMMMM!!!

Make sure to head over to FCCB and check out all the fantabulous projects that the participants and Design Team have created! Here is the link: FCCB

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla; green, pink, and brown (2) cardstock; DCWV Nana's Kitchen patterned paper
Cricut Cartridge: Sweet Treats
Die Cuts: Paper Trey Ink Tiny Tags
Punch: Stampin' Up label
Stamps: My Pink Stamper Simply Sweet Occasions (Yummy); Paper Trey Ink Tiny Tags (For You and heart shape)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink Peeled Paint; CTMH Chocolate Chip; Ancient Pages Pink Pizzazz
Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz Gridlock
Embellishments: Stickles in Lime Green, Pink, and Star Dust; green ribbon and button from my stash; Paper Trey Ink white and chocolate twine; pop-dots

I Stickled the ice-cream "drop" in the Lime Green and the "sprinkles" on the strawberry ice-cream I Stickled in Pink. I also added Star Dust Stickles to the tiny tag and the "yummy" label. I used the Tim Holtz Gridlock embossing folder on the cone to make it look like a waffle cone (my favorite!) This card can be a "thinking of you" or "just because" card.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Sweet Wishes Cherry Card

2011-07-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

With all of the cherries I've been eating lately, I was in the mood to make a cherry themed card for the Birthday Sundaes challenge this week, challenge # 18, which is an anything goes birthday card! I thought the My Pink Stamper sentiment, Sweet Wishes, would be appropriate for this card.

Recipe:
Paper: Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Whisper White; green and brown cardstock; DCWV Nana's Kitchen
Die Cuts: QuicKutz cherry
Punch: Stampin' Up border punch
Stamps: My Pink Stamper Simply Sweet Occasions (Sweet Wishes); Fiskars Wishes All Around (circle flower and small flower)
Ink: Stampin' Up Chocolate and Pretty in Pink; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint
Embellishments: red rhinestone; brown and pink ribbon; Stickles Candy Cane and Lime Green; pot-dots

My inspiration for the card layout is from Kristina Werner. Here is a link to her wonderfully inspirational blog, kwernerdesigns. I love her simple yet extremely effective style!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

I am a New Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team Member!!!!!!!

2011-07-18T21:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Oh my goodness, I cannot even stand it, I am soooooooooooooo EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I found out yesterday that I was selected as a new member of the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Design Team, wooo hooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel so extremely honored and priviledged to be a part of this fantabulous Design Team! I have been playing along on FCCB for a couple months now and just love this challenge blog. Several weeks ago, I applied for the Design Team openings. Here is a link to FCCB; Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. I also have a link on the right hand sidebar of my blog and I get to add the Design Team member blinkie, yippee!!!

I invite you to join the FCCB and play along, it's so much fun! This week's challenge is challenge #69, I scream for ice-cream; create a project with a cool treat. You must have at least one Cricut cut on your project. I am on design team B, so I won't be making a design team project this week, but I will make one just to play along for fun of it!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)

Christmas in July!

2011-07-16T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

Today I am sharing a card I made for the Celebrate the Occasion challenge # 22...must be a shaped Christmas card.

Sooooooooo, I just LOVE Christmas! Actually, I love the start of fall all the way through to January. And Tristan's birthday is January 9th, so the celebration continues onto then! When I saw this challenge for Christmas in July, I had to jump on it! And I also LOVE snowflakes and snowmen!

Recipe:
Paper: Blue, light blue shimmer, silver shimmer and white cardstock
Cricut Cartridge: Christmas; Gypsy
Die Cut: Stampin' Up sizzlit snowflake die (sorry I don't remember the name, I will have to look it up!)
Embellishments: ribbon, large pearl brad, Tsukinekeo Shimmer Spritz in Sparkle, Viva Decor Liquid Pearls in Iced White, pop-dots

The supply list is fairly short this time, wow! I used the Viva Decor pearl pen to add the pearls to the tips of the snowflake layers. I spritzed the two layers of the smaller snowflakes with the shimmer spritz to give them a hint of sparkle! I used my Gypsy to weld the blackout feature of the snowflake to make the card base. I cut the basic snowflake out in the silver shimmer paper and cut the shadow snowflake out in white.

Thanks for stopping by today, have a great rest of your weekend!

Happy Crafting!

Sabrina :-)