Valentine Heart Basket

Show of hands please.  How many of you participated in the Make the Cut Valentine basket challenge at the forum?  *raises hand* I did, I did!  Of course, I had to seeing as I had made the file for the challenge.  It would have been rude not too.  ^__^

Actually, the forum members took my file and made the most wonderful little baskets I have ever seen.  When we make a file for any of the challenges, we keep them pretty plain so everyone can put their own spin on them.  And boy did they ever!  Great job everyone and also thanks to Cher at The Digi Bistro for sponsoring the prize.  You are awesome!

I went pretty simple with mine because I just haven't felt like crafting with this stupid cold or flu, whatever it is.  I have just felt so drained of life.  Ugh.

Trust me, everyone else's blew mine out of the water.  They put scallops and hearts with pretty flowers.  I just put an eyelet on each side of the handle to, hopefully, give it more strength.

I just cut out this tag from one of my paper packs.  Some of the designs are too big for card making but are so cute that I have to use them in a project.  This basket was perfect for that.

Why the number 17?  Don't know, ask Recollections.  It was at the bottom of the 12x12 sheet so I thought I would slap that on there too.  LOL  We will be having another challenge coming soon, so stay tuned for details.  Thanks for stopping by, don't forget I love comments!

Supplies:

Valentine Basket file by Me
Union Square stack by Recollections
Kraft card stock by The Paper Company
Eyelet by Recollections

Happy crafting!

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Be My Valentine

Most of you know of my love for super easy cards, due to my extreme slackery.  Boy, do I have one for you today.  You can't get any easier than this.  Well, unless you have a heart punch so you don't have to bring out your Boss Kut Gazelle and Make the Cut.  Since I can't justify purchasing lots of punches (the reason I bought my Gazzy), I had bring a 1 1/2" basic heart to my virtual mat and cut them in three different colors.  I love that anyone can make this card regardless if you have a die-cut machine, heart punch or just plain ol' scissors.

OK, I fibbed.  I do have a heart punch.  But it is one of those small jobs that looks like a standard hole puncher that you buy at the office supply store.  It makes micro-hearts which are much better suited to go inside with this cute little sentiment from My Thoughts Exactly.  I used the Lovey Puns - Animals for the inside and outside sentiment.  So crisp and clean.  Love this new set!

How easy was this card?  Super!!!  I love being able to whip out a nice, clean card sometimes.  Makes me feel like I am accomplishing something. ^__^  Hope you enjoyed today's offering.  Have a great day and happy crafting!

Supplies:
Lovey Puns - Animals by My Thoughts Exactly
Love & Wedding stack by DCWV
Basic Shapes - Heart in Make the Cut & Boss Kut Gazelle

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Make Your Own Ink Daubers

Bear with me on this one, guys.  I am not good at writing tutorials.  OK, I'm not good at writing blog posts either but I'm sure you wade through to just get to the good stuff.  This time I have to write it so you can actually figure out what in the heck I did.

I have been wanting sponge daubers ever since I started collecting Distress Inks but they are just too expensive.  With the homemade version being so inexpensive, why not make my own.  Please ignore my pasty white hands, my boys were doing their schoolwork and you know what they say about sleeping..wait, nevermind, that's about dogs.

Here's just two simple things you are going to need:  1/2" PVC pipe cut at 1 1/2" pieces and a pack of sponge beauty wedges.

Take a sponge and fold in half.

Take said sponge and smoosh it up into one end of the pipe....

...till it comes out the other end and looks like this.  Don't push too far as the square edges will show.

Proceed to ink the little sucker up with your favorite ink.  I guess mine is Black Soot Distress Ink because that is the first color I grabbed.

Proceed to beautify everything in sight.  Job well done.  Oh, go get a manicure if your cuticles look like mine.  Not the best picture to showcase the inking, sorry.  For some reason I thought there was a card in there when I was editing.  Oh well, you get the general idea.  The roundness creates a nice soft edge.  When I used to use the sponge without the holder, I always got hard lines.  Drove me crazy!

Word of caution, keep your finger in the hole.  I have a mighty daub so I have a tendency to push the sponge back in the tube.  If you are a kinder, gentler inker, you may not have this problem.  The pre-mades have a hole at the bottom too, right?  That's kind of the point, yes?  I have never used them so I don't know if they do the same thing or not.  Another good thing, when your sponge gets yucky, pop it out and replace with fresh sponge.  More cost savings and they are so cheap, you can have one dedicated to every color!


My favorite part: I paid $1.68 for a 10 ft piece of pipe, a little under $3 for 32 sponges and a hubby to use his manly, sharp tools to cut 120 for you - priceless.  At JoAnn's, a three pack of Tsukineko daubers costs $5!  I'm no math genius but I do believe I only paid roughly .10 a piece.  If that doesn't get you slapping your knee and saying "sueweeeee", I don't know what will!  Can you see how much money I saved?  Sure, I like the black, it's sleek and doesn't have the words "water pipe" in red but for all the money you save, who cares right?  I know how to paint. Do we really need sexy inking supplies?  Well, maybe, but I will learn to live with these.  ^__^

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Rockin and Rollin

Unbelievable!  Every time I think SVGCuts can't get any better they top themselves.   Just look at the new kit that is free with a $9.98 purchase this week.

An amazing 50's theme SVG kit called Rockin and Rollin'.  Is not that jukebox the coolest thing you have seen in a long time?  These would make the best little gift containers for my mom and her friends.  Look at some of the projects you can make with this kit:

Don't forget to pick up this weeks free file.  Goes great with the new set!  Click the picture to be taken to the download page.

Happy crafting!

The Little Birthday Boy

Phew, finally!  Six months after I finished his brother Nathan's 3D letters, I finished Noah's yesterday.  Just in time too for his 3rd birthday party on Saturday.  I am such a slacker, I know.  But it is a good thing I waited because Kristi Dailey came out with these amazing Print n' Cut graphics that will match the little guy's room perfectly!

Like most boys, he is really into animals and his room is decorated in a safari theme.  Why would I make 3D paper letters as a present for a three year old?  Well, I have it on good authority (his mother) that he adores his brother's set and every morning asks him mom to read the name and wants to know who made them.  When she tells him "Ms. Becki"  he asks where his name is.  How cute!  He thinks I'm actually crafty.  HA!  I'm sure we will have a fun time together this Saturday naming the animals and putting them up on his wall.

Maybe I will take a picture of the little "Calvin and Hobbes" clone with his present and beg his mom to let me post it on the Facebook page.  *pleasepleasepuppydogeyes!*


Supplies used:

3D Letters by SVG Cuts
Safari Animals Vol. 1 and 2 by Kristi Dailey
Safari Kids by Kristi Dailey
Animal Crackers stack by DCWV
Silhouette SD die-cutter with Make the Cut for Print n' Cut
Homemade glue drops for coconuts

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Silhouette America Valentine Sale

Information from the newsletter:

"February 14th is fast approaching, and if you’re in love with your Silhouette electronic cutting tool you’ll be thrilled to know that Valentine shapes are just 75¢ at the Silhouette Online Store through January 26^th. So now is the perfect time to find cards, envelopes, boxes, and more with a Valentine’s Day theme.

And if you have a subscription, you’ll be even more enamored because the discounted price applies to you too. Your credits will stretch further and get you more downloads than ever.

 
Just keep in mind that this sale ends soon, so fly on over to the Silhouette Online Store and see if anything catches your eye. You never know, it could be love at first sight.

Sale ends 1/26/2012 at 11:59 PM Mountain Standard Time. All Valentine's shapes are chosen at the sole discretion of Silhouette America."

A Heart for Each of Us

Yes!  I finally got a holiday project up on my blog before the actual holiday!  I am very proud of myself.  Normally, you guys see what I have been up to way after the actual holiday.  I worked up this quick, easy and adorable Valentine card.  Of course, it has to have lots of hearts!

I recently won the A {Little} Love stamp set from A Jillian Vance Design and as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to showcase the beautiful heart stamp.  I actually was looking for a swirly heart for a while.  This one was perfect.  I had big plans to scan it into my computer and a make a shadow layer so I could cut it out in Make the Cut.  But being the slacker I am, never got around to it.

Gasp, you hand cut around it?  Why, yes I did.  Can you believe it?  A project made without Make the Cut and my electronic die cut machine.  Now I have become a well-rounded crafter.  LOL

Inside sentiment comes from the same set.  It is off center on purpose.  I am breaking all the rules today, huh folks?

OK, here is the supply list in case you would like to throw together this quick card.

Heart & sentiment - A {Little} Love by A Jillian Vance Design
All Card Stock - Love & Wedding Stack by DCWV
Swiss Dots embossing folder
Crinkle Ribbon - handmade by me

Thanks for stopping and have a crafty day!!

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Celtic Knots and Clovers Kit

New set from SVG Cuts - Celtic Knots and Clovers.  Get ready for all those St. Patty's Day projects with this wonderful kit that is free with a purchase of $9.98 or more for one week only.

 Don't forget to pick up the weekly freebie while you are there - Scalloped Circles

"You’ll never be at a loss for the perfect sized scalloped circle again! Get creative!" Have a great Sunday and happy crafting!

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Hi guys, sorry I'm late with this but I think I am coming down with something.  I didn't wake up till really late and feel all yucky and slow.  Hope this post makes sense.

I could torture you all by posting my project before the winner but that would make you all skip the calendars project. (Yes, more calendars.  My friend actually got mad yesterday because I didn't have one for her.  Best get to making another one.)   So, let's get to what you came here for.

The winner by Random.org is number 21 - Judy!  Here's what she said:

Congratulations Judy, please email me at the "Contact Me" page above with your mailing address and I will get those out as soon as possible!  I also want to thank everyone for playing!  I had a lot of fun reading comments and seeing all the new people.  I liked it so much, I am thinking about having monthly or bi-weekly giveaways!  Stay tuned for details.  I just have to find the right prizes that everyone would like.  If you can think of good crafty items to give away, let me know in the comments.

Now for my project today.  I know you guys are probably sick of these but I don't feel good enough to make something fresh.  Since I made these with my trusty Silhouette SD two weeks ago and never posted, I think it's about time you guys saw them.

The graphics were simple rectangles with different Lettering Delights graphic sets cut out on my Silhouette SD in Make the Cut.  I have been looking for an excuse to use some of my favorites.  I really love these sets.

This calendar graphics are from the Ladybird set with a an Arial font for the year.

I used the Twitter Park Too for this one.

And finally, the Sweet 16 was used in this calendar.  All the ribbons except the sheer pink are from the Recollections .50 cent bin.  ^__^  The calendar was courtesy of Cat the Die Cut Diva on the Splitcoast Stampers forum.

Speaking of printable calendars, this Friday Freebie from Lettering Delights are the Simple Calendars 2012 and Cowlendar FB Timeline Covers.  Get them free till this Sunday at midnight, MST after that they go to $4 and $2 respectively. 

Also, don't forget about the Make the Cut forum challenge - Valentine Basket, going on now.  Get your free .mtc file (made by yours truly) and get creating!

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Stampin' Bugs

You are one sick puppy!  I know what you are thinking.  You thought you were going to see my boys stompin', stampin' and squishin' some bugs, didn't you?!?  Well, there are other places on the internet to see that kind of stuff, sister.  Not here on my angelic, happy blog.  No sir ree bob.  Hey, I don't videotape their deviant behavior and besides, real bugs are hibernating right now.  Wait for Spring and that might be a different story.....anywho, you came here for crafty things.  In fact, my stampin' bug card.

I have always wanted to make a stamp-shaped card.  I don't know why.  I guess, I just like them.  The cute little bugs, who I don't want to smash, were provided by My Scrap Chick over at the Make the Cut forum's bi-weekly challenge.  The giving My Scrap Chick ladies, Val and Kristi, also provided a $10 prize to one lucky winner (congrats Beanie!).  If you missed the challenge and think the bugs are cute, you can still purchase them over at their store.

The files are actually individual cards but I wanted to do something different.  That's when I thought of the stamp.  As you can see, I can't draw faces.  My Gazelle did cut the nose and eyes out at that small size, I just couldn't keep track of the lil' boogers and decided to pencil them in (like my eyebrows).  The antennae are 22 gauge craft wire in black.  (Yeah, my family didn't notice that either.  I thought it was clever. Oh well.)  The sentiment (could be Valentine or I'm Sorry) is a micro Sharpie put into the machine instead of a blade holder with the shadow cut-out.  Font is a adorable Lettering Delights one called LD Red Hatter's Hand.  Which was a freebie with 9 other fonts just for signing up for the newsletter.  Bonus!

Do you use Make the Cut with a electronic die cutter?  Do you like to do challenges for prizes?  We would love to have you join us on the forum for our bi-weekly challenges to ooh and ahh over your amazing work!  Consider joining, there is most always a included file (today's is provided and made by yours truly ^__^) to get you started.  Don't have Make the Cut but a compatible cutter, check out the trial version.  I'll bet my two boys you will love it!  Have a crafty weekend!

LOOKING FOR THE MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY GIVEAWAY?  CHECK OUT THIS POST TO ENTER, LAST CHANCE IS TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT!

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Giveaway Update - More to Love

I just wanted to update you all on the goods for the giveaway.  Since starting the giveaway this past Monday, My Thoughts Exactly has released the pre-order on their Valentine's Day stamps.  They are really for the big February stamp release next month but Alyssa wanted everyone to have ample time to get their lovey crafting on.  You HAVE to see them! *sparkly eyes*  So awesome.....

Lovey Puns - Animals

Lovey Puns - Food

Candy Hearts

Candy Hearts Phrase Add-on Set 1

Candy Hearts Phrase Add-on Set 2

Candy Hearts Phrase Add-on Set 3

Here's the coolest part.  If you are one of the first 20 to order, you get the following Love Label free with a purchase of any of the new February stamp releases!  Hurry and order yours, I know I did.

I am showing you guys all these to let you know that if you should win the giveaway, there are now more sets to choose from.  I also know I said no bundles but since I am going to spend $15 (prize value) anyway, I would let the winner pick the Candy Heart bundle if they wanted.   I am just trying to sweeten the pot a bit.  What can I say, I'm an encourager.

Can't wait?  Head over there now and pick up a set or two or maybe a money-saving "I Want It All Bundle."  My Thoughts Exactly has plenty to choose from.  Buy now, win later! ;)

Haven't entered the giveaway yet or think I am a stark raving lunatic who just goes on and on about pretty stamps?  Check out the giveaway post to see what I am babbling about and put your comment in the box for a chance to win (see rules)!  You only have till tomorrow at Midnight, EST to enter.  Tick Tock