MFPS... Enjoy the View

Happy Sunday! I had a crafting friend come visit me this week from Alabama (I'm in South Carolina) and we had lots of fun! She brought some cartridges I don't have, so I was able to play with some new cuts while she was here. New cuts are always FUN!

The card I want to show you today is from one of the carts she brought, SESAME STREET SEASONS. I just thought this little bug was too cute.. he's also so very cool all laid back in his sunglasses.

I'm on the Senior Design Team for Mark's Finest Papers & Stamps, and starting this week we have a new stamp set to show you every day for the October stamp releases. Brand new stamps! Woo-Hoo! I used one of the new stamps for the sentiment on this card. The stamp set is "ENJOY THE VIEW." I can't show you the complete set until tomorrow, but here's a sneak peek at a project using one of the sentiment stamps in this set...

#446, 10-12 M#11

• A2 size card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Blue grass is from a Fiskar's punch
• Green grass from EVERY DAY PAPER DOLLS
• Clouds are punched and embossed using D'vine Swirls, then inked around the edges with soft blue. They are popped up with foam tape
• White gel pen used for bottom of bug's foot, his spots, freckles, and on sunglasses
• Glossy Accents used on sunglasses
• Black mat cut @ 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" 
• Cloud mat cut @ 4" x 5 1/4"
• But cut @ 3" from SESAME STREET SEASONS

Can't wait to see you again tomorrow!

:) Janis

PDE Ch# 42... "Night Card"

Here's the tag I made for this project:

Project # 420 of this year

• ELEGANT EDGES (Cricut cart) "Swirl 2" p. 39 cut @ 4 1/2" using Oblong and Shadow features
• Fiskar's Fence punch
• CARDZ TV STAMPS "Spooky Sayings" stamp set for sentiment
• Twine is "Orange Licorice" from TRENDY TWINE
• Dew Drops are Royal Jewels from TSQ's Royal Castle Shoppe

Thanks for stopping by today! 

:) Janis

You Crack Me Up!

Good morning! I have a sneak peek for you today. Mark's Finest Papers & Stamps is having their monthly blog hop next week featuring all the new stamp sets that are being introduced this month. But this week, we are showing you a few sneak peeks!

#440, M 10-12 #6

•  A2 size card base 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Background papers are from a 8 1/2" x 11" All Seasons Recollection pack
• Black cardstock (from Walmart) cut @ 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
• Ice Cream paper cut @ 4" x 5 1/4"
• Black cardstock cut again and edged with Treading Water Fiskars punch then added some white doodling with a gel pen
• Polka Dot paper added on top of the black border punch paper
• Everything inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink
• Teddy Bear Clown and balloon poodle from TEDDY BEAT PARADE Cricut Lite cart cut @ 3 1/2"
• Crackle and sentiment both from MFPS "Cracked Hello" stamp set being introduced next week!
• Teddy adhered with ACTION WOBBLE from TSQ's Royal Castle Shoppe

Action Wobble in Action

Thanks for stopping by today!

See you again tomorrow for another sneek peak!

:) Janis

I've entered this into my friend, Maria's, Inspire Me Fridays:

PPT Ch# 86: Welcome to BOO-ville!

Comment Numbering Code... HERE

Paper Playtime's current challenge is:

Ch # 86
Welcome to BOO-ville
PLUS add a SENTIMENT
Starts: Monday, October 15th 12:00 am EST

Ends: Thursday, October 25th Noon EST

Winner (chosen by random.org) Announced: Thursday, October 25th late afternoon

Our sponsor this challenge is...
Mary of Cardz TV Stamps
The winner will receive one set of Mary's Cardz TV Stamps!

Here's my card I want to show you!

Project #405 of this year

• A2 size card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Black mat cut @ 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
• Spiderweb mat (from Walmart Studio G Paper Pack) cut @ 4" x 5 1/8"
• Purple lace from scraps
• Spider cut @ 2 1/2" using PAPER DOLL DRESS UP and E2 with the Cricut Craft Room (I love that I can link my cartridges to the CCR and not have to pull them out each time I want to cut!)
• Orange buttons from Walmart Studio G
• BOO To You Bingo board stamp from Cardz TV Stamps called "Oct 31st"
• "Oct 31" sentiment stamp from same Cardz TV Stamps set called "Oct 31st"

Cardz TV Stamps
"Oct 31st"

Come play with us at Paper Playtime! You can win 1 of Mary's awesome Cardz TV Stamp sets!! 

:) Janis

...

CTMH Artiste Mini Album

Good morning! It's Saturday and that means it's time for some COLLEGE FOOTBALL! Woo-Hoo!  Go Gamecocks! 

Today is also the day my hubbub, Tom, is racing in the Ray Tanner 12K. Good luck, Tom!

I recently was able to get the Cricut Artiste cartridge that is exclusively sold through Close To My Heart constultants. Let me tell you... I LOVE THIS BUNDLE!

Here are 2 projects I made with one of the box cuts. One was for a post for Halloween as my DT submission for Mary's Cardz TV "Buttons & Boo's" challenge:

See that post HERE

And I used the same cut for a DT submission for CUT IT UP CHALLENGE's Breast Cancer Awareness:

See that post HERE

Today, I want to show you a mini album used with this same Artiste cartridge and also using the chipboard and one of the stamps that are also part of this awesome bundle.

Before I get to that, if you are interested in more information or have any questions about the CTMH Cricut Artiste Bundle, please contact:

My Close To My Heart (CTMH) Consultant, Lucy Kelleher

Facebook

Blog

Shop

Cricut ARTISTE Bundle

I'm going to post lots of pictures of this mini album I'm working on, but keep in mind I'm not finished with it yet. I still have lots of embellishments to add to it, but thought you'd enjoy seeing it like it is now.

#437

 Mini Album base cut and shaped pages found on handbook p. 60 and cut @ 3 3/4".

The papers for the shaped pages were adhered to the chipboard pieces that came as part of this bundle. What's so cool about this is the chipboard packs tell you what size to cut the papers so they will fit the chipboard shapes. Takes all the guessing out, and makes it so easy.

The solid green paper and black cardstock are both from Walmart packs.

All of the pattern papers are from Hobby Lobby "Persnickety" pack.

 Here you can see my speech bubble from p. 65 cut @ 1 3/4" to match the stamp that fits this shape perfectly. Again, all the stamps that fit shapes in this cartridge are labeled so you know how big to cut the shape so the stamp will custom fit on it. Love this! I colored this stamp with BIC markers.

So you see I have a lot more to do before this is "finished," but I hope you enjoyed having a peek of something the Artiste cart can do. It's such an awesome cartridge!

I'll admit... when I got it in the mail and opened it, I kissed it twice and hugged it. LOL I kept sending Lucy messages on Facebook saying I was stalking the mailman until it arrived. She would just answer LOL and then she asked, "what are you going to think about after you get it?" To which I had to reply, "Wishing I had more paper."  :)

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Call Lucy and get your Artist cart ordered!

I'm going to be doing an Artiste blog hop with some of my friends soon. It's going to be a blast!

Smiles :) Janis

P.S.  Just wanted to leave you with a GREAT YouTube video about our South Carolina Gamecocks college football team.....

First, before the game began, there was this tearful moment.... and hearts swelling with pride and gratitude for our military...

Finally, a re-cap of our game last weekend against Georgia...

PDE Ch# 41: "BOO"

Happy Friday! Don't you just love Fridays? 
Today is the start of a brand new challenge at
Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges!

Ch#41: Boo!

Use the word "BOO" on your project.

Starts: Friday, October 12th 12:00 am EST

Ends: Thursday, October 18th, Noon EST

Winner (chosen by random.org) Announced: Thursday, October 18th late afternoon

Our Sponsor this challenge is

Fresh Brewed Designs
Prize: 3 Digis of the winner's choice

Here is the BOO tag I made!!

(Note... you can make any type of project. It does not have to be a tag. I'm choosing to make tags for all the PDE Challenges this year and putting them all together with a binding ring. I decorate the fronts with the current theme and answer the question on the back. At the end of the year I'll have a 52 page mini book!)

Project # 419 of this year

I had this really cute Halloween paper picked out to use that says BOO all over it in different sizes and colors.... and look... you can't even tell with my pumpkin bear on the tag now. LOL

• ELEGANT EDGES (Cricut cart) "Swirl 2" p. 39 cut @ 4 1/2" using Oblong and Shadow features
• TEDDY BEAR PARADE (Criuct Lite cart) Pumpkin Bear cut @ 4"
• EVERY DAY PAPER DOLLS Grass p. 47 cut @ 1/4"
• CARDZ TV STAMPS "More Spooky Sayings" stamp set for sentiment
• Twine is "Orange Licorice" from TRENDY TWINE
• Dew Drops are Royal Jewels from TSQ's Royal Castle Shoppe

"Orange Licorice" TRENDY TWINE

CARDZ TV STAMPS
"More Spooky Sayings"

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you'll come play with us and show us your "BOO!" projects!! :) Janis

...

Unexpected Challenge... WINNER!

See my tiny little tag I posted earlier today... HERE.

Thank you all so much for playing along in my Unexpected Challenge. Your projects were awesome! 

The winner of 

"I'm Going Batty Stamp Set" by MFPS

.....is Scrappin Dhilly!

Congratulations!

Created by Scrappin Dhilly

Please email me your USA mailing address to 66cricket at gmail dot com.

:) Janis

NOTICE TO WINNERS: If you are a prize winner, and you do not claim your prize within one week of winning, the prize will  go back in the pot to be re-drawn at a later date.

Tiny Little Tag

Good morning!

I made a tiny little tag this morning. A friend of mine recently sent me some FUN MAIL and it accidentally had one of her clear stamps stuck to part of what was inside. So I made this tiny little tag to mail her today along with the stamp she is missing.

#436

Tag base is a banner from Birthday Bash cut @ 3".

Cloud is from a Fiskars punch and embossed using D'vine Swirl folder.

Grass is also a Fiskars punch.

Owl is from HOOT n HOLLER cut @ 2".

Owl is also attached using foam tape.

Everything is inked around the edges with Tim Holtz Tea Dye distress ink.

At first I thought this would make a good bookmark, but with the dimension of the foam tape and googlie eyes and tulle... I don't think it would work out too well. Plus it's not long enough either I don't think.  Oh well. I still think it's cute!

Have a great day!

:) Janis

CCC # 118 at Cardz TV

Boo Banner / Unexpected Crafting Challenge... HERE

It's Wednesday! That means it's time for a brand new challenge at Cardz TV!

CCC # 118:  "Anything Goes!"

Make a project (does NOT have to be a card)

using any Cricut cartridge(s),

colors and theme you'd like.

Ch Begins: Wed, Oct 10th @ 12:01 am EST
Ch Ends: Tues, Oct 23rd @ Noon EST
Prize: 1 set of Cardz TV Stamps

Winner Announced Wed, Oct 24th @ Cardz TV

Here's my project I made for this challenge:
(picture heavy post)

Project # 435 of this year

 I have not scrapbooked in FOREVER! I've got that itch and thought I'd make some Halloween layouts. I started out with a background that just wasn't working for me

(green with glitter eyes all over it), and I just couldn't get it going. I kept staring at my empty pages and nothing was fitting together right.

So I tossed those pages aside and went with a solid deep orange background instead. Much mo' betta.  Everything seemed to fall into place once the background was "working" with my imagination.

I recently got a card from one of my BFF's, Tracy. Tracy is so talented and such a really neat-o person. She mailed me a card she had posted on her blog a while back that I went goo-goo over. It was so stinkin' cute! Here's her FRED card...

Tracy's Cricut Corner - Tracy's Zombie Card, Fred

And not only did she mail me the card, but she mailed me FRED to assemble and enjoy on one of my own projects.

Go check out TRACY'S CRICUT CORNER & her FRED card, and leave her some comment love. Tell her I sent you over on my broom. :)

This is what Tracy inspired me to come up with for my scrapbook pages!

Lamp Post page details: 

• Layout page is 12" x 12"
• All solid papers from Walmart
• All pattern papers from various Halloween stacks
• ELEGANT EDGES used for all photo mats cut at various sizes: 3", 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" with shadow feature
• Lamp Post - MINI MONSTERS cut @ 9"
• Signs on Lamp Post using Mary's CARDZ TV STAMPS "Spooky Sayings" and "More Spooky Sayings"

CARDZ TV STAMPS "More Spooky Sayings"

CARDZ TV STAMPS "Spooky Sayings"

• Moon is Circle cut @ 4" from ART PHILOSOPHY. This is a Close to my Heart exclusive Cricut Cartridge. You can purchase this from my CTMH consultant, Lucy Kelleher with these links: Facebook   Shop Online   Blog
• PAPER DOLL DRESS UP Grass cut at fit to page for 12"x12"
• MINI MONSTERS Fence cut @ 2 1/2" several times (I just went ahead and cut as many as would fit on a black 12"x12" cardstock sheet using Cricut Craft Room.)

• A CHILD'S YEAR for flying witch cut @ 3 1/2" (Mary found this treasure and shows us a card with the witches in A Child's Year on her video... HERE)
• The flying BAT is popped up with pop dots (it's a 3D sticker)
• Everything is inked around the edges with either blank Colorbox ink or Tim Holtz Tea dye Distress ink

Zombie page details: 

• ELEGANT EDGES used for all photo mats cut at various sizes: 3", 3 1/2" and 4 1/2" with shadow feature
• PAPER DOLL DRESS UP Grass cut at fit to page for 12"x12"
• MINI MONSTERS Fence cut @ 2 1/2" several times (I just went ahead and cut as many as would fit on a black 12"x12" cardstock sheet using Cricut Craft Room.)

• FRED the ZOMBIE was sent to me from Tracy (her blog HERE) She purchased the zombie from Lettering Delights and cut him with her Cameo (I love my Cricut, but a Cameo is on my wish list)

• ROBOTZ used for letters and numbers for BOOville and 2012. These were cut @ 1 1/2" and 1" using the Cricut Craft Room to weld them together (so easy to do!)

This was really, really fun! I hope you guys will play along in our ANYTHING GOES challenge with Mary @ Cardz TV! You can enter on her site, or enter below for a chance to win some of her Cardz TV Stamps!! Good luck!

:) Janis

Added to Maria's Inspire Me Fridays:

...

MFPS: Paper Bag Card Tutorial

Boo Banner / Unexpected Crafting Challenge... HERE

UPDATE:  This project was also featured on INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS, October 19, 2012 @ Joyful Stamper:

...

Good morning, everyone and welcome to my very first 

TUTORIAL posting for 

Mark's Finest Papers & Stamps!
You can see my Featured Designer post at
MFPS' Blog HERE... but all the details for the tutorial are in this blog post below... This is all so exciting!

Store: http://www.marksfinestpapers.com/servlet/StoreFront

Everything Speedy TV: http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/

Blog: http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com/

Please note... this post is picture heavy... I didn't want you to miss a thing as I create this tutorial for you.

I have been asked a lot about the 

PAPER BAG CARDS 

I make and this was requested of me 
to do the tutorial on... so, here you go!

First of all, grab all the items you think you'll use in this project. The picture below doesn't show everything I used, and shows some things I didn't end up using at all. That's because when I start out to make a project, I really don't know how it's going to turn out. I have an idea of what I want to do, and just let the project evolve from there.

Some of the supplies you may use for this project.

Basically, you need:

• a Paper Bag (any size and any color you want)
• adhesive of your choice
• inks for stamping and distressing edges
• something that cuts (paper trimmer or scissors, etc.)
• stamp cleaner (I use baby wipes)
• papers of your choice and colors
• ruler
• straight edge (I used a bone folder, but you can use a ruler or the side of your pen or pencil)
• pen or pencil and paper to keep notes for measurements (measure twice, cut once)
• embellishments of your choice

Some embellishments to choose from and a pen / pencil and
paper to keep notes for measurements.

Paper Bag choices vary

Paper Bags come in so many sizes and colors these days! I chose to use a plain ole lunch style paper bag. 

(They are pretty cheap at the grocery store.)

Lunch type of Paper Bag

Please keep in mind, Paper Bag sizes vary greatly. The measurements for this project are all based on the Paper Bag that I used. However, you will need to measure your bag and go from there.  My rule of thumb is... I mat my papers 1/8" larger for the shadow layer. Some mat their shadow layers at 1/4" larger. 

It's all up to you, your style, and what you like. 

I trimmed off the top of the bag about 1/8' of an inch to get a clean edge. This is not necessary, but cleaner, I think.

Section 1 and 2 on outside

Please note the numbered sections on the outside and inside of this Paper Bag. All the measurements I give you are directly corresponding with these numbered sections or panels.

• Lay the Paper Bag flat with the opening to your right. Trim the opening if desired.
• Fold bottom of bag over on top of the opening section.
• Crease and fold the bottom flap back and forth as shown below.

Showing Section 3

• This bottom section will be just an extra fold piece for fun.

Showing Section 3 to the left, 5 in the middle and 6 for the "Inside".
Section 6 is the part of the Paper Bag that has the opening to the right.

Showing Section 3 flipped open to reveal Section 4.

• If desired, use a circle punch or your scissors to create a 1/2 circle opening here. I found that trying to use this circle punch, the Paper Bag was not thick and sturdy enough to cut. I ended up using my scissors to cut an opening. This will come in handy later when we insert a tag here.

• If you like to distress your edges or just add ink for fun, now's the time to do that. Ink every fold and crease. Don't worry if it looks messy. It's a Paper Bag! It's going to look a little messy, and actually your papers will cover up most of this anyway. :)

Alright... are you ready to take some notes? You may not even need these measurements if you use a Paper Bag of a different size, but since I went to the trouble of writing them all down, I thought I'd share them with you in case you find that they come in handy.

After you cut all your papers, and you like inking the edges... again, now is the time to do that.

Shadow cuts (Shown as the yellow papers above):

Refer to Numbers in the above photos for the Sections

First Section (front): 3 3/8" x 4 7/8"

Second Section: 1 1/2" x 4 7/8"

Third Section: 3" x 4 7/8"

Fourth Section: 1 3/8" x 4 7/8"

Fifth Section: 3 3/4" x 4 7/8"

Sixth Section: 4 3/4" 4 7/8"

Top Layer cuts (Shown as the green papers above):

Refer to Numbers in the above photos for the Sections

First Section (front): 3 1/4" x 4 3/4"

Second Section: 1 3/8" x 4 3/4"

Third Section:  2 7/8" x 4 3/4"

Fourth Section:  1 1/4" x 4 3/4"

Fifth Section:  3 5/8" x 4 3/4"

Sixth Section:  4 5/8" x 4 3/4"

All papers for Sections inked and adhered 
- ready for placement

Are you ready to start getting this put together? Here we go!

• Adhere each section to the Paper Bag card

Now it's time to figure out about your stamping. I chose to use a die cutting machine for stamped image matting and also used a paper trimmer for one section.  But you can also always stamp directly on these papers without image matting. It just depends on your style and the mood you are in the day you create it.

Here are the image mats I cut with a 

die cutting machine and a paper trimmer:

• Elegant Edges "Butterfly2" cut as a Square @ 3" with Shadow feature (cut 2 of these for Section 1 (front of card) and Section 5.
• Elegant Edges "Butterfly2" cut as a Square @ 4 1/4" with Shadow feature (cut 2 of these for Section 6 - inside of card) and for tag to insert inside card opening on side.
• Paper Trimmer was used to cut Shadow layer    @ 2 5/8" x 4 1/2" and again at 2 1/2" x 4 1/4" for image mat top layer for Section 3.

Now's the time to ink those edges if that's what you like to do!

Section 1 (outside)

Section 3 before matting

  

Section 3 after matting

Section 5 and 6 (inside)

Let's Stamp and Decorate!

For stamping, I used 2 different stamps sets you can purchase from MARK'S FINEST PAPERS & STAMPS. Be sure and check out their entire store, because they have a whole lot more to offer including some fun stamps!

• First I stamped my kitty on white cardstock.
• Then I colored her with permanent markers and chalk. (I just love this kitty!)
• I cleaned my inked stamp with a baby wipe. (You can also run your stamp under water to rinse off the excess ink if any.)
• This kitty stamp is from MFPS' "Going Batty" set.
• I also punched out a circle, and then punched some of it again to create the crescent moon.
• The fence was a cut from Create A Critter 2 die cutting cartridge.
• I used a punched star to lay on the background and chalk around, moved it and did the same thing again a few times to give the appearance of a purple sky with star outlines.

I did some more stamping, some more embellishing using up some scrap papers along the way... and here is the finished Paper Bag Card with tag insert!

Front

That extra little flap

Inside
Using MFPS "VROOM" stamp set

The tag that pulls out of the bag

The entire inside with tag out on display

Going Batty
Purchase ... HERE

Vroom
Purchase ... HERE

I hope you enjoyed this Mark's Finest Papers & Stamps tutorial of how to create a Paper Bag Card! To see another Paper Bag Card I created in July using Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps, click... HERE.

If you have any questions, please do NOT hesitate to ask. If you want me to get back with you about any of the details, remember to leave me your email address in your comment.

Smiles.... BOO!

:) Janis

Added to Maria's INSPIRE ME FRIDAYS: