Girlie card

I was given a pack of CM paper and asked to make a girlie card.  The paper is cute, but I fell in love with the stickers so I made a waterfall card to show off as many of them as possible.  I even made a matching gift tag!

Here is the inside with yet another sticker:

I just love those stickers, so cute!!  Here is the matching gift tag:

Easter Side Step Card

I just learned how to make step, side step and center step cards.  They are easier than I anticipated.  As usual, the hardest part for me was not making the card, rather deciding how to decorate!  Here is my take on the side step card. I think the "Happy" gets lost so I may change out the paper.

Easter Vinyl

Wow, I haden't realized it had been so long since my last posting! Here is my latest creation: Easter vinyl. Hubby and I are going on a Cricut Cruise over the Easter holiday and I wanted to put something on our cabin door that was festive. I hope the Stickles will stay on the vinyl because I want to bling up the other solid eggs and the "Happy Easter" part. I'm also thinking Cricut needs some shoes.

Explosion Box / Gift Card Pillow Box

As I mentioned in the previous post, at yesterday's class we made, among other things, a birthday explosion box and a pillow box that holds gift cards.  I first saw this explosion box at a Cricut Stampede last year.  Cindy Royal designed it and sent us the Gypsy file.  I modified the file a bit by replacing the Cricut theme to a birthday theme.  If you have a chance, go check out her blog, she is amazing! 

Card / Gift class

Yesterday was a card / gift class I taught.  I stayed up until 4am Friday night finishing the kits.  We made the spring waterfall card from the previous post, a birthday explosion box, a watering can shaped card, a pillow box gift card holder and a joy fold Easter card.  I think the ladies enjoyed the experiece.  I have a bunch of pictures, so I'll make a seperate posting of the explosion box and gift card holder.  Here are the watering can card and the Easter joy fold card:

Spring Waterfall Card

Even though it's 80F here in Sugar Land, I have Spring Fever. In response, I made this spring waterfall card. I love the inside panels, but think the front still needs something. What do yall think??

Happy Mardi Gras

I don't have anything new to show yall today, but I just wanted to say HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!! 

Copic Markers

Sorry I haven't updated in a while.  In my never-ending quest for the latest (at least to me) and greatest crafting mediums, I've discovered Copic markers.  Actually, I heard about them about a year ago but totally blew it off because I had moved away from stamping.  Recently I've been seeing a lot of really beautiful cards and projects using the Copics which renewed my curiousity.  I heard about an online Copic class and decided to sign up.  I ordered the basic kit thinking that would suffice (haha).  I "won" an Ebay bid for about 100 more markers and now I have a pretty rainbow of the markers.  Anyway, our first assignment was to color one of the images that were in our kit and post it in the class gallery.  I don't have any skin tone markers (I see a shopping trip in my future) so I decided to color the cute dog.  As you can see, I have a lot to learn.  I told the instructors that I failed coloring in Kindergarten so they should not have high expectations for me.  (as for cutting, let's just say I am so thankful for my Cricuts!)

The class is very interesting and there is a lot more to this process than just coloring.  I saved this little guy and will color him again at the end of the class to see if I've made any improvements.  I can't digress, so I am hopeful!

Valentine Trend Class @ JoAnn's

Ok, everyone.  I'm teaching my first class at Joanns next week.  Saturday (2/11) is Open House where people can sign up for any of the classes they offer and half price.  I'll be there with my little samples, praying at least one person signs up.  If anyone is in the Sugar Land area of Texas, I would love to meet you!  The class is going to be on Monday the 13th of February from 10-12 and we're going to be making a Sour Cream container, Matchbook cover, Clear Window Pillow Box and a Valentine card for your special someone.  (We'll make a few if we have the time)  Here are some samples:

If you happen to be in the area Saturday, come say hi so I won't be so lonely!  :)

Fantastic Give-Away

In case yall have never seen it, there is a terrific blog that I follow religiously!  Scrap Guy's Paper Crafting Adventure is a blog by a guy named Bryan that has lots of different projects.  He recently re-designed his blog and is having an amazing give-away to celebrate the re-launching.  You have to check out his blog for all the details, but one of the prizes in the Cricut Imagine.  I am still discovering all the cool things I can do with my Imagine and I am excited that someone else can win one.  Here is his blog:
http://scrapguy.blogspot.com.  Leave him a comment for your chance to win and please tell him that PuffPastryDesigns sent you. 

I'll be showing off a few more projects that I'm working on today.  Go visit his site now!!

Birthday cards with matching tag

Good morning! 
Here are 2 different birthday cards with a matching tag.  This first one is meant for adults. Being OCD, it was sooo hard choosing different colors for each cupcake.  I was so frustrated that instead of using Stickles, I used my CM pens to make the sprinkles.  When I got to the tag, I decided the pen sprinkles were not pretty so I grabbed my Stickles.  At first I thought they would clash with the bling in the middle of the flower, but I think it's ok.
  

This next set is more kid-friendly with bright colors.  Yall saw the tri-fold card posted already, but I made a tag to go with it.  I wrote my sons name in the banner because it looked a little too plain.  the yellow cupcake is popped up and the red "Happy Birthday" cupcake has 2 layers of foam tape to make it a bit taller than the yellow one. 

Have a great day!

Secret Door Card

I recently discovered a new blog by Dawn Olchefske and the only thing I can say is AMAZING!!!  She has so many wonderful cards and even has tutorials for the more difficult ones.  One of the cards I fell in love with was called a Secret Door Card.  I had to watch her video twice to make sure I got everything right.  Here is a link to her blog with the video:  http://dostamping.typepad.com/dostamping_with_dawn/2010/08/video-secret-door-technique-meets-cottage-garden.html

My version is not nearly as cute as hers, but it was fun to make.  I made it for my 4 neices who (according to my sister) are just brilliant.  We'll see if they can figure it out.  My hubby couldn't figure it out without trying to take it completely apart!  Here is the front:

I left the front panel blank because I'm not sure what the sentiment will say.  Ok, here's the inside:

It says, "Can you find the secret message?"  If they can figure out the secret fold, here's what they'll see:

How cool is that?  I can't begin to explain how this card works, you'll have to go to Dawn's blog.  Her video is so easy to follow. 

Thanks so much, Dawn, for the inspiration and for letting me post.

More Valentines

I have been so busy making Valentines projects for 2 classes that I have not had any time to post pictures.  I already posted the cupcake postcard, matchbook candy covers and the spinner card. Well, here are the other projects.  The Sour Cream container has M&M's inside, but you can put any kind of small candy.  Don't put too much, though, or it won't shake properly. 

The next project was a heart shaker card.  It turned out super cute! 

The last card was one of my favorites.  It was  made with only Creative Memories products.

Now I'm working on Spring/Easter projects.  I have a really fun card that I made today but I can't post it until I get permission from the lady who owns the blog that I found it (does that make sense?). 

Hope everyone is having a great week!



Happy Birthday Card

Lately I've realized just how dependent upon my Gypsy Girl I have become.  I don't do anything without her.  This became blatently apparent when I was asked to demonstrate the Cricut Expression 2 and all I could do was turn the darn thing on and off.  How embarassing!!  So, one of my New Year Resolutions is to re-learn my Expression, E2 and Imagine without my GG (insert eye-rolling here).  Today I decided to put away (blow-off) my valentine cards that I've been working on for an upcoming class and work on something totally new.  I grabbed my Just A Note cartridge and worked on this cute tri-fold birthday card.  Of course I had to add some Stickles for the balloons.  I kinda like how it turned out, and the fact that it was easy-peasy was a bonus. 

First flap open:

Inside of card:

Now back to those valentine projects.

Link for Article

It has been brought to my attention that the article posted below can't be zoomed.  Sorry about that, I'm still trying to figure out this blogg-thing.  I'll post the link to the actual article in case you are interested.  I'm "happy" to say that I actually used the oven last night for the first time in...well that's not important.  My husband read the article and started asking questions about why the reporter called the oven a storage unit blah blah blah.  I quickly removed the shoe's from the oven and put them in the extra ice box in the laundry room that never gets used.  It's an experiment to make sure the cold does not harm the shoes in any way.  A friend of mine said he'd heard of "cold cash" but "cold shoes" was new to him. 

I'm finishing up my Valentine cards for a Kids Kamp I'm co-hosting next week and will post pictures when they are ready.  Thanks for stopping by!

Article link:  http://www.upclosemagazine.com/floor-you.jpg

Magazine Article

I just received a sneak peek at the article that will be in the magazine. The photographer had me put on that apron, usually it's hanging on the laundry room door as decoration. Yes, I always wear stiletto-heel boots when pouring tea. I am such a nerd!! I hope you can read it, it's pretty funny!!

Here is my favorite picture that they didn't use. 

For some reason, they took some shots of me in the living room.  I think Beignet is much more photogetic than I!

Photo Shoot of kitchen

When we moved here, about 4 years ago, the house was in a disasterous state.  The previous resident had a VERY different decor from what I wanted.  Slowly I've been re-making the rooms into our tastes.  The latest project was the kitchen.  Now, for the record, the kitchen is my least favorite room in the house.  I rarely venture in there, except to refill the dogs' water bowls.  I was dreading this project because it really didn't interest me.  I tried to talk hubby into letting me close it off and use it as a shoe closet.  That was a project I could get interesed in! Apparently there is some unspoken real estate rule that every house needs a kitchen, so my idea was vetoed. Bummer.  Ok, so here are some "before" pictures, so you can see what I was working with. 
This is the kitchen from the back door:

This is the view of the living room/breakfast nook taken from the front door:

And finally, a picture of our cook-top.  Two of the burners didn't work (which I only discovered after living here for 2 years):

Needless to say, everything had to go, from the floor to the ceiling lights.  Here is the end result:

Some habbits die hard.  Here is our oven:

Yes, I store new shoes in there for a period of 2-3 weks before incorporating them into my closet.  That way when my hubby asks if they are new, I can honestly say, "why no, honey.  I've had them for a few weeks." 
Today some photographers came to take pictures for a local magazine.  The company that worked on the kitchen and living room wanted to use our house as advertising for their store.  Apparently we have a show-kitchen!  How funny is that?  The article will be published in the February edition and I can't wait to see them.  Even our dog, Beignet, was included. 

BLOG CANDY

I am just thrilled to have so many Followers and NONE are relatives!!  Thank yall for being so supportive of my little blog!  I especially wanted to thank Maria Nestor for being the very first follower and just mailed her a small token of my appreciation.  Maria, be watching your mailbox!  I am thinking that if I can get 50 followers I'll have more Blog Candy to give out. 

I'll be working on Valentine projects today and hope to have some pictures to post tomorrow.  Have a great afternoon, yall.

GEAUX SAINTS!!

Chocolate Candy Bar

One thing you'll learn about me is that I have a huge sweet tooth, especially when it comes to chocolate!  I try to keep something chocolate around because I get cravings each afternoon.  Usually a few M&M's (sorted into different colors, of course) will do.  Sometimes, however, I need something a little more...substantive.  While at the grocery store last week, I was trying to fight off my craving but ended up buying a pack of the large Hershey chocolate bars.  Not the regular size ones, we're talking the BIG BOYS.  After scarfing down the first one, I thought it best to get the others out of the house and fast!  I made this cute little wrapper for my son.  The dog cut came from my very first cartridge, Paper Pups.  I still love this cartridge and use it quite a bit.  Some googley eyes and a black Stickled nose finishes him off.  I think he'll be popped up on an Action Wobble for the next wrapper so that he actually waves. 

Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the post office and I ate the chocolate the next afternoon.

More Valentines

This is a simple cupcake postcard that is perfect for a child's classroom swap.  On the back, I'll stamp  "To/From" and it's done.  Super easy!  The cupcake came from the Cricut cartridge American Alphabet that was pre-loaded on my E2 and was cut at 5 inches.  The papers are from K&Company and each page is cuter than the previous.  Usually I'm thrilled to be able to use 2-3 of the papers in a stack, but with this one I'll be able to use every page! 

I'm working on a Valentine class so will be posting more picture of the projects I'll be teaching.  There are a bunch of projects, so the girls will be very busy!!