Planning for the New Year...

Edited: I am back down to needing 7 more followers. I didn't know people un-followed you. Learn something new everyday.

Winners from Blog Hop coming very soon.

I added to my blog list one of my favorite blogs that is a non-paper designing content. It is about this lovely young lady who lives in St. Louis who is mega-talented designer, reinventor of anything vintage or otherwise. She just opened her new business called Red Velvet. Anyway you really need to visit and read about her journey.

Now why am I talking about her? I am glad you asked...She has presented a New Year's challenge, and I have taken her challenge. It is called PROJECT RESTYLE. Go to this URL and read all about it: abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/project-restyle.html

I hope you take the challenge and have fun with it too. We are trying to purge and downsize and not buy anything new to add to what we are getting rid of. The purpose of all we are doing is to get it out not bring it in. This is the ticket to get new without getting new.

Also, I am 7 followers from my Blog Candy giveaway.

Merry Christmas to all...

Just one more project until I take a little craft and blog break. I made 20 of these "Sour Cream" containers filled with candy for everyone where MIL lives. The paper was cut at 6"x6" so I could fit bigger wrapped candy inside. You can't have too much candy for Christmas.

I only need 6 more followers and I will choose 2 winners of my Blog candy.

Until next week...Merry Christmas to All.

Boo Hoo, Blog Over...but I have Blog Candy!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left comments and signed up to be a follower.

I am excited, so excited that when I hit 150 followers (7 more to go) I have a couple more of the Gingerbread mini-albums I want to give away. Yep, my first Blog candy. So tell your peeps to sign-up to be my peep and I will choose two peeps for my first giveaway.

Blog Hop Extended - Whoo Hoo

Just found out our Blog Hop has been extended to Sunday at mignight eastern.

Just check out my original Blog entry below, become a follower and leave a comment. Thanks for making this Blog Hop the best ever!

Welcome Blog Hoppers!!!

Before I share my Cricut creation let me introduce myself. My name is Terry and I live in Oregon with my DH and our Lab, Kilo and our sweet cat - Poodums. I currently teach Cricut classes at our LSS in town every month.

I joined The Lime Lighters last year and it has been an honor and fun to make and give back in some small way. Making cards to send to the troops in Iraq and Afghanastan probably was my favorite. Our cards enabled the troops to send to their loved ones cards of love and Best Wishes.

I started my blog a short time before I joined the team. I love computer and gadget anything, so combining blogging and sharing what I do with the Cricut and Design Studio has been fun.

Gingerbread House Mini Album Recipe:

Cartridges - Stretch Your Imagination, Christmas Noel, George

Design Studio

Paper - Paper Accents & DCWV

Embellishments - Michael's, Stickles, flocking (Stampin' Up)

This mini album and a few more I have made are part of the prizes we are giving out tonight!

Don't forget to sign-up to be a follower, leave a comment and you are entered to win.

Next, you are off to visit Peg - pegscraftingcorner.blogspot.com

Blog Hop Around with the Lime Light

As you can see by the title, the Lime Light Charitable Design Team (of which I am a card-carrying member) is having a blog hop this Friday at 8PM.  We want you to get to know us and what we do as a team, so we are having a blog hop so that you can visit the various team members' sites.  We also have a couple of the top Cricut bloggers on the net -- Everyday Cricut and Pink Cricut, that will be stops along the way.  The team came together a few years ago because of our love of Cricut, and we wanted to give you a couple of bonus's as these sites are top notch when it comes to Cricut creative inspiration. 
At 8 PM CST on Friday, we'll  be posting the instructions on how you get from blog to blog and what you need to do when you get to each blog (COME TO THE LIME LIGHT BLOG FIRST FOR INSTRUCTIONS).  All simple stuff.  Now, here's the fun part. We'll be giving away some very nifty prizes, including a grand prize stash worth over $150. And because I can't wait, I'm giving you a peek at the prizes. So sit down, take a look at the goodies, and then join us Friday at 8 CST for a fun time!

The Lime Light

We have new members! Go to Gracie -- http://everythingcricut.blogspot.com/ for the list of all our members.

Join all of us for our blog hop on Friday Dec. 17th at 8 PM Central. It's a chance to get to know the new members and we'll be giving away some very nice prizes.

New Favorite Card

I love making cards to send with a gift of some kind inside. Here's my new updated version of a card I did last year. Much better.

Recipe:

Cricut cartridges - Christmas Cheer & Winter Woodland

Paper - Paper Accents

Punch - Stampin Up Ticket Punch

Stickles - Gold

Stamps - Stampin Up & my own invention

Ribbon - Brown Organza from Ben Franklin

Other - Alpine Cider Mix from Dollar tree and metal tape

I got the idea for the packet of Apple Cider (and I make cards with Hot Cocoa mix) from The Pink Stamper last year.

Thanksgiving

How was your Thanksgiving Day? We had a very quiet, yet fun day. I made the traditional turkey and dressing and it was amazing. Can't wait for leftovers.

Tonight - Auction night. It has become a regular fixture in our home. We rarely bid, since we are trying hard to downsize, but it is fun to see what things go for and what is up for sale.

Today is My Birthday!!!

Oh, yeah! My day will definately turn into a week since we are going to celebrate together next Sunday at Seven Feathers Casino Resort with brunch. We will also do a little Ka-Ching too.

It was a wonderful birthday with brunch at a friend's house - totally spur of the moment and just wonderful food and company.

Tomorrow, since we are so full from brunch - I will have a birthday dinner of my choice - PIZZA! Nummmm.

My sister called and we talked for about a half hour and that was special too. So, Happy Birthday to me!

Technically my birthday is all of 6 minutes since I was born at 11:54 pm, that's why I stretch it into a week. LOL

Lime Light Design Team

The Lime Light Design Team is looking for a few talented and dedicated new members.

"We are a design team with a unique purpose. We use our crafting skills to help and bring light to others. We have done much for many these past two years including making cards and bookmarks for our men and women in uniform, making journals for families whose children are in the Ronald McDonald house, making cards for baskets that help raise money for playground equipment, making butterflies for the Houston Holocaust Museum children's exhibit....and that's just the beginning. We continually seek ways to bring light to those in need."...Gracie P.

Go on over to our website and find out more and how to apply.

limelightscrappers.blogspot.com

Snowman Treat Card

This has to be one of my all time favorite cards.

Cartridges: Doodlecharms (snowman, carrot nose, arms & shadow snowman), Paper Doll Dress-Up (hat), Joys of the Season (holly)

You can either use the Center Point feature or a 1 3/4" circle punch to cut the hole out for the Stampin' Up Treat Cup.

Punch the gold vellum (Paper Accents) oval with the Stampin' Up scallop oval punch.

Draw in the eyes, mouth and chalk the cheeks.

Fill with white jelly bellys (cupcake flavor) or tiny marshmallows. They sell little bags of these marshmellows at Oriental Trading. Great for Hot Chocolate.

"Frosty Kisses"

Here is my new improved "Frosty Kisses" Hot Chocolate card.

I used Joys of the Season cartridge for the card. The "Frosty Kisses" is from Winter Woodland cartridge.

"...need a cup of Hot Chocolate" i printed on the computer and used the Stampin' Up oval scalloped punch. The border punch is from Martha Stewart's line.

Actually, originally I didn't have a border on it, but I smeared the ink on a couple of snowflakes so I had to do something. I rather like the border.

The small snowflake stamps came from a set and the snowflake in the middle of the cup was a Martha Stewart punch/stamp set I bought last year on sale.

The ribbon I bought on sale at Ben Franklin a long time ago. Add a few Stickles (silver) and you have a card with a gift.

The saying I printed for the back I found in a book of quotes by DCWV I bought years ago. "Quote Reference Book 1 and Book 2".

Creativity

These are the two cards everyone will be making in my Alcohol Ink class next Wednesday at Roseburg Book and Stationery.

The "Merry Christmas" card uses metal tape found in any home improvement store. The "Poinsettia" card has been embellished with embossed transparency, alcohol inks and the Alcohol Ink pen, which by the way is my new favorite tool.

Everything old can be new again!

OK, I admit it. I love to read other people's blogs especially when they share wonderful ideas. Lately, all my favorite Cricut Blogs are nothing but filled with fun-filled ideas using the New Cricut Imagine and/or all the new Cricut cartridges.

Now here is the rub. I don't know about you all, but I can't afford the Cricut Imagine (though I secretly lust for it all the time) and with all the new cartridges coming out constantly I really can't afford but a few cartridges a year.

I am sure there are a lot of peeps out there with the same conundrum as me. I wish my blog was so popular I received cartridges and machines for free, maybe someday I will find more time to become popular, but I want to see more done with oldie moldie cartridges which I think are pretty cool.

So you are probably asking, "What are you going to do about it?" Well I am teaching more classes and I pledge - Yes, a pledge to America - I will use all my 34 old and semi-new cartridges to move the creativity of the USA Cricuteers...and you all outside this little world of mine.

Let the creating begin!

Happy World Cardmaking Day

Here is my latest favorite card. I used the Versamark transfer technique with Alcohol Inks.

• Alcohol Inks - Black, Sunset Orange, Lemonade
• Stamp - Pumpkins (Unknown), Trick or Treat - Stampin' Up
• Cardstock - Black - Paper Accents
• Vellum - Orange - Paper Accents
• Inks - Versamark, Black Staz On
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Punch - Scallop Oval - Stampin' Up
  

The Butterfly Project...Revisited

The Lime Light group's ongoing project is making butterflies for The Butterfly Project. If you have never heard of it you can go to:
http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml

I made the two butterflies above using wire and beads. Now, I have a ton of beads and everything anyone could need to make project after project, but this is the first time I made something like this. I must say I really like the way they turned out and plan on doing some more.

I encourage anyone and everyone to get involved with the project and make some butterflies so the Holcaust Museum can meet their goal of 1,500,000 butterflies by 2013.
If you are a teacher, great project for the kids and they have lesson plans you can use in class.

Look what I got...

I decided to treat myself to something amazing...

It holds my Cricut cartridges & books & keypads. I have 34 cartridges and it holds 36 so I need to buy two more to fill it. LOL

It is so amazing. Go to www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com and check it out.

Getting Closer...

This is the project we are completing in my September Cricut class. This is a non-Cricut month and I will have all the templates you need. I found the box on one of the blogs I follow and I wish I could remember which one so I could give them credit. We will be using some of the new EK Success punches introduced at CHA this Summer. The paper is Dream Street.

The photos I used inside the box were from the first Camp Planet Hope I went to and took tons of photos. As soon as the class is over I will send it to Kelly.

Next week we are putting the house up for sale and the quest begins. Our Craft Sale last week was amazing and now I am figuring out what will happen with the rest. Some to auction, some to donations, some to Craig's list and some to EBay.

I am planning another sale at the end of September for the rest of my craft room I really have decided not to pack & take with us on the road. Unfortunately a 29 ft. 5th wheel has very limited space. :-(

A week later...

Since last Friday I have taught 4 - 2 hour classes, and an all day class. next month I have scheduled the same amount of classes. So fun!

Here are some photos of the class projects we have completed this month in the Alcohol Ink Techniques class. No one guessed the technique, heck no one commented, heck I don't know if anyone is even reading this blog, but let's pretend there are tons of people out there reading my musings.

The technique: canned air & Alcohol Ink. This was a Tim Holtz video "How To". Love it. One thing that is cool, it really doesn't pop or look good until you add the stamped images or in the case of my cards & tag, the Cricut cuts.

I am trying to find cuts that mimic stamping with Staz-On. The new Oct. 31 Seasonal cartridge is my new favorite. The cuts are intricate and do look like I stamped them rather than cut them. I also love the intricate cuts in Home Decor. The cuts in my "Forever" card are from that cartridge.

Next month I am calling my Alcohol Ink Technique classes - "Uncovering a Masterpiece". I have so many ideas going through my head, so I know I will be completing the samples real soon. Stay tuned all you tons of peeps out there voraciously reading my blog. I know you get a little disappointed when you log on and it has been eons since I last posted, but isn't it worth it when I do blog away? LOL Blog you soon...

Happy Friday the 13th...

Here is a cute Halloween card we will be making in my Saturday Alcohol Ink Technique class.

Can you guess the technique?

Getting Back to Normal...

• ...or whatever that is! It has been a looooooooong 10 days, but I survived another Douglas County Fair. This year I was again in charge of the Crafts in the Exhibit Building and Floral Building. We were down about 50 entries in Crafts but up about 100 entries in the Floral.
  
• I decided this is my last year. I love the fair but working it stopped being fun. I love my boss and she is incredible, but I am brunt out and ready to just enjoy Summer without this interruption. I can now enter stuff in crafts so I will start making things for next year.
• My DH entered in Land Products form the garden. He just went out the day of entry and picked and picked and won 8 first place, 4 second place and 3 third place ribbons. He also won 1 first, 2 seconds and 1 third in the scrapbook division. He beat out some mighty fine, talented ladies in this area. He also entered our pickles, Apple Butter, Apple Pie filling, Tuna, etc and won quite a few 1st, 2nd & 3rd place ribbons too. He got a special award for his bread & butter pickles. BTW, he earned $77 from his winning all those ribbons. We are celebrating by going to Seven feathers Seafood Buffet this week!!!
• Now I am getting ready to teach my Cricut classes (3) and Technique classes (2) this month.
  

Here's a peak at the Cricut class.

I am showing everyone how to emboss with the Cricut and use the Cricut pens. Above is a photo of my sample board.


Capadia's blog had a really cute Christmas card using an embossing folder that is sold out everywhere I checked. I did find a similar tree on my Christmas cartridge. We will complete that card in class. As soon as I make the sample this week I will post it. It is so cute.

Moving Sale

OK, who's idea was it to have a Moving Sale this weekend? Oh yeah, Me. Friday it was steady, Saturday, not so much, but we did sell enough to pay for the new floors in the living and dining rooms and hallway so I guess it was OK. LOL

That's Kilo in the middle of the photo. He wanted everyone who came to the sale to play ball with him. Most did. He had a great time too.

Funny thing, everything I didn't want to sell sold. See that canopy in the background - SOLD! DH also sold lawn furniture we could use when we have people over to BBQ. I have begged him not to sell too much or we won't have anything to sit on until the house sells. We have two more weeks to spruce it up and then it is on the market. Whoo Hoo. Keep you fingers crossed. Want to buy a house?

80 to 100...degrees that is!

We wanted it and it is finally here. What is it? Hot weather. At least I am not working at the fair this year. It was torture last year working in the Exhibit building without air conditioning in 100+ heat. Yikes!



We are packing and purging...the 2P's. We decided to put the house up for sale and sell everything we can not get in a 10' x 10' storage shed and a 30 ft. 5th wheel. Do you know how cathartic and yet releasing it is? Should have done it years ago.



Anyway I am having a huge , I mean HUGE Craft sale in August. If you want to get on my email list for dates and some of what I am selling just leave you email in the comment section.

Back to painting, purging and packing...Now we are the 3 Ps'.

Summer is finally here...I think!

I bought this for $1 at Michael's and really like it, but it was small.














My version. I created this using the Design Studio, George, Home Accents along with paper from Dream Street and Grungepaper. It will fit cards and envelopes(A2) and would be great for gift giving.











Here they are side by side. Both are 6" wide, but you can see the differences. The Grungepaper is so flexible and easy to shape. I added magnets to keep the lid shut.








This project is my Cricut class at Roseburg Book and Stationery in July. You can sign-up for the class at the store. This month you do not need to have a Cricut to do the class. I decided to have a non-Cricut cutting class every other month. You still will learn what you can cut with your Cricut for the project, but I will have all the parts cut for everyone.

The Butterfly Project

The Lime Light group's project for June and July is making butterflies for The Butterfly Project. If you have never heard of it you can go to:

http://www.hmh.org/ed_butterfly1.shtml

I went outside my comfort zone and made the two butterflies above using wire and beads. Now, I have a ton of beads and everything anyone could need to make project after project, but this is the first time I made something like this. I must say I really like the way they turned out and plan on doing some more.

I encourage anyone and everyone to get involved with the project and make some butterflies so the Holcaust Museum can meet their goal of 1,500,000 butterflies by 2013.

If you are a teacher, great project for the kids and they have lesson plans you can use in class.

Alcohol Inks

I added new classes and have been working on samples and I am pleased as punch how they turned out.

New Class

I have added new classes for June at Roseburg Book and Stationery in Roseburg. It is an ongoing class and every month you will learn two new techniques and make samples to put in your Technique book along with two cards using those same techniques.

Thanks to Krista who is my Stampin' Up demonstrator and who I take classes from every month, for this idea. She teaches us two techniques every month and I am on my second Technique book with her. Check out her blog. There is a link on the right hand side of my blog and if you can, sign-up for one of her classes. They are amazing!!! Why do you think I teach classes? To go to her classes, of course!

The first set of techniques I am teaching is using Alcohol inks. Love them! For the next five months I will be teaching 10 techniques plus the first class everyone will make the books. You can email me to add your name to the list or sign-up at Roseburg Book and Stationery in Roseburg.

Scrapbook Fun Fest

I think I am finally catching up. Last Saturday's event at Seven feathers Casino Resort was beyond all of our expectations. I haven't finished working the numbers yet, but this was definitely our biggest show yet. We were a little leery about numbers on the Memorial Day weekend, but in the end we all believe it probably worked to our benefit.

Here are a few pictures from the day.





Most of the photos I took came out blurry, but I hope you can get the idea. On the whole, looking at our comment cards, most everyone was pleased and had a great time. There were quite a few that stayed until the end.

Seven Feather's staff was amazing. Anything anyone needed or if there was something that had to be fixed they were right on it. The food was not only good but very reasonably priced.

Back to unpacking and organizing to start my next big project. I will have more on it, but for now I will tell you it has to do with making butterflies for an incredible project.

I know, I know...

It has been a long time in between postings, but honestly, I have been very busy.

I can't believe it is less than two weeks before Scrapbook Fun Fest and so much to do. I have always left things untill the end because I work so well under pressure. Guess what? Pressure time.

I do want to share a layout I just completed and sent off. More about it later.

Back to PRESSURE!!!!!!!

National Scrapbook Day and Me...

I had a great National Scapbook Day at Roseburg Book and Stationery. I was with a wonderful group of women teaching them Tim Holtz's Grungepaper Roses. If you haven't seen these roses, go to his blog and look under the "12 Tags of Christmas" - 2009. The 12th day he constructed the roses for a tag. They are gorgeous! All the ladies roses looked so different, yet all were amazingly beautiful!

As soon as I add the photos to the canvas I made in another class (this time I was the student) at Roseburg Book and Stationery, I will post a photo.

Creating Again...

My mojo is back and I am up and creating again. It has been a busy month. We spent two weeks purging and getting ready for the All County Yard Sale at the fairgrounds. We did amazing! We found and bought a travel trailer so we are gradually putting in shape and we are selling the tent trailer and that has to be emptied and cleaned. Whew! ... AND I have finished creating May's Cricut Class.

What are you doing in May's Cricut class? I am glad you asked...I am calling it "How to Design Your Own." I love using the Design Studio to make my own templates for projects I teach. Not everyone has the Design Studio, but you can make your own by cutting out different shapes and then taping them together to make a template to use. Using cheap cardstock, the class will make a couple of templates to make unusual cards.

The card at the top of the post is made from scraps of paper left over from the projects we will be doing.

My Annie

Last night my Annie died. She was with us for over 17 years and up until yesterday was healthy. It was quick & we were able to say good bye and hold her one last time.

She was her Daddy's girl and my Love Bug. She will be missed so much.

Good bye Sweet Annie Girl.

April 1st is only April 1st...

I have always disliked "April Fool's Day". Why? I have no idea. Maybe it is because a lot of April Fool jokes are not very nice. So call me a stick in the mud but I would rather not participate.

Anyway...I have been creating more samples for my Chipboard class I want to share...and that's no joke!

I used the Mini Monogram Cricut cartridge to make this mini-album out of chipboard. It actually is a tag, but I used it for an album. I cut the pages the same as the covers, however, I cut off one end. The "T" is cut from the same cartridge out of chipboard and then I embossed it with white embossing powder. The blue border the letter is setting on was also the tag cut from blue. I cut it down and glued it across the front & another for the back.

My St. Patrick's Day Project

I really wish you can see the colors...but believe me there is green on the lid & roses and it is pure coincidence that I did this Mother's Day project for a class in May with green and black paper on St. Patrick's Day.

I am so loving to make these Grunge Paper Roses. I colored these roses with 2 different green re-inkers and Perfect Pearls and water mixed in a Ranger mini mister with a touch of copper again. I tipped the rose & box edges with black ink.

The roses are made from 3 - 6 petal flowers. Using the Cricut's Design Studio I welded 2 - 6 petal flowers from the Plantin' Schoolhouse cartridge to make each petal wide enough. I am able to cut 25 flowers on one sheet of 12"x12"Grunge Paper. They are cutting out like "butter" with the Cricut.

I will be teaching this class May 1 at Roseburg Book and Stationery at 10 am. I only doing this class once. You can choose either a rectangle (approx. 3" x 3 1/2") or square (approx. 3"x3") box.

New Project

Edited: I saw that DCRU was having a challenge this week using paper flowers. So I thought why not show off this Tim Holtz designed Grunge paper rose I actually can do. his directions were great. Check them out at his website. Go to the 12 Tags of Christmas - 2009. The directions are featured on the 12th day.

I have been in creative mood this week.

The project on the left is a sample I did for Roseburg Book and Staiotnery. The tag on the right is my Make and Take I will be doing at Scrapbook Fun Fest in May.

Last December Tim Holtz did the 12 Tags of Christmas and Day 12 was with Grunge Paper Roses. Well, I have had this Grunge Paper for forever and when I saw these roses I loved them. So I finally got around to making them and I love the way they turned out. I wish the photos could really show the colors better, but they all have a copper sheen.

In like a Lion...

Even though we have had a lot of rain, everything is blooming big time. My header photo is from our garden. DH is taking before and after photos this year of our garden for the Garden Journal I made for him.

The photo is of a workshop submission I made. However, I wasn't picked to do the workshop, but that's OK, I tweaked it for my class offering at Scrapbook Fun Fest in May. All the different embellishments were found at Lowe's. Yep, I love walking through stores for inspiration & believe it or not home improvement stores are great.

Wait until you see the ATC cards I am creating for the Lime Light this month! Loving them!

Lots going on this month...painting the entire inside of the house, classes to teach, classes to take and most important of all...our 25th Wedding Anniversary. It has been an incredible 25 years and I can't wait to see what the next 25 years brings.

DH is making me a mocha as we speak. How lucky am I!

Planning Ahead

A lot has happened in one week. We were going to sell our Cricut-made products in a new store opening up in town, but the deal breaker for us was the class opportunities. We were going to be charged $25 to teach one class and in this economy and knowing how much people are willing to pay for classes it just wasn't realistic. I'm sure it will be a great store, but teaching classes while selling our products was the draw. Oh well, I still have a place I really love to teach at so I really am OK. Here are some samples of what my next Cricut classes in March will feature:

The Disney Tink and wand were part of a swap I was in and I did the little girl & owl. I wanted to show examples of layering with the cartridges. Classes are Tuesday, Mar. 16 & Sat., Mar. 20 both at 10 am for $6. You can sign-up at Roseburg Book and Stationery.

Speaking of classes I finished the class sample for Scrapbook Fun Fest. I am calling it "Suitable for Framing" .

Rod is making frames for everyone who takes the class. It is included in the price of the class. The finished project measures 8" x 8". Cost is $15. All our classes for Scrapbook Fun Fest will be on the website for tickets sales the first week in March.

I Bad

I can't believe it has been so long since my last blog. I think we have been sympathizing with everyone who has been snowbound and snowbound ourselves without the snow. LOL

I did make a few things for Valentine's Day for Rod's Mom and her friends she eats with...filled with CANDY!

Since only his Mom and another lady showed up for lunch they got two boxes full of candy each. They definitely did not complain.

I also have been teaching Cricut Basic 101 classes and taking more of Krista's great classes.

We are getting things ready to move our handmade products into a new "craft boutique" which is opening in town. There will be a little bit of everything. Better than a craft mall, just short of a gallery. We start moving things in this weekend. It will be nice to have our creations out there year-round for purchasing instead of bringing it only out for shows.

I think I am going to add gift boxes and bags to my line for the new store. I had so much fun making the candy boxes for Valentine's Day. Quick & simple!

New Cricut Class

I have scheduled a new class at Roseburg Book and Stationery on Thursday, Feb. 11, 10 am - $8 and Saturday, Feb. 13, 10 am - $8. The project orientated class is "How to Cut Chipboard"

The finished project measures 5 1/2" and includes everything you need to make one shape book, either one of the samples or one of your choice.

Sneak Peek

I have been a busy little Cricuteer. I have taught 2 Cricut Basics 101 classes and they were amazing women! I love it when I teach them something about their machines that they didn't have a clue it could do and they get soooooooooooo excited!

Besides teaching classes, I have been creating a submission. I don't want to say what it is for yet but I will give you a sneak peek:

Seriously, this is probably one of my favorite creations I have made in a long time. Keep your fingers crossed and I will reveal all in a couple of weeks.

Sticking to it...So far!

Remember when I hinted about a Wii? Well I don't know if I mentioned it, but, I did get a Wii for my birthday. YEAH!

Next, I hinted for a Wii Fit for Christmas. Hinting worked. Wii Fit is mine, however it took me about 2 weeks to take it out of the box.

So Rod and I are Wii fitting it. It does a Body test and really accurately weighs you and gives you your BMI and your fitness age.

There is no way I will post any of that info now, but needless to say it was a wake-up call for me and Rod.

It is so hard to diet and exercise alone at least for me, but Rod is committed and now we are going down the Fitness trail.

I had a little set back this week but quickly got back on when Rod weighed in and was shocked to the point he is on the "let's eat healthier" mantra with me. YEAH!

I have NEVER been a exercise person...EVER! This Wii Fit eases you in to it and I am actually liking it. Who knew.

Now on to creative things...

DCRU Challenge 21 - Leftovers

I not only had paper leftover from
Christmas, but there were a few tags leftover too.

A friend of mine is living in Florida.
They are having some unseasonably COLD weather. What better way to make her warm a little bit? Hot chocolate will hit the spot.



On the back of the tag I wrote with a silver pen:


"It may be cold outside, but here is something to keep you warm."

RECIPE:

• Metallic paper - Hot Off the Press
• Ranger Stickles - Silver
• Versamark
• Snowflake punch - Marth Stewart
• Vellum - snowflake on cup
• Snowflake stamps - unknown
• Cardstock - Paper Accents
• Ribbon - white with silver snowflakes - Michael's
• Cricut Cartridge - Joys of the Season, Merry Tags, George and Basic Shapes
• Design Studio

DT Entry - Challenge 20 Color Inspiration

This card was so much fun to make. The challenge was to make a project using the colors from the Die Cuts R Us Banner.

THE RECIPE:

• DCWV Spring paper & card,


• SU "Flight of the Butterfly


• SU Rose Red stamp pad


• Ranger Seafoam White embossing powder


• rhinestones from Studio 18


• sentiment from Studio G


• Swiss Dot embossing Cuttlebug folder.

Happy New Year

I hope each and every one of you had a joyous Christmas and Happy New Year. Ours was peaceful and drama free.

I have found a new stamp line I am loving. Here is a couple of examples of what you can do with Michael Strong's Cloisonne stamps. I went to Michael Strong's web page and he has more of these types of stamps. Not only are they versatile, the stamps are very reasonably priced! Can't wait to get them and play.These two images are actually two of the cards I am making for the Lime Light's task this month. We all are making our cards for the Teen Drop-in Center at Casa de Belen to sell.

This is the same stamp, but by cutting and arranging you get a different look. The lamp isn't the only look you can get by cutting different shapes out of the stamped image on the left. See how many shapes you can find to make if you cut up the vase on the left.