TPV's Birthday Challenge! (and Birthday Sundaes!)

This week at The Paper Variety, we're celebrating someone's birthday! :)

Who's??

Mine!

lol :)

Friday is my birthday and I'll be the big 3-9! Woot!

At TPV, we're celebrating with a challenge fit for the occasion :)

I created this shaped card using my new Live Simply cricut cart. 

I love this lite-cart, all the images are soo cute!

I used my Paper Studio woodgrain embossing folder for the trunk, Echo Park Dots & Stripes for the top of the tree and the banner flags, and my Paper Smooches stamps for the fun sentiment. I just had to add googly eyes to that cute owl, too!

I also followed this inspiration photo challenge at Birthday Sundaes.

Such a sweet photo, but I don't own many cupcake themed supplies. So instead I chose to pull inspiration from the flags and all the colors that I could see in the photo.. brown, green, blue, yellow, orange, pink and white! Whew! :)

I hope you join our special challenge at TPV by entering your birthday banner project! You could be the random winner of 2 My Mind's Eye boy and girl "Hip Hooray" collections! :)

Also!

I have to tell you!! :)

Next week, beginning Sept 7th, is 

The Paper Variety's 

one year anniversary celebration!!

 We're kicking off the party with a blog hop, lots of inspiration 

and blog candy!

FIVE daily challenges with FIVE awesome prizes!

And a Facebook giveaway, too!

PLUS we're giving away a $20 gift card just for helping us promote!

Isn't it fabulous!?!?!

You don't want to miss this! Seriously! 

See here for all the details on how to make that gift card yours!

You have until Tuesday noon to link up your birthday banner project. 

Hope to see you join us! :)

Thanks for visiting me!

Abby :)

Card Challenges - Get Well

So my Artful Delight fellow DT member, Courtney, makes gorgeous shaped cards with her cricut. They really are spectacular, you should give her blog a visit. I've always wanted to make shaped cards like she does but I don't have many card cuts on my cricut carts and the ones I do have I'm not a big fan of. So I pretty much thought I was out of luck unless I wanted to go spend a fortune on new carts.

Well.. then all of the sudden I had a

DUH moment!!

I realized that I can pretty much make mostly any cut that has a heavy top or side into a card. All I have to do is just adhere another shadow cut to the back of the first one.

 DUH Abby!!

How many of you already know to do this???

And why didn't you tell me??? lol

Sooooo.. I took my new discovery (that practically everyone probably already knows about) and made this super sweet snail card with my new Live Simply cart. :) I also used my Paper Smooches stamps for the sentiment.

I entered this card into four challenges.
Fantabulous Cricut - Splash of Color, Yellow.
My Craft Spot -"Sew Much Fun"
One Stop Craft Challenge - Anything but Square
You had me @ craft - Made it Myself Link Up Party

In the morning, I'll share another shaped card I created using this same technique for the upcoming challenge at The Paper Variety.

Thank you for inspiring me, Court!! :)

Have a great Wednesday!

Abby

Family - Artful Delight

Just a quick post today.. I'm sharing my latest layout using the Artful Delight August kit :) I think there is one or two left, so if you were thinking about having this beautiful kit for yourself, hurry! And right now, Leeanne is hosting a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE sale! See here for all the details! :)

My layout uses the Authentique portion of the kit - I love these colors and paper patterns, so pretty!

This is my sister and my son back in 1999 shortly after he was born. The picture was taken with a 35mm camera, so it's not the best quality - but I truly love this photo. I love the look on my sister's face while holding him, it's so precious.

All of the flowers were fussy cut from coordinating paper and the bird and cage were cut from my Serenade Cricut cart. Alot of dimension and doodling on this page, too :)

I'm off to get my son up and ready for his first full day of 6th grade. Sixth grade, already? Yikes! He's growing too fast!

Have a great Monday! :)

Abby

Fowl-La-la-la-la...

There's a new challenge up at The Paper Variety! It's a pretty simple one so I hope to see many of you join us! :)

For my project, I created a fun holiday card using my Hoot-n-Holler cricut cart. I love how these bright colors pop from the dark woodgrain embossed background. I used pink floss to hand stitch a frame :)

The random challenge winner will receive a super sweet prize! This Cosmo Cricket package comes with 3 Mini Decks, Ready-Set-Chip and buttons!

Paper projects are due by noon Tuesday so you have lots of time to create! We'd love to see your project! :)

See here for all the details and to check out all the great DT examples, too!

Happy Wednesday!

Abby

Card Challenges

Last night I was feelin crafty and decided to join some more card challenges. :) I was blog browsing this past weekend and followed some links to find some new challenge blogs, they all look really great and I'm planning to become a frequent participant - yay! :)

The first one is for Card and a Half. :) They presented this cute sketch..

And here's my interpretation. The challenge is sponsored by Imaginisce and that inspired me to use Imaginisce Berry Sweet :) I also used my Paper Smooches stamps for the sentiment....

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Next up is a card for The Play Date Cafe. They have color challenges every week. Fun Fun!! :)

Here is what I came up with. Just some solid cardstock and I used my new stamps from My Favorite Things stamps :) Love this color combo!!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

And finally a card for Woodware USA clear stamps. I don't have any of their stamps (yet!) but thankfully use of their product isn't required to enter their challenges. I did some searching through past challenges and their prompts are really fun! This week they have a sketch to follow...

Pretty, huh? :) I thought the snowflake was so pretty so I didn't want to over-embellish the card. I used my cricut for the snowflake and the sentiment is from my new set "Winter Wishes" from Scrappy Moms clear stamps :) Love that sentiment!!

There is still time to enter all of these challenges :) Give them a try!

Thanks for visiting!

Abby

River Thames - Artful Delight

Last year, my sister and her boyfriend went to London and Paris for a romantic getaway. I've never traveled internationally - but my sister has been everywhere! She actually lived in Greece, Ireland and UK for a few years.. and has visited several countries inbetween. I'm just in awe of all her traveling adventures and experiences and she's only 32 y/o! She's accomplished so much in the past 15 years, I'm so proud of her. It's so great that her boyfriend loves to travel as much as she does - AND that he loves to take lots of pictures!! I never have to worry about not having photos of Sarah & Matt! :)

 I used the Artful Delight August kit, full of beautiful Authentique and Glitz papers and embellies! I took a leap and made my own scrunchy flower - I don't think I've ever made one before, it was nice to try something new (to me) :)

Click here to read what this kit includes, it's loaded! And also, this month kicks off a new smaller monthly card kit option for cardmakers. Woot! Click here to purchase yours. :)

Thanks for visiting!

Abby

Card Challenges

I decided to enter a couple challenges and created these two CAS cards.

The first is for the Fantabulous Cricut challenge, add a bug :) I picked out this Mr Wormy that Suz gifted me. It's cut from Create-a-Critter, so adorable! I clear embossed some apples on the red cardstock and the sentiment stamp is from Paper Smooches.

Next is the card sketch challenge at Bo Bunny.

It's a pretty simple sketch so I gave it a go :) I used Bo Bunny's "Sun Kissed" collection to make this colorful birthday card following the sketch. I paper pieced the prezzie using Sun Kissed paper and faux stitched with white gel pen :)

There's still plenty of time to join each challenge. Give it a try! :)

Thanks for visiting!

Abby

New Artful Delight August Kit! & A giveaway! :)

If you've visited Artful Delight the last couple days, you might have seen the reveal of the new August kit. It's a beauty! Take a look..

This kit includes:
Glitz - Vintage Blue collection 12x12 sheets (1 each)
Rose, Stripe, Toile, Polka, Motif, Floral 

Glitz - Dance in Sunshine collection 12x12 sheets (1 each) 

Floral, Stripe, Damask 

Authentique - Journey collection 12x12 sheets (1 each) 

Jaunt, Promenade, Voyage

Authentique - Blissful collection 12x12 sheets (1 each) 

Felicity, Euphoria, Happiness 

Coordinating Bazzill Cardstock 12x12 sheets (1 each) 

Sunflower Medium (Prismatic), Caribbean Breeze (Smoothie)
Blackberry Swirl (Smoothie), Walnut Cream (Smoothie) 

Misc paper 

2 sheets Vintage Dictionary pages from Kraft Outlet 

Embellishments - size and color my vary per kit 

1 package - Jenni Bowlin - Embellished Butterflies in Black
1 package - EK Success Studio 112 - Black Swirls Glitter Chipboard
1 bottle Stickles - Silver
1 sheet - Authentique - Blissful collection - Tabloids - Element Stickers
1 sheet - Authentique - Blissful collection - Petite Type Square Alphas
1 sheet - Authentique - Journey collection - Petite Type Square Alphas
3 - Tim Holtz - Idea-Ology Journaling Tickets
3 - Tim Holtz - Idea-Ology - Classics Buttons
12 - Jenni Bowlin - Banner Chipboard shapes
2 - Jenni Bowlin - Pewter Stick Pins
3 - Petaloo - Mixed Blooms (blue/green) Flowers
1 yard black seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard yellow seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard aqua seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon

 And beginning this month, 

Artful Delight is now offering a monthly card kit, too!

I know all of you cardmakers will LOVE that! :)

It includes:

Glitz - Vintage Blue collection 6x6 sheets (2 each) 

Stripe, Toile, Polka, Motif, Floral 

Glitz - Dance in Sunshine collection 12x12 sheets (2 each) 

Stripe, Damask 

Authentique - Journey collection 12x12 sheets (2 each) 

Jaunt, Promenade, Voyage 

Authentique - Blissful collection 12x12 sheets (2 each) 

Felicity, Euphoria, Happiness 

Coordinating Bazzill Cardstock 8 1/2x11 sheets (3 each) 

Sunflower Medium (Prismatic), Caribbean Breeze (Smoothie)
Blackberry Swirl (Smoothie), Walnut Cream (Smoothie) 

Misc paper 

2 sheets Vintage Dictionary pages from Kraft Outlet 

Embellishments - size and color my vary per kit
1 Inkadinkado Stamp Set - Garden Gate
1 package - Helmar - Zap Dots - 1/4" square adhesive
2 - Jenni Bowlin - Embellished Butterflies in Black
2 - EK Success Studio 112 - Black Swirls Glitter Chipboard
1 bottle Stickles - Silver
1 sheet - Authentique - Blissful collection - Tabloids - Element Stickers
1 sheet - Authentique - Blissful collection - Petite Type Square Alphas
1 sheet - Authentique - Journey collection - Petite Type Square Alphas
3 - Tim Holtz - Idea-Ology Journaling Tickets
2 - Tim Holtz - Idea-Ology - Classics Buttons
6 - Jenni Bowlin - Banner Chipboard shapes
2 - Jenni Bowlin - Pewter Stick Pins
2 - Petaloo - Mixed Blooms (blue/green) Flowers
1 yard black seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard yellow seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard aqua seam binding - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard dark grey satin ribbon - Reasonable Ribbon
1 yard navy grosgrain ribbon - Reasonable Ribbon

Both kits are selling fast, so if you're wanting to bring one of these home for yourself, be sure to visit Artful Delight soon to purchase yours!

Also, right now - Leeanne is giving away an Artful Delight June kit! All you have to do is follow the Artful Delight blog and leave a comment. That's all.. So easy! Click here to enter! Hurry - this giveaway ends Sunday night!!

I used my August kit to create this layout of my sister on her prom night 10 years ago..

My sister Jessica has been a tomboy since day one. As a kid, she always played in the dirt, climbed trees, collected bugs, hair always in a ponytail, played basketball. On her senior prom night, she showed up at my house with the most gorgeous and elegant dress, hair swept up and it was the first time I ever saw her wearing makeup. She looked stunning! I cried, of course lol.

I think her wedding day was the only other time I saw her wear a dress again. Now at 28 yrs old, she still wears that ponytail everyday and no makeup. It's definitely a rare sight to see her all prettied up. But that's okay, I have pictures to prove she can be elegant and gorgeous, too :)

I used this month's Artful Delight sketch for my layout. It's a great sketch, very versatile! Join this month's sketch challenge and you can be the winner of the Artful Delight September kit! See here for details and to link up! :)

Thanks for visiting!

Abby

My Dream List

It's been almost a couple weeks since the summer CHA ended. I think most of us have spent hours and hours online drooling over all the new collections. I really think this summer was the best CHA release ever. In the past I could count on one hand the number of collections I just had to have! This time, I don't have enough fingers and toes to keep track!

Here are many of my favorites...

Halloween theme

Echo Park - Apothecary Emporium

We R Memory Keepers - Spookville

Autumn theme

We R Memory Keepers - Autumn Splendor

Bella Blvd. - Finally Fall

American Crafts - Night Fall

Christmas theme

Echo Park - Seasons Greetings

Bo Bunny - Blitzen

Simple Stories - 25 Days of Christmas

American Crafts - Holly Day

Echo Park - Holly Jolly Christmas

I was so excited to see that Echo Park now carries stamps! Woot!!

Misc themes

Imaginisce - Geek is Chic

3 Bugs in a Rug - Under the Sea

Crate Paper - Farmhouse

Echo Park - Happy Days

Imaginisce - Bon Voyage

Simple Stories - Happy Day

Well there are 16 collections I've been dreaming about... gorgeous, aren't they? There are at least 10 more that I could add here but I just don't have the time to run all over the net for images. I love the new Jillibean Soup and My Little Shoebox and My Mind's Eye and DCWV and Cosmo Cricket and Fancy Pants and Nikki Sivils and Little Yellow Bicycle and and and....I could go on and on. I was kinda disappointed with Basic Grey this time around. Usually I love most of their releases, but this time I'm not too fond of them.

Obviously, even though I LOVE all these new lines, I won't be buying them all. I'm a school district substitute for Pete's sake lol. But I think I could manage to get a few of them. Maybe I could allow myself one collection each month until Christmas and they would be my Christmas gift to myself? LOL Always looking for a reasonable excuse to go scrappy shopping. LOL

Do you have any favorites?

Sure you do!

Share them with me? :)

Abby

Let's do Circles!

The challenge this week at The Paper Variety is all about circles! 

Lots of them! :)

 I decided to get ahead and I created this birthday card for my nephew who will turn 3 next spring! lol Normally, I would've waited till the last minute to create his card, but I just LOVE this cute lil turtle cardstock sticker from Pebbles "Lil Buddy" collection, I couldn't wait to use it! :)

I cut my circles from my Echo Park "Dots & Stripes" pad, the colors matched perfectly! The sentiment is from a stamp set by Paper Smooches, love that font!! I think this turned out so cute :)

The circle challenge is so simple, I hope everyone joins! 

But if simplicity isn't enough to motivate you, check out our sponsor!!

Scrapbook Circle

is awarding the random challenge winner with a

$30 gift certificate!

How awesome is that!!??

Hope to see your circles project at The Paper Variety!

Have a great Wednesday! :)

Abby