A Couple Cards

A couple more cards I've found that hadn't yet made it to their happy home on my blog :)

Funny how I always remember to take pictures, and never remember to put them on here!

Card for friends' wedding:

Card to welcome new coworker:

(Inside reads: "That you're joining our team")



Glass Blocks & Sign

These were my first real attempts at home decor items, and I have to tell you... I'm hooked!! 

For the sign, I started out by using a gray acrylic paint... then I used a crackle compound, and painted over it with the dark blue to it cracked and showed the gray through. 

Then, I used my Cricut and Make the Cut to cut stencils for the words.  I cut two seperate stencils.  I painted on the word "Friends" first, and after it dried, I applied the stencil for "Welcome," and painted it in. 

When the paint was dry I used a clear acrylic spray to seal it.

I've got to tell you, I am LOVING these blocks!  I started by masking off a square on the front of the block.  Then, I used Armour Etch to etch the inside of the square -- I left the etching cream on for about 15 minutes to give it a nice etch.  I cut the designs out of Vinyl on my Cricut, and used transfer tape to apply them to the front of the block.  I used my handy dandy Bowdabra (love that thing!) to make the bows, stuffed in a string of lights, and VOILA! Instant handmade Christmas gifts! LOVE IT! :)

Happy crafting, ya'll!

It's like Christmas, in a blog post!

All of the projects that should have been posted ages ago... but weren't.

I think it goes without saying that I am REALLY BAD at posting regularily on a blog... but I'm giving it another chance.  And since I haven't posted in, well, almost forever, I have a TON of projects to post today... so without further delay...

Layouts:

 

Cards:

Crop Chocolate Online Crop

Hi Everyone!! It's been a long time since I've posted anything, I have lots of projects that need to be added!  But, first things first... and the FIRST thing, is something I'm super duper excited about!

Cropchocolate.com is hosting a 48 hour online crop THIS WEEKEND!!!  There will be some awesome prizes, including a CRUISE!

Click here to learn more, or click here to visit the contest page and get going!  Let's all get out there and make some awesome projects -- it IS almost Christmas (have YOU started your cards and homemade gifts yet?  I've started the gifts, but not the cards... oops!)

Leave me a comment and let me know what you're doing for your homemade Christmas/Holiday items and gifts this year! I'm making wood/vinyl signs, glass blocks with vinyl designs, and etched glass candy jars... so far :) I'm sure more will be added to the list.

4th of July Card

This is the first of my 4th of July Cards... yes, I am a little behind this year :)  The card is 5x5 square.  I used papers, buttons and ribbon from Hobby Lobby.  The stamp is by Stampabilities.  I stamped the image a second time on the glitter paper, cut out the heart, and pop dotted it for some dimension.  The stars on the front are cut from George and Basic Shapes (check that off the cartridge exploration challenge list!) at 2 1/4, 2 1/2, and 2 1/2 shadow and pop dotted.  The stars on the inside are cut at 2 and 2 1/4 inches.  Thanks for looking.

Bloom Where You are Planted

I made this sign for my Mother to put in her office.  She works for DHS, and they are going through a lot of reorganization and stress right now, with early retirements and some smaller offices closing.  I thought the saying, "Bloom where you are planted" was appropriate for the situation. 

I cut the word "Bloom" from the new Cricut Lite cartridge, Bloom.  I cut the phrase "where you are planted" with Make the Cut.  Papers are from the DCWV Spring Stack, and the flower stickers are KC & Co.  The frame was a $3 frame from Walmart.

Peachy Cheap Giant Bag of Scrap

Just wanted to share with you what I got in my Giant Bag of Scrap from Peachy Cheap.  Lots and lots of cute stuff... and all for only $30.  I can't wait to get scrappin' :)

Wildcard #35 - Father's Day Card

Here's the first of my WildCard creations... #35.  I made it into a Father's Day card for my Fiance's dad - who is super outdoorsy.  I cut the card and matching envelope as large as I could on a 12x12 mat.  To do this, cut the envelope "fit to page" and note the size, then cut the card to match.  This particular card cuts at 4 1/2 inches square.  Used paper from my stash, buttons and raffia to finish it off. 

And for my not so outdoorsy dad, a simple "Dad" card using the font on the Wild Card cartridge.  I think this should count as my first "Cartridge Exploration" challenge, too... because honestly, I didn't even know Wild Card had a font!  But I do like it, so I'll probably even use it again :)  This card was super simple -- just paper from my stash and a little doodling on the letters with a white gel pen.

Challenging Myself!

I have been having trouble with "crafters block" lately, so I decided I need to give myself a little push to get craftin' :)

I am giving myself TWO challenges... so that equals TWO projects per week. So keep me accountable you guys! If you dont see two per week, start nagging!

My first challenge is CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION. I have about 35 cartridges... and probably 30 of them just sit unused on the shelf. In fact, several have never even been used at all. So my challenge is to dig everthing out and make projects with at least one cut from every cartridge that I own.

My second challenge for myself is the infamous WildCard challenge. I will make every card on the cartridge... at least one per week.

Bus Mini Album

Hello, Everyone!  Today I'd like to share with you a gift that I made for a friend and coworker for her retirement party!  I work with Head Start, and our Transportation Specialist retired, so I made her a mini album in the shape of the school bus from Doodlecharms. 

I took a picture of each of our coworkers and asked them each to write a note on a speech bubble to be added to the book.  This way, she can't forget any of us.

Supplies:

Cricut "Doodlecharms"

Cricut "Plantin' Schoolbook"

Cricut "A Child's Year" (scalloped tag)

Cardstock - yellow and black

Silver Vellum (behind bus windows)

BIA

3/4" Binding

Floura-Doodles

Sorry I had to blank everything out, wouldn't want to publish people on the 'net who don't want to be published :)

After I thought about it a bit, I quickly whipped up a tag to wrap around the whole thing instead of putting it in a gift bag.

If you need any more details, let me know!  Have a great day --

Birthday Card

I love these K&Co Butterfly stickers!  Between those, and these beautiful papers, my job was super easy on this one.  Only Cricut is the card base and mats.  Rubber stamps, pearls, stickers, and DONE :) Easy Peasy.  Hope you like it!

Have a super day!

Cricut Expression Giveaway!!

Everyday Cricut has awesome giveaways and amazing projects every week.  If you haven't checked them out before, you should!  Check them out here.

This week, they will be giving away a Cricut Expression Machine!  Also this week, they are giving away TWO Once Upon A Princess Cricut cartridges and a prize pack from Crate Paper.  To win, all you have to do is follow the blog and leave a comment.  Easy Peasy! 

I have been a busy busy bee working on a shaped album for a coworker who is retiring, as well as shaped mini signature/message albums for coworkers who have been laid off, so I will post those soon soon! 

Don't forget, I will be giving out BLOG CANDY when I reach 25 followers, so stay tuned :)

Have a super day!

BBTB2 Challenge Card

This weeks challenge over at BBTB2 was to use either of the purse cuts on the Paisley Cartridge.  I decided to make a card for the challenge.  Its hard to see in the picture, but the circle cut on the purse is cut out of shiney silver paper, and the "flap" is cut out of pink glitter paper.  I added a little bit of bling faux stitching along the edges.  On the inside, I used the "Shop til you drop" cut regular and blackout, and added a spot to put a gift card at the bottom.  I hope you like it!

A Childs Year Card

I made this card for a very dear friend of mine who recently received guardianship of her two young grand daughters.  I am very excited for her :)  All of the cuts are from A Childs Year.

Flower Pot Card

This will be a birthday card for my Grandma, who I spent most of my childhood with in her garden.  I saw a card like this at some point on the Cricut MB and just had to make it :)  I used Walk In My Garden for the Flower Pot and leaves, Home Decor for the green swirls, a Martha Stuart Border Punch, Ribbon, and KC&Co Flowers.  Hope you like it!

Easter Cards

These are "my take" on the Panoramic Egg Easter Card.  I used the Panoramic Egg .cut file for DS from Custom Crops, so a big THANKS to Donna, because I absolutely love this cute cute egg!  I used Nana's
Nursery Baby Girl and Coredinations Cardstock and a few random printed papers from my stash as well as LOTS of bling and a little bit of ribbon.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do :) 

Happy Spring, Ya'll :)

I am starting a new blog, since I've long forgotten how to get into my old one :) I do remember the address, however, so if you'd like to take a look at some of my previous creations a la 2009, go ahead and check out: www.alyssamuller.blogspot.com

I promise to really try to keep this one going for more than a month :)

I'm working on my Easter cards so I'll post those as soon as I'm done with them.

Oh, and in honor of my NEW blog, and the fact that it's 63 degrees right now here in Iowa in MARCH, I'm going to give out blog candy when I reach 35 followers. Sooooo, leave me a comment with an e-mail address where I can notify you if you win and click follow to enter.

What I want to know in your comment is...

"What is currently #1 on your crafty wishlist?"