Ruthie at setemberninth blog giveaway

Check out Ruthies blog for a giveaway!
Ruthie at septemberninth giveaway
She's giving away a Lots of Pun stamp set.

Happy Birthday Jodi

Wanted to wish Jodi at Inked Inspriations very happy birthday!!  Go to her blog at
http://inkedinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-my-birthday.html
for a chance to win blog candy.  Must enter by July 31, 2010

Holiday weekend

We celebrate the July 24th in Utah as Pioneer Day.  My hubby had friday off so we're having a long weekend.  He decided we should treat it like a vacation and do what we wanted!  It's been great :)  We went shopping at the various fruit stands for fresh fruit/veggies.  I went to Michaels and bought a couple of stamp sets and a Martha Stewart edge puncher (floral lace)  We ended up friday at Johnny Carenos (spelt wrong hehe) for dinner.  It was a fabulous day.  We drove around, bought stuff, went to places we haven't been for a couple of years and enjoyed ourselves.

Saturday morning I slept in and my hunny went grocery shopping.  Have I told you how lucky and fortunate I am?  My hubby does the grocery shopping and cooks dinner!!  I have neuropathy, depression and diabetes.  It's been a challenge the last year or so.  The neuropathy started about a year ago with burning and tingling in my feet.  The pain progressed to the point where I could hardly walk.  My insurance wouldn't pay for the medication my doctor wanted, so I spent several months in agony.  My husband wanted me to just buy the medication, but I wouldn't because I didn't know if it would even work!  At the first of the year I started a new insurance that covers the two medications I need and now I hurt less, but one of the side effects is my hands shake!  Quite a challenge when card making, but the card making distracts me so I keep plugging along.  I started this blog when I was still in alot of pain, wrote about some of it, but deleted it.  It was such a downer!

I believe life is good.  Things happen for a reason, even if we don't know why.  I have been blessed with a wonderful husband, friends and a supportive family.  Youtube has changed my life, with the videos of card making and helped me find wonderful blogs to follow and challenges to join.

Christmas in July Tree card

This is another Christmas in July card.  I cut out the tree using the Christmas cricut cartridge at 3 3/4"  The star came with the snow layer which I cut in white, so I colored it with my permenent markers and added stickles.  I had problems putting on the snow (my hands shake) and got glue all over!!  So I put stickles on the white (snow) and green (tree).  The background I used the cuttlebug embossing folder winter trees.  I also embossed the trees with an unlabeled folder that I liked.  I added a red ribbon and "Merry Christmas" cut out.

Santa and Lace

Mary from CartzTV is having a Christmas in July Challenge.  This weeks is to have a christmas card with lace, ribbon and a button. I used the snowflakes cuttlebug embossing folder and then a nail buffer thingy to take off a little of the cardstock to show the snowflakes.

Garden card

Another card I finished today.  I used cuttlebug folders for the embossing (flower pot birdhouse & background)  Stickles on the flowers and butterfly.

Mothers Day Card

I made this card for the My Creative Time website http://www.creativetimeforme.com wild card challenge.  Pick a holiday we enjoy the most and make a card using the wild card cricut cartridge.  I choose mothers day, because I love my mom and mothers day was extra special this year.  I used the Oval shape on page 39 and made the envelope also at 4 1/2 inches.  I colored the flower with ink and used candy cane stickles on the card and flower.  I used a white gel pen to write Happy Mothers Day.  I tied a sheer ribbon at the bottom.  I think it turned out very pretty.

Found another contest I can enter with this card *yippy*  Cricut Card Challenge is to use any card feature.  This works :)  

Whoohoo!!!

I just have to share :)  I bought Create A Critter for $26.51 and Just Because for $26.02 both with free shipping on EBAY today.  I've been wanting both of these cartridges for a while, but the bidding was too high.  Can't believe I bought them both at such a low price.

pumpkincartcrafts

PumpkinCartCrafts.com has the best deals on Sure Cuts A Lot 2  so visit http://www.PumpkinCartCrafts.com

Cleanup time

Today I cleaned off the dining room table *yippy*  I've had my card stuff there since I cleaned out the computer room for guests last month.  I put the table back in the computer room and all the stuff is back.  But it's grown!!  How did that happen *shaking head*  Time to organize this mess *grin*  My friend Gloria asked me to make a few cards for her.  I make birthday cards for her, but she wants something different.  Hopefully I can get to those before we go to breakfast on friday. 

My car needs to have emission testing done.  This month is renewal time 7 (june) for my car and 11 (november) for my hubby.  Easy to remember isn't it??   Hubby wanted me to do it today, but I had to get the table cleared and the house needs to be cleaned next.  David (hubby's oldest son) is coming over saturday, so it's time to clean house!!

Called the dentist, he will  not be back until next week.  I have an appointment for thursday *sigh*  I can hardly wait (hope the toothache can)

Live Love Laugh

This is a card I made for the Cuttlebug Challenge #91  Doileys & Lace
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SnowMan Card

This is my SnowMan Card from the Winter Woodland cartridge from page 47 cut at 7" with the shift and layers key (for the dark blue and light blue layers)  My husband says it looks like a milk bottle *hehehe*  he didn't like this card as much as the last one

A Few Tips

I thought I would share a couple of tips I learned on YouTube about Cricut:

The first tip is to set your new cutting mat.  Before you take off the protective plastic covering - put the date on it at the top.  This does 2 things, first you know how old your mat is (newer mats for difficult projects - older mats for thin paper and easier projects). Second it lets you know which side of the plastic sheet goes on the mat.  Someone on YouTube mentioned you should use the one side.

Second tip that helped me to cut out my Winter Woodland snowman on my Cricut.  I opened Cricut Design Studio and loaded the pieces I was going to cut.  That helped me with orientation and size.  I loaded all the different papers on my mat and it was a snap to cut!

Tomorrow I need to call the dentist *yuck!*  I've had a toothache all weekend.  I hate going to the dentist and put it off as long as I can.  I think I better go *sigh*

Yesterday we went to our grand daughter Allisons birthday party.  It turned out well.  I gave her one of my hand-made cards  She turned 13 and started those "teenage" years early.  We love her and miss her when she's home in Washington.  Below is a card similar to the one we gave her.

TGIF (toes go in first)

My husband loved to say TGIF (toes go in first)  It's hot here and I've been awake all night.  Too tired to sleep.  Mom called earlier, her computer is acting weird.  My brothers came to mow my lawn - said it didn't need it - so they'll come back next week.
I can't believe it's July.  I'm trying to organize my cricut cartridges.  I bought a tote back that holds 72 and realized I have more than 72.  YIKES!!!

Still here and making cards

My husband loved my Christmas card.   It was the first thing he noticed on the table (and the table is loaded down with my craft stuff.  Yesterday I finished the card, photographed it and uploaded it to my computer.  Then came the fun part, figuring how to put it on this blog.  I set up this blog back in April and haven't done anything with it.  I'm happy I could finally use it!

Mary has a new Christmas in July challenge -  a Christmas card with a snowman on it

The cuttlebug spot has a challenge also - to use a 2x2 embossing/die folder.  I have several of those!!  I think I'll try to enter a card there too hehehe

Cards

I've been making cards for a couple of months now.  Trying different things to see what I like.  I decided to show one of my cards - to join in on a Christmas in July challenge by Mary (http://cardztv.blogspot.com).  Her challenge was to use only the colors pink, green, red, white and black.  Enjoy!!