Lions, Tigers and Bears Oh My ...

That's right I'm going to take my daughter to the zoo. I got my trusty camera and all the essentials just waiting for DD to wake up. So while I wait on that thought I would do a short post.

Well my friend loved the invitation and I have the go ahead to make twenty more. She is so creative, her mother is turning sixty and along with giving her a surprise party at the baseball park she asked me to come up with a postcard. Her idea is wouldn't it be great if my mom received sixty cards for her birthday. So she is going to send a postcard to all her mom's friends asking them to send her a birthday card. I just might have to send her one myself. Isn't that a good idea. I came up with the wording last night for the postcards. There is going to be two one for the people who are going to the surprise party and one for all her mom's friends. This is the wording for people going to the game.

Let’s throw Jeane off our surprise party trail
by sending her birthday cards in the mail
Wouldn’t it be nifty
If she could receive sixty
If everyone just sent her one
Wouldn’t that be fun

and here is the wording for the friends postcard

Jeane is having her sixtieth birthday
Let’s give her a special day
By dropping a birthday card in the mail
I know with your help we can’t fail
If everyone could send just one
Wouldn’t that be fun
We think it would be nifty
If she could receive Sixty !

If you want to participate
Send the card prior to this date
September 9th

It took me forever to come up with both of the wordings but I think they turned out cute. Well I'm off to the zoo take care people!

Baseball Invitation

Well I wasn't able to accomplish a lot in my craft room tonight but I do have one card that I made ready to post. This is an invitation for my friends mom's surprise party. They are throwing her a party at the White Sox ball park. It's tough to make something so masculinity like baseball pretty for a woman. Well that's all I have for tonight. I have to start on my layout for the contest I'm entering about Bummer it's the last day of Summer. It starts tomorrow. So I must go now and be the great hunter and find some pictures that motivates me.

Sorry I've been MIA

It's been so busy around my house lately (can you tell it's getting closer to school starting again). So what have I been up to???? Well in the crafting world I live in -not much! Just a lot of shopping (which is always a good thing - Right?) I placed an order in to get four Magnolia Tilda's stamps (I'm so excited about this purchase and I'm counting the days down until I will receive them). I was asked by a dear friend to help her out and make Twenty Surprise birthday invitations for her mom's birthday. So needless to say that called for a trip to Michael's to get the supplies for that project. They had their big clearance day sale going on still and I walked away with more than I thought I would.(Remember the trip was only to purchase supplies for the invitations). I got my hands on the Winnie the Pooh Cricut cartridge, I got a few pattern paper pads from DCWV (starting to really love their paper). I've been really motivated to try my hands on some of Jennifer McQuire's techniques with the Ranger pearl powders, so I bought a kit of that while I was there and the most important purchase was white card stock (so when my Tilda stamps come in). So I guess I have nothing creative to show you guys today, but I will be in my play room later tonight I'm sure I will have something to post later tonight if everything goes as plan. Well off to make dinner then I will be cranking up the tunes in my playroom HAPPY CRAFTING !!!!

first - "Big Bummer - It's the End of Summer" Contest!

Check out this contest (information on the side bar of their website) They are hosting a contest beginning August 1st with a grand prize valued at $200 in scrapbooking product. The last day to sign up is July 31st, so dont miss this awesome chance to win!. I am definately in! Why not join me - Here's the details...

August is approaching and summer is starting to wind down - doesn't it always seems to go by so quickly? Join us at Dixie Pieces for a summer contest and let us help you drag summer out just a little bit longer! We are excited to announce our first - "Big Bummer - It's the End of Summer" Contest! It's going to be SENSE-ational! That's right! It's all about the senses of summer! Each week starting August 1st one of our fabulous designers will offer up a challenge based on one of our five senses. Challenges will be given on Saturday morning and you will have until the following Friday at 11:59 PDT to get your entry uploaded into the Dixie Pieces gallery and posted in the forum. The fifth and final challenge will have an extended deadline of September 7th at 11:59 PDT due to the holiday weekend.

Guess what else? Each week of the contest - the challenge designer will share some tips on how to use her favorite technique on your layouts! So, you can expect tutorials on stitching, doodling, hand cutting, painting & more!

The details:

How do you win?
The contest will be based on a point system - the one with the most points at the end of the five weeks will be our Grand Prize Winner. Points will be offered for weekly participation in the challenge, capturing the vote of our secret panel of judges (including design team members, Sherry and Brenna, and sponsor representatives!), participating in random weekly trivia games, using secret items on your layouts, and completing all five challenges. In addition, there may be surprise points along the way - so keep an eye on the forums starting July 13th!

A spreadsheet tracking contestant points will be updated every week and posted on Monday afternoons.

What do you win?
The Grand Prize Winner - A Scrapbooking Prize Pack full of Goodies (more info to follow)
The 2nd Place Winner - The October Guest Designer Spot
The 3rd Place Winner - Your choice of a past Dixie Pieces Monthly Kit

How do I play?
This is the easy part! Just head on over to the sign up thread http://dixiepieces.com/forum/topic/4564?replies=1#post-43085 and put your name in! We will take sign ups until July 31st at 11:59pm PDT! Your first challenge will be posted Saturday, August 1st by 10:00am PDT. Hope to see you there!

Look for more details coming soon regarding contest specifics and the prize pack!

Now for the fine print:
--Layouts must be created new for this contest and may not be used in conjunction with any other challenge or contest.
--Layouts may be posted on your blog and/or in other galleries during the contest timeframe as long as you give credit to the contest and provide a link to Dixie Pieces Kit Club.
--Points awarded from Secret Judges will remain secret.
--The stated deadlines are not flexible with the exception being if the site has server problems --- computer issues on the part of Dixie Pieces.
--What qualifies as a secret item is up to the discretion of the DT member providing the challenge. We will be as flexible as possible!
--International contestants are welcome and encouraged! However, winners will be responsible for the additional shipping expense.

This weeks Hero Arts Challenge TAGS

This week Challenge over at Hero Arts is making tags, bags, boxes etc... This is my tag that I made. I used the new Hero Arts Cling stamps (Friends), DCWV Pink glitter pattern paper (from Citrus), Pink card stock, The paper company studio ribbon (Spring Break), Hallmark white (wired ribbon), Hero Art CL 155 stamp set (Always friends stamp).









I love how the colors came together and the The paper company studio's ribbon I think finishes the tag. I cant wait to use this on a gift.

I also wanted to share with you some of the other goodies I bought yesterday, besides the Friends Cling stamp from HA, I got two Christmas sets. I was reading my blogs yesterday and the blog Total Obsessed with Scrap booking has a new Cricut Christmas blog that got me in the mood to buy the sets I did. They have a few great ideas on Christmas gifts that you can make by using your Cricut machine. Today's gift is wine glasses with etching on them. They are so cute. If you have a chance you should check them out. Well I'm off to do some house work enough playing for one day. See YA!

You betcha!

I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOUR REGULAR BLOG READING WITH THIS VERY IMPORTANT NEWS BREAK ..........I have in my hands this very minute my first set of Hero Art Cling stamps! I'm sorry I will have to take a break for a minute and begin my HAPPY DANCE, HAPPY DANCE! HAPPY DANCE HAPPY DANCE!!!! Sorry that you had to wittiness that childish behavior. I have to say they are so beautiful! It was hard to just pick up one (on a budget don't ya know) but that's okay I'll be back for more. I picked up ... no I will surprise you with a card to show off my new cling! I also picked up one of the new Christmas clear stamps sets (it's looking like Christmas in July Ladies). I got a few more HA stamps too. It was a very successful shopping trip today..... NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULAR BLOG READING!!

I will post back later tonight hopefully I can come up with some ideas to use these new stamps!

Making cards for friends

Have you ever made a card for someone else and while you're assembling it, it goes against your grain? That's how I felt about the cat card. While putting this card together it just felt wrong. I think sometimes it better to go with your own style than try to force something to work (like in this case)because the end result will never satisfy you. The second card is more in my style and it just put itself together, but the other one took me an hour to do and I just don't like it?

Peeking Tom

Well I felt like a peeking Tom today, going through all the talented Hero Arts Flickr groups blogs during our Blog Hop. It was such a great way to get to know these girls better and now I have to add to my blog list definitely! I was so impress with some of our Hero Arts ladies blogs. I can definitely learn a lesson or two from them on how to make a beautiful blog page!

I wanted to Thank all the ladies who left me a comment! I just loved reading them. Oh and BTW while going through some of our blogs I ran into THIS blog which is giving away some very impressive blog candy. You should really check this one out guys!!! There is a chance to win a Slice.
Have a Great Weekend Everyone!!!!!

Hero Art Blog Hop

Thanks for stopping by a viewing my card. I am so excited to see all of your cards and blogs. What a wonderful way for all of us to get a chance to peek into each others craft rooms!

How did you get started using Hero Arts products? I stumbled upon Jennifer McQuire's blog and fell in love with all her designs. I quickly started to notice that she was using a lot of Hero Arts Stamps so one day I ventured over to the HA blog and was overwhelmed with all the beautiful stamps. I managed to by pass all those pretty stamps long enough to see that had some information about challenges and a group on Flickr. Well one thing led to another and I started stalking the Flickr group and that went on for quite a while until one late night I got brave enough to post one of my cards in a challenge. Before I knew I had a comment posted on my card. Wow that was fast! It turned out to be no other than our Virgina L. She was so welcoming and supportive to me. (thanks Virgina). Every since then I've been hooked. The ladies on Flickr group our generous, talented, creative and very supportive and I am so thankful I am a part of this group! Thanks Ladies for all your help.

Why are you thankful for Hero Arts? Hero Art has to be one of the most generous and caring companies I have ever ran into and I am thankful to them for giving me so much inspiration and top-notch quality products. I am proud to be a part of the Hero Arts Flickr community, and to have a collection of Hero Arts stamps!

For the card above I used HA stamp CL182 and DCWV safari kids pattern paper, some misc. cards stock and a peach ribbon. To continue on with the Blog Hop click here

Monochromatic Challenge over at Hero Arts

I've been working in my craft room again. Here are a few cards I made. It felt so good to be in my craft room today.

I'm back and trying to catch up

Just got back last night from my all girl road trip. My daughter requested this trip. We went to Wisconsin (Lake Geneva and Milwaukee). We had so much fun! Lots of shopping, eating and laughing of course. My mom, Erin and I are thinking about making this an annual thing since the boys in our family go on an annual fishing trip every year. What a great idea she came up with! Here's a few pictures of our trip.


I just wanted to blog about this Friday Hero Arts blog hop. We are getting together to send out Thank you cards to the great people at Hero Arts. Go to the Hero Arts Flickr group to check out more details. I can't wait to see all the cards on this Friday, July 24th.

Also, over on Hero Arts blog you can check out this week challenge. I love this challenge. What a great idea to use up all your scraps you have laying around. Since I'm behind because of my trip this week I don't know how many submission I will get to make.

While catching up on my blog reading I found over on Quickutz site instruction on how to make your own print and cut image. I can't wait to try that out, but it will have to wait for now until I get my submission done for the blog hop and this week challenge. I also have to catch up on some laundry from our trip.

Organizing your craft items

Well every once in a while I go through a phase where I need to organize my craft room in order to make it easier and faster for me to create projects. Lately I have been on a kick to organize my Cricut Cartridges, my stamps and all of my images that I have for my Silhouette machine and I found a couple of solutions that worked for me and thought I would pass them onto you.

Found this great website for Cricut Users to check out. Cricut Creations by AMKscrap. On her blog you will find a great ways to keep track of all your Cricut Cartridges using an excel sheet. LOVE this!!! Here is her website.
http://amkscrap.blogspot.com. Look for her post on April 6 2009 for updated version of her Cricut cartridge inventory sheets.

I was looking on the Internet lately for a good way to organize all of my stamps (rubber and cling). I wasn't looking for storage but just a way to keep track of all my stamps. I've seen sites with programs called Rubber stamp wizard which is kind of like a data base(like a inventory of stamps). I seen where some people just built shelves to accommodate all their stamps and they can see what they have in one quick glance. After thinking about all the above listed ways to organizing stamps I came to the conclusion none of them were meant for me. I am a visual person and I don't have the space to build shelves for all my stamps to be visible.

So I have came up with my own idea based on my favorite Hero Arts catalog. I made my very own catalog of all the stamps that I own. I divided my stamps similar to the way Hero Arts categorize their stamps in their catalog. Made an impression of each stamp and placed it in a three ring binder. I can't begin to tell you how helpful this was. Now when I am stump on what stamp to use on a project I just sit down with my binder and look through all my impressions. It's like having my very own idea book. Now I'm not going to lie to you. This process did take time to complete it but the end results has made it worth all the hard work I did in the beginning. Also, its no more laborious than if you sat down and did an inventory of your stamps. Now I know what I have and I don't get duplicates and it helps in the creative process just to look through my binder. I have also add in my binder the excel sheets that I found on the above website for my all my Cricut cartridges in the binder along with a copy of my Silhouette library contents. I love having this binder I don't know what I would do with out it now.

Hope some of these tips help you out. Leave me a comment on ways you organize your stamps and cartridges.

LOVING IT

What can I say I just love the print and cut function of the Quickutz Silhoutte machine. It was so simply to use that I am wondering why I haven't used it more. Here is the lay out that I create using this function.



Like I said its so easy to do this. I purchased my image from the Quickutz store online downloaded it to my computer. Opened up my Silhouette program went to my library clicked on the image I wanted. Went under the file tab and checked off that I wanted the registration marks to show. Sent it to my printer using the file tab then clicked onto the print option. I used HP Premium Photo Paper to print out my image. Place the photo paper onto my paper guide for the Silhouette and then press cut. SO simply and look at the results. I love it!!!! Can't wait to find more images to print out.

Quckutz Silhouette project/updates

So excited I will be trying out the print and cut function of my Silhouette machine today. I have the perfect picture to go with the family print and cut design. I will try to post the results of this experiment today.

Also, I was reading over on Lucy's blog that the first ever Caadvarks Blog Hop will be happen in August. I can't wait, sounds like there will be some prizes too.

I found a few new website to check out if you have a Cricut Machine
http://www.obsessedwithscrapbooking.com/ and http://everythingcricut.blogspot.com/
Lots inspiration going on these website

Hero Arts Challenge this week

Well this week Hero Arts blog challenge was using their galleries of cards or layouts on their website not their blog to inspire cards. There were so many pretty cards and layouts to choice from I had a hard time picking, so I did a few cards and one layout. I liked how the cards turned out but the layout I wasn't really happy about. I wanted to add stitching to the page but my sewing machine quit on me. I finally got to scrap one of my favorite set of pictures of my daughter when she was younger.











I really like participating in these blog challenges it makes me have to think outside of the box, which helps me grows as a designer. I have learned a lot from the Flickrheroarts group too.

I know I promised you that I would post my experiments with my Silhouette machine, however, I had a surprise guest stop by yesterday and instead of playing in my craft room I went to see the Harry Potter movie. I will try to post those pictures tomorrow for you. Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

keep up with the housework + do a load of wash a day = time in my craft room

It's been a really busy summer around here and I've been meaning to experiment more with my Quickutz Silhouette die cutter, but time has not been on my side until today. I like to look for ideas on the internet and research before I start any of my experiments. Have you seen these tips yet for the print and cut feature on Nichol Magouirk blog? Here is her blog link http://nicholmagouirk.typepad.com/. I just love this feature and can't wait to try this tip out. Also over on the quickutz website under July 9 they go over step by step to use this feature. After cruising the internet for ideas I headed over to Twopeasinabucket.com to look into there shop. Now I know I've been really busy lately, what I didn't know is that my head also might have been buried in the sand. Did you see all the digital die cut kits they have on sale over there. I don't know about you but the light bulb over my head is shining bright now. These kits can save me so much time!!! Who needs to search for shapes and fonts and change them over just go to Two Peas in a Bucket! Well I'm off to the lab to do my experiments ummm I mean the craft room.

Family Portrait turn out great

I just loved how our family portrait turned out!!!!!

snd the kids picture is so cute too!

I'm singing like a bird

Now you can follow me on Twitter too. I finally had some time to sit down and figure out how to link Twitter and Facebook to my blog. How fun is this going to be. The whole goal here is to finally have all my blogs and sites I like to visit in one place and I think that I am finally there people.

Oh by the way to you go and check out the new website for Hero Arts today. There is another big give away there. Just leave a comment on their website and you're entered to win. I've already put my comment in.

Well I'm off to do some work around here so I can get into my craft room.

The surprises keep coming from Hero Art

This week on Hero Arts blog there is so much going on. I am so happy to see my friend Virgina getting picked for one of the new hostess position!!!! She is so talented, friendly, and encouraging!!! Also, some of the other new hostess have shown they are just as talented and friendly too, however, Virginia will always stick out in my heart since she was the first person I met on the flickrheroarts group. CONGRATULATIONS VIRGINA, so proud of you!!!!

They just announced that they are giving a shopping spree away, I am keeping my fingers cross that I get this give away. What an exciting week and how generous Hero Arts company is with all their give aways. I haven't run into a company like this. Kudos's to Hero Arts you really know how to run things over there!!!!

I was so excited about this weeks Hero Arts Challenge that I spent all day catching up on all my half done projects around here so I can play along in the challenge this week. So far, I made two cards for the challenge I posted them in my remix video. I also plan on making a scrap book layout for this challenge as well so I can try to catch up on some of my scrap booking. SO many great pictures this summer!!

Today just seems like such a great day, I can't wait to see what Hero Arts has up their selves tomorrow.

Cards I've been working on

Sounds like a great Week at HERO ARTS!!!!

I've been trying to wait patiently for July 15th for the changes on Hero Arts.com website, but it's been so hard. I think they know how much we all are so excited that they try to help us out with give aways. SO be sure to check in everyday !!!

Half Baked !!!

Sorry to say I haven't anything to show this week on my blog. This past week was such a busy, hectic week that looking back at it I just want to call it Half Baked week. As I look around my house everything is half done around here. For instance - I worked in my craft room but have no pictures of the projects I did; I did my laundry but haven't put it away yet; my bills are all made out but haven't been mailed. UGGGGH!!!!!! I am so glad it's the start of a new week. Now that the house is quiet and everyone is a sleep I am taking the time to plan my attack of all the half done chores I will accomplish something this week and make sure it's completed!!!

Finally broke down!

I finally broke down and bought the heartwinged butterfly stamp from Hero Arts today. There is so many projects that have this stamp in them that I could not resist. Also, I bought a couple of embossing folders today for the cuddlebug. I've been playing in my craft room all morning and I have finished the travel note book that I talked about yesterday. I will post a picture of it later. Well off to the craft room to see what else I can create.

There Here, There Here !!!

Stopped by my sister-in-laws house today to pick up my cricut die cutting machine and cuttlebug that she gave to me. WOW!!!!!! She gave me 24 cartridges and about 5 embossing folders and 12 die cuts for the cuttlebug!! I think that I have the greatest sister-in-law in the world. I came home and went directly into my craft room and set up the cricut machine and immediately started playing with it. I already have the Quickuts Silhouette machine and love it but I can already see how I can use both machines. Both machines have pros and cons but together they wipe those pros and cons right out of the ball park.

Oh by the way, if anyone is interested she has the sizzix big shot and sidekick that she is thinking about selling. If anyone is interested leave me a comment. She has a lot of dies for these too that she is wanting to get rid of. I'm not sure what she is looking price wise but if you make her a fair offer anything is negotiable.

Today, over on the Hero Arts blog they have a great video about making a small photo book out of cards that I am dieing to try out. I know just the photos that I want to use for this idea, since we just came back from SeaWorld this will be a perfect solutions for those pictures I took of my daughter swimming with the beluga whales. I wanted to do something a little more special with these pictures since it is a once in a lifetime event for her. you can check out the video about this over at the Hero Arts blog at http://heroarts.com/blogs/club .


I am so behind on my scrap booking that I have decided to stop participating in the challenges for the cards for a while until I catch up with my scrap booking. SO many pictures, SO little time, what's a girl to do????? Good night all!!!!

Well I'm back

Just got back into town last night at 1:30 a.m. (our flight had been delayed we were supposed to arrive at 10:00 p.m :( ) needless to say I am soooo tired today. I put a good dent into my laundry too which is always a good thing when you come back from a vacation.

We went to San Antonio, Texas and stay at a hotel on the river walk. I just love it there. I have been there in the past by myself for business and fell in love with the place. I always wanted to go back to really enjoy the place and well years later here we are. While we were there we took our kids to SeaWorld. What a great day we had. We rented a cabana in the water park and kicked back and relaxed.

Here are some snap shots of my daughter swimming with the

beluga whales The smile on my daughter's face is priceless. She has always said she wants to be a vet when she grows up and I am starting to believe she isn't going to change her mind about that.

The hotel was great and the food there is amazing. I am going to have to do a lot of running to get off some of the pounds I probably found there. We also took the kids to a drive through Safari. It was very hot when we were there so the animals weren't very exciting but none the less it was very interesting to feed an Ostrich out the window of my rented mini van.

My brother and sister-in-law came with us to San Antonio and it was so much fun to have them there with us. It made our trip that more special to all of us. If you ever have a chance to get out there I highly recommend going the food alone is worth the visit.

I tried to catch up on my blog reading today, however, getting in late last night and all the dirty clothes we had from vacation it's going to have to wait until tomorrow. I am having a tough enough time trying to keep my eyes open to type this. Well I think I hear my pillow calling me, so I will blog some more tomorrow.

Exciting things happening at HERO ARTS BLOG!!!

I don't know if you noticed, but I have a new blinkie on my blog to celebrate the up coming new look to Hero Arts blog. July 15th is the date they will reveal the new look, I can hardly wait!!!! Even better news there's a sale going on too! I girl can't ask for more!