Saturday, April 30, 2011

Creative Team: Card for Mom

I have another great card to share with you this sunny
(at least in Michigan--finally!) Saturday. 
This beauty was done by Creative Team Member Ellen:
Isn't it so bright and cheery? 
What Mom wouldn't love to receive a card like this?!
Ellen has a perfect sentiment to go with the card too. 
Please check out her BLOG for all the design details.
Ellen used one of my new Diecut Designer exclusive files to create this: 
The file is in layers so if you don't want to use the "MOM" portions, you can leave them out.  Very versatile and just perfect for spring!  You can get the file HERE.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Creative Team: Pocket Card

The thing I love best about creating with SVG files is their versatility.  Even if you can't make your own file, it's so easy to take one and alter it to fit your needs.  That's just what Creative Team member Bonnie did with one of my new Diecut Designer files.  Here is the original file:
Pretty simple, just a sweet little daisy in a pot, right?  But Bonnie had a vision of something much, much more elaborate.  Using pieces of the file (the pot and the flower head) she created something totally unique--- a beautiful pocket card:
She really let her creativity loose!  Isn't this the most elegant card?  You would never know that the main portion of it came out of her "trash" box.  Get all the details on how Bonnie created this amazing card by checking out her BLOG.  And if you are interested in the Daisy in Pot file, you can get it HERE.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Creative Team: "Camper Sweet Camper"

While their term doesn't officially start until May, the girls on the Creative Team have been busy turning my new Diecut Designer files into some awesome projects! 
Today I'm going to show you what Jenn created-- a cute layout using one of the files from my new Camping Set:
Jenn goes into a lot of detail explaining just how she created this piece.  You can read all about it on her BLOG, including the reason behind the design  (good luck Jenn!) 
The camper file came from this set:
which includes three SVG files and can be purchased HERE .

Monday, April 25, 2011

Creative Team Announcement

Drum roll please......
Announcing The Creative Pointe's "Creative Team"!  These five ladies have agreed to become Premier Members of my new team.  They will be creating cards, layouts and more with the new SVGs I'm making for the blog and for the Diecut Designers store.  That means you will be seeing some AWESOME artwork that I know will inspire you.  I'd like you to meet...
Bonnie
If you've been reading my blog, you are already familiar with Bonnie and her work.  She used my shamrock file to create a beautiful card that was posted HERE.  Bonnie is married with 3 grown children and says she has lots of time to paper-craft!  You can check out all her great creations on her BLOG.
Jenn
I'll let Jenn introduce herself:  "My name is Jennifer Smith-Sloane, but my friends call me Jenn. I am a teacher, scrapbooker, and even more a scrapbook teacher who calls East Texas home. I will soon be living on a 10 1/2 acre "ranch" with my husband, our 3 fur-babies and soon to be more farm friends!  I have been crafting with my Cricut for the past five years and will be switching to an eCraft here in the near future! I can't wait to see where this wonderful world of being on a Creative Team for Creative Pointe takes me!"  Jenn's inspiring blog can be found HERE.
Heather
Heather has been married for 14 years and has two children who she says are "the light of her life" but are at that stage in life where they are trying to find their limits.  She and her family recently purchased a home in Florida after a seven year tour in Japan and Heather is EXCITED to be stateside again.  Here's what she had to say:  "In 2006 I picked up a crafting magazine to find something to pass the time after I left my full time job.  In this magazine I saw a Cricut, quickly ordered it and did not immediately fall in love with crafting.  While my DH was deployed, which required a SAHM for my 2DD's, I delved deeper into the crafting world and discovered blogs, message boards and all of the fun things crafting has to offer.  I am honored to be part of this awesome Creative Team and I look forward to sharing my projects with all of you!"  I know you'll enjoy checking out her wonderful BLOG.
Ellen
Ellen has been doing arts and crafts all her life, ranging from fads of decoupage, macrame, crewel work, beading, embroidery and now papercrafting. A journalist and writer by day, she married her loves of crafts and writing by starting her blog, http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/, in June 2010.  Ellen is married to the love of her life, John; they have a daughter and a son, as well as one granddaughter, who all live in Bucks County, PA, in a suburb of Philadelphia.  "Probably the most unusual thing about me is that I am the elected chairwoman of my town's Board of Supervisors, sort of the mayor. We have a population of 33,000 and a budget of $27 million." 
Victoria
Victoria comes from a “crafty” family and has felt the creative urge as long as she can remember.  From drawing and painting, to needlecrafts, Victoria dabbles in it all, but papercrafting is her passion.  She also has a tendency to squirrel away craft supplies and has been trying to overcome her aversion to cutting into the “good” paper.  You can see her creations at http://papersquirrel.blogspot.com/.
Victoria has worked in the furniture industry for nearly 13 years and lives in Southeast Michigan with her “boys”…two crazy cats that keep her laughing.

These ladies have already been busy creating....Ellen was the first to turn one of my SVG files into a beautiful card and Jenn just sent me a picture of her super cute artwork.  Check back tomorrow when I'll be sharing their work!

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Happy Easter! SVG File: Easter Heading

He is Risen.  He is Risen Indeed!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter day.  We loaded up the dogs and headed two hours south to spend the day with my family.  Had a wonderful time and collected a few gifts too!  My sister made me a beautiful vintage looking Easter basket (which hopefully she will post on her Blog soon) out of a peat pot.  My Dad (newly returned from Florida) was looking for a project and made each of his daughters a wonderful Stickles holder.  I'll post a photo soon so you can see how great it is!  And my Mom was thinking of me when they stopped at a Cracker Barrel on their return to Michigan and saw a big, beautiful bulldog statue that she bought for me!  All that and a wonderful Easter dinner too.  I am so blessed!  Therefore, I would like to bless YOU with a new free SVG file.  A heading to use when you scrap the photos you took today or save it to use in a card next year. 
***EDIT--Sorry, this file is no longer available for free.
You may purchase it as part of this set HERE.
Here's a little card I made using one of the free files I gave away for posting my blog button.  If you liked it but didn't have a blog to add the button to, the file will soon be part of a set available on http://www.cutandcreate.com/

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Sharing: Another Challenge Tag

The "Queen of Everything"
 Don't we all dream of being the boss of everyone and everything?  Well, I can only "Imagine" what that would be like!  I put this tag together for an "Embossed Tag" Challenge on Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium.  I used one of the Tim Holtz Texture Fade folders and followed his technique as
shown on Grungy Monday #4.   I put Walnut Stain Distress Ink on one half of the folder and then embossed the tag.  The DI went in the debossed areas which added some nice shading around the embossed areas.  I then used the waterbrush and some Dusty Concord DI and painted in between the lines in a few places.  I took a white flower (gotta get more of these) and with the waterbrush, dipped into Dusty Concord and Vintage Photo and stained the flower.  I then glued a rhinestone to cover the hole in the "Imagine" tag.
 My Queen is from a vintage photo.  I used my Cricut and SCAL software to design and cut out her wings.  The crown was vintage clip art.  I used Dusty Concord to shade the wings and add color to the dress and crown.  Another rhinestone was glued to the crown.  I used Glossy Accents in the wing openings and decided they needed more kick so I also put on some Stickles Rock Candy.  Her sceptar was created with a stick pin and a bead.  The bottom border was created with a Martha Stewart edge punch laid over a hand cut piece of paper.  Shaded around the Queen and distressed a dusty purple ribbon with Vintage Photo.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Introducing a New Blog

I have to give a "shout out" to my little sis Vic's new blog.  She is an AWESOME papercrafter and will dazzle you with her creations.  If you'd like to check out her first post (of a beautiful card), just click HERE.
Best of luck to the "Paper Squirrel"!

Tomorrow is the Day....

Of the Grand Opening of Diecut Designer, the new brand new site devoted to SVGs.  Not only one-stop-shopping for them, but also a community where you will have questions answered, be inspired and "hang" with others who share your passion for electronic cutting.  All machines and software are included in the forums.  So if you're not familiar with SVGs or just getting started, it's a great place to learn more!
And I will be offering exclusive diecut files in the store.  Here's a little sample of what will be available tomorrow:


In the next few days I will be announcing my new "Creative Team", a group of five very talented ladies, who will be using my designs to create some great layouts and cards that I will be sharing with you.  I'm sure you'll be inspired by what they come up with!  I am also working on a new Mother's Day project for you.  So "stay tuned" for lots more creative sharing and inspiration...and of course weekly free SVGs!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sharing: Challenge Entry

Over on Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium (a great yahoo group), one of the Challenges is to scrap something about yourself.  So I entered a double page layout I did celebrating my love of WATER!
I'm not sure if it's because I'm a Pisces or because my maternal family was in the marine business or because I was born in "Bay City", but I've always been the happiest around water.  Before we built our house "up north" we cruised a lot.  Being in the ocean and snorkeling is like heaven to me.  For the past eight years I've been blessed to live on a beautiful, clear lake and I love soaking in the cool water on a hot day, kayaking around the shore or just sitting on the beach watching the gentle waves. 
For the layout above, I used the Cricut to cut out the wavy "WATER" letters and then ran them through the Cuttlebug with a wavy embossing folder.  Then I chalked the embossed areas with another shade of blue and outlined edges with blue Stickles.  The waves were cut out of different shades of blue and then with a white gel pen, hand drew more waves.  Also hit and missed some wave tops with the Stickles.  I used alphabet stamps to add the "Love the" and "Ocean".  The corner "Journey" stamp is from 7 Gypsies.  I also used the white gel pen to add the wording under the picture.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

SVG File: Striped Easter Egg

Talk about irony...here I am working on springy, Easter files while outside it is snowing and we are under a winter storm warning.  Umm....I do believe it is SPRING....someone should inform the weatherman!  Wishing this snow would go away and let my poor flowers (who were just peeking up) have a little warm sunshine.
SORRY THIS FILE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE YOU CAN PURCHASE IT HERE
File offered for free for at least one week (or until I post the next freebie).
Here's a little "Sneak Peak" of what I will be offering on the new
Diecut Designers website:
The Grand Opening is this Saturday.  Until then, the forums are open and lots of people have already joined.  Check it out:  HERE

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Only A Week To Go...

...Until the GRAND OPENING of the web's newest community:
This is why I've been looking for people to be part of my new Creative Team! 

Diecutdesigner.com will be a great site.  A one-stop-shop for SVGs, but also a fun community of  electronic cutter fans offering advice, inspiration and friendship. 
And yes, I will be selling exclusive SVGs in their store. 
But not to worry friends, I will still have a WEEKLY FREE SVG file on this blog!  (I won't be posting them on any set day so if you're not a follower, you might want to consider it to make sure you always get the free file.) 
I also believe that by having a Creative Team, I will be able to offer even more great ideas and creative inspiration here for paper artists.  (If you are interested in being on the CT, please send me an email.  I am currently reviewing applicants.  See this POST  for all the details.)

I'm so thrilled to be able to offer even more new and exciting things to all of you.
As my mentor Martha would say, "It's a good thing."

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Who Got the "Button" Prize? Helena!

The winner for the little prize package was:
True Random Number Generator 6
Powered by RANDOM

Helena Lane, who said:
Great Blog.. I a happy to post your button on my blog. I'm new at blogging. www.kricutlane.com I love the svg Easter Egg file. Thanks for your generosity.

Congratulations to Helena and a big thanks to everyone who put my button on their blog!
Cindy

SVG File: Easter Chick

Thought a cute little chick face might brighten your day!  I added some watercolored pencil shading and black stitching.  I used a white gel pen to add the highlights to the eyes.  You can get the file HERE.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Button, Button, Who's Got My Button?

EVERYONE'S A WINNER IN THIS GAME!
Since Danielle did not claim her "Pet Week" prize within seven days (and since it's all wrapped up and ready to mail), I thought I'd give it away to someone who has my button on their blog.  And, since I'm hoping you'll want to put my button on your blog, everyone who has it will get a prize!
Here's how this will work:
1.  Post my button on your blog (copy and paste the code found at the top right sidebar).
2.  In the Comments, post your blog link and your choice of either the free SVG file or the free digital stamp file (shown below).
3.  Make sure I have an email for you...found either on your blog or include in your comment.
I will email you your free file and then on Wednesday evening, will randomly select a new winner out of all the comments for the unclaimed prize, which includes these things:
7 Gypsies Tied Book Kit and a Puppy Love pendant-created by me.

Here are your Free File Choices:
Easter Egg with Ribbon SVG File. 
I cut this file out of a patterned paper (bottom layer) and a solid paper (top layer).  I then used Distresss Inks to "paint" shadowing.  Added details with Stickles and a white gel pen.  I cut the ribbon from pink paper and again added shadows with DI.  
OR
Painter Bunny Digital File
Available in jpeg or png format. 
I colored this bunny with watercolor pencils and then cut out to apply to the card.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Creative Chaos 2011

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I cleaned the studio for my annual "Creative Chaos" Girls Weekend.  So today I thought I'd expand on that and tell you about "Creative Chaos" in case you'd like to plan a similar event.  It really is a great time with your girlfriends!

A little history.  My family has always been creative...we all have our own talents so when hubby and I built our vacation home, I thought it would be fun to get away with my two sisters and my niece for a crafty weekend.   We each planned a little project that we would teach to the others.  At that time I was only painting so I did a little Uncle Sam project.  One sister taught us beaded bracelets, the other a paper and modpodged frame.  My niece (who was 7) had us drawing unique pictures.  We had a great time.  The picture below was our first "group" photo, taken in 2002.
Then a few years later when we moved up north permanently and I had a studio,
I invited everyone up to work on a special scrapbook for my Dad's 70th birthday. 
That led to an annual event. 
I basically turn my home into a Scrapbooking Bed & Breakfast for a long weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun). I discovered that a maximum of seven people was the right amount of people, not only fit into the studio but also to sleep comfortably.  I have all the meals planned and cooked for my guests.  They bring up their scrapping gear, a dessert or snack to share and anything special they want to drink.  As for meals, I make it simple.  Friday night my hubby brings home pizza (yes, he stays with us girls...he won't leave the house as there is so many goodies to eat!).  For Saturday I make up a breakfast casserole and serve salads and "make your own" deli sandwiches for lunch.  Dinner is usually lasagna, but this year I branched out and made chili up in the crockpot.  That was even easier!  Sunday breakfast & lunch are repeats from Saturday. 
I also make up "goodie" bags for my guests.  This year I used PENNY DUNCAN'S gift bag skirt file.  (Aren't they awesome?  Penny has such wonderful things she shares.)  I try to make each bag reflect the recipient.  Here are some of them:
 
All year I will collect different items to put into them.  This year the bag contained a cocoa spiral chipboard album, a metallic marker, a MM Pebble Clip and a special fabric ornament.   I stamped "Friends Forever" (7 Gypsies) on matching paper and slid it into the ornament frame.  Then on the back I wrote "Girls Weekend 2011".
I also have contests and prizes.  I try to vary the contests each year so that my guests never know what's coming.  One year I had a card challenge.  Everyone received a paper bag with the same elements and they had a 1/2 hour to make a card from them.  Prizes have also been given out for getting the most pages done, getting the least pages done, etc.  Sometimes I'll just have them draw numbers.  And when you are a winner you get to wear the Scrapping Queen Crown! 
Here's my sister Vic.  Last year she won for least amount of pages in a day.  But they were spectacular!
My friend Connie wore the crown this year because she drew the right number!
This is a picture from two years ago.  Now you know why I call it "Creative Chaos"!
The 2008 group.  Notice that we DO NOT dress up or wear makeup or do our hair when it is Girls Weekend!
I sometimes also plan other activities.  In 2007 we had a Friday night "Purse Party".  Most years I will also bring in a professional for full body massages.  Unfortunately this year my gal was on vacation!  But when she does come, she sets up in the family room next to the studio.  I block it off with screens and dim the lights.  She gives us a super rate and each of us can get a full hour of massage on Saturday.
This year karma just wasn't with me.  First I set the date thinking my youngest (and super creative) sister could make it.  Nope, she works for a major furniture manufacturer and the Highpoint Market conflicted so she couldn't come.  Then two days before, my BFF Sue fell down her stairs and ended up in the hospital!  A sister-in-law was coming until HER work schedule forced her to cancel.  My niece, who is a junior in HS had a sports conflict.  YIKES.  So we were down to just four of us.  Lots of room to spread out but I missed all that extra creative power being in the room!  We still had a really great time though.  I think it's just as much fun to laugh and gab and gossip as it is to create.  And we all learn from each other.  This year Connie and Cindy went "Stickle Crazy"!
Below are the rest of the pics from this year.
Sister Jen working away.
SIL Cindy learned all about Stickles that weekend!  And she produced a TON of pages.  Over achiever!  lol
And here's me.  Notice I'm just goofing off...looking at an album and drinking wine out of a teeny, tiny bottle?  Don't worry, I DID get to work and actually completed an album that weekend.


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Sharing: Tag for Challenges

Well I seem to be on a roll....I'm entering this tag into TWO Challenges!  Whoo hoo. 
The first one is Studio L3's Grungy Monday Challenge.  The challenge is to feature one of the Tim Holtz techniques.  This particular technique involves stamping a "mask" onto dictionary paper using matte medium as the resist.  As I seem to have a thing lately for birds, I used a bird stamp.
The other challenge I'm entering this into is  Gingersnap Creations Third Annual Copper, Ginger, or Rust Challenge.
I adhered the dictionary page to a tag then used Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain, Tumbled Glass and Faded Jeans Distress Inks to bring out the masked image.  I added detail to the bird with a rust colored pen and stamped some flourishes near it.  The vintage image was printed out on cardstock and "painted" with Distress Ink.  I also distressed the ticket, tag and rosette.  The center of the rosette has a metal Tim Holtz flower and copper brad.  I used rusty wire to attach the tag and also at the top with the ribbons.  Can you spot the little copper feather attached to the top wire?  Here are some close up photos:


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

SVG File: Easter Egg Heading

Time to get back to Easter crafting! 
I cut the above card heading on patterned and solid papers.  I then went in with my Tumbled Glass Distress Inks and the water pen and added shading to the left side of the patterned eggs.  Then I shaded the solid blue with Faded Jeans DI.  I stamped the blue background paper with the flowers and shaded under the egg heading and the sides with Tumbled Glass.  I cut the yellow strip and stamped on the "Happy" and using Vintage Photo DI, shaded the sides and above the eggs.  I also added dots of yellow Stickles to random flower centers...I don't think it shows up to good, but it added a nice sparkle.
You can get the Easter Egg heading SVG file HERE.
***EDIT--Sorry, this file is no longer available for free.
You may purchase it as part of this set HERE.