Guest Designer Challenge Today!! Be Inspired #20

Being on the Design Team for Cuttlebug Challenge is very exciting to me, but especially when we feature a guest designer! Today's challenge features a sketch the very talented artist, Valerie Salmon, brought to us just for you! Isn't it gorgeous? She is going to choose one of your cards to win a subscription to her GOT SKETCH? publication!!! Valerie's bio includes: currently being Creative Team Member of Scrapbooks, Etc., and Fiskars Designer (Heidi Grace, Cloud 9, Li'l Davis), Scarlet Lime Designer, also the 2007Paper Crafts Magazine's 1st Gallery Idol, 2006 Memory Makers Master, 2005 Paperkuts Power Team Member. and she has been published hundreds of times!!! We are so proud to have her as our guest designer for you today!!

My card features beautiful, bold DCWV two sided paper, and I've showcased both sides. The accent paper is Sonshine CS embossed with Swiss Dots. The flowers and smoky gems are Prima, and the stamps are StudioG. The heat embossing powder is translucent Sahara Pearls by Stamp-N-Stuff. The scalloped square is cut twice from the Cricut Accent Essentials cartridge, and the scallop band is Plantin Schoolbook.

It's your turn to create something wonderful from Valerie's sketch. Link your card to Mr. Linky on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog, and you could be the Winner of the Card of the Week!

Cricuteers in Paradise!

As many of you know, I am hosting a Cricut Swarm this coming weekend, and I am delighted that there will be 28 very talented ladies and 2 very brave and talented gentlement coming!! Our theme is Cricuteers in Paradise, and we have dubbed our retreat as Cricut-ritaville, and we are adopting an all out Jimmy Buffet theme! Of course we start at 5:00 with Cheeseburgers in Paradise!!!! LOL One of the fun things we do is find out about a fellow attendee and make a name tag and table tent card just for them. What a fun ice breaker. When everyone arrives, they already have a new friend. This is the set that I made for Ginni, who I know loves flowers, and makes cards with beautiful butterflies on them.

I really got into making these little things for her, and if you will permit me a bit of personal babbling...it was such a sweet feeling tonight as I was preparing this, I was talking to one of the ladies who will be attending the swarm. I don't know her yet, but through all of this, she has met my Mom. Even though I'm 57 years old (YIKES!) it still makes me feel good to hear that my mom talks about the art that I did when I was in high school... shows my pieces today...(she still puts my work on the fridge!) ...and I count my blessings that I am able to work in this field now, doing something that I love so much, and get such enjoyment from ...and now to be getting a tiny bit of recognition for it, too. Thank you so much, and I love you Mom.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming!!! ..... The flowers and leaves are cut from the Walk in My Garden cricut cartridge, and the butterflies are from Paper Doll Dress Up (Angel wings!) The flip feature of the Expressions allows making perfectly "kissed" pieces that need to match up. Isn't it fun to have the grass patterned paper in the background?

I hope this inspires you for your next 3D project. If you need any info, just leave me a comment!

See you tomorrow, when we have the great GOT SKETCH? CHALLENGE on CuttlebugChallenge! with our Guest Designer Valerie Salmon!

Big, Big Birthday Wishes!

As part of the SCS Virtual Stamp Night challenge, we were to choose a set of stamps that we weren't sure "why we had them" and become in love with them :) This set of darling little construction guys were really fun to color, and put together, but what was the perfect sentiment? "Construction Complete....baby announcement" would work really well, but no babies here right now... On the road to recovery would be good, too.... Remember we only had 45 minutes for this challenge, so I used my Mickey Font cartridge and made a fun birthday card that will be perfect for some little Handy Mandy fellow. What would you say with this construction set? Leave me a comment!!

Happy Birthday, Spencer!

Every once in a while you know JUST what you want to do with a card, and this was one of those occasions. Our very cool Son-In-Law is turning 35 this week, and none of us can hardly believe it!!! Spencer is an extremely fun loving guy, and will always be one of the kids, so this was just the right message to wish him all the best on his Big Day! We love you with all our hearts, Spencer!! Happy Birthday!!!

Big News Buzzing!!!

Meet the wonderfully talented Valerie Salmon, author of GOT SKETCH?!!

Over at Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot we are proud to have Valerie Salmon as our Guest Designer for the Month... at http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com

We all know how talented Valerie Salmon is, and how much we enjoy her column in Scrapbook etc. Magazine every month! And we have all seen the little flyers at JoAnn Fabrics from Fiskar featuring Valerie's gorgeous lay outs.

Also, at Micheal's the lay out featured on top for K & CO, as examples, are from Valerie as well!!

Valerie Salmon has created a wonderful card sketch just for us! The Design Team is eager to share how they interpereted the sketch. We invite you to participate in this challenge with us and have fun with the sketch!

Where: Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot.com
When: Wednesday, February 25th, 2009 8:30 am EST the sketch will be revealed
Deadline: Please link your card no later than March 3rd in Mr. linky

Who: Valerie Salmon will pick her favorite card out of the submissions, and the winner will receive one a one year subscription to GOT SKETCH? AWESOME!!!!

We can't wait to see your submission.

SCS New Love Challenge

This was my second card for the VSN, and it involved all new supplies...Rosemary had gorgeous new paper and flowers with her, which she encouraged me to use...and get out of my comfort zone! Thanks, Roe!! I even used my new MS cathedral punch for the borders. This paper actually had a lot more color on the edges, but it didn't show up on this card...watch for it to show up on another piece one of these days :)

Sketch a Little Love!

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On Friday VellumX and I attempted our very first SCS Virtual Stamp Night, and WOW did we have fun! One must be ready for a wild and crazy create-a-thon to keep up with a new challenge every hour!! This is my first card, which was to have a circle, a heart, and to show something that you love.... We all know that Rusty and Dusty leave pawprints on my heart, as do all of our furbabies, so this was my entry.

Be sure to check out Rosemary's blog to see her gorgeous cards! (She did more, and was better at it than I was!!) LOL

Will you be the winner??

This week over at Cuttlebug Challenge you could be the winner of the Embossed Acetate Card Challenge, and get to post the Awesome Winner Award on your blog!!!

Be Inspired #19

This is my card for this week's Cuttlebug Challenge Be Inspired #19. The challenge was to emboss acetate - easy and I love the outcome. I wish my reason for the card weren't a sad one...a dear friend, Audie, passed away this week, and I am sending this card to her husband, Ed. He will know I put a lot of love and prayers into it. I made the card from kraft paper, embossed the acetate with the Stylized Flowers folder, and colored the back side with Sharpie markers. I attached the acetate on the left edge with ATG tape. The cathedral trim is made with a Martha Stewart punch. The bottom edge was trimmed with pinking shears. The words were computer generated. I embossed the image on the left, and colored it with LePlume pens, and added it to the top of the card with dimensionals. The sheer ribbon is from Michael's. The pearls add a touch of sweet elegance, and anchor the message. Inking is with chalk inks. I can't wait to see what you do with embossed acetate!!!

Mellow Yellow Monday!!

Today is my day to do Rendezvous Monday on Cuttlebug Challenge!! I've had the song "They Call It Mellow Yellow" in my head for quite a while. So that's my challenge - creat a card in YELLOW. What comes to your mind when you think of yellow? A friend yesterday said "Lemon chiffon pie!" Yummy!! Yellow can be strong, vibrant and playful, or it can be gentle, tender and soft. I did three distinctly different feelings with these cards, and I hope they give you some great ideas.





Here's your challenge...click over to http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com and try out the Mellow Yellow challenge. Let your sunshine radiate, and have a hunny of a day!!

BettyBee

Be Inspired #18

The Cuttlebug Challenge Be Inspired for Wednesday was to do a Shaped Card. It has been so cold here lately, that I was ready to hurry spring with a fun Easter Egg card. This was cut from Doodlecharms, using Design Studio to weld the front and back into a complete card, then cutting a separate "belly band" from green cardstock. The front of the egg was embossed with the Paisley Cuttlebug folder, then inked with two shades of purple. The band was stamped with a StudioG message, and then embossed with a cut Swiss Dots folder. The band has two slits cut in it to allow the ribbon to pass under the Happy Easter then be tied in a little bow on the side. The little chickie was first stamped with Sunflower ink, then covered with mulberry paper to give the fuzzy look. Both pieces were accented with dots of liquid pearls to give it a finished look. Jump over to Cuttlebug Challenge to see what the other designers have come up with, and add your own creations! C'mon and give it a try! What shape do you want to do?????

"Next Besties" by BettyBee

WoW! The wait is over, and, as promised ...my very first tutorial video! I would like to thank my director, Bob, and my producers, Doug and Brad, for making it all possible, because I am NOT smarter than a fifth grader when it comes to getting contrary computers to co-operate! Truly, they got some major bugs worked out to bring this to you, and I appreciate it greatly!

Now, on to the show! We all love that sharp embossed edge that Nestabilities give their die cuts, but sometimes they don't have the size or shape that we might need. I've come up with a way to use the Cuttlebug, and my Cricut (or you can use any cutting system) to create Next Besties, because they are the next best thing! I hope this will give you some ideas so that you can create something fabulous today! Be sure to check out Cuttlebug Challenge for more great ideas, too.

Sat Sketch Hour #8

If you sew, don't you love having a pattern to follow, and seeing all of the gorgeous dresses that the models wear, showcasing that design, and giving you ideas??? Well, that's what Saturday Sketch Hour at Cuttlebug Challenge is all about! Click on over and find out what this morning's pattern is, and see how our spectacular Design Team has made it their own! Be sure to Blog Hop and check out what these amazing artists have done!

Here is Aymee Gandy's digital sketch (sorry it's "pixelated"), but you can see the idea, and her sketch will be clear on CBC!


Here is my cheerful little version! It features my new Love Language cuttlebug folder, which did those adorable hearts along the top, Swiss Dots on the layered flower, and MS branch punch leaves. This sits along side one of my favorite images, which I colored with water color pencils and baby oil gel. The flowers are accented with Stickles for pizzazz. The scallop trim is velvet trim that I got in an LSS by the yard, topped with an embroidery thread bow. "Hello" is a StudioG stamp, highlighted with a micron pen. Add plenty of dimensional to pop them up, and "Voila'!"

I hope you are Inpsired to send someone a Cheery Hello today!


Gotta Buzz,
BettyBee

Blog Candy WINNER!!!!!

85 qualified entries!!!

Giving them a good stir ....

And tne winner is .....

Yummy!

Many thanks to you fabulous readers who took part in the amazing Luv Bug Weekend. I SO appreciate your enthusiasm, your sweet comments, and your participation. I truly hope you found tons of great ideas that will enhance your crafting experiences. I loved reading about all of the things that you love, and it does my heart good to know that God, Family, and Chocolate are still in their rightful places!!! Well, without further ado,,,,let's get on with the drawing of the winner of the prize package for Sweets For My Sweet! What could be sweeter than having the winning name drawn by the sweetest grandbaby anywhere???? I put all of your names on slips of paper, put them in a big bowl, and Baby Porter got to reach right in and get the winning one! Very tasty!!! Congratulations to SUZANNE!!!!! Please email me your mailing address so I can send your goodies!!! (If I don't hear from you by Thursday midnight I'll have to pull another name on Friday, so hurry!)

BettyBee

Thanks to a Special Friend

This card isn't very complicated, but it does show a couple of new things, and a TEASER! Thanks to a special friend for showing me how to fold a big flat daisy into this gorgeous crocus looking flower! The background is heat embossed using VersaMark and clear embossing powder, with a new StudioG wood mounted stamp. The teaser has to do with the pink plaque in the corner....watch for a TUTORIAL coming soon on NEXT BESTIES!!! As Porkie Pig used to say,,, Th..th..th...that's all Folks!!! See you again soon ;0)