*** BLOG HOP CANDY ***

It's almost time!!! The fabulous Cuttlebug Challenge Relax, Rejuvenate, Be Inspired Spa Retreat weekend is nearly here....and there are so many prizes available to win....

I wanted to thank every one of my loyal blogging buddies! I am offering a prize of two Cuttlebug Die/Embossing sets, to be given away on Monday, May 4th. All you have to do is:
1. Already be a follower, or subscriber to receive email notices of my posts... OR
2. Sign up to be a follower, or subscriber to receive email notices of my posts....
AND
3. Leave me a comment telling me, sometime between now and Sunday, May 3 at midnight, EST.

I will draw a winner on Monday, May 4, announcing the winner!! Since you will be a follower, you will be notified automatically!! Isn't that great!!! Good Luck!!!

Be Inspired #29

Here is my Mother's Day card ensemble created with the downloadable stamps from our sponsor this week MYGRAFICO STAMPS. I have always loved pink and black together, and this seemed to be just the right combo! The black cardstock is embossed with the Language of Love tiny hearts folder from Cuttlebug, and the border punch is Martha Stewart. The circle stamp is from Studio G.

Check out Cuttlebug Challenge to see what the rest of the design team has done!!!

Happy Mothers' Day to all the wonderful women out there who nurture and love the children of the world, of all ages. You make a difference.....every day....you may or may not be a natural mother, but you have a great influence in the lives of these special little people. They watch you. Thanks to all the aunts, grandmothers, teachers, and friends who touch their lives....and to those who helped me raise my children to be the wonderful people they are......God bless you all. Happy Mother's Day.

Hugs,

BettyBee

Relax, Rejuvenate, and Be Inspired Weekend

Okay, this is my idea of Relaxing, and Rejuvenating! Isn't this the cutest little one????

Don't forget to be a part of the Cuttlebug Challenge Spa Retreat Weekend starting THIS FRIDAY morning at 8:00 and going all weekend. You can start at 8:00 or whenever you can. Just check in, relax, enjoy the tutorials, challenges, interviews, prizes, and more, more, more! Start with the BLOG HOP, and gather flowers, and relaxation tips. This is going to be a great weekend. Celebrate National Scrapbook Day like a Queen!!!

(Thanks to Cottonelle for having this awesome ad!!)

Ocala Swarm April 24,25 2009

Here we are at Priceless Scrapbooks in Ocala, Florida! What a great crew, and MANY THANKS to Carol and Margaret for being such great hostesses! They did a wonderful job!!! It was a fun birthday party theme, and we had a super~sparkling time! (LOL - inside joke with ROE!!!)

Here I am with Wanda and my new friend, Billie! Not much work getting done, but a whole lot of fun, and that's the most important part!!!

Sandy takes the best pictures! She's the semi-official photographer, and this time, we got took here picture taking the pictures! Got you, Sandy!!!

At least SOMEBODY worked! Look at Sandy and Debbie getting busy :) Debbie got the word that she is off for some very special heart treatment this week...our prayers go with you, dear friend.

Bette and Suzanne are taking a nap......oh, my mistake!! They are probably doing that awesome Copic coloring that Enfys showed us how to do. Look at Margaret woking away in the background. She's probably working on that jeep that she's planning to surprise Loretta with!

Billie and another local Ocala friend just chillin' This is their home store, so they didn't feel the need to scrap until the doors locked up at night, like some of us did!

Okay, I'm actually working,,,and is Roe working, or is that a green glow coming from her lap??? Wanda beat us both out with her projects! You go, girl! Roe finished some adorable ATC cards with little lizards on them, from the new Life's a Beach cricut cartridge. Thanks, Carol!

ANNOUNCING: We decided on the date for the next Cricuteers in Paradise Swarm in Punta Gorda. It will be Fri - Sun. August 7, 8, and 9, 2009! It will be held at the same location, and we reserved our favorite chef, Joni! Believe it or not, the swarm is already half filled, so if you are interested in attending, leave a comment, and get your reservations in NOW!! This will fill up fast!...

A wonderful time was had by all. Thanks again to Carol, Margaret, and all who made it happen. I know what goes into making a successful swarm so much fun. You all are great.

Hugs,

Have a hunny of a day,

BettyBee

Swarm in Ocala, April 2009

Here's Bethany saying HI!

Wanda is ready to head back to the hotel for a good rest! But she's sure smiling after a great day of scrapping fun!

Roe was a great chauffeur, since we left my car at the hotel that morning. The only problem was that we didn't think ahead far enough ~ we had to pack everything for THREE of us into her little car when it was time to leave the swarm that night!!! TOP down, and packed high!! Wanda is a super packing genius!!

I'm having trouble uploading photos now....more to come soon.

Have a hunny of a day .....
BettyBee

Magnificent Butterfly

Isn't this GORGEOUS?!? At the cricut swarm in Ocala this past weekend, this is one technique that we shared, and I loved it!!! These butterflies are gold filigree stickers, and by layering one on vellum, coloring the back, and then doing the second layer on clear acetate, this fabulous creature emerges! Every one that we did was different, but just as breath-taking! The edge of the card was painted wtih a Krylon Gold Leaf pen...also SO beautiful.

Birthday Challenge Card

This little card was quick and fun, because it was a challenge card at the Ocala Cricut swarm. We were given a baggie of miscellaneous parts and pieces, which we had to use on a card...this is what I came up with. All I added was the star stamp, which I bought at the swap table, a couple of dimensional dots, and some inking...everything else was in the baggie. I cut the patterned paper to get the "planets", layered the stars, split the ribbon into strips, and that was about it. Simple, but effective. I hope you get inspired to use some pieces that you have to create someting fun today.

Have a hunny of a day!

BettyBee

Be Inspired #28

Marks Papers has sponsored the Cuttlebug Challenge this week, and this is their gorgeous Necktie patterned paper! My friends are moving to a new home, and I think this fun little SU! stamp makes a great spinner in this dimensional card. Thanks to my friend, Rosemary, for showing me how to make this fun style card!

I used the Textile cuttlebug folder on the front to echo the style of this paper, the border punch is Martha Stewart, and the message was computer generated.

Don't forget about the most exciting event of the Spring coming up!! To celebrate National Scrapbooking Day, Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot is treating you to a Spa Weekend!!! Be sure to check it out starting with a BLOG HOP on Friday morning, May 1st, and then there are challenges, tutorials, HUGE prizes and all sorts of wonderful things going on all weekend!!! DON"T MISS IT!!!!!

Okay, Gotta buzz.....you have a hunny of a day, and I'll bee back soon....

BettyBee

A couple of Quick Birthday Cards

Here are a couple of humorous birthday cards for a friend who has a great sense of humor. I love the one at the top - I am almost sure she'll write in it "I know I was!" and she is a retired lady :) These are Studio G stamps. Cute, huh? It doesn't show in the photo, but the ol' gal on the pony has liquid glass on her spec's and the images on both are raised on dimensionals.

This will be a busy week, as I am making some special treats for a Cricut Swarm in Ocala, and

a very special tutorial to share with you on the May 1st - 3rd Spa Weekend at Cuttlebug Challenge!!!

Be sure to mark your calendars so you are ready to participate in some great fun, win great prizes and learn great techniques all weekend. Blog Hop starts that Friday morning!!

Have a hunny of a day!

BettyBee

Makes My Heart Smile :)

Thanks to Meda for this precious blog award! She is very talented wedding invitation designer, member of the Cuttlebug Design Team, and does some major magic with the web designs. Be sure to check out her blog!

There are so many to choose from when I receive one of these awards! This time I choose:

Beth

Deanne

Check out their fabulous blogs, and I'll be back later with more ! Gotta buzz off to school right now!

BettyBee

Be Inspired # 27

It's April 15th, which is Tax Day here in the USA, and our challenge at CuttlebugChallenge this week is to use numbers on our cards. This card is a fun one for someone special! I embossed a very shimmery background paper with the "You" Cuttlebug Folder for the background, and then cut out "You're" from "You're Invited" with the Cricut Beyond Birthdays cartridge. The "#1" cut outs are from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge. Everything is edged in gold with an Elmer's Metalic paint marker. The seal is a sticker from an office supply store, adhered to a circle, and paper pierced to give it interest. The ribbon is from Michael's.

Check out the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has done with numbers, and then do your magic! Post your creations to Mr. Linky, and be sure to sign up as a follower here and over there! We have had our 1,000th follower, so another new Cuttlebug Folder has been revealed at CBC! These will be introduced at CHA this summer! Cuttlebug Challenge is the place to be! Be sure to Save The Date for our magnificent Spa Weekend coming up May 1, 2, and 3!!! Over $1,000 in prizes, WOW!!!!!

Happy Numbers here and with your taxes!

Have a honey of a week!

BettyBee

Bears, Part II

I've had a special request to re-post the bear picture, now that I've doctored it up in Photoshop. I hope you can make out the big fellow now. Thanks to Bishop Scott, in the lower right, who was also trying to scare the bears away, and get the girls to stay inside!

Lions and Tigers and BEARS, Oh, MY!!

Well, at least the Bears part!!! I just got back from a week at Girls' Camp, and we did have some adventures! Imagine being in charge of over 100 girls and women, and having wild bears come raid your camp!!! They were so bold - they came right up on the porches of the cabins the girls were in. They jumped on the coolers, opened them, and ate whatever they could find. One even used his claw to pop the top off a jar of peanut butter and proceded to sit right there and enjoy the whole thing. There were 4 large bears and they stayed around for hours the first night. The next night I suspect the girls left some s'mores around to be sure that they had another visit from Big Bad Teddy and his friends. Unfortunately, the girls weren't a bit afraid of these 200 pound marauders. They were coming out of their cabins, and watching while the bears were knocking over trash cans, rummaging around the fire ring, and coming up near the cabins. I took a couple of photos of a big fellow just across the fire ring from me, but it was pretty dark and doesn't show up on email. I'll try to post it, to see if you can see him. The girls acted like they were at Disney, because they weren't afraid of these dangerous wild animals. We had a tough time getting them to stay inside, and away from the bears. These bears are in danger, too, because they weren't afraid of humans. We even banged pot lids, etc. and they didn't run away.

Click on the picture to enlarge it, and look to the right of the third tree from the left to see if you can make out that bad boy! Notice the other person back there with the flashlight...why???
We also saw lots of other wildlife, like deer, snakes, really strange fox squirrels, armadillos, skinks and a whole host of other little critters. The camp was just beautiful. We had a great time, and accomplished many wonderful things, including 20 quilts for a domestic abuse shelter. Our "Bee" theme was carried out in lots of ways, and we really had fun. The girls were so sweet, and learned a lot of camping skills and spiritual lessons. Many thanks to the wonderful sisters that helped to make it all happen. Love you all.

Betty-theQueenBee

What I learned from the Easter Bunny

I know this is late posting, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway. I had fun doing this little clip art piece, and have been working on a new technique that I plan to share with you soon (** tease**)

Our Cuttlebug Challenge this week is to emboss on vellum. It is so easy to do, and creates such a pretty look. I hope you'll give it a try, and then link your masterpiece to the Cuttlebug Challenge Mr. Linky! They have some great gift certificates from Crop Stop this week. I know you love freebies, like I do!!!

In the second picture, you see the inside of the card. I did this on the computer, then added bits of color to the lettering with chalk. Isn't this the cutest saying? The carrots across the bottom were from wingdings in a computer font. The bunnies are a Studio G stamp, of bunnies in a row, and I just masked them, so that I got a single bunny.

I'll be back soon with new posts. I've missed you all!!

Have a honey of a day!

BettyBee

Save the Date!!!

This is an amazingly exciting event! We have been working on the details for some time now, and we have over $1,000 in prizes to give away, plus you will love working on the exciting projects that we have in store for you!!! This is National Scrapbook Day weekend, and since we intend to be the number one site on the web for you, we have put together one awesome weekend of activities to inspire, and pamper you! Check out the Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot to get all of the details....and mark your calendars today!!!

Intersite Cuttlebug Challenge!

How exciting to do out challenge with another design team, AND an awesome sponsor this week! We have teamed up with Sheet Loads and Short Cuts who make the best clear and frosted acylic card bases! We shared a sketch, so it will be so much fun to see what all of the designers do with this awesome material! Thanks Sheet Loads! Be sure to check out Cuttlebug Challenge and Short Cuts and give it a try!!!

I decided to make an Easter card, and used Short Cuts NoteOne downloadable design for the folded over design at the top. The bunnies are stamped directly onto the clear acrylic, and then flocking is added to give them cotton tails! Isn't that cute!?! Fun and easy. Please come over to CBC and give it a try this week!!

Don't forget that there is only one more day to take the Provo Craft Cuttlebug Survey at Cuttlebug Challenge! See the sneak peeks of the new Cuttlebug folders to be released this summer at the Craft and Hobby Association convention! They look awesome. Sign up as a blog follower and you might win the prizes!!!

Thanks for being my followers, too. I appreciate you being with me.

Gotta buzz for now. See you again soon.

BettyBee