Be Inspired #101 Nostalgia Week

Crafty Secrets has sent us some fun little vintage pieces, and this one is right on target for me this week, as I have a very challenging new cell phone, and I've had this very sentiment more than once!!

The Design Team over at Cuttlebug Challenge has created some darling pieces with their retro cards, and I hope you will have an enjoyable walk down Memory Lane with them, and take a few moments to create a project of your own for the challenge this week. There is a nice prize package from Crafty Secrets for the winner this week!

For my card, I've used vintage wallpaper patterned paper by Crafty Secrets, topped by mats by Marco paper, and the corner designs are dies by Cuttlebug Ornamentals. The old fashioned phones are cut from with my Cricut Heritage cartridge ~ perfect for this image :) and they are accented with a warm brown watercolor pencil. The flowers are my favorites, from Wild Orchids!

On a personal note, I am so grateful for the Lord's blessings for my family. My 10 year old granddaughter was actually hit by a speeding car that passed her stopped school bus today, and she is alright. The driver did not stop, and there is hope that the camera on the bus will have captured the info that the police need. He ran over her foot, but she is okay, and her two little brothers were just behind her. It was SO INCREDIBLY close...and my daughter watched it happen. We are so thankful that our daily prayers for protection are answered.

Keep crafting and keep praying ~

Be Inspired #98 Under The Sea

Our theme for Cuttlebug Challenge this week is Under the Sea, and it sure feels like that around here! We have had so much record breaking rain, that I couldn't get enough light to get a decent photo of this cute little image! I used Copics, Smooch pearlized inks, and some liquid pearls on this project. Their eyes are shining with a Sakura clear glaze pen.
Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights by LoubyLoo, and Wendy is giving away the entire group of images to the winner of the challenge, so be sure and create something for this one! I love digital images! They are so easy to work with. You always have the file in your computer, and they can be printed out whatever size you need, and you can stack them with other images, if you are creating a scene. And if you are doing something like these seahorses, you can use your flip feature and print them out in mirror image. Try that with a rubber stamp!

I also printed each image twice, then cut and pieced different layers, so there was dimension to her face, the front part of her hair, and of course, her shimmery scales and fins. Easy and Fun :)

Supplies:

D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder

Victoria Cuttlebug Folder

Copic Markers

Smooch Inks

Colored Pencils

Liquid Glass

Sakura Glaze Pen (clear)

Dimensionals

Be sure to check in at Cuttlebug Challenge and see what the Design Team has created to inspire you this week! And check in on Friday and Saturday for Cuttle My Pages and Cuttin' Up, too!

I'm off to another Cricuteer in Paradise Swarm! This time Flossie is Swimming in Chocolate...oh, the good times we have :)

Happy crafting ~

Christmas Around the Clock

It's the grand finale at the Christmas Festival at Cuttlebug Challenge, and today is the 24 hour Chirstmas Around the Clock Challenge! One new challenge is being posted every hour, and they are really great! This is my" Create A Lot challenge". How to create a LOT of cards from one pattern, like your favorite dress pattern - which can be quite elegant or simply fun.





Please head over and see the entire ensemble of outstanding projects that have been created for Christmas in July!! Put on some music, fix a cup of hot chocolate, and feel the spirit of the season!

Grab a friend, tell your bloggies, and get crafting, because this is a week long challenge to create as many of the challenges as possible, and the winners will receive Cuttlebug Folders.

Happy Crafting ~

BettyBee

Be Inspired # 85 Using a Pennant

Today's task at Cuttlebug Challenge was to create something with a pennant....

How fun that the Give a Hoot Cricut Cartridge has these darling birds holding just that!! And this is just the time to make a birthday card for my grandson's second birthday...so I started with the birds, added his name to their pennant border, and this stair-step card just kept growing and growing!!!
Stair-step cards are fun to make! This one has three sections, plus the two pillars on the ends. The front section holds the message and the cake. The center section is where the green border and the balloons are. It is quite fun to have the balloons on acrylic strips, and attached so that when the card is opened they bounce around. I know one little two year old who will be very happy about that! And the background is on the third section. In this case, I chose a large yellow "sun" shape with the big 2, because I know that is the theme of his birthday party.
I do wish it was easier to see the great dimension that you get with stair-step cards, and especially with the pennant banner heralding the great birthday news! Oh, well... I hope you will try it for yourself, and see just how much fun it is!

Supplies:
Cricut and Cricut Cartridges by Provo Craft:
Plantain Schoolbook
Accent Essentials
Celebrations
Give A Hoot
Cuttlebug and Cuttlebug Folders by Provo Craft
Scales
Swiss Dots
Sizzix folder used in Cuttlebug
Stars
Mrs. Grossman's Vellum Sticker strips
Martha Stewart Fan Punch
Rub on Letters and Sentiments
Yellow and Frosted Lace Stickles
ZipDry Glue by Beacon Adhesives
Tear-ific Tape Adhesive by SparkleNSprinkle
Copic Markers
Sakura White Gel Pen

I hope you have been inspired! Check out the rest of the pennant projects the Design Team has created here!! You know they will be a home run!!! Tell 'em BettyBee sent you :)

Happy crafting ~

Cuttlebug Challenge Be Inspired #78

Let's Shower new Moms with Love and Special Gifts for Baby! Over at Cuttlebug Challenge it's Baby Shower week, and the Designers and I have come up with some great ideas for showering these very special individuals with wonderful treats to celebrate this blessed event. I chose to create a girl card, because I have a friend, Morgan, who is awaiting the birth of her 4th any day now :)

The background paper features expectant Mom's awaiting the miracle.

Then comes the center layer, outlined in a gorgeous shimmery pearl edging. This is done with a scrap piece of cardstock as a straight edge, Versamark ink pad, and SparkleNSprinkle Soft Pearl Semi Translucent embossing powder.

Attach a yellow ribbon underneath the two layers of paper. Just tape the ends behind the back, and attach the layered front to the cardstock card base.

The Umbrella and many of the items in it were cut from Provo Craft's New Arrival Cricut Cartridge. I cut them all with my Gypsy. I rolled the umbrella between my fingers for a while to "break" the fibers, so that it would bend nicely instead of cracking. Next, it was run through the Cuttlebug to impress it with tiny hearts. I used the very aggressive "Tear-iffically Tacky" glue tape to adhere the edges, so it would bow outward, and hold it's dimensional shape.

Every piece of clothing, toys, etc. were cut from white paper, (except the ducky). All were colored with Copics and highlighted with liquid dimensional pearls... Add a couple of Prima flowers, some ink work, a rub on, and we've got a Baby Shower card that will hold a lot of good wishes!

Your challenge is to create something wonderful to take to your next Baby Shower, and let us see it! You can also leave comments if you, or someone you know, are having or adopting a baby soon...we want to hear all about these happy events! There are three prizes to be given away to those who are creating. Check out the Blog for the details.

Happy crafting ~

New Heritage Article on Cuttlebug Blog

It has been my dream for a long time to share a lifelong passion of family history, preserving family photos, telling the most wonderful stories on earth – those of the family, and keeping priceless memorabilia and documents safe and accessible in albums. And now, thanks to my wonderful association with Cuttlebug Challenge, I get that opportunity! Starting today, I began a monthly article entitled:

Preserve and Protect Your Precious and Priceless Treasures in Heritage Albums

This series will be presented the first Saturday of each month, and will be covering such things as:

Becoming the Family Historian

Dealing with Family Documents…and getting them into albums

Family Bibles

Birth Certificates

Marriage Licenses

School Documents

Church Certificates

Work Papers

Military Documents

Newspaper Articles

Letters

Momentoes

Obituaries

Remembering Your Ancestor

How To Interview Grandpa and Uncle Joe

Tips and Tricks to Create Great Pages with Tough Photos

Journaling Today for Tomorrow

Help! My Family Tree is Nothing But Roots!

And of course, there will be much more along the way. My main goal is to help get photographs and memorabilia out of boxes, drawers, cedar chests, attics, basements, and most important of all, Grandma’s memory, and get them safely and forever placed where they will tell their stories.

Last night, as I was writing the article, I realized that I alone am the link to the generations that went before me, and those that follow. If I want my children and grandchildren to know my parents and grandparents, only I can build that wonderful bridge that will provide a way for them to cross. The work of gathering, protecting, and recording my family’s precious and priceless treasures is mine. I will embrace and share it.

This is my husband in 1936 …. These are my grandchildren today.

Isn't there a wonderful family resemblance?

John Steinbeck says “How will your children know who they are, if they don’t know where they come from?”

Please come along on this journey with me! We have exciting places to go….I have original Civil War poetry to preserve, and my family lands go back to Lord Fairfax in Northern Virginia. I recently visited some of the original homes that were built in the 1700 and 1800’s. One bride was carried over the threshold, and had the door sealed until she was carried out at the time of her death. It was resealed, and remains sealed to this day. The current owners asked me about the door, and when they learned the story of why it was sealed, and its romantic story, decided to leave it sealed! We’ll be preserving this story together.

Before next month, look around your home, and that of your family, and find those precious and priceless treasures that need to be preserved for your family. Gather them together in a safe place and we will get started. Look in old family bibles...are there treasures hidden in the pages there? Check in the file cabinets, dresser drawers, jewelry boxes....you know all of those forgotten hiding places that we stash things to deal with later.... Later is Saturday, May 1st! The address is CuttlebugChallenge.blogspot.com

You are invited to write to me and ask questions and I will do my best to find the answers for all of us. Please leave comments and suggestions, also. Let’s save a lot of memories together.

This is so exciting to me....genealogy is the number TWO use of the internet...(and none of us would use it for it's number one use ...check Law & Order:SVU) I am really looking forward to the doors this will open. I hope you will check out the other photos I posted over on Cuttlebug today!

Leaving you love and

Happy crafting ~

Just Ducky Easter Wishes!

Today's challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge is to create a Pop-Up card. Now, we all know there are lots of different kinds of pop-ups that pop up out there, but this is my favorite kind :)

It folds flat, into a regular 4 1/4 x 5/1/2 envelope (A2 size), but when you pull on the little ribbon tabs that are sticking out the top .................

POP!
Out pops your message, and so does the smile on the face of the one receiving the card!

Now, Pop on over to Cuttlebug Challenge and see what the other designers have come up with to inspire you this week. They are always popping out some amazing projects, then pop off to make your own Pop-Ups for your Easter peeps! Pop back soon, okay??

Supplies:
Core'dinations CS
Sunshine CS, DP from stash
Digi Image from Wanda's Whimsical Wonders
Textile Cuttlebug Folder by Provo Craft
Stickers by Mrs. Grossman
Stickles
Computer generated sentiment
Rub on my Making Memories
Storybook Cricut Cartridge by Provo Craft
Zip Dry Glue by Beacon Adhesives
Ribbon from Offray

Happy crafting ~

Crackled Glass Tutorial for Be Inspired #73

Today's Challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge is to create a Crackled Glass embellishment to go on your card, layout, or altered item. I thought some might need a quick tutorial on how to make one, so here it is!
Gather together your supplies, including a stamped and colored image, clear embossing powder, a Versamark or embossing stamp pad, heat gun, and your project.
Now press your image into the Versamark or embossing stamp pad, and then coat with clear embossing powder. Heat with the heat gun until it melts. Repeat this process three or four times until you have a nice thick coating of "glass".

Now place the image in the freezer for a couple of minutes, and the gently roll it to crack the "glass"... you will hear it crackle. Isn't this pretty?!
Using applicator or cotton ball, rub ink into the cracks to achieve the desired look. (I've tried about 20 times, and blogger insists on posting this photo sideways, so I give up!)

And here is the finished embellishment on the layout. Some darker inks make a much bolder statement. Be sure to check out the other examples the Design Team has created over at Cuttlebug Challenge! WOW!

Here's the Recipe:
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Sunshine
Image: Bella Boulevard
Ink: Versamark and Close To My Heart
Cuttlebug Folders by Provo Craft: Signature and Swiss Dots
Chipboard: Cosmo Cricket

Thanks for checking in today....and Happy Crafting ~

Red Hot Challenge! Be Inspired #66

This week's challenge at Cuttlebug Challenge is a Red Hot one! Those of us that have the Asian Folders are still showcasing bringing you some great designs as we CountDown to Winter CHA!
The challenge is to create a Pocket Card, and the primary color is RED!

I love House Mouse images, and these little fellows are all excited about the Asian Folders, too! I colored the image with Copics, matted it with Bazzill gold, and then embossed the red with the new Woven folder. The tag is from Cricut's Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge, and it is embossed with the Scales folder. I added a button, and black ribbons for interest. The message is done in blue ink to look like a fortune cookie message. The inside of the card says "To wonderful you, from thankful me" and these stamps are from Stampin' Up!

Now your challenge is to create a pocket card with the main color of red, and post it to Cuttlebug Challenge! Check out the DT and see what they have created to inspire you!

I'm back to the studio to create more goodies to be showcased at CHA!!!

I'll see you again soon!

Happy crafting ~

Be Inspired #65

Konnichiwa! Introducing the Cuttlebug Asian Collection from Provo Craft!! This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to create something featuring white, and those of us fortunate enough to have the new Asian Collection are showcasing one of the new folders that are being officially introduced at CHA!! (There has been a soft opening, and you can purchase them now a few places :-D)

This brings back wonderful memories to me, because we lived in Okinawa for three years, and our oldest daughter, Tori, was born there. :-D

For my card, I chose Core'dinations Whitewash collection paper, and cut it 5 1/2 x 11, then scored it at 4 1/2, and 9, so there is a 2" flap to fold inside. It has a pretty green inside, and when embossed with the BAMBOO FOLDER the bamboo image is sanded to come through in green.

I also trimmed the right edge with the Martha Steward Deep Cut Lattice Scallop punch.

The fan is cut from the PAGODA Cricut cartridge from Provo Craft. I cut it in white, stamped the leaves with an Inkadinkadoo Asian stamp, and scored the fan lines with my SCORE-IT. I then added Martha Stewart white wedding flowers, and a handmade yellow tassle. Inside are three Kanji words also cut from the PAGODA cartridge, and backed with circles and squares cut with the GEORGE cartridge.

Be sure to check out Cuttlebug Challenge to see what the rest of the designers have created this week, and add your entry to Mr. Linky! Also, be sure to check back on Thursday for the introduction of a brand new team that will be focusing on the Cricut every Thursday! There will be a lot of great things happening, and you don't want to miss even one!!

Thanks for stopping by, and I appreciate your comments.

Sayonara!

Happy crafting ~

A few things to share today

I know you think I've been lost - not really so, but I'm down with bronchitis, and haven't been posting for a while. Thankfully, it's not the flu, and I'm on the mend. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.

Here are a few goodies that I've done, but haven't gotten posted......

This features the new Cuttlebug Christmas tree folder on the red background, and the green section is punched with Fiskars corner and edge punch. The stamp was done in evergreen embossing powder and highlighted with red and gold Sakura pen.

This fun tree was done with a new Penny Black stamp that my hubby surprised me with. I stamped the background trees first, by stamping the ink off onto scrap paper first, then stamping the image onto the card. Then I did the central tree. I used a LaPlume pen for the berries on the tree. The birds were drawn free hand, and colored in with LaPlume pens. I highlighted the glisten on the tree with Stickles. The snowflakes are a Martha Stewart punch.

Happy anniversary to Emmanuel and Claudia :) He asked me to make this card. She loves stars and their favorite colors are purple and blue.

These little fellows are made from tags and punches! Aren't they cute!?

Happy Birthday to my daughter, Barbie! This card is created with one 8 .5 x 11 sheet of cardstock. You can see how it is folded, with the bottom turned up to create a pocket for holding a gift card or other goodies! The cut away section allows the top flap to fold down and hold the card shut. fun!

Be sure to follow the 12 Days of Christmas going on over at Cuttlebug Challenge between now and Christmas Eve! The design team has lots of beautiful ideas to inspire you for now and into the New Year. I hope you are enjoying your Christmas Season. Blessings to All and Happy Hanakkuh to my Jewish friends!!