Cuttin' Up Saturday! Happy Birthday

It's Cuttin' Up time again, and we're featuring Happy Birthday phrases cut from our choice of Cricut Cartridges...and since it's Cuttlebug Challenge's birthday, as well as my Grandson's birthday, I've chosen to make a really fun easel card. The phrase is cut from Cricut Cake Basics, and makes a perfect marquee for this Baseball Card.

My papers come from the L'il Man coordinated paper pack from Cosmo Cricket. It has ribbons, chip board, and several different styles of paper.

Happy Birthday, Tyler

Tyler watched a lot of Tampa Bay Rays, and even the Bradenton Marauders, baseball with us this summer, so this makes a great themed card for his 9th birthday.

I'm really fond of the new Polka Dots Cuttlebug folder - it's similar to everyone's favorite Swiss Dots - but the spots are bigger, and with Core'dinations paper, that means more color shows through. Love it!!

I hope you'll check out what the rest of the designers have created for this week, and also what was showcased on Wed. for the Be Inspired Challenge. You could be a winner this week.... we love to see what you make!

Check back on Monday... I have a big surprise!

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 ~

Be Inspired # 46 and Cosmo Cricket

This week's challenge is in honor of all of the kiddos headed back to school! We are altering notebooks, creating locker door decorations, gifts for teachers, desk sets, ~ all sorts of matching items to whet your creative appetites! The Design Team was given an interesting assortment of the latest in Cosmo Cricket's goodies! I received the "Lil Man" set, which had some really cool things in it.... Now, most of you know that my "Lil Man" will be 30 in a couple of weeks, (and is still the apple of his Mom's eye)...but he doesn't really want me to cover his notebooks anymore! BUT, I really did like this paper, and the great chipboard pieces that they sent, as well as this lucious velvet scalloped ribbon trim. Sooo....guess who's office these goodies will grace???? We'll see....one never knows with me !!!

Everything in this came from Cosmo Cricket, except the red ribbon and the Red Stickles.

I hope you are inspired to create something wonderful! It doesn't have to be elaborate, just give it a shot, and take a picture, then link it to Cuttlebug Challenge! We would love to get 100 participants this week!

Don't forget that we begin our big birthday party palooza next week, too!

Happy crafting ~

More Me and Carrie Lou

As promised, I have shared a couple more "Me and Carrie Lou" images. The one above is the same Birdhouse Floral that I did in soft lavendars a few days ago...only this time I used stronger shades of corals and garnet. The green background is embossed wtih the new Cuttlebug Christmas folder called Candy Cane...it will definitely be a year round favorite! The image is from Stampin' Up!, and the edge trim is from Fiskars.

This little beauty is called Floral Butterfly, and it is a delight to color! I used Niji Pearlescent watercolors and an aquapainter, and I wish you could see how it shimmers all over!! The background embossing is with a Sizzix texture plate, and the velvet scallop trim is from Cosmo Cricket.

I do hope you will check out Me and Carrie Lou Stamps!

I'll be back soon with some more goodies! Until then....

Happy crafting ~