Very Special Birthday Bendy Cards

I just love Bendy Cards, and think a special 

Birthday Cake edition is the very yummiest!

So, I have designed a three layer delight that is OH, So Much FUN!!

This version is for my 16 year old Grandson...

and this one is for my 

mega-football fan, 6 year old Porter!

This cards started with my 

BIRTHDAY BENDY CARD BASE

shown here, decorated in basic colors, with just 

plain papers and colored in candles.

The layers open left and right, and are held in place

with magnets!!

There is plenty of space for your sentiments inside :)

Want your cake, too???  

I have them available!!

You can order your Birthday Bendy Cards here!

If you want custom designs, like the 

ones above, send me an email and we will discuss your needs :)

Keep Calm and Have Cake!

Happy crafting!

Legions of Minions!

At our Friday Try-Day class last week we made this card, and it was so much fun seeing how many different faces and personalities these little fellows had!  I sent one right off to my Grandson T for his 12th birthday.  I hope you will enjoy making them, too!

The sentiment inside was

You're One In A MINION!

Cut yellow cardstock 4.25 x 11 and score at 5.5, creating a top fold.  Use corner rounder on top edges.

Distress all around with dark yellow ink.  I used Close To My Heart Creme Brulee.

Add a black stripe .25 inch wide across the width of the card to create the band for the goggles.

Make the goggles by punching a 1 3/8" circle in Tanzanite Gemstone paper by Co'ordinations.

Then carefully punch a 1.75 inch circle directly over the previous circle, creating a silver ring.  Repeat if your Minion has two eyes  :o)

Punch out the appropriate number of 1.75 inch white circles and .5 inch black circles for eyes.

The mouth is made the same way as the goggles, but a slightly "wonky" circle works best.  Cut a part of the circle, and arrange the mouth as desired.

Using blue paper for jeans, cut two rectangles and two "straps".

The rectangles are 1.5 x 2.5 and 1.25 x 1.5.  The straps are .25 wide and fit to length.

Distress ink with darker blue. 

Add stitching lines and "buttons" with black fine line marker.

I hope you will enjoy this card project! 

I'm off to another crop!

Happy crafting~

Two Cards and a Sneak Peek

Well, OK, I'v decided to do the sneak peek first :)  Here is one of the projects I have done for this week's UStream Class!  We are still working with the Cricut Machine, and our focus this week is

CUTTING VINYL

We will be making a couple of different projects, so bring some vinyl, ARMOUR ETCH cream, a glass pie plate or cassarole dish, and a composition book or other journal!  Your vinyl can be any type from wallpaper or contact paper to the types specifically manufactured for diecutting machines.

I hope to see you at 8:00 eastern time Tuesday, Feb. 7th.  If you can't make it, you can always check out the recording of my classes.

The next little piece that I'd like to share today is a birthday card for my sister, Joni!

What is significant is that these are the very first cuts I have made with my new

SLICE Machine!!

I must say I am VERY impressed with how intricately this little giant cuts!!!

It will cut images from 2 - 4 inches with 1/2 inch increments.   The images that are available with it are quite nice.  My next project was 40 CTR Shields, and that was a "Cricut" appreciation project, because the Slice only cuts one image at a time, but I still love the convenience of taking it to a crop in a small tote, with all 15 of my cartridges in this book I made for them.

I also love that it is battery powered, so it is extremely portable. 

This last card is a shout out to a special lady who is REACHING OUT to a lot of people.  I don't want to embarass her by telling her good deed in public, but I wanted to thank her for being so dedicated to her cause, and going the extra mile. 

Don't forget you still have until midnight eastern time on Feb. 9th to REACH OUT and do something for someone and enter it into my BIRTHDAY BLOG CANDY contest, and you could be the winner of a Birthday Cakes Cricut Cartridge!  Just link your project to the Inlinkz post, or send me an email, and I'll be sure to post it for you. 

Thanks for dropping by, and

Happy crafting~



Linked to: Stamp, Scrap & Doodle Saturdays Challenge ~ Die Cuts and/or Punches

Cricut Thanks

Today I received a very special surprise in the mail, and was DELIGHTED to find an amazing array of Free Standing Lace pieces made especially for me by a friend! Here is a birthday card I made for my sister-in-law that has four of these beauties on the corners!

 Thank you so much, Debra!  I love them.... to see more, be sure to check out my class on Tuesday night!

Speaking of my Tuesday night class.... this week we will continue with

Cricut 202, What Does This Button Do?

Two weeks ago we explored the basic operations of the main part of the Cricut.  This week we will move to the Modes and advanced features.

We will make hands-on projects, like this card, which will employ the use of different buttons on the Cricut.  Please bring your machine, mat, several sheets of scrap paper, adhesives, ribbon, scissors, ruler, and pencil, and be ready to work along.

We will use the Plantain Schoolbook cartridge, or any cartridge that has a font, circle, tag, heart, and flower.  You can use a combination of cartridges if you desire.

Class begins at 8:00 eastern time on my UStream Channel.  Just click on the blue icon in the upper right corner, and it will take you there!  Please register (it's free and easy!) so you can join in the chat, and I can answer any questions you might have.

Also, remember we have a BIRTHDAY BLOG CANDY contest going on!  Congratulations to the three winners of last week's class!  There will be more prizes this week (PS, I found them!! LOL) and the Cricut Cartridge contest is still going on!!  Just make a card, or some other project for someone else, and post it here, or let me know about it by email, and I will post it for you, and you will be in the drawing for the Cricut Birthday Cake Cartridge!!!

See you Tuesday night!

Happy crafting ~



Be Mine Forever Tissue Box Album

This red, white and pink confection is the latest in my Bless You Box albums - the perfect accent piece for your home and office.  It also makes an ideal gift.  I just love making a new one for every holiday or special event!!

Each side has four full size photo mats, as well as a pocket page with room for another photo and a journaling tag, which is included in your tutorial.

I used heart embossed cardstock, and Recollections All Seasons papers for the project.  The accents are from my ribbon and accent stash, and Wild Orchid flowers.  The medallion is from the Storybook Cricut Cartridge.  

You can get the instructions to make your Bless You Boxes by clicking on the tab in the left

margin of my blog.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, or send me an email!  I love hearing from you.

Shared at : TidyMom - I'm Lovin' It

                  Passionately Artistic

                  Make It Monday

Thanks to everyone who came to my online Birthday Party last night!  It was a lot of fun, and the party will continue all month! Thanks to Judy Ford for the lucious Birthday Cake!  Congratulations to all of the prize winners, too!  I am working on the tutorial for the SWEET CAKES project, and will have it posted in the very near future :)   Don't forget to participate in the Reach Out Project, and you could be the winner of the Birthday Cake Cricut Cartridge Giveaway, to be given away on February 10th!  All you have to do is make a card, or something else, for someone else, and let me know about it, and you will be entered into the drawing.  See the Birthday Party Post for details!  We will have some more prizes at my UStream Class next Tuesday night, January 17th, too!  Come and join us as we practice using our Cricuts!  I will be teaching a big part of my

Cricut 202 - What Does This Button Do?  Class

Be ready with your Expression, several sheets of 12x12 scratch paper,

a couple of sheets of white cardstock, and adhesives.  We will be making a couple of completed projects, as we practice using the advanced features of the Cricut.  Hope to see you there! (If you haven't been there before, just click on the blue button at the top of my blog, and there you are!  All classes have been recorded, so you can go back and see what you have missed!)

Looking forward to seeing you then!

Happy crafting ~

Linked to:  Divas by Design Challenge

High Flying Birthday!

June 10th is a busy day for Birthdays!  It seems that several folks I know, plus several more that they know, are celebrating today!  Happy Birthday, one and all! 

Today is grandson Porter's third birthday, and he wants an AIRPLANE birthday party!  Mom has gotten a Cricut cartridge with an airplane, and is busy creating all sorts of cute themed decorations. 

This plane is from the Cricut New Arrivals cartridge.  The stitched "contrail" is inspired by one of you!

Unfortunately, for the life of me, I can't find it tonight, so I can give you proper credit!  I thought I knew who it was, and where to go get your great tutorial, so I could show off your delightful card, and the cheerful green "Happy".... and you showed us how to use your word processing program to choose the best font to create a template, and then poke the holes to make it easy to do... Somebody help me out here, and leave me the info, so I can give credit where credit is due!

EDITED:  Our talented friend, Lauren Bergold of "All the GOOD Blog Names Were Taken" and "Jingle Belles" was the artist that created the tutorial!  Please head over and check it out.  You won't be disappointed!

This is the inside of the card, and when you're three, colorful and easy to count is best... and more single dollar bills are better than less bigger denominations!

Today is also my friend Court Lee's birthday!  Her favorite color is olive green, and this is the first I've used of my new DCWV Lemon Flower paper stack.  Yummy!  I fussy cut the lower right flower and popped up several layers, plus some additional Stickles to add even more bling to the razzle dazzle.  Using a Versamark pen to outline the Spellbinders die while the paper was still in it, made it very easy to get this silver heat embossed inner frame.

Happy birthday, HoneyBee Court!

Working on some publication submissions this weekend, and getting ready for a Cricut Swarm, so my mojo is working in overdrive!  It feels good....

I hope you are feeling creative, too.

See you on Monday, if not before!





Once there was a little boy ....

who grew up to be a very fine man. Today is his birthday, and I am very proud of him. He is my hero.

This week when Linnie at Whoopsi Daisy gave us this freebie digital image, I knew that it was just perfect for this card! Don't you just adore that precious face? And how cute for paper piecing, too!

It is colored with Copics, a silver metallic paint marker, liquid glass, water color pencils, and Close To My Heart inks. The stamped image is from Robyn, My Pink Stamper's Friend's and Family set. And the embossed candles are a favorite Cuttlebug folder.

Happy Birthday, Doug! May this be the best year so far!!! All my love, Mom.
I'll be back tomorrow with another Whoopsi Daisy image for our Cuttlebug Challenge!
Happy crafting ~

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 ~

Be Inspired #100 Happy Birthday Cuttlebug Challenge!

WoW! Cuttlebug Challenge is two years old this month! There has been a lot of inspiration, creativity, and imagination archived on that website. It is a treasure trove of mojo!!! This week the Design Team is creating Happy Birthday cards with at least TWO LAYERS.

Mine is for a special young man, whose favorite color happens to be orange! The paper at the top is from the Imaginesce B-day Bash collection, and the embossing is with the new Cuttlebug Seeing Spots folder. The images are from Just Rite Stampers.

The inside of the card is accented with pieces cut from the Imaginesce paper. So nice to coordinate the sentiment with the cover!

OK, that's an easy one for you this week! Pop over to Cuttlebug Challenge and see what the other designers have created! Then make your own layered Birthday Card! You could be this week's winner!

Happy crafting ~

Whoo Wishes Madelyn Happy BIrthday?

Happy Tenth Birthday to our grand daughter, Madelyn!! She has chosen Owls as the theme for her birthday celebration, as well as redecorating her room, so this is the card I made for her.

This has several fun elements to it. Number one, it is the first really multi-function piece that I've used my Gypsy on, and it was a great experience. I used three different cartridges (Straight From the Nest, Paisley and Serenade), and also the Cuttlebug for the background. Another neat element is the button treatment. These are authentic antique buttons that came from clothes older than I am....(and I'm pretty old! hahahahaha!!!) The yellow and blue ones still have the original thread in them, so I left it in them, and added adhesive to keep it secure. Aren't they fun?

The next element of goodness, is the introduction of items from Sparkle N Sprinkle ... you must check them out here! This company has been around for 13 years, make their own stamps (which are amazing in person!) and they have the largest and most amazing array of glitter, embossing powder and sparkling flock anywhere!!! It was my profound privilege to spend a few delightful hours with Margaret Myers yesterday, and see her operation two days before leaving for a big show in Allentown! This woman (and her husband!) are awesome! When you call, you will be able to talk to a PERSON :) She knows her stuff, and her stuff is FANTASTIC! You will be seeing more and more of this in my work, as it is my very delightful pleasure to be a designer and teacher for Sparkle N Sprinkle now.

Back to the card.... Check out the sparkly goodness on the owl :) So easy to add with brushable glue that holds that glitter right NOW, or with Dimensional Glue, like for the eyes. Next are several different types of embossing powders, and one is Cosmic EP, which is so extremely fine and sheer, that it reminds me of the shimmer left after baby powder. The pink sentiment at the bottom is Pink Lady embossing powder. They also carry glittery flock, called Sparkle Soft, which you will be seeing in a day or two :)

Layers, texture (like the leaf coming through the lettering), sparkle, and surprise elements, like the buttons, make for an interesting and memorable card. What will you be doing for your next creation?

Happy Birthday, again, to Madelyn! Whoo Loves You? Nana and Papa, That's Whoo!!!

Happy Crafting ~

Several of the items used were given to me by the manufacturer for use in making demos for their products. All work and opinions are my own.

Happy Birthday Jeannene!

Oh, I wish the sparkle would show up on the picture like it does in real life! There is plenty of purple bling on this one for my friend!! The MS punch across the top and bottom are backed with adhesive, and then filled with gorgeous MS glitter, as is the star, and even the dot for the I in birthday! The lettering is from the new Calligraphy cartridge.

Happy Birthday

Fun and fast was this one! It features the Fiskars lace punch, acrylic flowers, and Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing. The ribbon is pre-adhesived, and was a RAK from AnnMarie!!

Happy Birthday

This little one is a fun stamp and watercolor/baby oil gel technique card. I love the little kitty prints.

Happy BIrthday to Bryan

It's been a while since I've posted here, but I've been busy! We had a great time with wonderful company :0) I think by now they have gotten their new Cricut Expressions, and new creations are underway in North Carolina. Happy Crafting, girls!!! Love you so much ((((((HUGS)))))))

Anyway, here are a couple of cards that I've designed for clients this week. I must admit that one is copied from the gift bag you've already seen earlier. It was so much fun that I wanted to do it again. This time the froggies are wearing party hats!! Thanks to Susan. Also, one of the blogs I saw had the cutest little ladybug design that inspired me to come up with this little lady. I am doing a swap this summer with my darling Granddaughter, Madelyn. Our first swap was to send a card made from pink and purple. This time her criteria was for red and black, with a flower with a black center. Her card was like this one, only it sported 3/4 of a red flower in the upper right corner. The message was a bright "hello". It is a lot of fun to inspire a child to be creative. Besides, I love sending and receiving mail from my grandkids! Today is Bryan's tenth birthday. Happy Birthday, Bryan!!!