Stampin’ Up Deal of the Week!

What a great deal! You save $5 on this cool punch! Call or email me today to order yours!

Another Free SVG from Free SVGs

As usual, Free SVGs has done it again, with this super baseball cut file. be sure to check out all their other sports files for purchase!

Hodgepodge Hardware and Stampin' Up! Punches

I've been receiving questions about which Stampin' Up! punches fit the Hodgepodge Hardware. So here's a display a fellow demo made up last year for customers showing which punches work with which label holder (Shown is is the Styled Silver. PLEASE NOTE: The Styled Vanilla is on sale. Same shapes and sizes, different finish as shown here)

Here it shows the Designer Label , 1" Circle & Small Oval punches:

One week only (ending July 26th!) - Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware #112454. Regular price $29.95, now ONlY $18.99. THAT'S 36% off . Purchase online at: http://angi.stampinup.net

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO GRAB THIS GREAT SPECIAL!

Eastern Influence and Simple Friendship

I have always loved the eastern influences set and I finally purchased it!
I really love the way this card came out. I am usually not a fan of orange, but I really do enjoy this one, with the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper

Stamp: Eastern Influence
Paper: Kaleidoscope
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Very Vanilla
Colors: Copics, Distress Ink





Of course, I had to make one on the other side, so I had to get a little used to the orange colors. This time, I used Dusty Durango and Tangerine Tango, more butterflies, just trying to think of setting loved ones free.....

Stamps: True Friend, Hard to say
DSP: Kaleidoscope
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Dusty Durango
Colors: Dusty Durango, Tangerine tango













Have you tried the water colored roses yet? I just cant stop making these, they look so beautiful, dont they?

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, True Friend, Kind and Caring Thoughts
DSP: Cottage Wall
Colors: Rich Razzelberry
Misc: Designer label punch, aqua painter, embossing powder
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Rich Razzelberry

I only used Rich Razzelberry on the roses, I just colored some petals darker than others to give it some dimension.

Finally, I used more of the Eastern Influence flowers to add some decor to this great phrase from teh Hard to Say Set!

Stamps: Eastern Influence, Hard to say
DSP: Cottage Wall
Card Stock: Rich Razzelberry
Misc: Sizzix Oval Frame
Ink: Rich Razzelberry

Blog Candy, Blog Candy, and more Blog Candy. Over 50% of the blogs on this tour are offering Blog Candy. Check the Princess list on launch day. Every name with an asterisk next to it is offering blog candy.

That's not all! The Royal Blog Tour Home Page is offering their own Blog Candy. And it is -- a Big Shot Die Cut Machine!!!!

You'll have to work a bit for it as there are 20 clues that will be scattered among the 80 blogs. But won't it be worth it if you come away with a brand new Big Shot?

This drawing is open to all countries represented by Princesses in this tour, including Canada and Australia!

Good luck to you and enjoy the ride! Remember to start on the Royal Blog homepage.

Free Lipstick cut file

Here is the latest freebie from free SVG files!

Blog Candy, Blog Candy, and more Blog Candy. Over 50% of the blogs on this tour are offering Blog Candy. Check the Princess list on launch day. Every name with an asterisk next to it is offering blog candy.

That's not all! The Royal Blog Tour Home Page is offering their own Blog Candy. And it is -- a Big Shot Die Cut Machine!!!!

You'll have to work a bit for it as there are 20 clues that will be scattered among the 80 blogs. But won't it be worth it if you come away with a brand new Big Shot?

This drawing is open to all countries represented by Princesses in this tour, including Canada and Australia!

Good luck to you and enjoy the ride! Remember to start on the Royal Blog homepage.

GO TO THE ROYAL BLOG TOUR HOME PAGE ON SUNDAY, JULY 26TH TO START THE ROYAL BLOG TOUR AND ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A BIG SHOT DIE CUT MACHINE! The Ro

The Royal Blog Tour is three days long, and you'll be happy it is! There are four tours - a total of 80 fabulous blogs!

But wait - there's more!

Blog Candy, Blog Candy, and more Blog Candy. Over 50% of the blogs on this tour are offering Blog Candy.

Check the Princess list on launch day. Every name with an asterisk next to it is offering

blog candy.

That's not all! The Royal Blog Tour Home Page is offering their own Blog Candy. And it is -- a Big Shot Die Cut Machine!!!! Honestly - you don't want to miss this tour!

This drawing is open to all countries represented by Princesses in this tour, including Canada and Australia!

Great News!!! New and Even Better Version of Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software!

Sure Cuts A Lot software (SCAL) has released a 2.0 version that promises to be bigger and better than ever! For those who haven't heard, SCAL is a third party software that you load onto your computer and it will let you cut any true type font that is on your computer with the Cricut via a USB cord. It can also cut dingbats and other files that you can purchase online or create.

What's New (Windows only)

New ways to maniuplate ond organize objects including Select All, Group and Ungrouping
Add multiple pages
Use layers to organize objects within a page
Modify text more easily
Auto tracing feature to automatically convert images
Show rulers using inches or centimeters

A couple of details: It has been reported that if you purchased Version 1 software since June 22, you can receive the upgrade for free. Head over to Craft Edge to contact them if you fall into that category. Also, for a limited time, the upgrade currently sells for $30. To get more details and your copy, go to Craft Edge by clicking HERE!

Trying to give my readers what they want....

I would like to try and add some structure to my website, in doing that, I wanted to give you what you want to see!

I was thinking along the lines of:

Monday - Mojo Monday (sketch or color combo) or Music Monday (using lyrics as inspiration)
Tuesday - Technique Tuesday
Wednesday - Wheel Wednesday (showcasing one of SU wheels)
Thursday - Template Thursday (featuring a new template, I might run out of these quick)
Friday - Favorites Friday or Friendship Friday or Feature Friday (featuring projects by other stampers)
Saturday - Scrapbook Saturday
Sunday - Sayings Sunday (maybe providing new phrases for your cards and scrapbooks)

Other ideas:
Cricut day or maybe Sure Cuts A lot (saturday or sunday)
3D projects
Color of the week
Stamp set of the week
Sizzix Saturday or Sunday - featuring a new sizzix die
Sketch day
Sketch of the week

What would you like to see, the last survey I did asked for more samples and I have diligently been trying to provide them to you, please tell me your ideas, help me structure my blog posts a little bit, tell me what you want to see!

Beach Pail SVG

The frugal Scrapper has done it again and created this fantastic, pail for your SCAL software on your cricut! Check it out! She also has a printable file that you can use!

Provocraft to release 6 new Cricut Cartridges

In the latest Design Studio font update, a mysterious SIX cartridges appeared: From My Kitchen, Winter Woodland, Sweethearts, Serenade, Everyday Paper Dolls and Picturesque.

Sweethearts is a perfect cartridge for Weddings and Valentines day while Serenade could be used for decorating your home, dressing up an album, as well as cardmaking. these are both solutions cartridges, which means they will be less expensive and carry fewer images.

Picturesque is a full size cartridge, packed with swirls, paisley, birds, butterflies, card and tag creative feature keys, as well as gorgeous ornate corner feature key.

Want to make recipe albums for gift giving this year? Well, From My Kitchen is the cart for you! It's jam packed with all the word art remotely associated with cooking, as well as cooking type icons such as stove, blender, mixer, oven, aprons, salt and pepper shakers, and pigs, cows, sheep and roosters. I am so very glad that I waited to start my family recipe album!! Now what will I do with all of those stickers I have been collecting?

Winter Woodland is the "go to" cartridge for this Christmas, as it's filled with even more gorgeous animals (the reindeers are amazing!), snowflakes, rabbit, bird, houses, and loads of word art. Not only that, there's a full size alphabet with shadow feature. Also includes a card feature and frames! Folks on the boards are chirping about this one!

And finally, Everyday Paper Dolls is being released. Lots of hair choices will be available!

The rumor on the cricut boards is that these might be released in Spetember some time, but I cant confirm that!

Butterflies are free to fly

 

You know that old saying, "if you love someone, let them go.... blah blah blah" I have been trying to do this very thing for the last month or so, pretty unsuccsessfully, I might add and trying to be creative at the same time. I decided butterflies are the perfect symbol of setting free the ones we love....

This also brings to mind, if nothing ever changed, their would be no butterflies (I think I have this on a stamp somewhere) I know that when one door closes, blah blah but give me something that will make me feel better today!!!

So, here are my butterflies, free to fly away!

A couple of pink and black

 
This week's challenge on LNS was to create a pink and black card, I am not thrilled with either of these, but I had to try the first technique (geez now I forget what its called, something stone) I fell in love with it when another blogger used it.
 
Fifth Avenue Floral is still one of my favs! I dont think I will ever get tired of these water-colored roses!!

Deal of the Week

Deal of the Week: Our Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware adds class to any project. Get them for just $18.99 (over 30% off the regular price of $29.95) - only July 20-26!

A few shameless cases

I went over to splitcoast to check out a few cards and get some inspiration for the Razzle Dazzle set. I mean I preordered it and never used it yet, I just couldnt think. For some reason, the primary stamp reminds me of corningware, Can't you just picture this on your casserole dish? Anyway, I went over to splitcoast and WOW is all I can say, I think I favorited almost every single image. WOW, I really did find some inspiration!
I shamelessly cased both of these cards, I found so many that inspired me, but these two I whipped up real quick, I just love how easy they were! You know, I don't ever put any of my stuff on splitcoast, I really should post more often!

Now what??????????

I love my electic sizzix, but, I was just trying to case a card from splitcoast and used the embossing die, I am not sure what I did, but, It is stuck, I tried everything! I thought I made the right sandwhich, but, it wont budge now, it is 3/4 of the way through the machine and its stuck! What am I going to do now? Of course, I dont use the thing for days and now that it is jammed, every card I want to make needs me to cut something! Dang it!

The Next Thinking Inking Video

Jennifer mcGuire has posted her next thinking inking video, be sure to check it out!

Finding Strength in my craft

I am trying to find strength today by creating. It's good to dream about better
days. I wish I had a few more inspirational phrases to use. When I am feeling down, I find
solace in nature and the simple beauty, like the beautiful sky, the beach, the trees and flowers.
I wanted to use this Martin Luther phrase today, so of course, I used Le Jardin Botanique, the
set that it comes with. For some reason, I was thinking green, so I went with a monotone card

The second card uses the new Razzleberry lemonade DSP, I just cannot get enough of this stuff. I love all the rich colors and I love how they come together so bodly, I just wanted to dream of happier days, Its okay to dream, right?

Youve got a friend in me

I was actually able to play along with the Stampin 411 challenge this week. I don't know why
but when I saw the sketch, I immediately thought of the birds from Cheep talk with the
heart in the middle, once I started though, it just didn't seem right without the branch.
So, it kind of took on its own look, a little different from the sketch, but I still think its kinda
cute. I'm off to do my weekly cleaning and hopefully, I will have time to come back tonight
and create another one.