Letter Of The Day is V!

Hello to my friends and fellow crafters! 

 Thank you for visiting me on this Memorial Day (or during the week of Memorial Day)!  First, I would like to give a special thank you to all those who have served in the Military , are currently serving or have family or friends serving our country.  We appreciate you and thank you so much for your service so we can have our wonderful, free country to enjoy and live as we choose!  THANK YOU!!

Now on to our project!  Today at My Cricut Craftroom

we had the option of making something using the Cricut Imagine Machine OR a project featuring the letter of the day.  Since poor little me does not own an Imagine.... I went for the Letter of the Day, which is "V"!  Let me tell you, it was a little challenging, trying to think of a cartridge that started with the letter V (I don't have the Lite Cartridge called Varsity). 

My first idea was the word "vacation".  I wasn't motivated by any recent vacation photos I had - -  (which also means I have not had a recent vacation!) so I started trying to think of all the words starting with V.  A fellow design team member cracked me up when her husband suggested the words "vittles" (as in food, think Beverly Hillbillies) or VIAGRA!  LOL!!!  Thank you Sarah for the laugh!

My final choice was to use the Vulture from the Zooballo Cartridge.  When I think of Vultures,  what comes to mind first of all is "Over the Hill" for big number birthdays with tombstones and vultures.  I decided to make a Birthday Card for someone going "Over the Hill", whether that be turning 30, 40, 50, 60....whatever YOU decide "Over The Hill" is.  

(Whatever it is....I AM CERTAIN I have not gone over yet!!)

I cut the Vulture from Zooballo at 5 inches, using all the layers including the shadow.

I think he is a very cute little guy, not scary like many "Over the Hill" creepy vultures - - 

so it is kind of a "nice" Over The Hill card!  LOL!

I inked the edges of the vulture and ran the neck feathers through the Cuttlebug using the
Swiss Dot embossing folder.  I popped him up from the shadow using foam squares.

I also ran the leaf that is attached to the branch he is sitting on through the Cuttlebug as well.

I free handed the tree, and inked the edges before embossing it as well.  Did you notice how I made the top branches in a "V" shape???  Getting that Letter of the Day in there again!  LOL!

I popped the tree up - and if you notice, I made the tree and Vulture larger so they appear to be closer to the viewer of the card, with the "hill" further in the background.  Well, at least that is my attempt and I am sure you are going to agree, with me  - - - right??? 

Using the "Wrap It Up" cricut cartridge - - I cut the Hill 

( you have to have one to go over, right??)  as well as the layer of grass across the bottom.  I inked the edges with a darker green ink and made sure to use 2 colors of green cardstock, one for the hill, another for the grass, so it would show up better!

I typed the words "OVER THE HILL???" on the computer, printed on green cardstock and just free hand cut around them in a funky shape to add some fun and interest.  Of course, inked the edges of the words in black.

That is it . . . my project for the Letter V!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Please go over to Erica's site -

My Cricut Craftroom  and check out the other fun projects my Design Team Sisters have created for you today!  

 While you are there, please send some good vibes and good health wishes for Erica. She has been going through a pretty rough time with some illnesses and plenty of medical testing. I wish her quick answers and some solutions to her medical problems!  Hugs to you, Erica! 

Thanks so much for stopping by- - enjoy your Memorial Day - give thanks to those who serve or have served in the past - - and have a fun and safe Holiday with those you love!

Also linking up to Link Up Tuesday on Pink Cricut.

Letter of The Day at My Cricut Craftroom

Hello Everyone!  

May is just flying by, isn't it?  Today I am posting my project for My Cricut Craftroom  and we are still working our way through the alphabet every Monday. 

Today's Letter is U .... and I chose to do a layout for my project.  When I started thinking about the letter U and what Cricut cartridges or images I had for the letter U... I immediately thought of a BEACH UMBRELLA!

I have not been to the beach for a few years, but I can still dream about sitting on the beach with a tropical drink in my hand, shaded with a bright and cheerful beach umbrella - - and that was my inspiration for this layout. 

As I started looking at my cartridges, I recalled that A Child's Year had a beach umbrella on it...and upon further looking, I saw the cute images of the children playing at the beach as well.  I love the shadow/sihouette images from  A Child's Year, but thought I wanted to add a pop of color to some of it.   I first cut the black silhouette version, then used the shadow feature key to make the yellow shadow outline. I still felt it needed just a bit more, so then I re-cut a few of the images in various colors and then hand cut out the section of the image that  I wanted to use on the layout and adhered it to the black layer.  

It is not showing up very well in my photos, but I did ink the edges and then used foam squares 

to give more dimension to the layout. 

I am loving the Brilliance Ink pads, sold in Erica's Store. Here I used Brilliance Dew Drop Graphite Black.

Using the Life Is A Beach Cartridge and the "fit to page" feature on the Cricut Expression - I cut two rows of "waves" and inked them with Brilliance Ink (also in Erica's store) in Moonlight White to give the look of white caps as the waves roll in toward the shore.  

When adhering the waves, I slightly overlapped the rows and left the top of the waves un - glued, so that I could slide in a photo mat and photo.

To finish off the layout, I free hand cut some layers of sand and then inked them in brown ink  (also in Erica's Store) in Coffee Bean (a very pretty brown color).  

The photo mats can be used vertical, as shown  or horizontal, depending on the photo to insert.

Boy, this makes me long for a beach vacation!  

Please visit My Cricut Craft Room to see what the rest of the team designed for either Letter Of the Day or Imagination Monday!  

I hope you will stop by and visit me again . . . and remember...I read and enjoy all your comments!  Won't you please take a moment to leave one?  

Thanks and have a great week!

Card Creating Tuesday - A Sunflower Card!

Welcome to Card Creating Tuesday over at My Cricut Craftroom!  Today we were asked to create a card featuring a sunflower.  I just happen to love sunflowers.... they are one of my favorite flowers, so I did not hesitate to sign up for this assignment!

I used the Art Nouveau cartridge and cut the sunflower, shadow and the layers on page 36 of the handbook.  I decided to cut the flower at 4 3/4 inches high.  I also cut one EXTRA round flower layer so I could off set the petals and curl the edges up after I shaded them with chalk.  

I hand embossed the leaves to give the look of veining to them and then used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder to emboss the center of the sunflower and give it the look of "seeds".  

To layer the flower and the saying, I cut a  "top note" background from Elegant Edges and embossed that using a Sizzix folder called "Swirls and Waves".  

I stamped the saying, which in case you can not read it says, "Just a little note to keep in touch because I think of you so much".  I have had this stamp for ages, so I don't even know the manufacturer of the stamp.

I used pop dots to give dimension to the card and also inked edges.  I am very happy with how this project turned out!  What do you think?  What is YOUR favorite flower?  

Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Please visit my Design Team Sisters at My Cricut Craftroom to see what projects they came up with for today!  I am always impressed with their talent!

I am also joining in The Pink Cricut's linking party that she hosts every Tuesdayn

And Tip Junkie's Link Up Party at

http://www.tipjunkie.com/category/handmade-projects

Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!  

Scrapbook Friday - TGIF!!

Hello and Happy Weekend Everyone!
Last week, I was scheduled to post a scrapbook layout for My Cricut Craftroom, but my laptop decided to
crash and I was out of town for a wedding and very busy with family.  I was disappointed that the layout I had rushed to get done and posted before I left for the wedding did not get shown to you all.
Since it IS Scrapbook Friday again - although it is not fitting today's theme at My Cricut Craftroom,
I wanted to share it anyway!
It seems very appropriate for Friday!

For the first time, I used The Cricut Craft Room Digital Images and purchased the new
Mixed Drinks images.  How cute they are!  Perfect for this layout!
The left hand page features my beautiful daugther and the Margarita in the images are from the
Ole' cartridge.

I did a LOT of embossing with the Cuttlebug and various folders as well as a lot of inking on the edges.
The margaritas have "stickles" on the rims of the glasses for the "salt"!

I used foam squares EVERYWHERE...and it gives a TON of dimension to the layout.
For the title, I spread it out over two pages - and some of the title is computer generated print and some of the  words are with foam letter stickers in lime green (although they are not really showing up as lime!).
I thought this was a fun and different way to add the title!

The right side page is my friend Sharon and her daughter Samantha.  Sam calls me her "other Mom", since we became neighbors with their family when she was only 3 and we've spent a lot of time together through the years.

She has since moved out of town, but this photo was taken on her last visit!  Interestingly, she just happened to be in town this week, and we had to repeat the photo at the same Mexican Restaurant!
Guess that means another fun layout is in order!
Again, one of the Margarita glasses on the right page is from Mixed Drinks, the other is from Ole, as is the cute salsa dish with a chip in it!!

Here is a close up of the rest of the title on the right hand side!

Do you know what song that is from?
Celebration...by Earth, Wind and Fire!  A perfect "party" song and a great title for this layout
of ladies I have such fun with and truly love !
Can you see why I was so disappointed to not get to post this for the "Drinks" day at My Cricut Craftroom!
I hope you liked it as much as I do!  PLEASE PLEASE leave a comment - tell me your favorite drink while you are at it!
TGIF!  Happy Weekend!!

Card Creating Tuesday - A Rose Card May 8th

Hello!  I am back from  the "computer" dungeon.... I am so happy to report my laptop WAS repairable and although I had to miss my post for Scrapbook Friday and The May Blog Hop...at least the recent back up saved most of my information!  I will get those projects up very soon since I am eager to share!

On top of all the computer issues and the blog problems, I just returned home from an out of town wedding of my niece.

(Please click on any photo to get a better view!)

 Between wedding festivities, computer issues and traveling - it was a crazy busy weekend!  I am sorry I was unable to get my Scrapbook Friday post and the May Blog Hop to post....but I will get those projects up very soon since I am eager to share!

I am so very happy all is well and I am able to post today's card!

What fun it was to make this card!  I was a bit rushed with all I had to do to prepare to leave for the wedding - and just all of a sudden I got a "vision" and it came together very quickly!  I was happy with the results!

I used the "Shall We Dance" cartridge, which was a Cricut Circle Exclusive Cartridge.  I cut the Rose from page 69 and used all layers for it.  I sized it at 3.5 inches.

I decided to give a bit of a Lattice look on the two front panels of the Gate fold card.  From the cartridge "Paper Lace" I cut the image on page 29 and sized it at size 4" x 1.65.

I then created a background for that cut using the "Elegant Edges" cartridge, page 41 with the shadow image.  The size of that cut is 4.45 x 1.75, created using my Gypsy.

Before I added the images I made from the Cricut, I covered the end flaps with a pale yellow paper and

then rounded the corners.

I embossed the rose and the stem using the Cuttlebug and embossing folders.  I am especially pleased with how the stem came out!

I hope you will visit the My Cricut Craftroom blog to see what other wonderful projects are posted for Card Creating Tuesday!

And by the way.....

This month Erica is doing 31 days of $31 giveaways

So here are the rules for the .....

Each day make ONE comment with your name, facebook name and blog address....

Add the blinkie below to your blog.  Erica will pick a name from the comments, then go and look at your blog, if you were picked for that day and have the blinkie YOU WIN! 

** Don't have a blog.... that's ok you can comment with your facebook..... Don't have facebook???? Just comment and say you do not have facebook or a blog. You can still win if you do not have facebook or a blog.  It is picked at random so if someone is picked more than once, they will get more than one grab bag. 

The winner will pay the $3.25 shipping.

Be sure to visit Erica's Blog to enter!!

Also Linking up to Pink Cricut Link Up Tuesday!
http://www.pinkcricut.com/2012/05/link-tuesday-6/