EWWW... Slimey

Hi everyone! Today's card uses the Mini Monsters cartridge...again. :)

Recipe:

• Mini Monsters cartridge
• Glossy Accents
• K & Co. Tim Coffey Halloween pad (green and pink paper)
• Black, grey, and white AC cardstock
• Scotch Quick Dry glue
• Stampin Up Pop Dots
• Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch
• Corner rounder
• Standard A2 sized card base

Cuts:

• Mini Monsters cartridge pg.36 
• 2 3/4" foundation monster and all layers
• 2 3/4" slimey phrase shift

I used 2 coats of Glossy Accents on eyes, *slimey*, and drippy goo punched border.  Super cute!

Plan B

I had a cute little Halloween cat card to share with you today using the Mini Monsters cartridge, but my little helper Sammy decided to turn it into a *puzzle* instead. I made the card for my niece Maya for Halloween, so I plan on remaking another one tonight after Sammy goes to bed.

Until then, I'll go with plan B and share a *wicked* card.

The *puzzle*

Recipe:

• Mini Monsters cartridge
• Glossy Accents
• K & Co. Tim Coffey Halloween pad (stars paper)
• Black, purple, and white AC cardstock
• Scotch Quick Dry glue
• Stampin Up Pop Dots

Cuts:

• Mini Monsters cartridge pg.41 
• 3 1/2" foundation witch and all layers
• 2" wicked phrase shift
• Mini Monsters cartridge pg.67
• 1 1/2" foundation cauldron and all layers 

I popped up my witch with pop dots and added 2 coats of Glossy Accents to the bubbles over the cauldron. I used my sewing machine to add the black stitching around the border. That's it... fast and cute!

Think Pink

I had to put Halloween on the back burner this week for my Cricut Circle challenge-week #2. The challenge this week was a *think pink* theme. Fortunately I have three girls, so pink was not a problem.

Recipe: 

• Once Upon a Princess cartridge
• Storybook cartridge
• Create a Critter cartridge
• Pinks and greys AC cardstock
• White pearl Bazzill paper
• Princess paper Creative Imaginations
• Scotch Quick Dry glue
• Stickles-glitter glue
• Rhinestones

Cuts:

• Storybook cartridge pg.42 
• 1 3/4" foundation heart shift and holes
• Storybook cartridge pg.68
• 5 1/2 Once upon a Time foundation
• Once Upon a Princess cartridge pg. 28
• 2 1/4" Princess phrase and phrase shift
• 2 1/4 and 1 1/2 Castle and all layers OUAP cartridge pg.44
• Create a Critter cartridge pg.54 
• 1" Stars phrase shift 

I used a Close To My Heart scrapbook sketch for my base. My title *Once Upon a Time* phrase is welded, I used scissors to cut the word *once* from the phrase. I used Stickles on my *kingdom* for a little bling. I will say, I wouldn't go much smaller than 1 1/2 on the castle-the windows are tiny and I spent some time getting those little pieces out. I think the layout came together really nice, and Princess Sammy is such a cutie!

                                                                     

CricutSearch.com

A friend of mine recently sent me an email telling me about this really cool useful website called cricutsearch.com  . The reason it is so great is it allows you to search a shape or phrase and it shows all the cartridges, plus what page in the handbook they are on-even a picture of the actual handbook page. I used it today to find a spider for one of my cards and I had no idea I actually had so many cartridges I could use. Thank you, CricutSearch.

Batty for You

I made another treat bag using the Mini Monsters cartridge to share today. I used my Gypsy to change the bag up a little so it would look more like a bat and not a monster. I even added a little *blood* with Stickles.

Recipe:

• Mini Monsters cartridge
• Mini Monograms cartridge
• Stampin Up "Batty for you" rubber stamp set
• 1 3/8 circle punch-Stampin up
• Black, dark gray, red, and white AC cardstock
• Scotch Quick Dry glue
• Red Tacky Tape
• Assorted candy-Target

Cuts:

• Mini Monsters cartridge pg.76 
• 5 1/2" foundation treat bag #2, layer 1, layer 2, and layer 2 shift
• Mini Monograms cartridge pg. 126
• 2 1/4" foundation circle (black layer on tag)
• Mini Monograms cartridge pg. 129
• 2" foundation scallop circle (red layer on tag)

I used my Gypsy to *hide contour* and remove the horns and the teeth outline. I use Red Tacky Tape to tape these little bags together-I feel it's a better hold than the ATG adhesive. Since the stamp set isn't a clear polymer stamp set, I have to use a 1 3/8"punch to get the image centered, and then finish layering the tag with cuts made with Cricut. Again, on this bag I used candy and a stamped sentiment for the tag. I'm really loving the treat bags-they're fast, easy, fun, and super cute!

Good Morning

Good morning.

                                                                      

Frankie's Treat Bag

I was excited the other day when I found some cute green finger suckers at Target- I knew they would be perfect to make something *halloweeny* for my girls. I decided on a Frankenstein inspired treat bag to go with the green sucker.

Recipe:

• Mini Monsters cartridge
• Mini Monograms cartridge
• Stampin Up "Batty for you" rubber stamp set
• 1 3/8 circle punch-Stampin up
• Black, green, and white AC cardstock
• Scotch Quick Dry glue
• Red Tacky Tape
• Assorted chocolates-Target

Cuts:

• Mini Monsters cartridge pg.77 
• 5 1/2" foundation treat bag #3, layer 1, layer 2, and layer 2 shift
• Mini Monograms cartridge pg. 126
• 2 1/4" foundation circle (black layer on tag)
• Mini Monograms cartridge pg. 129
• 2" foundation scallop circle (green layer on tag)

Now, I did use my Gypsy to *hide contour* and remove the tail slit on the back of the treat bag. I do use Red Tacky Tape to tape these little bags together-I feel it's a better hold than the ATG adhesive. Since the stamp set isn't a clear polymer stamp set, I have to use a 1 3/8"punch to get the image centered, and then finish layering the tag with cuts made with Cricut. I loved the fact that I could use a Pixie Stick and the cute *trick or treat, smell my feet* sentiment for the tag. Super cute!

Be sure to check back tomorrow for another cute Halloween treat idea.

Spooky Cupcake

Halloween cards are just so fun to make! I only have one *Halloween* cartridge, so I had to get creative and give some of my other cartridges a Halloween feel.  For today's card I made a Halloween cupcake card.  This card is perfect for those October birthdays or for anyone who loves cupcakes.

As you can see I glued the *white of the eye* to the card 
front and then *popped* up the other *white of the eye*.

Recipe:

• Sweet Treats cartridge
• Green, black, and white AC brand cardstock
• Cuttlebug for embossing
• Pop dots
• Scotch Quick Dry glue

Cuts:

• Sweet Treats cartridge pg. 27
• 5 1/4" cards feature, cupcake, cupcake shift (wrapper), layers (wrapper), and layers shift (eye)
• 2 1/2" layers shift for black part of eyeball 

After making my cuts I ran the cupcake layer through the Cuttlebug using the embossing folder-D'vine Swirl. I then glued the wrapper layers and the eyeball layers to the front of the cupcake before attaching it to the actual cupcake card. One thing I did notice with this particular cupcake cut is the top layer doesn't lineup exactly to the card base, so after I glue down the front layer I trimmed the card to *clean* it up. This card will fit an A2 sized envelope.

I tried to shoot a video for everyone to share how I made this easy fun card, but the video turned out to be 20 minutes of bloopers (heavy sigh). I guess pictures will have to do the job this time-maybe a video for my next card. :)

Peach Freezer Jam

Every year there is a man with an RV,who sets up a little fruit stand along the side of the road near our house, and sells the yummiest Elberta peaches.  Last year my daughter Megan and I decided to make peach freezer jam for the first time, and it was a BIG hit.  I was amazed at how fresh the jam really tasted and when we ran out I knew we needed to make some more jam as soon as the peaches were back in season. Well, guess what we saw yesterday...the RV and boxes of beautiful peaches.  If you've never tried preserving fruit, freezer jam is as easy as it gets.  Basically, all you have to do is follow a few simple steps on the back of the Ball instant fruit pectin packet and you'll have fresh tasting peaches all year. I bought my pectin packets at Target.

Elberta peaches are great for several reasons. One of the most important 
is they are a freestone fruit, which means they have an easily removed pit.

A quick five second boiling hot water blanch which helps remove 
the peach skins.It is important to keep this step quick so you 
don't cook the fruit.

After the hot water blanch, place the peaches in an ice water bath.
As you can see in the picture, the skins are basically removing themselves.

Remove the pits, cut into pieces, and then mash.

Next, add sugar, lemon juice, fruit pectin, and stir. Set timer for 
specified time according to directions on pectin packet, ladle jam in jars,
 and then freeze. It's that easy.

Ahhhh...sweet sweet peachy goodness.

One box of peaches gave us eight batches of jam and took about three hours including clean up time.  I recommend starting with just one box worth of peaches at a time, because eight batches of jam takes up a lot of freezer space. 

Another First

Sammy rode her birthday bicycle for the first time yesterday, with big sister Maddie there to give a helping hand.  I ran and grabbed my camera, of course I would never want to miss recording a *first* anything. If you look at the picture closely you can see Sammy is honking the horn on her bike, which is undoubtedly her favorite part of bike riding.  Now, I guess we can cross bike riding off the list. :)

Ally

Project 365

I love my Project 365 scrapbook from Becky Higgins.  However, I don't love it when I get behind on my journaling. The funny thing is, I thought this summer would be a great time for me to really stay on top of my scrapbook, but instead I hardly wrote any journal entries.  I did take my picture of the day or *POTD* faithfully, and I have my fingers are crossed that looking at the picture will jog my memory of the day. No more excuses, school has started, we are on a routine, and I am just going to start with today and work my way backwards. Here are a few pictures of my scrapbook so far.

If you're unfamiliar with Project 365, I would really encourage you to check it out.  I am really happy with the scrapbook, and I think anyone can adapt the kit to their needs. Click here for more information.

Ally

It's Official

It's official...I've finally started my blog. This blog has been something I have wanted to do for a very long time, and now that it's happening, I'm super excited! It will be a real time saver to actually be posting my ideas and creations in one central location. I hope this blog serves as a place where I can finally keep all of my ideas organized.
For my first post I thought I would share a really cute card describing how I feel...

Recipe:

• Create a Critter cartridge
• AC Cardstock
• *water* Sweet Summertime Echo Park paper
• Scotch Quick-Dry adhesive
• Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper

Cuts- page 44 CAC:

• 2 3/4" hippo
• 1 3/4" water
• 1 1/4" grass
• 1 1/2" phrase *hip hip Hooray*

Cuts- page 29 CAC:

• 2 1/4" hat

Well, that's it for the first post. :)  I have a deck that needs sanding and dinner that needs cooking. I look forward to tomorrows post with great anticipation.

Ally