It's the Celebration Blog Hop

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the Digital Delights "It's a Celebration Blog Hop!"  You'll have two days (June 30 to 11:59 pm EST on July 1) to visit all the wonderful designers from the Digital Delights Blog and the Delightful Challenges Blog.

We've chosen the CELEBRATION theme because we are celebrating the new store at

Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  Wendy (aka Louby Loo) just completed the move to a new and improved store.  In honor of this, each stop along the way will have a Digital Delights stamp from each featured project to be given away.  There are amazing sponsors for the grand prize given at the end.

If you've come from Katie's blog (Both Sides of the Paper) then you're in the right spot.  If you just decided to visit my blog and would like to start at the beginning return to Digital Delights Blog and start from there so you don't miss any of the amazing projects.

This is a blog hop with a twist!!  Along the way, there are letters to find in some of the posts.  Gather the letters that you find and at the end of the hop, assemble them to create a Digital Delights-related word.  Then return to the Digital Delights Blog and enter your name in the "inlinks" at the bottom of the post (do not reveal the secret word yet).  After the hop, a name will be selected at random and that person will be contacted to reveal the correct word and win a prize.

So now to my Delightful Challenge project.  Our theme this week is Red, White, and Blue.

I chose to use the Digital Delights image, Luvin the USA Bongo - I think he's just so adorable.

You can join in our challenge by linking your project to the Delightful Challenges post.  You'll be entered for a chance to win the ribbon you see here from this week's sponsor, Crafty Ribbons.

If you leave a comment on this post, you'll have a chance to win this digital stamp that I used to make my card.  So please include a way for me to contact you.  One winner will be randomly selected.  Of course, if you're not already a follower, I'd love to have you sign up. You can also sign up for email.

Now, I can reveal that the hidden Blog Hop letter is I.  Be sure to collect all the letters along the way then assemble them to form a Digital Delights-related word.  Don't forget to enter your name in the inlinks at the Digital Delights Blog.

Your next stop is Leslie Rahye's blog.

I hope you liked my project.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Enjoy the rest of the Blog Hop and don't forget to leave a comment so you have a chance to win "Bongo" - he's so much fun to color!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Button, Button

In case you didn't get over to Fantabulous Cricut's Quick Tip Tuesday, I decided to share the project here.  I was cruising around YouTube and found this idea from Julie Fei-Fan Balzer for making your own buttons using scraps.  I'm all over using scraps because I have TONS of them - just can't seem to let them go.  Anyway, just select any of your favorite punches - I used 1/2, 3/4, and 1 inch circles, you could use squares or stars, too - and some of your favorite scraps. I like to think of these as custom-designed button embellishments, right?.  I used paper rather than cardstock so I also punched the same sized circles from cardstock and used my Xyron to adhere the two.  Cover the shape completely with Glossy Accents and allow to dry.  All you have to do now is punch holes (2 or 4) and add your favorite twine, floss, or fiber.  Quick and Easy!!

And, don't forget the It's a Celebration Blog Hop sponsored by Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  It's a two-day hop (June 30 until 11:59 pm EST July 1) and there'll be lots of great ideas (28 blogs!) and prizes along the way.  Since the Hop is set to begin at Midnight EST, my post will actually be up Wednesday night at 9:00.

I hope you'll join us.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Red, White, and Blue

Good Morning!

It's  Red, White, and Blue for Challenge Me Monday at Fantabulous Cricut.

Although this isn't my posting week at FCCB, I made up a quick card to share with you.

I used the frame feature on Stand and Salute and the USA base cut with its shadow.

The sticker is from K&Company.  A piece of ribbon and some doodling with my white Signo pen finished the project.

You can join in the fun by linking your project at FCCB.  Remember to use red, white, and blue and include a Cricut cut somewhere on your project.

Thursday is the Celebration Blog Hop sponsored by Digital Delights by Louby Loo.  There will be lots of great digital images being given away and some terrific project ideas.  I hope you'll set aside some time to join us.  To ensure that you'll have time to visit all the DT blogs, the blog hop will be held on Thursday and Friday.

Tomorrow is another Quick Tip Tuesday at FCCB.  I'm sharing a clever idea that uses your scraps.  I hope you'll take a look.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

My New Badge

I'm so excited to have a new badge for my blog.  It was created for me by Wendy (aka Louby Loo) of Digital Delights by Louby Loo.   She also has her own Custom Design blog  where you can see examples of what she can create for you.  Hmmmm, I'm thinking a blog makeover is in my future.

If you'd like to add my badge to your blog, just copy and paste the code found below my badge posted in the right-hand column.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Happy House

Good Morning!  It's a gorgeous Friday morning in Northern Californa so before I head out for the day I wanted to share a card I created for the Heart Song Inspirations Challenge.

Leah has started up her weekly challenges again and even offered this wonderful free digital image titled "Happy House".  I love her designs and am so glad she's posting challenges again.

The paper is the K&Company Classic stack. I used a MS border punch, Copic markers, ribbon from my stash, Wild Honey Distress Ink, and Liquid Pearls to accent the card. 

I hope you have a lovely day and that it's the start to a terrific weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.  As always, I appreciate your comments and hope that you've become a follower.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

It's Fun in the Sun

Good Morning and Happy Thursday.

It's time for another Delightful Challenge.  This week's theme is Fun in the Sun.

I'm using Louby Loo's fun image, Surfin Pippin.  Isn't he just the cutest? This image along with so many more adorable ones can be found HERE.

I used the Splash 6x6 Echo Park paper pack and a Fiskars border punch, waves. The image is colored with Copics and I added skittles and raindrops for accents.

You can join in  by linking your Fun in the Sun project on the Delightful Challenges blog.  You'll be entered for a chance to win

I'm also going to enter this in the Getting Cricky "Let's Face It" challenge and My Sheri Crafts Beach theme.

So glad you stopped by.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Mini Baby Album

My husband will be attending a baby shower (he-he) for a young woman at his gym.  Our daughter went to school with her husband.  Anyway, he asked me to make a shower gift for her.  I decided on a mini-album.  I already had this accordian book that came in a tin and lots of baby papers.  I hope she'll enjoy it.

Tomorrow is a new challenge at Delightful Challenges.  I hope you'll visit to see my latest design. 

Next week, our Thursday post will be a combined Blog Hop with the Digital Delights by Louby Loo design team.  It will be up for two days to give you plenty of time to visit all the blogs.  You'll have a chance to win a digital stamp from me as well as other prizes if you join in the fun.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

A New Blog Award

I received this blog award from the wonderful Barb at BugBites.  Remember, she sponsored the fantastic Grillin and Chillin Bug Hops a few weeks ago.  I hope you continue to visit her blog and see her wonderful creations.  Thanks so much, Barb - you're the best!

To accept this award you must share 7 random facts about yourself - hmmmmm

1.  I love Jelly Bellys - keep them by my chair in the living room!

2.  I must put everything in "square piles" -  I'm a chronic straightener :)

3.  Today is my 42nd anniversary - whoda thunk we'd last this long?

4.  I can spend hours in my craft room - yep, square piles there, too.

5.  I hate having my daughters live in other states - too far away.

6.  I am my sister-in-law's chemo buddy - I take her to all of her appt. and it's a privilege to do so.

7.  I love designing cards and blogging - guess you knew that, huh?

Now I must pass this on to 8 other blogging buddies.  You know I love you all and appreciate your visits and commnents.  It's always difficult to choose just a few, but today I'm passing it on to some new blogging friends that I met recently either at the Northern CA Circle Meet-up or my new design team friends at Delightful Challenges.

Katie at Crafting with Katie
Emma at My Creative Time
Diane at My Time to Craft
Xochitl at Cricut Critter
Karen at Inspired Butterfly
Sally at Sallys Bitz
Zahreen at Splash Bunny
Lisa at Stampin for Sanity

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs and Happy Crafting,
Larelyn

Summer Sun at FCCB

Good Morning and welcome to Challenge Me Monday #65 at Fantabulous Cricut.

We're celebrating Summer Sun and all you have to do to join in the fun is create something with a sun on it, include a Cricut cut, and link it up over at FCCB.

   My design this week is rather monochromatic.  I often stay within the same color group when I select my papers.  It's not always intentional, it just works that way sometimes - hmmmmmmm?

This standard A2 card uses the shift-cut and shadow from A Child's Year (key B6).  The sun - cut twice - is from Everyday Paper Dolls.  The only thing I added was some rick-rack - so simple.  But then a day at the beach is a simple pleasure, right?

Have a great day and please check out my Quick Tip Tuesday at FCCB tomorrow.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Happy Father's Day!

To all the dads out there, I hope your day is wonderful.

This card is for my brother-in-law.  He's a great friend and I'm so glad we're in this family together (he's married to my husband's sister).

This is a simple card with papers from my stash, even the tag is from my extra diecuts box.  Some baker's twine, the argyle embossing folder, and little ink, and called it done.

Darling husband is out roading his dogs (his favorite early-morning activity when it's not hunting season) and then we're off to an early buffet.

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Sunflowers

It's Thursday and time for a new Delighful Challenge.  This week's theme is "Anything Goes".  I chose this sunflower background image to create an all-occasion card - so handy to have in any card stash.  I used George for the frames, Copic markers to color the image, and a Jolee dimensional sticker to accent the ribbon.

You can purchase this image at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

You're invited to join our challenge.  This week's sponor is

Just link your project  to the Challenge blog for a chance to win a $20.00 gift certificate. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Digital Delights Grand Opening and Quick Tip Tuesday

Wendy, (aka LoubyLoo) has finished the "remodel" of her online store and it's wonderful!  I hope you'll stop by and see the delightful images she offers including a freebie every Friday.  You'll find the online store HERE.   Don't miss the creations shared by the Delightful Challenges design team every Thursday and more ideas and tutorials on the Digital Delights blog throughout the week.  I'll be posting a new "Delightful" card here on Thursday. Delightful Challenges is a challenge blog so you can participate each week.  There is always a prize and, of course, a special blinkie for the designs that are selected.  It's not too late to enter the Father's Day Challenge so why not take a look.

Also, today is Quick Tip Tuesday at Fantabulous Cricut.  Just click on the link to see a great idea I found for making your own flower "fluff".  It's easy and inexpensive and it works!

I had a fabulous time with my daughter in Las Vegas - no gambling, but shopping and a limo tour of the Vegas Strip along with two full days of watching softball.  Now it's back to crafting (and maybe a little housework, if I can fit it in LOL).

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Darling Daisy

Happy Monday, Everyone.  Today I'm sharing another card from my files (yes, I'm still in Las Vegas, but flying home today).   First I wanted to remind you that today is Challenge Me Monday at Fantabulous Cricut.  Be sure to drop in to see the what the design team has  for this week's Wedding Wishes theme.  Remember that you can play along by linking your card to the post anytime during the week.  Don't forget that it must include a Cricut cut.

OK, now to my card - oh so simple - just squares and a K&Company embellishment, but don't you love the color combination?  And, what a great way to use your scrap stash!

I'll see you tomorrow for Quick Tip Tuesday at FCCB and then a new Delightful Challenges design on Thursday. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Joy Fold Rewind

I hope your weekend is starting off terrifically.  I'm in Las Vegas with my daughter - woohoo! - so I thought I'd share one of the very first cards I posted to the Cricut message board.  This card actually made the Chirp, which was a huge thrill for me as a beginning cardmaker.  It's a joy fold card and I used the ribbon to tuck the flap into to keep the card closed.  The flower is from George cut at several different sizes and then layered.  As I look back on this card, I see where my love of using paper to carry the design began. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

   



Delightful Challenges DT Debut

Today I'm sharing my first design as a member of the Delightful Challenges Design Team.  A new challenge is posted every Thursday. Each week the design team will show you ideas using some of the fabulous digital images created by Wendy (aka LoubyLoo).  And, you're invited to play along. 

You know you love a new challenge!!

I designed this card for our Father's Day theme using Sparky the Knight and the Knight and Dragons Sentiment set.   You can find these digital images HERE. Sparky is colored with Copic markers.
The paper is from Little Yellow Bus.

You'll want to visit Wendy's blog as well.  Be sure to click on the Tutorial link - you'll be amazed by the variety of tutorials and the wonderful ideas presented by the tutorial designers.
Finally, links to all of the Delightful Designers' blogs can be found on my sidebar.  I think you'll enjoy the variety of talent.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,
Larelyn

It's Quick Tip Tuesday

I have to give credit for this wonderful idea to Sheila (aka Sassy Lady) who shared it on her blog a number of months ago.

Sheila shared how to use dry wall tape to place die cuts on your projects or layouts.  This works especially well if you have a long title or lots of images that can't be welded.  I had three titles to place on a 28" x 28" poster and I wanted them tilted this way and that and overlapped.  This tape method worked like a charm and saved me so much time.

After you've laid out your diecuts just the way you want them, place the mesh self-adhesive tape on top of your cuts.  Flip the whole thing over to add your favorite adhesive, flip it back and place on your project.  Then, carefully remove the mesh tape.  You can even use it over and over again.

Thanks, Sheila, this worked so well for my project.

Don't forget our Design Team Debut at Delightful Challenges on Thursday.  I'll have my first card posted here with links to the challenge blog and Digital Delights online store.

For the rest of the week, I'm going to feature some previously made cards that are still among my favorites since I'm taking a few days off to meet my daughter in Las Vegas.  Sounds fun, huh?  But, she does have to work while we're there - recruiting at a big softball showcase tournament.  That won't stop the "girls' weekend" good times.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn 

#1 Dad and an Announcement

This week we're celebrating Dad at Fantabulous Cricut.

This adorable digital image was provided by WhimsieDoodles.

I used papers from the DCWV Guy Stack and my favorite Bo Bunny Dots.  The card is

an A2 tri-fold.  I colored with Copic markers and added Glossy Accents to the mug.

 Visit FCCB to see more of the design team's inspirations.  Then, be sure to link your creation to the

Challenge Me Monday #63 post.

ANNOUNCEMENT!

I have been chosen as a Design Team member for Delightful Challenges -

the Challenge blog for Digital Delights by LoubyLoo.

I am, once again, honored and "delighted" to be a part of a wonderful design group.

I've only recently begun using digital images and Wendy (aka Louby Loo) has the cutest characters and images.  I hope you'll visit her site and see the wonderful things she has for you.  She also designs custom watermarks and blog layouts.

If you're hesitant to use digital images, they're really easy to download and then size and print from Word.  If you have questions, just leave me a comment and I'll help you in any way I can.

Our design team debut will be this Thursday and then a new design every Thursday after that.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Calling Card Basket

Just a quick post before heading out to softball games this weekend.

This is the basket I made to collect calling cards for the ProvoCraft drawing during our Circle Meet-up.

It was a fun day with lots of chatting and a little Cricutting!

The cuts are from Campin Critters. 

Have a wonderful weekend.  I'll see you on Monday with the next

FCCB Challenge Me Monday and another announcement.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Circle Calling Card

Good Evening Blogging Friends.

I just returned from the 

pre-Circle Crop dinner.  About 24 gals from around Northern California met for dinner to celebrate finally having a Cricut Circle Meet-up in our area.  We're expecting 60+ Circlets tomorrow.

Tomorrow we'll be exchanging calling cards.

I just know that many of them will be super fantastic, but I went for simple so that I had time to finish all my other projects.  The back of the card has my messageboard name, email and blog addy.  I can't wait to exchange cards with my new Circle friends and begin visiting their blogs for wonderful inspiration.

I must get to bed.  I have an hour's drive in the morning to help set up for the crop.  It should be a fun, fun day and I'll have some exciting news to share on Monday.  Until then, have a wonderful weekend.

Oh, one more thing.  If you're having problems leaving comments (a Blogger issue that manifests itself in several different ways lately), I received this hint in one of my post's comments -

When you sign in, do not check the "keep my signed in box" and after you've typed your username and password, hold down the Control key before clicking to sign in.  Then, back at the comment window, hold the Control key again while clicking "post comment".  It worked for me, but I sure hope Blogger gets these silly kinks worked out.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Layout for Crops of Luv

The Cricut Circle members in Northern California are having a crop this Friday. Since I live fairly close to the venue, I volunteered to help in any way I could.  I was asked to create a Welcome sign to go along with the theme, "Good Ol Summertime, Northern Californa Style."

We are also making 2-page layouts to donate to Crops of Luv.  I decided to make my poster to include a

2-page layout that could be donated.  I used Campin Critters for all of the cuts.  What a fun and easy cartridge.  There are lots of layers but they are easy to assemble since the detail isn't too specific.

The title is actually a part of the Welcome poster, not the layout.  I used the Robotz font for it.

Tomorrow, 24 Circle members will meet for dinner - just to get the party going!  It should be a fun evening and a full day of cropping - well, probably visiting and just having fun - Cricut style.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn