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

A Valentine of a Different Color

I just finished this card for the Jitterbuggin non-traditional Valentine color challenge.  I think I'll also post it to My Sheri Crafts anniversary challenge since I think it's approriate for both.  I have green on the brain since I'm designing Cards for Soldiers using greens so I just stayed with that color group.  The Changito stamps have always been a favorite of mine - they're always such happy stamps.  The palm leaf is from Life is a Beach and the sentiment is from Sweethearts.  Some inking with my favorite VersaMagic Jumbo Java, and a little doodling with my white Signo pen finished it off.  Oh, the sketch is from Raq's Card Challenge - whew, covered a lot of bases with this one :).

Wow! Two posts in one day.  Yay, I'm finally finding some card challenge time.

Have a terrific weekend and enjoy the Super Bowl (or your free time while hubby watches!).

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

My Pink Stamper Design Team Challenge

Robyn, of My Pink Stamper, is in the process of introducing her new design team.  She has two spots open and has challenged anyone with a blog and a Cricut to apply.  I figured, why not try.  Wouldn't it be amazing to be a part of such a well-known and creative design team?  So . . . her rules were these:

Pick a favorite cartridge - not so easy since I've found something special on just about every cartridge I own.
Create your design using pink, green, and brown - her favorite colors.  I happen to love pink and brown and adding a touch of green is never a problem.
Include the full recipe and reason for your creation.

Here is my card.  I used my "go-to" sketch (see August, 2010) and some of my favorite things: paper layering, heat embossing powder, foam dimensionals, and ribbon :).

 Size A2

White 5.5 x 8.5 cardstock, folded

 Pink background mat  5.25 x 4

 Brown patterned paper (BoBunny Love Bandit) 5 x 3.75 

 Pink cardstock rectangle 2 x 3

 Brown mat 2.25 x 3.25

 Green dot mat  2.5 x 3.5

Layered Heart - Sweethearts Cartridge page 34

*Brown glitter - shadow feature @ 2.5

*White cardstock - shadow feature @ 2.25

*Pink cardstock - shadow feature @ 2  then covered with Versamark and heat embossed with Ranger Holographic embossing powder

*Red cardstock - base image @ 2

Foam dimensionals between the brown glittered heart and background, and between white and pink hearts

Ribbon - Bazzill Basics

Stamps by Stampendous

  Sentiment stamped with ColorBox pigment, brown, heat embossed with Kaleidoscope embossing powder

Small heart stamped with Martha Stewart glue pad then MS fine glitter

I chose the Sweethearts cartridge for two reasons: 1) I wanted to make a Valentine card for this design team challenge, but also one that could be made in multiples to send to Cards for Soldiers.  I can not use glitter on the CFS cards, but I can use the heat embossing.  2) Sweethearts has a great deal of versatility.  Along with the expected "wedding,"  "engagement," and "love" cuts, there are many that can be used for other projects - the frog prince, the monkey, the puppy and kitten are all adorable.  There are some wonderful flourishes, flowers, a wreath and  fleur d lis, as well.  And, best of all, each cut has a companion card and envelope (easily sized on DS or the Gypsy).

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you like my design.  I stayed true to my design style - simple, clean, and lots of paper layering.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Valentine's Day and a Mystery

I know, I know.  You're up to your elbows in turkey and cranberry sauce and have Christmas projects galore.  Me too!!  But since my guest spot at Sketches in Thyme is in January, I have to think beyond Gobble, Gobble, and Ho-Ho-Ho. 

I was going through my card samples and found these two that are favorites of mine.  The "Kiss Me" card is cut from Sweethearts.  I cut the frog 3 times so I could pop him up.  I used my red 3-D glaze pen on the heart that dots the i and my black 3-D glaze pen on his toes (are they called toes on a frog - hmmmm?).  I added jewels for the eyes and to accent the crown.  A little doodling here and there and he's waiting for a kiss! 

Now, this card is a mystery.  I can't remember which cartridge I cut the bird from - yikes!  My brother-in-law sent me some supplements that are supposed to help with memory (darn aging brain anyway), but I don't think I've taken them long enough.  Do you think it's because I forget to take them?  I've gone through every cartridge preview page and also did the search on both the Gypsy and DS.  Still can't find it.  It must be one of those hidden treasures found on the icon feature of some cartridge.  I won't give up.  I'm going through all my booklets this evening - who knows what wonderful things I'll uncover.  Hopefully one of them will be this darn bird.  I really love how the bird just pops against the two patterned papers.  It's such a simple card, but I love it - he-he!

Well, I'm off to continue the search.  If you recognize the bird, please leave a comment and tell me where I can find it.  I will be ever so grateful. 

Mystery solved - it's from Joys of the Season.  It's the partridge (in a pear tree) and I cut off the branch.  Phew, only had to go through 28 booklets to find it (could have been all 80!).

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn