Merry Christmas!

Hi there! Merry Christmas Eve! I got to work early on some Christmas thank-you cards -- here is a video and a few pictures.

Here's another card -- a regular sized one to pop in the mail, with many of the same features.

MATERIALS USED:

Cricut/Winter Lace Cartridge (Provo Craft)

Cuttlebug/Snowflake Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)

Various cardstocks (Bazzill Basics & Core'dinations)

Adhesive gemstones (Recollections)

Foam Adhesive (Paper Studio)

Pumice Stone ink (Ranger)

Classic sentiment clear stamps (Hero Arts)

1/4" Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)

Crystal Stickles (Ranger)

Patterned paper scraps

ATG (Scotch)

Thank you so much for reading/watching. May you all have a blessed Christmas with warmth and loved ones.

Lots of Christmas love,

Emily

Finally -- 30th Birthday Cards (Part 1)

Hurray -- my brother's birthday is here and I can finally post the videos of the cards I made for him! (Not that I assume he peruses my craft blog -- but I didn't want to take a chance on spoiling any surprises)!

This post will contain 2 videos: 1 of the card, and another of the amazing surprise party his friends threw for him a couple nights ago. He was genuinely surprised, and I can't resist including it. :)

Card materials:

- Bazzill Basics Smoothies cardstock

- white opaque pen (inkssentials)

- silver embossing powder (Ranger)

- Watermark stamp pad (versamark)

- Street Sign & Paisley cartridges (Provo Craft)

- Pocket full of Posies mat stack (DCWV)

- Sing Along stamp set (American Crafts)

- Boombox stamp set (We R Memory Keepers)

- Copic markers (YR07, Y38, B02, B05, YG03, YG63)

How blessed are we!

Thanks for reading/watching!

xoxo -- Emily

Sympathy Card + Video

Here is a sympathy card I made using the Cindy Loo cartridge. In case you haven't checked it out, this cartridge features loads of pretty and delicate flowers and flourishes. They're really versatile and can be used for lots of things, which can be great when you're stumped.

I'm still really new to this video thing, so they're nothing outstanding but they get my point across!



Recipe:
- Cream A2 card
- Flower2 cut at 3 3/4"
- tea dye & vintage photo ink
- black satin ribbon (3/8") by ribbon boutique
- patterned paper -- circa 1934 (Cosmo Cricket)
- golden rod stickles
- sentiment by stampendous

As always, thanks for reading/watching!
Hugs,
Emily

Nothin' Fancy...

Hey there! I've been a very bad blogger recently... :(
BUT the good news is, after years of randomly trying and FAILING, I have finally been able to upload a craft video to youtube. I have no idea why I have been so horrible at this, but it finally worked, and will hopefully lead to more (and better quality) videos soon! Here's a quick look at a Christmas-themed ATC I created for a swap.

If you are interested in learning more about ATC's and where I do my swapping, please contact me!

I'll add the project details and photos as soon as I can. As always, thanks for joining me!

HUGS!

Emily

I'm back - with a Halloween card!

I'm back!!! I have missed my crafting and blogging so dearly, as wedding planning has taken over my free time. Not that I'm complaining. :)

I recently started a new and somewhat quick scrapbook, but have really been working more on cards when I do get time to craft. Fall is my favorite season, and I always find myself very inspired when the leaves start to fall. Here's a card for a friend:

Since I last blogged, I have begun working with Copics, and my cartridge library has grown considerably. BUT, this is the first project I've done in ages that did not involve the cricut. Here's the recipe:

- A2 cream card, edges inked in Vintage Photo

- Patterned paper, both from Cosmo Cricket, inked in Vintage Photo:

- polka dots: Odds and Ends, 1.75"

- plaid: Matilda, 2.25"

- 3 characters (My Mind's Eye) stamped in Archival Jet Black on Bazzill Coconut Swirl. Colored and blended with various Copics. Hand cut, inked with Antique Linen, edged with Colorbox black, and adhered with pop dots.

- Sew Easy original head run along all 4 card edges; stitched with American Crafts black twine.

Thanks for reading!!

xoxo

Emily

Cuttlebug Folder Storage

How do you store your Cuttlebug embossing plates? A while back, I decided with a growing collection I needed a more practical way to store them than keeping them in the cardboard and plastic sleeves and dragging them out each time. I saw several really great ideas on the internet, but I couldn't find any of the exact materials, or they required cricut design studio, which I do not have or plan to have. So I came up with my own idea!

I have to give Mr. Fiance the credit for this one - I showed him the size I needed and he found the perfect storage box. (Hobby Lobby). I have found that this method works really well and looks nice too. :)










* I begin by cutting kraft cardstock to 8 3/4" x 6". Score it at 4 3/8". You can do this using any scoring tool. This will form a folder.
* Round the top 2 corners of the folder at 1/2".
* Run one side of the folder through the Cuttlebug, with whatever plate you are going to store in that folder. NOTE: This must be matched up and done twice, as the embossing plate size is larger than the kraft folder.
* Cut tabs from From My Kitchen Cricut Cartridge. I use the round tab on page 55, (Row 3, # 8), cut at 1 1/2" with Real Dial Size ON.
* Score tabs in half and adhere to one folder at a time using ATG tape or similar adhesive. I alternate the colors of mine, and also stagger them in 3 rows.
* Insert each embossing plate in it's new folder.

VOILA!


I store my A, B, and C plates and a few dies behind the folders. I keep an index card with these measurements taped to the bottom of the box (in the photo, the wrong cricut information is written - please disregard). I also keep a small bag of extra tabs for when I get a new embossing plate.


Hope this helps someone! Thanks for reading.
xoxo
Emily

Mini's!

Today is Friday. It's one of those Fridays where I completely, totally,100% grasp the momentum of the phrase, "TGIF!!!!!!!". (omg, what a week.)

I have been on a fanatical mini-card-kick this week. They're small and therefore adorable, and much quicker to whip up - what's not to love? Here are a couple:

Materials for WHAT'S UP mini card:

- Lemon Bliss Smoothies cardstock (Bazzill)

- Scoring Board & bone folder (Martha Stewart/EK Success)

- Grid Background stamp (Prima) & Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink (Ranger)

- Tiny Alpha stamps (Stampendous) & Archival Jet Black Ink (Ranger)

- white, black, blue, and lt. blue scraps (Wausau Paper)

- Cricut Expression & From My Kitchen cartridge (Provo Craft)

- Ink Blending Tool & Tea Dye Distress Ink (Ranger)

- 2-way Glue Pen (Zig)

- Star Dust Stickles (Ranger)

Materials for MATRYOSHKA mini card:

- Green Tea Cardstock (Bazzill)

- Scoring Board & bone folder (Martha Stewart/EK Success)

- Cuttlebug & Perfectly Paisley Embossing folder (Provo Craft)

- navy, pink, brown, and flesh scraps (Wausau Paper)

- Cricut Expression & Simply Charmed cartridge (Provo Craft)

- 2-way Glue Pen (Zig)

- Glam Pink and True Blue Stickles (Ranger)

I'm undecided if I'm going to send these or create a little package for Etsy. Hrmmmm....either way, they're loads of fun. :) And OH! I almost forgot - they fit in these envelopes!! Love.

Thank 'smuch for reading! Happy Friday, ya'll.

xoxo

Ems

conGRADs

Here's a Graduation card I did recently -- I also made decorations that coordinate with this card, for Josh's grad open house. It turned out really clean and sophisticated!

That's homemade baker's twine (!) for the 'tassle', and black enamel accents to distinguish the spelling of 'grad'.

* * *

Josh and I took a mini-trip to our old college town and Little Nashville this weekend. Pretty sure it goes without saying that I spent the majority of my visit in Wishful Thinking and Papertrix (my two favorite craft stores EVER!). Seriously, if you're ever in the area, you have to check them both out. They are both so amazingly unique and packed with so many goodies.

I want to send out a special 'HELLO' to Amy, a new follower of my blog! I met Amy while I was shopping in one of my 2 favorite crafty stores, Papertrix, where she works. YAY, Amy, thanks for a great visit to Papertrix, and for following my blogging journey. I can't WAIT to come visit Nashville again!

thanks for reading!

xoxo

Birthday Deer

I spent Saturday morning working on this card, which turned out to be a real gem. I made it for a little girl turning 5, with whom I share a birthday! She's a super crafty kiddo and she loved it... warms my heart!

I started with a white card base (5x5)

- a blue mat (4.75 x 3), edges inked in broken china

- lime green paper piece (4.75 x 2), which I ran through the Stylized Flowers Cuttlebug folder and distressed on top, inked with crushed olive

- three 2" circles in yellow, gold, and orange. I layered these to form a sun and glued it beneath the green

Next I cut 2 clouds from Create a Critter in cream at 1.25" - one regular, and one using the Flip function. I ran them through the Xyron; once they were covered with adhesive, I coated them with Doodlebug's Crushed Velvet flocking in white. LOVE THESE (and so did the little girl!)

The next piece was the deer from Cindy Loo. I cut this using 4 different shades of Bazzill Bling and DCWV adhesive-backed cardstocks, at 2.75".

Finally, time to put it all together!

So happy with the end result. It's been a while since I got to do a fun card!

Thanks for reading!xoxo

Emily

Graduation Cupcake Toppers

Yesterday was the open house in honor of Josh (my fiance), who graduated from IU May 13th! I'm so, so proud of him - and we had a nice day to celebrate with the family and friends who came to support him.

For the occasion, I made choc/choc cupcakes (his fav) and fun toppers. I used Cricut Cartridges: Storybook, Cindy Loo, and Happy Graduation.

They were gobbled up in no time. Cupcake toppers seem to take quite a bit of time for something that just gets peeled out of the treat right away. But they look so pretty stacked up in the cupcake tree... Fun!

Thanks for reading:)

- Emily

I feel it's appropriate to let my blog friends know - my grandmother passed away last week. If you know me or have been a reader of my blog, you know that she is my crafting companion. We would spend hours - entire days sitting together working on projects. Sharing insight, ideas, memories, laughter, and food. This all came to an abrupt halt when she fell suddenly ill last September.

The last couple weeks have been dark and dragging for my family. I can't believe she is gone. She wasn't just my grandma - she was my friend. She is a huge part of mine and my brother's life - the only grandmother I ever knew in this lifetime. I feel like a part of me is gone - but I thank God for the amazing Grandmother I was blessed enough to have for 25 years.

I plan to continue on with my projects, imagining her words of encouragement ringing in my ear.

thanks for reading--

emily

We're Engaged!!!

April 30, 2011

Easter 2011

I hope everyone had a beautiful and blessed Easter. I had the best Easter of my life. As a little girl, I was always interested in going to church. I tried many, many churches when I was growing up, going with my parents, friends, and other family members. One religion above all the others always held my interest and heart - and now my interest has grown into my faith. I finally came home. Since September, Josh (my boyfriend) and I have been taking RCIA classes to become confirmed members of our Church. It has been the most amazing journey I have ever been on, and it brings me so much joy to know this is just the beginning. All of our studies led up to the Easter Vigil, which was Saturday night. I made a few cards for the occasion, and I've got some photos to share from that night, too.

ABOVE

- The interior of our church. I may see it every week, but it will always take my breath away. :)
- Father confirming me into the church. :)

BELOW
- Josh with his very proud Grandmother :)
- Us with our sponsor/Josh's Grandmother and our priest :)

* * * * *

I apologize that the first card doesn't have any detailed photos. I'll add some later - but this was a quick cell phone pic. The image was cut from the Inspired Heart Cartridge on Bazzill Basics Bling cardstock. Ribbon by Ribbon Boutique; Stickers by American Crafts; Stitching by Sew Easy; Pearls by Recollections.

The 2nd card was also made using the Inspired Heart cartridge. American Crafts foil cardstock; Bazzill Basics bling cardstock; Swiss Dots embossing folder; Stampendous alphabet stamps "You are a"; pop dots.

It was such a wonderful experience that both of our families joined together for. I'm so grateful! Thank you for letting me share this with you.

Lots of love,

Emily

Faithfully / Any Way You Want It

This 2-page spread has been in the works for awhile, frankly because I haven't had time to do anything but a few cards I needed. I worked on this bits at a time, and it was still fun. :) Tons of journaling, and I managed to squeeze quite a few photos in, too.

12x12 sheets by We R Memory Keepers.

Titles from Storybook (2"; Shadow) and Cricut Classic Font (1"; Tall Ball/Tall Ball Shadow).

Basic grey stamps, in archival ink, on bazzil cardstock.

I colored & blended them each in with colored pencils, and cut them out with cutter bees.

I drew word bubbles and wrote in dialogue from the show (cutest line ever).

All pop dotted. :)

My first scrapbook page with stitching! Thank you, Sew Easy. :)

thanks for reading!

xoxo

I haven't written anything in awhile - oops! This (Easter season) is a really, really busy time for Josh and I, as we are going through the amazing process of joining our church. :)

This week, my mom and I took a couple hard-earned vacay days to go on our 6th annual trip to Ft. Wayne, IN for the Vera Bradley sale. :) Along the way, we got to go to some of our other favorite shops, one of them of course being Archiver's. I FINALLY was able to get my hands on a Sew Easy (I've been wanting one for months), and I love it! It works just as well as I had hoped, and I have already learned lots and added character to several projects.

Below:

My Sew Easy set--mat, tool, needle, scallop head, and aqua, grey, and purple flosses.

Scotch tape that matches my Cricut Expression! yaaay, purple.

$1 Cosmo Cricut Sticker haul from www.peachycheap.com

Other Archiver's finds - including coveted rose brads and crocheted flowers!

love love love.

Below is a picture of my Vera finds. My mom and I have been Vera lovers since 2004 when I began working in a Hallmark store, and it snowballed from there. We have gone to the outlet sale every spring since 2005, and this year got considerably less because #1, we have acquired one too many bags over the years, and #2, they raised their prices. I'm in love with my Make Me Blush purse - one bag was more than enough for me. :)

I

And because he was all cuddly while I was taking these photographs:

Thanks for reading with me! xoxo