Kickin' Off Christmas Blog Hop Day 1

Welcome to the Kickin' Off Christmas Blog Hop!  You may have arrived here from Penny Duncan blog.  This blog hop will feature SP and Company Products and Amy Chomas Products.  Both companies off have wonderful and unique crafting tools. 

Now that I have finally begun my Christmas shopping I have also begun to think about packaging and wrapping.  I love nice packages and bows and tags.... And I love the look of the packages under the tree.  This year I thought I could craft a few personalized boxes and bags just to make things a bit more special.

For today's box I used the square box on the Bags, Tags, Boxes, and More cartridge.  I cut the box in red cardstock and covered the top and side squares with fun Christmas scrap paper.  

Using Stampin' Up Red Riding Hood red ink and SP and Company Christmas tree stamps, I stamped red trees onto smooth white card stock.  I used micro tipped scissors and cut out the trees.  The trees where then attached to the sides of the box using pop dots. 

Next, returning to the Cricut I used the Amy Chomas gel pen holder and the Create a Critter cartridge and wrote the word JOY on red cardstock.  I used the Storybook cartridge and cut a tag shape around the work JOY.  Using pop dots the red tag was affixed to the top of the box.

I also created a matching gift card to go with the gift box.  I cut a white base card and attached a red cardstock square topped with fun Christmas paper to the front of the card.  Just as I did for the top of the box, I used CAC and SB to create the red tag for the front of the card.  I also popped a stamped tree to the front of the card.

I truly think the SP and company stamps work well with my Cricut cut gift box and card set, and that the Chomas Pen holder added a perfect finishing touch to the card and box.  I really like to mix stamping in with my Cricut cuts.

Before you hop on be sure to leave a comment below.  Everyone who leaves a comment will be eligible for a Custom Crops gift voucher drawing.  Remember that Samantha is also giving away a stamp set.  And finally, I will be giving away a copy of my DVD set, It's a Kid's Life - which features 18 layouts, video and pdf instructions along with cut files.  I will choose someone from all of the Tuesday and Wednesday comments.

After leaving your comment below, the next stop on the blog hop is the Cards by Linda blog.  Enjoy your hop!!!

I will be back tomorrow with another blog hop project. 

Amy Chomas

Amber Holden

Donna Mundinger

iCopic

Maria McGuire

Stephanie

Penny Duncan

Susan Edwards You are Here!!

Linda

Jin Yong 

Calypso

Dana Ansell

Lori 

Samantha

My Best Friend Card with Create a Critter

It's Monday and you know what that means.... It is time for the weekly Bitten by the Bug 2 challenge!  This week my sweet, sweet design team sister, Carole, chose the DOG cut from Cricut's Create a Critter cartridge.  This dog is sooo cute with his fire hat and hydrant side-kick!

I used Basic Gray's Max & Whiskers cardstock to cut the card layers.  Using design studio the fire hat shield made a perfect card shape.  Two shields were welded together to create the base card.  Two additional layers of shields were cut for the cart front.

The dog for my card was cut using Bazzill cardstock and Stampin' Up cardstock.  His face was stamped with Peachy Keen critter face stamps and black and red markers.  Bazzill red carstock was used to cut the fire hat and the dog collar.

Using Microsoft PowerPoint, I created a tag for the card - My Best Friend.  A red heart clip art was added to the center of the phrase.  Circle and scalloped circle punches were used to punch out the tag layers.

We all know that every fireman AND every dog need a fire hydrant!  This cute red hydrant is also from the Create a Critter cartridge and goes perfectly with my fire pup.

I found aqua ribbon from Stampin' Up which coordinates perfectly with the Basic Gray cardstock and added the ribbon with a bow to the front of the card. 

Pop dots were used to attach the dog to the front of the card while the hydrant and tag utilized glue.  The inside of the card has a white shield ready for a sentiment to be added.  This card would be perfect for a cute one year old's birthday - too bad my nephew is 2.5!!

I have an entire week of project planned to share with you so be sure to check back early tomorrow!!

Make and Take - or - Take and Make

There were many, many make & takes at CHA's Super Show and though I may be slightly partial, I thought the CUSTOM CROPS make and take was one of the most unique.  This cute little card utilizes Cricut cuts, border punches, pop-up features, stamps (which I did not have when assembling), pop dots, and double layer base card.  Wow.

The little bird and flower cuts were cut with the Cricut using the Create A Critter cartridge.  At the make and take area we used Martha Stewart border punches (I used a stampin' up punch).  Also in the make and take area were assorted adorable "You're so Tweet" phrase stamps. 

I made this card after I arrived home.  I believe the kit was mixed in with items in my apron pocket that I just threw into my rolling bag as I was leaving.  I realized once I looked at the make and take kit that this was the kit I was using for replacement parts for crafters who had an"oops".  That is why my bird was missing her wing and my inside middle flower was missing the tulip.  I raided may scraps and tried to hand cut replacements.  I did better with the flower than the wing, lol. The lower right front of the card should have the phrase stamped.

I decided that whoever originally designed the pop up mechanism was a simple genius.  The mechanism is so simple but works so well. I did copy the pieces before I assembling the card.  I also took the liberty of adding a bit of ribbon.

As a final note, several customers asked for the full card instructions to be added to the Custom Crops web site.  Check there later this week and you may find the card instructions.

Sweet Dreams Little Lamb Layout, Cut File and Video

The new projects released yesterday at Custom Crops and my contribution is this cute layout made with Create A Critter and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges.  The cut file, complete assembly instuctions, and video link are available at Custom Crops. Just click on my Custom Crops blinkie to be taken to my page.   The video includes a segment on stamping your paper prior to cutting.

Oh, and while you are visiting Custom Crops you might want to check out the fabulous Melissa Francis papers used to create this layout!

Create A Critter Cartridge is SOOO CUTE

Can you guess what arrived at my house yesterday??? Yep, Create A Critter!!  This cartridge is just adorable.  I actually had trouble deciding which of the little cuties to create first.  After much self-debate and personal indecision, I went with this cute little guy.  When I look at him I can hear him singing, "Hello my baby.  Hello my honey.  Hello my ragtime pal!!"   And of course he is doing a little soft shoe dance.... with several of his feet!!!

I cut my little fellow in three layers, dark green, yellow green and avacado green.  I added his top hat and cane as well as white doodle dots to accentuate his spots.  Oh yes, and I did sneak in a bit of blue cardstock for his piercing blue eyes. 

My critter card got a little bit of help from Just Because cards.  I cut the  frame, card and matting layers with Just Because Cards - a cartridge you will see more of in the coming week or two.  I really, really like Just Because Cards.  I did say that I REALLY like it, right?

I finished my card off with a bit of ribbon, flower layers and a button.  I used three different ribbons in the flower bow, as well as two different textures of flowers.  I like mixing it up!!  And just so you know that I am not the only person in my house with a corny sense of humor, I asked DH if he thought my card was cute.  His response?  "No, it's SO cute!"  Good man!!