Marching to the Beat

 

I have a layout to share with you today.  This is one that features two of my sons that were in marching band during their high school days.  One of the boys played cymbals and xylophone while the other played clarinet.  And now that they are out of school the one who played cymbals has taught himself to play guitar and drums while the other one has decided he has no interest in playing an instrument but just wants to sing in his band.  Yes, both of these boys are now a part of their own band and they are two of the three that were featured in my recent boys rock layout.

 

For this layout I used a combination of both paper piecing and print 'n cut.  All pieces though are from the When I Grow Up - Marching Band file by Marjorie Ann Designs.  I did redesign the uniform a bit differently than that file so that mine would look more like that of the school uniform.  But then that's part of the beauty of Marjorie's files.  It's easy to do when you need to.

 

In addition to the Marching Band file, I also used the Cricut cartridge Locker Talk for the clarinet which I print 'n cut and then I also used a true type font from my computer for the letter B on the uniform.

Picture Perfect

Happy Labor Day Weekend everyone.  I don't know how many of you are celebrating by having a crafting marathon but that's what I'm doing this weekend.  We have rain, rain, and more rain so while the boys are playing video games and we're all watching football later I'll be crafting away. 

 

This morning I completed these adorable picture holders which are a variation of the original project I found over at My Creative Time.  I knew it was going to take me a while to final try my hand at it but didn't realize it was going to be a year in the doing.  Thank goodness I book marked the site so I could remember where to go.  :)

 

For my take on this project I too used the jumbo clothespin.  However, I had some stain and applied it to each of the pins before adhering my papers.  Once the stain was dry and the pins where put back together I cut strips of paper the size of the clothespin.  You can't really see the print on the paper but it's Playtime - Hide n Seek (#11512) from My Little Shoebox. 

 

I then cut my "notebook" and "graph" paper from DCWV Highschool Mat Stack at 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" and rounded off the edges.

 

The pencils were cut using Locker Talk at 3". 

 

The glasses are from the Cardz TV Stamps set You're the Man.  Once dry I added some wiggle eyes and drew on the rest of the face using my fine tip sharpie.

 

The sentiment is from another Cardz TV Stamps set called Simply Said.

 

To finish it all off I added some glossy accents to the tip of the pencil and then adhere the page to the clothespin using foam tape so as to give it that little 'pop'.

Cheers on Me

Happy Thursday everyone and welcome to another Just A Scrappin design team challenge where this week's directive was to make a project with a cheerleader.  As I was preparing my post I realized that I had a moment of craziness and submitted the wrong picture to my DT captain thanks to my not paying attention.  So if you've come to my blog via Just a Scrappin I apologize for any confusion.

Now that that is out of the way, for this project I used:

Locker Talk for the lockers and the banner on the 'school wall'

Paper Doll Dress Up for my cheerleader (not sure why I chose orange & blue for the uniform because I am neither a Florida or Auburn fan - Roll Tide Roll)

And now that you've seen my project for this week's challenge be sure to hop on over to Just a Scrappin to check out the rest of the great projects our team created for you this week.  Then create your own cheerleader themed project, link up and play along with us.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

Thank You Teacher

Today's card was originally created for a DT challenge over at Just a Scrapping but with my unending headache over the weekend into the first part of the week I go turned around and finished too late to have it included.  But that's okay because I can still share it with all of you here!!

For this card I printed the word Thanks on a scrap piece of paper I found.  Remember kindergarten?  I was thrilled when I realized that the type and size font I chose for this lined up pretty pretty perfect with the paper.

As for my cuts...I used Locker Talk for the ruler and Doodlecharms for my apple.  Before adhering the apple to my card though I coated it with a good coating of glossy accents to help give it a little shine.

The buttons are some that I picked up at Walmart quite some time ago.  I admit I have a thing for playful buttons and love using them when and where I can as embellishments.  Not just on my papercrafting but also on my plastic canvas. 

Since we have either just begun or are getting ready to enter the back to school phase I'd love to see any teacher projects you've created.  Just leave me a comment with a link to your project and I'll come take a look......

School is Cool

Happy Wednesday everyone.  I hope that your's is starting out better than ours.  We have once again begun our day with rain.  Not that I mind the rain - I just don't like having to drive in it.  :::sigh:::

Today I'd like to share a card with you that was created for the School is Cool challenge over at Cardz TV.  Our directive this week was to create a back to school card using any cartridges and colors we chose. 

I laid out several different designs until I finally decided on this one which came about as I was looking for background paper to use for the others I had in my head.  A while back I was 'RAK'd' from one of my groups and part of that RAK was this wonderful page from an old reading primer.  Seriously, how much more perfect could this paper be for back to school?  Well okay, there are probably others out there but for me this was it!

So off I went designing my new card and for this one I used:

Autumn Celebrations for the glasses (think grandparents day cut)

April Showers for the worm

Locker Talk for the book

After putting my cuts together I decided to place them on an action wobble to add a bit of fun to the card.

And now that you've seen my take on this week's challenge, why not create  your own, link up and play along with us?  You have until August 14th so get inspired.  I can't wait to see what you create.

You Did It!

It's time for another installment in the Cricut Cardz challenge series and our team has some awesome designs to share with you this week.

Of course this challenge came just in time for me because my #4 child graduates from highschool tomorrow evening.  It's amazing how quickly the time flies, but we'll have next year off and then the two years after that our last two will graduate.....

For my card this week I used:

Autumn Celebrations for the stack of books
Create a Critter for the owl
Locker Talk for the graduation cap

My background paper was some that I had left over from the graduation announcements I made last month.  It's from Sandylion and is called graduation caps - clear foil.

And now that you've seen my creation for this week's challenge hop on over to Cardz TV and take a look at all the fun designs our team created to inspire you.  Then create  your own, link up and play along with us.

Happy Graduation

I had a few leftovers from my daughter's graduation cards that I made a couple weeks ago so I decided not to waste. ......

Yep, all I changed was the you're invited to Happy Graduation using the Graduation cartridge and now it's the perfect card to give to a graduate.  Best thing about this card is that the colors are those of my local high school as well as FSU so I won't have any problems finding someone to give this one too.

The inside sentiment says - Now - go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

College Graduation Announcements

Sorry that I've been so quiet lately.  Things have been beyond crazy over here with getting ready for an upcoming graduation and a couple of craft shows.  We just tried our first time at the Oktoberfest and were pleased with the turnout.  Needless to say we'll do that show again next year.  But now it's all about getting ready for the big one next month.

All of that said, I completed the first half of my daughter's graduation announcements for this December.  We worked together to come up with a design and she decided on the verbiage.  This is the final result.  I posted them up on FB the other day and quite a few people loved the way they turned out  my daughter included....and that is of course a good thing.  lol

For these announcements I used:

Accent Essentials for the maroon & gold mats

Hello Kitty for the diploma

Locker Talk for the graduation cap; and

Thanksgiving for the "you're invited"

Graduation Invitations

It really shouldn't be a surprise, but this week's Cricut Cardz Challenge was to make a graduation card using any cartridges and colors we choose.  Great timing right?  You betcha.  So if you're stumped for ideas hop on over to see the great creations our design has in store for you this week. 

Before you go though let me tell you about my easy to create invitation........My nephew decided at the last minute - last week to be exact - that he wanted to invite people to his graduation.  So what was my sister to do?  Well call me of course.  (lol)  She old me exactly what she wanted, my nephew wrote the "copy" and I put it all together for them.

For this card I used: 

Graphically Speaking for the clock face cut at 2 3/4" - positioning the hands to read the time of the ceremony

Locker Talk for the graduation cap cut at 1 1/4" - for the tassel I used embroidery thread in the school colors

Back to School

It's Wednesday and you know what that means.  Yep, it's time for this week's Cricut Cardz Challenge where this week's challenge was to create a back to school themed card using any cartridge and colors we desired.  I knew that I didn't want to use an apple or a stack of books for this one but wasn't sure what I was going to use.  I started looking through Locker Talk - just flipping pages and then I came across the cut for the school building.....I've looked at and thought about using this particular cut before but never took the time to tackle it.......until now. 

For this card I used Locker Talk for the school.  The building pieces were also embossed using the Cuttlebug folder tiny mosaic texture and I then inked it over with Distress ink in fire brick red.  The tree top was embossed using the d'vine swirls folder and then inked over using Colorbox green and olive inks.

The children "playing" in the school yard were cut from A Child's Year.

Now that you've seen my card for this week's challenge why don't you create one and come play along with us?  You can find other cards created by our Design Team and a link to enter your card here.

CD Calendar - July & August

Here are the next two months in my calendar "installment".

For these months I used:

Graphically Speaking for the flag & independence day

Designer's Calendar for the names of the months

Locker Talk for the school bus and bus stop

Spongebob Puzzle - Card Challenge #13

MShady's assignment for me was:

"Name of cartridge: Locker Talk

Cut to use: Puzzle on p. 68 maybe something about the confusion of HS but how it will fit together for her????? or Backpack on p. 40 maybe something about carrying her dreams with her???? Theme: First year of HS and the journey into the "real world" "

So here's what I came up with. See if you can find the following in the find a word inside: knowledge, art, spelling, and team.

The background paper/picture is a sheet of 12 x 12 paper that I purchased from my LSS. The "picture" is of the high school I graduated from that my daughter now attends - Niceville High School. And might I take a moment to brag that we won our first football game of the season last Friday?

Chipmunk's Back to School - Card Challenge #9

Leah's Card Design's Homework assignment:

Cartridges: Mickey&Friends, Locker Talk

Cuts: Any from Mickey&Friends, Locker Talk something related to kindergarten

Theme: child entering into kindergarten.

Monday was my daughter's first day of her Senior year so I was up early even though I took the day off from work. Once she was on her way to school I sat down to finish this card that I started the night before but left incomplete to watch I Love You Man with the family.

I wasn't entirely sure if I liked the way that this one turned out and wondered if I should have used leaves cut with the cricut rather than the brads I chose ( from Creative Impressions - Maple Leaf - Copper, Gold, Silver)
but what's done is done.....Of course the timing couldn't be better for this card because Kim over at Kiki's Crafts has an Autumn Days card contest going and this is going to be my entry. You can visit her blog at http://www.sistahkiki.blogspot.com/ .

Pre-School Elmo - Card Challenge #7

RavenRT's homework assignment was:

CART: Sesame Street and Friends

CUTS: ELMO (of course!)

THEME: Starting Pre-School

The picture doesn't really show the background paper well as it is a glossy type paper. But you still get the idea.

The inside of the card says:

A,B,C,D,E Pre-School's where I want to be

F,G,H,I,J Learn to read and write each day

K,L,M,N,O Boys and girls we like to know

P,Q,R,S,T Sharing books with you and me

U,V,W,X,Y Now it's time to say good-bye

Z,Z,Z,Z,Z Pre-School's where I want to be!

If you want to see some of the other cards I've created from this challenge you'll find them here http://spotofsanity.com/forum/index.php?action=mgallery Just click on the Blogspot Card Challenge folder. I'm posting all of the cards here and when I'm done with them all there will be yet another contest coming up.

Stay Tuned for details!!!!!

Combination Confusion

Okay, I couldn't stand it.....I had to start working on the challenges even though the "contest" isn't over until Monday night.

"The homework assignment given by Anonymous said...
Locker Talk-cut of the lockersFun card that says something about remembering the combination. We're starting high school and the school is huge with lockers at the end of every section. Of course, not hard for a mom to get lost!"

So for the last three nights I have worked on designing this card and trying to figure out what I was going to use for the inside sentiment. Tonight I completed the card - and not a moment too soon because as soon as I cut out the project my file corrupted and I lost everything.

For this project I used the following cuts:

Locker Talk - Lockers cut at 4" and pop dotted for layering

PDDU - Girl cut at 3" also pop dotted

Indie Art - Angel cut at 1" and shrunk to fit across the shirt

Plantin Schoolbook - numbers and question marks cut at 1"

The inside sentiment for this one says:

Confused by all these numbers -

Do I turn right or left?

With lock in hand

I turn the dial

Leaving my brain to do the rest

Well Anonymous, what do you think? Did I pass your test?

Now to decide which one I'll do next.......

Hello Kitty Graduation Pop Up Card

My oldest daughter is getting ready to gradute in a couple weeks from the community college she's been attending in Brunswick, GA and has been accepted to Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend the ceremony as my other daughter is in exams with her honors classes here at home. So I wanted to create a special card and set about last night on the design and cutting and finished putting it all together this morning.

For this card I used the following cuts:

Hello Kitty & cap - 4" (outfit cut to be in the school colors)

Hello Kitty in car - 3 1/2"

Tree from Camp Out - 4 3/4"

Sun from Pooh & Friends - 1 1/2"

Pennant from Locker Talk - 1 3/4" (cut to be in the school colors)

The road was created simply by cutting a stip of black paper the length of the card and then notching to fit around the pop up pieces so that it would slide in to the center of the card for placement.

Follow Your Dreams

For this card I used my Cricut for two cuts: the diploma from Locker Talk and the arrows from Graphically Speaking. This card was actually inspired by one I saw in one of my many card magazines that I purchase. Unfortunately I can't remember which one and I have so many of them tagged that it would take me forever to find it right now....sorry.

Very easy and quick to make and an ideal card for graduation, a job promotion, a new job or other occassions I'm sure.

Christmas Tree Layout

I wasn't quite sure how to scrap a layout of our tree this year, but while trying to fall asleep one night the idea just hit me all at once. I was so excited that I couldn't wait to wake up the next morning and get everything done so I could start putting my ideas to paper.

I took several pictures of the page but none of them revealed the true colors - rather they all flooded out regardless of lighting.

For this layout I used the Christmas Noel cart, Paper Pups, Locker Talk and PPDU.

May through August

Last night I was able to complete the next four months of my calendar. I didn't like the way June was turning out and scrapped what I had to start all over again. Then I realized that I was trying too hard to make the month look "pretty" when what it needed was to look masculine. And thus I was able to get over my little slump and get through these months.

For these four months I used the following carts:

Happily Ever After

Making the Grade

Graphically Speaking

Paper Doll Dress Up

Zooballoo

Locker Talk