OMG! I finally made 2!

Pages, that is... It has taken me a couple of months to get back into it. I began by making cards. Thanks to Amanda (of Scrapbook BINGO!), she has motivated me to create something. I really want to win a Cricut Christmas Solutions Cartridge, so I'm doing ALL of the challenges she asks for. This last challenge was for a layout (not a card) that use 3 Cricut Cartridges. So... Here is goes!

I've had this layout "planned" for quite a while, just never executed. It may be a little "gaudy" or pink for some of you, and the colors are totally not my style, but I was trying to get the true vibe of the Quincenera (15th Birthday Party [Coming Out] of a girl). This is the two-page layout.

I had so many pics, I had to do accordion photos. Then, since (duh me!) I put the accordions on the left-hand page, they tend to fall down when closing the album, so... I had to ribbon them up with a tie.

Marissa kissed a lot of people that night. So, I got a little "Kiss Me" action going on. I created this heart using the Coluzzle templates with my own twist. I folded the cardstock, then cut, folded and cut, etc., allowing a total of three hearts that one folds over the other.

One of the 3 Carts I used was "Happily Ever After". The frames of the two accordion albums, as well as the Spanish version of Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) were created using this cartridge. I love the way the oval frame surrounds the doll (muneca) and makes it appear to be a mirrored image.

Another was "Opposites Attract". With this cart, I made the letters that spelled out "Michelle's Quince" and "[15]". I sponged the fluorescent pink letters with a dark pink to make it blend a little more (but with a little bit of pop) with the layout.

The final cart used was "George and Basic Shapes". "The Princess & Marissa" was made from this. I left the title alone in a light pink shade. I thought it looked pretty good.

And of course... I had to use Stickles. I Stickled the crown and the necklace of Aurora in Diamond" and used Cotton Candy for the flourishes surrounding the one title and around the folding heart album.

Thanks, Amanda for pushing us to get our things done! Gotta go clean up my mess... Toodles for now! lisa

More Cards and a Little Bit of Happenings...

You'd think by now I'd be doing more layouts... Nope! Got some more cards done this week. I belong to a card club and hadn't sent the ones from November or December, or the Christmas cards I signed up to do. So... I put a simple gift in pre-made Christmas cards and made the November and December cards, plus all of the previous belated birthday cards (from August on, in my group), and all of the February Birthday cards. I am so caught up now!

Now... I can begin working on more layouts.

I will be printing picks from Walgreens, as they currently have a special of "print 50 for $5.00. Not too bad... They are quick and easy. But if you know me... I have to have them sent to me (instead of 1-hour photo), as I much prefer the matte finish. I can do so much more with it - add chalks, erase around, ink better, etc. Where a gloss picks up fingerprints WAY too easy for my taste and repels a lot of the things I like to do to photos.

So... here's a little bit of what's been goin' on here. I've been "stripping" a day bed. I intend to deep white-wash it to blend with the room, but am still working on it. There is a solvent that is "safe" for the environment (orange gel stuff - YUCK!). Unfortunately, it doesn't work very well. So... here's a little bit of me in my "stripping" clothes! Yeah!

I found some pretty vellum and striped paper on Monday and had to make a card with it. So, here is my "masculine" card. The sentiment is George with the Cricut and is chalked then distress-inked in pond green.

Marissa had a birthday (or two...). She should have had 3 by the time Super Bowl Sunday KickOff hits... We did a cake with Daddy, before he went to work; then... we had some friends over. Marissa wanted a BIG HUGE cookie with M&M's for that... Sunday will be Princess cupcakes (from Hello Cupcake!) with a little adjustments here and there. She will also have a princess-type party with Scene Setters (thank you, Karen!). She'll love it.

I also made this card (today) for the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog. We were supposed to create a card based off a sketch, and here is my take on it. Although the entries had to be posted by yesterday (so much for my anti-procrastination campaign...), I still went ahead and did it, just so I kept up with them. It's a little corny and says, "a little bubbly?"... It's intended for my friend after she gives birth to her (now) overdue daughter #2. The circles are punches, then either reversed inked or inked after dry embossing with the Cuttlebug. The sentiment is stamped in silver then heat embossed with a holographic glitter. Uh... I was a little off in my stamping, as I miscalculated the spacing and so the "l" and "y" of the bubbly is WAY off. But... I still think it looked cute.

I then tried to distress it and can't figure out how all of you get it to look just right without leaving lines or the paper curling up (and ink running!) when you spritz it with water. So... anyone out there? HELP me! (Just leave a comment or e-mail me. I am always looking for tips and tricks. Thanks for everything. I'm tired and gotta go to bed... Toodles for now! lisa

Insomnia Strikes Again!

Yikes!!! I am officialing a meet in the morning (this morning) and I can't sleep! So... I changed my template. It took quite a while, as I'm fairly new to this whole thing without using one found on Blogger. But, I did it. I played with the colors in the fonts and stuff, too.

Please give your honest opinions and maybe some suggestions, too... PLEASE?!? Any other help will do.

I am still looking to do my title banner with something a little more me... but, you know... BABYSTEPS all the way! Hey!

And in case you don't check out my weight loss blog... I have now lost 10 pounds!!! Yay me! Whelp folks... I really should try harder to get some sleep, so here I go. Toodles for now! lisa

State of CA "I Owe You" Rumor

NEWSFLASH! It was merely a rumor (you know how those fly... we all watch Desperate Housewives) that the State of California will be administering "IOU"s for those with a tax refund for the year 2008. It was previously spread that we didn't know when we would get our money back.

Here we go. Misinterpretation state wide. The State Controller issued a statement on January 16, stating that there would be a "30-day delay" on all refunds processed February 1st and after. Please see the article: State Controller announces delay for tax refunds for further information.

In other words... don't spread rumors! Many people (myself included) were extremely hot about this situation. Although I usually research claims (especially those that would infuriate me...), I failed to do so this time. Hope this makes your weekend. Have a great one! Toodles for now! lisa

Tips and Quips... for the Midweek

I didn't do anything really creative today except make chicken soup and homemade rolls. I have been diligently exercising, writing in my weightloss blog, and cleaning out my garden areas, getting ready for springtime (yes, it comes quite early here in Southern California!). So, maybe I have been neglecting you all here, but hey! I've been scrolling and reading for ideas... so I thought I'd give you all a little sumpin' sumpin' to tide you over in the midweek.

Thanks to Jenn at Scrapbook Bingo! She found this incredible site for all of you who like to do challenges. The Daily Dare boasts "Take the Challenge... We Dare You..." and compiles a list (with links) of all of the creative blogs posting challenges every day, so you don't have to do a search or scroll of your faves. You also (as Jenn says) don't have to remember which ones do challenges, or what day they do them, as TDD does it for you! btw... if you don't like to "check" blogs so much, they also have a e-mail sign up via Feedblitz, which I highly recommend. Thanks again, Jenn (love the rhyming!!!). Also, please don't forget to check out Jenn's blog, too! She is ultra creative.

Another tip was provided by Doreen (also of Scrapbook Bingo! fame...). Have you tried super duper hard to find Dew Drops, Skittles, or other type of mini "glass" (actually epoxy) gems only to find they have been discontinued or prices uber-raised? Look no further... you can make your own with clear hot glue and (if you want to color them...) alcohol inks! The directions are simple and easy, and you can find them here. Much more inexpensive than the hard-to-find storebought ones, they can be sized to whatever you wish and colored however you wish, as well! Woohoo! (In the photos... The "Robin's Nest" drops are purchased. The light blue ones are homemade!) Thanks, Doreen for the site, and thank you Lindsay Weirich (The Frugal Crafter) for the tidbit. Your blog (and creations) ROCK!

Ok, folks, that's all I got today. It has been busy for me, since I'm trying to stay busy and spend less time-O on the computer (lol... don't we all have that problem?). And with teenagers' activities and an almost 4-year-old... you know how it goes. So... Toodles for now! lisa

New Cards from the Weekend

Ok, sorry late in posting these, but I have been busy with my weight loss blog (see link in sidebar). I've also been blog surfing, trying to come up with ideas and inspiration. But... I'm ready to post these cards I made over the weekend.

This card was made (quickly) on Saturday for a Quincenera (Girls 15th [Coming Out] Birthday Party) that I didn't know I was going to until that morning. For the scalloped circles, I used Mini Monograms and my Cricut. The sentiment is George and Basic Shapes. I inked a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, then ran one of the scallops through, the other scallop went through without the ink, then I layered them. I love the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch, so I used that too. Underneath it all are two ribbons, a purple and white striped organza over a wide silky satin white ribbon. I sponged the card and the envelope and added some bling to the center of my scallops, as well as Stickles on the sentiment to make the card sparkle.

It may look a little off center, as it was initially meant to go horizontal, but I had printed the inside poem to read portrait-style, so I had to quickly change it. But, I think my "Birthday Blessings" came out okay, don't you?

And Sunday, while I waited for my brakes to be done (yes... I waited AT HOME!), I made 6 cards to catch up with the 2008 card club. I still have 6 more to make, then I can finally sign up for the January 2009 Card Club. I should be finishing those tomorrow. So... there are six of these:

The card club cards are supposed to be blank on the inside, so I just wanted to add a little sparkle to the starry night and Stickled (with a sponge) around the "Way to Go!" (done with the George Cartridge and my Cricut). The chipboard button is from the $1 bin at Michaels. The snowflake border at the bottom is Martha Stewart (on clearance at Michaels). I lined the inside with plain white paper for ease in writing and also to accentuate the border on both sides.

I will be entering both of these cards in the Cricut Christmas Noel Challenge #1 on Scrapbook Bingo... Watch Out Girls! I'm comin' to win it!!! LOL! Just kidding, but sorta serious. Toodles for now! lisa

I got a wonderful Award and would like to pass it on...

Thanks to my friend, Christina from Scrapbook Bingo! On her blog, she awarded me and seven other friends this fantastic award, meant to show our Proximity - to life, to scrapping, to everything.


(Please see the award in the sidebar to the right.) This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

I frequent the following and am usually in awe...

Sonia

Debi

Leah

Bonita

Cathie

Kim

Angie

Jeannie

Each and every one of these bloggers has a unique style and contributes a lot to the scrapbooking/cardmaking world. Please go visit them and get some fresh takes on something old or new. Happy blog surfing! Toodles for now! lisa

Congratulations, Ann! (and BLOG CANDY alert!!!)

Ann has an awesome blog (Craftroom Creations)! Someone thought it (and her work, too!) were so awesome, she was chosen to be on the Cuttlebug Challenge Design Team. So... Ann has decided to celebrate, and she wants to include all of us in that celebration. She is giving away BLOG CANDY!!! Woohoo! It is an awesome diecut "Treetops" for the Cuttlebug. Be excited for her and go post to her blog. You all have a chance to win, maybe even two, so read the details.

Congrats again, Ann! I'm sure your creations will continue to be grand. Toodles for now! lisa

Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge #14

Hey you guy-eyes! I finally did a Cuttlebug Challenge! Woohoo! Yay me! It was to create a card using "your favorite embossing folder." Whelp folks... I don't have a favorite folder, perse... But, I did need to make a "Thank You" card for a friend.

Here's a closeup. I was trying to go off the brown and pink of the ribbon. I brushed a pink ink pad over the embossing to make it pop a little more. Also added is the "Thank You" done in a text box in Word. And of course... Cotton Candy Stickles. This is the "Friend" embossing folder. I gently added the "my" above the word friend. There is a cute little saying inside as well.

Hope you like it and get a little creative on your own! Let me know how you did and what you did. Please leave a link, so we can all explore your creations. Toodles for now!

Finally! My New Year's Slide Show...

Finally, it is here (took me FOREVER to do it, too!) A small glimpse into our campout on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, beginning the morning of New Year's Eve. Enjoy the floats, the bands, and my kids for inspiration! Just click on play, then light the fuse and begin!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I can't wait to scrap these photos. I think I'm probably going to do a full series of Rose Parade books... Toodles for now! lisa

Whew! The Days Go By So FAST!

Yikes! It's already past two of my kids' birthdays for 2009! OMGosh! Rey turned the big 1-5 on January 1st (she froze along with me), and Stacy turned Sweet 16 today (she shares this date with my bro - HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!). I still have one more kid and two steps to go through, but they will all be done by mid-February. Yes, it's a lot to go through, especially right after Christmas.

Still working on the weight issue (been exercising everyday!). But... I have got to focus on my cards, crafts, and layouts right now. So... since I've actually been working a lot on my house and my kitchen is already cleaned up... I'm gonna go get some things done! Toodles for now! lisa

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!

First off... HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!!!

Secondly, I wish all of you all of the best for the new year to come, and all there is afterwards.

Yeah... I know... It's been a while... since last year, in fact! LOL! So, we did the Rose Parade (very cold!) and Rey's birthday, and took down Christmas... I've been working so hard on doing a slide show for the Rose Parade for all of you, that I haven't had much other computer time.

Oh! I know it's not hard... the problem is, there are lots of pics, and my computer keeps freezing, doesn't save it, and I have to start ALL over again! I will now be working on my 6th attempt, and boy is it time-consuming.

Also, I've been exercising. I finally started another blog yesterday called Losing a Little Lisa? so that I can actually track my efforts and journal it without boring you (for those of you who just "don't want to know"). Otherwise, if you do, feel free to click on it. The link is also to the right on the sidebar.

I will still be doing crafty things, too. I've just been doing the usual "New Year" re-organization. I seriously need to get rid of all these boxes! I have to "move" too much stuff to get to what I want, and it takes too much crafting/scrapping time. What a waste.

Anywho... I will try one more time to do the slideshow, probably later today. Otherwise, I may just have to go a different venue (I'm currently trying Smilebox). Blogger has one, which goes into a side bar or gadget spot, but I was trying for a spot within a post. Anyone have any other ideas (I don't want to do PowerPoint, though... haven't done it in years and am really kind of afraid of trying it again... lol!)? Comments are always welcome!

Off to skoot my butt, now! Toodles for now! lisa