It's Monday Mojo with Create-A-Critter!

Yes, Happy August, folks! Can you believe it’s already here? Our summer is almost at an end, the kids go back to school next week!!! I am sooo not ready for that. There are sooo many things I didn’t do, that I wanted to. And so much sun to enjoy! But alas! All good things must come to an end. So… what’s better than a birthday card to cheer up the end-o-summer blues?

That’s right! The Queen of My Craftroom Design Team did a Create-A-Critter (CAC) project. And yes… here’s mine! 

I was going to a birthday party (taking my 6-year-old so I had an excuse to get an invite... hee, hee!), and the birthday girl (who was turning ONE!) happens to affectionately be called "Baby Bear." Ah ha! I said!!! What better cartridge than to break out my CAC cart and whip out a cutie patootie bear! Woohoo! and the fun began...

I don't quite remember the height, but I believe it was around 4", as the card (*gasp*!) I made twice the size I usually do. That's right... it wasn't the typical A2 (4 1/4 x 5 1/2, folded in half), it was a whole wonkin' 8 1/2 x 11, folded in half! Yes, I went big today! Hey!

The layers were fun, though. She's a little bit darkish (Thank you, California Sun!), so I made her bear dark, as well... with a Stickled eyes, nose and smile. I inked the blush on the cheeks (what's a baby bear with out a little messy-ness?) and popped a cute present in her hand.

Her balloon friend, I cut the base piece twice. Once in dark grey, and once in neon pink. I didn't want the nose and inside-ear parts to be dark, and I didn't want the string to be pink. And so... I played with the pieces, snipping them and placing them where I wanted them. It worked out just perfect for me. Then, I inked the sides and stuff with a little more blush ink. 

The "Happy Birthday" sentiment I took from another cartridge. Uh... I was working quickly and really don't remember which one... but I cut it out in a nice pastel pink to match the centers of the flowers (in the background paper) and passed it through Swiss Dots on the Cuttlebug. The "1st" I welded together (just a little bit), glittered it up with some Stickles and slightly pop-dotted it on top. 

And... my final product once again. This went together really fast, with my ATG gun and my Zig 2-way Glue. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without them. Thanks for stopping by, and YOU, too! can join in the fun and join in the challenges. Just pop in to Queen of My Craftroom, see what all of the other DT members have done, and add YOUR linkie! Toodles!

Friday (October 3rd) Project

Whelp... it was a busy day. I waited for photos, did some shopping regarding the pics and made a display board (forgot what they are called... but there is a name for it) and got it done in roughly 4 hours... start to finish (including time for picking out pictures, having them developed, and shopping for supplies). Thank you Sam's Club and my ATG (without this tape gun... it would have taken me at least an additional 2 hours)!

The display board is about 12 (12x12) scrapbook pages. It is huge! So... in laymen's terms (you other non-scrappy people) it is 4'x3'.

Here's a couple of pics. It is missing the photos in the middle, as I was borrowing them and applying them with temporary tape (which sucks... by the way). I was to get them upon arriving on deck. Two team photos (8x10) were supposed to be in the big black spot with "MVAQ" mounted over them at an angle. (In other words... just imagine it!)

The temporary tape issue... my thought was to join the borrowed pics (for which I will eventually get permanent photos) "temporarily" so as not to destroy them for the owners. So I bought "The Craft Collection ; Removeable Adhesive" by Tombo "Trusted Quality". DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!!! The applicator broke; it is also a "half" applicator, with the tape not fully enclosed (one side only... the back side of the applicator device is OPEN). The tape does not "stick" as described and only touches down in small bits, not a full ribbon. Therefore, there is a lot of wasted tape! Then it does not hold down the photos very well. Things kept flying off. Bad product... bad product...

Anyway, everyone loved it. It served it's purpose (I was told) on Saturday. We (the swim team - MVAQ) were using it at a PTSA function for recruiting purposes. We needed an attention getter. We got it!

I used my Cricut for the matted "MVAQ" wording and the computer for the rest.

Each "side" photo is grouped into the swim stroke that is being performed (i.e. butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, and freestyle).

I also showed our great times together... both kids and parents.

Just a little FYI... I was not there (on Saturday). It was not a non-supportive issue. I did what I could... when I could. I was at another swimming function (Fall Official's Clinic) using volunteer time.

and... by the way... Movies! Eagle Eye with Shia LaBeouf was AWESOME and jam-packed with action (saw it Friday night!). It is a must-see, must-own movie... I'll update you more later on my weekend... Toodles for now! lisa

Who Needs Inspiration? Not Me!

I do... and I don't... My problem is... I get so many ideas, that I just get jam-packed and can't even focus on one. That is a problem. However, when I'm set to task, I pretty much get down to business, but now the other problem is time.

We had a virtual crop at Scrapbook BINGO! this month. Did I get anything done? Nope... I had tons of ideas, but too much in brain to even know where to begin. Plus... I didn't have any photos that wanted to go with those ideas (I only had old photos that I currently don't want to scrap!), as I hadn't had them printed, didn't have the time to upload them (or "fix" them for that matter), and didn't have the bucks to do it with. I know old pics would have solved that dilemma, but I didn't even want to go there. I wanted "fresh!"

I know many of us are overwhelmed with money problems, myself included. So I set out to start making a little cash again, and have been super busy. So... before I go to clean a house, I wanted to share with you a card I made. (Vic... if you are here... don't peek!) This is to go with a set of cookbooks from my mom... This is the card - done with (GUESS WHAT!) cardstock I already had (the envelope, too!). All of the materials I used were "stash." Which means... I don't really know where it came from, only that I already had it, and probably had it for a while.

The actual card is embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots. The present and the tag is from Cricut Doodlecharms. I used the ATG to glue everything down (LOVE that new toy of mine...), and punched through it all with my Crop-a-dile Big Bite. The "espressly for you" stamp is from Hero Arts, as well as the bling. The background for the stamp was cut out with "deckle" shears from Stampin' Up!

Here's a "close-up" of the ribbon and the brad (with embossing in the background).

When you "open" the present, the flour sack, bread, bowl and spoon are from Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up. I thought it would be cute to show a little bit of "get cooking" things to go with the gift.

That actually went super duper quick. I once heard, "If a card takes more than 15 minutes, it's time to move on." My thought was that it takes me more than 15 minutes just to put everything together, but that ATG 714 makes everything super simple. I was slinging my gun quickly. Like a pro!

I wish I could get more done. This week, along with a couple of non-scrapping projects, I'll be working on a board for a HooHaa at the Moreno Valley PTSA this coming weekend. I won't be there, as I will be at the Officials' Clinic, but I will at least get the board done. I'll post pics when I get that together... Gotta go! Toodles for now! lisa

I Got My ATG! and other things...

Woohoo! I got a FedEx package just sitting on my front doorstep, moments after I arrived home from dropping off the girls. Maybe I should have taken pictures of it, because it looked a little like a cocoon. LOL! The package was approximately 9"x12" and was large bubble wrap, wrapped around and around and the other way and around and around, then plastic-wrapped around and around and the other way and around and around... a box and a small envelope with 4 rolls of tape.

Of course I had to tear it open. (Marissa is still playing with the bubble wrap!). I immediately read the instructions, loaded the 1st roll of tape, and played with it. It is fantastic. I will soon be getting rid of my other tape runners and glue runners. It is awesome. What am I talking about? lol! In case you didn't know, I've been on springs, waiting for my ATG 714 to come in the mail from http://www.framingsupplies.com/. I wrote about it last week. The wait is over, and I'm having a ball. I don't know how I ever worked without it!

I actually sat down and finished a one-page layout in about 1/2 the adhesive time I normally would. That is just how easy the ATG works. It is so convenient.

Anyway... enough about that!

All the girls are sick. Ugh. A three-year-old with a croupy cough and stuffy nose, two teenagers with sore throats and stuffy noses... I've been checking out the "Neti Pot", but I'm not sure any of them would go for it. It's rather odd and really takes an open mind to try it out (imagine saline rinsing through one nostril and out the other). In the meantime, I have a pot of chicken soup on (lots of broth and veggies), plenty of juice made, and lemon balm harvested (for tea). I even have honey! Anyhoo... they all better shape up by Saturday, and I better pray I don't get it! We have a swim meet, and I am officiating (gotta remember to buy those insoles!). We will be super busy, but it will be fun.

I'm so far behind on watching my shows... I've been reading the remainder of the Twilight series and just finished the final installment (Breaking Dawn - 756 pages!) last night. [Sigh.] I've also been doing more research for the team and taking care of the family. You know... same ol'; same ol'. In Scrapbook Bingo! we have a "virtual crop" going, but I haven't gotten much done there, either. I'll have to wait for the glue to dry on my little layout, then post pics... I'm actually (FINALLY!) about to finish a 2-page layout from last September's quincenera... I'm tellin' ya... way behind...

And please everyone... My great grandmother is 102 years old... She had a mild heart attack last week, but is doing fine. However, she will never be allowed to live alone again. My aunt is going to take care of her. I hope she does well. She's still pretty tough - hearty German stock! So please have her in your thoughts. Both she and my aunt could use well wishes.

Oh! And if you are a Cricut Lover, or just love the Cricut... Michael's is having another sale - $40 each cartridge. It ends Saturday... so go! (Most of the cartridges are listed under Cricut items on this blog, in case you don't know the names of them...) Gotta run and shred chicken! Toodles for now! lisa

The ATG Bandwagon... Are YOU Jumping On?

I've heard talk of an ATG (Adhesive Tape Gun) by 3M (Scotch). I thought the talk was just talk, and that it was another expensive item for scrapbookers and crafters to buy. They usually run anywhere from $35 - $80, depending on where they are purchased from, and what actual brand is purchased.

I was contemplating the bandwagon, so I started more research... As it turns out, although it is much bigger than the typical small tape runner/dispenser know to us amateur scrapbookers, it is much less expensive, quicker and easier in the long run. This wonderfully expensive guns are all the rage, yet I haven't seen one at the Scrapbook EXPO... only heard talk of it on messageboards and through e-mails.

It took me a while, but I did check the mythical ATGs out on eBay, Amazon and various other websites. I was dumbfounded at the cost. But I kept hearing the talk being talked. How the heck could this be so great. I priced and tested various taperunners, glues and other adhesives and spent lots of money. I realized they were all just a mess. In my head, I was watching an "As Seen on TV" commercial... with tape glopping and balling up, going haywire, and running out, compared to the wonders of the ATG, which hold 36-60 yards of glue adhesive.

Then, today... a wonderful person from Scrapbook BINGO! gave a weekly tip on how to "alter" (add bling) an ATG. So, inquisitive person that I am, asked everyone which model did they have, and if the tape was good, and... and... of course, I could never ask enough questions... but it came down to the ATG 700 or the ATG 714. I was told of a wonderful shopping site: http://www.framingsupplies.com/3M/3MProducts.htm. Framingsupplies.com was the best deal I found. With shipping added, they were even less expensive than all of the eBayers!

But I was still skeptical. Then there was the talk of the ultimate customer service, how any problems that were had... 3M fixed the problems. Yay! How could I go wrong? Especially, after finding out that in the long run... my adhesive $$ could really be stretched (and I could buy "other" things) if I purchased an ATG! So... I did the research, asked a bunch of questions, and voila! I jumped on the bandwagon!

I did it! Which one, you ask? I went ahead and purchased the ATG 714. This model is for the 1/4" wide tape. As two fellow scrappers (Leah and Jenn) pointed out... the 1/2" and 3/4" is just too wide for lots of little things; plus, if I needed a larger width, it is easy (and fast enough) to plant down another line. An adapter needs to be purchased for the 700 model, in order for it to use 1/4" tape (translation - not only is it more expensive than the 714, it needs something else to function for my purposes). Then... on the other plus side... I don't really like to "personalize" or "bling" this kind of stuff out. So... the ATG 714 is already red, unlike the 700 (which is yellow), and it already matches my scraptotes! What more can I ask for?

To answer that... I can ask for it to be delivered!!! I can hardly wait for my gun to be in my hand. Toodles for now! lisa