Happy Birthday, Mom!

I've been dying to share this project, but had to wait in case my mom visited my blog before we celebrated her birthday.  I've been wanting to make her a box of cards for a while now.  She loves black and white so I challenged myself to make each card using only black, white, and only one color accent.  This was surprisingly difficult.  I kept finding all sorts of multi-colored or coordinating papers, ribbons, etc., that I wanted to use, but I stuck to my original design plan and LOVE how these cards turned out.

The Entire Collection

The Box

The Cards

I also made a fun 3x3 card to use as her actual birthday card.  I've been told these cards were one of the new "trendy" things at this summer's Stampin' Up! convention.  They are super simple to make and a great way to get in a little grown-up coloring time with your watercolor pencils, aqua painters, or markers.  And yes - there are envelopes available for these little cards.  I got mine from Hobby Lobby - just $4.99 for 25 (and of course, I used a 40% off coupon!).  Oh... and one quick design note - for the side trim, I used a scrap of the black and white striped paper from the elephant thank-you card above and colored it in the same colors as I colored the image.

As for my Scrap-ipes for all these designs, I used black cardstock for the card bases and various papers, colors, ribbons, accents, and tools from my collection.  Way too much scrappin' goodness to list in one post!  But if you see something you just have to know what it is, where I got it, or how I did it, let me know.  I'd be more than happy to share!

Until next time, Cricuteers!

~ JD ~

My Biggest Cricuteering Project Ever!

On Saturday morning, just hours before my sister's sweet 16 birthday party, I put the finishing touches on the LARGEST project I have ever completed using my Cricut... and by largest, I mean in size and time and supplies!  For weeks now, I've had the idea in my head to make my sister a paper cake for her party.  But there was no way I could have imagined how great it would turn out.  I owe part of the credit to my mom who unknowingly purchased a random clearance serving tray at Wal-mart at some point in the past that would transform my little paper cake from my original two layer design into a fabulous three tiered, ROTATING paper cake.  Yes, I said ROTATING!!!  When I asked my mom if she had a tier cake / appetizer server, she pulled this fantastic little gem out of storage... still brand new in the box!  You should have seen me jumping up and down, dancing in my scrap room after I plugged it in.  I was a little excited to say the least.  But I still had a LOT more work to go.  So after many hours working in my scrap room and  the living room... and even recruiting my DH to help, I put the finishing touches on the biggest cake I have ever made.

Without further ado, here it is... in all its glory... sitting on the table at my sister's party...

The monograms on the second tier spelled out SWEET using stars for spacers, and each piece on the bottom said 16.  Only 11 pieces would fit on each layer, but my sister was going to have 13 guests including herself.  So that is why there are two extra pieces of each layer sitting beside the cake.  I filled each piece with gummy treats (wrapped in plastic bags)... sour worms in the green pieces and sugar-y bears in the pink pieces.  YUM!

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:
♥ Green and pink card stock from Recollections South Beach Value Pack
♥ Black and white card stock from my paper stash
♥ Cake pieces cut using Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More
♥ Monogram labels cut using Mini Monograms and Gypsy Font (I just LOVE being able to layer images to make "cut outs"!)
♥ Cake layers and cupcake wrapper box cut using Sweet Treats
     ~ embellished with pink and lime green Stickles
♥ 1/8" black and white satin ribbon from Offray
♥ Pink and green satin polka dot ribbon on connecting poles from The Robert Stanley Collection at Hobby Lobby
♥ Black and white polka dot ribbon on base from The Ribbon Boutique at Hobby Lobby
♥ Pink and green shreds from Hobby Lobby's Christmas collection

I am submitting this project to the following challenges:
♥ Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #38 Ribbon Challenge ~ use ribbon somewhere on your Cricut project
♥ Made by Momo: Tuesday Challenge ~ Make a Treat Box or Bag

Until next time, Cricuteers!
~ JD ~

Black Friday Blog Hop

Good morning, Cricuteers!

I hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving and are all rested up for the fantastic Black Friday Blog Hop we have for you today.  If you are a first time visitor, welcome to JD's Adventures in Cricuteering.  I am excited to share my adventures with you.  If you've come from visiting The Daily Scrapper at http://www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/, you're in the right place!  If you just happened across my blog and would like to join in the fun, you should definitely head to Crazy About Cricut to start at the beginning.  Each blog has created a project centered around the shopping or using the colors black and green.  Be sure to visit all the talented crafters for inspiration and fun blog candy!

Just in case you get lost along the way, here is today's lineup:
♥ http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com/
♥ http://www.onescrappinsista.blogspot.com/
♥ www.gabycreates.com/
♥ www.pinkcricut.com/
♥ www.caramiller.com/
♥ www.almabrooksblog.blogspot.com/
♥ http://www.love4stamps.blogspot.com/
♥ www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/
♥ www.jdscricuteering.blogspot.com/ <-- That's me, Cricuteers!
♥ http://www.craftyscentiments.blogspot.com/
♥ http://www.scrappinwithmybug.com/
♥ www.cricutlove1.blogspot.com/
♥ http://www.craftypinknaynay.blogspot.com/

Now onto my project...

I absolutely love gift giving.  I love shopping for the perfect gift, wrapping it beautifully, and adding a customized card or tag.  There's something so satisfying about finding a gift that is just perfect for someone and watching their reaction as they open it.  While I enjoy the gift giving that traditionally comes along with Christmas, I know many people who are simply stressed by the thought of it.  As my gift to those people, I created this fun shopping bag gift card holder.  I have to admit I've been known to give gift cards at times ~ there are some people who are just too hard to buy for and rather than getting something they don't like / need, I believe it's better to let them pick their own present.  But I try to jazz up the gift a little with a fun card or wrapping such as this...

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:
♥ Black & silver glitter cardstock ~ DCWV The Glitter Stack
♥ Red metallic cardstock ~ Recollections Gemstone value pack
♥ 1/4" silver satin ribbon ~ The Ribbon Boutique
♥ Shopping bag cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes, & More (pg. 55)
     *I shut off the aspect ratio link on my Gypsy and "stretch" the width to fit a gift card without adding more height.
♥ Scallop-top tag cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes, & More at 1" (pg. 32)
♥ Tag tied with black embroidery floss by DMC

In honor of my first blog hop, I am having my first blog candy giveaway!!!  I will be sending one lucky Cricuteer this fun set of Christmas stamps.  Aren't they cute??  I was tempted to get a set for myself!  To be entered, please follow my blog and leave a comment below sharing your best Black Friday deal (from any year!).  One comment per Cricuteer please, and U.S. residents only (I love my international Cricuteers, but I hope you'll understand!).  I will pick a winner on Sunday evening using Random.org.

Now hop on over to visit Yolanda at http://www.craftyscentiments.blogspot.com/.  Her designs are wonderful.  You won't be disappointed!

Until next time, Cricuteers!
~ JD ~