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 ~

Thanksgiving Blessings

In just a few days, families will begin gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving.  My DH and I will head to my aunt and uncle's for an early dinner with my family and then out to his parents’ for a late dinner with his family.  The holidays have always been a special time with our families, but the events of 2009 really changed things for my DH and me.  For those of you who don’t know, we lost my husband’s father last year in addition to our little angel Faith.  Despite all the sadness these losses brought into our lives, they have also opened our eyes to the blessings around us.  There are still tough days, but we have settled into our new abnormal and have a renewed appreciation for all the blessings God has given us.

While we will not gather with all our family and friends this Thanksgiving, we will be thinking of them… those who live close but have others to spend the holiday with, those who live many miles away, and those who are blessed to enjoy this time at the Lord’s table in Heaven.  We will miss them all.

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am entering the following card into two fun challenges this week.  The first is the Gaby Abby Challenges with SEI 7 ~ Anything Thanksgiving challenge over at Scrapbookaholic.  The second is Challenge Me Monday ~ Challenge #37 Thankful For... at Fantabulous Cricut.  Fantabulous Cricut challenged us to create a project about something we are thankful for.  No, I am not thankful for turkey... well, okay, this week I am very thankful for turkey... and stuffing... and mashed potatoes... but yeah, that's not what I am thankful for in this card.  I made this card especially for my grandma, and I am so very thankful for her.  She is the recipient of many of my cards, and I truly enjoy the time I spend crafting special cardsto send her.  And above all, I am truly thankful for the phone calls we share each time she receives one of my cards in the mail.

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:

♥ Cardstock ~ Stampin' Up! (Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Crushed Curry) and Recollections (Spice Market - brown)

♥ Ribbon ~ American Crafts Fall 2010 Dollar Spool Collection (I'm totally addicted to these liittle spools!)

♥ Button ~ Favorite Findings Ocean

♥ Turkey and Gobble cut from Create A Critter

Until Next Time, Cricuteers!

~ JD ~

Finding Inspiration...

I found out yesterday that my aunt's mom (my dad's brother's mother-in-law) passed away on Thursday night.  Although not officially related, she was almost like a part of the family.  She would attend various family functions with my aunt and uncle... holiday celebrations, bridal / baby showers, graduation parties, and more.  The visitation is tomorrow, and I knew I wanted to make a card for my aunt, uncle, and cousin.  I just wasn't sure where to start. So I turned to my fellow paper crafters in the blog world for inspiration.  {I am so thankful for all of you!}  Several of this week's challenges caught my eye and sparked an idea in my head.  So I pulled out one of my new Cuttlebug folders and created this sympathy card.  Strangely I wasn't really sure about this folder when I purchased it, but am now glad I did because it worked beautifully for this card.

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:
Card Front
♥ Paper from Recollections ~ Kraft, Brown from Spice Market, and Green from Cypress
♥ Embossed with Cuttlebug ~ Bird Call folder
♥ Tiny round brads from The Paper Studio ~ Metal
♥ 1/8" ribbon from Offray ~ Leaf and Brown
♥ "in sympathy" sentiment from The Paper Studio ~ Everyday Expressions
     ~ inked with Stampin' Up! Early Espresso
Card Inside
♥ "God be with you" cut from Lyrical Letters

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:
♥ Made By Momo ~ Anything Embossing (use heat embossing or dry embossing)
♥ Cooking With Cricut ~ Fall Colors
♥ Fantabulous Cricut ~ Challenge Me Monday #34: "Bird Bonanza: Create a project using something having to do with a bird (bird cage, owl, bird, etc.)"

Until next time, Cricuteers!
~ JD ~

Winter Wedding

The first snowflakes of the year have official fallen here, and this year, we actually have a Winter wedding to attend.  Being in the Midwest, most of our friends and family choose to get married in the Spring or Summer... or Fall... well, really just any time when there isn't a risk of snow on the ground.  :-)  But for the first time in a long while, we'll get to worry about staying warm at a wedding instead of staying cool!  It's kinda funny... my cousin on my dad's side is getting married on December 3rd of this year, and my cousin on my mom's side just got engaged and is planning a December 3rd wedding next year.  Popular date!

I decided to do something completely out of character for myself and make my cousin's wedding card... wait for it... EARLY!  {GASP!}  I never do such things!  Don't know what's gotten into me... guess it must be the snowflakes (or the cool new Martha Stewart punch set I picked up at Michael's last weekend!).  AND to add to the "who are you and what have you done with JD?" confusion... I tried a new-to-me card style: the Gatefold, AND I even finished the inside of my card!  YAY ME!!!!

[Please note: All paper used is metallic and shiny... yet metallic and shiny tend not to photograph well.]

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:

Card Front

♥ Metallic Blue, Silver, and White paper from Recollections Precious Metals and Gemstones value packs

♥ Wedding Cake cut from Wild Card

     ~ Silver layers created by cutting a second cake from Wild Card and trimming just the portion I wanted

♥ Pearls from Recollections

♥ Snowflakes ~ punch scraps from interior of card

♥ "For the Newlyweds" sentiment from Stampin' Up!

     ~ inked with Stampin' Up! Not Quite Navy

♥ Oval cut from George and Basic Shapes (oval 2)

Card Interior

♥ Layers edged with Martha Stewart Snow Flurry punch

I am submitting this card to the following challenges:
♥ More Than Favors ~ Anything Goes
♥ My Creative Time ~ Throwback Thursday: "ANY project of your choice just as long as it has to do w/FOOD"  (mmm... wedding cake!)
♥ The Paper Variety ~ Wedding Themed Project

Until next time, Cricuteers!
~ JD ~

Think Pink!

October is almost over... I can't believe it!  Where did the month go?

I'm not sure how many of you know, but in addition to being Breast Cancer Awareness month, October is also National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month.  Because P.A.I.L. hits so very close to home for me, I have spent the month honoring my daugher Faith who became one of God's littlest angels in May 2009.  However, as the month ends, I also wanted to do my part for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Robyn at My Pink Stamper along with Tammi at Creative Critters Cricut Club are celebrating "Think Pink" week.  They are asking us to send cards to two of our fellow scrappers who are currently fighting breast cancer with major surgeries this week.  Please visit their blogs for more details ~ including addresses where you can send your own cards.

My thoughts and prayers go out to both Monique and Brenda.  Wishing them both faith, hope, and strength during this difficult time...

JD'S SCRAP-IPE:

♥ White cardstock by Georgia Pacific

♥ Pink and Patterned paper from K&I Memories Funky Paper Pad II

♥ Circles cut from Mini Monograms

♥ Support Ribbon cut from Designer's Calendar (a great hidden treat on this cartridge!)

♥ Polka Dot ribbon from The Ribbon Boutique @ Hobby Lobby

Challenge Entries:
♥ My Creative Time ~ Polka Dot Challenge (use Polka Dots and your Imagine or if you don't have an Imagine, use Imagine patterned paper to create an Imagine-like project)
♥ OWH Stars and Stamps ~ Almost Anything Goes (no glitter ~ not safe for soldiers!)

Until Next Time, Cricuteers!
~ JD ~