FCCB #225: Back to School

Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #225 Back to School

This Weeks Sponsor

Winner will receive a stamp set of their choice.

~This Weeks Challenge~

Back to School

Create a back to school project

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

Here is my project using Locker Talk cartridge. Love that bus! The 3rd Grade diecut is from a swap (nice cut huh?), and the three border is from Graphically Speaking. What I love most is my moody son, not smiling, front and center. If you don't smile for mama, you get scrapbooked that way!

BBTB2 Dress Challenge...a Girlie Birthday Card

Maureen from BBTB2 is challenging us to to use a Cricut dress form or dress diecut on their project. I don't have a lot of girlie carts, but I do have Happily Ever After, so I created a very girlie Cinderella birthday card.  Not loving the light, but if I can, will retake if the sun comes out.

I used Stampin' Up Petite Pairs for the birthday sentiment from the 2014-2015 Annual Catalog: Petite Pairs Clear Stamp Set or Petite Pairs Wood Stamp Set:

Join the Fun -- August 21 - 28, 2014

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

Join the Fun

Have you thought of getting your Stampin` Up! products for a discount?

 

You might want to sit up and take note of a VERY special deal Stampin' Up is offering August 21 - 28, 2014!

For one week only, new demonstrators will receive $150 worth of products in their Starter Kit for just $99! If you have been waiting to join, there's nothing better than getting extra Starter Kit products for your new business or hobby...

There are so many benefits to being a hobby or business demonstrator:

• 20% discount (plus and additional 10% on your first order in the first 45 days)
• Potential to earn up to 40% of your sales
• Early and exclusive access to new products
• Opportunity to earn free product through various incentives
• Qualify for cash bonuses, free product, incentive trips and more
• Receive Stampin' Success magazine bimonthly with exclusive project and business ideas
• Along with being a part of the Stampin' Up family, I am here to support you along the way  - hobby or business demonstrator, I am here for you. 

Hobby Demo: Enjoy the discounts and benefits of a Stampin` Up! Demonstrator and have all the fun of creating as you do now!

Business Demo: Take things a bit further and make money doing what you love - creating with friends and enjoying the discounts and benefits that Stampin` Up! offers!

Do I have your curiosity going? You can check out some more information here, too!

If you have further questions, please contact me. I would love to have you join our family and receive the benefits and discounts! If you love Stampin` Up! products, why not purchase it at a discount?

BBTB2: Let the Sun Shine

I am hosting this week's BBTB2 challenge -- and the diecut challenge is to use the sun on a papercraft project. This is my LO using Country Life cart. The fence and butterflies are from a swap with my scrappy friends :) Can't wait to see what you create! Don't forget to tell us which cartridge you used.

Envelope Liners and Rosette Dies Top My List for This Week's SU Deals

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

Did you see the yummy goodies on sale at Stampin' Up? There is so much that we can do with those Rosette dies! And envelope liners -- just in time for preparing holiday cards that we will make these coming months! Which ones are on the top of your list?

BBTB2 & FCCB: Apple + sketch = my project

Jaren from BBTB2 is hosting this week's "Back to School" challenge, and she wants us to use an apple cut from any Cricut cartridge on a card, layout, or project. 

And the Fantabulous Cricut ChallengeBlog provided us with a great simple card sketch -- that you can modify for a scrapbook lay out if you want. So I combined the two challenges for my apple card:

Challenge #223 Sketch Challenge

This Weeks Sponsor

Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons

~This Weeks Challenge~

Sketch Challenge

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

Here is my project:

I used the apple diecut from Home Accents.

"Getting to Know" Little ol' Me Blog Hop

Here is a different kind of blog hop. It's called "Getting To Know Me," and I hope that you will find this fun!

Sweet, sweet Emily of http://molliemugsblog.blogspot.com/ tagged me, and of course I said that I would play!

Here are the links to three other blogging friends -- and their posts will be live next Monday:

• Bets Kondrot: http://kraftsbykondrot.blogspot.com
• Monique Leslie: http://www.thismisfitcrafter.com
• Jaren Dubois: http://purpleparadisecreations.blogspot.com/

So I am working on cards for an upcoming craft fair. I get into the zone, turn on my cricut, and get out my quick dry glue. I have switched to quick dry -- was using my ATG glue gun, but the glue seems to leave a funky smell when combined with plastic resealable baggies. I don;t know if this smell bothers anyone else. I am the type of person who can walk into a room and know who is wearing which cologne or perfume. This ability doesn't benefit me when I already have a headache though. Here's some number Birthday cards that I just finished and wrapped up:

Emily asked me, “How does your work differ from others of its genre?” And that is a tough question! I have my own style of card making and scrapbooking, which is clean and simple, but then I get crazy ideas and experiment. I like to push myself out of the comfortable zone and even though I feel vulnerable (and usually I hate what I end up making), I get sincere positive responses to it. And that always surprises me.

I create because it relaxes me, and I also create things for others -- I enjoy seeing their responses to it. Taking the time and effort to create something for someone else just makes me happy.

My creative process begins with a clean craft desk. I have crafted upon a heap of unfinished projects and supplies -- and the landslides that ensues and the search for "it was right there - where is it" aggravates me too much. This photo shows an easy clean-up. I make messes much worse, and seeing it makes me walk out of the room and wish that my craft space had a door that I could close. This one though -- is doable.

So I clean the desk, reorganize supplies and lately begin with a Design Team blog challenge -- that is a great kick-start for me. Otherwise I need deadlines, like a craft show.

Please consider following my  blog -- and let me know in the comments and leave your blog address, so I can follow you also! Thank you for stopping by my blog -- and don't forget to hop on over to my blogging buddies!

Paper Pumpkin 50% Off

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

Who doesn't love papercrafting monthly kits? Stamps, ink and paper -- all precut and ready for glue and your creativity. I love that it is quality materials, and if you ever need to, you can put your subscription on hold at any time. Worth a try! http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/laurapizz

Click here to see what you can make with the kits:http://www.pinterest.com/paperpumpkin/

BBTB2 Happy Camper Challenge

This week's challenge from BBTB2 is to create a project about camping or camping critters. I used Just Because Cards cricut cartridge and some Tim Holtz coordinations cardstock -- love the deep colors, love how they distress, and wow they cut nice on the cricut -- even those tiny lines on the canoe and paddle. The wood grain patterned paper is from Basic Grey's Highline 6x6 pad. Can't wait to see what you create this week!

"Sharing in Your Sorrow" Sympathy Card

I find it so difficult to create a sympathy card, but necessary. For those in mourning, you want to reach out and show your support in a gentle way. I used the Stampin Up! "Thoughts & Prayers" Stamp Set and Spellbinders card nesting diecuts. I love stamping textured cardstock because I love when the paper's texture shows through.

Stampin Up! offers this new stamp set of eight images/sentiments in wood (for $25.95) or clear stamps (for $18.95) in the 2014-2015 catalog.

Project Life® by Stampin'Up!® -- Simple Scrapbooking!

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

If you think that StampinUp! is only for card makers, you are going to be surprised! They have partnered with Becky Higgins to bring you the quickest way to scrapbook, using StampinUp! archival-safe and high quality supplies, so you can focus on your photos and journal your heart out. Click here to check out the essentials, and search "Project Life." 

Stampin' Up! Weekly Deals: July 29 - Aug 2

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

I have my eye on a few of these weekly deals -- especially the gift bow die. The large size is 3 3/4 x 1 3/4 -- perfect for birthday and holiday gifts. Stampin' Up! also has awesome punches -- always cut clean and great for card making or scrapbooking without having to spend too much time with fussy cuts. And I love how everything on sale coordinates too...Only two more days for these deals! http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/laurapizz

Big Deal for Big Shots and Bundles during August

Image © 2014 Stampin’ Up!

I know that you absolutely love when BIG opportunities come your way. And the Big Shot is a big deal, so Stampin Up! is offering you something you couldn't miss; an exclusive Big Shot opportunity this month!

With a purchase of a Big Shot, you will receive one of five free stamp set/framelits bundles, your choice! Not only that, but if you already own a Big Shot, you that you won't want to miss -- only available from August 1-31-as these bundles are one-time only exclusives.

Click here to see the details!