Scrapbook USA Expo

There are some definite advantages to living in Utah when you're a papercrafter.  One of those is the Scrapbook USA Expo.  I have been trying to decide all week whether I was going to go or not, but finally decided I would today.  Am I glad I went?  Well, I brought my three children with me - one of which is my very active, and at the moment very over tired (from all the partying with my sister being in town) son.  It was a bit of a challenge to say the least.  But I did find what I wanted while I was there:

• I was able to see both the Cricut Imagine, and the limited edition Cricut Expression 2 in action.  Very cool!  I also learned from the product development rep that the Cricut Craft Room is supposed to be ready to launch in 2-3 weeks.  You can see a video clip of the Cricut Expression 2 and Cricut Craft room here.
• Doodlebug Design Co had a booth!  I love their products - such bright, happy colors and the cutest images and accessories.
• I finally found the cartridge Quarter Note for a price that I was willing to pay.  CreativeXpress was there (aka ProvoCraft), and they had some smokin' prices on their cartridges towards the end of the day.
• I also saw Erin Madsen of DCWV at their booth and the infamous DCWV paper dresses.

and last but not least

• I was able to add a little to my Copic collection (I bet you didn't know I even owned Copics!  I am kind of a Cricut girl, but I do love my Copics).  The booth that I purchased them from was Scrap-mart.com.  Now, I have never ordered through their online store before, so I can't speak for that aspect of the company, but I can report that they have a good price for Copic Sketch and Ciao, PLUS they offer free shipping.  That's huge for me because there are a few online stores that have great prices for the markers but have horrible shipping costs.  And if you use the code First10 at Checkout, you can get 10% off of your first order over $50.00.

Now it is time to relax and spend some precious time with my sister and her family before they leave on Monday.  Have a great weekend!

A little update

I just wanted to let you know that I haven't dropped from off the face of the planet.  It's a little crazy around here right now because I have family staying with me.  It's so wonderful to have my sister and her family here, and to give all the cousins time to spend together!  But it means very little time for creating.  And as soon they leave I will be getting ready for my trip to Hawaii!  So for the next 2 weeks there probably won't be a lot going on here.  I miss my papercrafting time, but my family is more important right now.  See you soon!

My Pink Design Team - March!

Welcome!  Are you feeling scrappy?  I hope so because this month my fellow My Pink Design Team members and I have all done some scrapbooking for your inspiration and viewing pleasure!  I'm happy to say that I may have found the secret for me to even do scrapbooking - make the layouts in advance!  I know this isn't a new idea necessarily, but it's new for me!  I was an avid scrapbooker for the first two years of my oldest daughter's life - then #2 was born, and well, it just hasn't happened since...

Guess where I'm going next week?  You guessed it  - Hawaii!  I'm so excited because I've never been there before, and because it means precious alone time with my husband.  And what makes it even better is I'm being paid to go!  Definitely something to scrap about.  I just hope that I don't end up journaling the time that I caused a car accident with the glare from my lily white skin, or the wonderful cold that I caught while there (that's an Andrea classic!).

Cricut Cartridges:  Preserves (pineapple & pineapple rings), Country Life (font)
Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Love-Alicious
Paper:  DCWV (Citrus Stack), AC Cardstock, Provo Craft
Edge Punch:  Martha Stewart Arch Lattice
Embellishments:  DCWV (buttons), pearls (Recollections), misc gems, Offray (ribbon)

Don't  forget to head back over to My Pink Stamper to check out the beautiful work from all my fellow designers.  Have a great day!

Piece of cake!

I made this a month or so ago for a contest that I entered, and I can finally show it to you because I didn't win.  Waaahhh!!!

Seriously though, I loved making this cake!  This is probably the most satisfying project I have ever made.  It sat on my kitchen counter on a cake stand for weeks!  I almost shed a tear as I glued it all together because it is going to be on display at my local Joann for an upcoming class.

For those of you who haven't seen these before, the cake is made using the triangle box from the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More cartridge.  Put a bunch of triangles together, and what do you get?  A cake!  The very top layer was made from an embellished paper mache box.  Some of the rosettes were made from an Imaginisce Roly Rosies pack, but then I figured out how to do them freehand - even better! 

The best part of this project is you can actually use the pieces of the cake to hold party favors.  What little girl wouldn't love this at their party, and then be able to take a little piece of "cake" home with them?

Cricut Cartridge:  Tags, Bags, Boxes & More, Gypsy
Paper:  DCWV, Doodlebug Design, AC Cardstock
Paper Punch:  Martha Stewart Scallop Dot
Embellishments:  Offray ribbon, Imaginisce Roly Rosies

It's Pinkalicious Blog Hop Friday!

Welcome to the third My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop!  Whether you arrived here from Agnes' blog, or you stopped by on your own, I'm glad you're here!  If you would like to begin at the beginning, hop on over to My Pink Stamper and then you'll be sure to see all the wonderful projects made by Robyn and my fellow designers.

Can you feel it?  Do you have spring fever?  Spring is just around the corner, so the theme for this month's blog hop is Spring!  To celebrate the occasion I thought I would do something really wild and crazy, and do a layout.  I know, shocking isn't it?  I definitely tend to lean more towards the card making.  One of my favorite things to do is to take pictures of my children in their new Easter clothes at a local garden, so I know I'm going to have something to scrap about!  Robyn's new stamp set called More Faithful Sayings was perfect for my Easter theme.

Cricut Cartridges:  Cricut Classic Font, A Walk In My Garden, Forever Young, Opposites Attract
Stamps:  My Pink Stamper More Faithful Sayings
Paper:  DCWV, Stampin Up
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Victoria
Edge Punch:  Martha Stewart Scallop Dot
Accessories:  DCWV (buttons), American Crafts (aqua ribbon), Offray (white grosgrain)

Thank you so much for stopping by!  Your next stop is Raechel at Raechel's Cards.  I've included the entire blog hop order below in case you get lost, and don't forget to go back to My Pink Stamper when you're done and join us for the challenge!

Robyn

Julie—readysetstamp

Lori

Cristi

Shelley

Anges—Flowerdisco

Andrea

Raechel

Bling Queen Wendy

Sonia

Pam

Helen

Edna

Angela’s Simple Creations

Tracy—Craft Junkie Too

Shauna at Craftee She

CarrieAnne

Michelle—Meesh’s Pieces

Kassidy

Courtney—Court’s Crafts

Kristal--Getting Cricky (This Month’s Special Guest Hopper)

Maria

A Charming Blingey Challenge!

In my search for some inspiration this week I thought I'd participate in a couple of challenges:

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge #47 - Think Bling
The Cuttlebug Spot - Oh So Charming

This was a really fun challenge for me, first of all because this is a great sketch (as usual) but also because I was able to try a new technique.  This is the first time that I have used Polyshrink (Shrinky Dinks) in my Cricut.  It was pretty easy!  I just used a regular blade, and I used the "Multi-Cut" feature set on 2 - although I'm not sure that was even necessary.  I used Sharpies to color the bunny and then pulled out my heat embosser.  Of coarse it didn't take long before my children were in there with me making requests!  It's actually a great project for tweens - they can make earrings, charms for necklaces and bracelets.  But that will be a topic for another post...

Cricut Cartridge:  Create a Critter
Stamps:  My Pink Stamper - Even More Punny-licious
Paper:  Doodlebug Design, AC Cardstock
Embossing:  Quickutz Flowers
Embellishments:  Stickles, Offray (ribbon), Polyshrink, Sharpies

Cricut Imagine for only $299!

I was just at Cricut.com to enter a rewards code for my new Once Upon a Princess cartridge, and I couldn't believe it - they are selling the Cricut Imagine for $299 right now.  It says for a limited time, so if you're in the market this might be a good time to get one.  Anyone know where I can find $299?  ;-)

Something with "purse"onality

The challenge this past week at The Cuttlebug Spot was called, "Ouch!  Pins...pins...pins."  The challenge was to make a project using, you guessed it, pins.  So here's a very simple little something that I made that I think turned out pretty cute!

I have two very girly girls at home that absolutely loved this.  I think I can see some birthday party favors in my future!

Cricut Cartridge:  Forever Young (purse), A Walk In My Garden (flower)
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Stampin Up
Embellishments:  corsage pins, DCWV (button), American Crafts (ribbon)

RRR Challenge #19 - Green

I have purchased ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon in the past, so imagine my excitement when I saw that they now have a blog and have weekly challenges!  The challenge for this week is to make a project using the color green, and of coarse, using some beautiful ribbon as well.

I think it's safe to say that I never thought I would make a card that had peas on it!  But I'm really happy with how this turned out!

Cricut Cartridge:  Country Life
Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Fruit & Veggie Puns
Embossing:  Cuttlebug Victoria
Paper:  AC Cardstock, Stampin Up, Georgia Pacific, Colorbok (stripes)
Edge Punch:  Fiskars Apron Lace
Embellishments:  Recollections pearls, DCWV (buttons), American Crafts (ribbon), Stickles

My Pink Stamper - Birdie Challenge

Robyn is still having a blast on the Cricut Cruise, so yesterday she posted a fun challenge for us!  The challenge is to make a project using a feathered friend.  Her stamp set Tweetie Hoo Puns would have been perfect for this challenge, but since I don't have it I decided to feature one of her new stamp sets called Music Speaks - one of my favorites from this recent release.

 

As you can see, I'm still having fun experimenting with making the ruffly ribbon!

Cricut Cartridges:  Simply Charmed (bird), Winter Frolic (branch, nest, and music notes), A Walk In My Garden (leaves), Gypsy

Stamps:  My Pink Stamper Music Speaks

Paper:  American Crafts, AC Cardstock, Georgia Pacific, Stampin Up
Embellishments:  Stickles, Crystal Effects, Offray ribbon