Is a fun and fabulous new digi-kit from my dear friend and creative genius, Kristine, of Designs by Kristine:

I really really love the richness of the colors in this kit – so, I paired it with a couple of templates from another uber-talented designer – Bunny Cates to create these:

Credits are super simple: Designs by Kristine’s Natalie’s Day and Bunny Cates’ Bracket Album templates.  The background paper in the Imagine layout is one of my all time FAVORITES!

Do you want to know what else we’ve been up to? It’s called reclaim our house – aka the Great Toy Round-Up! We listed Nadya’s crib on Craigslist as she hasn’t ever used it, and although it was a convertible one, we already have a full-size bed in her room, so we didn’t need that option.  After only  a day and a half, we had a buyer. So, after a quick trip to Target (thanks for the gift card Mom and Dad) – her room transformed from this:  To this (and my living room regained some semblance of order): We’re still waiting on a couple of stuffed animal nets, but other than that, we’re pretty well done.  We’re watching craigslist carefully for a twin over full bunk bed or one of those Doll House theme beds that will allow for a twin bed on top and a full underneath.  Too bad my dear husband doesn’t have a table saw or much spare time– I found a fabulous website that has awesome plans and an even better blog full of ideas – I’m thinking a little barn themed bunk/loft bed would be perfect! LOL Plus, I’m certain I could build some of the bookcases/cubes Ana has posted plans for here, here, and here – and be better than the particle board and cardboard that I can buy at WalMart – oh Micki – you’re my inspiration here! Ah, the stuff dreams are made of – and like I really need another craft/project/hobby!

Ok, I’m off to do laundry – such fun! Have a great day!

And available at Cocoa’s Studio store at My Grafico!  I had the privilege of working with this new SVG cutting set – a let me tell you – it was EASY! The files cut beautifully (thanks again Mom for loaning me your baby bug).  Cocoa has included JPG printables and cutting templates for those that don’t have a Cricut or SCAL/Make The Cut.  The printables are full color and adorable – perfect for other cutting systems (think print and cut with your KNK, Wishblade, Gazelle, Silhouette, etc). The JPG templates offer further customization – bring them into your favorite editing software and use them with digital papers to create one of kind items!  FABULOUS!!!  Ok, so you want to see what I did – here ya go: This card was a breeze to assemble! First I cut the adorable bear set from Confetti Vanilla CS using the SVG cutting files in SCAL and my Mom’s baby Bug. I wanted to add some texture, so I coated the bear in Versamark and then applied Heat N Stick Powder.  I melted the powder with my heat gun and applied brown flock (I should have heated the powder a bit longer so that more of the flock adhered) and then reheated to set it.  I used Taffy and Moonlight Smooch (check out Bunny’s Stamping Studio – love the goods and she’ll try to order anything you need – just ask) on the mouth, ears, nose and heart cutouts and then glued them on to my bear body. I colored the eyes and added the smile with my Spica and Sakura glitter pens.  I used my SU Regal Rose marker to color the balloon, then coated it in Versamark and Heat N Stick Powder.  This time I wanted bling instead of fuzz, so I used Doodlebug Design’s Sugar Coating Bubblegum Glitter over the Heat N Stick powder.  I painted the balloon highlight with Moonlight Smooch and glued it in place.  I was going to cut off the “string” that came with the balloon but found I liked the swirl shape, so I wrapped it in white embroidery floss from my stash and viola – a string that has the paper shape but a more realistic appearance! Hooray! Before Christmas I has snagged a couple of packages of DCWV glitter cards from the Hobby Lobby clearance rack, so I used one of those cards with the largest of the Labels 8 nesties to create my shaped card base(which means I can enter TSG’s challenge – woohoo).  For the mat, I found this fabulous swirled and embossed paper in my DCWV The Sweet Stack mat stack, so I used the 2nd largest of the Label 8 nesties to cut the mat – you could do the same thing in Cricut using SCAL if you’d rather or if you don’t have the Labels nesties, etc. I used ultra thin glue dots to adhere the mat and base as my mono adhesive doesn’t always handle glitter well. For the bear and balloon I used Dimensional Dots and Ultra Thin glue Dots.  The mini pearls are from my stash. I think the card is adorable – perfect for Valentine’s Day, or in my case, a little girl’s birthday! 

I’d better run – it’s grocery shopping and errand day. So we’ll be heading to  my “favorite” place – WalMart. Have a good one!

…at Lindsay’s Stamp Stuff! I just love this new set – so much so that I incorporated it with Bunny’s new January Card Class and the Digital Tuesday challenge to create 3 super cute (at least I think so) cards.     My first card features a cupcake from Lindsay’s Love Grows Here set and one of the scallop heart mats I created using Sure Cuts A Lot and my mom’s baby bug (thanks Mom!) and it’s my entry for today’s Digi Day challenge at SNR.. I ran the card base through my Big Shot with a Fiskars Heart Texture Plate to add just a bit of dimension.  The glitter papers are DCWV and the ribbon is from my stash.  The cupcake is colored with Copics, Spica and Sakura markers/pens and some diamond glaze on the cherry (note to self – let it dry flat or it runs!!!) I used pearl ex powder over chalk ink to give the heart cutout a little shine before adding red glitter faux stitching and then coated it and the cupcake with Winsor & Newton Iridescent Medium – super easy and cute! My 2nd card uses the same glitter CS – this time run through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug D’Vine Swirls embossing folder. I used SCAL to create the mat and to add the scallops to the card edge.  The cherry hearts are included in Lindsay’s Love Grows Here set.  I added some pearls stickers and faux stitching before stamping the sentiment (SU – retired) in Pearlescent Coral (Brilliance) ink.My last card of the group (the class gives you info for 4 cards, but I ran out of time – I have another cupcake already decorated and ready to go though) is a circle-shaped card – another of my first SCAL creations.  I embossed the front with my D’Vine Swirls folder.  I used my largest Nestie Circle as a template for my stitching.  The red ribbon is from my stash and the little flowers were liberated from one of my little one’s broken hair barrettes ( whew – I knew I could recycle somehow!)

For this week, Lindsay challenged us to recycle – aka repurpose an item or two on our creations – and you can enter too! Today is the last day to enter your “repurposed” project for a chance to win a free stamp set – check Lindsay’s blog for all of the details, links to the other fabulous DT projects, and possibly a FREEBIE! Then head to Lindsay’s store to snag this super cute set and check out her new SVG files – yup Lindsay is now selling cutting files!  And, just for hanging out with me today – I have a goodie for you too – my VERY FIRST cutting files – they’re in SCUT format as I haven’t mastered all the conversions yet – but hey we all to start somewhere.  I’m sharing the scallop heart mats I created to go with my cards and Bunny’s class!

That’s all from me – today  is the last day of swimming lessons – next week we start tumbling again. Plus I REALLY need to join the ranks and tidy my craft space and find homes for all of the new Christmas goodies. Have a fabulous day!