Happy Blogaversary to me!

I can't believe it has been one year since I launched this blog! I am just blown away by my blessings in this last year - among which are 119 of you deciding to follow me and two of my projects are published in the November issue of Cricut magazine! It wasn't real until I bought the magazine at the store! They accepted two of my heat transfer vinyl baby projects (because I don't like heat transfer vinyl or anything) so if you happen to have a copy check them out!

I have a final Halloween project to share with you - this is the "Pin the Bat on the Haunted House" game I created for my daughter's class to play at their party.

The details: 

I cut out the house from October 31st at 19 inches - and how I did that was use two layers of the 12x24 mat on the Gypsy and cut it out in two pieces and then pieced the parts together on yellow poster board. I used DCWV glitter adhesive backed paper. This picture can give you some idea of the final size. 

 For the bats I used this cut in Paper Doll Dress Up at 2 inches real dial size. I drew them with my Cricut markers, then cut them out, laminated them with my YourStory (which I love love LOVE and think everyone should have one), and then added googly eyes with glue dots. 

This particular cut does not have a shadow or blackout layer so I used my Gypsy and the layers so that the markers lines weren't all cut again with the blade. The first layer was set up the cut as is and then I drew with the markers. 

Then on the next layer I used the same image with all the lines hidden except for the outside one. By keeping the layers visible you can line them up exactly. 

So after "cutting" the first time with the markers I selected return to design instead of unload mat, switched the marker for the blade, chose this layer, changed the pressure (don't forget!) and then cut  - which gave me nicely drawn bats which were only cut out around the shape.

I hope the kids have a good time playing the game - I only wish my YourStory laminated larger sizes than 12x12. And now - what better way to celebrate my blogaversary than to give away some blog candy?? I am going to give away the Teresa Collins Chic & Scary cartridge! Halloween is my favorite holiday and I just adore the images - who can't use more Halloween cuts?? it even has cupcake wrappers!

So all you have to do to enter is  leave a comment  and you must be a follower of this blog (anyone who wants to listen to me ramble deserves some kind of reward). I will leave it open until 12 midnight EST on November 7th. Thank you so much for all of your support this last year and I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween!

Blog Hop Winner

And the winner of the twine bundle according to Random.org is.....

and that means the winner is.....

Congratulations Carole! Email me your info so I can get your twine out!!

Halloween Hop! Popcorn and a Sweet - No Tricks Just Treats!

Hello and welcome to this stop on The BugBytes Design Team blog hop!If you are on the hop you should have arrived here from Kymberlee's blog. If you are just starting here you are going to want go back to The BugBytes to start at the beginning. My wonderful fellow designers who are taking part of this Halloween/Fall Hop and Linky Party are:

Pam

Jen

Lori

Jeannie

Audrey

Kymberlee

Allison - YOU ARE HERE!

Kelly

Debbie

Carole

Kate

Amylynne

Mila

Dayna

Elizabeth

 I am sure I am going to wake up Saturday morning and be mortified that I posted this among all the other fabulous work the designers have done, but I am going to anyway! So that being said, let me introduce you to my friends....Frank, Jack, and their Mummy!! Oh I love Halloween puns!

The details: 

These are actually popcorn treats for the "specials" teachers at my daughter's school. I have other things in mind for her regular teacher and the aides but I thought it would be nice for her to give a treat to the people who teach art, music, gym, and library. This is also a project that grew as I started to work on it, otherwise known as "why can't I ever just leave it alone?""

I started off with a 10 by 7 1/2 inch piece of paper. I scored it at 3 inches and 7 1/4 inches. 

I used Scotch brand double sided tape on two sides. (Hint: do not have regular tape on table next to double sided tape or lots of tape will be wasted. Why you ask?? no reason.)

I decided to use a single serve bag - good for a quick treat at school. 

I laid the bag down before folding the pocket together  - kind of necessary to ensure you have enough room for it. 

Then I slide the bag down so I can crimp the end. Then I add another piece of tape in the open end and crimp that side as well. Which leads me to....

one complete popcorn packet! But he was looking lonely (and a little plain) so I decided he needed something else - a mini me! (oh and stickles because you can always use sparkle)

Besides who doesn't like a candy bar to go along with your popcorn??  To make the candy bar wrapper I followed the same steps but with a 7 1/2 by 6 piece paper - scored at 2 and 4.5 inches. I also made a second pumpkin version with a different style face. 

Here are Frankenstein and  Frank Jr.  

And let's not forget Mummy and the little mama. 

The mummy took a little more time and care - I cut a bunch of long one-inch strips and inked the edges. Then I placed them randomly on top of the finished packet but hanging over the sides  - here's a picture: 

Then I trimmed the extra off the side with scissors. I had to put a little bit more adhesive to keep the edges of some of the strips down but it wasn't too bad. 

For all the faces I used the Pumpkin Carvings cartridge, which I just love so much. The only one that needed serious tweaking was the Frankenstein - his face is all cut at one size but his hair is cut much larger so it fit the width of the packet. I am perfectly happy to share the gypsy file for all three faces with anyone who wants it. Even though that means I will have to plug it in and update it - I am willing to make the sacrifice! I love the way these came out and I can't wait to wrap them up in bag with some Halloween twine! 

And speaking of twine, I am going to give a set of Trendy Twine away! I will give away 6 of their gorgeous colors all spooled on my thread bobbin system (which you can see here) and all you have to do is leave a comment on this post by Monday October 24th and I will select a winner! Make sure you leave me a way to contact you. 

I hope these inspire you to make some of your own Halloween treats - almost as much as I hope I don't die from embarrassment when I compare these to all the other work you will see on our hop today! Your next stop is Kelly's blog and then at the end make sure you go back to The BugBytes to join the linky party. Have fun and Happy Halloween!

Jungle Cruisin'

It is my day on The Bug Bytes today, and I am sharing another Disney layout. Of all my Disney layouts that I have worked on lately this one is my favorite and so I am so happy to let you all see it! One of my conundrums is how to balance my layouts with the pictures and "story" - and I think I got a nice balance here.

The details: 

The background paper is from DCWV Safari Kids and the photo mats and tabs are Recollections. For the "folders" I used the recipe cards on From My Kitchen and I don't really have specific sizes - I just unlocked the width and height  on my Gypsy and adjusted each one according to my photo sizes. I know you can't really see from the pictures but I used the CM paper distress tool to distress the edges of each and then inked the edges lightly. matted each picture with photo corners and cardstock.

For the title I used the Zoo Day font, which is one of my favorites, and I cut it at 1.30 using Green Core'dinations cardstock which I sanded a bit. The shadow is in kraft paper and I for the life of my don't know why the shadow layer didn't come out exactly perfect - I thought I was using the same size - but I was at the point where I was ready to just go with it and move on. Again hard to see but the title is pop dotted to make it stand out. 

Now that I am done with this post I realize the pictures are not really doing this layout justice so you will have to take my word for it  - much better in person. I am really looking forward to our hop this weekend - can't wait to see what the team has in store - so I will see  you then!

Last Photo Paper Layout

We are back to Disney layouts again - I didn't forget about them,  I am just currently up to my ears in birthday party preparations - but trust me - it's going to be a good one! This layout was perfect for this particular paper of Epcot because the photos are of my daughter and how she spent her time with Grandma while the rest of us were inside the ball!

The details:

I used Hannah Montana for the "Epcot" part of the title, cut at 1.10 inches with the shadow and then I added some heat set gems to bling them up. The "excitement" are Making Memories Passport chipboard letters. The journaling tag is a Maya Road sheer.

I do love the corners of the top photo mat because I used a CM punch that I won at the crop when I was working on this. And so I had to add some more bling there. I do remember spending a lot of time on this layout - the other paper choices were hard for me to decide because I didn't want to take away from the background. I am happy with the end result so I can forget all the sweat and stress that went into it!

I have one more Disney layout before it will soon be time for the birthday extravaganza! If you are missing the Halloween projects it isn't because I am not doing them - it's because they are over at the Paper Craft Weekend Challenge. I feel like I have split crafting personalities! Until next time I will just have to keep myself company!

Product Review - Easy Canvas Prints

I was approached a short while ago to see if I was interested in reviewing the product Easy Canvas Prints, in which you take your fabulous photos and upload them onto their website - some magic happens and they turn your photos to canvas  - and you get a gorgeous canvas print in the mail a week or two later!

And then I made the mistake of telling my husband about this, so this set off the great photo debate in our house - which one should we use - I wanted to use an older one - and he insisted it should be a more recent one. In the end I did dress my girls up and we played photo shoot, but then this led to another debate - which one of those photos should I use - you get the point. When we finally reached an agreement on which one, I clicked on the link and followed the steps - which I have to rate their site very highly for ease of use!

Then it was time to wait - and I fully expected to wait about two to three weeks - so imagine my surprise when in way less time than that my package arrived at my door! It was time to make a change on our family photo wall!

Here's a close-up (but really pictures don't do it justice):

I am absolutely in love with the way it came out - and I am more than pleased to highly recommend this product to you. And since you all know how I love a good deal - even if you don't plan to purchase one right now - I would get on their mailing list or like them on Facebook - because since ordering this I have received two emails with these insanely good offers - one was for 3 (!!) canvas prints for 49.99 with free shipping - and if I had known how awesome this one was going to turn out I would have hopped on that deal and considered a huge junk of my Christmas shopping done! I think Grandma and Grandpa need one of these!
It looks like right now their current special is 25% off with free shipping. So if you are looking for a beautiful, unusual high quality gift with your own personal touch ( I know you all have tons of pictures waiting to be used) make sure you check out Easy Canvas Prints!

Animal Kingdom Layout

I have another Disney photo layout for you today. This one is from Animal Kingdom and I wish the picture came out better because I felt like these pictures fit in with the background paper so much easier than the other ones -at least as part of my planning process. 

The details: 

Of course this is the layout that I can't find my notes for *SIGH* but I am pretty sure the printed paper for the title is from Safari Kids and then I inked it pretty heavily with a green chalk. The font I used for "Animal" is the Roly Poly from Plantin Schoolbook and is cut at 1.50 inches. The "kingdom" is the font on Designer's Calendar and one of my absolute favs - it is cut at two inches and I welded the letters together on the Gypsy. 

That pretty much is it other than matting the pictures and adding my journaling. Pretty easy and another page in my album done! I should be done with it in about......10 years!! That's how it feels anyway! On a side note, tomorrow is Sketch Challenge Friday at Paper Craft Weekend Challenge and I absolutely LOVE the way my projects came out!! I really am getting much more done now that I have those weekly deadlines ahead of me - amazing what a little pressure will do. So if you get a chance pop on over and maybe you will want to play with us!