A Flood Of Emails

Okay, I think I will just answer the question here because I've had so many emails about the subject.

To answer the first question - Yes, ScrapyLand.com is having an open call for the first ever Design Team and it is ground breaking. The details were posted on the ScrapyLand Blog and time is running out. If you are interested enter today.

To answer the second question - NO, I am not trying out for this team. I will continue to send Susan, the ScrapyLand Blog Master projects, videos, and other ideas, emails and such but I have no desire at this point to be on another Design Team.

I love ScrapyLand, Susan, and Dani. I love working with them but with my hectic schedule I do not have the time, the energy, or the desire to spread myself that thin.

Like I said I will continue to create and send stuff to Susan and you can always find my crafting projects here on my personal blog because I am in no way giving up crafting, I am just taking a step back and slowing down to enjoy my family and friends and to do things at my own pace.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Cheer Up!

I am still playing with the QuicKutz Paper Doll release. I love the small dolls and the fact that they can be used on cards and lay outs plus they can be made made to look like the person who is showcased on the project.

When I first got that release the first thing I thought about is how this one person always supports me. She stands out in a crowd. Regardless of what others are doing she always does her own thing and says what is on her mind. I love that in her. So I started to think about how other pale in comparison and this is what I came up with.





This card fits in a legal size envelope, so it is a bit bigger than your average card but I wanted her to know she is bigger in my world than most people.

My challenge to you today is for you to brighten someones day by making a card made specially for them, about them. Let them know that you are thinking about them and how big they are in your world. They may have no idea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Winter and Christmas Is Just Around The Corner

Before long it will be snowing and we will all be Christmas Shopping. I hope that you will take time to make a few of your gifts this year and get back to a more simple time. I think that so often we lose site of the meaning of Christmas because it gets lost in all of the hustle and bustle.

Each year I make family and friends a Christmas Tree ornament and this year is no exception. I used a set of the newly released Spellbinder Dies to create this 3D Snowflake Ornament that is perfect for gift giving. And if you think it is too cheap to give as a gift us it instead of a bow on a package and the person gets an extra little gift.

Here is a white one:



A Blue one:



The side view of it (so you can see the 3D aspect of it):



And then if you would like to know how they were made here is a video:



A little side note for the video, I did forget to include one step when I was going through the cutting of the Spellbinder dies. After you cut the dies, emboss them, then Stickle the white ones, let them dry and proceed putting them together. They are pretty either way but the embossing adds a little touch to them.

I hope that all of you will get back to basics this holiday season and use some of your talents to make a few of your party favors or gifts, enjoy the meaning of Christmas with family and friends and simplify.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

So Many People Sick

I know so many people who are sick. The flu has everyone staying at home. This got me to thinking what is the best way to fight the flu or the cold.... soup and hot tea. But how in the world do you send soup and tea to someone? I figured it out.

Make this tri-fold pocket card and add a packet of "Cup-Of-Soup" mix in one side and a tea bag in the other. It won't cure the flu but it will let someone special know that you are thinking of them.

I have included my template with measurements on how I made this card.

The front of the card:



Then a picture of it with one flap open:



And then both of the flaps open:



I you would like to make this Get Well Card here is a template that will help you with measurements and score lines.



The new QuicKutz dies that accompany the new Santa's Workshop Gift set were perfect for this project and would also be great for embellishing a recipe book or card.

I hope that you will try to brighten the day of someone who is not feeling good with a little hot soup and tea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Epic 6 Machine and Free Die

When I got my new Epic 6 QuicKutz machine I was so excited but my machine was one of the first ones made and I've had a few problems with it. I wrote QKs a note and they are going to fix my machine but they said it will be about 2 months. So I have set aside the Epic 6 machine and I am back to using my Revolution Tool.

I still love the thought of bigger dies.

When I received my free exclusive die from a rebate offer that QKs had, I shimmed it and decided to try to use it. After several tries it cut. I just had to use the beautiful pieces. I scraplifted this card idea from Susan at the ScrapyLand Blog.



The card part of the card is the size of the inside of the frame so the front of the card is actually bigger so that you can see through the lacy edges. I love something a little different and not so traditional.

The frame would be a beautiful frame for a scrapbook lay-out and the flowers and accent pieces would be great for embellishments.

Look around and see what you can scraplift when you are stuck for an idea.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Today Is November 1st

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Where did this year go?

Between taking care of sick or injured family members I managed to make my traditional Thanksgiving place setting cards. I got out some old dies and mixed them with some of the newer dies to make these but if you don't have the old Pilgrim and Indians (I do not have a picture of all of my place cards but did some with the Indians too,) but you did get the paper doll release make the little people to look like the person who is to sit there.

For these I used the Epic Exclusive Die (available if you buy the new Epic 6 machine, mail in rebate form for the free die,) the newer QK Cornucopia die, and the retired Pilgrim and/or Indian dies. The font I used is the new release Paper Doll Font from QK as well.





Here is a side view picture, so that you can see these stand up.



I used scrap paper from past projects to make these so they didn't cost a dime. I love it when I can save money, especially around the holidays.

Then as long as they don't get food on them while you are eating, you can remove the dolls from the "frame" and use the dolls and cornucopias on scrapbook pages. (So really you are killing two birds with one stone.)

If you have a few minutes to sit down to play, make your Thanksgiving table a little more special with some fun and inexpensive hand-made decorations. These go together in a snap.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Gotta Love The New Gypsy

I recently acquired a Cricut Gypsy. This is a handy little gadget that you load your Cricut Cartridges on and then you can take it with you and create on the fly. My Gypsy has been in the car line, the hospital, doctors offices, the mall, and any place else that I think I might have some down time.

My first impression was that the screen is going to kill me but I quickly learned how to bring things close up and that made things so much easier.

I decided to put this little tool/toy/gadget through the paces. Here is my first project that actually turned into 7 projects in all just with a few adjustments or changes to the original design. Change up the colors and facial details and the Jack-O-Lantern became a Mummy, Dracula, Cat, Frankenstein, or Witch. And then if you think of another holiday you can turn the bag into Santa's belly.

These ideas came from a project I saw on another site and were made from Pillow Boxes. I loved the ides but didn't want to go buy the Pillow Boxes and I wanted to make them in various sizes. (The Halloween bags are one size and the Santa Suit is bigger.)







I am only learning what my Gypsy can and can't do. I would compare it to the Cricut Design Studio (DS) but something that the DS will do the Gypsy won't and visa-versa. Both are wonderful additions to the Cricut machines and have many similarities but also have vast differences.

I will keep playing with my Gypsy and sharing the projects that I am successful making (I may even share a few of my failures because I learn from the mistakes.)

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

A Box For Halloween or For Christmas

I love it when I see something someone makes and then they say let's see what you can do with it. That was the case with this oh so cute Halloween box. Susan from the ScrapyLand Blog has live shows. These are always a how to do something. She finds or invents some of the most awesome things and generally ends with now take it and run with it and let me see what you can do with it.

If you Click HERE it will take you to the ScrapyLand Blog and if you click HERE it will take you right to the video taped live show of this project. She will walk you through making these really cool treat boxes for that someone special.

I went to order the QuicKutz Label Dies that she used and ScrapyLand happened to be out of them so I improvised and used my Cricut to make it but I used my QuicKutz and Boss Kuts Dies to do all of the details on the boxes. Then I took Susan's challenge and decided to make it for another holiday.






Leave me a message of what you think of my version of her Jack-O-Lantern Treat Box and if you go over to ScrapyLand's Blog and watch the video to get the directions leave her a message as well (and tell her where you got it.)

I hope that you will try this cuter than cute idea and come up with something else again.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

She Is A Teacher Now

This is my future Daughter-In-Law Kim. She recently graduated from college and now has her first teaching job. I had to do a lay out in my album just for her. When I saw the new release QuicKutz Paper Dolls I had to have them all and they were perfect for this occasion.



She is teaching at a private school and is loving her new career.

These new QuicKutz Paper Doll Dies are compatible with the ones previously released and add a whole new dimension to lay outs, pages, or other paper projects.

I hope that you will revisit your youth and pick up a few of these dies.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda

Trick Or Treat Candy Bag Topper

I have 6 very special children in my life this year that I wanted to make something special for Halloween. So out came the QuicKutz Dies, papers, and M&M's. this year instead of being just orange and black M&M's they added extra colors which was great in my book because it make the little toppers so much easier to make!

I pulled out several retired dies to make these. Mrs Clause was transformed into a witch, while Dracula and Frankenstein got to play themselves. Each topper also has Happy Halloween on the back and that was done with the Limited Edition Chicken Noodle Font.







I am hoping that this make my CCD/PSR students' Halloween a little more special and inspire you to dig out some of your older dies and use them.

Happy Scrappin' ! ! !

Brenda