August 2011 SOTM Blog Hop

Welcome to the August SOTM blog hop!!  If you came here from Vickie's Blog you're right on track...

I love this stamp set so much that I had my samples done for over a week... I was just dying to share them!

 

First I had to break out the Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge and create a fun door hanger.

 

 

While I had it out.. I had to cut a fun label to stamp my saying on....

And then, my wicked card needed a little tab on it...

I hope you'll add this fun set to your collection.  It's sure to help you plan a Wicked Halloween!!

Let's see what wickedly delicious things Georgia has in store for us!

Art Philosophy Gift Bag Tutorial

Edited to Add:  It's a Blog Hop!!  Thank you Tresa Black for hosting!  Once you're done viewing my tutorial, you can hop around and see many other GREAT pieces of art.   

I've been getting a ton of questions about the Art Philosophy Cricut Bundle so I thought I'd make a little tutorial and include a project. See how easy it is to create a cute little gift bag using the cricut cartridge, dimensional elements and matching stamps.

More Sneak Peeks...

To be honest...elemental was my least favorite paper pack in the new catalog, but it came in one of the bundles I purchased so I've been playing with it.  The more I use it, the more I love it!!!  It features a few colors I haven't used very much (lagoon, pacifica and sorbet) as well as some old favorites (olive and cranberry).  It's amazing how many different looks you can get from the same paper pack.  I can't wait to show you a couple of Christmas cards made with the same pack!

 

I adapted the All Wrapped Up pattern in the Wishes book to create both of these cards.  I just switched up the focal point.  And.... of course I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge.  I think I'll be trying to find a way to use it on every project!  It's an obsession....

 

I cut out the Happy Birthday label as well as all of the flower images with the Art Philosphy Cricut Cartridge.  The scalloped circle on the hip, hip, hooray card is from the dimensional elements complements

 

Supplies Used:

• X7141B Elemental Level 2 Paper packet
• X7141C Elemental Complements Dimensional Elements
• Art Philosophy Celebration (Happy Birthday - part of the bundle)
• D1491 Hooray Bouquet (Flowers and Hooray Saying)
• Z1338 Sunset Mini-medley Accents (buttons and ribbon)
• Ink - Sorbet, Lagoon, Pacifica, Desert Sand

Sneak Peek Pair-A-Phrase

My convention order arrived on Saturday.  I had so many things to choose from....but since I have spent so much time begging for bicycle stamps, I feel compelled to buy all of them and use them first. 

So here's your sneak peek at a few new items that will be available soon....

Supplies Used:

X7141B Elemental Paper Pack (Available August 1st)

Pair-A-Phrase Stamp Set (National Stamping Month Special - Available 8/15-9/30)

Tag with sentiment was cut using Art Philosphy cartridge!!!
Ooops - I think I may have used a retired stamp set for the striped background
Ink: black, desert sand
Markers: honey, tulip, garden green, sunset

Bubba Good Time...

Hubby's home so I'm a little slow at putting up these posts... I guess I'm just trying to stretch out the fun...

After our team meeting at convention, 12 (two aren't pictured in the group photo) of us headed out to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.  I was a little worried about this excursion because I was the one that just "had to" go there again.  What if nobody else was as impressed?

Well, I didn't have to worry at all.  We had a GREAT time, a wonderful waiter and delicious food!!!   

The waiter said that all of the alcoholics had to try the Fleur de Lis.  Heather tried to order something else and he told her she didn't really want that... sure enough, they all liked their drink!  Bonita got a lemonade in a special glass (it was a light show!)...I missed that boat.  I thought only the bar drinks came in cool glasses.

(Pictured - Patty, Aisha (with the fleur de lis) and Bonita with her fancy lemonade

The tables have cool signs... Gail wanted to keep Forrest running...

When you need something, you flip your sign and your waiter stops to help you out.  Karen and I were a bit needy. (Thankfully I don't think any of the waiters saw us doing this....)

As you can see...we had a great time!!  Our waiter was hilarious.  He kept us laughing and even split our check into 12 checks.  (We didn't even ask him to do it!!)  Smart guy if you ask me....because we definately tipped him well for such great service.

When You Wish - Convention 2011

Wow!  What an incredible week!!  I don't know how you can plan a more perfect convention.  Disney + Close To My Heart is a fabulous combination....especially when you throw a little Provocraft in there!!

I was so excited about heading off to Disneyland, that I forgot to get excited about convention.  I know that sounds odd....but I just kept thinking about good old Mickey.... plus I learned a long, long time ago, that I can't even dream as big as Close To My Heart.  I never even come close to knowing what they have up their sleeves.

Judging by the incredible skits and presentations.  I don't think I was the only one that had Mickey on the mind. I think Tinkerbell sprinkled a little magic throughout the classes and all of the teachers and presenters embraced that Disney philosophy.

We started the convention off at a Mad Hatter Team Meeting.  Bren Yule, Cindy Baker and Kay Pekin combined forces to throw us an awesome Unbirthday Party.  The hat contest was amazing!!  Of course, I was off at girls camp and running around before convention, so I made my newspaper hat at the last minute.  Shocking, I know... it had cute paper flowers on it, but you can't see them in the picture.

 

Patty and I modeling our "hats"

I think this picture gives you a pretty good idea of what it was like hanging out in my room..... (fyi - we had just gotten done riding splash mountain.  I didn't spill my drink on Candace and Karen. LOL)

There's never a dull moment when you put Karen, Candace and I together!  Karen moved to Northern California a few years ago so it has been a while since the three of us have been together....and let me tell you....it was as if no time had passed!!!  We had such an amazing time.  

Goofy is as Goofy does.... oh wait... I think I'm getting confused.  My Bubba Gump story is for tomorrow!

Watch out Disneyland....

The crazy Close To My Heart gals have taken over the Disney Hotel. LOL.  Nothing much to report yet...but here's a picture of the goodies I brought for my downline and my roomies.

The small Mickey head was a little foam stamp I got at the 99 cent store.  I made the large Mickey heads using the circles in the Hit the Spot stamp set.  I had so much fun making these...

Tinkerbell Half Marathon

I must be half mad because I signed up for the Tinkerbell Half Marathon.... Running is not my thing. LOL.  At this point, I'm just hoping I can walk it.

But since I'm never one to suffer alone....I have been busy telling everyone how amazingly fun it's going to be.  So far my Mom and I have signed up, two of my aunts are thinking about it (maybe they already signed up???) and three of my coworkers are planning to do it. 

Just to keep them focused on the plan (and make sure no one chickens out....) I brought some little goodies to work today.  (That, and I'm obsessed with Disney since I leave for convention in a little more than 24 hours!!!  Woo Hoo!!!!)

I put some sport beans, gatorade mix and a granola bar in the cups.  Just a little something to help them while they are training.....

And here's a little goofyness from camp....  We played minute to win it games.  Our girls took my camera and then decided that Tanya and I needed to participate.  Since we're such good sports.... we let them take some crazy pictures of us, while we tried to move a cookie from our foreheads to our mouths without using our hands.