Thankful Thursday All-American Blog Hop

Hello Everyone and Welcome to your last stop on the

 Thankful Thursday All-American Blog Hop! 

We are celebrating the All-American Summer with 4th of July, BBQs, and so much more!  There are fun projects and blog candy to be won along the way so please hop along with us!  If you hopped here from Leah's blog Leah's Card Designs then you are heading in the right direction! ***Leah must still be having blogger problems today so if you came from the talented Ruby Rose then you are still in the right place, stop back later to see Leah's fun project***  Aren't my fellow teammates amazing!!  If you just happened to stop by to see me today (thanks), you'll want to start at the beginning of the hop with Jenny at Crazy About Cricut!  So, enough chitty chat...on with my project!

Since I've been posting 4th of July projects all week and our Hop theme was "4th of July, BBQs and more", I thought I would mix it up a bit and create a project that falls into the "and more" category!  I made an All-American Summer Vacation layout! 

This year our All-American Summer Vacation means heading to the Jersey Shore! 

 I'm really excited because we haven't even made it to the beach yet and I already have some LOs ready for pics (which I'm sure there will be a ton of pics)!

I used the Imaginisce Splash Dance paper line for my LO.  The title is cut from Life's A Beach and I added a few buttons tied with colorful Bakers Twine from My Craft Spot!

This adorable Jellyfish guy was cut from Once Upon A Princess (are you wondering where the jellyfish is on that cart???).  It is a cupcake top that my Oldest E stretched with the gypsy, cut, added some google eyes and drew a cute little face on him!  

We added some Pink Sorbet Bakers Twine and I tacked it down in the swirly design with Tombo Multipurpose Liquid Glue (just little dabs, a small amount goes a long way).

I was a little sad that some of the original chipboard stickers disappeared from my LO.  I am guessing since neither of the girls would confess and/or rat the other out, that they must have been partners in crime!  There was an adorable chipboard crabby here but since I have not found his new hiding spot, I had to use some of the puffy stickers.  Still cute, just not as cute as the original element!

Again, I had a really cute school of fish up in this corner which magically disappeared!  Lesson learned, take a pic immediately upon finishing a LO so my little scavengers do not have time to snatch the goods...hehe!

While we worked on the LO, the girls and I talked about the beach, and they drew me pictures of what they think our All-American Beach Vacation will be like! 

We added their pics to the LO until I have the real ones to put on there!  I know it will look a lot better with the real pictures but any Mommy knows that these pictures tell a story just like the real ones will!

OK, so who wants some BLOG CANDY?  Today I have something fun for you!  I have a 30 yard spool of Black Licorice Baker's Twine from My Craft Spot, a set of Imaginisce Splash Dance Rub-Ons, and a Stampin' Up Stamp Set! 

THE BLOG CANDY RULES:

1. To be eligible for the blog candy, you must leave a comment letting me know how you like to spend your All-American Summer!  I love my friends all over the world so you are not being left out!  Let me know how you like to spend your summer too!  I'll be happy to ship this candy to any corner of the earth! 
2. You do not need to be a follower, but I would love if you were!
3. Because I appreciate my awesome friends (aka followers), my followers can have an extra chance to win my candy by adding a second comment letting me know that you are a follower (old and new)!
4. I'll be drawing a winner on the 4th of July, so stop back to see if you have won!

Oh but wait, there are more prizes to win today!  There is a Scrap n' Tote to be won and there is also an AWESOME prize pack from Post-It (which includes the Party Time stamp set from Pink By Design)!

To enter to win these prizes:

1. You must leave a comment on all of the blogs in the hop.

2. You must be a follower of Crazy About Cricut.

Winners for this candy will be announced July 7th at Crazy About Cricut! 

Thank you so much for joining us today for our All American Blog Hop!

Here is the lineup in case you got lost or missed a stop along the way:

Jenny @ http://www.crazyaboutcricut.blogspot.com
Cheryl @ http://www.cardsbycg.blogspot.com
Sharon @ http://www.simplysweetbysharon.blogspot.com
Tanya @ http://www.scrappinkymomma.blogspot.com
Bobbi @ http://www.rockgirlcustomdesigns.blogspot.com
Angie@ http://www.sitrestdownplay.blogspot.com
Paula @ http://www.owlbescrappin.com
Jen  @ http://www.mccalleyhouse.blogspot.com/
Sandra @ http://www.sweetpeascards.blogspot.com/
Lola @ http://www.purplepeepstechniques.blogspot.com/
Ruby @ http://www.paper-junkie.blogspot.com/
Leah@ http://www.leahscarddesigns.com
Amber@ http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com


Products Used:

• Imaginisce Splash Dance
• Coral Reef Paper
• Water Words Paper
• Polka Dot Bikini Paper
• Ocean Treasures Chipboard Stickers
• Coral & Crew 3D Stickers
• 3D Puffy Stickers
• Stampin' Up!
• Taken with Teal Cardstock (background)
• Crumb Cake Cardstock (title)
• Melon Mambo Cardstock (Jellyfish)
• Melon Mambo Ink
• Soft Suede Ink
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
• Taken With Teal Stampin' Write Marker
• Tombo Multipurpose Adhesive
• Glitter Brads
• Cricut E2 & Gypsy
• Life's A Beach
• Once Upon A Princess
• Create A Critter
• Queen & Co Pearls
• Bo Bunny Buttons
• Signo White Gel Pen
• Google Eyes
• Twinery Bakers Twine from My Craft Spot 
• (Click HERE to order)

I hope you like our Sea Shore Summer layout!  If you came here today hoping to see a more Patriotic LO, you can click HERE to see the details on this layout I posted earlier this week!

Thanks for stopping by today!



Thankful Thursday

Well, it is looking like we are having blogger issues today, so our scheduled Crazy About Cricut Thankful Thursday All-American Blog Hop may be postponed for the time being.

I've decided since my family and some friends enjoy coming here on Thursday to see what my girlies have been working on (and since Oldest E loves seeing her creations on the computer), that I am going to start posting our family projects every Thursday throughout the summer, regardless if it is Thankful Thursday or not.  It will also be a good incentive for my Oldest E to brush her hair since people all over the world can see her messy mop!  She is in the phase where she is refusing to let me brush it and/or pull it up!  It drives me crazy to see it in her face, but I know this phase, like many others, will pass (hopefully soon)!

This week, we had fun with a classic summer activity, ROCK PAINTING!!!

It is an inexpensive activity and what kiddo doesn't love to paint!  Your garden or planters will look so much more colorful with these little masterpieces and since we used fingerpaints, a quick swipe with the hose cleaned the whole mess up!!

Hopefully we'll be able to get the Hop rolling today, but if not, we'll have it for you soon! 

Thanks for stopping by today!

Celebrate the Occasion #20 - 4th of July

Hello Everyone!  It's Design Team #2 day at Celebrate the Occasion!  This week we are Celebrating the upcoming 4th of July!  The twist is you must use Red, White and Blue in your project!  I have another LO for you today!

Just a simple LO today!  This one is my Middle Es first 4th of July.

I used Stand and Salute for all the cuts on this LO.  The red polka-dot ribbon is from Stampin' Up!, the white is Hand Dyed Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot, and the blue is from Michael's.

I outlined the Statue of Liberty and popped her up.  The fireworks are glittered up with Stickles.

I love her crazy smile in this pic!  I added some more ribbon, a button, bling and some My Craft Spot Bakers Twine for an accent.



Products Used:

• Stampin' Up!
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Brilliant Blue Cardstock
• Real Red Card Stock
• Gable Green Cardstock
• Red Polka-Dot Ribbon
• Cricut E2 and Gypsy
• Stand and Salute Cricut Cartridge
• Michael's Blue Ribbon and Bling
• Basic Grey Button
• Stickles
• My Craft Spot
• Snow White Crinkle Ribbon
• Click HERE to Order
• Cherry Red Bakers Twine
• Click HERE to Order

Other Challenges:
My Sheri CRAFTS #63 - Independence Day or Canada Day

Make sure you stop by and Celebrate the Occasion with us this week!  The Design Team has some fantastic projects to inspire you!  Thanks for stopping by today!

My Craft Spot #14 - Seeing Stars

Happy Monday Everyone!  Can you believe we are on week #14 already at My Craft Spot!  Time flies when your having fun crafting!  This week, we have a fun challenge for you!  The challenge this week is Seeing Stars!  I made a fun layout using pictures of my Oldest Es first 4th of July! 

Wasn't she cute?  This was back in 2006 and now she's so big!

I used my Martha Stewart Fancy Lace Punch for the bottom border.  The stars are cut from Plantin Schoolbook and since my sewing machine is not working again, I just used the needle to stitch holes in the stars!

The striped ribbon is from Stampin' Up!  I added a gorgeous Crinkle Ribbon Bow with some Vintage Cherry Bakers Twine both from My Craft Spot!  The button was a last minute addition to fit into the Whimsical Wednesday Challenge! 

I used my Gypsy to weld Country Life font together to form the title then outlined and popped it up!  The "You make me smile" stamp is from My Craft Spot Sweet Sentiments Set #1.

The banner is also cut from Country Life and tied together with Vintage Cherry Bakers Twine.

Products Used:

• Stampin' Up!
• Crumb Cake Cardstock
• Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
• Night of Navy Cardstock
• Confetti Cream Cardstock
• Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Soft Suede Classic Ink (sponging)
• Night of Navy Classic Ink
• Night of Navy Stampin' Write Marker
• Cricut E2 and Gypsy
• Country Life Cartridge
• Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge
• Martha Stewart Fancy Lace Punch
• My Craft Spot
• Sweet Sentiment Set #1
• (Click HERE to Order Stamps)
• Vanilla Bean Crinkle Ribbon
• (Click HERE to Order Crinkle Ribbon)
• Vintage Cherry Bakers Twine
• (Click HERE to Order Bakers Twine)

Other Challenges:
The Paper Variety - It's Summer
Whimsical Wednesday - Let's Get Patriotic (must use brads, bling or buttons)
Creative Cutter Room - God Bless America (must include a flag...it's on her shirt)
Getting Scrappy Challenge - Getting Punchy (use any type of punch)
FCCB Challenge Me Monday #66 - 4th of July (use red, white & blue)
Scrapbookaholic By Abby #8 - Red, White & Blue
You Had Me at Craft - Made it Myself Mondays

Make sure you stop by and See some more Stars at My Craft Spot!  The Design Team has some amazing projects waiting to inspire you!  I can't wait to see what you come up with for your Seeing Stars project!  Make sure you link them up by next Sunday to be eligible for the fantastic prize this week!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Birthday Sundaes #15 - Stars & Strips Birthday

Goodmorning!  It's Birthday Sundaes day today!  This week we want to see Birthday Cards with Stars & Strips! 

 Products Used:

• Stampin' Up!
• Night of Navy Cardstock
• Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
• Crumb Cake Cardstock
• Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
• Night of Navy Classic Ink
• My Craft Spot
• Scarlett Red Crinkle Ribbon
• Sweet Sentiments Set #1
• Cuttlebug Stars Embossing Folder
• Pebbles Glittered Star

Make sure you check out the rest of the amazing DT creations at Birthday Sundaes this week!  We would love to see what you come up with for our Stars & Strips Birthday Card challenge!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Funky Cards "I Feel the Love Project"

Madison, who is a very talented crafter over at Funky Cards has started an amazing project called "I Feel the Love Project"!  She is collecting cards monthly for different reciepients who are in need of a smile!  I wanted to help by making a card for this month's recipient, Ms. Jill Pentoney who is battling cancer right now.

Yes, I know it is not my normal for a Cricutless style card, but my migraines have been relentless this week and crafting time has been at a minimum.   I also have too many unused Stampin' Up! products who are screaming to be used!  I'm going to try to use some of them up over the next few weeks!

I love how it turned out and I hope Ms. Pentoney does too!  There is still a small bit of time to make a card for Ms. Pentoney!  Click HERE to see more about Madison's "I Feel the Love Project"! 

Thanks for stopping by!

My Crafty Space

Hello Friends!  My dear friend Julie at A Little Bit of Bling just did some work to her craft room!  It looks fantastic!  I wish I had that much space!  She asked to see everyone's craft space by linking it up.  I thought since I've had a migraine every day this week and haven't been that crafty, I would show you some of my storage solutions in my space!   

Most people who come to craft with me are amazed to see how much stuff I can fit into my small space.  It is all about organization!  Hopefully someone, somewhere will find a storage solution for something in their space!

This is my cartridge storage and ribbon racks.  My ribbon hangs on curtain rods that are held up by the shelf mounts.  They are nice because when there are empty rolls, I can pull from either end or being a curtain rod, it comes apart in the center!  I hang My Craft Spot Crinkle Ribbon from the curtain clips.

I keep my most used tools in a Pampered Chef Tool Turnabout on my table.  All my adhesives (beside my ATG) are stored in the drawer that is right in front of where I sit (I did not take a pic but I'm sure you can imagine an adhesive junky's drawer full of goodies)! 

All my 12 x 12 paper pads are stored under my table.  I label them so when I am looking for something, I can grab it quickly.

Most of my clear stamps sit on my desk in this accordion folder.

I actually took this pic several months ago when I first started my blog.  There are a few more that I have added since then but they all do still fit and this gives you an idea of how it looks!  I have dreamed about a Clip It Up, but have since decided that this is more practical considering I can toss it easily off my desk if I need the space!

Glitter and Embossing Powder storage.  If you didn't see my post last week, this is a great way to store your glitter, because you can glitter in/over these containers and contain the mess!  No need to try to get your glitter back into your tube from a tray!

Another old picture.  This rack was from Sam's Club ($19.99).   I store my solid 12 x 12 cardstock and my open stock paper lines in here (my favorite buys at the LSS and they are the hardest to cut in to because I just love to look at them)!!  Again, I had dreamed of paper racks but I have found my paper corners stay nicer on these plus they have more coverage from the lights and anything that flies through the air in a house full of kiddos!

 

I hope you find some sort of storage solution that you can use in your space!  This is just a small glimpse of the obnoxious amount of my crafty treasures!  I am a little ashamed to admit that I used to have a bit of a shopping problem, but this blog has helped me confess to my addiction (See HERE) and has curtailed my spending habits!  I am proud to say that I have been using a lot more of my stuff now that I have people who want to see it and understand my obssession with it! Click on Julie's button and link up your craft area so everyone can check it out!  Thanks for stopping by!

You are my Sunshine LO

Hello Everyone!  I thought I would play along with my teammates on Design Team #1 this week at Celebrate the Occasion!  The challenge this week is Celebrating Summer and your project must have a sun in it!  I am going to submit this at Fantabulous Cricut too since the theme this week is Summer Sun!  Here is the layout that I created using a sun!

I love to take lots of pictures so that means most of my LOs need to hold a lot of pictures!  This LO is super simple once you have a template for the pictures and it is a great way to get 8 pictures on your page!  Click HERE to see how to make the template!

To make the outer sun, I used my Gypsy and Plantin Schoolbook.  I welded 12 exclamation marks to an 11" circle.  I cut another 3" circle for the center point to cover the inside edges where the photos do not come together.  For this LO, I only had 7 pictures so I needed to get creative for the last section.  

Products Used:

• Stampin' Up!
• Tempting Turquoise Textured Cardstock
• Summer Sun Textured Cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock
• StazOn Ink
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker
• Buttons
• My Craft Spot
• Lemon Drop Twinery Twine
• Inkadinkado
• Seashore Fun Stamp Set

Challenges:
Celebrate the Occasion #19 Celebrating Summer (must use a sun)
FCCB Challenge Me Monday #65 Summer Sun

Thanks for stopping by today!

Thank You!! Thank You!! Thank You!!

I want to thank several friends for a few blog awards over the past month.  As usual, I am so sorry that I am so terrible with these.  Each of these talented ladies are so encouraging and they are my favorite blogs to visit!   Please stop by and see all the amazing creations they share!  You'll be very happy you stopped by!  I'm listing these in the order that I received them and then I will share more at the bottom of the post.

June from Simply Elegant Paper Crafts shared her BFB Award and A Thing of Beauty Award.  Thank you so much June! 

Here are the rules for the BFB Award:

1.  Post about this award on my blog and link to the person that gave it to me

2.  Pass along to those that visit and leave comments on your blog regularly

Here are the rules for the A Thing of Beauty Award: 

1. I must share 5 things about myself ( 1 of the listed items must be something about crafting)

2.  Pass the award to 5 other blogs.

Jenae from Just Jenae shared her Versatile Blogger Award.  Thank you so much Jenae!

The "rules" of this award:

1. Thank the person who sent it to you 

2. Tell 7 things about yourself

3. Send this to 5 fellow versatile bloggers

Dr. Sonia from Cards, Crafts and Kids Projects; Amy from Amy's Crafting Space; Sherrie K from Sherrie Scraps with Passion shared their Irresistably Sweet Blog Award.  Thank you so much (and my girls thank you too Sonia)!

The rules for the award are the following:

1.) Send a thank you to the person who nominated you and include their link.

2.) To accept this award, answer 7 random facts about yourself.

3.) Pass the award to at least 8 other blog buddies.

OK...so I'll share 8 facts about me (and one has to be a crafting fact).

1. I'm a Christian, Wife, SAHM, Preschool Substitute Teacher, and Soccer Coach!
2. I swore I would never drive a mini-van...I now drive one (at least until all 3 girls are out of car seats)!
3. I never LOL...I am more of a soft giggle type..hehe!
4. I have a natural tendency to always help those who need it!
5. I am addicted to salt (I crave it)!
6. I love crafting with my kids...most days (if your a Mom, you understand some days you just need nap-time to last a little longer)!
7. I love the friends I have made all over the world through this blog!
8. I tend to be very chit-chatty when I leave my comments (sorry, but that is what happens when I spend all my time talking to toddlers, I need to talk to an adult sometimes) 

I have a terrible time deciding who to pass these awards onto.  I think that is why it always takes me so long to post them because I truly appreciate each one of the talented friends/followers that I have met over the last few months!  There are just too many of you to choose from and I believe you all deserve these!  Normally, I just skip this part but this past week was so hard and so many of you stopped by to lend your support, thoughts and prayers and I really, really appreciate your friendships.  I missed visiting you all so here is my thank you to the ones who stop by and leave their sweet comments either everyday or a lot of them stop by each post since their last visit!  This is going to be long and I am going to list them in alphabetical order!

All of these awards go to...

Amy - Love to Crop

Amy - Amy's Crafting Space

Angie - My Paper Productions

Brandy - Crafting with Faith

Carri - DoubleClick Connection-AKA Busy Bee

Cely - Hawaii Paper Party

Chris - Craft Pickul

Jenae - Just Jenae

Julie K - A Little Bit of Bling

June - Simply Elegant Paper Crafts

Kate - Small Bits of Paper 

Kimberly - My Craft Spot

Kristie - Kreated By Kristie

Lisa - Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbon

Maria - The Crafty Girls Corner

Maribel - ilovescrapping

Mihaela - Quilling- creative.art

Missy - Quick Chick Designs

Nikki T - The Glamorous Side of Scrapping

Paper Panther - Purple Peep Techniques

Rachel W K - Prescription: Craft Often

Rayna- Purple Peep Techniques

Sherrie K - Sherrie Scraps with Passion

Dr. Sonia S V (and her little assistant) - Cards, Crafts and Kids Projects

Scrapping Stephanie - Always Scrapping

Vivi - Vivi en Papel

For all of you listed above, please accept each of these awards and do not feel obligated to go through ALL of the requirements of each one!  There are so many more of you that stop by and I'm so sorry I can't list everyone (I've been working on this post since last night)!  Please know I do appreciate your support!  If there is a blog listed that you have never visited, please stop by and check out these wonderfully creative ladies and their inspiring blogs!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing these awards with me!