Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to the Teacher Appreciation Blog Hop!  It is that time of year that we are saying "thank you" to all those wonderful teachers that touch our lives and help mold the minds of our little ones!  I am so excited to be a part of Jen's hop today!  If you are coming from Lisa's Crop & Create then you are heading in the right direction.  If you just happen to be stopping by today and want to hop along, you'll want to start at Jen's blog, Jen's Craft Corner!  You don't want to miss out on the wonderful ideas and the fabulous blog candy!  Here are my Teacher Appreciation projects!

I made a very special little chalkboard bag for a very special teacher! 

Here is a view of the dimension!  I folded a strip of paper to make a ledge for the chalkboard.  Then I added a rolled piece of paper for the chalk and used different brands of pop dots on the book and the bookworm.

The bookworm was cut from Create A Critter and I added a Peachy Keen Critter Face.  For the lens on the glasses, I used a dot of Crystal Effects.  I love how they turned out!

I added Cherry Red Baker's Twine from My Craft Spot as an accent to the bag!

I made a set of simple note cards to fill the bag!  I left them blank so the teacher can use them for anything!

My second project are quick little items for the support teachers and helpers. 

They are post-it note books made using the same little bookworm and a cute background paper!

Here is the side view of the post-it note books!

and last but certainly not the least, I made these little cards for my kiddos Sunday School and Awana teachers. 

They are all volunteers and they do it for the love of the Lord and for the love of the children!  I just had to make a special thank you for them so they know they are appreciated too! 



Products Used:

Chalkboard Bag and Card Set

• Stampin' Up! Cardstock, Red Polka-Dot Ribbon, Jumbo Eyelets, Button, Crystal Effects
• My Craft Spot Cherry Red Baker's Twine
• Bo Bunny Double Dot Paper
• Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge
• Peachy Keen Critter Faces Stamp Set
• My Creative Time I Believe in Leprechauns Stamp Set
• White Signo Gel Pen

Post-it Note Books

• Stampin' Up! Cardstock, Red Gingham Ribbon
• SU! Oval and Scalloped Oval Punches, Crystal Effects
• Me & My Big Ideas School Days Paper
• My Craft Spot Cherry Red Baker's Twine
• Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge
• Peachy Keen Critter Faces Stamp Set
• My Creative Time I Believe in Leprechauns Stamp Set

Jesus Loves the Children Card

• Stampin' Up! Whisper White Card Stock and Scalloped Border Punch
• Paper/Envies are a note set from Target
• My Craft Spot Black Licorice Baker's Twine
• Car Decals Cricut Cartridge
• My Pink Stamper More Faithful Sayings Stamp Set

Now are you ready for some BLOG CANDY!!  This is my first Blog Hop so I wanted to make it special.  The first item I am giving away is a set of my most favorite embellishment...Hand Dyed Crinkle Ribbon from My Craft Spot!!

One lucky winner will get their choice color set!  If you haven't seen all the gorgeous colors available you must check them out at My Craft Spot!!

The second item I am giving away is a More Punny-licious stamp set from My Pink Stamper!

In order to enter the drawings you must leave a comment below and tell me about a special teacher in your life!  You do not have to be a follower but I would love if you were!  I truly appreciate all of my followers so if you are a follower, you can add a second comment for a second chance to win!!  Easy enough!  I will pick the two lucky winners on Monday May 9! 

Now hop on over to my very talented friend Rae at Wahoo Crafts for her creative Teacher Appreciation project!  I have listed the Hop line-up below just in case you get lost along the way! 

Jen - Jen's Craft Corner

Julie - A Little Bit of Bling

Amber -  Amber's Crafts and Stuff

Libby - Beach Creations

Lisa - Crop & Create

Amber - My 3 E Scrapbooking (YOU ARE HERE)

Rae - Wahoo Crafts (Your next stop)

Michelle - My Passion for Crafting

Candice - Stampin' Pearls with Candice

Sonia - Scraps 4 Fun

Tiffany - Sparkled Memories

Tracey - Trace-Elementz

Cindy - Creating with the Heart

Vivi - Vivi en Papel

Tara - Homemade Happiness

Thanks for stopping by and hopping with me today!!  I hope you'll stop by again!

Just Hatched LO

One of the perks of volunteering at my kiddos preschool are the fun pictures their teacher (who is also a photographer) takes of all of my girls.  The second that she showed me this pic, I started singing in my head, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" and now every time the girls see the pic, they sing the song too! 

I knew I had to run home and scrapbook this picture, and I knew I wanted to use the chick from Simply Charmed but it turned out to be a tricky pic to scrapbook!  The colors in the picture are so bold and bright, that I had a hard time matching them up!   This is what I ended up with.

I would have loved to move the picture up and place the journal egg elsewhere, but the girlies slapped them down before I had a chance to place them.  Normally, this wouldn't be a problem to pull up but I had to use glue dots (which are permanent the second they hit) for the entire LO because I am out of my ATG tape!  GASP...can you believe that hoarder me let myself run out!  I have so many projects to get done that I haven't had time to run to Michael's.  

I did finally finished all of my Easter Orders and now I am pressed for time to finish my projects for the school.  Here is one of the little guys I am working on.  The bunny is from Oriental Trading but I am adding the cross around his neck so it relays the real meaning of Easter to the preschoolers!   The girls are doing their part by punching out all the scalloped ovals!

Products Used (LO):

• Stampin' Up! CS, Large Oval Punch and Ink
• Simply Charmed Cricut Cartridge
• My Creative Time Color Me Happy Stamp Set
• Stickles

Products Used (Bunny):

• Bunny from Oriental Trading
• Stampin' Up! Scalloped Circle Punch
• Indie Art Cricut Cartridge (cross)
• My Pink Stamper More Faithful Sayings Stamp Set
• StazOn Ink

Challenges:

K Andrews Simply Sunday Challenge I'll Sing You a Song Challenge

FCCB Challenge Me Monday #56 Do the Bunny Hop (Use a Bunny or Chick)

Scraps 4 Fun Use Your Scraps Challenge

Bunnies, Bunnies and more Bunnies

Hello Everyone!  I hope everyone had a lovely Saturday!  I have been working on Easter Card Orders today.  I can't wait to get these done so I can work on my own Easter projects!  These are some super simple Bunny cards that I am making for a large order!  They are not the most creative card, but I am making them in bulk, so they need to be simple(and they can't have anything that would require extra postage)!

This is the bunny from Create A Critter with a Peachy Keen Critter Face Stamp.  I gave him a little color using my Watercolor Crayons. 

Here is just a sampling of the cards!  I thought it would help reduce the hum drum of mass production by making them in different colors! 

After I get these done, I need to make another 15 dozen bunny ears for a local bakery.  I delivered the first 15 dz last Monday and they've about sold out of their bunnies already!  They are going to keep me busy! 

Once I get all these orders filled, I want to work on my treats for the girl's preschool.  I made these quirky little chicks last year for them.  Aren't they cute!  I used the Tags, Bags, Boxes & More Cart flower box for them with a nose from Paper Doll Dress Up.  I got the idea when I saw Large Chick Gift Boxes at Hallmark.  I knew I could make something like them.  I think I posted these on the Cricut Message Board last Easter. 

Products Used on Cards:

• American Crafts Cardstock
• Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge
• PKS Critter Face Stamp Set
• My Creative Time Color Me Happy Stamp Set
• Stampin' Up! CS, Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder and Scallop Oval Punch
• SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Blender Pen  
• Martha Stewart Border Punch

Challenges:

Cooking With Cricut Bunny Hop Challenge

Jen's Craft Corner Hippity Hop Bunny Challenge

Creative Sisters Monday Challenge #5 Bunnies, Bunnies, Bunnies

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure you stop back tomorrow for the new Birthday Sundaes Challenge!

I Love Chocolate Bunnies!!!

I absolutely love My Creative Times Color Me Happy Stamp Set!  It has the cutest collection of Easter and Spring stamps so naturally I'm using them on most of my Easter Card orders!  Here is the card I made tonight using the sketch from Emma's Throwback Challenge. 

The Challenge this week is a Cricut-Less Sketch so I thought this would be the opportunity to use this delicious looking bunny stamp from Stampin' Up!  I embossed it on Chocolate Chip CS with clear embossing powder.  Doesn't it look good enough to eat!

I left these very simple because I am going to make a dozen of them for one of my Easter Card Orders.  I may even make a second dozen in another color so she has more of a selection!

Products Used:

• Stampin' Up! CS, Ribbon, Bunny Stamp (retired), Good Neighbor DSP (last years Sale-A-Bration)
• My Creative Time Color Me Happy Stamp Set
• Martha Stewart Border Punch
• Clear Embossing Powder
• VersaMark
• Scrap Pile Paper
• White Gel Pen

Challenges:
Emma's Throwback Thursday Cricut-Less Sketch
Scraps 4 Fun Use Your Scraps

Thanks for stopping by today!

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #2

**Sorry Everyone!  This post had an error somewhere in the HTML that was affecting my gadgets.  Now I have my blog a big mess because of it!  I will be reposting it later when I figure out where the error code is!

OK, I think I fixed it!  I figured since I had my entire blog a mess that I would pretty it up a bit!  What do you think?  I have been holding out on doing it because my brother offered to design something for me, but I would have to change over to wordpress.  He is so much better with this kind of stuff but I just figured out blogger.  I am not ready to figure out how to use wordpress.   Enough of this and that.  On to the card.

I cannot believe it is Sunday already.  It means it's time for a new challenge at Birthday Sundaes!  First, I would like to thank everyone who joined us for our first week!  I saw one fabulous card after another!  Great job everyone!  I hope you will join us again this week!  Our challenge for this week is a Spring Birthday Card!  Have you seen the wonderful cards the rest of the Design Team created to inspire you?   Let's hope all these Spring Creations will jump start the season!  Here is my Spring Birthday Card!

Don't you just love this little barefoot girl!  My girls and I can't wait for warmer weather so we can run outside barefoot!

Products Used:

• Stampin' Up! Cardstock and Wintergreen Designer Series Paper (a little Winter mixed with Spring...kind of like our Spring now)
• SU Top Note Die and Oval/Scalloped Punches
• SU Dimensionals and Stampin' Write Markers
• Kate's ABC Cricut Cartridge
• My Creative Time Color Me Happy Stamp Set (somebunny Special)
• SU Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set (happy birthday)
• Buttons are from my stash

Thanks for stopping by!  I have my fingers crossed that when I post this, my blog will not go crazy again!  I hope you will play along with us this week for our Spring Birthday Card Challenge at Birthday Sundaes!

Sham-rockin' St. Patty's Day Card

Another card here using my scraps for Sonia's Use Your Scraps Challenge.  This one went together pretty quickly because I used the sketch from Peachy Keen Stamps.  If you are looking for a St. Patty's Day LO click here.  My only problem is that I can't decide which orientation looks better.  Which one do you like better #1 or #2?

       

I think I like #1 better!  Now I was quite surprised when I was finished because I realized this green I used for the card base was a very scrappy piece!  Looks like I've got some more work to do!  I'm going to cover it with a white mat on the inside!

Products Used:

• Scrap Paper
• Paper Dolls Dress Up Cricut Cartridge (Shamrock)
• Twinkle Toes Cricut Cartridge (Music)
• Peachy Keen Critter Faces Stamp Set
• My Creative Time I Believe in Leprechauns Stamp Set
• Stampin' Up Circle Punch
• Michael's Glitter Ribbon (for some Bling)
• Queen & Co. Nightfall Pearls (for a little more Bling)
• Signo White Gel Pen
• Stickles

Challenges:

Peachy Keen Stamps Sketch Challenge 47 Think Bling

Crafting with Christina Challenge #18 St. Patty's Day Theme

Paper Cutz Challenge #81 St. Patrick's Day

Scraps 4 Fun Use your Scraps Challenge

Thanks for stopping by today! 

St. Patty's Day Card

I hadn't intended on spending anytime in my craft area today.  I've got the flu but Mommy's do not get sick days.  I can only lay in bed or on the couch for so long before complete chaos takes over the house and I can only play "who can keep their eyes closed the longest" so many times before they lose interest in the competition.  Plus, I have a 1 year old, which means when she is not napping, I have to be somewhat cognitive.  Thank goodness she still loves to nap!!  I've found that I can keep the two older E's interest for quite some time by showing them all your fabulous projects out in bloggerland (and it is minimal energy exerted by me)!  They especially love the blogs with a Playlist.  They always break out in a dance!  The older girls begged all day to "scrap" so here I am with a post for today.  Since my creative powers are at a minimum, I had to combine one card for several challenges.

After making this, my oldest E kept joking around saying "Mommy, are you feeling lucky?  NOOOOO...You're feeling YUCKY...hehehe"  Thanks for the sympathy sweetie!

One of the things I love to do with my dimensionals is use different brands to get different depths.  I used the Stampin' Up! ones on the POT OF GOLD and ones from ACMoore on the sentiment.  I tried to get a good picture so you could see the difference but it didn't show as well as I would like.  I also love these BUTTON brads!  They are from ACMoore and I love to add them when I want a little button!

Products Used:

• Stampin' Up! CS, Dimensionals and Oval Punch
• K & Company Sleepy Tree Pad for the GREEN CLOVER and striped paper
• Recollections Gold Paper
• Paper Dolls Dress Up Cricut Cartridge
• My Creative Time I Believe in Leprechauns Stamp Set
• ACMoore for the Button Brads, Dimensionals and Ribbon (they are all from the stash...I don't remember the brands)
• Signo Gel Pen
• Gold Stickles

Challenges:
Throwback Thursday St. Patrick's Day Theme, Use any Older Cart
Cooking with Cricut Challenge-19 Double Take (Use at least 2 PP, 2 CS, 2 Embellishments)
Creative Cutter Room Lucky to Have You Challenge, Use the 4 Elements (You must go hop through the DT projects to find them)
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #5 Sketch Challenge
Paper Variety Color Challenge, Use 50% Green

Wow,  I can't believe I got that all into one post!  My bed is calling!  Thanks for stopping by today!  

Top Chef at Cooking with Cricut



St Patty's Day Card, Hamster Card, Game Day Snack

Still in a funk today but I just keep crafting away.  I've been dying to use my new stamps from My Creative Time.  This stamp comes from her I Believe in Leprechauns set and I used the Paper Dolls cart.  This one is for the Mojo Monday 177 Contest. 

I was hoping it would get my "Mojo" going but its not quite there yet!  Oh well, there is always tomorrow! 

 I also wanted to post the cute little creature I made for my nephews birthday over the weekend.  I had to wait to post it until he got his card today because I didn't want my sister to see it!  This one was made with My Pink Stamper Stamps and Four Legged Friends Cart.

I do have a cute little story to share about our game day snack.  We are always asked to bring Buffalo Chicken Dip to every game, event, etc. at the cabin.  So last night I was mixing together the dish.  It is very easy, a pkg of cream cheese softened, a cup of ranch dressing, Franks Hot Sauce (I buy this in bulk and I am not sure how much I dump in but I think it may be around 8oz), about a cup of chopped celery, and a few grilled boneless/skinless chicken breasts or you can use a can or two of canned chicken. Throw it all together in a bowl, mix, bake at 350 for about 20 mins(until bubbly).  We dip tostitos in it!  I make it so often, that I can make it in my sleep!  Anyway, I did not have any chicken breasts in the freezer, so I asked my 4 year to go to the pantry and grab a can of chicken.  I love that I can do this now since she is starting to read.  I tell her to sound out the word and look at the cans.  So she comes back and hands me the can.  I opened it and had her drain it and throw it in as I'm mixing.  So as I'm mixing, I am looking at it thinking "this does not look right and it smells funny"!  OMGoodness!!!  I look at the can and she brought me "CHICKEN OF THE SEA"!!!  Needless to say, Tuna Buffalo Dip wouldn't go over well with the guys!!  My kids didn't mind having it for lunch today!  It wasn't that bad but for now on I plan on actually looking at the cans she brings me!!

Kisses

I've been a busy girl!!!  Post number 3 for today.  Can you see that I really missed my computer last week?  I am working my way backwards through challenges from last week.  Here is my submission for the Flaunt it Fridays Challenge .  This weeks challenge was to use the Lips cut from the Indie Art Cartridge.  This is the first time I've used this cart since it was downloaded to my Gypsy and I was really excited to use it! 

You cannot tell from the picture but this is actually a covered small composition book.

I heat embossed the lips to make them look like a shiny pucker!

Stamp is My Creative Time from the Color Me Happy set

Solid cardstock and ribbon are Stampin' Up!

Pattern Paper is from Target

Oval punch is Stampin' Up!

Indie Art Cartridge

This pattern paper pack cost me $0.50 last year after Valentine's Day!  It came in a pack 8 sheets from the Dollar Zone and it was on clearance!  Can't pass that up!  I used it for another project that I will probably post later tonight.  After working with these lips, I am adding a little something to it!  Stop back later for my 4th and final post of the day!  I told you I have been a busy girl! 

Happy Groundhog's Day and Happy Birthday to Me!!

Today Phil the Groundhog did not see his shadow which means he is predicting Spring will be here soon!!  With all the ice around here I am not surprised but Thank You Phil!  In honor of my special friend whom I will forever share this special day with, I made a "Spring is in the air" card.  I knew as soon as I saw Cooking with Cricut's Shadow challenge that I needed to enter it! 

You may recognize the backdrop from my daughter's BDay invitations.  I'm recycling the leftovers but I think it worked perfect!  I also used one of Emma's new stamps from her Color Me Happy set found at http://www.creativetimeforme.com/  They are wonderful!!!  I tried sponging shadows around my cut images using the cut sheet.  I did not get the effect I wanted so I also added a lot of dimension so I could get some good shadows.  All the paper is Stampin' UP!, butterflies are a Stampin' UP! Embosslit, cricut cartridges used where Create A Critter and Country Life and I also used Peachy Keen's Critter Face stamp.  Again, sorry for the terrible picture.  My new part for my laptop was shipped but is sitting at the hub in Chicago (it may be there for awhile).   Thanks for stopping by today and remember, SPRING IS COMING!!

This card was a Top 3 Pick at Cooking with Cricut