The Switch - Cuttlebug to Big Shot

I got my Big Shot in the mail and I love it! It is bigger than the cuttlebug, but the Big Shot is prettier and more functional for me. So I made this video on the reasons why I switched. If you have any questions leave a comment or e-mail me.

Finally Another Post & Videos

Sorry I haven't posted in so long - I don't know where all the time goes, but there never seems to be enough of it. Ive been pretty busy. I went to AnimeNext, (anime convention) last month, where I had a great time & purchased some copic markers. I haven't really had time to play with then that much though. I had a 2 week vacation and I got a lot of household thing accomplished (replaced carpeting, spring cleaning, organizing, yard work, etc.), but no crafting. I even reformatted my hard drive & redid my main computer because it was starting to run slow. I also installed Windows 7 RC on my Laptop - LOVE IT!!(Hope everyone got in on the pre-order for $50) Now I'm back to work and I never feel creative when I come home. I don't feel like doing anything when I get home from work.


Last weekend I went to my local stamping store The Creative Corner where they were having a 5yr anniversary celebration - make & takes, refreshments, & prizes (I won a great Hero Arts stamp) and this weekend I have finally made a couple new videos & I made a card!! I am going to try to keep things a little more simple, I was wasting a lot of time editing my videos, I think that was one of the reasons I stopped making them for a while they just got too complicated & took so much time. I have not even reinstalled any complex video editing software on my computer - so have only very basic editing capabilities right now which is actually so much simpler & faster. I am hoping to do a lot more quick videos about tools, showing techniques & the finished project rather than showing the entire process.

I ordered the Sizzix Big Shot today (pink & black). I have a Cuttlebug which I love but the Big Shot has a few features that I wanted and I got it at a great price. Joanne Fabrics.com has the Big Shot for 59.99 + tax & free shipping on orders over $25 until Wed (promotional code EBD209). I plan on doing a video of it when i get it and why I decided to switch.

I think that's it - oh wait I also plan on having some Blog Candy for my 40th Birthday on August 4, don't know what yet so stay tuned.

Cupcake cards are the best!!!!!!!!!!

Sweet Birthday Cupcake Card & Video

My daughter needed a card for her friends birthday so I decided to make a video while creating it. It is a cute cupcake card I made with a chipboard UPC tag I got off a $1 basket that I bought at Target. The card base is from a package of 8 Thank You cards i got at AC Moore on clearance a while back for $.25 - the glitter was on clearance at walmart for $.75 & the patterned paper was a stampin up hostess level 1 item (free). Don't you just love free & clearance items!

click on photo for larger image

G-Squared Thank you card
Stampin Up Patterned Paper
Martha Stewart Border Punch
Paperchase (Borders) Dot Stickers
Target Cupcake Chipboard UPC Tag
Mainstays (Walmart) Glitter
Inkadinkado Clear Stamps
Versafine Ink
Martha Stewart Glitter Glue
Stampin Up Dimentionals
Ranger Glossy Accents
ATG

Thinking Of You Card - Color Inspiration Challenge #53

The color combination for Inspiration Challenge #52 @ kwernerdesign's blog was really hard this week, I had to think about it for a long time and all I kept coming up with were 4th of July type ideas with stars. Then yesterday I got 2 new design cards for my Slice (Spring & Words and Expressions) while looking at the design booklets, I came up with the idea for my card. I did not do a video for this one as I have already done 2 videos this weekend. I used my Slice to cut out the chick, umbrella, and the saying. I textured the peices with cuttlebug & sizzix embossing folders, then used glossy accents on the raised surfaces and the words. I wish it showed up better in the picture, the glossy accent made them look shiny & wet. Now back to the rest of my day off - its back to work tomorrow.

click on picture for larger image

Cardstock - American Crafts, Colorbok, Best Occasions (walmart)
Making Memories Slice (Spring, Word & Expressions Cartridges)
ColorBox Fluid Chalk Inks
Cloud 9 Design Rain Dots
Micheals Rhinestone Gems
Provocraft Cuttlebug
Cuttlebug Embossing Folders
Sizzix Embossing Folder
Ranger Glossy Accents
Stampin' Up 2 Way Glue Pen
ATG

Happiness

Wow, 2 videos in 2 days - Ive been busy!! Today I made a card with a lot of Making Memories products. I figured since I calibrated my Slice yesterday I should use it to make something, right? I used the Slice to make a mask/stencil and a faux chipboard frame. I think the card turned out pretty good. Thanks for stopping by & enjoy!

Making Memories "Chloe's Closet" Paper, Flower Gem, Rub-ons
Making Memories Slice, Trimmer, Ribbon
Tsukinek Versamark & Versamagic Inks
Ranger Distress Ink & Embossing Powder
DCWV Card Base
Stampin' Up 2 Way Glue Pen
Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive
ATG

Making Memories Slice Calibration + Video

I made a video on calibrating the Making Memories Slice. I received the new Basic 1 Design Card v1.7 a few weeks ago (you get this disc by registering your Slice), but had not calibrated my slice yet. There is a tutorial on the Why Slice website on how to recalibrate - so I really wanted to show the differences, before and after, although my slice did OK before the calibration and there is not much difference to the shapes I cut - I can still tell a difference. I also have a couple of tips on my video on choosing the best cutting patterns. I hope this helps someone.



This first photo shows 1 1/2 in circles cut with the slice on top of punched circles - the blue one is before calibration - you can see clearly that is is not circular, the white ones are the results of calibration. The left one (E) is my final calibration and is a much better circle.

The second photo shows before & after shapes cut with the slice at 1in. Blue is before & white is after. the biggest difference I saw was in the circles & scallops.

Click on photos for larger views.

Smile Card & Video - Color Inspiration Challenge #52

I made another card & video - this one for the Color Inspiration Challenge #52 @ kwernerdesign's blog. I really liked these colors but I still had a hard time figuring out what to do with them - still, I have to say, I think I like this card the best so far. I did this video with music also - I find that I take a long time to make a card and it is easier to just edit it down & add some music. I thought about adding some annotations to it, but decided not to. If you have any questions about the card you can leave a comment here or on You Tube or e-mail me through the link to the left. I did not realize that the camera stopped towards the end of filming, that is why the card suddenly is finished. It only skipped a couple of steps - adding the i and the critter. Enjoy & Thanks for visiting.

Cardstock, Thickers, & Zing Embossing Powder: American Crafts; Chipboard: Maya Road & DCWV; Ribbon: Making Memories; Clear Stamps: K & Company; Versamark & Versamagic Inks: Tsukineko; Adhesives: Stampin Up Dimentionals & Sticky Strip, Glossy Accents, & ATG

Color Inspiration Challenge #51 Card & Video

Just missed the deadline for the 51st Color Inspiration challenge - I had the time zone wrong. I really had a hard time with these colors - mustard & rose don't go together well. I also made a video for the card, & set it to music - seems to be the fastest way to get it done.




CardStock, Ink, Stamps, Texture Plate: Stampin Up; Border Punch: Martha Stewart; Ribbon: Stock; Corner Punch, Circle Scissor: EK Success; Circle Punch: Fiskars; Adhesives: Scotch Foam Tape, Zig 2-way Glue Pen, ATG; Die Cutter: Cuttlebug

Random

The ostrich walks at about 6 pm

Random Winner !!!!!!!

I still can't believe it. I was one of the random winners on Kristina Werners 50th Color Inspiration Challenge! I won a mix CD and a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate. I know I was randomly chosen, but a win is a win - right!!!! Plus Its great to see a creation of your own on Kristina's blog - she is amazing!

I did a haul video yesterday, I had placed an order from www.dollarscrapbooking.net because of another haul video that I had watched on sil2289's You Tube Channel. nearly everything on their site was between $1 & $2, from manufacturers like, Imaginisce, Creative Imaginations, Bazzill Basics, Heidi Swapp, Li'l Davis, etc.. What a deal!

Hope everybody had a great National Scrapbooking day yesterday - Im still trying to finish watching all of Robyn - The Pink Stampers Video's, and I think I might start a new video of my own!

Just Chillin'

Well it's national scrapbooking day and I have spent most of it trying to edit my new video - It better get easier after I've done more of them or I might go BERSERK. Not only is the editing a pain, but my glue squirted, my pen leaked, and I did so many voice tracks my throat started to hurt. I didn't think I was ever going to finish it!

So - about the video, I made a card with the Making Memories - Just Chillin' collection. I just took out the stuff I had from the collection and started filming - so not like me, but hey - I think it turned out OK. Enjoy!

Cardbase: DCWV; Paper, Die Cuts, Alphas: Making Memories; Rhinestones: Michaels; Gelly Roll Pens: Sakura; Adhesives: Stampin Up Dimentionals, Tombow Mono Multi, ATG

My First Video!! - kwerner color inspiration challenge #50

My first video - how nerve wracking. I was shaking while doing this video - and trying to talk/explain while making the card is HARD!! I even had notes on the side in case I forgot something. Kudos to all of you who do it this way - i think my next one will have a voice over track - and more editing!

The card I made is for Kristina Werner's 50th Color Inspiration Challenge. It came out OK, I was going to add some red ribbon to it but I completely forgot about it while I was filming. This was a hard color combo - I'm just glad I found some patterned paper that had the right colors in it.

Cardstock : Bazzill; Paper & Die Cuts : K & Company; Buttons: Hero Arts, Other ; Chip Board Letters: Basic Grey; Other: Glue dots & Stampin Up Dimentionals

Hey Stephanie,

my awesome daughter, Ive finally started to do the blog thing - I know that you will be happy. For my first post I decided to show a picture of the card I sent to you in college. I hope this blog will SPIRAL me into creating more and not just collecting supplies.

Cardstock: Bazzill; Paper: BasicGrey; Serendipity Stamp, ink pad: - Stampin Up; Tree Stamp, Bling - Hero Arts; Die: Sizzix; Glitter Gelly Roll Pen: Sakura