CTO Challenge #15 - Retirement

Hey Everyone!

I am sorry that I have not been posting much lately.  I am so happy to say that I am finally finished the wedding invitations that I made for a co-worker.  Between the Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations, I have been totally swamped.  I had to make 50+ of each and did not have a lot of time to do them all.  I must say that I am pleased with how they turned out.  Check back in a few days to see the final results as well as a giveaway to celebrate completion!  I am so happy to be done....LOL!

Anyway, welcome back to another week of CTO Challenge #15 - Create a project with a Retirement theme.  I decided to dust off the Imagine and put it to work.  I made 3 different cards for my retirement card set, although they could be used for several other occasions.  I must say that I liked how these cards turned out and I feel motivated to try to use my Imagine more. :)

I used Enjoy the Seasons cart (which I just won on the Circle blog).  This cart has some really cute images on it which do not just limit you to the seasons of the year.  I cut all the images at 5".  Used my cuttlebug, stickles, bling and white gel pen to add some details to the cards. 

Hope you enjoy!  Comments are much appreciated!

Nicole T.

CTO -Challenge #7 New House

Hey Everyone,

I am back again with my project for CTO Challenge # 7, which is to create a project with the theme New House.  Make sure you go to CTO to see what the other designers have created.  They are all so talented and I am sure you will be inspired to play along and link your own project for the challenge.

I decided to use the house from Mickey and Friends Disney cart.  I cut the house at 3.5".  The tree is from SYI.  I used several cuttlebug folders to add some texture to the house and tree!  The stamp is from PTI.

Please let me know what you think!  Make sure you play along and link your own project here.

Thanks for stopping by and remember that comments are welcomed~  :)

Nicole T.

Birthday Card

Here is a birthday card I created for one of my mom's coworkers/friends.  She loves cats so of course I pulled out my Create A Critter cart.  The go to when you want to create a cute animal card!

Anyway, simple but cute card.  It was inspired by a blog that I visited but I can't remember the name at the moment.  Let me know what you think!

Thanks for stopping by....

Nicole

Details:
Cardstock - Old Olive (SU) & Rustic Cream (PTI)
Create A Critter Cardstock
Black Soot Distressed Ink
Cuttlebug - d'Vine Swirl
Diamond Stickles
MS Pink Flocking Powder
Old Olive SU Ribbon
Hero Arts Sentiment
MS Punch

CTO - Challenge #3 Using Green, White & 1 Optional Color

Hi Everyone,

Today's post is for the CTO Challenge #3.  The challenge is to create a project using green, white and an additional color optional.  I chose to use an additional color, Stampin Up's Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive and White.

For my card, I chose to make an A2 size card.  I punched (12) squares using 1 1/4" SU punch.  I then embossed each square using various cuttlebug folders.  I used some Diamond stickles to bling up the various squares.

I then cut two different flowers from Mother's Day Bouquet, one in Rich Razzleberry and one in Old Olive.  I also ran them through my Cuttlebug (Swiss Dots & d'Vine Swirl)

For the little purse, again the flower is cut from Mother's Day Bouquet.  The purse itself was cut from Forever Young at fit to page, which I believe ended up being around 5".  I took my white Ink Essentials pen and faux stitched the purse and the flower to give it a little pizazz.  I put a white brad in the center of the flower and punched holes on either side and used the Old Olive striped grosgrain ribbon from SU to make the handle.  Love how this little purse turned out.  :)  I also like the color combination of the Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry.  I think I will use it to make my calling cards for this week's Circle Meet Up on Friday.  Yes, I have about 50 cards to make, I have not started and they have to be done by Thursday night.  Talk about waiting until the last minute....LOL  The story of my life!

Anyway, I can't wait to see what the rest of you come up with for the challenge.  Make sure to play along.  Click here to play along and to see what the rest of the design team have come up with! 

Happy Crafting.....

Nicole

Details:
SU cardstock - Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry
White cardstock - Bazzill
Cricut Carts - Mother's Day Bouquet & Forever Young
Cuttlebug folders - d'Vine Swirl, Swiss Dots, Textile Textures, Stylized Flowers
Punch - Stampin Up 1 1/4" Square Punch, Tiny Tags Punch
SU Tiny Tags Rubber Stamps
SU Rich Razzleberry Ink
SU Designer Brights Collection Button
SU Old Olive Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
Diamond Stickles

CTO Challenge #2 - Masculine Card

Hi Everyone,

If you are looking for my 100 Followers giveaway, please click HERE. 

I have 3 male birthdays coming up in the next few weeks.  I made one card so I decided to play along with the CTO Challenge to create a masculine card/project.

This card is also entered into More Than Favors Cartridge Chaos where you need to use the Rock Princess cart and Cooking with Cricut where you need to emboss.

I used PTI Kraft cardstock for the card base and DCWV Linen Closet patterned cardstock.  I love that stack and think I will buy another one.  I love DCWV cardstock!  It's nice and affordable.  I also used the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday folder w/PTI Rustic Cream Cardstock and d'Vine Swirl and Distressed Stripes

I also used Rock Princess cardstock for the cupcake cut at 2 3/4".    Topped the cupcake off with my favorite, various stickles!  I also distressed it with Tim Holtz Distress Vintage Ink.

Hope you like it!  Thanks for stopping by and feel free to leave a comment!  Love to hear what you guys think!

Have a great weekend....Nicole :)

CTO Be Mine Blog Hop

Hi Everyone,

I am so excited to participate in my first ever blog hop with CTO.  CTO is a new challenge blog, and this is our first ever blog hop as well.  If you just happen to be at my blog, be sure to click Here to start at the beginning!  If you just came from Melissa then you are in the right spot. :)

Also, CTO is having a design team call.  Please go to celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com to get more details....  There is also a giveaway on the CTO blog, you just have to become a follower and leave only one comment for a chance to win.  Also, there will be blog candy throughout the hop!!  Yippee!!  We all love blog candy!!

Here is the lineup for the CTO BE Mine Blog Hop in case you get lost:

CTO Blog http://www.celebratetheoccasion.blogspot.com/

Melissa http://www.melissa-moecreations.blogspot.com/ 

Nicole (you are here)

Gloria http://www.girliascards.blogspot.com/

Ivette http://www.allaboutmeandmyscrapbook.blogspot.com/

Gigi http://www.the%20cricutbug.blogspot.com/

Adrian http://www.byadrian4u.blogspot.com/

Lucianna http://www.dilsaverdesigns.blogspot.com/

Nicole http://www.creativedelightsbynicole.blogspot.com/

 

Anyway, on to my projects for this hop.  The first up is a set of cards that I made with primarily Stampin Up materials.  I am practicing my stamping skills and thought these cards came out simple but cute.

The second set of cards that I have for the hop are Valentine's cards for my 3 year old daughter to give her classmates on Monday.  She helped me make these cards.  We made 13 total cards but here is a sample of each style that we made.  My daughter will "write" her name/draw on the inside of each card.  I used Cricut Spring Holiday Cards cartridge along with my cuttlebug folders.  I inked a couple of them with chalk and also used the new Stampin Up red glitter cardstock on some.  I added some stickles and rhinestones to bling it up.

So, for my blog....I will be giving away the Wild Card cart as my blog candy.  Just leave a comment for a chance to win this blog candy.  Only one comment per person please.  I will ship anywhere in the US.  I will pick a winner (by random) on Monday evening.

Click here to go to the next stop on the hop!!  Girlia is next and I know you are going to be inspired by her and the rest of the CTO DT, as they are all so talented!  Enjoy and Good Luck in winning some delicious blog candy!!

Nicole

My Pink Stamper Challenge/DT Submission

Hey Everyone,

Robyn over at My Pink Stamper is having a challenge and two openings on her design team.  I have decided to participate.  I love Robyn and she has been so instrumental in my exploration of my creativity over the last year!  I never really considered myself as a very creative person, so this has been quite an interesting journey.  Especially as I am not good with colors....  I still doubt my creativity but I am working on it. ;)

I had my Cricut for almost a year before I used it.  I bought it so that I could scrapbook my daughter.  I recently moved back to Atlanta and was looking forward to checking out the local scrapbooking store only to discover it was gone.  So I went to the next best thing....Michaels (lol) in search of some help/classes to learn how to use my Cricut.  No such luck....however, I did run into this nice woman in the Cricut aisle and struck up a conversation with her.  I figured she may be able to help me figure what cartridges to start out with or where to begin.  She gave me one piece of advice that has led me on this creative journey... "Go online to My Pink Stamper and you will find everything you need to know."  Lucky for me, I still remembered the name by the time I got home.  With a little searching, I found Robyn and her many video tutorials.  That was the beginning.....

This past year has been a bit rough for me emotionally with going through a separation/divorce, now being a single parent to a toddler all while being unemployed for the past year plus.  It has been quite challenging.  However, being able to focus my attention on learning how to create paper crafts has been such a pleasant distraction and allowed me to find a positive release.  I am so thankful to Robyn and all of you fellow crafters/bloggers out there.  You have all been truly inspiring during one my darkest times and I Thank You All!!

Anyway, enough of my blubbering....  Here is my submission to the challenge and design team.  Good luck to all of you who are entering.....Nicole T.

The challenge was to use your favorite cartridge and use Robyn's favorite colors: pink, brown and green and another color of your choice.  I do not have one favorite cartridge at this point, so I decided to use one of my new carts that I have not used.  I chose Twinkle Toes.  I bought this cart to scrapbook my daughter.  She walks on her toes and so I decided to put her in ballet and gymnastics.  She loves both!  I just know I am going to be able to use this cart a lot.  I learned how to make cards from Robyn and I can't wait to see her DVD tutorial for scrapbooking...as that was the whole reason I bought my Cricut. (lol - I have only made one scrapbook page and that was recently for a Cricut challenge)  I get overwhelmed at the thought of it.  I digress again....

Here is the recipe...
Twinkle Toes Cart - dancer cut at 3.75" (Rasberry Fizz, Sweet Blush, True Black)
Dancers Skirt & Bow - Stampin Up Old Olive Cardstock (reverse d'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug)
Stampin Up Cardstock - Kiwi Kiss 4.25"x5.5"
PTI Cardstock -  Rasberry Fizz Cut @ 4"x5.25"
Recollections Cardstock - Brown Cut @ 3.75" x 5" (Textile Texture Cuttlebug)
Paper Stuido Bling - Pink, Diamond, Green
Paper Studio Heart Shape Brads
Miscellaneous Ribbon from Michaels(?)
Sentiment - MPS - Punnylicious (Rasberry Fizz & Melon Berry Cardstock)
Tim Holtz Distresser
Stampin Up - Basic Brown Ink
Cotton Candy Stickles

Thanks for stopping by....Let me know what you think....Nicole

Cupcake Birthday Card

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to share a quick card I made for my daughter's friend for her 3rd birthday.  I made a cupcake card from Once Upon A Princess.

Deets:
Once Upon A Princess cart
Paper Studio & Recollections Cardstock
Distressed Stripes & D'vine Swirl Cuttlebug
Stickles

Didn't come out as cool as I envisioned but oh well!

Nicole

Monogram Cards/MPS Challenge 10/11/10

Hello All,

My Pink Stamper is doing a challenge and giveaway today in honor of Karlee's upcoming visit.  Today's challenge is to make something for someone and give it to them.  This is perfect as I had started on some monogram cards this weekend and was finishing them up today, so I thought I would enter them into the challenge.  The cards are for the assistant director at my daughter's school.  She wanted some monogram cards and she loves black and white so I thought I would make them for her and surprise her today at school with them.  Last week was her two year anniversary at the school, so it just made sense....

Here they are.  I did two cards of each style and just need to come up with some packaging to put them in.  That is next...

Here are the cards:

 

Deets:
Carts Used: Storybook, Songbird, Gypsy Font
Cuttlebug: d'vine swirls, swiss dots, textile texture,
iRock bling
Diamond Stickles
Paper: Black & White cardstock (PTI),  Black & Cream cardstock (Recollections Gemtones), Patterned paper (K & Co. Black & Ivory Fusion Designer Paper)
Miscellaneous Ribbon from Michaels

Thanks for looking!

Nicole