Happy 4th of July!!

Hello all and welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations!

This is my first post of 4th of July projects.  I have some more!!

Over at Cooking With Cricut our Wednesday Challenge is celebrating our country's "birthday"!  So who doesn't like to decorate for "birthdays"??  I do!!!  The challenge was to create a project with red white and blue.  I happen to like the more Americana look with my personal decoration, so my take on it went with that!  I LOOOOOVED how it came out!!!

My banner on the mantle!

These rockets were actually made for invitation for our 4th of July party.  I'll post that tomorrow.

Can I just say paper rosettes are SO. MUCH. EASIER. than cardstock! ;)

This particular lettering was cut in shadow and letter.  I used a burnt red paper to highlight the letters on the banner!  I like the rafia instead of the traditional ribbon.

I REALLY liked how this came out.

To make this I used:

Cart ~ A Child's Year for the letters and background; Gypsy Wandering for the banner; Sweet Treats for the firecracker

Paper ~ DCWV the Guy Stack (LOVE LOVE); Blue rosette Stars and Stripes from JoAnns

Misc ~ Stickles, Ranger distress ink Tea Dye, Rafia, glue dots, and glue gun

Now it's your turn!!  

 Link up your project to the Cooking With Cricut challenge post.  There are some guidelines.

1.  Must follow the challenge topic.

2.  Must be a new project for this challenge

3.  No back dated posts please

4.  Must have a link back to this post on your blog

5.  Must link your project post through Inlinkz and not just your blog

6.  Must use your Cricut in some capacity

7.  Gotta HAVE FUN!!!

8.  You may combine challenges...we like to!

Linking this to:

Jill's Sundays are Lovely #11 + Giveaway

Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #72 

I Heart Naptime Sundae Scoop #36

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #118

My Craft Spot Challenge #62 4th of July

My Sheri Crafts Challenge #88 Oh I Love America

Bitten by the Bug 2 Patriotic Challenge

Today's Creative Blog Get your Craft On

Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

CWC Home Decor Blog Hop Day 1

Hey all my crafty friends!  Welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations

Today starts the weekend blog hop over at Cooking With Cricut and Papercrafting World.  The theme of the hop is Home Decor.  Our Design Teams have really showed how they can decorate their homes!  You read it right!  No cards or scrapbook layouts.  We wanted to inspire you with some of our ideas.

You should have arrived from Tiffany at Creative Confessions of Tiffany Leola .  If you just happened to visit me because you love me {hehe}, I encourage you to start from the beginning (Melinda's Paper Crafting World) so you don't miss out on ANYTHING!!

Whew!  Now that all of that is out of the way, let's get to the fun stuff.  I KNEW what I wanted to do the moment this theme was revealed.  It is not always like that for me....just sayin!  My niece, whom I LOVE to pieces, will be celebrating her 16th birthday.  Yes, it is still a ways away, but why not get started early right?! She loves pink and purple and those colors fit so well in this project.

What you will need:

(glass front load frame)

The results:

I removed the matting and painted the entire glass frame with chalkboard paint.  Before painting on glass, clean it with water and dry with a clean rag.  Then rub fine grain sand paper all along the areas to be painted.  Wipe it clean with a wet rag again and let dry before applying paint.  Once painted, you need to "proof" your chalkboard.  Rub chalk around it and wipe clean.  

Let me be the first to say...you need a LOT of coats.  I think in hindsight I will spray paint next time! ;)

After the final coat I painted the purple sparkle paint. (SOO cute)

Now to my Cricut.  

I used A Child's Year for the lettering and Accent Essentials for the swirls.

I cut them out using black paper.  Then I cut out the letters on a cereal box to give them some dimension and stability and glued them together.  I didn't like the black on purple with a lot of black paint in the background.  So a quick change of plans, and I inked the black paper with Dew Drop Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid.  When I inked it, it gave this awesome effect with the black paper.

Is that not COOL?!  (BTW it is EXTREMELY hard to get JUST the right photo of something glittery/metallic!!)

I hope you were inspired a little bit.  It would be GREAT to see your creation of a home decor project. Not only do you get to have fun decorating your house (or someone else's), if you link up your project you will be entered for a chance to win one of our giveaways!!  One winner will be chosen by random and three others will be chosen by our Design Team.  Head on over to Cooking With Cricut for guidelines and to link up your project.  Can't wait to see what you create!!

BLOG CANDY!!!

{thanks for being so patient}

SU All a Flutter Stamp 

(brand new)

All you have to do is leave a comment.  If you would like to follow me, that would be great. 

Don't forget to leave an email address so I can contact the winner. 

You have until midnight Sunday (EST) 

The winner will be picked by random.org and announced on Monday.

Now it's time to stop by Becky at Scrap Circus.  

I am sure she has some sweet home decor cooked up for you!

If you get lost along the way here is the line up:

Melin - http://www.cookingwithcricut.com/ 

Jill - http://www.jaihart.com/ 

Jamie A. - http://www.scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/ 

Kimmi - http://www.impressivelyyours.blogspot.com/ 

Suzanne - http://www.cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/ 

Natt - http://www.tinynatt.blogspot.com/ 

Bonnie - http://www.scrappersranch.blogspot.com/ 

Yvette - http://www.gammascreativecorner.blogspot.com/ 

Letilla - http://divaof5.blogspot.com/

Charlotte - http://www.alittlebitofdetail.blogspot.com/

Jennie B. - http://www.javajencreations.blogspot.com/

Tiffany - http://www.creativeconfessionsoftiffanyleola.blogspot.com/

Michelle - http://www.michelles-crafty-creations.blogspot.com/ (you are here)

Becky - http://www.scrapcircus.blogspot.com/

Jen - http://www.gator-4-life.blogspot.com/

Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

I am linking this to:

Jill at Sundays are Lovely #8 + Giveaway

I Heart Nap Time's Sunday Scoop Linky Party

"Love Is In The Air" Blog Hop and some candy!

Hello all of my crafty friends!  Welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations. (kinda lengthy, but stay tuned for some sweet blog candy!)

Welcome to Paper Crafting World and Cooking With Cricut's Love Song Blog Hop! Our Designers have been cooking up some Valentine's projects for their loved ones.  Of course our love projects are inspired by our favorite love songs!  If you have come from the creatively talented Yolie at Just Yolie, you are in the right place!  If you just happened on my blog, let me encourage you to start from the beginning...you don't want to miss a thing! <---hey that's a song!! ;) Click here to start from the beginning with Melin at Paper Crafting World's Cooking With Cricut! 


Okay okay...now for the good stuff!!  A little bit a background on my "loooove" song ;) I am REALLY gonna date myself, but that's ok.  My husband swept me off my feet!  he was the most thoughtful man I had EVER met!  As we dated we thought...hey we don't have a song.  (for you younger ones, it was official to have a song) SO we were thinking.  We liked so many songs.  Seriously, in the age of Bon Jovi and all the other long hair bands that really sang a lot of ballads having a song was hard to pick.  But we found one!  It was Mr. Big's "To Be With You"  I have to admit, I don't listen to that kind of music anymore, but there are a lot of songs that go hand in hand with memories my husband and I share.  Good memories that we still look back on and laugh!!  I LOVE the memories and I love my husband even more!! (we celebrate our TWENTIETH anniversary this year!!)

A BANNER!!

A couple in love :)

Close up of the letters.  

I have to say, the Dollar Store was definitely my go to place for the essentials! I bought the "string" (it's actually clothes line) and the background is actually a pack of treat bags from the dollar store.  I painted some clothes pins pink and used that to hold my banner!

The treat bags are going to have love notes written and placed in there for him to open and read!

To make this I used:

Carts ~ A Child's Year for the monogram and lettering; Sweetheart's for the couple

Gypsy to size

Paper ~ DCWV 

Ink ~ Memento rose around the edges of the doilies

We hope you will join us and link up your love song inspired project at Cooking With Cricut.  One lucky winner who participates in our challenge will receive a $15 gift certificate provided by Paper Crafting World!  And make sure you leave a comment, too!  One lucky commenter will receive a $15 Paper Crafting World.com gift certificate. Don't forget to get your FREE cut file while at Melin's Blog!!  You have until February 18th to enter your project into the challenge.  Remember, it must be a new project that follows the theme, link directly to your blog POST, link your post to here, and of course.....HAVE FUN!!

What's a hop without Blog Candy?!

All you have to do is become a follower and leave a comment!

You have until midnight Sunday.  Winner will be announced Monday!

New Stampin Up Summer Mini: Sentimental Journey 

Thanks so much for hopping with us today!  

Now head on over to the talented Holly at Ribbons and Glue to see what sweet project she has lined up! 

Happy Crafting!

I am linking this to Wacky Wednesday Challenge 64: Love Is In the Air

Something Old, Something New.....

Hey all you crafty friends out there!!!  Welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations!

Welcome to day 2 of Cooking With Cricut's  and Paper Crafting World's FIRST blog hop of 2012!!!  Our Theme is "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue".  Sounds fun doesn't it??!!

If you have arrived from the ever so talented Evelyn then you are in the right place!  If you just happened upon my blog, then you will want to start at Melin's so you don't miss out on their wonderful projects!

Our designers were challenged to use something old (from their craft stash),  something new (perhaps a Christmas gift or new technique) something borrowed (a cricut cut or PCW cut file or digi stamp) and it has to have the color blue!

Today I made a simple lay out.  I had SO many ideas run through my head, But I wanted to do something a little feminine.  My daughter LOVED to play dress up.  She would always dress up as a little ballerina of wear pretty dresses.  I made this lay out with that in mind.  I plan to do another page, for journaling....I will post that another time.  I really only do two-page lay outs if it is a really big event that has LOTS of pictures to post.  I love to write on the page of my scrapbooks once in a while so I left some room here and there for that option.

LOVE how this came out!!

Sewing on paper is def a challenge!!

Check out those flowers!!

There are a LOT of new elements I used.

First for the challenge:

New ~ sewing, lace, and rick rack flowers I MADE!!!

Old ~ Paper!!  I have had that stuff FOEVER! LOL

Borrowed ~ hanger for the dress

Blue ~ Obviously everything but the lace!! 

To make this Lay out I used:

Carts ~ Gypsy Wanderings for the dress and phrases "play and dream"; A Child's Year for the scalloped picture frame; Everyday Paper Dolls for the hanger

Paper ~ DCWV Garden Party Mat Stack

Misc ~ Blue rick rack ribbon to make the flowers; lace; Ranger Distress Ink Tea Dye for a "vintage" look.

I am SUPER excited about how my flowers came out and the sewing (def trial and error)!  I hope you have been inspired to try something new on your projects as well!!

Now what is a blog hop without candy??!!  RIGHT...that's what I say!!  I am offering to one lucky follower the following: 

YUP...a Martha Stewart score board!  I LOVE mine!!  All you have to do is leave me a comment on this blog and become a follower.  Make a comment for each. If you are already a follower just let me know on a separate comment!  I will announce the winner Tuesday! (Please leave me an email to get in touch with you)  Good Luck!

Now don't forget to check out the other designer's projects!  Your next stop is to the talented Mindy!

If you get lost along the way: 

Melin

Court

Evelyn

Michelle  (You are HERE)

Mindy (NEXT)

Felicia

Madison

Nita

Angie

Jen

Happy Crafting!!!

"Giving Thanks" Blog Hop with Cooking With Cricut

Welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations and the Cooking With Cricut “Giving Thanks” Blog Hop! 

This is my first blog hop and I am super excited!!

If you came from the talented Debbie at Workin Scrappin Mom of 4, you're in the right place! If you've just happened across my blog and would like to hop along with us, you can go to Cooking With Cricut and start at the beginning. 

Today’s hop is all about Thanksgiving decorations – for your home and table.   And on that note I tried my hand on a banner.  I LOVE the way it came out.  I only wish my camera would do it some justice.  I tell ya, I will get those settings right one day!! LOL  

It is actually hanging up on the window in front of my curtains in the dining room...horrible lighting in there....SO I took a picture of it on the kitchen floor! HA!

I LOVE this cut!

I absolutely LOVE the colors.  I wish they made a paper stack for the papers I used.

To make this Banner, I used:

Gypsy to size all my cuts.  

Carts: Gypsy Wanderings for the banner and resized for the layering effect; A Child's Year for the font; Create a Critter for the turkey.  

Paper: Solid card stock is Colorbok; banner layer is TPC Studio's Rustic Garden Fall Phrases; letters are TPC Studio's Rustic Garden Sunflower Toss; turkey "feathers" are from DCWV Harvest Gathering.

Misc: Argoyle embossing folder, PKS Create a Critter face stamp ( I only used the eyes), white gelly roll pen, colorbox chalk ink chestnut, Ranger distress ink tea dye, and ribbon from my stash.

Now what is a blog hop without blog candy??  I am offering.......

Here's what you need to do to have your chance at winning this cartridge:

1. Leave a comment to include your favorite thing about Thanksgiving

2.   Become a follower and tell me you did for an extra chance at winning. (if you are already a follower you can post that you already are! :))

3.  If you created a project for the link up, then post back here telling me you did.

4. Like my Facebook page HERE and tell me you did.

I will use Random.org to pick the winner.  

You have until MIDNIGHT Wednesday (Thanksgiving Eve ;))  That should give you enough time to get your projects in. Then I will choose the winners on Thanksgiving Day!!

Please leave your email addy on your comment so I can contact you if you win.

Now it's your turn! Link up your Thanksgiving project at CookingWithCricut.com. Here are a few guidelines: 

* Must follow the challenge topic and use one of the free files provided at CWC. 

* Must be a NEW project for this challenge. No back dated posts please. 

* Must have a link back to this post on your blog. 

* Must link your project post through Inlinkz and not just your blog. 

* Must use your Cricut in some capacity. 

* Must HAVE FUN! 

* You may gladly combine challenges . . . we love to pile it on TOO! 

The Design Team will pick their three favorites and one lucky person will be chosen randomly to win one of the prizes being offered in this hop. There is also a prize for just leaving us a comment on the CWC blog. One catch, those leaving comments MUST be a CWC follower. Each prize winner will receive a $10 gift voucher-download from PaperCraftingWorld.com. 

Now head on over to the ever so talented Jen at Gator 4 Life to see what she's cooked up for you!

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

 Cooking With Cricut

I am entering this in the Die Cuttin Diva's Challenge #41 Turkey Time and More than Favor's Wacky Wednesday Challenge #59 - Thanksgiving Theme  and Whimsical Design's Whimsical Wednesday's Challenge Happy Turkey Day

Baby Shower decorations...my first "job"

Hello my crafty friends!!

So I get a call from a friend, who works for a tea house/cafe.  They are hosting a baby shower for a group and asked if I could make some decorations.  I get this call Thursday, and the baby shower was Saturday.  YIKES!!  DO I think my creations are sell worthy...not quite.  I think I have a lot to learn and I see some pretty awesome creations blog hopping.  However, I figure it would be  a way to get my "work" out there and possibly some more business.  It would be great to do what I love for income!!  So here is a day and a half's worth of work at the last minute!  I must say, I LOVE how it came out...especially the baby memory paint cans.  

It was a bee theme.  However, I did not want to decorate the cans with the bee theme.  I used them as center pieces to hold a hive and a couple of bees.  It was to be simple.  So here is simple! :)

Baby girl memory can.  They didn't know their names so there was no personalization.

Baby boy memory can

The paper was SO cute, and the camera does it NO justice!

The color came out a bit better for the girl can!! :)

This is the lid for the girl can.  The note paper is used to drop the memory in the can.  The place cards with bees are ribbon tied to the left.  I made 8 pink ones and 8 blue ones with mini bees.

Same thing for the boy can!

banner I made in the shape of beehives.  Under congratulations, I centered the her name and it hangs from the middle of congratulations with a bee at the end.  It was too big to separate and take a picture of the whole thing.  it came out super cute!

Up close of the beehive.  Simple, but cute.

To make this I used:

Carts: Stretch Your Imagination, Storybook, A Child's Year, and Walk in My Garden.

Paper: Specialty paper from AC Moore, and pastel card stock

Stamps: SU 

Misc: Disney paper punch, citrus skittles, stickles, specialty ribbon from AC Moore and from my stash, and shimmery "easter grass" ( I don't know what it's called LOL)

I had a lot of fun creating this.  

With the girl paint can being yellow, I am going to enter this in the Challenge Me Monday #75 over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog!

Hugs,

Michelle