Surprise Thank You Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to Michelle's Crafty Creations!

What's the surprise you ask?  Well over at Cooking With Cricut we are celebrating a couple of things.  First is the 100th challenge for Cooking With Cricut AND secondly to thank Melinda Beltran our "Executive Chef" for all the hard work, time, encouragement, and love she puts into CWC and PWC.  She truly is an amazing person and I am so thankful to have gotten to know her and have a kindred spirit with her.

She started the Cooking With Cricut challenges in October 2010 to encourage crafters to explore their cartridges.  Through her challenges and tutorials and support, she has helped me to leave my comfort zone of crafting.  You all know "that" zone!  She has encouraged her wonderful design team in prayers, thoughts, and friendship.  The design team, led by Melin, is truly a sisterhood.  

If you haven't participated in one of her challenges...what are you waiting for?? ;)

So, Melin, this is for YOU!  A surprise thank you.  Your sweet spirit has encouraged many people, myself included.  You deserve so much more and I hope this small token of appreciation lets you know how much you mean to all of us!!  If you came from my super creative friend Jill, then you are in the right place!!  If you just happened upon my blog, please go back to the CWC to start from the beginning!  You are sure to not want to miss anything! ;)

Today my card features a black, white, and cream theme.  

I followed this sketch by Tamara over at Sketches by Tamara

I used textured script Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Inked over it with black chalk ink.                                                                                                                                       

The butterfly was cut with Gypsy Wanderings

The sentiment was from SU.  Added some bling from my stash.

**BLOG CANDY**

What is a hop without some Blog Candy?  All you have to do is leave a comment and a way to contact you.  You don't have to be a follower, BUT I would greatly appreciate it.  Shipping only to US residents. ;)  In the spirit of "surprises" this blog candy will be a surprise!  Who doesn't like happy mail right?!

(You have until Midnight Thursday to comment)

Thanks so much for hopping along with us.  Don't forget to go back and leave a "thank you" for Melin in the comment section.  I know it will make her smile!  Now please don't forget to head on over to the talented Larelyn at Handmade From the Heart!

Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

A cake not meant to be eaten...

Hellooooo all my crafty friends!  Is anyone still there?  

I have been around...just BUSY! 

Now that school has officially begun, I can start adding some projects.  Just because I have been working and getting ready for school, doesn't mean I have been all work and no play!! LOL (though it does seem it's been mostly work)

Two Saturdays ago, we had a baby shower for a first time mom at our church.  She is SUCH a sweet lady.  She found out she was having a girl...EEK!  SO fun!  Anyway, I decided to be creative with ehr gift.  I LOVE making these and I hadn't made in awhile.

Yup..a diaper cake!  (I think I went overboard on the baby gifts to "ice" (stuff) the cake!

This is the front view, just a little closer.

The back view.  I know...the purple hat?! Yeah, that was one of the first things I picked out, and forgot it was in the bag...had to give it to her! ;)

This cake took approximately one package of Pampers size 1 diapers.  I rolled three layers and secured it with safety pins.  I found this cute girl ribbon that matched the whole brown and pink theme.  I secured those with ribbons as well.

For those inquiring minds, the diapers still work without leaks...I LOVE practical gifts, don't you? 

Hugs and happy crafting!

Linking this to:

I heart naptime Sundae Scoop #42 

Today's Creative Blog Get Your Craft On 

A 4th of July post...a lil delayed

Hello all my bloggy friends!  

Can you believe I forgot to post my final 4th of July decorations...a grand finale if you will?!

Wow...this post won't be too long, but there will be a bit of pictures to follow!

These pictures will be my party decorations.  We had a FABULOUS 4th of July party.  Thanks to Pinterest and some of my blog hopping (LOVE reading and stalking your blogs)

Here is the goodie table!  In the back are the pop rocks for the kids...er..young at heart too.

I bundled some sparklers and added ribbon.  For the others added some sand into jars (a great place to put used upside down sparklers in after the fun) and added some patriotic fabric.  The red white and blue candles were bought from Joanns and my friend had those cute star votives..SWEET!

Died rice (maybe needed some more blue :)) with ribbon and a citronella candle placed along the center of the tables.

Tissue pom poms I made. You get a different effect on how you cut the edges BEFORE you fluff them.  For this one I cut the edges in a "V" with point out.

Same "V" shape but the point in.

They look like starbursts huh?

This one was cut by rounding the edges.  I also layered this on red white and blue.  It was a little more time consuming, but I really like the effect!

You can find the tissue paper pom pom tutorial HERE.  The tutorial is VERY basic, but use your imagination and the end results are surprising!! :)

I hope this has inspired you a little.  

I love going to Pinterest for ideas and adding my own flair to things I make.  

Do you seek out Pinterest for ideas or some other site?

Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

I am linking this to:

Jill's Sundays Are Lovely #11 + Giveaway

Christmas in July...Where did the Time Go??!!

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

Welcome to Day 4 of Christmas in July over at Cooking With Cricut.

We have a week-long celebration of projects to get you all in the "holiday spirit".  This is just a lil' taste of our Annual 25 Days of Christmas Crafting Showcase held each December.  If you have missed any days, I HIGHLY recommend you go back and check them out!  Don't we all LOVE inspiration?!  (I do....and uh...need it too) 

Today is all about Home Decor, 3-D, Gifts, etc.  I made these CUTE boxes again...I have made in past.  They are super easy and you can make them for ANY occasion!   

For my project I was able to get all of my co-workers their goodie gifts for Christmas.  

I want to thank Okieladybug for the template she made on her DS.  You can find the link to the post HERE.  She has COMPLETE and EASY instructions on cutting and putting it together!  

LOVE the paper!  I used My Mind's Eye Oh Christmas Tree and Dear Santa

Plain paper is Colorbok.

The Sentiment and snowflake stamp is SU.  I used Stickles Diamond, Crystal, and Red for the snowflake.

I used Ranger Distress Ink Fired Brick,  Dew Drop Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue, and Color Box Chalk ink Chestnut for the edges.

The square with the snowflake was just cut on my paper slicer.  

Aren't they so cute???

These goodie boxes can fit 3 Ghiradelli chocolate squares.  I am waiting for the peppermint bark to come out and fill it up. (one of my FAVES that only comes around Christmas!)

What's your favorite Ghiradelli chocolate?

Hugs and Happy Crafting!

I am linking this to:

Jill's Sunday's are Lovely #11 + Giveaway

My Craft's Spot Challenge #63 Christmas in July

Bitten By the Bug 2 Christmas in July

2 Sisters Challenge #101 Christmas in July

Wild Card Showcase

Hey all my crafty peeps out there!!  It's Michelle from Michelle's Crafty Creations!

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!  We did!  :)

Today I am bringing you just a few projects from Wild Card Cricut cartridge.  Can I just start off by saying I was a little intimidated to use this.  I had read SO many message boards and comments about how people really didn't like it and their cuts never matched etc. etc.  Let me just say......I LOVE this cartridge!! OH. MY. WORD.  I have many projects in the making (on my Gypsy of course) ready to roll out.  What a fun cart!


For my projects today I designed all of them on my Gypsy.  I didn't use EVERY feature, but I tried to bring you a couple of different takes on them.

The first project is the "Tweety card" (sounds cute huh?) IT IS!!  I used the card, envelope, liner, and icon.

LOVE this paper! 

Here you see the patterned paper used as the card liner and the bird is the icon feature.

The envelope with the envelope liner outlining the "tweety"

(You can use the blackout feature and it won't cut the bird)

Here is the liner with the envelope

Card and envelope 

Card measures 5.45x2.67

This next project is a gift box.  I HIGHLY recommend using a two sided paper.  It makes it more pleasing than just a white interior! There are two gift boxes, I used the 2nd one (press shift).  I used the frame and liner feature for this.  I also used the "A" from this cart to monogram the frame feature.  I designed this on my Gypsy so I could copy the frame and weld the "A" to it.

I used two sided paper (from MS-I think) to form the box.  I flipped the "A" on my Gypsy so it would use the opposite side of the paper. LOVE how it came out!!

I adhered acetate (ok..who really owns that stuff??  I used plastic from one of my cricut carts and cut some out to fit the frame..LOL) I then added the liner (which is the highlight around the opening of the box) and then glued the frame which is the monogram and strip onto the "acetate"

I glued 2 sides of the gift box to leave open only one side.  It has a pre-cut notch to open easily.

(Gift box cut at 11.20 x 5.69) I plan on filling it with monogramed thank you cards

Now for my FAVORITE!!  Yup...you guessed it, the owl card!!! AHHHHH...he is SOOO cute!

For this card and envelope I used the card, envelope, icon, and liner feature.

I LOVE this paper set.  It is old and from MS (same as the giftbox) but it is SO versatile!)

LOVE this envelope...seriously...this is too pretty!!

The tree trunk, tree top, and grass is the icon feature. I used two sided paper and just flipped the tree trunk on my gypsy so it would cut accordingly.

Here is the liner of the envelope

The owl card was also cut using two sided paper.  I inked the owl eye-liner (hehe) and adhered it with foam dots for dimension.  

I "ruffled" the feathers of the owl for pop and inked the edges of them and the rest of the card using Ranger Distress Ink Tea Dye.

Owl card cut at 8.30 x 4.41

This has been SUCH a fun cart to work with.  If you have it and haven't tried it...then what are you waiting for??!!  You can use the frames, icons, alphabets and all the other great features they have for any project you might make from scrapbook pages, gift boxes, cards, and even home decor.  Be on the look out for more projects featuring this cart!  

Hugs and Happy Crafting!

Linking this to:

Jill at Sundays are Lovely #11 + Giveaway

4th of July Goodies

Hey all my crafty peeps!!  

I hope you had a WONDERFUL 4th of July!  Even though it was hot, we still had a good time.  Cookout with friends, homemade ice cream, and fireworks....does it get any better?!

Here is another post of my 4th of July goodies.  I CLEARED out the Dollar Store's stock on Pop Rocks!  It was SO easy to make.  I used these toppers that I found from Tip Junkie.  They were SO fitting!  I also made these for my students in my Sunday School class.  Come on now, what 1st-3rd grader DOESN"T like the popping sound?  Shoot, what grown up doesn't?! LOL

I added some patriotic ribbon and curled it up to make it look more festive!

Here they are individually wrapped

All put together in the basket.  The kids LOVED these at the cookout!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post with the decorations!

I am linking this to:

Jill's Sundays Are Lovely #11 + Giveaway

Todays Creative Blog Get Your Craft On

Hugs and Happy Crafting!!

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!!