Saturday, July 27, 2013

Thanks for stopping by for Week 4 of our ........

Christmas In July Blog Hop ~ Anything Goes!
Welcome to the 4th and final Christmas In July Blog Hop! The theme for this week is Cricut Christmas~Anything Goes! We've got a lot of talented Cricut crafters who have created Christmas projects, using their Cricut, to inspire you! And don't forget the prizes! We have a Christmas Village cart to give away to one lucky blog hopper! Be sure to make it all the way around to get as many chances for the great prizes!!!
 
Since I started out as a scrapbooker, that was the inspiration for my project for this week's blog hop.
 
Earlier this week, one the blogs that I follow had a layout that I thought was just adorable and although it wasn't created with a Cricut I adapted some of the cuts and I think that it came out pretty cute!!
 
 

 

 
 I started out with quite a wide variety of paper from various sources including Creative Memories.


 

 
 Next I used my large scalloped circle from Creative Memories to make the wreath.  And because I tend to be a frugal scrapbooker, I cut the wreath from the sheet that will eventually become the base of this layout.


 

 
 You may also notice one of my latest craft purchases is the Scrap' N' Easel.  This was great for keeping me organized as I went along with my project.

Here are some additional pictures as I was working through the layout.




 

This layout will eventually have our family picture on the photo mat and then additional pictures will go on the second page of this layout.  I had originally planned to make it a two page spread, but time got away from me this week and you'll have to come back and see what the other page looks like. :-)
 
Here is the final picture with all the bling.  The deer was cut using Paper Doll Dress Up and I manipulated it just a bit in Cricut Craft Room, before I cut it.  The Merry Christmas sentiment was cut using the Close to my Heart Artiste cartridge, and then I used gold stickles to add a little bling.  I thought that the candy cane turned out so darn cute and was cut with two layers off the Christmas Cheer cartridge.  The holly leaves are again two cuts glued together to give some dimension using the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge. Finally the little bow on the candy cane was found on the CM Tiny Treasures cartridge.  The corners were cut from 2.5 inch squares that I cut in half and then I embossed them with my Cuttlebug.  The snowflakes in the middle of each triangle are from a CM punch.
 


 
 
 
This month long blog hop has been awesome and I have really enjoyed participating with projects  two of the four weeks.  I hope that you've had a chance to see all of the really creative projects.  If not be sure to go back and take a look and be inspired to make a Christmas in July project of your own.  You'll see if you check out the link to the blog where I originally got this idea, that while the design is similar, I was able to make it uniquely different with some variations in the cuts and  papers used.   I always consider it a compliment when someone is able to expand on one of my ideas to make a project of their own.                                                                                                                                       
 
Thanks so much for stopping by,  continue on to Cindy's blog for more great Christmas projects.  Please remember to leave me a comment about what you think of my project and in addition to the other blog candy that you may find along the way I will have a drawing for a paper pack on Tuesday using Random.org so be sure to follow my blog so that I will have a way to let you know if you won!!
 
In case you didn't start at Scrapalette's Blog here's the blog hop line up:

Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/  <<<START

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Christmas in July Blog Hop Week 3 ---- It's Christmas ornaments!!!

Good morning!!!  Thanks for participating in the Christmas in July Blog Hop!!  Although I didn't plan a project for week  3, I did hop and have added the lineup below so that you can check out all of the wonderful ornaments that I saw and you will have a chance to win a new Cricut cartridge!!

Remember last week I said that we would have a drawing for the card kit to make the Nativity card that I shared with you....... well drawing a name using Random.org

True Random Number Generator
 



Drum roll..............  the winner is:

Great minds think alike! I have a step card on my blog too!! How fabulous that you included a tutorial. This is a beautiful card with an even more beautiful message!!
 

Congratulations Diane!!!  Please email me at CMe2Crop at bellsouth dot net your complete name and mailing address and I will get it off to you in the mail.

 

Christmas In July Blog Hop ~ Ornaments Edition!


Welcome to the third Christmas in July Blog Hop! This week's projects are Christmas Ornaments! We have another terrific line-up of Cricut crafting bloggers for you to hop to their blogs and see their projects! And, we have another prize for this week. It's a Trim the Tree cart!

 
Here's the entire Blog Hop line up, in case you get lost along the way:

Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/ <<<start
Angela at http://angiespaperpassion.blogspot.com/
Colleen at http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/
Theresa at http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/
Beth at http://seaswancreations.blogspot.com/
Laura at http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com/
Lori at http://singingshell.blogspot.com/




Thanks again for stopping by..... be sure to check back next week for the final week of the Christmas in July Blog Hop and see the project that I will have posted.

Until next time,  Happy Cropping!!!!

Donna

Friday, July 12, 2013

The second Week of the Christmas in July blog hop is HERE! This weekend is Christmas Cards!

Welcome to the Christmas in July Blog Hop! I'm so glad you've joined us today. We have a great line-up of talented Cricut crafters who all have a Christmas Card project for you to enjoy. And, we have some prizes too! Be sure to start at the beginning so that you don't miss any of the projects and have the opportunity to win the Cricut Christmas Cards Cartridge.  Details are on Scrapalette's blog so if you missed it circle back so that you don't miss anything.

I am so glad to share my Christmas Card with you.  As I was thinking of what kind of a card to make, one style card kept springing up.  It is the side step card.  This is a very versatile design that I learned from the Splitcoaststampers tutorial.  Since our theme is Christmas, I naturally thought of Nativity scenes and that was the start of my project.  I saw several others that had used the side step card design and really liked them.

 

 


 

 

The only change, besides design that I did was my card is 6.5 inches wide.


I used my Creative Memories straight cutter to make the cut and then used my Martha Stewart scoring board to make the folds.


After you have cut, scored and folded the layers or steps, it looks something like this. 


The silhouette die cuts were made with several Cricut cartridges including the Teresa Collins December 25, New Testament, and Noah's ABC Animals.  In making the Wiseman that is on the camel I used the welding feature to attach the wiseman to the camel in Cricut Craft Room.




I am really pleased with the end result and hope that you've enjoyed it as well.  If you follow my blog and leave a comment I will also have a drawing for a Nativity Card Kit for you to put together yourself.   I will pick the winner on Friday, July 19th.

Be sure to check out the other crafters in the line up.  If you came here from Linda's blog, you'll now be ready to visit Cindy's blog!!   Thanks again for visiting!!!  
 

Here's this weeks line up:

Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/





Donna at http://carolinascreativecropper.blogspot.com/  You are here!!!!





 
 
 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Christmas in July Blog Hop starts today!!!

While I'm not on tap until next week, I wanted to remind you that the Christmas in July Blog Hop starts today and this week it is gift card holders.   I have already visited and there are some really adorable projects and of course a chance to win a cartridge.   Hop on over to Scrapalette's blog  to get started.

See below for the whole line up!!

Here is the line-up for this week's Gift Card Holder Blog Hop:

Paulette at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/ 
Laura at http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com/ 
Fran at http://lovebugtimme.blogspot.com/
Colleen at http://scrappycol.blogspot.com/
Theresa at http://scrapsbygracie.blogspot.com/
Beth at http://seaswancreations.blogspot.com/
Betsy at http://betsymcreates.blogspot.com/

Thanks again for stopping by and hopping along with us! Don't forget next Saturday we'll be featuring Christmas Cards. Merry Christmas in July!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Celebrating July 4th our Independence Day!!

Hope that you all have a wonderful holiday! It has been rainy here all week and supposed to continue today! But hopefully this picture will remind you of wonderful fireworks and you'll join me in being Thankful to be an American!!! 
 
Hopefully where you live this July 4th you may have clear skies and will be able to enjoy the beautiful fireworks.  Unfortunately here in the Carolinas, we have had a very rainy week and it is still rainy and dreary so for those of you that can relate to this I have added this picture that clearly shows that there are blue skies above the rain.

 
As always I am so grateful that you have chosen to stop by!
 
Have an awesome day!!

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