Livas Crafts Blog Candy Giveaway - Great Stuff!

I'm drooling over this candy.  What a great selection.  Take a look at some of her work; it's beautiful.  And while you are there join in for a chance of winning this candy. 

http://livaly.blogspot.com/

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Just For Me - A Kitty Squash Book

Hi!  Back in November I lost my cat, Mikey, whom I had for 15 years.  My doctor told me his son had 2 rescued cats available for adoption.  This was perfect; I didn't want to start all over with a kitten.  I agreed to take a male.  His name was butterscotch.  I quickly learned that he is "a talker" so I re-named him with something to reflect that.  I call him DJ ( like the old talkative dj's of the 50's and 60's).  We get along wonderfully and he likes to rub and cuddle.  He sleeps when I'm working because he knows he won't get attention then.  Here's my kitty brag book.

I can't get pictures of him in motion; he's too quick.  It took a long time to get pictures of him sleeping because he would jump up as soon as I moved to get the camera.  I waited a long time to get the one of him in his most relaxed position, belly-up and sprawled out.  Decorative accents come from the Cricut Lite Meow cartridge.  The cover of the squash book is 4x4, the inside sections are 3x3.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann
I'm glad I made this little squash book for me.

A Valentine Digi

I finally got the urge to try coloring a digi by computer.  It's not the best job but now I have a feel for how the program works.

The digi was a freebie at Digi Darla's Challenge Blog where it will be entered.  The scalloped frame was cut from the Cricut 'Just Because' cartridge.The arrangement idea came from Crafty Sprouts.  Their challenge is to check out a DT member and base a card on one of their creations.  I found this card that I liked at Elsa's blog http://cricutlvr.blogspot.com/  and used it as my inspiration.  Thanks, Elsa.
.

To view the blogs where this has been entered click on the name of the blog from this list:
Digi Darla's Challenge Blog

Crafty Sprouts
Paper Playtime Challenge #66
Little Scrap Pieces
My Craft Spot

Happy Creating everyone.
In my next blog entry I made a squash book just for me.
Rae Ann

Georgia O'Keefe - So Artful Challenge

I love these challenges.  They are always different and intriguing.  My card began with a happy accident.  I printed out the picture of Georgia O'Keefe and then I planned on printing out several copies of the very colorful artwork.  I fed the paper into the printer incorrectly and ended up overprinting the colored picture onto the portrait.  Yes!!  And the card grew from there.

The quote states: "I found I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn't say any other way -things I had no words for."

I don't find this to be a 'pretty card' but it is hypnotic.  I tried to form words to explain my reactions to it but I can't.  I want to stare at it and in it I find motion, and sensuality, and mystique.  What do you see?

I just linked this to the challenge and I can't believe I used the same quote and picture as Sharon on the design team.  We must be on the same wavelength; it was not intentional.

This card is entered in the So Artful Challenge.  To see more, click here.

Happy Creating
Rae Ann

A Man Card for Cardz TV Challenge #4 "It's a Guy Thing"

I think 'man cards' are definitely harder to make than for a woman.  It took me so much longer to come up with an idea, to play with the details and to avoid bling and laces. But, here it is:

Do you think the 'King of the Road' inference is telling my age?

To make this I used the following Cricut cartridges:
My Community for the truck;
Everyday Paper Dolls for the road;
Best of 2007 for the trees and the crown-like image over the 'N';
George & Basic Shapes for the lettering.
It took a bit of work with distressing and doodling to take away the 'flat' look of the card.  Finally, I was satisfied.

This is only a 3 day challenge.  To see other entries at Cardz TV, click here.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Birthday Sundaes - A Birthday Card

I recently got the "Best of 2007" cartridge.  It works perfectly for me because most of the images are from cartridges I don't have.  For this card I used the cake image (originally in Stretch Your Imagination.)

The picture didn't pick up the sparkly elements too well - the gold on the flames and the pink glitter glue dots around the top of the cake.  I think it's simple but cute.
To see more at Birthday Sundaes, click here.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

A Winter Card for Paperfollies

I belong to the Yahoo Group, Paperfollies.  It's a great bunch of people who select up to 10 challenges each month and swap.  The challenges include cards, inchies, thrinchies,etc,, buttonfairies, shaped cards and a variety of other projects along those lines.  One of the swaps this month is a winter card so, using the Cricut cartridge 'Best of 2007' (which I just bought off ebay), I selected the images that were taken from Joy of the Season.  I don't have any winter or Christmas themed cartridges (yet) so this was perfect.

Inside, I cut out the phrase "warm wishes" from the Cricut Simply Charmed cartridge.  I'm pleased with this one.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Let's hear it for the boys - My Craft Spot Challenge

I was going through  many ideas that could be used for a boy and not thinking of one I liked.  I just received the Cricut cartridge 'Best of 2007' and I thought, "Any boy would want to be a superhero!."  Among the 'best' are 5 outfits from Paperdoll Dress Up (which I do not have) and the super-suit was perfect.

I can't believe that it was only a year ago that I was saying, "I don't know how to make cards."

To see other entries at My Craft Spot, click here.

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Little Scrap Pieces, Card Patterns & Anything Goes Challenges

I really like this little round card.  I like the sketch at Card Patterns and I decided to make it mostly in blues for the Little Scrap Pieces Challenge.  It fits well with the Anything Goes Challenge, too; 'For the One I Love.'

The base is on cream colored cardstock and the rose was made from a parchment-looking paper.  They were distressed with Wild Honey and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.  The base was cut from the Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge at 4.5 inches.  The big circle and the five petaled flower that made up the rose were cut from the Cricut George & Basic Shaped cartridge.  The leaves were cut from the Cricut Picturesque cartridge.  I like finding elements from different cartridges to work together.  The center strip is two layers of a Martha Stewart border cut with a piece of edging I found at JoAnn's in between.  The dashes, pearls, and odds and ends finished it off.  I really like it.

Visit these challenges at:
Card Patterns
Little Scrap Pieces
Anything Goes Challenge

Happy Creating.
Rae Ann

Numbers - Bitten by the Bug 2

The theme at Bitten by the Bug 2 is Numbers.  After a lot of thought the phrase, "...let me count the ways." came to mind for Valentine's Day.  I found numbers and a background for them on the Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge.  Here's the result: (the green is not part of the card; it was the background it stood against for the photo.

Check out other entries at Bitten by the Bug 2 Happy Creating!

Rae Ann

Krafty Girls Giveaway to launch new challenge

My title tells you most of it.  The Krafty Girls blog is going to be hosting a new challenge starting Feb. 14.  The giveaway will end on Feb. 10; the prize is the Disney CARS cartridge.  The winner will be announced on Feb. 14th with their new challenge.  There are several ways to enter so check it out at the Krafty Girls blog.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann O.

A Valentine Tag

I really like how this fell into place.  What do you think?

The lovely lady and ticket came from free printables at http://www.imag-e-nation.com/. The heart is a cricut cut.

I am submitting it to the following challenges:

Paper Playtime - a tag with a sentiment (Which says Love is in the Air).
Little Scrap Pieces - anything goes
The Crazy Challenge 'Tic Tac Toe' - Pink, tag, pearls
Anything Goes Challenge - anything goes
Whimsical Designs - anything goes
Made Especially For You (I hope a tag is acceptable instead of a card) - use 3 ribbons.

Thanks for stopping by.  Take a look at the talent submitted to these other sites.
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

June in January for Cardz TV

I really like this theme.  I'd rather be thinking of nice warm days than the cold days we have right now.  So, my thought was a pleasant picnic outing with the promise of good eats and some games in the sun.

I used the Cricut Lite Cartridge, Block Party, to create the picnic table and the food and drink.  The racquets and ball were made from Everyday Paper Dolls.  The card is 5x7 so I cut the Lemonade and Watermelon at 1 1/4 inch.  This way the size of the small pieces were still manageable.  I hope you like it.

Go to Cardz TV  to see other entries in this challenge.
Happy Creating!

Rae Ann

A birthday Giveaway at Creating from the Heart

Melissa turned 40 and to celebrate she is giving us gifts.  Check out her birthday giveaway and wish her a happy birthday at Creating from the Heart  The entries are open until Feb.1.

Rae Ann

Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #48 - Squirrels

I didn't think I'd be able to participate in this challenge.  I didn't know of a squirrel cut on any of my cartridges.  But, surprise! surprise!, the 'Just Because' Cards cartridge had a squirrel cut.  So here's my effort:

See other entries for this challenge at Die Cuttin' Divas

Happy creating!
Rae Ann

Flashback Friday Challenge 19.0

Again, Jennifer Rzasa at Our Change of Art has led me to an interesting challenge.  This one has asked for the 1st clean and simple card that was made.  I think this one qualifies.  I made it in May, 2011.  According to some, my idea of clean and simple doesn't meet the "standards", whatever they are.  This one was made when cardmaking was still intimidating and mysterious to me.  I didn't like it.  I think my card making has come a long way.

Check out the other entries at Flashback Friday Challenge
Happy creating.
Rae Ann

So Artful Challenge 1

This challenge gave 2 photos for inspiration and requires the colors turquoise, red, yellow, or blues.  I love these images so I combined them.  In this magic world she steps among a field of flowers, holding time in her hand to use as she desires. 

To see the original images and other entries in this challenge, go to So Artful Challenge 1.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Vintage Boudoir Inspiration at The Shabby Tea Room

I love looking through you tube videos for ideas and I've seen some step cards with decor like little dressers.  I knew I wanted to do something like that when I saw this challenge.  I used the Cricut Forever Young cartridge for the dress form and hat.  Here's the result:

See other entries at The Shabby Tea Room

Happy creating.

Rae Ann



A Card for a Man

Sometimes when I hear about a challenge my mind starts clicking away and I design the card completely in my head before I even see my paper.  That happened with this card.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do; I just had to find the right car and a sentiment.  I found them both in Cricut's Graphically Speaking cartridge.

This card is being entered in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge  and Pile It On. Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Candy's Craft Corner Birthday Giveaway

Candy is sharing her celebration by giving away the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge. Check it out and join in the fun.  Click here.to go to Candy's Craft Corner.
Happy Creating!
Rae Ann

My Craft Spot - Delicious

I've been wanting to do something with my Cricut Block Party cartridge.  Here's mom, ready to serve a delicious pie.  There are a lot of tiny pieces to her but I really like the finished look.

Check out other entries at My Craft Spot: click here.

Happy Creating!
Rae Ann

Runway Inspired Challenge ric#3/Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Something New/ Cooking w/ Cricut

This was the inspiration photo .

I saw the card that Jennifer Rzasa of Our Change of Art made and that's how I found this challenge.  This one really caught my fancy.  I love the visual texture the stripes make as the fabric folds different ways.  That was my inspiration for this.  I wanted some 3D shaping to play with the stripes.

Believe it or not, the glitter glue I used was CLEAR and that is black paper.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  Who would've thought?  It was fun planning and making this card.

See other entries at Runway Inspired: http://runwayinspired.blogspot.com/2012/01/ric3-gareth-pugh-spring-2012.html

I am also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge  http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/ and
Cooking with Cricut Challenge #67 http://www.cookingwithcricut.com/2012/01/challenge-67-something-new.html.  The sentiment is the only stamped element; the colored pearls are a new item for me.  I found packs of various colors in a clearance display and now I love using them as accents.  The cricut cuts are the flower center from Forever Young and the stem and leaves from Picturesque.

Happy creating!
Rae Ann

Cupcake Card

I had some fun making cards yesterday.  Although the Die Cuttin' Divas challenge is finished, I used their sketch for this design.

The cupcake was cut from the Cricut Simple Charmed cartridge.  It's covered with glitter glue which can't be seen very well but it makes it look like there really is frosting.  I purposely designed it to resemble the cupcake in the inspirational photo at Cupcake Inspirations.

This card is being entered in:
Cupcake Inspirations http://cupcakeinspirations.blogspot.com/2012/01/challenge-142.html
Simply Crafts http://simply-crafts.blogspot.com/2012/01/january-2012-challenge.html

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

Clean and Simple a Young Crafter's Unite, Challenge #5

Here's my attempt at clean and simple.  Hope you like it.
See other entries at Young Crafters Unite.

My Serendipity Paper

I thought I'd share what I do to make a serendipity background.

I have some large label paper so I peeled it off and used that as a sticky surface.  I keep a box of very small scraps, too small for punching or die-cutting, and use them for a project like this.  I selected mostly blues and greens for this one and and placed them next to each other - like doing a big puzzle.  Once the sticky paper was mostly covered I stamped a floral figure in blue in several places, followed by a script stamp in brown.  I lightly went over all of it with a distress ink.  Then, I dabbed some copper paint here and there.

I needed to make some serendipity inchies for my inchies-onexone group and a set of 2 inchies and 2 rinchies.  Here's what I made with this paper:

Isn't it amazing what scraps can look like!
Happy creating!
Rae Ann

So Artful Challenge - New Year or Dragon

This floral origami paper makes me think of fireworks.  A dragon and fireworks has to mean 'celebrate' which is the word symbol on the left.  And, all together, it means Happy New Year.

The dragon and symbol came from the Cricut Pagoda cartridge.
Visit the other So Artful Challenge entries here.

Happy creating.
Rae Ann

A Simple Celebrate Card

This card was designed with several challenges in mind.  For the Less Is More Challenge it is a simple one word sentiment card.  For Getting Cricky with K Andrews the word was cut from the Simply Charmed Cricut cartridge.  For Our Creative Corner the colors include pink, green, yellow, and purple. And, for Pile It On and Simon Says Stamp Challenge, anything goes.

This card is linked to:
Less Is More - http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-47-just-one-word.html
Getting Cricky with K Andrews - http://www.gettingcricky.com/2012/01/simply-sunday-challenge-its-celebration.html#comment-form
Our Creative Corner - http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2011/12/bright-and-happy-new-year.html
Pile It On - http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com/2012/01/pile-it-on-1-of-2012-anything-goes.html
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - http://www.simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2011/12/simon-says-anything-goes.html

As this new year begins to unfold may all of you be blessed with all good things.
Rae Ann