Where I've Been

Hello Everyone!

I know I have been MIA for a long time...I have been going through some life transitions.  In June, I started my very first "big girl" job as a mental health counselor.  While I was still figuring out my place and getting used to the schedule, I learned I had a cyst on my tailbone that had to be drained.  Once I healed from that, my fiancee ended up in the hospital for a cyst and had to have some longer term health care.  When my fiancee healed, I had to have surgery to remove the damaged tissue from my cyst.  Now we both are finally healed and ready to get back to a "normal" routine.

I think in starting a new job and with all of the chaos that has been going on, I have lost sight of things that I truly enjoy and that allow me to recharge my batteries.  So, I am going to go back to what gave me lots of happiness...my BLOG (for starters)!!  I have added a few new features...if you look to the left, I added a button for facebook and pinterest.  Also, I need to have time to start making new projects and getting back into a groove.  On Monday, December 5th, I am going to kick off my blog restart with an AWESOME GIVEAWAY you will NOT WANT TO MISS!!!

I also want to let ya'll know how much I appreciate you following me throughout my absence.  I really do love to craft, and I am happy I can share it with people who enjoy it as much as I do!  See ya'll soon!!!

Watch This Wednesday-Altered Paper Clip

Hello Everyone!!

I promise I'm trying to craft more.  I am participating in a circle sister swap, so I have been working on projects for that, which I promise to post AFTER she receives her package.  Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Anyway, onto today's tutorial.  I have had a clothes pin in my craft room for a long time.  I have always wanted to alter one, so I bought one...and then it just sat.  I thought this weekend was a perfect time to pull out that project.  I was trying to find a video that taught me how to take out the metal thing and put it back in; however, I could not find one...so guess what's in my video!!

This clothes pin is just going in my craft room to hold projects and/or pictures.  Hope ya'll enjoy!!

Look!! I even made a video!!

Supplies Used

Stampin' Up Solid Cardstock

Ta Da Patterned Paper

Clothespin

Stampin' Up Ribbon

Elegant Cakes Cricut Cartridge

Mini Monograms Cricut Cartridge

George and Basic Shapes Cricut Cartridge

Paint

Mod-Podge

Hope ya'll enjoyed!! See you next time!!!

I'm Baaaaack!

Hello Everyone!

Wow! What an exciting (and quick) summer it has been!  As most of you know, I have been MIA lately because my apartment was being renovated and my craft goodies were safely packed away.  During the summer, I have been keeping myself busy working, working some more, reading, and playing video games.  My new job is fabulous, but it's taking me a while getting into the groove of things.

Anyway, back to the craft stuff.  It took some time, but my craft room is finally set up and ready to use!!  Because of the renovations, the space in my room has been cut almost in half.  You will see I have a (new) washer and dryer in that room.  They also extended part of the kitchen to make room for the refrigerator, so there is not a lot of space.  However, I think I made it work (I hope!).

My dad's side of the family pitched in and bought my an E2 for my master's graduation.  I am so excited to be able to use it!!  Look for projects and videos posted soon.  One of my fiancee's employees built a stand for my Imagine and original Expression.  It's super cute!!  Special thanks to Maile Lee on the cricut message board for posting the directions.  It's fantastic!!

Here is a special video showing you my new (and improved) craft room!! Hope you get some new ideas and inspiration.  I missed all of ya'll and am super excited to begin crafting again!!!

Thanks for watching!! Hope to see ya'll A LOT more often!! 

Thanks Mom Blog Hop Winner and Blog Award

Hello Everyone!!


I want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the blog hop.  It was a great success, and I hope you all took away some cricut inspiration.  I appreciate every comment that was left.  I do read all of them!! Now, onto my winner.  I used random.org to pick the winner. The winner is....

Dale said...

I left another comment in the wrong spot! Love your explosion box. Good luck to you.

CONGRATS DALE!!!! I have sent you an email with instructions on how to claim your prize!! Please remember that you have two weeks to respond to my email or I will have to pick another winner.  Again, thank you to everyone that participated!! This would not have been such a success without you.  Please remember to check the other blogs along the hop to see if you were a winner there.  Deb is going to draw for the big giveaway tomorrow, so be on the lookout for that. 

Onto the blog award...I want to give a special shout out to Deborah, Linda, Jamie and Cassandra.  They have both given me the Versitle blogger award.  These are four awesome and talented ladies.  If you have not checked out their blogs yet, please go now!! They are amazing!! 

For this award, I need to list 8 things about myself and pass it on to 15 other bloggers.  Know that if you are not listed among the 15, please feel free to take it and say if was from me.  There is no possible way I could give an award to each one of you, but you each deserve it.  

About Me

1. I recently graduated from graduate school and am a little nervous about being an "adult." I have been a student for 20 years, and now I'm going to know what it's like to have my evenings free (to craft). 
2. I received an E2 for a graduation gift.  While I am really excited, my fiancee is not as we "do not have any place to put it." Don't worry...I'll find somewhere. 
3. My family is all over the place, and I do not live close to any of them.  I love and miss them very much!!
4. I am an X-Files junkie and will often watch it as I craft. 
5. I am a Cricut Circle Member
6. While I love to spend time with others I often need my own space to recharge
7. I LOVE to do videos of my projects, but I do not have enough time to do them
8. Gerber daisies are my favorite flower...especially when they come in multicolor bouquets

Recipients (Click on their name to view their blog...and become a follower)

1. June
2. Cricutbug
3. Kim
4. Sandy S.
5. Charlotte
6. Arlene
7. Tina
8. IRW Dana
9. Got2bcrafting
10. L.B.
11. Nadia
12. Angela
13. Melissa
14. JanJan
15. Simply AJ

I hope you all enjoyed the hop!! Look for more projects coming soon!!

Thanks Mom Blog Hop

Hello Everyone!!

Welcome to the Thanks Mom Blog Hop!! Thanks for joining us to enjoy the wonderful crafty inspiration in honor of moms everywhere from the talented designers in this hop.

You should have arrived here from Jenny's Blog.  If you missed the beginning of the hop, please go back to the start of the hop at Debbie's blog so you don't miss any of the amazing projects along the way.  Also, there is Grand Prize Blog Candy being offered, so you want to check out her blog to get all the details on how to win!!

I am busy graduating from my master's program and spending time with my family, but I didn't want to forget about my blog family...so here is the hop!! I know I've been away a lot with school and moving and such, but I enjoy crafting and really wanted to do something crafty.  You'll have to forgive the simplicity (sometimes, simplicity is the way to go), but I have limited resources as some of my stuff is boxed :)

I decided to make an explosion box for my mom.  I am going to fill it with pictures and special quotes of us.  I am SO EXCITED that I get to spend mother's day with my mom.  I live away from my parents, so I do not get to see them very often.  However, my mom is coming in for my graduation and I get to spend time with her.  I made the box for her to take with her as something small to keep and quickly see all of our pictures.  I found awesome instructions for how to create an explosion box here.  Be sure to check it out!!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper from Oops-A-Daisy Paper Stack from The Paper Studio

Mother's Day 2010 Cricut Seasonal Cartridge

I am also giving away some blog candy of my own!! I have a box of crafting goodies waiting to go to a good home.  To win, please leave a comment on THIS POST with an email/blog address that has a way to get in touch with you.  I will draw winners on Monday morning and announce it on my blog as well as send a personal email to the winner.  

Thanks for hopping along with us. Remember, if you leave a comment on every designers blog hop post, your name will go into the drawing for the Blog Candy that our THANK MOM BLOG HOP hostess, Debbie, is offering as a Grand Prize.

Next up on the hop , is the talented Cassie

Missing in Action

Hello Crafty World!

I am so sorry I've been MIA for the past couple of weeks.  I am moving, which sadly means most of my scrap room will be in boxes for the summer.  No worries, I still have my gypsy, cricut, stamps, and paper.  However, that does mean I will probably not get to do as many fun things on my blog.  I have missed my blog A LOT and will get things started again soon. 

I will share my awesome news first...some of you know (I think I posted it...) that I recently got a job as a counselor in a nearby town.  I am so excited to do a job I love and enjoy!  Also, my fiancee recently got a promotion!! There has been lots to celebrate in my family recently, and I am truely blessed.  As you may or may not know, my fiancee works at a residence hall, so our apartment is IN a residence hall.  This summer the hall is being renovated, which includes some major renovations to our apartment (like our own washer and dryer!!).  For the summer, we have moved to a different apartment, which is why half of our stuff is in boxes.  A pain now, but it is going to be worth it in August!

I am graduating from my master's program this weekend, which means I have to prepare for family to arrive.  However, I am participating in a Mother's Day blog hop this weekend.  be sure to look for my project because there will be some awesome giveaways (including one from me). 

Also, Robyn from My Pink Stamper is having a stamp release this weekend.  I am definately going to check her blog!! I am a huge fan of her stamps! If you have not seen/purchased them, you must give them a try. 

Also, don't forget that National Scrapbook day is coming up!! Robyn is also doing some wonderful things on her blog.  She will have a challenge every hour for 12 hours, awesome giveaways, and lots of fun videos and project with her and her design team.  Definately do not want to miss it!! While I will be busy graduating, I am going to try to jump in on some of the challenges later. 

For all of my new followers...I have seen, read, and appreciated every comment you have left.  I have not had a chance to visit/follow you on your blogs but I will soon!! When I get a quick second, I do try to look at your projects and you are all amazing!! I promise I will be catching up on my blog as soon as life slows down.  I really appreciate and love everyone who follows me, and I am excited to share my passion for crafting with you.  Thank you for being so patient.

Talk to Me Tuesday #6 - Cricut, Peachy Keen, and Pink!

Hello Everyone!

Sorry for posting this so late. I have been busy these past few days. The good news is I have 2 papers, 1 presentation, and 1 exam until I graduate!! I'm so excited. I also recently accepted a full-time position where I am currently interning. It's been a crazy past couple of days. Also, I am in the process of moving (boo!), so I may not have as many crafty things for a little bit. This move is temporary, so I am going to be with limited crafting supplies...lets see how creative I get. Thank goodness for my gypsy  Onto the updates!! There are a lot, so I have sectioned them out for you.


Cricut
Speaking of Cricut, they have released some news recently. First, they have addressed the issues surrounding third-party software and Cricut. Click here to read the official statement from Provocraft.  Notice in the last paragraph they say they are going to update Cricut CraftRoom to provide customers with the ability to cut their own images!!  Side note: I have been beta testing the Cricut CraftRoom...and it is amazing.  You are going to love it!


Also, Michaels has a promotion going on for US and Canada residents.  If you are a US resident and purchase three cartridges from Michaels you get one free (from a selection)!  If you are a Canada resident and purchase two cartridges from Michaels, you get one free (from a selection)!  Also, Michaels is having a sale on cartridge this week ($34.99/US and 44.99 in Canada).  The selection of free cartridges are limited in quantity, so be sure to take advantage of this offer soon!! If you are a US resident, click here to view the promotion.  If you are a Canada resident, click here to view the promotion.

Peachy Keen Stamps
Peachy Keen just announced their new spring releases.  They are super cute.  You definitely do not want to miss these (there are stamp and FACE releases!!)  Click here to view.  

My Pink Stamper
My Pink Stamper is hosting her annual National "Pink" Scrapbook Day on Saturday, May 7th from 10am-10pm.  She will have a new challenge (with a give away) every hour.  I participated in this last year, and it was SO MUCH FUN!!  Sadly, I will not be able to fully participate this year, as I am graduating on that day.  However, I will be making the projects and uploading them later (generally she keeps her challenges open for the week for those who are busy).  Click HERE to see my projects from last year!!  

Look for my "Make Over Monday" post to show up later in the week.  I made a project...just been too busy to upload it I guess.  Check back for more fun soon!!