Saturday, April 30, 2011

I ♥Love♥ How This Project Turned Out! Disney Pixar Blog Hop

If you are here for the Mom's Day Blog Hop, please click here to go directly. Feel free to stop back to visit the Disney Pixar Blog Hop BELOW to be eligible to win more blog candy!

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x



It is my great pleasure to participate in the reprised Disney Pixar Blog Hop. 

We all had such fun and a very positive reaction to the first hop ... more comments than I've ever seen! ... that a reprise is most welcome.


Like the first version, this hop is co-hosted by my "pixie Sistah" Shawn at www.craftychicsblog.blogspot.com and Melissa at www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com.  If you'd like to start at the beginning, go to Shawn's site by clicking HERE. You should have come from Madison's Funky Cards fun(ky) site. Hop along the Happy Trail... And DO make sure you stop back tomorrow, as there is different line-up altogether for Day #2.

I'm very excited to show you my project.  I had the idea to do this after my last hop, and I just love how this turned out:

POOH'S 100-ACRE WOOD TREEHOUSE
To make this "treehouse," I used an SVG Cuts birdhouse box as the base, cut in brown with a green roof.  This cutting file shows the birdhouse with birds and flowers decorating it ... I like to use it as a base, and come up with my own designs for the embellishment.  The birdhouse opens (which I'll show later), so I could stuff this with gift items, tickets to the movies or DisneyWorld, candy, etc. 

I used Cricut's Pooh and Friends cartridge to cut Pooh, the Hundred Acre Wood sign, the sun and the tree branch. Everything was cut at 4". For the tree with the striped pattern, the kite and a window on the left side (hidden), I cut pieces from one of my favorite Nikki Sivils Scrapbooker LLC papers called "We Are Family".  Below are a few of the fun details of this project.

Here is how the box opens up -- the roof comes off, with its embellishments firmly attached.


Here are a few of the little details that make this special, I think.
Pooh's kite string is wound around a paper "stick".

Glimmered flowers, sprayed with Creative Juices CardMonkey Glimmer Mist (homemade) and Stickles.

Now how about a little BLOG CANDYI've bought a sweet EK Success Disney 12x12" scrapbooking kit for the winner of my blog candy. It contains 121 pieces including 6 sheets of patterned Disney papers, a sheet of glitter alphabets, 2 sheets of dimensional stickers, and pages of decorative borders and elements. ADORABLE!! 

To win:

  1. Be or become a follower of the CardMonkey blog!  This is mandatory, and I do check. I put a lot of work into my projects and $$ into my blog candy and its shipping ... it's really the least you can do!  
  2.  Leave a comment here, and answer this question:  What is your favorite Disney movie?  Please include a way for me to contact you in the event you win the blog candy.
  3.  Continue on your hippity-hoppity Disney Trail ... your next stop is LORI

Don't forget to the look for the hidden Mickey in the blog button of one of today's hop stops. You'll need this info to qualify for the Hop's grand prize of a Cricut GYPSY!

I ♥ Mom. Mom's Day Blog Hop

If you are here for the DISNEY PIXAR Blog Hop, please click HERE to be connected directly to that post. Feel free to stay here, too, or revisit us to see this project and be eligible to win this BLOG CANDY.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
I'm so pleased to participate in this Mom's Day Blog Hop (April 30 and May 1), for many reasons. First of all, I My Mother ... I Being A Mother ... and I Over-the-Moon Being a Grandmother. 

And I have an exciting announcement to share with my blog followers. Well, it's exciting for me!  It leads right into my project....

OK here is my news:  I've been selected to be one of the members of Creative Pointe's Premier Design Team! It's a 4-month term beginning May 1, and it's my first DT. We'll be using great SVG cuts from Diecut Designers to make projects. DD's site is now open so be sure to check out their new and rapidly growing stock of SVG files for cutting on your electronic cutter.

I created my Mom's Day Blog Hop project using a Diecut Designers' file.  Here is my card:


To make this card, I used the Flowerpot Trio file from Diecut Designers.  This bright and cheery (and very easy to use!) SVG file includes the flower pots, leaves, flowers, and letters.  While this is designed to spell M-O-M, you could easily use this file without the cut letters as a pick-me-up/cheer card or birthday card.

To make this card, I backed the paper-pieced trio on an image of a sun, clouds and grassy hill.  I purchased this image from ClickArt Online ($39/year -- a real bargain!) and modified it to pixelate and soften,  using PhotoShop. 

Inside, the printed sentiment says: "Thank you for giving me all I'll ever need to blossom. Happy Mother's Day".

BLOG CANDY:  You can pretty-up your Mom's Day card using EmbEllies' card pins like those shown here.  These are handmade and luscious!  The winner of this blog candy, picked at random by http://www.random.org/, will win 3 pairs of these cute babies! 

To win:

1.   Be or become a follower of cardmonkey-business's blog.
2.   Leave a comment here. Specify what colors you'd like to see in your EmbEllies if you're chosen to win. 

Continue on your hop:

YOUR NEXT STOP IS JESSICA at ThatzUneek.

If you get lost along the way, go back to the beginning of the Hop to Nicolette's fun site at Beyond Scrappin, where the full list of blog stops is listed. 

I hope you enjoyed my project! Thank you for stopping by!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Long-Awaited Marriage of Blogging with Royalty: The Royal Tea Wedding Blog Hop!

Bells of joy ... wedded bliss.  William, the Prince of Wales, has married his Kate, and upon her is conferred the title of Duchess of Cambridge.


Disclaimer: Parody





They're now off for a spot of tea, and I'm sure quite more. But after yesterday's rehearsal, they dashed off this quick note to encourage your participation in today's Royal Tea Bridal Shower
Wedding Blog Hop. 

Here you will see some of the finest tea-time projects made in honor of Great Britain's most romantic day since 1981, when Prince Charles married Lady Diana.


I am so pleased to host the Royal Tea Bridal Shower Blog Hop.  Thank you to the fantastic crafters who have joined with me to celebrate the historical romance and wedding of Prince William to his lovely Kate Middleton.

The theme of this Hop is anything tea, tea party, royal, bridal or wedding. Judging from what I have seen, there are some lovely creations to get you in the mood to be Royal Watchers. Below you will find the complete list of Blog Stops; please stop by and send some love and wedding rice or bubbles for each of them. 

The bells at Westminster Abbey have pealed. So without further ado, here is my project:

A Royal Tea Set:



I created this lovely dimensional teapot-shaped box from an SVG file (and Sure Cuts A Lot, with my Cricut Expression) that I purchased from Creations by AR. The pattern is called "Tea Time Tea Pot Box."   I modified the design slightly to give a cylindrical spout and wider handle.  I used a soft pastel paper to decorate the box (the box/pot is cut and folded from cardstock, to be sturdy).  I embellished it with gold metallic trimmed paper, flowers and a fleur-de-lis trinket. 

I used the "Tea Time Tea Cup Card" file from Creations by AR to cut what I am using as the party invitation.  I cut the file (again, using SCAL/Cricut Expressions) from ivory cardstock and topped it with the floral paper and gold metallic accents. 

The pattern comes with a slit for a paper teabag and tag; however, I used a real teabag in the slit.  I embellished the teabag tag with a handmade rose and a gold metallic leaf.  The card opens (cup from the saucer) for the invitation text.

Next, I also wanted to decorate fancy tea bags for this beautiful event. Have you seen these pyramid-shaped silk tea bags from Tea Forte before?  One year, when they were an "Oprah Favorite," I grew a new addiction to these fabulous and lovely tea bags. While they have their own wrapper and stem with a leaf, I created a cut file to make these covers that match my tea set.

I show it here with a little individual glass teapot/tea infuser that can be purchased from Tea Forte.

The Cathedral has emptied ... it's on to the lavish reception!  It's time for you to move on to visit the other Hop Stops.

But WAIT!  Before you go ... what's a blog hop without BLOG CANDY!?

The Queen Mother Monkey (all dressed in banana yellow, did you notice?) has authorised me to offer as BLOG CANDY her favorite tiara ... no, the next best thing: A new-in-package CRICUT CARTRIDGE "Mothers Day Bouquet", new for 2011!  Here, you'll find so many beautiful flowers that you'll be able to use this cartridge year-round. 

To be eligible to win my Blog Candy:  (Update: WINNER ANNOUNCED!  Try again another hop, sorry!!)

1.  Be or become a follower.


2.  Leave a comment to this post. Be sure to include in your post a way for me to reach you when you win the cartridge, so I can mail it out to you promptly. International bloggers who win will be awarded an Amazon.com gift certificate of equal value to the cartridge.

BLOG CANDY BREAKING NEWS: Nicolette, of Beyond Scrappin', has generously donated a tea-time Mug Hugger for a randomly chosen commenter on all the blog stops on this Blog Hop! That means, the more Blog Stops you visit and the more you comment -- one per blog, please -- the more chances you have to win one of these very handy scrap room organizers. I use mine to hold my flash (thumb) drives for my computer.

Okay..... Elton John is singing, and you're missing it. Time to move on!

Sorry, can't resist sharing this:  What's up with the Brits and their hats?  This one is on Princess Beatrice. I dare say, it looks like someone used an out-of-proportion SVG file and Pop-Dotted for dimension on this one.  Perhaps our next hop should be PAPER HATS!?

Kept you long enough.....

Please be sure to leave comments, as we all love, especially on romantic days like this one! 

Monday, April 25, 2011

And the Cutterbee Scissors Go To .....

... selected by "Randy" at http://www.random.org/ ...


STAR who said "Card #3 put a smile on my face as soon as I saw it.  Thank you for sharing."

Now, Ladies and the occasional Gentleman, I happen to know Star, she's a BFF. She doesn't have a blog but I've seen (and received!) her cards and they are SO special!!  She's been making cards like FOREVER -- way before I have been making them. 

Anywho... Star, call or write ... come over for paper playtime and/or a barbecue.  I'll give you your scissors then and you'll love 'em. But not nearly as much as I ♥ you!  Congratulations!!

Three announcements: 

1.  Loyal friends and followers, you'll want to tune in here for SURE on Thursday 4/28 and Friday 4/29 for the Royal Tea Bridal Shower Hop.  Come celebrate with us the Royal Marriage of Prince William to his lovely Kate.

2.  I'm excited to say I've been selected for a Premier Creative Team Member for The Creative Pointe, the creative genius behind Diecut Designer, the newest site for all your SVG cutting files.  I've made my first project using them -- super easy to use! -- and will be posting it on May 1 when my 4-month term officially begins.  Diecut Designer is now open ... go to www.diecutdesigner.com and see what YOU can cut without relying on the restrictions of a Cricut cartridge.

3. To those who loved the pic of my granddaughter Charlotte in her bunny ears, posted yesterday, you're probably like me. Can't get enough of that cutie pie!  So here's to let you know that Cheezer had a fabulous Easter, surrounded by family and sweet potatoes.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

All God's Blessings to You this Easter




Wishing you and your family unbridled joy, good health and laughter ...every day, but especially on this beautiful Easter day!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

A Day Fit for Frogs: Rainy and Overcast ... so Come Hop!

Welcome to the Toadally Frogs Blog Hop, hosted by my friend and uber-talented Karelj.  If you've happened upon the hop, enjoy your stop here ...  and either continue on, or go back to the start at http://www.kareljcreations.com/


For this Froggy Hop, I've made three cards:

#1: Engagement/Wedding/Anniversary Card: 



The front image was cut using my Cricut Expression and Cricut cartridge, Sweethearts. I used the "card" function so the image is cut from the yellow cardstock. I then backed the cut with a textured green Bazill, and put a snippet of gold glitter stock behind the crown cut.  The card was double matted, machine stitched in a wavy/fun line using green glitter thread, and I added a ribbon bowtie to the frog.

Inside, I made a top and bottom panel which really gives this card a feeling of substance. 

The frog charm is a Trinket from Michael's.  I made the double loop bow from a polka-dotted Holiday ribbon I found in Michael's Christmas 90% off bin.

I typed the sentiment and printed using my computer, Word program, and HP printer.  It says: You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Congratulations on finding yours!

Here is a close-up of that top panel:

Cute, don't you think?





Card #2: Birthday Card:



The front image was cut using my Cricut Expression and Cricut cartridge, Sesame Street Friends.  I typed the (adorable!!) sentiment on my computer, then cut it into a circle using Spellbinders Nestabilities. I cut the additional circles with Nestabilities too. For the flies, I found the image on ClickArt Online, printed and fussy cut each. 


This is the inside sentiment, with more flies and a leftover crown cut from Card #1.

... and just one more card ...



Card #3: Get Well Card:


This is an easel card. The front image of the frog and flower is a rubber stamp "Jump for Joy" from the Penny Black line.  I colored it with Copic Markers and Prisma colored pencils, using the Gamsol technique.


The image is double matted in pink and green, placed upon a mat I "punched around the corner" using Martha Stewart's Eyelet Lace punch set, and then adhered to a pink plaid paper. I dotted the eyelets with mini pearls that I colored green using Copic markers. The ribbon bow is the same ribbon used in Card #1, only with alternate dots colored pink.


The card pins on the front are my handmade "EmbEllies" made with glass beads.


Here is the flat side of the easel, when opened:


So which card did you like best? Why?

Tell me in your comment, and be eligible to win
BLOG CANDY!

What's a blog hop without some blog candy!? 

I have a terrific pair of Cutterbee paper crafting scissors  for the randomly-chosen winner of my blog candy.

To win: (PRIZE AWARDED! Try again another hop!)

1. Be or become a followerPlease!
2. Leave a comment about this posting. In your posting, tell me which card here (#1, 2 or 3) is your favorite and why.  Also, please leave me a way to reach you when you win!

P.S. -- If you left a comment on the prior post I put up at midnight, don't worry ... you have an extra chance. It will still be counted in the total # of comments for the random drawing. I'm going back in and removing that posting so as not to be confusing.  Feel free to comment here again as an additional way of winning!
Now for your next stop on the Toadally Frogs Blog Hop, you have your choice.  Normally, I'd direct you over to MALLIKA's blog site. Unfortunately, Mallika forgot about this Hop but posted a sweet layout for her grandparents' anniversary. (I don't mean to cause controversy!!  She didn't like my calling her out on the non-hop post ... sorry! ... so she removed my comment. I DO like her layout, but...)


So feel free to go to Mallika's site, OR if you'd like to continue on with Frog-themed projects, leapfrog over to Inga's blog. Your choice!

Thank you for hopping along
with us on this fun blog hop!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Another Rainy Day ... Another Award

Good rainy day, girlfriends (and to the one or two guys who also follow my blog!)



Today I received the Stylish Blogger Award again, this time from Brenda at "Creativity is Only a State of Mind."  I've been dreadful about acknowledging with gratitude those who think highly enough of my blog to offer these awards.  Thank you, Brenda!


To receive this award the rules to be followed are:


Step 1 - Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award. (Yay! Done!!)

Step 2 - Share 8 random things about you. (Oh, man!)


Step 3 – Award 8 recently discovered bloggers with this award. (Only 8??)

 
Step 4 – Contact these bloggers and tell them they have won the award. (Okay!)
 
Eight random things about me:
  1. I realized just yesterday, when lugging into the garage a 50-pound bag of topsoil, how much better my bones/muscles would feel if I lost 50 pounds.  The diet started today. Wish me luck!!
  2. When lugging in the same bag of topsoil, I realized I am no longer young. I am 55 and 2/3 today. Happy quasi-birthday to me. This calls for cake ... oh wait, there's a diet happening somewhere.
  3. And I also realized that one's back will hurt the day after lugging said bag of topsoil.
  4. It also is not comfy sitting at the computer keyboard for hours when one's back hurts.
  5. My bed is more comfortable for sleeping than my couch, especially when my back hurts. Napping is fun.
  6. One still needs to spread and seed said topsoil if fresh grass is to grow where there is none.
  7. I am the lone landscaper in my family.
  8. I'd rather be papercrafting than landscaping.
My awardees, who are being passed this award:

  1. Karen at Little Scrap Pieces
  2. Lolis at Lolis-My Corner
  3. Amanda at White Ruffles
  4. Melissa at Crafty Gator
  5. Rhonda at Scrap Happens
  6. Angelia at Angelia's Paper Crafts
  7. Belinda at Bee's Hive of Drama
  8. Mary at Just Cut the Paper
On your rainy day, use the weather as your excuse to sit down, grab a cuppa Joe, and drink in the ideas from these and other paper crafters' blogs.  Enjoy!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Blog Winner, and some sad news...

Rhonda, feel free to pick up
this blog button!

"Randy" at http://www.random.org/ selected the winner of my blog candy from the Tax Day Blue  Hop and the winner is:


RHONDA EMERY
http://www.scraphappenswithrhonda.blogspot.com/

Rhonda, I've sent you an e-mail ... please send me your addy by private message and I'll get your PaperCrafts Magazine and pair of EmbEllies card pins out to you promptly.

In sad news, I mourn for the loss of my daughter Emily's grandmother, "Nana."  Nana is my ex-husband's mother ... she was a good woman, a strong and loving mother who never had a bad thing to say about anyone. We shared our love for Emily, and she came to parties and showers I've given Emily, despite my having divorced her son 16 years ago.

Nana died yesterday, after just receiving a cancer diagnosis this past Friday. While her passing was sudden, she had been unwell for at least a year. We did not think she would live long enough to see her first great-grandchild, Charlotte. But she defied those odds; they met, and they were both smitten, in December (as pictured, here).  In her passing, she asked that a fund be established to support the education of Charlotte, and Nana's school-aged grandson, Max, where contributions could be made in lieu of flowers. 


Prayers would be appreciated, in memory of all of the Nanas now in Heaven.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Tax Day BLUE Blog Hop

Death and taxes ... both are inevitable, and both make me sad. Blech. Yup, makes me BLUE.  So when Angie decided to do this hop today, I figured I could use some CRAFT THERAPY and agreed.

I hope our projects make your day happy, too!

Here is mine:

This one was easy-peasy!  I was looking for some items that I could make or buy/alter, to sell at a few upcoming craft fairs.  I found an adorable but plain mini notebook in blue-and-white stripes, already made, at Michael's.  (And it came with a pen!) 

It was in the 90%-off bin, and its regular price was $1.00.  I had a 25% off coupon, too ... so got a bunch of these for $0.07 each. 

I simply cut some leaves using a new Sizzlit leaf die, embellished the leaves with three of my fabric flowers that I'd previously sprayed with homemade Glitter Mist and Stickles, and tied with a bow.  Done -- five minutes and VERY inexpensive. 

With pretty packaging, these could easily sell for $1 or $2 each, at a craft show, don't you think?  What would you sell them for?

BLOG CANDY:  For followers who leave a comment on this posting, there is an opportunity to win the current issue of PaperCrafts magazine, as well as a pair of my handmade CardMonkey Embellies Card Pins.  Deadline to post is Sunday, April 17 at midnight; winner will be selected an random by Random.Org, and announced on this blog on Monday, April 18. 

Now continue on your Tax Day Blue Blog Hop!  Your next stop is



TRISTAN
In case you get lost along the BLUE BRICK ROAD, here's a list of the Blue-ooooo-ooo-oooo (yodeling) hop stops:

1. Angie at http://www.atuttletime.blogspot.com/
2. Ellen at http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/
3. Tristan at http://www.tristans-time-4-craftin.blogspot.com/
4. Tammy at http://www.nestingpretty.blogspot.com/
5. Elaine at http://www.expressionsbyelaine.blogspot.com/
6. Angelia at http://www.angeliaspapercrafts.blogspot.com/
7. Belinda at http://www.beeshiveofdrama.blogspot.com/
8. Mary at http://www.marebearscraps.blogspot.com/
9. Wendy at http://www.gilbyscrafterster.blogspot.com/
10. Jackie at http://www.mybasketofscraps.blogspot.com/
11. Jill at http://www.thescrapoholic.blogspot.com/
12. Leah at http://www.leahscarddesigns.com/
13. Mary J. at http://www.maryjaminski.blogspot.com/
14. Tiffany at http://www.mysweetlemonadedreams.blogspot.com/
15. Monica at http://www.scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/

Thank you for joining us here today!

I hope you're now a little less blue ... I am!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

A little blog change...

Having decided that the jumping monkey was looking tired, I changed the background and the header of my blog today.  What do you think?  I'd really appreciate your suggestions!

Also, I added a gadget to the sidebar that now allows my followers to directly subscribe via e-mail.  Is this helpful to you?

Thanks for letting me know your thoughts.  I'm not a blog designer so the changes I can make are ... well ... those that I can figure out on my own.  One of these days I'll go for a complete overhaul.  Plastic surgery for my blog!!!

Monday, April 11, 2011

Friendship Card

This weekend, Dear Hubby (DH) announced that the mailfemale (yes, a she) delivered a pizza, but really, it was a box just like one holding a pizza pie but (YAY!!) something I like much more: scrapbook paper! 

I'd won a terrific assortment of Nikki Sivils papers in a blog hop, at the stop of the fantabulous Cristi Burton at(www.scrappin5littlecupcakes.blogspot.com).  So I challenged myself to make some cards from these papers ... it wasn't hard to do!  I these papers!!! 

Here are just a few of the sheets in the Nikki Sivils Blueberry pattern that I won:





I used the first one (upper left), "Blueberry Hilltops", for the front of my easel card. "My Blueberry Apron" (middle right) -- the blue gingham -- lined the inside.

For the sentiment area, I used a snip of the "Blueberry Border Strips" (middle left), and I cut a sunshine for the front from "Blueberry Cut-Ups". 


To give the front of the card more dimension, I cut additional pieces of the "Blueberry Hilltops" and made them resemble banners or streamers at the top left of the front of the card.  Flower snips in two shades of yellow were glued on top of the lower left (larger) flower; I topped it with an adhesive half-pearl that I'd painted with a navy blue Copic marker. Additional smaller pearls were put inside (as blueberries) to hold up the easel.


I don't know about you, but when I have an easel card on display, I want to be sure it's not going to slip or catch the breeze and blow down.  I've never seen this done before, but I'm sure this isn't so innovative ... but I added a tab that feeds from the top through the bottom to hold the easel up and firm. Here is how it looks at the bottom. (See above, inside of card, to see how it peeks out from the inside.)


Well, if it wasn't so BLINKIN' HOT upstairs in the PaperJungle, I'd stay up here to be creative tonight. But today, temperatures in the Philly suburbs neared a record 86 degrees ... and the Jungle gets the full afternoon sun.  It's WAY too early for air conditioning, and my windows WERE open, and my ceiling fan was on.  SIGH.  I WANT my Spring weather!!!

"It's Easter" Wrap-Up & Winner Announced!


Cyndi, feel free to pick up
this icon for your blog!
And CONGRATULATIONS!
 Randy at Random.Org picked a number at random of the 115 comments I received during the "It's Easter Blog Hop", hosted by the beautiful and talented SHAWNEE!  The winner of my blog candy is:
CyndiU
aka Cyndi in New Mexico (formerly of
Panama City, FL)
http://www.gamasget-a-way.blogspot.com/


Cyndi, you've won the Paper Crimper promised as blog candy for this hop! Now you can make those "sour cream containers" I posted on Day #1.  Please send me a private e-mail (to cardmonkey@comcast.net) to let me know your shipping addy, and I'll get your prize out to you promptly.

For those who would like a summary of the goodies that will make it into Easter Baskets around my house, here they are:
Day #1 - "Sour Cream Container" shape,
with a marshmallow Peep inside

Day #2: Pillow box with a see-thru (acetate) bunny,
stuffed with egg-shaped M&M's

Day #3: Gift card holder made from
an upcycled Toilet Paper cardboard roll.
Inside: a gift certificate to Joann's (for me!!)

Day #4 - Jelly bean bag with elegant topper

Thank you all who visited and took the time to follow and comment!  I'll be having more Easter projects (and other sorts, too) between now and the holiday.  Stay tuned!