Fantastic Follower Giveaway!! Stork's Delivery Cricut Cartridge!!

***ENTRIES FOR THIS DRAWING ARE NOW CLOSED...  WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED (please CLICK HERE to see them all)!!  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND TO ALL OF MY FABULOUS FOLLOWERS!!***

So...  It's about time for a big ole fantastic giveaway, don'tcha think???  My original plan was to post this (automatically) this past Friday...  Buuuuuut, well, that didn't quite work out for me!!  I need a crash course in automatic posting!!  I guess I'll keep working on that!!  :)

Anyway...  I know you're here for a giveaway, so let's get to the givin' away, whaddya say???  :)

It seems like the first 'big' goal any blogger sets is for 100 followers...  So that's where we're gonna start!!
I have a really super fantastic item to give to one very lucky follower (I hope you'll agree!!) when I reach that first big goal of 100 fantastic followers (giveaway open until March 28th)...  Are ya ready?  Drumroll, please... 

Yep!!  You guessed it!!  It's the BRAND NEW Creative Memories Cricut Cartridge -- Stork's Delivery!!  This cartridge is full to the brim with awesome images for baby's new arrival, but it's also great for SO MUCH MORE!!  There are phrases, FOUR fun fonts, and every day images...  If you'd like to see the whole handbook, you can CLICK HERE and check it out!!

This cartridge is scheduled to be released TOMORROW (March 1st), so if you really can't wait until the drawing ends, and you do not currently have a Creative Memories Consultant, I would LOVE for you to purchase it HERE... (Remember, it is not available for purchase until March 1st, so if it doesn't show up for purchase, please try back!)...  While you're there, check out the other exclusive Cricut cartridges available ONLY through CM (Reminisce Accents and Cheerful Seasons)...  If you DO decide to purchase it now, and you are the winner of my drawing, I will be happy to substitute another cartridge for ya -- So don't worry about that!!  :)  Also, if you just can't wait, and have to have it now, you can get extra chances in the drawing (see below!)!!

Ok, enough chit-chat!!  How do ya WIN???  Well, I've got a couple of ways (the first one is required, but the others are all optional for additional chances)...

#1  Follow me by clicking the 'Follow' button on the right and then leave a comment on THIS post...  If you are already a follower, you only need to leave a comment on THIS post letting me know you're already following. :)  Easy peasy!!

#2  Post an entry on YOUR blog about my Fantastic Follower Giveaway *with a link back to this post*, then come back and leave another comment on THIS post (be sure to leave a separate comment, and a link to your blog)...

#3  Post my blinkie giveaway button on your blog's sidebar *with a link back to this post*, then come on back and let me know ya did on this post (again, a separate comment with a link to your blog)...

#4  If you do not currently have a Creative Memories Consultant, you may receive an extra chance by emailing me at scrapbookingwithamy (at) gmail (dot) com and requesting to be added to my CM email list for monthly updates and special offers...  You will need to be subscribed to my mailing list at the time of the drawing to be eligible for the extra chance.

#5  CLICK HERE and browse the online catalog...  Pick your favorite item or an item you'd love to have and leave a comment with what it is and why ya love it or want it (you don't have to buy it)!!  If you decide to purchase an item or two while you're there, you'll be showered with some extra goodies and chances to win as well (1 chance for every $10 spent)...

In addition to the Cricut Cartridge, I will be giving away some extra goodies for TWO MORE FOLLOWERS...  Beginning March 1st, there are a TON of new CM products just waiting to help you get creative...  I'm giving away these two...

The Rugged Baby Boy Celebrate Additions Kit...  Includes 5 sheets of double-sided 12x12 paper, 8 double-sided photo mats, 1 sheet of title stickers, and 1 sheet of decorative stickers.

The Fabulous Baby Girl Celebrate Additions Kit...  Includes 5 sheets of double-sided 12x12 paper, 8 double-sided photo mats, 1 sheet of title stickers, and 1 sheet of decorative stickers.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS OPEN UNTIL MARCH 28th AT 11:59pm (EST)...  ALL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 29th!!  Best of luck!!  :)

Thanks so much to all of my current Fabulous Followers...  And WELCOME to all of my NEW Fabulous Followers!!

 ***ENTRIES FOR THIS DRAWING ARE NOW CLOSED...  WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED (please CLICK HERE to see them all)!!  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED AND TO ALL OF MY FABULOUS FOLLOWERS!!***

A Liebster Blog Award!! :)

I'm very honored and excited to receive my first Liebster Blog Award from some creative and crafty ladies -- Angela at Krafting with Kings and Rayna & Paper Panther at Purple Peeps Techniques!! We are all Design Team Members over at Celebrate The Occasion, so it's pretty cool that I have some new blogger buddies that wanted to 'show me off'!  Please take a moment to visit their blogs, show 'em some love, and pick up some inspiration!!

Here are the rules of The Liebster Blog Award. It is given to bring light to new blogs and it's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.
As a recipient you must share the love and pay it forward by:
1-Creating a post where you blog about the Liebster award & reveal your 3-5 blog picks
2-Let them know you chose them by leaving a comment on their blog
3-Copy & paste the blog award on your blog
4-Have faith that your followers will rally & show their crafty love back out to those you awarded
5-Have fun!

I would like to pass this award on to the following blogs...  A few of these are places I have already found MUCH inspiration, and a few are new finds that I am SURE to find much inspiration in the future!!  I hope you will visit them and check out their fantastic creations!!

Girlia's Cards
AT Home Ink
Chrey's Craft Corner
Craft With Bee
Block. Paper. Scissors.

Thanks again to Angela, Rayna, and Paper Panther!!  :)

*** Also, please check back by here TODAY as I will be posting my Great Follower Giveaway that was supposed to automatically post on Friday (whoops! Guess I still need to figure out that automatic posting thing!!)...  Good news -- I've decided to add some more goodies to the package since y'all had to wait a few extra days to read all about it!!  :) ***

Winter Break Overnight Scrapbooking Retreat -- Freeport, PA

** Please email me (or leave a comment on this post) if you would like to receive advance notice of my upcoming Weekend Retreats -- This one is over, but there's another one in October!! **

It's once again time to pack up your pictures, paper, and supplies and treat yourself to a Winter Break Overnight Scrapbooking Retreat!!  This is your opportunity to gather with friends and enjoy hours of uninterrupted laughter, fun and album-making! Retreat includes overnight accommodations, meals, special gifts and prizes. Starts Friday, February 25 at 5pm (early-bird arrival is available too!) and ends Sunday at 3pm.

When: Friday, February 25, 2011 through Sunday, February 27, 2011

Where:  Biblical Life Institute -- nestled in beautiful Freeport, PA!!

Come for a day or stay for the weekend!!  Select a package that works for YOU!!

Package 1:  $150

Up to 51 hours to scrapbook!!
Friday, 5pm – Sunday, 3pm  (sign up for early-bird arrival on Friday for up to 5 extra hours to scrapbook!)
Includes 5 meals and two nights in a private sleeping room plus freebies, gifts, and prizes.

Package 2:  $100  *TWO OPTIONS*
24 hours of scrapbooking either Friday 5pm – Saturday 5pm or Saturday noon – Sunday noon
Includes 3 meals and one night in a private sleeping room plus freebies, gifts, and prizes.

Package 3:  $45
12 hours of scrapbooking, 10am Saturday – 10pm Saturday
Includes 2 meals plus freebies, gifts, and prizes.

Package 4: $35
7 hours of scrapbooking, 10am Saturday – 5pm Saturday
Includes 1 meal plus freebies, gifts, and prizes.

How to register:  

     Start with an email...  scrapbookingwithamy (at) gmail (dot) com....

     Let me know which package you'd like to sign up for...

     Complete your registration payment of $50 for Packages 1 or 2 

         or $25 for Packages 3 or 4 (You will receive an invoice for any balance or you 
         are welcome to select payment for complete package -- which includes a 
         BONUS gift!).

Package Selection

Package 1 Deposit $50.00 Package 2 Deposit $50.00 Package 3 Deposit $25.00 Package 4 Deposit $25.00 Package 1 Full Payment $150.00 Package 2 Full Payment $100.00 Package 3 Full Payment $45.00 Package 4 Full Payment $35.00

     Receive your confirmation email with complete details for arrival and 

         schedule of events...

     ***Register with two or more friends and you’ll each receive a special gift 

         when you arrive.***

Some of our featured events include Make-N-Takes, Card Classes, Digital Training, Cricut Basics Class, and Cricut Cartridge Exploration Class!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me (or leave your question in the 'comments' section)...  I'd love to have you join us for our fun, relaxing retreat weekend!!
 

...Count Sheep! -- Paper Doll Dress Up, 12x12 Two-page Layout

 Well.  Here it is.  Done.  Finished.  Finally!  I've been playing with this layout for two days now!!  I sure don't know why cuz it looks EXACTLY like it did in my head before I started it!!  Boy, does it feel good to know that this is done...  Can you believe that every single cut on this two-page layout (okay, with the exception of the photo mats) is cut from Paper Doll Dress Up???  If you've been following along, then you may have noticed that I'm doing a collection of layouts (with a card or two thrown in) ALL from the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut Cartridge...  If you'd like to see the entire collection, please click here...  Hopefully, I will be posting TWO more double-page layouts later (on Thursday) from this cartridge (I hope, I hope, I hope...  I believe!!)...  Now, pull out YOUR Paper Doll Dress Up and start discovering all this cartridge has to offer!!

The clouds were cut at 2.5".  The moon is cut at 3" RDS (Real Dial Size) -- If you forget to turn your RDS on, it will only cut at about an inch or so...  The fence is cut at 2.5" (there are three lined up side-by-side with just enough overlap).  The grass is cut at .75" and there are four on each 12x12 page -- They kinda overlap a little...  The sheep, which are my absolute favorite (did you see my card HERE?), are cut at 4" which really makes them only a little over 2.5"...  Now, don't WINCE, but I had to cut the little legs off and reattach them in different locations to make them look like they were jumping over the fence...  Don't worry though, they all survived the surgery just fine and a few even made a career out of jumping!!

Now, I'm totally loving this moon with the face...  But I have no idea why it would be hidden on the page with the Vampiress...  Cuz it's not scary at all!!  It's soooo cute!!  Perfect for a sheep counting layout!!

Look how patient this last little sheep is...  He's just waiting his turn to jump over that fence!!  I think I'm gonna have to list sheep as my second favorite animal (giraffes will always be FIRST!!)!!

The sheep on the right page all have pop dots to give them dimension (and the illusion of jumping from behind the fence to in front of it)...

And then they can take a walk through the flowers (also HIDDEN in the cartridge -- Check out the pixy girl page) which were cut at 1/2"...

I think this layout has to be one of very favorites...  And if it needed to be for a boy, it would be simple to substitute some blue photo mats and blue flowers...  A quick change with a BIG difference!!

I hope you've enjoyed my Counting Sheep layout...  Please be sure to check back for more layouts using the very fun and very versatile Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut Cartridge!!  I love to read your comments, so please feel free to leave one below with a link to your blog (if you have one) -- I love to visit my visitors!!  And remember to check back on FRIDAY when I post my very BIG news about my super-fantastic-wonderful-and-amazing giveaway for followers!!  Hope to see ya here again soon!!  Until next time, may your bedtime be sheep-counting-free!!  :)

You've always Been Sweet... -- Printing Press

 If you enjoy challenges that encourage you to REALLY think outside the box, then you really need to check out M.A.G.Challenge By The Page...  I've been following this site since it started a few months ago, and I really look forward to seeing what the cartridge and cut for the week will be!!  Here's the details for the current challenge:

For this week's challenge, we used a cartridge that was a free download on the gypsy!!  Remember, you can only use the images on the selected page!!

Cartridge:  Printing Press

Page:  pg.37 (cricutsearch.com) and pg. 94 (booklet)

Head on over to M.A.G. Challenge By The Page and see what YOU can create for the current or upcoming challenge!!  Now on to my entry...

When I saw the "m" on this page, I immediately thought of my favorite candy -- My BFF, Christi, and I always scrapbook with a bowl of dark chocolate peanut m&ms close by (can you say 'mmmmmmm'?), so I'm pretty sure that's why they came to mind so quickly...  So, I started by cutting my oval pieces with my Creative Memories Custom Cutting System...  Since you can ONLY cut the images on the selected page with your Cricut, you even have to be creative about what else you need on your project...

I wanted this to be a sort of gate-fold card so that it would open in layers -- Kind of like you have to get through the hard shell goodness of the m&m before you can experience the chocolaty deliciousness and the peanut crunch  (now I'm saying 'mmmmmmm'!)...

On the very inside of the card, you find the best part (like the peanut after all that chocolate!!)...  an m&m cut from glitter paper (just cuz he's a show-off!)...

This card is for The-Girl-Child...  I actually wanted to make it a scrapbook layout, so I still might do that too (I could always include the card with the pages!), but not today...  We have been getting a kick out of the recent college acceptance letters she's been receiving...  She's already committed to the college of her choice (with a lovely academic scholarship...  Go Knowledge!), but she recently received an even larger scholarship from Manhattan College (see, I could've moved to Staten Island in an RV so that I could visit one of my favorite cities regularly)...  Of course, she only gets the scholarship if she attends, but it's fun to tell people that she was accepted and about the sizable scholarship -- Which is kinda showing off, right?  Thus, the sentiment of the card...  "You've always been sweet...  But now you're just showing off!!  Congratulations on your spectacular achievement..." which was printed from the computer, I promise I didn't stamp all those little letters...  :)  As a disclaimer, The-Girl-Child is actually one of the sweetest people you could ever meet -- She, of course, has her moments of grumpiness but is an overall happy child with positive goals for her future...  I couldn't be more pleased to be her mom...  So while this card is quite fun and celebrates her years of persistence and hard work in school, she is anything BUT a show-off...  :)

I hope you've enjoyed my card today!!  Please stop back again soon (another layout coming up later!!), and be sure to stop back on FRIDAY when I announce my Great-Big-Super-Fantastic-Giveaway for followers -- you ARE following, right? :)  For now, have a wonderful day!!  I love to read your comments, so please leave one if you are so inclined...  Until next time, may your m&m bowl be full!!

You Could Always... -- Paper Doll Dress Up, George and Basic Shapes

This card is being entered in the following challenges (please click on the links to visit them and see all the projects created by other participants...):  Cooking With Cricut -- C17 Challenge-Emboss It, Fantabulous Cricut -- Challenge #48-Emboss It!, and Creative Sisters Monday Challenge -- #21 Embossing.

First, let me start off by saying 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' to The-Girl-Child!!  For those of you who are following the events of the week...  Tonight we took her to Outback Steakhouse, and thankfully, we did NOT need a snowmobile to get there!!  Miraculously, all the snow melted from the roads today!!  YAY!!  :)  She was born in a blizzard, so I'm always reminded of that fun trek to the hospital when it snows within a WEEK of her birthday (Would ya believe we had to hike to the hospital that night with snowshoes???  Yeah, me neither!!  LOL...  We did make a few of our own roads though!!)  I have plenty of birthday stories to share, but I will save a few for other posts... ;)   On to my project of the evening...

This card was inspired by The-Boy-Child...  (And the fact that I was counting sheep myself and needed to finish some project quickly to motivate me to do more!!)  Several weeks ago he called me from school to say that he was having trouble sleeping...  I told him that maybe it was the weather.  He texted me a few days after that to tell me that he was still having trouble sleeping...  I told him maybe he just really missed being home.  I called him after that to see if it was getting any better -- He said that he'd had so much trouble falling asleep that he almost slept through class...  I told him...  "Well.  You could always count sheep!"...  {silence} followed by...  "What's THAT supposed to mean???"  {sigh}  Don't these kids see commercials?  Don't they know who the Serta Sheep are?  Are nursery rhymes foreign to them?  {sigh}  Sometimes that kid really makes me laugh.  Other times, well...  {sigh}  :)

(inside)

 So while I was working on my layout with all of these sheep I thought I'd make this card for him...  I even put one of those penny roller slide-y things in it so the sheep really jumps over the fence!!  Obviously this is lost in still pictures, but The-Girl-Child thought it was pretty neat!!  :)  She also insisted that I put her favorite number on the sheep (like the Serta Sheep!  See!  She knows them!)...  Which I thought was kinda amusing, so I did...  Now let's see if I get a phone call when he gets the card...  {sigh}

 See him jumping from left to right?  :)

I'm in the process of exploring the Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge...  There are sooooo many cuts on that cartridge that you may not have even realized are there!!  If you'd like to see what I've discovered so far, please CLICK HERE...  Anyway, tomorrow I'll be posting a two-page layout with these same sheep, so I hope you'll check back and see it!!  To see all of my current creations, please CLICK HERE! Thanks for stopping by -- Hope to see you here again soon!!

Birthday Banner -- Celebrations, Mickey Font -- And BIG NEWS!! :)

Woot-woot!!  There's a BRAND NEW Challenge Blog on the block and GUESS WHAT?!?!?!  I was recently selected for their Design Team!!  I couldn't be more thrilled than to join the ranks of some very talented folks!!  And ooooooohhhhhh, it was soooooo hard to keep it a secret until right now!!  So let's get to it...

If you haven't visited Celebrate The Occasion yet, what are ya waitin' for???  A personal invitation?  Okie-doke, then, here it is!!  I am personally inviting you to CLICK HERE and check it out!!  And while you're there, why don't you maybe think about adding a project of your own?  This week, to CELEBRATE and welcome the new Design Team members, CTO is having a 'Birthday -- Anything Goes' Challenge!!  So create a card, layout, or project to celebrate a Birthday...

This is my submission for the Design Team Call...  My two-page 12x12 layout is quick, easy, and FUN to create!!  I used the Cricut Celebrations Cartridge (how perfect is that?) for the banner and the Cricut Mickey Font Cartridge for the banner title (yep, those letters are shadowed)...  To create the flowers, I used my Creative Memories Scallop Circle Maker punch and a 3/4" circle punch...  A few quick scissor snips turns the scallop into petals...  My Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Textiles embossing folders add texture to the banner and flowers...  Brown chalking inks for distress...  And, finally, my very favorite paper -- The Nancy O'Dell Paper Pack from Creative Memories -- I just love the soft colors of this set -- Every page is as beautiful as the next!!  Three simple cardstock colors (grape, mediterranean, and sea glass) add just the right touch...

As always, there is plenty of inspiration behind this layout...  TODAY is The-Girl-Child's Birthday!!  Funny how we were JUST talking about how we got a BLIZZARD on the eve of her birth...  And, once again, we are in the middle of another Winter Storm!!  I am VERY glad I don't have to leave to get to the hospital though...  I had kept this layout hidden from her, as my plan was to add some pictures from her Birthday Dinner (Will we have to take snowmobiles to get to downtown Pittsburgh for dinner??  Find out here later!!)...  BUT alas, she is sneaky, and she caught me with it...  {sigh}  I am comforted by the fact that she saw and it and said, "Oh...  Pretty!  Is that for me???"  LOL...  She's a pickle.  :)  Anyway, Happy Birthday, Princess!!  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my layout up-close...  Please be sure to visit all of the other amazing members of the CTO Design Team and show 'em some love!!

If you simply LOVE the paper that I've used in this layout, please click on the above links to see more...  If you do not have a Creative Memories Consultant and would like to purchase any of these items, you can order one online and have it direct shipped (anywhere in the U.S.) by clicking and shopping HERE...  This includes the NEW exclusive Cricut Cartridge Stork's Delivery (read more about it HERE), scheduled to be released on March 1st!!  If you are interested in seeing the Creative Memories Cricut Cartridges that are currently available, please click HERE...

Remember to leave me a comment with your blog address so I can come and visit you too!!  Oh yeah...  One more thing!!  Be sure to stop back on FRIDAY when I announce my GREAT GIVEAWAY for followers!!  It's a surprise, and it sure is GOOD!!  :)  Until next time...

Buckaroo Birthday -- Paper Doll Dress Up, Old West

Yee-Haw!!  Time to saddle up them horsies and lasso in some cows, pardner!!  :)  It's also time to send a Cowgirl SHOUT-OUT to a very special person out there...  Please take a moment to visit Amanda of AT Home Ink...  I was the very lucky WINNER of a $20 Peachy Keen Stamps Gift Certificate from Amanda, and I would NOT have had as much fun adding faces to my Cowgirl and Cowboy (I was gonna call them 'Cowpeople'....  But that sounded like someone you'd meet in an advertisement for Chick-Fil-A...  yum.)...  Anyway, I had such a decision to make when I carefully selected my very first Peachy Keen Stamps...  Every time I use them, I will very fondly think of Amanda...  Thanks again, Amanda!!  :)

Well, I reckon I had a fantastic time workin' on this here two-page 12x12 layout...  The challenge over at Paper Cutz Challenge this week is to create a card, LO or craft project for a child's birthday, with a country or western theme, using any colors you’d like...  And I decided to Cowgirl Up and enter the challenge with this fun layout!!

My cowgirl, cowboy, cow, and horse were all cut at 4" (no gypsy today, pardner!)...  All the clothing and accessories for their darling outfits were also cut at 4"...  The mountains in the background were cut at 4.25" (love my 'Fit To Length' key!!) and the fences (three in all) were cut at 2.25"...  My white Signo pen got a workout on those outfits...  I used pink, chocolate, and black inks to distress edges and add color to my cow (who has some hand cut spots, by the way!)...

The 'Buckaroo Birthday' title is from the Old West Cricut Cartridge (I love all the fonts on this cart!!)... 

While I was creating this, I thought maybe some photos of The-Nephew could fill those photo boxes for his next birthday...  But then I found out that he got a new haircut and thinks he looks like Justin Bieber!!  He doesn't wanna be a Cowboy...  he wants to be a Heartthrob!!  {sigh}

Thanks so much for giddy-up-ing on over to see my Western-themed Birthday Layout...  I'd be mighty appreciative if ya left me some lines in the comment section below...  Remember to check back on FRIDAY to read about my Big Ole Awesome Giveaway for followers (ya wouldn't be so yella as to visit me and not follow, would ya???)...

To see all of my current creations, please CLICK HERE! Thanks for stopping by -- Hope to see you here again soon!!  Until next time, may your cup overflow with Cowboy Stew... 

Hair - Broadway Across America - Cars, Daisy Chain

Over at erin lee creative and Handmade by Angelica they've introduced a new challenge...  Music Monday Challenge.  Since they've started, I've wanted to create something for one of these nifty challenges.  I am FINALLY submitting something (just in the nick of time!).  Each week, either Erin or Angelica posts a video with the Music Monday inspiration...  This week, it's Adele's 'Rolling In The Deep'.....  Ah, this is a good one!!  :)  So Erin said... "So...the challenge this week is to create a project with a destroyed technique"

 I took a plain piece of navy blue cardstock and BLEACHED it...  Then I crumpled it, roughed it up, washed it, and dried it on the wood stove (I didn't think about how late it was when I started this, so nothing like a 400 degree surface to dry up some paper quick!)...  I didn't know what I was doing when I started, but I was happy with the result (too bad it doesn't show up so well in the pictures!) -- The bleach really did create a neat effect -- It still looks wet in some spots (it's not) and it resembles worn denim in other spots...  The Peace Sign can be found on the Disney/Pixar Cars Cricut Cartridge...  The daisies are cut in both yellow and white at 2" and can be found on the Daisy Chain Cricut Cartridge...  I also used some chocolate distress ink for the other elements (in addition to folding and crumpling my little daisies until they were unrecognizable!!)...

Now...  You may be wondering what on earth my little project involving the musical 'Hair' has to do with Adele and 'Rolling In The Deep'....  Well, I'm glad you asked!!  Cuz ya know how I love to go off on my little tangents and explain how I got to where I am with whatever it is I'm working on...  So...

The-Girl-Child and I have been blessed with Season Tickets to the Broadway Across America shows...  It's kinda like a rolling gift for everything from birthdays to Christmas to Mother's Day and Just Because. :)  So each month, we meet up with our performance 'benefactors' -- The-Grandparents -- for an evening of divine entertainment...  And this month was the musical 'Hair'...  And how fitting that the jeans they wore were destroyed, and their concept of love was destroyed, and then Claude was, well... destroyed too...  So I came home with the idea of destroyed heavy on my mind (I was also distressed cuz we hit an ice storm on our way home -- UNEXPECTED!!)...  And then I really wanted to create this Everyday Display for The-Girl-Child...  I have an amazing picture of her at the performance with a daisy in her hair (one of the performers came out into the audience and handed it to her during the show!) which I plan to add as soon as I have it printed...  I think she'll really like this daily reminder until next month, when we can change it to 'Shrek' if we want! :)

As usual, the production this month was top notch...  We are never disappointed with the quality of performance at the shows, and 'Hair' was no exception.

Funny side note...  I was channel-surfing a few days before the show and I happened upon the Cheers episode (Season 8, Episode 20, 'Fifty-fifty Carla') when Woody announces that he was selected for his theater's performance of 'Hair':

It was funny to see him learn about the infamous 'nude' scene...  It was also funny when The-Girl-Child bounced into the kitchen two days before the show and asked me incredulously if I already knew about it...  It was funnier still when Act 1 ended, and she turned to me and said, "I didn't even notice they were nude until they started walking off the stage...  Thank goodness!"

Well, I suppose that'll do it for the evening...  I hope you have enjoyed my bleached, crumpled, inked up project (which can quickly be transformed to a 12x12 layout when I'm ready to change it!)...  If you do not have a Creative Memories consultant, but you would like to create an Everyday Display of your own, you can order one online and have it direct shipped (anywhere in the U.S.) by clicking and shopping HERE...  I love to read your comments, so please leave one to let me know you were here. :)   To see all of my current creations, please CLICK HERE! Thanks for stopping by -- Hope to see you here again soon!! 

Birthday Boy -- Mini Monograms

This is the 2nd Challenge Week for Celebrate The Occasion!!  The requirement for this week was 'Masculine Birthday'...  Please hop on over to Celebrate The Occasion to check out all the wonderful projects created by the Design Team and challenge participants -- Maybe you'll even want to give the next challenge a try!!  :)

Since The-Girl-Child is finishing up her Senior Year, I haven't been focusing on too many 'masculine' pages lately (yeah, The-Boy-Child's pictures are just stackin' up!!!)...  This challenge forced me to pull out the boy colors and get creating!!  :)

The paper for my 12x12 layout is from the Creative Memories Discover Power Palette...  I love the distressed look of this paper, and I am sad to see that it is leaving the line -- But I am super excited about the NEW Rugged Power Palette that will be replacing it on March 1st!!  If you do not have a Creative Memories consultant and would like to order any of the CM products (including the Discover Power Palette line while supplies last), you can have them direct shipped (anywhere in the U.S.) by clicking and shopping HERE...

 The title "Birthday Boy" was created with the DOTS feature (+shift) on the Cricut Cartridge Mini Monograms...  This cartridge is one of those 'under-used' ones I own.  This is also one of the ones I just 'HAD' to have after the BFF showed me how AWESOME it is!!  :)  Anyway, I am a very keyboard oriented person, so when I realized that the keypad is laid out alphabetically (instead of QWERTY), boy, was I confused!!  LOL...  It has some GREAT mix-and-match letters as well as this fabulous font that I think was created just to go with this paper!!  :)

I have a lovely 5x7 photograph that I plan to use on this page, so the photo mats are sized at 5.5"x7.5" for the brown and 6"x8" for the blue...  Since I'm all about the texture, I used my crimper for some added pizazz.  The dotted ribbon is again from the Discover Power Palette and is layered on a 3/4" strip of brown crimped cardstock and 1" cranberry crimped cardstock...  Two Discover buttons tied with raffia and some chocolate brown distressing ink top it all off for a quick and simple layout... 

Remember, there is a BRAND NEW Creative Memories Cricut Cartridge, Stork's Delivery, coming March 1st!!  To be added to my 'waiting list' for this cartridge, please email me -- scrapbookingwithamy (at) gmail (dot) com...  When you pre-pay for this cartridge with me, you are automatically entered into a drawing to receive another cartridge for FREE!!  If you are interested in seeing the available Creative Memories Cricut Cartridges, please click HERE...

Swag Saturdays at LeeLou Blogs... Enter to WIN!!

LeeLou Blogs has just announced 'Swag Saturdays'...  I was lucky enough to WIN some SWAG last December...  I won THIS, and THIS, and THIS!!  YIPPEE!!  Now, they are reviewing some "just can't live without it" stuff and giving it away every Saturday!!  YOU can win too -- So CLICK on over there and enter to WIN!!

This week's Swag is for some yummy delicious goodness from Plentiful Pantry...  A $50 Shopping Spree!!  If I don't win, I sure hope YOU do!!  Good luck, and let me know what you're sharing with me if you win!!  :)

Stork's Delivery Cricut Cartridge

*** UPDATE!!  I will be giving ONE LUCKY FABULOUS FOLLOWER a Creative Memories Stork's Delivery Cricut Cartridge on March 29th!!  Be sure to CLICK HERE and read all about it!! ***

Hi all!!  I just wanted to post a quick note to let you know that there is a BRAND NEW exclusive release cartridge from Creative Memories!!  It's called Stork's Delivery and it's chock-full of Baby Images; however, it's SUCH a versatile cartridge -- It can be used for sooooo many things!!  The best part is that it will coordinate with the new Power Palette lines being introduced March 1st!!  Here are some images from the cartridge:

There are ALSO three FONTS included on this cartridge (Sugar & Spice, Frogs & Snails, and Monogram)!!  You can download the handbook for this cartridge by clicking HERE...  Wait until you see all the fun images and options on this cartridge!!  I can't wait to start some projects with this one!!

If you are interested in seeing the available Creative Memories Cricut Cartridges (Stork Delivery will not be available until March 1), please click HERE...  If you do not have a Creative Memories consultant and would like to order any of the CM products, you can have them direct shipped (anywhere in the U.S.) by clicking and shopping HERE...  To be added to my 'waiting list' for this cartridge, please email me -- scrapbookingwithamy (at) gmail (dot) com...  When you pre-pay for this cartridge with me, you are automatically entered into a drawing to receive another cartridge for FREE!!

Thanks for checking in today!!  Have a GREAT day!!

Thinking of You Gate-Fold Card -- Just Because Cards

Emma over at My Creative Time has issued another Throwback Thursday Challenge!!  The challenge guidelines are as follows:
     ***Use either "Just Because" OR "Wild Card" cartridge for this challenge
     *** Create a Card of your choice MUST include a "Stamped Sentiment"!
Additionally, The Cuttlebug Spot is having a challenge for Gate-Fold cards and CardCupids is having a Red,White, and Blue Challenge...
Please be sure to visit these sites to see the talented cards submitted by all the participants!!

While I have both of these cartridges, I have actually used the Wild Card Cartridge many times...  So I thought I should give my Just Because Cards cartridge a shot...  Interestingly enough, this cartridge was just the subject of debate between my BFF, Christi, and I...  Who had it first???  Well, I don't know if we ever settled that conversation, but that's the GREAT thing about BFFs...  Cuz when it comes down to it...  Who cares who had it first? :)  I'm a cartridge junkie...  She's very selective...  But there are a few cartridges that she has indeed had first (and this one very well may have been one of them), and I just HAVE to have it after she shows me how SUPER COOL it is (like the Cuttin' Up cartridge -- The font is identical to the Build-A-Bear font!!  So since she told me that, of course I have to have it!!)...  Anyway, I digress...  My stamped sentiment is from Stampin Up!'s Curly Cute set (thanks, Christi!)...

This card is inspired by my oh-so-great dad...  :)  If I have fond memories of sailing, it's thanks to him...  I have to say that some of my very best 'vacation' memories are from when we would spend a week or two (or so) on his sailboat...  I remember standing at the very tip of the bow of the boat so I could watch the dolphins swim along in front of us...  Leonardo DiCaprio wasn't the only one to feel like the King of the World!!  :)  Do you have a vacation or teenage memory that you really cherish?  Something fun you really enjoyed doing as a family?

This is a gate-fold card measuring 6"x6"...  The sailboat and all of the layers are cut at 4.25"...  The waves were cut with my Creative Memories Rotary Trimmer with the small wavy blade and embossed with Cuttlebug's D'Vine Swirls and Swiss Dots as well as Sizzix's Royal Flourishes...  The clouds were punched with Creative Memories Scallop Circle Punch and embossed with D'Vine Swirls...

 I finished off the inside of the card with a simple square of ivory, a wavy strip of blue, and the 'sticker' feature of the sailboat...

This was a super-fun challenge!!  I hope you enjoy my card -- It certainly made me happy to think about fun times!!  And speaking of FUN times...  I can't wait for my Winter Break Scrapbooking Retreat next week!!

Thank you so much for checking out my Sailboat Gate-Fold Card...  I love to read your comments, so please leave one to let me know you were here. :)   To see all of my current creations, please CLICK HERE! Thanks for stopping by -- Hope to see you here again soon!!