My first altered Book.....2011

As you can see I am a wee bit late in posting these pictures.  I hadn't blogged or done much "art" in the past couple of years, so when I found these pictures I decided they needed to be posted here.  My next few posts will involve a series of altered book pages I did in year long round robin swap that started in January 2011.  We began with our own altered books and created a theme for everyone to follow. I chose Paisley Passion because I LOVE PAISLEYS (I even have a tattoo that incorporates them!)  So these are the pages I did in my altered book before sending it out.

My intro page, the little envelope holds the "rules" for my book

(basically it was do whatever you want just no nudity) 

The cool lady silhouette is a cricut cut, the rest is just 

a collage of paisley and pink things from my stash.

                                            

This is my paisley world that I wish I could live in.

Of course it is a paisley beach, with paisley house,

and paisley coral in the surf with a sea turtle swimming.

There are a lot of paper pieced stamps (tree, house, clouds, sand),

sticker bling, turtle sticker, lots of paisley rubons and die cuts,

some ink and a few stamps.

This is just a collage of some of my favorite paisley

"things" in my stash.  I hand drew a paisley and

cut it out of the page, then glued it down to the page

before it in my book that I had painted pink.

More paisley stuff, this page isn't really "done",

one day I may add more to it. But I just cut the

paisley on the right page out of the piece of paper

I glued down to the left page, and when I did I 

backed it with some sheet music.  And some paint,

I am not sure what will finish this, but until it speaks

to me I will leave it be.

So this was the beginning of my very first altered book. I really had no clue what I was doing, but I enjoyed prepping my book and making my pages.  I was very afraid to send my book out after all the work that I put into it, but when it came home a year later I was SO GLAD I had participated in the swap.  Look out for some pages I did in other people's books in the swap in my next posts! 

St. Paddy's Day Blog Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to The Paisley Turtle & the St. Paddy's Day Blog Hop. You should be arriving from Liliana, or if you just happened to stop by today go back to the beginning and visit Denise @ Designs from my Heart. If this is your first visit to The Paisley Turtle, I am so glad to have you. Please take a minute to look around, become a follower or leave some comments! :o)



I had a vision for a fun card that told a story. This is TOTALLY not my norm and WAY out of my comfort zone, but even if I do say so myself it is pretty cute!

Supplies Used & Elements Description:

Card is 4.25" x 5.5"
Leprechaun - cut from Freshly Picked Cricut Cartridge @ 2.59" - gnome1 on p. 35 of handbook; paper used K & Co. Remake Grass Greens Mat Pad, K & Co. Remake Earth Browns Mat Pad; smile - Peachy Keen Everyday Character Face Parts PK-494 stamped with dark brown chalk ink
Four Leaf Clovers - cut from Give a Hoot Cricut Cartridge @ 1" - bird1 accent on p. 45 of handbook, papers K & Co. Remake Grass Greens Mat Pad
Sky - 2" strip cut from Hippie Chic MatStack by DCWV punched with Martha Stewart Ribbon Loop Edge Punch, light blue CS by DCWV punched with Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch
Grass - K & Co. Carolyn Gavin Greenhouse Mat Pad & Remake Grass Greens Mat Pad, cut by hand
Clouds - hand drawn, paper unknown, on pop dots for dimension
Fiskars Small Scallop Paper Punch
Kiss Me I'm Irish Stamp - Scrappy Mom's The Charmed LIfe Stamp Set, stamped with dark brown chalk ink

I hope you enjoyed this card today, I had a LOT of fun making it!

Your next stop on the blog hop is: Meighen, and for a full list of hop participants, please visit our hostess: Denise @ Designs from my Heart

Birthday Card for my Uncle

Supplies:
Hannah Montana Cricut Cartridge
Music Paper by Love Elsie
Make & Wish stamp & word window punch - Stampin' Up
Kraft Cardstock - Hobby Lobby
Other patterned paper - Michael's
Paisley background stamp - Stampendous
Inks - Distress Inks by Tim Holtz
Copic Spica pens to draw strings on guitar

My Top 10 Cards of 2010

I am participating in



Here are my Top 10 in NO particular order...


Simply Charmed Cricut Cartridge & Scrappy Mom's Stamps The Charmed Life Set, Paper-unknown


K.I. Memories Paper, Unity Stamp Company images


Paper Pad purchased at Michael's, My Favorite Things images


Patterned Paper unknown, Dictionary Pages, Unity Stamp Co. Paisley image, Stampin' Up Sentiment


Basic Grey Papers, Stamps Unknown


Basic Grey Papers, House Mouse Gruffies Image, Stampin' Up Sentiment


My Mind's Eye paper, Unity Stamp Company image


Basic Grey Papers, Stampin' Up images


Block Party Cricut Images, Unity Stamp Company sentiment


Freshly Picked Cricut Image, Hippie Chic Paper Pad

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment &/or become a follower!

Gnome Sweet Gnome

This is my FAVORITE card I have made lately. This little Gnome from Freshly Picked is so stinkin' cute!!! I took the shadow image of the Gnome and welded two of them together using my Gypsy. All I did was just copy the shadow image, flipped it upside down. Then I used Emma's tip from Creative Time for Me and added a rectangle from George and basic shapes. This just add a little stability to the are where you will fold the card, that explains why the top of the card is not EXACTLY the shape of the Gnome's hat. Finally I welded all three shapes (the two shadows and the little rectangle) with my Gypsy - easy peasy! :o) I love shaped cards!



I did use my tweezers on this card a lot for the eyes, nose and little buckle. I doodled on the gnome and on the shadow for some depth - LOVE IT! I also used my chalks to pink up his cheeks. Finally I added stickles to his belt buckle for some COOL BLING. Next time I cut this little guy I am going to run his hair and beard through my Cuttlebug for some added texture - won't that be SUPER CUTE???

Supplies:
Freshly Picked Cricut Cartridge (Gnome p. 37)
White CS by Georgia Pacific
Black CS by the Paper Studio
Tan CS by C.T.M.H.
Hippie Chic Mat Stacks D.C.W.V.
Grass Green Recycled Mat Pad by K & Co.
Champagne Stickles
White Gelly Roll Gel Pen

Thanks for stopping by today, make sure you let me know what you think of my card - become a follower or just say hi!!! Go Create Something!!!

Freshly Picked Flower Pot Card

Today I want to share a card I made with the Freshly Picked Cartridge:



Supplies:
Freshly Picked Cricut Cartridge (flower p. 32)
Black & Kraft CS by the Paper Studio
Tan CS from my stash
Hippie Chic Mat Stack (all patterned Paper)
Lace from my stash
Marth Stewart Layered Arch Border Punch
Grass Greens Recycled Mat Pad by K & Co.
Hippie Chic Mat Stack]
Orange CS by DCWV
Word Window Punch Stampin' Up
So Many Sayings Stamp SEt Stampin' Up

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to let me know what you think of my cards!!!

#1 Dad

It has been a hard couple of weeks around here. Hubs has worked 14 days straight and I am completely stressed out from not seeing him for so long. So this will be a quick one today.

This is the card I made my Father-in-law for Father's Day.


Supplies Used:
Kraft Cardstock by The Paper Studio
Green & Aqua Cardstock by D.C.W.V.
Moonlight White Brilliance Ink Pad
Nonsense Patterned Paper Pad by We R Memory Keepers
Circle cut with Nesties by Spellbinders
#1 Dad cut with my Cricut and the Celebrate with Flourish Cartridge
Pop Dots (used to raise #1 Dad image)

I hope you enjoyed this fun card. I really love the Celebrate with Flourish Cartridge it has so many fun images!!! Have a wonderful day and try to create something!!!

A Fantabulous Day!!!

Last month I attended Heather's C.T.M.H. Splendor Workshop on the Go. We made 4 super cute layouts (two 2 page layouts) and when I got home I made another TWO LAYOUTS with supplies left over!!! So I decided to make a fun card with my Cricut.



I cut the bear at 3" from Create a Critter along with her sweet little dress. I stamped her face and then added detail with my gel pen & chalk. She had to have a little blush! I "bling'd" up her dress with some self-adhesive jewels and added a flower for her head. I LOVE LOVE LOVE how she turned out.

Supplies Used:
Create a Critter Cricut Cartridge
All Shades of Brown Cardstock Open Stock Hobby Lobby
All other papers from Splendor Workshop on the Go Kit - Close to My Heart (C.T.M.H.)
Peachy Keen Stamps Critter Faces Stamp Set
Pebbles Inc. Shimmer Pearlescent Chalks
Gelly Roll White Gel Pen
Orange Flower C.T.M.H.
"have a fantabulous day" stamp by Stamping Bella
Memento Rich Cocoa Ink Pad
Brilliance Moonlight White Ink Pad
Jewels from Dollar Mart (local Dollar Store)

Needless to say, but if you don't have Create a Critter - GET IT! Have a great day & try to CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Love is in the Air

Today I wanted to share a card that I made with my Cricut & Peachy Keen Stamps. I was inspired to make this card after visiting Andrea's blog Work in Progress back in June. I really fell in love with the digital stamp she used, but couldn't find it for purchase on the designer's website. So I decided I would use my Peachy Keen stamps and my Cricut and make it myself.



This was my first attempt at adding detail to a Cricut cut with pens and stamps. I used a Gelly Roll White Pen to color the eyes. And a Black Le Pen (Hobby Lobby) to add the dashes and dots to the umbrella.

I think it turned out pretty cute. It needs a little something else, but I wasn't sure what yet. I may end up adding three brads along the corner of the white panel the umbrella is on for some added dimension.

Inside I stamped a Unity Stamp Company Sentiment "Love is in the Air".

Supplies Used:
Blue & Pink Cardstocks by Close to My Heart (unsure of exact colors)
Distress Pink Patterned Paper by Junkitz
White Cardstock Georgia Pacific
Black Cardstock from Hobby Lobby Open Stock papers
Face Stamp Peachy Keen Stamps PK-493 Everyday Character Face Parts 3" to 4"
Umbrella cut at 3" from Create a Critter Cricut Cartridge
Hearts cut at 1/4" from George Cricut Cartridge

Hope you enjoyed this fun project today, have a good one and try to CREATE SOMETHING!!!

BBQ Birthday

Last week I had heard the rumors of new Cricut Cartridges at Wal-Mart. So my wonderful husband took me and we purchased my first Cricut Lite cartridge. I got Block Party because of the fun grilling images on the cartridge. Keith mentioned he needed a birthday card for his boss, so I knew I would use this cartridge to make it (Keith is a culinary manager for a restaurant). As soon as we got home I went right into the scrapbook room and started cutting images.

I decided to make a 6" x 6" card. Here is the front of the card - I used a transparency for the BBQ bottle. The "here's whats cookin...." stamp was PERFECT! The chef was cut at 4 1/2" and the BBQ bottle was cut at 3 3/4". The chef layered easily, but the pieces were still PRETTY tiny, and was not the best cut I ever did. The spatula was especially tricky, I think it could have been the paper I was using.

I added a little pig from the cart to the inside for some additional fun.

You can see my layers, the pop dotted little chef just added the right "umph"! :o)

Supplies:
Green CS by DCWV
Black CS by Hobby Lobby
All other papers from my stash (I think the patterned paper is American Crafts)
Pop Dots by The Paper Studio
Here's whats cookin & birthday stamps by Unity Stamp company
it's & your stamps by The Angel Company
Black Soot Distress Ink Pad

Thanks for stopping by, hope you enjoyed my first Cricut Lite project! :O)

Leaving the Cocoon Cards

A week or so ago I posted some cards on my blog that had butterflies on them. My blog posts to facebook and one of my friends asked if she could easily make some of the cards. She is involved with Leaving the Cocoon Ministries, and their symbol is the butterfly. I had seen her post about the ministry and knew a little of what it was about, and so I told her I would make her some cards to send. Hoping that what is part of my therapy for my O.C.D. will bring joy to someone and encourage them in their love for the Lord.

Here are just two of the many cards I made for her.


Supplies:
Serenade Cricut Cartridge (butterflies)
Patterned Papers JoAnn's Essentials Card Stack, CTMH & KI Memories
Black & Purple CS are from my stash
Georgia Pacific White CS
Dusty Concord Distress Ink Pad
Just Because I Care stamp by Stampin' Up

I had such a wonderful time making these cards, I am planning to find more ministries I can contribute to. If you know of one in need please leave me a comment. Have a wonderful day & try to CREATE something!

Throwback Thursday Challenge

Emma Aguilar from My Creative Time issued a challenge on Thursday to all her followers. The challenge was to make a project using your Cricut with an ANIMAL theme. You can click on the link above to go see her video and project she made. I did not have the cartridge Emma used, but I decided to break out my "new" to me Paper Pups cartridge (Ebay score for $10!!!) I made the little spotted pup into a card - how cute is he???

Supplies Used:
Paper Pups Cricut Cartridge
Paper Studio Black CS
Tan Textured CS unknown
Georgia Pacific White CS

Forever Young Cricut Cartridge Cards

Since my Cricut was a Christmas present from my Mom, I wanted to make her Mother's Day card with a cut from the Cricut. I decided on the elegant ladies of Forever Young. I made a card for my Mother-in-law as well. but I changed up the papers to make it a little different.




The ladies and their dresses were cut at 3 3/4", she is on p. 43 of the booklet. I chose her because her dress reminded me of pictures I have seen of my Mom in the fifties.

The "scalloped circle" is actually the flower on p. 66 of the booklet. The ribbon matches much better in real life, and on the card with the more flowery pattern it pulls the blue out of that dress cut.




Supplies:
Forever Young Cricut Cartridge
Classic K Bailey Paper Pad by K & Co. Patterned Papers
Black & Red Cardstock from my stash
Green 6x6 cards by DCWV
CTMH Classmate Alphabet (happy, day)
Angel Company unknown set (mother's)
Black Soot Distress Ink pad
Black Glitter Flower by Prima
Ribbon unknown

These lovely ladies cut so nicely and layered easily. I will be using this cartridge A LOT MORE! Have a great weekend, enjoy the sunshine and CREATE SOMETHING!!!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! (yes I know it is April....)

So I am a little (LOT) late posting these....so I'll just get right to it!


These are two of my swap for my stamping group's Valentine Postcard Swap.


Supplies:
Close to My Heart Cardstock (pink & red both retired colors)
Black CS is DCWV
Basic Grey Bittersweet 6"x6" pad
Cricut Love Struck Seasonal Cartridge (heart)
Distressed Hearts Background by Unity Stamp Company
Sentiment is cut from a piece of paper I got at Hobby Lobby (unknown manufactorer)


















This was our Valentine's surprise when we woke up. Valentine's Day is always a day Keith has to work being in the Restaurant business. So we peeked at our presents, went to church and then he had to go to work. We went to dinner the next night to celebrate. :o)


This was the card I made for Keith.
Supplies:
KI Memories Kiss Me Collection Papers
Trees stamp is by Unity Stamp Company, it was in a kit of the month and the kit is listed as KOM-9 on their site
you + me = happy sentiment from Unity Stamp Company you + me = happy set
Trees were colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with OMS (Odorless Mineral Spirits)

This is part of Keith's present, though I doubt he will use it. Last Spring we had our pictures made for the church directory and I used a wallet sized to make him this sweet little momento.

Supplies are KI Memories Kiss me Paper Collection

I tried a new format with the post today, and am not sure I like it, so we'll see. Thanks for stopping by. NOW GO CREATE SOMETHING!!!