Shabby Chic meets Monday with Magnolia

Hi ya friends,
WOW! It has been raining like crazy here in So Cal. Good-bye 75 degree weather :( Well, today I have a card for 3 challenges:
{Simon Says Challenge: Shabby Chic Style
{Just Magnolia Challenge: A Thank You card
{MOJO Monday Sketch Challenge; Sketch 122

                               (I flipped the sketch for my card :)

Here it is:

Here's a peek of the inside:

I don't think the Shabby Chic style is for me. It's so muted & I like color. I used my fav Tilda (mini-me) again. Sorry, I do have other Tildas, but this one just screamed Shabby Chic. I also used some of my fav papers from the Lily Kate Collection. I have been hoarding these papers for SO LONG & refused to use them b/c they're just so pretty. But, I made a resolution to use my pretty papers & I did :) I only wept for a little bit while I cut into the papers :(  Don't judge me! I know lots of you have done the same thing. So hoarders of the world UNITE!!! Let's use our pretty things together :)

Only 3 days until CHA!!!! I'm like that old commercial where the woman has her hands on the glass door saying, "Open! Open! Open!" ---> that's me right now!

Thanks for peekin' at my triple scoop card. Ummm, that reminds me I have some gelato in the freezer callin' my name.
Gotta Go!

The 411

Stamps: Tilda in hat sitting, Short & Sweet -SU!
Ink: Rich Cocoa- Memento, Creamy Caramel- SU!
Paper: Lily Kate- BasicGrey, Pink Pirouette-SU!, Vintage Cream -PTI
Tools: Oval Nesties, Lace Border Punch- MS, Curly Label Punch -SU 
Other: Copics, pearls- Kaiser, ribbon

Scrapbook Expo Review

Hi friends,
I wanted to answer a few questions regarding my "10 Reasons Why I Love Johnny" layout. My hubby & I have an understanding. Between the hours of 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. (my waking hours) I am all his. But come 10:01 p.m through 5:59 a.m. (my dreaming hours), I am free to spend my time with Johnny. Occasionally, my hubby sneaks in during my Johnny time, but it's OK, I guess. That's what keeps the peace & love in our relationship. That & maybe the fact that I didn't show him my Johnny Scrapbook page! :0 (Hee! Hee!)

Today I've got some of the goodies I picked up at the Scrapbook Expo this weekend.

I *tried* to be good :) and I was... I only got things I really wanted, that were unique/unusual, & that I couldn't just find anywhere near me. I finally got my hands on some T!M grunge paper!!! Now I'm going to try his gorgeous roses :) I also got a couple more of his goodies, 2 new EFs, a new pack of BasicGrey paper, a fun stamp (more on that later b/c that will get its own post), a new template, Spellbinders dies, and a matching Violet stamp set (this was pretty cool).

Here's how that works:

These stamps were created to work with the Spellbinder dies. See how the die fits perfectly over the flower image? Now you can get even more detail! Pretty cool, eh.

I also bought these Pinecone Press kits that I have been wanting:

These are the Make- n- Takes I made:

3 Scrapbook pages, a necklace, & a pocket card.

I'll show you the Scrapbook pages later b/c I still haven't completed the second page of each design. They're so super cute!

But here's the necklace:

OMG! This took like 5 minutes to make! I couldn't believe how easy & how beautiful the final product was. I'm so making some for gifts :)

Here's the pocket card:

Make-n-Takes are one of my favorite things to do (shopping is up there too :)

As you can see, I did my part to help the economy ;) And I really did try to be good because...
-----> CHA is this weekend!!!!!!!!
I'm a little excited as you can see :) I CANNOT WAIT!!!! I'm hoping to meet Anna Griffin. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her things. She is my favorite designer. She has such an eye for designs, patterns, & color. T!M is another one I can't wait to meet. If I can't get close enough to meet them, seeing them in person is good enough for me :)

Thanks for letting me share my new goodies. The countdown for CHA begins! 4 days to go!
Gotta Go!

Cricut Tip

Howdy Friends!
Today I'm sharing a Cricut cutting tip with ya. If you're a newbie Cricuteer, you have to know that you'll probably have to test your cuts. I know, what a bummer, but it's better that you know the truth from the start. If you're a seasoned Cricuteer, you already know you need to test your intended cut because 3 inches looks different cart to cart. Well, this can be a big problem as it can create a waste of cardstock. My tip is simply this: I use regular copy paper. As a matter of fact, I use my printer rejects. You know the ones where AFTER I've printed, I realized I messed up somewhere. So instead of putting it in the round file (trash can), I use it to test cuts on my Cricut. I use a very loved mat- one that won't hold down cardstock, but has a little life left in it.
Here's my current loved mat:

Make sure to press down the edges of the paper. 
Cut settings: Speed: High (for non-intricate cuts) Pressure: Med
This is what has worked for me. You may want to try out whether Medium or High speed works better with your mat. For intricate cuts, I cut at Med.

Here's the result:

I can decide if this will work or if I need to resize. I don't throw out my test cuts either. I take them to school & give them to my kiddos. They love to color them & do whatever with them at home. The test cuts are special treats in my room! (Hee! Hee!) Ultimate trash to treasure!

When the mat is truly RIP, I don't throw it out either. I take it to my classroom & use it as a splash mat & for art projects. It's a sturdy little thing & it can take a beating. We clean them with a little soap & water.

I hope these simple little tips will help you save your cardstock & money. Kermit was way off. It IS easy being green! (recycling, at least :)

I'm so excited that I'll be spending this weekend at the Scrapbook Expo & next weekend at CHA! YAAAAAAAAAY!!! I'm loving 2010 already! I'll *try* to be good ;)
Gotta Go!

10 Reasons Why I Love Johnny

Hi there friends!
Today I have a fun Scrapbook layout for ya :) I'm not an avid scrapbooker, but I have wanted to get going. YMH is sponsoring Sketchy Thursdays and there are some goodies up for grabs! You simply need to play along with this sketch:

 So using this fab sketch for my first page of the year, I bring you...
"10 Reasons Why I Love Johnny"

The Deets:
I punched a border around the base paper (black) & adhered the patterned paper on top. I cut the label and the number 10 with Ashlyn's Alphabet Cart on my Cricut. The heart, lips, "love" title, and the heart border underneath it with the Love Struck Cart.
Here's a closer peek at the page:

The journaling reads: 10 reasons why I love Johnny
My boyfriend Johnny is:
super talented,
he's hot,
smart,
he's hot,
charming,
he's hot,
down to earth,
he's hot,
interesting,
and... he's the SEXIEST man alive!

Be still my heart----> luuuv him! Stop by the Sketchy Thursday blog for all the deets. YMH is having 20% off EVERYTHING in the store for the entire month of January! That's Cricut, Cuttlebug, Prima, Dew Drops, Bind-it-All & more. That coupon is good for anything in the store including clearance items. There is also FREE shipping (to the U.S.) on any order over $50. Use code JAN20 at the check out.

Thanks so much for peeking today! So glad you did :)
Gotta Go!

Sunflower Wishes 4 Glitterbees

Hi there friends,
Today I have a card for the Glitterbees Challenge. This time Tami is our hostess with the mostest & she has issued this sketch:

So here's my card:

The Deets:
I stuck with the sketch for the most part, just didn't add the ribbon. I thought I had enough embellies on my card. Much like donuts, you gotta know when to say when :) One of my New Year's Resolutions (that I haven't broken just yet ;) is to use the toys I have. I have toys I've never even played with! I know, bad Karli :( So I used this Sunflower Spellbinders die I've had for the longest & haven't used. I highlighted it with Dusty Durango & More Mustard. The sunflower embossing folder isn't new. It's the Petals-a-Plenty (SU!) embossing folder that I used loads of times as poinsettias. I turned them into little sunflowers :) & colored them with Copics. The main image is Birgitta with Sunflower by CC Designs. Her wings are glitterfied.

Thanks so much for peekin' today! To see all the glitterbees' creations with this sketch, and to participate too, click ---> HERE. Happy Humpday (Wednesday, OK!)
Gotta Go!

The 411:

Stamps: Birgitta with Sunflower (digi)

Paper: White, SEI Bridgeport, Yukon Gold- Bazzill, Close to cocoa SU!

Ink: More Mustard, Dusty Durango

Accessories: Copics, Dew Drops, Sunflower Spellbinders Die, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder- SU!, Cinnamon Stickles

Enjoy the Ride & Enabling News

Howdy Friends,
Today I have a card I created for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch Challenge & for Just Magnolia Challenge (Paper Pleating). So here's the Mojo Sketch:

Here's my card:

The Deets:
I masked mini-me (aka Tilda- wink ;) so she's sitting on the swing. I colored her with Copics and added Tim Holtz Distress Crackle paint to the seat. I paper pleated the strip of patterned paper that runs along the top & adhered this leaf ribbon on top of it. I have to say, I love the look of paper pleating & I so have to do this more often. I added some Prima flowers with a pearl to the circles. The sentiment comes from Everyday Button Bits (PTI) & the DP is retired SU!
Copics: RV23, RV34, YG03, YG23, E27, E33, C1
Skin: EOOO, E00, E11, R20
Hair: E31, E25, E29

Now for some enabling...
OK, HSN has crafting shows on today & I was watching :) To do my part to help the economy, I jumped on the world launch of 6 new Cuttlebug embossing folders. They're called "Romance Collection" and as the name implies, they're super perfect for V-Day. Click on the link if you want to check them out ---> HERE!
I missed the last set of beautiful folders HSN had as a world launch, but luckily I won them at Shelly's blog candy :) OK, so my public service announcement/good deed for the day is done. Have fun crafting!
Gotta Go!

Baby, I'm a Star!

Hola Friends,
Hope ya had a great weekend! Today I have a card for the Sweet Dreamer's Sketch Challenge (Sketch by Marti) and Cinema Saturday Challenge (Add a Star).
Here are the two challenges:

 

 Here's my card:

I know, very colorful card! But it's going to a girl who lives out loud, so I think it might fit her personality :)
The Deets:
I threaded yellow ribbon through the little holes in the white ribbon (I thought it looked cute!) & added yellow blingies. The star image was cut out on my Cricut with the Home Decor Cart. It looks glittery, but it's not. It's actually this beautiful Iridescent Gold paper that (depending on the light) shines yellows, greens, & pinks. So pretty! I punched out two little stars & adhered them to the swirls. Can't say I love the Pattern Paper though :(

Thanks for peekin' today. I'm off to get ready for a new week.
Gotta Go!