Growing More Beautiful Each Year!!!

This is one of my newest creations. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

First I used the Strait from the Nest cartridge to cut the tree, and the Storybook cartridge for the flourishes in the top and bottom left corners.

I printed the "Happy Birthday" sentiment in French Script font and shaped it into a Banner, then took a metallic silver gel pen and wrote over the sentiment, and pop-dotted it. I also made silver dots around the edge of the sentiment. It turned out rather well, I'd say, but it didn't photograph well.

The large blue half-cartouche I made by tracing a page of a blank chipboard album. I used an adhesive pearl to give it a finished touch!

 The card is 12"x7"; I scored it at 5" and at 10". In doing this it creates an extra 2" flap. 

The sentiment on the flap says "Like a tree, you continue to grow more beautiful with each year passing! And the inside says "And with each passing year that you grow, the more beautiful life becomes!" I printed all the sentiments from my computer, using French Script font.

Again, I used the Strait From the Nest cart to cut the tree branch for the inside of the card.

Overall, I felt that it turned out quite nicely. :)

SIX Blogger Awards!!!!!!

Needless to say, I've been slacking a little bit lately. Sorry, ladies. :(  I decided today would be a good snowed in day to post my new blogger awards and give my thanks to the ladies who have awarded me with these awesome awards. 

Thank you Lauren @  Scrappin' with LaLa,  Carol @ 3 Kid Crop Shop, and I'm Black Martha for awarding with me with the Stylish Blogger Awards!!! And Thanks to Janet @ Paper Hoot, Gina @ Gina's Crafting Spot, and I'm Black Martha for the Liebster Awards!!! I greatly appreciate it ladies!!!! Be sure to check all of these talented and inspiring Crafters out! They are fabulous!!!

For this award I will need to pay it forward to 8 ppl and let ya know 8 things you don't already know about me.

My picks for this award are:

1. Victoria @ Victoria's Junk 

2. Gina @ Gina's Crafting Spot

3. Love that Bug

4. Donna @ Diary of a Scrapbook Addict

5. Tammy @ Scrappy Critters

6.Tiara @ ImaCraftySista

7. Jovan @ Cards by Jovan

8. Capri's Delights

8 Things You Don't Know About Me:

1. I am the youngest of 5 girls.

2. I don't have any kids or pets.

3. I love hazelnut coffee creamer, but I drink my coffee black most of the time.

4. I wish it would stop snowing in Ohio.

5. I don't know what I would do without post-its!!  LOL.

6. I need more craft stuff--EVERYTHING! hehe...

7. I am a PC.

8. Shiny things distract me...HAHA.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Once again, I was also awarded the Liebster Blog Award by Janet @ Paper Hoot, Gina @ Gina's Crafting Spot, and I'm Black Martha!!! Check them out and become a follower!  They're pretty awesome!  THANK YOU, again ladies!!!!!!

As a recipient of this award 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
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!

My picks for this award are:

1. Chrisine @ Scrap Pickul

2. Martha @ The Card Boutigue

3. Tracy @ Criuct Junkie Too

4. Shelly @ My Paper Love

5. Angela @ Krafting with Kings

Congratulations!!!!

I've been eying these scissors from the Sentimentals cart for quite some time and finally got to use them because my friend recently got a new job as a hair stylist!! YAY!! :)Unfortunately, the card did not photograph very well.  The paper that looks pink is really a light shade of purple.

Again the scissors and the mirror were cut using the Sentimentals cart. I used a congrats stamp directly on the reflective paper and then covered it with a piece of a transparency, so the stamp wouldn't scratch off.  I used a bunch of adhesive gemstones on the mirror and scissors.

I decided to make the card an easel card.

 

I used glittery silver ribbon. As you can see I embossed a 4"x5" sheet of black paper with the Sizzex Cheetah embossing folder.

The sentiment on the inside of the card says "To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.
The picture below photographed well; you can see the purple paper rather well.

I meant for the card to be a little on the wild side, but not over the top. I think I succeeded. :)

A Little Bird Told Me...

I'm in love with this creation!!! It's not your typical "new baby boy" card.

Using the Strait from the Nest cart, I cut out the 3 separate nests in 3 different sizes, and pop-dotted them together to give the nest some depth. The "Little Bird Told Me" sentiment was cut using the Just Because cart.

On the inside of the card it says ". . . That you will soon be welcoming a 'new egg' to the nest! Congratulations!" I typed up the sentiment and printed it out.

The border cuts were cut using the Strait from the Nest cart. It was one whole border that I cut in half, so I may put the cuts on both sides.

It is simple, but adorable!!

Hugz,
Ash

You Make Me Melt Valentine

This is the Valentine I created for my boyfriend this year. 

The "You Make Me Melt" sentiment was cut using the Just Because Cart, and the heart from the Plantin Schoolbook cart. I drew the bite marks on the back of the heart with a pencil and then cut it out. I  used a real Popsicle stick and then pop-dotted the heart. I also hand-cut the little drops. 

The melting edge of gray striped paper was made using a Martha Stewart border punch.

My First Liebster Blog Award!!

I feel very honored to have received an award from a very talented and creative person named Patty at Creative Diva. It is called the Liebster Blog Award.

Please take a moment to visit her awesome blog and become a follower. She is an incredbile and very talented lady. It shows me that her and other bloggers enjoy my blog. Thank you again.
Therefore, without further ado I am here to honor 3-5 others to bring awareness to other wonderful blogs. The Liebster Blog award is given to bring new blogs to light. 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
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!

Please show these lovely & talented crafters some much deserved love.
Your support means so much to them. Some days it is just the jolt they need to get their creative juices flowing.

Here are my picks:

1. My Sis Angie @ My Paper Productions

2. Faith Abigail @ Faith-Abigail Designs
3. Jenn @ Craftyful Gardens
4. Sherrie K. @ Sherrie Scraps with Passion
5. LaLa @ Scrappin' with LaLa


Again, please take the time to visit these wonderful ladies and be amazed with their wonderful creativity to the love of crafting. Follow their blogs. Show them some love and support!

THREE BLOGGER AWARDS!!! You could be a winner!!!

Sorry, I've been MIA for a while. :( But I'm back and ready for action!!! LOL

Wow! I'm so honored to have received THREE Stylish Blogger Awards from Angie over at My Paper Production, Donna at Donna's Dream Works, and Joni at Just Counting. They are super sweet and talented! Check out their fabulous projects!

I'm humbled to be one of the many amazingly and talented ladies. You'll want to visit all of them and follow. They all do great projects!

Upon receiving this award I must thank the person who gave this to me and link it back to their blog and share 8 things about myself. Also, pass along the award to 8 other individuals that I have recently discovered, and leave a comment so that they can pass along the recognition. I swear I have anxiety over having to choose 24 blogs and 24 things about myself. LOL  I'm really quite boring. :) So I am going to stick with 10 blogs and 10 things about myself. That's OK right??

I've recently found some really talented crafters. Here are 10 of their blogs in no particular order for you to check out:


My sis Angie @ My Paper Productions
Christy @ Christy Blade Hand Made


Mary @ Mare Bear Scraps
Diana @ Daisy Love Creations
The Knit Machine Queen
Crafty Jar
Janet @ Paper Hoot
Kim @ Kimiz Kraftz
Patty @ Creative Diva
Amber @ My 3E Scrapbooking


10 facts about me:

1.) I am first generation American. My father came her from Czechoslovakia when he was 31, back in the 70's. I am very proud of all that he has been through, just so my sisters and I could have all the opportunities  we could ever want.

2.) Cricutting is my new found addiction!!!

3.) I plan to go back to grad school once I obtain real world experience.

4.) My fav color is green

5.) I LOVE SEAFOOD, especially sushi!!!

6.) My boyfriend Marc and I have been together for 2 yrs. and he is wonderful!

7.) I enjoy cooking, but I hate to bake.

8.) I am currently searching for a position in marketing, but would love to have a career that involves my cricut. :)


9.) My fav movie is Gone with the Wind.



10.) I love music, especially the Black-eyed peas, Jack Johnson, Lily Allen and many more!!

Thanks again to Donna, Joni, and Angie!!!!

Hugz,
Ash

Stylish Blogger Awards

So within this past week I have received 3 Stylish Blogger Awards! Yes, 3! I promise I will get to them this week, but I have a few, possible career launching interviews this week which is where my focus is...But I greatly appreciate each of them!!! I would just like to send a quick thanks to those ladies whom have nominated me:      My sis Angie over at My Paper Production, Donna at Donna's Dream Works, and Joni at Just Counting
Thank you so much ladies!!!! If you (my followers) get a chance you should check out their beautiful blogs and fabulous creations!!! And If any of my followers would like a stylish blogger award leave me a comment:) I have 24 blogs I must choose!!!

Hugz,
Ash

A Royal Valentine

This card turned out super cute and girly. The crown cut came from the Potpourri Basket cart. I drew the heart, cut it out, and then mounted it onto the crown. As you can see I got a bit carried away with the gems and pearls, but it is a crown and should be all bling-ed out. LOL! The pearls around the crown are supposed to be a pearl necklace.

The paper I used for the crown has a shimmery sheen to it, and the pink base is super sparkly! I used the Friskars Romantique corner punch on the base and on the inside, as well. The sentiment is a Studio G stamp, that I trimmed up.

On the inside of the card, I used another Studio G stamp for the sentiment and another Friskars corner punch.

Overall, I think it turned out super fun and girly, and it didn't take very long to create. :)

The Nutty Valentine Squirrel

I'm super happy with how this card turned out. It is my very first easel card!!! So I'm pretty excited about it. :)

I began with the little squirrel from the Create a Critter cart and pop-dotted it to the base. The little heart she is holding is a glittery brad; I also used one on the inside of the card. Her little bow is actually recycled from my Victoria Secret's perfume bottle.

Once again I used a paper that did not photograph well, but the off-white base is a sheet from the pre-embossed K&Co. Elegance Collection stack. It has a bunch of little flowers embossed on it-super cute. :)

The "Nuts About You" sentiment and the acorns were cut using the Just Because cart. I used red glitter glue for the tops of the little acorns. The sentiment and the acorns are pop-dotted.






The cuts, both on the inside and outside of the card which the sentiments are placed on, were just normal squares and rectangles that I used a pair of Studmark Royal craft scissors for the decorative edges.

The Happy Valentine's Day Sentiment is a Clear Studio G Stamp.

I think it turned out so super cute and I hope you think so too. :)

Hugz,
Ash

Scrappy Scavenger's Awesome Cartridge Giveaway!!!

Go to Scrappy Scavenger's blog to win this cart!!  She wants to get to 500 followers...

A Chinese Thank You!

I've had my eye on my Pagoda cartridge for a while now, and finally decided to use it for a Thank You card.

Xie Xie Ni is Chinese for Thank You. I printed the sentiment from my computer and cut it down to the ideal size, and used a round corner punch on it.

I used gold colored brads in the bottom right hand corner to embellish the card a little more.

I cut the bonsai tree from the Pagoda cart. I used a Cuddlebug embossing folder to emboss the shimmery red paper.

I googled Thank you quotes to find a profound and wise sentiment for the inside and found a Chinese Proverb. It says "When eating bamboo sprouts remember the man who planted them." I thought the proverb was quite appropriate for the card and rolled with it.










Then I used the Pagoda cart to cut the bamboo on the inside. I'm pretty happy with the overall turnout. It's "out of the box" for me...

I also decided to enclose a picture of the paper I used as a base for the front of the card, since I knew it wouldn't photograph well. It has a really cool Asian pattern, and is the reason for my choice of colors for the card.

Queen of my Craftroom Giveaway!!!

Check out Queen of my Craftroom's Giveaway!!!!