"f" wooden door hanger.

My cute friend Rachel wanted a wooden door hanging so I made her one. :)

Used Maya Road banners for her last name, punchinella for the stars with a blue-ish Ranger Distress ink.

{BANNERS} away and my 100th post!

Today begins the first day of the {new} CropChocolate.com blog hop!  Each of my girls are going to have a Banner project to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing!  I am actually the beginning of the hop so you've come to the right place!  

I honestly REALLY struggled with this project.  I thought about doing a banner shaped mini album.  Then I was going to do this, and that - I couldn't settle on something that I liked.  I started looking around at room ideas for my baby's 2nd birthday "big girl" room, and I decided I wanted to make something to go on her door with her new colors.  This is what I came up with.

1.  I started off with a raw-wood "N", some chipboard banners from Maya Road, white paint, So Happy Together by Echo Park, mod podge, Black Soot distress ink, random letter stickers, Black embossing powder, random stamp and embossing ink, and Charcoal Twine from The Twinery.

2.  I started off by painting 5 banner pieces white.  While those dried, I traced the "N" out of the paper, glued down, inked the edges, and mod podged the paper down onto the piece of wood.

3.  After the white paint had dried, I took my Crop-a-Dile Big Bite and punched 2 holes in each banner piece, randomly inked them, and then threaded the black twine through them.  I draped the banner across the "N" until I was happy with where it fell, then tied it off on both ends.  I took the stickers and stuck them down on each banner and then put a light coat of MP over them for extra sticking power.

4.  I wanted more of a black "pop" so I heat embossed 2 flowers onto the "N".

At this point, I wanted to do more to it.  I wanted to add flowers or glitter or something - because that's what I do.  I went against the "norm" and left it alone.  Gotta say - it's one of my favorite projects and I can't wait to get it hung on her door!!  

Now, to the fun stuff. :)

I have this goodie bag of trims for a random drawing for those that eave a comment and follow my blog. :)

Then, I will be drawing for a {SURPRISE} piece of blog candy as a gift to you for my 100th post. :)

I'll draw them both on 7/31. :)

Now, if you're here to play along with the blog hop here's where you need to go next:

Christina

I've seen her projects for this hop (and everything else she does, too!!) and they're SO dang cute!

Once you get to the end, there'll be instructions where to go for the "main" prize.  

The blog hop ends Monday, 7/30 @ 8am MST so make sure you get to steppin' by then!

Happy Hopping!!

Amber

mother's day gift

CropChocolate Valentines Day Blog Hop! :)

welcome blog hoppers!!


if you've randomly come across my blog and want to join the hop, please start at Beth's Blog and make your way through!

thanks for joining us in our Valentines Day Blog Hop!  you've just seen some AWESOME cutes on Karen's Blog - isn't she awesome??  

for my project, I had this darling little pink Christmas tree that I didn't get put up in time for Christmas.  being it was pink, I knew I had to Valentines Day it up!

There are 3 parts to this tree, and they are EASY PEASY!!  For all of the decorations (except the ornaments) I used My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad of Love Me.  

For the Tree Topper, I used my Slice and Applique Basics card to cut 2, 4" hearts.  I inked the edges with Walnut Stain distress ink (my go to brown ink!) and then using my sewing machine, I sewed them together leaving about 1/2 in on each side at the bottom in order to place on the tree.  I took Crystal Stickles and put them on the outside as well to add some bling. :)

Next I created the paper garland.  I cut random pieces of the papers in 1(ish) inch increments.  Wrapped into a circle, and stapled.  Just like you did in elementary school.

Lastly, I did the ornaments.  All they are is 3 red, white and pink buttons strung together on some random twine. :)

You could really do this for all different seasons and holidays!  A fun way to add some fun spirit into your home. :)

Now, for the good stuff!

First, leave a comment and follow my blog!!
After you do that, you will now need to go to TheCrop on CropChocolate.com and leave a comment for your chance to win one of 2 monthly kits {your choice!}, sponsored by WeScrap!  They are doing an Online Crop all weekend so check out this link to join in on all of the fun!
We will be drawing for the kit winners on February 1, 2012.

hop!

love is...

turkey time!

We are going to my SIL's house for Thanksgiving and I wanted to make a few holiday cutes to decorate the table with.  

I have several boxes of envelopes laying around that I'll probably never use so I thought this would make a great, {simple} place setting!

You can also make them by following these simple steps:

1.  Take any size of envelope and seal the opening shut.

2.  Cut about 1/2 in off of in the same area where you would place the stamp at if you were mailing a letter. 

3.  Place your silverware (and candy cane!!) in and make sure you're happy with the length of the envelope.

4.  Distress the edges of the envelope once you're happy with the size.

5.  Embellish as you see fit!  I used my Cricut Create a Critter cart to make the cute little Turkey, and rub ons from Doodlebug for the name, and basic twine tied around it.

See?  Easy as pie!  Pumpkin, even. ;)

bug's birthday.

my little girl turns 1 today, and we celebrated for her on Sunday.  Here's the decorations that I did for her.

halloween challenge #1 - accomplished!

Cheap frames, cheap paper, a spider punch and what do you get?

Halloween cuteness!!

I plan on hanging these on a blank wall in my front room and switching out the paper/theme for each season/holiday. 

october.

October brings lots of changes and fun to where I live.  The weather changes - we had snow (yes - that awesome 4-letter word that I truly love!!), my sweet husband and I have an anniversary, and my sweet Bug and son have birthday's on the same day.  

One thing I'm challenging myself with this year is to actually get into Halloween.  I've hated Halloween ever since I was little.  I don't do costumes.  I don't know where this comes from.  I do like Haunted Houses and Corn Mazes, however - but that's it.  My little girl is going to be Pebbles Flinstone for her first {REAL} Halloween.  Super excited to make her costume. :)

Tonight as I was cleaning, I embraced this holiday and put some little decorations up in my house.  This is the centerpiece on my dining table.  It makes me happy just looking at it.  

My talented mother made the table runner.  :)

I'm going to make 4 Halloween-related crafts this month.  Hold me to it.  I'll post my progress. :)

xoxo Amber

addiction = creativity.

I admit it.  I'm addicted to Pinterest.  Is there a support group for this??

I came across this cute little weekly planner via this website:

It's a collage of picture frames that you use a dry erase marker on the glass to write your plans on!  Genius!

And decided I needed to make my own.  Here's what I ended up with:

 And here's a closer shot of the days/title:

{LOVED} making this!

xoxo Amber

pop culture and crafting - it doesn't get better than that!!

I decided to jump out on a limb and try out for a Design Team.  Sure - I run one, but I've never been a {TRUE} designer on one before.  I look at the girls on my DT and think they're {SO} amazing and talented.  I can only hope to be in the likes of them one day. :)  

Culture Shock is a new pop culture challenge blog.  My friends and family know that I'm 100% up to date on all of the celebrity smut and current happenings of the rich and famous, so I thought this may be a perfect fit for me.  I'm completely addicted to reality TV - seriously.  It's my guilty pleasure.  And I love to craft.  Pop culture and crafting - it doesn't get better than that!!  ok - MAYBE throw in a glass (or 2??) of wine and that would make it better.  

The challenge was to create a project around "Texting".  It's kinda funny how I came up with my project.  I absolutely {LOATHE} the word (or non-word??) LUV.  Do <3 or write out the whole 4 letters of LOVE.  I decided to try to be more accepting of this lovely 3-letter word and make my project around it.  

This is an 8x8 piece of canvas that I distressed using Tim Holtz's Distress Stain in Spun Sugar, and Distress Ink in Black Soot.  Used a random piece of pink dotted paper to mat my little subject on.  2 pink Doodlebug flowers, and a black blingy flower from Making Memories.  The lettering is also glitter foam stickers from Making Memories.  2 blingy flowers on the black ribbon from Bazzill, and random black and white ribbon to add some texture and dimension to it.  

I'm very happy with how this turned out and I hope you (and Culture Shock!!) enjoys it as well. :)

xoxo Amber

week 6 challenge - ode to school.

Some of the girls at my work do weekly challenges, and I thought I'd join in on the fun this week.  

We had to create a project using this recipe:

Navy as your main color (pattern or cardstock) - Check!

Yellow as your accent (pattern or cardstock) - Check!

Twine - Check!

Buttons - Check!

A star (chipboard, a stamp, pattern paper, however you want to add it) and last but not least - Check!

A school or office product that you might not normally use for scrapbooking or cardmaking (a paper clip, elastic bands, bulldog clip, index card, staples, etc.~ use your imagination!!) - Check! (Pens)

Here's what I came up with:

Try it for yourself and see what {YOU} come up with!

xoxo Amber

cute, cute!!

My little girl is turning 1 in a little over a month.  Bittersweet...she's so much fun but she's growing up!  

I've decided to go all out for her birthday party and make all of the decorations myself.  

Here's the start of the banner:

I've decided to use Lime Twist Happy-Go-Lucky and Create-a-Critter cartridge for the Cricut to make it a monkey theme.

Definitely more to follow, but I'm so excited at how cute this is turning out that I had to share the beginning. :)  

xoxo, Amber

coasters.

My Focus Group does a mini-challenge every month, and this month Paula was in charge of it.

Here's the picture we were supposed to use as inspiration:

and here is what I came up with:

I made these 4x4 coasters for my front room.  Here's the recipe:

1.  Get ceramic tiles from a home improvement store.  I got these from Home Depot for $.16/ea!

2.  Cut your paper down to 3.75 x 3.75.

3.  Stamp and emboss your choice of image onto the paper.  Let COMPLETELY dry.

4.  BEFORE you embellish the paper, spread mod podge on the tile and place your main paper down.

5.  Embellish your coaster as desired.  

6.  Place a final coat of MP over the entire project.  

7.  Once dry, spray a coat of clear acrylic over the top to seal them.  

8.  On the back, hot glue a 4x4 pc of felt to the coaster so your table doesn't get scratched up.

Paula is also having a challenge based on this over on her blog.  See what you can come up with and link up with her!  Good luck! :)

xoxo Amber

new stuff.

I haven't been doing a TON of crafting this month.  We've had our son visiting from California so all of my free time has gone to him.  Had a great visit, but now it's time to get back to work!  

I got caught up on a few things, including my previous Blog Hop winner's frame.  I love how it turned out!  

I have lots of stuff coming up including some decorations for my brother's wedding, a Focus Group challenge, a Week in the Life album, and a Blog Hop!!  (Stay tuned for details on how you can participate!)

xoxo Amber