Happy Spring! / Coolibah Digital Scrapbooking

Happy Spring everyone!  Late last year, my hubby and I decided to give "part-time" gardening a try with the idea of keeping it simple, keeping it manageable, keeping it FUN while giving us something for both of us to work on.  So we got these "fool-proof" bulbs at Costco and followed the directions, set up our sprinklers and added miracle gro to it from time to time :).  To our outmost surprise, early this month we got flowers!  Bright yellow daffodils just sprung up! :)  We are still waiting for our tullips but they look like they are coming along... we think.

I took a few pics with my iPhone the last few months and we were so amazed at our happy flowers, that I wanted to scrapbook them.  I decided to give digital scrapbooking a go, I don't do that as often as I would like.  There is this cool app for the iPhone called Coolibah that allows me to take my iPhone pictures and scrap them right on the device.  The app is about $5 and they have about 10 free kits and you can purchase additional kits for .99 cents.  You can try out the app for free though and see if it is for you; I was hooked after seeing some of the creations when I purchased it back in Sept.(see their Coolibah flickr album here).  I really love it, a great way to pass the time.  You can then save the layout to a picture (jpg) with the option of saving it as a high resolution (printing quality) or just iPhone quality.  Just a nice way to do some simple scrabooking on the go and enjoy the results!  So far, I have printed a nice 4x6 and framed it.

Here is a layout with my hubby holding on to the miracle soil that was going to give us flowers! :)

Here is the layout of our happy yellow daffodils, nicely sprung!

The iPhone app takes a bit of getting use to, but once you get the hang of it, well it is addictive!  Great time making these layout, and I hope to do some more to capture FUN moments.

Sunny hellos, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Coolibah iPhone App
Coolibah Happy Garden (free) Kit

March Month Scrapbook Calendar Page

Below is this month calendar page using BasicGrey 2010 Calenar Kit. Really like the color and pattern paper used in this layout; nice combination of retro and vintage.  I used my Cricut Home Accents to add a whimsical butterfly with a trail of flourish to the corner of the photo - it gives the layout dimension and a fun touch!

The photo is of last year's bday party where my hubby lovingly placed that party hat on my head and I wore it practically all evening despite myself! :)   Ah, memories! :)

Really do love and appreciate the rubon quote:

"Getting there isn't half the fun...

it's all the fun"
                             - Robert Townsend

Thanks for stopping by and have a good one today!

Supplies:
BasicGrey 2010 Calendar Kit
butterfly- cut at 5''using Cricut Home Accent cartridge
J's pink button

Elegant Bday Card

Last month my hubby's grandma celebrated 90 blessed years; strong and healthy we celebrated her - 4 children, 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren later, we are lucky to know her.  I wanted to create an elegant card to go with the fabulous party the family had planned for her.  I worked on this card and I was really happy with the result; but between Valentines day hussle, getting her gift mailed on time and getting my husband to sign the inside, I simply forgot to take a picture.  Instead I shipped it and realize too late that I didn't have a picture to blog about :(.  So I ask my mother in law to please take a picture.  Instead, my mother in law sent us a picture that grandma took herself.  Not the best looking picture :) but it's special, she also send us a really touching thank you note written in calligraphy --- how cool is that???

Here is the card:

I used DCWV Once Upon A Time pattern paper that had silver swirls for the card base.  I then used DCWV yellowish gold, pewter and rose shimmer paper along with Paper Company silver shimmer paper to coordinate and contrast .  For the leafy rectagular frame, I used my Cricut Storybook cartridge and dress it up with gems and Martha Stewart butterfly punch. I also used Martha Stewart big border punch to add a touch of whimsy.  To achieve a more elegant look, I had a bit too much fun with white and yellow Darice gems.

This card turned out exactly how I wanted; and I'm so tickled she liked it! Thanks for stopping by!

VDay Card - Happy Valentine's Day!

Tonight, I am up late making a card for the hubby on Valentine's Day.  Not sure how it happened, but somehow it was a last minute thing this year.  He does look forward to his handmade card;  so I couldn't disappoint :) lol!  I really do enjoy making vday card for friends and family but this year I dropped the ball and this card is one a very few I was able to make.  Oh well... next year! :)

Found some inspiration in this week Simon Says Challenge, where the challenge this week is LOVE!

This is what I came up with:

I used my new Martha Stewart doily hearts edge punch (thank you Tracy!!!).  Really like this punch!  I found this really FUN scallop heart pattern paper from DCWV Doodlin' Around stack.  For the big heart, I used a combination of Cricut Sweetheart cartridge for the scallop heart and the heart made of hearts, I used Cricut Love Struck cartridge.  Really like how the combination came out.  I tried to make this card a bit more masculine by adding a grey piece from DCWV Shimmer stack.  The kraft paper and the grey turns down a bit all the pink used here.  I had FUN adding the gem hearts and rinestones.  The sentiment is from a studio G stamp that was just the right size.

Here is the inside, made use of a few more studio G stamps I've manage to collect :).



Left the pink color out from the inside and added a Martha Stewart scallop heart punch.  I really hope he likes this last minute creation that came together under pressure! :)

Have a FUN vday everyone!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Supplies:
"Happy Valentine's Day" - studio G stamp
"Friend to Friend.  Heart to Heart." - studio G stamp
"I Love You" - studio G stamp
big scallop heart - Cricut Sweetheart Cartridge and Cricut Design Studio
doodlin' heart - Cricut Love Struck Cartridge and Cricut Design Studio
Martha Stewart doily heart edge punch
Martha Stewart scallop heart punch
DWCV Texture paper, DCWV Doodlin' Around, DCWV Shimmer Stack, Paper Company Kraft paper
Darice gems
Bo Bunny heart pin
M's $ ribbon

February Month Scrapbook Calendar Page

Last weekend I got a chance to work on this month calendar page using BasicGrey 2010 Calenar Kit.

This is how it turned out :)

Really like the bright colors and patterns of this existing layout.  I had FUN adding the hearts and the kissing lips cut with the Cricut Love Struck cartridge.  This is my valentine holding last year vday card I made him; now if only I can find time to make his vday card for this Sunday, ahhhh! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
BasicGrey 2010 Calendar Kit
kissing lips- cut at 1 1/4'' using Cricut Love Struck cartridge

Bday Cupcake

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Cricut Sweet Treats cartridge; but with all the mayham of the holidays, I am only now using this cartridge and I have no regrets buying it! :)

This cartridge is perfect for bdays with all those cute cupcake cuts.  I haven't really done a whole lot of paper crafting this new year, but I plan to get back to it somehow, I miss it!!! Our little niece is turning 9, she is such a spireted girl filled with endless energy, so I wanted to create something FUN for her on her birthday!  

Here is what I came up with!

I used DCWV Nana Kids matching and emobssed pattern paper.  I really think these fun colors express her personality oh so perfectly!  With the help of Cricut Design Studio, I was able to weld the "9" to top the cupcake and added liquid laquer to the flames to add a bit of dimension.

Supplies:

Cricut Sweet Treats Cartridge

Fiskar edge punch

DCWV Texture paper, DCWV Nana Kids pattern paper

Liquid laquer

Miscellenous flower with shimmer

January Month Scrapbook Calendar Page

This weekend I got  a chance to work on this month calendar page, with my new BasicGrey 2010 Calenar Kit.  The kit comes with pretty much everything but you can still find space for you to put small touches.  It measures 8''x8''; not my usual 12''x12'' page so it took a bit to get use to and not as much room for personal touches; but in the end I'm pretty happy about the results.  

The predesign layout had a FUN color combination that matched nicely to an old DCWV Christmas Stack paper I had. So I was able to use my Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge to cut this adorable matching snowman.  Really like this snowman diecut, and it scales nicely, fitting just right in this small space I needed to fill.  I used Martha Stewart snowflake punch to add more dimension to the chipboard circles included in the kit.  I added blue gems to dress up the snowflakes a bit. 

Fun time and a nice start to my 2010 scrapbook calendar! :)  Will take a bit to get use to the smaller layout but looking forward to the challenge :)...

Have a good rest of the week! :)

Supplies:
BasicGrey 2010 Calendar Kit
snowman - cut at 3 1/8'' using Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge
Martha Stewart snowflake punch
DCWV texture paper, DCWV Christmas Stack 2008
Darice blue gems

Friend's Bday Card / a Cricut challenge

One of my favorite Cricut blog, The Pink Stamper challenged us to make a project of any kind for a friend.  If you haven't already, you got to check out their blog for some Cricut FUN! :) This card was made for a my very pregnant friend's birthday.  Inside the card is a gift card to her favorite store, Old Navy :) ....

I used Cricut New Arrival cartridge and used a the scallop square from the same cartridge to make the base of the card.  I dressed her up with a ranger white pen and some pink rhinestones. I used a big yellow prima flower and cut out the flower from the DCWV pattern paper I used inside to layer it.
This is what it looks like inside:

Inside I used the flower cut and Cricut Design Studio to make an area to add a special message; the flower shape seems to work nicely here.  I like how the scallop look of the card and flower works nicely with the pattern paper.  I cut "to" from Cricut Story book cartridge.

Really had a great time making this card and playing with the New Arrival Cartridge.  Thanks for stopping by! Happy New Year!

December Month Scrapbook Calendar Page

Just noticed that this post didn't get posted! Must have been the craziness of the holidays! :)

Finshed my scrapbook page for the month of December, my FINAL page for my 2009 S.E.I. Calendar... and since I'm not sure when S.E.I. will release another calendar kit in the future, it was with a bit of a sad sigh that I finished this page.

Used a picture of the hubby putting up the xmas lights on our tree that we lovingly called "Betty"; putting the lights on the tree is one of his favorite traditions he loves to wrap himself in :).  I used Cricut Joys of the Season cartridge to cut the stars and the pine cones.  I then used a the Martha Stewart bow punch to decorate; and different color pebbles as lights on the stars.  Really enjoyed working with this layout; gave me room to add my own touches.

Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! :)

Supplies:

SEI 12x12 Calendar 2009
Pine cones and stars on string cut using Cricut Joys of the Seasons and Cricut Design Studio
Martha Stewart bow punch
EK gift edge punch
EK trees edge punch
DCWV Texture paper
M's ribbon

Holiday Cheer! / ESS Sketch #63

With exactly two weeks left to Christmas Eve,  I am continueing to make xmas cards with the hope of being done in time.  It is the season of HOPE.  And there is something about holiday wreaths that bring on a "holiday cheer" :)

It also has been a few weeks since I've been able to participate in ESS Sketches brought to us by the talented Tracy Clemente! I have serious withdrawels and miss my ESS Sketch buddies.  I had to play this week and thought that I could the wreath idea with this sketch.

Here is what i came up with for this challenge:

This week ESS Sketch #63, Tracy Clemente creatively intruced a FUN shape flag for the sentiment! Caught my eye immediately. 

I made the card a more rectangular shape in order to use the Martha Stewart edge punch whose look I really like!  I also took the rectangular accent and added my wreath which I cut using Cricut Joys of the Season cartridge.  I added rinestones to decorate it.  I added a tree shape brad on the FUN shape flag to match the pp I used.

The sentiment is from HeroArts Laughter & Merriment,  and it was perfect for this card. 

This was a NICE quick card that came together nicely and I enjoyed making it. 

Supplies:
"holiday cheer!"- Hero Arts Laughter & Merriment
wreath - cut using Cricut Joys of the Season cartridge
flag tag - cut using Cricut Design Studio and Cricut George Cartridge
DCWV Texture paper, K&Company Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist paper
Martha Stewart edge punch
Martha Stewart bow punch
Making Memories tree brad
Versafine Olympia Green
Darice gems

IO White Challenge

This weekend is already half way over and I didn't get half the things done on my list! But at least I manage to do one more xmas card when I decided to play along with Impression Obsession's White Challenge. Now the white challenge was definetely that, a challenge! But I had this idea in my head for days and no time to sit down and do anything until now. I really couldn't play much with the idea, since I was already running late for the deadline of this challenge, so this was a fast card, mistakes and all! :)

Here is my take on this challenge. I tried to capture the shimmer of the paper, which took me a bit of time when I was already running late! :)



This ornament from the IO Fancy Ornaments set is so PRETTY, I really enjoyed dressing it up with rinestones. I stamped this image with embossing ink on DCWV The Shimmer Stack paper and used fine opaque embossing powder, then cut it out. The snowflake is cut using my Cricut When It's Cold Outside cartridge and I used my Cuttlebog embossing folders to emboss the base card shaped like a tag.

Really glad I got to emboss on this card, usually not something I think to do and I had a blast doing it. I also like the end result, this ornament looks so elegant embossed.

Thank you for stopping by and Happy Holiday cardmaking everyone! :)

Supplies:
ornament- Impression Obscession Fancy Ornaments set CL201
Happy Holidays- Impression Obscession Fancy Ornaments set CL201 (inside card)
snowflake - cut at 4 1/2'' using Cricut When It's Cold Outside Cartridge
Cuttlebug embossing foldes and edge embossing folder
Martha Stewart snowflake punch
DCWV Texture paper, DCWV The Shimmer Stack
Fiskar paper crimper
VersaMark ink
JudiKins Opaque fine embossing powder
Darice gems
J's shimmer white ribbon

OCC Inspiration Challenge - 4 Calling Birds

Last week, I got an email from the very talented Jenny Gropp from One Krafty Kat asking me if I wanted to be a guest stamper on the Our Creative Corner (OCC) today. My first reaction was "Who me???" and then "OH YES, I WOULD" and then ... I got nervous! :) LOL! This is a site that I got introduce to through the many eye popping creations by Jenny Gropp and it has become one of my favorite inspirational sites!

The OCC challenge today is an inspiration challenge where the fabulous hostess, Jenny Gropp, is asking us to create a project using a line from the last verse of the "12 Days of Christmas Song" :) - how clever is that? For my take on this OCC challenge, I decided to use the line that seems more catchy to me: "Four calling birds". :)

For the garland frame card, I used my darling Cricut and A Child's Year cartridge. This cartridge has some very nice frame shape cards in addition to fonts and silhouettes. I then used a Martha Stewart branch punch to add some green to the garland; really like the dimension it adds. These CUTE birdies are from Hero Arts Holiday Doves; they make the perfect calling birds, providing some much needed assistance decorarting the tree. I added some yellow and pink pebbles to act as blinking lights on the garland :)

This was such a FUN challenge! Totally enjoyed myself making this card! One more card done and a few many to go :) But if you need some inspiration, you may want to check out the Our Creative Corner (OCC) today.

Supplies:
xmas tree - Hero Arts Laughter & Merriment
birdies - Hero Arts Holiday Dove
garland frame card - cut at 5 3/4'' using Cricut A Child's Year Cartridge
DCWV Texture paper, K&Company Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist paper
Martha Stewart branch punch
M's pebbles
Vesafine Onyx Black

Let's Eat / Thanksgiving Invites

This year, my friend ask me to help her out with her Thanksgiving invites.  It was a last minute thing and I had to come up with something quick... so I let her "borrow" my Thanksgiving invites idea that I previously posted for the Cat's Pajamas Gobble It Up blog hop.

So I had to come up with something different for my own Thanksgiving invites! :) Here is what I came up with:

I used my Cricut Speaking of Fall cartridge to make this three-fold cards; this cartridge is so much fun to use, especially during this time of year, letters are made up of fall theme icons - turkey, pumpkins, fall leaves.  This turkey makes a "D" :) and one of the feature of this cartridge is a three-fold card.  I cut some fall leaves to add more dimension to the card and added a felt nut to add texture.  The sentiment is from TCP Gobble It Up set; straight and to the point! :)

Here is what the inside looks like:

I printed the invitation information on matching pp and added another felt nut along with fall leaves pp to tie the look of the inside to the outside.  I am pretty happy on how it turned out!

Supplies:
"Let's Eat" - The Cat's Pajamas newly released Gobble It Up set
turkey three-fold card - cut at 4 1/2'' using Cricut Speaking of Fall Cartridge and Cricut Design Studio
fall leaves - cut at 3 1/4" using Cricut Speaking of Fall Cartridge and Cricut Design Studio
DCWV Texture paper, DCWV Indian Summer Fall Stack
EK edge punch (inside)
M's button
Target felt nut $ bin
Momento Rich Cocoa ink

TCP Challenge TCPTUES84 / ESS Sketch #60

Last week TCP Tuesday Challenge  was hosted by Susan who brought us a TCP stamp challenge; where we were to use any  TCP December holiday stamp :).  Immedietely I chose to go with my oh so awesome new TCP Give A Little set that was just released.  Among the many FUN images on this set, there is this cute little penguin surrounded with lights and holiding an ornament, ready to decorate that tree!

For inspiration, I turned to this week ESS Sketch #60; and what a great layout this sketch makes! 

Here is my take on these two challenges.

With this sketch Tracy Clemente gives us a nice big accent that is held by a ribbon-like element.  For the accent, I wanted to use a fancy frame that went with the pp I chose; I found this in the Cricut Home Decor cartridge.  With a little help from Cricut Design Studio, I was able layer it to make it more fancy and paper pierced it to match the stitch look of the green ribbon. 

Isn't this little festive penguin ADORABLE?  ALL of the new TCP sets just rock!  I just hope I get time to play with them all.  As it is, I have been really itching to ink this image for a bit now!  So tonight I just had to :)   I used glaze glue and glitter to add dimenssion and bling to the ornament he is holding; that was a lot of FUN!  Hard to tell, but I also used glaze pens to color the lights.  I found this nice red felt ribbon that was perfect with this layout. 

I had such a great time making this card, and I simply had FUN playing with glitter, glaze and ribbons!  Another xmas card done, and plenty to go! :)
Thanks for stopping by and have a good one!


Supplies:
cute Penguin w/lights - The Cat's Pajamas Give A Little S-9678
"Be Merry and Bright" -  The Cat's Pajamas Give A Little S-9678
frame - all layers cut with Cricut Home Decor and Cricut Design Studio
DCWV Texture paper, K&Company Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist paper
Martha Stewart fine green glitter
M's s red felt ribbon, Targetr $ xmas ribbon
Aleene's Paper Glaze
Sakura Glaze pens
Versafine Onyx Black

IO Shaker Cards Challenge / Christmas Tree

Christmas seems to be just around the corner, sneaking up rather quickly or so it seems. I wanted to play along with Impression Obscession's Shaker Cards Challenge. Shaker cards are so much FUN and IO makes it easier with their Shake It Pouches - comes with a nice peel-n-stick backing that holds the inner stuff nicely inside the accetate.

This is my take on this challenge:

I used the IO Star-topped Tree image and added some flower soft in Polar White as snow on the tree. I also mixed some with coarse glitter as the "snow" element inside the shaker box. I also folded a strip of paper to mimic ribbon folding I have seen on some great looking projects; really like how it gives a nice fancy look to the card. I also got to use my new Martha Stewart three dot punch that worked nice with the dot embossing on the frame. The frame was cut using my Cricut; it caught my eye with its FUN shape :)!

Great time making this card, too much FUN actually, did not pay more attention to gluing things on straight when putting it all together --- but that is what makes it handmade! :)

Supplies:

xmas tree - Impression Obscession Star-topped Tree E8275

Impression Obscession Shake It Pouches - Lg. Circle (size 3'')
frame - Cricut Winter Wonderland and Cricut Design Studio

Martha Stewart three dot edge punch
Martha Stewart coarse glitter
Flower Soft Polar White
Cuttlebug Swiss dot embossing folder

atyouSpica for added glitter on star

DCWV Texture paper, K&Company Brenda Walton Peppermint Twist paper
Momento Bamboo ink
Versafine Light Blue ink

Rejoice / ESS Sketch #59

Last week I received the Snow Friend Cricut Cartridge and I have been really wanting to play with it, I think the various snowmen cuts are adorable, expressive and FUN!  So tonight I had a chance to play!

I had in mind to use this week's Sketchy Thursday ESS Sketch #59, and as always, it was lots of FUN!

Here is my take on this week challenge:

Tracy Clemente inspired sketch brings together so many layers while at the same time not looking so busy; and that cirlce frame is such a nice snow globe look to go with this cute little dancing snowman.  I used snowflakes as the accents.  I was able to use my Cricut and Cricut Design Studio to create the snow globe look I was looking for. 

The sentiment "Rejoice" is from a studio G $ stamp and I fits nicely with the happy dancing snowman.  The papers are from last year DCWV Christmas Stack and Provo Craft Holiday Slab V.  Adding the red gems to the blue snowflakes is a nice look.

I really like how this card came together, how it makes a lively and FUN christmas card.  I have quite a few more christmas cards to make, but I'm glad I got one less now :)

Have a great Thursday and thanks for stopping by! :)


Supplies:
"Rejoice" - studio G stamp
snowman - cut at 2'' using Cricut Snow Friends Cartridge
snow globe look - cut using Cricut Zooballoo Cartridge and Cricut Design Studio
Martha Stewart snowflake punch
EK small scallop punch
DCWV Texture paper, Provo Craft Holiday Slab V
Moment Lady Bug ink
Darice red gems
M's ribbon