Just a Quickie: Archiver's Coupon!

A new Archiver's coupon just came out.  Don't you love a 30% off one item coupon? It always tends to burn a hole in my pocket and I always feel the need to make a mad dash for Archiver's!

Remember, Archiver's will let you use virtual coupons so if you can show it on your phone you don't have to waste paper and printer ink!  Just right click and email it to yourself and keep it on your phone!

The Latest: Honeycomb Paper!

When I was younger I always loved that honeycomb paper that was used in seasonal decorations.  Do you know what I'm talking about?  Sure you do!

Inky Antics is now selling Honeycomb paper to use in card making.  It is a bit pricey at $6.50 for a 5x7 pad or sheet which is what I paid at Archivers.  But, I do think you can get quite a few cards out of the paper.  Inky Antics also has several sets of clear cling stamps to use with the paper.  It's really pretty easy to do...and fun if you like trying new things.

Here is what the paper looks like in the package:

This stamp set with the cute little inch worms has an apple stamp that is used as a pattern for cutting the honeycomb paper.  You simply stamp in on the paper, making sure that the arrow on the stamp is going in the same direction as the arrow on the paper (sorry, it's sort of hidden in this photo but trust me....there is a guide). 



Well, you can almost see the arrow under my hand.  And it IS parallel to the one on the stamped apple.
Then you simply cut it out with a good pair of sharp scissors.  That's important...SHARP...if not you may not get a good cut, of course as you are cutting through several thicknesses of paper.

When you score your card for the fold where you are going to put your apple you want to do two parallel (I like that word) scores about 1/8" apart in the center of your card to account for the thickness of the honeycomb paper.

I created the card front with papers from DCWV Mango Frost.  I used Spellbinders dies for the labels and Stampin' watercolor pencils.  I also stamped all of the inside images before adhering the honeycomb as I thought it would be easier to work with. 

Quite easy, actually...and a cute and novel idea!  Don't you think so?

A Tip for Your Cricut!

Thanks to Christina from Creations With Christina (one of my favorite blog sites....amazing videos...amazing ideas...she's just so darned creative) for this wonderful "I DID NOT KNOW THAT!" tip when using your Cricut and Gypsy:

Well, when I use my Gyspy for a cut I always juggle the Gypsy in one hand, and try to load the mat with the other. Do you do that, too?  And what often happens is that the mat loads all KERWONKY and you have to start over again!  So, what's the tip you ask???  Insert ANY cartridge into your Cricut and even with the Gypsy cable attached you can load from your keypad on your Cricut.  That removes the need for a balancing act with your Gypsy and mat.  (We have always said moms need more hands but it just hasn't happened yet...we're stuck with just two, aren't we?)  So give it a try....just keep a cartridge, any cartridge in your Cricut and you can load your mat from your keypad! Easy Peasy! And, if you are into paper crafting, don't forget to check Christina's blog out...it's one of my favorites and you'll love it, too!

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!

Here are a few coupons to help you get those things you NEED!!!

And for those who have Archiver's close by...
And a great thing about Archiver's is that you can show them the coupon on your phone....so no need to waste paper! So just right click on the following coupon and email it to yourself and then pick it up on your phone! Easy Peasy!

And for the iPhone users (and may work with other smartphones, as well) Joann's has an app where you can download coupons to your "wallet".  Then when you check out you just show the virtual code to the cashier and the discount is entered.  Way cool...I love apps, I love gadgets....I am the App and Gadget Queen (plus I love a good coupon!)!



Testing...testing...

I added an email subscription service so am trying that out. Disregard this!

A Daddy Card...

I just loved the image on this little card....the little monkey hanging on his daddy's leg....too cute!
I made this card for my son in law's first Father's Day last year...just came across the image again and thought I'd share it with you all!  I cut the window card out with my Cricut although right now I'm not recalling which cartridge it came from...I also cut the envelope and liner out to match the card.  I used DCWV papers...I know I've mentioned how much I love that company's coordinated paper stacks. 
Here's the outside:

and the envelope...

and here is a shot of the inside of the card:

I used a combination of water color pencils and markers to color the stamped image.  Oh and the little monkey stamp is by Stampendous and is from their Changito line.  I think he's adorable!

I finished the card off with a couple of buttons tied with floss.  Another easy peasy card!

Valentine's Day Has Come and Gone...

....but it will be here again before we know it!  And actually this card design could be used for just about any type of occasion. 
The card I made is a shameless scraplift of a card that one of my favorite bloggers shared...Melanie of Courtney Lane Designs.  And there is nothing shameful about using someone's design as inspiration, is there?
I'll post a link to her card below but for now...here's my take on it:

I used paper from the Black Currant paper stack from DCWV...love that paper...it's full of glimmer and shine!  I used the Create a Critter cartridge which is another favorite of mine...I love the postage stamp cut....very cool to me!  And these cuts cut like BUTTAH! (that's butter to you who live above the Mason Dixon line!)

I popped the LOVE cut with some foam tape to add some dimension and then adhered a big fat piece of bling on top of it.  A bit of ribbon under the postage stamp tied it all together.  I loved the look of this and I love that I strayed from the usual red and white for Valentine's Day...these purple/pinkish hues and the gray and black just give it a different look!

And now, as promised here's Courtney's fabulous card:

Courtney Lane Designs

Sympathy Cards

Recently I've had the need for several condolence cards, unfortunately.  I made several like this because they were pretty fast and easy...and I thought they turned out just the way I wanted them to look....simple but classy.  I used some DCWV glitter paper, some satin ribbon, a simple sentiment, a brad, and a couple of prima flowers misted with Glimmer Mist. 



One thing I'm finding is that although I LOVE my iPhone....it doesn't take the greatest photos of my art! 

A Favorite...

This was such a fast and simple card to make but it's one of my newer favorites and I think I might make up a couple more to keep on hand.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was cut out with Paper Lace which is an awesome, awesome Cricut cartridge and is a must have in my opinion!  I used some Close to My Heart Paper and some regular cardstock I had on hand.  Used a few brad heads...ok what DO you call those things (?) that I adhered with my Irock.  Very pretty and very elegant, I think!

Cuttlebug Quilling Kits

This looks like a very simple card but it took me over two hours to make because I had to PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE on these flowers!  What are these flowers you ask?  They are little chrysanthemums made with the new Cuttlebug Quilling Kits.  Very cool kits.  You get about 4 dies in each pack, a packet of stems and a quilling tool which is cute AND ergonomically designed.

OK, my card does not look PERFECT...but it's because I took the photo with my iPhone.  It really is perfect, I assure you! Haha!  The word "Marvelous" looks a bit off but really...it's just that the card is dimensional and maybe a bit "warped" in that area! That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Oh yeah...and for my Sharecropping friends...I did heat emboss and NO, I DID NOT BURN ANYTHING!!!

I used some scraps from a pack of old Close to My Heart Papers I had.  The paper ribbons are just accordion pleated.  But aren't the flowers CUTE????? They are so much fun to make....it only took me 2 hours to get 2 good flowers!  Of course, I'm sure that with more practice they will get faster to make.

Here is a video showing how to make them and telling a little bit about the dies available.

 

And...the young lady doing the demo has the cutest New Zealand accent!

Have a wonderful crafting day!

New to Blogging!

I've decided to set up a blog to share my journey down Expression Avenue...a place to show my love for papercrafting of any kind!  Every since I was a small child I've had a love for anything PAPER!  In elementary school I loved cutting out letters for the bulletin board...I was an avid paper doll collector and spent hours on my bedroom floor cutting the dolls and clothes out.  Give me a pair of scissors and some adhesive...a stack of paper and I am HAPPY!

I have just about every tool known to scrapbooking or paper crafting including a Cricut Expression, a Gypsy and a Cuttlebug...and am always looking to add to my collection!

I hope you'll join me in my travels!