Let It Glow!

Happy New Years Eve!

I had a wonderful Christmas, Kristen joined us in Texas and we had so much fun. There will be more scrapbook pages coming to verify that. I will have a second Christmas soon when Xavier and Korben make it back to NB. With all the snow the Maritimes have been receiving they have been having an extended stay with Steph's family in PEI. Lucky them...yes I'm so jealous! When they return home the kids or Xavier will open his presents from us on Skype.

My project I'm sharing is actually decorating the tree with my son and family in 2011.We had visited  in November and they purchased an artificial tree so we could be there for the decorating.
It was Xavier's first Christmas that he could really help with the decorating. It was so much fun.

I like this border of snowflakes and then some bling.

Those lights were hard to make. I wanted to keep the size small and it was intricate cuts. 1.75 was the smallest I could go. The ribbon and bulb were both glittered after they were cut. The under layer is gold paper. I really liked how I strung the gold cording. It reminded me as a kid at Christmas when we got cards. We would run a length of string  from one nail to another on the wall or between the window frames and then drape the cards over the string.

The pattern paper was from a Christmas pack by The Paper Studio called Holiday Wonder. Remaining cardstock Bazzill. Lots of glitter and bling used on the pages - after all it is Christmas!

Wishing everyone all the best for 2013!
See you in the New Year

Yvonne

Project - Scrapbooking
Cricut Machine - Imagine & Expression & CCR
Cartridges
Elegant Edges (scalloped square) 9.35" & 9.00"
Art Philosophy - Let It Glow - 1"
Art Philosophy - Snowflake - 3.50"
Art Philosophy - Snowflake Border - 9" length
Art Philosophy - Presents - 1.75"
Create A Critter2 - Tree - 4.25"
Celebrate With A Flourish - Lights - 1.75"

Meow,Meow, Meow

Good Morning,

December 21st. Santa's warming up his sleigh!

Our daughter is home for Christmas and we went to Galveston yesterday for the Festival of Lights at Moody Gardens. Had a great time visiting the aquarium, and rainforest pyramids. Saw a couple short 3D children's movies and then did the evening walk looking at the lights. It wasn't much of a stroll as the weather  turned cold and windy. This morning I wake to the temperature being 25F/-4C. Not sure how my flowers are going to like this.

I must admit these two cards looked cuter in person. The second card was my favorite, the snowflakes were all glittery and really popped on the card. The Ho Ho's and holly were cut with the cricut. The Ho Ho's glittered and the holly covered with stickles. The snowflakes got some red bling. The stamp from Michaels.

Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season. I'm off to do a little more shopping this a.m. with my daughter and just maybe I squeeze in a little crafting time in the afternoon. I'm itching to work on another scrapbook page. I do have one completed that I'll share on the 30th. My day to post to the Cricut Fantastics Blog.

 

Yvonne

Christmas Votives

Hi There,

First off I'll apologize for the not so great photos. These are hard to photograph without a glare, but they really are super cute.

Last January I was in Body Works and they were clearing out all their old Christmas fragrance tea lights. The tea lights were regular $3.50 and discounted to $1.50 plus they gave you a glass holder for each tea light free. I bought a FEW!

These decorate up great with vinyl. The Cricut cartridge used is Create A Critter 2. This is a great cartridge. Besides the cute critters there are lots of holiday themed icons and phrases. Great value!
The red and green vinyl is shiny/shimmery.

The snowflakes are a punch. I also glittered some of the vinyl. Punch or cut out your vinyl shape, the I use my sticker maker and apply adhesive to the front side of the die cut. Shake on my glitter, give it a bit of a rub and I now have glitter vinyl. The glitter stays stuck very well.

On the opposite side of the bird I have JOY and music notes on the sides.

If I get tired of these I can simply peal off the vinyl and create another theme.

I still have three or more shapes all cut and ready for assembly but ran out of holders and possible people to give them to.

 

I think I will stay away from any malls today - it being Saturday and all!

If you have to venture out shopping today - Good Luck!

 

Yvonne

 

Inside There's A Present

Hi There,

Friday already! Today I have three similar cards to share. Same design just different papers. They are all so darn cute I just couldn't decide on one.

The design on the inside was shared by one of the ladies in my stamping group. I used her card as a sample and figured out the cuts.

I rounded some of the corners. Dug into my stash of Christmas brads I had. (Just had to buy them last year but needed a whole year of admiring them before I was ready to part with them! Anybody else do that?)

Snowflake and Swiss Dots are cuttlebug folders used. I haven't purchased any of the new ones. I love using them though...takes a piece of plain cardstock and dresses it up.

 

I spent yesterday afternoon at the dentist....a filling was cracked and will need a crown now. I'm taking my blanket with me next time. The air conditioning was blowing right on me and I was in that chair for almost three hours. Brrrr! I put the heated seat on in the car when I got out. I live in Texas...shouldn't need to do that.

Today I think I'm going to do a little scrapbooking. Haven't done that in a while and all my Christmas cards/tags are done. I should probably vacuum up the glitter first. :)

Yvonne

A In A Row!

Good Morning,

Gosh where is December going? It just seems to be flying by. I must admit I'm pretty organized this year. I have all my Christmas cards and the big box in the mail. I do have one more box to get to the post office today....I promise myself.

These are my snowman boxes. Five were for the ladies I stamp with and two more for my "You've Been Elfed."  Being Elfed requires dropping off a box or bag of goodies to a neighbor and then in turn they Elf somebody else.

 

I originally madeone a few years ago and the directions can be found here.

You can put in candy, gift tags, jewelry, really anything small.

Here's a closer look.

Fun to make...not too difficult.

 

Happy Shopping!

Yvonne

Cards For A Cause

Hi Blog Friends,

Today's post is picture heavy. The group of ladies I stamp with make cards for a Verterns hospital for special occasions. All these cards are 4 x 4 and I made bout 80.

Most cards were made with Stampin' Up stamps. A couple with Just-Rite brand and the pinky ornaments printed and cut with the Imagine. The Poinettia was a real old stamp from Hero Arts.

As you can see I have been busy just not posting.

Finished my Christmas tags yesterday. Oh my...they are glittery!

Enjoy.
 

Yvonne

Oh Deer!

Good Morning,

Can't believe how quickly this month is flying by. I have all my Christmas cards made, addressed and either waiting for a Christmas form letter or just individual notes. I even ended up with some extras. Got a start for next year.

This is a card I made for my brother who has a December 28th birthday.

The deer is a chipboard piece I purchased at Michaels. Embossed the deer in a copper tinsel color. The background paper is from an Imagine cartridge. The trees are Stampin Up and so is the Happy Birthday. Spellbinders for my circles.

I have to get the rest of my Christmas cards uploaded and sized so I can be more punctual in my

postings.

 

Have a great day!

 

Yvonne

Wibbly Wobbly!

Hi There Crafters!

Glad to be back with another project. With December just around the corner I'm working hard on getting all my Christmas cards done.

The little penquin is on an action wobbler. Just too cute! I started with CCR cause it is so easy to make sure your sizes are going to be correct for your card base size.

Printed all paper with the Imagine using Christmas Wish. The sentiment and penquin are from Create A Critter 2. Some puffy paint added to his hat and some pink chalk to rosy up those cheeks. I like using chalk cause if I make a mistake I can just eraser it and try again.



Card Base - 5 1/2" square
Pattern base - 5 1/4" square
Circle base - 4.375"
Circle pattern - 4.25"
Border base - 1 3/8" x 5.25"
Border pattern - 1.25" x 5.25"
Santa Penquin - 3"
Words - 1.25"

Designed by Yvonne Balmer
Machines Used: Imagine, CCR
Cartridges: Create A Critter 2, Christmas Wish
Other items - glitter, puffy paint, dew drops, chalk, xyron (to make the front of the letters sticky for the glitter)

Thanks for stopping by!

Joy, Oh Joy!

Good Day!

I like this card. Easy to do but elegant.

The "Joy" is from Create A Critter 2 cut at 2".

Used my sticker maker to stickify the front of the images. My favorite glitter is Glitter Ritz as it is so fine. Colors used Sweet Basil and Fire Red. Red gems for the berries. Ribbon from SU that has been discontinued for years but back then they sold is in 25 yard rolls!

The two borders - well let me tell you about them. Stampin' Up border punch and then I found a wonderful new product. Okay I've seen it on the shelves at Michaels for months but didn't think I liked it or would use it (yeah, when has that stopped me before) It's glitter tape by Recollections. It's 5/8" wide and 3 yards in each roll. I didn't want the strip that wide so I made 1/4" strips and still had 1/8" left over to use on something else. It stays stuck down super well!

 

Joy is layered onto dimensionals. The pattern paper is from a Christmas stack - Holiday Wonder by Paper Studio. It's really Christmasy colors but I'm going to be using it for the next ten Christmases. The pack is 12 x 12.  15 designs for of each.

 

Yesterday was a productive day. Cleaned house, washed floors (I did this rather than go to the gym :(

however I was feeling so guilty I did go to a spin class last night. And my craftroom is also clean so I can start creating again.

 

Have a fun filled day!

 

Yvonne

Fancy Christmas

Hi There,

Here's a fancy fold for you.  A friend sent me a link to this blog,  Dena's Stamping Corner, so I thought I would create my own card.  I really liked her card as it has more decorations on it. My card has lots of glitter and glam but that doesn't photograph well.

 

The sizing on the card is 5 1/2" square.

Directions:

2 pieces red cardstock cut 5 1/2" x 11 and scored at 5 1/2"

Snowflake pattern paper - 5 1/4 " square cut on the diagonal

5 1/4" pattern paper for inside

smaller card - base 3 1/2" x 7 and scored at 3 1/2"

pattern paper - 3 3/8"

gold paper 2 3/4" square

red cardstock 2 5/8" square

Snowflake - Spellbinders Snowflake Wonder (layered with dimensionals)

Martha Stuart punch for border - gold paper

red pearls

ribbon

Stampin' Up! sentiment retired

Glitter Ritz - Champagne

 

Craftroom is finally clean so it must be time for a new project!

 

Yvonne

Having A Blue Christmas!

Good Morning,

Survived Thanksgiving although there are still left overs. I'm turkeyed out! We also have most of the outside decoration done and almost everything inside except the tree. We are on top of it this year.
For BlackFriday Lowes were having a sale on Poinsettias. 99 cents for a 3" pot. Good deal anyway....so DH bought about 30 of them to plant in the flower beds. Thanks was a good idea and they look beautiful...however we should have read the directions and poinsettias don't like the cold. Really not anything under 50 F shouldn't be put in drafts etc. lol Second night they are out we dropped to 32 F. Chilly! I now each night go out and cover  all the plants. Must tuck them in, and tell them to stay strong at least till Christmas. lol

I really like the elegant look of this card. Blue and brown are always a winner.  The snowflake in the middle was stamped with Versamark and clear embossed using vanilla cardstock. Inked the background stamp with brown ink stamped over the embossed snowflake. Wiped off the ink from the snowflake after it was stamped. Using a finger dauber and blue ink rubbed ink over the embossed image. Again wiped off excess ink from the snowflake. Quick and easy.

All supplies Stampin' Up.

 

I'm really into Christmas card mode now. Soon I'll have enough finished and can start addressing and mailing.

 

Check back soon.

 

Yvonne

A Little Snowman Fun!

Hello!

It's me again...two days in a row.

Thanksgiving here tomorrow. We have no family to celebrate with however, we have invited three other couples who are also by themselves as well as our neighbors. The cranberry sauce is made, my special mashed potatoes are done and the sweet potatoes. I like recipes that can be made ahead. The turkey is thawing....the pies are bought (I took the easy way out on that) and the good china has been washed. Can't remember the last time I used it but thought it was time.

All stamps and supplies from Stampin' Up. I always love a cute snowman. A little glitter and sponging the edges with ink dresses up any card.

 

Wishing everyone a "Happy Thanksgiving!"

Yvonne

Flying Santa

Hi There Crafters,

Can't seem to shake this cough but for the most part I'm feeling better. I have been busy working on Christmas cards. I have lots done just need to keep taking the photos and posting.

This is a very quick card as I printed the pattern paper and image with my Cricut using The Good Old Days". I know it's very cutsey but I have these action wobblers and really wanted to play with them. lol Santa's plane wiggles when you flick it!

The stamped image is from Stampin' Up. The punched border was done using a Stampin' Up punch and I just punched both sides of the paper. Notice the scallops on both sides match. If you look at the base on a border punch there will generally me markers for measuring. When I insert the first side of the paper I choose one of those markers to have the edge of my cardstock line up with. Punch your row and then when you go to punch the other side make sure you line your cardstock up with the same mark AND you will need to have flipped over your cardstock so you are lining up the same edge you did previously.

Action Wobbler above!

 

A little info from my vacation. When we were in Malaysia we took a side trip to a city called Malacca. While there we saw a church called St Frances of Xavier.

Where we used to live there was a St Fraces of Xavier university as well as the church and our Grandson is named Xavier so I made sure I got a few photographs.

Actually DH tooks these...by the time we got to the church I was hot and tired and really only wanted to get out of the sun.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Yvonne

Halloween Charger Plate

Hi There!

 

Sorry to be missing for so long. Had a great vacation but got sick on my way home and that flu bug has just suck around way to long. I do hope to share some pictures and stories of my trip as well as the new projects I've been working on.

 

I thought I would share my Halloween Charger Plate. I love making these. They are quick, easy and you can make them for every occasion. After the season has passed storage is easy.

I used several cartridges on this project.

Bats - Happy Hauntings cut at 1"

Happy Halloween - Celebrate With Flourish cut at 2"

Flourishes - Gypsy Font (monogram feature) 1", 1.4" & 1.6"

Border Skulls - Wall Decor & More (border feature) 1.5"

Fence - Wall Decor & More (border feature) 2"

Tree - Happy Hauntings 4.5"

Small Skull beside tree - Indie Art 1"

Bird on Fence - Animal Kingdom - 1"

All images were sized and cut using CCR. Welded two flourishes together on right side of plate.

The fence had a rooster sitting on it and I cut that off and used a more suitable bird from Animal Kingdom.

There are different ways to work with vinyl. I set my machine to cut the image out through both the vinyl and the backing. I do not use a transfer tape. When I'm lining up to layer my vinyl I peel just a small portion of the backing away and make sure I have the image exactly where I want it and then adhere the vinyl layers together. I then proceed to peel back a little more of the backing and adhere that down. By doing it this way I'm not trying to work with a piece of vinyl that is trying to stick to everything it comes in contact with.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Yvonne

Cricut Info & Supplies Used:

Designed By: Yvonne Balmer

Cricut Machine Used: Imagine

Project Type: Home Decore

Project Theme: Halloween

Cricut Cartridges Used: Happy Hauntings, Celecrate with Flourish, Wall Decor & More, Indie Art, Animal Kingdom, Gypsy Font

Other Supplies Used: Vinyl, Black Charger Plate

 

 

All Occassion Card

Hi There,
Just getting ready to head out. I've got a 15 hours plane ride, 8 hour layover and then another 7 hour flight. I-pad charged for reading and a spare paperback! Don't know if I'll get to post while I'm away.

Image is Stampin' UP and colored with copics. Added some triangular cuts to break up the solid look of the background paper.

If I get a chance to I'll post some photos of vacation.

 

Yvonne

Halloween Cards

Good Morning,

 

I seem to be having a hard time these days posting regularly.  Even though I haven't posted I have been busy.

 

I've met a new group of ladies who stamp and was invited to stamp with them each Wednesday. Sometimes one of us teach the class and other times we work on our own projects. They also do cards for a Veteran's hospital when there is a special holiday in the month. So this month we were doing Halloween cards. All the cards are 4 x 4. I did four or five cards of each design. Most of the pattern paper was purchased from a package at Target for $1.00. It held 5 or 6 sheets.

 

The pumpkin face and pumpkin pattern paper were printed and cut with the Imagine. The skull head is a cricut die too but I clear embossed it to make it glossy. I couldn't get my crop tool to work properly this morning to make the pictures bigger. Just click on the image and you should be able to get a close up.

I have my Halloween decorations out but won't be making any more this year as I'm heading off on vacation next week. I'm going to accompany my DH to Malaysia. He's working and I'm touring. Not looking forward to the flight. It's 30 hours. Nine of that is a layover in Dubai. Better have a couple of good books with me.

 

The rest of my plans for today include getting out for a bike ride and going to the post office. I have a couple things I need to send to Xavier and Korben. I better hurry before Korben outgrows the outfit. Maybe I'll get Steph to take pictures of the boys in their new duds and then I can post them. All I'll say for now is they will make interesting scrapbooking pages. (I know Steph reads this...she will be so wondering what I've found this time!). he he

 

Have a good week-end!

 

Yvonne

Corn Fed

Good Morning,

Here's Xavier a little more than a year ago having his first go at a cob of corn. Initially he didn't realize picking it up with your hands was okay!

I crimped the long strip of cardstock and used a Stampin' UP punch to place the words on.

Inked the die cut pieces.

Love the look of his little mouth.

Supplies Used:

Cartridges: Word of Mouth - pattern paper

                   Smiley Cards - Cob of Corn

                   Old West - Font

                   Paper Doll Dress Up - Corn Stock

 

Have a great week-end and to all my Canadian friends and family...

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Yvonne