January New Occasions Catalog Stamp Camp

This card is one of two projects of mine we will make January 14th at our Occasions Mini Catalog Stamp camp. Robin will have 1 card, and 2 treat projects, and so will Kathy!

I LOVE the scented embossing powder! This card uses the Cherry. It lasts a LONG time!!!

Another project will post later this week. Chocolate, anyone??

Your comments are always appreciated!

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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! January

Here it is!!! The FIRST 2012 Christmas Card Challenge for January.

Please refer to this POST by clicking HERE for all the rules and regs for participating in this challenge. (They're easy!!)

Post the above logo on your blog, and link back to this post so when people click it, they can go right from your blog here, and so on and so forth.
OK.... so here it is!

January 2012's challenge is: Ornaments!
Make your 6 cards including ornaments, post it to your blog, and use the linky (at the end) in this post to link back here.

Remember you have until midnight on the 20th with voting starting on the 21st through the 24th! The winner will be announced on the 25th.


Here are my two pictures for this Challenge. I really LOVE these ornaments!
Christmas trees and the ornaments are some of my absolute favorite things at Christmas time, and here's a chance that on Jan. 5th your tree is still up and you're looking at some ornaments! Ours is! We're taking it down a little later this week. :)

I used the Cuttlebug to emboss the background red paper with Musical Flourish, and then Cherry Cobbler ink to highlight the embossing. White, red, and green rhinestones highlight spots on the ornaments. I used the Ultimate Crafter's Companion to tie the bows, and DCWV paper from the Merry Christmas stack at the bottom.
Did you stamp your envelopes? I did, but didn't take a picture. Next time!!

SO.... write up your card/inspiration etc. and include your post above in the linky!
GOOD LUCK!!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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My Sister's Birthday Card

My sister Gail is CRAZY for purple! How could I not have a purple birthday card for her? As I've been crafting, I found out she also loves the heat embossing and the smooth surface it leaves... so I took the new Stampin' Up cupcake image and some Elegant Eggplant craft in with clear embossing powder, and had a good time! I used red glitter paper to cut out the cherry, and 3 markers to give some pink frosting accents; Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, and Regal Rose.

It's difficult to see, but the matted purple piece is popped with dimensionals, and so is the hand-cut cupcake image.

Happy Birthday, Gail!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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Design Team - Open Call!

Have you decided it's time to become part of a Design Team?

Do you LOVE creating things, and don't know what to do with them?

This is a fantastic opportunity to take care of both of these issues you're having!
1. Become part of an amazing Design Team.
2. Donate your creations to people who desperately need help!

The Lime Light Design Team is currently having an Open Call for Design Team members. We are a charity based DT, donating all of our creations to helping others. Take a look at our Blog, and come and join us!

As a LLDT member, you have the unique opportunity to use your creative abilities to helping people less fortunate than yourself - AND gaining great satisfaction in the process due to the gratitude we receive from these projects.

Take a moment and follow one of the links I placed in the above post and add your application to the list.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Gift Card Holders, and a Story!!

So here are two gift card holders I made for gifts for my parents.... to put gift cards in.
The thing is, these are the SECOND gift card holders I made for them.... the first ones were STOLEN! They were placed in a blue mailbox near our house, and when they envelope got to my sister, it was taped shut, and a horse Christmas card was in it.

A couple of things.... 1. I sent along a $50 gift card in one of them, and my sister was going to put a card from a local restaurant in the other one. 2. I would NEVER send a horse Christmas card!!!

Next.... I spent 1 hour 10 minutes on hold with the post office when we discovered this (before Christmas).... and they were SUPPOSED to call me by the 29th after they "investigated". I've had no return phone call, but I do have a "case number".

I'm about to go to our local media to get some action. I've heard of two other incidences like this... one in Alaska where an entire bag of mail was left on the side of the road, and things opened and stolen out of it. Don't these people realize it's a federal offense to steal from the mail?????

Well..... above you have a picture of the two newest gift card holders I made. I'm sorry I didn't take pics of the first set.... they were SO pretty!!!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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The 2012 Christmas Card Challenge! Introduction

I want to take a moment to introduce to you a Christmas Card Challenge I'm sponsoring on my blog for 2012!!

Are you a crafter and want to make your own AWESOME Christmas cards but get so busy after Thanksgiving you don't have enough time to get them finished? Well - if you stick with me for ALL of 2012, you'll have cards to spare for the neighbors, your co-workers, and your entire Christmas Card list!

Here are the "Rules".

1. This 2012 Christmas Card Challenge will take place from January to November 2012.

2. DATES: The 2012 CCC will post here on Sue's Cricut and Crafts on the 5th of each month. You will have 15 days to get your cards prepared! The cards are due on the 20th, with voting (YES there will be voting) starting at midnight of the 21st. Voting will continue until midnight of the 24th of the month with the prize awarded on the 25th. **Prize(s) discussed later.

3. You will make 6 cards all duplicates. You will have 66 cards at the end of the 11 month challenge. IF you need more, please go ahead and add to your monthly total and post that on your blog when you submit your cards in the Linky at the bottom of the post.

4. You will submit one picture (or more) of your cards, with one in front, and the others behind it to show your 6 (or more) cards.

5. PRIZES!!!! One prize will be awarded each month based on the number of votes received on each card set submitted. (I am exempt, not able to win prizes for my own challenge.) The winner and the prize will be announced here on the blog on the 25th of each month.

6. You can use any company's products.

7. You can use any Christmas product! Die cuts, Cricut cuts, stamps, patterned paper, embossing (heat or dry), etc. Your imagination is your limitation.

8. To be eligible for the prize, you must have your submission in on deadline (or earlier) and it must follow the theme set for the month.

9. Use the Linky post at the bottom of the page and follow the directions to link here to be eligible for prizes! They'll be worth it!

Well, that's about it!! If there are anymore informational items I need to post, or questions that need answering, I'll do that when they come up!

I sincerely hope you will join me for this project in 2012!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

THANK YOU!

I just wanted to send out this BIG THANK YOU to all of my blog readers and people that have left wonderful comments on my blog this past year.

I have a new project coming in which I hope you will join, and we have Lime Light Design Team news coming tomorrow!!!!!

Lots of things planned in 2012!

Again, Thank you so much for your comments and stopping by the blog to take a look at my work. I appreciate it more than you can possibly imagine!

Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

2012 CD Case Calendars - My Annual Project/Gifts

These 3 months are among some of my favorites.

I don't know how October always ended up being the most elaborate in the past... it's not even my favorite holiday, but I have some awesome Cricut Carts with very cool Halloween things so that's how they got so busy. This year I wanted to keep it simpler... and it still turned out pretty cool! (IMHO) I found these adorable Cancer Ribbons at Michael's, and decided to include them on the October design. Did you notice that the spiderweb has black flecks on it?



I bought this Happy Thanksgiving stamp many years ago, and "lost" it! I searched everywhere for it, and finally remembered where I'd put it. Now I am always sure to keep it near, it's so SO pretty! I love the calligraphy type work on it.


This design took me over a week to complete. Mom and Dad had already left to go back home, and I needed to get these finished. I cut some striped Christmas paper I had for "wallpaper" behind the tree, and then made the fireplace. That's what took all the time! I then embossed and inked them and used the month for the fireplace grate. The stockings are Stampin' Up ink and punch in Brilliant Blue/Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red/Glorious Green, and Glorious Green, Riding Hood Red. Even with the fireplace design, I still had to include the Christmas tree! They were cut in half, and placed on the edge then the branches, lights, and stickles to finish.


I hope you've enjoyed the 4 posts including this year's 2012 calendars!

I'm already working on the designs for 2013!!!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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2012 CD Case Calendars - My Annual Project/Gifts

Here are the next 3 months. Why am I posting them in 3 month increments? Experience. At the beginning, I would post all 12 months in one, and the labels section doesn't allow for as many characters as I needed, so I've broken them up into different sections, and don't have that problem any more.

I wanted to add some more flash to my July design this year, so I got out my Stand and Salute cart and found fireworks!!! We used the Cuttlebug and embossed the USA piece, and I added blue stickles to the country cut-out. It's only cut in white, and the red background shows through nicely for the red stripes. :)



I went crazy this summer over this color combination! I was playing one of my Facebook games, and came upon this color combo. LOVE it!!!
Turquoise, Yellow, Purple, Melon, and Peach. My dear friend Melissa LOVES the pineapple drink, so here it is!!! LOVE it in these colors!


Martha Stewart leaf punch makes up the border for September, and I found this stamp set from Stampin' Up on ebay. I watercolored them and inked the edges of the Decorator's Label punch. LOVE the falling leaves!


The last 3 months will post tomorrow morning! They are my favorites of all 12!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

2012 CD Case Calendars - My Annual Project/Gifts

Here are the next 3 months for the 2012 calendars.

I like to use the small Studio G stamps I got a few years ago to highlight the holidays in each month.

I also used the Ultimate Crafter's Companion to make the double bows on the April calendar, and Mom used it to tie the bows we put on the June calendar.



I really LOVE the Walk in My Garden cart. I use it so often and love the larger flowers as a single focus.


Here we used vellum to cut the flower pieces and stickles to highlight the flower center.


I am posting the next 3 months this afternoon!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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2012 CD Case Calendars - My Annual Project/Gifts

Here are the first 3 months of the CD case 2012 calendars.

This is the project Mom and I do together every year. When they come to visit after Thanksgiving, among all the other "stuff" we do the week they visit, we put together these calendars as gifts for family and friends. I like to think of it as a gift that "gives" all year 'round. I also have some very special people that I don't see as often as I'd like that receive these as special gifts because of my eternal gratitude for something they did, or their continuing friendship.

I use lots of Cricut Cartridges on these calendars every year as well as lots of my Martha Stewart punches and Stampin' Up ink, punches.



I use the vertical hearts cut from the Love Struck cartridge every year. I look at all the different designs, and always end up coming back to this one. It's a favorite!!!


I lent out one of my Cricut carts I wanted to use for this, so I found some stamps I'd bought on our travels, and used some very cute stickers I found. They shine and sparkle very nicely in the sunlight!


Stay tuned for the next 3 months tomorrow morning!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Christmas Cookies and Candy 2011

Here are some of the cookies I baked and decorated for Christmas this year. I have 2 recipes from Taste of Home I've used over the last few years quite successfully. The Sugar Cookie recipe is posted on the blog under the label Recipes. The gingerbread is a recipe called Butterscotch Gingerbread Men. They're delicious!

I also dipped pretzel rods, made 2 batches of fudge for the first time, made the haystack cookies, and dipped raisins, peanuts, and pecans in chocolate. At the bottom of the post you can see the gift boxes I put together for the neighbors.

Click on a picture to see it enlarged!












Here's Mamie Eisenhower's Million Dollar Fudge recipe which I added pecans. I also made a microwave fudge with walnuts.


These are the dipped pretzel rods, with a Stampin' Up punch and stamp decoration at the top.


Here's a picture of one of the gift boxes I put together. There were 4 in all for the neighbors.



I really LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas !!!!!!!!!


Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Christmas Cards 2011

As LONG as the calendars took this year to make, I was thrilled that my Christmas cards, though VERY cute didn't take near as long to make! I made 29 (yes, a weird number) and they are all sent. Delivery should come soon!!

This one is a little more special for Mom and Dad... extra rhinestones, extra ribbon, etc.


Using variations of background reds/greens, and different patterned paper at the bottom, this is what the cards looked like.


Even my husband got in the act and helped me with address labels, stamps, and return address labels! What a shock! THANKS for the help, Bennie!!!


Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Our House at Christmas

Christmas time is by far my most favorite time of the year - everything looks so beautiful lit up and sparkly with lights and icicles hanging from so many houses!

The last few years we haven't had a tree for so many reasons!!! I missed the sale at Hobby Lobby - there weren't any left!!! I had a baby kitty that would be too much trouble with a tree... We'd just barely moved into the house and weren't ready for a tree.... BUT this year, we have our tree!!!!! I blackmailed my husband into getting it early, and I'm so SO happy I did! It's a 9 ft. Montana Fir. I'm sad that the lights are all white, but he's enjoying it that way. I suppose I can let him have ONE concession! :)


Here's the mantle to the fireplace. I'm slowly adding little touches to this every year, so it's a little different than last.


Here's the dining area with the sugar plum lights and my Precious Moments tree on the table.


Here's a close-up of my Precious Moments tree. It's been with us a long time... and is the best of my Christmas Tree collection.


This is a view of the bar. Mom gave me the bear dragging the tree, and the jar with lights and potpourri in it... they're perfect next to my Scentsy pot!


Here's the table and lamps at our entry. I had the two candlesticks and candles first and then found the nativity scene, and Mom and I found the garland which I wrapped in lights and used a bow on that left side.


Of course, I had to add a picture of my 3 babies under the tree!!! I took about 20 of these, trying to get the best of all 3, but this is one of the better ones. I'm going to keep trying! You can see Hank's back farthest away, Sandy's back in the foreground, and of course Witchy Poo trying to see what's going on!


I hope you've enjoyed this view of our Christmas decorations - it's just a small glimpse and I had to share my favorite time of the year!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Absent Lately???

YES, it's absolutely true - I've been so busy working on my newest project, I have been neglecting the blog.

Will this last? NO NO NO!

1. New projects will be overwhelming Sue's Cricut and Crafts soon!

2. There is a new year-long project starting on this blog in January!! (Stay tuned for participation information!!)

3. Crafts are taking place - just not ready for their debut!


Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Birthday Card for Dad!

Dad's birthday was back at the beginning of the month!!
I made and sent this card which he did receive ON his birthday.

I hope he liked it!


Lots of Stampin' Up products here... the embossing folder, the window die, the Birthday stamp set... Bashful Blue background paper, daffodil yellow for accent... and of course, I had to use some Stickles!


This is the inside view of the window piece on the front of the birthday card.


I had lots of fun with the layers and colors on this piece for the inside of the card. Same colors, and 3 punches!

Your comments are always appreciated!

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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.

Five Question Fridays! November 11, 2011

1. What's the last thing you spent too much money on?
Oh... I have a weakness for Williams Sonoma! I bought some AWESOME measuring cups and spoons. :) I'll probably go back and get some for Christmas gifts! I always spend way too much on crafting supplies, but I always use them!

2. What celeb chef would you want to make you dinner?
I get to pick only one?? I'd love to have Bobby Flay cook dinner for me - but then I'd love to cook WITH him! I'd really love to sit and talk with Alton Brown. He's really amazing! I'd also love to meet Ina Garten. I find her pretty amazing - I'd love to have a kitchen and butler's pantry just like hers! It's one of my dreams!

3. Where do you hide things when visitors pop over or do you let them see the real deal?
Thank goodness my husband is very neat... so people can pretty much pop over and the house is presentable. :)

4. Who is your oldest living family member?
My father is our oldest living family member right now. He just turned 74 and is doing very well - retired, working hard when he wants to, enjoying himself, traveling.... all the fun stuff you get to do when you're retired and have planned well.

5. What is your favorite DQ treat and/or Sonic drink combo (ie: cherry vanilla dr. pepper)?
OH! I so miss my medium twist DQ cone. Sonic? HAS to be a Strawberry Limeade! YUMMMMMM

Your comments are always appreciated!
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A Proud member of The Lime Light. Click on over to see what we are doing.