I bit the bullet...

It'savailable now...I snagged the HSN deal last week and saved over $200 by getting the pictured "Deal of the Day" set (included free shipping...).

How can I rationalize this? I already have 40+ shape cartridges to add to the two that come with this package. I can save a TON of money on cakes over the next few years...the last cake I bought from the grocery store bakery was $24 and it was only a 9x13 size!

Sarah is having a puppy party for her birthday this year and a princess party the year after that...add in other family member parties, special celebrations and holidays, it is all good!

Besides decorating cupcakes and cakes -- I have been doing my homework: You can roll out cookie dough and flash freeze it, then cut. You can cut cold, sliced cheese. How about chocolate dipping Oreo "pops" and then decorating them? I see lots of fun things in my head and will share them with you as create them...I have a few things whipped up on Design Studio already, LOL!

If you want to learn more about this - check out YouTube...there is some great info from it's release at CHA and more.
:)

Un-Circle Journals...

There are so many reasons to join a circle journal. Participating in a circle journal means you get to make new friends, have fun, contribute to another’s book, see other's work and end up with a creative book at the end. Holding someone else’s work in your hands can be very inspiring. Just think of all the different and unique contributions different people can make in your journal!

I am with a group that does things a little differently...instead of mailing the physical books to each other, in a round robin, to make our contributions...we list our topics on a website and make pages to mail into the swap host. That host sorts them, repacks and ships them back to us. This particular group does 2 a year, sometimes 3.

Above, you see some samples of what I did for the current round. One gal had the theme " My Brother's Wedding". She asked for black, white and silver/platinum colors only -- so I used my Cricut Wedding cart to cut out the bridal silouhette and stickles to make the silver buttons. My Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) let me do the letteringt for the overlay...and then there is the awesome scroll work! They came 2 to a package and I found them at Michael's last weekend. They totally make the pages, LOL!

The Hard Rock Cafe layout was for a gal who was making an album about her vacation. I used SCAL again for the lettering, and thought it needed more "zing". Stickles to the rescue again! The guitars were from the Cricut cartridge EveryDay Paper Dolls...again, stickled. The photo mats were embossed with the Allergra Cuttlebug folder and then inked...tying it all together.

There are 9 of us in this round, I don't want to bore you with all of the layouts, but you get the idea. My theme was Sarah's 3rd Birthday (It was a Fishy Party). When I get the pages back and add the pictures, I will share the finished product.

Until next time...be crafty in your own way!

Valentine's Day

It's right around the corner -- just next weekend! Since I am out of town next week at Tupperware Director Summit...Sarah and I made the Valentine's for her preschool class this week.

We used the Stamp/punch combo from Stampin' UP, the plastic domed inserts came from them too. I used the new Love Struck cart from my Cricut to make the scalloped red hearts to back it with. Add a prima flower and a little bling...don't forget the m&ms and you have a cute pass out for her friends!

She did sign the back of them all - and is SO PROUD of them, LOL. The cutest thing, she thought that all leftoer m&ms were meant for HER consumption. We are rationing them out in lots of 10 per day, LOL!

We have more Valentine's to make this week - for all the grandparents. Until next time - be creative in YOUR way!