Memorial Day - Peace - Red Poppies

Today is Challenge Day over at Cooking With Cricut
and the Challenge is Memorial Day incorporating stitching!

And I have a little bit of history to share...

The most ancient symbol of peace is the olive branch. A later representation of a Dove holding an Olive Branch was used to symbolize or as a motto of "Peace Restored" in 18th century America.

 Did you know that Moina Michael back in 1915 conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war.

 She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it. (http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html)

Materials Used:
Cricut Expression, Gypsy and Star embossing folder,
Cricut French Manor, 50 States and Stretch Your Imagination Cartridges.
White, Blue, Red and two tones of Green Cardstock.
Ribbon, Walnut Stain and Beads.
Thanks for visiting!! Hopefully you find the time to go visit what other beautiful creations my Team Mates created over at CWC and maybe you can join us in the Challenge!!

ABC Back 2 School Card using Cri-Kits

My BFF was approached by Cri-Kits to give away a set of Cri-Kits pens and holder.  I told her I would be happy to create something to help her promote her giveaway!!! You will have more than one chances to win/enter!!!!  read on....
While I was thinking on what to create, I decided to kill two birds with one stone, so I created this card to enter Cristina's Back 2 School Challenge.
I created this card using the Cri-Kits holder (of course) and the blue pen.

1- On the Gypsy using George and Basic Shapes I sized a rectangle to 4.75x5.50. 
2- Inside that rectangle using the shift + 1 I started drawing lines in different sizes, from .25 w to .10 w and in different heights most at 90 degree angles until I thought it looked like a notebook page (a bit on the doodle side, not a perfect notebook page).
3- I continued by adding a layer 2 on the Gypsy and placing the rectangle exactly in the same x and y position as on layer 1,  
4- Using the Cri-Kits pen I cut/drew layer one.
5- When finished I clicked "return to design" without unloading my mat and proceeded to change Cri-Kits pen to cutting blade,
6- hit layer two and clicked cut (this time with blade)!

If you wish to receive the Gypsy file, email me at scrapabookaholic at hotmail dot com  Happy to share!

I used FolkArt paint to paint the chipboard letters.

The apples were cut using Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.

The hemp cord and embellisments are from Joann.

If you wish to also be entered here, you must answer the following question:
If you win the Cri-Kits set, what will you create first?

or you can just leave a sweet comment!  ;)

 make sure you go visit ABBY at Scrapbookaholic!!!!!

A Day At The Zoo

I created this Two-Page LO to enter Emma's Thursday Throwback.  We are to use Zooballoo or older animal Cricut cartridge.  I do not own the Zooballoo cartridge, but I do own the Animal Kingdom cartridge.

The bird, tiger, crocodile, snake and hippo and the word zoo were created using Animal Kingdom.  The gate was created using the Christmas-Noel cartridge using the hide countour feature and adding two rectangles from the George and basic shapes.

For the trees I used the Serenade cartridge .

I used a Fiskars punch for the little flower and a MS punch for the butterflies.

For the frame on the middle picture I used the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.

For the word zoo and the butterflies I used Smooch paints. (I do not realy like the tuxedo color, it made the word be silvery shiny/metalic instead of tuxedo black shiny!)

I used my just received Dew Drops for the center of the flowers.

I used Copic sketch markers to color the bird.

Finally, most everything was inked.

Thanks for taking the time to visit and since you are here, don't leave without posting a comment!

(like my BFF stated, we bloggers feed on these!!! hehe)

Stretch Your Imagination Layout

I created this layout to enter MyCreativeTime or Emma's Throwback Thursday Challenge.

The challenge is to incorporate the colors brown, red and blue using Cricut SYI.

Every cut with the exeption of the words "school is out" were cut using the Stretch Your Imagination cart.

I just realized that I forgot to adhere the watering can...oh well

I covered the wheels with aluminum foil.

I used my Peachy Keen stamps for the first time on the sun....( I think I chose smaller than I should have.)

Scraplifted-- Bless This Nest from Jeannie

I Scrap lifted this card from Jeannie at "A Place For My Cards" .  I received her blessing. Thank you!

This is my take on her gypsy file/card.

I created this card using DCWV The Linen Closet to give to my niece Yessie (the same I have created an album full of two-page layouts for her pre-wedding events).  I added DCWV black card stock and a brown? for the branches.

Jeannie sent me her gypsy file. I did not have the Sweathearts cart for the "Bless This Nest" sentiment so I deleted her words/letters after I created mine using Gypsy Font (I had to delete!  first I tried the hide contour feature so I would not have to delete the words/letters for future use- when I get the Sweathearts cart!  Anyway, the Cricut would not cut until I deleted!

This is the inside of the card. I added the heart that I did not use on the front/cover.

Additionally, I do not own the MS brunch punch that Jeannie used, so I created my branches with the Potpourri Basket cart.  I inked everything with Ranger distress ink in walnut.

It is much better in person! It is 3D, heck, 4 dimensional!! and heavy with all the glue dots!

I like it so much I am going to be making two more!!

Don't forget to visit Jeannie's blog and to leave a comment here and there!

Easter Two-Page Layout

I started this layout a while back..........

I was inspired by Okielady. She used different carts and papers and offers a .cut file which I did not use, but you can take advantage of her generosity.

Supplies used:

Pink paper -  Bazzil

Print paper - ?

Paper for little flowers - DCWV

Other paper - Core'dinations

EK flower punches

Easter 2010 Cart for some eggs

My Community Cart for basket and back grass

Every Day Paper Dolls Cart for Bunny and front grass

Stretch Your Imagination for Tree

Silhoutte egg designs for some eggs and frames

Cuttlebug for frames

MS butterfly punch

Ribbon

Glitter glue

I cut the bunny twice and inked his cheeks and tail.

The flower were cut making sure the the center of the punch was on the little mini flower to create the center of my flowers.