Change is Good

Hello everyone,

I have not posted here in a few weeks, so here's the update:

I'm moving to Cairo, Egypt in a few weeks to teach journalism at The American University in Cairo. Very exciting.

Unfortunately, the preparation for the move has taken me away from crafting. But that's just temporary. I am taking some craft items with me including my sewing machine. Oh and on a side note, I did find my old Cuttlebug - somehow I left it in Pittsburgh.

I also took a leave from my craft commitments so that I can transition to my new city and my new job. I'm still keeping an eye on the design team at Cuttlebug Challenge. And I always love the wealth of information that I get from Craft Critique. Everyone has been quite supportive. Thanks much.

Though I was disappointed to see that the Cuttlebug Challenge DT got some new Cuttlebug embossing folders; that came after my resignation. I hate when that happens. I put in a lot of time an effort w/that DT. I would have loved to have gotten that stars embossing folder. I'm not sour, just feel like I am missing out. Well, I am indeed missing out.

I will be blogging and tweeting and podcasting about my new life in a different country. You can follow me on twitter @ohradiogirl and you can check out my Radiogirl blog.

Thanks for your support and I'll still be posting here, it will just be a few weeks before I begin posting my cards and what not. I think I'll be doing some digital scrapbooking as well.

Craft Critique: K&Company's Que Sera Sera Papers

My apology for the late post, but my Craft Critique article was originally scheduled for Friday and not Thursday.

I bought the K&Company Que Sera Sera Specialty Paper Pad and Designer Paper Pad at Michaels a few months ago. Love them. I have a complete review of them on Craft Critique. Make sure you check out the review there because I am also giving away a 4.75x6.75 paper pack Only comments submitted on Craft Critique will be eligible for the giveaway (no international shipping on the giveaway).

I made several cards to compliment the review. Check out my slide show of the cards.

"You're The Best" Card
cardsctock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
heart die cut: CuttleKids
cork: Quartet Cork Craft Sheets (at Michaels)
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

"Take Good Care" Card
cardstock: craft supply and Die Cuts With A View (DCWV)
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
dry embossing: Quickutz labels embossing folders
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger

"Many, Many Thanks" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
stamp: Hero Arts
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: May Arts
scalloped circle die cut: Quickutz
circle punches: EK Success

"Happy Everything" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera designer paper
circle punches: EK Success
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
twine: Darice
buttons: unknown

"Hello" Card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Company Que Sera Sera specialty paper
letter stickers: American Crafts Thickers

Tag Book
See the Que Sera Sera Tag Book short video including all the pages from the tag book

Thanks for looking.

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 34

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge was quite simple for me: use Basic Grey. I love, love, love BG. I love the patterns and the colors and just the whole image of the company. Good stuff.

This week's sponsor is Mothers and Daughters Creations. I'm sure that there will be some fabulous prize.

This challenge was easy because I have lots and lots of BG papers. I prefer the 6x6 paper pads, but I also have a few single sheets as well as entire lines.

I did not use a great deal of BG on this card, but it's subtle and has a nice girly touch. I also got out my Nestabilties for this one. Oh, my new acrylic stamps from Autumn Leaves. The stamps are new for me, but I think they've been around for some time. I got them for $7 at Cord Camera. There are seven stamps in the set.

Oh, and this just in ... this will be my last submission on the Cuttlebug Challenge Design Team. New ventures are on the horizon. And make sure you come back on Friday, June 5, 2009 ... I'll have a giveaway!

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
stamp: Autumn Leaves
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
dry embossin: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
oval and scalloped oval die cuts: Nestabilities
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 33

Cuttlebug Challenge #33 is to use a monogram. This week the design team was provided with journaling blocks/tags from Elle's Studio. I don't think that there is a prize this week, but we hope that you'll still play along.

My goal here was to keep it simple. I think I accomplished that. I do like the way that wine color pops out. And I do like that monogram. Just a cute little 'k'.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
journaling block/tag: Elle Studio
ink: Color Box
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Leafy Branch
Stamp: Studio G/$1 stamp from Michaels
ribbon: Hobby Lobby

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 32

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge Be Inspired is to use butterflies and hearts. I like this one. Probably because I did not have to make any additional purchases and I do have a soft spot for the Cuttlebug butterfly die cut and embossing folders. I like the hearts too.

This card was easy enough, as you can see. But I did try one that is different. Though it was difficult to capture in my images. I took the script texture embossing folder and ran my patterned paper through the Cuttlebug, then I took the leafy branch embossing folder and I also ran the patterned paper through that one one top of the script texture. Interestingly enough, the embossing from the script did not totally flatten out. I started to ink the embossed section, but I really wanted to the focus to be on the butterflies.

Make sure you check out the other Cuttlebug Challenge Design Team work. Then get to the challenge and make a card or project for your chance to win this week's prize - which I believe is a prize package from ProvoCraft, the maker of the Cuttlebug.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
butterfly die cut and dry embossing: Cuttlebug
stamp: Stampin Up!
ink: Tim Holtz
button: unknown

Masking - Butterfly Card

I made this card for DIY Die Cutting week 2 on Two Peas in a Bucket. At first, I thought I would not be interested in this class, but there are always some nice tips and I love seeing their samples. This week's class was hosted by Kristina Werner. Love her work.

So I had some time to do this card. I used my Cuttlebug butterfly die cut. I don't use it enough, but it will show up again in the next few days.

I like the masking technique ... basically you are inking around the die cut. My problem is that I don't have a sponge, so I just used the small Color Box ink pad. I was unsure of how it would come out w/the butterfly since there are some fine details, but it works. I had intended to use the butterfly die cut on the card as well, but I always go back to my mantra ... "simple is best".

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
ribbon: Offray
die cut: Cuttlebug
stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Color Box

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 31 w/a video

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use or make a 3D project. I sort of enjoyed this one. I've come to like making mini books. But I did not feel like I gave myself enough time to do this one in my meticulous way.

The Cuttlebug Design Team was given tag book courtesy of Create & Treasure.

I like mini books because of the embellishing. It's all of the little things. I've also come to appreciate letter stickers. Who doesn't have some of these laying around?

I mostly like the way the book came out, but give me some quality time and I am going to change out a few pages. I couldn't determine if I should focus on food that I like or quotes or just random things. I over-thought the whole process. Can't wait to see what you all came up with.

Check out the video ... it's only about 90 seconds.



Well, thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
tag book: Create $ Treasure
cardstock: DCWV, Bazzill and craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
dry embossing and (some) scalloped circle die cuts: Cuttlebug
ribbon: American Crafts (I think; I bought it by the yard)
other embellishments: American Crafts Thickers and letter stickers, KI Memories letter stamps, Bazzill paper flowers, EK Success Circle punches and butterfly punch, American Crafts chipboard heart, Hero Arts 'happy' stamp, Basic Grey letter stickers, Jillibean Soup journaling block, Inque felt flower, Creative Impression rick rack, buttons (unknown)

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 30

First of all, a big thanks for those whose participated in this past weekend's Cuttlebug Spa Weekend and the Blog Hop. Wow, lots of folks stopped by and it was so much fun.

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge was to make a wedding/anniversary project. The die cuts were provided by Creative Cuts and More.

I used the purse die cut. Quite the cutie. Though it nearly left me baffled as to what to do with it. I'm just lacking my creative mojo these days. With wedding, I thought simplicity, so I kept the white (I was tempted to do some inking, but no ...). I did not think that the heart embossing would work out, but I did test it out on scrap paper first. So the heart is on both the front and back of the purse. Then I wanted to stamp inside of the heart, but ... simplicity, right? I thought that the ribbon was a nice touch to make it not so plain.

The card was super simple. I love the split embossing (NOTE: I did not have time to locate tutorials on split embossing, but try searching on Splitcoast Stampers or Mel Stampz) . I almost put a ribbon on this, but I did not like my white ribbon selection.

This was fun ... thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
die cut: Creative Cuts and More
stamp: unknown
ink: VersaMagic
embossing powder: Joann
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and Decorative Hearts
ribbon: unknown