M is for...

M is for...Memories, Mother, Maryanne

My mother recently passed away at the age of 54. It was very unexpected and I haven't told anyone (except immediate family) until now. Perhaps it will make it easier when I go back to school on Monday. 

Today I decided to work on a page to help remember my mom. I know it isn't much yet, but it will definitely help me to work on this project everyday until I am happy with the results. I still need to add some colorful butterflies, ribbon or gems.

 I am going to put the page in a black shadow box once I am finished.

Please enjoy your family time. Life is too short!

Take Care,

Georgiana 

So Many Fabulous Deals

Good Morning!

I hope everyone is enjoying the after Christmas sales and finding some great deals. I have read about a few (Carri, Tara, and Michelle) and thought about sharing some of the goodies that I have found. I am the frugal shopper/crafter (My daughter calls me cheap, but frugal sounds so much better! Wouldn't you agree?). 

I found these stickers at: Carlton Cards at our mall for 75% (Christams ones on the left) and 90% (Sugar and Spice on front left) off, Joanns 60% (Sandylion on right) off, Hobby Lobby 50%, and Michaels buy 2, get 1 free.

Lots of embellishments for 40 to 60% off. When I go to Joanns I can also use my teacher card for another 15% off. The heart brads (back left) are from Hobby Lobby and were 50% off. I am getting ready for Valentines early! Oh yeah, Target's dollar section was 50% off too.

I used a gift card from my sister to buy these at Micheals (except Thinking of You stamp which I purchased at Hobby Lobby for 50% off). The tape was reg $14.99 for $5.99 and the stamps were 60 cents.

These paper packs were 50% off at Hobby Lobby, so they were only $2.50. Wow! There are some really cute designs and lots of different colors. I got the last silver metallic paper at Michaels (Yeah!) for $1.59.

My last deal of the day was PaperCrafting Pro. I bought 3 new cartridges (Simply Charmed, Create a Critter and Give a Hoot) for $13.00 each. Shipping was pretty good and the delivery time is less than a week. I have tried to win these carts on eBay but have been unsuccessful, so I am pleased!

Be sure to share your great finds. I would love to hear.

Hoping you have a great day!

Happy New Year,

Georgiana 

“To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.” 

~ Joseph Chilton Pierce Quotes

Happy Birthday Niece (Yes, Again)

Since my son took the other birthday card I made for my niece I had to make a different one. I actually like this one better since it has her favorite colors...brown and teal.

I used the Birthday Bash cartridge to cut out the base, the porcupine, and sentiment. This cartridge has wonderful images and I can see it becoming a fast favorite. There are so many adorable choices!

• Base ~ brown cardstock ~ 8" ~ p. 40
• Liner ~ Chatter Box double sided paper~ 8" and 7 1/2 " ~ p. 40
• Liner Shadow (not a feature) ~ cream cardstock ~ 7 3/4"
• Porcupine ~ 4" ~ p. 40 
• Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Happy Birthday sentiment ~ Cream cardstock ~ 1" ~ p. 69
• Brown floral lace ribbon
• wiggly eyes,  3 pearls, and a teal gem 

  

  Inside of card
  
  Challenge:
  Party Time Tuesdays #27  ~ Anything Goes Birthday Card 

   Not only did I make this card today, I finally linked all my cartridges to my Gypsy. I have been exploring and I am getting the hang of it. Tomorrow I plan on using it to make a card. I am keeping my fingers crossed I can cut the images to the size I want and use all the features. I am definitely optimistic!

 Lastly, I worked on my New Year's cards for my students.

I have all the clocks and the year attached to the front, and I have a piece of cream colored paper on the inside for a personal note.

 

The last step will be to cut and adhere "Happy New Year". I plan on doing that after I create my design team card.

 Stay creative and enjoy your crafting time. I return to school in five days, so I am taking pleasure in all I do.

Georgiana

New Years Assembly, Pt. 1

Yesterday, I posted Happy New Year's cards (see one of the four above) and then I started working on creating the 18 for my students. I am using the simple, assembly line technique to get them completed.

I cut out the shadows, bases, faces, and hands of the clocks from Nifty Fifties and I have started to glue the pieces together. I have not finished all of them yet because I am matching the rim with background paper.

Next, I cut out the card base from black cardstock and then the layered piece that will match the clock rim. I cut the paper either using a hamburg or hot dog fold...that means portrait or landscape direction. : )

After gluing the background piece, I added the metallic gold or silver piece that I embossed with a swirling frame (I wish the name of the embossing folder was printed on it!). I sure do like how the paper shimmers in the light. I think I am going to go back to Michaels and see if they have any more left. Since it was on sale they may be all out, but it can't hurt to try.

Now each card is ready for the lettering and the clock to be adhered.

Yeah!

That is next! 

I plan on putting a card in each student's Communication Folder that will go home on Monday instead of giving them to the student directly. I know I have some students that will donate their card to the Desk Fairy (if you know what I mean). This way the parents will get to enjoy the sentiment also.

**Here is the second half of the list of 30 Reasons to Send a Card that I started last night. **

15 More Reasons...

16. Christmas

17. Rosh Hashanah

18. New Year's

19. Just Because

20. Kwanzaa

21. Chanukah

22. Easter

23. Get Well Soon

24. Sorry I Crashed the Car

25. Groundhog's Day

26. New Job

27. Thinking of You

28. Expecting

29. New Baby

30. Hang in There

Well, I am doing great with #18 ~ Happy New Year's. I sure hope I do not get a #24, especially since my 16 year old is supposed to get his license at the end of the week...Yikes!

Time to finish these cards, so I can continue with my list. I have to make another birthday card for my darling niece (her birthday is Tuesday the 28th) since my son took the one I had already made. He gave it to his girlfriend who had a birthday a couple of days ago. I sure hope she liked it!

Oh, before I go...THANK YOU.

Thank you for visiting. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for allowing me to share with you. I have been fortunate to "meet" many crafty people and I appreciate the time you spend chatting (blogging and e-mailing). Hoping 2011 is a magnificent year.

Stay Creative,

Georgiana  

Can You Believe 2011 is Just Around the Corner? And 15 Reasons to Send a Card

Santa may have checked his list twice to find out who was naughty and who was nice, but I made a list of cards I wanted to start making today. I referred back to one of the books I received for Christmas and decided to make New Year's cards using Chapter 5 ~ Working with Multiples. Two techniques I thought were useful were simplify and assembly line.

I purchased these wonderful gold and silver packs of paper on sale at Michaels today, and I wanted to use it just for this project. Each card is going to use the same color scheme (simple...black, gold and/or silver). I just changed the embellishments.

This embossing folder adds a special touch that does not need any extra images. 

This card contains both gold and silver. I used silver ribbon, black gems, black glittery brads, and silver buttons.

I am going to make 18 of these cards...one for each student. I cut out all the pieces and will assemble in the morning when everyone is still sleeping. I want to give a card to each student when we return from Winter Break on January 3rd.

The clock (p. 51) was cut from Nifty Fifties at 2". Happy New Year was cut from the Wild Card cartridge (p. 78) at 6 1/2" and 2011 was cut at 1/2".

Here is another list I wanted to share with everyone from The Cardmaker's Workbook on p.138.

30 Reasons to Send a Card...I will list 15 today and the other 15 tomorrow.

1. I'm Sorry

2. I'm NOT Sorry

3. Happy Birthday

4. New Home

5. Thanksgiving

6. Valentine's Day

7. Happy Belated Anniversary

8. I Love You

9. I Like You

10. Good Report Card

11. New Car

12. New Dog

13. New Therapist

14. Wedding

15. Congrats on Your Divorce

Challenges:

The Corrosive Challenge Blog # 96 ~ Bling It On

Creative Craft Challenge ~ Anything Goes!

Anything Goes Challenge Blog Week 30 ~ The Letter C ~ Clock

Until next time...

Georgiana

Two New Books for This Teacher

What a wonderful Christmas we had today. The kids are extremely happy with their gifts, the hubby got just what he wanted, and me...I love everything I received. My husband went overboard and got me all the crafting goodies I could have asked for.  : ) I got some new Cricut cartridges (Nifty Fifties, Birthday Bash, and Wrap-it Up), a bunch of embossing folders, buttons, crafting thread, and paper with matching embellishments.  

I also received two new crafting books (one I picked out and the other was a surprise). I was reading them this evening and I thought I would share a piece from  The Cardmaker's Workbook p.19. 

An interesting tidbit I want to remember as the new year approaches...

Top 15 People to Send Cards To...

1. Your parents

2. Your children

3. Your wealthy spinster aunt and her seven cats

4.Your best friend

5. Your nieces and nephews in college

6. Your future in-laws

7. Your grandparents

8. Your grandchildren

9. Your paperboy

10. Your babysitter

11. Your neighbor's gorgeous pool boy

12. Your favorite barista

13. Your priest, rabbi, or spiritual mentor

14. Ben & Jerry's

15. There wasn't one! I think it was an error in printing. My thought...anyone else you want!

My goal for the new year is to send handmade cards to more family, friends, and co-workers. I definitely do not have a wealthy spinster aunt with seven cats, but I sure can use this list for many others. I am hoping to share my love of cardmaking with others.

Be sure to come back again for another tidbit from one of these books. There is so much useful information I just have to share...It is that teacher in me!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

Georgiana

I like opening a letter and thinking myself loved. ~ Virginia Woolf

Happy Christmas Eve ~ Disney World in Lights

Here are some photos from our recent trip to Disney World in Orlando. We have annual passes, so we visit as often as we can. We went to see the lights during this visit.

Our arrival at Disney World early in the morning. We came to see all the Christmas lights.

The castle before the fairy godmother cast her spell.

The castle after it has been enchanted.

My daughter and I in the Candy Cane Garden near Main Street.

Main Street on the eve of Christams Eve.

Hollywood Studios...Osborne Lights...MILLIONS of them!

The tree is magnificent when in flashes to Tran-Siberian Orchestra.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas! I am getting ready to make a few more cards before my sister, brother-in-law, and the three girls come over. I am thinking about making a different card for my sister and give the Santa one I made yesterday to a neighbor. I think her card needs more pizazz. I have an idea already, so I need to get busy! Take care and enjoy your time with family.

Stay Warm,
Georgiana

Merry Christmas Sister

My only Sister, Brother-in-Law, and three nieces are coming over on Christmas Eve so we can exchange  presents since we see other family on Christmas Day. I decided to make her a card of her own since the girls have been getting birthday cards (My sister's birthday was on the 17th and we usually treat each other to breakfast, but this year we had to unexpectedly delay our tradition.). I hope the card will cheer her up some.

Inside of card: coordinating Merry Christmas cut-out

Challenges:

Cupcake Inspiration #90 ~ red, white, green, Santa

My Sheri Crafts #35 ~ Christmas

My Time to Craft #120 ~ Santa

Paper Playtime #30~ Christmas

Happy Christmas Eve,

Georgiana

Happy Birthday My Sweet Niece

After I delivered one of niece's birthday card the other day, her sister (Kay) decided it was really cool and wanted one too. I told her I do not like to make duplicates (she loved the window), but she would get something special for her birthday on the 28th.

Instead of making a circle I decided to make a square. I still used the Wild Card cartridge for the base and cut it at 6 1/2". Since it is the holiday season I wanted to use the same color theme. I added glitter, gems, a button, and ribbon to put a smile on her face.

My daughter said she thought this was Santa's hat, but I told her it was a new and improved birthday hat. I am not sure she believed me, but I think it is super cute.

I added ribbon to the stamped sentiment to make it look like a present. I haven't bought her a present yet, but I have a great idea if she doesn't get one for Christmas. My sister said my niece's favorite colors are teal and brown (I was going to make her card that way at first.), but I found a bag that can be monogrammed. If she doesn't get anything similar I am going to get it for her when we go shopping the day after Christmas.

Inside of card to write a note

Challenges:

Alphabet Challenge Blog ~ H is for Hat

Party Time Tuesdays #26 ~ Birthday with red, white, and green

Tuesday Morning Sketches #73 ~ Embellish It!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Georgiana

Thinking of You With Warm Wishes

Kraft paper was my theme (City Crafter Challenge Blog). Cutting an image from the Country Life cartridge was my goal. Using a sun was the challenge at Made by Momo. I was able to say "Check" to all three in both of these cards. 

YEAH!

Countryside p.72 and Warm Wishes p.62

Pitcher p.60

The following supplies were used:

• Kraft, mustard yellow, and green cardstock
• heidi grace designs paper
• flower edge punch
• brown raffia
• brown flower brads
• yellow chalk
• BoBunny buttons
• burgandy craft thread
• Thinking of You sticker

Thinking of  all my crafty friends and hoping each of you are ready for the holidays,

Georgiana : )

Happy Birthday Niece!

Tomorrow happens to be one of my niece's birthday and another one is on the 28th of this month. I always try to get them something special since their birthdays are right around Christmas time and their day can easily blend in with the holidays.

I made this extra large card for Mykenzee. I plan on giving it to her on Monday along with her present.

I used Wild Card for the base and cut it out at 6 3/4". I love the window effect. The pink and silver gems sparkle just like her.

The present and hat were both cut from the Celebrations cartridge. I added a few pink gems to the swirls on the hat.

I plan on making a different card within the next day or two for Kay and give it to her on her birthday next week. Her favorite colors are teal and brown, so I am looking forward to making that special card.

My daughter, One Creative Teen, also made a card for her cousin. She would love for you to visit and check out her creation. She has already started the other birthday card, but she is going to try and use the Party Time Tuesday challenge sketch.

Wishing you a peaceful day,

Georgiana

The family is one of nature's masterpieces. ~ George Santayana quotes

New Background and a Question

Since it was the first day of Winter Break and I had a little extra "free" time, I decided to make some changes to my background. I love brown, so I just couldn't get away from it. I found a matching header (that I am still working on) and a few buttons too. There were two new sites that I used that you may be interested in checking out if you haven't seen them before. Please let me know what you think of them.

http://onecuteblogblinkies.blogspot.com/

http://www.aprilshowersblogdesign.com/2008/09/free-buttons-and-blinkies.html

I am trying to find a feature that I am hoping someone can help me with. I want to put all my badges in a slideshow on the right sidebar, but I do not know how. ~ Any suggestions?!?! ~

I am looking forward to tomorrow. Christmas shopping is just about done (except for the hubby ~ any suggestions for some manly toys?) and we want to go the movies. There are a few good choices, so the difficult part will be deciding which one.

Happy Holidays,

Georgiana

Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. ~ John F. Kennedy

Winter Break Begins with Gifts for Others

Today was our last day of school for two weeks. YEAH! The students made Christmas ornaments to take home as a surprise. They had no idea they were making them, but I think they liked the project.

• Clear plastic ornaments (Michaels)
• fake snow
• snowflakes (decorative holiday paper and silver confetti)
• red and green glitter
• school picture
• festive ribbon

I should be very excited, but today was the last day for someone special. My paraprofessional (and friend) will not be returning in January since she is continuing with her education degree and her schedule conflicts with our school times. I know she must do what is best so she can graduate on-time, BUT she wil be missed at school. I made her a card, and gave her some crafting goodies. 

K&Company Glad Tidings paper and Joys of the Season poinsetta

  I made this card for another teacher that  I work with. I realize Hanukkah began sometime ago, but I wanted her to get her gift as we did our exchange.

Joys of the Season cuts at 1 1/4"

Each card has a stamped sentiment on the inside.

Happy Holidays,

Georgiana : )

I Didn't Even Have to Marry Royalty to Become a Queen

I am super excited to be able to announce that I made the design team at Paper Playtime. YEAH! I am going to be a Winter Queen for the next three months!  

Since I love to submit my cards into the challenges, this will be wonderful to be able to participate from another perspective. 

Here are the others that will be on the Royal Court too.

Team 1:

Michelle - http://mumoftwoblog.blogspot.com/
Melissa - http://apaperjourney.blogspot.com/
Sandra - http://www.365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/
Georgiana - http://www.carsonscricutcreations.blogspot.com/
Pam - http://simply-pam.blogspot.com/
Carley - http://www.the-real-icarley.blogspot.com/
Glenda - http://glendascards.blogspot.com/
Lisa - http://www.crop-and-create.blogspot.com/
Don & Judy - http://airingout-don.blogspot.com/

Team 2:
Corri - http://www.buglvr.blogspot.com/
Sharon - http://meemeescreations.blogspot.com/
Sheree - http://cravinscrappin.blogspot.com/
Janis - http://www.pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
Maria - http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/
Theresa - http://www.thescrapbookingqueen.com/
Heather - http://www.princesspaperprojects.blogspot.com/
JD - http://jdscricuteering.blogspot.com/

Looking forward to my first challenge in January.

Happy Holidays,

Georgiana

Two of Each Please

I decided to make two of the same cards after someone commented they really liked one of my previous cards and they wanted it. Unfortunately I did not have an extra, so I am trying something a little differently. I made two using the same double sided paper, but alternated the colors.

heidi grace designs paper

 I also used the same Cricut cut, but used scraps to make the snowman.

Snowman is cut from Gingerbread cartridge.

How do you like to make your cards? Do you like one of each or do you like to make a few of each design? I am curious to know.

Happy Holidays,

Georgiana

Let's Make a Snowman!

I just received the Gingerbread cartridge in the mail and wanted to give it a try.

Front of card



The gems on snowflakes add pizzaz.



Inside of card



Challenges:

• Alphabet Challenge Blog - G for Glitter
• City Crafter Challenge Blog #34 - Snow
• Paper Cutz Challenge #71 - Snowflake or Snowman
• Paper Playtime #28 - Snowflakes

Happy Holidays,

Georgiana