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.

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

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

Cuttlebug Spa Weekend, Relax, Rejuvenate, Be Inspired

The Cuttlebug Spa Weekend: Relax, Rejuvenate, Be Inspired

I'm Kim, known to some as ohradiogirl, and my flower is the tulip.

This is going to be a great weekend! Lots of fun and lots of giveaways.

For me, relaxing does not come enough. But I find myself most comfortable when I am hanging out with friends: having a cup of coffee or breakfast and just enjoying good company.

I used to walk alot and that was relaxing. It was also quite fun since I walked w/a small walking group and we'd, walk, talk and laugh. Good times indeed.

The tulip has a soothing effect for me. It just brings me calm.

So you want to get in on some of the fun and prizes for the Cuttlebug Spa Weekend ... here's what you need to do:

• make sure you leave a comment on my blog
• follow my blog/add to your blog list
• collect all 30 flowers name only (you do not need the name of the blogger)
  
• email the flower names to cuttlebugchallenge@gmail.com
  

Next up on the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog Hop is Heidi.

For more details, visit the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog Hop post.

Good luck in winning some of the wonderful prizes. Thanks for stopping by.

It's almost here!

It's almost here:

This weekend, May 1-3, 2009, is Cuttlebug Challenge Spa Weekend. National Scrapbooking Day is Saturday, May 2, 2009. At Cuttlebug Challenge, there will be a weekend of festivities called the Cuttlebug Spa Weekend.

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 29

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is a Mother's Day theme that includes use of some digital images from MyGrafico.com. Additionally we were to include an envelope w/our projects.

I normally relish the opportunity to rant about the challenges w/challenges, but I'll spare you the grumbling ... just because I feel like I'm beyond my whining quota for this month.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply, Archiver's, DCWV and Basic Grey (envelope)
digital image: My Grafico
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textiles and word filled hearts
ribbon and letter stickers: American Crafts
die cuts: Nestabilities ovals and scalloped ovals

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 28

This week's Be Inspired Cuttlebug Challenge theme is Home Sweet Home. As per usual, I made a card; at least one of them fits the theme since I ended up making two different cards. We're also using some very likable patterned paper from Marks Paper Company's Old Fashioned Courtship Collection. Oh, how I like the line. You'll see me using more of that in the coming weeks because I like it sooo much.

My craft stash is low and I did not even have a stamp to use for this project. But during a break at work, I went to Michaels and found this stamp in the $1 bin. Yay me.

Everything else is pretty basic. And the cards were easy to make.

Make sure you check out the other design team projects and why not enter this week's challenge?

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
first card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Marks Paper Company
butterfly punch: Martha Stewart/EK Success
stamp: Stampin Up!
ink: Tim Holtz
dry embossing: Cuttlebug

second card
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co. and Marks Paper Company
journaling spot: Jillibean Soup
stamp: Micheals $1 bin
ink: VersaColor
fabric brad: K & Company
ribbon: Michaels
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textile and word filled hearts

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 27

This week's Cuttlebug Be Inspired Challenge involves numbers. I don't own the Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder. That would be nice to use.

But I just got this Tim Holtz stamp and I've been wanting to use it. So maybe you thought that the paper already had numbers on it, but no, that's me and my stamp. Nice. I like it. But that's the look I like: a bit messy and antique-like and fun.

So I used the Cuttlebug for the heart die cuts. I used one from Cuttlebug and one from Cuttle Kids. Also, there is embossing on one of the hearts and that is the Cuttlebug as well.

Make sure you check out the Cuttlebug Challenge blog and get in on this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and DCWV
patterned paper: K&Co.
heart die cuts: Cuttlebug and Cuttle Kids
embossing: Cuttlebug
stamps: Hero Arts (sentiment); Tim Holtz (stamping on the paper)
ink: Tim Holtz/Ranger
ribbon: American Crafts

Cuttlebug Challenge :: Button Cover Tutorial

I've been playing around w/my button cover tutorial. I originally posted it on Craft Critique a few weeks ago.

I used another software program to make this one. A program called SoundSlides Plus. I like SoundSlides because I can control the music and the images from than you can with Animoto (the program that I used for the previous slideshow).

There's nothing new, just different music.

Here are the resources for the Button Cover Tutorial:

• Button Cover SlideShow Tutorial on Cuttlebug Challenge
  
• Button Cover Review and Tutorial on Craft Critique
• Button Cover Card

Also, mark you calendars for the weekend of May 1-3, 2009. National Scrapbooking Day is Saturday, May 2, 2009. At Cuttlebug Challenge, there will be a weekend of festivities called the Cuttlebug Spa Weekend.

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 25

This week's Cuttlebug Challenge is to use acetate along w/a sketch from SheetLoad.

I did not use acetate. But I did base my card on the sketch.

What I like most about this card is that I used somle new paper that I just got this weekend @ Michaels. I love K&Company and they have done a bang up job on this set of papers. The line is called Que Sera Sera. I have the specialty papers and the designer paper. And the image does not do it justice. I usually go for more muted papers and earth tones, but there's so much color here, but not too bold. I am not too crazy about the embellishments. But that's okay. Also, it was nice to get the paper packs using a 50% off coupon from Michaels (even though now they only allow you to use one coupon per day; they need some store signage on that one).

But as per my usual, this card is simple. I just don't feel as creative w/out a dedicated craft area. So the sketch was really helpful for me or you would have gotten another version of what I did last week or the week before only w/different paper and ribbon. Not really, but you get the picture. And one more thing, I did notice that my bow is upside down, I started to change it, but then I thought, nah ...

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: unknown (looks like Bazzill, but I know that it is not)
patterned paper: K&Company
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Texture Textile folder and Thanks
ribbon: Hobby Lobby
circle punch: EK Success

Cuttlebug Challenge :: 24 - Food Theme

This week's Be Inspired Cuttlebug Challenge is a food theme.

The Cuttlebug Challenge Design Team were provided with these cute little digital files. They're from The Cutting Cafe (and available for purchase).

I was going to do a bit more w/the card. For example, I think that it would look better w/brown ink as opposed to the black. But my printer is out of ink and I had to use my roommates printer. I almost did not use the ribbon because I did not want to cover up the embossing on the strip. I like the bow; it adds an elegant touch.

I wish I had time to use more of the cupcake digital files. They are awfully cute. I will probably use more in the future.

My apology for the glare on the image below. I will capture another image and replace it later in the week.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: Bazzill and craft supply
patterned paper: K&Co.
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and hearts
ribbon: Offray
bling: unknown
circle punches: EK Success

Be Inspired Cuttlebug Challenge :: 23 Unusual Die Cuts

This weeks Cuttlebug Challenge is to use punches in an unusual way. I've done this in the past and I like the results.

My project for today is quite basic. I do like the simplicity that comes with using the Swiss Dots embossing folders.

I started to use a sketch for this challenge. I will next time. I think sketches get me to do something different. I do like the basic, but it's not unusual. Maybe next time. Oh, but I did get excited because I used some new Basic Grey paper. I picked it up at Cord Camera a few weeks ago. It's from the Porcelain line - Dresden. I only got one sheet, but I really like it.

Anyway, check out the others. Also, you can get involved too.

Thanks for looking ... here's what I used:
cardstock: craft supply
patterned paper: Basic Grey
dry embossing: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots and 'Thank You' embossing folders
ribbon: Offray

WINNER :: Winterfest 09 Cuttlebug Challenge

I hosted a Cuttlebug Challenge on 2Peas for Winterfest 2009. It's an annual event hosted by the stamping board on 2Peas.

Here were the details of the challenge: you needed to stamp as well as use the Cuttlebug.

The winner is Kellsterstamps. Love this card. She wins a $10 gift certificate to the online store of her choice.

There so much to like on this card:

• Love the pastel colors
• awesome use of the Cuttlebug: she used three different embossing folders
• I like the cupcakes in the tree
• the big beautiful bow
• the large label die is quite nice
• the stitching adds some texture
  
• the sentiment is so cute

Thanks to everyone on 2Peas for entering. So much fun and lots of creativity.