Scrapping, Card Making and Living with Fibro

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com (note - Cally Ann could not finish the hop, but does have the first several days posted)

Gill - http://creationsbygillm.blogspot.com

I'm so sad to see this hop come to an end. I have had the best time making all the projects and visiting all the other ladies. Thanks again to Lisa for putting on this fantastically fun Halloween hop. For my last project I have created a super cute Cauldron card, using the Mini Monsters Cricut cartridge and stamps by A Jillian Vance Design. For the rest of the details see below...

For details just ask! Running late, but be happy to answer questions. :0)

I hope you enjoyed my post today. This is the final day of the hop and I appreciate all of you who came by to support us and show us some love! Your comments mean so much to me. :0) Don't forget...

To be eligible for the grand prize, you must visit each blog and leave a comment. You also MUST visit Lisa's blog and leave a comment on her blog for the day and also become a follower at "Scrapping With Lisa" and her facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scrapping-with-Lisa/130882060268842. Please let her know if you don't do facebook and she won't count that against you for the blog candy. Now for the blog candy, I bet you are wondering what it could be. It will be a big treat bag full of goodies. She will also be posting an individual prize for each day of the hop also that everyone who hops that day will have a chance to win.

As far as blog candy from me. Well, I'm gonna scrounge something up. LOL I'll get a picture posted as soon as I can. It will be some fun goodies for sure. Please leave a comment and become a follower or note that if you already are one, if you would like to be entered to win. Please include a way to contact you. I only give treats to my followers. ;)

Your next stop is the lovely Brynn. She's a great friend, fellow fibrouber talented gal!

Don't forget to enter my 500 followers give-away! Btw, Cricut owners - one of the prizes in the box (500 follower giveaway) will be some Cricut markers. If a non- Cricut owner wins, I will add something else equally as fun. (This is only a little of what's gonna be in the box)... There will also be some stickers and hmmm... Maybe I'll reveal a little more in tomorrow's post, so I guess you'll just have to come back! Trick or Treat!!! Ha ha ha!

XO ~ Amy Jo

P.S. I'd love it if you would check out (and I'd be oh-so-happy if you follow) my new blog, Best Things I've Found in [Maga]zines

Sunday, October 30, 2011

13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop - Day 12

*Please scroll down for Days 1 - 11 of the hop*

Welcome to the 13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. This is DAY 12 of the hop. This hop is scheduled from Oct. 19 at 8:00 am through Oct.31 at 11:00 pm (central time). It's that time of year when the nights are all spooky and creatures are known to wander the forests. So sit for a spell with a nice cup of hot apple cider and check out all the great projects.

Here is the complete lineup:

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com (note - Cally Ann could not finish the hop, but does have the first several days posted)

First off, I'm so sorry for being late this morning. Still on a funky sleeping schedule over here and it's truly impossible for me to get anything done in advance! Aaaah! Thanks for your patience! I actually just made this card this morning and it surprised me that it didn't take as long as usual. For a long time, I didn't enjoy using my Cricut because I thought it took to long to get all the layers cut, etc. Well, I've completely changed my mind! If you use some of the cuts they have all prepared with just a few layers, it's surprisingly quick! I'm really happy with this little card today and it was one of the simpler ones that I've made. I think I really need to reassess all of my cartridges and use them a lot more than I already do. I can't believe how many options there are in each cartridge! The Mini Monsters cart is the one I used today and so far, it's been my favorite to use this holiday season. Last year my fave was Happy Hauntings. Maybe I'll use that one for tomorrow's post. I apologize for only doing cards this whole time, but I'm kinda killing two birds with one stone. I have a friend who orders 8 cards each holiday (and even though these are late) she will use them for next year, I'm sure. So, that's why all the cards! ;) Alright, enough babbling from me. Onto the card!

Front of Card - Suggestions for the inside???

Isn't this the cutest brad? It's Studio G and I won it as blog candy from Heather at Heather's Crafty Space!

For the paper and cardstock I grabbed some from my stash and inked the pattern background edges with Colorbox Cat's Eye ink in Blackbird. I used a white Marvy gel pen for the little details. The die cuts are from Mini Monsters, with the purple and black cardstock from my stash and the green patterned paper from the Recollections - Ravenhead Manor 12x12 stack from last year's stock. I added red and orange Stickles for a little pizazz. There ya have it! Easy peasy!

I hope you enjoyed my post today. Please come back tomorrow to be eligible for the grand prize (see below) and to see my next project. Only 1 more day of awesome Halloween projects to go! I'm going to be sad to end this hop. :( It's been so much fun!

XO ~ Amy Jo

P.S. I'd love it if you would check out (and I'd be oh-so-happy if you follow) my new blog, Best Things I've Found in [Maga]zines

Saturday, October 29, 2011

13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop - Day 11

*Please scroll down for Days 1 - 10 of the hop*

Welcome to the 13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. This is DAY 11 of the hop. This hop is scheduled from Oct. 19 at 8:00 am through Oct.31 at 11:00 pm (central time). It's that time of year when the nights are all spooky and creatures are known to wander the forests. So sit for a spell with a nice cup of hot apple cider and check out all the great projects.

Here is the complete lineup:

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com (note - Cally Ann could not finish the hop, but does have the first several days posted)

I decided to do a simple card today, however, it still took me forever! Does that happen to you guys to or is everyone just able to make a card in like 15 minutes? It takes me so long to think up the design and going through all my craft items that making one card seems like a huge endeavor! :p It's a good thing I like making them I guess! For today's card I used craft cardstock from Recollections, paper from one of my Halloween paper pads for the bats, paper from a Colorbok black, white, and grey pack (not sure of the name, but if you notice... the gravestones and the bats are actually patterned prints). I also used my Cricut (I can't remember which cartridges b/c they were on my Gypsy), a cute ghost stamp from Stampin' Up, colored pencils and a black photo pen. For further details on anything I used, please ask and I'll look it up for you. :0) Oh, and of course I used my brown Colorbox Cat's Eye ink pad for the edges of the entire card.

Closed View

Inside of Card

Open View

It's cute, but not quite how I envisioned. I stamped the ghost on the front of the card, but it left an ink mark from the border so I just cut him off the front, fussy cut around him and popped him up with pop dots on the inside of the card instead.

I've been visiting the Paper Smooches blog and I just LOVE how they do the cards over there. They usually just focus on one stamped image, color it in, and add a cute sentiment. The style is just so clean! That's what I wanted to do here, but with the stamp I chose I felt it just needed more, ya know? So I added the graveyard and bats. Both were welded on the Gypsy. I'm not sure how to upload files from it, but I will figure it out if anyone wants the welded graveyard and welded bats so you don't have to do your own. Just let me know! :0)

I hope you enjoyed my post today. Please come back tomorrow to be eligible for the grand prize (see below) and to see my next project. Only 2 more days of awesome Halloween projects to go! I'm going to be sad to end this hop. :( It's been so much fun!

I also wanted to mention, today is my last post for A Jillian Vance Design. I am so sad to see my term end, but I had a great time while it lasted! Thanks Bunny and Jillian for giving me the opportunity. :0)

XO ~ Amy Jo

P.S. I'd love it if you would check out (and I'd be oh-so-happy if you follow) my new blog, Best Things I've Found in [Maga]zines

Friday, October 28, 2011

13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop - Day 10

*Please scroll down for Days 1 -9 of the hop*

Welcome to the 13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. This is DAY 10 of the hop. This hop is scheduled from Oct. 19 at 8:00 am through Oct.31 at 11:00 pm (central time). It's that time of year when the nights are all spooky and creatures are known to wander the forests. So sit for a spell with a nice cup of hot apple cider and check out all the great projects.

Here is the complete lineup:

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com

I'm going with a non-traditional theme here (again) and was totally inspired by this page from the official Cricut Blog. Be sure to check it out! They provided some awesome inspiration. Here is card two from the set of 3 or 4 that I'm doing... I am hoping to feel better later today to create my last few projects for the hop and for Halloween. Hope this has been a fun hop for you all! It has definitely been for me. :0) I am soooo sad that Halloween is almost over. :(

I used the Oct. 31st Cricut Cartridge for that wickedly cool witch. 2 stamp sets from A Jillian Vance Design were used (one for the cat, which is pop-dotted, and one for the awesome sentiment), seasonal paper pack for the witch and background, yellow cardstock inked with chalk ink for the moon and actual card, the white vine on the bottom (look closely) is actually ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon, inked the edges of the card with black ink as well. Other adhesives used were Tombow liquid glue and my ATG.

I hope you enjoyed my post today. Please come back tomorrow to be eligible for the grand prize (see below) and to see my next project. Only 3 more days of awesome Halloween projects to go!

Your next stop is the lovely Brynn. She's a great friend, fellow fibro sufferer, (as is our sweet hostess, Lisa) and an uber talented gal!

Don't forget to enter my 500 followers give-away! Btw, Cricut owners - one of the prizes in the box will be some Cricut markers. If a non- Cricut owner wins, I will add something else equally as fun. (This is only a little of what's gonna be in the box)... There will also be some stickers and hmmm... Maybe I'll reveal a little more in tomorrow's post, so I guess you'll just have to come back! Trick or Treat!!! Ha ha ha!

XO ~ Amy Jo

P.S. I'd love it if you would check out (and I'd be oh-so-happy if you follow) my new blog, Best Things I've Found in [Maga]zines

Thursday, October 27, 2011

13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop - Day 9

*Please scroll down for Days 1 -8 of the hop*

Welcome to the 13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. This is DAY 9 of the hop. This hop is scheduled from Oct. 19 at 8:00 am through Oct.31 at 11:00 pm (central time). It's that time of year when the nights are all spooky and creatures are known to wander the forests. So sit for a spell with a nice cup of hot apple cider and check out all the great projects.

Here is the complete lineup:

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com

First off I want to thank all of the wonderful friends that left me comments this weekend and last week. I so appreciate that! I feel very blessed to have you all as friends and followers. You ladies make my day, seriously. And thanks to all my new followers! I can't believe how close I am to hitting my goal!

I am battling my illness right now. As most of you know, I have a severe case of fibromyalgia and some days I just can't do anything. However, I was finally able to get a few more Halloween cards done yesterday! Yay!!! I'm going with a non-traditional theme here and was totally inspired by this page from the official Cricut Blog. Be sure to check it out! They provided some awesome inspiration. Here is card one from the set of 3 or 4 that I'm doing... I must say, it's one of my favorites that I've done. Totally creepy and completely different than any I've done for Halloween before.

Front of card - I used paper (Authentique) 6x6 pad that you can buy from my Memory-works store (hint, hint - just ask for a catalog and I'll get ya one!), That awesome tree is a stamp from a team I design for - A Jillian Vance Design entitled - God's Art, ribbon from my local scrapbooking store, black stickles (I sell those too), Colorbox inks (ditto), the owl is from Oct. 31st Cricut cartridge (isn't it spooky?), the moon I cut with a Fiskars punch (sell those too) and crinkled it and added ink from Studio G - then pop dotted it. I used a printed black paper from one of my Halloween paper packs and then just plain white card stock for the owl. Adhesives used were ATG, red tape, and pop dots.

Closeup of the owl - I think it's more interesting using printed paper, rather than plain black card stock. Got that little tip from the Cricut blog.

Isn't that stamp just the best? Love the font! Oh, I used a tag punch for the little tag. It has three tiny tags on it and I love it, even though it's a pretty big punch!

I hope you enjoyed my post today. Please come back tomorrow to be eligible for the grand prize (see below) and to see my next project. 4 more days of awesome Halloween projects to go!

Your next stop is the lovely Brynn. She's a great friend, fellow fibro sufferer, (as is our sweet hostess, Lisa) and an uber talented gal!

Don't forget to enter my 500 followers give-away! Btw, Cricut owners - one of the prizes in the box will be some Cricut markers. If a non- Cricut owner wins, I will add something else equally as fun. (This is only a litte of what's gonna be in the box)... There will also be some stickers and hmmm... Maybe I'll reveal a little more in tomorrow's post, so I guess you'll just have to come back! Trick or Treat!!! Ha ha ha!

XO ~ Amy Jo

P.S. I'd love it if you would check out (and I'd be oh-so-happy if you follow) my new blog, Best Things I've Found in [Maga]zines

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop - Day 8

*Please scroll down for Days 1 -7 of the hop*

Welcome to the 13 Days of Halloween Blog Hop. This is DAY 8 of the hop. I apologize for being late this morning!! This hop is scheduled from Oct. 19 at 8:00 am through Oct.31 at 11:00 pm (central time). It's that time of year when the nights are all spooky and creatures are known to wander the forests. So sit for a spell with a nice cup of hot apple cider and check out all the great projects.

Here is the complete lineup:

Janet - http://createatdreamscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

Nicolette - www.beyondscrapin.blogspot.com

Brynn - http://www.flairandfrillscreativity.blogspot.com

Scraps to Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com

CallyAnn - http://callyanncraftycreations.blogspot.com