and so the decade ends...

SERIOUSLY??? It's been a DECADE?????  Freaking me out!  oh well...time moves on!  So for my final post of 2009...I wanted to give a shout out to my top fave goodies and memories of the year...

In true countdown fashion...here we go!

10.  My LSS...directly responsible for so many of the things on this list...every time I go in there...I walk away unbelievably inspired!  (Not to mention the stock of amazing stuffs you gals keep!)

9.  challenge blogs of all shapes and sizes...so much fun!

8.  Judy and the gals at Simply Scrapping! 

7.  Prima, Prima, Prima...need I say more...

6.  Verve stamps...oh how I love thee..let me count the ways!

5.  Grunge paper, distress ink, distress stickles...drool....

4.  Copic markers...why oh why did I fear you for so long?

3.  Studio 490...Wendy Vecchi is a regular dose of scrapspiration!  So lucky to have taken a class with her this year...and can't wait to go again!

2.  Having the opportunity to start a challenge blog and it still be running by the end of the year!  Woohoo Shoe!

1.  My very very very dear friends (much love to Tracey and Tanisha) and my most amazing family (my most forgiving husband who prentends every day to understand what it is I do...and my little monkey...who wants to do it too!)...couldn't do it without you!

I started playing with paper in May of 2008...never imagined myself still playing and loving it so much over a year later...never imagined I would start a blog and keep it active and it be about my love for the art of Scrapping and Cards...it's been a great year...looking forward to 2010! 

Be safe tonight!  And to all...Happy New Year...I hope it brings about many wonderful things for you and yours!

A little different...

...not quite sure how to categorize this particular card...I made it with a few challenges in mind...but not sure if it fits entirely...oh well!  it's all open to interpretation right???  I used Mercy's Tuesday Sketch and Charisma Cardz "Celebrate" theme...and a new place I have only just visited today My Time to Craft Challenge.  The colors were inspired by a Splitcoast color challenge.
 
The front:

The inside (which I rarely do...but this card kind of needed it!):

Enjoy!

Challenges:

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge: MTSC54

Charisma Cardz: Celebrations

My Time to Craft: Challenge 72 - Anything goes!

Splitcoast: CC251

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzil; Paper - Basic Grey Ambrosia; Stamps - Verve, "Believe" set; Ink - Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black and CTMH in GoldRush; Smooch paint in Pumpkin; Fiskars Lace border punch; Ribbon - unknown

My Craft Room...

...that I spent almost 5 hours cleaning today...seriously...I was so fed up with it...that I just started cleaning...had some assistance from my most wonderful husband and pretty darn awesome kid...i won't embarass myself by telling you how much CRAP got hauled out of here...but let's just say that my daughter's class will be receiving lots of crafty stuff to play with!  of course...i did have some help from these two:

                                                             




i don't have any pictures of how bad it was before the deep clean...but here is a general idea of how it looks now:

of course doing some cleaning revealed to my dear hubby what exactly my addictions are...like STAMPS...here are my CTMH stamps (and Studio 490 and TIm Holtz stamps):

and some more CTMH stamps:

my Verve stamps:

and some SU:

and then some of my other addictions...like idea-ology:

                                                         









and then there is my absolute fave diplay of the room...my "Shimmer Shack":

yeah...67 different colors of stickles (gotta get a handle on that addiction)...not to mention the glimmer mist....and my latest being the Smooch paints...oh wait...don't let me forget the paper:

oh...and the ribbon:

top 5 drawers are all ribbon...bottom two are cricut bits and punches...and then...my absolute most fave shelf in the room...

the stamps on it are pretty cool too!

Enjoy!  My New Year's Resolution...to keep the room at least somewhat presentable!

twuu lub...

totally have Princess Bride on the brain right now...maybe I'll have to steal the TV back from the kiddo and watch it!  heeheee!  anywho!  I have been so non-scrappy for so long now...that all of a sudden I'm feeling inspired and scrap happy!  I was checking out Pencil Lines for a little inspiration and came across their sketch #162...and had to give it a whirl! 

Supplies: Paper and Cardstock: CTMH - Grace; Stamps: CTMH - Neighborhood; Ink: CTMH - Chocolate, Distress Inks - Frayed Burlap, Old Paper; Embellishments: CTMH Grace Stickease, CTMH Clear Shapes; Copic E37; Tattered Angels - Caramel Apple; Smooch ink Siren; Cricut Lyrical Letters

Enjoy!

When I took this picture of my daughter back in the summer...all I could imagine was how much fun she was having sticking her toes in the stream running by our campsite!  So to me...this picture is just about enjoying the little things...I created this for the 3rd challenge of December at Simply Scrapping Crafts...

Sketch: Prima
Supplies:  Paper and Cardstock: CTMH; Pearls: CTMH; Flowers: Prima; Distress Stickles and Distress Crackle Paint in Walnut Stain; Grungeboard elements swirls; Glimmer Mist in Perfect Peach, Cinnamon and Wheatgrass

Ahhhh...the Holidays...

I hope everyone is having a wonderful post-Christmas weekend!  My house is a little hectic right now...we had a new addition just before Christmas...a Boxer puppy!  She is adorable...but quite the handful...middle of the night mad dash to get her outside before the next oopsie!  We are really happy to have her...even my precious Cookie seems to be taking the new add pretty well...

Anyways...I'm really looking forward to the next week...I was able to take the time off from work...and now that the Christmas hubbub has settled down a bit...it's time to get Scrapping!  I have so many pictures from the new puppy to the cookies we baked to the tree and of course, Christmas morning!  And I'm really excited to be taking a break from Christmas cards!  Valentine's day...LOOKOUT!  HEEHEEHEE! 

Hope all is well and more in the coming days!

Buried Treasure...

I was desperately trying to figure out what I was going to do with this week's sketch challenge over at Simply Scrapping (SS81), I'd gotten behind and had a deadline fast approaching...and all I could think was that I DID NOT want to do another Christmas card...I needed a break!  So I started digging through a pile of papers that had accumulated on a stepstool in my craft room...and VOILA!  buried underneath it all was some yummy paper I'd pretty much forgotten I had...the card pretty much developed from there...the card is 3x7...a size I hadn't really played with before...and I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out!  The twist on this week's sketch was to use flowers...so I (thankfully) had plenty in my stash to help me out!  I hit the flowers with some glimmer mist to give them a little sparkle, topped it off with a few pearls...and the card was done! 

Supplies:  Paper - Cosmo Cricket; Cardstock - Bazzil, CTMH; Ink - CTMH, DIstress Inks; Flowers - Prima; Pearls - CTMH; Glimmer Mist - Wheatgrass; Sentiment - Verve; Ribbon - unknown

Let it snow...again...

Well...long story short...I've been "playing" with my Copic markers for a few weeks now...I have tons of colored images scattered throughout my house...but I haven't really used any on a card yet...so today...I did!  I had this absolutely adorable stamp that had some elements to color...but not so many that I couldn't talk myself out of it!  LOL!  So here it is!  (and a bunch of challenges I chose to play along with to keep me motivated!).

Supplies:  Paper - My Mind's Eye; Cardstock - Bazzil; Chipboard - Maya Road; Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic - YG03, YG06, R27, R29, B21, B24, B32, RV11, BG0000, BG10; White Acrylic paint; Distress Stickles Picket Fence; Ribbon - unknown

Challenges:
Crazy For Challenges - Snowmen
Color Throwdown - #72
Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge - MTSC51
Pile it On - Chipboard

All is calm...

when I was a kid growing up in Germany...the best time of year was when it snowed...especially that first snow that happened and you didn't know it until you woke up and looked outside and the whole world was covered...or so it seemed...it wasn't until I was MUCH older that i decided that i just really didn't like snow...hate it actually...sort of...i hate the cold...the to-the-bone winter cold...snow is great...it's beautiful...and i love being outside while snow falls...it just feels..magical...but all the other weather parts that accompany it...NO THANK YOU! 

anyways...enough of my rant!  LOL!  this week's Fashionista Friday challenge at the Shoe is to create something with the theme of SNOW!  I had a lot of fun with this one...mostly because it just kind of happened...I searched desperately for a sketch to use...or some sort of inspiration...and then...I was walking up the stairs to my craft room...and it hit me...so here it is:

Supplies:  Chipboard Base - Maya Road; Snowflakes - Maya Road; Paint - Distress Crackle Picket Fence, Pewter; Apple Barrel Glossy Acrylic paint; Bling - (on the snowflakes) Twinklets Diamond Dust; Letters - Grungeboard; Ink - Distress Ink Broken China; Brad and Ribbon unknown

A twisted tale...

...seriously...I'm posting tonight to show you the latest fab fun over at Simply Scrapping...but at the same time...I have so many other things on my mind...so my latest and then the tale..
this week's twist over at Simply Scrapping is buttons...now normally I am NOT a button kinda gal...but...somehow it just worked (IMHO) with this LO!  Here it is:

and before I get to the rest of what is on my mind...here are the supplies:
Paper: My Mind's Eye; Stamps: CTMH; Ink: CTMH, Distress Inks; Bling: Prima: Title: American Crafts Thickers; Stickles: Rock Candy Distress Stickles; Buttons...well...no clue...honestly!!!

and now the rest of the story...

Life here in the Columbia burbs has been...hectic and strange...that which keeps us (me and my hubby) employed also provides non-stop weirdness...anyways...

i was having a fantastic conversation with my sister today (i have two...i'm the oldest...was talking to the middle one)...and all of a sudden...i knew...what i wanted for christmas (and my anniversary and my birthday...and well...the gift that keeps on giving...).  My dear hubby and i do not usually buy each other christmas or birthday or anniversary gifts for each other...we are fortunate enough that if either of us actually wants something...we can usually just go ahead and purchase it...so this time of year is usually a mess...we try our darndest to find something for the other...as a surprise...and we usually fail...while still getting a fab gift...but this year...i KNEW (well...as of today) what i wanted...the gift that keeps on giving...so i went and (about 30 mins ago) printed out a page off the net of what i truly wanted...but would never spend the money myself for...and handed it to him and said "this is what i want for christmas, for my birthday, for our anniversary"...now to see if he actually realizes it!  LOL!  I will not say what it is...for fear of jinxing it...but in my heart...oh heck yeah it's what i want!!!!!!!!!  would i be disappointed if i didn't get it...maybe a little...but somehow...if he does come through...he's earned more bonus points than he could ever imagine!!!!!!!!!   just don't tell him that part....

Ahhhh...December

and again I have missed out on so many opportunities to post...let's just say it's been crazy busy wild around my house (mostly because of work)...not much to say beyond that! 

I had a great November, a lovely visit with friends the weekend before Thanksgiving...then a fantastic weekend with my Mom for Turkey day...

and now it's December...and not much to say beyond that!  LOL! 

it's been awhile since I really crafted anything...so I'm trying to get my tail in gear and get some projects finished up for Christmas gifts...

hope to post some stuff soon!

Dear Terry O,

I am posting this publicly so that all of the blogosphere can see it and know...I am so sorry!  I held the blog candy in October, and only just today sent your candy to you.  Even after your incredibly polite reminders.  I cannot say I'm sorry enough.  I hate to dissappoint anyone, and I could offer a wealth of excuses, but excuses don't cut it right now.  Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans...I'll leave it at that.  I hope you accept my apology and please know that this is NOT like me at all!  For you and everyone reading...here is the Delivery Confirmation Number of your package:
0309 0330 0000 4778 9858
I threw in some additional little goodies as my way of apologizing.  I hope you enjoy them all!

Lesley

i am an idiot...

ok...been a crazy week...as usual...but still...CRAZEEEEEEE!  anywho!  i forgot to post some more info about this weeks Simply Scrapping challenge...well...the twist is to use paper ruffles on a border!  if you go back down to my previous post you'll see my ruffled paper in the bottom left corner!  I actually had made the card...then remembered what the twist was and spent sooooo much time agonizing over where it should go!  but i made it work!  now it's your turn!  head over to Simply Scrapping and give us your take on it! 

in other news...I'm so EXCITED!  My two most dearest gal pals arrive tomorrow!  and then we take scrappy classes all day together on Saturday!  I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

glimmer and stickles and grunge...oh my!

Hello dahlings!  ok...quick post...been having upload issues lately...so this post is going up a little earlier than it "should" be...this card is my sample for tomorrow's (Wednesday's) Simply Scrapping sketch challenge!  I've tried so many times to get it to upload for the host of tomorrow's challenge, and failed miserably...that I'm going to go ahead and put it here...BUT...I'm not going to tell you the twist or show you the actual sketch until tomorrow...so guess away...see how close you get!  I've got multiple layers of grunge...two colors of stickles...two colors of glimmer mist...well...here goes:

Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey; Grungepaper - Tim Holtz Idea-ology; cardstock - bazzil; Stamps - Studio 490: Art of Making it Merry and Ticket to Art, Sentiment by Verve: Holly Jolly; Ink - STAZON: Timber Brown, CTMH: Desert Sand, Distress Ink - Peeled Paint, Fired Brick; Stickles - Holly, Gold; Glimmer Mist - Peppermint Stick, English Ivy; Ribbon: Unknown; Glossy Accents (as adhesive)

On a side note...I recently completed my collection of Distress Stickles (I"M SO HAPPY!)...but...haven't used the new colors yet (other than Rock Candy of course)...so prepare yourselves...I may be going wonky with grunginess here soon!  WOOHOO!  Smoochies!

i'm hearing jingle bells!

It's kind of funny...everyday for the past week my daughter has asked if it's time to put up Christmas decorations...and everyday I tell her NO!!!!!!!  I have to at least see Thanksgiving before I start putting up Christmas decorations!  But as I work on these Christmas cards...well...like the title says...I'm hearing jingle bells and wondering about snow (not that I will see any here in South Carolina...thankfully so...but every once in a blue moon...I think snow wouldn't be that bad!)...Anyways...so here is my next card...created for the Viva la Verve November #1 challenge...the twist was to follow the 1, 2, 3 formula (one embellie (stickles don't count), 2 colors of cardstock (allowed an additional neutral), and three stamps.  The sketch had me stumped for a little bit...but once I got rolling I was happy!  I was also incredibly happy to use my Copics on this card...my first card with copics!!!!!  I take the Copic 101 class on Saturday with two of my dearest gal pals...so this is just playtime for now! 

Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey: Wassail; Cardstock - Bazzil; Stamps - Verve: O Christmas Tree, Poinsettia Christmas; Ink - Memento Black Tuxedo; Copics- RR27, R29, G09, Y17; Glitz Stickles - Champagne; Ribbon - Reasonable Ribbon

and the Christmas card rush is on!

Ok...I've worked on Christmas cards here or there the past few months...but now it's time to kick it into gear!  After my 3 weeks of non-scrapping...I'm excited to get to play in some more challenges!  Today will be a Verve-centric challenge kind of day I think.  (Plus I have so many Verve stamp sets that I haven't used yet!  and they are all holiday stamps!)  I haven't played in any of the VLV challenges for November...so that's where I start.  The twist is "cracked glass" (thick layers of embossing that you then bend and crack to achieve the idea of cracked glass).  I inked after I cracked my embossing to highlight some of the cracks:

Supplies: Cardstock - Bazzil, CTMH; Stamps - Verve: O Christmas Tree; Ink - Distress Ink: Pine Needles, Peeled Paint, Shabby SHutters, Walnut Stain; Embossing - UTEE Clear; Ribbon - unknown

Fashonista Fantastic Friday!

Hey dolls!  It's FRIDAY!!!!!!  Yippeeeee!  and since it's Friday, it's also time for Fashionista Friday #11 over at the Shoe!    What's even better?  This weeks Fashionista challenge is sponsored by Erica at Paper Craftin' with Erica with The Angel Company...and man oh man...is the prize delish!  So make sure you go by...check out the challenge...complete the challenge...and get yourself entered! This week's challenge is sketch inspired (sketch by my gal Tanisha!).  The sketch is for a LO...but I'm feeling the Christmas Card crunch...so I adjusted it to create a card! Here it is:

Supplies:  Cardstock - Bazzil; Paper - My Mind's Eye: Wonderful Winter; Stamps - Verve: Christmas in the Air; Cuttlebug Snoflake embossing folder; Ribbon and bling unknown

and I'm back in the game!

Sort of!  But I actually completed some challenges today that had absolutely NOTHING to do with DT assignments!  I'm so excited!  and it's still early...so I'm hoping to get some more done!  I based my card on Mercy's Tuesday sketch and then took a peek at a couple of other challenges going on to see if there was something that would spark my mojo...and man oh man did I find some! 

Challenges:

Mercy's Tuesday sketch - MTSC47

Pile It On #23 - use leaves

The Pink Elephant #40 -  Be Thankful

Color Throwdown #68 - red, orange, yellow, dark neutral

Supplies:

Paper: Basic Grey Indian Summer; Cardstock: CTMH, Bazzil; Stamps: CTMH - Flourished Blessings; Ink: CTMH - Cranberry, Sunflower, Autumn Terracotta, Chocolate; Bookplate - CTMH; Pearls - Recollections; Ribbon - Unknown

It's Wednesday already???

Woohooo!  Getting closer to the weekend!  Hope everyone is having a happy middle of the week!  I am actually at home today due to a sick kiddo.  It's been raining non-stop for over 24 hours...woohooo Hurricane Ida! 
Anyways...on to the purpose of my post...if it's Wednesday...that means it's a new challenge day over at Simply Scrapping!  This weeks card challenge is sketch based with a twist.  The twist is that everything (except sentiment) must be in 3's (3 CS, 3 PP, 3 Images, etc)...here is the sketch:

Here is my take on the sketch and the challenge:

I used 3 different Patterned papers (all from the Basic Grey Indian Summer line).  Stamps by Verve (Harvest Blessings).  Ink by CTMH (Tulip, Purple Pansy, Vineyard Berry).  The ribbon is from my stash.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!  I hope to be back later with more to share!

Ahhh...Fall...

and time for Fall School Pictures!  It's been sooooo long (it seems) since I have been able to really devote time to creating things...and this LO took me two days...and I'm really happy with it!  It's based on one of Judy's sketches over at Simply Scrapping.  My end goal is to have one page for each school picture...starting with Spring of 2009!  (ok...my kiddo is in 4th grade now...so I've missed a few...but I only got into card making in the Spring of 2008 and into creating layouts in the Fall of 2008). Here it is:

Supplies:
Paper: CTMH - Notebook, Grungepaper; Cardstock - CTMH, Bazzil; Bling - Prima (Say it in Crystals, Say it in Pearls), Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist (Snow Angel), Distress Stickles - Broken China; Stamps: CTMH - Remember This; Studio 490 - Nature's Art, Dimensional Rose Art; Stickers - CTMH; Ink - STAZON Timber Brown, Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Walnut Stain, Broken China; Thickers; Ephemera: Making Memories; Flowers: Making Memories

Woohoo it's SATURDAY!

and my last day of my crazy work schedule! (FOR NOW...lol)!  I'm so excited!  I have had an absolute blast working with this group of folks for my part in our Outage...but I'll be happy to get back to my regular schedule...which includes regularly scheduled scrappy goodness time!!!  Hope to share more with you tonight!
Oh...and lest I forget...

HOOK EM HORNS!

Ahhh...November...

It's amazing how fast the time if flying these days!  If I'm not at work...I'm at home thinking about work!  My creative urge is rapidly turning into an obsession...yet I have had no time to really work on anything!  Oh well, that's just how it goes sometimes!  Well...for my first post of November...it's time for my October faves!  Here they are in no particular order:
1.  My Gypsy!!!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! (even if I haven't gotten to use it as much as I would have liked!)
2.  Verve stamps latest releases...fantabulous Christmas sets!  AND...more importantly...their "Believe" set.  Verve is donating $10 from every "Believe" set sold to the Susan G. Komen foundation...definitely a worthwhile purchase!
3.  My Mind's Eye Christmas paper packs...DELISH!  (I am unable to find a picture online of their latest Christmas packs...but I'll get some more info up when I get home tonight)
4.  Scrapping classes!  This is more of a future fave...but I was so excited to recently secure a seat in some classes coming up later this month...AND...my best gal pals will be joining me at them!  THAT ROCKS!
5.  last but not least...

My Longhorns are kicking butt and taking names...here's hoping they finish out the season in the same fashion!

Happy Halloween!

Hey fabulous! Quick post today before I head to work...this card is for this week's challenge over at Simply Scrapping! The challenge is to use one of the sketches (there are two sketches...one for cards, one for LO) and there is a twist...this week's twist is rolled paper! So here is mine:

Ok..gotta run! Hopefully I will make it home in time to get some other stuff done before we head out to do the trick or treating!
Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey: Wassail; Cardstock - CTMH, Bazzil; Image - Impression Obsession; Sentiment - CTMH; Ink - CTMH: New England Ivy; Zing Embossing Powder - Copper; Flower Soft - Polar White; Pearls - Recollections

Where has the week gone????

It's Friday already!  And I'm so tired and lost!  LOL!  Still working my rear end off...but hopefully the pace will slow down next week!  Fingers crossed at least!

Anyways...without further ado...here is the LO that I created using my Gypsy!  Everything was cut out using Gypsy Wanderings and Gypsy Font ("sisters" was welded!!!!) cartridges that come pre-installed on the Gypsy!  The LO is based on a sketch by Judy at Simply Scrapping!  I can't say this enough...unless you are really good at creating on the fly...have a sketch in mind at least when you are building your cuts on the Gypsy!

I have already designed another LO using the Gypsy...did it during my lunch break at work the other day...but haven't had any chance to scrap it!  Hopefully I will have more time this weekend!

Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey Marrakech; Cardstock - American Crafts, Bazzil, CTMH; Flowers - Prima; Stickles - Diamond; Distress Stickles - Rock Candy; Distress Crackle Paint - Rock Candy;  Diamond stuff (I totally cannot remember what it is called right now...I'll figure it out and post it later!); Glossy Accents

sorry for the absence...

I'm working like a mad woman here!  Starting this past Monday I am working over at the plant for a few weeks helping out during the refueling outage...originally thought I would have more time to scrap and play than I am actually having!  I am working 6 days a week...one day off...then back on for another 6...thankfully the first week is almost up and I only have two weeks left.  I am having a blast at work though...working with some fantastic people! 

I am hoping to either tonight or tomorrow finish the LO I started last weekend with my Gypsy!  It's about 75% done...and as soon as I get it done, I'll get it and some more Gypsy pics up! 

Later!

and then we wait...and wait...

So...let me pre-empt this by saying...as frustrated as I may sound later in this post...it has no reflection on how I feel about the Gypsy!  I still love it...but all the odds and ends on getting it to actually cut on my bug...well that part is just a bunch of red tape!

Anyways...I was all excited I spent some time just hanging out with my kiddo, designing stuff that I would later cut out with my Cricut...it was great...I sat on the couch watching TV with her...and when inspiration would hit...I would just create a new file and go to town!  (Massive hint here...have a sketch with you!  I am not the greatest at just sitting and designing (it will take me FOREVER) so I went ahead and printed out a sketch I wanted to work off of...and it made designing different elements much easier!). 

Anyways...I got all hooked up to my cricut...was ready to go...and then...brick wall! 

Couldn't get my Gypsy to talk to my E (expression)...and nothing I was doing would work...until I finally went online and searched the PC website...nothing going right off the bat...I finally just googled my question...and sure enough...in the Cricut forum was my exact question...and IT WORKED!  thankfully!  let me tell you...when the screen says push the STOP button as you power it on...yes...it WORKS! 

some technical data on this...the reason that it takes so long...is typically Design Studio will update your cricut with the latest "firmware"...well I don't own DS...the only reason I ever would have wanted to was to Weld stuffs...and now my Gypsy allows me to do that!  So...without DS...your cricut is likely WAYYYY behind (like mine was) on firmware updates...so it takes awhile to catch it up...so give yourself at least 30 minutes here to get these updates going!

it took a while (had to update in 2 parts)...but as soon as it was done...I WAS OFF AND CUTTING!  and WOOOOHOOOO!  the ONLY problem I could even imagine...is that it goes faster than I can think!  I had so much stuff cutout for this LO...and I was barely ready to start (mentally of course)...but WOW OH WOW OH WOW! 

Most importantly...I finally got to WELD!  A portion of my title and one of my embellies were WELDED!  and it ROCKS!  but you'll have to wait to see pics of that!

Episode 3...lots to learn...

Ok...so this afternoon...after getting all my shopping done...was quite the educational adventure with Provo Craft.  I figured a few things out that I had questions on...interfaced with the Provo craft website...read the user manual...and finally got to working on my first Gypsy driven project!

So...to answer some of the questions I had before...I can find out the battery life by pushing the silver button on the right hand side of the machine...this button will also bring up the main menu when I am on any other screen.  I also can actually see what carts my Gypsy can cut from (only carts that you have linked and the two pre-loaded carts)...by clicking on the cartridge list bar it will bring up a scrollable list of all cricut carts...the ones that are linked to your Gypsy are in bold print...so it's easier to pick out the ones that you know you can use! (Please forgive the somewhat fuzzy pic...sometimes photographing the gypsy screen can be tricky!)

So...then it was off to the Provo Craft website...some of the buttons and tools to be used are not necessarily obvious to the user...so I finally broke down and decided to go online and find the user's manual...and that took me down a couple of different paths...the first thing was to register my Gypsy with Provo Craft...which actually wasn't too difficult...I downloaded the Sync software...connected the USB cable...and within a few minutes I was registered and completing my first update!

After completing the update...I took a peek at their tutorial vids...the quick use guide (which I had pretty much figured out already)...and perused the user guide...which was incredibly helpful to figure out what the different icons were when manipulating things on the mat...and most importantly...learning how to weld! 

Gypsy...Day 2...

Well...after the initial meet and greet with my Gypsy yesterday...I actually spent some time this morning getting to know it...and getting my carts linked to my Gypsy...and while I'm still loving this new toy...there were a few annoyances this morning...but nothing that couldn't be resolved easily...

So I powered it up unplugged...haven't found a screen or icon I can tap into yet to give me an idea of how much battery life I have left...but I also haven't downloaded or even taken a glimpse at the User's Manual...so...minor irritation...but likely my own fault!  LOL!

The goal this morning was to get my carts linked officially to my Gypsy...this process was relatively easy and took maybe 20 mins to get 18 carts linked...so all in all...not bad!  A real positive here...when you first plug stuff into your computer (for example) you get pop up windows and all this other stuff...or some sort of automatic action taking place...with the Gypsy...when I hooked up the cart cable and plugged in a cart...there was no 'auto" action by the Gypsy...I had to do all the "work" and I'm VERY glad for that! 

I had to confirm along the way that everything was connected and THEN would the Gypsy take the next step...and this is the part where it was slightly annoying after like the 3rd cart...first is the WARNING...that you are permanently linking that cart to this Gypsy...

then the User Agreement for EVERY cart...then at the end acknowledging that it had linked...just a lot of tap and tap and tap and agree agree agree...gets a tad bit boring after awhile...

anyways...nothing major...so onward...I was on my next to last link...uploading my Opposites Attract cart...and then something different happened...I got this screen that was telling me that it was unable to "authenticate" the cart...and to contact Provo Craft if this continued...at that point I'm like WHOA...but I was like...well...let's try it one more time...see what happens...and it worked!  So...just a little heads up on that one!

After everything was linked...I wanted to just flip through some stuff and see...and ran into the other two things that are a bit annoying...one I can do nothing about...one I hope I can find the answer to.  First...disconnecting the cart cable from the Gypsy...pain in the behind!  and I dang near broke a nail trying to get them to detach!  Hopefully it will be less difficult later on...and that it's only because it's new...but unless I'm buying new carts on a regular basis (which I won't be) then there really isn't much to say or do with this one!

I wanted to see how it looked with all my carts (no idea if i would get a new icon or anything)...and really this is where I am starting to see some confusion...what is really cool with the Gypsy is that you get an amazing preview of EVERY cart out there!  which is incredibly helpful if you have your eye on a new one you would like...but just really need to see what all it has to offer!  BUT...it would be nice if there was a way to page through just the carts you ALREADY have and have linked to the Gypsy!  Otherwise you could be flipping through the different carts forever finding the one that you want that starts with an S! (carts are in alpha order, and when you first start creating a new project and you are flipping through the different carts, I believe you always start at the Gypsy Font or Wanderings carts).  There is a search feature that I haven't tried to use yet...and there are lots of buttons I haven't tapped yet...so no idea at this point how to get to the nitty gritty when it comes to carts...fear not...I will keep searching!

My goal with my new toy today is to create a project, get it hooked up to my Cricut, and then actually cut!  So more pics and fun later!

Gypsy First Impressions...

A couple of thoughts as I first start opening up and playing with the Gypsy...one...isn 't it CUTE!!!!!!

I opened up the box and took a quick peek at everything, then decided to go ahead and get it plugged in and let the battery charge...what's the point of having a portable system if you have to be plugged in to start using it!  After a few hours...I was watching TX vs ou while this was going on...I sat down and started playing...not many pics from that few minutes...but it did give me some other impressions...this thing is SERIOUSLY light-weight!  It's larger than I thought it would be...the screen is actually a fairly decent size!  AND...most importantly since it does NOT come with a user's manual...you have to download it from PC on your computer...the videos on michaels.com/gypsy are an excellent starting point when you first power this puppy up!  I also found a few videos on You Tube (particularly the Pink Stamper) that step you through the basics!  Thankfully having watched those vids...I felt pretty comfortable with the beginning navigation! 

Ok...so I powered it up...agreed to the End User License Agreement...and just started tapping and playing.  I wanted to see these carts that it came already loaded with...Gypsy Wanderings and Gypsy Font...FABULOUS!  I mean absolutely GORGEOUS!  These carts ROCK!  I played for a few minutes with a "new project", choosing the 12x12 mat...and felt that it was pretty easy to play with.  At this point I powered it off and let it sit and charge the rest of the evening!  Until this morning...but that post will come later!

GYPSY!

ok...i'm not a good girl when it comes to spending and scrapping!  so the other day i decided I wanted a Gypsy...and I waited...all of like 5 days...and today I went and bought mine!  WOOHOO!  all of the vids and clips and tutorials I have seen...i knew I wanted one!  I first told my DH that I wanted one for Christmas...well this morning he was like well just go get it!  So I did!  heehee...more to share later as i play with this new toy!

What a Week!

There has been so much going in my life over the past 8 or 9 days...it's hard to know where to start!  First I promise I have some scrappiness to share...but that will come after the story a year in the making!
Last July (July 1st to be exact) I started a new job...I had left the Navy on May 30th and started a new job, in a new place just about 1 month later.  I came to work at the Nuclear power plant in Jenkinsville, SC...I had some "nuke" experience in the Navy so it wasn't COMPLETELY greek to me...but it was close!  The commercial industry is SOOO different...anyways...not long after I started this journey to earn my Senior Reactor Operator Certification (SROC)...well...about 15 written exams later, weeks of training in the simulator, too many hours to count of studying...and many hours of doubting if I could finish...well...I'M DONE!  The exam started last Monday and ran through Thursday.  There are 3 portions of the exam,  JPMs (simulated activities in the plant and in the simulator), final evaluated scenarios in the simulator, and then the final written exam.  Well, I knew last Thursday that I had passed the written, but I did not have the "final" results of the other portions...well today I signed the paperwork...and found out that I PASSED EVERYTHING!  Not one drop on anything!  Close on some...but I made it!  WOOHOOOO!  After last week I wasn't so sure who was more relieved...me or my poor husband!  LOL! 

I also want to share an extra-special thank you to all that participated in my blog candy giveaway!  It's always nice to see your happy faces!  And welcome to my new followers!  Most especially I have to say thank you to our winner Terry Olboub!  Thank you so much Terry for the wonderful things you posted not only here but on your blog as well!  Consider me an official follower and fan!  Your candy will be headed your way via the US Postal Service tomorrow morning!

Anyways...I've been doing a bit of recovery since the test and everything else...and haven't really scrapped that much!  BUT...earlier this week I managed to get some things done for Simply Scrapping...so here we go with that story!

Simply Scrapping made some changes this month and has gone almost solely to sketch challenges...one new challenge a week...two sketches (one for cardmakers, one for LOs)...and a twist!  This week's twist is to use fabric somewhere on your card or LO...here is what I came up with:

Judy at Simply Scrapping is also hosting a separate challenge for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Requirements were to use the sketch she provided, must be at least 85% pink, and had to use at least one word from an image of pink ribbon stickers (love, hope, faith, courage, survivor)...here is what I came up with:

Well thanks for look and hope to see you again soon!

Card supplies: Cardstock - Bazzil, CTMH; Canvas - Claudia Helmuth sticky back canvas; Ink - Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen; STAZON Timber Brown; Stamps - CTMH Childhood Portrait; Distress Stickles - Frayed Burlap; Cinnamon Stickles; Ribbon unknown

LO Supplies: Paper - Basic Grey - Eva; Flowers - Prima; Grungeboard letters; Distress Crackle Paint - Worn Lipstick; Distress Stickles - Worn Lipstick, Rock Candy; Rubons and Sticker - Basic Grey; Diamond stickles; Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Snow Angel; Cricut cart - Lyrical Letters