Krazy Kropper Kapers

Serendipity!

2010-08-13T05:53:00.010-05:00

Serendipity is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as "the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for." Sometimes in cardmaking or scrapbooking, the best projects are a result of serendipity. I'm sure that it's actually true in most creative circles! Today's posts are exactly that-results of serendipity!

I was making a card for my uncle for his birthday. I found a card in one of my idea books that I liked. As I started working on it, I thought, "wow! I'm going to make this into a birthday card/mini-album!" Obviously, I did not make it in pink for him! His was blue, red, & tan. Of course, I forgot to take pictures before I sent it!!

This card is for sale!
Price: USD $10
If you'd like to purchase a card like this with a different theme, please email me: charisma@catlover.com.

In another moment of serendipity, I created this adorable baby card that I just adore!! My ultimate goal was to use this patterned paper that I got from a friend. It was a single piece & I didn't really have anything that coordinated with it. As I was looking at the paper, I remembered that on the Cricut cartridge Paper Dolls for Everyday, there was an engineer. And, his extras are a train. A circus train, to be exact! How awesome is that!

So, I started designing (with my Gypsy). As I was preparing to cut the animals, I was trying to figure out what papers I was going to use to cut the layers of the animals. It suddenly occurred to me that I should try cutting the animals out of white & color them using my Copic markers (my newest technique I love to use)! So, off I went. And, I must say, I was very pleased with how they turned out!

I also decided that I wanted the train to be up off the card itself. So, I decided to 3D it! Then, I decided that the elephant's belly needed to be puffy! The pictures really don't do it justice but they were the best I could do!

This card is for sale!
Price: USD $10

If you'd like to purchase a card like this with a different theme, please email me: charisma@catlover.com

Done With My Sabbatical!!

2010-08-11T20:58:00.005-05:00

Well, it was wasn't REALLY a sabbatical. More of a "I-couldn't-get-blogger-to-work" thing. I finally figured out that it just doesn't work on my PC but it's all good on my Mac. Hmmm...

Anyway, without further a-do, here is some of my recent work. Both layouts & cards. I will try to start posting more often now that I know it does work on the Mac!!

I will post some more later this week! Keep watching!!

August Classes

2009-07-17T20:17:00.006-05:00

I have started teaching at Personal Scrapbook in Allen, TX. I'm going to start posting here when & what classes I'm teaching, and where. So here goes:

You will create these adorable little gifties for your child's new teacher when you join me at Personal Scrapbook in Allen, Texas on Sunday, Aug 16 from 3:30p-5:30p and on Saturday, Aug 29 from 10:30a-12:30p. The cost of the class is $20. If you can join us, please call the store at 972-351-8717 & sign up for the class! Please be sure to tell us how you heard about the class!

This is the layout that you will complete if you can join me at Personal Scrapbook in Allen, Texas on Saturday, Aug 1 from 10:30a-12:30p and on Thursday, Aug 6 from 10:30a-12:30p. The cost of the class is $20. If you can join us, please call the store at 972-351-8717 & sign up for the class! Please be sure to tell us how you heard about the class!

This is the layout that you will complete if you can join me at Personal Scrapbook in Allen, Texas on Thursday, Aug 13 from 10:30a-12:30p and on Saturday, Aug 29 from 10:30a-12:30p. The cost of the class is $20. If you can join us, please call the store at 972-351-8717 & sign up for the class! Please be sure to tell us how you heard about the class!

Honest Scrap Blog Award

2009-06-14T20:36:00.003-05:00

I got a blog award!! Thanks Crystal! I'm so excited! Here's what I have to do:
There are a few requirements to accepting the Honest Scrap Award and they are as follows.

A) I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link…
B) I must list 10 honest things about myself.
C) I must put a copy of the The Honest Scrap logo on my blog.
D) I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers and list their links.

So, on to my 10 honest things about myself:
1. My family & my God are the most important things in my life.
2. The third most important thing in my life is my Cricut!!
3. I love being married! My hubby & I will celebrate 16 years in September. I've never lived by myself & don't know what I would do if I had to do that now!
4. Sadly, my muse while creating is Buffy, The Vampire Slayer & Angel.
5. I can't just sit & watch TV. I have to be doing something. Working on the computer, scrapping, designing, folding laundry, reading Creating Keepsakes, etc.
6. I live in the city now but grew up in the country & am still a Country Girl at heart!
7. When I met my hubby,it was pretty much love at first site!
8. I love to learn!
9. My cat snores.
10. I love Texas!!

7 Blogs I Love To Follow:
1. http://capadiadesigns.blogspot.com/ - Capadia Designs
2. http://www.erica922.blogspot.com/ - Erica's Blog (designed my header!)
3. http://www.sketchesbytamara.blogspot.com/ - Sketches!
4. http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/ - Dawn's Stampin' Studio (great tutorials)
5. http://inkingidaho.blogspot.com/ - Inking Idaho (cute, cute projects!)
6. http://createwithjulia.blogspot.com/ - Create With Me (lovely inspirations)
7. http://www.paperpopsicles.blogspot.com/ - Paper Popsicles

It's Been Too Long!

2009-06-14T20:10:00.005-05:00

It's been way to long since I've blogged & posted posted anything. I had Mono in December, my daughter was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in January, & it's just been generally CRAZY! However, changes are afoot! After 5 years, I will be closing my in-home daycare on Friday, July 31st. I will be working as a 2 year old teacher in our chruch's Kid Care program. Our daughter attended there the last two school years. She will start Kindergarten this fall & I will be able to work outside our home & still be available for her.

The other thing that is keeping me busy these days is that I have started teaching Cricut classes at a new scrapbook store in a near-by town. I've been really enjoying that & can't wait to concentrate on that more. I am currently taking an online course to be an instructor. I'm really hoping that it will help me to become a better teacher!

Now, here are some projects that I have created in the last several months! I am really going to try to be more regular about posting, I promise! I'll post more over the next couple of days.

Mission: Accomplished!

2008-11-11T06:59:00.001-06:00

My goal for 2007 was to get published. With everything that happened in the last 6 months of 2007, I lost sight of my goal. So, with renewed vigor, I reset my goal for 2008 to get published or get on a Design Team of type. Well, I have an announcement-I am on a Design Team!

It's just a one month Guest Design Team spot. But, hey, it's a start! I am the November GDT for scrapbookersclubhouse.com. You can check them out at www.scrapbookersclubhouse.com. They are an online store, gallery, & forum based in Canada. I have met so many nice ladies & so very talented! They have definately encouraged me to come out of my box scrapbooking-wise. The products that I had to design with this month have been a challenge as they are not products that I would have choosen otherwise. But, I think that I have risen to the challenge. I am hoping to upload my projects later this week. Keep an eye out for them!

Last Bunch!! Yea!!

2008-10-29T11:06:00.000-05:00

40 Down, 28 To Go!

2008-10-29T10:58:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I miss counted... There are actually only 68, not 72!

10 Again!

2008-10-29T10:53:00.001-05:00

Another 10 Cards

2008-10-29T10:41:00.001-05:00

10 More Cards

2008-10-29T10:05:00.002-05:00

Card Crazy

2008-10-27T19:26:00.003-05:00

I have gone absolutely card crazy over the last several weeks!! When I scrap, I put my smaller pieces that are left into a separate storage solution. A couple of weeks ago, I realized that it was more than doubly full!! So, I challenged myself to make as many cards as I could out of all those scraps. Well, I succeeded! I can now close it with room to spare. I made over 70 cards of different shapes & sizes. I am participating in two Holiday Shows in November & December. I am going to sell these cards at those shows. I'm really excited! I'll start posting photos. The next several posts will be just those cards! I'll start now!

Head-Over-Heals!

2008-08-28T21:43:00.001-05:00

I just absolutely love scrapbookersclubhouse.com! They have a thread on the Forum called "I Challenge You..." Nicole had such a great idea to offer this year-long challenge. Each month, members of the Design Team post 7 challenges. You get points for each challenge that you complete. Even though I cam coming in at the end of the year, I can still participate with the current months challenges plus get more points for completing past months challenges! This has been such a motivation for me to create pages! Here are some of the pages & projects that I have completed in answer to these great challenges.

This layout is going to be in celebration of our upcoming (September 25) wedding anniversary!

This has got to be my most favorite layout EVER!! Everything just came together so beautifully. I actually almost cried as it came to me!

3 New Pages

2008-08-24T20:46:00.002-05:00

Here's my 3 newest pages. I'm still trying to achieve my goal for 2008-to get on a Design Team or be published. I've found a new message board that I have joined. I love everyone there & have a great time visiting with everyone! Love ya Scrapbooker's Club House!! I tried to get on their design team for August-November. I didn't make it but that was ok. They also have a Guest Design team member that they choose each month. Here is my entry for September. The theme was reading. I took these pictures in hopes that sometime I could make a cute layout. Now ws the perfect time!

I'm also entering a sketch contest on their blog. Here's my entry for that.

Then, they also have a challenge contest that has been running all year long. Each of the 7 Design Team members posts a challenge each month. Then, those that complete the most challenges for the year get a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to their store! So, in order to get some pages & projects done, I am answering as many challenges that I can through the end of the year. It would be awesome if I could do them all!!! Here's my answer to one of the challenges. It was Vertical Journaling & Journal in Another color.

Latest Project Photos

2008-08-08T14:30:00.005-05:00

I've really been working hard these last couple of weeks. I created the cutest little Sunflower Board Book using Cricut _Expression & Cricut Design Studio. It turned out just as I imagined it would! I have submitted it to Cricut for consideration in their weekly newsletter. If I get choosen, I get a free cartridge! Here's pics:

Also, I've made some really cute round cards. Yes, I said round. Of course, they don't stand on their own very well but they are still fun!

I also did some Door Hangers that a teacher could hang on her door to welcome her class & some cute little gift tags. Four of the tags are designed for Teacher Gifts. The other 2 for a Boy Birthday.

I started using the Cricut Cartridge Tags, Bags, Boxes, & More for the Door Hangers. Then, I started using it to make cute little Gift Bags for small gifts (these are specifically Teacher Gifts). They sure are adorable!

If you are wondering why all the Teacher Gift themed items, I am participating in a Bazaar for Hannah's Preschool that will be held on Meet The Teacher Night. I wanted to make a lot of little projects that I could sell for just a few dollars. I am really excited about doing this Bazaar. I did it last year for their Holiday one & got a ton of scrapbook clients off of it! So, I wanted to do this one with small little "gifty" things that people could actually take home with them that night.

Weekend Pages

2008-07-28T08:48:00.004-05:00

I went to Craftin' At The Creek for our church this weekend. It's actually held at my mom's house now but we still call it Craftin' At The Creek. Anyway, I have entered a Design Team call for www.scrapbookerclubhouse.com & joined in another one of their contests, as well. It's a sketch contest. I did my page while at CCATC Friday night. These photos are from 4th of July '07.

It turned out well. There is hidden journaling. When you pull on the ribbon, the journaling card comes out.

These two pages are sort of done off a sketch with lots of liberty's taken.

This one I designed.

Projects That I Am Working On

2008-07-21T13:59:00.006-05:00

On September 2, the Kids Day Out Program at our church is having Meet The Teacher Night. They are allowing people to set up booths to sell their wares. I am going to have a booth. Here are some of the items that I am going to sell.

This is an Envelope Purse. This particular one is designed to showcase birthdays or a specific birthday. Great as a gift for Grandma! It sells for $10. I can make for any occasion you wish or just a cute, decorative one in your favorite colors.

Envelope Purse open.

This is a special card. Ever just want to give someone a gift card but feel so weird just giving a "Gift Card"? Well, here's an adorable way to present it! When they open the card, there's the gift card! These, too, can be designed for any occasion. This one is to give as Teacher Gift. It sells for $3.

Inside of card.

This adorable Mini-Book is also another great gift for that far away friend or family member! Or, just as a brag book in your purse. Sells for $5.

Open.

A Photo Wallet is another wonderful gift item! And, oh, how fun this one is!! What a GREAT way to showcase your favorite photos! Sells for $7.

Partially open.

Completely open.

All of these items are hand made by me. Each one will be different because of that. If there is something that you like that you want to order, just send me a note! I'd love to visit with you!

Some New Pages

2008-07-21T11:08:00.008-05:00

I've done some really great pages lately. Between having a Girls Scrapping Weekend with my mom, aunt, & cousins the first weekend in May & a trip to Nebraska that included 2 scrapping events, I've got several pages to show.

Here goes!

Some Pages for A Client

2008-06-11T06:29:00.005-05:00

Here are some pages that I have recently finished for a Baby's First Year book for a client. Some of them still need titles but my 3 favs are the Baby Shower one, Halloween one, & 4th of July one. Enjoy!!

Baby's First Year-Boy

2008-04-03T14:59:00.007-05:00

Here are some of my recent pages for a client. I'm doing a Baby's First Year album for her son & then one also for her daughter. Here's pictures of the pages that I have completed so far. It's really turning out great, I think.

Opening Page

I'm using all Creative Memories products. For some of the page layouts, I'm using "Cherish" by Close To My Heart.

Stamped Cards

2008-03-12T13:43:00.007-05:00

These are cards that I stamped for the order. Most of these cards were made using scraps! I was trying to challenge myself to use up some of my OVER ABUNDANCE of scraps. I think they all turned out well.

Cards Using Cricut

2008-03-12T13:12:00.005-05:00

I had a woman who has ordered from me before place a huge card order-125! Anyway, here are some of the cards that I did for her using my _Expressions.

I used Accent Essentials for the Heart.

For the Flowers I used George.

I LOVE how this one turned out! I used Doodlecharms for the bus & Mickey Font for the lettering. And, you'll notice in the next picture that I used the window cut outs from the black & yellow to make the letter blocks! I cut the bus out in blackout, trimmed it, & sandwiched it between the yellow & black.

The Apple is from Doodlecharms.

This one is Goofy's car from Mickey & Friends. I tell you what! Putting that car together was like putting a puzzle together. Not to mention, the puzzle that is was to actually figure out how to cut it out! Turned out great, though!

I used Animal Kingdom for this one. "Hello" is actually the Sound for the Parrot but I liked the looks of the owl.

Picture Ready Baby Album

2008-02-22T14:19:00.003-06:00

I did a HUGE project for a lady Wow! I just about overdid myself on this one. I did 3 albums at the same time. Two boy & 1 girl albums. They were Picture Ready albums & I used Cropy Cats as my inspiration. Here are some of the pages.

I'm Back!!

2008-02-18T18:40:00.006-06:00

It's been way too long since I last posted! With all that had been going on in our lives, some things just had to go to the wayside. Unfortunately, blogging was one of them.

I did continue to work on my scrapping and stamping some, though. I wanted to post some pictures of the cutest 8x8 album that I did! It's a Birthday Memories album for a girl. It covers birthdays 1-9. The last page boasts a picture of the child at birth & at her 9th birthday. I was really pleased with how it came out. Hope you like it, too!

Oh, It's Been So Long!

2007-07-12T14:09:00.000-05:00

Ok, so my bad. It's been way too long since I have posted. I am really going to try to get back into the habit of posting to my blog each week. I think I'll start small. Maybe at least once a month! I'll try to post a challenge once a month, too.

Lately, I've been busy making cards. Here's a card that I just finished this am! I think it turned out soooo cute! I kind of scraplifted it from the book with my Doodlecharms cartridge but I did add some of my own touches. Hope you like!