Crafting for... ME?!

It has been a long time since I got to craft just for me. I am ususally doing things for other people; design teams or another purpose (not sure what it would be, but not just to enjoy the experience.)

Last night, I was surfing on Two Peas in A Bucket, which I LOVE for the challenges they host; and saw some adorable cards.

I used it as my inspiration and created this.

Supplies:

Solid Paper--Papertrey Ink, Plaid paper from my stash, Sweet Treats Cartridge, paper was my minds eye. Brown thin sharpie for ALL writing and WISH with a stencil. Bling attached with my iRock. :-)

enjoy!

dawn

PS: hop over to Dawn Bennett Images, to see some beautiful photos of the Olympic Peninsula, along with info on my newest Family Photo Shoot Specials. :-)

Photos from FORKS!

I know some of you were aware; I went to Forks, WA this weekend for a family trip. We did some beach stops along the way also; and here are some photos of that.

Here's the funny one....

That's right; this is BELLA'S TRUCK! Ha- the Twihard only poked through a few times. Steph took me on the official resident of Forks Twilight Tour, and when no one was looking (you can see I'm embarrased in the photo) she snapped a quick picture of me and Bella's Truck. I was too embarrased (being that she grew up there, and EVERYONE knows everyone there) someone was bound to see us taking photos with Edward. lol.

I encourage you to pop over to Dawn Bennett Images; and check out the photos from the weekend. They are gorgeous!

Mini- Vacation for me!

That's right guys; I'm headed for FORKS! Home of Edward, Jacob and Bella.

Am I a twilight nerd; maybe. Am I there for Twilight at all? Nope! I'm headed to have some much needed girl time; and can some fresh off the boat Tuna Fish!

A girlfriend who grew up in Forks, WAAAAYYYY before twilight, when it was just home to the most beautiful Olympic National Rainforest, invited me and Zoe to head over and do the yearly Tuna Canning with her M-I-L. So; we've ordered our fresh Tuna, and will be canning fish all weekend! I've never done it before, but think it should be a blast.

Don't worry though; I'll take a photo or two with the famous (albeit, cardboard) Edward! :-)

Dawn

Papercraft Star Challenge #14

Hi Everyone,

I know you checked out my sneak peek earlier this week with the designer inspiration and have been dying to see the whole thing! I will show you; but first I want to tell you about the challenge and a little about Papercraft Star Challenge Blog.

About Papercraft Star:
Papercraft Star offers a variety of papercraft challenges for all skill levels, as well as scrapbook, card making and altered art ideas and inspiration. We provide challenge information well ahead of time, so YOU our viewers can have as much time as you need to prepare for the challenges with your best work; this is because Papercraft Star is unique in that our blog is designed to let the public vote for their favorites each week, as well as participate in the weekly challenges.

The Challenge this week is called 'Simon Says'

Simon Says Follow this Recipe:
Make a Card
Base: 5.5 x 5.5
Mat: 5 x 5
Score Mat 5 times at 1/4 inch
3 Flowers from Die Cut or Punch
3 Buttons and Twine
(You may also add a sentiment or other items as desired)

I hope you'll hope over to papercraft star and see the challenge and inspiration this week, I'm thinking this may get you wondering, and makes you think about what YOU can create along with us! Jump over and see the first days worth of Designer Inspiration on Wednesday!

The prize for winning the people's choice over at Papercraft Star is the 'People's Choice Award' Button for your blog! Since the winners are voted on by the general public it really is super special to get and lets everyone know you were voted the people's choice winner, and sometimes the judges even throw in an extra special surprise gift!

You can enter your submission through InLinkz on Papercraft Star (card/layout/papercraft of any sort!) until Friday at midnight EST. I hope you can join us!

Supplies:
Cricut Expression Machine
Accent Essentials Cartridge
All paper-- My Minds Eye, whirlybird collection
Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick
Stamp by Studio G

Have you checked out Papercraft Star yet? The NEWEST and best challenge blog?

Months and months ago, I stumbled across (or better yet, recieved an invitation) to check out Papercraft Star-- the newest Papercrafting Challenge Blog around. They are unique because the winners of the challenges aren't random. Which, although thats nice and unbiased; how cool would it be to EARN the title of winner?

Now, you can....

Challenge 14 - Simon Says
Begins Sept 22, 2010
Simon Says Follow this Recipe:
Make a Card
Base: 5.5 x 5.5
Mat: 5 x 5
Score Mat 5 times at 1/4 inch
3 Flowers from Die Cut or Punch
3 Buttons and Twine
(You may also add a sentiment or other items as desired)

I've had so much fun designing for these guys, and they are getting so close to 500 followers! If you head over, make sure you create for this challenge, as well as checking out the upcoming challenges by clicking the page titled 'challenges' up top. You can get a headstart on the newest ones this way!

Enjoy!

Dawn

Sneak Peek of Papercraft Star Challenge #14

Over at Papercraft Star Challenge Blog, the challenge this week is a 'simon says' challenge.

Here's a peek at my designer inspiration for you.

Here are the guidelines...


Challenge 14 - Simon Says
Begins Sept 22, 2010
Simon Says Follow this Recipe:
Make a Card
Base: 5.5 x 5.5
Mat: 5 x 5
Score Mat 5 times at 1/4 inch
3 Flowers from Die Cut or Punch
3 Buttons and Twine
(You may also add a sentiment or other items as desired)

Starting Tuesday; lets see what you can create! Hop over and check out the winners from last week, and get some inspiration for this week!

Dawn

Papercraft star is reaching out to gain 500 Followers; since they are SOOOOO close already they are doing a drawing for a $25 PaperTrey Ink or My Favorite Things giftcard! You get to choose which one you'd like if you win.

head over to Papercraft Star and become a follower; make a comment and add yourself to the drawing! If you are already a follower, just make a little post somewhere about the drawing; go back and make a comment and you're in also!

Dawn

Papercraft Star Challenge #13

For papercraft star challenge #13, we are basing our layouts from a sketch we were provided. A very funky sketch, but much more intricate than I'm used to.
I did a layout of Zoe, at three months, and it showcases just how much hair she had then. Her hair is almost down to her butt, and a beautiful flax blonde color now; so the changes are just amazing!

I hope you'll hope over to papercraft star and see the challenge and inspiration this week, I'm thinking this may get you wondering, and makes you think about what YOU can create along with us! Jump over and see the first days worth of Designer Inspiration on Wednesday!


The prize for winning the people's choice over at Papercraft Star is the 'People's Choice Award' Button for your blog! Since the winners are voted on by the general public it really is super special to get and lets everyone know you were voted the people's choice winner, and sometimes the judges even throw in an extra special surprise gift!

You can enter your submission through InLinkz on Papercraft Star (card/layout/papercraft of any sort!) until Friday at midnight EST. I hope you can join us!

Supplies:

All paper-- My Minds Eye, whirlybird collection

letter stickers (for 'One Hairy') are by American Crafts and purchased at Lila's Scrapbooking

letter stickers (for 'Baby') are by Recollections for Michaels

3 Months chipboard letters are by Sassafras

Brads are all from Lila's Scrapbooking

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peeled Paint

Chalk Ink in Dark Peony

Happy Halloween! Using all Target $1 bin finds

Hi Guys!

I'm not really convinced that the next holiday around here is halloween... The only REAL reason I am starting to believe, is that I walked into Target yesterday, and low and behold the dollar bins have halloween goods. They were pretty well picked over already; but I found some paper and ribbon sets.Of course, as most of you know I can't pass up paper at a decent price. 8 sheets... $1... thats cheap. :-) I wanted to stick with using what I had on hand for this, and I picked up this $1 stamp from Michaels months ago, preparing for halloween. So, I've created this little gem.

I've used the patterned spots paper (from the 8 assorted papers pack) as the background (set on black cardstock). I layered core'dinations black paper under the cat/phrase paper. I used my cuttlebug borders for the 'stitching' on the black paper. The ribbon is also from Target, in the dollar bins.

I hope this inspires you to glance into the dolalr bins the next time you stop by Target! Be sure to stop by in a bit; and check out what I've picked up over the course of yesterday and today!!

Just Because Cards, You're Rad! Radish Card

I wanted to post on here, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE this card, and it sold on my etsy! I think I will be making more for myself and etsy... and thought it was so cute, I'd share it incase any of my new followers hadn't seen it yet.

Supplies:

8.5X5.5 Kraft Cardstock (folded in half)

retro green paper (just over 4X5 in size)

spotted green paper (4X5 in size)

Just Because Cricut Cartridge

Cricut Expressions

various colored papers for cuts

Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Fired Brick and Peeled Paint for inking

Enjoy!

Dawn

Pink Cricut Blog Hop Winners!!!

Via Random.org.... we have winners for the teeshirt/goodies packages....

I NEED BOTH OF YOU LADIES TO CONTACT ME!
Neither of you have a way for me to email you or contact info (sorry if that sounds crabby, I promise... I'm not!)... email me within 7 days to claim your prizes or I will be forced to pick a new winner/winners. :-)

For the Pink, Sweet Treats shirt and goodies:
#70-
Love that gift bag! That would make any one smile!
By Marilyn

For the White Tags, Bags, Boxes shirt and goodies:
#149-
Wow. Love your bag. I can so see me making that! What a clever idea. Only 3 blogs in. I love your bag, but I have loved everything I have seen. New to cricut! This is my first blog hop. Thank you for participating.
By stefanichastain

Ladies-- I will be getting ahold of you this evening (I'm a busy girl today!) and if you don't hear from me (dddcort at yahoo dot com) e-mail me your snail mail info and I'll get the goodies on their way!

Congrats to the winners, I hope you LOVE your packages and thank you to everyone who came by!

Dawn

Pink Cricut BLOG HOP!

Edited to ADD ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!!! *** If you are already in the first by commenting already; you will automatically be entered into this one as well!***

Hi Everyone! I'm so glad you've decided to join us along this blog hop! You should have gotten here from Chomas Creations... I want to welcome you to Dawn's Addiction... and let you know what I do here at my blog! I'm a crafter, as well as a mom to Zoe who will be three in October. I LOVE to make cards, altered items and scrapbooking. I generally post each day; with a crafty project I've made; or some sort of family type update.

I also want to let you all know that I sell Authentic, Brand New Cricut Products for very low prices. I have just about all the cartridges for sale, and most cartridges are under $30 with a few of the higher/newer cartridges being just over (ex: Create a Critter is $35; Winter Frolic is $36; Preserves is $29; Once Upon A Princess and Give a Hoot are $30, etc). I also have brand new, sealed in the package Gypsys for $153. You can check out the pages at the top of the blog for more information.

We are doing this blog hop in honor of the 9/11 attacks---- my focus on my bloghop project is to let the people serving our country know that they are my heros! I've had two of 4 brothers in the military (marines and navy) and have so much respect for their choice to do so. Until I've gotten to be an adult, I didn't understand just how important the men and woman who serve our country are.

Our sponsors for this hop are Craft-E-Corner who is donating the A-Z Cricut DVD to one lucky hopper and a 10% coupon code to ALL hoppers, this code can be found at the start of the hop; on Pink Cricut's Post and Pink by Design, for a $25 Gift Certificate. Also, on Pink by Design; there is a big, fat, huge discount running through the weekend for hoppers! We can all thank them soooo much for giving us a discount this weekend and providing an awesome prize for someone!

I want to really urge you to make sure and check out all the blogs-- I know there are at least two Cricut Cartridges being given away; along with oodles of other good stuff! Onto the project---

I thought this would make a good thing to send a little gift for a person serving.

The bag is just a paper gift sack, I've altered. I used my Cricut with Stand & Salute for the title and star banner. For the superhero; I used Paper Doll Dress up, as well as Peachy Keen Stamps for his eyes. Bows top this bag off, and add a little dimension to the handle as well!


For this hop; I've chosen to do a SMALL GIVEAWAY just for coming by! Since this blog hop is hosted by Sarah, over at Pink Cricut; I've decided to giveaway a Pink Sweet Treats Cricut Shirt (100% cotton, size XL); as well as a handful of scrapbooking embellishments!

Due to the shipping costs; I'm only able to offer this to hoppers in the U.S (sorry to everyone else in the world-- I just can't fork out all the extra they demand to send things international). All you need to do to enter is leave a comment on THIS post and let me know what your favorite project on the hop is! Remember to leave a way for me to reach you, and if you like the blog; feel free to follow (not required)! Easy Peasy... and you get in the running for that bundle of goodies! I'll draw the winner Monday via random.org and post it here! Good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

ADDED, ANOTHER GIVEAWAY! Today, I'm adding another giveaway! For Sunday commenters; you have the chance to win a White, Tags Bags Boxes and More tee shirt size large!

The next stop on the Pink Cricut Blog Hop Lineup is Yellow Bird Creations. Head over there to continue the fun!

Here is the blog hop lineup!

Pink Cricut
Chomas Creations
Dawn's Addiction (THAT'S HERE!)

Yellow Bird Creations

Scrappin' Navy Wife
Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

DSJM Designs
Creations by Christie
Jenny K Scrappin'Addict

(MC)2

If you get lost; you can come back here or start over at Pink Cricut!

Papercraft Star Challenge 12 Designers Inspiration and Information

Over at Papercraft Star, the challenge this week is based on this photo:

The prize for winning the people's choice over at Papercraft Star is the 'People's Choice Award' Button for your blog! Since the winners are voted on by the general public it really is super special to get and lets everyone know you were voted the people's choice winner, and sometimes the judges even throw in an extra special surprise gift!

You can enter your submission through InLinkz on Papercraft Star (card/layout/papercraft of any sort!) until Friday at midnight EST. I hope you can join us!

This was my submission, I hope you love it!

This is the inside, I decided to mat it, so it would be easier to write in. I've attached some close ups so you can see the detail of the card.


For the 'steam' rising off the cup, I used vellum to make it more transparent, and then layered it.

Here is the view from the 'top' of the card, so you can see the dimensional elements of the card.

I hope you've enjoyed my inspiration for ya'll this challenge week, and I urge you to check out all the other designer inspiration as well! You can see them all in one place at Papercraft Star, and I've got a section on the left side bar with links to all the Papercraft Star Design Team's blogs.

Voting for the People's Choice Winner starts bright and early Saturday Morning, and goes through Monday. Winners will be announced Tuesday. While you're over there, remember that there is also a Papercraft Star Message Board, where you can talk to the designers and other users to discuss projects, accomplishments and anything else!

Supplies:
Kraft Cardstock for card base
Patterned Mat Paper (started as a 5.5 sq. piece and I trimmed about 1/2" off two sides, leaving the ric rak edges at the top and bottom)
Pink Rick Rak (under cup) is by Pickle Trims (baby collection) from Rusty Pickle
Cream Cardstock (for Cup from Beyond Birthdays Cricut Cartridge)
Kraft Cardstock for shadow
Vellum for the 'steam' shadow and main layer
'Imagine' tag is from a tag pack in Joanne's $1 bin
Pearl Brads from my stash
Cricut Machine & Gypsy
Beyond Birthdays Cricut Cartridge
Black Sakura Gelly Roll Pen
ATG Gun
Pop Dots
Glue dots

I hope you'll join us!

Enjoy!
Dawn

Papercraft Star, Challenge 12 Sneak Peek!

Over at Papercraft Star, the challenge this week is based on this photo:

I wanted to give you guys a little Sneak Peek at what I've created for this challenge!

I hope this gets you wondering, and makes you think about what YOU can create along with us! Jump over and see the first days worth of Designer Inspiration on Wednesday!

The prize for winning the people's choice over at Papercraft Star is the 'People's Choice Award' Button for your blog! Since the winners are voted on by the general public it really is super special to get and lets everyone know you were voted the people's choice winner, and sometimes the judges even throw in an extra special surprise gift!

You can enter your submission through InLinkz on Papercraft Star (card/layout/papercraft of any sort!) until Friday at midnight EST. I hope you can join us!

Another Blog Hop this weekend!

Hi Everyone, I just wanted to remind you that this weekend in honor of September 11th; Pink Cricut is hosting a blog hop. I was offered a place in the lineup; and of course will be taking part in it!

I hope you'll stop by and see what I have to inspire you; as well as my giveaway for all of you who hop along.... I've got a Cricut Tee-Shirt and a mixed package of goodies for you to win!

Also... did you see I announced my lucky Tinkerbell Cricut Cartridge winner for last weekends Cricut Fairy Blog Hop?

I will talk with you all soon, and thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Tinkerbell Cartridge Giveaway Winner

Good Morning Everyone!

I wanted to post the winner from the Tinkerbell Cartridge Giveaway this morning-- before I head out and have to leave you all wondering!

It was:

Love your blog!! ..and all the others on the blog hop, so much fun!! Thanks for sharing and the chance at winning :) Ashley

Ashley, thanks for commenting on all the blogs along the hop, and I will get an email out to you this morning!

Congrats Ashley!

and Thank you everyone who stopped by!

Dawn

Cricut Card Fairies 2nd Blog Hop-- and a Cricut Cartridge Giveaway!

Welcome to Dawn's Addiction!

You should have gotten here from Katz Designs. I hope you've enjoyed the hop so far, and I'm so glad you are here! I have some really exciting stuff here for you all... one of which is a Tinkerbell & Friends Cricut Cartridge to giveaway! I've got a little information for you before I get to that!

I know that you all have to have been enjoying the hop so far! Our second blog hop is sponsored by the very talented and generous Regina from CUTTING CAFE. She cranks out amazing designs almost daily. For my project today, I've used her Lined Note Paper Pad Set that she so graciously donated for me to use!

I started this blog years ago before I had my daugter, with the intention of it being to keep family, near and far up to date. Since then, we've added another; lost another, gotten married and built quite the life for ourselves. During this time; I got a Sixxix System, moved into the Cricut System at Christmas 2009, added lots of cartridges, a Gypsy and taken over the 'spare' room of our house to make it my scrap area (you can click the 'scrap area' for a video tour, or here for stills). I do lots of scraping, cardmaking and general altered items and have been lucky enough to design for Lila's Scrapbooking, a local shop as well as Papercraft Star, an online challenge blog and community. I am technically a stay at home mom, but do sales out of my scraproom- (thanks to a good friend....)I have amazingly low prices on many Provo Craft Items and Gypsys; all of my sale items are in stock and ready to go out.

As soon as I got my Cricut, I got on the message boards and got to know the fairies you all are meeting today! I couldn't wait to become a member of the Cricut Card Fairies, after losing so much of myself with the death of my son, I know how important it is to feel like the world remembers you; and things can get better, I knew I wanted to help cheer the world up; one card at a time! This journey began when Crystal, our Commander started this group over two years ago and we are so happy to announce that we have sent over 650 missions (card requests) all over the world to those that need a smile or good thought. In the last year or so, that I've been a part of this, the most touching card I ever sent was mailed to a family who lost their infant son. I mailed them a package with books, cards and letters from my husband and I to the mom and dad who lost their son. It touched me so deeply, not to know that someone else lost their precious child, but that I could impact them during their darkest time and maybe, help them walk out of the tragedy feeling a tiny bit better.

The Cricut Card Fairies are some of the most kind, generous, and talented woman with Cricuts!Some of the fairies have been in the army for the entire two years and we are so happy to welcome anyone that wants to join our ranks. To do so please send Crystal an email at cricutcardfairyarmy at gmail dot com with your Cricut Messageboard name and email. She will get you added to our great ranks and you can start cheering up people around the world.

Today I have a project to share with you that is not really back to school but could easily be adapted to serve that purpose. Being that I have no kids going into school yet; I have a tough time making things that would be for them. I thought that the Lined Paper Note Pad Set that Regina graciously gave to some of the designers would be perfect for this project. I made myself a little notebook using the PDF File. I used the lime green pages, as well as the templates to create my notebook and envelopes. I adore how it turned out, and had a hard time choosing which file I was going to create with; I highly recommend you jump over the The Cutting Cafe; and see what she has there! You could make this a mini noteboook, or a journal to record something that your child or yourself learn everyday for a month or more! Also, a HUGE--- THANK YOU to Regina for sponsoring this blog hop! Now; onto the giveaway, I know you've all been waiting. I wanted to stick with a Fairy Theme, since it IS the Cricut Fairy Bloghop-- so, I've chosen to giveaway 1 Brand New, Disney Tinkerbell & Friends Cricut Cartridge. There isn't a whole lot you have to do to win this. I'm not going to require that you follow my blog; but by all means, if you like it-- follow! But the one thing I am going to require is that you hop through and comment on at least 7 of the 15 blogs. I'm not going to require which ones, or anything else... but when I contact you and you've won; I will be checking to see that you DID infact, visit them and comment! :-) I've gotta make you do a LITTLE work, right? ;-) Please leave a comment on THIS posting to enter yourself, with a way for me to contact you when you win! I'm going to use random.org bright and early, Monday September 6th to draw my winner! GOOD LUCK!

Now head off to the next stop: Karel aka My Life in Pink. If you get lost please come back here, or start at the beginning and follow the links listed below. Happy hopping!

Here is the order:
Caitlynsmommy
GRKIDDO
LYNNE
ScrappyJess
Kat/Bluerose
Dawn's Addiction (You are HERE!)
KarelJCreations
SherylGreene
LarelynSartini
Kisatrtle
AJoy713
BeeJay
Pamela

Cricut Card Fairy Blog Hop this weekend... and a Cartridge Giveaway!

Hey Everyone! I wanted to remind ya'll that there is a blog hop this weekend that I am a part of!

Also, I will be giving away a Disney, Tinkerbell and Friends Cricut Cartridge! :-) So, make sure you come back by and check it out! It will start at 9:01pm, PST over here at Dawn's Addiction!

Papercraft Star, Challenge #11-- Back 2 School

Over at Papercraft Star, we are in the midst of a Back to School themed challenge. The goal was to use a die cut system of some sort. I used my Cricut Expressions & Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge for the adorable, yet whimsical little bus.

Supplies:

Cricut Machine

Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge

Blue Metallic Cardstock (I used TPC Studios Royal Blue Shimmer, since once side is darker (base) and one is lighter (embossed layer)

Kraft Cardstock

Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen

Hemp Twine

Black Pen

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Circles

Directions:

1. Cut your metallic dark blue cardstock to 8.5X 5.5. Fold in half, hamburger style.

2. Cut a yellow mat at 4X5.25. Stick down.

3. Cut a lighter blue metallic layer at 3.75X5 and emboss using the 'circles 'Cuttlebug Folder. on one side, wrap a few times with natural twine (I used hemp twine), and double knot to hold. Then adhere onto yellow mat.

4. Using the Stretch Your Imagine Cricut cartridge, cut each layer of the schoolbus, in the colors you choose. I usedmy Gypsy and hid all the contours of the shadow cut, and cut in Kraft Cardstock.

5. Glue layers together, and using pop dots, adhere to the card front.

6. Cut the tag @ 2". Add a white square- and scribble your note on.

7. String the tag through one of sides of cording, and tie it on loosely.

Embellish as you wish. You could easily add some glitter, I added white dots with a gelly pen, as well as colored where the hubcabs on the bus would be silver. I hope you can come over and play along! Entries can be linked until Friday @ Midnight EST.

And voting starts bright and early Saturday Morning, and goes through Monday.

Winners will be announced Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Dawn