I GOT A BLOG AWARD!!!

My friend Gio' surprised me with this a few weeks ago and I was really taken by surprise and well, she just made me smile from ear to ear. It took me this long to post it here but nonetheless, I wanted to pass it along to a good friend of mine Serena.

I have built a very strong friendship with these two women even though I met them online and spoke to them on skype only so far...I feel as close to them as I would any other close friend here...they have made my life a little brighter!!!

On a side note, I just wanted to let you know that I have been on a shopping spree this summer and purchased a few goodies for my crafting.

The big purchase is this:


I had been researching various computerized die cut machines and I decided to get this one primarily because of all the great reviews and resources I have been able to find. I bought mine for $269 (free shipping/tax) and it included a 12x12 mat, two cartridges and a spatula at OhMyCrafts (if you can not see this deal there, they have an ebay store and that is where I got mine).

Here's the Cricut Cutting Guide for different materials:I also have found that the SCAL software will allow me to cut anything I want (any font and any image from my computer, yes even a mac)....you can go to youtube and check out this lady to get all the info and tutorials (she's absolutely amazing) and even though I have found this software for $7 less, I have decided to buy from her because she took the time to inform everyone about this program

My other awesome purchase which I am expecting to receive this week is this:

I will be cutting corners on my wood sheets from Stampin'Up as well as chipboard so I am super excited. I got mine for really cheap for $16.95 (free shipping/tax) HERE

Martha Stewart had come out with some great border/corner combination punches. I used my 40% coupon from Michael's to get this:


You can see a video of this punch in action as well as download a guide for it on this amazing BLOG

Etsy has been one of my favorite stores and even though I do not make many purchases from there, I could not hold back and order this:


I got this beauty from the NothingElegant store

Hope this info. and eye candy was useful for some of you....

Playful Girl Layout

Here's a new layout I did a little while ago using some scraps of papers I had left over from a previous layout as well as a test paper I did with my new glimmer mists.

Stamps: Four Dolls (Hero Arts), KOTM Foam Stamps (CK Media), Just Perfect Alphabet (Stampin'Up)
Cardstock: Always Artichoke & Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (Stampin'Up), Background (Scenic Route), watercolor paper
Ink: Black acrylic paint (Ranger), Craft White, Melon Mambo & Rich Razzleberry (Stampin'Up)
Embellishments: ribbon (unknown), pins (Fancy Pants), thickers (American Craft), butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Calendar Label (Elle's Studio), Suede, Olive, Tattered Leather Glimmer Mists (Tattered Angels), Fanciful Stencils (Tattered Angels)