My Pink Stamper Blog Hop

Welcome to the My Pink Designers' first blog hop.  If you are coming to my blog from Edna's (Pinke) Blog then you are right on track.  If you stumbled through blog land and came across my blog, by all means welcome.  But to do the entire blog hop, you will want to start with Robyn - My Pink Stamper.
This blog hop is going to be so much fun for both the designers and you.  We were given a secret challenge that we can't tell you about.  But if you do the hop with all of us, you will be given the directions of the challenge.  That way you can do the challenge with us, submit it on Robyn's blog to be entered for a prize!

My name is Lori aka LiveLaughScrap.  I have been married to my husband for almost 17 years.  We have 2 beautiful children:  DJ 14 and Alexis 10.

Welcome to the 2011 My Pink Stamper Design Team Blog Hop

I am extremely excited to be one of Robyn's My Pink Designers.  When I first joined the Cricut MB, her blog & videos were the first that I visited & watched.  I have learned so much from her.  For Robyn to have picked me to be on her design team is such an honor.  I look forward to working beside my fellow design team members.

My crafting style is pretty simple.  Whenever I make a card, wall letter, gift bag, or any project for someone I try to make it as personal as can be.  I used to scrapbook years ago when my son was a baby, but got away from it.

My Cricut Story:
Enter in the Cricut baby bug in January 2008 (a belated Christmas gift from my parents).  This began the Cricut obsession (addiction) that became LiveLaughScrap.  I still don't really scrapbook, but I do make cards & other projects.  The project that I make most are my Wall Letters.  My friends keep me busy with those.  I was given my Expression as an early birthday/Christmas present from my parents in 2009.  Then Provo Craft came out with the Gypsy.  I finally broke down & got it when Michaels had it on sale.  I don't know what I did before then.  It seems like I can't even make the easiest of cards or projects without using my Gypsy.  When I found out that the Imagine was going to be launched on HSN in September of 2010, I jokingly mentioned it to my dad.  He just laughed it off saying that he has fed this addition enough, LOL. My dad passed away on September 27, 2010.  On Christmas morning, my mom presented me with a huge box.  As soon as I saw it I knew what it was - it was the perfect size.  It was an IMAGINE!!!  When I opened it, she told me that my dad had called in to HSN to order it during the 1st airing (11pm CST) of the launch before he went to bed.  Since then, I have had to send it back.  It was not working properly.  I am trying to patiently wait for my replacement.  Provo Craft is taking care of me, it's just my patience that I am having trouble with - LOL!!

Here is the card that I made for this blog hop.

This is an A2 (5.5" x 4.25") size card. The easiest way to make this card size is to start with a 8.5" x 11" card stock and cut it in half.  Fold that card stock in half & you have an A2 size card. 
I find it easier to make card front then add them to a card base.
I started with card stock sizes: craft color 4.25" x 5.5" & 4.25" x 1  5/8"; pink 4.25" x 2.5"

I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the different layers.

5.5" x 4.25" embossed with the typeset 5x7 embossing folder

4.25" x 2.5" embossed with the polka dots  5x7 embossing folder

1 5/8" x 4.25 embossed with the swiss dots A2 embossing folder

I cut the cupcake from the Celebrations Cricut Cartridge.  I cut the blackout layer in brown @ 3.5".  Then I cut the layers out  @ 3.5" in some pattern papers that I had in my stash (sorry I don't know the stacks or makers).

Instead of cutting the layer twice in both colors, I used my Gypsy to hide the wrapper that I did not want pink.  I did the same for the topper so that it would not cut in the floral print.

I used a brown marker to put in sprinkles on the top of the cupcake & to color in the lined on the wrapper.

I added some green & pink rhinestones along the bottom of the card to add some sparkle & draw in the green in the wrapper.

I inked all of the embossed pieces with vintage photo distress ink.  I also used this same ink to edge the assembled cupcake and card.

I popped up the cupcake on the card with some pieces of cardboard (double thick). (I couldn't find my pop dots & had to improvise.)

The stamp is from My Pink Stamper's Everyday Occasions Set.  It too was stamped in vintage photo distress ink.

I used my Gypsy and Cricut to design & create this card.

To continue on with the Blog Hop & to figure out what our challenge is my key word & Blog Hop order is below.

My Key Word Is: US

Blog Hop Order:

Robyn

CarrieAnn

Court’s Crafts

Sonia

Julie-readysetstamp

Pinke

Lori LiveLaughScrap (You Are Here)

Helen (Next My Pink Designer To Visit)

Agnes-Flowerdisco

Craft Junkie Too

Angela’s Simple Creations

Kassidy

Cristi

Bling Queen Wendy

Shauna at Craftee She

Andrea

Raechel

Meesh’s Pieces

Pam

Shelley

Tammy

Karlee

Maria

If you are still here after all of that, you  deserve a little something.

Give Away:  Continental U.S. Only.  All you have to do to qualify is leave a comment with contact information.  Please leave only 1 comment.  Deadline to enter is Wed. Jan. 19.  I will announce the winner on Thursday.

As we all know Robyn has been working with Mike "The Glueologist" from Beacon.

Well, I discovered their 3 in 1 Advanced Craft Glue just a little before her first video with him.  I just love this stuff.  I use it for everything.  For more information about it click on the picture.  Like their Zip Dry, it does not make your paper wrinkle & I find that it does not clog in the applicator as quickly or easily.  Although, I do love Zip Dry too.  Do we not all love adhesive?

 Thanks for looking. Questions & comments are always welcomed. Lori