Cuttlebug 2009 Christmas – Winter Trees A2 Folder (37-1930):

Winter Trees A2 - New Cuttlebug 2009 Christmas

Candy Cane Stripe A2 Folder (37-1929):

Candy Cane Stripe A2 Folder - New Cuttlebug Christmas 2009

Holly Ribbons 5×7 (37-1927):

Holly Ribbons 5x7 - New Cuttlebug Christmas 2009

Season’s Greeting A2 Folder(37-1931):

Season's Greetings A2 Folder - New Cuttlebug 2009 Christmas

Christmas Countdown 5×7 (37-1926):

Christmas Countdown 5x7 New Cuttlebug Christmas 2009

Winter Borders 7″ (37-1928):

Winter Borders 7" - New Cuttlebug 2009 Christmas

Don’t these new releases just get you itching to go create? Happy crafting!  *Ü*

Supplies:

Quickutz Silhouette SD

Frames from the $1 store in various sizes

Quickutz Quickstripz self-adhesive cardstock for the lettering

American Crafts Backyard Assortment pattern paper

I have posted step-by-step instructions (complete with Silhouette screen shots!) into our new Idea Gallery – Just CLICK HERE to see how easy these were to put together… so simple and inexpensive!

Happy Crafting! *Ü*

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I was asked to demonstrate how to use a Quickutz die with the Cuttlebug machine. Here is the How To:

1. Set your Quickuts die face up on top of the Cuttlebug A and C plates.
2. Place your card stock face down on the die with a B plate on top.
3. Sandwiched together, roll it through the Cuttlebug machine.
4. Poke out or pull away extra card stock to reveal your shape.

1. Repeat many times the steps above in different colors.
2. Emboss like colors using various Cuttlebug embossing folders.

To finish the project: add text to the cardstock, paint your frame, adhere all the shapes and add foam squares to one shape to make it look raised.

Here is the finished project.

For the cardstock I used this cardstock – Quickutz QuikStripz – with adhesive. Because I hate to waste anything (I have a problem. ), I used the white backings of all the buttons to decorate a magnet board.

For this project, I kept the waxy plastic side up to handle wear and tear. Then just hot glued magnets to big white buttons.

By clicking on this button, you will receive 10% off anything sold on Katessa Crafts. They carry a lot of the products I used for these two projects.

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Interested in being one of our Guest Bloggers? Send me an email – tricia(at)KatessaCrafts(dot)com – we love guest bloggers! *Ü*

Whether you want to call it a crafting stimulus package or a crafter’s bail-out plan… either way, this may just be the best answer to your crafting addiction! I mean, seriously… who’da’thunk it? Well, Katessa Crafts, of course!

I know that when I was growing up, and even as a young mother, lay-away was an option that I used many times, especially around the holidays, birthdays, etc. But as time went on, the retailers that offered lay-away got fewer and fewer. Even the big box stores that many of us relied on for lay-away for have quit offering it.

That’s exactly the reason why we at Katessa Crafts just couldn’t stop ourselves. We’ve put a great deal of thought into this decision, and really can’t see a down-side, since our primary goal is to offer you the craft supplies that you want at prices that you can afford. So come on in to the store… choose what you want… and pay in three easy monthly installments! Here’s the quick run-down of this program:

* You can choose the lay-away program for ANYTHING in the store (yes, it includes pre-orders!).

* There is a $75 minimum order required.

* You will be charged 1/3 of your order total plus shipping at the time of order, then 2 easy monthly payments there-after.

* You can use another coupon code for your order to take advantage of the special offers that we send to our special email subscribers.

* Your items will be set aside at the time of your order, and will be shipped out to you once the final payment is received.

* You may use Paypal as your payment method if that is what you prefer, or you can pay with your credit card right from our secure (SSL) site.

It’s that easy! To read the full terms of this AWESOME program, just click HERE.

Please know that we want to provide the very best service possible, which is why we have made this program available. If you ever have any questions regarding your lay-away order or this program, please email us at customercare@katessacrafts.com and we are happy to help in any way we can! *Ü*

I found a great resource to help you BREAK OUT OF YOUR CREATIVE RUT!

Just recently I discovered what an amazing place Ali Edwards has created for us on this world-wide web. She recently republished an awesome list of things you can do to re-find your inspiration, excitement and over-all *love* with creativity. You absolutely need to go read the FULL POST to get the wealth of information Ali is offering… but here is a little morsel of the 11 things she touches on to help you out of your rut:

1. Do nothing.
2. Be surprised.
3. Read Keri Smith’s 100 Things list.
4. Do the opposite.
5. Go.
6. Take a deep breath.
7. Collect some eye candy.
8. Google.
9. Clean.
10. Write.
11. Get back to basics.

And after offering you many thoughts and inspirations on these topics, Ali Edwards promises this: TAKE HEART, IT WILL COME BACK.

I have to say that I really like her post, simply because so many of these things work for me. I think my favorite is the cleaning one… certainly NOT because I like to clean (ick) but because I do find inspiration in the process and because I also get something accomplished. I feel less overwhelmed and and more productive when I can craft in a clean space!

What tip from Ali is your favorite?

‘Show your colorful side with every 2009 Spring Gift Set from QuicKutz! Each of the four sets has its own vibrant personality and is packed with colored Cookie Cutter shape and alphabet dies, a coordinating tote bag and a unique entry code for the Create in Color Sweepstakes.’

We have a very limited number of these sets in stock, and we anticipate selling out very quickly – take advantage of our National Scrapbooking Day sale by using coupon code NSD15 and receive 15% off your purchase! When these sell out – THEY’RE GONE FOR GOOD – so get yours today! Keep in mind that each of these box sets includes products valued at $160 and we are selling them for only $89.99!

If you purchase our PACKAGE DEAL (includes all four sets) you will save an instant $20 and you can still use your coupon – this deal is only good through Monday, May 4th!

Each of these sets is CRAMMED with amazing stuff! Check these out:

Quickutz FLIRT Set:

Quickutz RELAX Set:

Quickutz ENJOY Set:

Quickutz REUSE Set:

View This Poll

The Katessa Crafts Affiliate Program is a perfect way for you to earn rewards on the products you love, such as Sizzix, Quickutz, Cricut, Cuttlebug, American Crafts and more! You could even use the money you earn and put it towards all of the accessories, dies, textured impressions, and storage solutions to use along with your Sizzix Big Shot Machine!

Benefits of joining the Katessa Crafts Affiliate Program include:

*It’s FREE to become an Affiliate – absolutely no money out of your pocket
*Earn 2% credit at Katessa Crafts for every sale generated through your link! It doesn’t sound like much, but if only one person bought a Cricut Expression Machine through your link, that would be over $5 credit for YOU in our store!
*You and your friends/followers will automatically receive 10% off orders placed at Katessa Crafts using your link!
*Cute button/link will look great on any website or blog

To become a Katessa Crafts Affiliate, you must first be a Registered Customer of Katessa Crafts. If you are not yet a registered customer, please REGISTER HERE at Katessa Crafts.

Once you have registered, accept these terms and sign up for the Katessa Crafts Affiliate Program by CLICKING HERE. Which will make you the lucky user of one of these:

All you have to do to be entered into our RANDOM DRAWING for the SIZZIX BIG SHOT MACHINE GIVE AWAY is to sign up to become one of our affiliates! You will be entered automatically upon sign-up.

OR

Quickly create a blog post about Katessa Crafts or this GIVE AWAY and have at least one link to both this blog and our website (www.katessacrafts.com) within your post. Please leave a comment to let us know when you have done this. Once we go check out your blog/website and bask in your post all about us (we love that part), we’ll put your name into the RANDOM DRAWING for the SIZZIX BIG SHOT MACHINE GIVE AWAY!

You may choose to become an affiliate AND blog about us and receive two entries!

Entry deadline is 11:59pm (MST) Thursday, May 14, 2009. Winner will be announced Friday, May 15, 2009…. please leave us an email address where we can easily contact you. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving this information in the comments section, feel free to send us an email: AFFILIATES@katessacrafts.com and let us know that you posted all about us. (we really do love that part!)

P.S. The Sizzix Big Shot Machine truly is FREE – shipping is included!

P.P.S. We’re so excited we can hardly stand it! Happy blogging… and happy affiliate-ing!

I have all of the supplies to make this cute topiary tree with American Crafts Printed Paper…. it’s just sitting there… tempting me… begging me to come and play! I’m going to do mine with the Backyard Assortment papers and rub-ons, which I think will make for a perfect Spring/Summer decoration!

And can’t you see this little gift for your favorite gardening friend? Or better yet…. how about making an Easter basket like this?!

This one is from the American Crafts Blog… they even showed you what they used and how to do it!

Whatever type of project you’re looking for or wanting to do, you’re sure to find some inspiration at American Crafts! Happy crafting! *Ü*