More Life, with less Effort...oh and a cartridge giveaway!

When I was a little girl I would watch soap operas with my aunt, and at the time I wholeheartedly expected real grown up life to mirror episodes of General Hospital! What I discovered is that there is a stunning lack of designer clothing in my closet, hunky doctors, outlandish drama, and no return of a long lost twin sister who recently recovered from a 20 year case of amnesia. {LOL}

 There is however an abundance of endless housework, appointment's and errands, checkbooks to balance, bills arriving in the mail, work { to pay the aforementioned bills } mundane drama, and the broken nail that always shows up to ruin your manicure! Now before you make up your mind that I have stomped and crushed my rose colored glasses, that photo of a bowl of cherries is there for a reason!

I also discovered that real grown up life is more or less what you make of it. When I start to get overwhelmed and stressed, I force myself to take a step back and regroup. Life is a long string of moments, tasks, and trials,joys, losses, and gains. I don't always have control over what comes my way, but I do get to decide how I handle what comes my way. Sometimes my energy is best spent on the little things that make my life feel perfect even if for just a moment. Rose colored glasses intact!

Some days what I really want is more life, more living in the moment with less effort, just letting the simple things shine. When I let go of all the pressures, deadlines, paperwork, to do lists, and feelings of impending doom if I don't get it all done, and just breath some honest to goodness real air.....my world rights itself again. I then have more energy to tackle all those pesky chores, and with a smile on my face! I still wish I had a closet filled with designer clothes, other than that I'm actually pretty glad that my life in no way shape or form reads like a soap opera..its much more like a comedy... or an instruction manual ....  with a missing page *wink* either way you just have to laugh!

Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge Giveaway!

To thank you for being one of the joys in my life, I'm giving away one of my very favorite cartridges to one of you! This is in my top 5 go to cartridges, seriously LOVE it!!! Leave me a comment telling me what you do to get back on the happy track when life starts going a bit of course and you will be entered to win! Easy right!!!!??? Winner announced Wednesday June 6~ Good luck!

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Fathers Day K cup Container

Can you believe fathers day is just around the corner? I always feel like my husband gets a little shortchanged on Father's day since he has never been able to take that day off from work. Although we do our best to shower him with gifts and affection, its such a busy time for us that the "total Father's day experience" escapes him poor guy. He was the inspiration for this Cricut K cup container, if there is one thing he loves, it is his morning cup of coffee!

I created this container that can be used singly or by butting two boxes up together to create a "four pack" by altering one of the boxes on the tags bags and boxes and more 2 cartridge. To download the free Gypsy or Cricut Craft Room files click here. There are also additional directions and hints for creating this versatile K cup container. It is fast and easy!

As you know K cups come in a plethora of varieties these days, teas, ciders, cocoas, etc so this container can be used for Teacher gifts, Christmas, party favors or just a little thinking of you gift. Change the colors and the embellishments and create a new look each time! I hope you love this container as much as I do!   happy creating! ~ Shantaie

Sunny Days & Lemonade

Warm sunny days should be celebrated with good friends, a pink lemonade get together is a sweet way to celebrate indeed! I love sitting outdoors with the breeze blowing, the scent of fresh cut grass heavy in the air and birds chirping their pretty songs...that is my vision for this simple relaxed party!

The team at SRM stickers has been challenged to create summer themed projects and party ideas to help you all get the most out of your summer months! We are sharing all of our party plans and  inspiration to jump start your party mojo! 

I am quite fond of straw flags and use them almost anytime I want a get together to feel a little more festive, I cut these on my Cricut using the party picks and pennants, and slid SRM summer stickers on them, super duper fast and so easy the kids can help make them!

Whether  your event is relaxed or formal the invitation always sets the tone, for this pitcher of lemonade I used a blank invite from SRM stickers to pop right in the middle of the pitcher, its ready to be filled out with all of my key party information.

Favors are one of my little obsessions, I truly love to give favors! I love the way they tie the party together and give my guests a little something to make them feel that they are treasured. If you are not familiar with SRM TUBES let me introduce you to one of the most clever and versatile containers ever!

TUBES are clear to show off whatever you put inside, they come in 4 sizes and can be filled with almost anything you can imagine {well as long as it will fit} a stuffed unicorn not so much! lol I love that they stand on their own and since they are a "blank canvas" can be embellished to my hearts desire! Here I have filled them with pink lemonade gumballs for the kiddos!

 A note about throwing a party, To help from becoming stressed or overwhelmed, a few things to keep in mind are to stay within your budget..you don't have to take out a loan to impress your guests, they want to visit with you, not a rented ice sculpture! Keep your overall theme within your abilities if you have very little time, skip trying to overdo it, simple is perfectly fine, and most of all if you cant quite manage to do everything on your list...its OK you are the only one who knew what what on the list, they will never know {or care} that you were going to bake cookies but ran out of time! Most of all relax and enjoy your own party!

Glittered Tower

The idea of a pink Eiffel Tower is certainly not new, and to tell the truth I was inspired by the white glittery structure inside the "its a small world" ride at Disney {one of favorite stops at the magic Kingdom}  but this is one of my all time most loved cards...especially because it was made just for the fun of making it. A rare and special treat for me!

I will probably never send this card in the mail, it will most likely end up on a shelf in my craft room and stay there on display .....as a reminder to enjoy my life! I love this stamp, its so simple and sweet! There's a lot going on on this card embossing, Cricut cuts, crochet lace by Melissa Frances in a soft pink, a velvet flower, and a beaded stickpin for even more sparkle...all of it totally scrumptious!!!! 

I am headed to the orthodontist {again} I feel like I live in a dentists office these days! Between appointments, Chelsea's finals, Design team assignments, and prepping for my summer pilgrimage to NY I'm not sure when I will get another chance to create just for fun, but you can bet when I do I will be excited to share it with you! :D Whatever you have going on today, remember to enjoy! Happy creating~ Shantaie

Operation Write Home Blog Hop! Love Is In The Air

SRM Stickers and OWH have teamed up along with several other generous companies for a Memorial weekend blog hop! OWH is an organization that ships handmade cards to deployed heroes to use for writing to their friends and family at home. For more information about this and other ways to help visit the OWH website.  The theme of this years hop is to choose one of the many OWH sketches and create a card following the guidelines with that sketch.

It was a bit of a challenge for me to choose a sketch, because there are so many really great layouts! I settled on this one because it allowed me to add a nice size Kite and clouds cut with the Cricut. The card is very thin with no dimensional layers or bulky embellishments { a personal challenge for me} but I am very pleased with the way it turned out!

Keep in mind that all types of cards are needed for the men and women in our services to send back home, Birthday, Anniversary, thinking of you...well you get the idea! I hope you take a tour of the hop and support the companies and artists that are participating, and if you decide to join the effort let me be the first to thank you!

Leave a comment at the SRM Stickers blog to enter to win this prize pack!!!

Whale of A Party

I created a whale themed birthday set for the official Cricut blog using the newly released Wild card 2 cartridge For all of the cut files both gypsy and Cricut Craft Room please visit this post at the Cricut blog to download them. This set includes an invitation {that could also be adapted as a birthday card or package tag} an envelope pouch party favor, and a cupcake pick and liner.

 All patterned papers are from the Echo Park splash collection, blues and greens were used for this sweet and slightly preppy boys party, but substitute them for pink and green for a girls sea themed celebration!

You know there is something so magical about raised lettering, and this embossed invite info just makes my heart flip flop!!All you need is a cuttlebug and the A2 invitation folder to get this great look!

An envelope turned into a party favor pouch is quick and cute....double terrific!

Ahhh who doesn't love a cupcake??? Maybe a cup of fruit or bite sized cereal are more to your liking...either way a sweet wave shaped liner and a cute pick can dress it up for "shore" ;) * note* I never add glitter to items to be used around food just in case any little sparkles decide to "jump ship"  {OK I will stop with the puns..you know I can't help myself!!! }

 

Get your party on, and happy creating!

Numbered Note Cards

I love numbered items...I mean I really am absolutely gaga about things with big digits on them! Recently one of my favorite shopping stops introduced a home decor line in blacks and creams adorned with numbers and letters...that inspired me to make a set of numbered note cards!

I used SRM stickers we've got your number to add a large black number 3 to the embossed inset of this card. I added a double row of stitching in black thread and a beaded element over the edge. This gorgeous crochet and fabric covered button is the perfect little something to offset the twine bow behind it. Another SRM sticker a fancy sentiment on a tag serves as a greeting.

Be sure to visit the SRM blog to see all of the amazing ways the team has been using numbers in all manner of interesting and unexpected ways...numbers are certainly not just for calendars or tag sale signs!!

 

Happy creating!