Farewell 2009....Hello 2010!!!

Happy New Year my friends!!!  Wow....I cannot believe how quickly 2009 flew by!!  It was really an awesome year....I learned so much, had so much fun, and reached for one of the dreams closest to my heart.  I can't wait to see how this year unfold, not only for myself, but for my family as well.

My blog is going to be super fun this year...packed with cards & projects, life photos, and fun randomness!  I can't wait!!  Just to give you a peek into how January is going to work....I am going to focus on New Year's and Winter until January 7th.  Then that kicks off the week before my 30th birthday....a birthday number that I am not that excited about.  BUT...I am going to look on the bright side and just have fun, and remember that I don't even look CLOSE to the age of 30!  Tee hee!  I am going to focus on birthday themed items for that week...and then after January 14th, my focus will be on Valentine's and Love for a whole month!  I am sure I will slip other type of projects in too....but that is what my focus is for January, and half of Feb.  I hope you will join me!

I have a couple cards to share with you today.  I think they seemed fitting! ;)  This first card is based on this week's sketch at The Sweetest Thing....  Love this one! 

"Brand Spankin' New Year" Supplies:

Cardstock: DCVW & Bazzill Basics

Paper: KI Memories

Paper Frill/Jewels: Doodlebug Designs

Pins: Making Memories & Maya Road

Ribbon: Renaissance By Design (Tropic Satin Dot)

Button: craft supply

Ink: Clearsnap

Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft

Diecut Cartridges: Graphically Speaking, Designer's Calendar, & Stand And Salute by Provo Craft

Corner Rounder: EK Success

Instructions: Fold aqua cardstock in half to make card base.  Round the corners of a block of patterned paper and adhere to the front.  Add black paper frill to the bottom of a strip of paper and adhere to the front.  Cut "brand spankin' new" at 2 1/4" using the Graphically Speaking cartridge and black cardstock.  Cut the arrow layers from aqua cardstock and layer together.  Adhere the cut to the front of the card.  Add a strip of tropic satin dot ribbon right below the sentiment.  Cut the "rocket" at 1 1/2" using Stand And Salute cartridge and black cardstock.  This cartridge doesn't provide layers, so cut again twice at 1" from red & yellow glittered cardstock.  Cut off the section you want and layer to the original cut, and adhere to the front.  Cut "year" at 2" using the Designer's Calendar cartridge and pink cardstock (script feature).  It's original cut says "leapyear", so cut off the portion you don't need, and adhere the other part with dimensional adhesive.  Add a bow to the right side of the card, and accent with a button, jewels, and pins. 

This next card was done for a few challenges!  The current sketch challenge at The Pink Elephant, the Digging Deep challenge at 365 cards (I have had all this product forever, and I have never used ANY of these Cricut cuts), The Blackout challenge at Just Buggin' and the New Beginnings challenge at Daring Cardmakers.  I never in a million years thought I would actually use the Hannah Montana cartridge when I pulled it out of a box from Provo Craft, unless they gave me an assignment for it.  But, upon looking through it recently...it is awesome!  There isn't much actually related to Hannah Montana, and the fonts are fabulous....like this star one!

 "Cheers" supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Doodlebug Designs & Wausau

Paper: Doodlebug Designs

Jewels: Westrim Crafts

Corner Rounder: EK Success

Border Punch: Martha Stewart Crafts

Diecut Machine: Cricut Expression by Provo Craft

Diecut Cartridges: Home Decor, Stretch Your Imagination, & Hannah Montana by Provo Craft

Instructions: Fold black cardstock in half to make card base, and round the bottom corners.  Round the bottom corners of a block of white flocked paper and adhere to the front.  Punch a border to striped paper and adhere to the front.  Cut the star at 2 1/2" using the Home Decor cartridge and yellow cardstock.  Adhere to the front.  Cut the glass at 2 1/2" using the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge and white shimmer cardstock (blackout feature).  Cut the layers from yellow and black glittered cardstock.  Layer together, accent with a jewel, and adhere to the front.  Cut the letters at 1" using the Hannah Montana cartridge and black cardstock (rockstar option).  Adhere to the front.  Accent the card with star jewels.  

So, did you have a great New Years Eve?  We had a blast at home!!  We had garlic chicken alfredo tomato pizza and champagne....we played around with slow shutter speeds on our camera while pouring the champagne....cuddled with the pups....watched football and the Red Bull No Limits thing on ESPN.....watched the movie "9" (totally weird)....and took photos together using the self timer.  I was learning so much about photography last year, that I slacked on photographing our life together.  I have a resolution to do that much more this year...the little moments, and big moments.  So, you will be seeing more photos too! :)  Here are some from our new years!  And I am proving to myself that it is okay to show people photos straight out of the camera.  All of these have no adjustments, other than the frame border and a quick unsharp mask in PS.  I am pretty happy with how they turned out!

I have to laugh a little about the first photo collage of Bailey & Sadie.  That is normally all I get from Bailey...the yorkie.  He HATES the camera.  So, I have to either be really quick when shooting a photo of him, or just deal with what he gives me.  In the family photo...I set a treat on the camera.  He totally gets it....Sadie is clueless.  Tee hee!

And I don't think I ever showed you my Christmas decorations!!  Here is just a small look....because I took these last night!  Just of my tree and one of my table decorations.  Hope you like them!

Well, 2010 is going to be a fabulous year....I can just tell!!  I will be back soon with some more Winter themed projects!!  Enjoy your New Year's!! ♥

Until later,
~Lea