Guess who is turning One today?!

Twelve short months ago
we made our big debut,
So now we'd like to commemorate
our 1st birthday with you!

This flash mob of torchbearers

always light our way.

Won't you please jog along

on our special day?

Leave your comments here and there

over the next 48

On Friday we'll announce the loot

Don't wait...let's CELEBRATE!

Hey, everyone....if you haven't figured it out by now, AmberINK is turning the big O-N-E today! Yay! Happy Birthday, AmberINK! To celebrate, some of the former torchbearers are running again for a Blog Hop Party! There are over 30 fabulous ladies on this hop, and they've all created some great AmberINK eye-candy for you! Make sure to stop by each and every one, and leave some lovin' to be entered into a drawing for some fan-tabulous prizes! The winners will be announced on Amber Inklings blog on Friday, this week!

If you arrived here from the crazy-wonderful Stacie Gorse aka Hestia's Helper blog, you are on track! If not, you may want to back up the train to the station and start with the lovely Taylor Usry! Below my photos are the links to all the other lovely ladies on the way, so you can always come back here for it if you should jump the tracks!

Here is my card for this party: I thought it appropriate to create a party train invite! I wanted to do something a little different, so instead of printing off the digital images and coloring them in, I imported them into my SCAL cutting program and created cut files for my Cricut. After doing my paper-piecing, I drew in some outline details on the train. I created the invitation words in PSE, as well as the cover sentiment. The balloons are punched from a hand punch with some embroidery thread added for strings. I've applied them to the card with pop-dots to add dimension: I ran the balloons through the Cuttlebug for texture. 

(Click Images to Enlarge)

This is the front of the card. I used a gatefold card base.

This is the inside of my card.

Your next stop on this party train is Allison Fillo, of Stampin' When I Can! Enjoy the rest of your ride, and good luck!

Stops Along the AmberINK Party Train Blog Hop

Taylor Usry

Wendy Price

Sunghee

Emily Leiphart

Lindsey MP

Meg Craig

Cheryl Gorka

Michele Greenwood

Suzi McKenzie

Shannon Erskine

Kerri Michaud

Alyssa Scritchfield

Keva Brown

Renee Lynch

Lee Anne Verret

Thanh Vo

Jacki Randolph

Julie Elak

Laurel Seabrook

Ninni

Karin Martin

Tanis Palmer

Melissa Czapor

Rhonda Miller

Stacie Gorse

Cheryl First <-- That's ME! :0)

Allison Fillo

Cammi Boddie

Joey McKelvey

Scoopy Sue

Anne Cullen

Penni Vickers

Sue Kment

Passing the Torch!

{sniff, sniff} It is with bittersweet melancholy that I announce that the time has come to pass my torch!

The past month working with the INKredible Amber Ink (TH)ink Tank has been so much fun and now that my time is through, it's time to introduce you to the newest Amber Inkling!

Her name is Sue Kment.
Her blog is Sue's Stamping Stuff

Prepare to be AMAZED, AWESTRUCK and BEDAZZLED!!

When you see what she can do with Copics, you'll understand why I chose her to receive my precious purple torch! She is so creative and I'm really looking forward to seeing what she can do with Amber Ink Products!


Before I go, I have one more project to share with you. It's a little "Passing the Torch" pep rally of sorts. :0)

(Click Images to Enlarge)

Colored in PSE, and celebrating Team Purple, this card has six layers, and each is adhered to the other with pop dots for some dimension. :0) I used the Love Bunny - Jump digistamp from Amber Ink.

 I used shades of purples (because we're the Purple TEAM, of course!). Colors on this card are all Stampin' Up: Elegant Eggplant, Lavender Lace, Perfect Plum. The sentiment is punched with my scalloped oval and oval hand punches.

Here's a side view that I took a pic of, trying to capture all the layers.

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out the  new Torch Bearers! They'll be running for the next month, and I'm sure you won't want to miss out on all their great projects! 

Below are the links to the current Torch Bearers and to the names and links to the new runners and their blogs:

BLUE TEAM 

From Alyssa Scritchfield @ http://critterlyss.blogspot.com/
to Laurie Willison @ http://soapboxcreations.blogspot.com/

ORANGE TEAM

  From Lindsey Martin-Penny @ http://bashfulblogging.blogspot.com/
to Meg Craig @ http://corgi-creations.blogspot.com

PINK TEAM

  From JANE MILLARD @ http://milliesmarvels.blogspot.com/ to JOEY McKelvey
@ http://joeysworldofstuff.blogspot.com/

BROWN TEAM 

Laurel Seabrook @ http://want2scrap.blogspot.com to Brenda ROSE @
www.roseblossomlegacies.blogspot.com

PURPLE TEAM (That's ME! (0: )

Cheryl Ann First @ http://cafexpressions.blogspot.com/
to Sue Kment @ http://www.suesstampingstuff.blogspot.com

Amber Ink Kissing Fish & A Freebie!

Hi, everyone!
My time as the December 2010 Torchbearer for Amber Ink's Inkredible (th)Ink Tank is winding down. *sniff*sniff*
This is a card I came up with for Valentine's Day. I've used Amber Ink iPaper, and the Fish Wishes Digistamp Set. I wanted my fishies to be bright and shiny, like they look underwater when the light hits them, so I colored them in with PSE, and then I printed them on photo paper and cut them out. I like the way they turned out, and it beats waiting for my paper glaze to dry! lol!
The digipaper was matted on your free svg download today, Beach Mat. I embossed the mat with my Cuttlebug using the Tiny Mosiac folder, then I added some Stickles to the different shapes (I won't do this again - I think it detracts too much from my cool fishies! hehehe). The seaweed is Stickled, as well. This was punched with the Martha Stewart Drippy Goo punch (I think that's what it's called......can't remember!).

This card uses my Beach Mat SVG

This file is no longer available as a freebie!

If you wish to purchase the file, cost is $1.50. I accept Paypal payments only for my files. Payment can be sent to my yahoo email address. Please make sure to include the email address you want me to send the file to in your payment, as well as a note indicating which of my files you are purchasing.

Thank you!

email: cherylfirst1@yahoo.com

A Hoppy Birthday Bunny!

Hi, everyone, and a big "welcome" to my new followers! :0)
I'm trying to build up my card stash. Not that I don't already have enough cards, but it seems I am low (as in ZERO in the box) on birthday, thank you, and just general cards! Yikes!
Well, as some of you know, I am carrying the torch for Team Purple over at Amber Ink this month. My time is running short (I soon will have to pass that torch on...), and I want to work with some of my Amber Ink digis  and iPaper more before I do that! So, without further ado (aka "blahblahblahblah").....here is a card I came up with using the Love Bunny Baby Cakes digi, and the I <3 Carrots iPaper.

The inside of the card reads, "It's about the SPRING in your hop!"

I colored my image in PSE. I printed the sentiment from PSE and used a hand punch around it. A little inking on the edge gave it some dimension and definition. The scalloped borders were punched with one of my EK Success border punches.

Thanks for taking a peeky! I'm off to create more birthday cards, and a few "thank you"s! :)

While you;re here visiting, don't forget to enter to win my BLOG CANDY!

Happy Crafting!

Cocktail Invitation

I know it's a little late for inviting folks over for New Years Eve, but this invitation could be used for a cocktail party any time of the year!
I used the Hostess With the Mostess digi-stamps from Amber Ink for this one. I made my own digi-paper to layer under the image layer and to cut the svg shrimp out. The svg and the digipapers are your freebie today! There are three digi-papers: Salmon, Chilled and a Gradient Salmon color, plus the double layered Shrimp SVG in the file download.
The digi-stamp is colored in my PSE program, printed and then I added some Star Dust Stickles. The champagne flutes actually had the bubbles added in PSE, but they didn't show up in a photo well, and I wanted a little more pizzazz, so I added the Stickles. :)
My son thought I should add something to the top left corner of the card, but I think sometimes "less is more". What do you think?

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE SVG & 

DIGI- PAPER DOWNLOAD

Please leave some love if you enjoy my freebies! I love to hear from you! :) This is how I know you were here, like what you see, and would like to see more!

If you have any problems with this file, please let me know so I can fix it for you, and for others!

And, PLEASE....

Any files I offer are for PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. This means that you may not sell them, alter them, or share them. They are not for use on websites (including blogs), or for marketing in any way.

Should you wish to share my files with others, please post a link to my site and give due credit.

Links for all my SVG files can be found in the left column of my blog. 

The files I offer are typically compressed, and will need to be unzipped prior to use.

Cut files are in SVG format and are compatible with Sure Cuts A Lot, make the Cut and any software cutting program that supports svg files.

You can contact me at cherylfirst1@yahoo.com if you have any questions about any of my files, or if you just want to drop me a note! 

Happy Crafting!  :)

AmberINK's INKredible Challenge #5

Hey, everyone!
I'm having so much fun carrying the torch for AmberINK, and today Amber Ink is giving YOU a chance to win! You can be the proud owner of a brand-spankin' new digistamp set! That's right.....I said "SET"! That means you will win not one digistamp....not even TWO digistamps, but the WHOLE SET! Wooohooo! I'm sure you're wondering what to do, right?! Well.....what are you waiting for?? Hop on over to the challenge blog for some inspiration and ALL the details to enter!
The challenge is to create something for you, or someone you know, to help them organize. Well......let me tell you - since my recent move from MI to WV (in October this year), I am completely unorganized! My craft room is a disaster, my kitchen is not unpacked all the way, we had a flood in the basement that has set up back immensely, the closets aren't filled......I could go on and on! Anywhooo.......this challenge inspired me to do something crafty that I have been thinking about for a long time! :)
I've created this little Recipe Organizer using some of AmberINK's iPaper and digi's, as well as my own svg file for one of the trims (which is a freebie for you today! (o: ).
(If you would like to duplicate this project, please click HERE for the tutorial from SCS that I used for the organizer)

(Clicking the images will enlarge them for detail)

This is the front of my organizer. I used the AmberINK iPaper called Plaid Picnic Gingham for the base beneath the Recipes Title, and the Eat Me Drink Me Tiny Blue for the flap. The picnic basket border on the flap is a double-layered svg file that I created (free below). I also made the Recipes Title in my SCAL. The gingham base is cut with my Nesties on my Cuttlebug. The flap of the organizer is cut with a Stampin Up Eyelet Border Punch.

I didn't have any magnetic closures, and was not wanting to use buttons, so I added two Stampin Up Designer Brads and some red hemp twine to keep the flap closed.

This is the back of the organizer. I used the same iPapers and my Nesties and Eyelet Border Punch again. I ran the nestie base paper through my Cuttlebug using the D'Vine Swirls embossing folder. The AmberINK digi stamp is colored in my PSE program. I used the Plaid Picnic Gingham iPaper to create clipping masks for the skirt and apron pocket. The loaf of bread is my own addition to the image, but Amber has MANY cute food items in the "Hostess with the Mostess" Set of digi's that you could use! 

This is a side view to show you the accordion style iPaper. :)

I even started filling my organizer with a recipe that my mom had in her stash for some yummy banana bread! I used Amber's Recipe Card - Cutie Pie Digi for this. It is printed as a double-sided card, and cut down to fit in my organizer. :) For this, everything was created in my PSE program and then printed on a 4x6 piece of white cardstock. 

This last pic shows you the inside of the organizer. I used a scalloped circle hand punch and a circle hand punch (both from Stampin Up) to create the labels for each section of the organizer. 

Now go do your thing! Make sure you challenge yourself to be more organized and enter for the chance to win some awesome-ness from AmberINK! :)

And don't forget to hop over to see what the other Torchbearers have created for this! They are all INKredible!

Alyssa

Jane

Laurel

Lindsey

Oh.....I almost forgot! hehehe You came for a freebie, too, right?! Well.....look no further! Today, I am offering up TWO freebies! :)

The Picnic Border is two layers, and it measures just under 6" (you can resize, as needed, of course)!

The Recipes Title is also two layers, and it measures approximately 5-1/4".

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE PICNIC BORDER SVG DOWNLOAD

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE RECIPES TITLE DOWNLOAD

Please leave some love if you enjoy my freebies! I love to hear from you! :)

If you have any problems with this file, please let me know so I can fix it for you, and for others!

And, PLEASE....

Any files I offer are for PERSONAL, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. This means that you may not sell them, alter them, or share them. They are not for use on websites (including blogs), or for marketing in any way.

Should you wish to share my files with others, please post a link to my site and give due credit.

Links for all my SVG files can be found in the left column of my blog. 

The files I offer are typically compressed, and will need to be unzipped prior to use.

Cut files are in SVG format and are compatible with Sure Cuts A Lot, make the Cut and any software cutting program that supports svg files.

You can contact me at cherylfirst1@yahoo.com if you have any questions about any of my files, or if you just want to drop me a note! 

Happy Crafting!  :)

My Top 10 Cards of 2010 Blog Hop

Hey, everyone!
Fellow inaugural torchbearer for Amber Ink, Suzy McKenzie, has created a blog hop that I'm throwing my hat into! It is for My Top 10 Cards of 2010. If you'd care to join along, hop over to Suzy's blog, The Manic World of Mrs Weyremaster, to pick up your blog hop badge and to link to the hop!
Amber Ink-lings is sweetening the hop with a little giveaway, too! If you have at least one Amber Ink image used on one of your Top 10 Cards, and you add your linky to their blog, you can win some Amber Ink stuff!
So, go to it.....right after you check out MY Top 10, that is! :)

Frog SVG by SVGCuts.com

Dragon image Copyright Dustin Pike

Swirly Heart SVG from Amy's SVG's and Other Scrap Stuff

Frog Digi from Cely at Creating in Carolina

Stamped Jester from Whiff of Joy Stamps

Broom SVG from SVGCuts.com

Digi-paper by ME! :)

Digistamp by Just Inklined

Lion Digistamp by Digital Delights

Penguin digistamp by Bugaboo Stamps

SVG card base by SVGCuts.com

Digistamp by Meljens Designs

SVG heart border by ME! :)

Digistamps and iPaper by Amber Ink

A little something for a friend....

Hi, everyone!
I have a friend that has been planning her wedding for a while now, and the invitation/announcement finally arrived in my mailbox last week. :) I'm so bummed I can't afford to attend this - she is getting married in Jamaica! I'm excited for her!
Anyhow, I had recently posted about all the images I had printed and not done anything with: this Amber Ink image I had printed too large for a project I was working on, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. Fortunately, a lightbulb went off when I read my friend's beach wedding plans! I printed this pretty beach scene on 5x7 paper, cut out my bunnies and glued everything to a 5x7 card base. This is going to be my friends congratulations card! :)

Running with the torch!

FINALLY! I am home from my week-long jaunt across the midwest states! Yahoo!!
I had some great times visiting friends, carrying on, and "taking care of business", but it is always so nice to plop that heavy suitcase at the back door when I come back home, heave a big sigh.......and then race to my crafty space! hahaha!
As I had posted earlier this week, I am now running on the Purple Team for INKredible Amber Ink (TH)ink Tank! I was finally able to sit down this morning (although, I was more like a spring....constant interruptions).  I downloaded some fun stuff from the store to create a Valentine card (that's right.......I'm already done with Christmas crafts, and moving on! lol!)
Amber has this great little line of digistamps, and one of her characters is the Love Bunny. OMG!! Darling, darling.....Dar --- LING! I had also downloaded the awesome bg iPaper from Amber - it is equally as adorable as that bunny, and works perfectly with the image! This paper is called  I <3 Carrots. Super, duper adorable! Make sure you stop over and check it out at her online store!

My card is something a bit simple (I have to rev up my mojo, you know! Long week off makes the mama tired!). I didn't do any cutting on my Cricut for this one. I know Stacie (Hestia's Helper and fab Purple Team Member) will be disappointed, as she loves to see me combine techniques, but my poor machine is currently buried beneath a heaping pile of "craftiness is progress", as I like to refer to it. :)
I colored in the image with my PSE program. I am a non-sewer....mostly because I am too lazy to set up my machine and learn how to use it. I like the look of sewn cards, so I did a little faux-sewing along the different layer edges by making "X"'s in a tight line with my marker. hehehe - probably not the neatest, most precise "X"'s, but I'm sure they are cleaner than they would have been if I had sewn them! hahaha!
Anywhoooo....I have a full couple days ahead of me! Amber and Pam have challenged us with a task for next week, and I know it is going to take me some time, so I better step to it!
Sorry, I can not, will not share what it is, so you'll have to come back next week to see for yourself! ;)
Happy Crafting!

Guess what?! I have super-exciting news to share!

Hi, everyone!
I know I have been M.I.A. for the past week (traveling, and without my own computer and crafty "stuff"!), but I have some great , GREAT news.....my super-cool friend, Stacie, from Hestia's Helper, has chosen me to carry on her torch on Amber Inkling's December 2010 Amber Ink (th)Ink Tank! I am so honored that she chose me as her predecessor, and will do my best to make her proud! :) For those of you unfamiliar with Amber Ink, be sure to check out the online site for some wonderful digi-stamps, digi-papers and clear stamps!

There may be a task I miss out on sharing a creation for early this week due to my crazy travel schedule, but I will be back in full crafty-force mode later in the week, definitely! :) So, please bear with me, and I'll keep the torch lit!

Please visit the other crafty gals on their journey as new Torchbearers, too! They all have wonderful talent to share with you! Feel free to send them some lovin' when you visit! :)

Alyssa

Jane

Laurel

Lindsey

Have a great Monday,everyone, and I'll see you back here later this week!
Happy Crafting!