CIU is Counting down!

Hi all!

Today marks the start of the next challenge on the Cut It Up Challenge Blog!  The challenge is to make some sort of Advent or countdown project - I must say the design team really out did themselves!  Once you reach the end of this post I encourage you to go to the Challenge Blog and check out what the rest of the ladies made!

I decided to make a countdown calendar Pez could mark off as each day passsed:

 

Kadoodle Bug Designs is one of our sponsors for this challenge ($10 Gift Certificate) and she has a fantastic photo tag set cut file (along with LOTS of other wonderful cut files!)  I cut it out extra large - it's about 8 inches high or so!  Then I made the countdown box in Word.  All of my edges are inked with my go-to inks - Tsukineko Brilliance dew drops.

I wanted to give his hat a little pizzazz so I added some embellies - the other sponsor for this challenge is ME!  Yep - a $25 dollar gift certificate to shop on my website Pezadoodle Designs.  It is STILL up and running and has the last of my inventory ALL at 40% OFF - including the extremely versatile Pezabling sparkling squares like I used here on his hat.  You really can't beat that!  I also gave him a little clay poinsettia embellishment - these are super easy to make and you can watch Pezza show you how in this video:

Now head on over to the CIU challenge blog and see what the rest of the team has created and then enter a creation of your own!!!  I would also love it if you head on over to my website and do some shopping!  Pezadoodle Designs has great original rubber stamps as well as a variety of other things!

another video for you...

hi all!

ok i have NEVER been one to exercise for the sake of exercising.  it's not that i don't like being active - i just want to be active with a purpose.  like when i lived in SW missouri and i did alot of hiking, rock climbing and caving - loved that! but exercise for exercises sake - so not my thing.  i am suspicious of people who love to exercise as a hobby like my hubby and my friend across the street.  BUT i decided a couple weeks ago that i need to do SOMEthing so i have been getting on the treadmill every day for 45 minutes.  LONGEST most miserable 45 minutes of my LIFE!  according to the treadmill i burn 260 calories each time.  i don't even know if that's worthwhile or not but hey, at least i am doing something right?  i always kind of wondered about people who would have towels nearby when they worked out in tv shows and stuff.  like oh really?  you need a towel?  well let me tell you - that 45 minutes on the treadmill makes me sweat in places i didn't know sweated!!!!  holy cow!  so today i had to do it - get a towel to wipe my face and neck UGH!  but i hope i can keep myself going.  i know it is a good habit to get into...right?

onto more FUN things - i have another video for ya today!  this is a basics video - i always see posts on forums from people saying they are unsure how to use patterned paper - especially more than one on a single project.  so i made a quick video with some tips for you and here is the final card:

what do you think?  i am posting a pic of the card because NOTHING irks me MORE than someone posting a video but no picture of the final project so i can decide if i want to watch it or not.

my focal piece is a die cut flower from viva decor modeling grass, a fabric yoyo and a pardo clay flower cut out.

here is the video for ya - be sure to let me know how you like it!