Now that I've got my craft groove back, I knew I just had to try creating my own scalable vector graphics using Google Drawings which I could then upload to Cricut Design Studio. For this particular project, I wanted to make a gift card holder in the shape of a coffee cup for my goddaughter's birthday. One of her wish list items was a gift card to Starbucks so I thought I'd create a removable lid to which I could attach the gift card.

To create the coffee cup design, I used two basic shapes: a round same side corner rectangle (in two different sizes) and a trapezoid (in two different sizes). Once I had the right proportions, all I had to do was download as a scalable vector graphic (.svg) file. Then I uploaded it to the Design Studio. The black outline of each shape was interpreted as a shadow layer so I just deleted them from the project. To make the pocket coffee cup, I duplicated the image, resized and rotated the shapes to create the backing and flaps, and then welded them altogether. 

I also decided to try designing a parody of the logo that included her name. I've seen so many of these fun designs on Pinterest that I wanted to challenge myself to create my own on Google Drawings. Unfortunately, word art features in G Suite, unlike in Microsoft Office, are very limited and there was no way to curve a word. This meant I had to create separate art for each letter and rotate them to varying degrees. Here is one I created with my profile pic in the centre, which I cropped using a circle. You can see how many different parts there are to it, each outlined in blue.

If I ever venture into cutting using vinyl, I could download the file as an SVG. For the small logo that I needed for the card, it makes more sense to download it as a PNG or JPG and upload it to the Design Studio as a print and cut image. (I have yet to calibrate my Cricut Explore Air 2 for cutting printed images so I took a shortcut and cut it by hand.) This way you only have to adhere a single circle and it still looks great. I'm so happy my goddaughter loved her card!

Yesterday, my son celebrated his 7th birthday. Despite his small frame, this kid packs a whole lot of personality and charm, enough to knock you off your feet. He has overcome broken bones and stitches, but still manages to pull off a melt-your-heart smile. He will fight the fiercest of enemies.

 He will even defy gravity.

But at the end of the day, he's still my little baby. Happy birthday to my incredible super hero!

On occasion, I'm pressed for time and won't be able to make a card using my Cricut. Luckily, I have a stash of floral embellishments and designer paper which are perfect for creating simple handmade greeting cards. For this birthday card, I recycled some ribbon and used some of my favourite brads to attach the flowers to designer paper, which I matted onto white card stock. The sentiment is a stamp I found at Michaels and adhered using a strip of adhesive foam. Et, voilà!

Rummaging through some old photos, I came across an old personalized birthday card I made a few years ago. It was similar to the safari themed birthday card (based on Handmade by Odette's original) I had made earlier in 2012. I had fun putting it together and using foam dots to add dimension. I also lightly inked the edges and slightly curved the palm tree leaves for added depth. The monkey is one of my favourite cuts on the Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge. I even used it in my son's fifth birthday card and turned it into a magnet!

Pssst! If you're a crafter like me and need quality lighting, or even if you just want to beat the winter blues, I have a Verilux HapplyLight Natural Spectrum Energy Lamp up for grabs. Open to US and Canada!

While we might not always throw a big birthday party for our kids every year, we still celebrate their special day with family and always have cake or cupcakes on hand. On occasion, we have hosted parties and have invited their friends from daycare and school. Those are the times when I go all out with birthday party decorations and custom designed invitations. Milestone years such as turning ten will be another reason to throw a big party because double-digits are a big deal. Am I right?

This year, I decided not to have a big party for my daughter. She turned nine last month and, the procrastinator that I am, I always leave party plans to the last minute. Thus, trying to organize a party in mid-summer when many of her friends are at camp or up at the cottage makes it a little frustrating. Though, I swear I will get my act together one year and have invitations ready to hand out by the end of the school year. We did manage a get-together with an old friend of mine and her two daughters, and we had a fun time bowling. Later that day, we were surprised with a special delivery from Walmart - a maple-themed gift card for the birthday girl! She couldn't believe it when I told her she could use it to buy anything she wanted. And by 'anything,' I was referring to most items on her wish list with the exception of stuffed animals, of course.

Her first ever shopping spree would have to wait a few days, however, since I was busy the following day  planning a last-minute getaway to Blue Mountain that included a day at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures. The good news is there's a Walmart Supercentre in Collingwood a mere ten minutes from the resort. With my son nodding off to sleep early on our second night and my husband ready to hit the hay, my daughter and I headed out to Walmart to do what girls do best - shop! Plus, the store was open till 10pm so we had lots of time to browse. We loaded up our cart with skipping ropes, a hula hoop, and crafts galore. She also picked out some things for her brother such as stickers, Pokémon cards and an activity book featuring his favourite Disney Junior character Jake. I thought it was really sweet that she thought of him but I wasn't expecting her to cover the cost of the Gilette razors and shaving cream I needed to pick up for my husband. I said it wasn't necessary at all but she insisted. That's my girl!

Last month, my goddaughter turned ten years old. Yes, she's a whole decade old. And do you want to know why that's a pretty big deal in my books? It's not just because she was born exactly a week before I got married. It's because, of all the birthdays I remember as a kid, turning ten stood out the most to me. It just so happened to be my champagne birthday and consequently, since that day, the number 10 has become my 'lucky' number. But it isn't just that. Turning ten felt like a turning point in my life. The point when I would no longer feel like a little girl. Double-digits meant I was this much closer to being a teenager.

When my goddaughter celebrated her tenth birthday, it got me thinking. My daughter will be ten next year but you would think she was ten already. Clichéd thoughts popped into my head: She's so grown up! How time flies! Anyway, I decided to make the pink card above for my goddaughter. I think, subconsciously, I chose cute pink and polka dots as a way to grasp the little girl I've always seen her as. Change is often hard to accept but that difficulty is easily forgotten when I think of how proud I am to see her grow into the young lady she is becoming. Just like my own daughter, who is getting so big, she's almost as tall as my mother. And even though the colour pink is such a stereotypical colour for girls, I don't care. I actually embrace it. Because for me, even though I was in such a hurry to grow up as a child, I'm in no hurry to see my baby girl transform into a young lady.

For details on the materials I used to make this card, head on over to my craft blog dianasdesigns.ca:

Cricut Paper Pups Birthday Card - Pink

My friend Odette never ceases to amaze me with her incredible talent. This Minnie Mouse balloon creation is simply spectacular! Check out the Balloons by Odette Facebook fan page to view more photos of her designs, including a motorcycle, palm tree and yes, a life-size Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player!

Today is the day that I turn 35 years old. If you round up, that's almost the same as saying I'm 40. It's a sobering thought knowing that I'm not, nor will I ever be, as young as I once was.  But that's okay. I can live with the pair of strands of grey hair that I see in the mirror every morning. And I'm okay with the fact that I don't have the most up-to-date or trendiest wardrobe. I will even admit I kind of miss my neon green New Kids on the Block t-shirt.

What I have difficulty with is the fading memories. I want to be able to remember all the little things right alongside the milestones of years past. I want to remember the good, the bad and even the ugly. Including my atrocious perm below, bangs and all.

At the end of the day, I may not be the prettiest, most fashionable or physically fit 35-year-old on the planet, but I can surely take pride in my accomplishments over the years, the friends I have made, and the life I have established for my children. I am an imperfect mother and wife, a horrible cook, an aspiring teacher. I make no apologies for who I am today or for any of my faults. The person that I am took 35 years to make and I wouldn't change a thing.

As a gift to myself to acknowledge all of my hard work, sacrifices and successes, I treated myself to my very first DSLR camera, a Canon Rebel T3i, so that I can preserve today's memories and maybe even get mom in the picture more. You're only 35 once.

Last month, my niece turned one and, to match the Create a Critter Owl Invitations I made for her party, I created this large personalized owl shape card. It sits at 8" tall! And I'm pretty impressed with how my bow turned out. I actually pulled out a needle and some thread to make it. The things I will do for my niece...

Just another one of my friend Odette's amazing balloon creations.

This woman is after my own heart. 

 (You can visit Balloons by Odette on Facebook for more stunning balloons!)

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