Expressions Vinyl Birthday Giveaway!

Expressions Vinyl is celebrating their birthday this week and I was very excited when they contacted me to play with some of their newest products as part of the celebration. I was even MORE excited when they said that one of my readers would get a chance to receive a similar box of goodies of their own.

I couldn’t wait to see what was inside the box when it arrived and they didn’t disappoint with a ginormous selection of their newest vinyls which included some incredible glitters, metallics, reflectives, frosted and even glow in the dark! Some sheets were 12x12 but most were 12x24.

They are also now carrying acrylic tumblers and sent a couple of those to play with along with a tote bag. Here’s some of the fun I had!

Mr. Chocolate loves cars, transportation, maps etc. I got the idea to make him a Route 66 tumbler he could use for iced drinks this Summer. I used the Expressions Vinyl in Mist Rainbow and Black and downloaded the sign from the Silhouette online store.

Not to be left out, College Boy, who is a huge Superhero and Comic geek ( his preferred term!) got a Batman tumbler , images also downloaded from the SIlhouette online store:

I just had decide what to make for me!

Also included in the box of goodies was a re-usable fabric tote bag. We’ve been hanging out at lots of used bookstores lately and in trying to be greener, I try to bring my own bags when I remember.

I got the idea to make a book themed book bag. Since my Cricut Expression has been feeling neglected, I used it to cut the images and used the Wall Décor and More cartridge:

I’m lazy…didn’t even iron the tote.

For this I used more of the Mist Rainbow vinyl along with two colors of Glitter Ultra Cast: Blue and Mint.

I also cut a key and the word “Knowledge”  ( I’m so corny…get it Books…learning…knowledge is key”.  Go ahead and groan. I did).

And, not content to leave simple enough alone, I freehand cut some layered flowers from drop cloth scraps and embellished them w/ buttons.

This vinyl is so easy to work with and cuts equally nicely on either the Silhouette Cameo or Cricut Expression. Expressions Vinyl is great because they have a settings guide on their website for digital cutters. Even if you don’t have a machine, you can easily draw an image or trace a template on the back and cut by hand.

OK now for the bestest part! 

Expressions is giving one of my readers a chance to win the same box of goodies they sent me ! 2 Tumblers, a tote and a selection of awesome vinyl.  They will have a lot of fun things going on this week so you want to be sure and check out their site and FB page!

The giveaway will run from today, June 18 through June 24 with the winner announced June 25. To enter: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good Luck!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads in your lives!

Mod Podge Goodies Giveaway Winner!

The winner of this ab fab bag of goodies is:

Congrats Diana! I’ve emailed you. Thanks to everyone who entered and thanks again to Plaid and  Lark Crafts for sponsoring.  

Be sure to check back on Monday for a new and fun giveaway! 

BFF Open House Link Party #58

OK folks, who’s going to do something about the whole time flying by thing? Because it, along with my job, are kicking my deriere right now. Sooo I think I need to accept some realities and at least for the Summer, I'm going to take a break from the Blog Feature part of the BFF Open House. We will still have the link party each week so I hope you will continue to come just for that!

I do have some fun things in store over the next few weeks including my Mod Podge Goodies giveaway that ends tomorrow. Enter here if you haven’t already.

So let’s see what everyone’s been up to this week OK?

Tim Holtz Gears Father's Day Cards

I always find “Man Crafting” a challenge. Thankfully there’s Tim Holtz. I love his grungy rugged Alterations dies and folders. When I saw the gear die, I knew it would be perfect for Father’s Day cards.

I bought this huge bucket o JudiKins Mica Gloss a couple of years ago at a stamp show and thought I could use it to achieve Tim’s signature distressed look.

Cut the dies from kraft cardstock and then went over them with Tim’s Distress Ink for Ranger in Black Soot. Sponged over that with Mica Gloss silver and pearl:

The cards are 5x7 and I used papers from  DCWV’s Tradewinds stack and C’oredinations .

I love the Tradewinds stack and it’s got lots of “guy goodness” with keys, maps etc.

I left some of the gears plain and then ran a panel of the C’oredinations paper through a Sizzix Embossing folder and then roughed it up some more with a pedicure block. Yup. A Pedicure Block. Love the cosmetics section at Dollar Tree! Used sponges from there to apply my inks.

Finished with some metal adhesive thingies I’d picked up on a Michaels run.

Yes. metal adhesive thingy is a technical artistic term !

Don't forget, I have a giveaway of Mod Podge goodies going on through Friday. Enter to win here

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BFF Open House Link Party #57: Wrap Up and Features Dads, Grads, Fourth and Fun

Thanks for another fun party. Summer is definitely here and we are in full Dad, Grad, and Fourth of July Season. Here are just a few ideas that caught my eye:

Malia, from Yesterday on Tuesday shared this great Father’s Day Tie Wreath. She has a wonderful tutorial



If you have a grad in your life, Linda from Our Mush Push has a great card layout ( and awwww thanks Linda, glad you found inspiration in my grad cards).

In our house, it would more likely be me eating this but I love this “Manly Munch Mix” from Shaken Together:

If you want to whip up a batch, Keri’s got the labels in addition to the recipe.

I love making and using printables to change up my seasonal décor. Michele at The Scrap Shoppe has a fantastic Fourth of July printable she’s sharing:

Sorry…you have to get your own frame lol.

Finally, Kristina from Remade Simple shared a super cute shirt she did with a bleach pen and stencils.

Thanks as always for choosing to share your creativity here at The Answer Is Chocolate. Make it a creative week!

Father's Day "DAD" Printable

I’ve mentioned how totally hooked on PicMonkey I am. I made a Father’s Day printable and had fun playing with it in PicMonkey.

Sharing here in its original form but also with two PicMonkey effects that I think are perfect for Father’s Day.
The first was made using a Papyrus filter in PicMonkey. Select. Apply.  Done.

This one is the basic printable.

And this one is using a paint filter. Again so easy. Choose, Apply, Done.

Click on the one you like to bring to full size and then right click to Save As. If you use, would love to see!

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