You're Leafing?

Last week I entered a fall card into a couple of challenges.  See that post here.  It was a rather energetic undertaking and came out great.  In fact I was chosen one of the top three on My Craft Spot.  This week  Fantabulous Cricut had a challenge called  "Leaves are Falling".  I wanted to do something entirely different for this one.  I tried to think of a card other than a happy fall or thanksgiving one and here's what I came up with.

Using Accent Essentials, I copied, flipped and welded a leaf and cut if from kraft cardstock.  I cut a template for the top layer.  Then I inked a half sheet of paper,  printed  the sentiment on my computer, and laid it under the template to cut.  Not quite right, so I did a little inking on the kraft paper and embossed the top layer to give it some shine.  The sentiment "Sorry You're Leafing" could be for a retirement or moving card.  I love a good pun! :)

Flower Power

Saturday I got a chance to go to Michaels with a 40% off coupon and bought a Recollections stack called Fashionably Chic.  It has some beautiful flower prints in it and I decided to use one to make a card for two challenges, both calling for ribbon.

 

This is how I used to make my cards before my Cricut, just focusing on the printed paper and mixing it with other papers and ribbon.  I did stamp the sentiment, though, which is not what I usually do.  My Distress Ink in Peeled Paint was the color that matched my ribbon so I decided that was the way to go.  I also had some pearls in the same color so added them for a little bling.  So simple.

I am entering this at My Craft Spot and Celebrate the Occasion.

Better Days Are Coming

Aarrrggghh!  It's been one of those days.  Never try to make a card when you're tired and you have your mind on other things.  I finally got it done but oh the frustration.  Hence the title of this blog and sentiment on the card.  This card is for the Mojo Monday challenge.  Here is the sketch.

I decided to make the round one.  I'm not sure I'm real happy with it but here it is.

The circle card is cut from George and Basic Shapes.  So are the moon and star.  I cut a second layer in the card color so the fold doesn't show.  Then I cut a smaller circle out of some star paper that I've had for quite a while.  The moon is a gold shimmer paper and the star a white glitter.  The rectangles are cut from the top of a paper that was in a picture stack.  I knew I would never use that paper for much of anything and the color was right.  It actually looks like a better match in person.   I printed the sentiment on one and thought for quite a while about the other one.  It didn't look right plain, and I didn't have a print that would work.  What would go with a star and a moon?   I know!  Shooting stars.  Out comes my trusty white pen to make the lines and some tiny rhinestones at the top.  Okay, now it's done. 

Right in Fashion

Ellen De Generes was just saying on her show that monochromatic fashion is in this fall.  It's also the thing for a challenge this week.  CASual Fridays asked for a 3 shades of one color, plus brown.  What goes better with brown than pink? 

The cut on this card is from Straight from the Nest.  I thought the simple branch went well with a sympathy sentiment.  It was generated on my computer and printed in brown ink.  I embossed the second layer with a 5 x 7 folder than came with my Cuttlebug.  The third shade, on the flowers, has a shimmer to it.

I had this idea in my head the minute I saw the challenge but my life has been so busy I had to wait until this morning to whip it up so I could submit it on time.  There was another monochromatic challenge but I missed that deadline. :(  I hope I'll have time to get a few more cards done for other challenges that will be coming up this week.

Birds and Balloons

I'm sitting at my dining room table watching the birds on my feeders.  I get such enjoyment out of their antics and it starts my day out with a smile. 

I quickly whipped up this card for the Celebrate the Occasion challenge - birthday with balloons.

The balloons are all cut from George in different sizes and planned out on my Design Studio.  I printed the sentiment on the computer using TXT Longhand.  At first I planned to draw the strings and incorporated them into the word.  On second thought, I was afraid that it wouldn't come out like I wanted it to, so I tied black crochet cotton on the balloons and attached them, along with a bow, to the end of the word.  I did some inking around the balloons to give them a little dimension and popped them up, each on a different layer.  One was even cuttlebugged.  I love the bright colors but you could do this in any color and have a quick and easy birthday card.

On the Bright Side

This week's challenge on Mojo Monday was an interesting design.  I think I'm beginning to like doing these sketch challenges because they are just that - a challenge.

I'm not really a bow person, especially not the big ones that I see on some cards.  I often wonder how you mail a card that thick.  And I do send my cards in the mail.  But this sketch is for inspiration and I was inpired to make this -

I have this small stack of black and white prints and decided to use them to make the rectangles.  Then, instead of a bow, I made these glasses from the Nifty Fifties cartridge.  I cut an extra layer from red vellum to make the glass portion and I think they came out perfect.  Well, they could have been a little bigger but I liked them so much I didn't want to do them over.  Then I had to come up with a sentiment and chose "Look on the bright side."  It fits, don't you think.  (The red in the background is just for the photo.  The card didn't show up well on white paper.)

Now I have to get busy and get more cards made.  A girl's fun never ends. ;)

Autumn Colors

Happy fall, everyone!  Yesterday was the most beautiful day here in mid-Michigan.  I would love it to be that way year round temperature-wise.  But I know that we need the colder weather for the leaves to change color and it's such a beautiful sight that I wouldn't want to miss it.   Speaking of colorful leaves, I made this card for a challenge at My Craft Spot (fall leaves) but it also fits with the challenge at Cooking with Cricut (#52 The Colors of Autumn.)

The background paper is from the DCWV Amber Autumn stack.  I cut 10 leaves from Straight from the Nest out of white cardstock.  Then I used Distress Inks in Dried Marigold,  Fired Brick, Shabby Shutters and Vintage Photo to color them.  I didn't like the matte finish so I used my VersaMark and embossed them with clear powder.  I cut a circle from George with the center cut out to use as a base for the leaves.  Three colors of twine and a scrap of ribbon make the bow on top.

Belated Birthday

I try very hard not to forget anyones birthday but sometimes time just gets away from me.  When I was buying cards, I'd get them well ahead of time and then forget about them.  Then someone would mention the day's date and I'd say "Oh, no, I forgot to send ______'s card."  Now that I'm making all my cards, I still need a few belated ones just in case.  This is my latest.  It's for the Birthday Sundaes challenge.

The background paper is from PTI's hodge podge 8 x 8 stack.  The atomizer is cut from the Paisley cartridge.  Layer 1 is from a gold colored cardstock, the second from plain white, embossed with the Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder, and the third (the sprayer) is from a scrap of silver paper.  I also embossed the bulb. 

Here is what the sentiment says.  Cute, huh?  I just love puns.  I printed it on the computer in blue ink and cut the "spray" out by hand.  Add a little inking and it's done.  It took me longer to come up with the idea than to make the card.  Isn't that the way sometimes?

Page Challenge

I saw a new challenge site today and thought "Hey, I have that cartridge.  Let me see what I can do with it."  This blog, MAG Challenge by the Page, does just that.  They pick a page from a cartridge manual and challenge you to make a card from it.  This week's challenge was page 49 in the Wild Card manual. You can ONLY use cuts from that page, plus graphics and/or embellishments.  I decided a Halloween card was in order.

This is the shape of the card cut.  I used an orange cardstock for the base, a candy corn print from a Cloud 9 seasonal pack for the layer cut and a black scrap for the frame.  The little treat bag is a graphic from pcCrafter, popped up on a dimensional.  Final touch was stitching around the edge.  This was one of the first carts I ever got and haven't used it in a while.  I guess I'd better take a new look at it.

Cheery Note

I often send cards to the homebound members of our congregation and when I saw this sketch from Sweet Sunday, I knew I could do a cheery card with it.

Sometimes I have a difficult time figuring out what I want to do with a sketch but an idea popped into my head the minute I saw this one.

It was really the paper that spoke to me.  I got it from an online site (I don't remember where) and the paper is rather thin and doesn't cut well on the Cricut.  I want to use it up so have been using it for backgrounds.  The flower cut in the middle is from Straight From the Nest on plain white cardstock.  Next time I do something like this, I'll make sure that the petals are even numbered so it comes out better.  It's okay for a real flower, since they are uneven, but for placing a "note" on top, it isn't the best.  The circle in the center is cut from George and cuttlebugged with Seeing Spots.  The sentiment was printed on the computer using a pink color to coordinate with the bottom layer of the note and the stripe in the background.  I really do think it is cheery.

 

Big and Bold, Clean and Simple

Okay, so you may think big and bold, and clean and simple, are somewhat contradictory but I want to show you a card that is both of these things.  Sometimes when buying a collection pack, you get some very large prints that you wonder "How will I ever use this?"  Here's one way.

Make that bold print the focus of your card.  This paper is from Cloud 9, their specialty pack.  I chose two colors from the print to layer my sentiment on.  The sentiment is printed on my computer with the color of the inside layer.  Guess what paper I used to print that sentiment on?  There were several sheets in the pack that had printing on the outside edges only.  Since they were coordinating colors, I took the center out and used it to print on.  That way I didn't have to use white or cream, when either of those colors would be too glaring.  I added a little bling in the corners with pearls in the same burgandy color.  How lucky was that!  No Cricut this time, but how simple, easy and colorful.  Love it when a color selection and card come together.

I've Got the Music in Me

I recently got the Nifty Fifty cartridge and was anxious to use it,  so got excited when Fantabulous Cricut  issued a "Make Some Music" challenge.  It took me a while to decide which cut to use since I don't just make cards to make cards.  If I can't use them then what's the use.  My, those were a couple of convoluted sentences.  Anyway after some thought I decided to make an anniversary card.

I used Print Shop to curve and print out the sentiment on white card stock.  I wanted the curve and wasn't sure how I could get it with a Cricut cut so this was the way I went.  But then I didn't like the plain background.  Since many of the cuts on the cartridge have an abstract form behind them, I decided that would solve the problem.  This one I cut freehand from a fifties aqua color.  I cut all the layers of the jukebox and had fun putting all those little pieces together.  I mounted the jukebox up on dimensionals and then just glued the "notes" on.  It reminds me of the good old days so the sentiment inside reads "Thanks for all the good times.  Happy Anniversary."

A Tall Order

Celebrate the Occasion asked for a "tall" card with a present on it.  I aim to please. 

I finally got my Design Studio working so I could make a shaped card.  This little present is on the shift layer of Stretch Your Imagination.  The 7" cut was a little too narrow so I widened it a bit to about 3.05".  I welded the blackout layer, cut it from white cardstock and then cut a top from the printed paper which is "assorted splats" from DCWV.  Sometimes I don't list my paper name because my only local supply is at a JoAnn's 20 miles away and some of their paper isn't labeled.  The bow is a periwinkle color.  I went to a couple of different stashes to finish it off.  In my "printed sentiments" stash I found a Happy Birthday in the same purply color and in my knitting stash I found the fringy ribbon yarn.  I tied the tag on with the yarn and let it hang.  This card fits in my monarch envelopes that are 3 7/8" by 7 1/2"

I guess the next thing I have to learn is how to get better lighting for my pictures.  They look great in the camera but rather dark when posted on my blog.  I've tried various things but most of them leave shadows that I don't care for.  I don't have a lot of room for a really good, and permanent set up but I'll keep working on it.

Criss Cross Card

This week's challenge at Birthday Sundaes was to make a criss cross card.  I had never made one before but they referred us to a tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers.  Let's just say it was a Murphy's Law day while I tried to make this card.  If you learn from your mistakes, then I learned a lot today. :) 

The card base is pink card stock and the printed paper is from My Mind's Eye.  You need to know that the directions say you can cut a piece of printed paper 4" by 5" and then cut it on the diagonal for the two pieces that cover the base.  This only works if you have double-sided paper - and then only if you want two different prints on the front of your card.  Otherwise you need to cut two 4 x 5 rectangles and be sure to cut them diagonally in the opposite direction.  Do I sound like I know this from experience?  You bet I do.  But at least I have some cut for another card.

I cut a circle from the print, ran it upside down in my Xyron and poured "Diamond Dust" all over it.  I cut the strip 1" (the directions said 1 1/2)  but it was my choice to make it narrower.  I ran a piece of Magic Tape 1/2 " wide down the center of the strip on the front only and covered it with "Diamond Dust".  The circle is mounted on foam tape.

The insert measurements were incorrect also.  The printed paper is cut 3 3/4 by 5 1/2 but the neutral paper should be cut 3 1/2 by 5, not 4 3/4 as per their directions.  I printed the sentiment on the lower portion of the card and rounded the corners.   The Happy Birthday is a stamp from PTI in bright green and then heat embossed with clear powder.  I think the card is beautiful, if I do say so myself.  Now that I know how to do it, I'm sure I'll make more.  

Autumn Challenge

I have decided that sketch challenges are not necessarily the easiest ones to do.  The sketch itself is interesting but if it's not the kind of cards you usually do, it can take a while for it to all come together.  Case in point:  this card.

The sketch was from Sweet Sunday Sketch and I thought I could also enter it into Sentimental Sundays - Autumn.  I struggled some with what to do for a border and the 2 little embellishments.  I tried a number of Cricut cuts but nothing looked right.  I think my final decisions work although it took most of a day to finish to my satisfaction.

All the printed papers are from DCWV's Amber Autumn stack (what else? lol).  I layered two different papers with a green between.  The sentiment was printed on the computer, matching the ink to the green.  The border is an MS punch and the little leaves are cut from Doodlecharms.  All the cream paper was inked with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Marigold, and Shabby Shutters.  A piece of shiny rust colored ribbon runs across the punched border, covering up the center holes.  The squares were mounted on dimensionals in two layers and the leaves have dimentionals between the green and cream layer.

Now I need to check out what other challenges are out there.  Hopefully I can get them done a little faster.

Anniversay card #2

As we remember 9/11, my prayers go out to all those families who lost loved ones in this great American tragedy.

This second anniversary card is a lot less formal than yesterday's. 

The base is kraft card stock and  the background is from The Paper Studio.  I used the kraft cs for the bottom layer (sticks) of this Popsicle from Doodlecharms.  The top layer is more of a dreamsicle orange color and instead of cutting the middle layer, I just cut a piece of lighter orange to fit behind the highlight cut.   The edges of everything are inked, including the score line down the middle of the popsicles.  I put some glossy accents in the highlight to make it look a little wet and tied some twine around one of the sticks to represent the female portion of the twosome.

The sentiment was printed on the computer, cut into a strip and corners rounded.  Orange brads were added to the ends and everything was mounted on dimensionals.  Inside it says "You two have been sweet on each other for years."   Most people wouldn't have thought of using a popsicle for an anniversary card but I loved the cut and wanted to use it somehow.  I think it works.

Anniversary card #1

Yesterday was my son's anniversary and today is my daughter's.  It was just coincidence that they are twins and got married a day apart - and a few years, thank goodness.  I made entirely different styles of cards for them.  I'll show one today and one tomorrow.

This is another Monarch card (3 1/2 by 7).  The card base is cream, with a tan cardstock layer and then a printed cream and tan, each 1/4" smaller than the next.  The photo makes the top layer look almost blue but it's not.  There was an all over design of round flower heads printed in white on light tan, almost lacy looking. It reminded me of their wedding colors.  Using Straight from the Nest, I cut the blackout version of the birds from cream and the top layer from the tan.  I only glued the main body together so there would be some dimension.  There is added dimension with the foam mounts. 

There were 3 holes on the bird's body and I filled 2 on each with varying sizes of tanish pearls.  I wasn't sure about how to do the sentiment and it ended up this way as a mistake.  I printed the sentiment on the computer but didn't leave enough space around it.  I didn't realize this when I ran it through the Cuttlebug with a Nestability oval die.  This is the shape that came out and it seemed to fit so I hand cut the tan to go under it.  There are no mistakes, just happy accidents. :)

I only had time to enter one challenge this week.  I'm hoping that this next week is easier and I can get to my paper stash more often.  My Cricut Design Studio is still not working and I miss it.  I would like to do some shaped cards and need DS to weld.  At least I have my new Expression.  I can do more things with it than my personal Cricut (I love how the actual cut shows on the screen) and so I'll plug along.  Maybe one more phone call will resolve the CDS issue.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today is my mother's birthday and I made this card for her.  It's the sentiment inside that really matters but the card is still cute and one I can enter in the Birthday Sundaes challenge.

The card is 3 1/2 by 7 and fits into what's called a Monarch envelope.  I printed the inside on cream cardstock and cut a scrap 3 1/4 by 6 3/4 for the top layer, rounding the bottom corners.  The dragonflies are cut from Stretch Your Imagination.  The border key was cut from purple vellum that came from a Making Memories 8 x 8 stack that I got at Tuesday Morning some time ago.  The purple from DCWV's Shimmer Stack worked with it perfectly for the middle (shift border key).  I used mounting foam to give them dimension but also bent the wings up a little.   You can see it better in this photo.

I cut the banner from the same cream cardstock using Twinkle Toes.  The stamp is from PapertreyInk used with  VersaMark ink and silver embossing powder.

You can see the shine here.  I also added some rhinestone bling to the ends of the antennae.  There is actually a shimmer in the dots on the background paper that doesn't show up well in the photo but it all goes together beautifully.  Hope Mom likes it.  If I know her, she'll probably cry.

A Truckload of Wishes

I'm back after a great weekend at the lake.  We braved some rain but all in all we had a good time.  It turned cold on Monday which made it less difficult to have to leave. 

I have some birthdays and anniversaries the first part of September so got my cards ready before I left.  This one was for our grandson.

I used some pavement looking paper for the bottom third of the A2 card and some blue on blue for the top.  The truck is cut from Just Because Cards - all layers.  I thought the measurement would be from top to bottom but it wasn't, so I had to cut it at 4" to get that length for the truck.  I used silver for the window, door handle and hub caps.  I printed out different sentiments, with a variety of fonts, on my computer and then cut them in strips to layer behind  making it look like the truck was carrying them. 

Using Printed Paper

I'm wishing everyone a great Labor Day weekend.  I'm heading off to the lake with my husband, parents and sister.  My son and his family will join us on Saturday as will my youngest son, both coming from different directions and meeting in the middle, so to speak.  They'll be there to help take the dock in and celebrate the end of summer :( with a big potluck.  Fortunately I've made a few cards ahead so I can keep posting.

Paper packs come 12 x 12 and I do my scrapbooking 8 1/2 x 11.  That means there are a number of pages that won't work for scrapbooking and I needed a way to use them up.  My solution?  Cut a portion of the page and use it as the design on your card.

I don't remember where I got this paper stack.  It was on sale at an online store.  I hadn't heard of the company and learned my lesson.  You get what you pay for.  The paper is very thin and doesn't cut well on the Cricut.  But it does make good backgrounds.  This card is 5 x 7 and I cut the bird with yellow scrollwork from the corner of the paper.  I added yellow as the first layer and then cut the frame from Cindy Lou in white with a matching yellow flourish.  The sentiment was printed on my computer in blue and cut to fit behind the frame.   This is such an easy way to make a card and use up those printed papers.

Challenge and Inspiration

This is my card for the Mojo Monday Challenge, using a sketch.

All the paper is from Papertrey Ink, Hodge Podge 8 x 8 stack.  The note is cut from Straight From the Nest, using the center point on my Expression for the sentiment.  There are 3 pearls centered in part of the paper design although they are hard to see in this photo.

I sent a copy for the Cancer Survivor luncheon that was mentioned on My Pink Stamper.  I planned to post it there, too, but see the link is closed.