Cherish Yesterday featured in Cricut Magazine

Today we have my second card that was featured in the January 2012 issue of Cricut Magazine. 

My husband got me the Damask Decor for Mother's Day and I had been itching to use it.  I think it is sooo beautiful!!  Unfortunately, I am using it, for the first time, to make a Sympathy card.  My bff's grandfather died this past weekend, at the age of 91.   I think that is remarkable, to live such a long healthy life and get to see your children as well as grandchildren and some great grandchildren, grow up.  I pray every day that my husband and I get that same kind of long life.

As for the card, I used the card function for the Damask3, cut at 5 1/2".  These are so pretty, you don't have to do anything to them but, I did decide to add ribbon, black stickles, and some gems.  For the ribbon, I just made a slit in the fold of the card, using a straight knife, that was the width of the ribbon, and ran it through.

On the inside, I cut a rectangle sheet in white and then added a strip of the teal paper and another piece of the black ribbon.   The sentiment is from Fiskars.

Circle Damask Birthday featured in Cricut Magazine

Hello blogger friends!!  Today I am posting my first card featured in the January 2012 Cricut Magazine!!   I can't tell you how excited I was to get accepted and published.   Not only was this card published but three other cards of mine were published as well in that January issue. 

 My card today was for my older sister! I used a black base, purple mat and then gray top.   I stamped the purple and black circle decoration on the gray using a Scrapy Cat stamp.   The main cirlce Damask cut is from the Damask Decor cartridge at 4" and then I did a shadow layer at 4 1/4" as well and added a purple gem in the center.   The ribbon is raffia and black and the sentiment is from  Studio 112.

The inside I stamped with the circle again and then a Happy Birthday sentiment on top of the circle, in black

Baby Shower Rosette

Here you have my 2 FOOT Rosette for the Adding to the Nest baby shower theme.  I started with 10 pieces of 12x12 paper and border punched them with a Martha Stewart border punch of birds perched on branches.  When I was done with all 10 sheets, I scored each sheet at two inches and glued them together.

The brown layer was 10 more sheets of the bird3 cut from Ribbons and Rosette's at 6" and then scored each sheet and glued them together.   When I laid the brown on top of the off white, I decided not to bring all the sheets together in the middle.  I laid the brown on top of the off white and left only about two inches showing of the off white and then glued the brown on. 

The top layer is metallic vellum paper that I scored.   I added a large round circle to the top and then the words "Welcome to the Nest' cut at 6" from the Straight from the Nest cartridge, with the shadow.  NOTE: that you have to use the 12x24 mat to cut the phrase at this size.   The 'Baby' is the baby boy phrase from B is for Boy at 3".

Last, I added some feathers that I cut using Straight from the Nest in various sizes between 2 1/2" - 7".  Hope you all have loved this as much as I do.   It took some time but, it was sooo worth it!

Adding to the Nest Invitation

I am starting to add some details about the Party Ensemble that I posted previously.   To start, we have the invite.   I started with a chocolate brown 5x7 sheet that I rounded the corners on and then an off white layer that I rounded the corners on and border punched with a Martha Stewart border punch that features these cute little birds perched on branches. 

The top layer is a gold metallic vellum from The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).   These printed so well with the invite information!  I added a strip of cream and gold ribbon across the top and then added a nest cut from Create A Critter.   It's the Accessory cut of the Chick, cut at 1 1/4" and I cut two of them.   The first one, I glued to the invite and then I added the egg, cut from Straight From the Nest.   The cut was the Nest Shift, using real dial size at 1 1/4" and inking the edges in a tan color.   Then, I added a little real feather and a second nest cut on top of it, that was attached using pop dots.  

I love the way that these turned out because it'd very elegant versus 'baby'. 

Adding to the Nest Party Ensemble

Hello everyone!  Today is  BIG post kind of day!   Over at the Paper Crafts blog, they have a challenge to create a party ensemble.   The challenge is in celebration of their new book, Party Ensembles.   Check it out HERE.

So, my ensemble is done.   I would have liked to do more but, honestly the 2 foot rosette sign has really caused me to lose sleep!!  It took an entire day for me to do but, I LOVE IT!!!   I will give some details but, not too much.   I'll do some posts to provide the details of each item later.   But for now, here it is.   The theme is 'Adding to the Nest' and it's for a baby shower.

The 2' rosette was made using a Martha Stewart border punch, my scoreboard, my Cricut, the Ribbons and Rosette's cartridge, the Straight from the Nest cartridge, paper and a hot glue gun!

Included with the Rosette Sign is a decorative napkin ring, an invitation, a favor and a tent card for the food. 

The invite and the tent card feature the Martha Stewart border punch with birds perching on branches.  The invite is three layers with a chocolate brown, a tan, and then a gold metallic vellum paper that was printed with the invitation.   I added a nest from Create a Critter, a little egg and a real feather to accent.

The tent card was a chocolate brown layer with a tan layer and then chocolate again and a printed sheet that I inked a little to relieve the stark white color.

The favors are one of my favorite parts.   They are No Bake Cookies with a Reese's Pieces egg (since this is that time of year).  The tag is from the Storybook cartridge with a stamped sentiment.   I tied the tag on with three different colors of ribbon.

And the napkin ring was made out of the gold metallic paper, border punched with the Martha Stewart punch, again, and then attached with some glue tape.   I also added the same three ribbons around the napkin ring, as I did the favor.  I really love how this all turned out!!!

UpCycled Die Cut

So, I saw Emma's a couple days ago over at My Creative Time,  for a NON Cricut card and I knew just where I needed the start!  It's amazing how much usable stuff there is in kids toy packaging!  This playing card die cut was from a LaLaLoopsy magician doll that my daughter got for Christmas.  It was just spot glued on the inside of the box.  I couldn't throw it out because it seemed perfect for a card!   I didn't alter the cards at all.

I started with a white frame and then a red mat.   I cut the mat a little smaller than the white frame and then I border punched the side with an EK Success border punch and then I inked the edge in black.   The vertical border paper I used was from the DCWV Travel Stack.  The sentiment is a stamped Studio 112 sentiment that I mounted.  The little hearts, diamonds, spades, and clovers were left over from the border punch so I added them as well.

I didn't add an inside sentiment because I thought this could be a good wedding or Valentine's Day card but, I did make the inside match the front, with the border punch.  Although rarely done, not one Cricut cut used on this one!!!

Elegant Negative Cuts??

I cut some large silhouette cuts from the Damask Decor cartridge a few months ago and the negative cuts that were left over were very pretty and I couldn't throw them out.   So, I started making some cards with them. 

This one is the negative cut from Damask Silhouette 36.  This is a business size card.   The mat paper is from Colorbok and has a light swiss dot pattern so, I used the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder to emboss the black strip of paper down the center.  I added some sheer gray ribbon from Michael's and then a mounted Scrappy Cat sentiment.

Slimey Little Valentine Alien

Happy post Valentine's Day!!!   This is my son's valentine.   I made it after a challenge from Miss Erin at DCWVdiary and you can see it featured on her blog right HERE.   You can also find this one pinned by her on her Pinterest site, which I was excited about!  I just love her and her blog.

I was inspired by the mat paper that was from the DCWV Truly in Love stack.   And then I decided on the alien from B is for Boy, at 4 1/4".  The papers for the alien were also from the stack and I added the green google eyes.

The sentiments are from Studio G and the front sentiment was attached with a heart brad.  The drippy border is a Martha Stewart border punch with a strip of black ribbon above.

And, on the inside, I used a heart punch to cut out the little piece of black glittered poka dot paper, cut out from the stomach of the alien, 

Love Bug

A little Valentine's card today for my daughter this year.  The ladybug is from Create A Critter, cut at 4".  The phrase was cut as well, at 2 3/4" and using the red glittered paper for the word love.   I used red glitter paper to cut the wings and then glued the dots from her wings onto the antena's. 

The mat paper is from Martha Stewart's 2011 Valentine's Day stack.   The die cut hearts are from the K&Co. Smooch line and the border is from the Target dollar bin.   On the inside, I added a strip of paper and a TPC sentiment.  Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Under the Weather?

I've been trying to do a couple variations of cards so that I would have some extras...today is one of those days.   I made this 'Get Well' card using the umbrella icon from A Child's Year.  On the above picture, I just used a white gel pen to add some detail to the umbrella and then a black marker to color the handle (since there aren't layers on A Child's Year).  Background paper is from K&Co. Daydreams stack and I printed the sentiment. 

The only difference in this card is that I used a Martha Stewart border punch on the sides and added some green ribbon.   The inside of this cart is below.

So, the next variation used the same paper and same Cricut cut.   I also added the same sentiment and gel pen details BUT, I added this blue trim ribbon that has little white balls at the end, to the bottom of the umbrella.  The ribbon is from Joann's dollar bin.   I also cut different colors of paper in the same size rectangle shape to make a cascading rainbow sentiment mount. 

On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from Scrappy Mom's, 'hanging' from an American Crafts piece of ribbon. 

DoodleBug Designs New Releases!!!

Check out the FANTASTIC new releases at Doodlebug Designs HERE.   Make sure you scroll down to see all of them:  HELLO SPRING, SNIPS AND SNAILS, SUGAR AND SPICE, and BOYS ONLY!  They have a giveaway as well!  Enjoy!

Congrats Megan!

Congrats to our new hire, Megan.   She is super sweet and very bubbly, which is great because I am honestly not a smiley bubbly person.   I am happy but, not bubbly so I really enjoy people who honestly are....like my BFF, Melissa.  For the card, I cut the Congrats cut from Paper Lace at 4", in pink.   The background paper is from the DCWV Street Lace stack.  I also added some hard to see little pearls.  The front of the card is shorter than the inside of the card so, I added a purple mat inside with a pink stripe so that you can see it when the card is closed. 

Always Remember

I used the Paper Lace cartridge to create this 5 1/2" square card.  I cut the butterfly cut paper on K & Co double sided paper and I intended to use the green side but, the blue side looked so pretty on top of this chocolate brown paper. 

I cut the butterfly body at 2", twice.   I added a sentiment, some brown pearl gems, and inked the edges.  I only glued the bodies of the two butterfly cuts together and then pop dotted the wings to make them 3D

The ribbon was recycled packaging. 

The inside paper is from the DCWV Four Seasons stack and the sentiment from Fiskars.

Repurposed Holiday Gift Tin

I have to say that this repurposed tin creation is not my personnal style at all but, I love how it turned out!

I got the Trim a Tree cartridge last Christmas and still had not used it so, this is my first time using it.  I used printed paper from DCWV Ultimate Stack that had bells all over it.   I used my ATG gun to glue the paper to the metal tin.  Then, I added a solid piece to the front.

The cut is the bell from Trim a Tree at 4 1/2"and the stars have 'Peeled Paint' distressed stickles added. 

Sentiment is Inkadinkadoo, mounted and pop dotted with a little more stickles.  

I covered the lid by tracing the shape and hand cutting it and then topped it with a sheer ribbon bow that I made.  Another good tin saved from the recycle bin!!!

Blog Candy Winner!!!

Congrats Carri aka abusybee on winning my blog candy!!! I'm so sorry that I am just now posting but, I have come down with a severe case of Strep Throat and double ear infections.  It's been a very long, bedridden week!  So, I am sorry for the late update but, blog candy none the less, right!!!   Congrats Carri!!!  Email me at aidensmom 2005 at aol dot com.   Have a great weekend!

Christmas treats for my deer? LAST DAY OF BLOG CANDY!!!!

This is a repurposed candy container from Sam's Club.  I used some black, white, and silver deer wrapping paper around the entire container and trimmed the top and bottom with white ribbon and some black strips of paper that I border punched using the Martha Stewart snowflake border punch.  

On the front, I mounted a deer cut from the Winter Wonderland cartridge, deer2, at 4" using My Mind's Eye Lost and Found paper.  I also cut the shadow for the deer but, had to trim off the legs that would have been added had a cut all of the deer layers.  I mounted the deer on a printed sheet from Theresa Collins 'Christmas Home' set that I also cut using the Martha Stewart border punch and I also used the corner punch as well (one of the punch around the page sets).

For the lid, I cut a circle the size of the lid and made a bow for the top and then tied the bow with a long thin ribbon and pulled that extra ribbon through a hole poked in the center of the paper circle.   I taped down the ribbon string and then attached the circle (with bow attached) with my ATG gun.

Don't forget to check my Jan 1 post to comment for the blog candy...this is the last day!!!

Elegant & Untraditional & BLOG CANDY

I'm still posting some Christmas work since I hadn't gotten to it during December so, sorry if you're already out of the spirit.  :)  I made a Christmas card that was not the traditional Christmas look.   Love how this turned out. 

I started with a solid brown card base and then a gold vellum mat and a brown flourish print that was flocked.   The print is from the DCWV Mainstreet stack.  I started with some unfolded cream raffia and then used a plain brown ribbon on top, that I hand pleated.  At the bottom of the ribbon, I added a gold glittered American Crafts brad.  

The fancy gold 'sprig' was cut from a plastic decorative pick and I sewed it to the card mat so that it was sure to stay put.  The mounted sentiment was cut from the Twinkle Toes cartridge.   This cartridge is great for frames!!  I cut the Stagefrgt cut at 2 1/4" with the layer.  The stamped sentiment is from Scrappy Cat.   I stamped it in brown onto vellum.

On the inside, I used a sentiment from American Crafts Dear Lizzy line and then added two leaves cut from the front sprig and another small piece of brown ribbon.

DON'T FORGET to check my January 1 blog post HERE for the BLOG CANDY that I still have listed!

Christmas Palm Trees ~ BLOG CANDY!!!

This is one of the few Christmas cards that I made this past Christmas.  It was a card for my husband's boss and he LOVED it.  He and his wife love tropical locations so I decided on palm trees.   I cut the trees from the Dinosaur Tracks cardridge at 4" and 4 1/2".  The larger was cut using the 'flip' function. 

I cut doubles of the palms and glued one of each onto the tree cut and then the top layers, I embossed with the Tim Holtz Burlap embossing folder and then inked them with Color Box Pheasant Gold stamp pad.   I had the mini Christmas light strands in a roll so, I cut them down and then taped and glued them to the trees.

The palm trees are mounted onto printed paper from the DCWV 'The Christmas Stack' and the sentiment is from TPC Studios.  
The inside sentiment is from another TCP stamp set and a strip of the mat paper.  A tip when you're using 3D elements, make sure that the envelope is a bit larger than the card so that the card will fit without tearing!!

Don't forget to leave a comment on my January 1 post for blog candy!  There are some great things there!!

Pin the Nose on the Reindeer & Blog Candy!

Today I have a Cricut project that is NOT a card!!  ooohhh  ahhhh!   OK, so, seriously, this is a game that I made for my son's first grade Christmas party.   Unfortunately, my son wasn't able to attend the party because he came down with pneumonia right before Christmas but, I was told that the rest of the class really enjoyed it!

I covered a large piece of chipboard with navy blue specked cardstock (two sheets that meet right under the reindeer's right antler) and then hand cut the snow drifts and glued them on.   The trees were quick cuts from Joys of the Season in various sizes and the stem of the tree trimmed off. 

The reindeer that is flying over was cut at 11 1/2" using Create a Critter with all layers, although I didn't use the nose.   For the nose, I added a strip of the 'hook' part of velcro and then glued the 'pile' side to a large red pom pom, for pin the nose on the reindeer. 

I also added some white snowflakes that were cut from a different project via a Martha Stewart Crafts border punch.  Make sure you leave a comment on my January 1 blogcandy post....only one week left!!

New Year's Eve Favors

A quick post for the Sour Cream containers that I made for our New Year's Eve party this past weekend.  I pulled the instruction from http://www.card-making-ideas-and-instructions.com/sour-cream-container.html if you need them.  

I used a shimmery silver paper and then filled them with candy and tied black curling ribbon around them.   The medallions were made using Mother's Day Bouquet and I cut flower 36 (I believe) at 2" in black and then 1 1/2" in the same silver.   I printed the year and used a Martha Stewart punch at 1" to punch them out. 

Don't forget to leave a comment on my Monday post for a chance to win the blog candy that I have!!  Happy New Year!