A Bit of Spring in the Fall

My lovely sister-in-law loves hummingbirds the way I love butterflies.  I thought I would send her a card just because she is a sweet lady and to bring a smile to her face in cold Northern Minnesota.

I made the hummingbird using the Art Nouveau Cricut cartridge.  The papers I used for the hummingbird are from the Melissa Frances C'est la Vie Collection. 

The flower is also from Melissa Frances.  The leaves are hand-made and then wrapped around the flower.

The solid cardstock is from Bazille.  On the cream colored cardstock, I used stamped the golden border with VersaMark and then dusted it with Biscotti Perfect Pearls to give it a shimmery but soft look.  The border stamp from the 3 Birds Antiquities Collection.  I then lightly inked the edges with Antique Linen.

Last. I made punched a border on the bottom of the card with a Martha Stewart Punch called Swirling Lace.  Here are some close-ups:

I used hot glue to adhere the leaves to the flower. 
I also etched the leaves with veins using the end of my
bone folder... Hey, you use what ya got, right? :)

I spritzed my hummingbird with Tattered Angels Marshmallow. 
I colored in the eye with a black Micron Pen and then added a dot
of Glossy Accents for dimension.

Girl with a Shamrock

 

I made this card for the Bitten by the Bug 2 (BBTB2) challenge.  I used the image of the little girl holding a cat.  (p 60, Girl6, Girl6-s and all the layers)  I cut the cat out by hand with a regular scissor.  It was actually very easy to do. 

Then I added a shamrock from the Designer's Calendar cartridge.  (p30, Shift + March) I am really proud I used that cartridge because I have had it for a very long time and it is the first time I used it. 

The color of the dress, hat, flowers, and grass are all from the Cricut Imagine Hopscotch Colors and Patterns Cartridge.  First pattern on p5.  First pattern on p9.

The sentiment is from a Melissa Frances stamp set.

The kraft paper is from Papertrey Ink which is dry embossed with the Divine Swirls Folder.

I sprizted a lot of Marshmallow Mist for some shimmer - it's there I swear!

I added Stickles to the middle of the flowers and the ribbon is from my stash.  I think she came out cute.    I like to think she is making a wish. :)

May you alway walk in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.

- Irish Blessing

Happy Birthday, Cowboy!

I was inspired to use Vintage Papers Patterns and Colors Cardtridge for the Cricut Imagine by a post by Michele Kovak. She did a great, masculine layout using this cartridge. I never thought of that cartridge as "masculine" but when I saw her post... Well, let's just say all of a sudden I had to have Vinatge Papers. :D

The perfect opportunity to use the cart came around for my husband's birthday.

I Used:
- Old West Cricut Cartridge - icon feature + 9
- Elegant Edges - book feature + branch
- Letter Envy - crest feature + V
- Mystical Garden - used to flood the Elegant Edges image
- Vintage Papers - used to flood the bull skull and the rectangle with rounded edges
- Tim Holtz Textured Fades - Bricked & Woodgrain Set
- Tattered Angels - Glimmer Glaze - used on the bull skull
- Gold and tan paper from my stash - the gold paper is actually a deeper color than what shows in the picture
- Pop Dots

The Glimmer Glaze gives the paper a slight sheen.

I gotta kick out of this quote:

There's two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works.

~ Will Rogers

I wonder if it's a lesson my husband will ever learn...  Nah!  Then arguing wouldn't be any fun! :D lol



Monogram Birthday Card

I was thinking that Damask Decor and Letter Envy Cricut Cartridges were surely made for each other. Ummm... No, they are not. I found that out after I cut out all the pieces and put it together.  What a mess! Maybe my colors were all wrong... I had white cream, seafoam green, white, orange, pink. Maybe it was all the inticate cuts slapped together.  Maybe it was all of it together.  

I had to go back to the drawing board.  I knew two things: I wanted to make a monogram card and I wanted to use orange and pink.  The orange and pink inspiration was from Paper Craft Weekend Challenge. The colors were perfect because I wanted to make a birthday card for my sister-in-law in Naples, FL.  Orange and pink reminds me of cheery South Florida and the outfit my sister-in-law wore the last day we were in Naples.  I'm entering it in the monogram challenge from Bitten by the Bug 2.

Needless to say, I simplified the card and I think it is much better :)

I Used:
Letter Envy Circut Cartridge - L-s and layer feature + L
Imagine Blossom Cricut Cartridge- Pink cardstock for the letter L - it is the perfect pale, soft pink
SEI Mimosa glitter cardstock
Cuttlebug Folder - Musical Flourish
Imaginisce orange rhinestone
Pink stamp pad to ink the edges of the all the squares and the embossed rectangle
Pop dots
Tattered Angels Marshmallow mist for sparkles - ya gotta have sparkles for a birthday!

I found a way to shoot the sparkles from the glitter mist!  I had to angle it on my hand and then take the picture.

 

 

Words for me to remember:

 “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.”

~Plato

Dove Sympathy Card

Unfortunately, I needed to make sympathy cards for two people. Their loved ones had lived very full and long lives. To make the cards, I decided to use white on white to give the cards a sense of quiet beauty. In this picture you can see the contrast of the warm and cool whites.

I Used:
- Inpsired Heart Cartridge - Dove and oval layer: <Dove>, <Dove-s>
- Co'ordinations Pearl Paper
- White paper from my stash
- Pearls from my stash
- Crafty Secrets - Card Sentiments: In Deepest Sympathy and May prayer strengthen you and Memories comfort you- Tattered Angels - Marshmallow Mist
- Cuttlebug - Script Folder
- Dew Drop Ink - Starlight Silver

Here's How:
*I cut the Co'ordinations pearl paper at 10 by 7 to make a 5 x 7 card. I cut the dove and layer at 3.02.

*The dove was cut with the pearl paper and the oval layer was cut with plain white paper.

*I ran the oval through the cuttle bug using the script folder and then spritzed it with Marshmallow Mist. I further inked the edges with the Starlight Silver Dew Drop.

*I put the pieces together and you can see the silver in the this picture:

*I stamped the bottom right hand corner with "In Deepest Sympathy" and added pearls next to the "I" and the "S."

*Lastly, I stamped the inside with "May prayer strengthen you and Memories comfort you."

God gave us memories that we might have roses in December.  ~J.M. Barrie, 1922

Christmas Angel Ornament

I decided to make another Christmas angel. Here's the first, which I made back in November: Rejoice Christmas Card. This time I chose a different cut from the cartridge and made her into an ornament so I can enter her for the Cricut Circle Blog weekly challenge.

I Used:
- Art Nouveau Cartridge: Woman4 and layers, p50; swan and layers (I hid the swan and used only the wings), p64
- CTMH - Vanilla Cream Stamp Pad for the skin color
- Jolee - Rhinestones
- SEI Couture for the dress (that cardstack is gorgeous!!)
- Glitter from my stash
- Seam Binding - I dyed it with Scarlett Tattered Angels Mist and Red Peppers Ranger Alcohol Ink
- Micron .005 pen for the facial features

Here's How:
Well, this time it was pretty straight forward. I used a dauber to color in her flesh. I put the pieces of the woman together. I used my Micron pen to draw in her lips and nose. I also used Prisma pencils to add shading on the face and body.

I colored the bottom wing a lilac kind of color for shading. I then added lots of glitter! On the wings and on the dress.

Last, I just tied my seam binding into a bow and attached it to the back with double sided tape.

I am really pleased with how she came out :)  Here she is on the tree - Sorry for the bad pic, I took it with my camera phone.

Sophie Holiday Bookmark

I needed to make something for my sister and the Cricut Circle Magazine Challenge gave me the push to do it. A long time ago, when I was in third grade and my sister was in second grade, I fancied myself an entrepreneur. I made a little catalog of books I would illustrated and I began to sell the idea to my sisters. Only Nelly had a dollar to buy a book - 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I really meant to illustrate a handmade book, but it was a daunting task in third grade... I think Nelly forgot about it but I haven't. So I bought her a beautiful version of 'Twas the Night before Christmas this year as one of her gifts - more than twenty years later. With the book will be this bookmark - at least, that will be handmade :)

I Used:
- Sophie Cartridge: leaf3 bookmark at 1.75 x 6, 4 pieces of leaf3 at 1.5,  4 pieces of , leaf3+shift at 1.5, and card 2+shift plain rectangle modified shape with the Gypsy for the sentiment
- Paper Trimmings Cartridge: accent2 for the pointsettia, not an actual pointsettia but I thought it looked pretty and would be a lovely substitute.  It looks a little like a snowflake, too.  :)  There is a pointsettia cut in Paper Trimmings but I need a lighter look for my flower.
- Basic Grey: Pointsettia background (Nordic Christmas) and light green rectangle (Skate Shoppe) with sentiment
- Tim Holtz : Brushed Corduroy Distressed Ink Pad
- Faerie Glass: Holly Berry
- CTMH: "Hope Love Joy" sentiment from Art Philosophy Collection
- CTMH: Baby Pink Ink Pad
- Tattered Angels: Marshmallow Mist

Here's How:I inked the edges of the bookmark with Brushed Corduroy. I carefully arranged the 8 leaf pieces on the bookmark. I put the dark green ones in the back and the lighter green leaves in the front.

The accent piece from Paper Trimmings that I intended to use as a poinsettia was too flat as just white so I inked it with CTMH's baby pink using a dauber. It also mimicked the pink in the pointsettia of the Baisc Grey Paper.  To give my flower a little dimension, I spritz it with water and worked it into the palm of my hands so that it became a kind of bowl shape. I spritz it with Marshmallow Mist for some glitz. I used a glue dot to give it dimension and placed it on the leaves. I put a drop of Glossy Accents for the Faerie Glass in Holly Berry. That finished up the pointsettia and leaves part of the bookmark. I hope you can see the glimmer in this picture:

I took the rectangle and inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy. The words are actually separate pieces but I put them together on the acrylic block. I felt they were nice sentiments for the season. I stamped it on the rectangle in black with Staz-On Black.

So there it is! A bookmark for a long awaited book... I think she will like it!

Happy Holidays Reindeer

I was inspired by Tim Holtz's reindeer Christmas tag. His is just gorgeous and there is no way I can replicate his tag. But I wanted to try something close to what Tim Holtz with the hope that it would be half as good :) I had no idea how much work he put into his creations until I saw the tutorial on his blog. Just: WOW! 

I Used:
- Provocraft Cricut - Christmas cartridge - reindeer and wreath
- Ranger Perfect Pearls
- Meliss Frances - Glass Glitter
- Tim Holtz Distress Pads - Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy
- Tattered Angels - Brown Suede and Vintage Pink
- Seam Binding
- DCWV background - Old World
- Papertrey Ink - Linen Impression Plate
- Tsukineko - Versamark
- CTMH Holiday Wishes stamp set - "Holiday Wishes" sentiment

Here's How:
I cut the reindeer out at about 3 inches and the the wreath at an inch and half. I decided to use non-traditional christams colors just to explore and play around with colors. I ink the edges of each with Antique Linen. I added Glass Glitter, which is like old fashioned glitter. Chunky, sparkly and fun! I covered the reindeer in Versamark. I brushed on Perfect Pearls and heat set it with a heating tool.

I used a plain old paper trimmer to cut the tag at 3 1/4 X 5. The Old World collection is just perfect for an aged, but beautiful look.  I used We R Memory Keepers Corner Chompers to round the corners. I lightly inked the edges in Antique Linen.

My trusty paper trimmer also cut out a rectangle at 3 x 3/4. I hand cut the "V" in the banner. I ran the banner through Brushed Corduroy for a deeper color and then brushed the Antique Linen to age it a bit. I stamped "Happy Holidays" with Versamark and added pink mica. I have been experimenting with Versamark by adding mica and perfect pearls to stamped images. I really like the soft and even faded look you can get.

Now for the seam binding. So easy to do! I bought a whole load of white seam binding so I could make my own wrinkled, colored seam binding. I saw it in a video my sister sent me and I have been obsessed with making it. I finally did it! Spritz a little Vintage Pink and Brown Suede and a little water and VOILA! That's a pretty cool trick.

Before I attached the ribbon, I ran the tag through the Cuttlebug with PTI Linen Impression Plate. I thought it would give it an extra aged look. It adds these dot-like impressions.  I love it! Here's the close-up:

Dreams

I created this card with my mother-in-law in mind. She loves the vintage, shabby chic kind of look.  I don't think it is shabby chic but it has a certain vinatge feel to it.  The twenties beauty is from Hampton Stamps.  I don't remember the collection name but it had two more twenties portaits and a lady that looked like Jospehine Baker.

I Used:

- Hampton Stamps - Twenties Beauty

- K and Company - Que Sera, Sera Paper

- Tim Holtz - Crackle Finish in Clear Rock Candy and Antique Linen Distress Pad

- Prima - flowers

- Viva Pearl Pen - Cream

- Provocraft Cricut Cartridge - Lacy Labels

- Melissa Fances - "Dream" rub on

- Making Memories - dusky blue ribbon

- Tattered Angels - Brown Suede Mist

Here's How:

I used my Imagine to cut out the oval and the frame from the Que Sera, Sera paper with the Lacy Labels cartridge.  I chose a paper from the collection that was light but that still had some of the collage elements. 

I stamped the twenties beauty on the paper and it gave it a worn look.  I added some crackle finish to give it an even more worn, vintage look. 

The crackle finish needs some time to dry so as it was drying, I added the ribbon to the card. 

I spritz the pink prima flowers with Brown Suede by Tattered Angels and pasted to together.  I added a dot of cream colored Viva Pearl.  I tore a piece of paper and distressed it further with Antique Linen.  Irubbed on "Dreams" and placed it on the ribbon.

Once the crackle dried, I pasted the frame onto the portrait.  I thought I was finished but the ribbon looked so plain so I added Viva Pearl dots to the ribbon.  Now it looked finished! :)

Chandelier Birthday Card

I made a birthday card and tried to do something out of the box for me. I went with a black and white theme. It is definitely more edgy than usual for me.

I Used
- Sophicated Cartridge: chandelier
- PK Glitz: glitter
- Jolee: Rhinestone
- Seam Binding
- Grey Pencil for shading
- Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress for shading on edges
- Papertrey Ink (PTI) Canvas Impression Plate
- Tattered Angels Coco Creme
- Close to My Heart (CTMH) sentiment "Best wishes to you"

Here's How
I cut the chandelier at about 4 1/4. I used a black and white glitter paper for the chandelier and white paper for the candles and middle section of the chandelier. When I arranged the candels on the chandelier before I pasted it, I realized that they looked very flat. I pulled out the distress pad and blended some antique linen on the edges to give it some depth. I also used the grey pencil to add some shading especially on that white middle part. You can see the detail a little better in the close-up. I add some glitter for flames and my candles were done!

Next, I took some black cardstock and used the PTI Canvas Impression Plate. I love this impression plate because it is so subtle. Then I spritz it with Coco Creme by Tattered Angels to give it a glow as if came from the candels.

I started off with a 5 x 7 card but it just looked wrong so I made it into a square card (5 x 5). It still needed something and I added some seam binding. I wasn't sure if stamping on seam binding would work but it did! YES! I tried it first on a scrap piece of binding. I was so excited when it worked out. Can't you tell? The sentiment is from the Art Philosophy kit by CTMH. Last, I added some bling from Jolee and my step out of the box was done... Now I'm going back into my box... :D