Thank You Card

I went out yesterday and bought a new Sizzix Die at AC Moore with a 51% coupon...(woo hoo), don't you just love using a coupon?  I know I do. I bought Tim Holtz Alterations BigZ Die Tattered Florals. When I got home, I just had to play.

First, I decided to make another tri-fold card (See my Halloween Ghost Card, September 9, 2010). The base card is white cardstock 8 1/2" x 5/1/2". Score at 2 1/8", turn card around and score again at 2 1/8". Fold. Next. I cut two (2) pieces of patterned cardstock at 1 3/4" x 5 1/4" and glued them to each side of the front of the base card. Next, I took two (2) colors of purple cardstock and using my Sizzix Big Kick, I cut out the flowers from my new Tim Holtz die. I separated the colors, and then tried several different combinations...all one light purple, all one dark purple, then every other color layer. The last combo is the one I liked the best. I also end up with another flower to use on another project. (Yeah!) I then inked the dark purple flowers with white pigment ink on the edges and swiped each petal from the center out. With the lighter purple flowers, I did the same thing only using a teal pigment ink. Next, I cut out a 3 1/2" square in gold cardstock. Punching a hole in the center of each flower and the center of the gold square, I assembled the flower using an American Crafts Elements Large Brad  Dandelion. I then rounded the two (2) opposite corners with my EK Success corner Rounder Punch. I curled the flower petals so they would stand up. I cut another square at 3 3/4" in white cardstock. I rounded two (2) corners on this square also. I then glued the gold square/flower to the white cardstock, making sure to put the two (2) rounded corners together. I then glued the big white square to only one half of the front of the tri-fold card. Do not glue both sides, as then you will not be able to open the card. I stamped Thank You using purple pigment ink to gold cardstock. I cut it out (1 5/8" x 5/8") and bordered it with white cardstock (1 3/4" x 3/4"). Finally, I glued a strip of the striped cardstock to the inside. I think that it turned out pretty nice.

 Remember that I said I had another flower to use for a project. Well, here is what I came up with:

(Flower Brad, Purple Ribbon, Martha Stewart Double Loop Border Punch, EK Success  Dotted Scallop Border Punch and Fiskars All Year Greetings Stamps) If you would like the details, leave me a comment, a way to get in touch with you and I will send you the directions.

These were really fun to create. I can't wait to try using different paper with these flowers and see how it turns out...now you go try and imagine what you could do.....

Game...Mini Monsters

I wanted to make a card yesterday, but wasn't sure what I felt like making. Have you ever felt like that? Well, I thought that I would play a "game" with myself...I know, I'm weird. lol So I counted my Cricut cartridges and then asked my son to give me a number between 1 and 40...he said 35. Since there are 50 images (not including layers and such), I asked him to give me another number between 1 and 50...he said 13. I counted out 35 cartridges and came up with Mini Monsters. Next, I counted out 13 images and came up with the monster on page 40 (Ghoul). My "rules" for the game were to make a card using any image on that page. I thought that it would be fun to make a shaped card.(Card Layer)

I cut Ghoul out at 4 1/2" in lime green cardstock. Using Layer 1 (still at 4 1/2"), I cut out the nose and horns in purple cardstock and Shift Layer 1 in patterned green paper. Layer 2 and Shift Layer 2 was cut  in black cardstock. I used Cuttlebug Tiny Mosaic and embossed only the front of the card (leaving the back of the card plain) and the patterned green paper of the nose. After gluing the embossed green patterned nose on the purple cardstock nose, I used Crayola Glitter Glue in a multi color on the purple sections of the nose. I glued the horns on the inside of the card and glittered glued them also. I let them dry. It didn't seem to stand out enough, so I used Glossy Accents over the glittered areas and then let that dry. I glued the black round circles on and then instead of using the small black "eyes", I glued on googly eyes...one larger than the other. Next, glue the mouth on and finally the nose.

I thought he came out cute. I didn't put a sentiment inside yet, as I'm not sure what I want to use him for. He could wish someone a happy birthday, be an invitation for a party or how about "I hate it when I get a stuffy nose. How about you? Feel better soon." Any of you have any ideas? Leave me a comment.

If you want to challenge yourself and have a little fun, play the "game". I would love to hear what you created. Enjoy...just imagine what you could do.

Halloween Ghost Card

Halloween is just around the corner...can't believe it. While looking through some of my paper, I came across this ghost paper and was inspired.

And surprise...it's a tri-fold card. (opps...this is a Gate-fold card)

I started with a 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of orange cardstock. I scored it at 2 1/8" and at 6 3/8'' (or just turn the card around and score at 2 1/8" again). This gives you the tri-fold. I cut the patterned ghost paper at 1 3/4" x 5 1/4" two (2) times and glued it to each half of the front of the card. I cut and glued another piece at 4" x 5 1/4" for the inside of the card. Using Cricut Cartridge Happy Hauntings and Design Studio, I cut the base ghost (pg 37) in purple cardstock and the shift ghost in white cardstock (dimensions width 3.124 and height 3.313). I took the white ghost and ran him through the Xyron machine face down. I peeled off the clear sheet and then glittered him. Next, glue him to the purple ghost, but offset it so it appears as a shadow. This will give a little depth. I cut the frame (pg 46) in white (dimensions width 3.695 height 3.805). Cut an orange square at 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" and glued that to the back of the frame. Next, only put glue on half of the back of frame, close the tri-fold  card and center the frame (making sure that the glue does not go on both halves of the card). I then used 3D-Dots and adhered the ghost to the front of the card over the frame.

For the inside, I used the sentiment "Happy Haunting"  (pg 46 also from the cartridge Happy Hauntings) with Design Studio (width 3.282 height 1.585) and the Cri-Kits Glitter purple pen and "cut" it out. I ran into a problem because my pen stopped working halfway through, so I tried it again. No better. I changed the pen to a metallic purple Cri-Kits and tried once more. Again, halfway through it stopped. Frustrated, I replaced the Cri-Kits with my cutting blade and cut it out. I'm hoping it's the paper, not the pens. I then inked the sentiment with purple ink and let dry. Next I glued the saying to a yellow piece of cardstock  (1 1/2" x 3 1/4") and bordered it with a piece of orange cardstock (1 3/4" x 3 1/2"). Finally, I glued it to the inside of the card at the top.

I am interested to know if anyone else has had this problem with the Cri-Kits pens. If so, were you able to get them to work again and how did you do it? This is upsetting me, thinking that the pens are now useless. I would appreciate any feedback.

Although we seem to get less and less kids Trick or Treating, I do love to decorate for Halloween. Last year  my son hosted a murder mystery around Halloween, that made it so much fun.

Now go do what I did, and re-familiarize yourself with your paper...maybe you'll get inspired too. Imagine what you could do.....

Happy Birthday Margie

Happy Labor Day to everyone. I hope you have had a safe and happy holiday. My husband's Aunt's birthday is tomorrow (although, we celebrated it yesterday) and this is a birthday card that I made for her.

The base of the card is cream cardstock (as opposed to the white that I usually use) (8 1/2" x 5 1/2"  folded in half). I cut a piece of patterned paper from DCWV The Natural Stack at 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", then I used my EK Success Border Punch Scallop Diamond and punched one of the long edges. I cut 3 different colors of brown ribbon (1/4" wide)  and taped one end to the back of the patterned cardstock (closest to the straight edge, not the punched side). Keeping one ribbon straight, I taped it to the back. I then changed the angle of the other two (2) ribbons and taped them to the back. Glue this to the base card, leaving some of the cream cardstock showing on each side. Next, I used my Sizzix and cut three (3) leaves (Leaf #2, Tiny), inked the edges in brown, drew a line for a stem (also in brown) and then used 3D-Dots and adhered them to the card. I stamped "Happy Birthday" in black on a scrap piece a brown cardstock and cut a random shape. I inked the edges in brown. I then shadowed it in a dark brown cardstock, also in a random shape, and used 3D-Dot to adhere. Finally, I inked the long two (2) edges of the card in brown.

We had a really nice time yesterday. It's always great to spend time with family (even if I lost at Scrabble...lol). Enjoy the special times, get inspired and...imagine what you could do......

Happy Halloween

My first Halloween card this year. I was inspired by Capadia Designs (Aug 30 & 31) http://capadiadesigns.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html 

I put a 4 1/4" x 11" piece of orange cardstock in the corner of the Cricut mat. I used Cricut Cartridge Pumpkin Carvings. I choose the pumpkin face (9th button on the top row). Using Design Studio, I altered the face. The dimensions are: width 4.169 and height 3.633 and the axis are: X 4.502 and Y 0.297. I used the Hidden Selected Contour  for the box around the face. Bringing up a new page, I choose Happy Halloween  (7th button on the top row). Again using Design Studio, the dimensions are: width 2.48 and height 2.483 and axis: X 5.487 and Y 3.213. Again, use the Hidden Selected Contour for the box. Bring up the first page and hit cut, the pumpkin face should cut out. Hit Load Paper (not Unload) and change the blade to the Cri-Kits Black Glitter pen. Bring up the second page (with "Happy Halloween") an hit cut, and "Happy Halloween" should print. Unload paper. Take the paper off the mat and fold in half to make a card. Open again and cut 1/4" off the side edge next to the pumpkin face. I cut a black piece of cardstock  4 1/2" x 5 1/2" and glued it to the back of the cutout (1/4" of the black cardstock will show on the front). Next, I took a scrap piece of black cardstock and used the EK Success Border Punch Swiss Cheese. I then cut it to 3/4" x 5 1/2" and glued it to the front edge of the card. Using the Cri-Kits Black Glitter pen, I drew lines around the eyes and mouth. Finally, I added googly eyes.

Hope you like this Halloween card and get inspired like I was...imagine what you could do....

Mariposa Matstack

The other day I was at A C Moore and found this cardstock pad from DCWV. As I flipped through it, I saw so many beautiful images.

 I thought that some of these could be used as cards just as they were or with a little bit of embellishment.

So that's what I did with the ones in the above photo. I found the image on the card that I liked the most and then cut to fit a card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". (A2 card) and adhered it to a card base. (Reminder: Half of a 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock and then folded in half).

These two I thought were pretty enough without anything extra. They could be used for any number of occasions...birthday, get well, thinking of you, etc. The sentiment can be added inside.

I added a yellow ribbon to the one card (on the left), tied a knot and cut the ends on an angle. Not sure if I want to add a sentiment yet. The other card I cut a 3 1/4" x 3 1/4" square of teal cardstock, then used my Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page Combo, Double Loops. I cut a piece of black cardstock 3 1/2' x 3 1/2", rounded the ends with EK Success Paper Shapers Corner Adorner Rounder Punch - Large. This is the shadow. I cut another piece of black cardstock at 3" x 3" and rounded those corners also. The light blue square is 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" and rounded it. I stamped "thinking of you" in gold using Fiskars All Year Greetings Clear Stamps. (Although it is hard to see in the photo).

With these cards, I felt they needed some type of embellishment. I stamped "Congratulations" in green ink and bordered it in green cardstock and used 3D-Dots. I also used Inkssentials Glossy Acents on the two butterflies. On the next card, (clockwise), I only added a black ribbon and tied a bow. The card below that, I added a blue ribbon, tied a knot and angled the ends. I stamped "Hello" in white ink then used Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel - Clear. I then punched the corner with EK Success Cornerpunch Med Victorian Lace. I used 3D-Dots on a blue border (a 1/8" larger than the green cardstock) and then on white cardstock (again, 1/8" larger). The last card I only added the three (3) rhinstones and the black stamped "Happy Anniversary" on silver cardstock. I used 3D-Dots on this sentiment also.

The cards were generally easy to make and I had fun making them for the most part. If you read my last post, you know that I was having creative difficulties and not able to have some of these cards come together. I am happy with how they came out.

So the next time you are looking at cardstock, try to see the simple beauty and look to the possibilities of making some cards without having to do too much...imagine what you could do......



 

Life Gets in the Way

It's been almost a week since I posted anything...It's amazing how life can get in the way of getting anything done.

Last Friday was my birthday. Had a nice afternoon with a friend and some really delicious cupcakes. (Thank you again, they were yummy). Later, went out to dinner with my three sons (unfortunately, my husband was out of town and was unable to join us) and then we played mini golf. Had a very nice day. Saturday, we moved our youngest into his dorm at Rutgers New Brunswick. (Go Scarlet Knights). The move went well, but we ran into a parking lot on the Turnpike after a truck caught on fire. Monday, I found myself driving back to New Brunswick to drop off my son's books. (They finally came in and I knew he would need them since classes started today). Tuesday, I was able to go to the shore for the day. (First time this summer...where did this summer go?) Had a really relaxing time on the beach with my best friend. I so enjoy just watching the waves. Ate some great Mack and Manco pizza for dinner and then walked the boards (buying a little bit of chocolate nut fudge...yum) before coming home. (Thanks again for allowing me to invade your vacation).

Been trying to work on a couple of projects, but just can't seem to get any of them to come together. Usually when that happens, I put it aside and try to come back to it later. My creativity just seems to be taking a (short) vacation. Hopefully, I will be posting something soon. In the meantime, leave me a comment. Tell me how you think I could improve the blog, what projects you have been working on, or just to say Hi. I would love to hear from you. Be inspired and just imagine what you could do......Thanks.