Friday, May 25, 2012

Christmas Gift Card Holders

I'm playing along in the Jingle Belles challenge this week and we need to make a gift card holder.  I have a few to show you and I'm really pleased with how they turned out!

I made a dutch fold card for the first time and it is perfect to hold a gift card.   Here is the link to a tutorial on this type of card at Splitcoaststampers  

Card recipe:
Papers - DCWV Christmas Combo Stack and scraps
Santa - Cricut Joys of the Season
Tis the season stamp - unknown
Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Circle
Snowflake brads, Stickles, Tartan ribbon

For the next gift card holder I used something that we all have in our house, a toilet paper roll. I flattened it with my Big Shot and then covered it with Christmas papers from Simple Stories. 



I created a tag for the card insert. I added a button, clear snowflake embellishment, brad, ribbon and hand-sewed a blanket stitch around the edge of the gift card holder.  I'll simply use a glue dot to hold the gift card in place on the tag.

Card holder insert and tag
 


Front View                                                                    Back View


Hope this inspires you to make a gift card holder, for any occasion!

Thanks for dropping by!



Challenge:  Jingle Belles

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Spring in Bloom - Garden Party #115

The weather has been amazing for the past week!  It is hotter than usual yet we have had some rain and as such the garden is coming into full bloom.  I enjoyed an extra long weekend and have finally enjoyed a bit of time in my craftroom. 

This card is part of the Shabby Tea Room Garden Party challenge.  The sketch design was an older MojoMonday sketch.

Card recipe:
Green strips - K&Company Que Sera Sera
Centre frame with lily - gcd Studios Antiquities
Butterfly - K&Company TC Blossomwood
Plaid tag - Lost & Found Portobello Road
Doily - Tim Holtz with Black Soot distress ink
Flower - ribbon hand-stitched
"just a note" stamped with Ranger permanent ink on silk ribbon
Grommet, gem flower and gem stones - unknown

For this challenge, we were asked to use these colours for inspiration and add a dimensional flower.


I hope the weather is nice your way and thanks for dropping by!




Challenge Shabby Tea Room

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Birdcage Thank You Card - Honorable Mention

It looks like the nice weather is finally here to stay with us.  We'll be planting our flower and vegetable gardens soon!

I joined The Shabby Tea Week #114 Beautifully Shaped challenge for this week to create a shaped card. 

I'm pleased that my card was selected as one of the 10 honorable mention cups of tea.  Thanks to the selection team!

Cardstock - Ivory Staples #110
DCWV Glitter
DCWV The Sweet Stack

Using one of my new Cricut carts, Straight from the Nest, I formed the base of the card by welding two birdcages together (using the hide feature to remove the bars of the cage).  I then made 2 more cuts of the birdcage - one in blue and one in pink (again using the hide feature). 

From there, I just let my inspiration take over and...I created the grunge flower, made 2 stick pins, glued yellow and blue ribbon together, cut a doily cut from Elegant Cakes and layered all of that together.  Then I added a blue ribbon to look like the birdcage hanging loop and cut the word "Thanks" from Winter Woodland. 

Here were the colour inspirations for this challenge


Thanks for dropping by today!  I appreciate your comments!



Friday, May 11, 2012

"Let Us Be Judged by our Acts"

I hope you're having a great Friday.  The sun is shining here and we're heading into the weekend.  I'm fortunate to have plans with my husband and children on Sunday to celebrate Mother's Day.  A special wish to all mothers - may you be treated especially well, be surrounded by family and friends and take time for yourselves!

Today I created the graduation card for my DS who will graduate from high school in June.  I've been following a number of different sketch challenges but this isn't part of any specific one.  I'm sure there are elements that you could find on different sketches but this is my own creation.  I did join in with Scrapbooker's Paradise challenge Playing in Paradise #66 - Graduation/Encouragement to create a graduation card.

My son loves it when I add metal tape to his cards.  So I started with the graduation cap.



I cut the cap from the Cricut Wrap It Up cartridge.  Then I placed stickers for the 2012, drywall mesh and  small pieces of aluminium duct tape on the rectangular board piece.  Yes, I do raid my husband's handyman supplies.  To give it an authentic used metal look, I use a small tool from Walnut Hollow to distress the aluminum tape.  Then cover the finished piece with black acrylic paint, wipe it off and let it dry.  Then I add some gold wax metallic finish in certain places. 

Then I created the other elements of the card, keeping a masculine and somewhat old time style.


The gear as the background element for the grad cap was cut from Cricut Indie cart in gold Recollections paper and embossed with the Cuddlebug Clockworks folder.  It was trimmed in brown cardstock to add dimension.  The other papers are from DCWV High School Matstack. 

Looking closely at the button, I realized that there was some writing on it so I researched it further.  This is one from my MIL's stash and I believe it comes from the 1950s. 




It was found on men's blazers and the inscription is Spectemur Agendo.  This is a Latin motto meaning "Let us be judged by our acts".  The source is said to be the from Book XIII of  Ovid's Metamorphoses.  It appears that these buttons are still available by the Waterbury Button Company.  I find this trivia interesting but more importantly that it's meaning is most suitable for my dear son as he begins the next phase of his life and pursues his studies at college in the Fall.

In case you're curious about the other metal tape cards that I made for him. I'll show you the one at Christmas and the other for his 18th birthday.




Thanks for stopping by! 



Challenge

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Caroling in May

I do realize that Mother's Day will soon be upon us but the weather is cool so I'm continuing to make Christmas cards.  This one is for Jingle Belles and Repeat Impressions challenges. 

The sketch from Repeat Impressions is as follows



For Jingle Belles, we were encouraged to add embossing..."dry embossing, heat embossing, or even textured or embossed papers ... whatever you can do to add a little texture to your holiday project."

Here's what I created
Card recipe:
The black stamped images - Versafine with clear embossing powder then heated
Cuddlebug Snowflake embossing folder for the large white frame, added Glimmer mist
Cuddlebug Polka Dot folder for the blue caroler's coat
Cricut - Winter Frolic for carolers, Ornamental Iron 2 for red and white frames
Embellishments Skittles and pearls, chalk for cheeks, Peachy Keen for faces
Thanks for stopping by!  I love to hear your comments.



Challenges:
Jingle Belles JB10-12 - Embossing around the Tree
Repeat Impressions M212

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Card for Homemade Treats

Hello again!  I'm just on a roll with making cards and keeping my blog up to date.  Thanks for the lovely comments from those who drop by from other challenges.  It's always nice to get some feedback!

Today's card is for RAQ's Challenge on the Cricut forum and it is also part of the CPS Challenge for this week #264.  There were also ad colours suggested for RAQ's challenge.

So here is the sketch and the ad colours


 


I thought it would be really difficult to select papers in the ad colours that would coordinate nicely but I think it turned out fine.  With the warmer weather, I think I will need a card for a potluck BBQ dinner so I created this cute little card. 

I made the sunflower with my Cricut using the Stretch Your Imagination, Accent Essentials and Damask Decor carts.  I have a tutorial with photos on my blog that you can read here.  The corner diamond accents are leftovers from the argyle pattern cut.


Card Recipe
Coral and Yellow sparkle papers - DCWV Glitter
Coral checkered paper - K & Company Sweet Nectar
Blue with Birds - DCWV Green Stack
Skyblue base - Recollections
Ivory Base - Staples 110#
Cricut - Wild Card for Argyle cut
Cricut - Tags, Bags, Boxes and More for sentiment frames

I'm looking forward to the next BBQ dinner with friends!

Thanks for dropping by!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Would you join me for a cup of tea?

I had some free time this afternoon so I decided to play in my craftroom.  I was inspired to make a card while thinking about some dear friends and after looking at a number of different blogs and challenges.

Here is what I created and happily it meets the requirements of three challenges. All of the cuts were made using my Cricut.   I needed to line up my paper exactly on the Cricut mat to achieve a "Royal Doulton" fine china pattern but I think I succeeded.

Card Recipe:
Papers - Kraft cardstock for base, Fancy Pants for pink base,
K&Company Blue pattern, Lost & Found for teacup, Recollections for solids
Cricut - Elegant Edges for all cuts except teacup which was A Child's Year
Pearls and gold Stickles for embellishments
Ink - Distress Broken China


For the sketch design - I Spy Sketches


Colours including having a rose The Shabby Tea Room 


And lastly, using Kraft cardstock for the Kraft Journal Make it Monday challenge with the theme being "Card for Her".

Hope you'll join me and have a cup of tea with your dear friends soon!




Merry Monday

It's a rainy day here and I'm still in the mood to create a Christmas card.  It's not always easy but I know that I will feel much better in September if I can keep making a few each month.

This week's sketch on Merry Monday looked like fun so I joined in.




I decided to use up mainly Christmas cardstock scraps as my folder is bulging and there are still some good pieces available.  I designed all the cuts on my Gypsy and then all I needed to do was ink, add a grommet and ribbon and glue down the shapes.   I modified the rounded rectangle a bit but that's part of the creativity and interpretation of the sketch!


Card Recipe
Papers - DCWV and Recollections
Cricut - Accent Essentials card base, Elegant Edges for green frame,
Ribbons & Rosettes for border with snowman and Winter Frolic for ornament
Ink - Antique Linen, Peeled Paint distressed for oval and Versafine for sentiment
Holly Leaves - Ranger Emerald
Ribbon - plaid from stash, stickles coloured with red marker, grommet and
acetate for oval frame


Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Mojo Monday - 25th Anniversary card

It feels like I've been away for such a long time from my craft table but really it was only about four days.  I'm grateful that Jingle Belles' Peace on Earth - re-use/recycle challenge featured my Christmas card.  It was my first time joining in and I had fun using scraps and parts of old Christmas cards.

Today I took time to play along with Mojo Monday and created a 25th anniversary card.  This week's challenge is the monthly Mojo Madness sketch and the winner could receive a set of Verve stamps.  I'm just slowly buying and getting into stamping so unfortunately I don't have any Verve stamps yet.  I've added them to my Mother's Day wish list so we'll see what happens on Sunday.

Here is this week's sketch - Mojo Monday 240



And here is my interpretation - lots of silver, white and some bling!


Card recipe
Paper - Making Memories Wedding and aluminium foil glued on scrap cardstock
Cricut cuts: silver circle is Ornamental Iron 2 (two half circles welded) and Blackletter for "25"
White circle is Spellbinders die
All other shapes were cut by hand
Pearl embellishment, small silk flower and silver/white ribbon

I strive to have at least one Cricut image on my cards as I've invested in this tool and there are so many wonderful images to explore on each cartridge.  I don't have a favourite yet but I do like the intricate cuts on Ornamental Iron.

Thanks for dropping by and of course I always appreciate your comments!

Enjoy your week!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

To a great Mom and Grandma!

I was able to spend some time with my mother this weekend and have a pre-Mother's Day celebration.  Our visit was short but very enjoyable.

Both cards were part of RAQ's challenge on the Cricut forum, one from a few weeks ago and the second from this week.


Card Recipe -
 Papers - My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found Market Street
Green brads were inked with Rangers Alcohol Ink
Added pearl and gem embellishments
Silk Ribbon and Covered brad
Cricut - Dress Form and dress - Forever Young
Elegant Edges for the frame

Card Recipe
Papers - My Mind's Eye - Lost & Found Market Street
Green glitter paper for border - DCWV Boys Stack
Cricut - A Child's Year for silhouettes and Elegant Edges for frame
Pink narrow ribbon and Making Memories large grommet


Hope you had a great weekend too!


Thursday, May 3, 2012

Merry Monday Challenge

I'm still making Christmas cards despite the warmer weather!  I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep this up weekly but every little bit counts.

This week's Merry Monday Challenge


And here's my interpretation:


Card Recipe
Rosette - made with Cricut Ribbons & Rosettes
Merry Christmas ticket and hanger - Tim Holtz
Papers are all leftovers so uncertain of origin
2 buttons layered and from my stash

Have a great day!


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

I Spy Sketches Challenge


May is here and we'll be opening the cottage on the weekend.  We just can't wait as it is a magical place for us - we just leave the work and stress behind us and enjoy this wonderful retreat in the woods on a beautiful lake! 

I've been spending some time looking around different blogs and tutorials and came across the I Spy Sketches.  This week's challenge looked like fun and I like the simplicity of the shapes.

 

I created 2 cards using this sketch and I'm quite pleased with them.


Card Recipe:
Patterned Paper Simple Stories
Gingerbread Man - Cricut Winter Frolic
Old button and ribbon from stash


Card Recipe
Papers - My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Portobello Road
Oval Frame hand cut from My Mind's Eye
Cowboy - Cricut A Child's Year
"D A D" lettering - Cricut Songbird
Worn buttons from stash


I love to hear your comments and thanks for dropping by!