Jingle Belles - Another first for me!

I have been considering the Jingle Belles challenge for some time now as Sandy and RAQ from the Cricut forum have been participating and encouraging me to join in. 

The challenge for this week is to "create a holiday card which re-uses, re-purposes, re-cycles, up-cycles, or in some way "rescues" a bit of... well, SOMETHING... which you'd've either thrown away, or perhaps just overlooked in terms of card-making?"

I wasn't sure what to do, so I started by pulling out the Christmas cards that I received (yes, I do hang onto to these items).  From there, I figured I had plenty of scraps to make a card.

Here it is (the flash may not have picked up on the sparkly effect of the image as well as it could have):

Card Recipe

Image with Happy Holidays - recycled from an old card (cut using Cricut Elegant Edges)

Star - recycled from an old card and cut by hand

Silver border - scrap of aluminium foil embossed on scrap cardstock

All remaining papers were scraps including card base

Ribbon - used from a Christmas gift

Button - over 25 years from my MIL's stash, with original thread from clothing

Corner punch - re-use of a Fiskars punch that I had neglected in the bottom of my drawer

Gallery Name: JB:12:09: PEACE ON EARTH(DAY)

I hope to join in again soon!

Bird-day Card

I had a last minute request from my DD to make a birthday card for her friend.  Her friend likes the colours purple and green.

I used a March sketch from I Spy Sketches

and created this:

Card Recipe

Bird - Cricut 3 Birds on Parade

Frame - Cricut Elegant Edges

Fiskars and Corner Chompers

Purple and Green Patterned Paper - K& Company Poppyseed stack

Solid colours - Recollections

Cupcake border paper - unknown

Pearl embellishments, narrow ribbon and old button from stash

It was a nice change from some of the Christmas cards that I have been making.

Hope she'll enjoy it!

Winter Wonderland - Merry Monday Challenge

So I decided to try another new challenge, this time the Merry Monday on the Always Playing with Paper blog.  I don't remember how I found this one but I thought it would be fun to join in as it is hosted by a fellow Canadian!

This sketch for this week

And here is what I created

Card recipe:

Three ornaments are Tim Holtz fragments (top Cranberry and bottom Meadow alcohol inks)

Middle ornament - Simple Stories paper

Aluminium Duct tape for the ornament tops

Red snowflake paper - DCWV Christmas Combo Stack

Pearls added to each snowflake

Star and Candy cane metal embellishments



Thanks for dropping by!

Mojo Monday - A first for me!

I decided to join in on the Mojo Monday sketch after a great read of NanaDonna's blog.  She's a regular participant on the RAQ challenge on the Cricut forum that I have been following.

Here is the sketch for this week Mojo Monday # 238

I always find it a challenge to align the squares perfectly so I decided to take an image from Cricut Ornamental Iron 2 cartridge and weld the 12 squares together using my Gypsy.  It was so easy and within a few minutes, I was cutting out the design.  

For the first card, I made more of a mosaic/stained glass effect with the base paper that I chose.  The rosette was created from the Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge and the leaves are Accent essentials (inked with Peeled Paint distress in).  I added pearls and a few layers of ribbon.

For this second card, I decided on a black and white palette and flipped the image.

The frame was inked with Versamark and embossed with clear powder to give it a shiny look.  I made a few pearl stick pins, added a feather and created the small tag.  The "thanks" flower was from the Cricut Sweet Treats cartridge.

I always need "thank you" cards on hand to show my appreciation to my dear friends for their wonderful hospitality and generosity. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Tags - à la Finnabair (Anna Dabrowska)

In July, I will have the great pleasure of taking part in a class offered by Anna Dabrowska (Finnabair).  It will be a mixed media class on an art journal where you'll make the cover and two inside pages.  Anna does some amazing work - journals, layouts, tags, etc. and I'm thrilled to have registered for one of the few classes that she'll be doing in Canada, and lucky me just a few minutes from my home . Finnabair blog

So today I was inspired to make a tag after browsing Anna's blog - and it is the perfect timing as I need one for friends that we will be visiting on Saturday. If you have taken a peek at Anna's work, you'll see that she does a ton of layering, inking and uses many of Tim Holtz' products on her wonderful creations.

Here is the finished tag that I made and I'm really happy with how it turned out!

I started by inking the ivory cardstock with distressed ink in Victorian Velvet, Broken China and Peeled Paint colours.  Then I placed a cut that I made from the Damask Decor cartridge (it's the green shape that you see peeking out).  I then added the victorian style heart (Cricut Everyday Paper Dolls cart), the gear is a chipboard shape that I had and I simply inked with Ranger Sienna ink. 

I then made the ticket using a Tim Holtz stamp and inked the ivory cardstock in Antique Linen, Spiced Marmalade and Vintage Photo distressed inks.  The ticket was attached using a Tim Holtz small hanger.  On the bottom right, I used the Cuttlebug Clockworks folder and inked the clock shape with Vintage Photo and cut it out by hand. 

In the center, I glued a piece of fabric border that had a string of sequins already attached. Next the flowers were made using cuts on the Cricut - Accent Essentials for both flowers. 

 For the small pinkish flower, I simply curled the petals of three layers in the same size and added a brad for the centre.  For the larger flower, I inked four layers (2 large, 1 medium and 1 small) and pinched/crunched the petals following Tim Holtz' grunge flower technique and added a pearl for the centre. 

Lastly you'll find a small flourish on the bottom left that I simply added a few brown pearl embellishments. 

I'd love to hear your comments on this tag!  Enjoy!

Another handmade flower tutorial

This week at RAQ's Challenge on the Cricut forum, we were challenged to make our own embellishments.  I always enjoy making flowers and trying new techniques.  So this week I combined a Tim Holtz tissue tape flower with a fabric flower that I cut using my Cricut.

Here is the finished product

I started with the tissue tape flower.  Tim Holtz has a great (and simple) video that you can follow Tim Holtz Tissue Tape Flower.  For my flower, I cut a one inch circle from scraps and started the process of pinching the tape around the circle. 

Once that was completed, I created the flower base.  I used Cindy Loo cartridge for cutting the fabric (which I ironed on heat bond interfacing).  I cut six sets of the loops, which I then stamped with Ranger Sepia permanent ink, using a stamp that looks like old writing. It's okay if the edges are frayed, it is supposed to have a vintage feel.

I then proceeded to hand baste the fabric loops to create the flower.  It is really easy and quick to do. And you simply continue from one set of loops to the next.  For this flower, since I was combining the tissue tape, I only used 3 sets of loops.



 I then did the same hand basting with old lace that I had and create a circle for the base.

And voilà, here is the thank you card for my DD to give her manager.

Paper: K&Company TC Blossomwood

Card base Recollections

Top portion of card - embossed with Tim Holtz, stained with Vintage photo distress ink

Punch - Martha Stewart

Base of the "merci" frame inked with Antique Linen distress ink

Cricut cuts: Ornamental Iron 2 for "merci" frame" and Cindy Loo for the flower base

Embellishments - ribbon, button, pearls and gems



Hope you try making your own flowers too!

25th Anniversary Card

I can't remember a time when the grass was so green and everything was starting to bloom by mid April.  We're enjoying the nice weather and starting to plan for the cottage season. 

I've been following a challenge on the Cricut forum and created this 25th anniversary card.  I'm really pleased with how it turned out!

Cricut cuts - Elegant Edges for background frame and Sweethearts for flowers

The two strips were covered in heavy duty aluminium foil and embossed (Tim Holtz butterflies and Sizzix flowers)

Sizzix nestabilities for round frame

Tim Holtz die for flourish

Pearl accents and bling 25 sticker

Paper Making Memories Wedding stack

Back to blogging!

I've neglected my blog for far too long!  Time to get back to it!  I've been making lots of cards and following a challenge on the Cricut forum. 

I'll show a few cards today starting with my DS 18th birthday card.  I made this one back in February and I really loved how it turned out. 

  Papers are Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman

18 border is aluminium duct tape - distressed, inked

Pocket Watch was cut with Cricut welding a key from Gypsy Wanderings with a circle

Embellishment - chipboard gears, chain, gold brad

I've been experimenting with Steampunk style and having lots of fun. Here's one and they'll be more in the coming days.

Gears border using Cricut and welding Accent Essentials images

Tim Holtz ticket stamp and small metal hanger

Flower made with Cricut

Old lace from my stash over 45 years old



Hope you're enjoying your day and have a great weekend!