Pages

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Boys Will Be Boys IV

'MY Cricut Cartridge Alphabet'... Number Four
 
Released in September 2010, BWBB is one of those cartridges you return to again and again.  It has lots of boy-themed images (naturally), but also two great fonts. 

   Cricut® Boys Will Be Boys Cartridge    Cricut Boys Will Be Boys Full Content Cartridge
 
 
The Creative Features are:- 'layer', 'arrow font', 'block font', 'phrase', 'phrase layer' and 'shadow'.  The images are everything little boys could wish for, bugs, worms, snails and sports, although many of the images can be made girl-friendly with the simple use of girly colours and papers.  I love the 'shift layer' feature (circle or square block background), I think it makes the image one that can 'stand alone', particularly good for cards, but I think this cartridge really comes into its own when its used for scrapbooking, especially the fonts.  The cuts are very simple, which makes this a great cartridge for beginners.   There are also some embossing folders available out there for this cartridge (and the Robotz cartridge) called 'Cuttlebug Companion'.
 
My View... one of the best out there, both for scrapbooking and card-making, the images are bold and very versitile.  You will never be without an idea with this cartridge in your collection, especially if you make anything for children.  Your biggest problem will be... deciding what to cut first.
 
My Verdict... just go and get it.  It is definately in my top five!  Love it, love it, love it!!!

And just to prove that, it may be called 'Boys Will Be Boys' but that doesn't mean the girls can't get a look in!
 
I managed to use up aload of scraps doing this (pat on the back, please). The aeroplane is cut at 2 3/4" and the sentiment says.. "You're Just PLANE Cute", the edges are inked with Tim Holtz (victorian Velvet), I think my ribbon is a little skew-wiff, but what can you do? I'm not perfect! Another one for my niece's birthday, at this rate she'll have a box full!
 
Challenges:-
 
FANTABULOUS CRICUT - #150 - 'FCCB's Fun With Puns'
 
PAPER CRAFTING INSPIRATION - CWC #123 - 'Things With Wings'
 
CELEBRATE THE OCCASION - Ch. #101 - 'Girl's Birthday' ~ must use pink
 
CRAFTY CARDZ CHALLENGE - Ch #126 - 'Make a Wish' ~ make a child's birthday card
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 


Animal Kingdom III

Number three in 'MY Cricut Cartridge Series'

Release April 2006 now discontinued, designed by Marie Cole, 'ANIMAL KINGDOM'.

 

The creative features are:- 'head', 'sound', 'bookmark', 'border', 'shadow' and 'blackout'.  The images are great and very detailed without being overwhelming.  I love the bookmark feature.  This cartridge allows you to cut out the head of the individual animals or the sounds that they make, included are also various phrases, such as "wild thing", "monkey business", "splish splash"etc. The border feature means you can create a veritably 'herd' of animals should you wish. Cricut have also produced a paper pad (6x12) to go with this cartridge, it contains various animal prints and co-ordinating papers.
 
My View... at some point during your crafting you ARE going to need this cartridge (or at least animal images), whether you could get away with one of the other cartridges? I'm not sure.  I think this cartridge would be especially good for scrapbooking and for producing teaching aids for children.  The whole animal kingdom is covered in one go here, but since this cartridge is now discontinued perhaps it is a moot point anyway!  It may be available 'digitally' to use with the 'Cricut Craft Room' however.
 
My Verdict... lets just say, I'm glad I've got this cartridge!
 
 
 Here's what I decided to do... the bookmark feature is really nice, but I only gives you the block image (as in the first picture), in order to get some detailing in there I consulted my 'Gypsy'.

 
On the Gypsy, firstly I loaded in the image of the lion bookmark at 6 1/2" (p.112), then I added another 'page' and loaded the image of the lion and it's layers.  With the first page (lion bookmark) silhouetted in the background I adjusted the size of the lion (and the layers) to fit correctly over the bookmark, in this case the size turned out to be 1.9".  I then used my Cricut Expression to cut the lion with the bookmark feature key pressed (to make the bookmark) at 6 1/5", next I used the gyspy (connected to the Cricut Expression) to cut the lion and its layers. 'A bit fiddley, I know, but worth it if you want more than the standard bookmark.  I used 'Echo Park' 'This & That - Charming' paper pad 'Vintage fans' and 'border strips'.  I didn't have an appropriate stamp to make the face so I just free-handed it with a 'black' promarker (though I did need to use a fine nib - available in packs of three from Letraset), I also added some shading to the body of the lion with a 'sandstone' promarker.  I hope you like it, next time I'm gonna give him a royal crown!
 
Challenges:-
 
ALLSORTS CHALLENGE BLOG - #195 - 'Animals'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - Wednesday
 
 
MAY ALL YOUR BLADES BE SHARP!
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 

Tuesday 26 February 2013

Alphalicious II

The Cricut 'Font' Cartridges come in orange boxes, 'Image' Cartridges come in blue boxes and 'Classmates' Cartridges come in green boxes. There are some exceptions to these colors, when the cartridge is exclusive to certain companies. Recently new cartridges have been released that have a variety of coloured covers. You'll need to check the front to see if they are marked "Art" cartridge. That means they are mainly "image" cartridges.  'Solutions' Cartridges only have about 50 images on them. 'Seasonal' Cartridges only have about 25 images on them. Neither Solutions, nor Seasonal Cartridges have handbooks with them.  Cricut 'Cake' Cartridges can be used with any Cricut machine, not just the Cricut Cake.

So here's the second of 'MY Cricut Cartridge Alphabet' -  'ALPHALICIOUS', this is a font cartridge and is designed by rob and bob studio.
 
Cricut® Alphalicious Cartridge  Cricut® Alphalicious Cartridge  Cricut® Alphalicious Cartridge  Cricut® Alphalicious Cartridge
 
The creative features are:- 'short stack', 'crown tag', 'matchbook', 'crest card', 'shadow' and 'short stack shadow'.  The font styles are great, very modern in design and the different creative features make this a pretty versilite cartridge.  The 'matchbook' feature is really good for something different, particularly if you like to put small gifts and/or sachets into your cards.  I also like that there is both a 'card' and a 'tag' feature.  As well as this, there are some phrases towards the back of the booklet, although I think it would have been nice to include some kind of 'love' phrase.
 
My View... as font cartridges go, this is a good one (it can be difficult to make a card using ONLY a font cartridge unless you are making something very simple), but I come back to this cartridge time and time again when I need an alphabet. 
 
My Verdict... if you get it, I have NO DOUBT that you'll use it!
 
 
 
 
This is cut using the 'card' feature button (p.121) with 'ALPHALICIOUS', I love the shape of it.  Here I have used it for a 'love' card but I think it would work particularly well for a 'halloween' card.  The dogs are cut using 'BOYS WILL BE BOYS' and the hearts are from 'ACCENT ESSENTIALS', the flowers are from my stash., with added sparkle (stickles) of course!
 
Challenges...
 
PAPER CRAFTING INSPIRATION - #122 - 'Love Your Pet'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - Tuesday
 
CRAFTY CATZ - 'Dies and Punches'
 
PIN AND TACK - #6 - 'Anything Goes' - "Spark Your Creativity Now!"
 
CARDS TV - #125 - 'Critter Cuties'
 
FAB 'N' FUNKY - #159 - 'Flower Power'
 
HECK OF A CHALLENGE - ' Love Is All Around Us...'
 
ALLSORTS CHALLENGE BLOG - #195 - 'Animals'
 
THE PINK ELEPHANT - TPE 188 - 'Anything Goes'
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 


Monday 25 February 2013

Winner!

What can I say... Thank you Doodle Pantry for, not only giving us such great digital stamp images, but for giving me a $15 voucher for winning their #31 challenge!
I just love their 'birdie' images, so here's another one courtesy of Doodle Pantry!
 
Very simple - downloaded; copied and pasted into MS Word; printed out onto white cardstock; coloured with promarkers; trimmed down to the desired size; edges inked; adhered onto a glittery leaf mat (from scrap pile) and "I Thank You"!
 

A CARD A DAY Blogging - Monday


Blah... blah... blah...
 

LOL

There are so few occasions when we actually 'Laugh Out Loud', that we should celebrate those times.

What makes you LOL?

I found a great blog the other day Kircut Krazy, what made me LOL...

This...

My fear is that I will die, and my husband will sell all my stuff for the price I told him I paid...

"If she dies, I have to sell her stuff for 3x the amount she claims she paid so I can get HALF the amount she did."
 
 
 
...I'm still chuckling!
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 

'My Cricut Cartridge Alphabet'

ACCENT ESSENTIALS I

So today (after work, although I haven't got too much to do today), I feel the need to go through my Cricut cartridges and try to make a card with each one - sound good?  I would like to do this in some sense of order... but which order?  Do I do it alphabetically? Or chronologically? Or some other way?
 
Alphabetically... then it will not be alphabetical when I buy a new cartridge (which I KNOW I will)
 
Chronologically... when they came out? Or when I bought them? Decisions, decisions!

Answers on a postcard, please!

Anyway my first cartridge will be 'ACCENT ESSENTIAL' (because it starts with an 'a'), so what can I tell you about this cartridge?

According to the Cricut Gods this cartridge is available only when you buy a Cricut Expression machine (yeah right, ebay?) and is designed by  rob and bob studio.

Cricut® Accent Essentials CartridgeCricut® Accent Essentials Cartridge  Cricut® Accent Essentials Cartridge 





I suppose nowadays we'd call this cartridge a 'lite' or 'solutions' cartridge as it only has one creative feature - 'shadow'.  But it does have some great cuts, although it is easily overlooked for some of the more complicated cartridges.  It is a testiment to how easy it is to ignore that my booklet has not even been opened! And yet, the snowflake on p.44 and the swirl on p.47 are two very versitile images, as is the hexagon on p.76 this shape is very 'IN' at the moment.

My view... the accent essential is probably not very 'essential' but most people who have a cricut (or at least who have bought it new, unlike me) have got this cartridge as it was part of the Cricut Expression bundle, so why not give it a bit of a study, you WILL find some great cuts to use. 

My verdict... you COULD do without it, but if you've got it USE IT!!!

So the first in 'My Cricut Cartridge Alphabet'...

Accent Essential Cartridge


CARD BASE - white cardstock (5 7/8" x 8 1/4") - scored and folded in half
1ST MAT - pink 'Cricut' paper (5 3/4" x 4")
2ND MAT - 'Helz Cuppleditch' 'Bazoo', sparkly leaf design (5 1/2" x 3 3/4")
3RD MAT - 'Echo Park' 'Dots & Stripes - Candy Shoppe', Mango Small Dot (2" x 3 3/34")
BORDER - pink 'Cricut' paper (1" x 3 3/4") - 'X-Cut' border punch 'sparkler', faux stitching

CRICUT CUT - 'ACCENT ESSENTIALS'
1ST CUT - 'Echo Park' 'Dots & Stripes - Candy Shoppe', Mango Small Dot - p.34 <accent3s>  (3")
2ND CUT - pink 'Cricut' paper - p.34 <accent3s> (2 3/4")
3RD CUT - pale green cardstock (from stash) - p.34 <accent3s> (2 1/2")
4TH CUT - 'Echo Park' 'Dots & Stripes - Candy Shoppe' Lemon Drop Small Dot - p.66 <accenr35s> (2 1/4")
1" circle punch for the centre circle with a Peachy Keen 3/4" face stamp

SENTIMENT - 'A Loving hello' from stash
RIBBON -'American Craft'
All edges inked with Time Holtz 'Wild Honey'

CREATED WITH LOVE CHALLENGE - #30 - 'Mid Winter Break... Bright and Cheerful'


MAY ALL YOUR ESSENTIALS BE ACCENTED!
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 

 

Sunday 24 February 2013

Wintertime Bear

Happy Sunday Everyone, I hope your day is going well.
 
I'm having a lazy day, it nice and peaceful, no kids (they're out visiting their grandparents), no parents (they're visiting the seaside) and no work!  Could anything be MORE relaxing?
 
My card today is a little trip into the "I'll do something different today" zone, so my chosen colours (or shades of said colours) are not ones I'd usually use, you decide, does it work? Or not?

 

The black mat has been embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder.  The rich dark pink cardstock is from Dufex and the glittery blue/white cardstock is by Hunkydory.
 
The polar bear is cut out using my Cricut Expression (naturally) using the 'JOYS OF THE SEASON' cartridge (p. 52), this was cut at 2 2/3".
 
The "wintertime" and the swirly dots are from my local pound shop.

 
I'm still not convince that it all works as a whole, but hey ho...
 
Challenges:-
 
FUSSY AND FANCY FRIDAY CHALLENGE - ch.#83 - 'Pink and Black
 
CREATIVE CRAFT CHALLENGE - Ch. #4 - 'A Sketch for You'
 
DIE CUTTIN DIVAS - Ch. #103 - 'Polar Bear'
 
LITTLE SCRAP PIECES - FunFriday Challenge - 'Emboss it'
 
CARDS FOR MEN - Ch. #4 - 'Wintertime'
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 


Saturday 23 February 2013

Basic Grey

Just finished work for the day!  Wales won the rugby (always a bonus) and all our loyal customers have had their cawl!
 
Now I can do some more crafting.
 
Sketch Saturday have another sketch to follow this week...
               ... so I decided to give it a go!
Used that lovely Saturated Canary stamp again - I just love it!
 
 

 

Card base - dark brown cardstock (5 1/2" x 11") - scored and folded in half
1st mat - dark red cardstock (5" x 5") - embossed
2nd mat - BASICGREY Life of the Party 'shindig' (2 1/2" x 5 1/4")
Top square (its not really square!) - dark brown mat (2 5/8" x 2 3/8), dark red mat (2 1/2" x 2 1/4"),  BASICGREY Life of the Party 'Ice Cream Headache'
Botton square (neither is this one) - dark brown mat (2 5/8" x 2 3/8), dark red mat (2 1/2" x 2 1/4"), BASICGREY Life of the Party 'Candy Bag'
Image Mat - dark brown (3 1/8" x 4 1/4")
Stamped image - SATURATED CANARY 'Summer' (3" x 4 1/8")
Inside...
1st mat - dark red cardstock (2" x 4 3/4") -  embossed
2nd mat - BASICGREY Life of the Party 'Candy Bag' (3 1/2" x 4 1/4")
3rd mat - dark brown cardstock (3" x 3 3/4")
4th mat - BASICGREY Life of the Party 'shindig' (2 1/2" x 3 1/4")
Brads and button - from stash
All edges have been inked with TIM HOLTZ 'Tea Dye'
 
Gosh when you write it like that ^ it seems really complicated ----- its NOT!
 
I'm glad I've got around to using this paper pad from BASICGREY, it really has got some lovely patterns, and... 'Ice Cream Headache' what a name for a piece of paper!
 
Challenges...
 
SKETCH SATURDAY - Ch. #247 - 'With Wings & Willows'
 
BASICGREY CHALLENGES - Ch. #88 - 'Anything Goes'
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Friday 22 February 2013

Award Blinky!

Firstly I'd like to thank the Design Team at MY PAPER CRAFTS WORLD, thank you for choosing my (humble) little card as one of your 'Top Three Chefs', (I feel like I'm at the Oscars, LOL), I'd like to thank... sorry getting a bit carried carried away!  The 'Outreach' challenge was really fun to do, its always nice to be able to offer comfort and encouragement to other people.  Check out the fun challenges and see for yourselves...
  <--- Award Winner!!!
I've even got another little blinky - how cool am I?
 

Today's card is as follows...

 
The little carrot and flower have been cut out using my Cricut Expression, both cuts are from the 'CREATE-A-CRITTER' cartridge (possibly my fav. of all time).  The sentiment 'Have a 24 carrot day' has been generated (posh word!) on my computer and the birthday sentiment is a glitter peel-off.  Underneath the cream faux stitched mat I have stuck various strips of patterned paper (off-cuts from my ever growing stash), its a great way to use up some of those really loved papers that we are loathed to throw away!

Challenges? Yeah...

BROWN SUGAR - Challenge #30 - 'Fruit/Vegetable'

A CARD A DAY Blogging - Friday

MAY ALL YOUR RIBBON BE UNTANGLED!
 
Blah... blah... blah...



 
 
 

Hip Hip Hooray!

I've just finished my shift in the bar.  All the sausage and chips have been eaten, the bread and butter and sandwiches are long gone, and the glass washer has done its final load for tonight.  Both pool teams have now all toddled off to bed.  The game tonight was a bit of a grudge match since we are second in the division and we were playing the top team - well we won!
 
I'm not posting a card... I'm about to go to bed, but before I go, I was left a comment earlier tonight from Stephanie (Cricutmimi) about my washing machine, thank you by the way.  So just for you Stephanie here's a picture of my purple Dyson Washing Machine (which I've just found out CAN be fixed hip, hip, hooray!).  The picture doesn't do it justice by the way, as all the purple is glittery...
 
Cool isn't it!  Nighty Night xxx


Blah... blah... blah...


 

Thursday 21 February 2013

Purple!

I thought I'd do a quick post before starting work (pool match tonight)... after flipping through my cricut booklets I came across this charming cupcake.  A very nice man from town has been out today to fix my Dyson machine machine - the first time it has broken down in thirteen years (yes, 13), is two months after they have been declared 'obsolete'!!!  Apparently Dyson only made them for one year because they couldn't make any money on them!  Anyway, what has this to do with my card? I hear you asking.  Well my Dyson washing machine is PURPLE, yes it really is - a sparkly purple at that, hence the colour for my cupcake!

 
I used my Cricut Expression to cut out the shadow (black), and then two cuts of the cupcake (purple and patterned),  the cherry has had some glossy accents plastered over the top to make it shiny, all this was done using the 'HOME DECOR' cartridge. Yummy...
 
 
Challenges:-
 
FANTABULOUS CRICUT CHALLENGE - #149 - 'Kiss the Cook'
 
BITTEN BY THE BUG 2 - 'Amethyst Colored Birthday Cake or Cupcake'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 

Just Because...

Hello crafters,
 
I've never tried a sketch challenge before so I thought I'd give it a go... 'Sketch Saturday' had a fairly simple sketch (even for me!)...
 
 
... here what I came up with
 


The stamp used was 'Isabella' by SATURATED CANARY, gorgeous isn't she? Coloured with my promarkers, of course.  The white pearl card base is topped with a piece of white cardstock which has been embossed, on top of this is patterned paper  from an old stack (oldie but goodie) called 'Upcycle' by COSMO CRICKET ( it has a very vintage feel to it) I also used this for the thin border strip across the front. I matted and layered using green and purple and added a simple stamped sentiment onto a piece of  'Dots & Stripes - Candy Shoppe' by ECHO PARK (lovely, lovely 6x6 stack, all yellows, pinks, browns, orange and turquoise, I used 'lemon drop').  The stamp was a 'Mixed Sentiment' set by PERSONAL IMPRESSION and the buttons are from a local charity shop!  I hope you like this as much as I do...
 
Challenges:-
 
SKETCH SATURDAY - 'Week 246' - 'Sassy Studio'
 
COME AND GET IT - 'Colorful Challenge'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Thursday'
 
May your glue never run dry!
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Wednesday 20 February 2013

Red/White/Grey

Morning peeps...
 
After yesterdays card 'train wreck' I'm doing a re-write and hoping to get it right this time!.  So...
 

I'm happier with this...
 
I embossed a piece of white cardstock using my Sizzix 'Texture Boutique' and a flower embossing folder.  Using my Cricut Gypsy,  I created the topper (believe~hope~joy) and its shadow from the  'GYPSY WANDERINGS'  cartridge and then cut it out using the Cricut Expression.  I added a flower (although it was sadly faded from being kept in a plastic box for about three years! A promarker - poppy- soon livened it up abit), a little bit of glitter,ribbon and a 'love' sentiment.  Hope you like it :)
 
Challenges:-
 
BROWN SUGAR CHALLENGE # 29 - 'Red, White and Grey'
 
CELEBRATE THE OCCASION # 100 - 'Happy Anniversary'
 
CRAFTY CATZ #170 - 'Eyes Down, Its Bingo Time' - I used 'embossing', dies or punches and flowers'
 
PAPER CRAFTING INSPIRATION # 121 - 'Card Outreach'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - Wednesday
 
Happy Crafting!
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Tuesday 19 February 2013

Grey is the new Black

Hi folks,
 
So I made this card for a challenge and then decided that it was a BIG mistake.  I think I've got a few things wrong with it.  The challenge was for anything using grey/red/white, which, incidently I did manage to do, but I think the wording is too large and the inking around the edges of the shaped mats too... something?  Anyway I thought I'd share my latest mistake with you!
 
 

I'll post again when I get it right!
 
 
Blah.. blah... blah...
 
 
 
 

Monday 18 February 2013

With Love...

My promarkers have been having a really great workout lately, I decided to keep at the colouring-in and gave this 'Saturated Canary' stamp a go.  This is my first card using this stamp, I've never attempted anything this complicated before, but I'm pleased with the result, especially the hair!
 

 
I stamped my image using 'Memento' (Tuxedo Black), after mounting the stamp onto a 'Rock-a-Block' (Crafters' Companion), and then I coloured her in.  This stamp is called 'Summer', I think she is absolutely gorgeous.  I did some matting and layering, using a patteren paper by 'BasicGrey' from a 6x6 paper stack called LIFE OF THE PARTY, I used 'House Party' (its got some really lovely patterns in this pad); some brown and blue paper (cricut 6x12) and then added three little pink buttons and a sentiment.  I hope you like it as much as I do.
 
Challenges?
 
 
BASICGREY CHALLENGES - #87 - 'Your Favourite'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - Monday
 
What wonderful products out there, and what wonderful crafters, thank you to that amazing group of visionaries who invented the internet!
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 

Sunday 17 February 2013

S.W.A.L.K.

I purchased the 'Crafters' Companion' complete S.W.A.L.K. stamp digital collection a while ago and have finally got around to doing some colouring-in with my promarkers!
 
My Aunt is not very well at the moment and is going through some rather nasty treatment, I thought this might cheer her up a bit...
 


I used a 'Hunkydory' A4 piece of cardstock (very pretty pink) and scored and folded it in half.  I did alot of matting and layering using black (courtesy of our local pound shop), pink (cricut paper) and a gorgeous piece of 'Echo Park' from the 6x6 paper stack - 'Country Drive' (this has got to be my all time favourite... so far).  The 'Thinging of You' was cut using my Cricut Expression - 'CRICUT ALPHABET', I tried to match this to the little girls dress but I didn't quite get it right - its a couple of shades out - but hey ho, I didn't do it again 'cause, its Sunday... I'm allowed to be lazy, !
 
<--- LOVE THIS, TRUELY, check it out!
I used 'Clover Meadow'
 
 
Entered into...
 
RAISE THE BAR - Challenge #131 - 'Anything Goes'
 
A CARD A DAY Blogging - Sunday
 
STAMPIN WITH THE DRAGON - Blog Hop With a Twist - 'Anything Goes'
Code Word...STAMPING DRAGON
 
CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Challenge #14 - 'Anything Goes'
 
PIN AND TUCK - Challenge 6 - 'Anything Goes' 
 
"Spark Your Creativity Now!"
 
 
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 
 

Friday 15 February 2013

I'm So Happy

How could you NOT love this digi stamp from Doodle Pantry? AND it was FREE!!!  I downloaded the image (so quick and easy), then simply printed it out and coloured it in with promarkers, what could be easier?  Its such an up-lifting image, I decided to use greens to make it 'spring-like'.
 
I used some black and apple green cardstock to mat and layer along with some patterned paper from a 6x6 stack from CRATE PAPER 'Emma's Shoppe Collection', with the addition of a couple of little butterflies (Hot of the Press) my card is complete...
 

 
Entered into...
 

DARING CARDMAKERS - 'Fly Fly Butterfly'
 
DOODLE PANTRY DIGITAL CHALLENGE - 'Use A Doodle Image' DPDC31
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Hearts and Flowers

I hope you all had a very romantic valentine's day... if it was like mine - it was just another ordinary day (bitter? not much!).  Another card with a romantic theme... just in case we haven't had enough of the sweetness!
 
<---outside

<---inside

These colours are just great for romantic cards... I used my cricut expression to cut the hearts (using all the bits - the outties and innies), I used the 'ACCENT ESSENTIALS' cartridge.  The card base was embossed with a flower embossing folder using my Sizzix 'Texture Boutique'.  After adding some red ribbon to the bottom along with a rub-on sentiment the card was almost complete, I just wanted to add one more touch... the little pink flower embellishment to the heart.  I also place a white mat to the inside (after inking the edges with Tim Holtz - victoria velvet) along with the remaining hearts. Simple but effective...


Entered into...

COME AND GET IT CHALLENGES - 'Show us your Heart - Love is in the Air'

HECK OF A CHALLENGE - 'Love and Flowers'

CRAFTY SENTIMENT DESIGNS CHALLENGE BLOG - 'Valentine's'

FAB 'N' FUNKY CHALLENGES # 158 - 'Whats Inside'

DARING CARDMAKERS  - 'Love is in the Air'

A CARD A DAY BLOGGING - Friday


Enjoy your day
xxx
 
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Apologies First...

I am SO sorry about last night's post - what can I say - I'm a bad, bad girl (bad? probably an understatement, girl? that is stretching the imagination) - I was a little inebriated!
 
If it is any consolation I am now paying the price for my indiscretion.  I may not of actually 'cast up my accounts' as yet but I am decidedly green around the gills!
 
My very uncomfortable nights sleep, was spent restlessly in my bed (not where I collapsed on the sofa - I did manage to drag myself to bed, although I'm not quite sure how my pj's ended up inside out and back to front!).  In-between the occasional forty winks and the desperate guzzles of water (at least I remembered to have some to hand to help flush out the rose wine) I managed to sleep - very little.  Serves me right!
 
It didn't help my cause that my lovely cat came in to my bedroom vocalising his need for sustenance at 6.30 am (how my 70 year old mother manages to get up so early after indulging in the rose wine as much as I did - possible more - is, and will always be, one of life's mysteries), I do wish my mum had not let the cat in. Perhaps if I had inherited her cast-iron institution and her slim body, along with her need to arise before the birds start singing, I, too, would be as bright as the proverbial button this morning, instead of a rung out dishcloth!
 
I am glad to say that the LVA (landlords) meetings only happen bi-monthly, I don't think my liver could take any more!
 
Back to business... It is Wednesday Today! (see yesterday's post)
 
Valentine's is nearly upon us, with this in mind, this is for all those love-lorn fools romantics out there...

 
 
I took a piece of white carstock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored it at 4 1/4" to make a card base.  I dry embossed another piece of white cardstock (4 " x 5 1/4") using my 'Sizzix' texture boutique. after tying a burgandy ribbon around it and inking the edges with Tim Holtz (victorian velvet) I adhered this to the card base.  I cut a heart (and its shadow) with my cricut expression using the 'CRICUT CRAFT ROOM BASICS' and also adhered this to the card front.  The banner with stamped using the same Tim Holtz ink and stuck on using foam pads.  With a little pink heart embellishment, my little valentines card is complete!
 
This will be going into a challenge or two...
 
 
Celebrate the Occasion Challenge #99 - 'Valentine Anything Goes'
 
My Craft Spot Challenge 86 - 'For Your Sweetheart'

Allsorts Challenge week 193 - 'Valentines'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

No Card

I haven't got a card to show you... I've just been out to the Indian with the Licensed Victullars Association (pub landlords to you and me) and am a little bit drunk (I'm so gonna regret this in the morning!)... so I thought would say hi...
 
 
HI!
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Gain a day...

...gain a friend, that's what they say,
 
 
by they, I mean... well I don't know who I mean, the 'Old Wives' I suppose, I wonder if its true.  All day I've been thinking its Wednesday, why? I dunno.  By 2 O'clock I realised it is,  in fact (as I'm sure you are aware), Tuesday... I wonder who my new friend will be!
 
 
 
I made this matchbook card from a piece of My Minds Eye paper (its pretty thick), it measured 12" x 4", I then scored it at 5 1/2" and 11", this made the base for my card.  The hearts are cut from the 'DOODLECHARMS' cartridge on my cricut expression.  I used 'shadow', 'heart' (p.85) and 'heart-s' all at 3 3/4" from black, pink and red cardstock (from my ever growing scrap pile), with a little bit of ribbon and a heart embellishment my card is now ready for the 'Bitten by the Bug 2' Love is in the Air - Heart or Cupid Challenge and the 'Twisted Tuesday Challenge' for a loving couple (the twist?) black ribbon.  Have a productive crafting day xxx
 
oops nearly forgot - 'A Card A Day' Blogging - Tuesday
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 
 

Monday 11 February 2013

3 x 3 x 3

= ?


In this case it equals the Cardz TV Kidz Cardz Challenge (#24) of 3, 3x3 valentine cards for kids...



 
I found some card blanks in my stash in a very pretty pink and white (these were VERY, VERY old) I matted and layered some pink cricut paper and pink My Minds Eye paper on to the card blanks and then made up some fun cricut toppers.  I wanted to keep to the Valentines theme so I made my layers from black, white, pink and red.  The addition of some extra sparkle in the form of glitter, pearls and 'candi' completed their look. I think they turned out rather well. I think I will enter this into Little Scrap Pieces challenge as well, since its all about 'Love is in the Air'.
 
I'm doing well... two posts in one day!!!
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...
 
 

This & That... charming

Hello there craft peeps...
I hope your day is going great!
 
I decided today I would post this little 'daddy' card.  The backgound paper (with all the numbers) is from an Echo Park 6x6 paper pad called This & That 'Charming', its a super paper pad for male cards.  The colours are in lovely shades of greens, yellows and browns with some great manly themes, and its all double sided, i love this pad...
 
 
 
 
 
 
Anyway... this is what I made...
 
As I said the background paper is from Echo Pad and the giraffes are cut using my cricut expression with the CREATE-A-CRITTER cartridge, the sentiment "A father is someone you can look up to /No matter how tall you grow" was printed out using my computer.  The cm tape was an old one (that had been stretched over time and so could no longer be used to measure accurately, so it got recycled, here!), I believe you can get  'washi tape' that has measurements on it, but since I haven't got any... I had to improvise!
 
Challenges entered? Yes indeed, here they are...
 
 
One Stitch At A Time # 150 - 'Anything Goes'
 
Cards Galore Challenges - 'One for the Men'
 
Raise the Bar # 130 - 'A Couple of Things'
 
Cards for Men # 3 - 'All My Love'
 
Brown Sugar Challenges # 28 - 'Anything Goes'
 
Challenges 4 Everybody # 13 - 'Always Anything Goes'
 
 
Blah... blah... blah...