Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #91 - Trimming with a Tag

It's almost Christmas..!!  Are you just as excited as me...?!  Our family has been busy with our favorite holiday outings and traditions -- and also nursing my little guy through a four-day fever -- but I did have time to make a few tags for this week's Trimming with a Tag challenge at Fantabulous Cricut.

I made these Baby Jesus gift tags to decorate the wrapping for my son's Sunday School teachers' gifts.  It's hard to find gift wrap and trimmings that relate the holiday back to Christ, so I enjoyed making my own packaging to acknowledge God's Perfect Gift.  (Jesus, that is -- not Bath & Body Works.)

Here's a closeup of a tag:

Project Details:

• Paper - cardstock by Recollections; green patterned paper by Me & My Big Ideas
• Cricut Cuts - baby Jesus and star from Winter Folic, page 71; tag from Winter Frolic, page 70
• Embossing - manger with The Paper Studio's Wood Grain; swaddling clothes with Cuttlebug's Distressed Stripes
• Other - inking with yellow and light green Colorbox ink pads; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; baby Jesus and star on pop dots

I'm totally loving how they turned out -- and now wishing that I'd made tags for all the gifts under the tree.  Oh well, maybe next year. :)  Yes, along with 50+ handmade Christmas cards.  (I have very high hopes for 2012, eh?)

Have you made a fun tag this season?  Or used a tag on a scrapbook page?  Go share at Fantabulous Cricut this week for our final challenge of the year.  Happy crafting!

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

BBTB2: Challenge - Winter Frolic Tag
CardzTV: Cricut Cardz Challenge #98 - Tag, You're It
Die Cuttin' Divas - Tags, Tags, & More Tags
Whimsical Designs: Whimsical Wednesday Challenge - Tags

Snowman Panda Explosion Box

And here's my second of two explosion boxes for my son's preschool teachers.  For this box, I chose a snow theme and also included the classroom panda mascot.

The outside...

...and the inside exploded!

Here's two closeups of the snowflakes and 3D elements:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterned paper by ADT - Wisterberry; solid cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - 3D snowman from Winter Woodland, page 74; panda from Create a Critter, page 58; scarf for panda from Winter Frolic, page 35; snowflakes and tag panel from Winter Woodland, page 35; "For You" sentiment from Winter Frolic, page 56
• Embossing - lots of layers with Cuttlebug's Snowflakes
• Other - plaid ribbon by American Crafts; white ribbon from stash; snowflakes and sentiment on pop dots

The lighter-weight paper helped this explosion box stay "open" more than my previous one -- except for the panel holding the gift card, of course.  I didn't create a flap for the gift card since it actually matched the colors and theme so well; I just used my ATG gun to smack it down.  I'm also pleased with the bow on top of the lid.  I don't make pretty bows, but this one turned out quite nice!

I'm entering this project into the following challenge:

My Sheri Crafts: Challenge #75 - Let It Snow

Sorry for the quick entry, but me and my little guy are off to deliver these presents to his teachers!

Christmas Tree Panda Explosion Box

I have a big achievement this week -- I made an explosion box...!!!

I've always admired the explosion boxes I've seen others make, but I thought they were too involved and too complicated for me.  But with Christmas coming, I was inspired to make something special to hold gift cards for my son's preschool teachers.  This box has a red, green, and Christmas tree theme and also features a panda since that's the mascot for my son's classroom.  Here's the outside:

Open it up, and here's what's inside...

And a few closeups of the panels...

Project Details:

• Papers - patterned papers from Recollections - Believe paper pack; solid cardstock by Recollections; gold paper by Creative Memories
• Cricut Cuts - 3-D tree from Winter Woodland, page 73; panda from Create a Critter, page 58; scarf for panda from Winter Frolic, page 35; ornaments from Winter Frolic, pages 64 and 65; tag from Winter Frolic, page 65; "Christmas Wishes" sentiment from Winter Frolic, page 67; "A Gift for You" sentiment from Winter Frolic, page 43
• Embossing - tree, ornament pieces, and outside side panels with Cuttlebug's Victoria
• Other - ornaments inked with Colorbox red ink pad; gold curling ribbon from stash; sentiments on pop dots

I'm super pleased with the result and hope his teacher likes the way we presented her gift card.  The only thing I'd change is backing the patterned papers with cardstock -- it made the flaps a little too heavy to stay "exploded" when the box is open.  Next time, I'll either skip the backing and/or choose lighter-weight papers.

My favorite detail is how the scarf is curled to make it appear to be blowing in the wind.  It had a more utilitarian beginning, though -- I had to curl so it would fit in the box when folded!  I also like the holly paper I used on the inside panels.  It kinda looks like bamboo, which is perfect for the panda!

I hope you enjoyed my first explosion box -- it took three naptimes to make!  I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

BBTB2: Challenge - Winter Frolic Tag
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #64 - Cards, Tags, & Gifts
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #44 - Tags, Tags, & More Tags
Whimsical Designs: Challenge - Winter Fun

Sledding All The Way Card

It's very rare we get snow in Houston, but we actually saw some last night!  No, not from the sky, but from a machine for a neighborhood Christmas tree lighting.  My toddler son had no clue what the white stuff was and would not go near it!

The snow and fake sledding hill from the event inspired me to make this winter holiday card tonight:

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - Recollections cardstock
• Cricut Cuts - sledding boy from Winter Frolic, page 42; holly from Winter Frolic, page 58 (Layers); tag from Playtime; snowflakes from Winter Woodland, page 35 (Layers)
• Embossing - background with Cuttlebug's Snowflakes; red shirt and hat with The Paper Studio's Mesh Texture; sled with The Paper Studio's Wood Grain
• Other - jingle bell from Hobby Lobby; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; sled and snowflakes on pop dots; inking on sled with brown Stampabilities ink pad

I really got to dig deep in my scrap bin and found some leftover cardstock from Christmas in July projects - three cheers for leftovers!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

CardzTV: Cricut Cardz Challenge #96 - Christmas...Say It With "S"
Exploring Cricut: Challenge #5 - Sled or Sleigh
Paper Cutz Challenge: Challenge #118 - Jingle All The Way
The Cuttlebug Spot: Challenge - Leftovers

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #89 - Present Time

Christmastime is finally here!  Once Thanksgiving is over, I finally give myself permission to put on my favorite holiday music and bring out the decorations. So I'm excited to bring out a Christmas layout today for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #89.  This week's theme is present-time, so my layout features my little guy opening his presents on Christmas morning 2009:

I love so many of the cuts on the Winter Frolic cartridge, especially the Christmas tree and stack of presents!  Here's close-ups:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns by ATD: Wisterberry; textured cardstock by Bazzil Basics; non-textured cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - tree from Winter Frolic, page 48; presents from Winter Frolic, page
• Embossing - tree with Cuttlebug's Musical Flourish; presents with Cuttlebug's D'vine Swirls and Swiss Dots and The Paper Studio's Mesh Texture and Doodleborders
• Other - tag and stickers by ATD: Wisterberry; inking with light green Colorbox ink pad and brown Stampabilities ink pad; tree and presents on pop dots; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen

Head on over to Fantabulous Cricut to see the other "Present Time" projects by the design team.  There's cards, tags, and even gifts -- all beautiful creations to inspire you this week!

I'm entering this project in the following challenge(s):
Amanda's Crafts and More: Getting Scrappy Challenge #22 - A Wonderful Christmas Time
Stuck on You Sketches: Die Cut Challenge - Christmas Trees

Floral Celebrate / Birthday Card

I followed a fun sketch at Die Cuttin' Divas this morning to make a birthday card for my mother-in-law.  Here's my resulting card:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - patterns from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - flower from Forever Young, page 73
• Embossing - black background and aqua flower center with Cuttlebug's Bloom Dots; pink flower petals with Cuttlebug's Musical Flourish; ribbons with The Paper Studio's Doodle Borders
• Other - inking with orange Colorbox ink pad; flower, background, and sentiment on pop dots

I'm totally in love with these papers from My Mind's Eye and have been looking for the perfect card to feature them.  I think it turned out quite nice!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Birthday Sundaes: Challenge #37 - Anything Goes
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #43 - Weekly Sketch