24 Tiny Valentines

You might remember how I had big ambitions to make two dozen of these dump truck valentines for my son's preschool class.  Well, they were really involved, so I scrapped that idea in favor of a simpler (and faster!) tiny valentine:

Card Details:

• Card Base - 3x3"
• Papers - all by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - sentiment from Create a Critter, page 49
• Embossing - heart background with The Paper Studio's Doodle Borders
• Other - ribbon from stash

I'm sad I had to abandon the dump truck cards, but this mama just didn't have 20 minutes per card before next Friday.  And the three I'd completed went to a good cause -- that definitely makes me feel better!

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #71 - Child's Valentine
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #96 - Valentiny Cards
Paper Playtime: Challenge #66 - Anything Goes Blog Hop

Just for You Popsicle Card

I just can't not touch my Cricut on a lazy Saturday afternoon, you know?  The result was a fun popsicle card to play along with a few challenges:

 

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - polka dots from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; plaid and dark pink from My Mind's Eye: Magnolia; orange textured cardstock by Bazzil Bling; all other cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - popsicle from Simply Charmed, page 45
• Cuttlebug Embossing - popsicle stick with Distressed Stripes
• Other - sentiment stamp by Hampton Ink, stamped with Bright Pink Stampabilities ink pad; ribbon by CelebrateIt Basic Narrows; inking with orange Colorbox petal point ink pad and scarlet Le Plume II marker; brad by 7 Gypsies - Angelo; google eyes from Target DollarSpot

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

CardPatterns:  Sketch 125
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #69 - I Scream for Ice Cream / Cool Treat (I'm on the DT now, but I still like to play along...)
Paper Cutz Challenge #101 - Anything Goes

Birthday Fishes Wishes Card

I hope you all had a great Independence Day!  Our family had a relaxing day at home, and I had a little time tonight for crafting.

This card is for my father-in-law's birthday later this week.  He enjoys tending his aquarium, so I decided to make him a fishbowl card.

Card Details:

• Card Base - fishbowl from Create a Critter, page 43, cut at 4 inches; secured with brad
• Papers - textured cardstock by Bazzil Bling; all other cardstock from scraps; distressed brown paper from My Mind's Eye - Simply Delightful
• Cricut Cuts - from Create a Critter: fishbowl and fish, page 43; starfish, page 41 (accessory)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - water with D'vine Swirls; fish (Layer 1) with Swiss Dots
• Other - brad by 7 Gypsies - Angelo; sentiment printed from my computer; fish and starfish on pop dots; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; inking with Colorbox yellow and cyan ink pads

Without a Gypsy, I can't make shaped cards too easily -- but my solution is making a card held together by brads.  It's different, but I like it. :)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

BBTB2 Challenge:  Life Is a Beach / Starfish Challenge
Birthday Sundaes:  Challenge #16 - Anything Goes
Fantabulous Cricut:  Challenge #67 - Pool Time

God Bless Texas Card

Fourth of July is nearing, but today I wanted to celebrate a place that's just like its own country -- TEXAS!

I moved to Texas after college graduation, a common story in Houston.  It's a running joke in our city that it's hard to find a native Houstonian -- and it's true!  But as soon as I got here, I knew Texas was different.  I remember walking around Walmart soon after I arrived and finding an entire Texas-themed bathroom set -- shower curtain, rugs, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser!  You'd never find that sort of thing in my native Louisiana.  (I mean, seriously...pelican decor?  It just wouldn't happen.)  Texans have a unique pride in their state that's strongly rooted in individual freedom and personal responsibility.  I love Texas!

Here's my patriotic *Texas* card -- simple but fun!

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - textured cardstock by The Paper Studio; non-textured cardstock from scraps; glittery star paper from The Paper Studio - Birthday Extravaganza stack
• Cricut Cuts - star from Simply Charmed, page 68; font for "TEXAS" from Birthday Bash (Font/Font Shadow)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - red, white, and blue flag sections with Distressed Stripes
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen; "God Bless" sentiment printed with computer

My design originally began as a Texas flag with the white lone star, but I had to move the star upward to accommodate the text.  Then I switched the white star for one with a little sparkle -- such a simple card needed a little pizzazz.  I used the Distressed Stripes embossing folder to make the flag look like it was made with old, wooden boards.  That rustic feel is totally Texas!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Amber's Crafts and Stuff:  Challenge #16 - Red, White, & Blue
Celebrate the Occasion:  Challenge #20 - 4th of July (Red, White, & Blue)
Fantabulous Cricut:  Challenge #66 - Happy 4th (Use Red, White, & Blue)
My Sheri Crafts:  Challenge #63 - Independence Day

Sunshine Hello Card

It's now officially summer -- even though we Texans have been sweating...er, "glowing"...in 100º+ F temps since May.  I do love sunshine, but sometimes I wish it would smile more gently on us -- kinda like this cute sun from Simply Charmed:

 

Card Details:

• Card Base - DCWV Brights (A2)
• Papers - textured cardstock by The Paper Studio; all other cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - sun from Simply Charmed, page 50 with shadow; tag is two <trap1> from Opposites Attract, page 119
• Cuttlebug Embossing - alternating Spots & Dots and Swiss Dots on background color blocks
• Other - inking with yellow and orange Colorbox ink pads; stamped sentiment by Hampton Ink

I used my new Colorbox ink pads on this project, and I'm in loooooove!  I had so much fun inking all the sun's edges.  It really makes him smile (and me too).

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion:  Challenge #19 - Celebrating Summer (Sun)
Fantabulous Cricut:  Challenge #65 - Summer Sun

Adore Wedding/Anniversary Card

My blog may be quiet, but my Cricut hasn't been!  It's been frantically chirping with Fathers Day and birthday cards.  By this weekend -- hopefully -- I should be able to share a few "shh-shh" projects with you.

In the meantime, I can post a wedding/anniversary card I made this morning.  I've been dying to use this Heidi Grace patterned bird paper, and a card for two nature lovers was a good reason.  It's also two firsts for me -- my first Z-fold card and my first time to stamp a sentiment on the front!  Here's the entire card stretched:

And folded to view just the front:

Card Details:

• Card Base - black cardstock (A6)
• Papers - patterned and cream cardstock by Heidi Grace; blue textured cardstock by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - scalloped background from Elegant Edges, page 51 (<btfly2_s>/Shadow); bird from Create a Critter, page 45, legs snipped and one image flipped; bell from Stretch Your Imagination, page 72 (Blackout), handle and heart snipped.
• Cuttlebug Embossing - D'vine Swirls on bell
• Other - ribbon by American Crafts; "adore" sentiment by The Paper Studio; gem from Michaels dollar bin; inking around edges of bird with sky blue Le Plume II marker

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Cricut Cardz Challenge #78 - Wedding Card
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #19 - Wedding Bliss (without hearts)
Fantabulous Cricut:  Challenge #64 - Wedding Wishes (use white and a bell)
Paper Playtime:  Challenge #48 - Z-Fold Card

Fishing Fathers Day Card

Fathers Day is approaching, so I've started getting busy with cards for the dads in my life.  This card is for my father-in-law and is based on CPS Sketch #221:

The inside sentiment reads, "...to a reel good dad."

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5"x5")
• Paper - patterned paper from My Mind's Eye: Bohemia; cardstock by The Paper Studio
• Cricut Cuts - fishing cuts from Boys Will Be Boys, page 71
• Cuttlebug Embossing - circle background embossed with Swiss Dots
• Other - doodling with white Gelly Roll pen and sky blue and emerald Le Plume II markers; light inking with brown Stampabilities stamp pad on background patterned papers; sentiment printed from my computer

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Amber's Crafts & Such - Challenge #13: Special Man
Card Positioning Systems - Sketch #221
Fantabulous Cricut - Challenge #63: #1 Dad

Flying Bird Birthday Card

I played with my newest cartridge today -- Florals Embellished.  Hubby gave me this cartridge last weekend as an end-of-school-year reward.  I can't imagine any better reward than Cricut goodies, can you?

And he had great timing, too -- BBTB2 is featuring one of the Florals Embellished birds for its challenge this week.  So, here's my resulting card:

I made the sentiment "Happy Birthday" since June is a big month for birthdays in our family.  My mom, dad, and hubby have birthdays.  But who's the recipient?  They'll just have to wait and see...

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5"x5")
• Papers - Simply Delightful: My Mind's Eye for all blue patterns; plain white cardstock and textured navy cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - bird from Florals Embellished, page 61, all six layers; clouds are the "joy" background from Playtime; "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Birthday Bash, page 44 (card/tag)
• Cuttlebug Embossing - Kassie's Brocade for top layer of bird's body; D'vine Swirls for clouds
• Other - inking on top layers of bird with white gel pen and Le Plume II sky blue marker; pop-dots elevate bird above clouds

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

BBTB2:  Challenge - Florals Embellished Flying Bird
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #61 - Blue Skies

FCCB #60 - Challenge Win!

I woke up this morning to "fantabulous" news -- my Bear 1st Birthday Card won first prize in Fantabulous Cricut's "Try This Angle" challenge!

I'm so honored to be recognized, especially as a Cricut newbie and among the beautiful projects featured this week.

Many thanks to the Fantabulous Cricut design team and their sponsor, The Treasure Box Club!

Bear 1st Birthday Card

I got to play with my Cricut again today -- finally!  It's been a loooong eight days since my last project, but I'll definitely have more time to create now that school's out.

Another friend's special little girl turns 1 in a few weeks, so I made her a card tonight:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash

I really like the outcome with all the embossing and the fun colors.  It looks so happy -- just like the little girl who'll be receiving it.

For this project, I really "piled it on" and am entering the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut: Cele"bear"ation Blog Hop Challenge
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #30 - Balloons
Creative Sisters: Monday Challenge #8 - Birthday
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #60 - Try This Angle (Use a Rectangle and Triangle)
Queen of My Craftroom: Animal Card Challenge
Scrappy Frogs: Challenge - Happy Birthday

Flower & Vines Mothers Day Card

Yep, it's another Mothers Day card!  Inspiration for this card was Card Patterns Sketch #113:

I made a few adjustments, but the result is my favorite card to date:

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Lovely Floral

I need lots of practice on bows, huh?  But it was nice to challenge myself.

I also used the Cricut's centerpoint function for the first time with this card.  The sentiment is printed from my computer on white cardstock and then inserted into the Cricut to cut a circle around it.  I'm going to try this technique again soon with something more complex.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #11 - Mothers Day
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #12 - Mothers Day Is on the Way
Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge #57 - Mom's The Word
My Sheri Crafts:  Challenge #55 - Mothers Day

Farm Animal Birthday Card

My son is invited to a farm-themed birthday party next month, so I jumped at the opportunity to make a cute farm animal card for his friend.



Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Create a Critter
Wrap It Up

I think it turned out really cute for a little guy who's turning 3!  And I had fun making more of the critters from Create a Critter.  This cartridge is quickly becoming one of my most frequently-used.

I'm entering this card into two challenges:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #56 - Do the Bunny Hop (I have a chick!)
Paper Playtime Challenge #43 - Weather

Easter Bunny and Egg Treat Holder

I made my first 3D, non-card creation tonight!  It's a treat holder -- big enough for a cupcake -- but holding plastic eggs for the photo.  It turned out so cute, I just might give it to my co-teacher with chocolates in the eggs.

Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Doodlecharms
Stretch Your Imagination
Wrap It Up

I really like the flourishes from Stretch Your Imagination used as running vines on the fence.  I repeated the look on all four sides, with eggs where the corners meet.

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

BBTB2 - Easter Solutions 2010 or Any Egg
Cricut Cardz Challenge #70 - Easter Cupcake Holder or Wrapper
Fantabulous Cricut - Spring Fling Project (using pink, yellow, and green)
My Sheri Crafts Challenge #53 - Bunnies