Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #103 - Spring Is in the Air

Happy Spring!  It's definitely spring here in Houston -- the trees are getting their leaves, flowers are blooming, and I even have two yellow roses opening in the front yard.  Fantabulous Cricut is celebrating this beautiful season with Challenge #103 - Spring Is in the Air.  The challenge is to make a project featuring at least three flowers.

I had other plans for this challenge until I opened my birthday present from hubby on Saturday -- it was Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2!  And the scoring tool!  I was so excited -- honestly, I'm still excited! My birthday celebration included some uninterrupted craft time, so I made this cute spring basket from TBBM2:

Project Details:

• Papers - cardstock by Recollections; textured cardstock by Bazzil
• Cricut Cuts - basket from Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2, page 49; <vine> from Lovely Floral
• Other - handmade flowers, inking rose petals with Stampabilities and Colorbox ink pads

This project was the first time I'd made handmade 3D flowers, too.  I watched this tutorial video by Inna's Creations, and it was super simple and fun to make my own paper rose:

 
The only difference is I didn't use scalloped scissors, but it's definitely something I'll try next time.

Are you ready to make a project with flowers?  Show us your best blooms at Fantabulous Cricut this week!

Valentine Hearts Treat Boxes

My son's first preschool Valentine's Day party was today, and it was so cute!  I'd intended to make two treat bags for his teachers, but couldn't find my cello bags anywhere.  But sometimes misplaced craft supplies lead to something even better -- a reason to make my first 2-5-7-10 box!  Check out this tutorial from Split Coast Stampers.

 Project Details:

• Box Base - 2-5-7-10 Box
• Papers - Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - heart from Doodlecharms, page 26; heart border from Elegant Edges, page 26; tag from Lovely Floral
• Embossing - heart with Cuttlebug's Arygle
• Other - ribbon from stash; brad and flower petals by Recollections; inking with black Stampabilities ink pad

I filled each treat box with Hershey's chocolate hearts.  And I think both my son's teachers liked their gift, because here's their reactions:

 HUGS!

I'm entering this project into the following challenge(s):

BBTB2: Challenge - Sweethearts Tags
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #72 - Grown-Up Valentine
Scrappy Moms Stamps: Challenge - Hearts Galore

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #97 - Love Is in the Air

Today I get to share with you a very special card -- my hubby's valentine!  He promised not to check my blog so I can post it before Valentine's Day and for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #97 - Love Is in the Air.  (So, hubby, you better not be reading!)

Our sponsor this week is K Andrew Designs Art Stamps, and she shared with the design team some awesome stamps to complete our "love" projects.  I received this Mini Heart set with both sentiments and images:

And here's what I created:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Paisley, page 28 (Card Function) @ 4.5 inches
• Papers - pattern by K&Company; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - hearts from Doodlecharms, page 26; tag, frame, and "heart" sentiment from Lovely Floral
• Embossing - frame with Cuttlebug's Kassie's Brocade
• Other - stamped sentiment by K Andrew Designs; key by Recollections; inking with red Colorbox ink pad, and brown and pink Stampabilities ink pads; ribbon and glitter from stash; tag and hearts on pop dots

I'm so proud of this card -- it's my first shaker card!  The photo doesn't capture it well, but the heart has a piece of recessed plastic that encloses both the key and lots of red glitter.  My inspiration -- and tutorial -- for making a shaker card with the Paisley cartridge came from a video at Above Rubies Studios.

Would you like a chance to win some K Andrew stamps?  Join us at Fantabulous Cricut with your "love" projects this week for a chance to win!

I'm also submitting this project to the following challenge(s):

CardzTV: Cricut Cardz Challenge #101 - Valentine's Day
Die Cuttin' Divas: Challenge #50 - Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts: Challenge #78 - Love Is in the Air
Paper Playtime: Challenge #67 - Hearts or Love Theme

Sleeping Owl Birthday Card

I have a quick (but cute, if I do say so) card for you today; it's also the last of eight cards my cousin asked me to make for her.  This birthday card is for one of her nurse anesthetist co-workers.  We chose a sleeping owl cut since that's what they do all day -- put people to sleep!

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - patterns by American Crafts Play paperpack; textured cardstock for owl by Core'dinations; blue and orange cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - owl from Create a Critter, page 25; tag is <dream> from Lovely Floral; ZZZs are Opposite font from Opposites Attract
• Cuttlebug Embossing - wings with D'vine Swirls
• Other - sentiment stamp by Hampton Ink; ribbon by Basic Narrows from Michaels

I'm entering this card in challenge for Sassy Lil' Card Sketches' June 21st reveal.

Now I'm off to the post office to mail a huge bundle of cards!  (And maybe a Michaels / Joann / Hobby Lobby run with my mom...)

Hubby's Shirt Fathers Day Card

Also stashed away in hubby's luggage is his Fathers Day card from me.  Since watching Mary's shirt origami tutorial at Cardz TV, I knew I wanted to make him a card with one of those super cute shirts!

Card Details:

• Card Base - Studio G (5x5")
• Papers - striped paper from My Mind's Eye: Magnolia; aqua paper from My Mind's Eye: Simply Delightful; orange and white cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - both layers of <tag1> from Lovely Floral; "HUBBY" sentiment font from Birthday Bash
• Other - stamp by Hampton Ink; brads from 7 Gypsies - Angelo; inside sentiment created/printed from my computer; edges inked with Colorbox orange and cyan ink pads; "HUBBY" sentiment and shirt on pop dots

My favorite thing about this card -- well, besides from successfully making an origami shirt! -- is the tag hanging from the "button" like you actually get when buying a collared shirt.  It flips and flutters in the breeze as you move the card.

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:

Paper Cutz Challenge #96 - Fathers Day (with a tag)

Home Sweet Home Card

So, how's the housing market in your area?  Houston has been very fortunate, and home sales and foreclosures aren't nearly as bad here as elsewhere in the country.  I've seen two houses flip and be snatched up quickly in our neighborhood.  We're also watching a CVS and Kohls go up nearby.  And three -- yes, three -- couples we know are closing on houses soon.

So today's card is for friends who are moving into their first home this weekend:

Card Details:

• Card Base - Recollections (A6)
• Papers - Simply Delightful: My Mind's Eye for all patterned papers; red textured cardstock by The Paper Studio; yellow cardstock from scraps
• Cricut Cuts - "Home Sweet Home" sentiment and layered frame from Lovely Floral; house from Create a Critter, page 29 (accessory) with a second, larger house cut to make a shadow effect
• Charm - Metal Madness (clearance at Michaels -- yay!)
• Other - inking around yellow edges with brown ink pad by Stampabilities; inking around red edges with Le Plume II persimmon marker; doodling with white gel pen; pop-dots on sentiment frame and house.

This card followed the Sassy Lil' Card Sketches May 21st Reveal fairly closely until my toddler decided to do his own "doodling" with my white gel pen while I was away from the table.  ARRGHH!  I couldn't salvage the patterned pieces of the card, so I started over.  It still has the same elements as the sketch -- just moved around a little -- so I hope it's okay to submit it to their challenge.

Really, my son has gotten better about not touching "Mommy's Cricut" -- he's just too enamored with my markers these days.  It's too cute when he says "Mommy's Cricut," but it's soon followed by his saying, "Noooo...JonJon's Cricut."

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Paper Playtime:  Challenge #46 - Just for Fun / Add a Charm
Sassy Lil' Card Sketches:  May 21st Reveal

Happy Cupcake Birthday Card

Happy Mothers Day!  I hope all you mothers and special ladies were honored by your loved ones with a special day.  My hubby and son took me out to lunch after church and gifted me with a new cartridge and embossing folder.  (They sure know how to support my addiction, huh?)

I'm also celebrating National Scrapbooking Day this evening, as -- more than anything else -- I wanted a "Mommy Timeout" so I could craft in peace for a few hours.  The result is a few projects from My Pink Stamper's NSD challenges combined with inspiration from sketch blogs.

My first creation tonight is a cupcake-themed birthday card made using my Mothers Day gift -- the Simply Charmed cartridge!  I love this cart already with all its happy faces and cute phrases.

 

Cartridges Used:

Lovely Floral

Simply Charmed

The cupcake is from Simply Charmed, and the side border scallop is clipped from a frame on Lovely Floral.  I printed the sentiment from my computer since I couldn't seem to find a phrase that looked good cut at such a small size.

I was also inspired by the Die Cuttin' Divas sketch this week, so I'm entering this project in the following challenges:

Die Cuttin' Divas: May 1st Sketch Challenge
The Pink Stamper: NSD Challenge #1 - Anything Cupcake

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

Mothers Day Card for Gran

Mothers Day is fast approaching, so I needed to make progress on cards for the mothers in my life.  I made the card below for my husband's grandmother:

Cartridges Used:
Cricut Classic Font
Lovely Floral
Wrap It Up

The body of the card is from Wrap It Up, and I like the result of putting cardstock with a little glitter behind the cut.  When I tried to cut the tag on glitter cardstock, I discovered the thickly-glittered areas don't play well with the regular Cricut blade.  I had to snip a bit with scissors by hand, but it's not terribly noticeable.  Oh well...lesson learned.  Inking makes the "Gran" title tag stand out nicely.

I'm entering this card in Cricut Cardz Challenge #72 - Mothers Day Card using a Card Feature.

MOPS & POPS Banquet Programs

I'm using my Cricut for my first BIG project -- programs for my Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) banquet this weekend.  Here's a photo of the first front/back combo I completed:

 The embellishment is both layers of the Doily4 cut from Cricut Lite Lovely Floral cartridge.

But perhaps big project isn't the correct term.  With the Cricut, I only made 60 small embellishments to add to the program which was designed in MS Publisher and printed onto white cardstock from my computer.  But tying 60 ribbons and adhering 60 one-inch flower embellishments is becoming quite the chore.  And I should mention that I rounded all those corners manually with a punch!

Can you believe I actually considered inking around the edges of the top layer?  (Then I realized I was truly crazy.)

I ran out of adhesive about an hour ago, so I'll have to make a Michaels run tomorrow to finish this project.  Until then, I'm realizing I should have started this endeavor about a week ago... :)

Twin Birthday Card #2

Here's the second in a duo of birthday cards for my friend's twin daughters:


 
Cartridges Used:
Birthday Bash
Create a Critter
Lovely Floral

This design is based on a sketch by Cherie at Sassy Lil' Card Sketches.  I'm entering this card in their April 14th Card Reveal challenge.

I'm also entering it into the Die Cuttin' Divas Challenge #11 - "Tag You're It" since the sentiment is featured on a tag.

Here's a shot of both cards together:

I like the result -- because twins don't always have to match. :)

Purple Butterfly Mothers Day Card

I had to try out my newest cartridge -- Cricut Lite Lovely Floral -- last night, and the result is a rich-colored Mothers Day Card.

Cartridges Used:
Lovely Floral

Yep, everything on this card is from Lovely Floral -- the doily, the butterfly, and the font.

I took Mary of CardzTV's challenge and made a Mothers Day card with the colors purple, green, blue, and white.  When I saw this paper pack, I knew it was perfect for her challenge.  Can you believe this pack is from the Dollar Spot at Target?!

I'm submitting this card into the following challenges:

CardzTV - Mother's Day Color Challenge
Cricut Cardz Challenge #71 - Mothers Day Card

And another word on Mothers Day...

My mom actually reads my blog, so I was apprehensive about letting her see a card that she might receive -- but she assured me seeing the card in person is different than seeing a photo of it.  Then again, I'm sure I'll make several Mothers Day cards, so she'll have the surprise of which card is hers.  Of course, she gets whichever card turns out the best, because she is that special!