Fantabulous Cricut Ribbon Challenge

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to use ribbon on your project.  I decided that I would make a set of Christmas tags as a thank you gift for a special friend of mine - and package them in a box tied with ribbon!  I made three sets of tags - with each set cut from Very Merry Tags.  The first set was cut from metallic gold and green cardstocks.  I used these same cardstocks for the box (a "crayon box") which was cut from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More.  I cut some mats and rounded the corners with a Creative Memories corner rounder punch.  The "For You" was cut from Winter Frolic and the little snowflakes were punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  I also embossed the top mat with the Divine Swirl Cuttlebug folder.  Before adhering the mats, I attached a gold ribbon to tie at the top of the box.

This photo is the back of the box.  The mats are slightly larger, but I did the same thing - this time using a reindeer that was left over from cutting out the tags.  (The little light bulbs are my favourite of all the tags.)

I also made some snowflake tags from pale blue and metallic white cardstock.  Each snowflake has either a white pearl or a clear gem in the centre. 

Another set was made using metallic shiny red cardstock with either metallic white (for the snowman and Santa) or glittery green (for the trees).  I added some gems to the trees as well.  (Sorry for the shadows and glare.  Those trees really are a magnificent green!)

The tags will all go inside the box for gift-giving!  Please head over to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the rest of the design team has come up with - and to enter your own project with ribbon!  I'd love to see what you create!

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My Boys Layout

I created this layout for a challenge at Serenity Scrappers.  They are giving away a PhotoElf software program.  For the challenge, we were to create a 12x12 layout using three photos - using one of these three themes: Sights of Summer, Fall Frolic and Winter Wonders.  I chose to do Fall Frolic, using photos of my boys (one of which is really my man!) from our trip to the Metro Toronto Zoo in late September.

I cut the large mat from Accent Essentials.  The round photos were cut using the Creative Memories cutting system, which I also used for the circular mats behind them.  I used Opposites Attract for the title and Speaking of Fall for the different leaves.  I felt the page needed more, so went with a turtle from Walk in my Garden to pick up on the turtle crossing sign in one of the photos.  I also embossed the title and the turtle's shell.  I added a little journal box and some gems - and inked everything!  I popped "BOYS", the larger leaves and the turtle.  (I used the same yellow cardstock for all the lettering, leaves, turtle, and journal box - even though some cuts look like they are from a brighter yellow paper in the photos.)

Check out Serenity Scrappers!  There is such a fun group there.  It's certainly one of my favourite blogs!

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A gift in the mail

My mailbox was bulging and I went out to find a surprise package from Rhonda at Scrap Happens.  Rhonda is a mini-album queen and uses her blog to showcase her work - which she gives away to followers!  I've been lucky enough to have received other albums from her in the past, but this one was a complete surprise.  It's devoted to blog friends.  I cried as I looked through each page, just so touched and blessed that she would make such a lovely album - and send it to me.  Thank you Rhonda!!  I appreciate your kindness, generosity, and most of all, your friendship.  Blessings to you!!

Here's my favourite page from inside.  I just love the purse-shaped pocket!

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Achoo! Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #36

Well, it certainly does seem to be the time of year for different bugs and viruses going round.  Fortunately, I've been spared so far, but my youngest seems to be getting more than his fair share, poor little guy.  This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is "Achoo" - make a card or project with a get well theme.

I made this card for my mother, who is going in for cataract surgery later this week.  I used Walk in My Garden for the flower and cut it multiple times, starting at 3 inches and working 1/4 inch down for a total of 7 cuts.  The centre of the flower is an Itty Bitty punch from Stampin' Up.  I inked each layer and crumpled them by hand, staggering them as I layered them.  There is a tiny bead in the very middle of the flower.  The sentiment frame was cut from George and Basic Shapes and the sentiment itself is a Stampin' Up stamp and punched with a Stampin' Up punch.  I added two eyelets to the sentiment frame and laced ribbon through it.  I actually inked the ribbon a bit as well as it seemed too bright and new for the card.  The sentiment frame is popped, and the sentiment itself is also popped.  Both mats were inked, and the top mat was run through the Cuttlebug before attaching a large brad from which I "hung" the ribbon.

Head on over to Fantabulous Cricut to see what the other design team members have made to inspire you.  As always, there are great prizes up for grabs and I'd love to see what you create!

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Attitude Award and a Quick Card

First of all, I'd like to thank Rhonda at Scrap Happens for passing along the Attitude Award.  Rhonda has a great blog where she showcases her fantastic mini-albums - which she so kindly and generously gives away to followers!! 

Receiving this award means telling three things that make me "me" and passing it along.
1. I want to go to med school when I retire.
2. I don't drink coffee or tea, but I love hot chocolate.
3. I read the dictionary for fun.

I would like to pass this award along to:
Serenity Scrappers (check them out - they have a new challenge being announced tomorrow with their first sponsor!)
Angi at Cokie Pop Paper Boutique
Kel at Sandcastle Stamper
Wendy at SugarPea Designs
Tracey at Trace-Elementz

Now for the card... My son was invited to a party and I had limited time to make a card with all the goings-on over the past few days.  I was able to make something quickly and decided to post it just to show how having the right tools can make it simple to whip up a fast creation.

I used my Cuttlebug on the back mat, the scalloped square, the top layer of the numbers, the sentiment, and the cupcake parts.  I used an EK Success punch for the cupcake.  The scallop frame and shadow were cut using Mini Monograms and the 13 and shadow were cut from Opposites Attract.  A little bit of glue and some Pop Dots later, and voilà!

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Rudolph the Carolling Reindeer

I feel as though I am in heaven.  I had no commitments this evening.  No class, no running around with kids, no homework... As my husband left for basketball, he asked what I would do with the extra time.  I looked at him in mock shock and answered, "Craft!"  He laughed and replied that he should have known!  I did finish reading the novel Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my youngest too.  What a great evening!

Earlier, I was visiting Stampwilly Designs and was smitten by the adorable reindeer card that April had made.  I thought it was such a clever idea that I just had to make one myself!  You can see April's card HERE.

The card is 5.25 x 5.25 inches.  I used a Creative Memories corner rounder punch on the card base and the white mat.  I embossed the white mat with a snowflake embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  This week, the theme at Serenity Scrappers is "roll with the punches".  I have a few punch around the page sets, and have only once used a set to create a full border - so was inspired by my friends at Serenity Scrappers to give it a go!  I used a Martha Stewart snowflake set to create the red mat.

Rudolph's face, mouth, teeth and nose were cut with George and Basic Shapes and the hoofs and antlers were cut with Christmas Cheer.  I manipulated the images in Design Studio to find the sizes I was happy with.  I printed off a bit of music (Away in a Manger - I wanted Rudolph to really be carolling!)  and attached a ribbon bow tie (my ribbon just didn't look right as a scarf) and I had my take on the card.

I am entering this card at:
Anything Goes Challenge Blog (embossing)
Made by Momo (use some sort of embossing on your project)
Crazy 4 Challenges (square card)
Cards for Men (animals)

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Vintage Christmas ATCs

I just finished creating 6 groups of 12 ATCs for a swap on the Cricut message board.  For each group, we were given the song titles to two Christmas songs and were then to create an ATC based on either the title, line, word, or thought from one of the songs.

For group 1, I chose the line "When the clock is striking 12" from Jolly Old St. Nicholas.  I cut the grandfather clock from Nursery Rhymes and then cut off the little mouse.  The background image is computer generated, as is the clock face, which I then cut with a scallop punch and covered with UTEE.  There a border cut with an MS punch, a photo corner made with and EK Success punch and everything is inked.  The clock is also popped.  I added some gold "pearls" to finish things off.  I think that this one is my favourite.

Group 2 represents the song Winter Wonderland.  The image is random.  I used a MS snowflake border punch and the little branches were cut using a MS punch as well.  The Merry Christmas sentiment was stamped with a Carleton Cards stamp and the tag and border were cut out with Stampin' Up punches.  I embossed the background with a Sizzix embossing folder, and used my MS score board as well. Everything is inked and the sentiment is popped.  This card looks NOTHING like my original plan (which started as stamped trees and glitter), but I am pleased with the final result.

I was inspired by the line "Let earth receive her king" from Joy to the World for the third group.  I cut the baby in the manger from Christmas Village (without the cut for the stand).  Both the Joy to the World and star cuts are from Winter Frolic.  I also embossed the background with a Cuttlebug folder and inked some portions of this card.  The baby in the manger is popped.

Group 4 is Sleigh Ride!  I used a Stampin' Up ticket corner punch on the patterned paper (from DCWV's Holiday Stack) and attached some ribbon.  The sleigh is cut from metallic gold cardstock, using Christmas Cheer and attached with Pop Dots.  I attached a coordinating flower to finish things off.  My daughter likes this one best of all.

I chose the line "They who travelled far" from C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S for group 5.  I used Versamark to stamp an Inkadinkado stamp on black cardstock and then used gold embossing powder over the image.  I then layered two window frames which I cut using George and Basic Shapes and Accent Essentials.  I embossed the top layer using a Cuttlebug folder and added three gold gems to the bottom.  I love the Victorian look of this card.

Group 6 is Let it Snow.  The pink frame was cut from Ashlyn's Alphabet, the circle frame from George and Basic Shapes, and the snowflake from Joys of the Season (using a metallic white cardstock).  I embossed the circle frame with a Sizzix folder and the background cardstock with a Cuttlebug folder.  The corners were punched with an EK Success punch.  I also added a gemstone to the centre of the snowflake, which is popped. 

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Fantabulous Cricut Challenge: Bird Bonanza

This week at Fantabulous Cricut, the theme is Bird Bonanza.  We've had a crazy couple of weeks at our house and I feel like I've been running like a chicken with her head cut off.  However, I was able to get away with some friends for the weekend and feel like I've got a bit of energy to make it through the week ahead!  I decided to make a Christmas card as I am already looking forward to the time off and time to spend with the family.

I cut the frame of my card using Ashlyn's Alphabet.  The bird in the decorated tree is from Winter Frolic.  The papers are either from DCWV's Holiday Stack, or they are just regular cardstock (with metallic cardstock used for the shadow of the tree).  I had meant to add some embossing, but by the time I realized I had forgotten, it was too late!  I did use a Fiskar's border punch and also punched the labels with Stampin' Up punches.  The sentiment is from a Carleton Cards set that I picked up on clearance after Christmas last year.  I inked everything and added some ruby coloured half-pearls.
(I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to visit as many blogs as usual.  My youngest was home for a week and a half with chicken pox - and returned to school last week only to develop an ear infection.  He's been feeling better since Thursday, but I'm far behind in my work and am now playing catch-up with my studies and reviews.)

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