Compass Valentine

Monday, January 24, 2011
This week at Fantabulous Cricut, we are challenging you to make use of your neglected cartridges.  I have a few cartridges that are still in their original packaging and (as I've mentioned before) one of my goals this year is to use what I've got.  However, for this challenge, I opted to go with My World - a cartridge that has been opened but used only once and is not yet on my sidebar's labels list.  Papers are designer cardstock from a set I got at Costco, a piece from Michaels' open stock, and metallic silver cardstock. 
(Sorry for the bit of glare.  The compass was SO difficult to photograph.)
I made this card for my husband.  I used My World to cut the compass.  I cut the shadow and two cuts of the main image using the blackout feature.  Then, on another layer, I hid the contours for the outer cuts and used a gel pen holder in my Cricut to draw the face of the compass.  I was a bit disappointed, and had to do this five times - still with rather unsatisfactory results as most contours were not being drawn.  I tried a number of different methods and finally ended up hand-drawing a good portion of the compass' face.  However, with all the inking on the card, I decided that the uneven lines added to the charm of the overall look.

I also cut a circle silhouette from George and Basic Shapes using the same metallic cardstock which I had used for the shadow.  I cut a full circle out of transparency too.  These were positioned over the top layer of the compass to give it the look of a glass cover.  I adhered these with small little pop dots.  The needle of the compass was cut from Gypsy Wanderings and I used markers and ink to colour a tiny brad to match.  I am so pleased with how the compass turned out!

I cut the heart and its shadow from a single piece of designer cardstock using George and Basic shapes and inked the edges to give some separation.  After adhering the heart to its shadow, I ran it through the Cuttlebug using the script embossing folder.  I did a bit more inking over the embossed script as well.

I also cut N, E, S, and W to use in the corners of the card and cut them from the same designer cardstock I had used for the compass needle and heart.  These were cut from Plantin' Schoolbook and were inked.  Initially, I had the N in the top left corner but then remembered my days of orienteering back at summer camp and realized that the needle of a compass always points north!  As the needle is pointing to the heart, I quickly changed things to make sure everything was just right.
I added a little heart charm tied to black hemp and positioned it behind the compass.  A few silver gems were also added to finish off the card.

For the inside of the card, I created the sentiment in Microsoft Word.  I did a bit of inking on the paper and finished things off by added some photo corners punched with an EK Success punch.
Head over to Fantabulous Cricut and show us what you can do with those dusty cartridges! I would love to see what you can create!

Challenges:
Crop Stop: square with a die cut
Frosted Designs: use transparency
***I'm also entering this at Sweet Magnolia Rose's first blog hop challenge.  Anything goes! Head on over and enter your project too!*** 

36 comments

the cricutologist said...

Wow this card is gorgeous!

Vicki said...

Amazing card! You did a fabulous job with all of the detail work. Thanks for playing along on our CropStop Challenge Blog!

Besthobbyeva said...

Oh Kate, fantastic! I love, love this card and the paper is perfecto! Great, great job on the compass. I am so going to check out this cartridge, looks like something I made need!! Great, great job on the card!!!

Saundra said...

Kate, your card is gorgeous! Perfect for a guy! I love it!

Hugs,
Saundra :)

DonnaMundinger said...

WOW Kate! So Tim Holzy and romantic! I ADORE it! xxD

Angi Barrs said...

Love this Kate. It has an artistic and grunge style to it. Beautiful design. :)

April said...

This is such a wonderful card! You did a great job on the compass face! I love everything about it!

Linda Kaiser said...

Kate: This is sooo beautiful. You did a perfect job on the compass face. It looks like a purchased embellishment. Thanks again for all your kind comments on my blog!!

Linda

Paula said...

What an awesome card Kate!! The compass is amazing. Love it all! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Norma said...

WOW!!! fantastic card! LOVE it and that compass is amazing looking:) I have a blog ward waiting for you on my blog! Congrats
Hugs,
Norma

Jolanda said...

I absolutely love your card - it's fantastic - the colours are perfect and the compass is amazing!! I love it!!

Jean said...

Love this!! So cute.

Veronica said...

Very pretty card. Great job ......

Valerie said...

Kate, this is a gorgeous Valentines card!! You put lots of love into it.

Unknown said...

Your card is Amazing! Great Job!

Angela
Simple Creations

Rhonda Emery said...

kate this is one beautiful card I love it alot. hugs

abusybee - DoubleClick Connections said...

This is amazing!! Love all the great details, colors and embossing!

Tracey said...

Kate your compass looks awesome! Love the card......the sentiment is perfect.

Lezlye said...

What a great Card! Thanks for visiting my blog... You have a lot of awesome work here too!

Barb Craft said...

Wow! Stunning card! I love the compass and the way you used the transparency! And the embossing on the heart is just the right touch! Thanks for taking on our challenge this week at Frosted Designs!
barb :)

Jinny Newlin said...

Oh, Kate! Your card has such fantastic details and texture! I just want to reach right through my computer screen and touch it! I'm sure your husband will love it!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving me such a kind comment today. It meant so much to me!

Wendy Ramlakhan said...

Gorgeous!!! Stunning!!! I swear this has to be my most favorite card I've ever seen you make!!! Everything about it makes me so happy!! The papers are PERFECT and I love all the inking and how the needle points to the heart!! Oh Kate, it's just so AWESOME!!!! I'm sure your husband LOVED it!!

~Tammy~ said...

Kate, this is way too cool! This is just amazing! Oh, I am missing my cricut so much and I wish I could participate in this challenge. I will have to link up when I finished moving and get my craft room back! Anyway, this is awesome!!

Maria Elena said...

Kate your husband is going to love this card ! is so elegant, pretty ! great job !

Have a great Wednesday ;-)
http://mariaelenaworld.blogspot.com/

GrammaP said...

Kate,
Gorgeous card!!

MiamiKel said...

Oh Kate, this is absolutely STUNNING! I love how details and beautiful it all comes together - just as fabulous and unique as can be! I don't know if you know about Stamping Sisters in Christ challege blog (there is a blinkie on ny blog) that I play in from time to time and this week is vintage - your card would be PERFECT! Your dh will just love this as much as we do :) Blessings!

Suzy said...

Love how you used the script folder on the heart!

Gloria Stengel said...

This is so cool. I love everything about it! Thanks for joining us at CropStop this week!

Dalis said...

wow girl, you rock this!!!!!

thanks for playing with us at Cropstop.com, I hope to see you this week. Our new challenge is already up in the blog.

Did you know you can submit this card also into Pile It On! challenge at www.pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com ?

-- dalis
Cropstop DT

Jenny B said...

JUST AWESOME!!!!!!
You have an award on my blog:) For such great projects and being a great encouraging friend!

Tracy said...

This is an awesome card Kate! I love the dimension on the compass. Just wanted to pop in and thank you for being a follower and posting about my blogaversary giveaway. Hope you can find something to inspire your creativity on my blog. Hugs!

Georgiana said...

This has to be one of your new favorites! It is amazing. You did such an awesome job with this card. I would want to frame it. Can you tell I like it? : )

Georgiana

Pholly said...

I absolutely love this card, it is amazing. I am a new follower and I am looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I love reading them. I am new at this, just started last week. I am having so much fun.

Hugs,
Phyllis

phollyphlox.blogspot.com

Tara said...

I just love the distressed look you created. Oh and the saying...made me get teared up! Excellent!
Tara

Sandy Ang said...

Such a unique valentine's day card ! I love your compass and the distressed, faded colours.

Anonymous said...

The glare in the photograph was actually helpful because it really showed the dimention that was accomplished by the pop-dots and transparent compass face. This is a lovely card!

Former Design Team Member at My Craft Spot (2011-2015)
My Craft Spot


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