Saving My...

Love is in the Air - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to Day 2 of the Love is in the Air blog hop! If you've arrived here from Nicolette's Beyond Scrappin' blog, you are in the right place! If you are just joining the hop and wish to start from the beginning, please visit Lisa's blog. In case you get lost along the way, the complete blog hop lineup is at the bottom of this post.

Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a project having to do with Valentine's Day or Love. This super-fun hop will be showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature anything and everything to do with LOVE since that is what Valentine's Day is all about right!! You'll find an array of ideas throughout this hop. From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Be sure to leave a comment at each hop stop to show all the participants a little love.

For today's project, I'm showcasing an unusual color combination for my Sugar Shock Valentine's Day layout (and I apologize in advance for the slightly gross photos, lol). I think it's great fun to add a bit of the unexpected to our layouts, especially when it makes our photos pop. In this case, I latched onto what was a small bit of color in the photos, but the main topic of my layout, and made it stand out.

Yes, my odd children all have blue/green tongues - thanks to Valentines with Fun Dips in them. (You can click on the photo to make it larger and see the details and patterns on the paper more clearly.) As usual when it's too quiet in the house, I found this disturbing scene: the "sharing" of the Fun Dips by pouring them in a pile on the kitchen table and taking turns licking. I'm so glad they seem to have outgrown this phase; it's been a few years since this incident and I can just now bring myself to scrap it!

I started with the more traditional (and a little "wild") Valentine colors in the Roxie collection from Close To My Heart, and added some Lagoon cardstock for the base. The title is cut using my Cricut - "sugar" is from the Nursery Rhymes cartridge and "shock" is from the Cuttin' Up cartridge. I added a shadow to the "shock" also in Lagoon.

I cut hearts and the bracket shape in my title from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge collection. I stamped on a few small ones with a coordinating heart stamp, and two pink ones with the "You're Sweet" sentiment. I colored in the open parts of the sentiment with a Tulip marker to coordinate with the papers. I attached bling buttons to the small stamped hearts, then adhered all of the hearts to the edge, popping some up with foam adhesive tape. Finally, I stamped the "You color my world" sentiment on the heart in the center, and again colored in the open letters with the Tulip marker. (Note: the stamps I used are no longer available, but the technique works for any sentiment with open letters.)

All of the products used in this project are from Close To My Heart. If you don't have a consultant, I would love to add you to my newsletter list (above left), and invite you to shop on my website 24/7.

Thanks for stopping by again today! I invite you to become a follower or follow by email (above right). Make sure you hop on over to Jamie's My Amusing Life blog next to see what she has to share with you!

The complete blog hop lineup is as follows:

Lisa Pontious - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Kristy Asche - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/
Doris Parker - http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/
Nicolette Simpson- http://beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/
Lori Brown - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE!
Jamie- http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com/
Scraps To Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
Ashley Townsend - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Jessi Buehrle- http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/
Angela Urell- http://creativecraftin.blogspot.com/
Kimi and Pamela - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
Christina - http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/
Mindy - http://papercreationsbymindyblog.blogspot.com/
Janet Smith - http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
Erica - http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Love is in the Air - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:01:00 +0000

Welcome to Day 1 of the Love is in the Air Blog Hop! If you've arrived here from Nicolette's Beyond Scrappin' blog, you are in the right place! If you are just joining the hop and wish to start from the beginning, please visit Lisa's blog. In case you get lost along the way, the complete blog hop lineup is at the bottom of this post.

Each blogger participating in this hop is featuring a project having to do with Valentine's Day or Love. This super-fun hop will be showcasing cards, layouts and projects that feature anything and everything to do with LOVE since that is what Valentine's Day is all about right!! You'll find an array of ideas throughout this hop. From decorations to gift ideas and more, we hope you'll enjoy each and every project along the way!! Be sure to leave a comment at each hop stop to show all the participants a little love.

There will be another round of great projects tomorrow, so be sure to come back!

We have three kids, and I always get them a little something for Valentine's Day. So, my project for today is a gift pocket for each of them where I can tuck their gift. My kids are all very different, so of course I chose to make each pocket different. And what better way to do that than to make each one with one of my three favorite paper brands? So, I have one pocket each made with Graphic 45, Echo Park Paper, and Close To My Heart.

Here are the details on each one. (You can click on the pictures to see them larger.) All of the heart pockets were cut with my Cricut, using the Art Philosophy cartridge exclusive to Close To My Heart. They were cut at 11.5", and adhered after decorating using Scor Tape. First up, for my 7yo son. He hates anything that might be even remotely "girly", so I immediately thought of this cool "tin man" paper from Graphic 45's "The Magic of Oz" line.

I decorated the front of the pocket using popped up layered hearts of Grey Wool CS (CTMH), and the opposite side of the tin man paper, each edged with a black alcohol marker. I added some chipboard tags from the same line, tied with baker's twine (CTMH), and a keyplate (G45 Staples). For final touches I added a cardstock key cut using the Cricut and the Art Philosophy cartridge (due to size, I used the hid countours feature on the Gypsy to hide some of the smaller details), and the "hugs" and "kisses" labels made using an old school Dymo label maker. (He probably won't like that part, lol.) I used a simple cardstock strip for a hanger and attached it using oversized brads.

Next up, a sweet girly pocket for my almost 9yo girly-girl. This one uses the Yours Truly collection from Echo Park Paper. The grown-up and "fancy" feel of this collection just had her name written all over it! I used the "Sweetheart" paper to create the pocket.

I again decorated the front of the heart using popped up layered hearts, cut from Cranberry CS (CTMH) and the back side of the "Rose Blossom" paper in the collection. I again edged them using a black alcohol marker. I added details using various stickers from the collection, including the alphabet, hearts, sentiment, and top hat. Finally, I added a hanger of American Crafts ribbon, with the backing trimmed down close to the flowers in the ribbon.

Finally, the pocket I made for our 10 1/2 yo daughter. She's our fun & funky tweenager who thinks she's too cool for any kid stuff, and definitely not the girly type. So of course I had to go with the wild "Roxie" collection from Close To My Heart.

I kept it simple and "mature" with popped up layered hearts using black CS and leopard print paper wrapped in bakers twine (CTMH). I added a couple of smaller hearts cut from the zebra print and the tone on tone flower print. I then stamped the sentiment using the Thoughtful Tidings stamp set - February's stamp of the month set from CTMH, and added a photo turn to the zebra heart. Finally, I added a hanger of gold ribbon from my stash, and oversized Shimmer Designer Brads in gold (CTMH).

Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I'd love it if you decide to become a follower, or follow by email (above right). And if you don't currently have a Close To My Heart consultant, I'd love if you signed up for my email newsletter (above left). Please hop on over to Jamie's My Amusing Life blog next to see what she has to share with you! And don't forget to come back tomorrow for more - I have a fun & unusual scrapbook layout to share with you...

The complete blog hop lineup is as follows:

Lisa Pontious - http://honeybearzdesigns2011.blogspot.com/
Kristy Asche - http://scraptasticalkreations.blogspot.com/
Doris Parker - http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/
Nicolette Simpson- http://beyondscrapin.blogspot.com/
Lori Brown - http://savingmine.blogspot.com/ - YOU ARE HERE!
Jamie- http://myamusinglife.blogspot.com/
Scraps To Treasures - http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
Ashley Townsend - http://theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
Beckie - http://justbcreativecrazy.blogspot.com/
Janet Royer- http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/
Jessi Buehrle- http://mylifeinartscrafts.blogspot.com/
Angela Urell- http://creativecraftin.blogspot.com/
Kimi and Pamela - http://lovebugcreations3.blogspot.com/
Christina - http://cema1cema.blogspot.com/
Mindy - http://papercreationsbymindyblog.blogspot.com/
Janet Smith - http://www.ladyluvbug.blogspot.com/
Erica - http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Die Cut Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0000

This month's challenge over at Scrappy Frog's is to use die cuts - how easy is that?! Uou can make any project you want, so I chose to catch up on my scrapping a little and made a 2 page layout.

I used my Cricut Expression along with the Art Philosophy cartridge to create my cuts. Using the Gypsy (or you could use CCR or Design Studio), I welded two borders to the right length, then I used the same border and welded two, top & bottom, to a rectangle to create my journaling box.

The title is also cut from the same cartridge, but I hand cut the floral images. They were stamped, cut out, and rolled, popped up, etc. for dimension. (You can see how to make the rose in my previous post here.) Then I added embellishments to the centers for more dimension & interest.

All of my supplies for this one are from Close To My Heart:

Pemberly Workshop on the Go (includes the embellishments)
Card Word Puzzle stamp set
Outdoor Denim stamp pad
Kraft cardstock
Pacifica cardstock
micro-tip scissors
3-D Foam Adhesive Tape

Thanks for checking me out today! Be sure to stop over at Scrappy Frog's Challenge Blog and take a few minutes to join the challenge.

Pin It

Thoughtful Tidings from Stella - February Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the February Stamp of the Month blog hop! And I'm sharing another of the fabulous new collections from Close To My Heart today as well... If you've arrived here from Krista's Simply Creating Together blog, or if you're just starting out, you are in the right place. And once we're done here, you'll move along with Jen Rubio and see what she has created for us.

Now, on to the hop! Thoughtful Tidings is a set of 11 stamps full of messages greatly suited to all kinds of cards or scrapbook pages, with several suggested coordinating Cricut cuts from the Art Philosophy cartridge. Check it out! >>>

Here's the first thing I've created with this stamp set:

Now, you MAY have noticed that I used a Cricut cut for my stamped sentiment, but not the one shown on the carrier sheet with this image. I wanted it to coordinate with the shape of our new Colonial White Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes. If you want to try a different shape but aren't sure about it, just use some scrap paper, find a cut shape you like, and start with the suggested size on the carrier sheet. If it doesn't work, just try different sizes and/or shapes until you get a result you like! I also cut a border with an edge similar to the card flap & Cricut shape I used. This particular border had some designs in it so it was not a solid border. Using my Cricut Gypsy, I hid all of those extra cuts so I got only the outline. I did that because I was using pattern paper and it didn't want it to be too busy. Don't have a Gypsy or Cricut Craft Room? Just cut the border from solid cardstock and it would look fine!

I would also like to point out the lovely flower stamp that I paper pieced for this card, and the rope broder image on the card flap. They are from the stamp set that comes only in the Pemberly Workshop on the Go. See how great they look with this paper? Don't feel like those WOTG stamp sets are only good for the papers they come with! They can be used with all sorts of things.

Finally, please allow me to introduce you to Stella, a colorful beauty who's geared up for all sorts of adventures! Here's some beautiful artwork created by our Corporate designers:

And that artwork only shows one side of each of the three papers - there are 3 more fabulous designs to choose from! And that's true of every collection from CTMH - if there happens to be one design you don't care for (and I will tell you that there is one in this collection that I don't care for, a rarity for me), the other side is likely to thrill you!

All of the items I showed are available on my website beginning February 1:

S1202 Thoughtful Tidings, $17.95 (or only $5 with any $50 purchase) - available only until February 29
X7147B Stella Paper Packet, $9.95
G1033 Pemberly Workshop on the Go (stamp set), $29.95
Z1738 Colonial White Die-Cut Cards & Envelopes, $6.95
Z1338 Sunset Mini-Medley Accents, $4.95
Z1686 Art Philosophy exclusive Cricut Collection, $99.00

Thanks for visiting with me today! Now it's time to hop along and visit with Jen Rubio; let's go find out what she has created for us...

Meet Pemberly - Sneak Peek and a 3-D Stamped Flower Tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Today I'd like to introduce you to a pretty girl named Pemberly, a brand new collection from Close To My Heart coming February 1, 2012. This beautiful collection features florals in blues, yellows, tans, and creams; it's sure to make your projects look great! Here's my first project using my favorite collection in the new catalog:

I based my card design on the 6"x6" Diamond Stack pattern in the Originals card design book, and modified it for the papers and stamps I chose to use. I created the flower focal image using an easy technique requiring only a pair of micro-tip scissors and a craft knife.

Here's a video tutorial showing how to do it:

Here is some more beautiful artwork created by the creative artists at Close To My Heart.

There are two options for supplies I used to create the card. The new Pemberly items and stamp set will be available beginning February 1 on my website; other items are currently available. Option 1 is what I bought for myself, or already owned:

G1033 Pemberly Workshop on the Go kit, $29.95 (contains the paper packet, Bouquet Assortment floral embellishments, Bitty Opaques pearl adhesive gems, exclusive workshop stamp set, and instruction booklet - see above video)
C1494 Card Word Puzzle stamp set, $13.95
craft knife of your choice - try Z1252 Cutting Knife, $4.95
Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors, $9.95
9032 Originals Card Confidence Program, $21.95

Option 2 is only the exact items used on the card:

X7148B Pemberly paper packet, $9.95
Z1707 Bitty Opaques pearl adhesive gems, $2.95
C1494 Card Word Puzzle stamp set, $13.95
craft knife of your choice - try Z1252 Cutting Knife, $4.95
Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors, $9.95
9032 Originals Card Confidence Program, $21.95

Note: Other products are also available which coordinate with the Pemberly collection, including MyStickease adhesive cardstock embellishments, ribbons, and more.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Pemberly as much as I did! Thanks for stopping by today; I hope to see you again soon.

Using Heavily Patterned Paper as a Background

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:10:00 +0000

Many times, I have struggled with how to use a beautiful patterned paper without either overpowering the rest of the project or losing the effect of the images on the paper. I've found what I think is a good way to solve this issue, and wanted to share it here.


Yes, I made this beautiful layout for pics of our cat!

This is the type of paper I struggle with - oversized images, beautiful "scenes", etc. The images on this paper are so large, I didn't want to cut it down and use parts of it because it would lose the effect. Solution: use it as the background. HOWEVER, it's difficult to do this without it overpowering your photos, so there are tricks to use to BALANCE everything out.

First, a note. I had two sheets of this awesome paper because this is from the Dreamin' collection from Close To My Heart; their paper packs always come with 2 of each pattern. If you are working with another brand that has only single sheets, I will let you know how to work with that...

OK, how do we achieve balance? In art, we talk about the visual "weight" of images. This patterned paper is "heavy", so we need to balance it with a large chunk of solid color. This is achieved by using a large block of cardstock as a mat for the entire area where we will have pictures, embellishments, etc. The color of the cardstock should be a color that is not heavily used in the pattern, but is there. This is why I chose the orange/gold color as opposed to a blue shade. (If you have only one sheet of pattern, you won't make an actual mat. You will cut the pattern vertically into two pieces, like 8" and 4" wide. Then layer them on a full sheet cardstock at the outer edges making the center your "mat.)

Next, to prevent a hard line, you want to transition from the solid to the large pattern for a smoother, softer feel. This is accomplished by the introduction of some smaller patterns in coordinating colors. Because my pattern was very dark on one side ad very light on the other, I introduced a small bit of the dark color on the light side by using a small strip of blue pattern. Again, this helps to achieve balance because dark colors appear "heavier" than lighter colors. Finally I framed in my mat with the same pattern on both sides. The circles pattern is actually from a "zip strip" from one of the papers in the Dreamin' collection, and the scalloped piece is from the coordinating MyStickease cardstock stickers. (If you are using one sheet of pattered paper cut down, make sure you leave these strips the full 12" length instead of cutting them down like I did.)

Now, when adding your photos, you can give even more weight to your matted area by matting the photos in a complementary color that will also help your photos stand out. I also used some dark, coppery embellishments to pull in more of the brown from the pattern and to help pull the eye across the page. One quick word about color - because my photos were rather monochromatic, I chose this simple blue/orange/neutral color scheme. I knew I would want blue photo mats to help my golden-toned photos stand out more, so I chose the patterned paper from there. It's much easier to get the effect you want if you start with your photos and work your way to the patterns last.

Supplies used in this project from Provocraft:

Cricut Expression
Opposites Attract cartridge
Cricut Gypsy (to weld letters)

Supplies used in this project from Close To My Heart:

Dreamin' collection Paper Pack and MyStickease (available only until January 31)
Harvest Charms (available only until January 31)
Canvas Badge Buttons
Cork Color-Ready Alphabets (I left mine plain)
stamp pads in Goldrush, Chocolate, and Outdoor Denim
On This Day stamp set (date on lower left)
Treasure Life stamp set (flowers on badge button)
copper frame & corners (no longer available)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope to see you here again soon!

"Lucy" Sneak Peek for Mojo Monday and CR84FN

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:51:00 +0000

We all know that the retail craft manufacturers are getting ready for CHA and publishing sneaks of new products on their blogs and websites. Since Close To My Heart isn't a retail manufacturer, they don't show at CHA, so I thought I would use some soon-to-be-released products for the current Mojo Monday challenge (224) and CR84FN color challenge (46). You can play along with both of these challenges too; just head over to their sites and check out the rules!

As soon as I saw CR84FN46 color challenge, I said "Hey, Lucy would be perfect for that!" So this morning I pulled out some goodies and made a card using this week's Mojo Monday 224 sketch. You can see the color inspiration and the sketch to the right. Lucy, and the other new products I used, will be available beginning February 1, and you can shop right on my website. If you prefer a more personal touch, or need a paper catalog, just drop me an email with your phone number and the best time to call.

Here's what I ended up with this week:

I love the soft colors and feminine details in this collection! Great for weddings, birthdays, baby girls, and more. I went with a birthday card, since I seem to need those a lot, using the word and flower stamps from the new Card Word Puzzle stamp set. I cut the flowers out by hand, sponged on some additional Blush ink, added Licorice Opaque Pearls and new Bitty Pearls to the centers. Then I finger curled the flower petals before attaching them to the card.

Isn't that doily beautiful? That was cut with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, exclusive to Close To My Heart. Look how fabulously it cut all those little details! I LOVE this cartridge more every time I use it.

Here's a little detail shot of the doily and flowers so you can see the finished piece better. I used 3-D foam adhesive to pop the doily up above the ribbon, and the center flower above the other two.

All products except ribbon are from Close To My Heart. The pink velvet ribbon is American Crafts and the ivory ribbon is from my stash.

Want to see some more? Here's a little preview of more projects created by the Close To My Heart art department:

This One's For the Rest of Us...

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:57:00 +0000

If you're one of those people who's "all caught up" with your scrapbooking, you can probably just stop reading here (so the rest of us can all complain about you, lol). For the rest of us, I wanted to share a layout and a little news/reminder. As usual, I'm pulling out pictures from a couple of years ago...

I created a scene with rubons. (YES, on patterned paper!)

The sad thing is that I have probably two more layouts I need to do for the same year... I have a few detail shots I'll stick in while we're moving along, but I know you want me to cut to the chase. So, here's the reminder (or news for those of you that didn't know). If you're like me and work on layouts at any time of year, you can't rely on being able to get the papers you want when you are ready.

Add dimension with a felt shape on top of similar paper.

We're all starting to get excited about all of the new products coming out soon, but we need to make sure we get current items we need before they are no longer available. The items used in this layout are some of those - the Mischief papers & rubons , as well as the Midnight felt shapes are only available through January 31. They're not the only things - the new Close to My Heart catalogs are "live" beginning February 1, so a whole host of products are going away.

Here are the main items from Close To My Heart that are going away:

Wonderland


Believe


Mischief

Dreamin'

Also leaving are the Sophia, Fanfare, Mayberry, and Lucky collections, along with their coordinating specialty embellishments. Many stamp sets will be discontinued as well - if there is something in particular you are wondering about, just ask me. If you see something here you NEED to have, I'm happy to hook you up! You can shop online 24/7 on my website, or if you prefer a more personal touch, just drop me an email with your phone number and the best time to call. If you're shopping online, don't forget to check out that While Supplies Last category; there are lots of discounted items there starting at just $1!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope to see you back here again soon! I see my number of Followers and email recipients has creeped up a little bit more, so I will be having some giveaways coming soon - be sure to check back!

Pizza Time with A Boy's Life from Echo Park Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:51:00 +0000

I was lucky enough to be a winner of Echo Park Paper's holiday card contest and got to choose a collection of my choice. Of course I HAD to have the new A Boy's Life collection! I finally got to put some to use this weekend and I am IN LOVE! I just know I am going to need more of this paper once it's in my favorite store... Here's the first layout I finished with it:

There are so many great patterns to mix & match in here! They were perfect for this simple sketch from one of the Sketches for Scrapbooking books from Scrapbook Generations, and the colors were super easy to coordinate with cardstock and markers from Close To My Heart.

I cut stars from an additional pattern as well as Sunset cardstock using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge from CTMH, and combined them with several star stickers from the collection for a fun embellishment group. I also added some faux stitching to my pattern squares using my CTMH ruler and piercing tool, plus some markers in Sunset and Outdoor Denim, and a white Uniball Signo gel pen.

And I layered the cardstock and pattern paper using the same cuts for a couple of the stars. Popping some up on the 3-D foam adhesive is a great way to add even more dimension. I also distressed the edges of the pattern squares for added dimension and a more boyish look.

I finished it all off with a simple title using the alpha stickers in the collection and some more Sunset cardstock - SO easy!

Here's a list of supplies I used in this layout.

Echo Park Paper:
A Boy's Life collection kit

Close To My Heart:

Cardstock and Markers in Outdoor Denim, and Sunset, and White Daisy cardstock
Art Philosophy, exclusive Cricut cartridge
ruler
piercing tool
Versamat
3-D foam adhesive
edge distresser

Other:

ATG adhesive, 3M Scotch
white Uniball Signo gel pen
Cricut Expression, Provo Craft
sketch book from Scrapbook Generations Publishing

Use Lace Challenge from Scrappy Frog's

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:01:00 +0000

I'm a few days late posting this to my blog - getting back into school schedule mode has been a little rougher than anticipated! This month's challenge at Scrappy Frog's Challenge Blog is to use lace. I used some crocheted lace, and did a little something different with it. Here's my entire layout:

There are so many style option with the Happy Days collection from Echo Park Paper, it seems like I can just keep making things that look "new"! The fun retro patterns and bright colors go great with all of those "little kid" pictures I'm trying to catch up on. This is my almost 11yo daughter, about 9 years ago, beginning her art "career". (She is becoming a pretty accomplished cartoonist, so I'm very glad to have captured this!) For a girly feel, I grabbed the small flower print paper from the collection, and add the mini polka dots and just a bit of the stripe. Sticking with the retro feel, I cut my title with my Cricut from the Nifty Fifties cartridge and added some of the mini alpha stickers from the collection.
I wanted to add a journaling block to my layout, but the flower ones in the collection weren't colors I wanted to use, so I picked the one with the big green car on it and just used embellishments to cover up the car.

I used some of the flower stickers in the collection, along with some flowers cut with the Cricut and a flower made with gathered crochet lace. I just threaded some bakers twine through the holes in the lace and pulled it until I could gather it into a loose circle. I threaded the leftover twine through a button and tied it into a bow, and used that for my flower center. The sentiment at the top of the journaling card is stamped, and the rest is stickers from the collection.

Items available at Cutters Creek:

Happy Days collection kit from Echo Park Paper
ATG Adhesive Refills
Nifty Fifties Cricut Cartridge (special request, and Kim can get most cartridges)
Doodle Twine bakers twine

Items available from Close To My Heart:

Art Philosophy exclusive Cricut cartridge collection
Designer Ribbon Pink Collection
Blush cardstock
Hooray Bouquet stamp set
black stamp pad

Other:

Bazzil cardstock in Dragonfly
brads

Birthday Dreams - Mojo Monday 222

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:28:00 +0000

My resolution for this year is to scrap more often, which I haven't done yet, but I also want to continue using my smaller bits for some great cards. As luck would have it, my son turns 7 next week. I don't know where the time has gone, but he is fast becoming a "big kid" instead of my little guy. So, in planning to make his birthday card, I thought I would make him something a little more grown up looking, because he likes to think he is such big stuff! And when I saw the Mojo Monday sketch for this week, I knew it would work perfectly for the stamps I had in mind. Be sure to go check out the sketch yourself, because this is contest week too. It also works with the CR84FN45 color challenge - see the graphic at the bottom of my post for the inspiration!

Here's what I came up with - hope he likes it!

As my usual, this is a 5"x7" card. I started with a kraft card base, and pulled out my Dreamin' paper pack from Close To My Heart. This is a pretty flowery Fall collection, but since the papers are double-sided, I just chose the more "manly" designs for this card. I distressed everything for a more masculine feel, including using the Edge Distresser on the blue & brown cardstocks, and ink swiping on everything. I also spritzed my sentiment block with diluted Chocolate reinker in a spray pen. I used a square punch to create the notch at the bottom of the "ribbon".

I cut my circles to match my stamps with my Cricut and the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. Since I knew I was using the limited edition Little Reminder stamp set, I cut the circles to the sizes indicated on the carrier sheet for the stamps. Then I stamped the outer circle months and the inner dates, adhered the layers together, and circled the appropriate date with my markers. I stamped my sentiment using a birthday stamp from my stash in Chocolate, and a sentiment from Little Reminder in Pacifica. After lining up the blocks on my card front, I trimmed down the circle to fit rather than layering on top of it, because of the thickness.

I liked the idea of the flower in the sketch, and I made mine using the Art Philosophy cartridge again. For a more masculine fell, instead of cutting a flower shape, I cut 4 layers of the 2 different starburst shapes in two colors. For the center, I used a button shape from the Dreamin' MyStickease pack, adhered it to a round Dimensional Element, and inked the edges. Finally, I added the line of Opaques Mocha adhesive gems.

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to go check out Mojo Monday and CR84FN for yourself. And don't forget, you can shop online 24/7 for all of the products listed just by clicking the links!

Welcome Little One - January Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:59:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to January's Stamp of the Month blog hop! This month we are featuring "Little Reminder", a set of 25 stamps available only for the month of January. If you've arrived here from Beth's Creative Block blog, or if you're just starting out, you are in the right place. When you're done here, you'll hop along to Shirley's Mom n Me blog.

As soon as I opened up this stamp set, I knew I wanted to make a special baby girl card for a friend who recently had a baby. I pulled out my Sophia paper pack and some other supplies, in addition to the stamp of the month. I found a pattern I liked in the Wishes book, and modified it only slightly for what I had in mind. Here's how it turned out:

I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge along with the stamp of the month set and the Hooray Bouquet stamp set for the circles, 3-D flowers, and leaves. I also used a Sophia journaling spot (currently just $1 while supplies last!) on the front for a slightly different feel. If you'd like to learn how to make the flowers I used on this card, you can watch this video I made.

Following is a list of all the supplies I used for this card. The links will open my website in a new window, so you don't have to worry about losing the rest of the hop!

Sophia paper pack
Sophia journaling spots
Wishes Card Confidence Program
4.25"x5.5" Clear Cards
Exclusive Inks stamp pads in Blush, Hollyhock, and Pear
Sponge Daubers
Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge
embossing stylus
paper piercer
Hooray Bouquet stamp set
Little Reminder stamp of the month set
stamp blocks in 2"x2" and 3"x3"
Double Scrubber
Spritz stamp cleaner

Now, don't forget to hop along and see what Shirley has in store for us this month. Leave a comment if you have the time, and I'd love it if you'd become a follower! Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.

Super Simple Paper Scrap Bracelet

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Would you believe that this pretty bracelet is made with only 3 items? And one of them is paper?! This was one of my Mom's Christmas presents, and I don't think she had any idea (shh!).

All you need to make this bracelet is paper scraps (mine are from Close To My Heart's Dreamin' paper pack), a metal bracelet blank from the jewelry department of your big box craft store (around $3-$4), and Liquid Glass/Glossy Accents (same product, different brands).

Here's how to make it: First, measure the openings of the bracelet sections and cut or punch pieces to fit. Squares are easiest to start with as they can be cut more exactly. Next, adhere the paper into each section using a small amount of Liquid Glass and let dry. Finally, OVER fill each section with Liquid Glass so that it is rounded high above the top of the section's bezel. As it dries, it will shrink down to be slightly rounded or even with the top of the bezels. With a small bit of practice, you will be able to get each section the same, but if they are not even you can add another layer after the first is dry.

NOTE: if you are filling a larger or deeper area, you should fill it in layers instead of all at once to prevent cracking.

Here's what the bracelet looks like once filled:

And here's what it looks like once it is dried:

If you'd like to see a more complex jewelry piece, I've got one posted over on the Cutters Creek blog today using some gorgeous Graphic45 paper.

Still Time to Get Mad About You!

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Check out this sweet banner I made with the Mad About You stamp set and my Cricut:

There are 4 stamps marked on this set with their compatible sizes on the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, but of course I'm sure you can find more great shapes on the cartridge to use with the sentiments. Don't have the cartridge? You can still cut the shapes by hand like we've been doing for years. I also cut my letters from the same cartridge.

If you haven't yet placed your order for December's stamp of the month, Mad About You, there's still a little time left. This stamp set goes away after 12/31, but if you contact me via email or phone I am still able to order it a few days after that.

If you'd like more ideas using this awesome stamp set, you can check out our blog hop from the 1st of the month!

Supplies used in this project are available from Close To My Heart:

Mad About You, December stamp of the month
Roxie Level 2 paper pack
Ink pads in Black, Tulip, and Smoothie
Sponge daubers
Bonding Memories glue pen (mine in the photo is an old style, so it's bigger than the current one)
Designer Ribbon Red Collection
Stamping blocks, 2"x2" and 3"x3"
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge

I also used a 1/8" hole punch so I could string my ribbon through the hearts.

While Supplies Last

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:05:00 +0000

Wow! I just visited the online Close To My Heart ordering system, and there are even more new items in the While Supplies Last section. Best part is, they start as low as $1 each, and up to 81% off! Yikes!

One of my faves is last year's "Valentine's" paper pack, Sweetheart for only $3. (Includes 10 sheets cardstock & 12 sheets B&T patterns.) And the coordinating MyStickease are only $2. Lots of other little goodies are out there too.

Don't forget, if you order $25 worth of items from the Autumn/Winter 2011 catalog, you can get that awesome Rock The Block promotion for just $15. And I am also sending a special little something with all $25+ orders this month as well. So, get a few new things, a few great bargains, and a great special promotion all in one order and save on shipping! Enjoy...

It's Time To Rock the Block With Close To My Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to a special CTMH blog hop, where we are gonna "Rock the Block"! If you're just starting out, or if you're arriving here from Georgia Hauglid's blog, you are in the right place. When you're done here, you'll move along to Sheila Bennet's blog.

So, why the special blog hop? To celebrate Close To My Heart's new Rock the Block promotion! For a limited time, when you place a minimum order of $25 from the Autumn/Winter 2011 Idea Book, you can get two new products for just $15: the My Creations® Collage Cubes (a Spring/Summer 2012 sneak-peek product!) and the exclusive My Acrylix® Rock the Block E-size stamp set. That’s a retail savings of almost $30! You're going to love the Collage Cubes and the Rock the Block stamp set, which work together for interactive, 3-D fun. And now you have 33 consultants sharing great projects made with these special products, so you'll have plenty of ideas when you get yours in hand!

We spent this weekend traveling to visit my family for early Christmas. Plus we had an extra trip in there for a Master's Degree graduation. (Trust me, this IS relative, I promise.) This amount of travel with three kids is NOT fun for me. So I decided to use these products to make some travel games. I still have to come up with more, but these two helped keep my kids busy for at least an hour, which was a great help.

First up, an old standby: Tic-Tac-Toe

I used Holiday Red and Sky for this game, using papers from the Believe paper pack and some cardstock. I cut my Xs and Os using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge, and I sponged the edges of everything with coordinating ink.

I used one of the background stamps in the stamp set to add a design in Holiday Red to the pattern paper in Sky with white dots & stars.

For my second game, I got all educational and made a Magic Square Game. This is a math game in which the numbers need to add up to 15 in ALL directions, including diagonally. For younger kids, they can skip the diagonal portion or they will get too frustrated.

For this game, I used Sky and Sweet Leaf/Ponderosa Pine, again using paper from the Believe paper pack and cardstock. I again used one of the background stamps in the set, to make the Sky on Sky dot pattern. And I used the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge to cut the numbers 1-9, even numbers from the Sky pattern paper and odd numbers from the Ponderosa Pine cardstock.

Next up, I plan on adding games for longer trips. There will be one where they try to find signs matching all of the shapes I include on the blocks, and another to find certain colors of cars. I even had a request for a picture puzzle from one of the kids. These are all games that don't take long on their own (depending on where we are driving), but will break up the monotony of car trips for all of us. The great tray that the blocks come in is awesome for keeping this all together on a lap, and we just stuck the entire thing in a big ziploc bag when no one was playing.

I hope you enjoyed your stop here. I'd love to hear your comments on my games, and any ideas you might have for more, lol. And feel free to become a follower or subscriber while you're here, and maybe even become a Facebook fan! When you're ready to shop, you can visit my website 24/7, or contact me for personal assistance.

When you're ready, let's hop on over to Sheila's blog and see what great idea she has for us this time!

Gorjuss Winter Card and a Challenge!

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:01:00 +0000

It's challenge time over at Scrappy Frog's Challenge Blog! This month's challenge is to use stitching on your project, and I decided to use some on this sweet 5"x7" Winter card:

My main image is a Gorjuss Girls "Foxy" stamp from Sugar Nellie. I colored it with my Copic markers to match my papers. The other stamps are all from the Snowflakes set from Close To My Heart. The papers are all from the Wonderland paper pack, also from Close To My Heart. All shapes were cut on my Cricut using the exclusive Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge from CTMH. I added machine stitching around the largest circle in coordinating thread. All embellishments are from my stash.

Want something quicker & easier? I have two more cards using Gorjuss Girls images over on the Cutters Creek blog today. No stamping, no coloring, just fast! Thanks for stopping by today - I hope to be back soon with more projects getting us all ready for Christmas! If you'd like to play along with our stitching challenge, head on over to Scrappy Frog's and take a look at some of the inspiration from other DT members.

More Advent Calendar Variations

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:21:00 +0000

I know, December 1st has come and gone, but I wanted to share the other two advent calendars I made for my kids to show you some variations. (And there's always plenty of time for next year, right?) As a reminder, I made these using SVG files from SVG Cuts and Make The Cut software.

The one I showed the other day was for my 10yo daughter - she likes blue.

Here's the one I made for my 8yo daughter:

This one uses discontinued papers from Close To My Heart, cardstock from CTMH, glitter cardstock in Aqua from American Crafts, and more Cuttlebug/Sizzix embossing folders.

Here's the one I made for my 6yo son:

This one uses pattern papers from Figgy Pudding by BasicGrey, cardstock from CTMH, and some shiny foil paper I've had in my stash for YEARS. (I don't think I will try to use the foil paper with a cutting machine again after this experience, lol.)

Sorry for the poor photos - I finally finished these before dinner, and of course the light is not the best around here in the evening! Hope it gives you an idea of some of the different looks you can get from the advent calendar files. Thanks for stopping by!

Mad About You - Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Welcome to the December stamp of the month blog hop, where we are featuring the Mad About You stamp set! If you're here from Sheila Bennett's blog, you are in the right place. After this, you will hop along to Traci Pasqualone's blog.

I love the images in this stamp set, and how well they will work with the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. Unfortunately, I will have to wait to play with mine. For the first time, I realized too late that I had forgotten to order a set in advance. :( So for now, I will share some of Corporate's beautiful artwork with you.

UPDATE: If you are still looking for ideas to use with this stamp set, I have some artwork posted on this entry here!

Did you know that CTMH now includes a picture of this artwork inside the stamp package? AND, all the directions for the artwork is available online at the CTMH website! Check them out right here! If you're ready to order, my store is open 24/7 so shop anytime on my website!

Now, head on over and check out what Traci has made for us this month.

Custom Advent Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:09:00 +0000

As usual, I am running a little behind on my holiday crafting! I used to always buy filled advent calendars for my kids, but apparently I have taught them well and they all hate the cheap chocolate that they are filled with. So, this year I decided to make my own, but needed something quick thanks to my "last-minute-itis".

Lucky for me, SVG Cuts came to the rescue! They have a super cute SVG set for a fillable advent calendar, and it only took a few hours to put together. (Which is great for me, because I have two more to make before tomorrow afternoon!) I just imported the files into my Make The Cut software, and cut them out with my cutting machine - it was super quick, and it was easy to put together following the picture and the numbers on the interior boxes.

I love all the different little details on the doors! For some added interest, I used glitter cardstock for one of my papers, and I embossed some of the pieces using Cuttlebug embossing folders. Here are some closeups of a couple of the doors:

Supplies used to make this version:

Classic Christmas Advent Calendar SVG Kit from SVG Cuts
Make The Cut software
Wonderland paper pack and cardstock from Close To My Heart
American Crafts glitter cardstock
Scor Tape, 1/8"
Beacon 3-in-1 adhesive
Cuttlebug embossing folders, snowflake and swiss dots

Product Spotlight Featuring Echo Park Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:18:00 +0000

If you haven't yet started your Christmas crafting, this is your official notice that it's time to get going! In the spirit of all things Christmas, I'm putting a spotlight on the Season's Greetings collection from Echo Park Paper. This happens to be my personal favorite Christmas line this year, so it was really easy to whip up a few projects this weekend. (And I have even more in my head, lol.)

My first of three projects today are some Christmas ornaments. I do something different with the kids' school pictures every year, and this year's ornaments are made from these sweet over-sized bottle caps.

This is the "top", or outside, of the ornaments, I covered them each with a paper and embellishments that best suited each child. I also personalized them with their names and ages so I won't have trouble remembering what year they are.

The left one is embellished with a snowflake brad from the Assorted Brad Pack and letter/number stickers from the collection pack.

The center one is embellished with a wreath from the Season's Greetings chipboard and letter/number stickers from the collection pack.

The right one is embellished with a snowman sticker and letter/number stickers, all from the collection pack.

This is the inside of the ornaments. I simply lined them with the same paper I used on the outside. Then I used a large circle punch to cut out their school picture and adhered them to the centers.

In order to hang them, I used a Dremel tool to drill a hole in the top center. (If you don't know what a Dremel is, I suggest you Google it - it's a handy little tool for all sorts of uses!) I then doubled some thin satin ribbon and pulled the ends down through the hole and tied an overhand knot. I trimmed the ends then pulled the ribbon back up until the knot was against the hole.

My second project is a clear gift pail I picked up at Michael's. I love to fill these with matching paper shreds to hide some little gifts. They are especially fun for kids as they try to peek through the pail to see what the gift is!

Beautiful, even empty! I love how the "back side" of the double sided paper shows through. I used Scor Tape to attach everything, since it holds to plastic well, and keeps things stuck to the curved shape better than other adhesives.

I added a thin border of black cardstock to make that poinsettia paper stand out more. Next I cut the sentiment from the sheet of Journaling Cards, inked the edges with black ink, and matted it on some coordinating green cardstock. I poked a hole in the corner and strung through some Doodle Twine, tying it in a bow on the front. To complete the look, I cut a circle for the lid from the same poinsettia paper.

My final project is a clearly fabulous Christmas card!

You may wonder why this card looks a little "different". Well, it's because this is NOT your ordinary card. This is a clear card, cut with my Cricut from a Clear Scraps Acrylic Sheet. I cut this one using the card on the Thanksgiving cartridge. (If you're cutting with a Cricut, be sure to test - I needed to multi-cut 4 times on mine with a deep cut blade set at 6 and Max Pressure.) Here's a view where you can see a little better how the whole clear thing comes in to play.

The key to clear cards is layering, so the outside pieces cover the inside pieces properly, and add dimension. I used Liquid Glass from Close To My Heart as my adhesive. It dries clear and is much less noticeable through the clear card than other adhesives.

I started with the inside front of my card. I adhered a strip of red snowflake paper to the inside front bottom edge and trimmed it by hand after the adhesive dried. I also adhered a snowflake Journaling Card to the upper left of the inside. On the outside front, I adhered the rocking horse from the Layered Chipboard on top of the Journaling Card. Lastly, I wrapped the entire front of the card with some green ricrac from my stash. In order to keep the hills & valleys matching, I extended the ricrac off the edge of the right side somewhat. I then added a Craftwork Cards CANDi near the end.

Here you can see the inside of the card, and the matted sentiment I chose to hide behind the embellishments on the front of the card. I started with the outside back of the card. I covered the entire back with the striped paper using the Liquid Glass. Then I moved to the inside back. Checking against the card front, I adhered a strip of green cardstock across the entire width. Next I cut a blue mat 3" x 4", the same size as the journaling card on the front. I lined it up with the journaling card and adhered it on top of the green strip. Finally, I added my sentiment using stickers from the collection pack.

You can check out the entire collection here - I'm sure you'll love it as much as I do! I hope you liked today's projects. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! I'd also love it if you become a follower or follow by email.

Laundry Room Decor with Cricut and More

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:46:00 +0000

I have a sweet little how-to for you today, related to this beautiful project:

Don't you want one for your house?! This turned out even better than I expected and I just HAD to share it with you. However, since I based this on a class from Michael's, I can't share the full instructions with you. I do highly recommend you check for the "Paper Crafted Gift" class at your local Michael's and sign up (it's probably billed/displayed as a Christmas project). It is well worth the $25 fee - you just need to buy a certain frame, and you can either buy your materials or bring them from home. I can tell you that I used my Cricut Art Philosophy for the flowers and Make The Cut software for the words.

If you happen to live in the SW Chicago-land area, I teach this class at both Orland Park (on LaGrange) and Tinley Park (just off I-80) stores, and have plenty of additional ideas for it I am happy to share with you.

Now, here is the focus of my post today:

I know, we've covered these rolled roses before; that's not what we're here for today! (In case you missed the rolled roses video, you can find it on my YouTube channel with this one. Do you notice those pretty leaves peeking out from behind the flowers? Would you have guessed that I cut those from the same Art Philosophy cartridge as the flowers? Oh, and they are SO easy! Check out this short video to see how I make them. (And I apologize for my assistant interfering, but that's what happens around here. And just be glad I didn't actually USE the Cricut during the video...)

Don't forget, the leaf and pretty 3-D flowers are just a few of the cuts available on the awesome Art Philosophy cartridge! If you are interested in buying it, I would greatly appreciate your business. In addition to the 3 stamp sets and 3 sheets of Dimensional Elements that come with the cartridge, I send you a free Petite Perks mini stamp set for purchasing. Also, through November 30, I am offering a free "A Holiday" stamp set (or other "A" size stamp set of your choice) when you purchase Art Philosophy. This stamp set also coordinates with cuts on the cartridge, so it's a great little addition to your collection. You can shop here anytime, or ask me about hosting your own online gathering so you can earn Hostess Rewards (only $150 in orders gets you started) or even earn a 50% off your own cartridge (1/2 price items begin at $250 in orders).

Thanks for stopping by today! If you like what you see, I hope you will become a follower or follow by email. You can also subscribe to my newsletter (on the left) to find out about personal specials like this any time I offer them.

Just the Ticket! - November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 01:32:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the stamp of the month blog hop. This month, we have over 50 talented consultants sharing ideas for our Cherish the Day stamp set. If you've come here from Jen Rubio's blog, you're on the right track. If you want to move along, Doreen Guilfoyle is up next in the lineup.

I am loving this set of 44 stamps - I've got ideas for almost every month of the year already! The first project I knew I needed to use this for is a birthday card for my hubs. His birthday is early in December, and I know if I don't get one done by early November, I will wind up scrambling at the last minute as I get all caught up in holiday stuff. This stamp set was just the ticket for an addition to a manly card.

I began by making a 8" x 3.5" card base from our Kraft cardstock, and added pattern papers from the Lucky paper pack. I cut ticket shapes from my papers using the recommended 1" ticket from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. (Don't let the ticket shape be your last stop, though - these stamps would be great on several of the tag and other shapes from the cartridge.) I stamped the main ticket using the December and 6 stamps, and embossed them with Outdoor Denim embossing powder.

To complete my card, I also used a bracket from the Milepost Shapes package, a Foundry Ribbon Slides (turned over "backwards"), and ribbon & a photo turn from the Sunset Mini-Medley. I distressed the Milepost Shape using both Outdoor Denim and Olive ink pads.

Now all I have left to do is create a great little gift certificate for him from the kids & me, and sit back and let his birthday roll around!

Now, be sure to head over to Doreen's blog and see what she made to inspire us this month!

Mini Christmas Gift Tin with Echo Park Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:40:00 +0000

So, the other day I was trying to be productive and clean up the scrap room, so I can really dive in and get some projects done for Christmas gifts. As I was putting things away, I happened to see laying on the desk a hinged-lid bandage tin and a Tim Holtz knob. Laying right there next to each other, they called to me to make something with them, so of course I did! Here it is:

LOVE it! I was totally inspired by the Season's Greetings collection from Echo Park Paper. As soon as I pulled out the papers, I knew the poinsettia paper was the one to use. So, to make my tin coordinate, I lightly sanded it down then sponged some parchment colored paint on to the areas that would show. After it dried, I adhered the paper using Scor Tape. My sentiment on the front was from the sticker sheet, but since I wanted to put it over ribbon I stuck it to chipboard first and cut it out to give it some dimension. I inked the edges of it and the green border sticker using black ink.

Here are some more detail shots:

The black gingham ribbon is from my stash. The poinsettias are from Making Memories - I added some yellow brads from my stash and blinged them with Yellow Stickles from Ranger.

The knob was added by marking my center, then punched it with my Crop-A-Dile. The tag is from the sheet of adhesive chipboard shapes, and I just left the backing on the base piece. I then tied it to the knob with some Doodlebug twine. The clear adhesive gems are Bitty Sparkles from Close To My Heart.

Here's one last view from the top:

This is the perfect size for a special gift card or an earring box. I wish I could tell you where to geet your own tin, but I have been pretty unlucky in locating a source (mine came from a warehouse-type sale). If you have kids in your house, an alternative is buying tins of novelty bandages that come in tins. Of course, these will all require sanding and painting for most projects.

Thanks for stopping by today! Hopefully, I will be posting more soon with the ramp up to Christmas I have a great excuse to find time to craft!

A Cricut Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Lori) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:21:00 +0000

Welcome! I have another Cricut project for you today, using one of my favorite seasonal Cricut cartridges. The Thanksgiving Mini cartridge is useful for all kinds of goodies. So far this month I have made a pretty garland and some Thanksgiving helpers, and I'm sharing them all with you here.

First up, my leaf garland. I have a grapevine tree in my kitchen; it's a bit like a Christmas tree made of grapevine, but it stays out all year long. I just got it last year, so I am slowly adding to my stash of decor for it to wear. This year I made a garland of leaves using the leaf cut on the Thanksgiving cartridge.

Using my Gypsy, I hid all of the interior cuts on the leaf so I was left with just an outline. I then copied it multiple times on my virtual mat so I could cut several at once. I pulled a variety of papers from my stash in Fall colors, including some colored vellum, some suede-finish paper, textured cardstock, and some American Crafts glitter paper in Leaf. (I used a stamp pad to ink the back side of the glitter paper in case they flipped over some.) After the leaves were cut, I used various colors of Stickles to add some swirly veins to the leaves. Once the Stickles were dry, I punched holes in all of the leaves, then tied them onto some hemp cord a few inches apart. Then all I had left to do was wind it around my tree!

Next are my little Thanksgiving helpers. Did you know that this cartridge comes with napkin ring and place card designs? (In fact, the place card is useful for any occasion as it has a simple flourish design.) Here's the napkin ring and place card design:

To fit my paper napkin & plasticware, I cut my napkin ring at 1", but I would definitely go larger for a cloth napkin or larger paper napkin. They are easily joined together at the back with Scor Tape. I cut the place card at 2.5", as well as the place card layer. I cut the layer from black CS and adhered it to the card, then added Stickles to it. I used Distressed Stickles in Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, and Fired Brick.

When we celebrate at my parents' house, there are usually over 40 of us with an equally large amount of food. It gets hard to keep track of what everything is, so I thought the place card would also make a great way to label the various foods:

Using my Gypsy again, I hid all of the interior cuts on the place card layer. I copied it to a second one then resized the copy slightly smaller to fit inside and joined them together. Then I selected the pie cut and fit it into the place card layer cuts and welded it there. I also cut the pie layers at the same size as the pie. After adhering the various layers to the place card, I dressed it up a bit. I again used the Scattered Straw and Fired Brick Distress Stickles on the pie, and I added Frosted Lace Stickles to the steam. I plan to make more with some of the other cuts on the cartridge to take with me so everyone can label their not-so-obvious dishes!