Anniversary Card Box

Last time I shared a card I made for an anniversary and said it would take a box to hold it because of the flowers, which were too big to fit in an envelope.  So this time, I made a box for the card.

The box was made with the CTMH Artiste Cartridge (Z1790) using.Cricut 12" x 24" Antiquity cardstock and Dotty for You papers (retired).

Other CTMH Supplies used:

Stella Complements (retired)
Green Glitz Glitter Gel (retired)
Flowers made with Art Philosophy Cartridge
Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918)

The two pieces were "scored" for easier folding.  These score marks can be removed if one is using a Gypsy (yes, I'm still "old school" - don't know if the same holds true for the new design center software).  I chose to use them for this project, just to make sure I got everything folded correctly.

Using the scoreboard and bone folder also was very helpful on this project.  there were a lot of lines to draw.  Making them straight ensured the box came together well.

It took a little guesswork to make the box to fit the card.  Dimensions aren't always perfect as specified on the cartridges, particularly when the measurements include flaps.  Using a height of 5 1/2 inches (the card is 4 1/2 inches in height) gave me a comfortable margin of error and still made both pieces of the box small enough to fit on the Cricut mat.

 The top of the box required the larger paper and 12" x 24" mat.

The bottom of the box fit nicely on 12" x 12" paper.

Here is the card with the finished box top shown in the back.  This was a fun project with a little bit of guesswork on the size.  I do wish there was a sure-fire way of eliminating that.  I haven't found one, though.  Thanks for walking along with me on this.  If you have any questions or comments, let me know.

Blessings,

Psalm 46: 1-11

Happy Anniversary!

This little card just came together from some odds and ends I had lying around after finishing other projects.  Sometimes my penchant for hanging on to things comes in handy.

The fan and card were made with the Cricut Pagoda cartridge.  The flowers were made with the Art Philosophy (Z1686) cartridge.

Additional CTMH supplies:

Inks - Sweet Leaf (Z2153), Lagoon (Z2195)
Bitty Sparkles - (Z1263)
"The Happy Couple" Stamp (D1539)
The other 2 little flowers are retired. 

Sentiment

Now my only other challenge is making a gift box to put this fabulous little card into for the lucky couple!  There's always another project!

Blessings,

1 John 1:5 - 2:2

Happy Father's Day!

Guys are tough.  Not like, "tough", but tough to make cards for tough.  So I was pleased to see some "outdoorsy" themed papers and accessories to use for this year's Father's Day cards.  Something different than the plaid and pipe theme.

Close To My Heart Supplies Needed:

Timberline Papers (retired - use Jackson - X7195B)
Timberline Stickease (retired - use Jackson - X7195C) 
Timberline Assortment (retired - use Jackson - Z3071)
"You're The Best" Holiday Stamp (retired)
Inks - Chocolate - (Z2111), Goldrush - (Z2123), Juniper - (Z2165)
Sanding Kit (Z1294)
Durable Triangle Studs (retired)

Distressing is GOOD therapy!!

Zip strips tell us the color palette of the papers!!  Who knew?

Each of these cards uses the same basic background paper, distressed and placed on a card, then embellished with some different accents to highlight the man's personal interests and excellence.

For my husband - we like to camp.

Sentiment for my husband's card

Our son-in-law is an avid fisherman and outdoors man.

Our nephew, the veteran Marine, lives by the sea.

Our brother-in-law goes with the flow, camping and showing hospitality to everyone he meets.

Sentiment for our three guys

All of these men have brought a kaleidoscope of life to my world and it wouldn't be the same without them.  They are full of fun, devoted fathers and loving people.  Happy Father's Day to them all.

Hope you enjoy this post and have a wonderful day with your special men and families.  

Blessings,

Micah 6:8

Welcome Baby!

A baby's arrival is always special.  Here's a card for some friends of ours who are expecting.

Close To My Heart Supplies needed:


Blossom Papers (X7196B)
B is for Baby Stamp (D1561)
4 My Friend Stamp (retired)
Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge (Z1686)
Sweet Leaf (Z2153), Sunset (Z2191), and Sunflower (retired) inks

The stamp collection provides the cutting size (height) information to use on the "Welcome Baby" stamp.  It also tells where to look in the book for the shape, which is helpful.  I raised the cut out up using 3D squares.  Edges of sections were distressed with Sweet Leaf ink.

Inside, a cute rocking horse and sentiment.  This was a quick project even using the Cricut machine (I used my Gypsy, too!) to cut the front stamp frame.  Hope you enjoyed it!

Blessings, 

Psalm 57:1 - 11

Mother's Day Cards

Mother's Day is special.  This card brought together a couple of designs I've been wanting to use, as well as another opportunity to show off the beautiful CTMH Blossom Paper (X7196B), which I just love.  Other Close To My Heart supplies used include:

"Fabulous You" Stamp (Seasons and Nature - C1533)
"Mother's Day" Stamp (retired - suggest B1474)
Shimmer Trim (Z1918)
Inks - Crystal Blue (Z2117), Olive (Z2137), Sunset (Z2191)
White Cards, Value Pak (X254)
Bitty Sparkles (Z1263)
Bouquet Assortment (retired - suggest Z1857)
Shin Han Markers - Turquoise Blue (Z2465), Clay (Z2451), Golden Yellow (Z2452), Marigold (Z2457), Pastel Peach (Z2460)

In addition, I used my trusty Creative Memories circle templates - 3" and 3 1/4".  Sometimes hauling out the Cricut machine for a few piddly circles just seems like more trouble than it's worth!

Inside, a simple sentiment with plenty of room for personal touches.  I hope you enjoyed this project.  May you all experience a day you enjoy on Mother's Day.  Blessings,

Proverbs 31:10-30

A Note For Nick

April's Stamp of the Month (SOTM), "Typed Note" (S1504) turned out to be a perfect match for the birthday card I wanted to make for our nephew Nicholas, a senior in college.  Although computers are "de riguer" these days, the typewriter evokes a whimsical feeling of nostalgia and masculinity for this card for a "Twenty-something" fellow.

Other CTMH Supplies used:
Tommy papers (retired)
Mini Medley Accents (retired)
Outdoor Denim (Z2140) and Cranberry (Z2116) Inks

Inside the card, a simple sentiment with a vintage helping hand.  I love this stamp!  Hope you enjoyed this project as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you.

Blessings,

Luke 14:15-24

Easter Cards

This year it was fun using the CTMH Artfully Sent cartridge (Z3017) to create this cute pop-up Bunny card for our grandchildren.  Using 12"x24" Cricut cardstock in pastel colors with the 12"x24" cutting pad helped make it easy to cut out 3 cards at once.

Selecting the papers is always a challenge for me - so many choices!

I used the bone folder - sort of - then found "eyeballing it" worked better on this project with two layers of paper.

Cotton Candy ink (Z2193) daubed on the edges of the bunnies and bitty glitters on the eyes completed the look.  A simple card and the children enjoyed it.

For the grown ups, I created a more seriously themed card, using a brand new CTMH paper collection called "Blossom" (X7196B).

"His Love" stamp (B1469), Lagoon (Z2195), Sweet Leaf (Z2153), Sunset (Z2191) and New England Ivy (Z2135) inks, with Junebug Puffies (Z3038) for accents.  The lily was colored with Shin Han markers Golden Yellow - Y222 (Z2452) and Leaf Green - GY234 (Z2454).

The scripture inside is John 3:16.  He Is Risen, Indeed.

Blessings to all for a sacred and peaceful Easter season.

Art Nouveau Two

 Last time I showed you a birthday card done with one of my favorite Cricut cartridges - the Art Nouveau.  Sometimes it's almost impossible not to get SO caught up in the beauty and versatility of these cartridges that one spends hours thinking up different ways to use all the wonderful features on them.

 Here are four more examples of the beautiful women featured on this cartridge.  I've made notecards out of all of them.

So far, I just have the plain note cards.  I am still "mulling over" what I want to do to accent each of these lovely women.  Eventually I will add something to the front, I think (maybe not), probably leaving the inside blank - especially if I decide to bundle these together as a gift.  I would like to receive these as a gift, wouldn't you?

Sparkles, glitter, bitty diamonds...  Oh!  The possibilities are endless for embellishment.  Still, I like them just as they are.  As you can see, the Cricut machine (I have the old faithful Expression) does all the "fussy cuts", right down to the tiny lips and details on those FABulous hoop earrings.  On second thought, Princess #1 could use some diamonds in her tiara, yes?

Have you enjoyed these gorgeous girls as much as I enjoyed making them?  I hope so!  Next time, I may delve into the Art Deco cartridge, if I have the nerve!  Can you stand it??  Until then, 

Au Revoir, mes amies,

Psalm 138:1-3

Art Nouveau

Good morning!  This is a card I made for my daughter's birthday.  The lovely maiden is from the Art Nouveau collection. 

The Cricut die cuts offer an almost infinite assortment of shapes and fonts for the creative paper crafter.  You can download the handbook for this cartridge here.  While the die cuts offer great detail - down to the tiny lips and flower buds - they are also very time consuming.  The nice thing is, you can always use up those itty-bitty scraps, as long as you can get them to STICK to your cutting mat!

The inside of the card uses CTMH stamp "Your Kind Of Wonderful" (D1627), with inks in Goldrush (Z2123), Sunset (Z2191) and Topiary (Z2155).  The card itself is made of Colonial White cardstock (1388) 4"x9" (cut 8"x9" folded in half) and using corner rounders to create the card.  It fit perfectly in a regular letter sized envelope.

Using complex die cuts to create cards can be time consuming.  It results in beautiful one of a kind cards.  Each card, even using the same die cuts, yields different looks and can be tailored to the person for whom you are making it.  I hope you will be inspired to explore some of the Cricut designs you may have available to you.  Until next time!

Romans 8:28

Heartstrings

 Heartstrings is the name of this terrific Workshop on the Go (WOTG) Cardmaking Kit (G1090) from Close To My Heart for Valentine's Day cards.  It makes 15 cards of 3 different styles.  Using the included stamps, the possibilities for variety and creativity are as unique as the person making the cards.

Paper pieces cut and ready to place

That's what I like about these kits. - while the underlying design is the same, changing a sentiment or ink color, adding distressed edges or embellishments; even using the opposite side of the paper than what is shown in the design can give each card a unique "look" for that special person.

Different ink colors, distressed edges and "flipping" the paper for unique looks on each card individualizes a "stock kit" idea here.

Different sentiments were used on these cards

The stamp set that comes with this kit has many different sentiments that can be used inside each card.  It's nice the sayings are versatile and "work" both as salutations and inside greetings.

There is still time to make some of these great cards for Valentine's Day.  While I was making these cards, I also thought they would make great cards for other occasions, using some different embellishments and sentiments.  Happy Valentine's Day!

Matthew 7:7