Reminisce Gate Fold Card (September Card Class, Card #5)

Only a few days remain until my September Card Class!!  During this class, participants will make eight cards perfect for sending to someone special...  This is Card #5:

This week I came across some Kraft Paper with these beautiful muted colors...  I just love how it reminds me of the rolls of packaging paper I used to wrap Christmas presents in when I was little.  Oh, how I loved to wrap presents!!  But I especially loved that recycled brown paper...  I remember thinking how Laura Ingalls would get presents (like new shoes or even a small parcel of sugar) wrapped in that same brown paper wrapping on "Little House on the Prairie."  There was something about that plain package tied with a simple string that brought such excitement...  I suppose that's why I still prefer those plain packages...  The bows have become more extravagant -- Plaid with a gold wire edge, burgundy velvet, or a bright red and green -- But the feeling is still the same...  There's something exciting underneath that simple wrapping!!

The excitement of this simple card is the black grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the 3.75"x4.5" tag that overlaps the gate fold design...  The flower design is from the Cricut Reminisce Cartridge (cut at 3.25") using kraft paper as the top layer, brick-colored cardstock as the second layer, and black for the shadow.  I sponged Stampin Up!'s Bordering Blue over the top layer to distress the flower design (it looked a little too crisp before I did that) before adding some dimension with fun foam.  Rounding the corners softened the look of the card making this perfect for a birthday card or an anytime note!

I hope you enjoy this Reminisce Gate Fold Card...  I love reading your comments, so please let me know what you think!!  If you would like to see the other cards for this month's card class, please use the following links:

Card 1 (Nostalgia Theme)

Card 2 (Thinking of Ewe!)

Card 3 (Halloween Easel Card)

Card 4 (Autumn Tent Card)

Cards 6, 7 & 8 will be added soon!  Please check back, sign up for email updates, and/or become a follower!!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a GREAT day!!

Autumn Tent Card (September Card Class, Card #4)

And so ends a crisp, cool Autumn weekend...  With Card #4 for this Wednesday's Card Class!  The cooler temperatures of this weekend certainly inspired this fun scarecrow card...  I was also trying to come up with something that I thought my mom would enjoy. :)  His sweet face reminded me of the doodled faces my mom would paint or draw when I was little...  I can remember watching her toll paint those 'straw dolls' (does anyone else remember those?)...  When she was finished painting, I really did think those dolls would come alive and play at night (maybe I read "The Velveteen Rabbit" a time or two too many!).

This card was also created for Challenge #17 - Autumn over at Paper Playtime.  I love that Janis leaves her challenges open for interpretation (which I translate as 'Be Creative!') because it allows me to play with any ideas I have!!

My tent card measures 4x6 when closed (I started with a 4x12 strip of Spiced Cider paper and cut out the frame from one side).  The scarecrow was cut at 4.5" and is from the Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge.  I used my Gypsy to stretch the grass from Gypsy Wanderings so that it would look more like a field behind that fun-faced scarecrow.  A little torn paper was added for the sky as well as some distressing and marker drawings for a little extra character.

If you would like to see the other cards I have posted for this month's card class so far, please:

Click HERE for Card #1

Click HERE for Card #2

and click HERE for Card #3

Cards 5 through 8 will be added shortly, so please be sure to check back and see those as well (or sign up for email updates and to follow!)!!  I am pleased to offer a Card Class each month -- Participants make eight cards perfect for sharing or using for inspiration.  Our next class is THIS Wednesday, September 29th.

I love to read your comments, so please let me know what you think of my scarecrow card!!  Thanks for stopping by, and...  Happy Fall!!

Halloween Easel Card (September Card Class, Card #3)

Those who know me personally know that I'm not much of a 'Halloween person'...  Surprisingly though, I've been creating plenty of Halloween projects, cards, and layouts lately!  Before ya know it, I'm gonna have one of those plastic witch things crashing into the big oak tree in my front yard and a spooky skeleton hanging on my front door...  Okay, maybe the skeleton is pushing it.  But I do have a jar of candy corn still sitting here on my desk, and I have to keep reminding myself that it's o-n-l-y September ( I say this cuz I'm ready to make CHRISTMAS cards and projects galore -- I mean I am just itching to pull out the holly leaves and mistletoe!!)!

Anyway, the great team over at Cricut Cardz Challenge has come up with an awesome Challenge #42 that required the use of the 'card' feature on any Cricut cartridge...  And, of course, given my short rant above, it's a Halloween-themed card. :)

 

So...  Who already noticed that this is an Easel-Fold Card?  There's another picture below that demonstrates this more effectively...  I absolutely love this style of card because it just begs to be placed in plain view by the lucky recipient!  Now, who's asking where the 'card' feature is on my card?  See the tombstone?  Well...  I originally was going to use a big ole tombstone as the whole card...  But as I sat staring at it, I really thought it needed a tree and a moon and a purple sky (the color isn't quite right in the picture, but the sky really is a dark, purplish, maroon color...)...  OH!  I should also mention that I don't have any of the Halloween cartridges (refer to rant above)...  {YET!  Cuz truth be told, I ordered one just today.}  BUT, I did actually use the 'card' feature on the 'Sweet Treats' Cricut Cartridge!  The tombstone (now just a mini-card cut at 2.5") is actually the card for one of the cupcakes!!  I'm not gonna lie -- I was tickled with myself for finding that!!

The tree was cut from the 'Heritage' Cartridge at 5".  I used my Sizzix Halloween embossing folder for the 'Trick or Treat' (for those of you who are shocked that I own that already -- I literally just bought it to use on this Halloween card!  And now I love it...).  The tombstone is hand-lettered...  And I couldn't possibly have come up with the phrase for that without my BFF!!  Thanks, Christi!!  :)

As I've mentioned in previous posts, each month I am pleased to offer a class where participants create eight handmade cards perfect for sending to someone special...  This card is the third of the eight cards we'll be making at the September Card Class on September 29th!!  To see the rest of the cards in this month's collection, please be sure to sign up for email updates and/or become a follower!  Card #1 can be seen HERE...  And Card #2 can be seen HERE...  I will be posting the remaining five cards for this month's class this week!!

As always, your comments are always appreciated!!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!  Have a super day!!

Thinking of Ewe! (September Card Class, Card #2)

It is so easy to forget to remind loved ones that we really ARE thinking of them!  I mean, it's pretty common for us to remember the people we see every day...  And I definitely try to at least talk to or text people when they're on my mind...  But I'm really glad that the Tuesday Challenge #12 over at Made by Momo encouraged me to make a card to be sent to someone "Just Because!"  I am a B-I-G advocate of sending cards for this very reason, but I've come to realize that I have fallen behind in doing just this...  So I solemnly promise to send this very card to someone special...  Just as soon as next Wednesday has passed :) so that I can use it as my sample for Card #2 for my September Card Class...

This card was created using the Create A Critter cartridge (yes, STILL my favorite!).  I also used my Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots) since I just L-O-V-E texture!!  Each month, I am pleased to offer a class where participants create eight handmade cards perfect for sending to someone special...  This card is the second of the eight cards we'll be making at the September Card Class on September 29th!!  To see the rest of the cards in this month's collection, please be sure to sign up for email updates and/or become a follower!  Card #1 can be seen HERE...  I will be posting the remaining six cards for this month's class this week!!

Please leave a comment and let me know how you like my 'Thinking of Ewe!' card!!  I love reading what you have to say!!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a wonderful day!!

A Touch of Nostalgia (September Card Class, Card #1)

When I think of nostalgia, I almost always think of those vintage photographs I would see when I was little...  The boys were dressed in a suit that was too big with a hat perched crookedly on their little heads, and the girls were inevitably wearing a string of pearls and high-heeled shoes borrowed from mommy's closet...  So I found it especially fun to create this card this week for the Cuttlebug Challenge: Be Inspired #101 Nostalgia Week!  The challenge was to create an item with a NOSTALGIC THEME, being sure to use the Cuttlebug...

I used the Cuttlebug 'Textile' embossing folder (love that one!) for the plum paper that frames the photo, the 'you brighten my day...' phrase, and the flower.  The photo was printed on cardstock so that I could distress the edges, lending to that vintage feel.

This card will be one of the cards we'll be making at the September Card Class on September 29th!!  Each month, I am pleased to offer a class where participants create eight handmade cards perfect for sending to someone special...  To see the rest of the cards in this month's collection, please be sure to sign up for email updates and/or become a follower!  I will be posting the remaining seven cards for this month's class this week!!

I'd love to read your comments on what you think of my 'Nostalgia' card AND on what YOU think of when you think of the Nostalgia theme...  Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a great day!!

Scallops, flowers, and chalking inks -- Oh my!!

Well, my Labor Day was spent laboring (happily) over my card for the Cricut Cardz Challenge #40!!  I've been thinking about this card ever since the challenge was posted a few days ago...  I just couldn't wait to get started!!  The challenge was to use scallops from any Cricut cartridge I chose...  So my scallop borders (and leaves) are from Accent Essentials...  I wanted to use scalloped flowers too, so I cut some of those from Walk in my Garden -- I cut a bunch of other flowers too! :)

I especially enjoyed distressing the edges of EVERYTHING with my new Creative Memories chalking inks (which are the absolute BEST and COOLEST chalking inks I've ever used!!)

I went a little 'bling' crazy :) adding all those gold-colored gems to the centers...  And if you look closely, you'll see that I added one layered flower to the inside to make it extra special...

This challenge was a BLAST!!  I can't wait for next week's!!  I'd absolutely LOVE to hear what you think of my Scallop-themed card project, so please leave a comment...  And please view all of my other projects here...  Thanks for visiting!!

Black and White Challenge

Anyone who knows me knows I just love love LOVE Black-and-White designs...  Especially when you add PINK!!  :)  Once upon a time, when The Girl-Child was just a wee thing with her sparkle shoes and self-trimmed bangs I tried to paint her room with black and white stripes and a huge bright pink border...  Well, she wasn't having that AT ALL!!  Sure, it's perfectly fine that she has every single wall in her room painted the purplest shade of purple you could imagine, but no way was she letting me paint her room with my favorite combination of colors...  Anyway, I digress...

This week, Momo over at Made by Momo had a "Black and White plus one color of your choice" Challenge (YAY!)...  So I was all prepared to make a card or layout with...  Guess what color?  Did you guess...  ORANGE???  Well, neither did I, but I saw that my passion for that black/white/pink color combination is shared by crafty people all over the place!!  So...  I pulled out my color palette and thought long and hard...  I hope you like it!!

The spider and web are from the Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge (9.75" and 6.25" respectively -- The card is 5x7).  The letters are cut from the Cheerful Seasons Cricut cartridge (basic font and shadow).  I added stitching around the spider and letters and chalked the web.  Add those pop-dots and this card is ready to 'TREAT' The Girl-Child to an i-tunes gift card this Halloween. :)

 

I'd love to read your comments on what you think of my Black and White project!!  Thanks for visiting, and be sure to visit my other projects here...

Old MacDonald Challenge

Janis over at Paper Playtime is having an Old MacDonald Challenge this week...  So I pulled out the bandana paper and created this little chipboard album....

The album measures 5.75"x5.75"...  I used the Create A Critter cartridge and cut the horse at 3.5".  The farmer boy and fence were cut with Everyday Paper Dolls at 3.25" and 4.5" respectively.

I'd love for you to leave a comment and let me know what you think about my challenge project.

Halloween Challenge!

erin lee creative has been sponsoring a Halloween Challenge for ohmycrafts this week...  Just 50 minutes before the contest ended, I was frantically cropping, editing, and uploading my photos from the projects I was working on today!!  I am sooooo glad I made it in time!!  :)  I spent a glorious day with my BFF, Christi, creating this fun little jar just for the occasion...  

I started with a clean, dry jar...  (yes, it's a spaghetti sauce jar... Ragu... The Girl-Child and I used it for our homemade vegetable soup since I forgot to buy tomatoes...  The soup turned out perfectly...  And since I recently vowed to find a way to use every jar and can we would otherwise throw in the dumpster, it has found a happy home filled with deliciously sweet candy corn...  But I digress...).       

Oh...  Does anyone want to guess how many candy corn pieces are in that jar now??? 

I added a 3.5" strip of black around the center of the jar and topped that with a 3.25" strip of (what else!?!) candy corn paper (from Creative Memories Primary Halloween Additions Kit).  The letters were cut from orange and green paper using the basic font on the 'Cheerful Seasons' Cricut Cartridge (shadowed in black).  With the letters squeezed onto a yellow rectangle (2"x3.25"), I triple mounted the yellow onto orange, green, and black.  The lid was covered with black vinyl so that I could add the ruffled paper 'ribbon' (made from 2 9" strips of 3/4" paper crinkled and folded).  To keep the ruffle in place, I adhered the yellow strip on top.  The final touch is a set of hand-cut candy corn attached with some black twine.

As it turned out, the project didn't start out so smoothly...  When I cut the letters out the first time, I cut them WAY too big!!  But ya know...  I couldn't just let those letters go to waste (especially since my project was inspired by my desire to 'recycle' the spaghetti sauce jar used for the candy corn!!)...  So I used the letters to create this 12x12 layout.


The photo mat on the left is sized for a 4"x6" photo that will easily slide under the paper 'ribbon'.  The photo mat on the right will accommodate a 3.5"x3.5" photo or can be used for journaling.




Of course, what treat could be sweeter than my adorable nephew dressed up this Halloween?  (hint, hint...  hey, sis-in-law...  you know who I mean!!!)

Overall, this project (turned into TWO projects) was LOTS of FUN to create!!  Thanks erin lee creative for encouraging me today!!  :)

Thanks so much for stopping by to check out what I've been working on...  I'd love to hear from you, so please leave a comment.  And remember to stop by again...

Back To School Challenge!

Cricut Cardz Challenge offers a new challenge every week for those that love to make cards with their Cricut, and I thought... 'Hey! I love to make cards with my Cricut!!'  So I'm joining the challenge!!  :)

This week the challenge is to make a 'Back to School' card...  So here it is:

This delicious-looking apple can be found on the 'Cheerful Seasons' Cricut Cartridge.  I cut the main shape twice in red at 5.75".  One of these is used on the front of the card, but the second one was a bit tricky...  I could have done it much more easily with my Design Studio software, but my brain just wasn't thinking that way today :)  This is especially amusing when I think about what my brain actually DID think of to get this to work...  Of course, I am sometimes known for doing things the hard way!  After cutting one of the red apples, I reloaded my mat (without unloading) so that the blade was back at the beginning corner of the mat.  I then selected the Layer feature and cut the inside of the apple out of the original apple.  This also removed the leaves and stem at the top (it just cut 'em off!), so I was pleased with the result.  I kept the seeds and core so that I could add it to the center of my leftover apple 'frame'.  

I then cut the 'shift' shape three times (this is actually a shadow, but it's found on the shift of the main shape)... Twice in yellow cardstock and once on yellow vellum (for the inside sentiment).  

And, finally, I cut the green leaves  (okay, that's pretty self-explanatory)...

To assemble the card...  I first scored the second apple (the one with the core) and the vellum apple at the base of the leaves and stem...  this became the fold line when all the pieces were attached.  I then stacked all three apples and adhered the layers of leaves.  

By scoring the back layers, the front of the card does not have a crease or score line.  I hand wrote 'Welcome to 3rd grade!' on the vellum layer, but any other sentiment would work just as well...  'You're the apple of my eye!  Enjoy your first day of school!  Love, Mom :)'  Just imagine The Girl-Child finding that little piece of fruit in with her ham'n'cheese next Tuesday!!  :)  :)  :)

I really love these 'free-form' cards I can make with the Cricut...  I look forward to making a few more of these in the very near future!!  As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts about my projects, so please leave a message...  And come on back for more, friend...