Friday, July 6, 2012

Erica's July Blog Hop: Birthday Reminder Book

July's 100 Cricut cartridge blog hop Day ONE

My Cricut Craft Room 100 Cartridge Hop
     
     Welcome to Erica's 100 cart Blog Hop! Here, each month, the DT showcases 100 different Cricut cartridges. We hope to inspire you and to take another look at the cartridges you already have or to peak your interest on one you may not yet own.  If you have come from Sarah's then you are in the right place If not then you want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing! Here's the line up in case you get lost along the way:


     For my project I used Designers' Calendar and the Imagine cartridges Snapshot Everyday and Yummy. I have a really useful and practical project to share with you, a Birthday Reminder Book. Since we have 5 adult children and their spouses (or girl friend) and 8 grand kids plus 4 wedding anniversaries, it can be hard to keep everything straight. That's not to mention the fact that that our oldest son and his family are in Florida and one of our daughters and her husband are relocating to California after 3 years in Hawaii. So let's get right to the details.
     Isn't this just the perfect size? It only measures 2.5" x 4.5" so it is perfect to slip in your pocketbook. First I started with some pieces of chip board. the cover is the balloon paper from Snapshot Everyday on page 3. I used the Imagine shape 3x5 that is built into the Imagine machine and print and cut a totally of 4 pieces. I used 2 for the outside covers and 2 for the inside. After I adhered them to the chipboard, used the Round it All by Zutter to round the outer corners and punched the binding with my Bind It all machine. You can find these great tools at Erica's Store. She has great prices and I have given you the direct link to the Zutter page but please take a few moments to do some shopping while you are there for some of the wonderful crafting supplies Erica carries. Oops, I digress, lol.
     After the cover was all dry I decided to ink the edges and much to my chagrin, I had some ink splotch where I really did not want it to go. No problem. You see the spotted balloon? I gave it a touch of Avocado liquid Pearls to cover the mistake. I decided to do it on the back cover as well so it looks like it was intentional! 
     I didn't want to use a cupcake since this is really for all sorts of celebrations so I used the present from the Imagine cart Yummy.This image is found on page 19 and I cut it at 2". I kept all the layers combined for this project.I inked the edges with Distress ink Worn Lipstick and added some smooch to the flourish on the present and more Liquid Pearls on the bow. Will you just look at all those envelopes, lol. I found these pkg. of mini envelopes at Michaels and they are just perfect for this project. Hmm, I wonder what is inside?
     I started by cutting the flaps off the envelopes and used a circle punch to cut out a little tab.The months were made by using Designers Calendar. I started with black card stock and the boxed feature. All were sized @ 1.25". This is a fabulous way to use all those small scraps of left over paper. I just glued the boxed month on scraps of colors and then cut them down by hand. It is best to punch your holes first so you can center the words correctly.
     I love using the CCR and my imagine together it makes a project go so much quicker. first i used a tag from Art Philosophy @ 3.25". Still in CCR, I added another mat and added the names of the months sized @ .75". This way when you go to print and cut, I use the separate layers option and print the months first, then cut the tags. I did want a lined area to write the dates in so I used George and Basic Shapes to cut a rectangle @ 2.75". The rectangle I used is on page 112 rectangle of the handbook. Boy did I use a lot of scraps on this project just look at the different tags, lol!
     After adding an eyelet to each tag I went through my stash of ribbons and brads to finish them all off. Here is a sample of a few of them:
     I hope you have enjoyed my little project. I plan on making more of these for Christmas presents to go along with the card boxes I am making. Be sure to leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop this week end for a chance to win some goodies. Did I say goodies? How about I give away some blog candy? I will be giving one lucky follower a set of Pink By Design Stamps "All In The Family". This is a "Pay It Forward" I received from Erica. I was sent this extra set by mistake but asked  Erica if she would mind if I gave it away. Of course she said yes, lol.

     Next stop along the hop is Pattie http://www.sweetpsscrapbooks.blogspot.com/ be sure to hop over and see what she has created just for you.

    

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Whoos Celebrating?


     Welcome to all my new followers, I'm so glad you are here! In case you are unfamiliar with what Imagination Mondays are let me explain. On Mondays Erica asks her Design Team to use their Imagine to create a project. She also has a swap for cards,die cuts and sometimes themes. I am in the card swap where you must include some form of embossing and also use stickles, liquid pearls and a form of glimmer mist. We make 8 each that are exactly the same that we send to our swap leader Doris. She in turns mails us back 8, one from each of the members who are participating. It is a fabulous way to build up a stash of cards as well as to see how each one uses the technique or theme. Whew, now that I have gotten all the details out of the way, you probably have guessed that my project for today is what I have done for this swap. They are already in the mail!
     I wanted to make a card that could be used for several occasions, congratulations, graduation, birthday and perhaps an anniversary. I also wanted to ensure it was sort of gender neutral so I went with the owl from the Imagine cart Better Together. The owl is on page 13 and I cut it @ 3". I cut one with the layers combined and then cut with the head and hat using separated layers.
     I used Provo Craft embossing folder "Leaves" for the background on a shimmery card stock.This was a great time to use my Distress marker "Peeled Paint" to add color to the stems and veins on the leaves and then brushed on some lime green stickles to the leaves. I love how this looks. It is so sparkly in person!
 Just look at that sparkle. Yay!!!
Isn't this just the cutest owl, lol. I pulled out my glaze black pen to add some texture to the feathers and wings. Before I put some pop dots on the owl head piece, I used some "Gold Pearl" liquid pearls on the beak (now that's one classy owl!).
     I didn't want my owl to just be hanging around so I decided to cut some grass to complete the scene. For the border I used All Occasions Cake Art cart. The grass is on page 85 and I used the cake feature 1"x6" and also >shift key. I used tattered Angels Chalkboard Fern to sparkle the grass up. I adhered everything to some card bases I had from My Mind's Eye card pack "Out and About".
     If you are looking for some great prices on the supplies I have used on my project today be sure to check out Erica's Store: She has a huge supply of great products.
     I hope you all have a safe and healthy July 4th and that you have wonderful memories to scrapbook later. God Bless America!!! Now be sure to check out what my DT sisters have created to share with you back at My Cricut Craft Roomhttp://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/