Erica's July Blog Hop: Birthday Reminder Book

July's 100 Cricut cartridge blog hop Day ONE

     

     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:

Start http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/

Jenn Lorist http://www.jennspapercrafts.blogspot.com/

Shelley http://shelley-scrapbookingforfun.blogspot.com/

Kathy S http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

Teresa http://www.createenjoyshare.blogspot.com/

Kathy Jo http://skrappindiva.blogspot.com/

Doris P http://mybugandmecreate.blogspot.com/

Janet http://janetscreativeworld.blogspot.com/

Jenny R http://myimagitivity.blogspot.com/

Bunnyfreak http://digipage-blog.everything-digital-scrapbooking.com/

Erica's Project http://ericasprojects.blogspot.com/

Lisa Ch. http://lisacustomscrapbooking.blogspot.com/

Ashley http://especiallymade.blogspot.com/

Ava http://scrapbookdesign4u.blogspot.com/

Sarah http://craftingwithsarah.blogspot.com/

Mary http://mary-fortheloveofart.blogspot.com/

pattie http://www.sweetpsscrapbooks.blogspot.com/

marji http://www.fstampaholic.blogspot.com/

samantha http://www.samanthascricutcreations.blogspot.com/

Blog Candy http://ericasblogcandy.blogspot.com/

     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.

    

Fathers' Day Cards

       Happy Tuesday and welcome to Erica's Card Creating Tuesday! Today the Design Team is happy to show you some Fathers day cards so you have no excuse not to get a jump start on making some of these for dear old dad. I am going to show you 2 different cards that I have created, so here we go......

     My first card actually was designed around this card stock with the rich brown grasses from the DCWV "Safari Chic" stack. I just love the papers in this pad and this one just begged to be used for a Fathers' Day card. I cut this great frame from Wild Card on page 66 @ 6.5". Don't you just love these cattails?
     I cut the frame from core'dinations Distress collection and inked the edges with walnut stain and tea dye inks from Ranger.I love to add texture to my dies so this time I used brown fun flock on the cattails. This is a great product and adds dimension especially a realistic look to this cut. I decided to add some Tarnished Brass crackle paint to the frame edges to add a little definition from the background paper.
     By the way, if you would like to purchase some of the products like the ones I have used here, you should check out Ericas' Store. She has all the latest products AND, this month she is giving a 33% discount in her store for everything but Provocraft. All you have to do is add the code 33 at checkout. How sweet of her is this!!! Just another reason why you should shop early and get those cards made, lol.

     I added some gold Atou spica markers to the stem of the cattails. (You didn't think I could make a card without a little bling did you?). The greeting is a rub on.

     I also added a rub on sentiment to the inside of the card. I couldn't bear to throw out this scrap of card stock with the touch of grass peeking out so I added that to the inside as well.

     I had bought a pack of Kraft pre made cards and envelopes so these came in so handy for both Fathers' Day cards. I found this tie and collar cut from of all places, Designer Calendar! You can find this on page 44 Events>shift and cut it @ 2.5". This cut is great but now I needed a shirt! I really loved this one that I found on Paper Doll Dress Up on page 32. You will find it on the top row 3rd from the left>shift. In order to get the right size, I made a test cut using computer paper first. I had to cut the shirt @ 8" in order for it to fit the shirt.

     I wanted the tie to stand out a little from the collar so I inked it with Antique Linen ink. The shirt was from another card stock in the Safari Chic pack. I had gotten a surprise from Erica in one of my orders (she loves to do that to all of us, lol). She had sent me some adhesive foam strips by Darice and they came in very useful to pop my tie and collar up.
     I used some Imaginisce silver brad tops for the buttons and a brad for the top "button". The square tags on the sentiment was cut from the Imagine More cart in 1.75" and also 2". I just popped them in my Xyron 2.5 create a sticker and now the tags were done. Once again I used a rub-on for the sentiment and the faux stitching. The cream card stock mat was embossed with a herringbone pattern and my cuttlebug. Does that brown strip look familiar? It should, it is the last piece from the cattail background paper from the other card.
     I hope you all have a wonderful week. Now that your Mothers' day cards are done start those Fathers' Day cards NOW. Be sure to pop back over to Ericas Room and see what the rest of the designers have to share with you today.They are so talented  and their projects are always fabulous!