A change of pace card

I needed a change of pace from all the Christmas scrappin' so I created this quick card. I just got a package of Black Magic cardstock and wanted to give it a try. This is really fun cardstock to work with. I ran the Black Magic through the Cuddlebug. Then I gently sanded the top and the silver color showed through. How cool it that?

The cardstock base is Stampin' Up's Almost Navy. The blue and silver cardstock were in my stash. I embossed the swirled dots with silver embossing powder. The bird and sentiment (I gave up coffee, sex, and chocolate...) are Studio G's. I used the Stampin' Up ticket punch on the corners and inked the edges with Colorbox Frost White pigment ink.

Christmas Cutie - Sketch Challenge

Thanks to Okieladybug on the cricut message board for creating this challenge. Here is the layout sketch she challenged us to do. Since my photos were different sizes I had to use some creative license with the layout, but overall It is very close.

All of the paper and cardstock is from a Hobby Lobby paper pack called A Country Christmas.

I added a small strip of the dark green which I punched with MS Diamond Border punch along the bottom of the white paper and a plaid border sticker along the edge of the tree paper. The brads (on the picture corners and flower centers) are by Bo Bunny. The flowers are Prima Fabric Fancies. I used a Stampin' Up Ticket punch on the corners of the photo mat. The "Christmas" was cut with the Christmas/Noel Cricut Cartridge. "Cutie" was welded in Design Studio using Storybook font. I hand cut the tag after printing the computer generated journaling onto cream colored cardstock. A present charm and fiber was added for texture to the tag.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all have a very blessed Christmas! I spent Christmas Eve with my Son, DIL & DGG. It was a wonderful time. I get such great joy from spending time with them, especially my Granddaughter. Watching her change and grow and explore and learn these past 14 months has brought new meaning to my life. I never knew how wonderful having a grandchild could be. It is an entirely different love than what you have for your children or spouse. I wanted to share this picture of her. Her angelic face just melts my heart! I can't wait to scrap this one. Merry Christmas to all!

2009 CD Case Calendars

I finally finished the 2009 CD Calendars. This was quite a challenge to come up with a different theme for each month but I'm very proud of how they turned out.

I have updated this post in response to all the questions I have received. Hope this helps!

To create the calendars cut 2 pieces of cardstock. One that is 5" x 4 3/4" and the other at 4 3/4" x 4 1/2". The first one is your base, the second one is your mat. Then cut a piece of patterned paper at 4 1/2" x 4 1/4".

For each month I used my Cricut cartridges for some part of the design.

January: Doodlecharms (Snowman), JOTS (Snowflakes) - After cutting out the snowflakes I ran them through my xyron upside down and added glitter. The snowflakes on the calendar were embossed with versamark and clear embossing powder.



February: Storybook (Heart & Florish) - I used design studio to weld the heart and flourishes together then layered a single heart on top.



March: Animal Kingdom (Lion & Lamb), Calligraphy (Flourishes) - The lion's mane and the lamb are both covered with flocking.



April: Pooh & Friends (Umbrellas) - I had to toss in at least 1 house mouse! I cuddlebugged (is that a word?) the umbrellas with the swiss dots folder.



May: WIMG (Wheelbarrow) - Here I used gold glitter for the rim of the wheelbarrow and stickles on the rest. White liquid pearls was used for the center of the flowers. I embossed flowers on the calendar using VersaMark and clear embossing powder. Used the MS lace border punch on the bottom.



June: George (Okieladybug's Hummbingbird Cut File) - JUNE USES THE HUMMINGBIRD CUT FILE FROM OKIELADYBUG...THANKS SO MUCH OKIE!!! I added stickles to the breast of the bird and curled up the tips of the wings. I printed some of the calendars onto transparencies. On the back side I used a black sharpie to make a border. Using a MS ballpoint gel pen I ran a thin line of glue to stick down the calendar. You can't see the glue at all.



July: Beyond Birthdays (God Bless & America) - The stars were glittered on this one.



August: Pooh & Friends (Dragonfly) - I love dragonflies and couldn’t resist adding them to one of the months.



September: Pooh & Friends (Tree & Leaves) - Did you ever notice that on Pooh & Friends when you cut out the leaves it is 2 different kinds of leaves? The first tree I made was really silly, it had maple leaves and oak leaves!!!! I redid it and used the maple leaves separate. I did a lot of inking on the edges of this one with Tim Holz distress inks.



October: Happily Ever After (Pumpkin), Pooh & Friends (Owl), George (Moon) - Tossed in some silliness with googly eyes on the owls. I cheated and used stickles on the pumpkin vines because I couldn't get the layers to cut cleanly at this small of size.



November: Animal Kingdom (Turkey), Tear Drop (Eat Ham) - My favorite! I love this saying!



December: Christmas/Noel (Bells) - I made a mat to cover the ribbon section of the bell then covered the entire area with VersaMark. I sprinkled on antique gold embossing powder and heat set. The red ribbon was embossed with red embossing powder then glued to the bell. They really look like metal bells in person. Added a touch of greenery using the MS branch punch for the corner.



Here is what they look like displayed in the cd case:



I created this cute box to hold the calendars. Mini Monograms (Scalloped Circle), Storybook (Initial). MS lace border punch on the top of the box.

2009 CD Calendars

See the post above. It has more details.

Christmas Gift Tags

I decided to take a break from the CD Calendars and start on some gift tags. This is a sample of the ones I have made so far. I found this glitter paper at Archivers and thought it would be perfect for the tags. The ornament was cut from the JOTS cart at 3". I cut the glitter paper using the layer feature and the main image I cut out of cardstock. This also gave me extra 2" circles of the glitter paper that I will save for a future project. I used George to cut 2 1/2" circles of ivory cardstock but had to trim it down just a little bit. The "To and From" are from the Calligraphy cartridge cut at 1 1/2". I also made one without the window. The Snowman was cut from Doodlecharms at 2". I stamped, embossed, colored, and stickled the images on the ivory cardstock then layered the ornament together. I'll enjoy adding these to the gifts I have for my family.