C U Later Alligator!

I've been playing all week with Jooniper Parker's Half Zig Zag file in DS.  I was working on a road trip card with Filmore - the sixties style van from Cars - for the BBTB2 challenge this week but it just wasn't working out the way I had envisioned.   Grrr!  Part of the problem was that ever since I looked at the Design Team's projects, I had the fifties song "See You Later, Alligator!" stuck in my head.

So, I gave up on Filmore and searched for alligators instead.  Can you believe this sentiment image from Wild Card 2?  Woo hoo!  The alligators are from Animal Kingdom and to make them pop I cut them from textured card stock and sponged them with Distress Ink. Since the card is for Master J, I added tiny jeweled eyes.  This is such a fun fold and much easier for a beginner than the cascade card.  Thank you, Jooniper - I'm working on my next one!

Make sure you check out this fun challenge at BBTB2.  Thanks for visiting today.   : )  Christine

Owl Pillow Box Treat Holders

I am soooo late with the September treats for the children at OHM although I have had the file designed for weeks.  I love this owl pillow box from the new Lori Whitlock 'To You From Me' cart.  The box itself actually closes the way it is supposed to do although I had to retrace the score lines as my Gen 1 Explore does not do a consistent job of scoring.  (Do you hear justification for the new Explore Air 2 that's supposed to be out soon? LOL!)

I had to 'slice' apart the wings because they cut as though they were placed on the sides of the owl and this was a huge waste of paper.  This is an easy fix that's worth doing when cutting multiples of a design.

The original owl has a heart on his belly but since I wanted to add an apple and a sentiment there, I used 'hide contour' to eliminate the heart.  The sentiment comes from 'Autumn Celebrations' and I customized it by slicing off the pumpkin.  I stamped the belly with one of the background stamps that came with my CTMH 'Flower Market' bundle.  If you don't look too closely, they kinda, sorta look like feathers!

The apple is, of course, everyone's favorite image from 'Doodlecharms.'  Pop over to the BBTB2 page and see how many of the DT used this apple! I am linking my project with this week's challenge but wish, wish, wish that there were lots of entries to inspire me.  Sigh!  Thanks for visiting with me today : ) Christine

Another Attempt at a Z Fold card!

This Z Fold pop up card is intriguing me!   Every time I make one, I learn something else about the design.  (Give me six months when everyone else has moved on to something else, and I will have finally mastered it!  LOL!)  Here's a Halloween version that I have been working on for a Challenge in one of my Facebook groups: -

I cut the fence in three sections, one of which was sized at the width of the card (5.5 " for this card) and the other two sized at half the width of the card (2.75").  I flipped one of the smaller sections of fence by using the mirror feature on Design Space so that the whole fence would fit together perfectly when folded.

The images come from Monster Bash, Mini Monsters,  Creepy Critters, Artbooking and Holiday Cakes.  The fabulous background paper is Graphic 45.  

Trying to get a clear photo of this card was tricky, tricky, tricky!  Note to self - two spooky trees is one too many, so look at the project from all angles BEFORE gluing!!!!!  Thanks for visiting with me today.   : )  Christine

Master J Has Glasses!

When Master J's Mama built his castle she included a mailbox and 'suggested' the family e-mail her with messages for Master J that she could print off and deliver to his mailbox.  Well, no!  If anything is going in the mailbox from Grandma and Grandpa,  I will have the pleasure of making a handmade card! 

Unfortunately, Master J has inherited eyesight problems from his Mama.  (She had laser surgery and we're now saving up for him!)  This week he was fitted for his new glasses and of course, he looks as cute as a button.  So the card I made for him this week congratulated him on his new glasses.

The overlay is from Artistry and I duplicated it and welded it 4 times for the background of the card.   The glasses and the eye chart cuts come from Dr. Checkup and Mike Wazowski comes from the Best of Pixar.   He's on an action wobble to add a little interactivity to the card.  Here's the innies: -

A couple of notes to self : -

* This particular "Congratulations" is from Cake Basics and cuts as ONE word.

*  Love this font for writing with the Explore - Always Here

And to finish up with a pic of Master J in his glasses.   Can we have a collective "Awwwww?"

Incredibly and most unexpectedly, this week's challenge at BBTB2 is Eye Glasses!   So of course, I'm linking up with the challenge here.  Aren't those soccer glasses from Maureen fabulous?  Check out all the other fun glasses available from the Life's a Party cart!  Thanks for visiting with me today  :  )  Christine

Z Fold Pop Up Card

Don't you just LOVE this bicycle cut from the new CTMH cart, Flower Market?   When I saw the bicycle pop up box card here in Lori Whitlock's shop, I was inspired to make my own pop up card and here it is:-

It was not as simple as I thought it would be to line up all the folds and decorative elements, but I was pleased with the final result and my sister's reaction when she saw her card was, "This is just how I want my life to be!"                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                

The floral trellis comes from the Bloom cart and the various pots and flowering bushes come from the Pop Up Neighborhood, Flower Market, and Bloom carts.

As you can see, I did not adhere the front of the wheel to the grassy Z fold strip so that it would extend beyond the fold when closed.  Although quite bulky, it does stay closed and lies flat enough to go nicely in an envelope.  Yeah!

 

The butterflies came in a sequin mix packet and I inked their bodies to add a little detail.  One last top view:-

This is a fun fold with lots of dimension and I plan on making more of them.   Thanks for visiting with me today.      : )  Christine

Kitty and Hermione Back to School Cards

The Back to School cards are delivered so here is the big reveal: -

I welded the shadow layer of each character to the basic card base for stability before adding the character.  I glued the 'back to school' sentiment in front of the character.  Hermione has SO many layers that I had to pop up the sentiment on foam dots.   Hello Kitty was much easier to complete!

I added an Applebees gift card inside the cards for an after-school treat.     Love ya S and G!   Hope you have a wonderful Back to School experience.   Thanks for visiting with me today. : )  Grandma Christine

Back To School Word Shaped Card

It's THAT time of year again when the garden vegetables decide to reach their peak of ripeness - all at the same time!  Thankfully, I did the last of the peas and beans yesterday, and I started on the carrots today, as you can see by my orange hands.  : (  

I didn't even realize that September was here until the "Back To School" challenge at BBTB2 appeared on my dashboard.  Ooops!   I needed cards ASAP and in desperation went with the old standby, a shaped word card, that I could personalize for the DGDs.

So, here's the generic version featuring a book carrying bird from the '3 Birds on Parade' cart and the phrase, LOL, comes from the "Back to School layout" from the 'Family Album' cart.  I cut the welded shadow twice so that I could line the interior of the card with some old, old, paper from DCWV .

I will post S's Hermione version and G's Kitty version after they've been delivered!

I am of course, linking my card to the BBTB2 challenge here.  Go see who else used the 'Family Album' cart!   So many different projects from this cart, and it's no wonder that it's one of my 'go to' carts.    Thanks for visiting today.  Off to visit / inspect the new house and see if all the siding is on!   : )  Christine

Galaxies of Fun

There was a time when I knew almost every image on the Cricut carts I owned.  Nowadays -  not so much!  I am, therefore, eternally grateful for the Search function in Design Space which sometimes pops up something unexpectedly and fun.

I needed a card for one of Master J's friends and the theme of the party was 'Space.'  I had my constellations paper and the 'print then cut' planets in DS ready to add the number 4.  I searched for a '4' rather than use a text box and this image "just 4 you" appeared.  Perfect!

Are you like me, can't adhere letters down in a straight line to save your life?  So here's the solution... duplicate the letters and weld them to a frame. Cut and add to your card or scrapbook page then cut the second layer and glue on top of the frame letters.  Voila!

 

Here's the innies:-

Thanks for visiting with me today.   : )   Christine

Picnic Basket Treat Boxes Plus Ants!

It rained today!   We NEVER have rain in early August and we were very busy splitting logs for the winter, and stacking them to season, when down it came.  So, not a good day for a picnic in one of the lovely parks in our corner of the PNW.

I was thinking of picnicking as I put together the little boxes of treats for the OHM kids this month.  These things are so, so easy to make with the Envelope Punch Board and can be sophisticated or simple depending on the paper and embellishments.  Here's the tutorial I followed - http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2014/03/tiny-gift-boxes-with-we-r-memory.html
Easy peasy!

I added a picnic basket from the Family Album cart and a butterfly punch from MS.   As I packed the saltwater taffy in the boxes, I added six card stock ants also from the Family Album cart.  My hope is that the children enjoy using the ants to play practical jokes on the staff at the residence!

Thanks for visiting with me today, and watch out for ants on your picnic   : )  Christine

A Castle for Master J

Can you believe Master J is 4 years old?  He loves to play 'pretend' and use his imagination and some days will not answer to his name, but insists, quite vehemently that he is Captain America, a kitty, or even She-Hulk!  So, of course, when asked what he wanted from his Mama and Dada for his birthday, he asked for a "violet castle."

Here's my version - adapted from an SVG Cuts file.  I embossed the side panels with the TH brickwork folder and added extra flags to the turrets.  On the sides I added some characters from the Medieval Fantasy image set using Print then Cut.

 And here's what his very clever Mama made for him!  Isn't that the coolest thing ever?

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Man the battlements and raise the drawbridge!  : )  Christine

That Jennifer McQuire...

She can sell me ANYTHING!  Once I'd watched her video on layering with monochromatic inks, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp2RSg3Oo5s0) I absolutely had to have the Hero Arts July Kit.  My justification was that since I rearranged my clear stamps in Avery Elle folders - as recommended by Jennifer McQuire - I found several gaping holes in my collection including sea creatures.  Hmmmm!   DH didn't buy that either!

Here is the anniversary card for my DD and DSIL; both turtle appreciators.  The card base is 5 inches by 5 inches and I cut an aperture with a hexagon die in the left over embossed paper that I used  for my recent never-ending 50th Wedding Anniversary card.  I backed it with the beautiful pearlised sea green cardstock that came with the kit and stamped the turtles with matching Hero Arts Mermaid ombre ink.  The sentiment comes from a Tim Holtz die and the sequins and hearts also came from the mixture supplied with the kit. 

 

The inner sentiment and, - not being someone who can waste a die cut - the back of the card!

Love, love, love this kit and can't wait to see August's offering.   Thank you Jennifer, and thank YOU for visiting with me on a beautiful PNW Sunday afternoon.  : ) Christine

Never Ending Card for a Special Wedding Anniversary

I haven't felt much like posting on my blog although I have continued to create cards, and boxes and gift holders.  It was just too hard to put my thoughts down. : (   Today, however, is my day on the She's a Sassy Lady blog and I couldn't let that pass without posting the project I had planned to share. 

I love to make Never Ending cards!  They are just so much fun and it seemed to me to be the perfect card for a couple whose love is 'never ending' as they celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Quite an achievement, right? 

The card base is six inches by six inches and I used a textured white cardstock.  Over it I layered white embossed pearlised paper and I used shiny gold mirror board paper for the card embellishments and found that it cut beautifully.  The images come from Heritage, Wedding, Stretch Your Imagination,  Designer's Calendar, Wrap It Up, and Phrases.

I created a 'belly band' to keep the card closed and to carry our personal greetings on the back of the tag.  Of course, I had to custom make an envelope as the card would not fit inside a regular 6x6 envelope!

A one of a kind card for a one of a kind couple. : )  You will find many videos on You Tube for this type of card.  Just search for "Never Ending cards"  Many thanks for visiting with me today.   : ) Christine

I need to add an explanatory personal postscript to my post. Like many other Cricut and Gypsy owners, I owe so much to my Sassy friend, Sheila. I would "Grab a cup of coffee" and follow along as she designed and created her wonderful cards.  I began to create my own designs and shared them on this blog.  I was THRILLED when Sheila approved my request to be a Sassy Designer and share my projects on the She's a Sassy Lady blog.  Sheila and her DT were always so kind and so supportive and I hope I was able to reciprocate.  It's so hard to lose a friend, but Sheila's at peace and no longer in pain.  My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and to all in the community of crafters whose lives she touched. Rest in peace.

Celebrate the Fourth!

Happy Fourth of July!  How cute are these Uncle Sam treat containers!

I saved a pin from a SU rep who had made similar boxes using punches, onto my Cricut board since anything a punch can do, the Explore can do more efficiently and in a variety of sizes!  Master J. and I delivered a bunch of them to the OHM shelter for the children.  He told me, a little wistfully, that he liked giving the candy to the children!  Of course, Grandma had extras waiting at home for her DGS and DGDs.   : )

Enjoy your celebrations and stay safe.   Thanks for visiting with me today.   : ) Christine

Notes to Self on Using the Anna Griffin Fantastic Flip Card Dies

Sooooo, I did succumb to the lure of Anna Griffin on HSN and have to admit that I enjoyed putting together the cards in the kit in as many different ways as I could think of.  However, I really, really wanted to try out the dies that came with the kit and when I finally acquired the extended platform plates for my Big Shot, I was ready to go.

Here's what I learned:-

*  Close your eyes, grit your teeth and ignore the cracking and popping of the plates as you crank the Big Shot sandwich through.    I understand that it does the same in the Cuttlebug.

*  Anna does not include a die that will cut a frame for the opening.  I mean, really?  Plan A - Searching Design Space, I could not find a frame of the same proportions, even among Anna's carts.  On to Plan B - I folded a 4 by 6 inch piece of cardstock and inserted it at the frame end of the die before cranking it through.  This is what's left over when the frame cut is removed.

Unfortunately, the frame cut in two parts but when glued around the opening, I found that it presented a perfect opportunity for embellishment.

And using patterned paper worked well too.

*  Using double sided paper gives a variety of interesting results.  The embellishments that come in the kit are printed on one side only and to my mind, look ugly and unfinished on the inside of the card.  Using double sided paper with the small embellishment dies results in a nicer look inside.  And, because the cardstock is generally thicker, there isn't the need to strengthen the outer edge of the flip fold. (Since this is the edge that holds the embellishments, it needs all the strength it can get!)

*  The smaller dies work with the Sizzix magnetic plate and are held firmly in place for the second, embossing pass.

*  The quality of the dies is not what I expected from Anna Griffin and I reverted to my good old Heartfelt Creations dies and stamps to embellish this card.

*  The more cards I made, the more frustrated I became with the fact that they will not fold flat.   I did try running the folded card through the Big Shot before embellishment, but it wasn't much better.

You know, I think I'll put the dies in my next garage sale and continue to use the Flip cards on the Artfully Sent cart.  Sigh!  Here's a couple of You Tube videos I found particularly useful:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k53icPsCzBM&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJqZice8Kqg


Thank you for visiting with me today.   : )  Christine

Happy Father's Day!

Yes, I know that was yesterday, but Father's Day sorta snuck up on me this year and I was in panic mode!   Fortunately, Mary at SVG Cuts came to the rescue with some box cards that really wowed the recipients.  This one was for DH and I enjoyed tremendously making it because the technique is very different.  So, watch the tutorial first and do NOT embellish the inserts until they have been glued in place.  No prizes for guessing why I'm passing on this tip!  Now, would it be possible to make this into a jewelry case or a make-up box?  Hmmmm! 

This box card was for my DSIL, long suffering Dada to Master J. I had a piece left over with this one and still have no idea where it goes!

This one was for my DS,  father of our beautiful, well behaved, and always obedient DGDs!  He is a great BBQ chef.  I used Glossy Accents on the six pack bottles to make them look more authentic.  Then, while they were still wet, I absentmindedly put a piece of paper on top of them!  Oh, well!  Two coats of Glossy Accents are better than one right?

Hoping that everyone had a wonderful day and I have every intention of having cards done by the end of May next year!   Thanks for visiting with me today and please pop back on Wednesday for my blog post for Sheila at She's a Sassy Lady.  I'll be sharing my experiences with the Anna Griffin Fabulous Flip Card dies.  : )  Christine

Yellowstone Bears

Here's the little project I took with me to Yellowstone - 24 three inch bears from the Teddy Bear Parade cart all cut out and ready for assembly.

My DGDs and I cut this same Pirate Bear a couple of years ago using the Baby Bug.  Let me tell you that using the Explore was a whole different and much easier experience! 

*  All the pieces arrive on the canvas at the same time rather than having to pick out each piece individually to place on the mat 

*DS colors the images so you can see exactly how each one fits together

*Resizing is a one time adjustment.

He is sooo cute!

I attached a small bag of miniature gummi bears behind each one.  I apologize for the out of focus photo.  While C and I were assembling the bears, our DHs were on a Photography Tour of the park and I haven't been able to recover my usual camera settings. : (   

Here's a picture of a (real!) bear he took on the tour.  C and I took a Wildlife Tour later that week and WE saw two yearling grizzlies AND a momma bear with two cubs so we felt that we won the prize for bear sightings!

Thanks for visiting with me today : ) Christine