USA!

Have you tried the 3D letters from http://www.3dcuts.com/ ?  As soon as I saw them,  I wanted to make the letters USA to add to my July 4th decor.  Well, they did not turn out the way they looked in my head!  Does that happen to you?  Grrr.

Yesterday, I had time to play with them again and added another layer to the letters, some rosette embellies and a washi tape banner.  I am a bit happier with them now.  LOL!

The svg files were cut with my Explore and the rosettes are from Independence Day and Ribbons and Rosettes.   The Explore score tool makes rosette making a lot easier!  The fun papers come from Pebbles.

I am linking my decor piece with the Independence Day challenge at BBTB.   Pop over and have a look at the variety of projects that the DT came up with! 

Mary at CARDZ TV is having a Fourth of July challenge and I am also linking my project there.

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Enjoy the sunshine!  : )   Christine

French Country Birthday Card

My DGD's absolutely LOVED the never - ending card I made for my son's birthday.  My DDIL said that they wore out the edges of the card folding it one way and then the other! 

It seemed like a good idea to make another never - ending card for B's birthday, but this time I made it bigger - 6 by 6.  I used Graphic 45 French Country for the pages and a variety of birthday phrases cut on my Explore to embellish the pages.  The embellies have to be flat or the card will not fold - no need to ask how I know that!   I love these cards!   Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

Thomas Cascade Card

I have two celebrations today!   Master J, my DGS, turns into a terrible two year old!  How can that be?   We had a lovely party for him yesterday in a nearby park.   The weather was perfect and the children ran around playing with bubbles and balls and J's new water / sand table.  There was a Dora, Dora the Explorer pinata and the children rushed to pick up the goodies and stuff them in the little treat bags that I made.  : ) : )

One of Master J's gifts from DH and me was a Thomas the Tank Engine tricycle and so the card that I made for him had to have Thomas and Friends on it too.   I found some chipboard Thomas characters at Michaels and used them to embellish a cascade card.  He loved the characters but could not understand why the card would not open like a regular card!   This was the easiest card that I have ever made!

 

Today also happens to be my first blogoversary!  Yeah!  I have enjoyed sharing my crafty endeavors with you and enjoy and appreciate your comments.  Thank you so much for visiting with me over the past year.  Please continue to pop in!   : )   Christine

 

Treat Bags for the Birthday Boy!

I was so pleased to be asked by my DD to make the treat bags for Master J's birthday party.  The theme is "Explore."  (Can you guess his favorite TV show? Well, this week anyway!)  I really, really wanted to make the 3D backpacks from Campin Critters but... I am so busy this week that I had to go for something a little less time consuming. 

I found these 5" by 5" canvas bags at Michaels and used Cricut iron on vinyl to add names, the theme, and a backpack.  I added four little charms made from the Charmed cart and laminated for durability.

Hope the children like them!  I'll share Master J's card later.  We are off fishing this weekend and I have an RV to pack!  Thanks for visiting with me : ) Christine

Father's Day Card for DH

A quick post to show you the Father's Day card for DH.  This is version 3!!!!!  I used the Explore and Cricut pens to draw the fish images and I was surprised how easy it was to change the pens when prompted.  I wish the pens had a finer point, though.  The sentiment comes from a Make It Now project but I thought the rest of the project too cartoonish for my purpose.  KWIM?  So, a card base and various fish have been added to my reject drawer for the DGDs to use.

Our family got together yesterday morning and we got to watch Master J devouring bagels and fruit salad.  He asked for more watermelon - well, that's what his mom said he wanted! The rest of us were laughing so hard at the incredible way he mispronounced it!  Hard to believe that he is 2 next week.

The DGDs played with the old F-P castle with Auntie K and practiced their persuasive skills as they assigned the Knights between the three of them.  (LOL!)   We are so blessed.  

Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

Happy Father's Day!

Several of the recently added 'Make It Now' projects on Design Space feature a background of repeated images drawn by the Explore.  My mind filled with possibilities.  Listening, for once (LOL!) to the inner voice that sounds remarkably like my long - time friend Maggie B, I settled on something quite simple.

 I found this image of a baseball bat and ball on 'A Child's Year' and imported it onto a card canvas in Design Space.  Using the x and y axis measurements, I arranged the duplicated images in a pleasing pattern.  Choosing a copper metallic marker, I sent the mat through the Explore.  Cool!

I added a sentiment from the 'Father's Day Set' and cut it in copper metallic paper from my stash.  My card needed a splash of color and I found this vintage baseball postcard in the Graphic45 Good Ol' Sports stack and added 3 nail heads. (They are copper colored - honestly!  I have no idea why they didn't photograph that way.)

The challenge on the FCCB this week is to Celebrate Dad.  The DT did a great job! 

The challenge at BBTB2 is also a Father's Day theme.  Inspiring! 

AND Mary at CardzTV is also featuring a challenge for Father's Day.  Pop over and take a look here!

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I'm off to buy more plants for the garden.  : ) Christine

  

At the Lake

We're back, rather reluctantly, from a week at the lake.  We had good weather, good fishing, good company and we found ALL of the geocaches on our list!  Here's Sam. our geriatric border collie, waiting for the go ahead to get in the water.  He loves to retrieve sticks from the lake!  Cocoa, on the other hand, thinks that water is just for drinking.

The internet is not the greatest up there and so I took along my Sizzix Big Shot and worked on some MCT lollipop holders for the July treats for the children at OHM. 

It was odd not being able to get projects ready to cut using Design Space, since it is internet based. And, of course, my Gypsy girl has been packed away since February.   I had to resort to the old standby, paper and pencil and I kinda liked it!    Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine