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