And Beautiful Birds!

The Explore has had a workout today and yesterday cutting and printing Hello Kitty pictures for our DGDs to color!  They needed the handbook to refer to as they colored so I was very glad that Design Space imports EVERYTHING on to the canvas rather than the hunt and find method I used with my dear old Gypsy girl.

They always leave us refreshed in spirit and yes, I will admit it, exhausted when they go home but they also re-open our eyes to our surroundings.  So, the footings for the new shop building are in and the builder sprayed the corners with orange paint, and I mean it was the orangiest orange you have ever seen!  Naturally some of the paint landed on the ground around the corners and coated some pieces of gravel.  Well, you would have thought the DGDs had found gold pieces when they spotted those orange rocks!  They carefully collected every piece and arranged them and re-arranged them on the deck in a pretty (and extraordinarily vibrant!) pattern.  Oh to recognize the treasure of painted rocks.

I completed my Art Nouveau decor pieces this evening and they look very pretty on the wall.

I love the swan - so peaceful.

And the heron that was the inspiration for the pieces.

Although I can't put up summer wallpaper as Loius XIV did at Versailles, at least I have some summer decor to enjoy between July 5th and the Fall apple and leaves 'stuff!'
Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

The Haunted Piano!

Have you seen the latest release by Mary and Leo at SVG Cuts?  I had to buy it as soon as it was released because, of course, it will take me until Halloween to put it together!

As I was putting the file in my SVG Cuts folder, I noticed the piano box card file that I had made for my DD's anniversary and it occurred to me that it might be fun to make a haunted piano!  It WAS fun and here it is:-

Most of the cuts come from "A Frightful Affair" but the ghost is from "Happy Hauntings" and the sentiment from "Holiday Cakes."   I sprayed a lot of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and almost used up my Wink of Stella pen! The bat is a sticker from Carta Bella. 

It was very humid yesterday and we don't have AC so my paper was not cutting properly but I think a few tattered edges on a spider web are OK! 

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I'm off to pick MORE blueberries and freeze them for muffins and pancakes in the cold winter months.   : ) Christine

Beautiful Bugs

Last year I used the Cricut cart "Art Nouveau" to create a summer time canvas wall decor piece.  (Love, love, love this cart!)  Browsing the blogs that I follow, I came across a post by Paula at Craft with Bee in which she created a gorgeous piece of wall art for her bathroom featuring the heron from "Art Nouveau."  This inspired me to make smaller pieces to complement the canvas I made last year.

I planned to make a series of birds from the cart, including the heron and the humming bird and a series of bugs including my favorite Cricut bee.  Since the challenge at BBTB2 this week is to include a bee on a project, I started with the bugs! 

Since I only had ONE piece of weathered barn cardstock, I pulled out my Imagine and printed this grey birch looking pattern from the "Snapshot: Nature" cart.   I used the base shadow box cut that came with the alphabet cuts from 3D Cuts and lined it with grey paper from the DCWV Shimmer stack.

I mounted my bugs on a doily cut from Artiste inked with TH Antique Linen.  I also used some TH rub ons in an attempt to make the pieces look more like specimens rather than art nouveau.  Hmmm.  Not sure that worked!

Here are the pieces:-

And mounted on the wall:-

Here's a close up of the moth:-

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Time to get some yard work done before it gets too hot.  : ) Christine

Hoo's Having a Birthday?

The summer prior to my last year of teaching, I decided that I would do something that I'd always wanted to do - give my classroom a theme!   I chose 'owls' and had a ball decorating, labeling and embellishing.  Since I had 40+ Kinders, I used every Cricut owl image I could find.  What I didn't anticipate was all the cute little owl themed gifts the parents found for Teacher Appreciation Day and the holidays!   Fun!!!!

The challenge over at Bitten By The Bug 2, this week, is to use an owl on your project.  Using 'All Images' on Design Space, I searched for an owl that I hadn't ever used and I found one on the CTMH Artiste cart.  He is such a  colorful party animal that I needed to put him on a birthday card.

The trifold card comes from Wild Card and is cut at a height of 5 inches.   The owl on the front comes from Live Simply, and the sentiment, from Hoot n Holler.  I had to leave the outside clean and simple because I wanted to use my Explore to write on the inner part of the card. 

The inner liner paper actually has a couple of owls on it but unfortunately, they got covered up!  And, the paper is so busy that the party confetti I cut  disappeared into the background.  A scattering of sequins saved the day.

 This was such a fun challenge.  Pop over to BBTB2 and admire the variety of owls that the DT utilized. : )    Thanks for visiting with me today.   Christine  : )

 

If Music be the Food of Love...

... play on.   My DD and DSIL are very active in the theatre and both love the Bard.  So when I saw the piano card - in - a - box from Mary at SVGCuts, I knew I had to make it for their Wedding Anniversary this week.

The candelabra and bouquet cuts come from Divine Wedding and 'Happy Anniversary' comes from the Phrases cart.  The hardest part of the card was layering the flowers!

Mary always adds an optional cut to write a personal message and I added this to the back of the card.
I wanted to add "You two make beautiful music together." but DH thought it too corny!

Thanks for visiting with me today!  : ) Christine

More Cars!

Phew!  Finally finished the treats!   Here are a few more of my favorites.   : ) Christine

Cars!

A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to win the Hello Kitty Greetings cart from Scrapalette's blog - Around the Block.  One of my favorite cuts is Kitty in her car and this image now graces my 'fridge.

Kitty was the inspiration for August's OHM treats.  I found the svg file for the car on the SVG Cutting Files site, but there is a similar car on 'B is For Boy' that I could have adapted.   All the cute little animal drivers come from Create A Critter.

  I added a little suitcase on the back and filled the cars with candy.   Almost as cute as Hello Kitty!

I am linking my project with the 'Travel' challenge at BBTB2.  There are some great LO examples from the DT this week. 

We finally finished log splitting last night and we have rows of stacked wood drying in the sunshine.  Amazingly, my one and only stack is still standing!  Our next job is to clean out the barn before it gets demolished next week.  Construction on my DH's shop (AKA the Man Cave!) starts in a few weeks and will, hopefully, keep him very busy supervising.  Lots of crafting time for me!!!!   Thanks for visiting with me.   : ) Christine

Camping Card

DH returned from a day of fishing with pictures of his buddy's brand new RV!   How wonderful!  I can't wait to see it and admire all the latest innovations. (RV Shows are like Dream Home tours to me, although on a smaller scale, of course.  LOL!)   I 'hear' it has a power awning. Wow!  : )


I made this 'Congratulations on your new RV' card last night using a pre-designed card from SVGCuts.  (Bet you can't buy that kind of card from Hallmark!)  I added S's blue truck to the card using a cut from 'Outdoor Man.'

A close-up of the 'fly screen' door and the herringbone Provocraft embossing on the trailer.

I am linking my card with the Exploring Cricut and More 'Vacation' challenge,

and the 'Anything Goes' challenge at FCCB.

Now back to the log splitting!  Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

New Machine

We have a new 'toy' but, unfortunately, NOT in the craftroom!  Our regular wood supplier is no longer in business and since we needed to remove a few trees,  we decided to split and season our own firewood this year. This is turning out to be a bigger task than I thought! LOL!

The new toy - Troy, the log splitter.

My attempt at stacking.  Pretty - not!

Careful Cocoa!

Plenty of work to do!

Thanks for visiting with me today!  : ) Christine

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

Retirement Card - in - a - Box

A very good friend and ex- colleague retires from the teaching profession next month and today is her retirement party.  The card was inspired by a regular side fold card on Pinterest, but since I have the Graphic 45 By the Sea stack just waiting to be opened, I used SVGCuts Plain Box Cards file to make one more card - in - a - box.

Hope she likes it!  Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

Summer Treats

Have you ever made sour cream containers?  They really are quick and easy and require no die cutting at all.  I needed something fast but cute for next month's treats for the children at OHM and I was able to put together 24 of them in one afternoon.   The fun part of this treat is that being sour cream containers, they contain Trolli sour gummy treats! (I know, I need to get a life.  LOL!)                                Thanks for visiting with me today.  : )   Christine

Ice Princess

Look what I've been doing... crafting for my DGD's birthday at the end of the month.  Can you guess the name of her favorite movie? LOL!  I've just got the drink wrappers to finish and plan on getting the girls to help me out when they stay over on Saturday.

The card-in-a-box file comes from SVGCuts and is super simple to construct.  There's a video available on the SVGCuts website.  

The Ice Princesses and Happy Snowman come from Miss Kate's Cuttables here.

The gift bag features the castle from Once Upon A Princess, the snowflakes are from A Child's Year and my favorite tag shape is from Art Philosophy.  Everything was cut on my Explore and the only problems I encountered came from the new, over-sticky mats that I used!

I am linking my gift bag to swell the entries at the Gift Wrapping Challenge over at BBTB2!  The DT's creations are truly inspiring. Check it out!

Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

Hanging Herbs!

Just a quick post to share with you the hanging herb gardens I made for DD and DDIL for Mother's Day.  I bought the chicken wire message centers from Craft Warehouse, removed the clothes pins and string - which as far as I was concerned was attached to the wrong side of the wire to start with!  DH and I added a stronger wire to hold the 3 inch pots in place.  (I WISH I could have found nicer pots to replace the original plastic ones!)

The top is covered in chalkboard vinyl and 'Herbs' is also cut from vinyl.  The font comes from Nursery Rhymes and is one of my favorite fonts.  It always cuts beautifully and is ornate but readable!

We are having beautiful weather this week so I have been able to get out in the garden to tend my own herbs. : ) Thanks for visiting with me today!   Christine

 

Another Never -Ending Card!

While the rest of the card-making world is totally engrossed in making wonderful Cards - in - a - Box,  I am fixated on the Never - Ending card!  Ah well!  I'll probably catch up by Christmas.

I love how the Graphic45 stacks enhance this kind of card and the pages are SO pretty, that they need no embellishment, except perhaps a smidge of ink around the edges.

My second Mother's Day card is from the Secret Garden stack.  I added a tiny rose and some ribbon to the stamped tag.  (The tag is the only Cricut cut on the card!!!!!)

I finished the card just in time to link with the Exploring Cricut and More Mother's Day challenge here.

Thanks for visiting with me on this rainy Saturday!  : ) Christine