Coloring - Not Just for the Grandchildren!

DH called up the stairs to the Craft Room "What's happening up there?"   "I'm coloring."  I told him and of course, he had to come and see what I was really doing!  I recently acquired the Spectrum Noir Aqua Markers and I just love their vibrant colors and the way they blend so easily.  I also love that they are limited in number and I am not paralyzed with the overwhelming choice of exactly which shade of alcohol marker to use!

I was coloring a cute little turtle guy from Craftin' Desert Diva's stamp store.  They come with an svg which I downloaded to Design Space, resized and cut (multiple times!) with the Explore.  Using my MISTI, of course, I stamped on the cut and then colored.  How much fun is that?

The turtle is popped up on an action wobble, and the background paper is part of the Harbor collection from Papercrafts that I brought back from England.   My DSIL should be very honored that I used this paper on his birthday card!

No bling! No twine! I was so pleased with this simple card.   Happy Birthday, Darius!   Thanks for visiting with me today and don't forget to pop back tomorrow for my DT spot on She's A Sassy Lady.  : ) Christine

Mother's Day Box Card

Yahoo!  I got three of my 'started and stalled projects' completed today including a Mother's Day card for my DD - the ever patient Mom of Master J.  I love this cherry blossom box card from SVG Cuts and it was a lot of fun to make.

I added a banner from the CTMH Artbooking cart to the tree branch to soften the ikebana effect.

The sentiment comes from the Mother's Day 2015 set of images and is included in my subscription.  It's very pretty and although quite delicate, cuts like a dream.  Since we are STILL waiting for the offset (shadow) feature to be added to Design Space, I cut the sentiment 4 times and stacked them on top of each other.  I slid the top pink image over slightly before the glue took hold to reveal the silver second layer.  This technique makes the die cut sentiment 'pop' don't you think?

I used some of my precious Japanese washi paper for the side panels.   The paper is just gorgeous!

I haven't entered any challenges for ages, but have been so inspired by the entries over on the BBTB blog and at Craftin Desert Diva's, that I am linking up my box card and hope you will pop over to see the cards.   Thanks for visiting with me today.   : )  Christine

More Mod Podging!

Our quiet lives have been totally disrupted this week by the passing of two wonderful people - my godmother and DH's favorite Aunt.  They were both such well loved and totally admirable ladies and will be sorely missed.  Sigh!

I retreated to the Craft Room and submerged my self in projects only one of which I managed to finish.  This month's challenge at my C and C Club involved lots of bits and pieces from the Graphic 45 Home Sweet Home collection, a magnet and a full size clothes pin.   Been there, used that - mod podging my new recipe box!  However, the thought of more mod podging got me thinking of a couple of accessories for my box and here they are.

  DH made the recipe holder from a couple of (the 700) pieces left over from the barn construction, and I glued on the clothes pin after painting the base and much cutting and collaging.

 The magnet was attached to a large metal button which was also collaged and mod podged.  It hangs on the 'fridge with a note reminding DH that we are having chicken pot pie for dinner. 

 Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go to the meeting, : (  but my menu planning is now SO coordinated!  : ) 
Thanks for visiting with me today.  Hopefully, I'll finish one of my Mother's Day cards to share tomorrow.   : ) Christine

Explore and the RV

So, when we bought our new RV, Elsie, we received 2 complementary nights camping at the Timberlake campground in the Columbia Gorge.  Never ones to pass up a freebie, we visited the campground this week and it was THE perfect getaway spot - not too far away, surrounded by interesting places to visit, and not next to a railway line!  Our site was hidden in the trees and close to the huge "Canine Walking Area" so Cocoa was a happy camper too.

I took along my Explore for a test run since I want to take it to Montana when we visit my fabulous scrapbooking expert friend, in July.    I cut out the SVG Cuts Spring Blossoms lantern one night, and assembled it the next day with no problems at all!   Yahoo!  Maybe I need a second Explore to take up residence in Elsie permanently?  Think DH will go for that?

Here's my project.  I used scor-tape to put it together rather than liquid glue.  (It just works better for me as who needs to take extra glue removing showers when camping? Not me!)  Thanks for visiting with me today.   Off to the dentist.  Ugggh!   : )  Christine

Robots!

Even I can see that when creating my monthly treats for the OHM children, I tend ('Try always!' amends DH) to go for cutesy stuff!  So for my May contribution I settled on a non - cutesy Robot theme. 

I found this little treat bag on the Robot Party cart, which is part of the subscription, and sized it at 4.96 inches wide. 

When I went to cut the 24 bags, DS put 2 to a mat.  What?  It seemed there was plenty of room for a third bag on the mat.  Then I remembered a tip from one of my Facebook Cricut groups and quickly added a 12 inch square template to my mat.  I scooted two of the bags onto the template and then rotated a third and placed it carefully at the bottom.  Holding down the shift key, I selected all three treat bags and used the 'attach' button.  I did NOT attach them to the template and I deleted the square as soon I was certain that they would fit on the cutting mat.

Just for fun, I also cut the robot favors from the Robot Party cart and added two to each treat bag nestled in with the candy.  I have to say that they are actually very cute!  LOL   : )  Thanks for visiting with me today.  : )   Christine

Spotlight Stamping with MISTI

Time to share one of my MISTI cards!   I have a ton of 'guy' birthdays coming up and as you know, I have such a hard time restraining the urge to bling!  So, when I saw Jennifer McQuire's card using the latest Simon Says Stamp kit I rejoiced out loud and ran to get my MISTI out.

 Have you ever tried spotlight stamping before?  I cannot imagine doing this without clear stamps and a MISTI.  First, I folded a 5 x 5 card base and added the kraft and gold mat from the SSS kit.  I used my favorite candles from the Charmed cart on the Explore and while it was chirping away, I cut a white mat using a Little B stitched die and placed it inside the MISTI. 

I placed the candles on the mat in the MISTI and added the 'Make a Wish' stamp. I closed the lid and the stamp was perfectly positioned.   I inked it up, removed the die cut candles and stamped the mat.  Then, I replaced the candles, inked the stamp and closed the lid again.  Perfect! 

I lifted the candles again and replaced them using pop dots for dimension.  It was actually easy peasy to line them up with the stamped image on the mat because of the grid on the lid of the MISTI.  

Lastly, I used MISTI to position and stamp the birthday wish on the inside.  Done!  

I have to tell you that when I showed the card to DH, he said, "How did you DO that?"  Thank you Jennifer McQuire and MISTI!     I'm going try try this technique again, I think!   Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine

Blocks Pop Up Birthday Card

It was my 'baby' DD's birthday on Wednesday and we had a fun, casual dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate.  It included the obligatory 'Let's watch Master J. eat chocolate ice cream and take photos' event which is always a crowd pleaser!

I love the color palate of the Graphic 45 Celebration collection and went looking for a card style to showcase the sweet images and patterns. I found this video by papercrafter45.  Perfect!

Here's my card -

 I hand cut the card base but I'm sure there's a Design Space file somewhere, out there.   I also decorated the inside since I did not use double sided paper.  Woo Hoo! So many surfaces to embellish!

 Hope you had a lovely birthday KJ!  Thanks for visiting with me today.  : ) Christine