Happy Fourth of July!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy celebration yesterday.  Since the conditions were so hot and dry, we had just a few sparklers for Master J after the traditional BBQ followed by cheesecake topped with delicious Bing cherries grown in our orchard.  Yum!  

Did you see the Stars and Stripes projects by the DT on BBTB2 challenge blog?  Although they were all awesome, I LOVED the card by Melanie for its creativity.  Melanie saw the flower card on the Artfully Sent cart as fireworks illuminating the sky and I just had to scraplift her idea.   While browsing the cart images, I saw that there was also a pop up version and I had to try that one too.

Isn't this AC red foil card stock beautiful?  And the silver iridescent paper makes the stars sparkle in the sky.   Here's the front with another view of the red foil star border.   The boy on the rocket comes from A Child's Year and is popped up for dimension.

Here's the front of the card inspired by Melanie: -

I added tulle and tied it with red and white twine to pick up the color of the stamped sentiment.   Here's the innies:-

I am SO over that Pebbles paper!  Time to shop for something different, right?   Thanks for visiting with me today as I hustle to get ready to watch Team USA in action on the soccer field.   :  )  Christine

Nesting Doll Pop Up card

Just messing about yesterday with a pop up mechanism.

Needs refining, but I like it!

Here's the front:-

Thanks for visiting today.  It's going to be hot again!   : )  Christine

Craft 'N Chat

My friend C came up last Wednesday to work on the treats for the OHM children.  The theme was July 4th and obviously, I was a tad tardy in getting them out! 

Such a fun morning!  C was soon working my MISTI like a pro, while I learned to use my new toy, the Fuse, to seal the Jelly Beans in the plastic treat bags.  The cuts come from SVG Cuts Sweet Treat Bags set and I resized them in DS to accommodate the plastic treat bags.   The patriotic paper comes from Pebbles, and the sentiment stamp comes from Scrappy Moms.   My fingers were quite blue after curling all that ribbon!

 I didn't notice until I downloaded my pictures, that Cocoa was checking out the treats.   He doesn't usually pay much attention to candy, but he does like Jelly Beans!

Right!  Back to work.  I am giving Cocoa a hair cut but we keep having to come inside to cool down.  This heat is horrible and far too early in the Summer.  DH is prepping the site for my new greenhouse which comes tomorrow.  We'll probably have to fit it with an air conditioner!   Thanks for visiting with me today.  : )  Christine

Pop Up Photo Frame Card

Like most families we share photographs via social media, but just occasionally, I love to send a photograph to share a special moment.

Last week my sister mailed a giant box to our house containing Master J's birthday presents.  He ripped into that box and demanded that we open each and every toy as it emerged from the packing paper!

His favorite, however, was the Thomas the Train bubble blower and after dinner, we filled it up with bubble mix, found two AA batteries and sent him off to bubble the yard.   He bubbled his Dad and Mom, his Grandpa and me, and even tried to bubble Cocoa but that wise puppy would not stay still and be bubbled!

We took pictures and video, of course but I wanted to do something special as a 'Thank You' for my sister. I remembered seeing a cute photo card holder on Pinterest and decided to search for something similar in Design Space.  Aha!   I could not find a photo frame card but I did find a card with the right pop up mechanism.

I inserted the card onto my mat and resized it to make a 5.5 by 4.25 card.  Then I added a square and  unlocked the dimensions to make it 5.5 by 8.5.  Using the align button, I aligned the two images horizontally and 'ungrouped' the pop up card.  I selected the score lines and using the arrow keys, I moved them across until they were in exactly the same place on my card.  The pop up card (minus score lines) was deleted.

Next, I needed the opening for the photo and I kept it simple by just adding a rectangle centered in the top half of the remaining card using the score lines for guidance.  I selected the rectangles and hit 'slice.'  Then I selected the sliced image and the score lines and hit 'attach.'  Now all that remained was to choose a frame to make the opening look finished and I was done!

Now for the fun part - embellishing the card.  I searched for birthday images and arranged them on the front of my card and around the frame,  Time to cut and assemble.

Just FYI - the score line are at 3/4 inch, 1 1/2 inches, and 5 inches.  Here's how the score lines are folded.  (Actually, there are two extra score lines indicating the center fold line.  Ignore these.)

I cut a regular A2 card with my cutter, scored and folded across the center and lined up the two pieces of my card.  I attached the top and bottom edges and checked that it folded correctly.  (It will not be completely flat.)

Then I attached the sides together just beneath the opening and the card was ready to embellish.

Here's the finished card from the side:-

And inside:-

I'll write a note to my sister and have Master J. add his name.  I think she'll like it!

O.K.  Are you thinking how useful this will be for special Halloween pictures, or Christmas pictures?  How about Graduation pictures for elderly relatives who don't Facebook?  Or even on an interactive scrapbook page?   Oh the possibilities...

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Hope you find this a useful file : ) Christine

https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/28904416

Father's Day Cards

Just a quick post to share the Father's Day cards for my DS and DSIL.  They were inspired by the post by Adrienne here and I have to say that these CTMH Jackson papers are so gorgeous that I was spoiled for choice.  Enable me anytime, Adrienne!

Thanks for visiting with me today and please pop back tomorrow for my She's A Sassy Lady blog post.  : ) Christine

Yet Another Gift Card Holder!

In my never - ending search for new ways to give gift cards, I found this pin on Pinterest.  After following the directions, it seemed to me that it would be easy peasy to recreate this card / box in Design Space.  Wrong!  

After several frustrating hours, I hand cut it myself.  I could not get the score lines and cutting lines in the right places.  Ughh!  I developed EVEN more respect for the people who CAN do this.   : )

 The embellies, however, cut beautifully.  Don't you love the lace panels from the Cindy Loo cart?  Here's the box open.  Don't like the edges and might have to play some more to get it right.  LOL!

Thanks for visiting today.  : ) Christine

Birthday Banner

I really, really, really wanted to finish my Birthday banner for Master J. in time to link it with last week's challenge on the Bitten By The Bug 2 but... life and log splitting got in the way!

Anyway, here it is and it was so much fun to make.  Like many a 3 year old, Master J. is fascinated with transportation from cars, trains, planes, to helicopters and, of course, Grandpa's tractor! 

The vehicles come from the Boys Will Be Boys cart and I used the rounded square and its shadow on the helicopter cut, to make the banner pieces.  The traffic signs are from the Cars cart and because they are so small, I used the 'print then cut' option on my Explore.   Master J.'s name was cut from the Mickey font - lovin' that font!

Happy Birthday Master J.   You are not allowed to get any older than 3.  Seriously.  Grandma has spoken.

 Thanks for visiting with me today.  : )  Christine