Merry Christmas 2010!

Amazingly, I got the "kids" to cooperate for photos. I had picked up some of the Post-It note photo cards in a 4x8 size a couple of years ago on clearance. Not bad for 20 cards with envelopes. They also have double-adhesive post-it strips on the back so receipients can peel them off and stick them wherever - if they're those type of people.

These card kits also come with software, but it was a little too restrictive for me. I ended up finding another software by Hallmark that had the 4x8 printing structure - sometimes hard to find, but I always check for. I was able to score the software on a serious clearance at a Ross' in NC over the summer. I scoured the internet saving any image that I liked that I thought I could possibly use for the background of the card. I also didn't want something that took away from the photos especially knowing I was going to have to cram four of them on there. Admittedly, I did hit some snags and learned to print off in grayscale and on plain paper before loading up the good stuff. Every software and printer has some quirks!

It ended up being one of the more popular cards that I've sent out. The greatest thing was only having to print off the amount of cards I needed and then I could zip off one more when I suddenly remembered someone else. For those that I didn't have mailing addresses on, I had created an electronic card that I simply emailed off or posted like this! Update: Just recently scored some more 20-packs of the cards and envelopes for $1.00! I went back to the store a week or two later and they'd already sold out of them. Great sale!

Card - Busy Mom

Honestly, I was a little fearful when I layered a second droplet of Paper Glaze on top of the bubbles. It remained milky in color until a day or two later. I literally let it sit for three days just to make sure it was completely dry after that! I did mean to run it through with the Cuttlebug Embossing Bubbles Folder, but just forgot until after the fact.

Supply list:

• Paper: Paper Reflections; Ampad Cardstock
• Aleene's Paper Glaze
• Pencils: KOH-I-NOOR Woodless Color Pencils
• Klean-Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits

Card - Family - Sheep/Lamb

I went through several trials with this one and finally decided on this color scheme. The coloring turned out to be the easy part! I used a q-tip to distress the edges of the "Family" scalloped circle with the same color as the "Family" stamp.

Supply list:

• Paper: Ampad Colored Paper; Colorbok Cards
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Border): Frills
• Colorbox Fluid Chalk - Chesnut Roan

Card - May Your Day Bubble Over With Fun

I'm not sure why I did a purple monkey thing, but I just liked them that way. I may add another close-up photo later on since the Tiny Bubbles emboss didn't show up as well on here. May do that later in the week when I have more time.

Supply list:

• Paper: Ampad Colored Paper
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Tiny Bubbles
• Martha Stewart Circle Cutter

Card - Easter Bunnies with Eggs

These bunnies were just too cute. Shown is the front as well as a portion of the inside.

Supply list:

• Paper: Ampad Colored Cardstock; Momenta Born To Be Wild Girl Cardstock
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Border): Frills
• Stamp: "Happy Easter" Marcella by K 137028 Seasonal Stamps

Card - Garden Party

FRONT:

INSIDE:

This one actually has two layers of dirt and the carrots are raised from the back layer of dirt. It's hard to tell in the photo though. Kind of which I'd done a backing shadow to the letters, but didn't think about it until after I'd already Xyron'd it. Plus Taylor kept wanting to stand on the Cricut! But had to give the little nod to Ricky Nelson.

Supply list:

• Paper: Georgia-Pacific White Cardstock, Astrobrights Orange, Embassy Colored Paper Dark Green, Brown Construction
• Carrots: Found image on the internet, printed onto each of the colored papers and a little CPA later...voila!
• Phrases: Cricut Alphalicious card
• Dirt: Wavy Scissors, Embossed with swirled stencil

Card/Sign - Go Green / Recycle

I'm thinking about using this one on a little box I put on my table to use for recycling scraps (always too small to punch or do anything else with). It's hard to get a good shot of - actually had to diffuse the flash because it was putting too much light on it. Because the little guy is raised, he'd be a little difficult to put on the scanner!

Supply list:

• Paper: Embassy Black Cardstock, Embassy Colored Paper in Light Green & Dark Green, Georgia Pacific White Cardstock
• Phrase "Recycle Recycle Recycle Recycle": Microsoft Word
• Punch: Martha Stewart Scalloped Circle

Card - Party (Girl)

Supply list:

• Paper: Embassy Black Cardstock, Embassy Colored Paper in Purple, Light Purple and Light Green
• Texture: ("It's A Party") Cuttlebug Folder "Spots & Dots"
  

Card - Happy Birthday (Girl)

Supply list:

• Paper - Embassy Black Cardstock, Embassy Dark Green & Light Green
• "Happy Birthday" - Microsoft Word cut with Martha Stewart Circle Cutter
• Flower - Cricut - George & Basic Shapes cart
  

Card - You've Got Me Hook, Line & Sinker

I finally completed cards for the March MCPT Challenge over on the Cricut message board. I will still post them all as individual blog posts just so they will have their own labels and such. I made a discovery since my first stab at the Challenge from February. I was working and working and working and it was hard to get my colored pencils to blend. I knew there was something wrong. I went searching on the internet and found another site that specified wax-based pencils instead of water-soluble (which is possibly what I was using). After doing a little shopping, and working with the new March images, it was all better and oh so much easier!

Supply list:

• Papers - all construction paper this time
• Texture - Fiskars and Chizzel-It tool
• Phrase - Microsoft Word punched with Martha Stewart Scalloped Circle Punch (did take a little work to get the size of the words down to fit the size of the punch)
• Hearts - Martha Stewart Love Punch (paper for hearts were paint samples)

Place Cards - Valentine's Day / Be Mine

Another of the MCPT projects for this month. I went a little different with this one and made them into place cards. These didn't really take as long as I would've thought. Just a little assistance from the computer with the names, a little Valentine's Day ribbon, some plain red paper and plain pink cardstock both accented with white stamped Martha Stewart stamps. The white is a little hard to see in the photos, but has a nice effect in person.

Card - Girl w basket of Valentine's

Another one of the five MCPT February 2009 Card Challenge designs. Played up the wind effect embossing the card using various parts of a stencil. Added in a few little purple confetti hearts that I figured could've blown out of her basket. Left the card blank, so it could be used as a note card around the holiday.

Card - Way To Go / It's Your Day

Another for the MCPT February card challenge with another little 3D effect for the balloons from the George & Basic Shapes Cricut cartridge. The phrases "Way To Go" & "It's Your Day" were also both from the George cartridge.

Card - Showering You With Love

I thought about this being for Valentine's Day but I guess it could be for anything, even just a thinking of you. This is one of the images being used this month in a monthly card challenge, hosted by a nice lady named Aprile, over on the Cricut Message Board. I've got a few more to do, but I wanted to at least have one up for Valentine's Day.

There are about four layers of plastic (from a plastic cover that came off of some packaging for a paper cutter) to make up the "jar" of glitter hearts (which Taylor made into a frisbee and slung across the room and under tables and chairs...much to my dismay!). In between each one is a layer of foam sheet scraps and confetti hearts in a shimmering color. The mouse on top of the jar has the same number of foam sheet pieces together so he could sit on the jar properly. The smaller mouse and the umbrella only have one layer of foam sheet. Basically everything on the card is raised with the exception of the scattered hearts and the phrase. I just realized that I forgot to replace the shadowing under the mice and the jar, but I guess it does it somewhat naturally. Maybe I should just say I meant to do that?! The reason for the two photos is to display the dimension - top with flash (see the shimmer?), bottom without (see the shadows?).

I started out with this thing on pink cardstock and then I changed my mine and went to lavender instead with a pink lace accent (thanks for the scissors Keith!). Now I'm not sure that it will fit in an envelope very well, but I probably should send it to my Grandmother...she's used to getting things late from me! Happy Valentine's Day!

Scrapbook - Mini - Friends 2008

This was my first actual project....even though I did start one a while back and never completed it. Our local library has classes from time-to-time. Last October, they had one set up for "Scrapbooking 101" headed up by a representative from Creative Memories. All we were told when we signed up was to bring x number of photographs to use in a page. We didn't know what kind of project, just kind of assumed that it would be 12x12 page. What we ended up with was a folder with three small sample packs with various patterned and colored papers and a 6x6 inch (when folded) card. I assume it is a regular kit for Creative Memories parties. I knew eventually I would do something with the animals, so I took several photos of them and then some others. When I saw what we were going to be doing, I went with the "friends" theme so I could include even the neighbor's cat - which is how Grascal came to live here a year ago when I was taking care of theirs. Anyway, we were somewhat limited to supplies there - since she didn't want to move to the library for the day - and time. We had the CM Circle Cutters, a small CM paper trimmer and then of course our paper, cards and pictures.

I went with decorating the inside of the card first with putting their photos together as well as some of the accents. I had a lot of what I felt was bare space, some I was going to use for journaling later and some I wanted accent paper for but I had run out of what matched. Several of the things I did wait until after the class. I'd run out of the green with dots and wanted to use it for more accents as I had with the blue. I had some similar, but not identical, green paper from a 1-lb. paper pack purchased at Dollar General (for a dollar) and just punched mini holes in it to use as an accent. The circle around Grascal & Taylor's photo was cut using a Martha Stewart Circle Cutter I had at home - I think it lends itself to that type circle. The stamps, for the names of for each, are from a clear stamp set that I already had. It was either from Target or Michael's - can't recall which right now. And of course the children helped out with their paw prints. I did it mainly to document the size of little Taylor's paws - while he's still little. Oddly, he was the most cooperative and came out with the best print!

Each of their photos for the inside was done at regular wallet-size. The ones for the front of the card were done in size between index print and wallet size. The paper for the front was also from that same Dollar General pack of paper. I found a font on the computer I liked and printed it off in a periwinkle type color with FRIENDS 2008 spaced out enough to work with the Scalloped Circle paper punch (also Martha Stewart) and then opted to punch the photos out with the same punch. Went with the order that they came into each others lives.

Unfortunately, since that was done the one I call "Baby" (and the neighbors call "Mama Cat" - it was accidental that she started responding to my just saying baby, not as her name) has disappeared. We think she's hiding out every now and then in the carport over here, but not sure.