Fair Project - Thank you card - Plus a tip or two :)

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  It is almost fair week around here. When I was little we lived on the East Coast - there weren't any fairs there.  Then when I was almost 11 we moved to the Midwest and while we went to the fair I was still adjusting to the change in atmosphere (not to mention lifestyle) and never even considered entering anything.  For the last several years I have helped to host the pie contest with my Home Ec. group at the fair and was able to really experience all of the different kinds of projects that could be entered.  This is the first year I have really investigated it all and lucky for me there are a few different categories I can enter into! The categories I'm entering in are Rubber Stamping - Pop-up cards (an easel card almost identical to this one with love stamped instead of cut), Christmas (you will see it on July 22nd for the Christmas in July blog hop), and Rubber Stamping - Stationary/Cards (that's this one). 

 For this card I used the gate fold (my first time).  I didn't follow a tutorial, I just made my own dimensions (see them below) knowing I wanted it to fit in a 5.5" x 5.5" envelope.  It compliments the card I made for my grandmother's birthday (seen here).  I used the same butterfly cut with the vellum layer on top.  This butterfly is found on my Potpourri Basket cartridge, but was originally found on Home Accents.  For both cards I only used the shadow feature.  After I cut it I made a few modifications by hand as well.  I cut off the antennae and changed the side with all of the bumps on it to make it more smooth (see the original here).  The designer paper is from the dollar spot at Target (I really wish I had gotten more than 1 pack!) and the cardstock is all by The Paper Studio.  The "Thank You" is from TPC Studio - Greetings. I stamped it in purple and traced with a glitter gel pen to give it some sparkle.  The purple gems are also by The Paper Studio.  The ribbon is just from Hobby Lobby.  I used my fabulous Cuttlebug with my swiss dots folder to emboss the paper the butterfly sits on.

Directions for this card:
* Cut a base at 5.25" x 10.5"
* Score it at 2 5/8" & 7 7/8"
* Bottom Rectangle Mat (white) x2 -5 1/8" x 2.5"
* Middle Rectangle Mat (dark purple) x2 - 5" x 2 3/8"
* Top Rectangle Mat (polka dots) x2 - 4.75" x 2 1/8"
* Bottom Square Mat (light purple) - 2 7/8" x 2 x 7/8"
* Top Square Mat (white) - 2 5/8" x 2 5/8"
* Butterfly from Potpourri Basket cut at 2.35" (I used my gypsy)

Now on to a tip or two.  Usually I'm asking for tips not handing them out, but I came across a few that were very helpful to me and wanted to pass them on.  First... to all of my gypsy friends.  Don't you just hate trying to look at your gypsy screen while it is laying flat on a table plugged into your Cricut? It is super hard for me to sit down, hold my gypsy, press the buttons and load the paper at the same time, plus the glare makes it nearly impossible.  I found this easel at Hobby Lobby for the low price of $3 (you could even get it cheaper with a 40% off coupon this week, I just couldn't wait!).  I found them in three different sizes (I found the medium sized one that is linked to be the best) and 3 colors (black, silver, and gold).  They are all along the decorative middle aisles holding plates and signs (I'll admit I removed a plate to get mine :) ).  It has been amazing!  I can set my gypsy on it and see the screen perfectly. My other tip is for the 2 way Zig glue pen.  I use the chisel tip pen to glue any small pieces and add glitter.  I leave them open all of the time, when I run to put dishes in or switch over laundry and come back hours later to find it dried and hard.  I tried taking out the tip and switching it to the other end, but it made a horrible mess. So for the longest time I just gave in and purchased news ones.   Then I decided there had to be another way.  After some thinking, I tried putting just the tip in a mug of hot water to see what would happen (I figured it couldn't get any worse!).  I left it there for 10-15 minutes and game back to find that some of the glue had dissolved.  So I removed the tip, dumped out the water and repeated the process.  After 3 or 4 times (keep in mind it was quite dried up) the glue was gone and the tip was soft again!  Luckily I hadn't throw away the previously dried out pen and I cleaned that one too :) Hopefully these will help someone else out too!

So sorry to have written you guys a book this time, but I was so excited about the tips I had discovered and wanted to share them with all of you! I'll be back with another project in a couple of days.  Also, don't forget the Christmas in July Blog Hop is on July 22-24!  There are some amazing blogs in the line up and not to mention wonderful blog candy.  Be sure to check back :) *~*Thanks for stopping by*~*

I'm linking this up to:

Grandmother's Birthday Card - Triangle Tri-fold

Finally, I have the chance to post this card!  Normally it would be assumed that summer vacation would mean life is more relaxing and less busy.  It seems to work out the opposite way for me.  Although, I'm definitely not complaining - I love to stay busy! I made this card for my fabulous grandmother.  When I was growing up we lived just around the corner from my grandparents and spent time with them daily.  Then, when I was 10 we moved more than 500 miles away.  I get to see them about twice a year if I am lucky and miss them dearly! This is the first time I have made a card with this fold.  I followed a wonderful tutorial from Dawn at Do Stamping. If you haven't already, you should check her out!  She has lots of other amazing tutorials too :)  My grandmother loves butterflies and pink so I think this card will be perfect for her.

This card was so much fun to make.  The base is just pink card stock.  There are 2 triangle mats - one is shimmery pink made by The Paper Company and the other is a pattern paper by The Paper Studio.  The big butterfly (cut from Potpourri Basket - originally Home Accents at 2.25") is made of the shimmery paper and a pink velum (from Hobby Lobby).  The smaller butterflies (cut at 1", 1.25" & 1.5") are just made from the shimmer paper. All of the gems are by The Paper Studio and the ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  I also embossed the front using the swiss dots folder in my Cuttlebug to give it some dimension.  "Happy Birthday" is from the greetings stamp set by TPC studio. As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts!  I find that the colors on my cards never show up as beautiful in my pictures.  If anyone has any tips for how I can make them better, I could use them.  I will hopefully have some Father's Day cards up soon.  Don't forget I'll be in the Birthday Cupcake blog hop, hosted by Sylvia at Bella Scrapbook Design on Monday, June 20th.  I will have some fantastic blog candy and I am sure others will too, so be sure to check back!  *~*Thanks for stopping by*~*

I linked this up at:

Graduation Card

It has been a busy week here.  School finished this week and there will be one week before summer school starts.  I'm excited to work with some of my kiddos over the summer to ensure they don't lose anything they learned this year! On to the card... I made this card for a friend who had a son graduating from high school.  It is called a petal fold card.  I got the idea from Hero Arts and adjusted it to make it the size I wanted (although in the long run I made it a bit too big!) His school colors were blue and red. 

 

Back

Inside (the glitter is hard to see)

Here is what I did (original template found at Mirkwood Designs - I didn't actually print it):
* Cut a 12" x 12" paper to 11" x 11" (I should have cut it to 10.5" x 10.5")
* Score at 2.75" rotate the paper 90 degrees and score at 2.75" (would have scored at 2 5/8")

At the size I made it, it didn't fit in the 5.5" envelopes I purchased.  That is why I included alternate measurements above.  I ended up just making my own envelope. I also embossed the front using the Cuttlebug Polka Dots folder to give it some texture.  I added a button with a gem in the center and looped the tassel around it.  The tassel was made with embroidery floss.  I left the floss bundled (I actually used 2) the way it came and cut it in half at one end.  Then I wrapped white floss around it and tied a string at the top. I trimmed them a little at the bottom because they seemed too long.  The designer paper is by The Paper Studio and cut at 5.5" x 5.5" (would be 5.25" if original paper was 10.5").  I used my slit punch from Stampin' Up to cut the flaps that hold the gift card holder. "Congrats!" is cut at 1" from Classic Cricut Font.  And of course it is glittered with black diamond Stickles.

I'm linking this up at:

I've been working on a fabulous card for my grandmother and will get it posted ASAP.  I also am excited to be in another hop on June 20th.  It is all about cupcakes (yum!) and is hosted by Sylvia at Bella Scrapbook Designs.  Be sure to check back! *~*Thanks for stopping by*~*

Mother's Day Blog Hop

Welcome to the Mother's Day blog hop. We are making some amazing projects that will hopefully inspire you to make some beautiful crafts for whomever you cherish on Mother's Day. If you came here from Kim at Ricketts Cricuts then you are in the right place. If just happened to be visiting me today be sure to start back at Jamie's blog - Crafty Girl 21, so you don't miss any of the wonderful projects!   I made this card for my own fabulous mom.

I decided to try a fold I had never done before.  It think it turned out really spectacular (although I'm not sure you can tell from the picture)! If you want to try one of your own, I found the directions at Stamp with Stacy.

I used designer paper from The Paper Studio (the gems are from them too!) and the flowers are from Oriental Trading.  The sparkle on the hummingbird and the "mom" is Tulip fabric paint. I cut the scallop on the flap with my Fiskars Scallop border punch.The sentiment on the inside is a stamp from Close to My Heart.

The Cricut Cuts:

* Hummingbird - Lyrical Letters

* Mom - Beyond Birthdays

 

Here is the whole line up in case you get lost along the way:

* Jamie - Crafty Girl 21

* Rhonda - Scrap Happens

* Kristen - Fantabulously Pink
* Court - Court's Crafts
* Sonya - Sonya's Paper Trail
* Mari - Made by Momo

* Kim - Ricketts Cricuts
* Tiffany - Sparkled Memories (This is Me!)
* Lisa - Lisa's Creative Niche
* Meighen - Scrappin 3rdees Chick

* Helen -  Crafting Cricut Mom

* Liz - My Which Craft

* Jennifer - Crafty Card Gallery

* Tere - With All My Heart

* Rebecca - Eclectic Endeavours

* Shawnee - Blessed on the Bright Side

* Dee Dee - Scrappin' With Dee Dee

Next up is Lisa at Lisa's Creative Niche (she's got something spectacular for you), but before you go what's a blog hop with out some blog candy?  I have some wonderful mom inspired items to giveaway. My mom loves purple, buttons, and flowers, so you'll find a bit of those things included and I couldn't forget to include some sparkle!

All you need to do it leave a comment on this post.  You don't have to become a follower, but of course I would love it if you did :)  I'll choose a winner on Monday April 25th using random.org. *~*Thanks for stopping by*~*

My First Easel Card

I finally made my first easel card!  I've wanted to make one of these for so long.  This card was for a wedding I went to today. It was for the same couple that I made the bridal shower card for a couple of weeks ago.   I found the directions at Robin's Craftroom. It was super easy to make!

 I decided to use vellum again (on the veil).  I cut shadow of the veil in white cardstock and then I cut the layer out in vellum. I only put a small dot of glue on the very tip of the veil so it would stick out a little from the cardstock.  This cut was hard because the cartridge only has four total cuts for it.  It has the bride/groom and the veil.  Each has a cut and the shadow to go with it, there are no layering options.  Therefore, I had to cut the bride/groom twice (once in black and once in white) and then cut the dress out separately and glue it to the black.  I think it turned out really well in the end. The designer paper is from The Paper Studio. The flowers are from the wedding department at Hobby Lobby.  They came in a bunch of about 10 and originally had metal stems.  The silver ribbon is from Wal-Mart. I also used some gems to add some sparkle to the bride and the sentiment that it making it stay up.  

The Cuts:

* Bride & Groom - Potpourri Basket (originally Wedding Solutions) 

* Love - Beyond Birthdays

As always, I love your comments.  I'll have another card up in a few days so be sure to check back! *~*Thanks for stopping by*~*

I'm linking this up to: