Sea Creatures

I had to make this card on a short notice. In between trying to get 2 kids to nap, walking up and down the stairs, repeatedly. Glad I actually got it done in time. This was to go to an 8yr old boy, to whom we were giving the Planet Earth's Life DVD. This boy is fascinated by all living animals, including sea creatures. So the timing of Life's release was great.
Since this was to be for a boy, I didn't want to "pretty" it up too much. I decided less is more. I cut the sea critters using, you guessed it, Create-A-Critter! I don't even know why I bother to buy all these other cartridges. Haha.

I was rather proud of this card, since I got to use all scraps, aside from the card base.

Thanks, Chickie

I made this card intended to give to the acquaintance I mentioned earlier. I saw someone who made this card with a little notecard attached, so you can write in it. I thought that was a great idea, so I wanted to duplicate it. When I was done, I realized the little notecard does not close all the way very well. I decided to pull out the Slit Punch that I had only used once before, to help secure the card while closed. Well, lo and behold, the punch wouldn't work! Argh. For some unknown reason, it wouldn't punch through the cardstock. I thought maybe it was too thick (removed layers). Then, I thought maybe it needed sharpening (used foil).
Then I thought maybe it needed some lubrication (used wax paper). Nothing worked. Had to give up and settle for this the way it is.

Later, I decided to contact my friend/demo to see if she could call SU for me. Well, wouldn't you know it, SU said they would replace it for me, eventhough I was a few days out of their 90-day guarantee. I don't even have to send my bad one to them. Yeah, SU!

Anyways, regarding the card. I cut the chickie from Create-a-Critter cartridge (again). I just LOVE this cartridge. Did I say that before? LOL. I put a rhinestone brad in her flower. Isn't it cute? The oval scallop was cut from Storybook, along with the oval. The little flower inside the notecard was punched using one of my old punches. I decided it needed a little Stickle (glitter) on it. The paper is from DCWV's glitter stack.

Easel Card - New Home

Lately, it seems I can't make enough of New Home cards. New neighbors, family and friends moving to new abodes. So this will not be the last time you'll see me make New Home cards. I found this fun pack of papers at Joann's at clearance. It's just perfect for these cards.

For this particular card, I made it into an Easel Card. See tutorial here. You see from the second picture how the card stands from the side.

This card felt just way too simple. So I decided to add the ribbon. Now, I think I should have gone with the less is more look. Oh well. The ribbon is now glued on.

Oh, and you can't see this very well, but the NEW HOME stamp is stamped on an oval, popped up on a scallop oval.

New Home - More

Here's a couple more New Home cards I made earlier. At least the first one was an inspiration from somebody's blog, but I can't remember whose. Sorry! I don't remember if the second one was inspired by someone or I just decided to make it myself. Anyways, I love this stamp set. OK, I didn't know I loved it until AFTER I had placed my original Sale-A-Bration order earlier this year. After I got my order from SAB, I started to browse online for inspirations to use my new toys to make cards. Well, wouldn't you know it, I happened to see TONS of cards made with this stamp set. Well, what's a girl to do, since she didn't get this, and can only get it free with a $50 order. She had to put in another order of at least $50. This wasn't hard to do, as I was enabled by all these blogs I had looked at, to see what else I was, ahem, missing in my life. Haha.

So, here are a couple more cards made with the Good Neighbors set. This set was very cool in that you can choose the roof and building combination. I wasn't very good at the beginning, so the roof was a little lop-sided. Adds that hand-made charm, doesn't it? =)

Wedding

Once again, the wedding season is upon us. I don't personally have to give these out too often. However, my mother, the social butterfly, seems to be invited to a wedding at least once a month. So, per her request, I made some wedding cards for her to give out. Here is couple of versions.

The bride's dress is popped up by stamping twice and cutting out. It's embellished with a little bling. The white cardstock in the second card is run through the Big Shot for some visual effect. The sentiments are from SU's Well Scripted (Congratulations), Happy Moments (for you), Whimsical Words (Happiness Always) and Heard from the Heart (Wishes).

Shutter Card

An acquaintance has graciously given me a whole bunch of colored envelopes. I decided she needed to have a really special Thank You card from me. I love how the Tri-Shutter cards look. They're super easy to make. But do take quite awhile to embellish (well, if you had no idea what you wanted to do, then it'll take 2 days, like it did me. Ha!).

This is how it looks when it opens. Isn't it cool? You can see the tutorial here. My original inspiration was from Karen at Inky Images. Then more recently, this one by Adorable Annagrams.

Remember this pattern paper? I just absolutely LOVE this paper. It's got such great colors and fun pattern. I'll be so sad when I use up the two sheets that come in the paper pack. Maybe I'll have to create something with it and hang it on my wall. Hahaha. Anyways, the skunk was cut using Create a Critter by Cricut. The stamped sheep and the sentiment on top are from SU's Pun Fun stamp set.

Critters

I made this card inspired by Laurie Zoellmer. I used SU's Fox and Friends stamp set. I decided to color the animals and add some dimensions with the pearl and bling. However, I decided I just wasn't too happy with it. So I made another one.

This one was made using the Cute Critters stamp set from SU a few years back. Looks like it was a Sale-A-Bration set. Anyways, I popped the critters up using pop dots and the sentiment is flat on the cardstock base. I colored using a really fancy tool called the Q-Tip. I rubbed the Q-Tip on the ink pad and dabbed it on paper. I'm surprised at how this looks. It actually looks like chalk! I totally dig this. Don't be surprised to see this technique on future cards!

Father's Day

This is what I made for DH on behalf of our kids. DD was born in the Year of Pigs; and DS is born this year in the Year of Tiger. Cuts using Cricut's Create-a-Critter and Animal Kingdom.

This is a Stair Step Card. Tutorial here.

Graduation

I just realized the son of one of my friends has graduated from kindergarten. I just can't believe how fast time flies! I still remember vividly when he was born.

Anyways, this card was inspired by The Saucy Stamper. Everytime I want to copy a card, I always end up with something that's a little different. I know it's okay, but it's just kind of funny to me that I never end up with the same card that had originally grabbed my eyes.

For this card, I had stamped the monkey twice, so I could pop the monkey's head up. Since this was for a boy, I didn't want to use a ribbon. So I ended up with this little strip on the bottom. I actually kind of liked it.

The gray paper is run through the Big Shot with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The blue cardstock is stamped with a background stamp (SU Ivy) with Versamark. The graduation cap I had from my own grad school graduation dinner invitation. Which reminds me, I'm rather proud of that invitation I made for our classmates. I'll post that sometime. The monkey is from SU's Fox and Friends. I love this set!

Well, I hope the little boy likes this card made just for him. Hopefully I'll hear about it soon!

Cards for Kids

These cards were made for my twin niece and nephew who requested these animals for their cards.

I made these cards using the Create a Critter cartridge for Cricut. Aren't they darling? I absolutely adore this cartridge. The layering is so easy. And the characters are just so darn cute! Rest assured that you will see more of these critters in my future creations! :)

These cuts make making cards so easy. I almost feel guilty that I finished these in 15 minutes! That's why I decided to add these cute little googly eyes and other embellishments to make the cards pop a little.

Pun Fun - More

Here's those cards in more detail. The first one, the brown cardstock has the big wheel with Versamark. The cat's tail has a little flower sticker on it. The hippo's balloon and bowtie have the crystal glaze on them. I stamped the Sheep twice and cut out the little arm with heart to pop it up.

The second card, the mouse's flower is a cut out from something else and I used a silver brad to attach it to the stamped image. The sheep's heart again is poped up and the elephant's balloon and bowtie have crystal glaze.

I love how this last card turned out. I used the Big Shot on the brown cardstock for some embossing and texture. I put glitter on the coffee and different parts of the coffee cup. Lastly I put crystal glaze on the hearts.

For all these cards I stamped the front of the envelop with a little image, then I ran the envelop flap thru the Big Shot and used the big wheel on the bottom of the back of the envelop. Now that I'm looking at it, it might be too busy. Sorry I don't have a picture of it.... too lazy to do it now. But maybe next time I'll just do one effect or the other, not both.

Pun Fun

OMG, I had so much fun creating these. Love this stamp set. I also love this paper from DCWV. Such beautiful colors. Don't they just brighten up your day? I'm also very proud of this little tote project that I made to house these 3 cards with envelopes.

I used the big wheel with Versamark to create some interest on this tote.

The tote is totally easy to make. Take a 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, score 1" in from both sides on the long sides. Then turn it, score a 1" secion in the middle of the shorter side. Snip (not totally cut away) the little flaps in the middle of the long sides, down that 1" score line. Fold up and tape. Use another cardstock to create the cover. I punched eyelets on both sides to thread the ribbon through. You can also punch the eyelets on the top. Totally versatile. You can change up the size as you need.

ETA: Original inspiration came from Inking Idaho.

Elephant

There's a bit of a mess up, can you spot it? It's on the left ear... oh well. I'm not about to redo it. I do rather like how the Crystal Effect makes for the elephant's ears.

I also tried out the new pink Stickles I just bought. There's also a little bit of a mess up there. Eventually I'll perfect my art, eh?

New Home

I wanted a place to archive and show off my creations. Also a place where I can document my inspirations.
Here's a card I made to congratulate SIL and her hubby on the purchase of their new home. The particular card was made to house a gift card as their housewarming present.
See tutorial for dimensions: Double Pocket Card