Papercraft Star, Challenge #11-- Back 2 School

Over at Papercraft Star, we are in the midst of a Back to School themed challenge. The goal was to use a die cut system of some sort. I used my Cricut Expressions & Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge for the adorable, yet whimsical little bus.

Supplies:

Cricut Machine

Stretch Your Imagination Cartridge

Blue Metallic Cardstock (I used TPC Studios Royal Blue Shimmer, since once side is darker (base) and one is lighter (embossed layer)

Kraft Cardstock

Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen

Hemp Twine

Black Pen

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Circles

Directions:

1. Cut your metallic dark blue cardstock to 8.5X 5.5. Fold in half, hamburger style.

2. Cut a yellow mat at 4X5.25. Stick down.

3. Cut a lighter blue metallic layer at 3.75X5 and emboss using the 'circles 'Cuttlebug Folder. on one side, wrap a few times with natural twine (I used hemp twine), and double knot to hold. Then adhere onto yellow mat.

4. Using the Stretch Your Imagine Cricut cartridge, cut each layer of the schoolbus, in the colors you choose. I usedmy Gypsy and hid all the contours of the shadow cut, and cut in Kraft Cardstock.

5. Glue layers together, and using pop dots, adhere to the card front.

6. Cut the tag @ 2". Add a white square- and scribble your note on.

7. String the tag through one of sides of cording, and tie it on loosely.

Embellish as you wish. You could easily add some glitter, I added white dots with a gelly pen, as well as colored where the hubcabs on the bus would be silver. I hope you can come over and play along! Entries can be linked until Friday @ Midnight EST.

And voting starts bright and early Saturday Morning, and goes through Monday.

Winners will be announced Tuesday.

Enjoy!

Dawn

MPS Father's Day Challenge & Expressions Giveaway!

Over at My Pink Stamper, there is a challenge going on, with a give-a-away for a Cricut Expressions! I don't really need another machine, since I have two already. I have my original Christmas 2009 gift- a Cricut Create, and my January 2010 Gift to Self, my Expressions. I am in love with them both, and really love having two. Anyone who wants to play with me when they come over, CAN! :-) But, I have a few beautiful (and crafty!) 'almost' sister-in-laws, both of whom I'm sure would LOVE an Expressions as a wedding gift instead of a toaster or towels!

Anywhoo! Onto my entry!

This is the interior view, it reads 'i luv you a TON!'

For the MPS Father's Day Challenge, I went ahead and made a card for my Dad. He is the best father in the world, and always gives me answers that surprise me! He is the most loving, kind hearted and generous person on this earth, and never fails to surprise how well he knows me. (for example: he insisted on a shower radio as a christmas present. My step mom thought it was a little 'silly' as did everyone else when I opened it, BUT that was my most prized and favorite christmas present that year! I use it every single shower and laugh when I think about the things he just sort of 'knows')

Recipe:

Tanzanite Gemstones Core'dinations Cardstock

Sapphire Gemstones Core'dinations Cardstock

Striped Cardstock from my 'stash'

Plain Black, Brown, White & Cream Cardstock

Fibers from my 'stash'

D'vine Swirl Embossing Folder

Zooballoo Cartridge

Sakura Gelly Roll Pens - white & black

Pumice Stone Distress Ink & Inkssentials Blending Tool

Pop Dot Scraps, cut to fit behind the letters.

Enjoy!

Dawn

I Think You're Cool, walrus card

I wanted to find a way to use my 'I think you're COOL' stamp, and didn't want to use the small penguin or polar bear that came with it. I thought that they were just too small! So, I chose to use the Walrus (W) cut from my Zooballoo Cartridge.

The walrus is cut @ 3.5". I cut the shadow layer with light brown, the main walrus cut with dark brown. I had to cut the 'layer' feature twice, once in white for this little guy's tusks, and the other in brown core color core'dinations. The only real inking and coloring I did on the walrus, was dot his 'whiskers' with a thin brown sharpie.

The paper I used was just a plain piece of gray cardstock cut at 6X8.5" to make a 6 X 4.25" card. The light blue bottom piece is cut at 2.5"X4.25", and the upper water type print is from a Sizzix stack, cut at 5.5"X 4.25" (maybe a little shy of that to leave a little border).

I chose to also add a piece to the interior of this card, and ink the edges. I used a light blue piece, but at 5.5" X 3.75" and inked around the piece with brown pigment ink. The ribbon is a white/vanilla grograin.

I hope you enjoy! Happy Mother's Day! I will try and get some projects up tonight using my new purple cow freestyle mouse and cutter! :-) I also have played A LOT with the Princess Cartridge today.... some sneaks coming from that too.....

Onsie Shaped Baby Shower Invitations (video!)

I made some invitations the other day, that I just adored and decided that I would make my first video and do the editing required, converting and all that good (but time consuming stuff)

So, here is the video! I also stuck up some stills of the ones from the other day! Note that the invites made in the video were cut at 4". The stills are of the ones I made at 5.5".



And here are a few photos from the other set.

Once Upon A Princess & Home Decor on it's way!

For Mother's Day this year, instead of sending Adam and Zoe on a hunt for things they think I would like, we decided I could just take that money, and buy myself my mother's day gifts. :-)

Guess what I am getting? Once Upon A Princess, that's right! I got some feedback from Lauren, over at Lauren's Creative because I know she has the two that I want so badly (create a critter and once upon a princess) and asked her which she would get if she could only have one. She made a good point, that I do already have Zooballoo, so I have animals, and with a two year old little girl, who couldn't use a princess cartridge?! And, honestly- I am just DYING to make that castle!

I also have been collecting my Cricut Rewards points since I started my Cricut Journey, and had 600 or so in my account, before the newest addition arrives, so I decided to cash 400 of them in (and pay shipping of $8 + $3 handling) to order another solutions cartridge directly from Provo Craft. I chose Home Decor, because I love the bugs on it, and like that it has some words and good overall designs for anything.

I've also been having some issues with my Cricut Expressions sort of ripping paper instead of cutting it occasionally. It usually happens with thinner paper, so I didn't think it was the blade, and even with the pressure up and speed down it still did it. I was at Walmart today, and like normal I always have to browse through their scrapbooking section and saw they had Cricut Replacement Blades for $8- so I got some, and just installed a new one, and will let you know how it goes. Also, they have a Black Machine now, and I think from the looks of it, like it's only sold at Walmart. I also saw that they have 12X12 mats for $12, and just now looking, they are only $9 on their site! A killer deal, if I do say so, I saw them on ebay for about $14 and then add shipping, so it does work out to be cheaper. I'm not usually a fan of Walmart, with all the bad publicity about their treatment of workers, and how they make huge profits and whatnot, but honestly- it's a good price, and I'm a true, to the bone frugalista, so- yeah.