Thanks a Latte

I was able to obtain a large number of free postcards with a turquoise and brown border.  They were the right size for cardmaking and I thought the colors would work well to go with some coffee themed stamps that I have.  I decided to crank out a large number of thank you cards to beef up my stash a little.  Since I was going to be making a large number of cards, I wanted a simple design.  I used the cup from Smiley Cards (hiding the face with my Gypsy) and added the steam from Graphically Speaking.  As soon as I had everything cut out, I immediately wished I had done the colors the other way around, making the cup turquoise and the saucer brown.  That way I could have stamped "Thanks a latte" on the cup.  I decided to just put both sentiments on the inside instead.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Jo's Scrap Shack--#44 Anything Goes

My Craft Spot--#131 Thank you card

Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day, so I guess it is time to make some cards!  In addition to my dad, I wanted to make one for my brother-in-law.  My sister said he was bummed when I didn't get make him a card for his birthday this year, and he and my sister are having us over for dinner on Sunday.  I thought a card with a grill would work for both men.

Please excuse the poor photography.  I don't have access to my camera and had to use the one on my laptop.

The grill is from the From my Kitchen cartridge and the circle is from Graphically Speaking.  It was run through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog #115--Father's Day

Cricut Cardz Challenge #110--Father's Day

More than Favors--Wacky Wednesday #72: Father's Day

Die Cuttin' Divas #69--Father's Day

Celebrate the Occasion #66--Father's Day

Craft Spot by Kimberly #59--King of the Grill

Reto Dilo en Español #2--Dads

Creative Time for Me--Color challenge

Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge--sketch challenge

Rockin' around the Christmas tree...

I created these cards for my coworkers--kindergarten teachers.  This year, we had a 50's party on the 50th day of school.  I brought my camera that day and am going to give each of them a copy of the picture of us in our 50's costumes.  I thought it would be cute to make a card that somehow incorporated that theme.  I thought that the circle in the Skipping Stones Design sketch would be perfect for a record.  I searched on My Cut Search for a record, but there weren't any on any of my carts.  I figured it would be easy enough to make my own though.  Using the image of the record from the Nifty Fifties cart as a guide, I made one on my Gypsy using a circle from Graphically Speaking.  I used my Allegro Cuttlebug folder on the white base.  The piano keys stamp is from The Paper Studio.  The sentiment was printed from my computer.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Skipping Stones Design--sketch challenge #106

Celebrate the Occasion--#43 Christmas, no red

Fleece Navidad!

My husband and I have many bilingual friends.  Ever since I saw a card with the sentiment "Fleece Navidad" this summer on Under a Cherry Tree I knew I wanted to use it on some Christmas cards.  I was also inspired by the sketch at Skipping Stones Design and Craft Spot by Kimberly encouraged me to make it a window card--my first!

The circle is from Graphically Speaking.  The scalloped circle is from Gypsy Wanderings.  The sheep is from Animal Kingdom.  I would have loved to have used a Peachy Keen face but the set I have that goes with this cart requires you to cut the sheep at 3" and that wasn't going to work with this sketch.  I ran the white parts of the sheep through the D'Vine Swirls Cuttlebug folder and the front of the card through Swiss Dots.  I used some of my new metal accents for my i-rock.  I was a little disappointed at how glue oozed out from under these accents.  I haven't had that problem with the i-rock gems.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog #88--Holiday card
Cricut Cardz Challenge #96--Christmas card using an image that starts with an S (sheep)
Scrapalicious USA--Christmas project of your choosing
Bah! Humbug!--Cute Christmas critters
The Cuttlebug Spot--use scraps
Craft Spot by Kimberly--Christmas through the window
Make it Monday--Linky party

One of a kind

Last year I started my Christmas cards in the summer.  This year, I'm starting in November.  I used the sketch from Skipping Stones Design.  The sentiment is also from one of their stamps.  The tag that it is on is from Gypsy Wanderings.  In keeping with the sentiment, I wanted 3 different snowflakes.  The ones I chose were from Accent Essentials, Graphically Speaking, and the Christmas Solutions cart.  I put an iRock gem in the center of each snowflake.  The dark blue background was run through the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder.

This sentiment makes the card rather versatile.  I could use it for a Christmas card or a thank you card for a gift or someone who's done a kind deed, such as a neighbor who snowblows your driveway for you.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Skipping Stones Design--sketch #100

The Cuttlebug Spot--anything goes

More Than Favors--Wacky Wednesday #58, buttons, bling, or brads

Really Reasonable Ribbon--#35, Christmas

Whimsical Designs--anything goes

Scrapbookaholic by Abby--glitter or bling

Moooochas gracias!

I am a kindergarten teacher and last week we had a Mother's Day tea party.  Several school staff members really went above and beyond to help my co-teacher and I get things ready and pull off the big event.  In addition, one student's mother got us each a nice box of chocolates.  (I work at a low income school, so gifts are pretty rare, and all the more meaningful.)  We wanted to make sure to thank each of these people, so I offered to make some thank you cards.  I love punny cards, so I made one that works in English and Spanish.  Here is a close-up of one of the Spanish ones.

As I said, I needed several, and I used some scraps of coordinating paper that I had, so I ended up with lots of variations:

I also made a few with English moos:

The cow is from Create a Critter.  The sombrero is from Graphically Speaking.  The image on the cart had no layering, so I used my Gypsy to create the layering.  The sentiments were printed from my computer.

These cards will be entered in the following challenges:
Skipping Stones Design--No rules
Die Cuttin Divas--sketch challenge
Creative Cutter Room--Fiesta!

First Communion

My nephew will be having his first communion in a couple of weeks and I had no idea what image to put on a card.  The sketch at Skipping Stones Design was perfect because it was nice and simple.  The cross on this card is from Indie Art.  The tag on the side of the card is actually half of an image that was cut from Calligraphy Collection.  The "hills" at the bottom of the card started as ovals from Graphically Speaking.  Then I trimmed them down to fit the design.  Each of the three "hills" at the bottom of the card was run through a different Cuttlebug folder.

Music gives the heart wings

Looks like I'm a little late for Valentine's Day, doesn't it?  Actually, I just picked up this sentiment stamp at a scrapbooking rummage sale this weekend and wanted to make a card to go with it.  My husband was watching over my shoulder as I made it, but maybe by our anniversary in June, he will have forgotten about it!  Otherwise, I think this would work for an anniversary or wedding card for any of his musician friends or family members.
This card is a gatefold card.  I read the instructions on the Splitcoast Stampers site, but I modified the dimensions because I like my cards to fit in A2 envelopes for easy mailing.  So, I cut my cardstock at 4.25x11 inches.  Then I placed it horizontally on my score board and scored at 2.75 and 8.25 inches.  The sides then fold in.  The red layers on the sides measure 2.5x4 inches and the pink layers on the sides (which are embossed with the Cuttlebug Allegro folder) measure 2.25x3.75 inches.  The black square in the center measures 3x3 inches and the white square measures 3.25x3.25.  The squares, of course are adhered to one side of the card only so that it can open.
The heart is from Create a Critter.  The wings are from Indie Art and the banner is from Graphically Speaking.  I chalked around the edge of the banner.
This card will be entered in the following challenges:
Fantabulous Cricut #48--Emboss it!
Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge Blog--sketch #46
Scrappy Moms Stamps--Terrific Tuesday Challenge, use Create a Critter

Thanks "snow" much

After Christmas, my husband and I went on a mini trip for a couple of days to visit relatives of his.  His great aunt was the first that we visited, and as always, she had a gift for us.  So, I wanted to send a thank you card for the gift and will also be sending her photos we took with her that day.  Here is the card I created for her:

I used Graphically Speaking for the lighter blue rectangle with the rounded corners and the oval.  The snowman is from Doodlecharms.  His hat is from Snow Friends (I used my Gypsy to make sure it was the right size.) and his face is from Peachy Keen Stamps Winter Face Assortment (PK-520).  If I were to do it again, I would have run the layer under the snowman through my Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder.

I want to thank Mary at Cardztv.  I won the Snow Friends cartridge from one of her Christmas in July challenges--the first thing I ever won from a challenge!  I also want to thank Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog again for sharing their awesome tip on how to print on die cuts.  I'm sure I'll be using that technique on many cards to come as well.

This card will be entered in the following challenges:

Skipping Stones sketch #59

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog #42--winter warmies (winter clothing/accessory)

Paper Cutz Challenge #73--use metal (see brads at the bottom)

Totally Papercrafts #48--Thank you card
Made by Momo--snow theme

Speedy Recovery

I wanted to make another card for my dad during his recovery from heart surgery (which was today and went well).  I had seen a card by All Scrapped Out during a challenge that was my inspiration.  Her card was very pretty and feminine.  I needed to make mine more manly since it was for my dad.  My intention was to use some of my scraps, but I just wasn't finding any color combos I liked in my scraps today.  This project just took way longer than it should have.  Here's what I ended up with:

The turtle is from Create a Critter.  His shoes are from Everyday Paper Dolls.  I used my Gypsy to make them the right size for the turtle.  The circles for the sentiment are from Graphically Speaking.

In addition to my inspiration from All Scrapped Out, I should thank Split Coast Stampers for giving the dimensions for a horizontal pedestal card.  The one measurement they didn't give is for the little card that gives the design something to rest against so the card doesn't close.  I made mine 2.5 x 5.25 inches.  I would also like to thank Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog for their clever idea on how to print on die cuts rather than using the Center Point feature on the Cricut.  (I've had my Cricut for a year and still haven't used that feature yet!)

This card will be entered in:
Flaunt it Friday challenge #4--using the turtle from Create a Critter
Paper Issues "New" challenge--Create a Critter is a new cart for me, and dad's got a new heart valve

Faulty valve? Well wishes for heart surgery

My dad will be having heart surgery on Dec. 27th.  He has never had any health problems, so he seems a bit nervous about such a big procedure.  One of his Christmas gifts is going to be a pair of comfy pants to wear during his recovery.  I decided to make him this card to give him a smile before surgery and let him know that everything will be alright.  I made it a pedestal card so he can display it in his hospital room if he wants.

Here's the basic info:  The background paper with the cars is from DCWV stack 6.  The circles and bolts are from Graphically Speaking (I have really used that cart a lot more than I ever anticipated when I bought it).  The mechanic and his hair and clothes are all from the race car driver from Everyday Paper Dolls.  His face is from Peachy Keen Stamps PK-570.  The wrench is from Indie Art (Thanks to the free Gypsy download!).  The green, blue, and brown squares were run through the Diamonds in the Rough Cuttlebug folder.

This card will be entered in Cute Card Thursday's sketch challenge #144.  It will also be shared at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  Although there is no challenge there this week due to the holidays, they are inviting people to share what they are making.

Snow!

I made this card for some friends who are fanatical snowboarders.  The words all came from the Graphically Speaking cartridge, from page 56 in the manual.  That is the requirement for M.A.G. Challenge by the Page's challenge #6.  I did manipulate the images a bit with my Gypsy.  I used the Hide Contour feature on the word "Powder."  I hid the outside line so the image would cut as solid letters rather than an outline of the word.  I also hid part of the image that would have cut with the word "SNOW."  I wanted to include the snowflakes that are on that page in the manual, but I found them to be so skinny at parts that they were a bit difficult to cut.  So, I settled for running the blue background through the Cuttlebug Snowflakes folder instead.  I plan on putting a sentiment inside that reads something like, "May all your holiday wishes come true."

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...

I whipped up a couple of these cards tonight to enter in the sketch challenge at Skipping Stones Design and in the challenge at Cute Card Thursday #138 (Anything Goes).  The bell with ribbon is from the Christmas Solutions cartridge, thanks to the free Gypsy download!  The green circle behind it is from Graphically Speaking.  The white strip at the top was run through the Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug folder.

Thank you

Several of my coworkers got together last week and bought me a beautiful plant for the passing of my uncle.  I knew that I wanted to make them some Thank You cards.  Then my friend Nicole told me about the challenge at Mojo Monday.  I had never made a card based on a sketch before, but I am quite pleased with how it turned out.  I will also be entering this card in the challenge at Paper Issues, using scallops.

The brown scalloped rectangle is from Graphically Speaking.  It was cut at 4.25x2 in.
The yellow rectangle is also from Graphically Speaking.  It was cut at 3.75x1.5 in.
The blue shape that the sentiment is stamped on is from Calligraphy Collection.  It was cut at 1.5x2.25in.    I had to cut the image in half (This worked well since I was making several cards anyway and could use both halves.) and then trim the ends so they were flat and at 1.5 in.
The branch and flowers are from Gypsy Wanderings.  The branch was cut at 4.25 width (linked to height).  The flowers were at 2.10 width (linked to height).  They are perhaps a bit big, but if they were smaller they would have been difficult to work with.  I added a dot of glitter glue to the center of the flowers.

Ten year anniversary card

My half sister and her husband will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary on November 11.  I made this S-fold card for them.  (Thanks to Mary at Cardztv for showing me how to do an S-fold card.)  This card will be entered in Momo's Tuesday Challenge for the week of November 2.  The challenge was to use embossing.  I used my Heart Blocks Cuttlebug folder.  The cartridge I used for the 10s was Graphically Speaking.  I used my Gypsy to adjust the size so they would fit just right on the card.  

Wow!  The 10/ten design on the left hand side was quite delicate to cut out!  I had to use my Exacto knife to help get out the inside of all the numbers and letters.  It is a little fuzzy in spots, but I was just thankful that it didn't rip!

You Rock card

My sister-in-law's 16th birthday is coming up and she likes to sing, so I used the sentiment idea from one of Mary's cards and changed up the design.  The background was run through the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots folder.  The star is from Graphically Speaking, page 41, cut at 3 inches.  The microphone is from Everyday Paper Dolls, page 44, cut at 3.75 inches with Real Dial Size on.  I cut it twice, once with glitter paper and once in black and did my own layering.  The brads were an awesome Goodwill find!