It's the day after Christmas

Three cards, each using a different technique. 

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas Eve ... time to get a move on to complete my last-minute cleaning and wrapping.  I don't remember what I said on a blog a long time ago, but it was something along the lines of "no matter what your plans are for Christmas preparations, when the end of the day comes, that's what is done."

So, Merry Christmas everyone! (This is the cup that I received 27 years ago when my sons were newborns.)

I have a helper today!

Oliver is helping me.

 

Today is the day to learn

I am trying out a new photography set up, thanks to Leo at www.3dsvg.com.

I'm also trying out this new blogspot app; I've always had issues with trying to add photos to my blog from my phone. Not any more, though!

Here's a shot of the setup. Sister has room to do this, too!

Go Browns!

My first (but not last) vinyl project:  a glass cutting board.  This is being donated to the Naples Browns Backers club for the raffle today.

A little girl's gift

One of my co-workers has a daughter in third grade. I promised her a present if she did something for her mom.

Well, she did!  I thought and thought and thought some more to figure out what to give her.  Aha!  I decided to make a do-it-yourself card kit!  I cut double-sided papers (giving her more options) and backgrounds to match the card I made for her. 

Then I went "shopping" in my personal stash to gather some flowers and ribbons and other decorative pieces.

 

I put everything together in a little bag that I had decorated a few months ago.

 

 

I wrote some directions and other information in a card, including telling her that she could use the card as inspiration for her projects.

Holiday Style Online Card Class - Day 1

This morning I woke up after a night filled with tossing and turning and, as usual, flicked on the coffee machine and opened up my email.  I did one of those double-take motions that you see on the cartoons when I discovered that I won a spot in the Online Card Classes Holiday Style card class.  (Thank you to Debby Hughes of Lime Doodle Design, card maker extraordinaire!).

Darn!  I had to go to work, but it was with a spring in my step and some excitement in my voice.  I had lesson plans to create and interims to enter, so my day ended not at 3:00 like my contract states, but rather at 5:30.  Good thing I live a mile from school because I was determined to get into the class.  Dinner, though, was first on the agenda.  I didn't even try to check out the class because I just knew that dinner wouldn't happen.

So, dinner was done.  Dishes were done.  I was done for the day with my obligations.  So, I logged onto the class and was overwhelmed with the cards for the day.  I didn't think I would be able to make a card until tomorrow, but the card by Laurie Willison of Soapbox Creations was the epitome of a Clean and Simple (CAS) card.  I was certain that I could do it, and do it I did.  Here's my take on her card using some Distress Ink, some tape, a Stampin' Up! die and a little bling tree topper.  I hope you enjoy this!

 

(Oh, and did you know that you can take this class any time?  Of course, participating in an Online Card Classes class while it's in session is still the best!)

Candy Bag

I've been trying to figure out how to make a candy bag holder using my Cricut Explore.  Well, today I found a file on a Facebook group.  I really liked the file that Virginia Polson created, but I decided to take it a few steps further.  She used some elements that required a purchase, and I didn't want to do that.  In addition, I wanted to add some holes to make it easier to tie a ribbon to hold everything in place.  So, this is what I came up with:

I am home today under the weather, so I didn't have an opportunity to go out to purchase candy and bags for the creation.

Everything for this is free in Design Space, so if you are a Cricut Explore user, I invite you to check it out at this link:  https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/32492144

Happy birthday ... Wonder who will receive this?

I received the mini blueprint stamp set for my birthday. I am enjoying using colored pencils to color my stamped designs.

The Journey is a State of Mind

Now that school is back in session, I find myself just spending some time looking at blogs.  The hours that I spent this summer playing in my craft space are a faint memory.  Today is my day to play (okay, and to do some housework before the house is condemned!).  I used my Cricut Explore Air to set up the cuts for this card ... super easy!  My inspiration is from Mojo Monday's #414 Contest.

I think that I will send it to my friend for his birthday since he loves to travel.  Speaking of birthdays, wouldn't it be so cool if I win this contest?  Why? you ask.  Well, Monday is MY birthday. 

Tim Tag August 2015

I haven't participated in Tim Holtz's tag of the month for a while now.  Last week, I sat down to create this tag. (Edited to show a better photo color-wise; I also forgot to add the paint when I took the first set of photos.)

 

In his example, he recommends using a photo from the Found Relatives assortment.  I did one better ... the relative I found was me!  This is a photo that was taken around 1957 in our yard in Girard, Pennsylvania.  Did you catch the "Giraud" on the ephemera?  Pretty cool, huh?

 

 

I don't have the dies that he used, so I improvised by setting up the words in Cricut Design Space.  I love it when I can make something out of nothing!  

 

 

 

Here's Tim's tutorial and his tag.

 

 

Distress Ink Storage Hack

Earlier today I responded to a post on Jennifer McGuire's blog post about Staying Organized explaining how I store my ink pads.  I received several emails asking for me to clarify what I was talking about.  Well, if a picture is worth 1,000 words, how many words is a video worth?  I decided to post a video instead of trying to explain.  I hope that this helps.  Be sure to post a comment if you have questions or just want to tell me that I did a good job (this is my first craft-related video).

Get your own valid XHTML YouTube embed code

Thinking of You

This is going out to a friend whose grandmother recently passed away.  Sympathy cards are difficult to make, mostly because someone is grieving.

 

I am entering this into the Frilly and Funkie Things with Wings Challenge.  Yet again, I love my Explore.  Everything except for the papers was cut on it.  I love the crisp cuts and the versatility it offers.  I even decided to clean up and straighten my craft space to give the machine its own place of honor.

Happy birthday to Sister!

Someone had a birthday on Saturday, and that someone is Sister!

Have I mentioned how much I am loving my Explore Air?  I cut this card using the Elegant Embellishments cartridge.  Look how intricate the cuts are!

And that flower and leaf combination?  To die for!  I cut both out of plain cardstock and then used the same colors for the bottom layer and the top layer but just did the bottom layer a bit darker.  (Does that make sense?)

I sure do hope she likes it as much as I liked making it!

Thinking of You

The other day (and night), I was playing around with my Explore.  It was a very productive day, both from a product standpoint, but also from a learning standpoint. 

I downloaded some free cutting files from Birds Cards, and this was one of them. One of my friends is under the weather, so this is going out in the mail to her today.

I am entering this in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge blog titled Simon Says Sparkle and Shine.

Welcome!

This is a fun banner that I created using my Explore.  I would like to add to it, maybe with some rosettes. 

 

Happy 18th Birthday to Haley

I belong to a Cricut Explore group on Facebook, and one of the members posted this last week:

My girlfriend's granddaughter (she has had custody for 15 years), is turning 18 on July 22. She is developmentally delayed and squeals with delight each time she receives a handmade card. ... but I'd like to ask if anyone could, or would care to pm me regarding making her a card for her 18th birthday. She is so excited about turning 18. Even though she will never drive a car, be able to make change or do some of the things we take for granted, this child always has a smile and hug and is a delight to be around. I would love to shower her with homemade cards for her birthday. I made her a princess castle card that she has on her dresser and she thanks me for it every time she sees it!! I can imagine what she would do with a bunch of handmade cards but I'd be willing to post pictures!!!

I thought that this is such a kind thing for the lady to do.  And it gave me a perfect opportunity to work on learning how to use my machine.  So off I went, and I found the cut file for this card.  The free cut file is from Narelle Darley, one of the best Cricuteers out there.  Be sure to check out her site for some good ideas!

 

 

Thank you to Sister and The Runner

I visited Sister and The Runner in June and had a marvelous time!  She and I went to Whitworth Ranch Retreat for four nights for a great craft retreat.  Then we relaxed prior to attending the Great American Scrapbook Convention where we walked our (already short!) legs even shorter.  When I returned home, I decided that I had to have a Cricut Explore Air.  This is one of the first projects that I created using it. The card went on its merry way to Sister and The Runner to thank them for their hospitality.

I am a featured guest ... woo hoo and woop de do!

I was the featured guest at A Country Chic Retreat's blog.  Be sure to check it out here.