Saturday, December 31, 2011

My favorite cards from 2011....











Thanks for taking a stroll with me through some of
my favorite projects from 2011.

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous
new year filled with good fortune.

Happy New Year
2012

Thanks for being a follower!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas!

I had so much fun making this card.
As soon as I saw this SVG image, I knew I had to make it the
centerpience of my next project.
I always make my Mom a special card and this is the design
I chose for her this year.


This easel card measures 5 1/2 x 6" when folded.
I started by matting the holly 2x on 3 x 5" & 3 1/4 x 5 1/4"
ovals respectively.
There was a lot of embossing on this card.
Swiss dots on the white background mat and the holly.
Snowflakes on the white oval mat, and Swirls on the dark green mat.
To add some BLING, I used a lime green glitter ribbon along the top,
accented it with branches from MS, and topped it with a small gem.
I also used the branches along the bottom of the card front to form a border.


The inside of the card was matted with a holiday stripe.
The Merry Christmas sentiment was cut from Wild Card in a
red glitter paper.
A personal sentiment will be added on the inside along with "2011" to
denote the year.


This card is so pretty, I just love it!
TFL!


Too cute to spook!

This 1st page was actually featured in the Cricut Chirp -
I was so proud!
The owl is from Disney Classics and really makes the page's focal point.


The 2nd page had some Cricut, but most of the decor was done with stamps.
I added the small gems to the spider's heads to give them a "pop."
TFL!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Peter...Peter...Pumpkin Eater!

A happy harvest page just fitting for Autumn.
A visit to the pumpkin farm for Maddix, Mom, and Dad; proved to
be the perfect place for smiling fall photos.


The cuts are all from NR and HD.
TFL!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A Camping We Will Go...

This is the next installment in Maddix' book.
His 1st camping trip was a hit!
The weather was great and we all had a wonderful time!
TFL!



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Beach Baby

The next set of pages in Maddix' album is from his day at the beach.
Only a few months old and he was off to Myrtle Beach for vacation!
Most of the cuts are from PYB and PS.


The next set of pages are for the Grandparents.
Ths is the finished one for Maddix' paternal grandparents,
and there is another waiting to be completed for his maternal grandparents.


The cuts are from PS and Heritage carts.
 Heritage is great for "family tree" types of cards and LOs.
There are so many old fashioned images that can be incorporated
to give your project an old tyme theme.

TFL! 






Friday, December 23, 2011

Lifetime Journey

I have finally finished my "updated" scrapbook for my granson.
  I will give this gift of love as a present.
  Many more to follow....sorry about the pic quality,
but I had so many to take that I just did them in the book.
TFL!




These cuts are from Heritage.


These cuts are from Carousel.


Friday, December 16, 2011

A Snowflake Christmas

I am starting my Christmas cards for this year and had two designs in mind.
I made each one and asked Hubby to decide which one struck his fancy.
Of course, he couldn't make up his mind, so we decided to make both!
This is my Snowflake Christmas card for 2011.


The white cardstock has been embossed with the snowflake CB folder.
The white snowflake mat was embossed with a Sizzix folder, edges inked, 
and the snowflake (WICO) was cut 3 times -
once in mint green and twice in white.
I then layered the flakes, sprayed them with glue and added MS glitter.
I added matching branches (MS punch) to the corners
and topped them with a double flake (ACY.)
The corners were rounded to give the card front a finished look.


The inside poem is computer generated and the
inside sentiment was originally composed.

This card will be made in mint green and holiday blue.




I really like the simple, yet elegant, look of this card.
Merry Christmas!
TFL!



O Christmas Tree

This is design #2 of our 2011 Christmas cards.
As with the Snowflake Christmas card the outside was embossed
with the CB snowflake folder and the edges were rounded.
I just love this image of the "swirl tree" on the
Christmas solutions card.
The problem is that you really need to cut this image @ 5" or larger.



I used a glitter paper from JoAnn's and I did cut the image @ 5"
and shadowed it in white cardstock.
The stars are from WC and are cut @ 4".
The branches are the same MS punch and the small star
is a left-over from the corner cut above.

The inside poem is the carol, O Christmas Tree.
The inside sentiment is the same original compostion that is found in the snowflake card.
This is another simple, but elegant, card that can be made in no time.
Although the store bought cards are beautiful, I love the "hand-made" touch.
I think it means so much more to have made especially for "you."
Merry Christmas!
TFL!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Santa Baby...hurry down the chimney tonight!

I made this card for the Cooking With Cricut weekly challenge -
Sounds of the Season.
One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Santa Baby"
by Marilyn Monroe, and was my inspiration for this project.

The white card base was embossed with the CB borders folder
on each side.
Small blue snowflakses from a Fiskars punch accent the background
along with a blue oval and embossed scalloped circle.

I started with a baby from SYI cut @ 4" and used the icon feature.
The sweet happy face is a Peachy Keen stamp.
The cute Santa hat came from Pooh and Friends and resized in DS to fit.
I added batting for fur, small gems for bling, and a sash  belt to finish.
The trees are from WW, are embossed with the CB snowflake folder,
and popped for dimension. 
Glittered lime green ribbon added to each corner and fitted with a snowflake sequin.

Now........the inside!  While the front looks a bit quirky, the inside is more adult!
It's been a long time since I've made a pop-up card, but this type fits this particular project.

The background paper does double-duty by looking a bit like wallpaper
while being festive at the same time.
The swirl tree and present are from Christmas Solutions,
the car is from Mickey and Friends, and the boa is from PDDU.
The wall is finished off with 2 leftover snowflakes and a
wreath made from the MS branch punch.
The wall is patterned after the lyrics I chose from the song.

The computer generated sentiment is a selection of lyrics from "Santa Baby:"
Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree, for me
I've been an awful good girl
Santa Baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa Baby, an out-of-space convertible too....light blue
I'll wait up for you dear
Santa Baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight.


So to all of you girls out there.........
Think of all the fun we've missed
Think of all the fellas  that we haven't kissed
Next year we could be just as good
If you check off our Christmas list........
Merry Christmas!
TFL!
 

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Warm Winter Wishes....

I have linked this project as one of my favorites to
http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com/
Check out some favorite past projects and maybe you will
find a wonderful design that you may have missed -
I know I have!

My SIL has a December birthday coming up next week, so it was time
to get busy and make her special card.


I started with my circle easel card template that I have saved in DS.
The scalloped circles were cut in graduated sizes and embossed
with CB swirls and happy birthday folders.

The tree is a leftover from another project and I think it was
cut from WW - embossed with snowflake CB folder.
"Warm Winter Wishes" is also from WW.
The skates are from the Christmas cart and the boot and layers are embossed
with swiss dots and swirls respectively.

The skates are popped for dimension and finished off with a piece of
ecru lace and memory thread.


The inside holds a special message and a holly (WW) enshrouded
Happy Birthday that is embellished with the MS branch punch.


Happy Birthday is from ACY and is resized in
DS to fit the sign back.


Voila!!
The finished project that will be mailed out next week.


I am pleased with this end result and hope
my SIL will enjoy it in celebration of her birthday.
TFL!






Fill 'er up!

This will be my dear DIL's gift card holder for this year.
After much shopping with huge success, this will finish off her gift list!

The purse and holly embellishment are free SVG cuts.
I embossed the front with swiss dots and swirls,
added a hint of lace, holly sprig, and finished it off with
small and large gem stones.


This little gem only measures 3 x 4 1/2".
Just the perfect size to hold a gift card or currency.
I will add some tissue to the inside and tie the handles together with a
Christmas ribbon to finish it off and to make
sure that gift inside stays intact.
TFL!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Somewhere over the rainbow.......

Even during the holiday season,
I need to take a break and make something different.
Here is my latest "take-off" on one of my all time favorite movies.

I have had this idea roaming around in my head for a few weeks now,
and finally tonight, I tried to tie it all together.
I have always been a fan of the Wizard of Oz,
and thought it would make a great birthday or encouragement card.
I started with an image of the Emerald City for the backdrop.
I then tried to think of some of the movie items I wanted to include in my project.


I started with the RUBY SLIPPERS (of course!) and cut them from GS
@ 2" out of a red glitter paper outlined in white.
The Wizard's hot air balloon was cut @ 4" from SIP,
while the bluebird that flies over the rainbow
was cut @ 1" from 50 States (Nevada.)
All images were popped along with a quote from the movie to finish the front.


My original sentiment completes the inside and is complimented
with a small emerald gemstone from the Land of Oz!

Another personal message will be added when this particular card is sent.
I just love the way it turned out!
And remember.......the dreams that you dare to dream
really do come true.......so follow the Yellow Brick Road!
TFL!

Friday, December 2, 2011

The Gang's All Here!

I had this cute little pic show up on my FB page, and since hubby is a
Steeler Fan, I just had to make a project with it.


I started with a white card base, embossed it with the CB
snowflake folder, rounded and inked the edges in gold.

I used the oval from PS and sized it to frame the snowmen pic,
then I matted it and added a corner strip to finish.

The cap is from WW and is cut @ 2".
This little guy is popped to give it dimension.
My "ever useful" MS branch punch in gold, black, and white
adorns the oval bottom and is tied off with matching baker's twine.

Voila!!  A card any Steeler Fan would love to get!
TFL!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Frosty!

I wanted to try a window card and incorporate my favorite
MS branch punch, so.....this is the result!
I have a male friend with a December birthday,
 and I think this will be a fit for that occasion.


The finished card measures approx. 5 x 6" and is embossed w/ the CB snowflake folder.
The circle cut-out is 4" and lined w/ individual branches.
The edges are rounded, accented w/ the same punch,
and then finished off w/ a button.
A lime green glitter ribbon made into a bow puts the finishing touches to the card front.


The inside is matted twice.
The snowman is made from a resized oval from PS.
The edges were inked w/ light blue,
and the face is a Peachy Keen stamp (I just love them!)
that has been colored w/ pencils.

The hat comes from WW and has been resized in DS to fit the snowman head.
It was cut in shadow and regular, was embossed w/ the CB swirls
and swiss dots folder, and was accented w/ 4 small green gems for holiday bling!
The stars are a left-over from another project and I think they are cut from WC.



I will add a "Happy Brrrrrthday" sentiment along the sides of circle cut-out
and a personal message on the back.
I like the finished project, but I think I will downsize the snowman a bit
on my next card and make the circle window on the front smaller.
TFL!





Monday, November 28, 2011

Peace

Here is another one of my favorite easel cards.
The finished card measures 5 1/2 x 6".
The front card base is matted 2x, embossed with the CB swirls folder,
 and the corners were embellished with a punch.


The deer is from the Christmas cart and is cut @ 4"
on both regular and shadow.
The font is from Winter Woodland and is cut @ 1 1/4 and 2 1/2"
in both regular and shadow.
The font paper is a bronze hologram metallic and adds elegance
to this holiday card.


The sentiments are computer generated, matted, and inked.
The corners were punched to match the card front.


A small "instruction guide" on how to assemble the card for display is added.
I am so pleased with this finished product....it is absolutely one of my favorites.
TFL!



Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Holiday Gift Bags

Instead of buying new gift bags this year,
I thought it would be cool to recycle ones that we had already received.
I used WW for the images on both of my projects.
They are simple but festive, and of course,
I will be "rebagging" this year!




 
Happy Holidays!
TFL!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Butterfly Birthday Wishes

I have two dear friends with birthdays this month
and wanted to come up with a design
that is on the elegant side.

Since I love the butterfly on the Home Decor cart,
I wanted to make it the focal point of this card.

The card base is 5 1/2 x 6", and
I used double-sided paper from KCs ancestry.com paper stack.
I matted the front 2x, and added a strip of brown patterned paper
that was topped with a berry red strip that was punched with a swirl design.
A lace border was added to the bottom, and the corners were embellished with
the branches from a MS punch and finished off with gold sequins.
The butterfly was cut @ 3" and then cut again in "shadow" @ 3 and 3 1/4".
I embossed both shadows (swirls and swiss dots),
and popped this image 2x - once on the 1st shadow and again on the 2nd.

The oak leaf is from Disney Classics and was a leftover from an older project,
but I thought it fit in nicely with the November birthday theme.
The 2"  circle was cut 2x - once in black and once in white.
The image was stamped, inked in sage, and colored in soft pencil hues.


The inside was finished off with the same punched border as on the front of the card.
The sentiments were computer generated and matted with rounded corners.
I do like to add a personal touch by adding names, so if I
am making cards ahead, I usually wait to personalize the inside.
I used fall colors (red, orange, brown, black) for the overall theme.
A butterfly for the "birth" of a new year and the autumn overtones for this time of year.

I am quite pleased with the finished look and I do hope my
recipients will enjoy them as well.
TFL!