{ FCCB #152 - Luck O' the Irish! }

Kiss Me, I'm Pretending to be Irish!

I thought this fairly simple Card was so appropriate for this week's FCCB Challenge to make a St. Patrick's Day Card.

Those fabulous lips, which are cut on green glitter paper, are from the Indie Art Cricut cart.  The Card is really prettier in real life...but you get the idea!

Go check out what the rest of the DT has prepared this week and you'll be inspired to make a fantabulous St. Patty's Day Card too!

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

{ FCCB Challenge #147 - Queen of Hearts }

Train Cases are all the rage. People are painting them and altering them; using them for displays, storage, furniture, and, even pet beds.

Several months ago, on Pinterest, I started collecting ideas for altering Train Cases to store crafting supplies.  Then, I started collecting Train Cases.  Sigh.

I was so excited to begin the process on the first one, that I didn't take a "before" picture.  This is a Samsonite Train Case or Cosmetic Case.  The trim is leather...I am not sure what the remaining material is.  I decided to use a Sewing Theme, but because I loved the look of the Case so much, I didn't want to completely cover it.

Basic Grey's "Lucille" line provides the inspiration as well as the many of the goodies that I Mod Podge'd to the Case, which I have been working on for weeks.  It's been so fun to choose things to go on it!

The yellow measuring tape is Vintage and a donated from my *Bestie*!

I wanted to add some baubles and I chose some keys, a pin, and a token from Tim Holtz as well as a trinket bead from Maya Road (it's on the far right on the picture below, but it's hard to see in the pic).

I stained some seam binding using Tim Holtz' stains in Tea Dye, Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, and Broken China and I also inked some Creative Impressions Antique Ruler Twill Tape with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

So, after all my altering, I needed a finishing touch.  Something travel-related, perhaps? Yes.  Definitely.

A Luggage Tag! Yes, indeed...my very own Luggage Tag for my Train Case,  I used the Fabulous Finds cart for the heart-shaped luggage tag.  I stained it in Brushed Corduroy, then embossed it to look like leather...it's a bit hard to see in the pic, but it looks pretty good!

I could have put my name on the Luggage Tag, but I had these darling stamps from Bekka Feeken's Amazing Paper Graces October 2012 Monthly Kit.  Isn't it perfect with the theme of the Case?

I am really pleased with the finished product.  I have decided that the Case will be the new house for my Cuttlebug.  I ripped out the inside as it was moldy....but, I have not completed the transformation.  So, that will be for another post. And, I can promise this will not be my last Train Case project!

Why don't you check out this week's FCCB for DT inspiration and projects featuring a heart...maybe you'll even join the challenge!!

xoxo

{ FCCB Challenge #144 - It's a Man's World }

It's a fact. We all struggle with Masculine Cards or, as I call them, "Man Cards".  I don't know why we struggle...is it because we can't use pink, or glitter, or bling, or 2"-wide, polka dot ribbon?

Maybe.

My Aunt saw this Card on Pinterest.  Very pretty...a different idea for an Anniversary Card.  I told her I that I could make it for her Anniversary...easily.  Ha.

After hours of pondering, trying ideas, cutting, inking and gathering every Tim Holtz doodad I could find, it was complete:

I used Cricut Winter Woodland and Plantin Schoolbook carts for the most of the letters, the numbers and the hearts.  The "I" and the "You" are Grungeboard.  I inked and stained everything, using Tim Holtz' Distress Products.

The Tim Holtz Trinket Pin has the number 17 on it; that's the day of my Aunt & Uncle's Anniversary.

I inked, misted (with water) and "crinkled" the ribbon until it was extremely tattered.  I loved the effect!!!

 

I know the FCCB "It's a Man's World Challenge" is almost over, but go check out everyone's project.  We all need inspiration for Man Cards!!

{ FCCB Holiday Card Challenge...}

A day late!!

I have had Rae Barthel's red and white Peace Christmas Card on my mind, since December of 2009, when it graced the cover of Paper Crafts Mag.  This darling Deer is the entire reason I bought the Cindy Loo Cartridge!

So, here's my version:

Although I love that many Cricut images have several layers, I wanted the Deer for this Card to be one layer.  There wasn't just one layer that made the entire Deer; so, I welded the three layers I needed in Design Studio.  This resulted in just one Cricut cut.

I also cut the letters from Cindy Loo, which as a full font.  This is a cute Cart that I have heard called 'a companion to Storybook' or 'Storybook 2'.

I added some flat back, red pearls for the eyes and a little bling on their backs!

Don't forget to join this week's fun at the FCCB!  The Challenge ends at midnight, December 2nd...don't be late like I was!

xoxo,

{ FCCB Challenge #137 - Pilgrim's Promise }

I have a new favorite, little Gift/Treat Bag made from an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of cardstock or patterned paper.  It's a marriage of a Scor-Pal project and a Cosmo Cricket video.

These types of Bags are so versatile.  In this case, I thought it would work well for the Bag to be dressed like a Pilgrim!  I wish the pic was a little better, but, none the less, I present my Pilgrim Treat Bag:

The Pilgrim hat is from A Child's Year and the collar is scalloped circle (cut in quarters) from CTMH Art Philosophy.  The hat is adhered to the front of the Bag using a Glue Dot.

To make the Bag, you align your cardstock at the top of the scoring tool; score at 2 1/2" and at 6".  Then, rotate the cardstock 1/4 of a turn (either way), score at 4 1/2" and 6 1/2".  Now, use your boning tool to crease all folds.

This is where the video comes in...even thought it's not the same Bag, it shows you the folding and gluing process.

I thought this would make the perfect contribution to the FCCB Pilgrim's Promise Challenge!  Head over to the FCCB and see what the other DT Members created for this week!

Have a great day!

xoxo

{ Got Fantabulous? }

I am so excited to announce that I have been chosen to be on the Design Team for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog!  The amazing Robin has stepped down as Coordinator of the FCCB and the equally amazing Janea has signed on!  Super congrats to both Robin and Janea!

FCCB has been challenging us to use our Cricuts for almost 5 years.  In addition to weekly challenges, the Blog offers tips/tricks, tutorials, and inspiration.

I am tickled to be a part of this group of designers and Cricut users!!

{ Hope Your Halloween's a Scream! }

It's time for my very favorite Holiday...Halloween!

I wanted to do something that definitely was not "cutesie"...but not terrifying either...behold:

I started with Authentique patterned paper from last year for the Envelope (and my inspiration), added a damask-embossed, black mat; then I embossed a cream-colored piece of paper using the CB Music embossing folder.  I inked that piece in Tim Holtz's Ripe Persimmon Distress Ink, which is extremely pretty but very bright.  So, I toned that down a bit with some of Tim Holtz's Tea Dye Distress Ink...and I loved the result!  The candelabra is a Tim Holtz die, which I cut using Grunge Paper.  I love how Grunge Paper cuts on the those dies...it's amazing!

At that point, the inking process began.  I inked the bottom portion of the candelabra in Black Soot Distress Ink and the top portion (including the flames) in Ripe Persimmon.  Then, I used Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint on only the candle portion.  Once that dried, I pressed Vintage Photo Distress Ink into the cracks created by the Crackle Paint. This process accentuates the cracks, making them more pronounced. On the base portion of the candelabra, I used Black Soot Distress Stickles on top of the Black Soot Ink. Then, I covered the flames in Mustard Seed Distress Stickles.  It's a bit hard to see, even in the closeup, but the different portions each have a different texture.

I scalloped a "scrap" from the Envelope, added a spooky spider and a cream-colored bow...and that's it!

Boo!