My Pink Stamper Color Challenge

Robyn, over at My Pink Stamper, is having a color challenge: create something using pink, green, brown, and orange. I decided to make a shaped card using the cute tree with a swing from the Just Because Cards cartridge. This was made on my Gyspy and cut it at 9.66" to fit in an A2 envelope. I used the shadow feature of the tree, and then copied, flipped, and welded it to make the card. I then cut the shadow again (the same size) and ran it through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder for the base layer. The brown layer of the tree was also run through the Cuttlebug, using the Papertrey Ink Woodgrain impression plate.

This is a little retirement card for a friend; the sentiment is on the inside.

Recipe:

(All materials Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: Orange Zest, Dark Chocolate, and Raspberry Fizz

Patterned Paper: 2009 Bitty Dot Basics

Chai Ink

Rustic Jute Button Twine

Let's Play Layout

I just love these pictures of Eric and his cousin when they were little, especially the one of the two of them hugging! This layout was made from Create a Critter. The dinosaurs are cut at 3" and 3 1/4", and I gave them google eyes, as their original eyes got a bit lost in the polka dots. I made the grass using my Martha Stewart icicle punch. "Let's Play" was cut at 3", and the word "play" was run through the Mesh Texture Cuttlebug folder. The journaling leaf was also cut at 3".

Recipe:

DCWV Summer Dream Stack (background paper)

DCWV Neutrals Stack (grass)

Papertrey Ink Cardstock in Enchanted Evening, Orange Zest, Summer Sunrise, & Aqua Mist

Papertrey Ink Patterned Paper in Dotty Biscotti and Turning a New Leaf

Tom Sawyer Island Layout

Here is the last layout from our 1998 trip to Disneyland! This one focuses on Tom Sawyer Island. The sign is cut from Everyday Paper dolls three times at 6.14" and cut apart to give it the green grass, dark brown sign post, and light brown sign. I ran the post through my Cuttlebug with the Papertrey Ink Woodgrain Impression Plate and inked the edges with PTI Chai ink. I also added some Recollection brads to look like nail heads. "Tom Sawyer Island" is stamped with the PTI Simple Alphabet Stamps in PTI Dark Chocolate.

The mountains are cut at 9.12" from Paper Doll Dress Up and inked with PTI Smokey Shadow ink.

Background paper is from the DCWV Green Stack, green paper is PTI New Leaf cardstock, and the rest of the cardstock is Recollections.

"Inchies" Cuttlebug Challenge

This is my first time entering a Cuttlebug Challenge. For this one, we were asked to design something using "inchies", one inch squares.

Recipe:

(All materials Papertrey Ink)

5" x 10" Spring Moss cardstock, scored at 5"

"Background Basics Text Style II", stamped in Spring Moss

1" squares run through the Birds & Swirls, Distressed Stripes, & Divine Swirls Cuttlebug folders

Another Summer Card

I made this card using the Life is a Beach cartridge. The lighthouse is cut at 4 1/4", and the seagulls are cut at 1 3/4". The rocks are from Everyday Paper Dolls, and are cut at 1".

Recipe:

(All materials Papertrey Ink)

Pure Poppy cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"

Men of Life patterned paper cut at 4" x 5 1/4"

Images cut with Stamper's Select White, Pure Poppy, and Smokey Shadow cardstock

"Happy Summer" - Daily Design Sentiments

True Black Ink

Pure Poppy Topnotch Twill Ribbon

1st Week of Summer Challenge

Tracy, over at http://www.craftjunkietoo.com/, is having a 1st Week of Summer Challenge. For this challenge, we were asked to create a summer themed craft project. I made this card using the A Child's Year cartridge. The image was cut at 3 3/4".

Recipe:

(All materials Papertrey Ink)

Dark Chocolate cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"

Simply Chartreuse cardstock cut at 4" x 5 1/4"

Rustic Cream cardstock cut at 3 3/4" x 5"

Image cut with Dark Chocolate cardstock and Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper

"Happy Summer" - Daily Design Sentiments

Simply Chartreuse Ink and Topnotch Twill Ribbon

Special Friend Blend

I'm so excited! My new stamps from Papertrey Ink arrived yesterday. I used "Tea for Two" and "Tea for Two Additions" with the coordinating dies for this card. Isn't that little tea bag tag just adorable? There are all sorts of little sentiments to put inside of it. The parallel lines around "Special Friend Blend" are from the "Mini Scrapbook Series: Library Ledger" set.

Recipe:

(all materials Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified)

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Ripe Avocado cardstock, scored at 4 1/4"

4" x 5 1/4" Turning a New Leaf patterned paper

2 1/2" x 5 1/4" Vintage Cream cardstock (Fiskars Treading Water punch used on this)

Michael's brown satin ribbon

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado, & Chamomile

Bottle Gift Card Holder

My nephew is celebrating his 16th birthday tomorrow, and my son Eric and I are going to meet up with him, my sister, and my niece in San Francisco to visit Nike Town, his favorite store. The other day Eric was drinking a Coke from this bottle, and it gave me the idea to package a Nike gift card for my nephew in the style of the 2 liter gift bottle that I found on the Cricut Messageboard. The gift card came with a card that had the embossed Nike swoosh on it. I used the "Just For You" Papertrey Ink stamp to go around it, and then punched it with a 1 3/4" circle punch. The black behind it is the Mat Stack 2 die from Papertrey Ink, and the metal stickers are from Michael's. I decided not to put anything else in the bottle. I didn't really want it to be cute, just a puzzle. Eric and I can't wait to see my nephew try to figure out how to get his gift card out of the bottle!

Spots and Dots Challenge

Made by Momo (http://madebymomo.blogspot.com/) is having a "Spots and Dots" challenge. I decided to participate using this cute dinosaur from Create a Critter.

Recipe:

(all materials Papertrey Ink)

Orange Zest cardstock cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"

Enchanted Evening layer cut at 5 1/4" x 4" and run through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder

Dinosaur cut at 2 1/2", using Dark Chocolate, Orange Zest, Enchanted Evening, and Dotty Biscotti

Bones cut at 1/2", using Vintage Cream

Daily Designs Sentiment

Vintage Cream Ink

Rustic Jute Button Twine

(Google Eyes from Michael's)

Toontown Layout

I had fun using my Mickey and Friends cartridge for this layout. The characters are definitely easier to work with when you cut them out BIG! Mickey is cut at 7 3/4" and Goofy is 5 3/4". I also cut the Goofy sign at 2 1/4", and the journaling tag was cut at 2 1/2".

To make the Toontown sign, I used my Gypsy to group Simply Sweet letters with a banner from Mickey and Friends, cut at 2 1/2". The film strip is cut at 5 1/4", and I use the hide contour feature on the Gypsy to remove the big squares from the center of it.

Recipe:

(all materials Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified)

Cardstock: Pure Poppy, True Black, Summer Sunrise, Stamper's Select White, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Sweet Blush, and Dark Chocolate

DCWV Summer Dream stack (background paper)

Core'dinations (film strip and faces)

Simply Chartreuse Topnotch Twill Ribbon and Ink

Happy Summer Card

Here's a little card that I made today to cheer up a friend who is going through a rough time. The tulips are from Create a Critter, cut at 3.83". The little bird is from Straight From the Nest, cut at 2.11".

Recipe:

(all materials Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified)

Plum Pudding cardstock cut at 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", scored at 4 1/4"

Aqua Mist cardstock cut at 5 1/4" x 4" with additional layer cut at 3" x 4" and run through the Divine Swirls Cuttlebug folder

Bird: striped paper from DCWV Summer Dream stack, Hawaiian Shores wing, Dark Chocolate base, Prima flower, Recollections brad, and Michael's googly eye

Tulips: green Core'dinations and Plum Pudding (run through Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder)

Sentiment: Daily Designs Sentiments

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Chai, and Fresh Snow

Tomorrowland Layout

Here is the second layout from our '99 Disneyland Trip. Eric's favorite ride, which we went on over and over, was the Astro Orbiter. He loved those rockets, so I tried to go with that theme. The background paper is from DCWV Summer Dream stack. The golden textured paper is Core'dinations. Solid cardstock is Recollections, and the polka dot papers are from Papertrey Ink.

Recipe:

"Tomorrowland" cut from Don Juan at 1.59" and shadowed

Rocket on the left cut from Just Because Cards at 7.82"

Rocket on the right cut from Everyday Paper Dolls at 3.12" (I cut it twice and cut the golden rocket down to use as a layer)

Spaceship from Everyday Paper Dolls at 3.12" (also cut twice and layered; blue layer was run through the Spots and Dots Cuttlebug folder)

Journaling Tag cut at 1.94" from Accent Essentials

Inked with Papertrey Ink Chai

Disneyland Layout

Here is the first of the layouts for our 1999 Disneyland trip - my son's first! I used the "Mickey and Friends" cartridge for all of the cuts. I've had problems with cutting the characters in the past, but this time I used Core'dinations paper, and it really cut well! The background paper is from the DCWV Summer Dream stack.

I designed this all on the Gypsy. The bones are a border, but I welded two together to get a longer strip. They are cut at 1.2". Pluto is cut at 3.92", the Mickey head is 2.88", and the Disney heart is 3.19". "1st" and "Trip" are cut at 2", using "Lyrical Letters". Tune in tomorrow for more...

Thanks a Melon Card

I used the "Just Because" Cards cartridge on my Gypsy for this card.

Recipe (all materials Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified):

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" True Black cardstock, scored at 4 1/4"

4" x 5 1/4" New Leaf cardstock (on both outside and inside of card)

Frame cut at 3.68", using DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack cardstock

"Thanks a Melon" cut at 3.55" in True Black, with Berry Sorbet layer

Watermelon cut at 3" in New Leaf, Stamper's Select White, True Black, and Berry Sorbet

Berry Sorbet Topnotch Twill Ribbon

Rick Rack punch on inside made with Eksuccess punch

Wedding Shower Favors

My mom is hosting a wedding shower tomorrow, and I offered to make favors for her. These purses are cut at 5.63" with the Cricut "Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More" cartridge. I used my Gypsy, and was able to cut two on each 12" x 9" piece of cardstock. The cardstock is from DCWV "Pocket full of Posies" and "The Glitter Stack." The white satin ribbon is from Michael's, and the twill ribbon is from Papertrey Ink in Lavender Moon, Spring Moss, and Lemon Tart. I embellished with frosted Prima flowers and Recollections brads. Also, I adhered the purses using red tape, as I've found that they pop open after a while using my ATG gun. Each purse has two Ghirardelli filled chocolate squares inside.

Egg Hunt Layout

This is a little out of season, but it's where I am in my chronological scrapbook for my son. I'm up to April of 1999! Yesterday I was able to pick up a couple of Cricut Lite cartridges, since we happened to be near a Walmart (I don't have one locally). I got "Dude!" and "Feeling Groovy" and used "Feeling Groovy" for the title here. Don't you just love that font? The rest of the cuts are from the "Easter" cartridge. Some of my measurements look odd because I created it on my Gypsy. I tend not to pick a specific size, but just enlarge it to how I like it.

Recipe:

Background Paper: DCWV Flower Shower Spring Stack

Cardstock: Papertrey Ink Berry Sorbet, Dark Chocolate, Hawaiian Shores, New Leaf, and Lemon Tart

Chocolate Bunny cut at 3.83" and run through Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folder

"Lacy" egg cut at 2.60"

Plain eggs cut at 2.14" (run through Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug Folder) and 1.83" (run through Divine Swirls Cuttlebug Folder)

Journaling tag cut at 1.37"

"Egg Hunt" cut at 1 3/4"

Another Thank You Note

I think I'm finished making thank you notes for now. I made a bunch of these for my son to send out as thank yous for his graduation gifts. They are once again sized for A1 sized envelopes. The base is cut at 4 7/8" x 7", scored at 3 1/2". The mat is cut at 4 5/8" x 3 1/4". Materials arePapertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Rustic Cream & Hawaiian Shores

Patterned Paper: DCWV "Summer Stack"

Ink: Chamomile, Hawaiian Shores, Dark Chocolate, & Simply Chartruese

Mat Stack 2 Die

Dots and Spots Cuttlebug Folder

1 3/4" Circle Punch

Eksuccess Rick Rack Punch

Recollections Brads

Boy Thank You Card

Today I began working on thank you notes for the boys in my class. The lizard is from "Life is a Beach", cut at 3 3/4". I also used the new eksuccess rick rack punch that I picked up with my 50% off coupon at Joann's today. Isn't it cute? Again, these cards are made to go into an A1 size envelope, so the base is cut at 4 7/8" x 7", scored at 3 1/2". The mat is cut at 4 5/8" x 3 1/4".

Recipe (All materials Papertrey Ink):

Cardstock: Spring Moss and Hawaiian Shores

Ink: Fresh Snow and True Black

Sentiment: "Daily Designs Sentiments"

Lizard run through the "Mesh Texture" Cuttlebug folder

Summer Thank Yous

Yesterday was the last day of school, so now it is time to make thank-you notes for all of the generous gifts that were given to me. These are the ones that I made for the girls in my class. I've been dying to use this flip-flop cut on "Life is a Beach" ever since I bought this cartridge. I cut them at 3". These cards are made to go into an A1 size envelope, so the base is cut at 4 7/8" x 7", scored at 3 1/2". The mat is cut at 4 5/8" x 3 1/4" and run through the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder. The "thanks" sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's "Mega Mixed Messages" set. Supplies are listed under each picture. They are all from Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.

Spring Rain and Pure Poppy Cardstock

DCWV "Blossoms and Butterflies" Patterned Paper

Dark Chocolate Ink

Spring Rain Luxe Satin Ribbon

Spring Rain and Dark Chocolate Cardstock

Dark Chocolate Ink

DCWV Patterned Paper

Michael's Satin Ribbon

Enchanted Evening and Berry Sorbet Cardstock

DCWV "Flower Shower Spring Stack" Patterned Paper

Dark Chocolate Ink

Enchanted Evening Topnotch Twill Ribbon

Orange Zest and Enchanted Evening Cardstock

Dotty Biscotti Patterned Paper

Vintage Cream Ink

Orange Zest Extra Fine Polka Dot Satin Ribbon

New Leaf and Spring Moss Cardstock

DCWV Patterned Paper

Dark Chocolate Ink

Hibiscus Burst Saddle Stitched Ribbon

Aqua Mist and Berry Sorbet Cardstock

Green Boutique Patterned Paper

Dark Chocolate Ink

Aqua Mist Topnotch Twill Ribbon

Shaped Monkey Birthday Card

My little nephew is celebrating his first birthday this weekend! I made him this shaped birthday card welding together the monkey from Create a Critter and a party hat from Sweet Treats. I made the height 5 1/2" to fit into an A2 size envelope.

Recipe:

Spring Rain, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy, & Dark Chocolate cardstock from Papertrey Ink

Patterned paper from the DCWV Animal Crackers Matstack.

4th Grade Survival Kit

One of the 3rd grade teachers that I work with is moving up to 4th grade next year. My friend Cindy and I have had such fun working with him in 3rd (he's like a little brother who we can tease), so we decided he needed a little good-by gift. I saw this soda bottle idea on the Cricut messageboard once. We had fun coming up with things to put in it: candy, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, an eye mask, Tums, a picture of us, soap, a facial towelette, Tylenol, deodorant, and a Trader Joe's gift card.

The tag is from Sweet Treats, the frame is from A Child's Year, "4th Grade" is from Locker Talk, and "Survival Kit" is welded Don Juan. Patterned paper is from DCWV Christmas Stack, and plain cardstock is Papertrey Ink.

Altered Journals

Okay, here's what I've been very busy with for the last two weeks. Every year, at the last minute, I decide to embark on making a time-consuming end-of-the-year gift for my students. I don't know why I do this to myself with the craziness of getting progress reports completed, buying gifts for staff members, etc. The last few years I've made DVDs with movies and slideshows, but this year, since I caught the Cricut bug, I went in a different direction. I recently discovered Momo's blog (http://madebymomo.blogspot.com/), and I've been watching all of her old videos. I loved her idea for altered journals and decided to make one for each student, as they love to write. To get started, I had each student fill out a little survey where they had to state three each of their favorite colors, animals, and sports. From here I was able to create personalized journals.

I put these together on my Gypsy and really don't know the sizes or exact cuts anymore, but I can say that the fonts are from Designer's Calendar, Don Juan, Lyrical Letters, and Simply Sweet. The sports figures are all from Sports Mania, animals are from Create a Critter (except for the snake from Camp Out), and the ice-skates are from Winter Woodland.

Background paper is from various DCWV stacks, and the rest of the cardstock is Papertrey Ink.

The background paper is cut at 6" x 9 3/4" (so you can cover front and back with one 12" x 12"

sheet). The black "binding" is 3 1/2" x 9 3/4". I used cardstock for the first two bindings, but I found it kept popping up (I used my ATG gun). I switched to black construction paper for the rest, and that worked great.

Hibiscus Thank You

This year I've had an amazing aide in my classroom full time. She is there to work with a student with cerebral palsy, but she has been invaluable to me as well. I made this thank you note for her with a Hawaiian theme, as she's heading off to a Hawaiian vacation next week. The hibiscus is from "Life is a Beach", cut at 3". The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's "Signature Greetings." I embossed it using Versamark and PTI's White Filigree Powder. I just started using embossing powder, and I don't quite have it down, but it's very fun!

Recipe:

(all materials Papertrey Ink)

8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Melon Berry cardstock, scored at 4 1/4"

4" x 5 1/4" True Black cardstock

1" x 4" Summer Sunrise cardstock

Hibiscus cut with Pure Poppy, Melon Berry, Summer Sunrise, and New Leaf cardstock

Melon Berry Topnotch Twill Ribbon

Mini Thank You Cards

The school year is coming to an end, and I needed to make thank you cards to go with the little gifts I picked up for my room mothers and aides. I've been wanting to make envelopes on my Cricut, so I decided to try making 3" square cards with coordinating envelopes. The envelopes are from the "Walk in My Garden" cartridge, and the flowers are from "Forever Young".

Recipe

(all materials from Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise specified)

Envelopes: DCWV Stack 6 and Michael's Open Stock paper

Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, New Leaf, Stamper's Select White, Plum Pudding, & Spring Moss

Ribbon: Topnotch Twill Berry Sorbet

Sentiment: Mega Mixed Messages

Ink: Dark Chocolate

Card is made from a 3" x 6" piece of cardstock, scored at 3"

2 3/4" x 2 3/4" layer

flower cut at 2 1/2"

Envelope cut at 3"

Wedding Card

Okay, I don't know if I'm thrilled with this card. It turned out better in my head, LOL. The card and envelope are both from the Wild Card cartridge, cut at 6 1/2". I had to use a piece of 12" x 24" paper for the envelope.

Recipe:

All supplies Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise indicated

Cardstock: Aqua Mist and Stamper's Select White

Textured Cardstock for Envelope: Provocraft

Ink: Aqua Mist

Ribbon: Aqua Mist

Sentiment: "Big and Bold Wishes"

Bling: Michael's Dollar Bin

Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder