Cough, cough...splutter

I'm really not feeling 100%, but I could resist posting a couple of "this will make me feel better" cards, but I really can't be bothered to go into too much detail... sorry about that!

 

The first, I made with a challenge in mind... FANTABULOUS CRICUT CHALLENGE blog have a great colour and shape challenge ending today, so I wanted to get this in!  I'm afraid I went with the obvious, for a triangle... a sail, but I'm not feeling too good so you'll have to forgive my lack of imagination.

 

 

 

 

All cuts were made using the Cricut 'JUST BECAUSE CARDS' cartridge @ 5 1/2" for the outside of the card. I used the image on page 67 - the boat (duh!).  Most of the CS was from my stash, using up bits and pieces (aren't I good?), I do know the blue strip is from an 'ECHO PARK' pad 'Dots & Stripes - Candy Shoppe', Raspberry Small Dot and the yellow is  'TERESA COLLINS' 'Fabrication' 'yellow brocade'.  The Cricut cut used inside the card and on the outside of the envelope was created using the 'sticker' creative feature.

 

The second card I'd like to share with you is also from the 'JUST BECAUSE CARDS' cartridge...

 

 

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LOOK!

 

A CARD A DAY BLOGGING - 'Sunday'

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY...

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

Dog gone...

...good

 

Morning peeps, how's it hanging?

 

Before I show you my latest creation I'd just like to tell EVERYONE how generous my mother is!  Has she bought me a car? I hear you ask... A new outfit?  A house, maybe?  No, none of these, although if you could give her a nudge, it might help!  She has generously shared all her disease-ridden germs with her oldest daughter (she's not so generous with her youngest!).  Yes, I have a cold... and its a stinker!  Thanks Mum!!!

 

I don't know if its the women of her 'era' or if people today are generally more moany (is that even a word?), but whilst I am coughing and spluttering, dripping and blowing, moaning and groaning - she is merrily (and quietly, unlike me) getting on with things!  Whilst I bemoan my unfortunate laspe into sickness land, she is carrying on with a smile on her face... God I love that woman!  I don't think I could admire anyone more, than I do my mother.  She is the most positive person I know and it is ALWAYS wonderful to be with her - I do wish she would keep her germs to herself, however!

 

I was looking through my Cricut cartridge collection yesterday (like you do) and realised I hadn't shown you anything from the 'JUST BECAUSE CARDS' cartridge, so inbetween coughing and nose-wiping, I came up with this (I don't think I'll be giving it to anyone I really like - its probably got too many germs on it!)...

 

 

 

CARD BASE - 'CREATA' 'Design Blok 7' glittered patterned paper/CS and 'JUST BECAUSE CARDS' cartridge p.37 <Dog> (5 1/2") , also cut the insert <Dog-s> (5 1/2") in black CS - adhered to the inside

1ST DOG MAT - black CS scalloped circle (3") - 'WOODWARE' punch

2ND DOG MAT - 'CREATA' 'Design Blok 7' green glossy spotty patterned paper/CS (2 1/2") - 'WOODWARE' punch

CRICUT CUT - white CS p.37 'layer 1' creative feature <Dog> (5 1/5") and black CS p.37 'layer 1' <Dog-s> (5 1/5") -  adhered together using 'ZIG' two-way glue

1ST SENTIMENT MAT - black CS (3 5/8" x 1 3/4") - punched using 'X-CUT' 'scallop' border punch

2ND SENTIMENT MAT - 'CREATA' 'Design Blok 7' green glossy spotty patterned paper/CS (3 1/2" x 1 1/4") - faux stitched

SENTIMENT - black CS 'JUST BECAUSE CARDS' cartridge p.37 'word' creative feature <Dog> (5 1/2"), also red CS p.37 'word' creative feature <Dog-s> (5 1/2") - adhered together

EMBELLISHMENTS - red string beands, gem, white rub-on - from stash

 

CUTE IN-IT!



 

Challenges?  yeah...

 

CRAFTY-EMBLIES - Ch #9 - 'Anything Goes'

 

LADY ANNE'S CHALLENGES - Sentiment Friday Ch. #8 - 'Anything Goes'

 

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Saturday'

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY

 

 

 

Blah... blah... sneeze... blah...

 

 

 

90... WOW!

I recently purchased the 'CINDY LOO' Cricut cartridge, so I thought I'd make my Grandmother a birthday card using some of the cuts from this lovely collection.  She will be 90!  I used a couple of patterned papers, one for the florish and frame and one for the background mat. 

 

CARD BASE - blue scalloped card blank (6" x 6")

1ST MAT - 'MY MIND'S EYE' 'Pretty Please' (5 5/8" x 5 5/8") - free with a craft magazine

CRICUT CUT FRAME- using 'TERESA COLLINS' 'Fabrication' 'floral garden' and 'CINDY LOO' cartridge, 'frame' creative feature p. 40 <Flrish3> (3") and <Flrish3-s> (3")

CRICUT CUT BIRD - using Cricut CS p.64 <Bird> (3") - cut and adhered all layers, adhered to card using foam pads

CRICUT CUT '90' - using black CS and the 'font' creative feature p.36 cut <Frame1> (1 1/4") and p.37 cut <Frame2> (1 1/4"), then using blue CS and the 'font layer' creative feature p.36 cut <Frame1> (1 1/4") and p.37 cut <Frame2> (1 1/4") - adhere the layers together, then adhered to card using foam pads

SENTIMENT - 'happy birthday' rub-on - from stash

EMBELLISHMENTS - pearls, butterfly and flower - from stash

 

I'm really pleased with the way this turned out and I'm LOVING this cartridge!

 

Challenges...

 

CREATED WITH LOVE CHALLENGES - Ch# 36 - 'Recipe Challenge'

 

DIE CUTTIN DIVAS - Ch. #110 - 'Pastels'

 

MY CRAFT SPOT - Monday Challenge #94 - 'Cute Critters 

 

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Friday'

 

 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

Easy~Peasy, Lemon~Squeezy

Bet you haven't heard that expression in a long time!

slang phrase (from an old British detergent commercial) used to express

something that was quickly and easily done.

 

Anyway, since I seem to be in a retro mood, retro is what you are getting today!  I opened up my Kanban 'So Macho' kit this morning (having a flick through the mountain of unused crafting items!) and came across this die-cut sheet...

 

'A True Classic'

 

... and thought, "hey ho... let's have a go".  This is what I came up with...

 

 

I remember my brother having one of these BMX bikes in the 1970's - it was exactly the same as this, even down to the colour... now I'm showing my age!

 

 

CARD BASE - kraft card blank (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")

1ST MAT - yellow Cricut cardstock (CS) (5 3\8" x 5 1/8") - punched using 'X-CUT' 'scallop'

2ND MAT - brown patterned paper 'HOT OFF THE PRESS' 'Red Velvet Artful Card Kit' (4 1/2" x 5 1/8") -  punched using 'X-CUT' 'scallop'

3RD MAT - red Cricut CS (3 3/8" x 5 1/8") -  punched using 'X-CUT' 'scallop' and embossed using 'CUTTLEBUG' and embossing folder 'coolio 1 of 4'

TOPPERS/SENTIMENT - 'Kanban' 'So Macho' die cut sheet 'A True Classic' - adhered using foam pads

INSIDE 1ST MAT - red Cricut CS (2" x 5 1/8")

INSIDE 2ND MAT - brown patterned paper 'HOT OFF THE PRESS' 'Red Velvet Artful Card Kit' (3 1/2" x 3 1/2")

INSIDE 3RD MAT - yellow Cricut CS (3 1/2" x 7/8")

INSIDE 4TH MAT - white CS (2 3/4" x 2 1/2") -  ALL inside mats are off-cuts from the front mats(being really frugal here!)

EMBELLISHMENTS - gems and brads - from stash

 

 

This second card was made using the same topped sheet...

 

 

This one couldn't be simpler! I used an A4 'Kanban' background paper (its called 'paper' but its cardstock really) called 'Parcel Paper', this had the bottom corners rounded and then it was scored and folded in half.  Three toppers were added to the front using foam pads, for extra 'pop', all of these were from the 'A True Classic' die cut sheet and the sentiment toppers was from my stash.  And that was it!

 

And I still have a load of toppers left from this sheet!  Good value or what?

 

Challenges:-

 

BEARLY-MINE CHALLENGES - Ch. #81 - 'Anything Goes'

 

THROUGH THE CRAFTROOM DOOR - Ch. TTCRD April 9th - April 15th - 'Anything Goes'

 

A CARD A CARD Blogging - Tuesday

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

CHRISTMAS CHEER VI

'MY Cricut Catridge Alphabet'... number six

 

'CHRISTMAS CHEER' cartridge...  released April 2006 now discontinued (retired May 2010), designed by rob and bob studio.

       

 

The Creative Features are:- 'tag', 'square', 'circle', 'place card', 'blackout' and 'shadow'. This is one of the earlier cartridges, which usually means the images to cut are simpler (not quite so detailed), I personally like this, sometimes the amount of layers you have to cut makes it too complicated for me. This cartridge is, as its title would suggest, primarily a Christmas cartridge, all of the cuts are themed towards the holiday season although some can be used for other occasions, but not many!  All the usual suspects are here... Santa, reindeers, Xmas trees, decorations etc.  Cricut also have a paper pad available for the 'CHRISTMAS CHEER' cartridge along with a very nice set of 'Cricut Companion' embossing folders called 'Christmas' (if you can find them!). More cards from this cartridge can be viewed here.

 

My View... When I first discovered the Cricut cutting machine, this was THE cartridge to have, and it was VERY hard to get... so naturally I HAD to have it.  Since then (several years have passed), I have, in fact, very rarely used this cartridge!  I only have two Christmas themed cartridges (this being one of them, 'JOY OF THE SEASON' being the other), and if I'm going to do anything Christmassy I use my other cartridge!  Enough said really.

 

My Verdict... Although its a must to have a Christmas cartridge, I feel this one is not the best.  It does have a great selection and variety but I personally don't find the cuts all that appealing, in comparison with my other Christmas cartridge.  On the plus side, the place card feature is extremely handy.

 

I decided to show you a card I have made using this cartridge which is non-Christmas... 

 

 

CARD BASE - Kraft card blank (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")

PATTERNED MAT - 'TERESA COLLINS' 'Fabrication' 'plum damask' - scraps from stash

CRICUT CUT - 'CHRISTMAS CHEER' p.97, 'shadow' <hearth> (2 3/4"),  <hearth> ( 2 3/4"), <hearth-s> (2 3/4") - hearth was cut several times, using different papers and cardstock in order to layer it up a little, the 'fire' was raised using foam pads

RED MAT - red cardstock (2 3/4" x 1 1/2") - corners rounded and edges inked using a black promarker

PATTERNED MAT -  brown patterened paper by 'HOT OFF THE PRESS'  'Red Velvet Artful Card Kit' (2 1/4" x 1") - corners rounded and edges inked using a black promarker

SENTIMENT - computer generated

1ST INSIDE MAT - brown patterened paper by 'HOT OFF THE PRESS' 'Red Velvet Artful Card Kit' (2 3/3" x 4 3/4")

2ND MAT - white cardstock (3 1/4" x 4 1/4") -  punched using 'X-CUT' 'scallop'

3RD MAT - 'TERESA COLLINS' 'Fabrication' 'plum damask' - scraps from stash

EMBELLISHMENT - peel offs, stickles

 

Challenges -

 

MOVING ALONG WITH THE TIMES - 'Lets Get Krafty'

 

CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Ch. #17 - 'Anything Goes'

 

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Sunday'

 

 

MAY ALL YOUR BLADES BE SHARP!

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

Hello April...

Well I've finally got around to posting... its been a busy few days.  Easter is now over, disco, bingo, scavenger hunt and egg hunt all being a great success, even if the weather did its utmost to put a spanner in the works!

 

Being part of the tourist industry, we rely heavily on good weather to draw in our customers... what can I say?  If its not snowing, the east wind is blowing up a gale!  It is bitterly cold here (rain we're used to... this cold?  We are not!). Needless to say some of our customers stayed away... tucked up warmly in there little houses instead of risking frost frozen caravans with no water ('cause it had frozen, and no amount of heating was gonna make it run again!).  Anyway we did have the 'die-hard' intrepides, who simply weren't prepared to miss out (water or no water), these wonderful people braved the cold, and helped children find eggs; managed to collect various obscure items on their scavenger list; danced the night away and shouted 'bingo' with the best of 'um!  Thank you one and all for keeping me in employment!

 

My son also had his 22nd birthday (celebrated by his sister and I going shopping  and lunching- WITHOUT HIM!), he didn't seem to mind though as I treated him to a take-away indian meal.  He said he'd rather stay home and tackle the giant Lindt bunny I bought him for his birthday present.

 

The Grand National was run yesterday (well done Auroras Encore! 66/1 winner), so the sweepstake needed to be organised (which I did NOT win).  Its my step-father's birthday, so later today we will be celebrated with a family meal out... can't wait, carvery here I come!

 

As you can read, I've not had a lot of time to craft (but I have managed to squeeze in the odd fix, here and there), I thought I'd just give you a quick up-date and post some pictures of the mini cards my daughter asked me to make, she wanted four cards (2 x boys, 2x girls) for the children who are leaving her care (nursery), to start school, here's what I came up with...

 

...with handmade envelopes!

...'BOYS WILL BE BOYS'  Cricut cartridge

...'ONCE UPON A PRICESS' Cricut cartridge

 ...'CREATE A CRITTER' Cricut cartridge

...'BOYS WILL BE BOYS' Cricut cartridge

 

 

I have some more things to show you, but they will have to wait until I have a little more time, I'm off to bed now... so nightie, night xxx

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

Going Green...

Hi Everyone...

 

I've got a busy week coming up - Easter weekend for us, which HOPEFULLY means lots of people visiting the caravan park (and spending lots of money!) and joining in with our Easter programme.  I need to prepare for the Easter Egg Hunt and Scavenger Hunt on Sunday, as well as organising the Saturday Disco, Sunday Bingo and finishing the Spring Newsletter!  I also have family (brother, niece and nephew) staying with me over the weekend, so I've been relegated to the spare room!  Busy, busy, busy... never too busy for cardmaking though, at least that's what I hope!!!

 

I've never made a pop-up slider card before , so I thought I'd give it a go... I'm fairly pleased with my first effort, although I have managed to smudge my sentiments, some how!  I made it on my 'GYPSY' first (hoping I'd got the measurements right!), and cut out a dummy-run on scrap paper.  Since it seemed to work out, I loaded up my papers and cut with my Cricut Expression.

 

The tag is from the 'PLANTIN SCHOOLBOOK'  cartridge and the shamrock is from the 'PAPER DOLL DRESS UP'  cartridge...

 

 

 

The paper used is mostly 'Cricut', except for the patterned paper which is from a 'HOT OFF THE PRESS'  'Red Velvet Artful Card Kit'.

 

There are lots of tutorials out there about pop up slider cards, I did a Google Search (images) and then just looked around, got the general idea and then experimented with my 'GYPSY'.

 

Challenges -

 

CARDZ TV - Crafty Cardz Challenge #127 - 'Erin Go Braugh'

 

A CARD A DAY Blogging - Monday

 

 

If I don't manage to post over the next week... have a blessed Easter :-)

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

Too Simple?

Another simple card today, for a 'BASICGREY' challenge - 'Spring is in the Air'.  So yellows and greens for those spring colours.  A very simple card here (have I got a theme going on?), but sometimes simple is best (and basically I'm feeling lazy!).  I have used 'Life of the Party' AGAIN, I think this stack is great, although I'm nearly to the end of it (boo-hoo). 

 

Its not feeling very spring-like here today, we have gale force winds and torrential rain!  But at least we haven't got the snow YET, although according to the weatherman its on it's way! (and we all know how they always get that right!).

 

Thanks for stopping by...

 

CARD BASE - white A6
1ST MAT - 'BASICGREY' 'Life of the Party' 'Popcorn Poppin' (5 5/8" x 4 1/4) - punched using 'X Cut' 'Sparkler'
CRICUT CUT - 'Spring' - used 'EASTER 2010' cartridge
EMBELLISHMENTS - flower, button, rik rac ribbon and glitter - from stash

Challenges -

BASICGREY CHALLENGES - Ch. #89 - 'Spring is in the Air'

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Friday'

 

Blah... blah... blah...

Butterfly and Pearls

Hi there...

Well I finally got back from the Doctor's surgery.  What a place, can you imagine voluntarily going into a germ riddled room hoping to get well? 

 

And yet that is precisely what we do when we visit the doctors!  The waiting room is a mass of virus and bacteria just waiting to attack the already weakened immune systems of the various unsuspecting sick people in attendance. 

 

I am grimacing in pain (everytime I move - my back really is painful), when a little boy approachs me, he's holding out a book (sticky from his runny nose) with a hopeful expression on his face, my face-pulling sends him screaming back to his mother complaining that "the scary lady in the corner is going to get him!"  (well at least I had peace and quiet from that quarter!). 

 

And then SHE comes in... you know the one.  That person, the one who is attending the doctors but looks as fresh as a daisy, with perfect make-up, perfect clothing, perfect everything, and you look at her and think what's she doing here anyway? she doesn't even look sick!  You hope she says something mean to someone so that you know she's not that perfect, but no, she's kind (especially to the little boy still staring at me as if I'm Hannibal Lecter) and she polite (and you hate her even more) and then you feel guilty for being so mean (excusing yourself... you are ill after all).  That is until she is called in before you, and then you go right back to thinking horrible things about her!  You can see I had a fun time in the doctors.

 

I made this putterfly and bearly card, sorry (I'm a little high on the pain killers!)...

 

 

CARD BASE - white card stock (4 1/8" x 5 7/8") - embossed with a 'SIZZIX' embossing folder

SCALLOPED CIRCLE PUNCH - black cardstock (3")

CIRCLE PUNCH - 'FIRST EDITION' 'Dreamcatcher' (2 1/2")

CRICUT CUT - 'CRICUT AMERICAN ALPHABET'

EMBELLISHMENTS - pearls,butterfly and ribbon -  from stash

 

Challenges -

 

MY CRAFT SPOT - Monday Ch. #91 - 'Embossing or Glossy Accent'

 

PIN AND TACK - Ch #7 - 'Anything Goes' SPARK YOUR CREATIVITY NOW!

 

LOVE TO CREATE CHALLENGE BLOG - Ch. #57 - 'Anything Goes'

 

CHALLENGES 4 EVERYBODY - Ch. #16 - 'Anything Goes'

 

GO FISH CHALLENGE BLOG - Ch. #37 - 'Ribbon'

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

Dreamcatcher

Morning all...

I am in an incredible amount of pain!  My back is 'killing' me, so I'm patiently (NOT!) waiting to see my doctor.  But, you know what?  I needed a bit of a distraction so...

I made a card, surprised?

Cardz TV have some great stamps, so whenever I can I like to enter their challenges in the hope (vain though it is) of winning a set.  So this is for the 'It's So You' challenge...

 

Stunning papers from 'First Edition' - I wish my camera could pick up just how gorgeous this paper truly is!

 

 

Banners use up the off-cuts nicely - NO WASTE!

 

CRICUT 'jumbled' creative feature added something a little different to the normal sentiment.

 

Love this... its so me!

 

 

CARD BASE - black card blank (4 7/8" x 4 7/8") - from stash

1ST MAT - 'FIRST EDITION' 'Dreamcatcher' (4 5/8" x 4 5/8")

BANNERS - black mat + 'dreamcatcher' paper - hand-cut from off-cuts adhered with foam pads

CRICUT CUT - 'GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING' cartridge (p. 45 2 1/2") -  using 'jumbled' creative feature, adhered with two thickness of foam tape

INSIDE MAT - white cardstock (3 1/4" x 3 1/2") - 'Dreamcatchers' paper adhered to corner

SENTIMENT STAMP - "Friendship is a Treasure" -from stash

GEMS - purple - from stash

 

 

Challenges -

CARDZ TV - Ch. #26 - 'It's So You'

CHOCOLATE, COFFEE & CARDS CHALLENGES - Ch. #34 - 'Banners'

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Thursday'

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

Grumpy Monkey...

Hi y'all

I've finished work for the day (well my first shift anyway, still got a bit of cleaning up to do in the club - at least the club will be clean, unlike my craft room!).

 

Craft room update...

 

Yep, it's still messy, I just shifted things around (piled it all on top of each other - my kind of 'pile it on' ha ha ha).  I crafted 'round the mess and came up with this...

 

 

 

CARD BASE - black cardstock (6" x 6") - from stash

IST MAT - 'BASICGREY' 'Life of the Party' 'confetti cake' (5 3/4" X 5 3/4")

2ND MAT - Kraft paper (4 1/8" x 4 1/8") -  from stash

3RD MAT -  'ECHO PARK' 'Dots & Stripes - Metropolitan' 'Leaf Small Dot' (4" x 4")

4TH MAT - black cardstock (3 3/4" x 3 3/4") - from stash

IMAGE - DR DIGI House of Stamps 'Grumpy Monkey' (3 5/8" x 3 5/8") - free online, coloured with promarkers

SENTIMENT - computer generated

EMBELLISHMENTS - black buttons - from stash

SKETCH - Friday Sketch Challenge - by Shirley

 

 

Challenges -

 

FRIDAY SKETCH CHALLENGE - Sketch #39 - 'Made By Shirley'

 

CREATED WITH LOVE - CWLC 33 - 'Button Up'

 

DARING CARDMAKERS - 'Make A Cute Angle'

 

PILE IT ON - #11 - 'Circle and/or squares'

 

CUTE CARD THURSDAY - Ch.#260 - 'Anything Goes'

 

TUESDAY ALCHEMY - Ch. #52 - 'Anything Goes'

 

ONE STOP CRAFT CHALLENGE - Ch. #220 - 'Anything Goes'

 

 

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

 

 

Utter disgrace!

Good Morning Folks!

 

I'd like to share a couple of things with you today... if I may?  Well I'm gonna anyway!

 

The first is really an 'observation'.  I have observed myself been particularly messy!  Not only that, but I seem to have absolutely NO intention of a.) cleaning up and b.) changing my ways!  What does that say about me?  I wonder...

 

To my disgrace this was the floor of my craft room this morning...

 

 

... to my UTTER disgrace this is still the floor of my craft room!

 

What can I say?  I'm messy! 

 

I have good intentions (not the sort paving the way to hell!), but then I get a little side-tracked (if tidiness is a pre-requisite of my entrance to the pearly gates, perhaps after all, I am headed for hotter climes!).  Remember my statement for this year... "A place for everything... and everything in its place", what happened to that, I wonder?  I'm not doing too well, am I?  And to think I had the vacuum out yesterday, and what did I do?  I made a conscious effort to close the door and ignore it!

 

The second... my side-tracking project...

CARD BASE - A6 - from stash
1ST MAT - cream cardstock (3 7/8" x 5 1/2") - embossed using a 'SIZZIX' folder and edges inked with a promarker
TOPPER - chipboard 'OVAL MUM' - from stash
EMBELLISHMENTS - ribbons and brad - from stash

Challenges -

4 CRAFTY CHICKS - 4CCC - 133 - 'Clean and Simple'   (Unlike my craft room!)

cas -UAL FRIDAY - CFC94 - 'Use Chipboard'

TUESDAY ALCHEMY - Ch. #52 - 'Anything Goes'

CUTE CARD THURSDAY - Ch.#260 - 'Anything Goes'

A CARD A DAY Blogging - 'Tuesday'

Now back to that craft room...

Blah... blah... blah...

 

 

P.S.  it is several hours later and I still have not cleaned this room.  I have NO shame!  Once the mess has reached such epic proportions that it is coming out the door to meet you... the job just seems TOO daunting!