A Sad Day

Welcome to a brand new week.  I hope your weekend was filled with fun and family. 

Last Friday, one of my sister's coworkers who is a good friend lost her mom to cancer.  It was a very sad day.  I cannot help but think of my mom when something like this happens and offering our love and support is a must.  So I am afraid that this event is what my card for today is about.  As soon as my sister received the news, she called me and asked me to make a sympathy card.  Of course I said yes and set my self to work on it.

 

When I need to make a sympathy card I always start with a cross.  I have a very deep faith and turn to God in times like this so using the cross is just natural to me.  This cross was made using the lattice die for the big shot.  I ran a piece of Very Vanilla card stock through it for my cross and used the other half for my base card.  The 2 other colors I used on this were Rose Red and Pretty in Pink.  I used the corner rounder on this card to round all corners. Before attaching my Pretty in Pink layer to the Rose Red, I ran it through the big shot using the Finial Press impression folder.  Once layer on the Rose Red, I attached it all to the Vanilla base.  The stamped set using for this card is called Thanks for Caring and is unfortunately retired.  I bought this set to use for sympathy cards.  The sayings and designs are just beautiful.  I stamped the verse on a scrap of Vanilla using Rose Red ink, trimmed it down, rounded the corners, and layered it on a scrap piece of Rose Red.  It is attached using my runner adhesive.  I then stamped the butterfly on another piece of Vanilla using the Rose Red ink and cut it out.  

 

I used my glue pen and added glue to the open areas of the butterfly so dazzling diamond glitter could be added to that.  I then used some pink rhinestones I had for the body just to add a little more dimension to it.  Setting it aside, I punched a designer label out of Rose Red and added dazzling diamond glitter to the edges of it.  Next, I punched a 1" circle out of Pretty in Pink.  I started by attaching the designer label to the card using my runner adhesive.  Then the cross was added using dimensionals to the card.  You do have to cut the dimensionals down to make them fit on the cross.  I used my Tombo glue and attached the 1" circle to  the cross.  The butterfly was then attached with my glue.  

 

For the inside greeting, I used the one included in the Thanks for Caring stamp set.  It too is stamped in Rose Red ink on Vanilla card stock.  Then it is layered on a piece of Pretty in Pink and Rose Red.  Notice all the corners are rounded again to carry the theme through.  

We send out out thoughts and prayers to Cindy and her dad during this difficult time.  We are here for you if you need anything at all.  

Thanks for stopping by today and I will see you tomorrow.

Pandas and Bamboo

I love bears of all kinds.  When I was little, I received a stuffed Panda bear for Christmas.  I loved that bear so much.  His fur wore off and he had a hole so his stuffing came out just a little.  You know I still have him today.  He lives in my home and will always be with me.  Pandas make me think of bamboo.  When I was teaching, I had a student who gave me some bamboo to grow.  Now for those who know me, you know I have a black thumb not a green one.  I was worried about not being able to care for it but I wanted to try since it was a gift.  I placed the little pot on my kitchen counter by the window and watched it grow.  Do you know it grew and grew?  I lived for several years and ended up so tall I had to place it in a large container on the floor.  I was amazed. 

Now what does all this have to do with cards?  Well, my card today has both of these things on it:  a panda and bamboo.   I used Stampin' Up cardstock to create the card as well as SU! pastels for the background.  I used SU! punches and the lattice impression folder was used with the big shot for the hat too.  Other than that, the rest was made with my computer and my Cricut machine.

 

Isn't he adorable?  I love his little hat!  I used a Cricut cartridge called Create a Critter for this little guy.  Now I love love love all Stampin' Up! products but as I have said before, I had several of my machines and stamps and other card making items prior to becoming a demonstrator.  My Cricut is a machine that I really enjoy using and refuse to get rid of.  So every now and then, I buy a new cartridge for it or pull an old one out and create.  Today was one of those days I just wanted to play with it.  The neat thing about this is the machine cuts out all the pieces and accessories.  All I have to do is put it all together, add a few extra touches, and there you have it.  You do have to take time to cut out the pieces in the various colors you will be using.  The bamboo is from Lucky Limeade card stock and has been enhanced by drawing lines on the leaves and bamboo with the matching SU! marker.  The panda is easy since he is black and white.  The hat was made with More Mustard and Chocolate Chip card stock.  Before placing the Mustard on the panda, I ran it through the big shot to add texture to it.  

 

I love the straw look the lattice folder gives to the hat.  It makes it more real to me.  The greeting on the card was made by me using my computer.  I did not have a stamp set that fit this card so I made it up myself.  I have been know to do this in the past.  Sometimes, I type it and print it out while other time I do it by hand.  I used the Large Scallop oval punch and layered it on top of the scallop oval.  I added dazzling diamond glitter to the panda's eyes and to the greeting for a little pizzazz!

 

This is the inside of my card.  Again, I typed the greeting, printed it out, and punched it out with the decorative label punch.  I then made the frame for it and of course added more glitter dots to jazz it up too.  The cute little bowl, the noodles, and the chop sticks all come from the Cricut.  These are part of the accessories you get with the panda.  I could have made the bowl a solid color but I thought the happy face was too cute.  I layered the red bowl with the face on top of a black bowl so the black would show through the eyes and mouth.  I then added black glitter to them.  Overall, a very cute card!!

Well, I am off to create again.  Maybe I will use my Cricut again or maybe I will use punches or I could just stamp.  I guess I will have to see what strikes me when I get into my room.  Thanks for dropping by today.  See you tomorrow!!

Floating Frame?

Okay I know it sounds weird but that is what I am calling my card front.  I happened to see another card online by a demonstrator (I have to start writing their names down) that had a card front with this type of frame.  Of course my normal response of "I have to try that" popped out of my mouth.  It took me a couple of days before I actually tried it but I do like the results.

 

I love this embosslit folder called Beautiful Wings.  Perhaps it is because I really enjoy butterflies.  I used it to make all these little guys.  I did cut 2 sets of each color.  I will show you why in a few minutes.  I also used the lattice die to make the interior of my frame where the butterflies would be placed.  Let me show you what makes this so special.  

 

Here is the card open.  Can you see how the frame is hallow?  That's right.  The base card it Very Vanilla.  I trimmed out the interior of it 1/2" in from each side.  I then took the piece of Garden Green and trimmed out the interior from each side 3/4" in making the sides slightly wider than the Vanilla sides.  The lattice is attached to the back of the Garden Green frame prior to adhering it to the Vanilla frame.  Then I attached the butterflies.  Before we move on, check out the greeting.  It is from the stamp set Curly Cute.  Using my SU! markers, I colored the stamp with the colors of the butterflies and stamped it on Very Vanilla.  I then sponged the edges with the rainbow of colors.  The ends were snipped with my handy scissors.  Now to the inside.

 

This is the inside of the frame.  Here you can see the back of the frame.  To add strength to the frame, I paired up the butterflies on the back.  Yes they may be a little off but I tried my best.  I did this prior to adhering it to the Vanilla.   This makes a lovely card front that is unique.  I like to make new card styles in order to change up what I send to family and friends.  I think they appreciate it.  

 

This is the interior of the card.  If you go back to the first picture I posted, you can see the greeting through the openings in the frame.  Personally, this does not bother me.  If it bothers you then this would not be a card style you would want to do.  I stamped the simple greeting from the stamp set Create A Cupcake in Basic Black ink.  I punched it out using the decorative label punch, then making a frame to go behind it.  

Well we are off to the start of a new week.  My hope is that it is better than last week.  I wish all of you a marvelous Monday.  Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what I come up with next.  Thanks for dropping in today. 

Lattice Cross

As I was looking through my favorite blogs the other day, I happened upon a card that I thought was fabulous.  It was made by Dawn Olchefske.  She used the lattice die for the big shot and made a cross out of it.  I was amazed.  That meant I had to try it. 

 

What amazed me the most was how simple it was.  After you cut out the lattice you turn it so it looks like a diamond shape facing you.  You find the cross in it (very easy to see), and you trim off the excess pieces you will not need.  Simple but elegant and perfect for Easter.  I also use crosses on sympathy cards so it was nice to learn a new technique to create one.  I chose to make this one for Easter and created several, all being different colors.  Let me show you.

The background on each was made with my handy big shot.  I used several impression folders so that each color had its own background.  I used colors that pair together well.  In fact my Color Coach helped me since on the back of each color card it shows a Dynamic Duo.  It made it so easy for me to pair the colors.

For the inside, I used a saying from a retired stamp set called Abundant Hope.  I wanted it to be simple so not much else was added.

There you have it.  These are simple and quick to make.  I will be uploading these into my online store today.  Be sure to drop by there and take a look around.  Thanks for dropping in.