Springtime Shaker Card

 We had another fabulous weekend! My daughter has been sick for almost a week, so it was very nice to have her feeling better today.  We decided to take a drive with no destination and see where it took us. We ended up going from park to park where the kids were able to play for a little while at each playground. They had a great time and we enjoyed watching them have fun!  This morning, I was looking through some of my favorite blogs and saw a few challenges that caught my attention. I just bought some new paper stacks and was ready to try something new. Although I have done a shaker snowglobe, I really wanted to try a regular shaker card. So, today was the day I decided to do it. Also, I have been interested in the digital stamp option for a while, but never quite got to it. This morning I bought some Prismacolor pencils and downloaded my first few digital stamps.This card takes both digital stamping and the shaker card and blends them into (in my opinion) one of the best cards I have ever created! The recipe is a little complicated, but definitely worth it!

I uploaded a video to show you how the card looks when you shake the glitter!! Check it out here.

P.S. come back tomorrow for some amazing news I have to share!!

Panda Hugs!
J-

Recipe

Card base

1. Recollections lavender card stock - cut a piece of 12" x 12" card stock down to 12" x 6" and scored at 6" to make the card. I used my bone folder to get a nice crease.

2. Cut a piece of card stock from the S.E.I. Couture Pad to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2"

3. Added another piece of the same lavender card stock cut to 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" - before adhering it with monoadhesive, I added a piece of stretch lace ribbon and folded it around the back. I secured it with scotch tape in the back since you can't see it under the layer.

4. I topped off the card with a top layer cut to 4" x 4" from the DCWV Mariposa Matstack

Embellishments

Tilly on the Mushroom
The stamped image is from Digital Doodling. I was sad to see that she is no longer blogging, but she was kind enough to leave the blog up for the benefit of those looking for some pretty free digital stamps.  I printed her on white card stock, colored her with my new Prismacolor pencils and then used an exacto knife to cut the entire image out. I added a tiny Recollections pearl to her shirt and then pop dotted in the center of the green Mariposa cardstock.

Frame and Mushrooms

I cut the frame at 4 1/2" using <Frame1> from the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge. I cut the base out in dark purple and the shift in yellow. I added Recollections pearls to the frame for a more elegant look. I also added two Recollections iridescent sparkly brads to the frame where the holes were cut out on both sides. I used the dimensionals to keep the end of the brad in place. The mushrooms are cut at 1 and 1 1/2" using <Mushroom> on p.63 of Cindy Loo. I cut the base in dark purple, the shift in a duskier purple, layer 1 in olive and layer 2 in yellow. Then I added purple Stickles to the spots on the mushrooms for a little sparkle.

Shaker Function

To create the shaker, I adhered both layers of the frame together, and then added a piece of transparency paper behind it. I use Elmers quick dry adhesive for it. That works much better for this type of gluing. For the transparency component, I used the clear paper that comes with the Cricut cutting mats. I save the paper when I throw away an old mat and then it can be used for future projects. Below is a picture of the frame with the transparency paper drying behind it.

After that was dry, I added another piece of 4 x 4 Mariposa paper to the back of it. Before adding it, I used an Exacto knife to cut out the center so you can still see through it. Then, I went around the entire frame using square dimensionals. Be careful to make sure they touch one another entirely, or you will have glitter leaking out all over the place! Below is a picture of the frame, the extra paper and the dimensionals.

Dimensional wall keeps the glitter from escaping

Once the top was done, I poured a little bit of Studio G yellow glitter on Tilly and the mushroom. and then added the frame piece over it.

Added the glitter right before I put the frame over Tilly

Sentiment and final touches
 I thought about leaving the sentiment off the card, but decided I could use something little. I used the silver Ink It Up Stamp Pad and used a tiny stamp that says "merci" to turn this into a thank you.  Finally, I added the little jewels to the top right at the end and then added the two Cindy Loo mushrooms to the bottom left for a finishing touch.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #99 - Fancy Trims (lace, pearls, jewels and glitter brads!)
Sentimental Sundays Challenge # 91 - Lace and Pearls
Shopping our Stash Challenge #40 - Inspiration Prompt (flowers and the colors purple and yellow) 
The Cuttlebug Spot - Spring is in the air Challenge

I am linking this post to the following link parties:

Positively Splendid - Saturday Seven Party (No. 16)
Craft Junkie Too - T.G.I.F Linky Party

Happy Birthday Dear Trees...

Suprise, surprise, another holiday is here! I never realized how many holidays there are on the calendar until I started my card making adventure.

Today is Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar.  This holiday is known as the “New Year for Trees." The literal significance of this holiday has to do with a seven year growing cycle and helps to determine in which year a tree is ready to be harvested for fruit. To celebrate, many people eat fruits that grow on trees, particularly in Israel, including grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Many Hebrew schools hold what is referred to as a Tu B'Shevat seder, in which the children enjoy many different fruits.

My holiday card adventure gave me a chance to take a break from making Valentines, so I thought I would try something creative. The card I made for Tu B'Shevat is simple, but I think it properly celebrates trees. It is my first stair step card, so I am still getting the hang of it, but my son loved it and that is all the encouragement I need to keep trying!

Recipe

Stair Step Card Base

1. Start with a piece of card stock cut to 5 1/2" X 10 1/2"

2. Score at 1 1/4", 2 1/2", 4 1/4", 6" and 8 1/4"

3. Fold up and down for alternating score lines (mountain/valley style)

4. Decorate each step

5. The the first step is 1 1/4" x 5 1/2" - I used green recollections card stock for the border. It is cut from the Cricut Holiday Cakes cartridge, pg. 51 <Baby3> at 1 1/4".

6. The second step is 1 3/4" x 5 1/2" - I used brown recollections card stock, the same cut for the border as step one, but this one was cut at 1 1/2". I used my paper trimmer to cut it to 5 1/2" in length.

7. The third step is 2 1/4" x 5 1/2" - I used green recollections card stock for the border. It is also cut from the Cricut Holiday Cakes cartridge, pg. 51 <Baby3>, but this one was cut on the plain base function at 1 1/2".  I trimmed this to 5 1/2" as well. Next, I added some LACE stretch ribbon on top of the border.

Scallop Doily

The embellishment for the first step is a doily from the Cricut Cindy Loo cartridge <Doily4> cut at 2 1/2".  The top is cut from DCWV Mariposa Matstack glitter paper and the shadow is cut from brown recollections card stock.

Tree

The tree for the third step is the <tree> image from the Cricut Best of 2010 cartridge cut on the regular button and the shift. I attached it using dimensionals so it stands out too.

I am entering my card into the following challenges:
FYI Challenge #23 - The levels of the church reminded me of the stair step card & they both have a religious component
Shopping our Stash Weekly Challenge 38: Hearts, Valentines and/or Lace

Cookie Cottage Box - Cricut Wrap it Up Cartridge

This adorable little cookie box was inspired by the Cooking With Cricut Cookie Monster Challenge. I have been waiting for an excuse to use the Box feature on the Cricut Wrap It Up cartridge, and this was just the project to do it with.

The box was cut using a 12x12 sheet of patterned paper. This is the Candy Cottage and was cut at 11 1/2".  The red detailing is the shift for the Box feature and that cut creates the detailing for both sides of the box. I had some scraps left over from a scalloped strip I used on a mason jar project and I used the white side to create snow for the bottom of the cottage. Then, I cut the word "cookies" using the Cindy Loo cartridge font feature at 1".

I added iridescent Stickles to give the snow a little sparkle. It's hard to see in the picture, but definitely adds just a little something extra! Finally, I punched a hole in each side of the box and used some left over ribbon from the same mason jar project to create a little handle for the box.

I am also going to enter this one into the Crafty Catz Anything Goes Challenge for a little extra fun!! Hope you enjoy it!

You Are So Tweet Thank You Card

Cricut Wild Card Cartridge and Cindy Loo Cartridge

Since I was having so much fun working with the Pinwheel Card from the Cricut Wild Card Cartridge, I decided to do one more card with it. There were two challenges that inspired by card. The Fantabulous Cricut Blog For the Birds Challenge called for a project using a bird in some way and this seemed like the perfect choice! Then, the Clean and Simple Cas-Fridays challenge called for an element that went "Over the Edge," so I decided to have the little bird's beak peek over the edge as though he is flying off the page. So much fun!

For the envelope, I had this adorable Martha Stewart paper left over from my sister-in-law's woodland creature themed baby shower, and the colors inspired the rest of the card. The pinwheel is set to the word "Tweet," but if you spin it, it says, "You are so Tweet."

The card was cut at 6 1/4"  and the envelope was cut at 6 1/2." The word "Thanks" and the bird were both cut using the Cricut Cindy Loo Cartridge. The bird was cut at 3." Finally, I used an orange glitter brad to secure the wheel and Stickles for the little wings to add a bit of Glitter Panda bling! I hope you like it!!

Harvest Preppy Cupcake Display

My best friend from college just had a fantastic birthday party for her 4 year old daughter D! Knowing that I had to contribute something fabulous, I decided to make toppers for a cupcake display. The party was held at a local farm and all of the children got to go on a hay ride to pick pumpkins. Knowing that pumpkins were involved (and are a fab design element for fall), I decided to incorporate them into the display. My friend is all about the preppy pink and green (think Lily Pulitzer) and wanted the pink incorporated into the color scheme for the party. So, with all of this in mind, I created coordinating cake toppers to be used for the display. The green paper on the pumpkin toppers coordinates with the green on the "D" toppers, tying the whole look together!

First I created the pumpkin toppers. The flower shaped, orange with white polka dot layer on the bottom was created using the Cindy Loo cartridge (one of my FAVORITES!). The button is in the middle of the third row (the fifth from the left OR right).  Then, I used the Classic Font cartridge for the simple circle. Finally, the stacked pumpkins were created using the layer function with the letter B button on the Speaking of Fall cartridge. Next, I created the "D" toppers using simple Recollections pink and green cardstock from the Essentials package. I cut the bottom layer using the same flower shape from the Cindy Loo cartridge and the "D" was cut from the Classic Font cartridge.

Finally, I affixed the topper to long thin lollipop sticks. I bought a package of 100 a while back, so I had a bunch left over!! I used simple scotch tape on the back for this step, but if you are worried about the look of the back, you can tape it and then use another flower or shape on the back and attach with a 2 way glue pen or another adhesive of choice.  The cupcakes were displayed on the fabulous cupcake stand I picked up with a friend at the local Sam's Club (Check the bakery department for this). It was not very expensive and we bought it together and switch it back and forth whenever we have a party!

The timing of this project could not be more perfect...I am going to enter this project into the current  Cooking With Cricut Challenge #55 - Cake, Cupcake or Teddy!!