Light it Up Blue for Autism Awareness

You may be wondering my blog is written in blue today. Here is my explanation: When I set out to create a card for every holiday, I thought about the fact that there are many little awareness days throughout the course of the year. Although I can't create a card for EVERY one of them, some are so important, I just can't pass them up. Today is one of those days.

Today is World Autism Awareness day. According to the Autism Speaks website, "the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its estimate of autism prevalence in the United States to 1 in 88 children (1 in 54 boys and 1 in 252 girls)." Look at the number of friends you have on facebook. I have 370. 1 in 88 would touch at least 4 of my friends. When I think about the number of their friends and family, those numbers increase exponentially. Today, chances are either you, or someone close to you is personally affected by autism.

As a special education teacher, I have taught many autistic children. They are all unique in their own ways. One student I taught for two years is exceptionally funny. He has channeled his sense of humor into some of the best screenplay writing I have seen by a teenager. One student just participated in the school musical and I had never seen her look so happy! So as you go about your business today, take a moment to consider that the more we are aware of something, the more we can do to help. 

You can join me, and Autism Speaks in celebrating World Autism Awareness Day by taking part in their "Light It Up Blue" campaign "to help shine a light on autism." Use blue to light up something on the outside of your house, wear blue, anything you can do to "light it up blue." You wouldn't believe how many people and organizations have joined in the campaign today! The Empire State Building, Paris Stock Exchange, CN Tower and MY BLOG are just some of the few. Visit the Autism Speaks Light it Up Blue campaign page to see even more.

Recipe:

Card Base

• Plain piece of card stock - Cut 8" x 6" and score at 4" to make  4" x 6" card.
• Cricut Art Philsophy cartridge - RCTNGLE1 p. 44 - white cut at 3 1/2" & blue striped paper from the DCWV Sweet Stack cut at 3" 
• Sponged the edges of all layers and embellishments with Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink

side view shows dimension

Embellishments

1. Big pink sunburst cut from Cricut Art Philsophy cartridge - FLOWER2 (shift button for SHAPE5) p.66 at 4" was added first with 3D Foam Tape
2. Next, I added the long peach patterned frame from the DCWV Sweet Stack - cut from Cricut Art Philsophy cartridge - SHAPE4 p. 56 cut at 1 1/2" - I added a twine-like yarn that I got for $1 at the craft store and taped it underneath the paper and then added the layer with more 3D Foam Tape
3. The top Doily-like flower was added next. It was cut from Cricut Art Philsophy cartridge - CIRCLE3 p.41 at 2 1/2" on the regular button for the peach patterned flower shape from the DCWV Sweet Stack and the layer button for the lt. pink doily shape
4. I added tiny adhesive pearls to all of the holes in the doily
5. Then I used a dimensional to add the puzzle piece with the word "Speak" printed on it - I made this on my computer from a free puzzle digital stamp image file from Aimee Asher. I layered the word on it in my word processing software and printed it on blue card stock - then I used my micro scissors to cut it out

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

DCWV April Stack-a-holic Sketch Challenge

CR84FN Color Challenge #51 Use Pink, Peach and Light Blue

Little Scrap Pieces - My Favorite Things Challenge
Used MY FAVORITE crafting item - the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge
for all of the cuts on the card!!

Thanks Coach

My son's rec basketball team made the final four for their league!! They won the first 2 playoff games and the championship game is on Saturday! They are playing the number one team in the league and it will be tough competition, but the boys are awesome and I am sure they will have a great game. The coaches for the team were great and to show our appreciation, my husband asked me to make a card for each of them. I made identical cards and they came out are just too cute!! I used my son's number on the little jersey and tried to make the character look like him.  The colors really stood out on the pretty green paper. Can't wait to give the cards to them after the game on Saturday.

Panda Hugs!
J-

 

Cartridges used:

Player and Hoop - Everyday Paper Dolls

Basketball - Best of 2008 

Sentiment - Printed from computer and punched with Recollections scallop punch

I am entering this card into the following challenge:

Little Scrap Pieces - Use Green

Rock Kitten

The second I saw this image in the Rock Princess cartridge book, it reminded me of my daughter. A couple of weeks ago, we were shopping in the mall. She had her big headphones on and was listening to her iPod as we walked around. Since this Rock Kitty reminds me of her, I wanted to find a way to create a card that she would appreciate. A few of the challenges this week are perfect for this image, so they gave me the push I needed to make this!

Recipe 

Card base

Cut a piece of DCWV Bella Armoire Stack cardstock to 12" x 8" and score at 6" to create card fold

Shiny White cardstock from Recollections Precious Metals cut to 5" x 7"

Red with pink polka dot My Mind's Eye Love Nest cardstock cut to 3 1/4" x 4" 

Shiny Gunmetal cardstock also from Recollections Precious Metals cut to 5" x 7" 6 1/2" x 3"
Pink Recollections cardstock cut to 3 1/8" x 4"

Kitty & Flower
Kitty with headphones - Cut from Cricut Rock Princess cartridge p 53 <cat> at 3"
Regular cut in black - shift cut in shiny white - layer 1 in polka dot - layer 1 shift in black
I added a tiny pearl to her collar

Flower  - Cut from Cricut Pagoda cartridge p. 57 <Flower8> at 1 1/2"
Regular cut in black, pink and shiny white - Shift cut in Red with pink polka dots
I used a white glitter Recollections brad to secure the layers of the flower together
I used jewels above and below the flower and at the top right of the card

Sentiment 

You're im-paw-sible but I love mew anyway

Stamped with My Pink Stamper's That's Punny-licious stamp set

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut Challenge #73: Sketch & Pick 3
I picked ink (for the stamped sentiment), the flower (from Pagoda), and a brad (to secure flower)

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #98 - Fun with Puns
You're im-paw-sible but I love mew anyway

Spread the Love

Happy Valentine's Day!!  Here are a few more Valentine's I made this year. I had LOTS of fun with them, but now I am ready to move on the the next holiday!

Rock Princess Cartridge

For my son (Cubby) - It says You Rock!

Create a Critter and Pagoda cartridges

For my friend/co-teacher - It says Friends make life bearable!

Create a Critter and Pagoda cartridges

For my friend

Wind Beneath My Butterfly Wings

When I saw the Cookingwithcricut.com Love Song Blog Hop theme, the song "The Wind Beneath my Wings", by Bette Midler, immediately came to mind. I am obsessed with the Rock Princess cartridge, so I used the butterfly from it and some pretty lace, ribbon and DCWV  Bella Armoire stack paper to create this layered card. I placed circle and scallop with the LOVE sentiment just beneath the butterfly wing to hint at the song title.  I have been creating so many cards for Valentine's day that I am not including the exact recipe here, BUT if you would like the details, let me know and I would be happy to send them to you!

I hope you'll also check out my teacher Valentines and the little poem I wrote for the night before Valentine's day...HERE!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Cooking with Cricut - Love Song Blog Hop Challenge 
Throwback Thursday Challenge Episode 312 - Bugs Theme

The Night Before Valentine's

'Twas the night before Valentine's and all through the house,

Not a creature is stirring, well me, but no mouse,

The cards were set out on the mantle with care,

With the hope that the Stickles would dry via air.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of Valentine's danced in their heads,

And Momma with her Cricut while Daddy was asleep,

Changed the speed and set the blade depth, careful not to cut too deep.

When out of the Cricut arose such a clatter,

As she used the Create a Critter cartridge with paper on the mat(ter),

Two Valentine's for teachers and many more for friends,

Embellished with lace and ribbon and white Galaxy gel pens.

Since it's late and I am tired and this poem's end is in sight, 

Happy crafting to all and to all a good night!

Here are the the cards I made for Bunny and Cubby's teachers. I went with these adorable apples from Create a Critter because they are just too darn cute!!

Love Bites

I have two guilty pleasure in life. These are things that make me ALMOST as happy as spending time with my family (since nothing can top that!). The first is crafting, especially with my Cricut. Between my cricut, my paper trimmer, my new Cuttlebug and my Gypsy, I have truly turned crafting obsessed.

My second guilty pleasure is silly paranormal romance novels, the cheesier the better! As an English teacher, I encourage my students to read on a daily basis. I teach them fantastic classics, such as Romeo and Juliet, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird and more. When I get home, however, I just want to unwind. Sometimes that means reading as mindless a novel as I can get my hands on. In the classic tradition of cheesy paranormal romances, I can very much appreciate a good vampire, were creature or fairy story with the best of them.

With this in mind, I decided to make a Valentine's Day card for a good friend of mine. She is also an English teacher and we often bond over the latest novel in the next best vampire series. I thought I would take Valentine's day in a totally different direction and I think this card pays proper homage to vampires everywhere.

Recipe

Card base

1. DCWV La Creme Stack - 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 Recollections pink card stock to 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" - Then, I ran it through my Cuttlebug with the swiss dots folder. The folder wasn't big enough so I did half and then lined it up and ran the other half through.

3. Added a piece of black 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

The pink and red heart are from a new Recollections 1 Lb Assorted diecut bag I picked up on clearance for only $4.99 last weekend. I used a white Galaxy gel pen to add the stitching. These were adhered with one layer of pop dots.

The flying vampire heart is from the Cricut Rock Princess cartridge...love this one!!

The image is <Heart2> on p. 44 and was cut at 2". The shadow is black, the base cut is white, The shift is the dark pink,  layer 1 is red and layer 1 shift cut is light pink. I added my own hybrid sentiment by using a studio G stamp for the word LOVE on one wing and then using a stamping marker to write the word "Bites" in script on the other wing.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

The Cuttlebug Spot - Sweetheart Challenge 
Scrappy Moms Stamps - Terrific Tuesday Challenge: Hearts Galore! 
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge: Love is in the Air

Paper Playtime Challenge #67: Cricut creations using hearts or a love theme
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #97 - Love is in the Air: Use a heart

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

A Joyful Gift of Love(bug)

Happy Saturday! I am having a wonderful day. This morning, my son's rec basketball team had a game. The other team was VERY aggressive. After being hit in the head with the basketball, my son was very frustrated. We had a talk about the fact that his team plays fairly and I told him that the best way to pay the other team back for bad behavior would be to win. 30 minutes later, his team won 22-16!

After we got home, my husband took the children to the Home Depot workshop to make heart boxes for Valentine's Day and I was able to get my lesson plans done.  My son and I worked on some fun crafty Valentine's for a while and then, my sister and brother-in-law and new baby niece came over and we got to spend some time together.  All in all, it was a great day!

One of the crafts we worked on was this adorable lovebug gift card holder. I used the recipe for a Joy Fold card and, instead of keeping the bottom flap open, I used adhesive on the right and left side to create a pouch for a gift card!

Gift card pouch on the inside

Recipe

Joy Fold Gift Card Holder

Base – 4 ¼ X 6 ¼

Score – 4 ¼

Smaller card – 3 X 6

Score - 3

The pink and white base card is from the My Mind's Eye Love Nest Stack by Carina Gardner and the red card on front is from the Mariposa Matstack by DCWV. I used a piece of pink Recollections cardstock for the layer on the inside and ran it through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder.

Flying Heart, Ladybug & Lovebug sentiment

Both are cut at 2" from the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge on p. 66

<Ladybug1> standard cut and <heart> shift cut - I cut the regular cut, layer 1 and layer 2 for both

I used Recollections cardstock for the ladybug and the winged heart shadow. The wings match the My Mind's Eye Love Nest paper.


I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Cooking with Cricut - Challenge #71: Child's Valentine - Must use Pink, Red and White
card makin' mamas - Challenge #38: Valentine 
My Sheri Crafts Challenge #78: Love is in the Air 
Die Cuttin' Divas - Challenge #50: Anything Goes 

I am also linking to:
Sundays are Lovely #6 at Jaihart

My First Explosion Box

I am SO excited to share this special Valentine's Day project with you! This weekend, I was searching the web for new and exciting project ideas and came across a craft that immediately caught my attention. It's called an explosion box. Think pretty gift box meets awesome scrapbook or photo album and you have the idea. There are a good number of tutorials out there on how to create these adorable boxes, so I looked at a bunch and took the components I liked most to create mine. I added a bunch of pockets that I slipped little gift tags in to make it an extra special Valentine's gift.

I am VERY happy with the result, but the process was a little painful. The biggest problem I had was making the top of the box. The instructions I used said to cut the top at 8 X 8 and I thought I did that, but I actually cut it at 9X9 because I am still getting used to my paper cutter. Then, I redid it at 8X8 and the top was too small. Finally, just like Goldie Locks...3rd time was a charm...I split the difference and cut the third top at 8.5 X 8.5 and that finally did the trick!

I am not sure if you can see in the picture, but I also used my BRAND NEW CUTTLEBUG to emboss flowers on the top layer and to line the pockets on the middle layer!

It is very hard to "get" what an explosion box really is without seeing it in action, so I am adding my very first video here to show you! Explosion Box Demonstration

Recipe

Box

Bottom layer (outside of box) - 12" x 12"  - Score 4" in from all sides

Middle layer - 11" x 11"  - Score 3 3/4" in from all sides              

Top layer - 10" x 10" - Score 3 1/2" in from all sides

Cut out the corners from all three sheets so they look like this:

Lid:

Use a piece of cardstock cut to 8.5" X 8.5 "  Score 2" in from each side. Then, score the four corners on a diagonal as well. Fold each corner in and glue it to the side to create the lid. Use paper clips to keep the lid together while the glue dries. I didn't have any paperclips, so I used my daughter's hair clippies! Here is a pic of the first lid I made while it was drying (I did NOT end up using this one):

Final Lid

Embellishments:

I added fun details to the four side panels on all three layers. 

I created triangular pockets for tags using another technique I will feature in another blog post

 On the bottom layer, I used a pretty light pink ribbon with hot pink stitching

I added a beautiful flower from the Cricut Pagoda cartridge (Flower8 p. 57) on the top - I used dimensionals for a more 3D effect

I finished the top flower with Stickles in the middle for a Glitter Panda sparkle

Middle Archway Structure

I used the archway design from The Disney Princess cartridge to create the arch

Then, I flipped it and added a square in between the two and welded them together with the Gypsy

Once it was cut out, I folded up the two sides and that made the archway stand up!

I added the pagoda flowers using dimensionals and Recollections Brads for the middle

I am entering this project into the following challenges:
The Cuttlebug Spot - Box It Challenge
Paper Crafting Journey - Challenge #1 - Floral  
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Bloom Dimensional Flower  - Cricut Pagoda cartridge Flower8 p.57
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes

Link Parties
Jaihart - Sundays are Lovely #5

G'Day Mate - Happy Australia Day

G'day Mate! Happy Australia day. If you just stumbled upon us here at Glitter Panda, you are so lucky! Today we have the second card in our new Year of Holiday Cards EXTRAVAGANZA!! Since I had never heard of Australia Day, you might be interested to know that it is the official national day of Australia.

To celebrate Australia Day, my friend bought Vegemite. In case you aren't a Vegemite expert, I did some research for you. According to the Kraft website, "VEGEMITE spread is a nutritious and versatile food. Proudly made in Australia, it’s one of the world’s richest known sources of Vitamin B." It is a concentrated yeast extract that Australians use on toast because "It’s far more tooth and gum friendly than jams or choc nut spreads, without compromising on taste." Who knew?!

Today, while my friend was eating Vegemite with her family, I was assembling this super cute Koala card in honor of the holiday. I actually cut ALL of the components out yesterday. They were so much easier to cut because I designed everything on my BRAND NEW GYPSY!!! I added the side view of the card because it is hard to see the dimension from the front. I used dimensionals to attach the black circle and then more to add the Koala. Her flower in her hair is also dimensional!! My daughter LOVED this card so I think she will give it to her teacher for Valentine's Day (although she did say she wanted to keep it for herself!).

Recipe

Koala

Koala - Cricut Create a Critter cartridge p.49 - cut at 2 1/2" ("Koala,"layer 1, layer 2)

Flower - "Koala" Accessory & Accessory shift - I added a little jewel in the middle for some bling

You can't see it from the picture, but the Koala's top layer is a shimmery white Recollections paper from their Precious Metals collection

Beary Sweet Sentiment

Beary - Gypsy font - I used my NEW Gypsy to weld the letters together

Sweet - Create a Critter cartridge p.61  - "Skunk" on Phrase feature

I added another jewel after the sentiment for an extra pop

Card Base

Cricut Just Because Cards cartridge - "Truck" cut at 5 1/2" using DCWV Bella Armoire
Red square and black circle were scraps I had from previous projects!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Creative Time - Throwback Thursday - Valentine's Day Challenge
My Sheri Crafts - Challenge #77 - New Things (used my NEW Gypsy to weld letters and to design the card)

A Year of Holiday Cards - Chinese New Year

A good friend of mine made a unique New Year's resolution. She decided to celebrate every holiday on the calendar for an entire year! To kick off her year of celebrations, last weekend she invited our family, together with another friend's family, to celebrate the Chinese New Year with her. With such great company, the night was already sure to be wonderful...and it was! After a fantastic meal of homemade Chinese food, the children lit sparklers and popped those little poppy things (I have no idea what they are called!)  We all had such a great time!!

After the dinner, I found myself inspired to put my own spin on her idea. So, I have decided to create a card inspired by the holidays that she celebrates this year. By the end of the year,  I will have created a cultural cornucopia of cards!!

I hope that I will soon be able to start a challenge on my blog where others can join with me to create the holiday cards as well. It will be a celebration across the web that embraces many cultures and traditions.

The card I have featured today was created to celebrate the Chinese New Year - the year of the Dragon.

Recipe

Dragon and flower6: Cricut Pagoda cartridge (p. 34 & 55) - Recollections card stock

The dragon is attached with one layer of dimensionals. I used a white gel pen to add a little eye.

The flower is assembled using dimensionals between each layer (black, red, white) and then a jewel is glued to the middle of the flower. The white swirls on the red part of the flower were created with a white gel pen to mimic the design on the actual base card

Sentiment: Cricut Wild Card cartridge - Recollections card stock

Card Base - Cricut Just Because Cards cartridge - "Truck" cut at 5 1/2" using DCWV Bella Armoire

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

 Bitten By the Bug 2 - Bloom Dimensional Flower Challenger (used Pagoda flower instead)

Die Cuttin' Divas - Challenge #49 Buttons, Bows and/or Bling

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes Challenge

These Little Piggies...

We were so busy all weekend that we didn't have a minute to stop.  My son had a basketball tournament and I must say he played EXCEPTIONALLY well.  I was such a proud mom!!  Now that the weekend is over, it's back to school and midterms start at the end of this week.  With all of the grading on the horizon, I am sure I will not get a lot of good quality crafting time, so I took a little while this evening to get into the upcoming holiday spirit. Love is in the air. Valentine's Day is fast approaching and I wanted to create a card to celebrate! I LOVE "punny" cards and this sentiment was perfect for a mother/child Valentine. I hope you like it as much as I do :) I went into my stash this week and found the fabulous Sweet Stack from DCWV. I have had it for quite some time and realized it was perfect for Valentine's colors and designs!! I also pulled out my Stickles for the first time in a while.  I have been working with loose glitter and thought it would be nice to go back to the Stickles for a change.

Recipe

Card base

Just Because Cards cartridge "Flower2" p.52 cut at 6"

Card stock is DCWV- The Sweet Stack

Little Piggies

Create a critter cartridge "Pig" p.28 - Mommy cut at 2 1/2" and child at 2"

All of the card stock is by Recollections - the base was cut from black, lighter pink for layer 1, darker pink for layer 2 and lighter pink for layer 3 (snout)

I used Stickles on the little snouts and the skirts for a little touch of bling

The piggies are attached using dimensionals to give the card more interest

Hogs and Kisses Sentiment

Just Because Cards cartridge "Pig" p.70 cut on the Word feature

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Use it Tuesday - Challenge #24 All About Love (used my Stickles and The Sweet Stack)
Sentimental Sundays - Challenge #86 Die Cuts
Sassy Lady Valentine Challenge 

Let it Snow!

Happy New Year! I am so excited for 2012. The new year always brings with it an opportunity to start anew. I love the idea of a clean slate and am hoping for a fantastic year!

My card for today is a celebration of winter. It has been a snow-free winter for us so far, but that didn't stop me from creating this card for some good snow karma. Everybody needs a snow day once in a while and this card says...bring it on! I chose this dot embossed card because it reminds me of snow, and I added a little extra bling with the jewels to make it "Glitter Panda" worthy too!!

Recipe

Cricut Holiday Cakes Cartridge - Plain phrase feature - Winter5 - Shift (p. 77) - Let it snow - cut at 2" - Dark blue color from The Paper Co. - Snow Day pack

Cricut Holiday Cakes Cartridge - Mittens - Winter2-S & Winter2 (pg. 47) - cut at 3" - Dark blue color from The Paper Co. - Snow Day pack

Jewels - Assortment pack

Ribbon - leftover scraps- added under each mitten, just before gluing, for 3D effect

Card and envelope - Die Cuts With a View Embossed Cards Boxed Set - Dots design

Die cuts added using Zip 2 way pen

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
Getting Cricky "It's A Celebration" - celebrating snow!
Shopping our stash Challenge 34 - All that Glitters, Sparkles or Shines Challenge
Little Scrap Pieces - Copy Cat Challenge - Winter 
Simon Says Stamp - Spots &/or Stripes Challenge

Love you a Latte Card - Just Because

I made sure to vote on my way home from school today. It was very late, but I think every vote counts! When I got home, I had a wonderful treat waiting for me! The Just Because Cards cartridge was sitting on the counter, all wrapped up in the shipping packaging, just begging to be opened!!

There were two challenges I have been thinking about since the weekend and, after I put bunny to bed, I had a few moments of free time to craft! I told someone today that crafting is my therapy. I am able to focus on my creativity, not because someone NEEDS me to, but because I WANT to! So, I treated myself to a therapy session courtesy of Just Because cards and this is what I came up with. The two challenges are the Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Tea Time Challenge and the PDCC106 based on the colors pink, yellow and gray. The result was a gray, pink and yellow card featuring, my hot beverage of choice, a latte!

I combined the "Love you a Latte" sentiment (#11) with the Milk card (#9) base in yellow. I cut the envelope first on the fit to page button (4 1/4").  The houndstooth print envelope is cut from a BEAUTIFUL 12x12 pad I have from DCWV called Bella Armoire. I cut the card at 4" to make sure it would fit nicely into the envelope. The shift for the card is the strip of houndstooth paper that matches the envelope.

The sentiment was too small at 4" so I recut it at 5" out of the pink paper and then cut the shift with silver paper (both from the Recollections packages). The teacup and teacup steam (teacup layer) were both from Once Upon a Princess and were cut at 1". I attached the teacup using dimensionals to give it a pop and then applied a TINY bit of Star Dust Stickles to give the coffee mug a shimmery finish.