Four Frame Shadowbox Mother's Day Card

Here is my Guest Blogger debut post on Cricut is Close to My Heart!

Hi there everyone! This is Jamie, more affectionately known as Glitter Panda.  I have a beautiful card to share with you today AND an awesome giveaway at the end of this post. Mother's day is right around the corner and I am fortunate enough to have MANY fabulous mommies who I love dearly. So, I realized I am going to have to start nice and early with my Mother's Day cards to make sure I have enough. I am sharing my very FIRST Mother's Day card with you today. Today's card is what I call the Four-Frame Shadowbox Card. I LOVE shadowbox cards and when I found this four-framed square on the Art Philosophy cartridge I knew I had to try it out!!  To make today's card, I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge for every cut!  I also used the new Stella 12 x 12 paper packet.

To create the card, I started with a 5" rounded edge square card (SQUARE1 cut on the card button) on page 23 of the Art Philosophy booklet. I sponged the edges of the card using the CTMH Olive Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad and Round Sponge.

Next, I added the 5" four square frame on top of the card base (SQUARE1 on p. 23 on the decorative layer button). I used dimensionals to do this. This creates a 3D effect and raises the "shadowbox" a little bit higher. I used the same ink to sponge the edges of this layer as well.

I like to put something different in each frame. On the top left, I used a 2" butterfly (BTTRFLY2 p. 55 cut on the regular button on shift for the bright blue base and the Layer button on shift for the pretty, decorative overlay. I edged only the base with the olive ink because the overlay is too delicate. I attached the overlay to the base using liquid glass only on the body of the butterfly. This allows the overlay to pop up as long as you gently roll the edges up. I added 3 tiny pearls to the body of the butterfly and then I added this to the card using two layers of dimensionals so it looks like it is about to fly off the card!

On the top right, I used the Stella Canvas Complements Canvas Shape Stickers for the two ladybugs and the button is attached using liquid glass and is from the Bohemian Assortment.

The bottom left square is where I added the sentiment. I used a 1 1/2" square shape with the corners cut out (SQUARE5 on p.63 for the base cut and then the same cut on the decorative layer button for the frame). I mounted the bright blue paper to one of the Dimensional Elements Mixed Shapes that matched. These are chipboard shapes and this set specifically coordinates with the cuts on the Art Philosophy cartridge if you cut them on the suggested size. I stamped the square with the Love sentiment using the CTMH Olive Exclusive Ink Stamp Pad.   

Finally, the bottom right square is a 3D Rosette. I LOVE these!! I created a tutorial to help you use the Art Philosophy cuts to create the Rosettes and embellish them. For this particular Rosette, I used a double layered approach by cutting two rosette shapes at 3" on the Cricut (p.68 on font layer in red and orange).  First I inked the edges in Olive, then I put them one on top of the other and staggered one slightly higher than the other. Finally, I rolled them up together and secured them with liquid glass. I added a clear jewel in the middle for a little bling! I put one of the canvas shape stickers down first to become a leaf for the rosette and to add a little more dimension.


I am so happy with the way this card came out, and all of the cuts were made on ONE cartridge. I love the way the papers in the Stella paper pack complement each other. it made it VERY easy to come up with a great color combo!! I hope you enjoy recreating this card as much as I enjoyed creating it in the first place.

Last, but not least, I have a CONTEST for you!! As a SPECIAL treat, Vicky from Good wil* Creations has generously donated a one-of-a-kind twirl skirt of your choice to one lucky person. You can even choose whether you want the child or adult skirt child! These adorable skirts are made using recycled t-shirts, so they are even good for the environment!!  To be eligible to win, just sign up for our new Close to My Heart monthly newsletter! Click here for the link to register, and please feel free to shop at my Close to My Heart store today! I will announce the winner of the skirt on my blog next Sunday, April 22. Good Luck!

Panda Hugs!

J-
Glitter Panda

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Little Scrap Pieces - Use a Flower Challenge 
Anything Goes - Challenge #64: Anything Goes at Anything Goes

Fabulous Shadowbox Card

I had a few moments to myself today and wanted to enter a few contests, so here is a cute idea I have been working on. I call it a shadowbox card because the frame is raised to make the card components look like they are inside a shadowbox. I used the sentiment, "Fabulous" because being told I am fabulous will ALWAYS make me smile!! Hope you like it!

Panda Hugs!
J-

Recipe

Card base

I cut a piece of purple Recollections card stock to 5" x 10" and scored at 5" to make the fold.

Frame 

I used a pretty paper from the SEI Crafts Couture pad and cut the frame shape from the Cricut Classic Font cartridge <Waytogo1> p. 72 on the italic function with shift selected. This gives you the entire frame in one cut. I cut on Real Dial Size at 5" to make sure it fit the card base perfectly.  I added all of the components first and then added 2 layers of square dimensionals to the back of the frame corners. I doubled them so the frame was raised even higher and then added it on top of the card base at the end.

Woman, shoe and sentiment 

Woman - Cricut Forever Young cartridge <Model6> p.29 cut at 3". I used the regular cut and the shift cut (twice to get the dress and purse in different colors). I added green Studio G glitter glue to the little purse.

Shoe - Cricut Forever Young cartridge <Heels1> p.54 cut at 3" on regular and shift cut. I only used 1 of the two that cut.

Sentiment - I cut the two bases for the sentiment from the same button as the woman, <model6> on the emblem function at 2" and 1 3/4".  The word fabulous is cut from <Flower7> on page 70 on the word function. Then, I added each base with pop dots in between and then added light blue Stickles to the word fabulous.

Finishing Touches

I added a tiny Recollections pearl to the dress and green Recollections crystal to the patterned strip for some bling - they come sticky so you don't need to add adhesive. For the shoe, I added a purple jewel from a set my son found in a crafting kit in the house and then layered a small green jewel on top of it for dimension. I added monoadhesive to the back of the jewel and it was perfect to stick on the high heel. Finally, I added 3 tiny pearls under the word fabulous....for emphasis!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #100 - Color Challenge (I chose the colors & sentiment just for this one!)
Party Time Tuesdays Challenge #57 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #92 - Words of encouragement 

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

Fat Tuesday

When I decided to make make a card for every holiday, I had very little idea just how many holidays there actually are! That being said, it's Fat Tuesday (aka Mardi Gras). Fat Tuesday occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday and is named for the practice of eating heavier foods before the ritual fasting season called Lent. Instead of a card today, in keeping with Mardi Gras tradition, I decided to make a mask instead. I had a lot of fun making this and my daughter has already claimed it for show and tell tomorrow!

Panda Hugs!
J-

Recipe

I used the Me & My Big Ideas Bliss Matstack and cut out the mask on the green patterned paper at 11 1/2" using the <October> event button on the Cricut Designer's Calendar cartridge

Then, I cut two more of the same masks at 11 1/4" in purple and yellow

I removed the bottom of the second two masks, leaving only the decorative strips at the top

I used zig adhesive to attach the two decorative strips and placed them in a staggered manner so you can see all the colors from the front.  The image to the right shows the back of the mask and how the layered strips were attached.

Finally, I alternated tiny pearls and jewels to decorate the front of the mask and bent the feathery pieces in different directions to make them stand out more.

I am entering this 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

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

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

Christmas Cards - Holiday Cakes

I love the holiday season. In our house it is as festive as it gets. Between Hanukkah, Christmas and my daughter's birthday (on Christmas Eve), it is one big, month long celebration! Every year, I spend some time making photo holiday cards in Photoshop for my family (and a few of my fabulous friends). So, I have not often had the occasion to give an actual Christmas card!! This year, however, I decided to make my very first Christmas card and I am VERY happy with the end result!! I'm even going to enter it into the http://www.mypinkstamper.com 12 Days if Christmas challenge!

Recipe:
Ornaments are from the Holiday cakes cartridge cut at 3"
Paper is Recollections stock
Glitter was bought from the $1 bin at the craft store!!
Used zig on the ornament and shook the glitter over it
Added curling ribbon and the two big stones to the top