Forever Young Graduation Card

I love making custom orders because it allows me to do what I do best. I love hearing about the recipient and tailoring the card exactly to the things I learn about them. It makes it much more effective. The intention of love from me to my client and from that client to the recipient is palpable. It's when I am most at peace. It is truly why I craft. 

Thus, I created two cards while sick for a friend honoring a family member who has graduated from college (school colors orange and blue). I don't usually craft while ill. It was the most difficult thing to do. Usually I can pull together cards in an instant but this one was work. I am very pleased with the result and so is my client. I'll share the other card sometime next week. You won't want to miss it!!

supplies:

• American Crafts 5x7 green card and envelope
• and layers cut at 6" - Cricut Cart Forever Young
• Bazzill - blue and orange cardstock
• DCWV - gold metallic cardstock
• Core'dinations - green shadow for and orange cuttlebugged card layer
• TPC Studio - Clearly Better Navy ink 
• The Paper Cut - orange text weight from Pop Tones Variety pack (trimmed to size)
• Anna Griffin Cuttlebug folder - Circular Grid
• Hampton Arts Signature - congrats grad, shooting star stamps
• Stamp La Jolla - bible verse stamp
• Creative memories corner rounder
• Tim Holtz sanding tool

La-Vie

Lady Luck Card

Here's a quick post! I'm up against a tight deadline. I love the adrenaline rush of getting a project done in 30 mins.! I envisioned this project by picking the stamps last night but finished it up on the spot.

At the Crafting Cafe we were asked to interpret "Lady Luck" for this week's challenge. Here's my interpretation. I hope you like it! I identified with the "lady," a stamp from Stamp LaJolla, the frog from The Stamps of Life and the cute quote from Repeat Impressions. The bib card is from The Paper Cut but I hand cut my own bib in the color I needed. That reminds me! I am entering a second challenge at The Paper Girls. It calls for the colors navy, cream, coral and touches of yellow, pink and green based paper from Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm. I also entered 3 Girl Jam anything goes with ribbon.

Additional Supplies:

• Copics RV34, Y15, G07
• EK Success scallop punch
• Stampin' Up! Coral ribbon
• Marvy 1.5" circle punch
• Bazzill cream cardstock
• Jet Black Archival Ink by Ranger
• Ad tech Dot glue runner

See you in the morning for the Get Inky! Stamps blog hop!!  It's going to be EPIC!

La-Vie

Good Golly Glitter Challenge - Get Inky! Stamps

It's the dawn of a new crafty challenge over at the

Get Inky! Stamps Challenge blog. 

This time we're looking for those glittery creations. To inspire you, I created a clear card using stamps from Sew Sweet Cupcake. 

I was really interested in trying out the whole clear card thing... I wanted to stamp, color with glitter and create a fabulous card. In the end, I did just that, but it took many tries to get it all pulled together. I almost pulled my hair out y'all!! But my frustration will help you avoid the pitfalls and reap all the benefits.

I started out with a clear card from Close to My Heart. It has a plastic coating that must be peeled off on the outside and the inside of the card. I attempted many times to stamp directly on the card front but it did not work. I think I need some re-inkers for my Stazon ink pads.

Determined to complete the project, I pulled out my 8 1/2 x 11" clear vinyl sheets from Stamp La Jolla (used for windows or shaker cards). It's 5 mil so it's thin and flexible. I stamped the cupcake on it and cut out a square around the cupcake to give myself some wiggle room.

Let the magic begin!! I covered the BACK of the cupcake top with Terrifically Tacky tape, then I fussy cut the vinyl with the tape attached for a clean  look. I am in love with my new fussy cut scissors by Elizabeth Crafts. I was able to get into all the tiny spots and to get under the tape in the areas at the lower end of the cupcake top. That was very important for making the two sections the right colors without overlapping.

I peeled off the red layer from the tape and applied Doodlebug Design Sugar Coating cupcake glitter (how fitting?!) in pink. I pressed my fingers into the glitter and rubbed pretty hard to burnish the glitter to the tape. Once it was set, I taped the bottom of the cupcake and glittered it in American Crafts Wow! Cricket (green). Using the Xyron I adhered the cupcake to the card front.

Both glitters are translucent. Perfect for highlighting the cardstock I chose from DCWV Nana's Kids stack. The cardstock is glittered and shiny as well. I cut two identical pieces and using Tombow Vellum mono adhesive I adhered them inside the front and back panels of the clear card with the design facing outwards.

rear view of the card

The finishing touches were added with a Get Inky! Stamps sentiment inside the card and a sheer bow made with ribbon from my stash (hand tied by moi!).

Good Golly Glitter!!! I hope you try this technique. Until next time... looking forward to seeing your creations in this challenge.

Challenges:
3 Girl Jam - #19 Anything Goes with Ribbon
Tsunami Rose Designs: Wednesday Challenge #21 - Cards

La-Vie

Easter Cards - Religious for the troops

 

Here's the last of the cards for the troops. All the card bases are cut using Cricut Cartridge Sophie and large floral paper that looks stunning die cut (but would've stayed in my stash forever because I wouldn't have used it.) I used the text inserts from The Paper Cut for the inside of each card.

 

First I stamped the Blessings stamp (Michaels crafts 25 cents) but it needed something more. I had a Stampin' Up! stamp that says Easter Wishes on my table. Using the masking technique I was able to stamp just the word Easter. Using a clear block helped with placement. The top inside stamp is from Micheals as well. The verse is from Stamp La Jolla.

Here's the Easter Wishes stamp used fully and the same inside stamps.

 

I decided to switch it up this time and place the verse on the outside and a stamp I use at Christmas time for the inside.... It's true...Jesus is the reason for the season since he died on the cross for our sins. Amen.


La-Vie

Religious Easter Cards for the Troops

 

I'm back with two more card styles from the 52 I donated to Humble Hearts for Hope for the troops. These two cards were cut from one of my all-time fav Cricut Cartridges - Sophie. It was offered to members of the Cricut Circle last year. There are so many beautiful cards on this cart that I wanted to jump for joy!

 

The first card is smaller than A2. The front window is cut out so I created a base from DCWV white dotted cardstock. The stamp is from Michaels crafts for 25 cents!! Inside I used a stamp from Stampabilities. Ink: Espresso your style, Clear & Simple Stamps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For this second Sophie card, (A2 size) I decided to use the stampabilities card on the front. I hand cut the inside layer from beige cardstock from my stash. The inside was stamped with 2 different stamps. the cross with the swirls was another 25 cents stamp from Michaels crafts. The verse is from Stamp La Jolla.

 

 

CRAFTY TIP: paper that is not your style in its original form may look better die cut as a decorative card or embellishment. In this case, the cardstock I used for these cards was donated to me by a good crafty friend. It was 12x12 watercolored type cardstock with one huge flower on it. Although I wouldn't have had a use for it in it's original form, it really makes for a pretty card front and back. The flower and pattern covers the back of the card as well.

Stay tuned for more Easter cards....

I really appreciate all of the kind comments you leave me. It really warms my heart! Thank you.


La-Vie

Instant Scrapbook Baby Boy- Hester

This is one of my favorite 2 page layouts in the entire album. Using Cricut Cartridge Inspired Heart, I was able to create this christening page. The title and all the embellishments were cut from the same cart. I used stamps from Stampin' Up and Stamp LaJolla.

The cardstock is bazzill in beige, brown and light blue. The title was cut at 1 " and the embellishments were cut at 4 inches. Christenings are such a blessed ocassion. This layout will help capture the feeling of this important moment in a child's life and of its parents and godparents.

The second page to the layout features a bling cross. My 6-year old daughter placed most of the crystals by hand on to the cross. She'll be taking over the family business in no time!

La-Vie

Instant Scrapbook Baby Boy - Pg 12 & 13

As continued from last time, here are the next pages of the scrapbook. Provo Craft has created the perfect cart for religious phrases and images called Inspired Heart sold at their website and at Wal-Mart. This 2-page Christening layout is created with cut at 5", cut at 4" and cut at 2". The cardstock used is DCWV metallic stack - blue

The background paper is Doodlebug Design Inc. - 1583 Polo. The gem stickers are by Martha Stewart Crafts. The ink applied with a large dauber is by Clear & Simple stamps - simply blue-tiful. The stamp - "sharing with you..." is from Stampin' Up! and the Provebs 3 stamp is from Stamp La Jolla. The jubilation stamp is from Memories direct in their phrases set bought from HSN.com.

I hope you found inspiration in the simplicity of this 2 page spread today!

La-Vie