31/01/2011

If Music Be The Food Of Love......


Play on!......
I just love this paper! It's all romantic and scrumptious..just right for a Valentine card. I used a slider base for this card and one sheet of 12x12 double- sided patterned paper from Making Memories J'tadore collection.I added a punched border across the bottom of the card, a floral arrangement, and on the slider, a fabulous harp. There are some very thin strings on this harp and every one cut out just fine, but I think that if I'd cut it any smaller they would all have gone 'ping!'
The harp, cut from pink mirri and shadowed with green cardstock, was adhered with foam pads to a panel on the slider rather than just adhered straight onto the mechanism. I added a tiny rose for extra embellishment to the harp, and a green satin bow to the panel. A smattering of pearls and some tiny pink musical notes cut from pink mirri completes the front of the card.


Inside the card, under the slider, I added the sentiment, computer generated onto Safmat.
If you are wondering where you write your greeting on this type of card, I added a 3 1/4" by 3" piece of plain white cardstock to the slider just below the 'pull'. You can make these slider cards as regular cards by making the slider mechanism separately, slightly smaller than your card, and adhering it to the front leaving a coloured border all round, then you can write inside your card instead of on the slider. Your choice!
Carts used:
Harp-Quarter Note
Musical Notes- Nifty Fifties
Thanks for dropping by!
Heather xxx

28/01/2011

Goin' to the chapel...


...and we're gonna get ma-a-a-ried!
I LOVE this heart! I didn't make it as per the booklet, but left out a layer and added a different one to create this heart. I used pearlised cardstock (always good for wedding cards) cutting a pink scalloped heart and adding a white heart with sentiment cut out, then embossed with a CraftsToo embossing folder. The white heart was adhered to the pink one with foam pads, then adhered to the front of a z-fold card decorated with Papermania wedding paper and a shimmering pink ribbon and bow. A 'bouquet' of blooms and pearl sprays was adhered to the heart with silicone glue.
I added some punched hearts with smaller hearts punched out of them (punch the smaller heart first then centre up a slightly larger punch) These were adhered with foam pads to the top corners of the card and a small pearl added inside the heart.
Three pink punched hearts, a pearl heart and a smattering of smaller pearls complete the card

The inside of the card has a smaller heart shaped panel for a stamped or hand written sentiment.
Cart used:
Scalloped,sentiment & plain hearts-Life's A Party
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

26/01/2011

70th Birthday wishes.....


My Uncle Brian celebrates his 70th birthday this week. He is off to Oz today to visit his brother so I had to get this card to him before he left.So it was all hands to the pump on Sunday evening to get it made and in the post on Monday morning! Phew!!!
It's a pop-up again using those lovely Papermani Elegance paper-these are so good for special celebration cards!'70' was cut from gold mirri and embossed then adhered to the pop-up section with foam pads. I added a border punched from gold mirri with an EK Success chain border punch, a champagne bottle complete with 'fizz' and a couple of sentiments. A scattering of punched gold stars completes the card.

The outside of the card was decorated with a gold star punched border over a patterned paper strip and a couple of embossed '70's
carts used:
70-Winter Woodland
Celebrate-Wild Card
Happy Birthday-Calligraphy
Tag-George
Champagne bottle-Simply Charmed
You may have noticed (lol!) that I use just a few carts with every card that I make. This would be a real pain without my trusty JukeBox (no 'ON' & 'OFF'ing with every cart change!)I would recommend one of these to every Cricut owner,but they are being withdrawn from sale as everyone has a Gypsy (right? NOT!!!) so NOBODY needs a Jukebox. Ladies, get one if you can before they disappear..you'll wonder how you ever managed without one!
Thanks for dropping by!
Heather xxx

25/01/2011

Just Hatched!......


How about a new baby card with a non-traditional image? No prams, bottles, nappy pins etc? When I saw this little chick I thought 'Easter', but when you see the sentiment on the same page..why not a new baby card? Of course you could use it on an Easter card too!

The card base is a pop-up (again!!)and I used papers from the K&Co Itsy Bitsy boy & girl 8x8 pads..that chicky paper is jsut perfect for these cards!
I added gingham ribbon, layered blooms and punched hearts and I also punched the striped paper with an MS punch. The girl chick sports a fabric rose and sheer bow in her 'hair'.

The outside of the cards was kept simple with punched border and an embossed heart.
Carts used:
Chick in egg & sentiment-Simply Charmed
Heart on front of card & tag-George

24/01/2011

'Scent' With Love.......


I'm really into pop-up cards at the moment and I predict you'll be sick to death of 'em before I am! I've made a card with this pun sentiment before but never as a pop-up. I used Studio g.c.d papers again and I cut a perfume bottle from some holographic cardstock to give the appearance of cut glass. I chopped the 'bulb' end off and shortened it a little because it would have poked out of the side of the card in it's original state and I think that it looks better now.
I added a label with 'ooh-La-La' cut into it and added a flower shaped gem as an embellishment. I embossed the bulb with a houndstooth embossing folder.
A scalloped heart was cut from pearlised card to hold the sentiment which was cut from pink & blue glittercard, then adhered to the upright portion of the card. A punched border with a blousey bow and floral arrangement was adhered to the bottom of the card with foam tape. A tag was cut to hold a greeting and slipped into the side of the card.

Carts used:
Perfume bottle & label-Forever Young
Scalloped & plain hearts-Life's a Party
Tag-George
Sentiment-Wall Decor
With Love (on front of card)-Sentimentals
Thanks for dropping by!
Don't forget to leave a comment!
TTFN
Heather xxx

22/01/2011

Girls Rule...OK?!!!


Another kid's card today, possibly for a teenager? I used a pop-out stepper for this one with papers from the g.c.d Studios Material Girls 8x8 pack. I used a heart print paper on the side panels and bottom horizontal panel, and girly words paper on the pop-out front section.'Keahi' was cut from various colours of Bazzil cardstock and has a gold mirri crown on her head. I blinged her up with a little glitter and popped her on the card with foam pads. I added a layered bloom, some stitched ribbon and a bow and some punched hearts on the side panels. 'Girls Rule' was cut from pink glittercard with a peacock blue glittercard shadow, mounted onto an embossed panel along with a punched heart, then adhered to the card with foam tape. A smattering of gems complete the card.
Cart used:
Keahi & 'Girls Rule'- Rock Princess
I hope you are all enjoying the weekend- I am 'cos my lot are in London at the Emirates Stadium for an Arsenal match later on, so I'm having an uninterrupted craftfest!!
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

20/01/2011

Juke Box shaped card....


I haven't made a shaped card for a while, and when I was commissioned to make a card for a DJ's birthday I thought that this fab Juke Box would fit the bill. I've used this image before on a card for my brother Andrew's birthday, but I've never used it as a card base. I cut 2 juke box shadows at 6 3/4" from white card and adhered them together down one side to create a hinge. I then cut another shadow from black sparkle card and adhered it to the card base. I then created the juke box from various mirri and holographic cardstock, layering some pieces with foam pads. I added the DJ's name to the front (yes, I had to ask if that was the correct spelling!It's Mathew with one 'T' apparently!)
Three 'LP's' were cut from black mirri card with red labels and adhered inside the card as a finishing touch.
Carts used:
All cuts- Nifty Fifties
Thanks for visiting today!
Heather xxx
Edited to add:
I've just figured out how to change the date on my posts-they are all running a day earlier than they should be, but I've put it right and the posts will show the right date and time in European format (ie 21/01/11 not 01/21/11)after today-hopefully!
TTFN!

Happy Anniversary....


It's our Wedding Anniversary today...21 years!...Cripes!!!...Time flies when you're having fun doesn't it?!! Happy Anniversary Dear!
I used a bog-standard card base for my card and some fab Papermania 'Elegance' paper. I kept the design simple (in my opinion the ONLY way to go on cards for men!)but it does have a little flourish on it. I used beautiful gold cardstock that has a slub silk look to it,and some plain mirri cardstock (which was embossed after cutting)The heart flourish was adhered to a striped band running across the card to which I added a piece of gold ribbon. A heart shaped brad was adhered with silicone glue to the centre of the heart aperture. This adds a splash of colour to the card.'With Love' was cut from mirri card then shadowed with gold card and adhered to the card with foam pads..on reflection I think that the sentiment is a tad too big but never mind.
I added some gold card candy to complete the card. You can't have a look at the inside 'cos it's private!!!
Carts used:
Heart flourish- Wall Decor & More
With Love- Sentimentals
Thanks for looking!
TTFN!
Heather xxx

19/01/2011

I wish I was Spaceman......


....the fastest guy alive....Does anyone remember Gerry Anderson's Fireball XL5? I'm showing my age now!I once had a doll with long blonde hair and called her Venus after the trusty sidekick in said programme..sorry..I digress! I thought of that kiddies programme from the '60's (yikes!) as I was making this card. Another kiddies card with a space theme this time. Every little boy wants to be an Astronaut right?..and they have to start somewhere..Space Academy!
I used a Z-card base and DCWV Boys stack papers. I had just about enough space-themed paper for this card! The spaceman was cut from grey 'glittercard' (look how it appears as though the stars are reflected in his helmet visor!Love that!)that was really cheap from The Range, white Bazzil and scraps of mirri/holographic card. He was then attached to the card with a Papermania spring.

The sentiments were cut from silver holographic card and shadowed with grey glitter card- 'Space cadet' was adhered with foam pads, 'Happy Birthday' was adhered flat. A few punched stars scattered about complete the card.
Cart used:
All cuts-Life's A Party
Thanks for dropping by!
Heather xxx

18/01/2011

Little Monkey......


When I saw this cute little chap I knew that I'd need to use him on a kiddies card. I went back to a pop-out stepper for the base card and used DCWV Safari papers. The little monkey was cut from Bazill cardstock and layered up. He is cut complete with branch, and the tail doesn't look right as it isn't curled around the branch. So I manipulated the top layer of the monkey so that the tail curled around the branch making it look more realistic. I adhered him to the front of the card with a Papermania spring so that he wibbles!
I cut four large leaves for the side panels and adhered them with foam tape. The sentiments were cut from Bazill c/stock, layered up and adhered with foam pads. A touch of glitter completes the card
Carts used:
Monkey on branch & 'Little Monkey'-Life's A Party
Happy Birthday-ZooBalloo
Leaves- Life Is A Beach
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

17/01/2011

The Key To My Heart........


I've another pop-up card for you today, this time a standard C5 card. I made a card similar to this for my latest workshop, but it was a square and in red mirri card for Valentine's Day. This card is a lot softer in tone as I couldn't resist this absolutely gorgeous Je t'adore paper by Making Memories. The colour palette is soft pinks, burgundy, cream and soft green.Just lovely. I also used cream shimmery cardstock from Coredinations Gemstones stack.The padlock and key, 'Darling' and 'Key to my heart' were embossed after cutting, and the two sentiments were shadowed with cream cardstock and adhered with foam pads. I added some sheer green ribbon and floral embellishments and a smattering of pearls. There is also a tag tucked into the upright portion of the card (you can just see the ribbon in the photo). A couple of shadowed swirls were added to adjescent corners to complete the card.

The front of the card was decorated simply with a punched border and a key added to a patterned paper panel. Simple but pretty.
Carts used:
Heart padlock, key, both sentiments- Sentimentals
Corner swirls- Heritage
Tag (tucked into side of card)- George
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

13/01/2011

Pop-up cards....

This is long one folks!
I decided to try my hand at some pop-up cards and these were my first efforts and I have to say I'm chuffed with how they turned out. I was always put off making these because what do you do with the front of the card when all the work is on the inside? I decided to put minimal work on the outside-just enough to make you want to open the card-whilst concentrating all the effort for the inside.The outside of both cards are the same, only the colours are different.I used K&Co 'Itsy Bitsy' papers and Coredinations Gemstones cardstock which has a lovely shimmery sheen.

I just love these little baby in a pram icons. They look so cheeky and sweet don't they? As on the outside, the inside of the card are both the same, only the colours are different. The babies were cut from coloured card with white shadows and I added a little punched heart to the pram body. A punched, ribbon trimmed border with pearls, a layered bloom and a sentiment adhered with foam pads complete the cards.

In the picture below you can see a side view of the cards showing the pop-up section.

I showcased some cards similar to these yesterday in my new workshop and one of my ladies made a valid point- where do you write your greeting? So, on the spot, we decided to leave one side of the upright section of the card open (as in no adhesive applied)cut a notch with a circle punch and slide a little tag in. Angie (for it was she who posed the question!) did this as did Barbie and it worked superbly! Problem solved!
Carts used:
Baby icons-Car Decals
New Arrival-New Arrival
The Car Decals cartridge went down very well with my ladies! They couldn't stop using it!
Thanks for looking!
Heather xxx

11/01/2011

I'd rather be shopping!......


This woman is on a serious mission!..to SPEND,SPEND,SPEND!I think that this image is great. I did a little paper piecing to jazz it up a bit, giving her a patterned frock and some seriously trendy sunglasses.The sunglasses were created with a scrap of gunmetal grey mirri card (I can't tell you how much I love that stuff!)She has some very kissable lips too, created with a tiny heart punch.
The papers used on this card are Dovecraft's Forever Friends Spring A4 pack,and I added some hot pink polka dot ribbon to the card and to the slider.

The sentiment on the slider was created from pink cardstock which was glittered after being adhered to the slider.To complete the card I added a single rose and some leaves.
Cart used:
Shopper & sentiment-Car Decals
Thanks for visiting today!
Heather xxx

10/01/2011

Fixing up the place...


Here's another guy card for you today.I used a slider card for the card base and MME papers from the Complete Boy 12x12 stack.All of the elements(apart from the nails) were cut from silver mirri and Bazzill cardstock and adhered to the card front with foam pads. I added some ruler printed twill tape to the bottom of the card and the 'D.I.Y Expert!' sentiment was adhered flat to the slider mechanism

I added a couple of screw head brads to the front panel for that authentic handyman look!
Carts used:
All elements on front of card-Handy Man Cricut Lite
D.I.Y Expert!-Opposites Attract
Thanks for dropping by!
Heatherxxx

07/01/2011

Footy 'wobbly' slider......


We all baulk at making cards for boys and men but occasionally it's good to get out of your comfort zone and get the old brain-box working on something a little challenging. Personally, I don't often have a problem with male cards, but I know a lot of people do. It's sometimes hard to keep your hands off the ribbon and flowers and use something a bit more 'butch', and here I've gone down the footy route (you can't go far wrong with that CAN you?)
I used another slider base for this card with a little 'twist'. The little chap on the front of the card is on a 'boinger' spring- unfortunately you can't tell from the photo but it is such fun to see him wibble! A kiddie could spend hours playing with this little chap! I used a Dovecraft A5 paper pack from last year, choosing 3 designs. The pitch paper was put inside the card, the green football paper on the outside and the black & white football paper on the slider. I cut the little chap from black cardstock with a white shadow and paper pieced a footy shirt. I added a piece of green cardstock to the slider then adhered the character to it with a Papermania spring.I also added a football adhered with foam pads.

I cut 'score' from black card with a white shadow and adhered it to the 'pitch' along with some balls cut from the patterned paper remnant, and 'Happy Birthday' was cut from white cardstock shadowed with black. This was adhered to the bottom of the card with foam pads.
This card could be adapted for an adult by using more adult looking football-themed papers, and a sports character from the Sports Mania cart.
Carts used:
Little footy player-Car Decals
Score & football-Sports Mania
Happy Birthday-Zoo Balloo
Thanks for dropping by!
Heather xxx

06/01/2011

A new kind of card (for me, at least!)....


I tried a new kind of card the other day. It's not new in that it's never been seen before but it's new for me! I've tried to make one of these slider easel cards before but I made a right pigs ear of it! Then, when I was watching Cricut card videos on YouTube I came across a tutorial, then had a go myself and whaddayaknow! I made one straight off, no probs!

In the turorial 2 pieces of card were used to make the base card but I just used a C5 card, cut the slider, added the sentiment pull and decorated it. I used gorgeous papers from the A4 Forever Friends Spring Time stack and a cute birdy in a cage cut from blue cardstock shadowed with white. The birdcage was adhered to the front of the card with foam pads. I added a punched, ribbon trimmed border and a rose and ribbon bow to the top of the bird cage and gems to the base. The sentiment was cut from white cardstock and adhered inside the card (this is hidden when the slider is pushed down and revealed when the slider is pulled out as you can see in the photo)If you use a Cricut generated sentiment be sure that it is well adhered as the slider can become caught on it. You could, of course, stamp a sentiment if preferred.

These cards take up a little more room than a conventional easel card but they are such fun to make. I'm addicted!
Carts used:
Bird in cage-Car Decals
Sentiment-Wild Card
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

05/01/2011

I Love My Nana.....


Here's another cute character card for you. Don't you think that this nana looks like she knows how to have fun?! I used an extended stepper card base and more papers from the A4 Forever Friends Spring Time pack. These papers are really lovely, pretty colours and patterns and very good quality paper. Grab them if you can! To make an extended stepper card take a square card for your base and a length of cardstock as wide as your card. Score it to create 2 mountain folds-the second fold should be taller than the first- add 1cm for attaching to the base card.Apply double-sided tape to the 1cm portion of the concertinaed section and adhere the base card to it.
The nana was cut at 4 1/2" from lilac bazzill with a white shadow and adhered to the centre fold of the card. I cut a scalloped square to fit the back of the card and added a square of yellow gingham paper matted onto lilac cardstock. The other panels were covered with alternating patterns of paper, the front panels having a ribbon and bow added. The sentiment was cut from lilac glittercard and a heart punched from pink. The sentiment was adhered flat and the heart raised with foam pads. I cut some little daisies from lilac glittercard (only because I broke my punch!), added yellow pearls to the centres and scattered them around the panels. I punched a tiny heart and added it to Nana's lips, gave her some pearl buttons on her dress and bag and blinged up her specs a la Edna Everidge! Go get 'em Nana!
Nana and sentiment-Car Decals
Scalloped square-Celebrations (scalloped tag cut with blackout enabled)
Daisies-George
Thanks for visiting!
Heather xxx

04/01/2011

I love my Mummy.....


OMG!!!! I have THE cutest cart EVAH! I aquired Car Decals a couple of weeks ago and if you think that all you can make is sticky-on things for your car windows,THINK AGAIN PEOPLE!!! This cart is packed with the cutest characters on planet Earth, from babies to toddlers, schoolkids to teens, mums & dads to grannies and grandads and not forgetting the cat, dog and goldfish! It also has relative phrases like 'my kids are better than your kids' (aren't they all?!)and some other decal type cuts. If you make cutesy or kiddy cards (or cards for kids to give) this is the one for you.
I chose this cute Mum for todays card. The paper is the new Dovecraft Forever Friends Springtime A4 pack. The card base is a z-fold cut to fit a 7 x 5" envelope.I cut the Mum from blue cardstock on a white shadow. I added a couple of punched hearts in different sizes (one on her lips and the other on her dress) and a pearl on her handbag.She was adhered with foam pads to the front panel over a ribbon trimmed punched border. A floral arrangement was added to the left hand corner of the front panel. 'I (heart) My Mummy' was created with blue glittercard and a large punched heart. The letters were adhered flat and the heart raised on foam pads. Three additional punched hearts were added to complete the card.
Carts used:
Mummy decal & sentiment- Card Decals
Another bonus with this cart is that it has the Cricut bug face on it!..3 diffrent versions no less!
Thanks for dropping by!
Heather xxx

03/01/2011

With Sympathy.....


Sadly.my hubby had to attend a funeral on Christmas Eve. The mother of a close friend died a couple of days earlier and he asked me to make a card. I chose a shortfall base card and a predominately white (a funereal colour in India)colour scheme with a splash of siver and pale blue.This card was simplicity itself to create. I used silver mirri and pearlescent white card which I embossed. I added a sentiment cut from silver mirri to the front panel along with a fancy corner and a Prima rose over a shimmering blue ribbon. A couple more fancy corners adorn the inside back of the card. I added blue pearls to the centres of all the fancy corners and to the ribbon.
Carts used:
With Sympathy-Wild Card
Fancy corners-Heritage
Thanks for visiting today!
Heather xxx