Dreamin' Card Challenge

Today I chose the Cr84FN Color Challenge to make this card. I used their three colors, orange, yellow, and brown. The Dreamin' paper pack has those colors, along with Dutch Blue. I chose the simple design from Taylored Expressions challenge 147. Here's the color and pattern inspiration:

I also challenged myself to see how many cards I could get from the Dreamin' paper pack for a fall card workshop just adding card bases and using extra cardstock from my scraps or retired paper. Here's the first result. All supplies used were Close To My Heart. The Sentiment says: Just wanted you to know . . . You are in my prayers.

Card Size - 4.25" x 5.5"
Paper - Dreamin', Cocoa, Sunset, and Buttercup CS
Stamps - Unscripted, Card Chatter-Sympathy
Inks - Cocoa, Autumn Terracotta, Sunflower
Accessories - Honey Mini-Medley Accents, Sunflower organdy (retired)

Autumn Leaves - Trust in the Lord

This card was created using the diagonal strip pattern designed for the Viva La Verve Challenge for the 4th week of September. I rotated the pattern to make it a vertical card. I fell in love with the tag from the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge that had a branch with leaves. I cut the tag at 3" which was just the right size for the sentiment. It's hard to see, but the branch is cut out of the bamboo tag and shows up black because or the black mat. I drew 3 hearts at the ends of the empty branches using a Chocolate marker, then covered them with Liquid Glass.

The same Cricut key that made the tag also makes a card with a branch cut-out. It looks great when it's cut at 6.5". The cut-out portion was backed with some of the leaf paper. Three tiny blossoms in bamboo and chocolate were added at the tips of the branches with Licorice Opaques for the centers. The scalloped oval for the title was cut at 1.75" and so was the black decorative frame. The sentiment is from Card Chatter- Sympathy. This card was really easy to make once I determined the size of the Cricut ovals.

MOJO Monday 208 Birthday Card

This 6" x 6"card is for my dear friend, Cherlyn, who celebrated her birthday yesterday. She shared her card-making passion with me when she worked at The Paperie Place. We scrapbook together on Tuesdays, so hopefully she'll receive this tomorrow. I love this belated birthday sentiment. The inside reads: "I'm just extending the CELEBRATION."

I used the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge to cut the leaves at 1.75" and decorative frame and base at 1.25". The paper was from a CTMH pack called Olivia, with some added Barn Red and Ponderosa Pine. The mocha pearls and retired Barn Red organdy helped finish the card.

Start Your Engines

The main thing that Christian had asked to do for his birthday party was to ride Go-Karts. I acted ignorant about the whole thing, but had really planned to take him if he was tall enough. I found out he was one inch taller than required, so he'll get this card at his party in order to surprise him with what he really wants. I just hope he doesn't take after his Grandpa Bill and decide to build hot rods someday! OK,  building them isn't so bad, it's the drag racing that I'd be worried about. Luckily, his grandpa got that out of his system in his younger days.

This 4" x 8.5"card uses CTMH Zippedee and Majestic Blue patterned papers (retired). The stamp set is Finish Line (retired). This is why I keep retired stamp sets! You never know when you might need them.

Birthday Golf

My grandson, Christian, just turned seven. I picked him up after school to have fun until his mom got home. First we went to McDonald's for a fudge sundae, a treat my daughter only allows on a special day like this! Then I took him to play miniature golf. He was really surprised!  Can't wait for his party on Sunday! May he continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord!

Cricut Art Philosophy Serendipity

I had a box of scraps I wanted to use for cards. Twice I chose a piece of retired patterned paper. Each time it was sitting on some colored cardstock scraps that looked great together. I used the Cricut cartridge to cut the botanicals on these two cards and loved the outcome.

This first one also uses a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I discovered I can adhere the hollyhock strip, then emboss both pieces at the same time so the patterns match. I stamped the flower using 3 layers of the CTMH Hooray Bouquet stamp set on amethyst and petal cardstock, using Gypsy ink. The flower center is a honey corduroy brad. The card was quick and simple since the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge cut the flowers.

The second card was inspired by one of Jeanette Lynton's cards a year or more ago. I changed the colors, paper and sentiment. I also used the Cricut to cut the branch at 2" instead of hand cutting a stamped image like she did. I enlarged the card size to make it 5" x 6.5." I dampened the small white flowers, then slightly rubbed them in Sorbet ink. The ink diluted and spread to make the flowers softer and less uniform. I used antique copper mini-brands for the center, but next time, I'd probably use mocha pearls. The backs of the brads were difficult to hide. The sentiment was from CTMH Card Chatter Sympathy. The small branch stamped with bamboo ink was from CTMH You're a Hoot.

Mojo Monday 207 and my Card-making Frenzy

I was glad to see that Mojo Monday was back with a new post this week. I seem to be in a card-making frenzy, making multiples of cards to fill the sudden need for get well, birthdays, new baby, and anniversaries. I started with this get well card because I got my first virus of the "fall" and new it was only the beginning. I'm spending more time making cards than posting them.

Three different paisley retired papers from Close To My Heart and the Cuttlebug paisley embossing folder all seemed to go together for this card. The stamp sets were Words to Live By ("Relax"), which is retired, and Best Wishes for the Get Well Soon sentiment. I had quite a few sheets of the cheery Precious Paisleys patterned paper. It was just right for a card to cheer up someone from church who's fighting illness. I know that making several of these cheered me up! Paper crafting has been my best medicine for the past seven years!

I've also been addicted to the Wishes card confidence book this week. It has so many card patterns with cutting directions and templates that I don't have to think very hard to figure out sizes--a definite plus when I'm sick.

By pulling out several scraps left from a CTMH Hooligans paper pack and the "Done Right" pattern on page 119 this next card came together quickly as one that needs to be fairly flat to mail a long distance. I only pop-dotted the circles. The girl and sentiment are from the set called "Be Yourself." The inside reads: BE YOURSELF. . .everyone else is taken.

Something Old, Something New

I decided that a goal I have for this fall is to use up "old" patterned paper and cardstock scraps while using the Cricut Art Philosophy shapes. The last two days I worked on cards and layouts. I had donated baby pinks and heavenly blues to our church to use for the Baby Grace project. They are making personalized poems for each baby of a young mother. I had wanted to join them to decorate the framed poems, but my stomach said "no." So I sent my husband to deliver the pink and blue papers and embellishments. By evening I was eager to make cards with the amethyst papers that were left in the packages. I made multiples of this card because I seem to need a lot of "Thinking of You" cards lately.

The 5' x 6.5" card used the amethyst paisley and hydrangea cs mat, both retired CTMH products. The pattern was loosly based on Originals, "Terrific Triplets" on p. 86. I used the 3x4 amethyst cs mat, but added a Cricut "rectangle 7" in white, 2.75", and with a hyndrangea "Decorative Frame" the same size.

The next two cards are completely "new." This one uses the CTMH Sonoma patterned papers and is based on the Mojo Monday sketch 205. The Petal colored scalloped circle was punched with the CTMH 2" scallop circle. The title mat is one of the shapes and stamps that go together in the Cricut Art Philosophy set. The background stamp used Bamboo ink and the sentiment used Gypsy ink.

The last card, a 4.5" circle card, was made with CTMH Roxie patterned paper, a ribbon rose and a large square sparkle. The scalloped frame was made on the Cricut using Art Philosophy. So quick and easy!

Fall layouts of Colorado

When I saw the colors in the Close To My Heart Dreamin' paper pack, I immediately thought of my photos of Colorado. The sky was blue and the mountains were surrounded by golden aspens. Here's one that was the Workshop on the Go layout with very little change. The photos were from Maroon Bells near Aspen.

The next one has photos from three different spots which reflect what a spiritual experience it was to see mountains surrounded by colorful aspens and oaks, looking up through the aspens at a clear blue sky, and gazing across the Black Canyons swept by wind. I included Psalm 145:9-11 so my family would know why this makes me think of God. I used to sing verse 9 to my kids as I drove them 20 miles to Countryside Christian School outside of Newton, KS. I made up my own tune and hoped the scripture song would help them memorize the verses. It did. Lisa won the Verse Down that spring. This layout was also from the Workshops on the Go, but I changed it considerably.

The last Colorado layout went with the Dreamin' Stickease and had the title "Dreams." It was perfect for my photos of my husband and I in the ghost town of Independence, CO. I was amazed that 1500 people lived there dreaming of the wealth they'd accrue during the gold strike, only to have their dreams shattered in less than a decade by the long winters, Oct. - May snow cover, and strong winds that swept the mountainside at 10,500 foot elevation. Going into the buildings that have survived I couldn't imagine trying to keep warm there. But our dreams of finding a great photo op were fulfilled.

My last Dreamin' layout that we're doing tomorrow in our scrapbook club is about what the rest of the family does at Christian's baseball games while they're waiting for him to go to bat. Lisa really did work on them the last two years to be a good audience and watch the whole game. However, the rainy spring postponed so many games that the last weeks of the season were filled with games and naturally, kids need a little space to be themselves--that is, until their brother comes up to bat and makes a hit and run every time! This family layout also used the Dreamin' Stickease and honey embellishments.

All three of the last layouts used Cricut Art Philosophy to cut shapes for matting, title, and journaling.

Cricut Art Philosophy Card Shapes

When I saw that there were 2 different card shapes for every key on this cartridge, I knew I needed to try out as many different shapes as I could. Using up my old paper packs to "experiment" with the diffeent sizes and to make matching envelopes was also my goal. Here are my first examples:

 I also used the double stamp set available for National Stamping Month-- Pair-a-Phrase stamp set.

This last card I intended to be a "guy card." It was almost finished when I accidentally smudged it with black ink on the colonial white. I always tell my friends there are no mistakes, just opportunities to be creative. So, I intentionally added sponging with black ink. My friends said they liked it better. I'm not sure, what do you think? It's still a guy card!

So many shapes, so little time! There are two envelope shapes on the cartridge, square and rectangle, both so quick and easy!!