Just Buggin Challenge #20: "On Horseback" Layout

This week's Just Buggin Challenge #20 is called "About Pets": make a project featuring a pet (and of course use at least one Cricut die cut on your page!). Though the Mess Maker doesn't actually own a horse, I figured this layout still met the "pet" criteria, since some people actually do have pet horses! :)

This photo was taken at our local petting zoo last October when her cousins were in town. Up until that point, this normally timid and fearful (of EVERYTHING, especially large animals!) little girl wouldn't have had anything to do with horseback riding. But this day, she said, "I want to ride the horse", completely unprompted! So she did (three times) and had a blast. This is a moment I definitely wanted to capture!

For this layout, I used Geroge to cut the large background circle and the recently released Paisley cartridge for the horse die cut. How cute is this little horsie?!? It's actually a unicorn, but I just cut the horn off and ta-da! I layered the Chocolate and Colonial White cardstock (CTMH) for the main part of the horse and used black cs for the shadow. I used the Magic Moments patterned papers (CTMH) for the saddle and cut one of the little circle designs from one of the sheets to decorate the saddle (I also inserted a glitter brad in the middle).

I also used the Opposites Attract cartridge for the title. Using the "opposite" feautre, I cut the letters out of Colonial White, then used the "opposite shadow" feature to cut the shadows from black cs. I didn't like the stark look of the plain white letters so I decided to use one of my favorite stamping techniques to give them some detail: after cutting the letters with the Cricut, but BEFORE removing them from the sticky mat, randomly stamp over the letters using a coordinating stamp and ink. Then when you remove them, they have a perfectly coordinated random stamp pattern that complements the other patterns in the layout!

Supplies used for this layout: (all CTMH unless stated otherwise)

Magic Moments Level 2 Paper Packet

My Acrylix Stamp Set: "Dream Big"

My Acrylix Stamp Set: "Connections"

Adhesive Backed Rhinestone Frames

Ricrac in Hollyhock

Organdy Ribbon in Hollyhock

Twinkle Brads Jolly Assortment

Foam adhesive dots (Craft Supply)

black cardstock (Craft Supply)