Bikini Card :)

I LOVE making cards, but I typically just get one of those store bought generics for my husband for his brithday, Valentine's, etc, mainly because he's a guy and I always think he could probably care less what's on a card.  BUT, then I saw an example of one of these and decided he would DEFINITELY appreciate this kind of handmade card!!!   :)

The base, bra and panty were cut with Design Studio (see below for file details).  I added some red trim to the top of both the bra and panty.  Then I cut the hearts with George and ran them through my printer to get the sentiments.  The heart on the bra is attached with a rhinestone crystal.

The only problem with this card is that it SOOOOOOO is not true to life!  It's amazing how absolutely dissimilar it is to my body.  HAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Jen over at Jen's Brain Things was kind enough to send me this Design Studio .cut file for this cutie.  If you would like this file, just head over to her blog and send her a quick note.  She's awesome!  :)

Lollipop Flower Bouquets

How cute are these?!?!?  I found a couple of examples of these both on the web and on the Cricut messageboard, but the super-awesome tutorial I went by came from Kathy over at Paper Phenomenon.  She does awesome work and I just loved her video tutorial on this!  Following her step-by-step directions, I made a bouquet of five lollipop flowers in each pot as a gift for the Mess Maker's preschool teachers for V-day!

These are super-easy and inexpensive to make and I think they are the cutest things ever!  The close-up photo above shows a single flower.  I used TootsiePops but you could use any lollipop really.  I've seen some with clear-wrapped lollis and they looked super-cute, too.

To make these little darlings, you'll need the following supplies:

Pink and Red die-cut flowers (I used George and cut them at 2 1/2")

Lollipops

Green ribbon

Tacky Tape and Hot Glue

Flower Pot (I painted mine red)

Trim (optional) to go around pot

Styrofoam ball

Green Easter grass

I inked the edges of each flower petal to make them pop a little.  Then I used Terrifically Tacky Tape to hold the pink flowers closed once I snipped them (see Kathy's video to see what I'm talking about) instead of hot glue.  I didn't hot glue the layers of the flowers together, because I found that I didn't need to once the ribbon was tied on tightly.  I did wrap the grass around the ball like the suggested and hot glued it into the pot.  Then I just inserted these cuties and ta-da!

Have a creative day!  :)

CTMH "Love" Card Trio (Topstitch Workshop On The Go)

These cards are from the Close To My Heart "Topstitch" Workshop On The Go.  The basic kit includes a Level 2 Topstitch Paper Pack, an exclusive Stamp Set (Love Is In The Air), Mini Medley Assortment and the Workshop Guide, with the option to add on additional embellishments!

This WOTG kits are not available in the CTMH catalog.  If you're interested in attending a Workshop On The Go, please contact me today!  :)

Just Buggin Challenge #23: "Love Ya" Card

This week's challenge #23 over at Just Buggin is called "Love Ya": make something for Valentine's Day using your Cricut.  Here is my Design Team project:

I used Accent Essentials for the die cut hearts on this card.  I ran them through the Cuttlebug using the "Script" folder to get the words on them.  Because I used white-core cardstock (CTMH), they came out looking "distressed", which I was actually planning to do anyway!  I further sanded them for just a little more distress and then inked the tops of them in Chocolate and Blush.  I think it gives them an "antique" look.

I used CTMH That's Amore patterned papers for the mat on this card, with Chocolate organdy ribbon tied around them.  I inked and distressed the edges of each element on this page, including the mats (Tulip), hearts (Chocolate, Blush) and sentiment (Tulip, Blush, Chocolate).

For the sentiment, I stamped "Love is all you need" (CTMH "My One & Only My Acrylix Stamp Set) in Tulip onto Blush cardstock and matted it with Chocolate.  I added a Chocolate mini flower and brad and then attached it with foam dots for dimension.

Thanks for looking!  :)

Perfect "Pear" Card (CTMH Veranda Collection)

I've been wanting to make one of these for FOREVER and today, after seeing one of my fellow Just Buggin DT Member's project for this week's challenge, I decided to do it!  :)  Thanks for the motivation, Robin!  You can see her super-cute card here.

Mine is made with CTMH's new Veranda papers.  I used Home Accents to cut the pears, then inked each piece with Cocoa ink (CTMH).  I adhered them to a coordinating piece of Veranda paper and added mini flowers and a brad (craft supply).

To finish, I added a scallop-edge strip to the right side of the mat and added "faux stitching" to the strip and the pear details.  Then I added a length of eyelet and a printed sentiment, matted with a coordinating Veranda patterned paper.  Thanks for looking!  :)

Valentine Mail Boxes

These plain white mailboxes are from the dollar bins at Target...aren't they fun?  I bought one for the Mess Maker and one for the Noise Maker for Valentine's Day to put some treats in.  Now that I think about it, what kind of "treats" can a 9-month-old really have???  Hmmm...

I covered the body of the mailboxes with this cute paper from Three Bugs in a Rug.  I used my Cricut for everything else.  The frog, turtle and "xoxo" are from the Paisley cartridge, and the names are from Plantin Schoolbook.  I added some white swirls (hard to see in the photo) to the pink part of each animal with a white opaque pen.  To finish, I tied a red ribbon on the flag.

Thanks for looking!  :)

Craft: Pink & Black Heart Card (Card Patterns Sketch 29)

This sketch over at Card Patterns is really cute, right? I thought it would be great to use up some of my "flourish collection" I seem to keep accumulating. :) Then I thought, hmmm...I think I'll go for the pink and black color scheme. Again, cute...right?
WRONG!!!! WHAT HAPPENED??? Once I realized how much I "disliked" this card, I was already too far into it to stop. So I finished...and I'm not sure I should have bothered. Maybe it's the black rhinestones, maybe it's the black glittery cardstock heart...I don't know. But something about this little treasure says, "stripper" to me. :) It just reminds me of one those little numbers with lace and fur and rhinestones that you'd see at one of those "gentlemens clubs". HAH! Anyway, feel free to let me know your thoughts anyway...but keep in mind I'm still sick, so be nice!!!
Maybe I should stop making cards until I get over whatever "bug" I've got!!! My last two creations have been far less spectacular than what I pictured before I started them! Hmph! :)

Craft: Missing You Card (Use It Challenge #22)

I have been wanting to start participating in online crafting challenges for some time now. So tonight, I did it! This challenge is by June Houck, and posted on "Use It Challenges"...it had three requirements:

1. Use a new technique

2. Use a virgin stamp

3. Use papers you have never used before

Perfect way to start using up my supplies that seem to be quickly multiplying! So for the technique, I stamped (using a new CTMH "Missing You" stamp, from the For Every Occasion set) onto twill tape, and also used a "Love" circular rub-on (CTMH) on acrylic. It was my first time to try either technique and I was happy with the results. And the papers have been sitting in my stash for quite some time...glad to have finally put them to use! TFL! :)

Craft: Love Card

My inspiration for this Love card (right) was one I saw in Card Creations Magazine, by Melissa Phillips (left). I didn't have the supplies she used for hers, so I decided to use what I had and modify it somewhat to allow for those supplies to work. Here's the result: