Pop 'n Cuts/Cricut Robot Birthday Card

 As much as I would like to make girly cards all day, with 3 boys I have a good quantity of boys' cards to make, for them plus friends. I saw a robot card over on Amy's blog, and it inspired me to get my Cricut 'Boys will be Boys' cartridge out, and have a go at one too.

I also used the Pop 'n Cuts Base die, with Label Insert, Movers & Shapers Flower & Star set, Borders & Hydrangeas die for the zig-zag strips, Alterations Gadget Gears die, Black Copic to colour in above and below the zig-zag borders, and chevron paper printed from Mel Stampz. The embossed 'Happy Birthday' is from the Sizzix Textured Impressions Mustache Set.

I am putting this card into the Crafty Cardmakers' 'Masculine Birthday Featuring Technology or a Gadget' challenge, and Daring Cardmakers 'Make a Cute Angle' challenge.

While I have all the Cricut & Sizzix stuff out, it's very easy to just cut out repeats, and make multiple cards, so here is my next little fella ready to go...

(A little later...)

Extended Height Accordion Album Card

It's my good friend Ali's birthday today (seems like yesterday when we worked part-time in the same shop, in our student days - but it's half our life times ago!) This is my card for her.

I used some Cosmo Cricket 'Earth Love' papers, Cheery Lynn dies for the 'Happy Birthday', and cut the toadstool and other bits by hand.

Karen Burniston cleverly showed how to extend the height of her Sizzix Accordion Album die, on her blog here, and I did similar, though didn't make mine quite as tall. For the patterned papers which I added to the frame parts, and the centre parts, I just drew round my base shape, and cut them out by hand, so there were no folds on them.

Tim Holtz's '12 Tags of 2013' March Challenge

This card was inspired by Tim Holtz's '12 Tags of 2013' March challenge. I started out planning to make a tag, but couldn't resist using the Pop 'n Cuts base die instead... (and including bunting once again!!)

I used the Movers and Shapers Bunny die on the new Movers and Shapers Sized Ovals - middle sized die, then layered this onto more glitter card cut from the largest oval. I hand cut my grassy strip, used Papertrey Ink Cloud dies, and the Alterations 'Regal Crest' die for the banner, which I cut a couple of times and layered up. I used the Alterations 'Tattered Flower Garland' die for the flowers. The patterned papers are from the K&Co CutNPaste range.

Tattered Florals Card

I had been playing around with Tim Holtz's Sizzix Bigz Tattered Florals die, and made these flowers, then last night made a card for them to sit on...

For the flowers, I cut out loads of layers of cardstock, pink vellum and tulle. I inked the edges using Distress Ink, and also sprayed them with some homemade shimmer sprays (made from water, different colour refill Distress inks, and mica powder.)

 I'm adding this to The Shabby Tea Room challenge - 'Oh-So Pretty in Pink', to use pink, a flower, and ribbon/lace/tulle. I am also adding it to Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals Challenge.

(Later...)

I was one of the 'Honorable Mention Cups of Tea' over at The Shabby Tea Room for this card!

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Stampin' Up Birthday Card

 A birthday card I made using some Stampin' Up papers, ribbon and Butterfly punch.

I made the post card and banner by hand, and covered the banner and smaller layered butterfly with Anita's 3-D Clear Gloss Finish.

The theme at Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog this week is 'A Bit O' Green'. We don't celebrate St. Patrick's day here, so this is my card with green.

40th Birthday Card for my Husband

 It's my husband's 40th Birthday on Sunday, and this is the card I came up with for him.

(He's actually Vice Principal of a college now, but his background is accountancy and numbers, so hopefully he appreciates the humour!)

(A bit later)
 So, did you spot my mistake?!! My darling accountant husband liked his card, but pointed out that actually, VAT on 32, is 38.4... ooops! (So really, he's 33.3 plus VAT)

 Oh gosh. I used lots of dies for this:

Pop 'n Cuts Base, with Label insert,
Movers & Shapers Star and Circle Set (to cut out a window in the pop-out part, which I stuck acetate sheeting behind),

On the Edge Brackets (I used this to make the red strip at the top too),

Tim Holtz Alterations Alphabetical,

Stampin' Up/Sizzix Bigz Alphabet Typeset (for the 40),

Cuttlebug Olivia Alphabet (for the 32),

Sizzlits Phrase, Smile w/Frame,

Sizzlits Phrase, For You w/Swirls,

and my old red Sizzix School Supplies die, for the pencil.

I used Tim Holtz Idea-ology Kraft Resist pad for the ledger paper and K&Co Cut n Paste for the domino/numbers paper.

The card front. (I liked how 40 was one of the numbers on the other side of the cardstock! I used two Nestabilities dies to make the shiny red frame, to pick it out, plus used Sizzix Ancient Documents die, Label & Flourish Sizzlit (from the Love Set), and Stampin' Up Hearts punch and Scalloped Border punch.

Sizzix Accordion Album Easter Card

The sun is shining, and I felt like making an Easter card!

 I used the Sizzix Accordion Flip Album die, and matching Frame and Label die (thanks for the loan Donna!), various Basic Grey Papers, Tattered Florals die for the largest flower, Movers and Shapers Butterfly, Stampin' Up/Sizzix Bigz Alphabet Typeset Alphabet dies, plus the old green Sizzix Eggs die, and Bunny die. 

I'm putting it in Simon Says Stamp's 'Anything Goes' Challenge.

Sizzix Cupcake Birthday Card

I felt like making something pink and frilly, to go along with the challenges on The Ribbon Reel Blog - to have ruffles (with a pinky/purply cake scheme), and at The Shabby Tea Room, where the challenge is based on a pink party theme, with flowers and bunting etc.

 I used some Sassafrass flowery paper which I have had for ages, and really like, because of how the sickly sweetness is contrasted with the woodgrain. I used Karen Burniston's Sizzix Accordion Flip Album Die, and the accompanying Frame and Label die, plus the very old red Sizzix Cupcake & Icecream die. I sewing machined some zig-zags around the gingham parts, and added some ruffly pink ribbon elements, plus bunting.

(Later...)

Yay!

'Wonky Star' Quilt Top Finished

I finished my 'Wonky Star' quilt top today (it didn't need much doing - just some sashing putting on.) It was a very easy and quick quilt to do, using some Tanya Whelan fabrics I've had for ages.

My tutorial for the blocks is here.

I like that it has a spring-like feel to it... definitely ready for spring now!

Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts Card

Another card I made last night, using Pop 'n Cuts die with Label insert, and the 'Butterfly' On the Edge Die. I cut a few layers of velum for each butterfly (and of the label pieces either side of the bows), and embossed the top layer of the larger butterflies, then machine sewed the layers together.

 For the centre part, I used two of the 'Label 1' Nestibilities dies, to make the cream frame, and cut out a window. I backed the frame with acetate sheet, and stuck on a sentiment from 'Card Phrases Set #3', which I covered with glossy accents. I used Movers and Shapers Label and Ribbon set, to cut out the layered velum side pieces.

I am putting it in the Simon Says Stamp 'Anything Goes' Challenge.

Dad's Birthday Card

 My Dad's birthday is pretty soon, so this is for him. He is brilliant with all things technical/mechanical/wood-worky, so I used the woodgrain cardstock, and cogs (Tim Holtz's Sizzix 'Gadget Gears' die), and metallic elements (plus all the red & hearts, because he's a brilliant Dad and I love him very much!)

I used Karen Berniston's Pop 'n Cuts base die with label insert. I slid the insert along to one side for the inner cut (see where the centre creases are - not matching up.)

I then folded the other side of the card in by an equal amount (and made a couple of cuts, to make an extra little pop-up part.)

 I also used Tim Holtz's 'Brackets' On the Edge die, to shape the edges of the inner layer, and to make the red decorative strips down the sides. I used a Stampin' Up punch for the hearts, and Movers and Shapers 'Star and Circle' set.
The lettering is from from Cricut's 'Stamped' Cartridge, layered up three times.

I am putting this into the Anything Goes Challenge Blog's 'Make it Manly' challenge.

Mother's Day Card

Here's a Mother's Day Card I made this afternoon.

It uses Karen Burniston's Sizzix Accordion Flip Album die, and the accompanying Frame and Label die. I used Cricut Base Camp cartridge for the lettering, and embossed each letter with a Cuttlebug folder.

For the flowers I used a couple of Tim Holtz's different Tattered Floral dies, and cut them from velum, and Basic Grey's Curio 6x6 papers, and inked them up with distress ink. I also used Tim Holtz's Kraft Resist idea-ology papers, and his On the Edge Pennants die, plus a couple of Melissa Frances embellishments.

I'm putting it into Basic Grey Challenges' 'Anything Goes' challenge, Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals challenge, and the Southern Girls Challenge blog, who's theme is 'Waving in the Breeze'.

Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts Thank you Card

The challenge at Simon Says Stamp challenge blog, is to use arrows in your design. I cut some out by hand, and added them to the Pop 'n Cuts Base die, with Thanks insert. I also used the accompanying Thanks Sizzlits die, and Flagpole with Lantern and Sign Decorative strip (which I stamped with Stampin' Up's woodgrain stamp.) The Zig-zag strips are from Sizzix Bigz Borders and Hydrangeas die. The white plaque is from a Sizzlits Card Phrases set.

 I also like the little arrows on the paper! The patterned papers are from MME's 'Away we go' 6x6 pad.

I attached tabs to the bottom of the posts, and cut slots for them in the pop-out part, so they can fold flat easily. The arrow at the bottom of the card is attached to a strip of cardstock which I folded at an angle.

Flower Birthday Card

I have now warned my family and friends' whose birthdays are in March (and there are a lot), not to visit my blog... 

Here's a birthday card for my Mum (which falls on Mother's day this year!.. and my husband's 40th birthday... and my nephew's birthday... ) 

Anyway, I used the Sizzix Pop 'n Cuts base die, and snipped away at the pop-up bit so it was narrow enough to hide behind the Sizzix Colander (which I cut out a few times and layered up with foam pads.) For the little flowers and leaves I used Tim Holtz's Sizzix 'Tattered Flower Garland' Decorative Strip die, and Tattered Florals.

I used up some old square brads which had epoxy letters on (all the q's and z's left etc.) and peeled off the epoxy bit, and put adhesive pearls on instead. 

For the centre white part of the card back, I first embossed it with large dots, then embossed it again with the floral pattern, so both kind of show through. I didn't want the card to have a totally 'twee' feel to it, so included the polka dot/chevron element into it.

The challenge at Crafty Cardmakers, is to have flowers as the main focus of your card,

and I have entered the card in Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals Challenge.

(A little later...)

Karen (and Karen B!) asked about the front of the card, so here is what I have since added.

(Sorry about the poor lighting)

I just left a blank area so I can write a message to my Mum, and added more layered flowers, using the smallest flowers from the Tattered Florals die, and some from the 'Tattered Flower Garland' Decorative strip. The flowers overlap the top of the card, but I made all the flower backs plain white, so they blend in with the white surrounding inside the card, when it's open.

Hope that helps, Karen.

(And later still...)

I wanted to try out a pink version of the card too - if you're interested you can see more of it here.

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Male Birthday Card & Papertake Weekly Challenge

I've recently seen some brilliant cards made with Karen Burniston's Accordion 3-D Flip Album Sizzix die, and wanted to have a go at making one. I can't find the die in stock anywhere, (I know I'm not spending any money till May, but my husband said a belated valentines gift wouldn't count!) so I ended up borrowing the die from my friend Donna.

Sorry about more bunting once again - can't resist it!

The chevron and print cardstock, I printed from Mel Stapz's papers here. I used Spellbinders nestabilities for the inner tag shapes, Base camp Cricut cartridge for the Happy Birthday and shadow, and Movers and Shapers Star and Circle set, and Sizzix Originals Stars die, for the various star layers.

Also, Karen Burniston's Birds on a Wire Decorative Sizzlits Strip, for the two little birds.

I used my Cropodile to make holes in the corners, and added silver eyelets to thread the twine through, and washi tape bought on ebay for the bunting.

You can see I like using lots of foam pads to build up layers, which makes the card quite bulky, so instead of folding the card with the inner parts also folding inwards, I turn them to the outside, so the rest of the card can fold flat (and it looks nicer to when you get it out the envelope!)

I also made this card, using the stamp which I won from the Crafty Cardmakers blog a couple of weeks ago.

The challenge at Papertake Weekly is to use 'Buttons and Bling', so I incorprated those into the card.

I coloured the stamped image with Copics, and layered them on foam pads. The banner die is from Papertrey Ink.