CWTC Fancy Card Friday - Guest Designer

It is Fancy Card Friday at Christmas With The Cricut!  I have to admit that I am not a fancy card maker... my cards are normally more in-line with Simple Card Monday.  But here goes:  today's card features multiple layers and multiple embossing techniques while showcasing cricut stamping and this week's two featured cartridges at CWTC, Winter Woodlands and From My Kitchen.

The A2 base card was cut in white cardstock with a light pink snowflake print cardstock topper.  An A2 frame was dry embossed with the Wizard and a Cuttlebug folder and then was attached to the card with pop dots.

The print layer cup shadow was attached to the light pink snowflake topper and layered with two additional light pink cardstock layers.  I hand trimmed the steam off of the top layer cup and then stamped the cup with a cricut cut stamp using Cricut's starter stamping kit.  A hint for using the cricut stamps - use a new mat on which to cut the stamp material.  Also, a simple design will cut better, hence my use of the holly cut.  I used Stampin' Up ink and hand edged the stamped images with Copic Markers.  I then applied Glossy Accents to the top layer of the cut to create a glass/china look.

The two pink snowflakes were cut at 2.25 inches in Core'dination cardstock.  I lightly sanded the cardstock and heat embossed.  First I applied embossing ink to the top of the snowflakes and added holographic embossing powder.  I then used the "melt and move" technique with the embossing gun to heat embossed the snowflakes.  I used pop dots to apply the snowflakes to the card.

The final cricut cut element was the round message tag.  I used red and pink cardstock to cut the scalloped circle and plain circle as well as the Warm Winter Wishes sentiment.  The cuts were assembled in layers and topped with white gel pen and Stickles.  I appled red Stickles to the words and icicle Stickles to the tag edges.  I also applied icicle Stickles to the steam coming from the cup.

If you have not already done so, be sure to head over to Jeannie Phillip's blog, A Place For My Cards, and check out her amazing Fancy Friday Card. Jeannie makes THE MOST beautiful cards so be prepared to be totally awed!!! 

The cut file for this card has been added to the Downloadable Cut Files list on the left of the blog under the title "Warm Winter Wishes - Fancy Card Friday".  Enjoy!

Cut Files Added

The cut files for Gift Packaging Wednesday (Gift Tags & Vellum Bag Sets) and for Layout Thursday (Christmas Cookie Layout) have been added to the list of available downloadable cut files.

Enjoy!

Three Clovers Designs Thursday challenge

Happy Friday Eve everyone! And it's especially nice this week, cause I am on vacation next week! NINE glorious days off in a row (including weekends of course)! I can NOT wait to turn off my alarm Friday morning when I get up! LOL! Thursday also means a new challenge from Kerry at Three Clovers Designs. This week, she is requesting a Christmas card that has no red or green. I used this adorable digi image by CC Designs. Isn't she cute??? She's colored with Copic markers and then cut out with oval Nestabilities. See that flower? I made it myself with the Blossom Nestabilities. What do you think? I think I need a lot of practice, but I also think it's not too awful bad considering it's my first attempt. :) I didn't notice until now that the snowflake charm was twisted in the pic. Dang!!!

The snowflakes and fronds are from Martha Stewart punches and the paper is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses. I also used some Stickles on her wings and hat. The pink pearls are by Kaiser.

That's it for today. Please be sure and visit Three Clovers Designs to check out all the other fabulous projects from the rest of the team. And we'd love it if you would join in the fun and create your own card and link it to Kerry! Thanks so much for visiting me today, and please pop by tomorrow. I've got a bit of really exciting news to share with you, but can't reveal it til then!!! HUGS!

OOPS! Almost forgot to say this card fits into Danni's Flutter by Wednesday challenge!

CWTC Layout Thursday - Guest Designer

Happy Layout Thursday at CWTC!   There is a bit of a story behind my Christmas Cookies layout.  A couple of Christmas's ago my older son helped my mom and I frost cut out snowman and Christmas tree cookies. The cookies that were created were some of the funniest, most imaginative, unothodox Christmas cookies in the history of cut out cookies... And it became an annual event!!!  Now there is a bit of an underlying contest as to who can create the best crazy cookie!

So yes, using Winter Woodlands and From My Kitchen was a perfect fit for my Christmas cookie layout.  I love all of the cuts on From My Kitchen and look how great the recipe cards work as photo mats, and how the mixer just fits right into the layout... and those oval label words!!!  Okay, I will calm down - but I do like this cartridge.  And not to be out done, Winter Woodlands has those great layered snowflakes that with a bit of Stickles became cut out cookie frosting!  I used scalloped squares and circles for the cookie layer. 

In my over the top enthusiasm I failed to mention that I used an assortment of printed cardstock, Bazzill cardstock, Silver metallic paper, and assorted ribbons.  One creative adjustment you may want to note is the word phrase from Winter Woodlands.  I changed the phrase and actually combined two different phrases together.  The two phrases on the cartridge are "the magic of WINTER" and "Family FUN".  I welded the two shadow pieces together and removed the word WINTER from the cut, creating "the magic of FAMILY fun."

In my usual  "too much pen" style, I finished the layout with lots and lots of white pen doodles.  I really like drawing on my layouts.  I feel it adds a personal touch and provides a finished look to the layout.  I cannot wait for crazy cookie night this year not only to see what is created, but also to add photos to this layout.

If you have not already done so, be sure to head over to Jeannie Phillip's blog, A Place For My Cards, and check out her amazing layout.  I do so wish Jeannie lived close enough to be in my regular scrapbook girlfriends group!!!

CWTC Gift Packaging Wednesday - Guest Designer

It's Gift Packaging Wednesday at CWTC!!!  In addition to the two required cartridges, Winter Woodlands and From My Kitchen, I also used Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More to create vellum gift bags with layered label and mini card sets. 

I have always struggled with cutting vellum on my Cricut but I believe I have solved my previous issues:  I needed to use a very, very sticky mat!!!  That was all it took to cut these adorable boxes using the inch box cut on TBBM. 

To create the mini cards and labels I used tag shapes from WW and added ovals as cut outs from FMK.  I welded two of the tags together to create the base mini card.  I used additonal cuts from each of the two cartridges and finished by adding touches of Stickles. 

I finished the gift package sets off by running ribbon through holes at the top of the boxes and tied them closed with matching Christmas Ribbons. My gift bags and mini cards are all set to go under the tree or be delivered to friends!

If you have not already done so, be sure to visit Jeannie's blog, A Place for my Cards and check out her Gift Packaging Wednesday project ....  Note to self - ask Jeannie to help me with all of my holiday packaging as she is amazingly talented!!!