Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Oh Happy Day

I've joined a group of gals who do card swaps.  We meet every other month and exchange one or two cards.  Each time we meet we decide on the next swap challenge -- that's to keep things interesting and for us to step out of our comfort zone.

This month the challenge was a word challenge.  Use a word (or words) as a focal point to the card front.  My mind was racing with the possibilities.  We have the new Cruisin' paper that has the letter tiles.  Oh, how perfect would that be!  I could make all sorts of words with that paper!

Instead I decided to create a card after looking through the Paper Crafts magazine.  On page 43 of the March/April 2012 edition there is a card called "Come Fly With Me Card".  This card is made of words that have been cut from a piece of cardstock (this was then raised with foam tape).  Under the letters of the words are cut butterflies arranged in the color of the rainbow.  THAT was an awesome card and the card I wanted to replicate!!!

Working with my Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge and the craft room, I created my cut out for the top of my card.  The inspirational card was a 6"x6" card, and I didn't want mine to be that big.  I shrunk mine down to 4"x4" -- that way I wouldn't have to use as many cut out butterflies (good thinking on my part)!  After the top cardstock was designed and cut out, I detached my Cricut from the computer to cut my butterflies.  I choose to cut both butterfly images found on Art Philosophy.  The colors I chose were Holiday Red, Sunset, Sunny Yellow, Sweet Leaf, Lagoon, Pacifica, and Gypsy.  All of those go well with the Cocoa top. 

While those butterflies were being cut, I marked the inside of each letter on the white background.  That way I knew what area my butterflies needed to cover.  I folded my butterflies to add dimension and then I used liquid glass to adhere them to the card front.

Oh Happy Day before the top went on.
As I was gluing on butterflies, it occurred to me that making the card smaller might not have been the best idea.  Mind you, I made 16 cards -- 8 for the exchange and 8 for my customer's order.  Thankfully that was going to be enough cards this month.  As you can see, some of the colors had more butterflies than others, but on the whole a lot.

No, I did not count how many butterflies went on each card, but there are 60+ butterflies.  Each card is unique because of it.  Finally I was done gluing on the butterflies!  I put some thick 3-D Foam tape on the backside of the top so it sits above the butterflies.  After the top went on, I cut some more larger butterflies for the top.  I cut a 1/2" Sunkiss Yellow butterfly and a 3/4" butterfly in Lagoon and Sweet Leaf.  The Lagoon butterfly was stamped with the corresponding stamp from the Lucy Workshop on the Go stamp set.  The Sunkiss Yellow butterfly was sponged in Sunny Yellow and had some holes added to them.  The Sweet Leaf butterfly was sponged in the same color and had some Opaques added for the body.  And that got me to the finished card!

  I am really happy with the results.  If I were to do this again, I would make the card larger so the words could be larger, therefore the butterflies could be larger, and fewer.

Friday, March 16, 2012

March Card Album Workshop

This month's workshop will be held on Tuesday March 27th and Wednesday March 28th, both from 7 to 9pm at my house.  We'll be making a13 page (plus back cover) 6" x 6" album made from 2 Kraft Die-Cut Cards and Envelopes. Cost will be $20.  I was taught this album by my fabulous upline Kay Pekin.  Thanks, Kay!

Here is a picture of the cover:
I am toying with the idea of making the folded flower into a "real" paper flower.  You'll just have to sign up and see what we end up with.

And here is two of the inside pages:
Here too there will be some minor changes.  The stamp on the Smokey Plum paper (the left page) was with the Rock the Block stamp set.  I don't like to use stamps that can't be purchased so that stamped image will be different.  Don't worry, it'll still good!  The dragonflies are from the Art Philosophy Cartridge.  The ready borders are no longer being sold in the Idea Book but are available in the "while supplies last" section of my online store.  If you haven't checked out my new website, you should now.

Due to the length of this workshop, a lot of the work will be done for you.  You'll stamp maybe two pages.  The rest of the time will be putting everything together.  After all, we only have two hours and we have 14 pages to assemble and then create the album.

Want to join me for this workshop?  Please email me at dskdots@san.rr.com by March 21st and tell me which day will work for you.  See you soon!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Website Gets a Facelift

You may not recognize my website.  It doesn't look the same anymore.  And that's a good thing! All consultants' websites got a makeover today.  Want to see?  My site is dsdoodles.ctmh.com.  It no longer has samples or a calendar -- those are here now.  It gives you access to Studio J still, and shopping.  It has inspirational videos for your viewing pleasure. Need Cricut info?  That's there too.  Samples of the Stamp of the Month as well as the complete set -- yup, there too -- and hints to complete the displayed projects.  Did you order a Workshop on the Go and want to do the extra projects?  You guessed it, hints and materials are under the Ideas and Inspiration tab.

A new feature will be open gatherings.  If I have one displayed, you can help out the hostess by ordering and have your order shipped directly to you.  You won't have to wait for the gathering to close.  How cool is that?!

The site is fresh and will almost put me out of business.  Anyway, go check it out!!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

March Stamp of the Month

How about this elegant stamp set?!   As you can see from the samples, it can be used on any and all of your paper crafts!

Don't delay, it's only available from March 1 - 31, 2012 only!
Samples from CTMH

You can go to dsdoodles.myctmh.com and shop online or you can email me at dskdots@san.rr.com.  If you purchase $50 (subtotal) you can buy this D-sized stamp set for $5.  If you'd just like the stamp set, then you purchase it alone for $17.95.  The name of the set is Potential, S1203.