Flower Market Cricut Collection - Delphinium Flower

Here's a third card inspired by a fellow consultant - Julie Carriere - with her Canadian floral cards.  She had used the Cricut Hello Canada (Z3391) Collection to create her cards.  I'm still using Flower Market Collection (Z3290 digital or Z3285 physical).  This time I went with the Delphinium flower  because they're supposed to be a fall/winter bloom.  I only made one orientation.  Another  smile on my face.  : )

With this card, I went with the blues.  Crystal Blue (X5977). It's hard to see in the picture, but some of the flowers are the back side of the Crystal Blue cardstock (so it's a different hue).  The center of the flowers is Linen cardstock (X5946), the flower stock and flower centers are Nutmeg cardstock (X5951), and "hello" is my standard Black cardstock (1386).

The flowers were raised with the Thin 3D foam (Z2060).  Have I mentioned how nice it is to cut the foam with our Non-stick Micro-tip scissors (X1836)?  There is no residual tape left on the blades!  I just can't get over how nice that is!

Anyway, the Delphinium flowers  are found on the Flower Market cartridge on page 4!
There are three keys needed the shift key is involved too, so I guess I could say there are 6 keys needed):
<4><flower-1>, <4><flower-1><shift>, <4><flower-2>, <4><flower-2><shift>, <4><icon>, and <4><icon><shift>.

"hello" can be found on page 1, or at <1><title>.  I went with a generic saying, but you could use the font to create whatever you'd like.  You could even weld the letters together to have an easier go at putting the word on your card.

Finally, the background is White Daisy(1385) cardstock dry embossed with the Buffalo Plaid (Z4032) Embossing Folder.  That 4" x 5.25" White Daisy paper sits on top of a 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" piece of Crystal Blue cardstock.

I've got one more card to show you.  Until next time!

Flower Market Cricut Collection Card - Poppy

Here's another card inspired by a fellow consultant - Julie Carriere - with her Canadian floral cards.  She had used the Cricut Hello Canada (Z3391) Collection to create her cards.  Since trying to use my resources wisely (aka, not spending a lot of money), still using Flower Market Collection (Z3290 digital or Z3285 physical).  I love these Poppy cards!  They are so happy  : )

The poppy can be found on page 45.  The images cover <poppy><flower-1>, <flower-2>, <Icon>, and <shift><Background>.

Colors are Nutmeg (dark part)(X5951), Poppy (large part of flower)(X5963), Cranberry (accent of Poppy)(X5975), and Sweet Leaf (stem)(X5980).  And the saying is once again Black (1386).  The base of cards are from Poppy cut to 4" x 5.25" and White Daisy (1385).  Both are dry embossed with the Buffalo Plaid (Z4032) Embossing Folder.

After the flowers were glued together, glue them down to the card front.  "Thanks a Bunch" is also glued down to the White Daisy cardstock.

"hello" has been raised with Thin 3D foam tape (Z2060).  Very small pieces are best cut with our Non-stick Micro-tip Scissors (X1836).















Here they are together:

Embossing Diffuser and Punny Pals

Last week I taught an advanced dry embossing class through the Poway Adult School.  This example showed how to use the diffuser (discontinued - but found at a store).  I only explained the technique of using the diffuser.  And an application of coloring the embossed image.  I posted a video in September about the diffuser.  See how flat it is around the bear?  That's because the diffuser doesn't push down on the embossing folder's image.

The paws embossing folder was purchased at JoAnn, and coupled with a circular diffuser to emboss the White Daisy (1385) cardstock.  That said cardstock was cut to 4" x 5.25" ahead of embossing.  I placed the diffuser higher on the card to stamp my focal image there.  Once out of the embossing machine, I took my Mahogany (Z2456) ShinHan Touch Twin Marker and traced over the raised edges of the lined paw prints.

I stamped the Bear and saying from Punny Pals (D1751) with Memento ink (Z899) because I was going to color him.  I colored the bear with Mahogany, and added Black (Z2446) to his nose and Pastel Peach (Z2460) to his belly and ears.

I didn't have access to the Thin Cuts for the Punny Pals that you can purchase during this month (Oct. 2017) otherwise I would have made the bear pop with 3D Foam (not that it isn't cute as it it).  : )

Time Machine - Mini Bragging Scrapbook from 2003

I tried sharing this with you when I arrived at my mother's house for the quilt retreat.  Look at this little treasure!  I made this gem many years ago (probably 15).  As with first born children, there is more time to do things (sorry, Amber!).  I gave this to my mom and dad, capturing Lindsey in her first and second year of life - back when she was unconditionally adorable.

Just thought I'd share it with you!  Even though it's small, this is a scrapbook!  Not too bad an idea...

It closes with a magnet.  : )  Maybe we'll make some of these at our Holiday Workshop on December 3, 2017 (with updated paper).  hmmm....

Flower Market Floral Cards - Iris

I was inspired by a fellow consultant - Julie Carriere - with her Canadian floral cards.  She had used the Cricut Hello Canada (Z3391) Collection to create her cards.  Since I am trying to use my resources wisely (aka, not spending a lot of money), I thought I would try using Flower Market Collection (Z3290 digital or Z3285 physical).  I'm really happy with the results.  : )

This first card is using the Iris flower:

The card on the left was supposed to be oriented in the other direction.  I had glued everything down before I realized my mistake.  Oh, well!

I just love the embossed backgrounds.  They add dimension to the cards without being distracting.

The Iris (pg 37 - <m><flower-1>, <shift><m><flower-1>, <m><flower-2>, and <shift><m><flower-2>is made from the front and the backside of Eggplant cardstock (X5956).  I love how the paper is now two-toned! The stamen is made from Saffron cardstock (X5961), by cutting the background flower a second time.  Then I hand cut the excess off.  I wanted to keep the openness of the flower top.  : )

The stems on the left are both from Fern cardstock (X5930), while the foreground iris on the right utilized New England Ivy cardstock (X5959).

Finally, the words are cut from Black cardstock (1386).  My favorite base for cards is the White Daisy Value Pack (X254).  The flowers and words are popped from the page with the help of using White Daisy cardstock (1385).

I raised the foreground flower with Thin 3D foam (Z2060).  "Thanks" is only the first part of the "Thanks a Bunch" saying (pg. 3 - <3><title>).

For this card, I went with the modern Buffalo Plaid (Z4032) Embossing Envelope - only available through Dec. 31, 2017.

I hand cut off the smaller flower's bud.  I thought it would detract from the overall look.

You could add some Shimmer Brush (clear - Z3293) accent to the flowers or the background.  I took the pictures before I did that - it had been my intention.  But, at the same time, it isn't necessary.
Background: Eggplant cut to 4" x 5.25".  White embossed cut to 3.75" x 5" before embossed.



For this second card, I made the iris' larger.  I popped the foreground iris up with the Thin 3D foam.

This time I used the Leaves (Z4031) Embossing Folder - again, only available through Dec. 31, 2017.  I used the "back" of the embossed leaves.  I thought it had a cooler look that the other side.  : )

The Eggplant cardstock background was cut at 4.25" x 5.5".  The White Daisy cardstock to 4" x 5.25".

"hello" came from pg 1<shift><1><title>.

October is Time to Share the Smile with Operation Smile™

Have you wondered about Operation Smile™?  And why Close to my Heart would raise money for such an organization?  What about your role in helping the cause?

Close to my Heart partnered with Operation Smile™ to help kids smile again - one at a time.  You can read a little more here.  A smile can be a powerful thing, and why wouldn't we want to help.

There are lots of ways to help others out.  With natural disasters, as we've seen, people will collect money almost anywhere you shop.  You can help Operation Smile™ a little at a time by rounding up your order to the nearest dollar - that could be 3 cents or 99 cents (or anywhere in between - okay, and could also be 1 and 2 cents).  Three cents might not seem like it would make a difference, but what if 100 people rounded up just 3 cents.  We'd have $3 dollars.  What if another 1000 people rounded up just 3 cents?  Well, that's another $30.  Even though that example would take a while to collect the $240 necessary for an operation, we'd get there.  And the odds are of only rounding up 3 cents is pretty low.

Sometimes you can do a little more.  Take October 2017 for example.  What would you say if I told you you could donate $7 by purchasing a stamp set?  Would you do it?  For $17.95, you'll get Punny Pals (D1751), and $7 will go toward a life changing operation.

As I mentioned, this month Close to my Heart is "pushing" the stamp set by sweetening the pot.  For this month only, and while supplies last, you can get a coordinating set of Thin Cuts for cutting out the adorable animal shapes. Even better, we’ve built an exclusive card kit that includes the Thin Cuts along with card bases, envelopes, paper pieces, and instructions that you can use to create endearing cards that will sure enough bring a smile to anyone’s day!

Close to my Heart is so passionate about this campaign, how about this?!
"When you participate in our Share a Smile promotion by purchasing any of these special items or rounding up your order in support of Operation Smile™ you will automatically qualify for a chance to win a not-yet-released stamp set from our upcoming 2018 Seasonal Expressions 1 idea book! We’ll be choosing winners throughout the month of October, so any time you place an order, you can be a winner!"






3" x 3" cards and envelopes: $9.95 for 32 of them.  That's a GREAT deal!  I'm stocking up on just this item for the future. : )

Thin Cuts for the stamp images, because who wants to have to hand cut these babies out when there's a machine to do it quick and easy for you.  This set is $28.95 and includes all 13 animals from the Punny Pals stamp set.

Why not go for it, and save some money too?!  If you want to purchase the two items above, the total is $38.90.  Well, with this package, you'll get the 10 sheets of cardstock and 1 sheet of glitter paper for an additional $1.05.  Yes, all of this is $39.95!  PLUS you'll get cutting diagrams and instructions to make 6 different card designs.





Don't think it can get any better?  What about Close to my Heart matching?!
Close to my Heart will be matching round-ups this month up to $10,000!  Meaning that your round-up donations will go even further to improve the lives of children!

In a nutshell:
Buy Punny Pals
Buy the kit and make 32 cards (great gift idea!)
Round up (all year round) your order
CTMH will give up to $10,000 this month to Operation Smile™
Be entered to win a stamp set from the 2018 Seasonal Expressions 1 (that comes out in January) idea book!