Mojo Monday 119 -- CCS13 & Cute Card Thursday

Wow! 2009 sure went quick!!! I can't believe it's already down to the last 3 days of December. In honor of sending out the year with a bang...Today's Mojo Monday card is a New Year's celebration card. You can check out Mojo Monday HERE. And I recently came across A Fairy Creative site with some great challenges to get the creative mind gears moving -- this week's challenge was to use your favorite embellishments. Oh, I just LOVE embellishments, my favorites being anything sparkle, but I love embossing, and using my punches too, and even adding extra little dangling things...ooooh, too-too hard to pick just one favorite. So, this card uses a few of them. :) ...And Cute Card Thursday has a challenge for a New Year's Card. So...on to the card let's send 2009 off with lots of fireworks and bring in the creative 2010 :) (the links to all challenges are over on the left a little ways down)



As a crafter, I tend to save things I think I will be able to use at a later time...so that's where the champagne bubble flute comes it...I don't remember where I picked these up, but I had a few left. What better time to use one, than to "Cheer" in the new year! :) I also used some tinfoil to get some glitz going in the background as well as a small snowflake charm I had "hanging" around.

For today's card I used 2nd generation stamping and aging with a piece of paper towel on the multi-text area in the circle underneath the Glittered "Happy New Year".

The embossing was all done with the Cuttle bug using only 2 embossing folders, but then sponging the edges of the pieces for more texture.

I put my Cricut to use to make the scalloped edges layer and the circles layers.

Here is a close up detail of the snowflake charm...


...and a close-up detail of the tag (created from the CTMH stamp set)



Getting ready to run off to the next activity, so if I've forgotten something just request in the comment section and I'll post as soon as I get back. Thanks! ♥


Supplies
Cuttle Bug Embossing Folders Ice Crystals and Snowflakes
Close to My Heart Tulip CS (x5753)
Close to My Heart Moonstruck CS (1293)
Close to My Heart Grey Wool CS (5571)
Tin Foil
Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Outdoor Denim Stamp Pad (z2140)
Punch around the page Topiary (for the decorative frills above Champagne glass)
Heat & Stick Powder (Stampin' Up!)
Red Glitter
Snowflake charm
Silver stretch cording

The Last Christmas Card

I waited to post this card since it's the one I made for my daughter for Christmas day, then things were so busy I never had a chance to get on the computer, LOL. So, now it's late, sorry =( ...but maybe you can use the idea for another holiday or even for next year.

It's a square card with half circle flaps that fold in from all four sides. I created the shape using the Cricut Design Studio, but you could probably do the same by creating a square and then using a circle template on each of the four sides to create the half circles.

I ran two of the side flaps through the Cuttle Bug using the Snowflake embossing folder. I also used the Winter saying embossing folder for the inside on an iridescent Mylar.

The trees are from the Cricut Winter Collection using the layers and cutting off the top loop, then sprinkling with mica chips for snow effect.

The penguin is from Close to My Heart Winter Fun stamp set (C1330), which I used VersaMark ink and then embossed in black before using the water color pen to color the beak, feet, scarf and hat.

When I finished I mounted the whole card on a square piece of Colonial white to off-set all the blue when the card is in the closed position. The trees and the penguin are what make it so the card can stand on its own.

Here's a picture of the inside view; the Mylar looks really neat in person.


Here are a couple more views one from the side of the trees and one from the side of the penguin.



Hope you have fun making your own!

Sending the Advent Calendar on the Road - Final Day

We have reached the final day of sending cards off to my daughter for her to open each day in place of the Advent Calendar.

You may recognize the card, as I actually posted it a couple days ago for Mojo Monday Challenge; if you click on the card it will bring you to the Mojo Monday post with the Card Recipe aka Supplies and Directions.



I knew it would be a crazy busy morning with trying to get ready to run off to get her....so we will be on the road to Pennsylvania State University today. Her last final is at 2 and ends at 4:30 so to make sure we get her packed up and ready to leave as soon as the final is done we are heading up early so that we can get it all done before she heads off to that last final. What to do for the 2-plus hours while we wait...hmmmmm....could read...or hey it's Christmas -- shopping! LOL.

Hope you all have enjoyed following along and maybe even picked up a few ideas for a card of your own.

Have a great weekend!

Sending the Advent Calendar on the Road - Day 17 & Just Buggin' Challenge #17 -Inky Fingers

This tri-fold card is brought to you by Cricut...LOL, naaahhh, by me, but Cricut was a big help. I just LOVE the center cut feature. Ever since I discovered that and how to use it, it's been soooooo amazing. Hey, I even pulled out some of my old wooden stamps for this...you can't get them anymore, but I love my stamps and can't part with them, LOL. (you can find the link to Just Buggin' Blog over to the left)

(Scanner does a nice job of capturing the overall card, but it does not do justice to the sparkles)

Well, can't believe I'm up to day 17 only one more card to go, whew....feels like a whirl wind of a couple weeks, hahahaa... So, now off to the actual card. I did need a few extra photos to actually show this card with all the different folds...the pictures from the scanner leave the sparkles flat and the actual camera photos make sparkles SPARKLE, but somewhat seem to change the colors! I'm still working on the lighting issues, someday I'll figure it out, LOL. :)

Soooo, are you ready for the long list of supplies and directions?

Supplies
Cricut Cartridges:
♦ Georges and Basic Shapes for opening in card face (pg 101) and creating oval (pg 114) template
♦ Snow Friends for snowman
♦ When it's Cold Outside 2009-2010 for snowflake
Close to My Heart Card Stock: Indian Corn Blue, White Daisy, Holiday Red
Cereal box, hahaha, yes -- I'm a recycler and this makes great chipboard....heeheehee
Stem from a large leaf -- gotta love nature!
Large red jewel
Red satin ribbon
Cotton Ball
Close to My Heart Winter stamp set (D1040) - believe and snowmen
Close to My Heart Frosty Friends stamp set (D1073) -- Snow family and snowflakes
Peachy Keen Stamps PK-520 Winter Face Assortment Pkg - for the face (of course, LOL)
Judi♥Kins 2203J Swirls (wood mount) Large background stamp
Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Ink pads: White Daisy, Outdoor Denim, & black
Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Markers: Orange and Outdoor Denim
Liquid Glue
White Acrylic Paint and wide brush or sponge applicator
Dauber Duo sponge
Stipple Brush
Martha Stewart Blue Topaz fine glitter
Martha Stewart Snowflakes
Adhesive
Pop-dots
Glue dots

Directions
• Card base from Indian Corn blue cut 4" off one side of a 12"x12" to make an 8"x12" piece, then cut an 1/8" off the 12" side. The First fold will be at 3-3/4" and the second one at 4" -- you will have 3 sections. The shortest section (the 3-3/4") will be the inside flap, the larger section the 4-1/8" is the outer part of the card and the part you will be CUTTING next.
• On the Cricut with the Georges cartridge in, find the desired shape -- figure out where the center of the space is on your card, and where you want your opening located --- then make sure you press the CENTER button on the cricut... set aside for now.
• Time for cereal -- Not! LOL... Get that cereal box and put it to some good use, cut it about 5"x5" lots bigger than you need and place inside surface UP on the Cricut cutting mat.
• Now use the Cricut "When it's Cold Outside" cartridge to cut the chosen snowflake.
• Paint entire surface with the White acrylic, while it's drying you have plenty more to do....
• Back to the Cricut - Cut out desired snow man and various accessories
• I wanted my hat and vest to have some decoration, which is where I used my old wooden background stamp -- you can leave yours plain if you like.
• Stamp the snowman's face (black) using the Cricut lines as a guide -- the straight line is where I put the mouth. Color in nose (orange).
• Put your snowman together using a good strong adhesive (I used my ATG) - don't put his arms on just yet, but do glue his hands to the leaf stem so they can be drying
• Use the Blue Denim ink to lightly sponge the edge and bottom of the snowman -- I just did the right side to give him a little shadow and some depth dimension
• Free hand cut a pile of snow, sponge the edge, giving a little more ink to some ares to create depth. Use your finger to spread some liquid glue around on the surface and then apply the snow flakes, let dry while you add pop-dots to the back of the snowman and apply his arms with plain ole scotch tape (no one will see). Turn him over and add cotton to top of hat and brim if desired. Let dry
• While snow man is drying check to see if snowflake is dry - if so, sponge the edges (inside and out) with the Denim Blue (you may not see this after you add the glitter, but glitter does tend to fall off during shipping or use, so it's better to have the snowflake still finished once this starts happening -- actually it looks pretty good without the glitter and if you're not a glitter nut like me you can just leave it plain, LOL) -- apply glue with a sponge applicator or just smear around with your finger both are good. :) Add glitter and let dry -- it won't take too long. Add a pop dot to the back, and then add your Jewel to the center (or not if you decided not to go with glitter) using the white glue. Let it dry while you move on to the next part of the card.

• Use the Cricut to create an oval stencil for making the shadowy white space to stamp "believe". I cut my oval at 2" -- see what works for you. Make sure you cut it with lots of border around the edges so when you stencil you stay within the area and don't have shadows outside where you want them.
• figure out your placement of the "believe" then use your stencil and Daisy White with the Stipple brush to stipple the area. Heavier towards the outer edges of the oval and fading to less and then none in the center.
• Stamp "Believe" first in Daisy white (to create a snowcap), clean your stamp then stamp again using the Denim -- great thing about the CTMH My Acrylics - You can SEE right where to place your image (move the second one just slightly down or up and over a bit so you create a shadow to make it look like snow sitting on the word) add ellipses with the Denim Marker. Now on to the inside first flap...
• With the card folded, find the first flap you will see when the card is opened. At the bottom, stamp: snowmen in Denim. Then, using the Denim marker create 3 more ellipses and add the word "in" just above Snowmen.
• Stamp the Snowflakes first in Denim, then in White to create a muted soft look - in upper corner.
• Add Ribbon around Snowman's neck for a scarf.



• Put snowman in position -- matching hat to open area, so you can't tell if it's Santa or ehem...the snowman, LOL.
• Put the Snowflake on front, just by window.

Write a nice message in side and send it off with lots of hugs!

Sending the Advent Calendar on the Road - Day 16

The little penguins in this card are having "snow" much fun sledding down the hill...they're doing a real stand-up act on this easel card, hahaha.



Easel cards are a neat way to get a little more mileage from your card by using part of the inside to help support the outside picture. I love ♥ the way they are 3-dimensional in a unique way, but on this card, I even made my snow & penguins 3-dimensional for a little additional pop-up on this card.



Only two more cards and days until I leave to Pick up my daughter or do you say one day? Hmmmm...it's definitely 2 more until we see her, but there is only 1 day in between, LOL. ...Whichever -- so the 18th will be here, and I will be on a long-long drive there and then back again in the same day.




Supplies & Directions
♥ Close to My Heart Daisy White CS (1385) --to create card base, card front, penguins, and pop-up snow: 4" x 8"; score and crease in center and then choose one side and score and crease in the center of that section. Cut 2nd piece to 4"x4" and mount to bottom portion of front -- this is the part you folded the 2nd time.
♥ Close to My Heart Indian Corn Blue CS (1284) -- for background 4"x3"
♥ Close to My Heart Winter Fun Stamp Set (C1330)
♥ Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Moonstruck Ink Pad (z2134) - "Winter is *Snow* Much Fun"
♥ VersaMark Ink Pad
♥ Embossing pen
♥ Embossing Powder Disco Black by Stamp-n-stuff
♥ Embossing Powder Snowflake Tinsel by PSE (Personal Stamp Exchange)
♥ Cuttle Bug Embossing Folder "Snowflakes"
♥ Snowflake brad
♥ Close to My Heart Daisy White bitty brad from Brad Assortments -- Essential (z1219)
♥ Dimensionals or pop-dots (foreground snow and penguins)
♥ Chalk - blue
♥ Close to My Heart Exclusive Inks Markers: Orange (z2338) beaks and feet, Holiday Red (z2327) hat & scarf if you don't use ribbon, Dutch Blue (z2319) and Star Spangled Blue (z2349) hat, scarf and puffs of snow detail with shadows using both blues
♥ 6" Red satin ribbon 1/8" wide for penguin's scarf -- or you can just use the scarf you stamp
♥ Piercing tool set (make a hole for snowflake and bitty brads)

♥ Emboss CTMH Indian Corn Blue with the snowflakes and mount on top portion of front of card.
♥ Pierce the center of one of the snowflakes and add the snowflake brad.
♥ Cut 4"x3" piece of Daisy White into shape of snow banks and hills, draw little tufts of snow randomly with the blue markers, next highlight with blue chalk, and then stamp saying. For extra on sparkle use the embossing pen to go over a couple of the bumps and then use the snowflake tinsel; use pop-dots to pop from bottom portion of front of card
♥ Stamp Penguin image with VersaMark, apply the Disco Black and heat emboss.
♥ Use the embossing pen to color in faces (except eyes) and bellies of penguins, sprinkle with snowflake embossing powder and heat again.
♥ Finish coloring in the penguins and cut out
♥ Add ribbon around neck of 2nd penguin
♥ Adhere plenty of pop-dots and place penguins wher ethey look good on the hill
♥ Stand up card how you want it to look, then make a place in the center for the brad.
♥ Pierce hold for brad, insert brad and card will now stand using the brad to keep it from slipping

Have a great day. Happy Holidays!