Hamster Art

The paintbrush is drawn with my Cricut and the Locker Talk cartridge using my Gypsy, then I drew over it freehand, adding the little drop of paint. The hamster is from Paper Smooches Party Posse, stamped on some scrap paper and fussy cut. I'm adding it to the Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect challenge.

Polar Bear Love

I finally put the finishing touches on this layout I started a few years ago. I added some Pure Glitz Ruby Slippers around the edge of each photo, making the edges a little irregular. I am still amazed how much photography has changed, from the pictures of my childhood "DON"T touch anything but the edges" and carefully measuring the days adventures and possibilities against my allowance of film and now I'm drawing on them lol.

The paper had snowflakes on it, but I added more. Thank goodness for hide contour (I did this on my Gypsy). By  hiding the inner cuts, solid space is made for writing. I was a die-hard two page layout thinker, but I've converted to one page layouts so I can take them out of the scrapbook and put them in 12 x 12 frames.

This week Simon Says Family : ). 

Bugs and Kisses, 1.1

This is a tweaking of a layout I did a few years ago (you can read the details here). The border ribbon never lay right for me, so I decided to replace it. I used my Gypsy and welded bugs & kisses (from the Cindy Loo cartridge) to a rectangle. I cut a second "g" and glued it on the title,and then outlined everything with a fine line black pigment pen.

I used a "decorative accent" from the candle department (around 2010 these were known as "skittles" by the crafty crowd I ran with) dyed with alcohol ink for the dot for the "i". One of the things I liked best was the ribbon came off (with a little bit of tugging, but the paper still had adhesive on it. Luckily I had some freezer paper left over from another project (okay it was a year ago lol) so I just put that over the adhesive until the new title was ready.

A Tee-Shirt, Some Freezer Paper and some Paint

I was under strict instructions not to remove the tee-shirt from it's box, so that's the lesson learned for not photographing earlier. The tee-shirt is a tardis blue color. I only cut the freezer paper (with my Cricut) and gave the instructions.  I used my Gypsy for the layout and Street Sign cart (I love this cart) and a couple of hearts.

Thanks Ewes Variation No. 2

Sometimes I have to make variations of things I've made before. This time I used a mash up of Papertrey Ink's My Punny Valentine and various Cricut cuts.

 

But what was realllllly fun about making this card was making it so the feet move side to side. 

The sheep faces and feet are from Papertrey Ink's My Punny Valentine stamped on PTI's Stamper's Select Ink (with Black Soot Distress Ink) and fussy cut, except when I was cutting the legs I left enough paper at the top to punch a tiny hole. I looped the wire through the leg hole and then stuck the straight end into a very thick piece of dimensional foam.

For the Cricut parts, the "Thanks" was a two-part process. One layer of the Gypsy used for the "Thanks" to be drawn with Cricut Markers using Street Sign Solutions, colored in with regular markers. The word bubble is a rounded rectangle from Gypsy Wanderings and altered pennants from Pretty Pennants welded on the Gypsy on a second layer. The flock body is made from a cloud on Create-A-Critter.

The background is a 4.5" x 5.5" PTI's Kraft cardstock embossed with Darice's Wood Grain embossing folder. The card base is an A2 made from PTI's Vintage Cream.

January 2012 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop

The Blog Hop challenge this month was to pick a favorite project from 2011 and then make a card inspired by it. It was difficult to pick a favorite project from 2011 because I made a lot of projects I really liked, but "Introducing Miss Ewe" is my favorite.

I made a Thank Ewes card for my inspired card using the Punny Valentine sheep and welded Cricut shapes from the Art Philosophy cartridge. The making memories felt letters were included in the Club Ruby Designers kit from September 2011. The cardstock is Papertrey Ink Ripe Avocado and Stamper's Select White.

Making the Tiny Cuts

I'm the guest designer at The Bugbytes today! Today I made two Eeyore cuts from the Pooh and Friends cartridge into a pair of earrings using my Gypsy and Paper Layerz. I started with the large image and hid all the cuts that weren't essential on both layers. Then I shrank them to the size I wanted and cut them out.

I made a wash out of Dusty Concord Distress Ink by swiping it on my nonstick mat.

And then spritzing it with water. Only I was so close to the mat when I spritzed, so it made a spatter. Good if you want a spatter lol.

I used an Aqua Brush to paint over the cuts left to make them stand out and to edge everything. Repeated brush strokes to make some areas darker. Uniball White Gel Pen for the whites of the eyes. A tiny hole punch for the earring wires to fit into and after everything had dried Triple Thick Glaze by Art Deco as a finish (which is awesome because it doesn't cause the warping of a lot of other glazes). After I took the picture it occurred to me I could have flipped the image of one set lol. Something for next time :D.

Gift Box and Gift (updated with more pictures)

All the paper used in this project is from the For the Record Collection by Echo Park, except for the cupcake/ornament holder which is cut from a piece of scrap cardstock.

 

The ornament is decorated with leftover cuts from the box. I shortened the sides of the cupcake holder so the ornament sat lower in the box.

Cricut Cuts:

• Gift Box Sweet Tooth Boxes cartridge (lower section made from  Lace Stripes, and the lid from Table Cloth).
• "Ribbon" around the lid made from Martha Stewart Elegant Cake cartridge borders welded together (Newsprint).
• Button Stars from Gypsy Wanderings (twine from Papertrey Ink)
• Flower Handle, made from George &amp Basic Shapes, three flowers cut and glued together to make a handle.

Cuttlebug Card

Cuttlebug Folders: Plaid (Inked on the debossed side) and snowflakes (on the snowflakes)
Cricut Cuts: Snowflakes: Snowflakes from Gypsy Wanderings and Reindeer from Very Merry Tags.
Scrap and Stickles.

Monochromatic Color Card

And the inside says, "For helping me when I was stumped".

A brown Cricut Marker was used first (on the lowest pressure setting and the fastest speed). The "Thanks" sentiment was only written on and then filled in with Twinkling H2O's Indian Copper. Everything else was cut from the same cream/ivory cardstock and painted with Distress Inks. The card base is 5 x 5 made with Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate.

And I couldn't have done it without my Gypsy and my Cricut Expression 2. The Thanks sentiment is on the first layer (hit return to design, NOT unload mat when layer 1 is done). The Doily and the Tree Stump are on the second layer because after they were drawn with the Cricut Marker, they were cut. If the Thanks was on the same layer, it would have been cut out also.

Cricut Images:
Thanks - Font Feature on Cindy Loo cartridge, 0.57".
Tree Stump - Create-A-Critter cartridge, 3.63".
Leaf Doily - Doily Feature on Sophie cartridge, 4.96"

Coloring.
Thanks, Indian Copper Twinkling H2O's painted in the lines drawn with Cricut marker.

Tree Stump. top layer, pressed on Antique Linen Distress Ink pad, face layer, painted with Vintage Photo "paint" made by smudging the ink pad on a non-stick work surface and spritzing with water, applied with an aqua brush, then put in puddle of "paint" made with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. Base, put in a puddle of "paint" made with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Leaf Doily. Painted with "paint" made from Wild Honey Distress Ink applied with an aqua brush. While the doily was still wet, I sort of gently scrunched the leaves, which held the scrunch when they were dried.

Using the Gypsy for really long titles

Hello everyone! Today is my day to be the Guest Designer at TheBugBytes! Today I'm sharing a project made almost entirely from my October 2011 Club Ruby Designers kit. The only supplies that aren't in the kit are my Twinkles H2O Orange Peel paint (the picture doesn't do justice to the amount of shine there is in it) and Black Tuxedo Memento Dual marker.

This was a realllllly long title, and I didn't want to keep track of all those letters if I didn't need to. And much to my delight, with my Gypsy and the Cricut Expression 2, I didn't need to. If you don't have a Cricut Expression 2, you can do this direct from the cartridge with your Original Expression, it will just take a bit more experimentation to get the lettering where you want it. (I have heard that some Original Expressions are less shaky with markers and Gypsys than others, so yours might work well.)

My Gypsy is my favorite design tool.  The MOMMM title and it's shadow are laid out on separate layers since they will be cut with different papers. Just before each one is cut it's moved to a paper-saving location. The written title is printed on a sheet of thin white paper first so I can hold it up to the light with the patterned paper behind it and make sure it's where I want it. Have a piece of scrap paper on hand to put under the marker when it's swapped for the blade.

This is the title all written out.

This is it painted in with the Twinkling H2Os Orange Peel.

The MOMMM title shadow and the photo mat are both cut from the Enchanted paper and edged with the Twinkling H2Os paint. The MOMMM cut in orange cardstock is edged with the brush side of the Memento marker. The other end of the marker was used for the journalling. The photo mat is only attached on the side and bottom so it doubles as a pocket for more journalling.

The Journalling is written with the marker end of the Memento Dual marker.

Supplies

October 2011 Club Ruby Designers kit:

• Fancy Pants Trick or Treat
• Fancy Pants Trick or Treat Enchanted (MOMMM shadow and photo mat).
• Cut Mates orange - MOMMM lettering

Additional:

• Twinkles H2O Orange Peel
• Black Tuxedo Memento Dual Marker
• Blue Cricut Marker
• Inexpensive White 12 x 12 sheets (for testing)

Tools:

• Cricut Expression 2
• Gypsy
• Robotz cartridge

Cricut Cuts:

• MOMMM!!! Robotz font  and Font Shadow - 1.41"
• Painted title Sesame Street Elmo's Party - 0.75" (with marker).

One Cut, Two Cards

Today is my day to be the guest designer at The Bug Bytes :D.  I love using PaperLayerz by Megan Elizabeth with my Cricut (it cuts like butter!).  I made these two cards with one cut. The first one is the "offical" cut (the snowflake using the silhouette feature on the Damask Decor cartridge).

The second cart is made from what was left on the mat, framed by a mat made from what was left on the paper. Stickles were used on both :D. And the card bases are made from Stampers Select White cardstock from Papertrey Ink. 

There are nine 4 inch squares on one side of Paper Layerz and a full sheet of a complementary color on the other. This is one of my favorites, All Stressed Out.

But if you have an E2, the best way to line the cuts up with the colors is to use the Gypsy. I made a 4 inch grid on the first layer (which is visible all the time) and then hide all the other layers so there is no confusion about what cut is going where. It is a good idea though to triple check the paper and the Gypsy are facing the same direction.

After the cuts are made, carefully lift the paper off the mat and set it aside, it still has use, which I'll show you in a minute. The cuts I'm working with today are the Silhouette Feature on Damask Decor. These are cut at less than 4 inches. I forgot to change my cutting blade, but they still turned out pretty well.

The silhouette cut is on the right, on the left is what was left over after the silhouette cut was carefully removed (sometimes it helps to use a paper piercer to make sure small pieces stay on the Cricut mat. I cut a mat from what was left on the paper and put it on the Cricut mat.

I took a piece of co-coordinating paper and cut it about the size of the mat, then I put glue on the paper left on the Cricut mat and set the co-coordinating paper face down on top of the glue. Wait a little while and then carefully remove everything from the Cricut mat. You want to have an idea of the backing papers before you start cutting because you don't want to leave the "leftovers" on the Cricut mat too long (the mat adhesive starts to stick more).

Here are all 6 cuts and their leftovers made useful, and all at under 4 inches each :D.  Two cards down, ten to go lol.



Bugs & Kisses

This is one of my projects for Club Ruby Designers from the September 2011 kit which was just released. All the materials except the Stickles, Distress Ink and adhesive come from the kit, including the black gel pen. The photomats are cut with the Cricut, using my Gypsy to weld the bugs to the rectangles.

These are some of my favorite pictures of DD when she was younger, and even though it was Halloween, I want to display the layout throughout the year (in one of those Scrapbook 12 x 12 frames), so I used a more year-round color palette. When I found these frames, I really started embracing single page layouts. BTW the frames can be purchase for $10 when Hobby Lobby is having a 50% off sale :D.

Outline the bugs. Use the kit's black gel pen to outline all the bugs on Kaisercraft's Muddy Mess. (Wobbliness adds character btw lol).

Add the ribbons and the title. Attach the ribbon in your preferred manner. I used Scor-Tape on the back. I measured where I wanted the purple ribbon (2") to make it easier to lay it in a straight line. Usually I'm more of an eyeball-it measurer.

The felt letters were put on the large green ribbon for the title. An extra "s" was made by cutting the top off a bracket.. Using the upper and lower case "s" makes the extra "s" seem less out of place.

Add more paper. Add 6 inches of the orange paper with lots of Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink.
 

Weld bugs to the mats. A ladybug, a bee and a caterpillar are welded onto the photo mats using the Gypsy. The bee is from Live Simply and the ladybug and caterpillar are from Walk in My Garden. The mats are edged with the black gel pen.

Dots of Waterfall and Lavender Stickles are put on the dots of Kaisercraft Dirt Trail to add some extra sparkle and to tie the colors together a bit more. A large dot of Lavender Stickles was used in the silver button embellishment in the "i" of the title.

On Your Marker, Get Set, Scrap!

Hello everyone! It's my turn to be the guest designer at The Bugbytes. For this layout you need a gypsy, an E2, brown cricut marker, Cindy Loo cartridge and Stretch Your Imagination cartridge.

On layer one arrange the caption using the Cindy Loo font feature at 1.06". The 4.35" frame is made with the frame feature with the bird house layer placed on top of it.

The scallop is on layer 2 with the inner square hidden with the hide contour feature.

Insert the marker (with the pressure set at 1) and "cut" layer 1, then after it is finished hit "return to design", go to layer 2 and "cut" again. Then unload the paper.

Fill in the scallops and birdhouse doors by hand. Add dots to the inner frame and wash with a small amount of water and a brush to spread color. Draw flowers around the outside. Cut the birdhouse on the inside of the frame with a craft knife so a photograph can be slid under it.

Military Thank You Card

The current challenge at Club Ruby Designers is a Military Thank You card. This is my sample for the Design Team post. BTW the winner will receive a goodie bag from Megan.

and on the inside

Cardstock: Papertry Ink, Kraft, Vintage Cream and Dark Chocolate.

Brown Cricut marker set at a pressure of 1 (if it is too light at 1, go to 2).

Cricut Expression2, Gypsy

Calligraphy Collection cartridge for the "for all you do" ( 0.92" high) and the Thank You phrase (1.61" high)

Stand and Salute cartridge: Service Woman cut at 3.82" high.

Boo-lated Birthday Card, but wait there's more :D

 Hello everyone, today is my day to be a guest designer at the Bug Bytes!

 Ok, so it's a scary tree card, nice but...

 

Inside there is writing with a Cricut Marker... nice but wait... there's more.

It's barely visible in the picture (it glows brighter in real life). The moon and tree face glow in the dark! :D I used the Art Deco Glow in the Dark paint on the base, I think four layers would be even better, this is with two.

Using the E2 is vastly improved for using with markers, but I haven't figured out if I can move the blade and what to do when writing inside a card? Gypsy to the rescue :D. Select the card you want and arrange it on the Gypsy. Then make another layer and copy the card to that and line it up exactly. Hide the score marks and add the sentiment where you want it placed.

Using the marker layer, put the marker in the machine and hit the cut button.

After the drawing is complete, return to design.

Take out the marker and put in the cutting blade (and please use scrap paper lol). Then go to the cut layer.  Do not hit the load/unload paper button. Easy Peasy :D

WOYWW - 102 feeling a little bookish

Since I can't show you my desk today, I'll show you this, a little mini book I made as a lark (well actually I retained my human form lol, think those feathers would make crafting difficult).  So this is the book bound closed with a piece of twine.

The open book.

I used my gypsy and a Cricut Marker (instead of a cutting blade) to decorate the inside of the pages. Before I cut and glued them into an orderly book, they were a wild jumble of spring folds. OK, confession time. I am a mini-bookoholic, specificially at this time, a Meander or Maze bookoholic. I just love how a simple 12" x 12" sheet of paper can become a little book with so many possibilities. This is my fifth variation. I'll be posting directions at some point, but if you search the internet for Meander or Maze mini book or mini album there are several videos and well-written tutorials if you want to get started while I bask in the golden light of caffeine (I am in serious need of coffee).

Happy 102 everyone :D. If you want to know what's all this WOYWW, head over to Julia's Stamping Ground and have a snoop at crafty desks from all over the world.

Out of This World Party Layout

I started by cutting out the silhouette planet from the Cricut Life's a Party cartridge. Then I cut a new monster like the one I did for TheBugBytes from the B is for Boys Cricut Lite cartridge skewing the image for the shadow.

This time I added a party hat from Straight from the Nest (trimming off the scallops) and I made a rainbow of eye colors. Rather than find paper for each color, I used markers to color white cardstock the color I wanted just big enough for a hole punch.

Then I made the title mat, and photo/journal mats. The rocket is from Paperdolls for Everyday cut twice and layered. I used a red Copic marker to color the rocket rather than gluing on layers. And I also used the marker to color the edges of the red mats.

The banner is hand cut and I used some Cosmos Cricket letters for the "out of this world party". I also put it on some pop-dots to keep it the same height as the rocket. It started out white but I changed it with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

I outlined just about everything with a fine line black pen and used Crystal Stickles to make stars.