It’s Time For Our 2011 Handmade Christmas Cards using Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge

Time has been flying since we moved.  Getting adjusted to the new town and even the new time zone for us has been exciting.  But with all of the great distractions, it is time to get started and make time for getting creative and to make our handmade Christmas Cards.

This year I need to incorporate our new address along with a Christmas theme.  So I decided to make a Christmas ornament using the Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge, and a We’ve Moved rubber stamp from PSX. (I just wish this stamp had two cats in the window to represent my two boys).

Now deciding what color to make the ornament and back panel.  I choose………. Christmas green and red (how appropriate – LOL)

I used the Cricut Expression Machine to cut the ornaments.  Then I used a Cutter Bee paper trimmer to cut the red back panel.

Some other supplies that I will use is Copic Sketch markers, Elmer’s permanent dot runner, pop dots, natural polished hemp rope, Memento tuxedo black dye ink, and some sea shells from our beach (if you don’t have a beach near by, then you can always purchase shell online or in a craft store).

I printed our address on blue cardstock and used an oval paper punch from punch bunch to cut them out.  The reason why I had to do that was the space that the stamp provided was way to small for our address and if I did write that tiny, no one would have been able to read it.  So when I stamped the image on white cardstock I just masked that part of the image so it wouldn’t stamp.   Then to add some dimension I used a pop dot to raise the address from the card.  The finishing touch was attaching the sea shell with the hemp rope along with our inside message.

Wishing All Of Your Dreams Come True This Holiday Season

Merry Christmas Everyone

Tags: Copic sketch markers, cricut cartridge, cricut cartridge joys of the season, cricut expression, cricut expression machine, elmer's permanent dot runner, handmade christmas cards, Handmade Greeting Cards, joys of the season cricut cartrige, memento dye ink, rubber stamps, tuxedo black memento dye ink

Making A Handmade Mother’s Day Card Using Copic Markers And A Rubber Stamp

Wanting to send some sunshine to our Mom’s this year for Mother’s Day.  This was a simple card to make but it turned out really nice.  I used a rubber stamp from Outlines rubber stamp company and stamped it 3 times (since I was going to cut out images and layer with pop dots) on white cardstock and tuxedo black memento ink.

So for the first stamped image I colored it completely using Copic Sketch markers.

The second stamped image I only colored the inner square with the sun and palm tree. Then I cut it out and layered onto the first image.

Then on the third stamped image I only colored the palm tree and the circle of the sun.  I cut out the palm tree and using pop dots placed it on top of the second stamped image and did the same for the center of the sun.

I used black cardstock as the base for the stamped images then coordinated some blue cardstock for the last layer.

I’m always looking for that 3D look.

Wishing all the Mother’s a Wonderful Day Today & Always!

Tags: Copic sketch markers, handmade greeting card, handstamped greeting card, memento ink, mother's day card, outlines rubber stamp company, rubber stamp

Making Handmade Easter Cards Using Rubber Stamps ~ Copic Sketch Markers & Cricut Expression Machine

Ever since I went to my local rubber stamp convention, I have so many new ideas for handmade cards.  And the best part is that it is not costing any more money, since I have all the supplies.  I am using all of the stamps that I have already owned but am using them in a totally different way.  I went from just stamping on cardstock to making 3D images.

So here is a bunch of supplies that I have used to make this Easter Card.  Rubber stamps from Stamps Happen Inc, and Stampabilities.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Cutter Bee Scissors, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page paper punch, Cardstock and alot of Copic Sketch Markers.

I also used my Cricut Expression machine to cut out the border grass from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and also used the Pooh and Friends Cricut cartridge for the small patches of grass.

The template was used to cut (with X-Acto knife) small lines and then folded to make a 3-D platform.  It took awhile to get the folds just right, but it was sure worth the effort.

It was so much fun coloring these stamped Easter eggs, then I cut them out and added them  onto the card.

I almost forgot to tell you.  I wanted the front of the Easter card to be really simple since the inside had all of the fun stuff .  So all I did was stamped Happy Easter on the bottom corner and then I used some Easter egg ribbon from Bobbin Ribbon, that I wrapped around the card and made a bow on the front.  That’s it really simple.

Look how cute this Easter card came out.  This little chick is so adorable.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Tags: Copic sketch markers, cricut expression machine, handmade easter card, martha stewart border punch, memento tuxedo black ink, plantin schoolbook cricut cartridge, pooh and friends cricut cartridge, rubber stamps, stampabilities rubber stamps, stamps happen rubber stamps

New Paper Folding and Layering Technique For A Handmade Birthday Card

I have always loved the way greeting cards looked when you open them up and they “pop” with excitement.  Not just your ordinary card that may have a beautiful saying but nothing special.

Well those days are over.  I have been using different folding techniques that really make your handmade greeting cards fun and exciting.  It does take a little more time then your regular card, but it is well worth it.

Tomorrow is my sister-in-laws birthday and then on Monday it’s my Mom’s birthday.  I wanted to make them both a really pretty, and different card that they would remember, so here is what the birthday card looks like. (I used the same design for them both but I changed the coloring)

This is the front of the card.  I rubber stamped the image onto white cardstock (this dragonfly stamp from Stamps Happen, Inc) the stamp was a large print but I only used the center of the design and colored with Copic Sketch markers.  Then I cut out the image and layered it onto the solid green cardstock that was layered onto the patterned paper with pop dots for a dimensional look.

Now for fun inside of this birthday card.   I stamped some sentiments on white cardstock tags.  Then layered onto a light lavender cardstock.  I wanted to bring the theme of the dragonfly into the inside of the card so I stamped this image of a dragonfly (from Stamp Crafts)  three times and colored with Copic Sketch markers, then I cut them out using my Cutter Bee Precision tip scissors.  I finished them off by gluing them to each of the sentiment tags.

The great part about this card is that I have had these rubber stamps for years and used them one dimensional.  But with a different fold of the card and some layering, it is like having some brand new stamps all over again.

~ Wishing Lin Marie and my Mom a Wonderful Birthday ~

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Tags: card folding techniques, Copic sketch markers, cutter bee precision tip scissors, handmade birthday card, handmade greeting card

Making a Handmade Birthday Card Using Rubber Stamps & Cricut Expression Cutting Machine

I went to the local rubber stamp show a few weeks ago and I could not believe how much rubber was in one place LOL ~ Anyway, I got so many great ideas for card making that I just have to share a birthday card that I made.

I used my Cricut Expression with the Mini Monograms Cartridge for the scalloped circle on the top.  I then stamped the cupcake with a rubber stamp from Stampendous on white cardstock using Memento tuxedo black dye ink, colored with Copic Sketch markers and then cut it out and used pop dots to adhere onto the scalloped circle.

For the happy birthday I stamped this Hero Arts stamp on white cardstock, again Memento tuxedo black ink and coloring the images Copic Sketch markers.  I went to put it onto the card and it looked “boring” so decided to layer it also.  Instead of using my Cricut Expression to cut the scalloped edge, I used Fiskars Paper Edgers scissors and got the same look. (it was also alot quicker).

Oh, I forgot to tell you.  The purple cardstock was cut using the Creative Memories Circle Cutter.  Since I only needed a half of circle cut to make this look, I couldn’t use a paper punch or my Cricut Expression, so this worked out perfect. (Yeah Creative Memories!) Then I scored the cardstock using the Martha Stewart scoring board.

When I finished this card it looked great but I wanted it to be even more special, so I took out my Cricut Gypsy and used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge with the roly poly feature and typed the birthday girls name, welded it together, cut it out with the Cricut Expression machine and “wala” a really special personalized card.

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Tags: Copic sketch markers, fiscars paper edgers, hero arts birthday candles rubber stamp, memento dye ink, mini monograms cricut cartridge, stampendous cupcake rubber stamp