A Helpful Tip to my Fellow Crafters about Handmade Address Labels for Christmas Cards

I did something yesterday that helped me out of a pinch.  I was writing out our Christmas cards and found out that I had no return address labels (or should I say ones that I would want to put on my really pretty cards), so I made my own.

I used plain white printer/copy paper. Then using my computer, Microsoft Word, along with the envelopes and labels feature I typed our return address.

Then I found a cute picture on clip art of a Christmas tree and added that to my labels.

They printed out on the piece of paper just as they would if I used a sheet of plain white labels (that I did not have)

Now here comes “let’s use stuff in your craft studio that you haven’t used in awhile.”

I trimmed each row of addresses so that there was no excess paper on either side. (Using my EK Success Cutterpede paper cutter)

Then I ran them through my XYRON 510 sticker maker using the permanent adhesive cartridge.

After taking off the top layer (clear plastic) I used my Mini Cutterpede (I could have used the big one but I have a mini and it was just was just easier) but this time using the perforation blade (I think this is the first time I every used this blade).  So that I would be able to just take one label at a time.

It worked great – looks great and the best part it was easy.

tipofthedayreturnaddresslabels

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

What Can You Make Using The Plantin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge, A Cricut Expression Cutting Machine And The New Cricut Gypsy?

The answer is a really cool birthday card.

The Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge is what I used to make a birthday card for my nephew Ryan who is turning 13.  I had to make something “cool” and not cute since he is now a teenager.  His parents (my sister) got him a digital camera and I wanted to keep that theme for his card.  So I looked at all my cricut cartridges and wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t have any of the cartridges that have an image of a camera.  Guess I need to make another wish list.

So I looked though all of my rubber stamps and if you have followed my blog, you know that I have stamps.  And I was in luck.  I have a stamp of a camera from a company called scrapbookin’ stamps that is no longer in business.

So I stamped the camera on silver paper (his camera is silver) and used black pigment ink and clear embossing powder to set the ink.

Then I used a circle paper punch and I was in luck, it was the correct size to punch the lens out of the camera.  I also punched a circle in the blue paper that I mounted the camera onto, and also the white card cover.  I rounded the corners of the blue paper so they matched the rounded edges of the camera.

usingplantinschoolbookcricutcartridgetomakehandmadegreetingcard

I then took out my Cricut Gypsy and looked though the cartridges and chose the Plantin Schoolbook cricut cartridge to cut out the letters and numbers for this card.  I really like the Roly Poly feature for this.  I used my Cricut Expression cutting machine to cut these out.  After I cut out Ryan’s name and the numbers 13, I wanted to add just a little “bling” to them so I used a silver gelly pen and outlined them with dots.  I think it turned out pretty cool.

messageinsidehandmadegreetingcardusing cricutcartridge

Did I forget to tell you how much I love my new Cricut Gypsy!

I used my permanent adhesive glue glider to put Ryan’s name down then I used dimensional adhesive dots for the 13 because I wanted it to pop out of the camera.  Remember, I cut the hole so that when he opens the card the 13 will be in the inside of the card also.

Wishing Ryan a Fantastic 13th Birthday ~ Wish we could be there to celebrate!

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

Another Fun Cricut Card Idea Using The Cricut From My Kitchen Cartridge

Some more birthday cards to share.  This one is for my sister-in-law.  She is a very crafty person, so I want it to be just right.

Before I tell you about the card, I just have to tell you how great it is to have the new Cricut Gypsy.   I designed this entire card sitting on my sofa with my cat in my lap watching game 5 of the World Series.  How cool is that.  The only time I needed to go into my “craft world” is to put the paper on the cricut cutting mat, and cut the images out on my Cricut Expression cutting machine.  Sorry I just had to tell you that.

So, I decided to use the Cricut From My Kitchen cartridge, to make this card.

What I did first was decide what image I was going to use.  I picked the toaster.  I think it looked so cool and retro.

frommykitchencricutcartridgehandmadegreetingcard

I used two different shades of pink paper from Stampin Up, pink passion and pixie pink for the toaster and for the piece of toast I used chocolate chip and blush blossom.  Then I used Basic Black for the wording and the base of the toaster and Whisper White for the accents.

The pink plaid paper is from DCWV – Nana’s Kitchen Premium Stacks.  I just love this paper stack.  It goes perfect with this Cricut cartridge.

For the inside message I used the phrase Happy Birthday from the Cricut cartridge Beyond Birthdays.

frommykitchencricutcartridgeinsidehandmadegreetingcard

Then what I did was added some dots onto the wording using gerbera pink opaque marker from Martha Stewart for the finishing touch.

I put it all together using permanent adhesive tape runner and a dimensional square on the toast so it looked like it was really popping out of the toaster.

Wishing Fran a Great Birthday ~ Hope she likes her card, because I sure had a lot of fun making it.

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

Coloring Christmas Cards with Copic Sketch Markers & Prismacolor Markers. Which Marker Won My Challenge?

Today I mailed a batch of Christmas cards for Operation Write Home.  I just love making cards for this organization.  I looked through my Christmas stamps and found some really cute ones from Stampin Up, House Mouse, Uptown Rubber Stamps and an unknown Santa.  I also used Stampin Up paper, and some cute ribbons from Bobbin ribbon.  I colored them all in using Copic sketch markers and Prismacolor markers.

Here is a picture of some of the cards that I made.

makingchristmascardsusingcopicsketchandprismacolormarkers

I first stamped the image with black pigment ink and used clear embossing powder to set the ink from smudging.

Then I used my Copic sketch markers along with some PrismaColor markers to color the images.  It was fun using these markers.  I’ve been hooked on using embossing markers with clear embossing powder for such awhile that this was a great change of pace using something different.

christmascardsusingcopicsketchandprismacolormarkerssupplies

Awhile back, before I purchased some alcohol ink markers, and I raised the question to my fellow crafters, which is a better marker, the Copic sketch or Prismacolor?  I received all different answers from the cost to the colors available.  While I was coloring with both markers on these cards, I came to my own personal conclusion.  Copic sketch markers go on like butter.  It was like the colors went on so smooth, and effortless, while the Prismacolor markers seemed a little rough and hard.

Another difference was the size of the markers. The Copic sketch marker has a thin oval shape (that will not roll off of your work area) and it felt nice in your hand, while the Prismacolor marker is round and a little fat, for a not so comfy feel.

So for me the winner is Copic Sketch markers.  But that doesn’t mean I not use my Prismacolor markers because I will.  It just means that I really like the Copic ones better.

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

Making a Birthday Card Using your Cricut Expression Cutting Machine with the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge and your Cuttlebug Machine too!

Here is an easy card to make that looks pretty classy too!

I had to make a special birthday card for our brother-in-law who was turning 60.  I went looking through all of my cartridges and nothing popped out and said this is the one.  So what I ended up doing was combining my Cricut Expression cutting machine, along with the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge and Cuttlebug machine using the happy birthday cuttlebug embossing folder for a fun card.

plantinschoolbookbirthdaycard

Here is how I made this card:

I used a white 4 x 5.5” note card.

Cut a piece of checkered paper just a little smaller than then the card.

Cut a piece of solid blue paper smaller then the checkered paper.

Now the fun part.

I ran the blue paper through my cuttlebug machine using the birthday cuttlebug embossing folder.

cuttlebugandembossingfolder

Then using my Cricut Expression cutting machine, and the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, I cut out the numbers 60, using the “Roly Poly” feature at one inch.

Next I selected the “blast” shape from the cartridge and cut the white one at 2.5” and the light blue one at 2”

I put them all together with the Glue Glider Pro, and then I added some dimensional adhesive dots to the 60, since I wanted that to pop out of the card.  And for the finishing touch I added a stitched look on the 60 using a silver gelly roll pen.

Wishing Bruce a Wonderful 60th!

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

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