May 30, 2011

Thanks Bunches - Flower Cart Card

Hey Ya'll,

First of all, we hope that everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day!  Time to be the "Sassy Dude" again.  Sheila invited me from Cricut Couple to be a guest designer again and I really hope you all think that this project is worthy of such an honor.  If you didn't know, we were featured on HSN's launch of the Anniversary Edition of the Cricut Expression.  They showed my Scrapbook Layout on air. Jinger Adams (Provocraft Spokesperson) made some very sweet comments about the layout and pointed out some of the more difficult techniques that I used.  I had this thought in my head for a card and wanted to really test the limits of the new machine when it comes to precision, so I finally had the chance to fulfill my thought and create this card.  Please enjoy and I would love it if you downloaded the file and gave it a try!
To start, I wanted to share the Flower Cart Card Gypsy File with you.  Just a warning, this takes a long time to cut all of these little flowers.  The end result is fantastic, but it took about an hour to cut one 12x12 sheet of all the little blossoms.
First of all, I created the flower cart using the Gypsy and welding the different pieces together.  There are extra pieces that cut with this file, but they give you more options for layering and also insures that you have a really well cut piece.  The E2 is so improved with the cutting from the original expression that, fortunately, I didn't  have any bad cuts, but the older expression would usually leave a couple of things that took extra effort to have really precise cuts.
The second Gypsy Screen is all the little flowers and the wheels for the cart.  This is the page that takes a long time to cut.
This shows how I laid out the colors for the flowers and wheels page.  You can choose any colors you want, but I thought this may help in how I did mine.
Once everything was cut, I actually left everything on the mat for a bit and used several different colored markers and a white opaque pen to detail all of these little blossoms.
  This is what the mat looks like when you pull off the extra paper.
 Once you have all of your flowers detailed, remove them from the mat and sit them aside.  You can use a stylus to shape some of the flowers.  I shaped about 2/3rds of each group of flowers.  I wanted some left flat for the background.  I used a 1/2" thick foam mat and the back of the Cuttlebug Quilling tool.  This is perfect for this technique.  Simply roll the stylus in a circular motion on the back of the flower and this will round out the flower.
 Then flip the flower over and use the tip of a pen or other pointed object (I used a Gypsy stylus) and press in the center of the flower on the face.  This will press in the middle, but your petals will stay rounded.
This is a look at a couple of the other flowers using the same technique.  To prepare the base, I used a blue mat for the background and then used scissors to cut a grassy background.  Then added some of the grass cuts to the bottom.  I also inked everything with a chocolate ink.
To assemble your card, start with the top of the cart.  This shows how I used the 3D adhesive on part of the awning and then regular scrappy glue on the other side.  This way the awning angles out.
 Use the extra rectangle pieces on the left and right sides with 3D adhesive to make the posts for the cart roof.  Then assemble the bottom of the cart.
I used a metallic brad on the center of each wheel and then glued it to the bottom of the cart.
Once your cart is all assembled, start adding your flowers.  Starting with the flat blossoms, arrange the flowers to look like a retail cart in little clumps.  While arranging the flowers, remember to add some of the green vines here and there as well.  Glue shaped flowers on top. Make sure that you save a few of the blossoms for the inside of the card.
You can see here how the different layers of the flowers really stand out.  I also added a couple of grassy pieces on the bottom of the wheels as well.  I then used Glossy Effects for the centers of the flowers and to make the Fresh Flowers on the top of the cart to stand out even more.
 For the inside of the card, I used the Gypsy to weld together the sentiment.  I thought that Thanks Bunches worked out perfectly with this design.  I also added a bouquet of flowers to the inside as well.
 This does become thick for the inside of the card, but you will see that a box was the perfect thing to make for this card.
 For the little bouquet, I simply used a piece of a heart lacy doily and cut it into a rectangle.
I used a small piece of ribbon to tie up the bouquet wrap.  I glued this directly to the inside mat.  I then added flowers and greenery until it looked like exactly like a handheld bouquet.  Now this is a larger than normal card.  This is actually 6" x 9".  I have a very simple technique to making the box.
For this box technique, you can actually use any scoreboard that you want.  I have a Martha Stewart board, so that's what I used.  You just need a straight edge measured to 1/2 inch for this entire box.  The precision is based on how well you measure your top and bottom piece.  Since this is a 6"x9" card, you will need to cut a piece of cardstock for the bottom at 7 1/8" x 10 1/8".  For the top, you need to cut the second piece 7 3/16" x 10 3/16".
Score all four sides at 1/2".  This picture shows the scoring lines.
Once scored, simply use a good pair of scissors and cut a small wedge out on the corners as shown in the above picture.
Fold the corners as shown above.  Once everything is folded, add a little bit of good paper glue on the little flap and stick together.
Once you have the corner glued, simply add a clamp or a paper clip to hold and move on to the next corner.
While the corners dry, simply cut mats to decorate your box however you want.  I cut three liner pieces 6"x9".  One for the top inside, one for the bottom inside and one for the top on the outside.  I also added a couple of smaller mats to really decorate the top of it.
You can see in this picture (above) just how precise this card box turns out.  By measuring your cuts and scoring in the same place, you have the perfect alignment and the perfect cover for your creation.  You can see in the bottom left picture so precise the card fits inside the box and how important it is to have the 1/2" thickness as the card has so many layers.
Thank you so much for visiting today!  I would love to hear your comments and I really hope that Jinger will stop by and comment as well.  We would love for you to check out Cricut Couple to see our other designs.  Most Sincerely, Bobby

May 28, 2011

Gypsy Made Simple - Altered Tri-Fold Card


Tweet, just too Tweet. I just love making cheerful cards don't you? And this is easy all I had to do is use the template from last week, (click HERE for link) pick out some fresh art and a few clicks and this card was ready to cut. So grab your coffee turn on your Gypsy and let's get to work. We will revisit last weeks card and alter it for a fresh new look. Easy Peasy!

In this video we work with the template, add the artwork and names the various pages and make our layers for each component to the card.
This is what the file looks like two up. Notice after making the card I changed the direction of the bird as I think it will look better facing the opposite direction. So if you download my file this is what you will get; a  Tweet Tri-Fold Card 2 up.

See how I named the different pages, all that is left is for me to add Tweet on the last pages. Easy, just touch the page and hold it down a screen will pop up for you to tap rename and just add what you want.


In this video we will put the card together from scoring to adhering each piece on. Very simple to follow along.

Aren't these cards just too TWEET?
Now I challenge you to make a card of your own and link it up to my site.
I will make the file available to anyone that wants it but I am asking for a donation this time for the tornado victims here in Alabama. Below please take a moment to see some of the devastation for yourself.



Email your contribution no matter the size via Pay Pal using the Donate button on the top right on my blog. CLOSED $52 was collected and will be donated along with my donation to the Salvation Army toward the Alabama tornado relief. I thank all that participated and the file you have received this now RETIRED.  I have never asked for a fee for myself but these people have lost everything and this is one little way that I can help make their lives a little easier.
Thanks for joining me today and I sure hope you learned something new that you can use on your Gypsy. Thank you for your sweet sweet words of encouragement, your comments continue to inspire me.

May 27, 2011

A Quick Flower Tutorial

Hi all,
Hope you're all having better weather than we are at the moment. Today I thought I'd do a quick flower tutorial for you. You need some white card, a Gypsy and Cricut (I used my Expression or you could use flower punches), a black pen compatible with your copics or promarkers or any other pens you use and some bling.



First I opened up a new file on my Gypsy. I then looked for flowers on my carts where the petals weren't too small. I sized them according to how big I wanted the flowers to be on a card. They were under 2 inches in size. I kept the chain link in place so the width and height stayed linked.


Here are the flowers all cut out in white card. I know they don't look like much at the moment but that's about to change.
I then got my black pen and doodled on the flowers. I choose different designs and played about with them.

I then coloured them in. I've just got some Trias so I was experimenting with them whilst colouring these in. The beauty of these flowers are that you can do a tonal flower (blue flower), you could do outrageous colours, you can colour them in complimenting your papers.

I then shaped the petals and added some bling. You could layer the flowers up too.
Well I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Please have ago it's quite easy and you can really personalize your flowers. I want to say thank you to Sheila for having me today as a designer.
If you liked this tutorial please take alook at my blog as I have some more on there. http://www.kamscraftyplace.blogspot.com/
We have half term starting tomorrow, a week with the children off school. I can't wait to have some time to be creative with my children.
Thanks for reading
Kelly x

May 26, 2011

Think vinyl is expensive?

So do I! Hi everyone! Roberta here from TXScrapperMom. I had never taken the time or resources, for that matter :) to try out any sort of vinyl projects, but finally decided I wanted to! I wasn't doing anything special, so I reached for the affordable alternative - the contact paper in the pantry - and gave it a go. I'm sure I am not the first person to try this method, but boy, does it ever work!

I have two of these wonderful carrier in different colors - they are great for cupcakes if you use the tray, and for cookies and such without it. I use it A LOT (once a week, or more), and decided it needed a little something. Here's how it turned out....



I really do wish contact paper came in different colors,
because it really is cheap and easy to find...

I know this may be a give, but just in case...
set it on your mat paper-side-down

Set your blade depth to 3, and your pressure to 2
(any highter, and it'll cut through the paper)
...and voilĂ !!
It cut perfectly, without cutting the paper backing! It's easy to remove, and adhere! Now I have to make the orange one just as pretty! :)

May 25, 2011

"Can ya Sell it?"

Those were the words out of my husband's mouth when he saw my completed projected.  Hi everyone, Beth here from thunderbirdlindybydesign.  Today I wanted to share with you a project I have been working on for several week's now.  This project serves many purposes.  First of all I was inspired to make it when I ran across something similar when I was perusing the Graphic 45 Blog and discovered a very talented artist by the name of Jenny Svensson.  She created a paper Mansion using Graphic 45 Steam Punk Paper.  It really struck a cord with me and I wanted to make my own.  Second, when I first saw the French Manor exclusive Circle Cartridge, I knew I needed to make furniture with it, and this was the perfect outlet for my furniture making using this cartridge, and finally 3rd, I needed to enter something for the Circle blog Monthly Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  My project needed to have cuts welded with the Gypsy, a Sun Cut(I used the Gypsy wandering cart already installed), and buttons.  This project had all 3 and many more.

I had loads of fun making this project.  It has paper printed from the Imagine covering the front, numerous cricut cuts, and it took just about all of the imagination I had.  It's about 21" tall and 24" wide.  It also took almost all of the glue I had on hand, and almost 2 full paper stacks as well as my imagine paper.  I used paper from the DCWV collection, but I can't remember the name of them.  If I could have a house in the country somewhere, this is what I would want it to look like.  Come along with me while I take you on a tour of my own "Mansion".






Bay Window with Picket Fence.


Front door.

Porch Swing with Picket Fence

Bathroom Balcony


Kitchen with farmhouse sink



Living Room with Grandfather clock



Cabinet in the Bedroom.


My favorite room, bath with old fashioned pull toilet.



Attic/Craft/Inspiration Room


Desk

Top of Desk with "glass" top and collectibles inside.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of my house, and to answer my husband's question, NO I can't sell, what in the world would someone do with it:)

Until next time, and thanks Sheila for once again having me as a guest.

Beth!