Papercrafting: New Baby Layered Bear Card

 

My contemporaries are entering the Grandparent' years and I made this card for a friend who just welcomed a new Granddaughter!  I'm completely addicted to layered cut files and so many Creatives generously share ones they create plus there are tons of them on places like Designbundles and Creative Fabrica you can purchase. I have a subscription to CF so found and downloaded the cut file for this one from there. 

Supplies:

• 110 lb Cardstock (Recollections)
• Assorted Scrapbook papers
• Digital Image (Layered Teddy Bear, Creative Fabrica)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Explore Air 2)
• ATG 700 Tape Runner
• Foam Squares

I grabbed some coordinating paper stacks from my supplies using a piece from the "Let's Wander" stack for the card base panel and a variety of other papers for the layers of the bear. 

I went with this multi-colored and foiled piece for the card panel and cut the card base from ink 110lb cardstock (Recollections). Card 5x7 ; panel 4.75x6.75.

I didn't even cut all the layers that come in this file! I think there were 8 and I went with 6. 

These are the first three layers.

I attached these layers using foam squares. You can see bits of the orange and green peeking through.

These are the top three layers. I used foam squares to attach the 4th layer then spray adhesive to attach layers 5 and 6. 

And here's the bear completely assembled. All that was left was to attach this to the card which I did using my tape runner.

Usually, I don't feel like I'm done until I add some rhinestones, but the details of all the layers are enough. This time! 

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Papercrafting: Layered Easter and Passover Cards

 

I was finally able to make some things and wanted to share the Easter and Passover cards I made for friends and family. I will forever be a snail mail girl! 

Supplies:

• Scrapbook Papers (I used coordinating pastel-colored stacks)
• 110 Pink Cardstock (Recollections)
• Digital Images (Creative Fabrica and Cricut Design Space)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Explore Air 2)
• Tape Gun
• Foam Squares
• Self-Adhesive Rhinestones

Whenever Michaels has deals on their paper stacks, I stock up so I can coordinate things when I'm making a project. I had these "Spring Inks" and "Spring Pastels Glitter" stacks in my stash and since they're both by Recollections, they coordinated perfectly. I also used Recollections 110lb cardstock for the base which went with these colors. 

I cut the pink cardstock to size for 5x7 cards (10x7), scoring down the middle. Then I selected some foiled sheets from the Spring Inks stack and cut 6x4 panels. I used some mirrored cardstock cut 6.75x4.75 (also Recollections) to mat these panels. 

I found a layered image from Creative Fabrica (I am a subscriber) and downloaded, imported into Cricut Design Space, sized, and then cut each layer. The base layer was done using the solid sheets from the Spring Inks stack. The second (top) layer, I cut from the glitter paper. 

I used a spray adhesive to attach the glitter layer to the solid, and then used foam squares to attach the bunnies to the panels. 

I could have stopped here, but what fun is that? I decided I wanted to add another layer to the carrot and then figured since I was cutting carrots, I cut extras!

This image also came in two layers so I cut one from green mirror cardstock and the other from coppery orange glitter. The tops were close enough to the top of the bunny's top layer, so I layered as shown using foam squares.

To finish, I went around the inside of the bunny's ears with tiny self-adhesive rhinestones. 

Passover begins this week as well. I used the same papers to make these cards. I found another layered image at Creative Fabrica and followed the same process. This image came in more layers, a total of 7 of which I used 5. You can see the first three (silver, metallic blue, and lavender) which I adhered together using spray adhesive and then attached to the turquoise glitter panel with foam squares, doing the same to attach to the gold panel. 

I used the same basic process to make the base cards.

I love how all of the layers of this cut file allow peeks here and there through the different layers! 

Whatever you're celebrating, I wish you peace! And of course...CHOCOLATE!

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Easy DIY Ice Skating Sign

 

Something you may not know about me is that I was a figure skater for about 10 years. The Olympics were never going to be a thing (although I did skate at the same rink as someone who DID go on to medal and one of my coaches was also an Olympic medalist) but as a result, I love everything to do with ice skating except being at the point now where I'm likely to break a hip! 

I've had a pair of skates as part of my decor for years and this year, decided to put them outside on the bench by our front door. 

Supplies:

• Wood Art Panel 11x14. These are available at art supply stores as well as Michaels, JoAnn etc.
• White and Black Acrylic Paints
• Black Vinyl (I used Cricut Glossy Black) and Transfer Tape
• Ice Skating Themed Cut File (I found this one at Creative Fabrica)
• Digital Cutting Machines (I used my Cricut Explore Air 2)

The intent of these boards is to use the flat side but I wanted a framed look so I used the underside. Painted it with a couple of coats of white and let dry while I sized and cut the vinyl.

I downloaded this file from Creative Fabrica where I'm a subscriber, and uploaded into Cricut Design Space and sized to fit within my sign. Cut and weeded, then applied the transfer tape. 

I set that aside and painted the edges of the board with black acrylic paint. I wanted to match the "old fashioned" look of the sign so a few worn spots here and there where the white shows through. 

Then I laid the vinyl where it looked about right, burnished it with my Cricut burnishing tool, and done! 

The outside bench is covered so even if we do get some rain it's safe enough so I didn't seal it. 

We found this cool wreath last year at an art fair. It's made from the wire bristles used to clean chimneys! I also made this giant Santa Mailbox a few years ago that shares the bench. 

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Papercrafting: 2022 Holiday Cards

 

I will always be a person who sends snail mail cards. Papercrafting remains my first love and I'm honored that so many of my friends choose to save and even display them as part of their seasonal decor. That means the world to me. Sharing this year's collection of Holiday Cards in shades of icy blue, metallics, and black and white. 

Supplies:

• Park Lane Paper Stack First Snow (JoAnn)
• Recollections Paper Stack Black and White Winter (Michaels)
• Black and White 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Silver and Gold Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Layered Cut Files (Creative Fabrica and Craft With Sarah)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Explore Air 2)
• Tape Gun
• Foam Tape
• Misc. Embellishments

These are the two paper stacks I used in my cards. I was on the hunt early this year. Each stack has a selection of foiled and plain papers and the Park Lane stack is double-sided.  

My cardmaking tends to follow a similar process: 

• Cut base from 110lb Cardstock to 7x10 to make a 5x7 card
• Score using bone folder and scoring board (Martha Stewart)
• Cut metallic panel 5x7 and attach to front of card
• Cut patterned paper to 4.75x6.75 and attach to metallic panel

TIP: Something that helps me is changing the colors of each layer in Cricut Design Space to match the end result I want. It helps me remember which layer to cut in which color. 

White card base, metallic panel, and scrapbook paper panel

Here is each layer of the "Star Tree" card cut out. I usually work from the base layer up which helps me better position each layer. Apply with spray adhesive. 

Once you have your layers together, attach your completed focal to your card with foam tape, and embellish away! 

For this "Twirly Tree" card, I selected one of the trees from a collection from Creative Fabrica and cut using coordinating glitter paper, white, and silver. Mount using spray adhesive then attach to card using foam tape. For this one, I embellished with tiny clear self-adhesive rhinestones. Background paper is from the Park Lane stack. 

I'm never content to do cards in just one style so for this Layered Ornament card (image is also from Creative Fabrica) I used the Recollections Black and White Winter stack, cut the image from black, white, and silver and again used tiny rhinestones and some larger black ones to embellish.

Same process for this Layered Star card, again Park Lane Stack/Creative Fabrica, and embellished with iridescent snowflake and bright gold sequins and rhinestones. 

And then finally, this Star Tree card against background paper with metallic trees. 

I also make a few Hanukkah cards and got this amazing Menorah cut file from a wonderfully generous Maker named Sarah who blogs at Craft With Sarah

I think it's so beautiful! 

They're on their way to their recipients and I hope the like them as much as I loved making them!

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