Papercrafting: Layered Skull Halloween Cards

 

Finished and sent off this year's Halloween cards to family and friends! Went with a layered skull image through my subscription to Creative Fabrica for my focal image. 

Supplies: 

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections)
• Halloween Scrapbook Paper 
• Focal Image 
• Cutting Machine
• Embellishments 
• Adhesive Tape Runner 

I resisted the urge to buy new Halloween papers this year because as you can see, I have a collection from years past! So I gathered them up and used sheets from different stacks. 

Then I grabbed different colors of metallic cardstock, 

and some glitter cardstock, and went to work! 

I decided to keep things simple and only used two layers of the layered design. I uploaded the image to Cricut Design Space and sized accordingly, then deleted the layers I wasn't going to use. I used a small tape runner (Dollar Tree) to attach the detail layer to the background layer. 

I usually make my cards 5x7 which is the size I used here. I cut a metallic panel to 4.75x6.75 and then the scrapbook papers to 4.5x6.5. Layered those using my ATG Tape Runner, and then used the same to attach to the completed panels, and then the card base. 

To finish, I grabbed my stash of self-adhesive rhinestones and went around the eyes as shown, with a few others as accents. 

Boo!

Halloween Crafting: Cricut Trick or Treat Banner

 

I wanted to add a banner to my Halloween decor this year, so I did! The "trick" was getting a picture. 

Supplies:

• Cardstock in Coordinating Colors 
• Glitter Cardstock
• Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)
• Tape Gun and Adhesive Foam Squares

I added in some light lavender to my color scheme this year, so I made it the focal of my banner, choosing a lavender glitter cardstock, lavender and black plain cardstock. 

In Cricut Design Space, I chose a banner shape from within CDS, and used a font called BFC Macabre, which I downloaded, but now of course, can't remember from where. I sized the banner and letters to the size I wanted, used the offset feature to cut a black panel, then cut the lavender panel and then the letters.

I used the foam squares to attach the glitter layer of each letter to the offset layer. To attach the lavender and black banner pieces, I used my adhesive tape runner. 

Once each panel was finished, I strung together with baker's twine, and some grosgrain ribbon on each end! 

Et, voila! The skeleton in the middle is from Dollar Tree. 

Papercrafting: Cricut Birthday Card

 

Before COVID got me, I made a birthday card for one of my crafty friends, inspired by a paper pack I picked up at Michaels: Splatter and Swirls

Supplies:

• Patterned Scrapbooking Paper (Craft Smith, Splatter and Swirls, Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Paper (Stash)
• Base Cardstock (Recollections, 110lb Cardstock, Michaels)
• Focal Images (Cricut Design Space)
• Creatology Gems (Kids Crafting Aisle, Michaels)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)
• Tape Runner
• Glue Stuck

I started by choosing what I wanted to feature as my focal images in Cricut Design Space,  sized to fit my card, and cut. Card is 5x7. 

I picked a glitter paper that coordinated with this piece from the Splatter and Swirls stack mentioned above. 

I cut the patterned paper to fit my card, then applied the cut images using a glue stick. These "industrial strength" ones by Aleene's (Dollar Tree) are a go-to! They really hold things down. 

Once my images were glued down I grabbed these fun gems by Creatology from Michaels. I love peeping the kids crafts aisles for supplies and these are one of my favorites. 

I glued them to my card as shown using a dimensional glue, and added a few gold rhinestones to pick up the foiling on the paper. Et voila! 

The card's been received and my crafty friend loved it. My work here is done!

Papercrafting and Stashbusting: What to Watch Journal

 

In this digital / AI age, sometimes, the best solution is an old-school analog one!

Age or too many choices? Not sure. But we can never remember way too many shows we see advertised as "coming on XY date" or shows that we might want to watch. We think we will...NOPE! 

Sure, either or both of us could keep a list on our phones, iPads, etc. But I came up with a simpler solution and made this small TV Journal where we can jot them down. It was also a great way to use up paper scraps. 

Supplies:

• Mini Composition Books (Dollar Tree)
• Paper Scraps
• Embellishments

Behold, the eponymous composition journal! But in mini-form. And my bin o scraps. I have one for black/white/neutrals, and another for colors. 

Speaking of colors, they come in these three colors. 3 of these for $1.25! Not that the colors mattered since I was covering the notebook but ya know...FYI in case you want them as is. Shown on the paper scrap I chose for my journal. 

I measured the paper to a little larger than the cover, covered the cover with tape using my tape runner, and applied the paper. I used a brayer to get good adhesion. 

After the paper was applied, I trimmed the corners just using the notebook covers as a guide. I covered the front and back with the same paper. 

The paper scrap I chose was reversible! So I cut down a piece smaller than the cover and used the reverse side to make a panel for the front cover. 

I dug through my embellishment scraps and picked out some self-adhesive metal studs that coordinated, and grabbed a "T" and a "V" from some alphabet stickers on hand, and added them to the front. 

And now we have a convenient place to reach for in the moment when something new we want to watch is advertised! It sits in the thing I call the "spindle" where we keep the remotes. 

Next, I'm going to make one for all the songs Mr. Chocolate thinks he knows the titles of, is usually incorrect, and he fights with the smart speaker to play! 

Papercrafting: Father's Day and Misc. Cards

 

Sharing some cards I've worked on recently. Got an early jump on Father's Day cards, and I have some June birthdays to celebrate, so here's what I've been up to! 

We loved the Mandalorian series, and I fell hard for little Grogu. Natch, we had to see the movie and that was my inspiration for this year's Father's Day Cards for friends and family. 

Mandalorian Father's Day Cards

• Cardstock 110lb (Recollections) 
• Metallic Silver Paper (Recollections)
• Black Glitter Paper (Online)
• Creatology Star Stickers
• Misc Embellishments 
• SVG File (Free SVG Planet)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)

I gathered my supplies, including these Craft Mirrors I found at Dollar Tree (I bought every shape they had!). Don't sleep on the kids' crafts section at Michaels, which is where I found this bag o stars. Self-adhesive! 

My first challenge was finding an image I wanted to use, but thank goodness for Free SVG Planet, which has a bunch of FREE character files! I found the one I used, downloaded it, and imported it into Cricut Design Space. I sized it to fit my card, and within CDS, combined it into a panel. 

I layered these so the silver would show through, using the CONTOUR function in CDS to remove image detail for everything but the text. 

Using a tape runner, I adhered the black layer to the silver, then adhered that to a slightly larger green panel, then to the card as shown.

 

I grabbed a bunch of embellishments from my stash and used them, in conjunction with the mirror tiles on some of the cards, to approximate Mando's armor. 

I did a coordinated message for the inside. Just did these in PicMonkey, printed, cut to size, and adhered to the inside of the cards. 

Misc. Cards. 

For birthday cards, I always try to make something that goes with the recipient's hobby or personality. 

Birthday Card for a dear friend.

One off Father's Day Card. My FIL won't "get" The Mandalorian, but he was a big Gardener.

FIL also happens to have a June birthday. Oops, a little crooked on the bottom but I know he won't mind. 

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Papercrafting: Layered Tulip Mother's Day Cards

 

Even with postage constantly increasing, I still am a "snail mail" girl when it comes to holidays and making and sending handmade cards. I think now more than ever, with everything electronic and AI, it's important to maintain some analog hobbies! Cardmaking remains my first love and my gateway "drug" to all of my other crafts. The Mamas in my life will be getting these in the mail soon! 

Supplies:

• Cutting Machine 
• SVG Image  (Creative Fabrica)
• Coordinating Scrapbook Papers
• Cardstock (110 lb)
• Coordinating Stickers
• Foam Tape
• Gemstone Embellishments

I realize the irony (even the hypocrisy) of talking about an analog hobby while using downloadable files and an electronic cutting machine. I consider them tools, just like a tape gun or paper cutter. 

I found a layered tulip image I liked and downloaded the SVG via my Creative Fabrica subscription. I uploaded it into my Cricut Design Space software and sized to fit my card. I used two different green papers to give my tulips depth, and cut the tops out in pink metallic and white. 

I used a mini glue dot runner (Dollar Tree) to attach the layers as shown. Two green, one pink glitter, then the top in pink foil here, and 

white paper here. 

My standard card size is 5x7, so I cut my 110lb cardstock to 7x10, scored, folded, then my focal panels from my chosen scrapbook papers (Recollections) to 4.75x6.75, and applied with my tape gun.

Once all of my tulip focal pieces were done, they were ready to go on the front of the cards!

I squealed when I found these tulip stickers at Michaels, and I already had the butterfly stickers in my stash (Dollar Tree). I attached one of each to enhance each of the tulips. To finish, I added coordinating pink gemstones (Creatology, Michaels). 

DON'T sleep on the kids' crafts section at Michaels, which is where these gems are fun. More than I'll ever probably use, so for $3.99, they go a LONG way!

 

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