Graduation Invitations

I was working on a Graduation invitation project this week.  Looks like I am a year ahead of myself right?  Well, all of these ideas can be used this year and next, so I decided to make them a little more timely for our display at the store.  I am even getting way ahead of myself putting my oldest child's invite for 2012 in the mix...lol...but hey, it's an example of you could do to create your own Graduation invitations for High School or College.

Each card will be detailed over the next four days, so you can see the details of each one.

Be Inspired #29 Mother's Day Card

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY card
Coordinating Envelope

I needed to make some Mom's Day cards, so this challenge was easy!

Check out the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog for more details on the challenges.

If you are looking for Graduation cards...stay tuned tomorrow for my invitation collection I created this week.

Materials:

Paper: Paper Cut (kraft)

WorldWin (teal and orange)

My Minds Eye: Bloom & Grow "Lots of Dots"

Chipboard: Maya Road "Birds of a Feather"

CUTTLEBUG : "Olivia" alphabet set and "Border Frills"

NESTABILITIES: Standard Circle Large and Classic Scallop Circle Large

INK: Tim Holtz Distress Inks

Punch: Family Treasures

Bling: Queen & Co

Glossy Accents

Craft Mat

Ribbon: Bo-Bunny

Cut-N-Dry Foam

Pop-Dots

I cut this card out with the PAZZLES Creative Cutter.  SWEET!  I then embossed the edge of the card and inked it with my FOAM Squares.  The inking on the chipboard bird and branch is achieved by rubbing the chipboard across the ink pad....easy!  After it dried a little, I applied the GLOSSY ACCENTS to the bird to make the colors pop.   The rest is a matter of layering the elements to the card front.

The arrival of the MAYA ROAD order was perfect!  These birds and branches are a great addition to a card or page.  So easy to decorate too.  All the goodies in the box that arrived yesterday were cool!  Love chipboard, stop by the store for your fix!

Home Sweet Home Challenge

I needed some motivation and the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE BLOG was the perfect motivator.  Check it out sometime if you need a little shove for your creative juices.

I haven't played with my NESTIES in a day or two so I had to get them out again.  I am loving this Apron Lace punch from FISKARS too.  They make a great tool!! And what card isn't complete without some CUTTLEBUG'in.

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin

Ink: Tim Holtz "Antique Linen" and  "Vintage Photo"

Stamp:  Basic Grey

CUTTLEBUG: "Winter" (the house) and"With Love" borders

NESTABILITIES: Standard Circle Large and Classic Scalloped Circles Large

Sizzix: Dots folder

PUNCH: FISKARS "Apron Lace"

Cut-N-Dry Foam

Craft Mat

Micron Marker

Get crafty with your tools!

More birthday wishes

It's such a horrible day outside right now....perfect for making cards and doing scrapbook pages.

I made this card from some leftovers of a page kit project last week.  I included a little Tim Holtz too. Can you believe it...no CUTTLEBUG!!!

Materials:

Paper: Reminisce

WorldWin cardstock

Graphic 45 (the "B")

stamp: Inkadinkadoo Mini Clear

Tim Holtz Adage Tickets...love these things

Making MEmories brads

Another easy card of layers and some extra doodads.  Sorry the photo is a little overexposed because I had to use the flash.  The red in the "B" square is darker and you can see the "birthday" stamped underneath the letters. You can see this one in the store in person for a better look.  All materials area currently available at the store.

Birthday greeting

A simple card with cardstock, a punch and stamping.

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin

Punch: FISKARS "Apron Lace"

Stamp: Heidi Swapp

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Peeled Paint"

Judith "Black"

Cut-N-Dry Foam

The stamp set that I used on this one is little.  I picked the line of dots to do the uppermost part of the card base and then distress inked the edges give it more depth.  All of the card is inked with the foam square.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my DISTRESSED friend

Ok, so SOMEONE out there is 

celebrating a BIRTHDAY TODAY.....

and this card is for her....MINDY JO

A close-up of the distressing and more distressing....

All the goods laid out.

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin and Graphic 45 "Society Page"

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink: "Vintage Photo", "Antique Linen", and "Walnut Stain"

Tim Holtz Distress Stickles "Antique Linen" and "Fired Brick"

Tim Holtz "Washers"

Tim Holtz "Game Spinners"

Tim Holtz "Adage Tickets"

Tim Holtz "Mini Masks"

Tim Holtz "Grunge Paper"

Brads: Spare Parts

NESTABILITIES: Labels One

CUTTLEBUG "Just My Type" emboss borders

Craft Mat

Cut-N-Dry Foam

Brayer

This was fun.  I started with a big card (5 1/2" square)....I wanted lots of room for "stuff".   I laid out my swirl mask and inked up my brayer wit the lightest color of ink and rolled it onto the card base.  Then I picked up my mask and moved it lower on the card and inked up again with a darker shade this time and rolled over it.  For the dark shade down the side I inked up a narrow strip of ink on the outer edge of the roller and then rolled it up the side so only a narrow line would be left (about a 1/2").  See an example here if the written details don't work for you. I cut the NESTABILITIES frame from the thinner "GRUNGE PAPER" and then inked it up with ink and my foam squares cut from the Cut-N-Dry foam.  I added extra inking to the "tickets" with my foam squares too...those are great tools, I don't know why I didn't buy them sooner!!  After putting the Cuttlebug zig-zag embossing on the edge I inked up again.  Then I layered it all up together.  The "game spinner" has a "washer" between the arrow and brad.  I don't think you NEED it, but I liked the additional layering on it....and it spins wonderfully!  It's all topped off with my Distress Stickles.  Those are fun!  They are chunkier than regular glittery Stickles and are less shiny. The stuff wasn't dry when I took the photo, so that it looks shiny.

That's it....just play...those are the rules.

Mindy, you'll get your card soon. Happy Birthday girlie!! Oh, and Happy Secretary's Day and Earth Day.

Distressed Birthday

The silly saying on the front is a bit of a contradiction to the old fashioned look to the card, but it will work for my Dad pretty well. You won't be seeing this one in the store, this one is heading to my Dad.
My supplies for this....love all these things....including the craft mat...my space is SOOOO much cleaner.  I have this desire to see it free of all debris when I am finished so my space looks so much neater.
I have been having a fabulous time with my new Tim Holtz toys and gadgets.  Tickets, tags, and more!  The distressing tool gives the edges a slightly frayed look (see above) that tearing just can't accomplish.

Materials:

Paper: CORE'dinations Chocolate Box

Graphic 45 "Society Page" and  "Communique" 

Tim Holtz "Journaling Tickets", "Adage Tickets" and Distress Inks

Craft Mat (for my inking messes)

Cut & Dry Foam (to apply the ink to the edges, gives a nice smooth swiped look)

Tim Holtz Distress tool by Tonic (I don't use this enough!)

Stamp: Inkadinkadoo

Key and Photo corners (from my personal stash)...we do have similar items in the store right now, but I had these to use up first.

All items, except the ones I mentioned are from my stash, are available in the store right now.

Froggin'

I love this paper with the little froggies on it.  The little bitty frogs just begged to be cut out.  So with a little layering and other random bits I have a cute card finished.

Materials: 

WorldWin, PAper Cut cardstock

Froggies paper: Creative Imaginations

STICKLES

CUTTLEBUG "Friends Forever"

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Judith "Black"

Ribbon: Offray

Tri-fold

More playing with my CUTTLEBUG!  I decided to try out a different fold....the tri-fold. I kept one end short, just to be different.
The middle fold....add a sentiment or personal note here....
...and then the inside.  You can layer all kinds of stuff on these cards.  My favorite part is layering tons of pieces of CUTTLEBUGged shapes.  A few pretty patterned papers don't hurt either.

Materials:

Paper: Basic Grey, WorldWin Cardstock and My Mind's Eye

NESTABILITIES: Sunflowers Two, Standard Circles, Labels One and Two

CUTTLEBUG: "Happy Birthday" and "Birthday" embosser sets, "Fall Leaves" dies "Olivia" Alphabet set (small flowers) and "Vintage" dies.

Bling: HERO ARTS

Chocolate Bunnies

Nothing like a chocolate bunny to on Easter right?  This little embossed bunny is from a SIZZIX "BABY" embosser set.

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin (dark brown and cream) Paper Cut (light brown)

Flowers: Prima

Brads: Making Memories

CUTTLEBUG:   "Just My Type"

NESTABILITIES: Inverted Squares

DREAMWEAVERS: rubber mat for embossing

SIZZIX: Baby Set #2

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Inks "Walnut Stain" and "Vintage Photo"

Pinhole Punch 

Cut-N-Dry Sponges....these are awesome for applying color to embossed images....it's like my fabulous discovery of the brayer to apply ink to large surfaces...it just works better!

Stamp: HERO ARTS (I think)..I borrowed this one and didn't catch the name of it when I was working on that part. I  just knew the quote was perfect for my little bunny.

Cuttlebug LOVE....really

Have I mentioned once or twice (make that million times) that we LOVE LOVE LOVE our CUTTLEBUGS?  What other way to show how much we love our CUTTLEBUGS then to wear Cuttlebug Green shirts at work? It's our favorite color!
So, what better way to highlight that love with a page completely done in CUTTLEBUG...it just screams LOVE!

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin cardstock

CORE'dinations Whitewash

CUTTLEBUG:

Dies:

Fall Leaves

Flower #1

Concentric Heart

Astericks

Floral Borders

Vintage

Embossers

Stylized Flowers

Script Texture

Swiss Dots

Diamonds in the Rough

Tiny Mosaic

Textile Texture

Number Collage

D'vine Swirl

Perfectly Paisley

Birds and Swirls

Leafy Branch

Friends Forever

Tiny Bubbles

Bloom Dots

Argyle

Now that's a lot of CUTTLEBUG'in!!  I used the CORE'dinations for the background and sanded off the raised areas...I LOVE IT!  

Trial and error

In my effort to try just about anything in my CUTTLEBUG, 

I gave a simple plastic stencil a try.

Plain plastic stencil, Cut-N-Dry foam, a craft mat, a stamp set and some ink.

It embossed a nice image into the paper just like when we use the DREAMWEAVERS embossing stencils.  Leave the stencil on the raised image and you can color the design in with a sponge square.  COOL!  To think, I was about to put all my plastic stencils in the CUSTOMER thrift sale at the store....not anymore!!  Well, maybe a couple might make it there.

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin and Paper Cut

Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Distress inks

Cut-N-Dry foam

DREAMWEAVERS rubber embossing mat

Craft mat....so necessary to keep your area clean when crafting....and I REALLY need it!!

ALL of the above items can be found at the store

The below items are older and NOT available, but I will mention them in the event you might already own them.

Plastic stencil (Stampendous)

Stamp: Inque Boutique (sorry I bought the last set during the big sale we had in December...you had your chance....)

The embossing sandwich recipe is as follows:

A plate

B plate

stencil (a plastic or metal one)

paper to be embossed

rubber mat (DREAMWEAVERS)

B plate

Roll your "sandwich" through and see what you have!  Give it a try with some of your old stencils.  I know you have them lying around.  If you craft something using an old plastic stencil, post a reply with a link so I can see it too!  

Happy CRAFTING!

Birthday Bugs

Gotta play with my Cuttlebug.....everyday....

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin cardstock (Dark Spring Green)

Scenic Route: Cottage Street (double sided with cool blue flowers and orange background)

CUTTLEBUG: "Swiss Dots" embosser, "Happy Birthday" set and "Textile Texture" embosser

NESTABILITES: Labels Two and Standard Circles Large

Corner Rounder from FISKARS

INK

Cut-n-Dry foam

After running my paper through the embossers I rubbed my ink pad over the background dots and the Textile strips to get the really dark look to the raised areas.  Pick a color that matches the paper to get the most bang out of it.  In this case I had an olive color that worked pretty good with the Spring Green.  To get the subtle color on the white circle and it's embossed words I used my Cut-n-Dry foam to dab on the ink and then rub lightly on the image.

Cut-n-Dry comes in a large sheet but if you cut it into little 1 1/2X1 1/2" squares and use them for your distressing you'll get a nice smooth edge.  There are also many uses for the Cut-n-Dry foam..check out the package for other uses.

Simple Butterfly

Keeping it simple is a good idea sometimes.  I was trying out a technique from this BLOG (she is a member of the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog) and needed to put the finish on what I had started....since I actually did this embossing part almost a month ago. See, I eventually get things done......I will put all the blame on the fact that it needed to dry on my long wait to finish. 

Check out the link above to see how the Glimmer Mist was used on my embossing folder.  She did an excellent job of explaining it, and don't worry, the Glimmer Mist washes right off.

Materials:

Paper: Paper Cut

WorldWin Cardstock

Ribbon: May Arts

Bling: HERO ARTS

Butterfly: Cut from a piece of May Arts ribbon (the pearl is part of the butterfly)

CUTLEBUG: "Friends Forever" set

Glimmer Mist: "Frost"

It's hard to see where the Glimmer Mist gathered on the folder but it basically goes into the cracks and creases.  I think it works better with a more detailed embossing folder....but you never know until you try it right??   It does give a nice shimmer to plain cardstock.  

So, get crafty...try something new today.

Cuttlebug Challenge #25

I decided to give the latest challenge at the CUTTLEBUG CHALLENGE blog a try.  I usually don't have time to do challenges in a timely manner.....give me a month and maybe I can do it....but since I got to go shopping afterwork yesterday....and I had some FREE TIME today...voila....a card is done.  This weeks challenge is also co-sponsored by SHEETLOAD of Cards, check them out too when you get a chance. 

I bought a nice big handful of papers from Graphic 45.  Love the colors in that line.  

Materials:

Paper: Paper Cut cardstock

CORE'dinations Chocolate Box

Graphic 45: "Haute Couture" and "Society Page"

CUTTLEBUG: "Sliders" die and "Textile Texture" A2 embosser

Stamp: Daisy Bucket (love this stamp!!)

Buttons: ?  leftovers from some set from a LONG time ago

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Vintage Photo" and "Walnut Ink"

I inked the fabric buttons because they were very white, so a little dab of ink from my "Cut & Dry" sponges and they look a little more antique.  I sanded the Textile Texture embossed piece to reveal the yellow side of the CORE'dinations paper.  You have GOT to try that paper out.  We have many different colors of this available.  PICTURE THIS is a CORE STORE for CORE'dinations.  We currently have Whitewash and Black Magic in packs and many of the others in single sheets.  IT ROCKS!

Cornish Heritage Farms

I got to break out the "Shady Daisy Backgrounder" today and did a little playing.  First I inked up the stamp with a mix of yellow and browns thinking this would be a cool mix....not!  Starting over.  Then I inked the entire thing with just yellow....still not happy....so I inked it again with a darker caramel shade and stamped right over the top.  Ok, still not happy.....one shade darker.....and voila!  Then of course, I can't play without breaking out the little green machine.

Materials:

Paper: Bazzill Brown and Paper Cut

Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Antique Linen, Walnut Ink (for the word stamping) and Vintage Photo.  Plus a yellow shade I have had for years

Brads: Making Memories

Marker: American Crafts SlickWriter

CUTTLEBUG: Ribbon Slide dies (not sure of the name on this one...will have to look it up again)

Stamp: Daisy Bucket

STICKLES: yes, they are in there....I used the TIM HOLTZ Distress Stickles in Antique Linen on the flower center...just a little.

How Thoughtful

Lots of different tools with this card!

Punches, Nesties and Ink, oh my!

Materials:

Paper: WorldWin and Paper Cut

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Faded Jeans" (background) and Kaliedocolor (flower)

Stamp: Basic Grey 

CUTTLEBUG: "Thanks" emboss set

SIZZIX: "Dots" A2 folder

Punch: FISKARS "effervescence" 

NESTABILITIES: Classic Squares and Inverted Scalloped Squares

Gem: Queen & Co

Ribbon: Offray

I layered a few punched edges together and overlapped them so that the dots from the back layer could be seen through the layer on top.  To achieve the color on the dot piece I inked my brayer again and rolled it on the flat side of the embosser.  You could try it by rolling it on the raised side for  a different effect (this is where playing with your toys comes in handy...you now have permission to go play).

To get the embossed image on the front of the white piece I taped my NESTIES to the back, flipped it over and ran it through with the embossing mat.  After that I stamped my flower in the middle and adhered it all in place.