Guess who's going to be 80 on Wednesday???

Why, it's my brother-in-law John and we had a surprise birthday get together for him this afternoon!  For his card, I decided to use a different card format and I'm not sure what it is called........but here it is!

View 1

View 2

Close-up view of my "Gone Fishing" print and cut image!

The little "Gone Fishing" image is one that I found online and turned it into an image that you first print and then you cut with a digital cutter....it's only a little over an 1 1/4 wide!  I used my Silhouette Cameo which has an optical eye, so it makes "print and cut" VERY easy!!!  I used my Pazzles Inspiration Studio Pro software to design the "Happy 80th Birthday John" and then used my Pazzles Inspiration Cutter to do all of the cutting with the exception of the "Gone Fishing"  print and cut sign.  I also have to confess that I did something that I rarely do...............I used some store bought birthday stickers that I had on hand!!!

Thanks for stopping by and please come back soon!
Finished Card Size:  A7 (5"x7")

Supplies

Paper:  Bazzill (green), Coredinations (yellow), Wild Asparagus (patterned)

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Pazzles "Inspirations Creative Cutter"

Accessories:  Scor-Pal, "Party Embellishments" Keepsake Essentials 3-D Die Cuts, Michaels "Silver" Rhinestone Stickers 

Y'all, I'm still exploring my Silhouette Cameo................

and decided I would keep posting my test cuts here at my blog so that I can direct those that ask me what I'm able with it can see for themselves!

In this first photo, I've done several "print and cuts" as well as a couple of regular cuts and for all of them I have used Bazzill smooth white cardstock, which is my favorite and it cuts like butter!!!!  The "frog", "flower", "pig" and "snowflake" are all Silhouette files.  I designed the "Thank You" and my friend designed the medallion using the "Replicate" tool in the Silhouette Studio software.  The "Poodle" is a digi stamp by Dani at printablecolouringpages.co.uk............isn't it adorable!!!  Please not that the "snowflake" is only 1" in diameter....just look at those perfect, tiny circles!!!

OK, now on to "chipboard"...........except I prefer to use cereal and beer boxes because they cut so much better and seem to be less fibrous.  I also like using poster board, which is a little thicker the Bazzill white cardstock I love!  I will say that the cereal box is a tad thicker than the beer box.  For the beer box I actually did 3 passes...one each with the ratchet blade set at 6, 7 & 8.  I find that doing the cuts graduated in that manner, I get a cleaner cut.  For the cereal box I did the same but set the blade to 7, 8 and 9.  As you can see in my photo, the cuts are petty clean!!!  At this point, I don't know if it dulled my blade or not!

All I can say, "peeps", is that I REALLY love my Cameo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  See ya again soon!

I received my replacement blade for my Cameo yesterday.................

and look at the wonderful cuts I'm getting with it!  I was getting really great cuts with my old CraftROBO blades, but this is even better...if that's possible!!!

I just can't believe the perfection of that 1" snowflake cut.........the circles are absolutely perfect!!!  Double click on the photo to see the snowflake up close!  And at a setting of 4, the poster board cut just like butter!!!

I am one VERY "happy camper"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forget Me Not Box!

OK....so here is the project I was referring to in yesterday's post.  I purchased the "Forget Me Not Box" as well as the "Forget Me Not Cut It Set" from Lettering Delights.........I thought they were all very pretty!  When you download the files they come in several different formats......ai, dxf, eps, gsd, jpg, pdf and svg.  I decided that I wanted to cut the box so that I would have a box on hand for an A2 size card to fit into...you know, one that is too thick for an envelope, plus I wanted to play some more with my Cameo!

Here's a side view and  I do want to add that the border around the box is a Silhouette America file (Lace Border C00277_17986) and can be purchased in their store through the Silhouette Studio software for $.99.

And here is a view of inside of the box.

Everything was cut using my Silhouette Cameo..........gosh I'm loving my "Sophie"!!!

Supplies


Paper:  "Ivory Paisley On White" Decorative Paper by The Paper Company and the lavender CS is from my stash and I'm not sure what brand, etc. and Vellum
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Embossing Powder:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent"
Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo" & Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories:  "Deco Metal Stickers" by Making Memories, Offray Ribbon

I absolutely LOVE my Silhouette Cameo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Y'all, I am so excited!  I received my Silhouette Cameo on Friday evening.....UPS always delivers out here last thing!  Everything was in the package and may I add VERY nicely packaged, and it took me no time at all to have it up and running.  During my playing over the weekend I discovered that my blade is defective..............but no problem as Silhouette America is sending me a new one and in the meantime I decided to use the blade system that I use with my CraftROBO (I named HER "Roberta") and it is working wonderfully........OMG I am so happy!!!  By the way, the Customer Service at Silhouette America is great!!!!  Oh and let me add that I named my Cameo "Sophie"....don't ask me why, it just popped into my head.  By tomorrow I should have a little project ready to post, but in the meantime here are some of my cuttings that I made while playing with my new toy!!!!  "Best Friends", "Chandelier", "Leaf Corner", "Flower Print & Cut" and the "Flower Medallion" are all files that you can purchase for $.99 a piece at the Silhouette America site and they are fabulous cutting files!

And here is a card that I made using a free cutting file by Tina Fitch and you can download the free SVG or GSD here!  Tina is in the UK and she is SO talented...I just love her and her designs!!!  I also want to point out that I used a "Silver" Pentel Slicci pen in the "Pen Tool" made by Sue Reynolds (aka/HotPaws) for the CraftROBO/Silhouette and it works great in the Cameo!!!  You can find them at her site here and she has them for many different cutters!  The good thing about her Pen Tool is that you can use a lot of different size pens and markers in it!  The red and green on the card is done with Silhouette "Sketch Pens"......they came in a number different colors including metallic which I still want to purchase!

Well, it's back to work...............I just wanted to share my excitement and joy with all of you!  Come back tomorrow to check out my project!

Look what I found in my mailbox yesterday!!!

Isn't this absolutely adorable!!!!  My dear friend Sue Reynolds (aka/HotPaws) designed this card and box in Adobe Illustrator and did what's called a "print and cut" using an electronic cutting machine.  It is totally her original design....she drew it!!!!!  Another thing that I really like about it, is that she printed it using her laser printer.  Here is a view of the inside:

You can find Sue's blog here!  Sue, thank you so much..............I LOVE it!!!!

Wedding Shower Card for Cierra!!!

There was a wedding shower for my husband's great niece today and I made this card to place her gift card in and I have to add that I left the Target Card in the envelope they provided....BUT I made a bow tie out of a $5 bill and adhered it to the front and then that was placed in the envelope with this card!  She loved it!

Here are views of the front and the back of the envelope:

Everything was cut from Silhouette America cutting files except for the doves....they were a free file from Sabrina at the UK Scrappers site called "Birds with Doodles", and cut using my CraftROBO digital cutter.

I'm so excited to tell y'all that I have the new Silhouette Cameo on order!!!  It cuts a full 12" in width!  I've already cleaned off a space on my desk for "her" and decided to name her "Sophie"....my CraftROBO is named "Roberta"!

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill, Canson Effects Papercraft "Iced Gold" iridescent paper and Black Paper (purchased to use with gel pens)
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Tools:  CraftROBO, Range "Heat It"
Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "White Pearls Translucent" Embossing Powder (on doves), Pentel Arts Slicci Metallic "Silver" pen, Recollections "Black Half Pears"

Flower & Leaf Stencil Card!

I used to keep a stash of all kinds of greeting cards made by me, but lately it seems like I never have a birthday card on hand!  Hmmmm.....could it be because the majority of the cards I give are for birthdays?  That must be it!!!  At any rate, I decided I need to make some birthday cards to have on hand so that when I need one at the last minute, I don't have to break my neck to get one made.  This "stencil" card was done using another digital cutting file by SylviaF at the UK Scrapper site........gosh I love her designs!  If you would like the files, they are free to registered members of the UK site and you can find the files here...just scroll down to #93.  Here is my take on her design (The recipient's name will be added to the bottom of the card front when I know who I'm sending the card to):

Here is a close-up view:

The dark green panel is a metallic card and I hope my photos do justice to it.  I also want to add that the "pop-up" flower in the center was designed by me in my Pazzles Inspiration Pro software and I used my Pazzles Inspiration to cut the card base as well as the light green panel and then I used my CraftROBO to cut everything else except for the tiny butterflies. I discovered something really cool in making this card, I used black stickles on the dew drop in the flower center that I colored black with a Sharpie and also on the center of each of stencil flowers but I noticed that they did not shine like I desired so I decided to add some crystal stickles to make them shine more and to my surprise it turned them to a pretty green shade which was perfect for my card.....love surprises like that!  Thanks for looking!
Finished Card Size:  A7 (5"x7")

Supplies
Paper:  Bazzill (light green), "Empress Emerald" Wausau Metallic Cardstock, Black Recollections (Black Card Base)
Tools:  CraftROBO, Pazzles Inspiration
Accessories:  Martha Stewart "Classic Butterfly" Punch, "Black Diamond" & "Crystal" Stickles

Birthday Card for Renee

My husband's oldest daughter's birthday is on Thursday (29th) and I made this card for her!

Literally all of the credit for this beautiful design has to go to a very talented lady at the UK Scrapper's site, named Sylvia, as she created this gorgeous design to be cut on the the Craft Robo.  You can find her GSD cutting file here (scroll down to #92) and it's free!  If you are not registered at the UK site you will need to do so before down-loading the file and I think there may be a 30 day waiting period.....but trust me, it's really worth the wait, as these ladies are extremely talented!!!  It's hard to believe that my little "Roberta" (Craft Robo) is actually able to cut such an intricate and delicate item!  The "Happy Birthday" is a Silhouette file that can be purchased at the Silhouette site for $.99, the name of the file is "Happy Birthday Phase C00578_19210" and it was cut with the Craft Robo as well and then I used my VersaMark Watermark Inkpad, covered it with clear embossing power and heat set with my "Heat It" heat gun.....I did this twice.  It gives it an epoxy look.

For the inside, I used the bottom mat of Sylvia's cutting file, along with another Silhouette file named "Flower Flourish_2448" which was also cut with my Craft Robo.  All of the text was done using MS Word and my Canon printer.  Here is a look at the inside.

Since this card is 5 1/2 inches square, I had to design an envelope for it and I wanted to be able to use a piece of black paper that I only have in 8.5 x 11" size............so I had to improvise!  I designed the envelope file with an extra "flap" that attaches to the envelope's "back flap" and then I used some Martha Stewart punches to decorate the flaps.  I think it turned out pretty good....what do you think?

Thanks for dropping by to check out my blog and I would love it if you would leave a comment!!!

Finished Card Size:  5 1/2" Square

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill (Pink and Black Card Base), Recollections "Black" CS (Sentiment & Flourish)
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Tools:  Craft Robo, Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter" (Card Panel & Envelope), Ranger "Heat It"
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page "Eyelet Lace" and "Cherish", Offray Ribbon, Recollections "Pearl Sticker" Black, Want 2 Scrap "Pink Bling"  

I just had a few scary days!!!!!

On Tuesday my darling husband went to his Dr. at the VA to get the results of the blood work that he had had done a couple of weeks prior and when Dr. Houston listened to my husband's chest he told him that he was going to send him to another floor to be wired with a 24 hour heart monitor because he heard something he did not like.  On Wednesday he went to have the monitor removed and I headed to a nearby (30 miles) town to do my weekly shopping and to go by the bank to deposit his retirement check.  Right after I pulled into the parking lot at the Dollar Tree my husband called and said they were going to admit him to Shand's Hospital because he could have a massive heart attack!!!  I immediately headed back home to check on our Yorkie to make sure she had enough food and water and while driving called his children and siblings to let them know what was going on.  I can't see to drive at night, so the plan was that I would drive to my SIL's house (about 21 miles) and ride in with her, her husband and my DH's older brother and then they would drive me home later and there was enough of them to also pick up my husband's vehicle at the VA and bring it home too.  When we got to Shand's they had my DH in the Emergency Intensive Care, waiting to be moved to a room in the Cardiac Care Unit, which took hours.  The plan was for them to do a heart cath the next morning to see what had to be done.  Well, we got good news....there is some blockage but not enough to warrant putting in stints.  They feel like they can control it with medication that he will have to take for the rest of his life, which I hope is for a long, long time!!!  At any rate, he was released late Thursday afternoon and so far seems to be doing fine.  I think the roughest thing for him right now is that he is working on quiting smoking, which I've been trying to get him to do for years.  God is good!!!  Please keep him in your prayers!

Happy Birthday to my Darling!!!

My darling husband’s birthday was last week and this is the card I made for him as he is an avid golfer!  I’m afraid that I totally cased Valita’s card here!  I thought her design was so dang cute!!!  I did not use punches, instead I designed cutting files to be used with my Pazzles Inspiration and my Craft Robo and I used black brads with “white shoe laces” as well as a Silhouette cutting file for the golf club as well as the golf cart on the inside of the card.  I also do not have that sentiment stamp, so I used a Stampin' Up "Black " marker with Sue Reynold's Pen Tool  in my Pazzles Inspiration to do it.

Here is a close-up as well as a view of the inside......where I mentioned that he is "so dang old"...LOL

He loved his card and had a really wonderful birthday.  I bought him a new GPS Range Finder to aid his golf game.  His sister, Merrylene, took us out to the Alhambra dinner theater on Friday night (August 26th) to see "Dirty Rotten Scroundrels" and we had a really lovely evening!  I fixed him a steak dinner on Saturday night (his actual birthday) and Sunday (the day after his birthday) his children (my step children) had us over for dinner...so he had a very busy weekend celebrating his birthday!

Thanks for stopping by and I would love for you to leave me a comment here and hurry back!

Finished Card Size:  A2 (5.5"x4.25")

Supplies

Paper:  Bazzill (Card Base, Gray Layer, Grass, White), Darice Paper Crafter (Red on Shoes, Green Layer ), Wausau Metallic Cardstock (Golf Club), Best Occasions Metallic Paper Pack (Golf Cart on inside), "Black" Recollections
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress "Black Soot", Color Box "Wild Hare"
Tools:  Craft Robo, Pazzles "Inspiration Creative Cutter", Sizzix "Big Shot"
Accessories:  Black Mini Brads

It's an Elmo birthday!!!!

I designed and created this card for my friend's son, Jared!!!

Here are some close-ups of "Elmo", the card inside and the label I made for the back of the card:

One thing that I used for this card is my take on an "Action Wobble"!  I made mine using some fun foam circles and some beading wire.  Here is a video of Elmo dancing:

I designed and cut  the little red t-shirt for Elmo and covered it with fluff and cut the letter "H" (for Huskers...Nebraska, that is!), all using my Craft Robo and my Pazzles Inspiration Studio Pro software.  I cut all of the panels for the card using my Pazzles Inspiration.  I decided to use "googly eyes" on the "Elmo" paper piecing.  A another really good friend of mine gifted me with the Tim Holtz Sizzix "Bricked and Woodgrain" embossing folders and this is the first time I've used them....love them!  Thanks Sue!  I also designed the "Jared You Rock!" using my PI Studio Pro software,  and the "Cooper Black".....the "Happy Birthday" is a Silhouette Studio file and both were cut using my Craft Robo.

Thanks for stopping by to visit!  I've been very busy with company and a camping trip this Summer, but now I'm hoping to get back to creating craft projects, so please come back!!!

Finished Card Size:  5" x 7"

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill, Recollections Black (card base), Darice Paper Crafter (red & orange)
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Tools:  Craft Robo, Pazzles Inspiration Creative Cutter, Sizzix "Big Shot"
Accessories:  "Rockstar Red" Sparkly Fluff, "Black Diamond" Stickles, Sizzix "Bricked & Woodgrain" embossing folders, Googly Eyes, "White" Gelly Roll Pen

This is my very 1st Envelope Card!

My SIL"s (the one that was in the really bad accident where she lost her husband) birthday was yesterday and I had to come up with something really special for her and here it is:

My inspiration for this card came from a wonderful card maker at Splitcoast Stampers, named Cathleen....I often get my inspiration from her.  You can see her card here and she has a link there to a tutorial.  For those of you that might be a member of the MTC Forum, they had a challenge for these and  "CaseysAngel" (Christy) has made this video (YouTube) showing how to make them.  My SIL loves gardenias, so I made a couple just for this card and wanted them to be the main focal point.  The butterfly was designed by me in the Pazzles Inspiration Pro software and I used Funtime 2009 to cut it out with my Craft Robo.   I also cut all of the leaves with my Craft Robo using some Silhouette cutting files.  The tiny white flowers were cut using my new Martha Stewart "Hydrangea" craft punch.  The sentiment was computer generated.  Thanks for stopping by for a visit and by the way Merrylene loved her card!!!

Finished Card Size:  8 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Supplies


Paper:  My Mind's Eye "Wild Asparagus Lt. Pink Floral" #WA2027, Bazzill, Strathmore "Pink Pastel Vellum"
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark" (on part of the leaves)
Tools:  Craft Robo

Accessories:  Martha Stewart "Doily Lace" border punch and "Hydrangea" craft punch, MarRichards "Crystal Sticers Pearls" (env. flap), Recollections "Pearl Stickers" (on butterfly body), Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent" embossing powder (on part of the leaves), Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Aged Mahogany" (base layer of butterfly), "Crystal" Stickles (center of tiny white flowers)

Rockin Birthday card for my 9 yr old grandson, Aidan!

My grandson will be 9 on Monday, if fact he and my oldest son (his uncle) have the very same birthday!  Aidan is into soccer and the guitar and music in general so I decided to use those interests in the theme of my card design.  For the background I used an image I found online and then I found an image of a "rocker dude" and I used Photoshop to remove the head and add my grandson's head instead.

For the inside of the card, I decided to keep it very simple and went with a "soccer frame" (Silhouette cutting file)!  I sure hope he likes it!!!

Finished Card Size:  5  1/2"x 5 1/2"

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill (white) and Recollections
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"
Tools:  Craft Robo, Ranger "Heat It"
Font:  Fluffy Slacks BTN (card front), Teckton Pro and CAC Lasko Even Weight (inside card)
Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent" embossing powder

Thank You "SuzieQ"!!!!

My friend Sue (aka/HotPaws) is so sweet.............she is always sending me goodies that she finds that she knows I will like or maybe something she has two of in her "stash"!  You know...."care packages"!!!  At any rate, she just recently send a bunch of embossing folder and I made this card to thank her and I just talked to her and she loved it and the little poodle stamp that I sent her!

All of the elements on this card, with the exception of the the pearls, "double arched" mat and the ovals, were designed and/or cut using my Craft Robo!  The smallest butterfly, Leaf Corner and white leaves are Silhouette cutting files.  The large butterfly was designed by me.  The flowers were designed by Teri Frank. This card by Selma at Selma's Stamping Corner was my inspiration.  If you've never been to Selma's blog, you should stop by for a visit and check out all of her gorgeous creations!

Finished Card Size: 6" square

Supplies


Paper:  Bazzill and Vellum
Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"   
Tools:  Craft Robo, Ranger "Heat It" and Big Shot
Accessories:  Recollections "Pearl Stickers", Want 2 Scrap "Pearls" (in flowers), Stamp-n-Stuff "Star Dust Transparent" embossing powder, Provo Craft "Herringbone" and " "Birds & Swirls" embossing folders, Spellbinders Ovals, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page "Double Arches"