Beers to You, Dad

Considering Shaun's Father just passed away on July 13, this post is bittersweet to share. But I did say I would be sharing a lot of different things, working backwards and somewhat randomly. What better place to start than with something that was made for someone we've both been thinking about?

This is the Father's Day card I made for Shaun's dad this year. Unlike in previous years (where we weren't sure if he did or didn't get it), this year we know he got it because he called us when he did and thanked us for it. So at least he got to enjoy at least one of my creations we've sent...

This card is a Cricut image that was available.  I made some changes to it, to make it look more like Paul's favorite beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon. (For Comparison, here is what the original card looks like.) Since I couldn't make it exact (obviously), I made what changes I could. And the card is can-shaped, which is perfect.

Here's the inside of the card:

And the card next to the inspiration source:

Overall, I am really pleased with it and Shaun loved it. And Paul seemed to have liked it, so that makes me happy.

Monochrome Hearts and Flowers Thank You Card

When exploring some images in my Cricut's Design Space, I found a cute Thank You overlay with these hearts and flowers on it. Since I have occasion to use Thank You Cards somewhat frequently at work because of a recognition program we have,  and it's good to have them on hand just in case, I went ahead and made one with this image that I liked.

I just used whatever card layer scrap I had in my stash just to test it out, but once I cut it out with the Cricut, I really liked it, and decided to make a card with it right away.

Here's what I came up with:

A monochrome blue card. (The top layer looks white, but it is blue, I promise.) I really like how monochrome color schemes look for certain things, and this is no exception. I really liked it as soon as I made it.  One thing the picture doesn't show very well is that I took a file to the edges of the dark blue base, which gave it a very subtly soft-worn look that I really liked.

I ended up giving this to a coworker just a few days after I made it, and she really liked it.  (I think I am actually getting a reputation for my cards at work, too!)


I am really loving that having my Cricut is making it easy for me to be creative. That was one of my goals for 2016, to be even more creative, and it certainly seems like I am doing that. It's nice to be able to be inspired when I may otherwise not have ideas, but to also have something that is there but builds on my creativity. I love seeing what I come up with for it. :)

A Musical Birthday Card

I meant to share this last week on his birthday, but like always, forgot...

Here is the card I made for Shaun's birthday:

The top (white) layer was made using the Cricut and an image that was part if the subscription that I had a free trial to. (I haven't yet decided if I will actually subscribe.) I thought it was a fun image and I like the simplicity of it. 

I then used a blue layer under it and attached it to a black card base that I used decorative scissors on. I thought it looked good, but that it needed something more, so I did one of my favorite things and Inked the edges of the blue layer to add a bit more interest. Better, but still needed...something.

I thought it could use some highlighting  didn't want it to look overly perfect. (I have a thing about my cards looking perfect, and almost always want to much them up-in a nice way-at least a little bit.) So I took a black Sharpie and traced the words and music notes. Aha, perfect!

I also made a hand made envelope, but for some reason didn't get a picture of that. When he opened the card with his presents, he seemed to really enjoy the card, so that's all that matters to me!

Cricut-Palooza! (Or, My first week of having a new toy.)

 Last week, My Cricut Explore Air arrived and I was very excited.

Since then, I have been playing with it and learning how to use it. I've made lots of random things so far and am getting the hang of it. This is my very first cutting machine, so I knew I would have a learning curve butI gotta say, I am hooked. :)
 

Reading instructions and learning how to use it.

Pushing the "go" button for the first time! How exciting!

 Here are things I've made with it so far:

Whee! Look at the machine go!

 The pride of the first project.

This was the card that came as a "starter" project with the machine. The software walked me through the whole process to make the card and what to do. I like that it was so easy to get it set up and running.

 I chose a snowflake to test the intricacy of how it can cut. Shaun and I were very impressed with it. This whole snowflake is only 2 inches square or so, as you can see by the measurement lines on the mat under it.  I used the pen to show size comparison, too. Of course, it snowed the next day, and we hate snow, so I joked that since the Cricut controls weather, I guess I'll make a thermometer showing 70 degrees...

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 With this, I wasn't sure what I wanted to make, but I wanted to see different sized objects, so I just stuck with a simple heart. I love that I can basically make things as big or small as I could possibly need!

 This is actually a mistake. I was trying to make simple card I designed. I thought by selecting "write"  for a certain layer and "cut" for a different part of it, it would cut out the black IN BETWEEN the silver writing so that it was both. I am still not sure how to do that part, but I know the option exists. Oh well, that's what experimentation is for, and I can always use the letters by themselves to make something.

 Here is a card I designed using a  blank pre-set card option that had the notches in the side, and used the write option to do the Thank You.

What thrills me is that you can use your own "system fonts" of fonts from your computer or that you download. I love that! I already used my fonts creatively by printing them, but now I can put it right on something with my Cricut, that is even more awesome!

 Some little speech bubbles I made with some shapes and some of my own fonts. I like that I can use the cut sentiments or the letters by themselves if I wanted.

 I had to test the "poster board" option. I cut some cereal box cardboard and just made whatever I had on the screen. This took me a few tries to get right, but once I did I was SOOO excited. I told my husband "see, I knew I was justified in keeping a bunch of random cardboard!"

Since I was getting used to the design software, and it's January and didn't have anything to decorate my desk with (I like to change the decorations every month), I wanted to make something fun for my desk. Here's the banner I designed in the software.

And I quickly learned how to place things so I can cut them all on one mat, instead of having to take everything off and replace it between cuts.  I was glad I could make that trick work. It's a big time saver when working with smaller items.

The finished banner. Not a great picture, but at least you can see the final thing.

 A card I made.  While at work, I randomly had the idea that it would be fun to make a card that says "you rock my socks" either as a Thank You card or just a greeting. So I uploaded a simple clip art image of socks and designed the card layer to be cut. I put some striped paper behind the socks, which, I have to say, works perfectly and looks like socks I would actually have. I put some other paper behind the cut out words, which I liked when I put it there, but now I think would look better if it were another shade of blue or maybe white since the rest of the card is blue. And I added the ribbon later. I was about to throw it out because it was just a scrap from the banner, but thought it would look cute, so just added it on. I like it.

And finally, something I was playing with today. I wanted to see how small I could make something. The smallest hearts are 1/4 inch each, and the bigger ones are 1/2 inch. I love that it can cut something that tiny. Which means, if I wanted/needed, I could technically make custom confetti. How fun!

I can't wait to try even more things! Those are the things I made just in my first week, I can just see how useful this will be to my crafting.  I am very excited.