Mother's Day Card with a Cross

I had a request for a card with a cross on it.  Here's a quick one designed on the Gypsy and cut on the E2.  I used Sentimentals for the label, using the hide contour for the cutout found on the base.  The cross is from Easter 2010.  Again, I used hide contour for the cut detail on the base.  I also increased the shadow image by an eighth inch.  Finally, Swiss Dots and Victorian embossing folders, and salmon Pearl Pen to add some dimension, and, of course some ribbon - I love ribbon!

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Happy 29th Birthday

My youngest daughter turned 29 today!!!  Since I can't be with her to celebrate - she's in Illinois, I'm in California - here are few things I sent her.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JANNA!  I love you and am so proud of you.

Background frames - Sentimentals, dress form and 29 - Nifty Fifties, fabulous - Paisley

Flowers - Mother's Day Bouquet, basket - Sweet Treats, numbers and frame - Songbird

Shopping Bag - TBBM, high heels - Forever Young

Purse - Forever Young

Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the blog candy I'm offering during the Fantabulous Cricut Crawl which begins April 11.  I'm going to add something extra if I can reach 175 followers.  So, if you haven't become a follower, I would love to have you.  Every follower's name will be in the special drawing.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

5 Sketches - Same Paper

I had 5 card sketches that I was working on for four different challenges.  I challenged myself to use the same patterned paper and coordinating cardstock to complete all 5.  I began by choosing  two pieces of patterned paper from the Carol Wilson Fine Arts paper pack.

Then I added coordinating cardstock from my stash.  I added some possible embellishments and tools. I decided to also use round and scalloped punches.

This first card is Raq's sketch #2.  I decided to enter it in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - embossing challenge.  I inked my Cuttlebug folder and then embossed the flower.  I love the way the flower came through the ink.

This next card is Raq's sketch #1. 

This is Raq's sketch #3.  The sentiment is cut from Sentimentals and embossed with Swiss Dots.  The shaped frames - cut with the Gypsy using some welding of shapes from George - are embossed with Divine Swirls.  The flowers are punched then Stickles were added to the centers.

This sketch is from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

And, finally, Tuesday Takes sketch #14.

So, there you are,  five cards using two sheets of patterned paper and two coordinating cardstock pieces.  When I find papers that I love, I want to use them as many ways as I can.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Spring Layout

That's right - you heard me - a LAYOUT!!  I'm trying to expand my skills and move out of my cardmaking comfort zone.  When I do create layouts I usually begin with the pictures and let them guide my design.  This time I worked in reverse.  I chose a theme and a main cartridge and began to design.  I'll have to admit, it was a much slower process, but I'm happy with the results.  I looked through the Cindy Loo book and selected images for my design and then sketched what I thought would work around a 4x6 and a 3.5x5 photo mat.  OK, I did chose the butterfly from Sentimentals and the title from Easter 2010, but all the rest is from Cindy Loo. Then I put all the images together on my Gypsy.  I chose the My Mind's Eye Ooh La La paper pack and began cutting.  Once I had all the cuts and my layout sketch, I began embossing, inking, choosing embellishments, and adding dots with the Signo pen. Then it all came together like this. Whew!!!!

I enjoyed my journey out of my comfort zone.  I hope you do too.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Think Pink

Here is the first of my Pink October cards. I'll be submitting this one to the My Sheri Crafts challenge.  It's so wonderful that an entire month is dedicated to Breast Cancer awareness, but we must not forget to support those who are fighting the other types of devastating cancers as well.  My sister-in-law is fighting ovarian cancer and her husband has multiple myeloma.  Both of my parents died of cancer, so fighting this awful illness is near and dear to my heart. 

This is the screen shot of my Gypsy.  Sheila (aka She's a Sassy Lady) provides wonderful directions for making window cards and suggests we use a window frame from Fabulous Finds. (You can weld words or images to any frame, but not the inside of a solid shape). I wanted to weld "Hope" to the window and then place another one on top for dimension.  I also welded the window's shadow cut, sized the same as the window, so that the card, when folded, would be an A2.  The welded letters for "Hope" are from Songbird.  The butterfly is from Sentimentals.

Here's what the welded window cut looks like before folded or embellished.

I added paper to the iside as a base for the butterfly which shows through the window frame.  The butterfly trail was made using a 3-D Glaze pen which adds gloss and a little dimension.

I used foam squares to pop the butterfly and added tiny pearls to the antenae.

I adhered "Hope" to the window cut and added an EK Success border trimmed to fit the card width. The ribbon and pearls finished the card.

Check back during this month for more Think Pink ideas.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Loving those Layers

Even the simplest card looks more finished when you use layers.  So many Cricut cartridges have the shadow feature so it's really easy to add depth and dimension to your projects.  I also love to layer the patterned papers with different colored mats.  Today's cards all feature ways to use layers.

This card uses my go-to layout and the shadow feature with the notes and a mat with the patterned paper.  I also added some inking for additional depth.

The butterfly uses the shadow feature and I used ribbon to mat the patterned paper.

Notice all the layers on this card.  Each element has at least three layers including mats and shadow features.

The use of layering just makes all the elements on this card pop.

The only thing not layered is the sentiment.  The purple seemed to stand out better without the shadow.

Layering is a great way to make a simple card look detailed.

Thanks for visiting.  I'd love to hear from you.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn