This is the first card I've ever made for my husband in 37 years of marriage, even though I've been making cards for more than 20 years. I guess I never thought I could make one as nice as I could buy. However, I thought about it and realized that even a plain or simple card would mean more when it's made to express the way we feel. So here is the card to my Knight in Shining Armor. Physically and mentally he has protected me from any dragon that has come our way. The card began with the paper from DCWV "Once Upon a Time". With that in mind, I used Storybook to make the sentiment on the front and inside left page of the card. On the inside right I used Sweethearts. The sentiment in the circle on the front is made with the font "Bard". Of course, the card had to be dressed up with inking and ribbon, etc. The quote on the back from "Time in a Bottle" has been one of my favorites for years. I figure he will now expect me to make his cards, so I guess I need to start thinking about the one for next year. LOL!
Now that I'm through with the baby invitations and favors for my friend's baby shower, I've had time to get my card done. I wanted to do a tri-shutter card so I could use several baby elements. I, of course, used the NA cart. I love giraffes, so I thought that would be my largest animal. (You might remember I did an elephant for the invitations.) I love, love, love my CDS now. It's so nice to only have to cut out the elements you want in one color, instead of having to cut them all out two or three times to get all the little pieces in different colors. (Sorry - if you don't have Cricut Design Studio you may not know what I mean.)
This is a card that a friend asked me to do. She had admired my cards, and wanted me to do one to give to a friend. She wanted something bright and cheerful. So I did one with some of the elements I had done in a previous card. I added the fence to this one. The tulips and other flowers are from WIMG and the grass is from PS. I stamped the birds and the tree limbs, and then added to them with markers and gel pens. The butterflies and dragonfly are punches.
These are the first invitations that I've made with my Cricut. It was a bit of a challenge making 50; they definitely took much more time than ones I've done using computer software. But there was a wonderful sense of accomplishment. It took me several days to design, pick out paper, cut my items, ink and then put everything together. The elephant is from NA. The elements used were the elephant's body, head, parts and shadows. The head was pop-dotted and then decorated with gel pens and googly eyes. The information and sentiments inside and on the back were computer generated.
This lady is from the NA cartridge. She has been cut at approximately 11-1/2". She's been cut out two or three times using light cardboard from the back of some of the paper packs I bought. Then of course, I did her clothes, hair, etc. I used ribbon on her hat and dress and then bling on her neck, arm and handbag. I made her in CDS, which made it so nice to be able to cut out her hair, dress, slacks and other items from just the designer paper I wanted. I made a stand for the back, so she would stand up on the table. If I do her again for someone else, I would want to make one for each table. She was on her own on the cake table.
Here are my first, but definitely not last, sour cream favors. I couldn't believe how easy they were. I saw a video a few weeks ago, but can't remember who it was by, it wasn't the one by Dawn. This lady used Zig two-way glue instead of super tacky tape. She said this worked better for her, and I could see the sense of that. However, the Zig glue didn't quite hold them together as well as I wanted, so I used some K&Company, Quick Dry Craft Glue (which is a thick white glue) and that worked beautifully.
I also didn't glue the three sides in the beginning as the tutorial suggested. I glued the short ends together to make the tubes. Then, when I was ready I used a tooth pick to apply the glue, to one end, crimp; add the candy; and then again on the other end and crimp closed. After they were dry I added the circle tags to each one, which were computer generated. I also changed the size somewhat from what is on the tutorial; when using 12"x12" paper. Most of the tutorials call for 4-1/4"x5-1/5" paper, which is great for 8-1/2"x11" paper, but I feel it is wasteful for 12"x12" paper; so I cut them at 4"x6" and got six instead of just four, and there was no wasted paper and they don't look that much smaller.
It seems that I've had way too many sympathy cards to do this year. It never gets any easier. The only thing I keep in mind is that hopefully I'm giving a moment of comfort to the recipient. At the time I'm sure they aren't really even thinking about cards. It's later when things have settled down that the person finds the time to look over the cards and that's when we can only hope and pray that we've said just what they need to hear at the right time. We also must put ourselves in the other person's shoes, even if we haven't lost a loved one, because as sure as the sun comes up, one day we will be the ones on the receiving end.
