Engagement Card

My sister asked me to make an engagement card a few weeks ago and I completely forgot until today when she reminded me that she needed it this weekend. Luckily I had already designed it in the iPad to cut on my Cricut Explore so just had to send it to the machine to cut. All items are part of the Cricut subscription.

The card blank and mat layer are both the same cardstock (I seriously need some more coloured Centura pearl) but to decorate the cardblank I stamped it with red berry distress ink and then rubbed a ink sponge over which calmed down the colour of the hearts and gave a soft pink background. 

The heart itself was from a scrap of pink Centura pearl, and the black part is glittery black card. I drew round the heart with a black fine liner to make it pop, and added some Stickles.

The writing is done in a font called baby steps, and I used the rose Cricut antiquity pen.

Due to the iPad app I only spent 15 minutes in the study (cutting and glueing) which is so helpful as I had a little kitten wanting my attention (Chilli gets very jealous)

Personalised Headphone Case

A few weeks ago I made a headphone case for a friend for their Mum for Mothers Day and I thought I'd make another one for my cousin for her birthday. I used some star material this time and a red zip (I brought a selection of zips for my stash from eBay). 

I added some iron on vinyl to this one but cutting my cousins name in my Cricut Explore. 

I added some headphones to the case to finish off the present. 

This is such a handy pattern to have to make little gifts. You only need a little bit of fabric, zip and some wadding (but that's not necessarily needed).

I did change the pattern a little in that I didn't sew round the outside of the circle to finish it off, mostly because it's sooo thick it's hard to get it under the sewing machine foot (I used a very thick stabiliser) Also it doesn't actually need it (I did it on my previous version but this it looks better without).

A link to the pattern is listed below:

http://pinterest.com/pin/526921225125052290/

iPad Geeky Snow White Decal

It was my birthday last week and my parents, very kindly, brought me an iPad! I brought myself a Samsung tablet 2 years ago (on my birthday, an exdisplay from John Lewis) just so I could go online without getting my laptop out, however after getting the Cricut Explore I really wanted an iPad so I could use the Cricut App which only works with iPads, not Android.

Since getting my iPad I've loved being able to play around on the Cricut app, finding all the images I have in my subscription easily and also being able to do it away from the study/craft room. I've also got a Pay As You Go sim for my iPad so that I can design cards etc on the go.

One of the first things I did when I got my iPad was set up a Pinterest board on vinyl decals, but in fact I went with a decal I have wanted for years (over 7 years or more) when I had my iMac. It was a nerdy Snow White but at the time I could only get it from America and it was so expensive I went for a different design, but now I can cut my own Vinyl in the Cricut Explore I made my own. I'm so please with how it turned out! I've now put a case on my iPad but I brought a clear back one so the image is still visible (I would have a similar decal on my phone but as I always drop it on the floor, down the loo etc I have a really rugged case which completely covers it)

My friend at work has asked me if I can make something similar with a geeky Ariel (Little Mermaid) which I'm going to try (ie putting some glasses on Ariel)

Another good thing about an iPad is that I can blog so much easier! Hurray!

Snow White Anniversary Card

Today is my third wedding anniversary and I spent Friday making this card for my husband. I say 'I spent Friday' as it took virtually all day due to a fault in our phone/internet line so I kept loosing internet while cutting the lattice and having to start again. I also had some teething problems using my new iPad with the Cricut Explore.

I made this card based on the ribbon that we had at our wedding which said 'and they lived happily ever after' and the fact my wedding dress had a jacket with a neck like Snow Whites dress.

The lattice was from Cricut Paper Lace which I made into the sides of the card. As I was using Centura Pearl card I had to use the glitter card setting which cuts twice (or it doesn't cut through) so it took ages. This was the 4th attempt due to my internet problems and even then I ended up having to hand cut some sections 

The Snow White and Prince silhouettes were found online via Google. 

Inside I used my Cricut Antiquity pens  and added this verse from Cricut Design Space:

I'm really pleased with how this turned out in the end. 

A card using the Smudge & Mitten Paper Pad

This card was made using:

1 sheet from the Hunkydory Smudge & Mitten Paper Pad

A 6x6 card blank (made from A3 sheet of Centura Pearl card)

6x6 piece of mirri card

Affix It Craft permanent glue runner

Spare pieces from Smudge & Mitten card kit

I first gutted the mirri card (leaving about a 1 cm frame)

Next I cut the middle piece to 12cm x 12cm and rounded the corners

I cut the image out of the paper sheet so it was 11.5cm x 11.5cm, rounded to corners then glued this to the 12cm x 12cm mirri

I turned the piece of paper I had left over and cut a 5 3/4 inch square out then glued this to the 6inch piece mirri, then glued it to the front of the card blank.

I added a strip of boarder near the bottom of the card.

Next I added the image at a jaunty angle and finished with a sentiment topper.

Minimal products and it looks just as good as the cards from the card kit (if not better actually I think)

Minimal card - Smudge & Mitten

I made a card early using only a few bits yesterday and wanted to challenge myself to see what I could do with a card blank, a tiny bit of mirri and a printed sheet from the Smudge & Mitten paper pad. 

This was the result:

I think it looks pretty good, especially with the minimal items I used. I cut the image to 5 inches by 4 1/4 inches and glued it to the left of the card. With the left over paper I turned it over and used a 3/4 inch x 5 inch strip and glued that to the right of the card. 

Next I took a 1/8 inch piece of mirri and using glue dots stuck it where the 2 paper pieces joined. 

This would make a great party invite or birthday card.

My new fave local craft shop!!!

A few weeks ago there was a huggggge fire near us and roads were closed due to the smoke (burning tyres) but we needed to get some hemp bedding for our hedgehog and didn't think traffic would be too bad as it was nowhere near the fire.... How wrong were we! Over 1 hour for a 10 minute journey, however every cloud has a silver lining and I spotted a banner for a new craft shop, Craft Plus UK! This resulted in Lee hanging out the window trying to get a photo of the banner for me, then much dancing in the car as it put me in a happy mood.

When I got home I found the shop was only a 5 minute drive away and (much to the excitement of my sister) also did decoupage bits!

A few weeks on and we finally visited it today. 

 (Photo from Craft Plus UK Facebook page)

I went with a list of things I needed:

Clear embossing powder

Glossy accents (my bottle has gone missing somewhere in the craft room)

Mirri card 

Black ink pad

The good news is I got all those things.....erm plus more?!?

The store is nice as its on an industrial estate so parking is easy. The store was smaller than I expected having seen photos on their facebook but it is actually a perfect size for me (with Hobbycraft I go all the way round then forget I needed something, and sometimes just don't have the energy to go all the way back.)

They have it just right as everything has its place, it's easy to see what they have on offer and it's not cluttered. They also only have papercraft and scrap booking things so it's perfect for card makers (no cake tins, fabric etc) 

My sister loved the huge decoupage selection and I treated her to some things for Easter, although we did debate if she had room in her room for the paper mâché hand. In the end she got a house money box, the hand/jewellery holder, glue, paper and a paint brush (....an Easter egg would have been cheaper lol) she did pay for the glue though. Laura took this photo as of dropper her home after our shopping trip)

I then went on a walkabout and found they had FlitterGlu kits! I've always wanted to get these but on Create and Craft they were always really expensive it seemed, plus postage so I have never ended up getting it.... So that went in my basket along with a gold mega-flake tub (seriously can't believe how light the pot is even though it's full!). Also IndigoBlu are no longer on Create and Craft so this was the perfect excuse to buy it.

I then discovered their range of IndigoBlu stamps and the stamp I've always wanted.... Juliet! So that also jumped in the basket. I did eye up the music themed stamps as they had a lovely guitar stamp for a card for my husband but I knew I'd only use it once. 

As I got rid of my Big Shot I didn't need to go down the die aisle but there was a large selection from my quick glance. 

The staff are really nice and helpful too. When I got home I realised there was an error on my receipt and their customer service was brilliant.

I'll definitely be going back here rather than bigger stores (or the one in town which is too cluttered and sold returned faulty Tonic punches...) but I definitely cannot go to Craft Plus UK alone as I would spend wayyyyy to much (and the floor outside is a bit raised so handy to have Laura or Lee on hand if I'm a bit wobbly like today)

Craft Plus UK can be found at 5 Bakers Court, Basildon, Essex, SS14 3EH or online at http://www.craftplus-uk.com

This review contains my own thoughts and I wasn't asked to write this, or paid in anyway, I just wanted to do this post as its a lovely shop with great customer service.