Baby Giraffe Card

Cricut Cardz Challenge #43 that started on Wednesday, September 22nd is to make a card for a new baby using any cartridge but using green, orange, yellow and white ONLY. Well, I wanted to put a small twist on the usual pastel cards and make something a little different. I started out by selecting the cardstock in olive green which complements the lemon yellow that I used as a plaque on the front and inside the card. I then cut a giraffe from the New Arrival Cricut cartridge in an orange patterned paper and added googly eyes to give the image a bit of whimsy. The adjacent tree is cut from the Serenade cartridge in a green tone on tone paper. I cut an oral shape on the front large enough to accommodate the giraffe's head which now peaks through the hole. The yellow rectangle on the front was stamped with a large "Baby dear" stamp and Momento Tuxedo Black ink. The card was edged with white gel pen as was the yellow sentiment box. A lovely orange/green satin bow really brought the whole card to life.

I hope you like this non-traditional baby card. It goes to show you that with a little thought, cards can be a little different from the usual. Why not join us at Cricut Cardz Challenge and get your Cricut in gear. I know you'll have fun doing it.

Baby on the Way

Good news from my nephew in Richmond, Virginia. He and his wife are expecting their first baby in April, 2011. What great news for my sister who will become a grandmother for the first time. She's going to love her new role.

I made this card using the New Arrivals Cricut cartridge. The background paper, from the K&Company "The Best of Brenda Walton", is absolutely perfect. I love this paper collection which I have used many times. In fact, I have used more from this paper collection than any others that I have bought in the past. Good for you K&Company! Inside the sentiment reads "Coming soon to your neighbourhood." Anyway, congratulations are on their way to their house with my very best wishes!

My Goofy Pumpkins

Cooler weather is right around the corner and so is Halloween. Cricut Cardz Challenge #42 which started on Wednesday, September 15th invites you to make a Halloween card using your choice of cartridge and any color.

I made this card and I call it My Goofy Pumpkins. I started with a linen textured orange Bazzill card stock to which I added some stripped paper from K & Company as well as the large Halloween stamp image in the top left corner. I then cut out different sized pumpkins using my Stretch Your Imagination cartridge. They all look so cute leaning up against each other. I topped the card off by adding a simple bow in polka dots. I hope you like it.

Why not head over to Cricut Cardz Challenge and see what everyone else is making. See you there!

Fall Apples

I always associate apples with Fall. Picking your own apples in an orchard is something that I used to do with my children when they were little and I started that tradition with my grandson. The weather is slowly changing and soon we will be grabbing a sweater or coat as we head out the door.

The Cricuts Cardz Challenge #41 that started September 8th is to make a card for Fall but with a twist - you can't use orange, yellow or brown. Despite that restriction, the design team made some great cards. I made my card using black, red and green. I started by cutting the basket and apples from the Doodlecharms cartridge. Next I cut the curled up leaves also from the Dooblecharms cartridge. The platform on which the basket sits was cut using the Walk in My Garden cartridge. The 'Fall Apples' sign was cut freehand, edged with white Jelly roll gel pen and added to the card with foam dots. I thought the sentiment 'celebrate' really worked well for this card as we enter the harvest season. To finish off, I added red gross grain ribbon with white stitching.

This challenge runs until midnight Tuesday, September 14th. Won't you join us?

Pears and Thanks

When we first moved into our current house 23 years ago, our neighbours planted a dozen fruit trees. Over the years, some of the trees died off or got sick but most of them are still standing and now bearing fruit. With age the fruit has gotten better and better. Each year they would bring over fruit from the trees and I would give her vegetables from our garden. Last year when I received my first large bag of pears, I returned the favor by sending over a pear gingerbread. I came across this fabulous recipe which is like an old fashion upside down cake but the flavor is so mild that you don't even know it's gingerbread.

I just received my first bag of pears from this year's crop and they are the best fruit that these trees have ever produced. I guess that age does improve some things. I just had to thank my neighbour once again for her thoughtfulness.

For the card, I cut the pear using my From My Kitchen Cricut cartridge. I added a lovely satin ribbon the same colour as the K&Company designer paper. Gold Stickles added to the stem added a little fun to the fruit.