Place Settings and Friends Cards

I wanted to make some of the cups like Donna had done on Cricut forums but not as cards so I designed a cut file to make them into place names and menu cards. I hope you like them. I have not done them to suit a table theme as they will be for tea-time so a variety of colours suit, with the Christmas Crackers it makes a more fun table, had they been for dinner I would have made them the same to co-ordinate with my table,

I made them with a tab and slot so it would make them stand better. The menu ones have the work cut from the front layer for the names I did cut out letters and stuck them on after. Here is the CUT FILE if you want to have a go with the pattern I made.

The papers are Dovecraft, I added some pompoms to look like marshmallows on some of them and used glitter and flakes for "sprinkles". The menu ones have a printed menu inside made in "MS Word" and cut out

I have finished my cards but I couldn't resist making a few more just in case I forgot anyone, its always good to have some spares. The papers are Forever Friends with matching Double Sided card stock, some mirror board and punched snowflakes. I used a free embossing board gift from a magazine to make the greetings.

Finished Advent Calender

I am posting the finished Advent Calender as finally the extra embellishments have arrived. I ordered them from one company but they never got here so had to re-order from another one :-(

I have used Eskimo Kisses Chipboards to match the papers to finish it. I haven't added much more as I didn't want to add ribbons which would get dusty over time and the chipboards are delightful enough as they are. All I have added is a few gems for sparkle. The handles were made with beads and fine wire, and the numbers cut on my cricut. This was a kit advent but I am sure you could make it from scratch on the cricut. Details in the previous post

Hope you like it

Here is a few tags I made also last night for my parcels, cut with Nestabilities, Cricut and Cuttlebug and embossed and glittered

Penny Slider & Video

Before I get to the slider I wanted to share these bracelets.

I went to a carboot sale on Sunday and found these clear plastic bracelets which shouted at me "Alcohol Inks" So for a bargain 50p for the 2 home they came and 15 mins after getting my supplies out I have these to give away as little presents. I love Alcohol inks as the result is so fast and easy to do.
Before:
After: This one used Cranberry, Currant and Eggplant then add metallic silver, then mixative.
This on uses Pesto and Lettuce, then metallic copper then mixative
Now... I have been trying to get these right for some time and have finally got them sorted out. I think its the way I was assembling them. I now use foam tape to put the mount onto the card and it lifts it high enough to get them to slide. I cut the slider mechanisms and mount with my Cricut, here's the Cut File (it also has another shaped card file I am working on in that selection)

I did a single penny slider first then got carried away and did double and four slide cards but the spider is my favourite, he is just so cute. Wow I also made vids of them as you need to see them working I think :-)

Gatefold with video

This was fun!!, we had dogs, trains and planes but got there in the end. Lord my hands look wrinkly :-( I am sorry but by the time we got to this "Take" the card had been folded a few times so it sort of fell into shape on its own but I think you will be able to see what to do now.
Thanks for viewing
xxx

Stress Buster

My "Mojo" has deserted me of late but I wanted to do some stress busting and what better than a nice messy session. I got myself a wad of paper, just normal copy paper, a can of shaving foam and some re-inkers and away we go.

-Get a baking tray or similar
-put a thin layer of foam on
-drop chosen colours of inks in a random manner
-swirl about with the end of a paintbrush, lolly stick etc
-lay your paper down onto the surface and press all over to get an even coverage
-Lift off of the foam and use a spatula to scrap of the foam
-rub over with a tissue to remove last bits and voila marbled paper


The results of the green and yellow trial, no 2 are the same and you never know just what you will get. Some are great some not so good but its fun and leaves your hands and paper soft and smelling nice. :-)
Tried using alcohol inks for some metalic colour but it didn't work, also glossy paper was not such a good result as the normal paper. click the picture for a closer look some look better close up some don't!! lol but its all good very clean fun. Well apart from my stained hands.

Warning this is fun but addictive you have been warned!

If you want to get some textural inspiration look to nature. I found this wasps nest (inhabited!!!) in one of my stables and the colours and texture of it is just amazing, you def need to click for close up on this one. I did make a hasty exit though as the wasps weren't so impressed with me taking the photo.
Also the centre of this Sunflower I grew is just gorgeous, like its been done with a Spirograph for those who remember those toys :-)