Birthday Cupcakes

I know the end of the year is the start of the holiday season for us all, but it also seems to be the start of our family birthday season as well!
 

Earlier this year we had a very special lady join our family, my step-mom Diane!  We all love her so much and she has been a real blessing in my Dad's life.  Her birthday was just before Thanksgiving and I wanted to make something special to help her celebrate it.

I've had the idea floating around in my head ever since I saw this fantastic card Tresa Black made and showed us at Convention.  And who wouldn't love a cute cupcake card?  Especially one that is low calorie!

I paired it up with a mini birthday cake made from a battery operated tea light candle I had.  (Don't worry, I know how some of you are and yes, I'll tell you how I made it!)

Stamps: Artiste Cricut Bundle Birthday Collection

Inks: Chocolate

Papers: Perfect Day Reflections Kit (retired), Bella Reflections Kit (retired), Colonial White cardstock, Chocolate cardstock

Accessories: Colonial White Rosette Ribbon, Red Button Assortment, Opaques Mocha Gems, Chocolate Embroidery Floss, Dark Chocolate Striped Grosgrain Ribbon

Tools: Artiste Cricut Cartridge, 2" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Micro-Tip Scissors

Other: Transparent Velcro Dots, Battery Operated Tea light Candle, Scor-Tape

Making the Card:
The card itself was cut using the button on page 70 in the Artiste handbook, set at Fit To Page, which turned out to be 6.5".  It's a bit too big for a 6"x6" envelope, so next time I think I'll just cut it at 6".  I used the card base to trace and cut the front and back of the wrapper, as well as the cakey part of the cupcake.  I lightly scored the front wrapper and inked everything with Chocolate ink.  The banner is the button on page 58, cut at 1".

For the icing, I placed strips of Scor-Tape on the top portion of the cupcake.  Then attached strips of the rosette ribbon, trimming as needed.  I placed medium sized Mocha Opaques around like sprinkes and added the button to the top for a cherry.

Inside the card I made a gift card holder.  I asked my Dad to pick one up from her favorite restaurant in their town...totally surprised her!  (I had another piece of cardstock we all signed that I attached to the inside wrapper of the card.)

And now

Making the Cake:
This was totally fun to make, and really easy!  (You can use all paper for this, but with CTMH Dark Chocolate Ribbon looking so much like a layered cake, how could I not use it?!?)
I first put a strip of Scor-Tape around the candle. Then wrapped a piece of ribbon around it and secured the end with more Scor-Tape.  This ribbon is a bit too wide for the candle, so I simply trimmed it flush with the top of the candle.
The frosting is made with the scallop punch and Chocolate cardstock.  Use whatever "flavor" cardstock you like!   You need to have a hole centerd on your scallop big enough to fit over the flame.  I tried to eyeball it with a hole punch, but ended up just folding it into quarters and snipping off the tip to make the hole. Try what works for you!
I colored the edge with my Chocolate marker and spritzed it a bit with water to make it a little more pliable.  I ran a thin strip of Scor-Tape around the top edge of the candle and placed a few bits of it on top as well.  Then I placed the cardstock over the flame and pressed it onto the tape strip to keep it in place.
The roses were done with the 1 1/4" circle punch and scissors.  Punch out five circles and cut quick spirals with the scissors.  Yes, I know the Cricut has flowers on it, but these are so small I was afraid they would just tear on the mat.  And really, it didn't take long at all to do by hand.  I used mini glue dots to secure the flowers and keep them on the cake...after I had inked the edges with more Chocolate ink.
The cake plate is just 4 layers of Colonial White cardstock and 1 layer of B&T paper.  I used my Juniper marker to run around the edges as well.
I dug through my velcro stash.  I placed a velcro dot on the battery cover so when it needs to be changed, it's easily accessable without tearing apart the whole thing, but will sit still on the plate!

So I hope this gives you a quick and cute idea to make for birthday gifts...have your cake and eat it, too!

Black Friday Bonus from The Craft Closet

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving...or as Bio-Comp calls it, "The Feast of the Year".  I'm rushing around trying to get ready for tomorrow but before I do, I want to share a Black Friday Bonus you can find on my website.

After all, you need a little shopping fun for yourself, don't you?

Every $25* or more order will recieve a Free Gift** from me

and be placed in my monthly drawing for $25 in free product!

To participate, simply place an order

between now and Friday, Nov. 30.

The time of your call, email or online order will determine your Free Gift number.

Check out what you can win!

1. Exclusive Mini Stamp Set: Nature's Delight
2. My Acrylix Block: 2"x2"
3. Clear Sparkles
4. Marker Set
5. Silver Shimmer Trim
6. My Stickease Assortment
7. My Acrylix A-Size Stamp
8. Glitz Glitter Gel
9. My Acrylix Block: 3"x3"
10. Reflections Kit Compliments
11. Metallic Marker Set
12. My Acrylix B-Size Stamp
13. Ink Pad
14. My Reflections Kit
15. My Acrylix C-Size Stamp
16. Make It From Your Heart Vol. 1
17. My Acrylix D-Size Stamp
18. Workshop On The Go Scrapbooking Kit

When we get to the bottom of the list, we'll start over again!

 

 

Online orders MUST be placed using the Black Friday Bonus link on my website to qualify for your Free Gifts.

 

*$25 is before tax & s/h

**All Free Gifts will be sent after Dec. 1, 2012

All online orders will receive a "Free Gift" confirmation email from me.

 

 Happy Shopping!

 

 

Family Ties

Last night was our monthly Relief Society meeting at church and the lesson was on Family History and getting those sacred records written for our posterity.


I was asked to set up a table to display scrapbooking as part of doing your family history.  Because it really is family history!

When you think of doing geneology work, you may think of those family pages and pedigree charts, scrolling through old microfiche, dusty rooms filled with bound books on the shelves.  But it can be much more than that. 

When I saw the new Avonlea papers way back in July at Convention, I had an idea of what I wanted to do with them.  They are perfect for doing a family tree, especially with the sheet of paper with the pedigree chart on it already!

So this is what I made for my family.  It's modified from a regular chart to fit all three of my boys' names on it.   (And yes, I did blur out everyone's name on purpose...except my own...because you already know who I am!  )

Inks: Slate

Papers: Avonlea Reflections Kit

Accessories: Avonlea Complements Canvas Shapes, Sparkles Black & Grey Assortment, Brocade Assortment, Colonial White Embroidery Floss

Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge

 

 

It sits on our piano for everyone to see.  It's easy to remember who you are when you can see where you came from! 

 

So family history doesn't have to be something that is stuck in a book, on a shelf somewhere, rarely seen.  Make something that you can put out on display!  My sons love this, they can look down the line and see people they know, names they recognize, and ask questions about those they don't!

 

 

Capture The Date: CTMH Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

It's another round of Blog Hopping, featuring our CTMH Stamp of the Month!  This month our group of consultants are bringing you artwork created with the super versitile set, Capture the Date. 

If you are on your round trip, you've just come from Judy's Blog.  If not, just sit back and start your hop here with me!

November's SOTM is full of numbers, dates, months...everything you'll need to personalize those special cards or for journaling your precious memories.  Take a look at everything you'll get!

This set is really loaded up with numbers, wouldn't you say?   Well, at least numbers that I can understand!

And that's just what I did with my card, load it up with numbers!

Stamps: Capture the Date November 2012 SOTM, Card Chatter-Birthday

Inks: Indian Corn Blue, Cashmere, Champagne, Black

Papers: Indian Corn Blue cardstock, Colonial White cardstock, Champagne cardstock, Black cardstock

Accessories: Black Tulle Ribbon

Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge, Stipple Tool brush

I used a large block and created my own background stamp using very nearly every number in the stamp set!     The gears (found on page 38 and 39 in the handbook) were cut out at various sizes using the Artiste cartridge.  I used the Black Tulle to give some added texture.  This stamp set didn't have any sentiments, so I used one from the Card Chatter-Birthday stamp set. 

An quick and easy card to put together, the part that took the longest was getting all those numbers on one block!

Well, it's time to move on.  Head on over to Kim's Blog and see what great things are waiting for you down the Hop!


For everyone that is having to deal with Hurricane Sandy, know that the prayers of the country are with you!

Glitter Vases

    Happy Halloween everyone!   Do you have enough candy for tonight? We might have...if we hadn't eaten most if it over the weekend!

The boys love Halloween so much, I wanted to have something really nice to give their teachers for today.  I saw this pin on Pinterest and the boys all loved the idea!  Originally we were going to cut out vinyl jack o'lantern faces and put a candle (battery operated) in it.   But I thought if left them plain, their teachers would be able to use them more often throughout the year.

So we opted to just tie some Black Tulle ribbon around them and fill them with candy.  They are so pretty and sparkly in the sun!  And very cheap and easy to do, Dollar Store vases, glitter (with coupon) from JoAnn, and a big bottle of Elmer's Glue.  That's it!

Saved enough money to buy more candy last night...just in time.

Have a great night!

Heart 2 Heart Challenges: Keeping It Neutral

Well, I'm giving myself a great big high five!

It is only Tuesday, and I've already completed a card for this week's H2H Challenge!  And by my count, that also means I've completed every one this month!  Whew.  I don't think I've done that since I was on the DT myself!

This week's challenge was to use only neutral shades in our creations.  With the new color palette from CTMH, it was easy to choose.  Well, okay not that easy.  I chose to use the new Whisper and Slate shades of grey.
Not to be confused with that other Shades of Grey nonsense!
*Ahem*  Moving on...here is my card:

Stamps: La Belle Vie Scrapbooking WOTG, Avonlea Cardmaking WOTG

Inks: Whisper, Slate, Black

Papers: Whisper cardstock, Slate cardstock, Black cardstock

Accessories: Black Tulle Ribbon, Opaques Licorice Gems

Tools: Artiste Cricut cartridge



 

 I really had fun with this challenge!  So much so, that I may even get another card made...just because!

 

Thanks for stopping by.

 



Heart 2 Heart Challenges: Stamp Rolling Technique

I finally made my way through to the beginning of this month's Heart 2 Heart Challenges!

The very first challenge of the month was a technique challenge: stamp rolling.

The DT members shared some lovely creations!  Be sure to check out their artwork...after you've taken a look at my card, that is.

 

Stamps: Quick Cards-Bountiful Seasons

Inks: Honey, Goldrush, Autumn Terracotta, Saddle

Papers: Colonial White cardstock, Goldrush cardstock, Kraft cardstock

Accessories: Wooden Buttons, Colonial White Embroidery Floss

I've got a couple of new things still to show this week, including the new H2H challenge issued today!  So be sure you come back and visit.

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Birthdays By the Numbers

Happy Saturday everyone!  I have another of this month's Heart 2 Heart Challenges to share.  When I saw the Birthdays by the Numbers challenge a couple of weeks ago, it couldn't have been more perfect timing.  I was needing to get a card made for my Dad's birthday and it was the kick in the pants I needed.  See, every year the poor man has to wait for his card.   Sometimes up to a month afterwards!  But not this year...see what I came up with for him.

Stamps: Card Chatter-Birthday

Inks: Archival Black, Saddle

Papers: Dakota Reflections Kit, Clementine Reflections Kit, Scholastic Reflections Kit,

Kraft cardstock, Black cardstock, Colonial White cardstock

Accessories: Almond Glitz Glitter Gel, Liquid Glass, Baker's Twine Neutral Assortment,

Milepost Shapes, Blue Button Assortment

Tools: Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge

The challenge was to celebrate a birthday using numbers.  I really hope he doesn't mind me sharing his age with everyone!   It just shows how wise he is, right?!?

I waited to share the card here because  1.  I didn't want him to see a sneak peek.  And 2.  I didn't want to spoil the surprise of actually getting a card from me on time!  My gift-giving/card-sending punctuality skills are quite well known in the family.

In fact, when he got it early and called me, the first words out of his mouth were, "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"


Hope your Birthday is amazing Dad!

Heart 2 Heart Challenge: Christmas

Well it seems as if I'm doing the October Heart 2 Heart Challenges backwards!  It just so happens I've had some pieces waiting to share and the challenges are lining up perfectly with them.

So last week's challenge was to share a Christmas creation.  I made these gift boxes to show at our Open House in August and now I can share with you!  (Believe me, it is hard to get into the Christmas spirit of creating during August in Tucson!)

Inks: Cashmere

Papers: Pear & Partridge Reflections Kit

Accessories: Dimensional Elements In Color-Holiday

These cute little trees boxes are cut from the Pie Box on page 70 of the Artiste cartridge.  I used the Pear & Partridge papers and cut them at 6", 4.25", 3", and 2.25".  A little sponging with Cashmere ink, decorate with the Holiday DE and you're good to go!

If you choose to use them as decorations instead of treat boxes, they nestle very nicely inside one another for storage!

Heart2Heart Challenge: Halloween or Pumpkin

  This is my boys' favorite time of year...just before Halloween when the antici...pation for Trick or Treating is nearly overwhelming.  And while we don't exactly have falling leaves around here, it is cool enough during the early day to keep all the doors and windows open...and that's a plus with me!

I've been waiting to show this Stamp Camp project properly and with the Heart2Heart Challenge this week being Halloween or Pumpkin themed, it was the perfect time!  And it has been so long since I've been able to join in on the challenges, I've missed them.   What's more, I think I'll be able to complete every challenge this month!  Woohoo for me!

Okay, now back to this week's challenge.  This Halloween project was the project I created for the Holiday Stamp Camp back over Labor Day.  And it was also my Creative Class held last week.  The ladies loved it!  Take a peek:

The top of the My Creations Card Box is decorated with the new Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements and Olive Twine from the Baker's Twine Harvest Assortment.  I used Liquid Glass to highlight bits of the banner pieces and the cat's eyes and nose.  There is also a touch of Green Glitz Glitter Gel (say that 5 times fast!) on its eyes.  The long banner piece is for writing the name of the recipient of your wonderful Halloween treat!

The front of the box has a couple of cute pumpkins and a spooky ghost from the complements sheets.

And once again, I used Liquid Glass and highlighted the ghost's eyes and mouth as well as the pumpkins' eyes.  Green Glitz for the stems and around the EEK! for a touch of sparkle.

Open up the box and you have a cute little Halloween scene!  Lots of Glitz and Liquid Glass to add sparkle: moon, windows, Frank, the spider.  Even some Silver Glitz on the "cauldron"!

The cupcake wrapper was cut at 1.75" from the Artiste cartridge, found on page 77.  Fill it with a bag of your favorite candy!

A couple of Tombstones to decorate the sides of the box, cut from the Artiste at 2.8 cm in Whisper and Slate cardstock.  I filled in the RIP with Silver Glitz.

Quick and easy to put together...well, aside from all the waiting for everything to dry part!

I hope you enjoyed my little project!  So now are you wondering how I colored the box itself?  Easy, but not necessarily neatly!  I did one box for my display for camp.  This was done with our Spray Pens, Black reinker, water, alcohol, and Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint.  Well, I needed to get several boxes done for camp and our little Spray Pens only hold so much.  I used one of our travel spray bottles and made a big batch of the spray.  It worked fantastically!

Until I realized something important.
So if you attempt to make many boxes at a time as gifts, one word of caution: