Pink Rosette Card and a Winner

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We were super busy around here as our 3rd child had her 3rd birthday party on Saturday. It was a Hello Kitty lollapalooza around here for the big day.

One of my kind followers reminded me I had not announced the winner for the Viva Decor giveaway on Friday so here it is. A random winner selected by a random child, randomly in my mostly random home.

Whitney is the winner!!

Whitney check your email as I sent you a message requesting your shipping address.

If you remember earlier in the month I made a blue rosette card and posted the tutorial here. I whipped up this pink one using looser pleats and a more oval shape this weekend as I needed a thank you card for someone who recently brought us a meal when I was sick.

Recipe:
Cricut Cartridge: Old West (ribbon), Sweet Treats (circular card base)
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots
1/4 inch Circle Punch
Glitter: Stampin' UP!
Patterned Paper: Making Memories
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives: Zip Dry
Tulle

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Relax and feel better ...

A friend is going to be having some surgery this week so I thought I would make her this card to remind her to relax and take care of herself after wards.

I also used this card for the challenge over at Fantabulous Cricut blog. The challenge was to use any kind of embossing.

RECIPE:

Cricut Cartridges: Sweethearts, Splish Splash
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket
Microbeads: Stampin' UP!
Stickles: Ranger
Gel Pen: Signo White
Alpha Stickers: Doodlebug Designs
Punch: Stampin' UP!

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne


The How To's

There are two really fun things about this card. The "bubble bath" is from a combination of stickles and micro beads. I thought it came out fun and frothy.

The tile floor I designed using a combination of heat and dry embossing.

1. Use a stylus and ruler to score on the diagonal on a piece of patterned paper.

2. Use a signo white gel pen and a ruler to fill in the scored lines.

3. Apply VersaMark ink to entire piece of patterned paper.

4. Apply clear embossing powder and heat.

I love that it came out like travertine tile. I even "burned" a few areas to get some pretty color variegation.

February My Pink Stamper Design Team Project

Today is the day we get to post the projects we made for February with Robyn's new stamp releases over at My Pink Stamper. I had the opportunity to work with Sweetest Cupcakes.

The set contains 25 expressions all about cupcakes, baking, sweetness, love and yummy food.

I have had this idea about making an oven gift box in my head for a while, but I wanted to make it super easy so I could do multiples to send a little something sweet to folks from church or friends who are under the weather. Let me tell you this box could not be easier and the how to's are below. I fit a few mini muffins or small chocolate chip cookies in mine. I made the mixer card to match with a little yummy frosting spilling over the edge just like what happens in my own kitchen.

Don't forget to leave a comment if you haven't already to win the 2 bottles of Viva Decor Paper Soft I am giving away. I am picking the winner on Friday.


Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne


RECIPE:

Stamp Set: My Pink Stamper: Sweetest Cupcakes ("Baking Up Some Love" and "I'm Sweet on You" Sentiments)

Cricut Cartridges: Bags, Tags, Boxes and More, From My Kitchen
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots

Ink: Stampin' UP!: Wild Wasabi
Patterned Paper: Imaginisce, GCD Studios
Filigree Metal Flowers (Burners on the stove): Nunn Designs
Dimensional Paint (Chocolate on Mixer Bowl): Viva Decor
Transparency (See through front on oven): Staples
Small cherry punch and 1/16 hole punch: Marvy Uchida
Brads and Half back Pearl: Misc

The How To's on the Oven Box

Stove Knob Back Panel

1. The only part of the box from From My Kitchen is the knob section (the back panel above the burners) so you could certainly whip up an alternate option if you didn't have this cartridge. This panel comes from the main oven cut on page 30. Cut it out on blue cardstock at 3 inches.

2. Then using the existing upper cut line for the stove door as a guide, remove the bottom portion of the stove front.

3. Using the "layers" function cut out the two white strips and adhere them to the knob panel.

4. Using a 1/16 hole punch pierce the center of each of the 4 marked "knobs".

5. Insert your favorite brads in the holes to act as knobs.

6. Set aside this stove panel momentarily.

Oven Box

1. With the "Fit to Length" option selected and the "Window" function on cut out two of the square boxes found on page 119 at 11 1/4 inches from the Bags, Tags, Boxes and More cartridge. You will need one in light blue cardstock and one in white cardstock.

2. Fold the blue boxe in half and dry emboss it with your Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

3. Score on all of the fold lines with a scorer or bone folder. This is an important step if you want a balanced and stable box. Hand folding without scoring can make it wonky!

4. Adhere a small square of clear transparency to the inside of the box behind the cut out square.

It is important to do all your embellishing before you assemble the box. With this in mind we are now going to add the details.

5. Use your paper cutter to remove the panel on the white cube box with the window section. Stamp "I'm Sweet on You" on the lower part of this section. Punch cherry out and adhere next to sentiment. Adhere white window panel over the blue window section of the blue cube box.

6. Use scraps from the white cube box to add the handles on the front and side of the oven. I used glue dots and then bent the strips of paper for dimension with my fingers.

7. Cut a small scrap of patterned paper and fold it in half over the side oven handle. Adhere ends of the patterned paper with one glue dot. Snip a tiny fringe if desired. This is now a dish towel embellishment.

8. Using scraps of cardstock create the layered stove top - white, then blue, then white cardstock squares. I made mine fit just inside of each other and I dry embossed my blue layer with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.

9. Add your stove burners with a glue dot. I used filigree metal flowers from Nunn Designs, but you could use stamped flowers, circles, epoxy stickers, buttons, or round paper clips.

10. Assemble your box and add glue dots where needed to keep flaps together.

11. Slide in the "knob panel" into the top opening of the box. Adhere with glue dots.

You are DONE!!!

It's Raining Sprinkles

I have been having a blast using Robyn's new release stamps. If you haven't seen them be sure to head over to My Pink Stamper and check them out. This card uses the sentiment "It's raining sprinkles!" from the Sweetest Cupcakes set.

The girl on the card is a hybrid creation from three different girls and the dad on the Country Life cartridge. I wanted a body with a raised arm, but the outfit on the second girl, the third had those super cute bangs and the dad had on some kickin rain boots. I ended up having to hand cut the sleeves, her little belt, a cute collar and her bob but I am happy with how it came out in the end. The umbrella is from Everyday Paper Dolls.

This card is also my entry for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge this week. The challenge was to Make a project featuring your favorite seasonal weather (Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter). I have decided my favorite seasonal weather would be one in which sugary sweets fell from the sky. I know it hasn't happened yet, but a girl can dream. And Spring would indeed be dreamy if it rained sprinkles!

Recipe:

Stamp Set: My Pink Stamper: Sweetest Cupcakes
Cartridge: Country Life, Everyday Paper Dolls
Embossing Folder; Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots
Paper: Chatterbox
Baubles: Stamping Bella
Stickles: Ranger
Ink: Stampin' UP!
Pearls: Misc

Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Vintage Elephant Clock

Ever have an idea wedge itself in your brain and refuse to leave? A few weeks ago I saw a commercial for the circus and ever since I have been plagued by the desire to make a vintagey elephant performing the old "standing on the ball" trick. A weird creative craving I know. The only way to rid oneself of such mental nagging is acquiescence and so the above clock was born. I think it will make a sweet baby gift at the next baby shower I attend.

I also used this project as my entry in the Cooking with Cricut embossing challenge. The off white face of the clock is dry embossed with the Swiss Dot Cuttlebug Folder and the elephant's ear is embossed with Cuttlebug's Argyle Folder.

RECIPE

Cricut Cartridge: B is for Boy Lite Cartridge
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Argyle, Swiss Dots
Ink: VersaMark
Patterned Paper: Stampin' UP!
Bow: Martha Stewart Crafts
Flowers, pearls: Prima
Clock: Clearance bin at Hancock Fabrics
Button: Misc


Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Cutest Gator Fan Ever

In our family football is serious business. Well, I should clarify - University of Florida - football is serious business. I took these pictures of my baby boy watching (sleeping) through his first game on his daddy's chest. His 4 day old eyes just couldn't stay open for all four quarters though. I based the layout on this week's Sketchy Thursday's sketch.


Recipe:
Patterned Paper: Little Yellow Bicycle, Making Memories, The Girls Papiere
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Argyle
Ink: Stampin' UP!
Brads: Sassafrass Lass
Cardstock Embelli shments: Sassafrass Lass, American Crafts
Alphabets: American Crafts, Making Memories
Buttons: Misc


Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop

Welcome to the third stop on the My Pink Stamper's Pinkalicious Blog Hop.

If you are coming from Court's blog at Court’s Crafts you are in the right place. If you just happened on the hop be sure to start at the beginning at Robyn's My Pink Stamper blog.

This month we got to play with some of Robyn's brand new release sets. If you haven't seen them be sure to check them out here.

Rosettes and county fair ribbons are all the rage at the moment. I discovered this very inexpensive and fun way to make a rosette baby shower invitation and matching thank you card using the Old West Cricut Cartridge and My Pink Stamper's Sweet Baby Stamp Set.

I am giving away two bottles of Viva Decor's Paper Soft Color (Violet and Cream). If you haven't played with this product yet, you will have a blast doing so. One lucky winner will be drawn on February 25th. To enter you just need to leave a comment on this post.

If you are just looking to mosey on to more My Pink Stamper Design Team Inspiration Sonia is up next! If you are interested in project details and how to's they are listed after the blog hop list.

Robyn

Courtney-Court’s Crafts

CarrieAnne

Sonia

Lori

Julie-readysetstamp

Agnes-Flowerdisco

Helen

Angela’s Simple Creations

Tracy-Craft Junkie Too

Pam

Cristi

Shelley

Shauna at Craftee She

Edna

Kassidy

Andrea

Raechel

Bling Queen Wendy

Michelle-Meesh’s Pieces

Karlee

Alex-You Had Me At Craft

Maria

Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Recipe:
Stamps: My Pink Stamper: Sweet Baby
Cricut Cartridge: Old West (ribbon), Sweet Treats (circular card base)
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Argyle , Swiss Dots
1/4 inch Circle Punch
Ink: Stampin' UP!: Cool Caribbean
Stickles: Ranger: Star Dust
Stick Pins: Jenni Bowlin Studio: Pewter
Patterned Paper: Making Memories
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives: Zip Dry
Tulle, Ribbon Scraps

The How Tos:

Rosette Shower Invitation:

CREATING THE PLEATED CIRCLES

1. The base of this card is a circle shaped card with a hinge on the left. It was cut from white card stock at 3 1/4 inches from the Sweet Treats Cartridge. It can be found on page 69 under the "cards" function.

2. The rosette is created from the ribbon top cut on the Old West Cartridge on page 73.

3. Using the icon function and shift key cut out 5 ribbon tops in a variety of patterns. The ribbon tops need to become progressively smaller in order for them to layer. I cut one ribbon top at 10 inches, 8.5 inches, 7 inches, 5.5 inches, and 4 inches.

4. Beginning with the 10 inch ribbon top remove the center circle by snipping at the few places it is attached the "pleated" outline.

5. Choose any scored line and cut the pleated outline. It is no longer a closed circle now, but an open circle.

6. Accordion pleat this open circle piece backwards and forwards at every score or cut mark.

7. Dry emboss the open pleated circle with the Argyle Cuttlebug Folder

8. Use glue dots to reattach the open circle ends so that it is now a pleated circle.

9. Adhere the pleated circle to the circle card base with Beacon Adhesives' Zip Dry Glue.


10. Excluding the dry embossing, repeat steps 4 thru 8 with each progressively smaller ribbon top.


BUILDING THE ROSETTE

1. Freehand cut tulle circles that are slightly larger than each of the 4 smaller rosette layers. I cut 3 tulle circles in each size.

2. Free hand cut circles from tulle that are slightly larger than the ribbon top they will go under.

3. Using Beacon Adhesive's Zip Dry adhere tulle than ribbon layer, tulle than ribbon layer. I also randomly added scraps of ribbon. As you are building your layers be sure to nestle them firmly one inside the other and flatten them to retain the circular rosette shape.

4. Stamp "Baby Shower" from the Sweet Baby stamp set on off white cardstock and punch out with 1 1/4 inch circle punch.

5. Outline stamped circle with Stickles and adhere to rosette with Zip Dry Adhesive.

6. Place something marginally heavy on the rosette (I chose a box of checks) and allow to dry for 30 minutes.


Thank You Card

1. Create a rectangular card base from solid cardstock. Mine is 4 x 3 1/4 inches.

2. Adhere a rectangular card to the base.

3. Now its time to use those circles you cut out fro the rosettes. Stack the circles one top of another.

4. Using a crop-o-dile pierce all the layers at once and secure them with a brad.

5. Spray the stacked circles with water and crumple them all in towards the brad. Allow them to dry for 10-15 minutes.

6. Once dry slowly uncrumple circle layers. Rotate the layers to add interest.

7. Adhere two pieces of green ribbon to the card base and the flower on top of the card with large glue dots.

8. Apply Stickles to the edge of every other flower layer.

9. Stamp "Thank You" from the Sweet Baby stamp set on white cardstock and layer on top of hand cut blue and black rectangles.

10. Add pierced corners to card base with paper piercer or needle.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Instructions

Thank you so much for all the kind comments and emails regarding the chocolate covered strawberry project I posted earlier in the week. I provided written instructions below and you can see the video at this link on you tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPLwrWNf7k

This was my first every video tutorial so no laughing! It is a bit blurry in places and we will work on improving the lighting for future videos.

I didn't realize that blogger had a video time limit. Next time I will break it up into smaller segments so you can see it directly from the blog.

Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Supply List

Strawberry template created by Sherry Blickey (you will need one printed on brown cardstock, and one on red cardstock)

Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing Folder
Bone folder or scoring tool and a ruler
Scallop Scissors
Regular Scissors
Cardstock: French Paper Company
Flower punches and a scrap of green cardstock
Small piece of green bling

Versamark Ink
Clear Embossing Ink
Clear Embossing Powder
Heat Gun

Beacon Adhesive Zip Dry Glue
3d White Paint
Glue dots
Red Line Tape
dmc floss or string

The How Tos

The Strawberry

1. Print out the strawberry template (link in supply list) on red cardstock and either glossy brown or glossy white cardstock (depending on the chocolate flavor you prefer). I enlarged mine 30% on a xeorx machine so that it would hold two Hershey kisses.

2. Cut out the red and chocolate strawberry on the solid black lines with normal scissors.

3. Score the red strawberry on the dotted lines.

4. Dry emboss the red strawberry with the swiss dot embossing folder.

HINT (I always dry emboss after I score to avoid flattening the embossing)

5. Apply redline tape to the flap of the strawberry and form strawberry shape.

6. Punch holes where circles are marked on strawberry template.

7. Add candy.

8. Using dmc floss or string and beginning from the inside of the berry weave the string in and out of the holes.

9. When all the holes have string in them pull the ends tight and ensuring the box closes evenly tie the ends of the string off and clip the tails.


The Strawberry Top

1. You will need three different sized flower punches. Punch two of the largest size and 1 of the middle and smallest size.

2. Using VersaMark Ink or an ink color of your choice distress the edges of the flowers.

3. Layer them together and adhere them with glue dots. Add bling to the center of the top petal.

4. With your thumb undeneath and your index finger on top fold the petals down so that a little well is created.

5. Apply a good dollop of Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry to the well and attach the flower top to the strawberry.

NOTE: You will need to hold the top to the base of the strawberry for a minute or so to ensure a good seal.

Adding the Chocolate

1. Cut out the chocolate layer with regular scissors and score as was done for the red strawberry.

2. Using your scallop scissors remove about 1.5 inches from the top of the template. How much chocolate you want showing is a personal preference.

3. Apply red line tape to chocolate flap and assemble template.

4. Apply Zip Dry glue to the inside bottom and inside sides of template. Place strawberry in chocolate and hold for 1-2 minutes to allow it to dry.

5. Place assembled strawberry upside down in an egg carton, glue dot ring or other circular object. Drizzle white 3d paint in circles on chocolate layer.

Be sure to stop by tomorrow night for the My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop!

Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Thanksgiving Blessings Cartridge Giveaway Winner

We picked the winner of the Thanksgiving Blessings Cricut Cartridge. In our home we use the old school method of picking a random winner - one of my children draws a number out of a hat. This approach is great for 2 reasons - it gives my girls practice at writing their numbers and they think it is insanely good fun to hold the fate of a prize in their hands.

So with no further ado the winner is Karen Y. Karen please email me your contact information and I will get that out to you in the mail.

Be sure to check in on Friday for the My Pink Stamper Pinkalicious Blog Hop and another fun Giveaway!

One of the great things about being on a Design Team is the neat people you get to meet. This sweet notebook and card set was waiting for me in my mailbox last week.

It is from my awesome MPS team mate Julie. Be sure to visit Julie's blog at readysetstamp for more great projects. Thank you for thinking of me Julie!

Thanks for stopping today,
CarrieAnne

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

***UPDATE***

VIDEO TUTORIAL NOW AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPLwrWNf7k


I LOVE chocolate covered strawberries. When I pass a bakery window display with this dessert in the window I almost always begin to contemplate a life of crime. They wouldn't notice if I nabbed just a few right? Besides 10-20 in a low security prison isn't such a bad exchange for a dozen really good chocolate covered strawberries.

This year I made each of the girls teacher a heart shaped box. Inside is a 1/2 a dozen white and 1/2 dark chocolate covered paper strawberries. I made each strawberry big enough to hold two Hershey kisses. This way they have something pretty and yummy to open on Valentine's day. The box also smells very chocolaty!

TIPS

The box is made by using the heart from the George Cartridge.

While these strawberries are not new in the paper crafting world, I modified mine by doing the "chocolate layers". I cut out the strawberries again from glossy cardstock and then used scalloped scissors to create the chocolate edge. Puffy paint was used for the "drizzled" chocolate on top of the main chocolate layer. I used Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry to attach the chocolate layer to the red cardstock layer.

This post has to be a quick one as I am recovering from a very busy weekend. My eldest daughter was baptized on Saturday and we had lots of family in town. It was a wonderful experience for all of us, but boy do I have laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping galore to do :)

Thanks for looking,

CarrieAnne

Look Who's Turning One!

Today is my little niece Scarlett's first birthday. I made her this sweet little owl card and the sentiment on the inside reads "Look Whoos Turning One!"

Recipe:
Cricut Lite Cartridge: Sugar and Spice
Paper: Stampin' UP!
Punches: Stampin' UP!
Pearls: Reminisce (Michael's Brand)
Bow: Martha Stewart Crafts

The How To's

1. I cut the owl from the Cricut Lite Sugar and Spice Cartridge at 7 inches from Brown cardstock first and then folded a second piece of brown cardstock and traced the original cut onto it to create the folded base of the card. (I don't have a gypsy so I had to do it old school :)

2. I also cut an owl from the green leaf paper at 7 inches and one from brown patterned paper at 7 inches.

3. Using the layer function I cut out the round eyes from the purple floral paper. I cut a second set of eyes from the dark purple paper and layered one on top of the other and then slightly off set them.

3. The center of the eye is a flower punch and I used a second larger flower punch to maker her eye lashes. I simply cut a few of the petals off and layered them.

4. I snipped the feet off the brown patterned owl and layered them to the green leaf owl.

5. The stomach "feathers" are about 50 little flower punches that I built row upon row and then folded all the petals up with a stylus to create depth.

6. The beak is made from two heart punches. I folded the curved upper portions of the heart down and in to create a flap to attach the beak to the card.

Thanks for looking!

CarrieAnne