Silhouette Birthday Invites

It is that crazy time of year for me again. I have so many birthday's between the month of May and June it kills me. I feel like I spend the entire 2 months trying to prepare for birthdays. Most of those birthdays are my children, my husband, my dad, nephew and myself throw in some friend birthdays for my kids and we have chaos.

This year on top of all of it my mom is moving from here (Boston) to Alaska. :( So I am trying to throw together a going away party the day after my daughters birthday this coming weekend. Craziness!

I was up until 2 a.m Sunday night, into Monday morning working on these so that Faith could take them to school on Monday. I'm a week late getting them out. What are you gonna do??? This is only a portion of them. My daughter is a social butterfly and has so many friends. Every year I do special invitations for her. I love doing them. The 3 boys could care less, so it's nice to indulge the girlishness of my dd.

I used my Silhouette for the entire thing. I didn't change a thing on the template. I didn't even resize it. It was the perfect size. I didn't take a picture of the inside but basically you pull up on the bow the invite is the top of the present. I printed the information on white paper and then used adhesive to attach them. I had originally tried to print directly on it but I used a dark purple and it was just too hard to see it. It was also way faster to print a sheet with 25 invites than to tape and run each one through the printer.

OH FYI....my camera is a nightmare...I took these pictures in natural light. The single is the dark grape purple with lime green and yellow. It was my favorite combination but it came out so badly in the picture. In dire need of a new camera.


Working on birthday cards today. Will post more later.

small tip, big results....

I love this thing we call the World Wide Web. Without it I would not have amazing women to be inspired by and to learn from. This card is the direct result from playing with my Silhouette and applying some of the things I learned in THIS video from the uber talented Nichol Magourik. I had no idea prior to this video that you could change the cut line colors and only cut the ones you wanted. A very cool trick. The part on line colors starts around 6:50 into the video. Watch the whole thing if you haven't though. Very good information in there.

What I basically did was place the flower I wanted over the bracket tent card in my Robo Master software, I resized it to fit the card, then I changed the color of the outer edge of the flower and told the Silhouette not to cut that color, I then cut it, without removing it from the machine I changed my blade to a pen and then had it draw the outside line. I didn't go with that one...as I used the pink pen and wanted to use that for something else instead. So you have options for that outer line. Here I just didn't cut it.

I then stamped my stamp in Versamark and then heat embossed it. I used the resist technique for this to get the tone on tone colors. Easy peasy! :)

Also, if you are not a 2 peas person or have never taken a class over there I urge you to. I have been a member of the 2 peas community since it opened its store about 11.5 years ago. I had just gotten my first computer and given birth to my 3rd son when I discovered it. My first purchase for scrapbook supplies was made there and the only way to pay at the time was by check. My how times have changed! lol Anyhow, it has grown into a massive community and the Education board is probably my favorite addition (other than the inception of the Garden Girls). The classes are FREE, the teachers ROCK and the inspiration and knowledge you get is unlike any other on the WWW. So go take a peek, take a class or just drool over the pages in the gallery. You'll love it....I promise! :)
Products used:

Cardstock: Hero Arts Layering paper (kraft), Bazzill (cream)
Stamps: Hero Arts (Antique Brocade & thanks)
Ink: Ranger Distress inks (Vintage photo)
Silhouette Images: Detailed flower (detailed_flower_1_C100170_24282); Bracket Tent Card (bracket_tent_card_C20090803150930_19414)
other: Ribbon

It's all about the cake!

***Note the images look blurry in the post but if you click on them they are crisp and clean. Blogger is having issues this morning....also the shadows that showed up on the layout weren't there when scanned but happened for some reason when I stitched them in photoshop***

I have had this layout in my head ever since Nichole announced that the April class at 2 peas was the print and cut feature on the Silhouette. I love that feature and I loved these birthday images! The entire layout was created using the Silhouette machine. I am in love with this machine and if I had to give up all my supplies and just keep it and cardstock I would be OK with it. That is how much this machine rocks!

I love putting pictures in a row across a page. It's one of my favorite layout designs. It allows me to keep my pictures bigger so you really get a feel of what is happening in them. While it doesn't work well for photos with group shots it works well with single person photos.

For the flourish on the bottom I used the Hero Arts flourish. I so wanted to use the stamp but I couldn't reverse it and get a good image of it by "kissing" it so I opted for the digital version of it. I love that Hero Arts gives us that option. Many of my favorite stamps are in a digital version to manipulate as I feel. I just put a horizontal mirror on it in my Robo Master software. I cut them out using the Hero Arts layering paper in snow again (love it). If you have not tried this paper yet I highly suggest it for use in the Silhouette. The cuts are crisp and clean and the most intricate details come out perfectly. I'm hoping they come out with larger packs (25, 50 or 100 would be awesome!)

For the tags running across under the pictures I sized the tags in the Robo Master, then I used the text feature to place my words on the tags to make sure I got them exactly right. I then moved the words to the side and cut out the tags, I then sent a copy to my printer for it to print the words. I then taped the tags over the words using artists tape (a very low tack tape that usually won't tear the paper when removed) and fed it back through my printer. I love that I can do all of this in on program. It's simplicity at its finest.

For the title I did something a little different. There may be an easier way but I have yet to figure it out. First I chose the font that I wanted (chachie) and then I made each letter separate so that I could manipulate the sizes in the Robo Master. Once I had them the size I wanted and had them touching in the correct places I welded them together. I then typed in "it's all about the" and placed it where I wanted it. I changed the blade in my Silhouette to a black pen and fed it through the machine. When it was done I changed the pen back to the blade and ran the green paper through it to cut the word "cake" I moved the other words off to the side. While it was cutting I used my exacto knife to trim out the title with a little edge so you can see the pen work underneath. I am sure if I played with the machine long enough I could figure out how to cut it out. I am going to work on that in the next few weeks. I pop dotted the green over the pen and voila! instant fun title with dimension and shadow.

Off to play with the kids and our new puppy. I hope you have a wonderful day! :)




Products used:

Cardstock: Bazzill, Hero arts
Patterned paper: My Minds Eye (tiny dancer); KI Memories, Bo Bunny
Silhouette Machine: Cupcake Circles (Cupcake_circles_-_pink_cooo96_21585); Presents border ( presents_border_c00073_27011); Pennant border (pennant_border_0878); Tag()tag_2391): Scallop Square Frame lg (square_scallop_LG_1200); Birthday Cake (birthday_cake_c00015_28466); Flourish Bold (flourish_bold_c20091115193805_23067)
Fonts: CK Ali (tags), Chachie (title), memorandum (journaling)
Ink: Ranger Distress inks by Tim Holtz
Thread: Gutermann

Mother's Day part 2

I made this one for my neighbor. She's a sweetheart and her daughter is rotten to her. I thought I would make her a card and buy her a hanging plant to brighten her day. She broke her ankle and has been somewhat miserable this week. She was so happy she cried. I love making people happy!

This Hero Arts stamp is my favorite. I use it all the time. I love Dogwoods and can't wait for them to bloom this spring. In the meantime, I'll get my fill of them with this stamp.

I used Scrappy Cat stamps for the background in Distress inks Antique Linen (rapidly becoming a favorite! ) and Colorbox ink in pink.

Working on actual scrapbook layouts this week! I'm so excited. If you know of any good challenges going on this week post em in the comments section. I'm always looking for a good challenge :)

Thank you ever so much--Card Patterns #62

Well this little ole card started out as many things...it was a monochromatic for the challenge at Caardvarks, Card Patterns #62, and entry for Gallery Idol and my Mother's Day card for my mom. I missed the Caardvarks challenge due to my back but it's going to the other 3! I love combining challenges. I think it pushes me harder and I always get something I never would have gotten otherwise.

This card is pure cardstock. I love that my Silhouette lets me create something like this and only have to add minimal embellishments. The paper is all Hero Arts layering paper in snow. I love this for my Silhouette. It cuts so beautifully, especially for intricate details and it's so easy to separate from the Silhouette mat.

I ran some scraps through my Big Shot using a Cuttlebug folder and then I punched them into circles, distressed the edges and then layered them to make the flowers. I used Copics to color the butterfly and then covered the top layer with stickles. There are rolled up glue dots going down the center of the butterfly to give it dimension.


Products used:
Silhouette shapes: Butterfly Border, ( Butterfly_ border_2_C00540_19210); Butterfly Lace Circle (butterfly_lace_circle_C00501_19210); Tag Card (tag_card_C00238_19547)
Stamps: Thoughtful Messages (CL184)
Paper: Hero Arts layering paper in snow white
rub on: American Crafts (inside front flap--not pictured)
Punch: Marvy
Others: Stickles, buttons, embossing folder, gluedots, glitter (doodlebug)
Ink: Ranger Distress inks, Memories

mini haitus

hi I am here. I had 5 needles jammed (literally--i had a nasty ligament in the way) into my spine today. i hurt and I am too grumpy and sore to create. I promise I will be back with some yummy goodness for you to see. I have a bunch of challenges...that God willing...I am going to start working on tomorrow. A small prayer that these injections worked would be greatly appreciated.

In the meantime, if you haven't already, go HERE! Goodness! Ultra pure goodness and an incredible give-a-way...plus she's an uber sweetheart! :)

HUGS!
Michelle

NSD creations!

So did you all have a good NSD? I most certainly did!!! While I barely got pictures on a page I did get some cards done....I know...it's not World Card Making Day...but it's playing with scrapbook supplies and to me that's OK! :) I made 3 cards and got a huge jump start on layout I have been planning for a while.

I avoided the computer most of the day and was sooooo proud of myself for that. I know that there were a lot of challenges out there yesterday and it was so hard to stay away but I wouldn't have accomplished anything and I went from having 5 kids to zero kids ...so create I did! :)

Here they are. I will upload the products later...


Just a fun card. I cut the circle background with my Silhouette. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it but I loved the shape. Then as I was popping out the circles that remained I realized what I wanted to do. I had just bought my first set of Copics and I am still practicing with them. I decided to just use them to add small pops of colors and I just added some American Craft thickers to finish it off.


This one was fun. I have had this card in my head since the day Silhouette released these maze shapes. I have more in the works too. They are so fun. It's and actual working maze!. I made it into a shaker card and put a little bead inside. My kids have been playing with it all day!

There's the little bead in the center.


I cut the letters out with my Silhouette too. I colored them with Copics, I highlighted the edges with a black paint pen and then covered them in stickles.
added a sentiment to the inside of it so it doesn't look like just a big green circle. The bottom of the card has a place to write whatever you want.

I struggle with cards for men. I need to send a card out to one of the guys in my life to let him know we are thinking of him at this tough time. I saw a similar card on Hero arts. I have been playing with my supplies and really wanted to use my Tim Holtz inks and Perfect Pearls. I cut the Hero Arts image out with my Silhouette, inked it with Distress inks and then sprayed it with some Perfect Pearls. So very shiny and pretty in person. I stamped the background with Magenta stamps clear embossed them and then created a sunrise with the inks.


Off to go rake leaves :ick: but I am trying to adopt a puppy and I want my yard to look beautiful for her and her foster mom when they come to visit.

Happy Sunday!!!