Saturday, November 5, 2011

Christmas/Winter Blog Hop

Hello!!!  Welcome to the Winter/Christmas Themed Blog Hop celebrating our favorite time of the year. This Blog Hop is hosted by Paulette, from Around the Bock with Scrapalette. If you are following along with the Hop you should have arrived from Blingdazzler’s blog.  If not, you can start at the beginning of the hop at http://scrapalette.blogspot.com

Paulette and I will be following along with the blog hop from the Cricut Circle event in Greenville SC!!  My projects for today are serving dual purpose!  For those of you in the Circle you may know that these events for the Circlets typically include a theme, a swap and a contest.  Luckily for me the theme of today’s blog hop is also the theme for the Circle event (love killing two birds with one stone– YIPEE!!).  For information about joining the Cricut Circle please visit www.Cricut.com.  Now that all that stuff is out of the way…let’s get to the real reason you are here J!!

My first project for the hop is a simple card that will fit not only Christmas but Winter too.  It is the card I am entering into the contest at the Circle event.  I love the way it turned out.  I think this is going to be my stock Christmas card this year.  It was soooooo easy to put together, but yet I think it is simply stunning (maybe I am biased heeheehee).  I may decide to change it up a bit too…maybe a nativity scene, or a silhouette of an ice skater???  Who knows!! 

Materials Used for this project:
Stampin’ Up Cardstock & Ink – Basic Gray
Georgia Pacific Cardstock (Walmart) – White
PK Glitz Glitter – Crystal
Zig Two Way Glue Pen
EK Success 3D-Dots - 1/16” thick
EK Success 3D-Dots – 1/8” thick
Stampin’ Up Stamp Sets – Heard from the Heart  and  God’s Blessings
ATG gun
Gypsy (DS or CCR will probably work)

Cricut Cartridges:
Campin’ Critters – Bare Trees (layer 2 – button 42)
Celebrate with Flourish –Rabbit (layer - button 12)
Christmas – Snowy hill (shift  – button 43)
Don Juan – (Christmas) Pine (shift – button 33)
George and Basic Shapes – (shift – button 14; resized to a horizontal rectangle to weld to the snowy hill to provide a flat edge for the bottom of the card)
Live Simply – Squirrel (base – button 9; flipped right to left)
Wildlife – Deer family (base – button 39)

I designed this with my Gypsy.  First I opened a template I had created for a 4.25” x 5.50” landscape card.  This gives me a base to work from in making sure I have everything sized the way I want it.  There are three layers to the scene to give it the depth.  I started with the snowy hill from the Christmas cartridge.  I then welded a base using the square (resized) from George and Basic Shapes.  Then I added the Pine from Don Juan as well as several sets of the bare trees from Campin’ Critters, using the hide contour feature to space/organize the trees the way I wanted.  Next I began to add the animals; I wanted the deer family from Wildlife to be the main focus, then I placed the rabbit from Celebrate with Flourish and the squirrel from Live Simply (again using hide contour on both to avoid cutting the extras).  After I had my scene the way I thought I wanted it I copied it two times and then began to delete the items I didn’t want for each specific layer.  I welded and grouped the items on each layer and would occasionally place the layers back on top of one another to make sure I was getting everything I wanted in the right place.  Once I was satisfied I made my cuts.  Oh, in efforts to avoid wasting so much paper I flipped one of the layers down and moved the layers around so they would cut on one 8 ½ x 11 piece of cardstock (save the paper from the mat to use later on in the project). 

I used my zig two way glue pen to strategically place glue in the tree bends and on the ground where snow would lay and sprinkled with PK Glitz glitter.  I scored my card base and began by adhering the base layer directly to the cardstock with my ATG gun. I then added 1/16” 3D-Dots and attached the next layer carefully lining everything up and repeated with the top layer.  Then I used the leftovers from the Cricut cuts, and cut a piece to 5.5” by whatever I had to stamp my sentiment using Stampin’ Up’s Heard from the Heart “welcome Christmas into your heart” in basic gray.  I then carefully tore the paper to add another layer element, added a line of glue and sprinkled with PK Glitz glitter.  I attached directly to the top layer with my ATG gun. 

On the inside (not shown-sorry!) I cut down a piece of white cardstock and stamped my sentiment using Stampin’ Up’s God’s Blessings “May the miracle of Christmas find you Safe in the Peace of God, warm in the Light of Christ.”  I find this sentiment just beautiful!  While I respect the beliefs of others, I am a Christian and believe that there is no Christmas without Christ.  That is it.  The hardest thing about this card is the design.  Now that I have that out of the way I am excited about getting these made so I can mail them out after Thanksgiving.

I will be happy to share the gypsy file with you (leave a comment including your email), all I ask is for creative courtesy in that you do not share without my consent and please give credit where credit is due J!  If you do not have the cartridges required to make the cuts, I am sure you can find substitutions with cartridges you do have.  Just have fun with it!  I may be posting some additional versions in the future.     

For my next project I am showing you the tags I made for the Circle event tag swap.  These were soooo simple to make!!  You tend to want simple when you are making 50+ of the same thing LOL!!

Materials Used for this Project:
Stampin’ Up Cardstock & Ink – Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, and Cherry Cobbler
Staz-on Ink – Cotton White
(Unknown Brand) Cardstock - Vanilla
Caron Simply Soft Yarn (Walmart) – Off White #9702
Close To My Heart Stamp Set from the Art Philosophy Bundle – To: and From:
Studio G Clear Stamp Set ($1 Winter set) - Snowflake
Crop-a-dile
ATG gun
Gypsy

Cricut Cartridge:
Jolly Holidays – Mittens @ 2.75 (base & shift – button 29)

Again, designed with my Gypsy, I added as many sets of mittens I could to fit the paper I had; using 8 ½ x 11 paper I was able to cut 6 sets per sheet of cardstock.  On another layer I was able to add more of the shift layers, which was ok because I wanted all of the mitten “cuffs” to be vanilla for visibility on who the gift is to and from (I despise those sticker tags that are so dark sometimes you can’t find a pen that shows up or you can’t read when you are handing out presents!).  I cut the mittens in various colors, then cut the cuffs in vanilla.  I was careful to keep the cuffs for the left mittens together and the cuffs for the right mittens together…this way I knew which stamp should be used on them (to: stamped on the left cuff and from: stamped on the right cuff).  Using the ink color coordinating with the mittens, I stamped the to: and from: onto the cuffs and attached them to the mitten using the ATG gun.  I then stamped the snowflakes on the mittens; on the Cherry Cobbler mittens I used the Staz-on ink; on the Baja Breeze and Certainly Celery I used the coordinating ink.  Next I used my Crop-a-dile to punch holes for my yarn.  I used the smaller hole punch and placed the mitten set together by putting them face to face and lining up the thumb then punching the hole as close to the bottom and edge under the thumb as I could.  I simply inserted the yarn, tied a simple knot and cut the excess off!  That’s it!!  Easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!!

I love simple things.  Sometimes I want to get to elaborate and I realize that just isn’t my thing!  I have always liked clean lines, bright colors and cutesy images.  I do try to challenge myself every now and then to go  outside of my comfort zone, but when mass producing I just don’t have the patience…nope, not me hahaha!

Well I hope you have enjoyed my projects.  Please leave me a comment…all us bloggers just love comments.  If you like my projects please browse some of my other posts and become a follower.  You  never know, I may just randomly choose someone for a prize J….hmmmmmmmm…..???

Off to the next blog you shall go…that would be Sharon at  Designs by Sharon

54 comments:

  1. You card is beautiful!!
    cathyplus5.blogspot.com

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  2. Love your card! I love projects with lots of layers. Now your mitten tags? Amazing!! What a simple and fun idea!! I may have to scraplift this for teacher gifts this year!! Great job!!
    Hugs, Wini
    wini@looneybugdesigns.com

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  3. What detail...fabulous projects
    Hugs
    Adele

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  4. Your mitten tags are so cute. But, I just love your card. It is so elegant! May I please have the gypsy file?
    Thank you so much for sharing.
    Donna
    lighthouse@bedardphoto.com

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  5. Beautiful card and your mitten tags are adorable! I'm a new follower.

    http://happyscrapper64.blogspot.com/
    HappyScrapper64@bex.net

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  6. I love both projects. wish I was at the meet up so I could get a pair of those mittens. Hope you and Paulette are having a blast, but I know you are. Cant wait for a closer one to my area to attend.

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  7. Love them all on your blog!!! Have fun at the meetup!!! Linda Harris Lsunflower58@aol.com

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  8. Oh Brandi these are great!! I was so impressed I had to take the time and check out the rest of your blog, what a great creater you are!! I am now a follower!! TFS!! laysig@telus.net

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  9. Your card is absolutely beautiful! I love all the details and layers. I really like your mittens too! Cute and easy. I'm a new follower and just love the other projects you have posted. TFS.

    Kris
    dietzrobles at yahoo dot com

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  10. Wow Brandi, that card is stunning! I love the feel of it and all the layers! The mittens are a funa nd creative gift tag set! TFS your creativity with us!
    Colleen (gonescrappin C. Circle)

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  11. Love your projects! Awesome job!

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  12. OMG love the card ......

    mreyes2710@gmail.com

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  13. Brandi both of your project are just terrific! I love the card and the mitten gift tags are adorable!!!! TFS i am a new follower - looking forward to seeing even more!!!!

    Lisa G
    http://lisa-scrappingspot.blogspot.com/

    stop by & check out my giveaway!

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  14. I love both of your projects. The mitten gift tags are awesome!!
    brz352@yahoo.com

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  15. I love your card Brandi! It has got me thinking how I could change it to give it an Australian flavour.... (no snow here at Christmas as it's summer!)

    Hope you're having a fantastic time at the meet up!

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  16. The card is so elegantly done! I love it! I'm going to try the mittens for tags as they are sooooooooo cute!

    leannelundquist@yahoo.com

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  17. I love both projects. Simple and beautiful! :)

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  18. Beautiful card and tags! Thanks for sharing :-)

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  19. Oh my gosh, I love your scene card! I hope you win!

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  20. I am already a follower and love your Work! Your card is absolutely Stunning and might have to try and do one like it!! I do not have all those cartridges but think I have some to substitute with! TFS!!!

    http://ibecircled.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-about-my-christmas-cards-i-have.html
    ilovetonkinese2 at hotmail dot com
    Rexann♥

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  21. Brandi, I absolutely love the card. Simple and clean, but stunning. I would love the file. Thanks.

    lbw.mlt@charter.net

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  22. Oh, oh, oh!!! I LOVE your card. I hope you won something for it today!!!

    michelegreen120 at gmail dot com
    www.michelegreen.com

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  23. Beautiful card!!! I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the file!!! I promise not to sell, just share for the holidays & promise to sign your name to the card as well! (Tee-Hee) I mean, I will if ya want! I am now a follower. Thank God for hops!!! Thank God, period! You are so very creative & I feel very blessed to have stumbled across your blog! TFS!!! God Bless
    ChelleBee kweenbee_612@yahoo.com

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  24. Fantastic card!!!

    Debbie @ http://bugginattheseams.blogspot.com/

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  25. The card is wonderful, I LOVE the mittens. I have a soft spot for winter mittens! Thanks for sharing. papermemories4u@ yahoo.com

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  26. I lust love your woodlands card.
    i'm a new follower
    mbchoj at aol dot com

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  27. Love the card and thre tags. Thanks for sharing.

    Mona

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  28. stunning card! and love the mittens! 2 cute! Would love the gypsy file! I don't have live simply or wildlife but perhaps I could find something similar or maybe they are on another cart! TFS!
    nanapuddin2u at gmail dot com

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  29. Very cute card. I would love to have a copy of the file. TFS.
    Lhoehman4@att.net

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  30. You mitten tag is so cute, but I just adore the card!

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  31. You are right! your card is simple(but very beautiful). the mittens are cute too.millierose651@aol.com

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  32. Beautiful card! And the mitten tags are too cute!

    karenskapin at yahoo dot com

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  33. Your card is just beautiful! Thank you for the instructions! I got one of your sweet tags at the Greenville Meet-Up! They are just adorable!
    Carolyn
    http://cccscraproom.blogspot.com

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  34. Beautiful card. TFS

    Dana
    Danascraftycorner.blogspot.com

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  35. Your card is beautiful! I would love to see more of these on your blog. Also, love the use of the mittens for To: and From: tags, very cute! I'm a new follower.

    lflinesatcomcastdotnet

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  36. Your card is just amazing. I love it.

    sjox44@insightbb.com

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  37. All your cards look wonderful but this Winter Woodland Scene card is SPECTACULAR!!!! Wonderful!!! And if you wouldn't mind sharing the gypsy file it would be wonderful!!

    live2clickpics@ameritech.net

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  38. This scene card is simply stunning!!! It is simple but is so elegant - just perfect for Christmas. I love what you wrote inside too.

    Thank you for your kind offer to share. I would love to have your file.
    karen kbrig@ptd.net

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  39. What a treat: two beautiful projects!!! :)

    Hope you had fun at the Cricut Circle Event!

    Thank you so much for sharing,

    Jennifer
    partridgelu at yahoo dot com

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  40. I am so in love with your card! It's gorgeous! It's been great hopping with you!

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  41. Brandi, it was so nice meeting you, you are such a sweet cheerful person. Your card is stunning and I'm so glad it won ( I voted for you, told you it would do well :0 ) I loved your little tags too, thank you for sharing them with me even though I didn't have anything to give you in return!

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  42. Brandi - the mittens are SO cute and simple - will definitely make some to attach to gifts this year - so, so cute! And hey - I'm a scuba diver as well! Where's your favorite spot to dive?

    sharon.wright24@gmail.com

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  43. Brandi
    I am so glad I got to meet you at the meetup
    Your card is truly beautiful and I would love to have the file if you want to share it.

    The mittens are so adorable.
    Thanks for the demo of your ornaments you are making I am so going to try them.

    dj0818@aol.com

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  44. Absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your card. This is the first Christmas card I have seen this year that I am GAGA over. Could you please send me the gypsy file for it. I promise that I would use it as requested. my email is de_cat_1999@yahoo.com

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  45. Love your card, it is gorgeous...I would love it if you would share your cut files with me...I just need to see closer how you cut your layers, I don't want to copy it.....I'm grammycris on the msg board and my email is crisnosack@yahoo.com
    Thanks!

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  46. Brandi: gorgeous card!!! May I please have your cut file? Thank you for your beautiful creativity!! My email is Elinmrk@sbcglobal.net

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  47. Your Christmas/Winter card is absolutely gorgeous. Could you please send me the gypsy cut file for it. My email address is tamidecat@hotmail.com

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  48. Was nice to meet you at AC Moore the other day! Thanks for encouraging us to take the cricut out of the packaging and do something with it. lol! I looked at your work and you are amazing! We are watching youtube tutorials and hoping to get the hang if it. Would love to keep in touch.
    Blessings,
    Bobbie

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  49. I also love your winter card. Would you mind sending the file to me at reber1963@gmail.com? Thank you

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  50. I also love your winter card. Would you mind sending the file to me at reber1963@gmail.com? Thank you

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  51. I love your card, was wanting to do something similar for a birthday card, but wasn't sure how to get the hill.

    I do have a gypsy, but haven't done much more than design my Christmas card. I did something simple, connected Joy to the World as in: Joy and World same font- to the- in cursive underneath Joy, and World standing on end on right side with W on the bottom.

    Would you mind sending it to me at seschch@yahoo.com? I'm not sure how to take it from there, but always figure out I can learn. Thank you so much.

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