MCT Throwback Thursday: Backyard Barker

Hey there! Welcome to today's Throwback Thursday Challenge! For today's challenge, Emma is requiring us to use ANY 'older' Cricut Cartridge to complete our projects.

Today's project was inspired by another FABULOUS My Creative Time Design Team Member, Katie. I created this project while at Scrap Camp for the weekend and didn't realize just how inspired this card was until I came home and looked back at Katie's project from February. Thanks, Katie, for your inspiration!!!

For this 4" x 4" card, I let my die cuts hang 'off the page' for a fun design element. I made sure not to let them fall too far off the card so that it will still fit in a standard A2 (4.25" x 5.5") envelope. The dog house and tree are cut using the Everday Paper Dolls Cricut Cartridge.

Tip: If the cut you want to use on a cartridge is not offered in 'layers' (where you can cut different parts of the image in different colors), you can still give it extra pizzazz by cutting it 2 or more times in different colors, snipping the details yourself and adhering your new 'custom layers' together - as I did here with the dog house and tree!

That precious puppy is from the Animal Kingdom Cricut Cartridge. After I completed my Cricut cuts, I shaded them with my Copic markers. I also used my Copics to color the sky and clouds in the background.

For my fence, I stamped the chicken wire design from MCT's Spring Chicken Backgrounds onto a piece of acetate. Since I didn't have any full sheets to stamp on, I simply used the backing to a sticker sheet I had laying around. Handy AND environmentally friendly! *giggle* I recommend using StazOn Ink when stamping on acetate. It does just what it says it does - STAYS ON!

I cut a few strips of gray for my fence posts, adhered them to the front of the acetate fence and popped the fence up on the card (keeping my pop dots behind the fence posts so you can't see them).

If you'd like to play along with this week's Throwback Thursday Challenge, head on over to Emma's blog to link up!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations to

MISSSTAMPER!

You have won the NEW 6x6 Echo Park paper pad! 

MCT 3D Wednesday: Happy Birthday Princess

Click photo for larger view

Hello and welcome to this week's 3D Wednesday with the My Creative Time Crew! 3D Wednesday is the day that we create ANYTHING that isn't a card or scrapbook layout.

Well, guess what... my project is a card! *pause for applause* No, I didn't ignore the rules. I just chose to bend them a bit. You see, I LOVE to create - but with purpose! It's just not my 'thing' to create projects for you to see that I don't actually use for something. So when deciding what to make for this 3D Wednesday, I wanted my project to fulfill a need. And what do I need the most of? Birthday cards.

My husband and I are blessed to have 9 nieces and nephews (with our 10th still baking in the 'oven'). We have three nieces ages 6 and under, so I can never create too many Princess cards! But this is no ordinary card. When you remove the "belly band" (the green strip with scallop and sentiment on it that holds this card closed), you reveal a magical pop-up castle inside!

For the outside of this pop-up card, I cut the unicorn from the Once Upon a Princess Cricut Cartridge. Of course I layered the unicorn using pop-dots (I recommend Stampin' Up!'s Stampin' Dimensionals - best stick for the price!). After adhering my patterned paper, white card stock and unicorn to my card base, I hand-set the rhinestones into a fun swirly design.

Tip: Pre-designed rhinestone 'stickers' can be purchased for an easy stick-and-go application. If you're willing to take the time, it can be more economical to purchase loose rhinestones and hand-set them yourself into whatever design your heart desires. I use Stampin' Up!'s Crystal Effects to glue mine down.


I knew that the pop-up castle I would put inside the card would make this card difficult to stay closed, so I created a 'belly band' to hold it shut. Belly bands are super simple to create! Just cut a strip of paper, wrap it around your project and tape it together underneath the 'medallion' (in this case, scallop circle and sentiment). Be sure to make your belly band loose enough to easily slide on and off of your project. I creased my belly band on the edges to better fit my card.

My medallion was created using MCT's Scallop and Stitched Circle Die Set for the outer layers. I stamped "Happy Birthday Princess" (All Around Birthday Time) in Versamark and embossed it with white embossing powder. The number "6" (All Around Birthday Time) was stamped in black on the stitched circle die from MCT's Build a Banner Kit.

The pop-up castle was cut using the Once Upon a Princess Cricut Cartridge. After layering, pop-dotting, white gel pen highlighting and applying a healthy dose of Star Dust Stickles to my castle, I adhered it to my 'pop-up mechanism' and glued that to the card. To create your own pop-up card, just cut a piece of card stock that can be hidden behind your object, score it into 4 sections, fold on the lines and adhere one end to the inside top of your card and one side to the inside bottom of your card. Then glue your object to the section that faces 'outward'. Here is a side-view illustration to help:

To top-off the inside of my card, I stamped the banner and sentiment from My One and Only, colored the banner with my Copics and popped it up behind the castle.

Thanks so much for stopping by today to see my Pop-Up Princess card!

I hope you were inspired! 

- Veronica

MCT 15th Edition Blog Hop: Classy Ladies...

Hey there, Hoppers! If you've clicked here from Trell's blog, you're on the right track! If not, I suggest starting at Emma's blog so you can enjoy the entire Hop!

Today's project is a little something for my creative studio: a fun photo frame of my very own "Classy Ladies" - my beautiful bridesmaids! I was blessed to have 6 wonderful girls stand up in my June 2011 wedding - 5 sisters/SILs and one very best friend/Maid of Honor.

Tip: Don't limit yourself to fitting your embellishments 'behind the glass' of your frame. Take the glass completely out and jazz it up freely!

This frame looks pretty nifty, huh? It's a Debbie's Dollar find. It was originally black, but with a can of beautiful aqua spray paint - it's fabulous! This is actually just one of SEVENTEEN frames I purchased and spray painted. I used them for my wedding table numbers. Now they're sprinkled around our home - what a fabulous wedding keepsake!

I used MCT's Coffee Backgrounds to stamp the argyle pattern behind the photo in green. The sentiment is from MCT's Classy & Fabulous. If you stopped by during Christmastime, you might recognize that delicious green striped ribbon for my bow - I used it a BUNCH! Unfortunately, I ran out and couldn't find it again. But not to worry - my Mom's eyes were PEELED for it and she snatched a couple rolls for me when it hit the shelves again. Thanks, Mom!

The yummy patterned papers in the background and the coordinating brads are from Echo Park (This & That). Speaking of Echo Park... who wants to win an Echo Park 6 x 6 paper pack of her very own?




***GIVEWAY ALERT***



For our Blog Hop giveaway, each DT member will be giving away a brand new release Echo Park 6x6 pad! All you have to do is leave a comment here along with the rest of the design team's blogs AND also leave a way for me to contact you! Each designer will use Random.org to pick a winner! So remember you  have 16 chances to win! All you have to do is leave a comment on all blogs in this hop for more chances to win! The deadline is Sunday, March 18th at midnight! Emma and each designer will announce their winner on their blog on Wednesday, March 21st. EASY PEASY!!! GOOD LUCK!


Your next and final stop on this Blog Hop is Micia.

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

Winner of "Happy Hunting" Stamp Set

Congratulations to CindyU!!!

By commenting on my Everyday Cricut guest post, you've won the Happy Hunting Stamp Set from My Creative Time!

CyndiU said...Darling cards. I truly love the circle background. Need to try it on my next card. Thanks for the inspiration.
I'd love a chance to win the "Happy Hunting" stamp set and a chance to win the cartridge.
Hugs, CyndiU
March 8, 2012 10:25 AM

I'm emailing you to get your address so I can get your new set out to you!

- Veronica

MCT Sneak Peek #4: Swanky Cappuccino Card

Hey there! Welcome back for another Sneak Peek from My Creative Time's newest release! If you LOVE these stamps as much as I do, click on over to purchase from the 15th Edition!

Today's card reminds me of a swanky little cafe that you'd see in the movies. I'm sure there are ACTUAL cafes like that too, but for me, they only exist in Hollywood. *giggle* This is another 4" x 4" card and was really simple to make.

After layering my kraft colored strip down the (almost) center of the card, I paper pierced a line next to it on the card base. I stamped the background stamps from Coffee Break in black ink,  cut them out using the 1.5" Classic Inverted Scallop Square Nestabilities Die and popped them up on the card (shocker!).

The coffee cup was cut using the Graphically Speaking Cricut Cartridge. I added some flair to it with my white gel pen and popped the cup and steam up on the card base. The ribbon really finishes this card with some punch!

Take a tip from Clinton Kelly and Stacey London from TLC's What Not to Wear: Neutrals go with anything - even each other! So don't be afraid to use black and brown on the same project!!!


Sneak Peek Giveaway Time!

With all of our Sneak Peek weeks, Emma likes to do some FUN giveaways!

 ***All you have to do is leave comments on our blogs! You do NOT have to comment on every blog, BUT if you do, you will just have more chances to win!

 ***SPREAD THE WORD TO THE WORLD ON FACEBOOK about this release & whatever connections you may have! Let us know on "My Creative Time's" FB page here that you did so! OR you can just tag My Creative Time in your post!

Emma will randomly pick & announce all winners on Friday, March 16th during the blog hop release happening @ 12:01am PST in her video! Good luck!

Log onto to your Facebook now & let start spreading word!

See you back here tomorrow for the 15th Release Blog Hop!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT Sneak Peek #3: Freshly Brewed...

Welcome to Day 3 of the My Creative Time 15th Edition Sneak Peek Week! This release is different because you don't have to wait to purchase these AWESOME stamps! They're available NOW!

Today we're using You Are Perk-fect. This set is great for all you coffee lovers! I've made a simple little 4" x 4" card using the 'travel cup' and adorable sentiment from the set. After layering my card stock and patterned papers, I shaded my travel cup with gray Copics and popped it up on the card in the PERFECT spot so that the flourish design on the paper would look like steam. I then followed the flourish pattern with Star Dust Stickles for some extra pizzazz.

After adding twine around the card and that delicious Making Memories Velvet Ruffle Ribbon (100 yards at my local Debbie's Dollar - AHHH!!), I stamped the sentiment, hand cut it into a funky shape and popped it up on my card. Easy Peasy!


Sneak Peek Giveaway Time!

With all of our Sneak Peek weeks, Emma likes to do some FUN giveaways!

 ***All you have to do is leave comments on our blogs! You do NOT have to comment on every blog, BUT if you do, you will just have more chances to win!

 ***SPREAD THE WORD TO THE WORLD ON FACEBOOK about this release & whatever connections you may have! Let us know on "My Creative Time's" FB page here that you did so! OR you can just tag My Creative Time in your post!

Emma will randomly pick & announce all winners on Friday, March 16th during the blog hop release happening @ 12:01am PST in her video! Good luck!

Log onto to your Facebook now & let start spreading word!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

Prehistoric "Critter" Cards

Hi, there! I'm so excited to be guest posting over at Everyday Cricut today! Be sure to take a trip over there for a second entry for today's giveaway (more details below).

Today I'm sharing two "dino-mite" cards with you!

My first card is a colorful Baby Shower invitation for a little boy. I only need to make around 15, so I was able to jazz it up a bit without worrying about how long it will take me. The card measures 4" x 4". This has become a new favorite card size of mine. I love working with the square shape, and with it being a smaller size, the elements I add visually 'fill up' more space than on a larger card. Also, 4" x 4" cards allow for elements to 'hang off' the card (like the sentiment on this project) while still fitting in a regular A2-sized envelope. You can also check out this card I made for my nephew's first birthday to see how the 4" x 4" size let the balloons literally 'fly off' the card.

On this Baby Shower invitation, I used the Elegant Edges cartridge for the circle background pattern and the Create a Critter cartridge for the dinosaur. I tend to use mostly solid color card stock in my projects, but fell in LOVE with the patterned paper for the dino's body (found at my local scrapbook store). The little dots of the patterned paper really add some pizzazz to this otherwise 'solid' card.

The "Baby Shower" sentiment is from My Creative Time's More Gift Card Sentiments stamp set. The original stamp says, "For your Baby Shower", so I only inked up the "Baby Shower" part to omit the "For your". After stamping that, I notched the right edge, layered it onto the orange card stock and notched the edge of that to match. I used MCT's Teeny Tag Greetings for the "You're Invited" tag and hung it from the main sentiment with linen thread. I stuck a pop dot behind the tag to secure it in place.

My second card is also cut at 4" x 4" and features palm trees and the cutie-patootie T-Rex from the Create A Critter cartridge. Since this is a "one-of-a-kind" card, I added much more detail!

After cutting the palm trees, I added some flair to the trunks by inking them with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Walnut Stain and used my black fine tip marker to add the markings on the bark. I then took my white gel pen and added some extra doodles to the green palm fronds. These added touches are so small, but really make a big impact!

How cute is that little T-Rex, right? I've named him Timmy (after my Dad, who this card is for). After I cut little Timmy out, I added tiny finger and toe nails with my white gel pen. He was super cute already, but something was missing. What did he need? A shiny pair of adorable teeth! Perhaps this T-Rex is a vegetarian as those teeth do NOT look very sharp! *giggle*

Since Timmy's body layers are popped up on his scales, I was able to fit colored rhinestones in between his layers for some added sparkle. If you've visited my blog in the past, you know that I have a bit of an obsession with pop dots. I LOVE the dimension they give to my projects. Well, I practically attacked this project with pop dots and let me tell you, the card didn't stand a CHANCE! *giggle* Timmy is actually popped up SIX times! Yes, this card is definitely worthy of hand-delivery!

The sentiment I used is from My Creative Time's Wow! So Many Candles. I stamped, colored and cut out grass for the bases of the palm trees. That stamp is from MCT's newest release, Happy Hunting. Speaking of which... I have a GIVEAWAY!!!

To have a chance at winning your very own Happy Hunting stamp set (courtesy of Emma at My Creative Time), just leave a comment on this post. Want a BONUS entry? Mosey on over to Everyday Cricut and leave a comment there, too! Doing both gives you TWO chances to win!!! Don't forget to leave a way for me to contact you if you win!

I hope you were inspired!

- Veronica

MCT: Throwback Thursday

I think Customer Service is a really big deal. Always have. Sometimes, I think the idea of good Customer Service is a dying concept. But then I encounter someone who knocks my socks off and reminds me of how awesome people can be. I'm happy to say that I've recently had the pleasure of meeting one of these people. His name is James and he signed my husband and I up at our gym.

James not only made us feel super welcome and comfortable at our new gym, but he actually remembers us every time we see him (he didn't just sign us up and write us off). We've sent four of our friends/family members to him to sign up because we like him so much. Recently, I've reconnected with an old friend (we met in 2nd grade!) through one of our gym locations and we discovered that her membership didn't allow her to go to other locations (while mine does... and I PAY LESS!). After talking to a Customer Service Rep who told us that nothing could be done with her membership unless she paid $100, The Hubs moseyed on over to James who has fixed her membership without any additional fees. How cool is that? Now we can work out together ANYWHERE!

To show my appreciation for his help, I decided to make this "Throwback Thursday" card for James. For this challenge, Emma has asked us to create a project using our favorite stamp set of hers with one catch: NO CRICUT! To be honest, not using a Cricut isn't too hard for me. I think the hardest thing for me with this project, was not being too frilly. Since this card is for a man, I had to be careful to not add sparkles, scallops, ribbon, etc. Of course, I have added these items on cards for male family members and friends, but I wanted this one to be simple and classic. Sometimes less is more!

My favorite stamp set that I used was XL Label Borders. I just LOVE how it matches the XL Label Die perfectly! The "Thank You" is from Sports Sentiments. I outlined a border on my gray card base using my black felt tip pen. In place of ribbon, I tied some twine to the sentiment layer (that I notched on the edges with my scissors).

Want to join in on this challenge? Visit Emma's blog to link up your project!

I hope you were inspired!

-Veronica