Cupcake Dreams (An Idea I Can Get Behind)…
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Category Archives: basic grey
Glübers
Today’s card project was inspired by trying out a new product introduced in January by Cosmo Cricket: Glübers. Not only do I love the name, but the actual product is very nifty. The easiest way to tell you what Glübers are (if you haven’t played with them yet) is to picture a 2″ giant glue dot. Actually, Glübers come in a size range that includes 2″, 2.5″ and 3″ circular bases. So what do you do with a Glüber? It’s the perfect adhesive base for experimenting with ribbon, fabric, netting, seam binding tape, etc. to create your own floral embellishments. It gives you the ability to control the shapes, colors, material and design to create just what you need for a particular crafting project.
Now, I don’t profess to be a Glübers expert–in fact, the flower on this project is my first project. But, I can already tell you that they are addictive and I already have several ideas I’m looking forward to experimenting with. For this project, I worked with a solid length of ribbon, though it is quite adaptable. You can use scraps, fragments, twine, cording–nearly anything you can imagine to create flowers, rosettes, and other personal embellishments. I started from the outside edge and worked my way to the center. The way you fold or twist your ribbon is entirely in your hands.
My card base is Stampin’ Up! cardstock in Soft Suede. The card mat is Basic Grey paper from the “Capella” Collection. The sentiment stamp is from Papertrey. The ribbon is 5/8″ Swiss Dot Satin in Dark Chocolate from Papertrey Ink as well. For the middle of my rosette styled flower, I used a flatback Sparkler button from Webster’s Pages.
Furry Friends…
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Materials Used:
Cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Bronze, Papertrey Ink in Fine Linen, Bazzill Textured in Snow;
Decorative Paper: Basic Grey “Max & Whiskers” Collection. Jenni Bowlin “Victoria” Mini Papers;
Artwork: Cricut Imagine, Cricut Imagine “Enjoy The Seasons” Art Cartridge;
Ribbon: Stampin’ Up! 1″ Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip;
Tools: EK Success “Deco Scallop” Corner Punch, Stampin’ Up! Modern Label Punch;
Stamp: “Friends” sentiment from Teresa Collins “Freestyle” Clear Stamp Set;
Ink: Tsukineko Memento in Rich Cocoa;
Miscellaneous: AdTech Mono Adhesive, Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Up! Basic Rhinestone Jewel Accents;
ARRRRR!
This is one of my first projects using the newly released Cricut Imagine art cartridge called “Buccaneer”. One comment I’ve heard from more than one Imagine user is that they wish the colors printed more vividly. Well, ProvoCraft must be listening, because the levels of saturation and color gradation of the artwork on this cartridge is spectacular. If you want vivid, striking color–this cartridge is a must-buy. Anyone who has young boys and teens will find this cartridge truly adorable. If you happen to be a pirate or piratess, you’ll have to walk the plank if you don’t purchase this one. Pirates, mermaids, 3-D treasure chests, pelicans, alligators, ships, flags, sharks, parrots….it’s a real a little bit of everything matey!
The cardstock base is Stardream So Silk! mica in Fair Blue. The decorative mat paper is from Basic Grey’s “Marrakech” collection. The sentiment stamp is from a Stampin’ Up! set called “Beware Pirates”. The inside stamped images are from an SU! set called “Ocean Commotion”. I think I’m in love with this boney little pirate….
Architectural Digest…
As I have discussed previously, I am a great fan and student of architectural symmetry, design and aesthetics. I can sit and look at photographs and books of geometric designs cast in plaster, marble, metals–and be mesmerized by the intricacies of line, curve and shape. One of my particular favorite architectural elements has always been the finial. Finials are typically carved from stone and are thoughtfully used to emphasize the apex of a gable or any distinct ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. However, finials have been taken from architectural devices and now grace everything from clocks, curtain rods, and bedposts.
My love of finials is one of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy the Cricut cartridge called ‘Ornamental Iron’. There are so many terrific wrought-iron gates, windows, and architectural elements on this cartridge–and they lend themselves to a bounty of project ideas. The two images on today’s card project are both from this cartridge. Originally, I had two separate projects in mind when I cut the pieces. But as I played around with the design, I ended up loving the contrast of both images on one card. While slightly masculine in appeal, this card is just a great general note card that grabs the eye.
The layered finial piece (which is also reminiscent of a vase or urn) was cut and printed at 4″ with my Cricut Imagine. Using the RGB codes for the Stampin’ Up! color palette, the shadow layer was done in Basic Black (R-0 G-0 B-0). The finial was done in Chocolate Chip (R-111 G-84 B-75). The final decorative layer was done using a pattern from the Cricut Imagine ‘Best Friends’ art cartridge. When I cut the wrought-iron window (which was going to be for a different project), I used Not Quite Navy (R-63 G-109 B-125). But that color was not going to work with the rest of the elements on the final card. So I took a sponge dauber and some lacquer black ink and changed the appearance to a glossy black finish. The decorative background paper is from Basic Grey’s ‘Curio’ line. The base card stock is Stampin’ Up! in ‘Early Espresso’. The interior journaling block paper is trimmed from a piece of Prima Marketing paper from the ‘Annalee’ collection. I used my Zutter 1/2″ Round-It-All tool on the corners of the base cardstock and card mat.
The completed project reminds me of a decor tableau–a giant urn sitting in front of a floating screen in some decadent Moroccan love nest hideaway. Pillows strewn on the floor in front of an intricate wall treatment, with a cadre of menservants feeding me grapes and fanning me with giant maribou feathers. Casablanca, here I come. At least a boy can dream…
Luck O’ The Irish…
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Materials Used:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink Perfect Match in Pinefeather, Bazzill Corduroy Texture in Snow;
Decorative Paper: Basic Grey Max & Whiskers Collection;
Ribbon: Papertrey Ink Perfect Match Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon 5/8″ in Pinefeather;
Cricut Imagine Art Cartridge: Imagine More Cards;
Punch: Martha Stewart Deep Edge Garden Lattice Punch;
Adhesives: 3M ATG 714, Zig Two-Way Glue Pen, Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dimensionals;
Wish Big
Just Because
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Materials Used:
Tools: Cricut Gypsy, Cricut Expression, Cricut “Paper Lace” cartridge;
Paper: Papertrey Ink cardstock in Fine Linen, Basic Grey “Curio” collection decorative paper;
Adhesive: Zig 2-Way glue pen, 3M ATG 714;
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink in Chestnut Roan;
Embellishments: Ranger Glossy Accents, Queen & Co. Rox Jewels, Webster’s Pages Whimsey Flowers Perfect Buttons;
Friendship Jar Revisited
Recently, I posted a card that was made with a highly versatile clear acrylic stamp set from Papertrey Ink. The set is called “Friendship Jar” and is based around an old-fashioned canning jar that can be filled with various items and complimented with various jar toppers. The first card I did used the jar image filled with flowers.
For my second project, I wanted to create a jar filled with gumballs or jawbreakers. However, I was determined to find a way to make the jar look more like it was actually made of glass. My first thought was to use either Crystal Effects or Glossy Accents to cover over the jar once the coloring was done. After a couple of attempts, I was frustrated by the fact that during the drying process, the colors from the gumballs leached from the wetness. I was not happy with the final product. Last night, an alternative solution popped into my head and I had to try it. The solution it seems was to use the dies created to work with this stamp set and clear sheet of transparency film.
These corresponding steel dies are easy to run through any embossing machine to precut your cardstock before you stamp on them. I used my Cuttlebug and cut out the pieces I need from Stampin’ Up! Whisper White cardstock and a piece of clear write-on transparency film from Office Max.
Here is the jar image cut out with the die and then stamped with the jar image from the set using Tsukineko Memento in in Danube Blue. Next to it is the jar image cut from the transparency film. (Though it is somewhat difficult to tell from the photographs that follow, the transparency film really does give the jar the illusion of glass, with a bit of shine and reflection.) The card base was cut at an A2 size from Stampin’ Up! cardstock in Marina Mist. The card mat decorative paper is from Basic Grey’s Offbeat collection. I used the Stampin’ Up! Scallop Border punch to cut the sides. The images and sentiment are all Papertrey Ink stamps. The blue metal “rhinestuds” are from the new Imaginisce I-Rock collection and were adhered with their new heat tool. The images were colored with my Copic Sketch markers.
Trouble…
Today’s card project was so much fun to put together. It’s the first time I’ve used my ProvoCraft Cricut “Mini Monsters” cartridge–and I have to say these little monsters will make the hardest heart smile. So I pulled out my Gypsy and my Cricut Expression and got to work with no real game plan in mind. Additionally, I experimented with more of the new cardstock color palette that will be available from Stampin’ Up! on July 1, 2010.
After a quick flip through the corresponding handbook, I immediately gravitated toward this little fellow. I laid out all of the layers on a 12″ x 12″ mat on my Gypsy. (I’ve noted the different layers on the photograph.) If you haven’t considered adding a Cricut Gypsy to your arsenal of tools and you are an avid Cricuteer, you really should consider it now that the price point has fallen significantly. The ability to layout all of your pieces and layers on a virtual mat not only helps you see how the construction will logically follow, but it allows you to lay all of your cuts on one mat and gives you the exact sizes of papers you will need to make your cuts. The amount of cardstock I have “wasted” has significantly decreased since buying my Gypsy.
All of my pieces are set to cut at a height of 2.75″. Though it is somewhat difficult to see in the screen shot due to the limits of photographing the screen display, you can gauge your paper size by either counting the grid squares (which are 1″ x 1″) or using the side rulers recently added to the Gypsy in a functional update. For instance, the base layer is five squares across and four squares down–which would indicate my cardstock should be cut to 5″ x 4″ for that particular cut.
Below is the layout of my cardstock to cut this image. All of the cardstock is from Stampin’ Up! (including new colors Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz and Daffodil Delight).
A bit of Zig Two-Way glue pen and mono adhesive, and my little guy is suddenly taking shape and is ready to stake his territory.
For my card, I chose the following papers: the card base is Stardream So…Silk! mica cardstock in Beauty Pink (5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″), the mat is Basic Grey from the Basics Manila collection: “Sphere” (4″ x 5″), and the accent paper is also Basic Grey from Nook & Pantry: “Cornbread” (2″ x 4″). I used my Stampin’ Up! tag corner punch to snip all the corners of each paper.
Adhering my layers, it was now time for my monster to find a home. I used some Copic Atyou Spica glitter pens to add some accents and sparkle. A quick sentiment and a bit more adhesive and this little monster moved right in.
If you haven’t checked out “Mini Monsters” yet–or perhaps passed it over–I have to say that I think the possibilities for this cartridge far exceed the obvious use (Halloween). It’s quirky. It’s cute. It’s monsterously fun!
