"Lovely" Box Card

I've been wanting to make a box card for awhile now.  It was all kind of a mystery to me - the how to's and all!  So, I did purchase the Cricut All Occasion Box Card cartridge for the Cricut Explore and thought at least I'd have a jumping off point to begin to see how the whole thing works.

I cut the base of the card in white card stock and all the layers in coordinating colorful card stock using the Cricut Explore and Design Space free design software.  I did search online for some instruction on how to size and assemble the card - here's the link.  Designer Lori Whitlock created the content of this cartridge and the link will take you to her website with a video.

I always score the card with a scoring board as the Cricut Explore scoring tool doesn't score deep enough.  At least the light scoring gives me the exact location of where the score line should go.

Start assembling the box card by adhering the layers according to the assembly directions.  I used a Scotch ATG gun.

The box card is taking shape!

Here she is!  I cut out a few hearts from the colored card stock to add to the project.  I really like box cards! And, they fold flat for mailing!

Craft on!!

Chameleon Pen Colored Mandala

Wanted to share today this mandala colored with 2 Chameleon pens!  Yes, I said only 2 alcohol marker/pens were needed to get the effect you see!  If I had used another brand of alcohol marker, I would have had to use about 6 pens to get the same look/effect.  You heard that right - 6.  

The two Chameleon Pens I used are: BG3 Turquoise and BL6 Royal Blue.  Because of the way these markers can be fused with a colorless blender solution on each pen, blending and gradation is seamless and smooth.  And beautiful!

Currently I only own about 6 pens but I have really been enjoying using them and seeing what they are capable of.  Check out this link to learn more!

Don't Be Afraid to Draw in your Planner

Inspired by the crafting tape "Enchanted" by Recollections which is mermaid and ocean related, I wanted to add more mermaid to this planner layout in The Happy Planner.  I drew a mermaid and mermaid tail using Faber-Castell Polychromos color pencils.  Added the washi tape (which they call craft tape on their label) and a few stickers by Me and My Big Ideas and this layout was ready for the pen.  

A Flip Card!

A dear friend was having a special birthday so it called for a special handmade card!  I thought it would be fun to use the new Anna's Fantastic Flip Card digital designs on the Cricut Explore to cut out the base and layers of this card.  I did that first and then I printed and cut the sentiment.  Then it was time to put it all together.  Let's get going!

I chose this retro paper and stamp set by Photoplay called Slightly Sassy.  The picture above shows the paper and stamp set along with all the layers cut out.  

Use a scoring board to score all the appropriate areas on the flip card.  The Cricut Explore uses a scoring tool but it does not go deep enough so I redo the score lines with a bone folder.

Use the bone folder to make all the folds.

Here's the card all folded and ready to attach the layers.

I used Glue Dot adhesive to put it all together.

Here's how the card looks so far.  Next, I thought it would be nice to emboss a stamped image and use it on the card.

These are the items I used.  Prior to stamping an image on card stock, use the Embossing Magic to "wipe" the area where you will be stamping.  This prevents the embossing powder from adhering to the card stock where you don't want it.

After stamping the cat clock image with black ink on white card stock, while the ink is still wet, cover the stamped image generously with embossing powder. Then tap it all off - flicking the card stock to remove all the excess.

Use a heat tool to heat emboss the image.  You will see the embossing powder melt into the ink and the image will look shiny!

I used a few Glue Dot glue squares to adhere the cat clock to the edge of the card.

Here is the finished card again!  It was a fun card to make and my friend enjoyed it and my humor.  

These are items used to make this card:

Anna's Fantastic Flip Cards Cricut Explore Digital Cartridge, Cricut Explore, Photoplay Slightly Sassy card stock/stamps, scoring board and bone folder, Glue Dot glue squares and micro dots, Embossing Magic by Inkadinkado, Versafine pigment ink in onyx black, Zing embossing powder, heat tool

Hope you enjoyed my card.  Craft on!!