Sine Mandala

This is a mandala by Sine Hagestad that I downloaded and colored from the Chameleon Pens newsletter February 2017 issue of "The Changing Times".  

I colored it using only 3 Chameleon pens - Peony Pink (PK4), Fuchsia (PK5), and Green Apple (GR1).  All the color gradation you see in the individual colors is accomplished by "fusing" the pen.

 I cut out a 3D flower die cut on the Cricut Explore using the Flower Shoppe cartridge.  I colored it using the Fuchsia Chameleon pen - fusing the pen for about 5 seconds.  As you can see I was not really all that particular or careful about my coloring.  This is because once the flower is rolled up it really will not matter.  You'll see!

I finished the interior area with the Peony Pink Chameleon pen - fusing for about 3 seconds and again, not being too careful or particular.

Now use the same process to color the back since this is a 3D flower and both sides will be seen.

Start rolling the colored card stock from the outside end of the "circle".  Keep on rolling till you get to the end.  Tuck the last circle under and adhere with some Glue Dot Squares or a hot glue gun.

I added a design in those empty circles and used a black Pigma Micron PN pen to trace over the pencil.  These pens are compatible with alcohol pens.  Chameleon Pens also makes a black detail pen that is designed to use with their alcohol pens.  I finished coloring, fussy cut it out, and then added the flower to the center.

 Here it is again - all completed!  Be sure to visit www.chameleonpens.com , click on "Newsletter" and you too will have access to the archives of all the Chameleon Pen Newsletters which are full of art, instruction, and free downloads!

Thanks for stopping by!

"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!!

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!!

'Hello There' Card

Here's the finished card!  If you'd like to see the steps, read on!

 This Authentique card stock is super cute.  Actually it's Fabulous - and that's the name of this 6x6 pad!  Deciding which ones to use is the hard part since they are all favorites of mine.  I took a few pages out and then I got started with deciding on card design.

I choose a card sketch from Pinterest.  Then I uploaded the sketch into Cricut Design Space.  After changing the size of the sketch to the size of the card I wanted, I inserted shapes so I could use the sketch as a template.  Here's how it looked.

             Just drag the shapes over to the template and make them the appropriate sizes.

After all the shapes were complete, I changed the colors of each piece so each would cut out on a different mat.  I also deleted the template.

After cutting everything out, assemble the card according to the sketch - changing it however you'd like.

Check out Authentique card stock if you can.  They have beautiful designs!

Thanks for stopping by.  Craft on!

Wrap Up Your Gift Card

Making a gift card holder is a simple project that adds a nice touch to giving a gift card this Christmas season or anytime.  I used a Cricut Explore on this project but you can probably find a template online that can be cut out with scissors.  Use a double-sided decorative card stock so the inside will have a design too.

I selected a basic gift card holder design in Cricut Design Space and cut it out with the Cricut Explore.  I had to guess at the dimensions - and it ended up being a good guess -

  W 5.64" and H 4.28"

Here it is!

Turn it over and use a bone folder to score along the flaps to be folded.

This is how it looks after scoring.

Use a strong adhesive along the side, folded over flap on each side.  Do not start at the very top.  Check to see where to start by folding up the bottom flap.  I like to use Glue Dots Stitch Glue Squares as they are very small, hold very well, and are easy to apply.  If you overlap this adhesive at all, just take your finger and push it away from the edge.  The Glue Dot squares/dots will easily move unlike many other adhesives that once applied at all incorrectly sometimes will ruin a project.  

Now that the gift card is in, time for a few finishing touches.

I chose to put a tag on the gift card holder - I actually moved it to the other side and put a pretty tule ribbon around it as you can see from the first photograph.

Have a wonderful Christmas week and be sure to make some time to make some gift card holders!  Craft on!

Make Your Own Planner or Scrapbook Dashboard

Make your very own custom planner or scrapbook dashboard!  Choose your favorite card stock or colors that go with your scrapbook or planner layout.  I then used the free Design Space software for the Cricut Explore to put together my design.

Insert a square shape and then manipulate it into a rectangle.  Add text, copy, and weld and it's ready to be cut.  Very simple and quick!

I chose a very smooth glitter card stock by DCWV - cuts like butter.  This picture shows the machine cutting the top layer of the dashboard.

Now that the base layer and top layers are cut, the top layers can now be glued.

Assembled and ready to be punched so it will fit into my planner.

I used The Happy Planner punch by Me and My Big Ideas as this dashboard will be used in the classic size Happy Planner.  As long as you don't have anything too thick, this will work.

The variety of dashboards you can create is endless.  Make them for a holiday or just for everyday.  And because you make them custom, they can be sized any way that works for you.  A few of the dashboards in the photo above are for use in my Happy Planner Mini planner.  Enjoy making your own dashboards - craft on!!

Making Planner Stickers with the Cricut Explore

It's satisfying and fun to make your own planner stickers.  You can choose your own colors and designs.  Today I'm making stickers for the classic size Happy Planner by Me and My Big Ideas using Cricut Design Space and the Explore machine.

 In Design Space I chose to "Insert Shape" and picked a square.  I then resized the shape into a rectangle with the dimensions of the boxes in the Happy Planner.  I added the patterned paper to each rectangle by clicking on the shape in the "Layers" area to the right of what you are seeing above.  In the "Layer Attributes" pop up click on "Print", then select "Pattern".  A large group of patterned papers comes up.  You may purchase them, have access to several included in the Cricut Subscription program called Access, or have many of them granted to you by Cricut because you are/were an Imagine owner.  Select one of the patterns for each of the rectangles you created.  I added a few decorations on top of the patterned papers in a few instances.  "Import Image" on the left of the screen and pick a few images to add.  Choose to "Flatten" the image after you have resized it.  Drag the image over to the rectangle and place it there.  "Select All" and "Group" the rectangle and image so that if you want to move the image it will move as one item.  Here are my created stickers ready to print and cut.

 I added a few other images to decorate with.  Just be sure to "Flatten" them so they print out as one image and not cut out the several layers that many images have.  Hit the "Go" button to proceed to the next screen in Design Space for printing.  I had to play around with the configuration of my images a bit to get the program to print them all onto one page.  I just kept going back and forth and rearranging until I saw they would print all together.  Follow the directions to print.  Design Space will place Registration Marks on the page so that the machine will be able to cut the images out. After printing (onto a 8 1/2 x 11 Avery Shipping Label sticker sheet), place your printed sheet onto the Cricut mat.  Continue to follow the prompts in Design Space.  Load and hit the Cricut button.  But be sure to set the dial on the machine to "Custom" and choose "Washi tape" so the Explore doesn't cut all the way through the sticker paper.  It will kiss-cut on this setting.  Here we go:

All my stickers are now cut!  You can see that there is a lot of wasted space on the sticker sheet. Currently Cricut Design Space has a limited print and cut capability.  Hopefully this will be corrected in a future Design Space update. The fun part is decorating the planner!!!

And then I added more decorations to this week in the planner. Now it's ready for the pen!

Hope you found this tutorial helpful on how to make your own planner stickers in Cricut Design Space.  If you have any questions be sure to ask and I'll try to help!  Craft on!