Summer Flowers through my Camera Lens

Tumblin' over Tumblers

   I stayed up all night finishing these before leaving for our vacation. I personalized 10 tumblers and 8 beer mugs. But they turned out just as I had hoped. And the girls got to use their tumblers at the lake.  The photos are not my best, but was taken just before handing them out!  H & H vinyl cut like a dream. I mixed some Lettering Delights floral SVGs along with a floral font, Saru's Flower Ding  and SCAL2 basic shape flower.  There were too many floral patterns to choose from!

cups with printed dots from Gordmans
These didn't need much more that flower w initial but I liked the spiral added

Cups from Gordmans
The white daisy design really popped on the dark blue tumblers!

Walmart Tumbler

Zebra print started with Denise's from Paper Pastime then made a few changes. The reverse has the flip flops for my Sis in law who spends the summer in her flip flops ( she must own 20+) including zebra!

Favorite Fonts Screen Shot

Someone said they had a difficult seeing my fonts previously displayed so here is a screen shot "Snip". Hope this works better. I am still learning this HTML jazz !  

 

Favorite Fonts for Papercrafting

I put together a list of my favorite fonts to use for die cutting ( using SCAL2), or just to print and cut for sentiments. I hope I can post it in the font depicted. I am giving a letter sampling as well. A size 16 is not consistently the same size as you can see. Font names are underlined. You can google for these, they were all free !  I have probably close to 1000 fonts but these are my favs.  Add your in comments please.

Favorite Fonts  bold   size 16   A B C D F G H J L M P R S T & 

                                 

aka Dora       A B C  D F  G H J L M  P R 

Amperzand      A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

ArtScript               A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

Algerian      A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

Balzac     A  B  C  D F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

Baskerville       A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

Beautiful                 A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  

Belshaw     A B C D F G H J L M P R S 

Blach Chancery     A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R

Balkeno      A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S     

    

Ballpark      A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S 

Boingo        A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T 

Cac Champagne    A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T  

Caslon Becker 540 Swash A  B C D F G H  J L M  P R  S

  

Curlz  MT   A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T

Caslon Initials ABCDFGHR     

CoffeeMilkCrazy     A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T 

Chocolate Box A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T  


Crazy Harold   A B C D F G H J L MP R S T 

Creampuff     A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S 

Duvall A B C D F G H J L M P R S T 

Edwardian Medium LET              A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T 

Fatso      A B C D F G H J L M  P R S T

FontLeroy Brown    A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T  

 Geselle                        A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T  

Good Vibrations  A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S 

Harrington   A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T 

Japan   A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T 

LD Filigree  A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T 

       

Nuptial              A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T  

Peach Sundress  A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T

  

Penguin Attack   A  B  C  D  F  G  H  J L M  P R  S  T 

Puritan Swash  ABC DFG HJ LMP R S T 

Lucinda Handwriting  A B C D F G H J L M P R S 

Regal A B D FG H J L M P R S T 

Rage ABCD FG H JLM PRS T

Shardee    A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T

Water  Street  A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T

  

Storybook    A B C D  F G  H J L M P R S T  

This is Embarassing

I multi task. But I don't stay focused on just one project at a time. I see a birthday card, graduation card, and gift for my mother-in-law all "under construction".  This photo is for Creations with Cristine. Yep, it's embarrassing.

Quick Birthday Girl Card

Quick and Easy Peasy card for a birthday girl of any age  

  I only had half an hour to devote to a couple of birthday cards. One for now one for later.   I grabbed my old time favorite Storybook cartridge and used the birthday girl phrase. I  placed this  on top of  the Accent Blackout cut. I used Design Studio to get proper sizing. I then grabbed my Marvy floral punch and EK Success leaf punch, my We R Memory Keepers Big Bite hole punch and ta da done.  DCWV Summer and Citrus cardstock made this June Birthday card pop. The bit of green use on the leaf helped to "ground" it a bit.  I couldn't decide if I liked the flowers centered or diagonal, so I made one of each. I use 5 flowers and curl or bend them for dimension. 

Tip - It only takes a couple on minutes longer to make 2 cards while you have all the supplies out. When coming up with a new card layout one may be your practice card but plenty good enough to give !

"Red Bra Chic" 50th Birthday

     Welcome to the RBC ! Red Bra Chics . This ain't no Red Hat Ladies Club! This is for the 50 year old gal with spunk. Started by yours truly prior to turning 50, but just not ready for the Red Hatters. I had to come up with something for myself and friends because 50 seems to be the new 40 for us. Red Bra Chics it is. Wear it, flaunt it, hide it, you are old enough to decide. So we present the new 50 year old with a red bra usually at a party.
So here is the card I made for the newest RBC, my friend Linda.  This is a multi- opening card, with a front opening bra, the cleavage revealing the letters RBC.  The girls Loved It !

Gate Fold 4 x 6
Font   Riesling 

 

Opens to Retro Bats One font lady

Fold up to discover Red Bra from Princess font embossed with Spellbinder Flowers
This is a Gate Fold cut away to hint at "cleavage" 

RBC from Riesling font creates cleavage when shadowed 

Shows the folds and cuts of a 12 x12
verticals scores at 3 & 9
horizontal scores at 4 & 8

I started with a 12 X12 Gray cardstock, scored at intervals shown above. The red bra was cut in half, placed on the gate-fold and then cardstock trimmed to allow "cleavage to show. RBC letters placed just so the R & B tops peak through.( I removed the black s later to spell chic since it made the c look like an o.)
  Cardstock  used was Michaels Recollections and Jeweled Metallics collections.
 Fonts - Caslon Becker 540 Swash and  Riesling. Dingbat Fonts- Retro Bats One and Princess.
 Bling on ladies hat and earrings from Making Memories collection.
ATG and Xyron adhesives, Martha Steward Score-Board. SCAL2
Envelope  miscellanous patterned paper made at 5x7 size to accomodate thickness of folded card.
            Time Consuming : yes   Worth it : Definitely !!!

10 minute Graduation Card

 

   Yes, I knew about this graduation party for weeks. When did I make the card? Ten minutes before I needed to get in the shower. Which means:
No time to search for unique color combinations, grab something out of the "scrap" basket.
Grab the "congratulations" word design I made up last year and print it out.
Stamp a cap, forget the embossing. Handwrite 2011, Print inside sentiment with Word
Slice and Dice, no time for embossing plates, Cricut cuts, embellishments, just make it and run.
But I did take a second to scan it for future reference.

Office Max card stock  white & gray
"scrap basket" black and metallic silver cs
Stampendous Grad cap  rubber stamp

Fiskar trimmer, 2" Marvy sq punch
ATG & pop up adhesives

Sentiment      Don't Forget Your Sunglasses!
              You have a Bright Future ahead of you! 

Get It Done !    Yes I whipped out an envelope too A2 using my Martha Scoreboard.

Monogrammed Plate Vinyl

I was so busy finishing the plate for a wedding gift I neglected to get a photo taken.

I used the same plate I had used for Christmas presents, but personalized it with the bride and grooms names.

I used the Fontleroy-Brown font, Separated the W using SCAL basic shapes and then added the couples first names.  The W was cut using black vinyl, the first names with brown metallic vinyl, both sign vinyl from H&H.

When I separated the W the further apart they were, the more "off" the angles became, To keep them close I cut the first names at about 1 inch. They didn't cut well even at bold so I ungrouped them and shadowed some of the fragile letters like "e".  I wish I had taken a picture !  Next time I will.

Thanks for looking!

Gate Fold Graduation Cards

     These are cards I made last year. I had an assembly line going since my own son graduated from high school, we had quite a few of his friends to recognize. Each time I thought I had enough cards, I would receive another announcement! 

This was "lifted" from a talented contributer at Split-Coast Stampers. I'm sorry I don't have her name handy.

I will be making more of these next week and will add dimensions with scoring lines then.

I typed Congratulations a jillion times ( and then cut paste a jillion more) using various font styles and sizes.

Embossing was done with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder

Stamp   Stampendous

Embossing Powder Black Stampendous

Ink Memento

Card Stock  Black and White Value Pack from Michael's

Wedding Card

I am busy making cards this week for friends celebrating weddings, graduations,and birthdays this month.

Wedding card shown was made to compliment the brides colors. I also tried to imitate the font style used on their invitations. I think details like this really let the bride know you made the card especially for them. I say bride because the groom probably doesn't notice !


Card Details
size 5 x 7
white CS base       Georgia Pacific
Silver under-layer    DCWV Metallic Stack
Black liner             The Paper Studio
Deep Blue Metallic  Recollections Gemstone - Michael's
Patterned Paper      Making Memories Wedding
Bling                      Making Memories Gem Collection
Embossing Folder   Paisley  Cuttlebug
Martha Stewart Punches
Die- Cut Label from SCAL2
Inked edges - Brilliance Starlight Silver Pigment Ink.
Adhesives   ATG, Glue Dots, Scotch Quick Dry
Ribbon   Michaels       Martha Stewart Scoring Board
Fonts     Front:   Nestie-lookalikes, Garamond
Inside: Amperzand and DB Fleuries (Lettering Delights)

A lot of products for one card, but worth it!

Sure Cuts a Lot 2 Discontinued

      Craft Edge no longer offers Sure Cuts A Lot 2 which was compatible with the Provo-Craft Cricut die-cutting machine. They do offer SCAL 3 which is compatible with other die-cutting machines BUT NOT CRICUT.
     This may in fact be due to Provo-Craft's recent legal actions against third-party software programs.
I am sorry if anyone delayed in purchasing this program, and planned on using SCAL2 in the future.
     If you already own SCAL2 and are using it with a Cricut machine do not upgrade to SCAL3. Continue to use it as you presently are.  If I had a choice between using SCAL or getting a different die-cutting machine, I would be saving for the new die-cutting machine. Seriously.  Fortunately my old SCAL2 is working great with my Cricut Expression.
                     Sorry Guys!

Which Cricut Cartridge to Buy?

     Which Cricut cartridge is your favorite and which one collects dust?  Of course we all are at different stages of our lives and are involved with various activities.  The mom of little girls on soccer teams will reach for cartridges I don't own. I am the mother of teenage (and college age) son's.  I am past the "Room Mom Diva" stage, although they must still have my photo on the room mom wall of fame for best parties ever LOL.

I use my Cricut for vinyl projects, card-making, home decor and finally scrapbooking.
You know already that I usually start my Cricut projects at my computer. I use SCAL for anything involving a font. I have hundreds of SVG files neatly organized on my computer. Most of these were free or under $5 for a collection.   Often I use SCAL2  for the whole project. SCAL gives me total control of any SVG image I want to cut. I can see it on my mat before cutting.  "Measure twice cut once"  is my motto And there are thousands of free designs / fonts to use. Google SVG which stands for scalable vector graphic.
      If I am using cartridges I usually go to Design Studio, I can utilize the Key Word function to find the design I need and then place it exactly where I want it to cut on my mat. This lets me know where to place my paper.  Design Studio. I can resize, skew and stretch and weld the Cricut designs and then cut - AS Long As I Own that Cartridge.
     I shop for cartridges with Design Studio. Even with the free trial software you can examine cartridges and truly evaluate if it is cartridge worth purchasing. You can see the feature keys and overlay. You just can not cut with it until you purchase it.  This is one of my favorite ways to use Design Studio.

My favorite Cricut Cartridges......
don't hold me to this as I am fickle.

A Child's Year
Storybook
Home Accents
Martha Stewart Elegant Cakes - (and I don't own the Cricut Cake )
Give a Hoot
Sweethearts
Winter Wonderland or Joy's of the Season ( year round)
Life's a Beach
Plantin Schoolbook or Calligraphy for fonts
Cindy Loo
Sports Mania  ( mom of athletes )


Non-Cricut designs (I cut with SCAL2)

Lettering Delights SVG collections ($4 collections)
SVGcuts    free SVGs and nice under $8.00 collections
 free font sites with dingbats like Dafont
and more too numerous to mention


Comment on your favorites please, and what you use them for.

Sugar's Suggestions for a Happy Mother's Day

Sugar wishes all her lady friends a Happy Mother's Day.

 Here are her ideas for a perfect day.

Spend time relaxing with family.

Count your blessings as you think about your mother.

Take a nap. 

Happy Mother's Day

I'll be missing you, Mom.

gina

Easter Tumblers

Easter Tumblers 

      The Webbe cousins and aunts all received embellished tumblers filled with Easter candy from me this year.  I tried to make each one unique for the special lady they were intended for.    The best selection of tumblers came from Home Goods, while the solid color ones came from Walmart. I used the H&H GT5 vinyl so they could be hand washed and remain intact without curling, peeling or fading.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Direct Link to H&H

Sure Cuts A Lot Version 3 Update

     A new version of Sure Cuts A Lot has been introduced for those cutting with die- cutting machines other than Provo Craft's Cricut machine. This is version 3. It will not be compatible with Cricut.
However.......
     Sure Cuts A Lot version 2 is compatible  with Cricut and is still available. Don't miss the boat!
If you have been in my classes you know how much I utilize this program to create unlimited designs and I can cut any True Type font from my computer.
    You will need a USB cord to connect your computer to your die-cutting machine.
     Click on my SCAL2 link for more information.  The forum at this site will answer many of your questions.
If you are a visual learner Google SCAL tutorials on YouTube and watch what all this amazing software will allow you to do.  Believe me you do not need to be that computer savvy to reap the benefits of this program, not do you need to use Inkscape anymore.

 Have fun!   

Create something beautiful today! 

Gina's Creative Chaos: Denise at Paper Pastimes

http://paperpastime.blogspot.com/2011/04/lattice-basket-file-for-sale.html

Denise at Paper Pastimes

Are You Feeling Neglected?

    You have been neglected my dear friends. and I am sorry. This girl has been burning the midnight oil between my two college courses through the University of Texas/Arlington and being a wife and mom.
    It is track season for us. Josh is a junior this year and has been pole vaulting, running hurdles, doing long jumps and now they have him running the distance in 800 and 400 events.  I am the unofficial team photographer and keep the Shutterfly share site updated.  And these track meets are an all afternoon-evening endurance test.
   I am ready for some warm dry weather for not only my son but for my Nikon as well!

    Easter is just days away. I am taking my oldest sons goody basket to the post office after this blog. Yes, my freshman son is hanging out down at school and not coming home for Easter. sniff sniff.  And with Marshall working I have decided it is road trip time for Josh & I. We are spending time with family "down south".
and I don't plan on showing up empty handed.  Diane from Capadia has inspired me with her Easter eggs and her cute shaped cards. Thanks Diane!  And Denise from Paper Pastimes has some really cute baskets to download for a donation.  She deserves the donation. She is so generous with her time creating easy to follow tutorials and clever projects.  Click on the blue links to see some awesome Easter projects.
   Todays plan: finish the tumblers. put the candy in the tumblers, put the tumblers in the baskets, back up, make the baskets, embellish the baskets, embellish the store bought plastic eggs ( sorry I am not blowing egg whites today) finish the cards, I mean start then finish the cards.... Laundry, pack, finish homework......and go.

                                     Better Blogging Next Week

Happy Easter.  The holiday that gives a reason to celebrate the other holidays.

Photography Composition

     Today Everyday Elements posted a link to Photographymad's tutorial on the top 10 photography composition rules.  I work with people often trying to create beautiful scrapbook layouts while working with photos they are not happy with.  Poor composition is often the culprit. Taking a quick shot of that beautiful smiling child without being aware of the distracting background is pretty common. Understanding how to adjust the depth of field so as to blur the background is one answer. Sometimes just moving a few inches or shooting from a different angle will solve the problem.
     The rules used for photography composition also apply to create visually appealing scrapbook pages.
Take a minute to study these beautiful photo examples of effective composition.

http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules

See Everyday Elements to learn more about improving your photography.