Black and white Damask

Here is a card I made for a young lady that I used to teach many long years ago. She's getting married. (man, that makes me feel old...)

She loves Damask. (So do I) The bottom part in a flocked paper. The top is embossed with Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder.

I made the roses by hand with one of Penny Duncan's rose svg cut files.

You can get the cut files from this post at  Penny Duncan Creations.  She also has a video on how she makes the roses. Great stuff! She is very talented and shares a lot of her files :)

I do my flowers just a little bit differently than hers. I have been making flowers out of cake icing, modeling clay, and paper for years and usually just stick to the same basic technique (old habits die hard). I follow the same basic steps of molding my petals as I explained in this tutorial. (will make a video soon) I take a lot of time shaping each petal then take time gluing and staggering each petal when I assemble the rose.

Just remember, there is no right or wrong way. Just do what works for you and have fun.

If you don't have Sure Cuts A Lot or Make the Cut and would like to see a tutorial on making a rose out of 7 circles, leave a comment mentioning it or email me at papercompulsions@gmail.com . It is an old quilling technique I used back before all the cool die cutting machines and programs came along.

Happy crafting :)

Garden of green

I had an idea to do something along the lines of the pink card I inked last week...

... It did not turn out the way I invisioned it, but it is kind of nice.

I used K&Co paper for the background and cut all the die cuts from cream colored cardstock with Cricut cartridges. I inked the die cuts with TH Distress Inks. (Barn Door, Bundled Sage, & Frayed Burlap)

Recipe for Cricut carts:

Home Accents

Frame cut at 8 inches

Accent Essentials

Flower (p56- shift) cut in 1/4 inch increments from 1 in. to 3in.

 2 Leafy S-shaped flourishes (p48) cut at 5 in.

5 Leaves (p 72) ;1 was cut at 2 1/2 in.; 4 were cut at 2 in.

Scalloped tag cut with SCAL file

Still not quite sure how to get the look I was thinking of. I guess I will have to keep playing with it :)

Violets

I have shown these flowers before on a 2A card, but I needed to make a larger, 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 card. I used Core-d-nations paper to emboss (once on the left and once on the right since it was larger) then sanded it. I used a ribbon to cover up where the embossing "seam" was visable.

The tag was a file I downloaded from another site. (Sorry I don't remember where)

I used a Cri-Kits metallic pen to write "Thinking of You".

The files are free for you to take. I would really appreciate it if you would leave a comment on my blog if you take them.

(If you found my files from an outside site, make sure you comment on MY blog and not just the site that directed you here.)

Violet cut files: SVG  SCAL2  EPS  DXF

Violet PDF

"Thinking of you" caption for Cri-Kits pens   SVG    SCAL2   EPS    DXF

Shutter card/step card measurements

Here are the measurements for a shutter card. (also called a step card)

You start with a piece of paper that is 12 inches long and 5 1/2 inches wide. Make a 5 1/2 score line (from top to bottom) at 2, 4, 8, & 10 inches from the left side of the card. Between the 2 inch and 10 inch score lines, make an 8 inch cut line 1 1/2 inches from the top of the card. Repeat this cut line 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the card.

Refer to pictures to see how to fold.

You are welcome to the cut files, but NOTE:

The finished card is 12 inches long. You will need to resize the image so it will fit on the page. These are just the cut lines. You will need to score the card by hand.

Cut files:

Without score lines:   SVG   SCAL2   EPS   DXF

Measurements and info: PDF

Another Ribbon Flower Card

I posted a very similar card a few  months ago. I did not have the same supplies today, so I changed the design a little bit. I made a shutter card/step card using purple cardstock, purple pearlized paper and an oldie but goodie Anna Griffin patterned paper. I added a 3 inch corner flourish from Cricut Home Accent cartridge, then used ribbons and pearls to make the embellishments.

(I hope to do a video soon on how to make the ribbon flowers) I did not have any pre-made pearl accents so I made my own by sewing and gluing them to the card. (more on that later this week)

It is hard to tell from the pictures, but that is a glass bead in the center of the large flower.

The large flower was made with a variegated wire edged ribbon. The smaller ribbon started out blue. I misted it with purple Glimmer Mist to dye it the color I wanted it.

Here is a handy tip: Mist ribbons and embellishments in an old magazine. The glossy paper keeps you from wasting as much mist as you would on regular paper or a cardboard box. When you are done, you can just rip out the wet pages and throw them away. Easy Peasy.



Liebster Blog Award

Oh, happy day! I received another blog award from Linda at My Creative Playground. Thanks Linda! I appreciate it.

 The Liebster Blog award is given to bring new blogs to light. It's a great way to share blogs that might not otherwise be seen or ones you want to share with others.

Be sure and go by My Creative Playground and show Linda some love.

As a recipient of this award I must share the love and play it forward by:

1) Creating a post where you blog about the Liebster award & and reveal your 3-5 blog picks

2) Let them know you chose them

3) Copy & paste the blog award on your blog

4) Have faith that your followers will rally & show their crafty love back out to those you awarded

So, in alphabetical order:

Bugaloo's Scraproom

Caroline's Craftography

Chiffon's Cute Creations

(I know there are a lot of other blogs out there that deserve attention...but I am tiered)

Please take a minute to visit these blogs and show them some love :)

Another Award

Yipee! I got another award. This lovley award is from Martha at The Card Bouitque. Thank you ever so much.

For this award I will pay it forward and list 8 deserving blogs. Copy the award to my side panel. Then tell you 8 things about me.

So in no particular order:

Chai tea 'n me

Scraps of Life

My Creative Playground

Sending Hugs

Hand to Paper

Faith Abigail

A Place to Praise and Craft

Busybee's Craft Place

Each of these ladies have made wonderful creations. Please visit their blogs and show them some love.

Now for 8 (more) things about me. (since I listed 8 things yesterday)

1) I love hearts. I collect them, wear them, & until recently had one on my blog header.
2) I listen to Contemperary Christian music...a lot!
3) Adore my cats. (and often get cat hair in my projects)
4) My favorite flavor is chocolate
5) Collect blue and white plates
6) Drink Cherry Coke Zero
7) My son is currently a freshman at Texas A&M (Gig 'em Aggies)
8) Like to read. (Have read 10 books since Christmas when I got a Kindle)

Well, I hope you have enjoyed our sharing time... LOL

My first blog award

Woo hooo! I got a Stylish Blogger Award from Rebecca over at Crafting Misfit. Thanks Rebecca!

So, as a recipient, I need to pass the award on to 8 other deserving crafters and tell you 8 things about myself. 

8 Cool Crafters:

(Wow, it is hard to pick JUST 8. I truly enjoy and get inspiration from sooo many blogs :)

What a Beautiful Mess

The Card Boutique

Pixies Delight Designs

Paper Pastime

My 3 E Scrapbooking

Ish

Funkie Junkie

Enjoy the VA Sunshine

 Each of these ladies design very creative projects. Please visit their sites and check them out.

As for 8 things about me;

1) I love God!
2) I have a wonderful husband and son.
3) I adore my cats.
4) I was an elementary teacher for several years.
5) I had to quit teaching because of  painful nerve damage.
6) I have been an avid crafter since I was a very little girl.
7) I live in Texas.
8) I hoard patterned scrapbook paper.

Hope you enjoyed this post and have a blessed day!

Be sure and check out Crafting Misfit too!

Blog candy being offered at Scrapping Room

 

Check out this awesome blog candy that Cindy over at Scraping Room is offering.

Side step card instructions

Here are the measurements for a side step card. (Sometimes called a shutter card)

I usually cut and score my cards by hand but here are the cut files and score line guides.
***********************If you do not want the perforated lines to cut for the score lines, you will need to delete them before you cut.************************

Cut files:  SVG     SCAL     EPS     DXF 

Score guide: PDF

Overview: PDF

See these posts for examples of side step cards:

Pretty in pink

Love note
 
Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
papercompulsions@gmail.com

Getting bugged

The Cooking with Cricut challenge this week is embossing. I am also entering it in Creative Sisters Monday Challenge over at Linda's Creativity Here is a card I made using the following:
Doodle Charms Cricut cartridge
Plantin Schoolbook Cricut cartridge
Swiss dots Cuttlebug embossing folder
Seeing spots Cuttlebug embossing folder
D'vine swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder

Here is the recipe:

Plantin' Schoolbook
1 grass strip cut at 2 1/4 in light green
1 grass strip (shadow) cut at 2 1/4 in dark green
1 parentheses (italic) cut at 2 1/4 (I only used one of them)

Doodle Charms
1 flower cut at 2 1/4 in yellow
1 flower center cut at 2 1/4 in black
1 set of flower leaves (shift) cut at 2 1/4 in light green
1 set of flower leaves (shift, shadow) cut at 2 1/4 in dark green
1 ladybug (shadow) cut at 2 1/2 in black
1 ladybug (shift) cut at 2 1/2 in red

What a challenge

Well, the ladies over at Stampin' Sisters In Christ have given another awesome challenge this week. They really make you think. The scripture comes from Hebrews 13:5

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, or forsake you."

This scripture really made me reexamine where my priorities are when I craft and surf blogs. Despite the fact that I have boxes and closets FILLED with craft supplies, I still look with envy at all the new crafting supplies on the market and want them ALL. I have a compulsion to want to get one of everything and get it in each color available. Truth be told, if I did not get a single new craft item for the rest of the year, I could still made a project each day and not run out of materials. Not that there is anything wrong with getting new stuff, I just need to find a balance and be content with using the things I have.

I am also guilty of looking at other people's craft blogs and feeling that my projects pale in comparision. Granted, there are a lot of very talented people out there and their creations are awesome. I just need to stop camparing my things and myself to others. I should be content to be able to use the talents God has given me and make something creative for the joy that it brings me.

The challenge was to make a "simple" card with only one layer. As crafters we have gotten so used to adding more and more. Sometimes that is a good thing. Sometimes we need to take a step back and just breathe. To just let "simple" be alright. So here is my entry for the challenge. It is simple, imperfect, but loved...just like me!

Simply stamped, embossed, and inked.

I hope you have a wonderful time crafting just for the creativity and healing it can bring you, as well as the joy it gives the ones who receive your creations :)

I also hope you drop by Stampin Sisiters in Christ. Their challenges help you grow as a crafter and as a person.

Pretty in pink

This is another side step card, but all prettied up in pink. I did my very first blog hop the other day. It was the Sweet Shop blog hop that started at Cooking with Cricut. I had so much fun. So many talented, creative ladies. This card is my entry for their challenge...something sweet.

I have had Sure Cuts A Lot of a little over a year now and love it. However, I have neglected some of my Cricut cartridges lately. Seeing all the creation on the blog hop made me want to go back and use some of my older but much loved cartridge images. (More on using things we already own tomorrow :)

I used white card stock for the base and inked it with TH Distress Ink, Spun Sugar. I added pink card stock and some patterned paper I have been hoarding ( surely I am not the ONLY one who does that ;). You probably can't tell from the pict but the patterned paper has pink roses all over it.

I used the George and Home Accents Cricut cartridges. (details at bottom of post) Added pearls and a little love. Also used the Victoria embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

I did not have the right color pink for the flower so I used white card stock and pink distressing ink. I Love the way it turned out! I will definitely be using this technique more often. These are just simple flower shapes on the George cartridge cut in 1/4 inch increments from 1" to 2 3/4". I just stacked them and turned the petals up by hand. You have to try this out. Seriously the picture does not do it justice. Try it and send me a link or email. I would love to see your creations.

 I have used this butterfly sooo many times. I never get tired of it. I cut the base part in white then the top part in pink. I folded the wings and just glued the body down.

 This is not a good picture, sorry. I just wanted to show this detail. I had a flowered frame from the Home Accents cart left over from another project. It was cut at 8inches and would not fit on the card. I needed something pretty for the back panel so I cut the frame apart and just used this section as a flourish.

 The other butterfly from that same cartridge. (did I mention that I love them)

 So here is the Cricut Recipe:

Home Accents:
1 square flowered frame cut from white card stock at 8 inches. (I altered it by cutting it and just using one side)
1 square flowered frame cut from pink card stock at 8 inches. (Cut the flowers off and layer them on top of the white frame piece.)
1 large butterfly with short flourish cut from white card stock at 3 inches.
1 large butterfly without flourish (shift) cut from white card stock at 3 inches.
1 small butterfly with flourish cut from white card stock at 2 inches.
1 small butterfly without flourish (shift) cut from white card stock at 2 inches.
1 long flourish (1st button on 2nd row) cut from white at 2 inches.
1 long flourish (1st button on 2nd row-shift) cut from pink at 2 inches.
1 corner flourish (1st button on 3rd row-shadow) cut from white at 2 inches.
1 corner flourish (1st button on 3rd row) cut from pink at 2 inches.

George:
basic flower cut at 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 1 3/4, 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/2, 2 3/4 inches from white card stock.

I cut and score the side step card by hand. I will give the measurements and a cut file tomorrow.

To download files

If you are having trouble downloading files from "4 Shared":
1) Click on the link on my blog
2) Click on the blue button on the left that has an arrow pointing down and reads "download now"
3) Wait 20 seconds for link to appear on the left
4) Click the link that appears and reads "download file now"

Hope this helps :)
If you have any questions please email me at papercompulsions@gmail.com

Embossed Birthday Card

I made several birthday embossed cards for all my brother-in-laws. (3 with b-days in Feb) I cut the caption out 4 times, stacked, and glued them. I embossed that by itself but it looked too plain. I left the caption on the back and embossed it again with an old Fiskars embossing plate called "stones". The border is made of 4 different pieces embossed with a Cuddlebug Organinc Flourishes folder.

Happy Birthday (Subway font):

SVG  SCAL  EPS  DXF

Enjoy :)



Poppy tutorial

I thought I would show you how to make this poppy.

You will need: flower cut outs, glue, stylus, paper piercing tool (needle tool), rubber mat (or mouse pad), and glue. You might also want to add a brad or a jewel to the center of the flower.

In most of the pictures I looked at the poppies only had 4 petals. You can use as many as you like.

I joined the petals into sets to make spacing easier. The circle is for holding everything together.

 ( These black shapes are for the center of the flower. You can choose to stack them and use all of them, or just use a few. I will show pictures of various pieces in the center.) 

1) Place the petals on the rubber mat. Shape the petals with the large end of the stylus. Use circular motions and light to medium pressure.

2) Use the paper piercer to "curl" the petals similar to using scissors to curl ribbon. Place the tool behind the petal and place your thumb on the front of the petal. With a light pressure "curl" from the bottom of the petal to the top. Repeat about 3 times.

3) Use the paper piercer to "roll" the ends of the petals. Put the tool behind the petal and your thumb or forefinger on the front edge of the petal. Use medium pressure to press the edge of the petal over the curve of the tool. Roll all the top edges. (left, center, and right sections of the top of petal)

 4) Fold the bottom, base, part of each petal. Grab the bottom of each petal between your thumb and forefinger and sqeeze or pinch together.

5) Put the circle on the mat and press down with the stylus in the middle of the circle. Then put glue on it.

6) Stack each set of petals on top of each other. ( I like to make sure the left side of each petal is on top of the petal to the right of it.... feel free to do whatever works for you :)

7) Use the stylus to press down in the center. You shpuld have a few minutes to play around with the petals before the glue dries.

8) Press down in the middle of the black center pieces of  the flower. Then glue and stack them together from largest to smallest. Glue to middle of flower. Add beads, brads, or stones if you like.

There are 2 sets of leaves in the cut files if you want them. The funny things is that I worked forever makeing the cut files for them and then decided not to use them. LOL, isn't that always the case :)

Poppy cut files:

SVG  SCAL  EPS  DXF

Template: PDF