Glittering Delicate Diecuts

Some of my favorite things about the holiday season are the lights and the sparkle.  Since the winter months are so dark, we need to brighten up our surroundings as much as possible.  I think that glitter is magical and when it catches the light it always makes me smile!

Along with glitter and things that sparkle, I have a fascination with intricate cuts.  I often design and cut delicate designs that I can cut with the Cricut or Silhouette machines but they can take a long time to cut and are prone to errors, particularly when there are lots of curves that might cause the blade to "hang."  There are a number of companies that make intricate cutting dies - some of my favorites are by Memory Box.

I recently bought this die - the "Emma" ornament which has the added attraction of a snowflake design (if you have been reading my blog for a while you know that I am a little bit obsessed with snowflake patterns!).  I wanted to cut out the shape and make it as sparkly as possible.  I have various glitter papers in my stash but the twinkle of actual glitter is hard to duplicate.

 I recently bought some of this sticky back paper at my local stamp and scrap shop, Ink About It.  It is from Art Glitter and there are lots of ways you can use it (see the Art Glitter site HERE).

There are fifty card size sheets in the package - you can also buy single sheets but it actually turns out to be a little bit cheaper to get the precut package.  This paper has an edge to edge very strong adhesive on one side.

I taped the die to the paper side of the sheet and ran it through the Cuttlebug.  I needed to put it through several times to make sure that all of the fine details were cut through.  (I have noticed that sometimes my Cuttlebug leaves one area not quite cut through - I wonder if I've worn the rollers down from overuse!  Next time I'll try it with the Vagabond - the Cuttlebug was handy when I started on this project...)

I chose this beautiful blue shade of glitter from a collection pack of Martha Stewart glitters.  I  peeled off the protective backing paper from the ornament cut and poured glitter over the adhesive to get a layer of glitter on the ornament.  I poured the glitter onto a piece of scrap paper and after the top was coated I pressed the sticky side of the ornament into the glitter to be sure it was fully covered with glitter.

I was so excited to get the glitter on the ornament cut that I forgot to take photos at each step.  Here is a photo of one of the letters as I glittered it.  Once the cuts were covered in glitter I put them flat on the table and placed another piece of scrap paper on top of the glittered side and burnished the cut to make sure the glitter was completely secured.

I cut the letters using the "Jolly" font from the Holiday Frames & Tags cartridge. There are three fonts on this cartridge with upper and lower case letters.  The Jolly Font has some additional letter options so you can choose upper case letters with straight lines or curls.  I used the curly options for the "N," "E" and the "L" but decided to make the "O" in the simpler shape with no curl.  The card base is Core'dinations textured cardstock and the mat layer is shimmer cardstock from The Paper Company.

To add more texture to the card, I embossed the mat layer using the "Snowflakes" Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I put the starburst design at the top of the card and aligned the letters to the shapes along the bottom of the card.

When I bought the ornament die, I didn't see a background plain die for that shape.  I checked online and found that Memory Box does have a plain die so I may try to order that.  I decided that I could make my own shape using the die that I already own.

 I cut the ornament again from a scrap piece of pink cardstock to make a template for the background.  I placed this "stencil" over the piece of shimmer cardstock I wanted to use for the background and traced the shape.  I made sure to do my tracing on the back side of the cardstock so any pen lines wouldn't show.

Then, I did something a little unusual for me these days - I cut the shape out with a pair of scissors!  I was careful to stay exactly on the line and moved the paper instead of the scissors to get around the curves smoothly.

The hand cut shape fits the delicate ornament cut very neatly.  Since there is so much open space in the design you have a little bit of stretch as you add the top layer.  I used the Creative Memories Precision Point Adhesive pen to adhere the glittered cut to the background shape.

The ornament is popped up from the card front with some foam circles.

It might be nice to make the ornament removable so it could be hung on a tree by the recipient.  You could make it two sided by adding another glittered shape and attaching it to the card with a ribbon, ready to hang.

I tied a small bow from shimmery ribbon (I think this is from May Arts) and attached it with a glue dot right at the top of the ornament.  Even though it was slightly off center, I made sure to have the top highlighted by the starburst shape in the embossing.

If I was planning to make a lot of these ornaments I would definitely but the plain die but since I discovered that it is not very difficult to cut it by hand I may use the money to buy another one of the ornate shapes.  There are so many pretty Memory Box dies that I'd love to add to my small collection.

I am very pleased with how firmly the glitter seems to be attached to the ornament shape and the letters.  I have handled the card and rubbed my fingers on the glittered parts and nothing has come off.  None of these photos can show just how sparkly and pretty the card is in person - you'll just have to try making one yourself!

I had planned to finish up the post about this card yesterday but some "real life" things kept me away from my computer.  I hope you didn't mind the wait too much.  I am shopping for a new laptop as this one is several years old, has been used very heavily and is starting to give me a few too many problems.  There are a lot of choices so I am trying to decide whether to stick with an HP model or try something new...any ideas?

If you can't find the Memory Box dies locally you can order them from Simon Says Stamps (affiliate links)

InLinkz.com

Subscribe to Capadia Designs if you would like to have new posts delivered directly to your email.

Glitter and a little Giveaway

 

I had a long drive on Tuesday but I made it to New Jersey with no traffic or weather problems.  I was surprised to see snow in Connecticut and New Jersey since we did not have any snow that stayed on the ground in Massachusetts.  It has turned really cold everywhere - I think winter has arrived!

I usually drive to my sister's home and stay for the night when I come to New Jersey to pick up our son from college.  We always have a project or two to work on and I think you can guess from the photo what we were up to yesterday.

 

The glitter ornaments have been all over the crafting blogs and websites for a couple of years now.  In case you somehow missed the excitement, here is a LINK to a post from last year where I give all of the details on how to make these wonderful glittery globes - it is so much fun to do!  I use the "floor wax" method but there are some companies that have special adhesives you can use to make these ornaments.

There were some extra special ornaments but I can't share photos of these until after Christmas - you never know who is reading!

I didn't get much computer time so I know I am behind on emails and messages.  I did see some comments about the ribbon I used to make the tags.  Some people don't have a Costco nearby or could not find this ribbon at their store.  I know I had to dig back into the boxes to find it.  I saw the sample hanging on the ring and I knew I "needed" some of this ribbon!

 

The ribbon comes on huge spools and I know I probably won't use it all up so I'd like to offer a little gift of a couple of yards of ribbon to seven readers of my blog (just because seven is one of my favorite numbers!).  If you can't find the ribbon and would like to put your name in the hat to win some please leave a comment on this post and be sure to leave a way I can contact you (Google profile, blog address, message board name, email address, etc.).  I will pick seven winners sometime this weekend and mail out the ribbon on Monday.

 

I will try to write up the tag directions later and if I finish, I'll post them tomorrow.  My son and I are headed to PA to see my Dad so I can't be sure that I'll get a chance.  It is amazing to me to think that he only has one more semester of college left (but it will be nice to be done with the tuition bills!)

I also wanted to let you know that my friend Terri at Stamps Alive is having a sale. She always has great prices, but this sale will last only until Friday night at midnight (Pacific time).  You might want to check it out for a last minute gift - maybe for yourself!

I hope you are having a good week and enjoying some holiday events - we have a very busy weekend once we get back and next week our older son will arrive from San Francisco.  It is always so nice to have everyone together even if it is only for a few days. 

Subscribe to Capadia Designs       

A Sweet and Sparkly card

Just a quick card today with (shocking, I know) no Cricut!  In the never ending quest to tidy my craft space I was sorting through more "trial" bits and pieces that were on my island and I found a card base made with a punched edge that had never been finished.  The base of this card is 4.25 x 11 inches, scored and folded at 5.5 inches.  The edge is punched with the Floral Vine deep edge punch by Martha Stewart.  Be sure to center your punch to get a nice symmetrical design.  For directions on centering the punch pattern, see THIS POST.

 

The deep edges punches are fun to play with to create borders.  You can see my first post about this punch at this LINK.

The paper layer for the front of the card is a soft green damask from this wedding mat stack that I bought on clearance for $1.  I am not sure if it is still available - here is the upc information

This paper has a lovely linen texture which was very effective when the glitter is applied.

The glittered designs and words were done with this adhesive rub-on set from K & Company.  Once again, it is something I have had for a while and i am not sure if it is currently available.  Here is the UPC info

I cut the adhesive rub-ons into smaller sections so I could use many shades of glitter.  I used six different colors of glitter.

I used a variety of colors from a set of Martha Stewart glitters on the adhesive rub-ons.  The Martha Stewart glitter is very fine and worked beautifully.  I could sprinkle on just a bit of glitter and use my finger to apply it to the adhesive with almost no waste.

It is quite difficult to photograph the beautiful shine of the finished glitter.  It is incredibly sparkly but in a soft, not brassy, way.  The adhesive rub-ons are great for working with glitter and not making a huge mess!

I applied a strip of the same paper to the inside of the card to show through the punched border.  You could line the entire card with a contrasting color if you prefer that look.

I am expecting a special delivery tomorrow.  I have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Cricut Circle membership box.  It was supposed to be here on the 3rd of July.  Well that didn't happen and now it is arriving on the 10th, on my birthday, so it turns out to be perfect timing!  I can't wait to make something with the French Manor cartridge.

One more note:  According to an email I received this afternoon, the Lettering Delights 60% off sale has been extended to the end of the day July 10th - all of the details and the code are in yesterday's post HERE.  They just added a really cute seaside bundle called the "Seven Seas Collection" - so I had to buy that one too while the sale was still on!

Subscribe to Capadia Designs       

Sweet Treat Thursdays at Cuttlebug Challenge

I am excited to be part of the new "Sweet Treat Thursdays" Design Team at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot.  Two Thursdays each month, the team will be creating with Cricut, Cuttlebug, Your Story, Yudu, Gypsy and Design Studio.  I will also be doing a monthly series on Design Studio on the third Saturday of each month (the first installment posted last Saturday - here is a LINK).

Our challenge this week was to use the "Doodlecharms" Cricut cartridge to create items with a Valentine's theme.  Be sure to hop over to Cuttlebug Challenge to see all of the fantastic projects and visit each designer's blog to get more specific details on how they were created.  Today I will tell you how I made the items for the challenge (I actually made quite a few more "trial projects" that I will share over the next week or so).

These treat holders are simple and quick - particularly if you use the .cut file I made for them.  If you don't have Design Studio you can make a similar holder but it won't have a solid base.

The file is set up with multiple pages to make color preview possible.  Be sure to cut the base from the page marked CUT - this is the only one that is welded!  You will see that I used two stamp edged rectangles to make the base - I wanted the file to be complete using only the Doodlecharms cartridge and there wasn't a plain rectangle or square to be found!

After you cut the base you will need to score it at the five inch and six inch lines, using a Scor-Pal or other scoring tool (or measuring carefully).  This creates the base for the treat holder to stand on.

Here are the pieces of the holder - the file will cut two scalloped hearts and two plain hearts on separate pages.  You do not need to add them both - it is fine to leave the back side in the pretty patterned paper without the extra layers.  The plastic ziplock bag is the size I use for ATCs - 3 x 4 inches and easily purchased at a craft store.  You may find them with the candy items or in the art section.

Here is a side view of the base after scoring and folding.  Double sided heavy patterned paper works well for these.  I used a K & Co. paper from a Valentine stack I bought last year.  I embossed the plain heart layer with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and adhered the heart to the scallop heart and the two of them to the base.

When I add embossed pieces to a project, I apply the adhesive to the base layer to avoid flattening the embossing with a tape runner.

When the layers are put together, stack the plastic bag between the two paper layers and punch through all three using a Cropadile or similar strong punch.

This view shows how the ribbon will be threaded through the holes to keep the candy holder together.  Do this after filling the bag with candy!

Pretty ribbon (this is by Martha Stewart) makes the holders cute.  You can add many more embellishments or keep them clean and simple.  I did add some white pen dots to the "opposite" version of the heart topper.

The file is set up for the 6 x 12 mat.  You can turn a 12 x 12  mat to cut two holders from one piece of paper - just pay attention to the paper orientation if there is a definite direction to the design.

Here is the link to download the file.

Candy Holder with Scalloped Hearts

The next project I made was these paper lanterns.  They should be used with the battery operated tea or votive lights - please don't let them near an open flame!

The file is once again set up for the baby bug but you can cut two by turning your mat - if your paper is directional you will want to lift and turn it so the pattern makes sense.  There will be lots of heart cut outs and you can even use the edge as a border (you'll see that on the card).

I tired a couple of variations - for one I used the packing tape method for adding glitter to the cutout areas.  I put the paper lantern on an old cricut mat and carefully smoothed on two strips of tape.

I left the top hearts as open cutouts.

I flipped the paper so the sticky side of the tape was up and added lots of fine glitter.  There is no way around it - glitter will make a mess so just enjoy the sparkles you find in odd places!

Be careful to brush off all of the excess glitter so it won't interfere with connecting the sides of the lantern.

The glitter will leave the windows fairly transparent which isn't as pretty when the lantern is lit but makes it look more attractive when unlit.

I used vellum to line the second lantern.  I covered all of the openings and since the vellum is translucent but not transparent the effect is much softer.

I rolled the paper with the vellum adhered around the glitter container to "train" it to curve in a circle to form the lantern.  You could also make a separate liner of vellum and slip the heart sleeve over it.

I added Scor-Tape partially under the edge between the heart cutout and the vellum.  You need a very strong adhesive to keep the lantern together.

I peeled off the paper liner and trimmed the vellum next to the tape.  Then I rolled the cylinder and stuck the lantern together.

For the glitter lantern I adhered the 1/4 inch Scor-tape directly to the inside of the lantern, rolled the cylinder and adhered the opposite site with the ends flush.

I removed the liner from the tape and added a strip of matching paper from the offcuts to cover the sticky adhesive on the inside of the lantern.

Here is the download link for the file.

Heart Lantern

I try to use all of the pieces of paper from a design - I hate to waste things!  This was my first idea for a card using some of the remainders.  The border strip is half of the edge that remains from the top cut of the lantern.  There are lots of leftover hearts in three sizes to work with.

I decided to "dress up" the card a bit with some embossing.  I just got the new "Romance" Cuttlebug folders from HSN.  The candy heart folder is a 5 x 7 so I could use it to emboss a full top panel for my A2 card which I then attached flush to the edges.

I added the border, and just three hearts popped up with foam squares.  A few white pen dots give the card a bit more personality.

I hope you enjoy these projects - be sure to check in frequently at the Cuttlebug Challenge Blogspot to see what we are up to.  There are also some great prizes to be won - this month you could win an "Everyday Paper Dolls" or a "Simply Sweet" cartridge.  For details on how to enter, click HERE.