Technique Blog Hop

I am participating in a fabulous blog hop today with some very talented chicks!  We are demonstrating using the negative image as demonstrated in the CTMH Idea Book on page 90.  If you are coming from Tabbi's blog, you are on the right track!!!

This technique is really fun and can be used in different ways.  I made a card using this technique in a similar fashion to what they used in the Idea Book, minus the stamping.  I used the new Clementine paper!  I adore this paper!

I cut the butterfly out using the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge on Saddle paper.  I set the butterfly aside, and rounded the corners of the square.  I layered it on top of the small floral paper.

I cut a rosette out with the Artiste cartridge from another patterned paper at 3/4" and used a wooden button for the center with a hemp bow.  The pearl swirls are from our new pear flourishes.  I just snipped off what I wanted and saved the rest for another project.  :o)

I really like the look of these banners.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut them out at various sizes, then just layered them how I liked.  Don't you love the burlap ribbon?!  I know I'll be using it a lot!!!

I hope you liked the card!  Leave a comment and let me know what you think!  :o)

Your next stop on this hop is over to Rachel's blog, so get to hoppin'!

Happy Crafting!

Cherri

A Learned Bird

I have recently gotten into decorating different things that I find.  My favorites have turned out to be these darling little bird houses.  With the Scholastic paper, I really drifted towards owls, and the intelligence that we place on them.  So, this bird house is for one scholarly, learned owl!  I think he should learn to clean up after himself, though!  :o)

I used rolled up pieces of graph paper for the scrolls, and tied them with a bit of baker's twine.  He needed a house number, too, so I used one of our number plaques.  I really like the was the vintage book paper looks covering the house, don't you?  :o)

I painted the base with green, orange and brown acrylic paint.  The quote is from the Stickease, and I stuck it on a note from the Memo accessories pack.  The epoxy number six is also from this pack.  I cut out the rounded tab and the notebook pages from the Artiste cartridge.  I crumpled them up and distressed them with Saddle ink.  

Here is my favorite part!  Do you know what the shingles are done with?!  TAGS!!!!  I cut out these cute tags from the Artiste cartridge at 3/4"!  Of course I had to get a bit over the top and distressed each one.  LOL  There were nearly 60 on each side!  The effect is totally worth the effort!

And here is my messy, intelligent owl.  He is actually located on the Halloween themed button, but I couldn't resist using him.  I layered his body three times and his wings and feet twice to give him more dimension.  His beak is also layered three times.

Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!  He is gracing my mantle at the moment, but he may be up for sale in the coming months.

Happy Crafting!

Cherri

What a crazy summer!

I feel very accomplished today!  I confiscated the computer from my boys!!!  Hooray for me!  LOL  It really has been a struggle to get much computer time this summer.  Minecraft has been winning the battle!  But today, I rise triumphant!  LOL
Besides that, this summer really has been an extremely busy one!  I was selected to be a presenter at the Close To My Heart convention, which meant I was FORCED to play with completely new products before anybody else!  Whew!  It's hard work, but I took it on!  While getting ready for convention, I spent every evening for a week in the Texas heat at a cub scout day camp with Nolan.  Oh, my...hundreds of cubs chanting and marching from station to station.  I was very grateful that this summer was NOT like last summer.  Immediately after convention (I know I am crazy for scheduling all of this in a week) Justus had his wisdom teeth removed plus 4 others, a total of 8 teeth, to get ready for braces.  We then got everything organized for his Eagle Scout project which was held on that Friday and Saturday.  Wow!  After all of that, I sort of put myself in neutral and just coasted for a bit (as much as I could, anyways!)  :o)
So...now that I have control of the computer again, what do I have to show you?  I really want to start showing you what I created for convention with all of the new things, including the all fabulous Cricut Artiste cartridge!  I was so pleased with this cartridge, I can't even tell you!  It doesn't replace the Art Philosophy.  It's focus is on more three dimensional, home decor, and party themes.  I love it!  So, today I chose to show you my favorite scrapbook layout.  I really am proud of this one!  I wanted to make this layout something that Dane could enjoy, too.  So, along with lots of embellishing, I also did the journaling in print AND braille.

 I love this picture of Dane!  It's just precious!  I was assigned the Scolastic paper kit, so I was able to preview 4 of the 6 new colors!  I used the Stickease and the new brown Sparkles, plus the new antique gold Mini Medleys!!!

Here is where I really love what I did.  I used two 6x12 flip flaps so I could make it a bit more like a book to read.  I even did my journaling in a similar way to a first reader book.  I used the Artiste cartridge to cut out the envelope and tags for the journaling.  

I placed the printed journaling on the envelope.  I brailled the tags with a slate and stylus.  I am still learning braille, so this is done in grade 1 braille.  That's why it took two tags to write just this little bit!  The tags are totally accessible from the outside of the flip flaps because they have a slit allowing them to slip in and out of the pocket.  :o)  Pretty cool, huh?!

 Sorry about the glare.  I couldn't quite get the lighting right.  I just adore the Stickease that coordinates with this paper!  It really is fabulous!

 Here is the last section.  I really had fun coloring the darling butterflies with the gorgeous new Ruby!

So, here is the first of many!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Tomorrow will be something entirely different with the same paper!

Happy Crafting!

Cherri Hardcastle