Artistry Butterfly Kisses Card

I'm loving working with the new CTMH Artistry Cartridge. So many images, so little time!  Here is my Butterfly Kisses card.

Here are the images I chose for this card.

Artistry

#M4186FA Flowers

#M418634 Label

#M58A2E4 Butterfly

The paper is from Close to my Heart
Enchantment Cardstock Combo Pack in Goldrush (Included with the Artistry collection) 
The printed paper is from a retired CTMH collection  Laughing Lola.

Whatever paper you choose will look awesome!

I love the image, Flowers, in Artistry but wanted it to be cut as part of the card front rather that just pasting it on.

To accomplish this for the card front, I started by adding a 2 squares to Design Space. I sized one smaller than the other and sliced the smaller from the larger. That gives me a large open square. 

Place the Flower image over the open square making sure that the sides of the image are overlapping the open square slightly.

Select both images and click 'Weld'

Bring in another square to the mat and size it to equal the welded image. Mine are sized to 5.5. Place it above the welded image overlapping slightly.

Select both images and click 'Weld.'

Attach a score line in the center to complete your card base.

Bring in the remaining images plus an additional Flower to use as an overlay on the card base. 

 I added the text 'Butterfly Kisses' using the Artistry font in Writing Style and attached it to the label. I used the Calligraphy Pen from the Cricut Variety Pen Set for the writing.

I cut all my pieces on my Explore. I used the Intricate setting for the Flower and the Card base. 
It cut perfectly on this setting with very little weeding needed and no tearing! 

My original plan was to color the image using my ShinHan markers but decided to use a second Flower image cut from the Laughing Lola paper instead.  I'll do the ShinHan coloring in a future project. 

Using a spray adhesive, I adhered the Laughing Lola Flower over the card base.  I put a glittery paper on the inside of the card to show through the front.

I used Martha Stewart glitter pens to color in the top of the butterfly. 

Adhere the Embellishments to the card. I punched out two little butterflies using Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch. 

  I popped the large butterfly up using 2 layers of foam tape just underneath the body. Liquid Pearls in Buttercup was added to the flowers for a little extra punch.

Please leave a comment below. What are you working on now?

Artistry, Artfully Sent Spring Pop-Up Card

Today's card is made from a combination of two Close To My Heart cartridges, 

Artistry and Artfully Sent.

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These are the images used for this card:

CTMH Artistry 

#M411FDA Flower (2.5")

Artfully Sent 

#M1067C0 Spring Popup Card (5.2"x8.0")

#M100CEB Branch Sentiment Card (5.5"x8.5")

I imported the images into Design Space and sized the images as stated above.

The Branch Sentiment Card when folded will be a top fold card in A2 size 5.5" x 4.25".

I used only the insert image from the Spring Popup Card and deleted the cardbase that came with it.  I love how all the images in these two cartridges blend so well together. 

I used the Pen feature on the Explore to write the sentiment directly on the card front.  Here's how to accomplish that:

• Add three lines of text using the default font "Cricut Alphabet" with style set to Writing Style.  The word "Wildflower" is in italics and is slightly larger than the remaining words.
• Change the setting for each text box to 'Write' to prevent the words from actually cutting.
• Positioned the words as desired on the Branch Sentiment Card. 
• Select the three text lines and the card and click 'Attach'.
• Here's how it looks in DS when complete. Notice the pen next to the text, that's how to be sure it will not cut. You only want to see the scissor on the images you actually want to cut.

Glue the insert pop-up to the inside of the cardbase by lining up the fold lines of each and adhering first the bottom, then the top. Be sure the lining completely covers the cut out design of the card front so the color shows through.

Position the two flowers inside the bottle and adhere it to the pop-up.

For the front of the card, position the flower and adhere.  I used a brush pen to add the veins to the leaves but you could leave it plain if you wish. 

I used Liquid Pearls in Buttercup to embellish the flowers and CTMH Liquid Glass on the inside of the bottle to make it look like water. 

Let me know how you like (or don't like!) the card in comments below. 

Artistry, Artfully Sent, Artbooking Halloween Pop Up Card

 Today's card is a Halloween  pop-up card using a combination of images from three Close To My Heart cartridges,  Artfully Sent, Artbooking,  and the brand new Artistry.

Here are the images I selected:

Artistry
#M418A0E Boo Eek Happy
#M418E46 Bat Border
#M417F18 Geometric Rectangle

Artfully Sent 

#M1067C7 Halloween Pop Up Card

#M1067C2  Happy Halloween Pop Up Card (for SpiderWeb only)

Artbooking

#M45D9A Happy

#M4078A Halloween

Here's how I laid the images out in the Design Space iPad App

I selected my paper and put them in order according to the DS mat order.  This makes it easier for me to get through the cut faster.  I also use two mats so I can unload one mat while the other cuts.

I used the cardstock setting for most of the cuts but changed the settings for the intricate cut and for the glitter paper.  My Explore cut both beautifully. Just remember to change the setting as needed for each mat.  

All the cuts completed, time to assemble.

But first, I need to clean up the scraps from my workdesk.  I keep scraps in a plastic expanding folder by color.  I still haven't found a good way to organize my pattern paper scraps.  Let me know in comments how you do it! 

I start out by inking the edges of the popup and card base. I used Tim Holtz Tea Dye and CTMH Concord Grape Inks.

Next, to add the popup insert to the card base, add adhesive to the back of the bottom half of the popup insert.  Be careful not to put glue on the cutout for the popup.  Line up the insert and cardbase along the fold line and glue into place. 

I decided to add some cute vellum behind the ghosts and moon.  I cut a piece to fit and adhered into place.

To adhere the top to the cardbase, place glue on the back around the edges of the top, fold the cardbase down over the insert and adhere.

Add the tree to the inside and adhere the popup haunted house to the insert.

Add remaining embellishments to complete the inside.

For the card front, glue the filigree to the background.

Ink the edges and stimple glue on the front of the sentiment to give it a distressed look. 

Adhere to the front of the cardbase and you're done! 

I'm loving the popups in the Artfully Sent cartridge. There is also an Assembly handbook included with this cartridge.  Artistry, the new cartridge released on 8/1/15,  is a perfect compliment with loads of images to enhance any theme. You can purchase them here. 

I hope you like the card.  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you are working on.

Artistry and Artfully Sent Birthday Card

Today the new Cricut Cartridge, Artistry, was released and I couldn't wait to create a new card using one of the many designs from this cart.  I paired it with Artfully Sent and created a cute pop-up card.

I designed the card in Design Space using the following images:

Artistry - #M4186FA Front Filigree

                #M418416 Bow Label

Artfully Sent - #M105C05  Popup card insert happy birthday sentiment 

Wrap it Up - You take the cake.  

Here is how I laid it out on the mat in Design Space.

I like to select all my papers and put them in the order they will be cut on the Mat in Design Space. It makes the cut go faster for me.

I used a thin double sided K&Company paper for the intricate cut from the Artistry cartridge.  I flipped the setting dial to Custom and chose Cardstock Intricate cut.  Look how nicely it did the cut.  I only had to weed 3 spots, so happy!  I love my Explore!!

 For the sentiments, I used DCWV Glitzy Glitter Cardstock which is a thinner glitter paper.  I set the dial for Paper-Glitter Light to cut the words.  I was nervous the cut would be a disaster but it cut like butter the first time! Look at how perfect those little flames cut!  Did I mention I love my Explore?

Now all the piece are cut - it's assembly time!

For the card front,  I inked the edges using CTMH Hollyhock ink (Z2128) shown here from the Mini Pad set, Adventure (Z2501)

Here I'm gluing the back of the filigree with Zig 2-way glue and adding it to the pink layer.

To adhere the popup insert, I place adhesive to the bottom half of the insert first.  Be careful to avoid adding glue to the popup piece. You want that to stay free so it moves when you open and close the card.  I used my Xyron Mega Runner that has dotted adhesive. This allows me to run the glue over the open design without having it stick on the front.  

Next, carefully place the pop up insert to the inside of the card lining up the folds. So far, only the bottom is glued down.

Next, add adhesive to the top and fold the card own over the pop-up.

To complete the pop-up, glue the sentiment to the background, add glue to the front of the cut out  and adhere the sentiment to the insert.  If will fold flat when the card is closed. 

To complete the front of the card, I decided to emboss the bow using Cuttlebug Divine Swirls. I ran it through my Ebosser then glued on the light pink border. 

 I popped up the bow by adding  3d Dots to the back and adhered it to the front of the card.

I can't leave will enough alone so I added some Stickles to the card.  I can't resist bling!

I hope you like my card.  If you are interested in purchasing the new Artistry cartridge or any of the other CTMH cartridges, click here.  Any size order will enter you in the August Mystery Hostess.  One customer will receive the hostess credits good for free products for all the orders placed in August!