Embellish Leaves Color Trends Challenge

I just received a small order of CTMH supplies in the mail which included the sanding kit, and had to try it out. At $3.50, this little sanding block/file make a great stocking stuffer, and they are great tools to have in your arsenal.

I decided to make a quick one-layer card for the current Embellish challenge.

I started with a 4x6 piece of Desert Sand cardstock, and just sanded away at it. I wanted a lot of the white core (all CTMH papers, including the patterned papers have a white core) to show through. I really like the distressed look this gives, almost a wood grain.

Then I used the large leaf from Something Splendid, bending it a little so it was straight, and stamped it three times with three different colors.

I thought about leaving the card sentiment free, but decided to use the 'thinking of you' sentiment from Say it in Style. Then I stamped just the 'thinking' a couple more times above the original sentiment using the same ink colors I used for the leaves.

All that sanding left the edges sanded too, but I ran the distressing tool around them to get it a little rougher.

Usually at this point I would adhere it to the card base letting a little bit of a frame/mat show around the edges, but I decided not to this time. I really like the rustic feel of this card, and wanted to keep it very simple.

Hope that you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving!

CTMH Supplies Used:
Stamps: Something Splendid, Say it in Style
Ink: Topiary, Garnet, Twilight
Paper: Desert Sand
Other: Sanding kit

Embellish Die Cut and CAS Over the Edge Card

I've been mulling this card over in my brain for some time, and finally had the opportunity to create it this week. In addition to shapes, letters, borders, cards, envelopes, and boxes, the Cricut Art Philosphy cartridge has a number of rolled flowers you can make.

I haven't actually made any of those yet, but I just love the shape of the die cut before it's rolled. There's something very graphic and beautiful about the swirls, and I wanted to showcase those in this card.

To create the background, I loaded some Petal paper into the Expression, and moved the blade in from the edge to cut the first spiral shape. I cut three of these shapes out, moved the blade a little each time to get a random pattern, and I varied the size from 1 1/2" to 2".

I then cut three corresponding spirals from White Daisy cardstock. These were adhered to the petal cardstock. The large 2" spiral I actually used three times since each time I only used a portion of it since it was on the edge/corners.



It's hard to tell from the photo, and you can see it a little better here, but the play between negative and positive cut outs makes for some interesting texture/dimension to the card.

Then I just added a little flag/pennant with sentiment and a little twine. This is the first card I've made that's 'over the edge' and I do like the look of it.

I'm really pleased with the abstract pattern that I was able to create using this shape, and encourage you to take a look at the different shapes on your cartridges and consider out of the box ways to use them too.

CTMH Supplies Used:
Stamps: Pair a Phrase
Paper: Petal, White Daisy, Desert Sand, Topiary
Ink: Topiary
Other: Hemp, Cricut Art Philosphy Cartridge

Card for Embellish Circles Color Trends Challenge

One more post for today. I saw this challenge a week or so ago and have been formulating this card in my mind since then. It was a lot of fun to put together. I used my CM circle templates and circle punches to make the circles, and kind of free-formed the design as I went along.

I like the clean and simple uncluttered look of the card and hope you do too.

CTMH Supplies Used
Stamps: Say it in Style
Paper: White Daisy, Chocolate, Sorbet, Topiary
Ink: Topiary